Search

Objectives: This study aimed to present the Polish adaptation and preliminary normalization of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 42 (DASS-42)., Methods: The study was conducted among 1,021 participants (625 females and 396 males) aged 18-83 years (M = 30.67; SD = 13.25). It was a non-clinical sample. Second sample was a group of 49 psychiatric patients (28 females and 21 males) aged 22-76 years (M = 49.40; SD = 13.34). The reliability of the DASS-42 was measured using Cronbach's α coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)., Results: In the non-clinical sample the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 points for the depression subscale; 0.89 points for the anxiety subscale; 0.92 for the stress subscale, and 0.96 for the DASS-42 total score. The ICC were satisfactory, between 0.37 and 0.49 points. Psychiatric patients obtained significantly higher results in all subscales and in a total score of the DASS-42 (p< 0.001) than healthy participants. It is an indicator of good concurrent validity of the method. The effect size of the differences for all questionnaire indicators was large (0.96

Objectives: The aim of this study was to answer the following question: how do threat to life and state anxiety predict psychological functioning in a coronavirus pandemic among Polish adults aged 18-65 years?, Methods: The web-based cross-sectional survey was applied to 1466 Polish respondents (1074 women, 73.3%) aged 18-65 years. They were divided into four age groups (18-25; 26-35; 36-45; 46-65). All participants completed: General Functioning Questionnaire (GFQ), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), and General Sense of Threat to Life Scale (GSTLS)., Results: The youngest adults (aged 18-25 years) manifested significantly higher psychological distress, state anxiety, and a sense of threat to life compared to all the older participants. A sense of threat to life and state anxiety were significant predictors of psychological distress during the COVID-19 epidemic, where state anxiety mediates the relation between threat to life and psychological distress., Conclusions: The youngest participants constitute a risk group for psychological difficulties during the pandemic situation. The COVID-19 psychological distress could be significantly predicted by the two kinds of emotional state such as threat to life and anxiety.

Objectives: Assessment of mental state of patients with T1DM - the level of anxiety, stress and general mental health in the stressful conditions of an epidemic. Moreover, it was checked whether the stress response to the epidemic in the T1DM group differed from that in the control group. This is the first study to address these questions in the type 1 diabetes population in Poland., Methods: An e-mail was sent to all T1DM patients under the care of a diabetes clinic with information about the possibility of online consultation with a psychologist / psychiatrist, with a set of psychological tests attached. The study included 49 patients with T1DM who responded within the first month and agreed to participate in the study. 38 people from the control group were randomly recruited. Each person completed a set of psychological tools., Results: In both groups, the level of stress was higher than typical for the general population in the situation without stressor. T1DM patients who have been ill for over 10 years more often cope with stress through a task-oriented approach. Patients who have been ill for less than 10 years use avoidance strategies. In the first phase of the epidemic,women with T1DM used avoidance strategies. Patients with diabetes and mental disorders react more anxiously and thus require special care in coping with diabetes., Conclusions: In a situation of stress such as a epidemic, patients suffering from T1DM require optimization of treatment and cooperation of specialists in the field of diabetes and psychology / psychiatry.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop a model of the relationship between the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms, levels of experienced stress and coping strategies in mothers of children previously treated in neonatal intensive care units., Methods: Anonymous questionnaire survey covered 62 mothers of infants aged from three to 12 months who had previously been hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. Respondents completed a questionnaire comprising standardized tools such as the Impact Event Scale - Revised (IES-R), COPE Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)., Results: The severity of PTSD symptoms is explained by the model comprising four variables: three stress coping strategies (focus on and venting of emotions, denial and mental disengagement) and perceived stress. The model explains nearly 40% of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Perceived stress partly affects PTSD through one stress coping strategy - denial, which also has the effect on post-traumatic stress symptoms severity regardless of perceived stress., Conclusions: Focus on and venting of emotions, denial, mental disengagement, and the level of perceived stress are potentially modifiable factors that are strongly associated with PTSD. Planning, realization and assessment of interventions aimed at reduction of maladaptive coping strategies and perceived stress are recommended for mothers of infants requiring treatment in neonatal intensive care units. In order to minimize distress and improve coping with the treatment of the child, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of various methods of supporting parents.

Objectives: The relationship between stress coping style and motivation to alcohol consumption was studied in the context of alcohol dependence risk in medical students., Methods: Study group included 268 med students. Authors used the Alcohol Use Dependency Identification Test (AUDIT), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) as well as self-designed questionnaire to collect demographic data and examine motivation and usual situations related to alcohol consumption in students., Results: 94% of students reported alcohol consumption during past year. Risky or harmful alcohol use was found in 16% of med students and 22% of dentistry students, high risk of alcohol dependency was diagnosed in 2% of cases. More than 50% of students reported drinking for coping motives. Data on coping styles do not show statistically significant differences in terms of the main stress coping style: task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented. Medicine students used avoidance-oriented coping (social diversion subtype) more often than dentistry students. There was no correlation between stress coping styles, drinking motives and alcohol dependence risk in the studied group., Conclusions: Lack of correlations may indicate that the studied group used coping strategies other than alcohol drinking. It is essential to create environment for medical students, that would enhance healthy stress coping strategies and promote early prevention.

Objectives: Temperamental traits are indicated as some predictors of occupational burnout. At the same time, researchers emphasise that the importance of temperamental features for occurrences of burnout syndrome in medical staff is dependent on numerous intermediary variables, including ways of handling problematic situations. The overarching aim of presented studies was to examine whether styles of coping with stressful situations mediate relationships between temperamental traits and particular components of occupational burnout in psychiatric nurses., Methods: The study examined 60 women working in the psychiatric health care sector. Three psychological methods were employed in this research project: (1) Strelau Temperament Inventory by Strelau and Zawadzki (STI); (2) Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations by Endler and Parker (CISS); (3) Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)., Results: Conducted analyses allowed to confirm the mediating role of task style and emotional style in relationship between temperamental traits (briskness, perseveration, emotional reactivity, sensory sensitivity, activity) and occupational burnout. In the case of avoidance style there are no grounds to consider it as a mediator in the area of analysed dependencies., Conclusions: Providing psychiatric nurses with help: (1) should focus more on strengthening task style, rather than on rising awareness regarding the harmfulness of avoidance tendencies in the area of coping; (2) what seems important is developing the ability to experience negative emotions revealed in contacts with patients in a creative way.

The aim of this work is to present the results of research on occupational burnout in a group of psychiatrists. The electronic databases and empirical publications from 2000-2017 were searched. In order to identify reports that met the selection criteria, the papers was critically assessed. In the presented studies it was shown that the burnout syndrome is most often presented in accordance with the theoretical model proposed by Christina Maslach (including the dimension of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion and the feeling of lack of personal achievements). Risk factors include, among others: too long working hours, low earnings, negative self-image, specificity of treated patients, conflicts with colleagues, satisfaction with the work performed, insufficient supervision of work.

Objectives: Emergency service workers such as firemen are exposed to severe stress, which may result in deteriorated functioning and development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the presented study was to assess the stress coping styles of firemen exposed to severe stress, the prevalence of PTSD symptoms, and the correlation between them., Methods: The study was carried out in a group of 147 Polish firemen. Two questionnaires were used: the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) in the Polish language version (K-PTSD)., Results: The study was carried out in a group of 147 Polish firemen. Two questionnaires were used: the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and the PTSD Interview (PTSD-I) in the Polish language version (K-PTSD)., Conclusions: Nearly one third of the investigated group of firemen suffered from symptoms of PTSD, with the stress coping strategy most often observed in that subgroup being style focused on avoidance. Age proved to be a factor associated with the readiness to undertake behavioral measures to cope with stress tension; such behavior tends to be undertaken by older firemen.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the differences between groups of prison inmates distinguished according to the sense of quality of life in terms of their ways of coping with stress., Methods: In order to verify the research hypotheses, the following instruments were used: (1) The sense of quality of life Questionnaire (SQLQ) by M. Straś-Romanowska (2007) and (2) the COPE Inventory by Carver, Scheier and Weintraub (1989)., Results: The results of the presented research have confirmed that the ways of coping with stress used by prison inmates are related to the sense of quality of life. This conclusion applies not only to overall sense of quality of life but also to all of its dimensions: psychophysical, psychosocial, personal, and metaphysical one. According to the assumed hypothesis, people with a high level of overall quality of life significantly more often than people with a low level of quality of life prefer active coping strategies, including strategies such as: Active coping, Planning, Searching for instrumental support, Searching for emotional support, Positive revaluation and development. Asimilar conclusion with minor modifications also applies to other dimensions of quality of life., Conclusions: Thus, the use of constructive ways of coping with stress - based on seeking support, personal activity in coping with problems and drawing conclusions from wrong life decisions - is related to higher level of quality of life.

Objectives: Based on a comprehensive approach to the problem of stress, we have decided to evaluate all components of a stress response - immunological (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, CRP, TNF-alpha) and hormonal one (CRH, ACTH), as well as to evaluate the psychological indicators of stress, coping with stress, and controlling emotional reactions as psychological markers that predispose to the most beneficial adaption in relation to stressors affecting flight personnel taking part in peace missions abroad., Methods: The research studies being the subject matter of the project were conducted among 113 antiterrorists and 123 representatives of aircrew (236 respondents in total) who participated in peace missions outside Poland. The study was conducted both before departure and during the missions. The study included a biochemical evaluation (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, CRP, TNF-alpha, CRH, ACTH) as well as a psychological assessment based on the Perceived Stress Scale by S. Cohen (PSS-10) and the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) by M. Watson and S. Greer, and the COPE Inventory by J. Corver., Results: Based on a statistical analysis of the variables, a relationship between the level of perceived stress and the methods of coping with it as well as between the selected methods of emotion control and inflammatory response indicators, was found., Conclusions: In difficult situations, accompanied by an increase in the variables responsible for the biochemical inflammatory response of an organism, the effective model of coping with difficult situations and emotioncontrol increases, while the subjective level of perceived stress drops.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the use (or lack thereof) of psychological help among family members of schizophrenia patients, and their expression of assertive behavior in relation to their relatives suffering from the illness., Methods: The study group consisted of 34 people who run the household with their loved ones - schizophrenia patients. In the study we used the Social Competence Questionnaire (KKS) by Matczak, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) in the Polish adaptation by Wrześniewski et al. Socio-demographic data were collected through a self-designed survey., Results: There was a relationship between a general tendency to avoid action in a problem situation and a tendency to seek social diversion in order to cope with stress. Assertive behavior was also found to correlate with a tendency to engage in substitute activities. Greater willingness to display assertive behavior was observed in subjects who revealed a tendency to avoid thinking about the problem and seeking active solutions in a stressful situation. The analyses also showed that younger people who coped with stress by revealing an avoidant coping style exhibited a more assertive behavior., Conclusions: Our study did not confirm the link between the use of psychological assistance by the relatives of schizophrenia patients and their expression of assertive behavior in relation to the patient. However, it proved important that younger people who coped with stress by means of avoidance-oriented strategies manifested a greater propensity for assertive behavior.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the stress level in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) treated conservatively using the Dobosiewicz Method (DoboMed) approach in correlation with the clinical parameters and brace therapy., Methods: The study group (SG) comprised 63 patients (54 girls), in mean age 14.7 years. DoboMed approach was used in all studied patients (31 of them had also a brace (orhosis)). The clinical analysis included also body mass index (BMI) z-scores, age at diagnosis, spinal curvature location and the duration of brace correction. The patients completed the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire Deformity (BSSQ-Deformity) and Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire Brace (BSSQ-Brace) questionnaires twice, ie., at the beginning and at the end of the hospitalization., Results: IS patients experienced low or moderate deformity-related stress (58.7% and 36.5% respectively). A significantly higher stress level (BSSQ-Deformity) was revealed in the combination therapy group compared to kinesiotherapy group (p<0.05). In brace wearers, the orthosis-related was higher than the deformity-related stress (p<0.0001). A significant correlation was observed between the BSSQ-Deformity score vs. age, BMI z-score and number of hospitalizations (p<0.05). Deformity stress level was significantly related to the Cobb's angle in both analyzing subgroups., Conclusions: Stress level in IS patients is related to the severity of the disease irrespectively to the method of treatment. Brace wearing is a factor provoking and increasing stress level. Stress level related to bracing is higher than trunk deformity related. Higher stress levels were significantly correlated with age, BMI z-score and number of hospitalizations. Complex therapy should include also psychological support for young patients with IS.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to show the correlation between the feelings of stigmatization and depressive symptoms in psoriasis patients. The study has considered severity of feelings of stigmatization and depressive symptoms, as well as factors such as gender and skin lesions visibility., Methods: The study involved 54 adult subjects suffering from psoriasis - 26 women and 28 men. The patients filled in the 33-item Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Moreover, the subjects were asked to mark the location of their psoriatic lesions on a schematic drawing., Results: A correlation was found between feelings of stigmatization and depressive symptoms in the psoriasis patients. No differences between women and men were found with regard to depressive symptoms and feelings of stigmatization (except for the secretiveness aspect). It was found that location of skin lesions did not have an effect on occurrence of depressive symptoms and feelings of stigmatization (except for the shame and guilt aspect)., Conclusions: It is still necessary to change the public attitude to patients with psoriasis. It is also very important to provide the patients with psychotherapeutic support aimed at enhancing their self-acceptance in order to overcome any feelings of stigmatization and to prevent them from depression.

Background: The article presents the mutual relations between the components of work ethic and the strategies of coping with stress used by employees of different branches., Material and Methods: Work ethic was presented as a syndrome of the following attitudes: perceiving work as a moral value, treating work as a central value in life, and the belief in the importance of hard work that leads to success. This ethic also consists of the following components: unwillingness to waste time, disapproval of spare time (anti-leisure), willingness to delay gratification, willingness to act honestly at work (morality/ethic), and being independent (self-reliance). Coping strategies were presented as 3 dimensions (obtained by application of factor analysis of the questionnaire scales COPE (Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced)): proactive cognitive operations, avoidance of action and seeking support., Results: The study conducted on 360 employees of different branches shows that the dimensions of the work ethic are moderately related to strategies emphasizing proactive cognitive operations and poorly related to seeking support and avoidance of action. At the same time, the relations between work ethic and avoidance of action are negative (higher work ethic is linked with lower tendency to avoid action)., Conclusions: Predictors of proactive cognitive operations are unwillingness to waste time, treating work as a central value in life, willingness to act honestly at work (morality/ethic) and being independent (self-reliance). Med Pr 2017;68(6):711-724., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Background: Over the years it has been assumed, that the greater the number of pilot flight hours, the better the development of problem-solving skills among pilots. Research suggests, however, that the problem is more complex than that. Not only one's experience is of importance - temperament, aggression and risk may also affect the decision-making process under stressful conditions., Material and Methods: We examined 97 male pilots of passenger planes, who had flew ATRs, Boeings, Airbuses, Embraers, and Saabs. The comparative group was made up of 127 graduates of technical studies (not connected with aviation). In our study, we used the following methods: the PTS (Pavlovian Temperament Survey) Temperament Questionnaire by Strelau, the Aggression Questionnaire by Buss and Perry, and the Stimulating-Instrumental Risk Inventory (SIRI) by Zaleśkiewicz., Results: Following the analyses we could categorize the pilots into 3 distinct groups: group 1 - strong type of nervous system with a tendency to avoid risk; group 2 - strong type of nervous system with a tendency to take risks; group 3 - the relatively weakest type of nervous system with a tendency toward aggressive behavior., Conclusions: Members of each group were analyzed to assess how they function in a task situation, i.e., whilst piloting a passenger plane. The study showed that individuals with high need for stimulation may - consciously or not - seek situations of excessive or unnecessary risks, and this is done in order to reach the right level of stimulation. A constellation of the following variables: temperament, risk, and aggression could be - we argue - useful in psychological examinations, and should be taken into account in training procedures for pilots. Med Pr 2017;68(5):639-651., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

The aim of the paper is to present a specific context for the occurrence of sexual problems, i.e., sexual dysfunction in the population of homo - and bisexual men. Sexual problems and revealing them are usually a big challenge for men. In case of homo - and bisexual men additional psychological and social factors may contribute to the occurrence of these problems, as well as make experiencing them more painful, but also impede looking for and receiving an adequate help. These factors are connected to the specific features of gay men sexuality, such as: lack of obvious sexual scripts for homosexual men, full reversibility of all sexual roles and positions in contacts between two men or no fear of unwanted pregnancy, but also with the unique psychosocial context such as: minority stress and internalized homophobia. Clinicians - psychiatrists, sexologists and psychologists - should be aware of their existence to deliver a more effective professional and culturally competent care, which is free of prejudice, based on deepened reflection and void of automatic transference of experiences with work with heterosexual men.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of anxiety associated with parachute jumps on selected redox balance parameters in regular soldiers from airborne forces. The study allows estimating whether the paratroopers exposed to high level of mental stress are simultaneously under severe oxidative stress., Methods: The investigations were carried out on 46 professional soldiers from airborne forces divided into groups depending on the number of performed parachute jumps. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained under fasting conditions three times for the determination of selected parameters of red-ox balance: on an ordinary working day, on the day when the jump was performed and on the day after the jump. The time of the performed determinations was to reflect the initial balance of the organism, the state at the moment of stress and its effect on the organism., Results: Our investigations showed lack of differences in characteristics of the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD) in response to mental stress depending on the experience of the investigated group in parachuting. Decrease in GSH-Px activity was demonstrated in response to mental stress in all the investigated groups. The TBARS level was higher in more experienced parachutists., Conclusions: The analysis of changes in selected redox balance parameters may be useful for monitoring anxiety associated with parachute jumps.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are a challenge to public health, with the sufferers experiencing a range of psychological factors affecting their health and behavior. The aim of the present study was to determine the level of anxiety, personality traits and stress-coping ability of patients with obstructive lung disease and comparison with a group of healthy controls., Methods: The research was conducted on a group of 150 people with obstructive lung diseases (asthma and COPD) and healthy controls (mean age = 56.0 ± 16.00). Four surveys were used: a sociodemographic survey, NEO-FFI Personality Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Brief Cope Inventory. Logistic regression was used to identify the investigated variables which best differentiated the healthy and sick individuals., Results: Patients with asthma or COPD demonstrated a significantly lower level of conscientiousness, openness to experience, active coping and planning, as well as higher levels of neuroticism and a greater tendency to behavioral disengagement. Logistic regression found trait-anxiety, openness to experience, positive reframing, acceptance, humor and behavioral disengagement to be best at distinguishing people with lung diseases from healthy individuals., Conclusions: The results indicate the need for intervention in the psychological functioning of people with obstructive diseases.

Background: Analyzes of negative consequences of workaholism are ambiguous, and various studies have been conducted with different measurement tools. Thus, the objective of the current research was to find the answer to the question about relationships between workaholism measured with varied tools and mental health, stress experienced in life and at work, negative affect, and work-family conflicts., Material and Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 178 subjects (71 men, 107 women, aged 23-66), with a minimum work experience of 4 years. To measure workaholism 4 different research tools, based on different conceptualization of this construct, were used: Workaholism Battery (Work-Bat) by Spence and Robbins, Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) by Robinson, Scale of Workaholism as Behavioral Tendencies (SWBT) by Mudrack and Naughton, and The Scale of Being Absorbed by Work (SZAP) by Golińska. To measure possible consequences of workaholism the following tools were employed: General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) by Goldberg, Scale of Work-Family/Family-Work Conflict (WFC/FWC) by Netemeyer et al., Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) by Cohen et al., Brief Scale of Vocational Stress (BSVS) by Stanton et al. and Mood Scale by Wojciszke and Baryła., Results: The strongest relationships between workaholism and its negative consequences for the functioning of the unit can be observed using 2 diagnostic methods, respectively: WART and SZAP adapted by Golińska. Other diagnostic tools (Work-Bat and SWBT) have insignificant relationships with possible negative consequences of workaholism., Conclusions: The applied method of measuring workaholism seems to be of great importance in predicting possible consequences-different conceptualizations of phenomena leading to different results, which is important for researchers and practitioners involved in the issue of workaholism. There is a need for further work on the conceptualization and operationalization of the workaholism phenomenon. Med Pr 2016;67(4):467-476., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Unlabelled: In the bordeline personality disorder a large role ascribe to biopsychosocial factors. Studies have shown that more than 70% patients BPD reported experiencing traumatic events in childhood. The findings are confirming that making self-harming is a frequent symptom of bordeline disorder and 70-75% patients show at least one act of self-harming. Selfharming can be a reaction to maladaptive emotional regulation. Moreover a lowered tolerance level is characteristic of them to the stress and determined course learning dysfunctional patterns of behavior., Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the level of emotional regulation through the variable action vs state orientation and to investigate their relation to stress, self-harming and suicidal behavior., Materials and Methods: In study participated 45 persons with emotionally unstable borderline personality diagnosis. In the group was 33 women and 12 men in age 19-43. A Polish adaptation of standardized questionnaires was used to measure stress and action vs state orientation (SSI-K), self-injurious behavior (SHI) and suicidal tendencies (RFL-I)., Results: By patients with borderline personality disorder the level of action control, reasons for living and stress are predictors of selfharming behavior. The mediation analyze showed, that stress and reasons for living are mediators between action vs. state control and the level of self-harming behavior., Conclusions: A high level of stress correlates positively with self-harming and negatively with action control in patients with borderline personality disorder, and a high level of reasons for living correlates positively with action control and negatively with self-harming in people with BPD., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)

Objectives: The aim of the work was the analysis of personality traits of men serving a custodial sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol., Methods: The study included 44 males serving a custodial sentence for drink driving, 45 males serving a custodial sentence for assault and robbery as well as 32 men with no criminal record, who had never driven a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The following research methods were used during the study: the Socio-demographic Questionnaire designed by the authors, the KRS, the Cattell's IPAT, the NI, the ACL and the Life style Questionnaire., Results: The obtained results indicate significant statistical differences between the men serving the custodial sentence for drink driving as regards stress coping, anxiety level, intensified need to look for new experiences as well as anti-social personality traits., Conclusions: The men serving a custodial sentence for drink driving show intensified traits of antisocial personality, higher level of anxiety, intensified impulsiveness irritability, distrust, aggression, egocentrism, eccentricity, intensified need for recognition, breaking social standards, experiencing various stimuli, new impressions, greater adaptation difficulties, less self-discipline, lower self-esteem as well as more frequently used destructive, escapist and emotional stress coping strategies as compared to the people with no criminal record, who never drove while under the influence of alcohol. As regards the intensity of personality disorders, stress coping strategies and self-image no significant differences were found between the men serving a custodial sentence for drink driving and those imprisoned for assault and robbery.

Doctors are frequently expose to stress during their occupational work. It is mainly the result of burdens caused by taking care of patients, dysfunctional arrangements of the health care system and difficult relationships in their workplace. Chronic stress brings negative emotions and they need to cope with them . Doctors, willing to achieve it, may initiate interpersonal games with the hidden motive of restoring their internal balance. Based on transactional analysis, the authors describe some of the games which may be found in doctors' environment: "How to get out of there", "Mine is better than yours", "Scapegoat", "Fault" and "double bind". The outcome of the games may be receiving a support, proving a benefit derived from stress, getting the feeling of being not guilty, justification, or releasing emotions in apparently unintended way. Interpersonal games may help stressed doctors to get rid of internal tension but at the same time they may be a source of stress for other participants in the games. The way to limit their destructive impact is to create such administrative and organizational solutions which allow to make working conditions more friendly., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)

Introduction: The word yoga (Goya) is derived from the Sanskrit yii and means: bind, connect, attach and focus attention on something. It also means connection, and the union. The system of yoga has collected and systematized Patanjali in his “Yoga Sittrach” work. Yoga has the task of shaping proper physical culture and spirit (mind), regardless of religious beliefs, national origin, membership in a social group. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between yoga and regular coaching strategy for coping with stress, blood pressure and abdominal obesity., Material and Methods: The study involved 100 people divided into 2 groups. The first group comprised students regularly practicing yoga. The second group were randomly selected subjects not regularly engaged in sport. The age of the subjects ranged 18–60 years and over. Research material was gathered using a questionnaire designed by the authors, and the mini -COPE test. In addition, blood pressure and waist circumference were measured to assess the prevalence of abdominal obesity., Results: Among people who practice yoga the average waist circumference was 82.8 ±8 in women and 90.3 ±11 in men (p < 0.034). A healthy waistline was found in 43 (86%)subjects in the yoga group, and 34 (68%) subjects in the control group. Body mass index (BMI) also falls in favour of yoga, and in this group 15 (30%) more subjects had normal BMI. Abdominal obesity and BMI indicating obesity was found in 10 (20%) subjects from the yoga group and 15 (30%) from the control group. The study revealed no significant differences in mean blood pressure between the analysed groups., Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the questionnaire mini-COPE people regularly Training Yoga choose more effective strategies for coping with stress. Regular practice of yoga is a factor in reducing abdominal obesity. Men who trains yoga have blood pressure lower than those who doesn’t practice any sport.

Aim: To compare quality of life, symptoms of depression and strategies of coping with stress among individuals with type 2 diabetes and healthy individuals in their middle age, and also to verify the correlation of the aforementioned variables., Methods: 87 persons took part in the study: 42 persons with type 2 diabetes and 45 healthy persons. There were used 4 questionnaires with recognized psychometric properties., Results: The results showed significant differences in the level of global quality of life, satisfaction with health and physical domain, symptoms of depression, and also in terms of reactive coping with stress, which focuses on emotions and avoidance., Conclusions: Individuals with diabetes have lower global perceived quality of life and satisfaction with health and physical domain. In this group, the intensity of depressive symptoms is higher. Both groups use a task-oriented style with the same frequency in times of stress. Persons with diabetes use an emotion-oriented style more often than healthy persons, whereas the latter use an avoidance-oriented style. Both groups use various proactive coping strategies with the same frequency.

Unlabelled: In the bordeline personality disorder (BPD) a large role ascribe to psychological and psychosocial factors. Studies have shown that more than 70% patients BPD reported experiencing traumatic events in childhood. These people compare with patients with other psychiatric disorders often report history of sexual abuse and experience of violence or neglect. Making self-harming can be a reaction to negative experiences in childhood. The findings are confirming that making self-harming is a frequent symptom of BPD and 70-75% patients show at least one act self-harming. Moreover a lowered tolerance level is characteristic of them to the stress and determined course learning dysfunctional patterns of behavior. The aim of this study is to determine the childhood trauma such as sexual, psychological and physical abuse, emotional and physical neglect and to investigate their relation to stress, self-harming and suicidal behavior., Material and Methods: In study participated 41 persons with emotionally unstable borderline personality diagnosis. In the group was 32 women and 9 men in age 19-43. The Polish adaptation of standardized questionnaires was used to measure childhood trauma (CTQ), stress (SSI-K), self-injurious behavior (SHI) and suicidal tendencies (RFL-I)., Results: In patients with BPD the level of childhood trauma and stress are predictors of self-harming behavior and suicidal tendencies. The mediation analyze showed, that self-harming was an important mediator between sexual abuse and suicidal tendencies. The high stress is the next mediator between sexual abuse and the level of self-harming behavior., Conclusions: A high level of childhood trauma correlates positively with stress, self-harming and suicidal behavior in patients with BPD.

Background: Work as one of the most important activities in human life is related to stressful and difficult situations. Police officers make one of the many occupational groups that are particularly threatened by contact with a number of stressors. Therefore, their strategies of coping with stress are particularly important, because they play an important role in their functioning at work. The nature of the service as well as shift work and psychological costs incurred by police officers contribute to the emergence of chronic fatigue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of chronic fatigue in police officers and its relationship with the strategies of coping with occupational stress., Material and Methods: A group of 61 police officers was examined. The following research methods were used: 1) Latack Coping Scale examining stress coping strategies at work (positive thinking, direct action, avoidance/resignation, seeking help, alcohol or stimulants use); 2) Mood Assessment Questionnaire CIS-20R examining the level of chronic fatigue and its components (subjective feeling of fatigue, impaired attention and concentration, reduced motivation, reduced activity); 3) Personal questionnaire providing socio-demographic data., Results: It was found that the level of chronic fatigue in the group of the examined police officers was high (sten 8th). The most often used strategies of coping with stress were direct action and positive thinking, and the least often used strategy was the use of alcohol and stimulants. A significant negative correlation between the general level of chronic fatigue and the avoidance/resignation strategy was found., Conclusions: The results indicate that chronic fatigue is a problem affecting police officers and it is related to the stress coping strategies used.

Background: The article presents the results of psychosocial burdens in special educators (specialists in the field of oligophrenopedagogy) with intellectually disabled students. In theoretical part, specific context of occupational stress in special educators was introduced. Additionally, the need of broader research context regarding occupational stress and the risk of burnout in special educators working with intellectually disabled individuals were included., Material and Methods: The results were obtained using Plichta and Pyzalski's Questionnaire of Occupational Burdens in Teaching (QOBT). The presented results are based on a research sample (N = 100) of special educators (female) teaching intellectually disabled students attending special schools in the city of Lódz. The obtained results were compared with the results coming from a large random sample of public school teachers working with non-intellectually disabled children from the Lodi voivodeship (N = 429) and referred to the norms of QOBT., Results: The results show significant percentage of respondents obtaining high level of occupational burdens (conflict situations - 45%, organizational burdens - 31%, lack of work sense - 40%, global score - 40%). Seniority is not related to the level of burdens. Some significant differences concerning the level of occupational burdens between both groups of teachers were found., Conclusions: The study showed e.g. the strong need for supporting special educators in the workplace context and the need of implementing preventive and remedial measures at both individual and organizational levels (especially in terms of improving personal relationships in a workplace). Generally, the results show similarity of the stressors' ranking in special educators and school teachers working with non-intellectually disabled children.

Introduction: In the situation of rapid population ageing, it is necessary to encourage the older people to work longer. This requires a recognition of health conditions that cause the decision to continue working in retirement age., Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine differences in health status and health security between working and non-working retirees involved in the program of social participation in healthcare reform. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Of 406 participants of the program of social participation in healthcare reform, 161 non-working retirees and 21 working retirees were involved to analysis. Eight indicators of health status and eight components of health security were adopted., Results: Our findings showed the weak relationship between health and the working continue in retirement age. The considerable differences between the groups were reported only for physical well-being; the working retirees felt better. They continued work despite the fact that most of them perceived their health poorly and almost all suffered from chronic diseases. The working in retirement age was related with financial and social benefits to a greater extent. The working retirees rarely reported financial problems, the medical expanses was less onerous for them, they had the great opportunity to use the private physician services, and they more often perceived social support. The negative effect of working in retirement age, however, was related with the lack of time to rest, more negative assessment of existing healthcare system and less satisfaction with health information received from family doctor., Conclusions: Our finding would indicate that health status influences the work in retirement age to a limited extend. Financial motivation and social factors seems to be the main determinants of working continue. The recommendations for future more extensive research were presented in detail.

Background: The health deterioration of the unemployed is the serious challenge for the public health, especially of that health promotion programs for this group were not always effective., Objectives: The aim of the papers is to recognise initially the health effects of unemployment among Warsaw inhabitants in order to formulate recommendations for future more comprehensive research., Material and Methods: Out of the respondents who joint the program of social participation in health reforms, 23 the unemployed and 172 employed persons were included to the study. The eight indicators of health status and eight components of health security were assumed., Results: As regards health status, compared to employed persons, relatively more of the unemployed perceived their health, physical and mental well-being as worse, they more frequently remained at home due to illness and were admitted to hospital, but relatively fewer of them visited physicians. As regards health security, relatively more the unemployed assessed their medical expenses as very high, used only public health care and well understood the information received from family doctor, but relatively fewer of them experiences difficulties in getting to physicians. The future retirement system they perceived dramatically poorly. However, not all visible differences reached the level of statistical significance., Conclusions: Despite the limitation of our findings due to a preliminary nature of the study, they confirmed unquestionable relationship between unemployment and health deterioration. The recommendations for future more extensive research were presented in detail.

Background: Occupational stress of social workers is associated with various psychosocial hazards in the work environment. Some of them affect person-organization fit (P-O fit). The aim of the study was to verify a hypothesis on the mediating role of P-O fit in the relationship between work environment and stress., Material and Methods: The research was based on a sample of 500 social workers directly involved in social work. The data were obtained using the Person-Organization Fit Questionnaire by Czarnota-Bojarska, the Work Environment Questionnaire developed by the Department of Occupational Psychology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) by Cohen et al., Results: As revealed by the regression analysis of the 4 analyzed work environment factors, only organizational politics was significantly related with perceived stress. Complementary and supplementary dimensions of P-O fit and identification with organization were the mediators of the relationship between organizational policies and stress, but only complementary fit proved to be a total mediator., Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that person-organization fit, especially its complementary aspect, is an essential determinant of accomplishing the core functions of social work and good practice among social workers.

For women, breast cancer causes great mental stress and affects their functioning in the somatic and psychosocial domain both during the process of diagnostics and therapy, and for a long period of time after the received treatment. A high sense of coherence leads to being better at coping with stress and a can promote the quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the sense of coherence on the satisfaction with life of post-mastectomy patients, and also on the time which passes between noticing the first symptoms of the disease and reporting to a doctor, and on the timely execution of medical recommendations. The study involved 60 women, age between 30 and 70 years, after a mastectomy procedure due to diagnosed breast cancer. The study used the method of diagnostic survey. The following tools were applied: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS--E. Diener et al.), the 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC 13), and a short questionnaire developed by the author. No statistically significant association was found between the level of the sense of coherence and the timely execution of medical recommendations, and the level of the satisfaction with life of the subjects p > 0.05. However, the existence of a statistically significant association was demonstrated between the sense of coherence and the time of reporting to a doctor after noticing disturbing symptoms p < 0.05.

The goal of this paper is to present the latest trends and research reports on burnout syndrome among doctors and nurses. In the first part we present the most recent research tools used in the study of burnout among medical personnel. Then we present results by three areas: demographic factors, personality and coping styles, and finally organizational aspect of the work. Based on the presented literature we attempt to determine the profile of health care worker who is at highest risk of burnout syndrome. It seems that it would be worth to take under consideration medical students who are in risk group and to offer them some special psycho educational programs since the beginning of education.

Background: The purpose of the research was to investigate the role of coping strategies with stress in posttraumatic growth in a group of medical rescue workers., Material and Methods: The data on 80 medical rescuers who had experienced traumatic event in their worksite were analyzed. The age of the participants ranged from 21 to 67 years (M= 35.47; SD = 10.21). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress - Mini-Cope were used in the study., Results: The results revealed that the strategy "turning to religion" plays the major role in posttraumatic growth., Conclusions: In the process of emerging positive changes posttraumatic growth avoidance strategies seem to play more important role than strategies focused on the problem itself.

The family burden (FB) has been defined as a multidimensional impact imposed by an illness on caregivers. FB can be divided into objective (i.e. related to measurable problems) and subjective one (i.e. related to caregivers' emotions arising in response to objective difficulties). FB is known to be related to disturbances in the functioning of the family system, higher level of stress, and the presence of financial problems. Some gender-dependent differences in the characteristics of FB have been found. Since family member's illness can be not only a ballast, but also a potential source of satisfaction, it has been found that the level of caregiving-related satisfaction is a significant predictor of FB severity. FB dynamics does not seem to be parallel to the course of illness. Problem-focused and task-focused coping strategies are known to be related to lower values of FB. There is evidence suggesting that in families of patients with BD depressive episodes trigger substantially higher severity of FB, as compared to manic episodes. Data on FB related to major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. Assertive community treatment strategies are the main option of reducing FB in the context of affective disorders, yet data on their effectiveness are inconclusive.

Aim: Assessment of functioning of the marriages applying for marital therapy., Method: The research included 44 marriages: 22 of them were qualified for the marital therapy and 22 constituted a control group - were not taking part in therapy. Participants evaluated themselves and their relation using: SCORE-15 (Systematic Clinical Outcome and Routine Evaluation), UMACL (UWIST Mood Adjective Check List), KKM (Marriage Communication Questionnaire)., Results: Marriages applying for the therapy, when compared with control group, showed worse general functioning, lower adaptability, more disrupted communication and were overwhelmed by difficulties in higher degree. The lower level of engagement and support, as well as the higher level of depreciating behavior were present in their communication. In this group the lower mood expressed in lower degree of Hedonic Tone and higher degree of Tense Arousal was also recorded., Conclusions: The specific functioning of marriages in crisis applying for the marital therapy is an important indication for the family therapists, in respect to their interventions during therapy process. When working with couples, it is important to consider their difficulties in communication, the tendency to depreciating each other, the lower mood and estimating the therapy as helpful and needful with simultaneous devaluating of their own styles of coping.

Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between subjective evaluation of disease (the intensity of symptoms, complaints and nuisance effects of treatment) in selected skin diseases and digestive system and investigated psychological factors: the level of stress and severity of state anxiety and trait anxiety., Method: Verification of the research hypothesis was made using the following test methods: medical survey prepared by the authors and standardized psychological tests, such as Medical Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) by S. Cohen, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by C.D. Spielberger. The study was conducted among 120 patients, including patients with psoriasis, rosacea, gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome., Results: Patients received average results in the level of stress and anxiety. The highest degree of severity of the disease and its nuisance reported patients with gastrointestinal disease. All invited to the study patients evaluated effects of treatment of their disease as relatively low. In patients with psoriasissignificant relationships conserned the largest number of tested variables, as compared to other groups., Conclusions: In all groups of patients partial correlation between the examined determinants of psychological and subjective assessment of symptoms and effects of its treatment was shown. The higher rating of the variables was most associated with a higher intensity of stress and anxiety.

Unlabelled: In the year 2013 a study of the assessment of dispositional and situational coping in difficult situations, among pupils of a secondary school, was done. 176 respondents of a secondary school, form the first and third class, were involved into a study. The analysis was based on the anonymous scale "How do you cope?"., Conclusions: Girls more often than boys cope with stress by focusing on emotions. With increasing the age from 13 to 16 years-old the strategy of active coping and seeking social support were dominant. Among students aged 17 there were significantly reduced rank of concentration on emotions. Pupils who achieved a higher grade point more often used an active coping with the stress. For the assessment of situational coping the result indicates that the severity of the strategy of concentration on emotions is higher among girls than boys.

Unlabelled: In the year 2013 a study of the assessment strategies of coping with stress and attachment styles among pregnant women which were married or in relationship were done. There were 57 females participated in the study, including 30 pregnant women. Mini-COPE Coping Inventory) was used for the diagnosis of strategies to cope with stress, and QAS (Questionnaire of Attachment Styles) was used to assessment attachment styles., Conclusions: Pregnant women which are married or in relationship more often use adaptability of coping strategies under stress. Pregnant women which are married or in relationship reveal more often secure attachment. Female, which show safe attachment use in stressful situation strategies such as active coping, planning, sense of humor, seeking the emotional and instrumental support.

A study on the relationship between level of subjective and objective health by patients after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and their coping with stress is presented. The theoretical basis of researches is Helena Wrona-Polanska's Functional Model of Health (2003), in which health is a function of creative coping with stress.141 patients after BMT -- 80 males and 61 females -- at the Hematology Clinic of University Hospital were studied clinically. Objective health was examined doctor on the scales. Examined methods were -- the questionnaires examining stress, coping strategies, and grading scales of health and anxiety. There is a clear difference between subjective and objective level of health. Subjective health depend on coping strategies with stress and objective health depend on patient's collaboration with terapeutic team. The basis of health promotion by persons after BMT is development effective strategies of coping with stress and increase patent's activity.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between work-family conflict (WFC), family-work conflict (FWC) and health, as well as the moderating effect of social support. The study was based on the Job Demands-Resources model., Materials and Methods: There were 567 nurses from 21 Polish hospitals participating in the study. To verify the hypothesis four scales, which measured WFC, FWC, social support, physical complaints and job burnout, were used., Results: The results partially support the hypothesis. As predicted, high WFC and FWC were correlated with low physical (H1) and mental health (H2). Social support moderated negative effects of WFC (but not FWC) on mental health (H3). The effects of WFC and FWC on physical health were not moderated by social support (H4)., Conclusion: The results also partially support the notion of the Job Demands-Resources model and provide further insight into processes leading to the high well-being of nurses in the workplace.

The article presents the problem of coping with chronic disease according to the concept of psychological stress. The Lazarus and Folkman theory in which stress is regarded as a relational concept, the importance of cognitive assessment and functions of coping with disease are described. The attention is paid to the illness perception and its impact on the behavioral and emotional processes. The most known tools for stress assessment and coping with stress and current research directions are shown.

In the year 2012, a study of the assessment of social support after traumatic and/or stressful life events among 85 students of nursing faculty of Medical University of Gdansk was done. The Berlin Social Support Scale was used. Nursing students after traumatic and/or stressful life events often look for the help of other people than students who had not suffered those experiences. Respondents who had partners often feel the need to use support from them after traumatic and/or stressful life events. For respondents who were in close relationship important was not only to receive support from partners, but also to give support to others.

Background: The coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) serves the improvement of blood supply of the heart muscle. Better blood supply augurs the improvement of cognitive functioning in surgically operated persons. The patients who have undergone these kind of operations, in fact are endangered with unfavourable working factors, connected with different techniques of intervention. Many studies have suggested the generalised and unspecific deterioration of cognitive functioning after CABG., Aim: The aim of our research was the assessment of the cognitive processes (the recognition of visual items, thinking abstract, the verbal fluency) as well as subjective opinion of one's own memory in cardiac surgery patients, and qualification of clinical and individual variables which could influence on pre- and post-surgical cognitive functioning., Methods: The group consisted of 18 patients (9 women, 9 men), at the age of 55-81 years. The psychological assessment was executed twice--before and after operation. In the psychological assessment, the following were used: the Benton test of visual memory, verbal fluency (animals, supermarket), subtest similarities (WAIS-PL) as well as the questionnaire of opinion of efficiency own memory Giovagnoli., Results: The patients receivedhigher results in the majority of cognitive tasks in the second (postoperative) investigation, in this especially, in estimating the ability ofrecalling the words (verbal fluency--animals; supermarket) as well as abstract thinking (Similarities)., Conclusions: The cognitive functioning of patients treated with the use CABG improved in several days after the operation in relation to their state before intervention. Higher results were noted in tasks of abstract thinking as well as verbal fluency. The clinical and individual factors modify the patients' results in various degrees.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to estimate an influence of parachute jumps on anxiety among professional soldiers from air-borne forces., Material and Methods: The investigation was carried out on 46 professional soldiers from 16 Air-Borne Battalion, patients of outpatient department of 4495 Military Unit, men at 20 to 45 age, healthy--admitted to parachute jumping in air-borne forces. They were divided on groups according to a knowledge and an experience in parachuting. In order to estimate the level of nervous tension and mental stress, personal questionnaires in accordance with STAI were carried out on free day, day of parachute jump and 24h after jump., Results: The results show the influence of parachute jumps on the parameters of psychological stress.

Aim: The aim of article is to familiarise the reader with the basic terminology connected with the role of resources in the coping strategy with the stress and the role of stress in the onset and progression of the illness. It is also in attempt to capture as well as to identify the relationship between chosen resources - resilience and strengthening of psychopathological symptoms., Method: A group of 100 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia was studied according to the criteria ICD-10 criteria (females made up 40.6%,the mean age 31). In order to evaluate resilience parts of the Questionnaire RSA were used The description of the clinical state was used with the help of the PANSS scales., Results: The PANSS scores (M=3.25 range 1.87-6.81), were below the middle of their potential range. Negative symptoms, depression and disorganisation appraisal were the most prominent in those tested. Significant positive correlations were found between PANSS scores (total, dysphoria and disorganization) and two RSA sub-scales (perception of self and personal strength)., Conclusions: Surprisingly, the pre-assumption that resilience and its elements are related to a smaller psychopathological symptoms, was not confirmed. On the contrary data suggest that the higher resilience, the higher the clinical problems.

Introduction: A stress-coping style is a relatively constant tendency to apply specific methods of coping with a situation perceived as stressful. The study examined the links between stress-coping styles and tobacco smoking among young people. The strain of psychological complaints was also considered. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between frequency of tobacco smoking and stress-coping styles and strain of psychological complaints., Methods: The presented data came from the studies conducted in the Institute of Mother and Child in 2011 among 997 students of senior secondary schools of various types. The average age of the surveyed was 16.6. Selected scales and questions from the CHIP-AE questionnaire were used. The surveyed were divided into three groups: non-smokers, occasional smokers, frequent smokers. The scale of psychological complaints was used. The CISS questionnaire was used to examine stress-coping styles. Summary indexes of stress-coping styles were devised; the following styles were identified: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, distraction-oriented and social diversion-oriented. A single-factor variant analysis was used., Results: It was concluded that of the surveyed adolescents, 55.6% had never smoked tobacco, 16.1% smoked occasionally and 28.4% smoked frequently. The percentage of frequent smokers was higher in boys (32%) than in girls (25%). A link was established between tobacco smoking and selected stress-coping styles as well as the strain from mental complaints. It was concluded that parallel to the rising frequency of smoking, the tendency increases to apply emotion-oriented, distraction-oriented and social diversion-oriented styles. The individuals who had never smoked had a lower index of the abovementioned stress-coping styles in comparison with the frequent smokers. No correlation was found between tobacco smoking and the task-oriented style. It was also determined that the frequent smokers, in comparison with the non-smokers, suffered more often from mental complaints (8.70 (SD=6.99) vs. 6.57(SD=6.05); p<0.001)., Conclusions: Frequent tobacco use is related to a greater strain from mental complaints. Frequent tobacco smoking is also connected with the choice of stress-coping strategies which focus around one's own emotions and distractions, and are not related to making efforts aimed at solving the problem. It may be therefore assumed that tobacco smoking intensifies behaviours which make it impossible to solve a stressful situation.

Aim: The aim of the research was an answer to the question if sense of coherence correlates with coping styles among parents looking after adult children with schizophrenia., Methods: 50 parents (38 mothers and 12 fathers) at age 46-84 (mean: 60) were examined. SOC-29 and CISS questionnaires were used to diagnose traits of sense of coherence and coping styles., Results: Coping style focused on problems was the most frequent one in the examined group. Sense of coherence and coping styles correlate among those in the investigated group., Conclusions: There is a correlation between sense of coherence and coping styles in the group of parents with adult children with schizophrenia. There is also a view of a statistical carer who is the mother aged about 60 years looking after the son aged 35 years diagnosed with schizophrenia.