This research examined the self-care behaviors of pregnant women regarding COVID-19 prevention and its association with their perceived stress during the epidemic period. A cross-sectional study in Tabriz, Iran, included 228 pregnant women who sought prenatal care at local health centers. The selection process for them utilized cluster sampling. Data collection techniques included questionnaires evaluating Demographic-Social Characteristics, along with the Self-Care Performance Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen. Bivariate and multivariate analyses utilized Spearman's correlation to explore the connection between self-care performance and perceived stress levels. The analysis employed multivariate linear regression, with adjustments for demographic-social and obstetric characteristics to account for potential confounding. Acute respiratory infection The median (midpoint between the 25th and 75th percentile) self-care performance score of participants was 0.71 (0.65 to 0.76) on a scale of 20 to 80. The mean perceived stress score, with a standard deviation of 0.56, was 2.55 (0 to 56). A significant negative correlation was observed between perceived stress and self-care performance scores, as assessed by Spearman's rank correlation test (r = -0.13; p = 0.0041). The multivariate linear regression model identified self-care proficiency, educational qualifications, the partner's educational level, and family member count as determinants of perceived stress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 epidemic. Self-care practices among pregnant individuals in preventing COVID-19, as per the present research, demonstrated a positive outcome, with stress levels measured as moderate. A noteworthy inverse relationship existed between self-care effectiveness and perceived stress levels, potentially signifying the high regard and significance the mother placed on the fetus, and her strict adherence to COVID-19 health protocols, ultimately contributing to a sense of calm and reduced stress.
The global public has experienced a significant rise in fear, anxiety, and depression since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the incidence of fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to determine underlying contributing factors and compare the findings to a similar study conducted one year prior in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina to examine changes in mental health patterns. The general population of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the target of an anonymous online survey based on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQs). hepatic endothelium Of the 1096 participants in the study, 813% were female, 338% had a high school diploma, 564% were married, and 534% engaged in intellectual activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 423% reported experiencing fear, 729% exhibited anxiety, and 703% experienced depressive symptoms. Their average age was 35.84, plus or minus 1086. In response to the survey, 501% of participants had contracted COVID-19 and a staggering 638% demonstrated related symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing fear connected to COVID-19 (OR = 1972) and having moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 9514) was correlated with the appearance of mild to severe anxiety symptoms. Subsequently, these anxiety symptoms were associated with the emergence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 10203) and COVID-19-related fear (OR = 2140), potentially forming a cyclical pattern. Subjects diagnosed with COVID-19 (OR = 1454) exhibited a heightened predisposition to experiencing mild to severe anxiety symptoms throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To sum up, the COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused a substantial elevation in the presence of fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Age, gender, marital status, and COVID-19 status demonstrated significant ties and interconnectivity with the observed phenomena. Subsequently, a critical mental health intervention is required to forestall the development of mental health disorders.
Via scalp or earlobe electrodes, weak alternating, pulsed, or random currents are delivered to the human head in the neuromodulatory method known as Objective Non-constant current stimulation (NCCS). Basic and translational research makes substantial use of this approach. Even so, the foundational operations of NCCS, resulting in brain-based biological and behavioral repercussions, remain largely mysterious. This review examines the current application of NCCS techniques in neuroscience research, encompassing transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS), transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). A non-systematic search encompassing conference papers, journal articles, chapters, and textbooks was conducted to investigate the biological mechanisms of NCCS techniques. At the heart of NCCS lies the principle that these subthreshold currents can engage with neuronal activity, affecting neuroplasticity and cortical network synchronization, ultimately changing both cognition and behavior. Each NCCS technique's mode of action is elucidated and its mechanisms are explored. These techniques, through mechanisms like neural entrainment and stochastic resonance, can induce both microscopic changes (impacting ion channels and neurotransmission) and macroscopic effects (on brain oscillations and functional connectivity) within the brain. NCCS is attractive because of its noninvasive potential to modify neuroplasticity, along with its user-friendliness and good tolerance. Promising research has emerged, indicating the effect of NCCS on neural circuits and the resultant behaviors. To maximize this advancement's benefit is today's challenge. By advancing NCCS methodologies, researchers will gain increased insight into how NCCS can modulate nervous system activity and subsequent behaviors, potentially leading to advancements in both non-clinical and clinical applications.
A growing pattern of smartphone dependence is raising concerns about the potential for adverse effects. The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), a self-administered survey, examines the extent of smartphone usage and the resulting dependency. In this study, a Persian version of the SAS short-form (SAS-SV-Pr) was developed through translation and cultural adaptation, and its psychometric qualities were subsequently assessed. SAS-SV translation adhered to standardized procedures, executing double-forward and backward translations. Students from three Teheran medical universities (n=250), selected as a convenience sample, participated in completing the SAS-SV and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Content validity was evaluated by examining the content validity index (CVI) and potential floor and ceiling effects. To quantify the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability of the data, respectively Cronbach's Alpha and the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC21) were employed. The criterion validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between the total scores on the SAS-SV-Pr and IAT questionnaires (Pearson's r). Construct validity was investigated through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and this investigation was reinforced by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). After the translation and cultural adaptation, the alterations to the wording were, surprisingly, quite minor. A strong correlation (r = 0.57) existed between SAS-SV-Pr and IAT, establishing its validity. The measures exhibited notable internal consistency (0.88), strong split-half reliability (0.84), a respectable composite reliability (0.78), and a highly consistent test-retest reliability (ICC(21) = 0.89). Subsequent exploratory factor analysis yielded an ambiguous factor structure, falling between a one-factor and a two-factor interpretation, and accounting for 50.28 percent of total variance. The CFA's assessment indicated that the two-factor solution was the favored selection. A lack of floor and ceiling effects was evident from our reviewed data. The outcome of the Persian SAS-SV, a two-factor structure, quantifies smartphone user dependency. The instrument's psychometric characteristics, including its validity, reliability, and factor structure, are deemed adequate for screening and research purposes among Persian individuals.
Indonesia's early childhood educational settings often involve objective Quran memorization, which demonstrably contributes to positive emotional responses in children. This study investigates the connection between Quranic memorization and children's emotional responses under specific conditions, utilizing the Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA) index for analysis. The methodology involved four children, aged five to seven, enrolled in Islamic-based schools within Surakarta. Learning the Quran encompassed three distinct methods: visual study through video, auditory understanding through listening to Quranic recitations, and memorization by repeating verses. CK-666 inhibitor The FAA index, a metric obtained from absolute power data extracted from Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements on channels F8 and F7, determines the difference in natural logarithms of right and left alpha power (ln[right alpha power] – ln[left alpha power]). The overwhelming majority of participants displayed a positive FAA index during the majority of tasks. The FAA index scores for diverse tasks showed no statistically substantial differences, as determined by the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test, with a p-value of 0.0592. The post hoc Mann-Whitney U test reveals no intervention that emerges as significantly different from the rest. Visual, auditory, and memory-focused Quranic learning methods demonstrably enhance children's emotional states, creating feelings of happiness, motivation, and excitement, as assessed by the FAA index.
During adolescence and youth, when mental illnesses frequently manifest, the cultivation of mental health literacy is essential.