Search

Jahodaʼs latent deprivation model is the most common framework for examining the relationship between unemployment and mental health. According to this model, in modern society, employment provides a regular income and financial security and enables psychological needs that cannot be satisfied in any other way. The paper aims to test the construct validity of the Latent and Manifest Benefits scale (Muller et al., 2005), its reliability, and predictive validity in mental health. A total of 209 unemployed social assistance recipients participated in this study (Mage = 44.9; SD = 10.45; 58.9% men). The performed statistical analysis and verification of the latent structure confirmed the assumed six-factor structure of the LAMB scale on a Croatian sample of unemployed social assistance recipients. According to the results, the best fit is the ESEM model (χ² = 771.050; df = 429; CFI = .902; TLI = .856; SRMR = .039; RMSEA = .062 [.055-.069]). The LAMB scale is a reliable and valid instrument, and each of its six dimensions has a significant positive correlation with mental health. The results of the path analysis with manifest variables show that the sense of purpose, social status, and level of activity are significant predictors of mental health. This paper confirmed the conceptual latent deprivation model on a sample of hard-to-employ people and determined the validity of the LAMB scale for use in the Croatian context. The results highlight the importance of expanding support for people living in poverty by providing them with mental health support and addressing latent deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was the examination of the police perception of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on police officers and police work - their stress, mental health, life and work satisfaction as well as to examine the police perception of citizens' behaviour during the strictest restrictive measures due to pandemic in Croatia. Research was conducted on a sample of N = 693 Croatian police officers. For the research, a questionnaire was created and was consisted of 5 subscales which examined police perception of citizens' behaviour; functioning of the police system; change in daily habits; looks to the future and mental health of police officers. The study was preceded by a preliminary study (N = 44). The results showed that at the time of the most severe restrictive rules, most police officers did not perceive significant changes in their own mental health. They also estimated that daily rhythm and habits were as same as before, except for example, they saw their loved ones less often. Most police officers estimated that the scope of work was higher and that it was more difficult compared to the time before the pandemic, but that they performed it well and that they managed well challenges of the pandemic. Furthermore, work severity, worries about pay, anxiety, private life, daily habits, and caring about the health of loved ones have been shown to be significant predictors of police stress levels. Concern about pay, stress, private life, daily habits and police solidarity have also been shown to be significant predictors of their life satisfaction. And the latest regression analysis showed that respect for the police by citizens, equipment, police solidarity, private life and stress were significant predictors of police job satisfaction at the time of the most severe restrictive rules during a pandemic. Regarding the police perception of citizens' behaviour - police officers perceived that citizens were irritated, tense, worried and had many more inquiries compared to the time before the pandemic. They also believed that citizens respected police and police powers more and that they respected pandemic rules and instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the reasons why conspiracy theories emerge (the desire to belong, survive, be close with the members of the group, and maintain a positive image of ourselves and the community). Theories and results of research about psychological factors that are believed to influence the emergence of conspiracy theories are presented. The authors conclude that belief in conspiracy theories is highly dependent on epistemological, existential, and social motives. Research has not yet shown that these theories serve to satisfy these motives, and it is even possible to the contrary, that these theories do not strengthen social cohesion at all, do not lead to improvement of self-esteem and a more positive image of ourselves or the group we belong to. Important questions remain open and more research needs to be done about the consequences of believing in conspiracy theories, especially in vulnerable populations, which have been found to have the highest motivation to accept these theories. The tendency to believe in conspiracy theories is a phenomenon influenced by many factors. Some of these factors are belonging to a lower socio-economic background, a lower educational level, a tendency to outsource one's own responsibility for life's failures, or to neglect the genetic and educational factors that led to it. However, many other factors, such as mental health status, also determine this phenomenon. Poorly integrated, deeply insecure personalities who have not overcome the schizoid-paranoid position of development, tend to perceive the environment as perceptual and threatening, with the aim to protect their own self from deeper disintegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No modern studies of the natural course of depression have been done since the nineteen fourties of the last century. A large number of depressive episodes spontaneously remit. Because of this, some psychiatrists call for more use of a therapeutic approach called watchful waiting, especially for milder forms of depression. At the Institute of mental health in Belgrade, from November 2019 until November 2021, a study in watchful waiting will be done. In this paper the methodology of the planned study is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workplace is the environment where people spend the greatest part of their active life. Day-to-day events in the work environment, the treatment of workers at the workplace and the general atmosphere in an organization affect to a great extent not only the state of mind, the productivity and efficacy of the workers, but very often their health, too. Discrimination at the workplace is one of the negative, humiliating and degrading forms of treatment. Its consequences are great and impact the individual and his mental health, his family, the work organization and society as a whole. Thus, discrimination deserves that special attention be paid to the causes and consequences of this undesirable behaviour. Special accent should be placed on finding adequate methods of preventing discrimination in order to eradicate it or at least reduce its occurrence to a minimum. Various discrimination prevention models have been implemented so far and the most successful ones proved to be those that acknowledge individual differences and regard them not as obstacles to overcome but as useful potential for the development of a work organization and a basis for creating pleasant working atmosphere and increasing work quality and productivity. The paper purports to promote a model of building cultural tolerance by implementing positive measures and diversity management as methods for dealing with differences among people in working environments, but it also recognizes the importance of the anti-discrimination laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good mental health is an integral part of population's general health and well-being that contributes to the quality of functioning of individuals, families and communities. In newer European Union documents, mental health is perceived as a prerequisite for the social and economic growth of each society. According to that, the role of the decision makers and the responsibility of various helping professions is to act towards social determinants which influence mental health. The aim of this paper is to present modern interdisciplinary area of mental health promotion through the review of the literature, starting from the historical development of the area, basic concepts and guidelines for program development. The paper highlights the differences between mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders. Promotion is connected with positive mental health, and its main goal is strengthening protective factors and competencies. Prevention, on the other hand, aims to reduce risk factors and specific disorders to diminish incidence, prevalence, and seriousness of problems. Regarding recent international developments, which state that mental health should concern various sectors and social policies, not just health sector, this paper brings basic models to contribute to the mutual understanding of the terminology within different professions. Multi-sectoral mental health promotion involves activities and programs for supporting parenthood, and children and youth in the education system, while the area of social welfare and healthcare concerns with the quality of life in a community and within a work place settings. Regarding the interdisciplinary nature of the area, this paper wants to contribute to the scientific and professional discussion of various disciplines which are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Mental health problems of adolescents are among the prevailing problems of public health. While studying for their future medical profession, the students of medicine have to exchange emotions with the patients intensively, and the empathic relationship itself bears a risk of eventual "emotional depletion", which leads to "professional lack of emotions". The study was aimed at presenting burnout syndrome as a challenge for mental health of medical students, its importance for the future professional engagement of doctors and the possibilities of its prevention. Methods The authors of this paper review and analyze data and conclusions of previous national and international studies from this field and suggest possibilities of overcoming the condition of burnout. Results The frequency of burnout syndrome, which is the synonym for the above mentioned condition of emotional exhaustion, is twice as high in medical professionals, particularly young ones, as in other professions on average. Burnout syndrome is nowadays regarded as a psychological distress experienced during the educational process and it has been observed in as many as 50% of medical students. The most significant factors independently associated with student burnout are: personality traits, stressful personal life events and learning and training conditions at their faculties. Conclusions It is of utmost importance to understand the causes and consequences of psychological distress in students, and the faculties should not only identify these problems, but also endeavor to promote health by developing strategies for improving personal well-being, which are important for future doctors to achieve professional success and develop resistance to stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]