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Nowadays, cluster analyses are widely used in mental health research to categorize student stress levels. However, conventional clustering methods experience challenges with large datasets and complex issues, such as converging to local optima and sensitivity to initial random states. To address these limitations, this research work introduces an Improved Grey Wolf Clustering Algorithm (iGWCA). This improved approach aims to adjust the convergence rate and mitigate the risk of being trapped in local optima. The iGWCA algorithm provides a balanced technique for exploration and exploitation phases, alongside a local search mechanism around the optimal solution. To assess its efficiency, the proposed algorithm is verified on two different datasets. The dataset-I comprises 1100 individuals obtained from the Kaggle database, while dataset-II is based on 824 individuals obtained from the Mendeley database. The results demonstrate the competence of iGWCA in classifying student stress levels. The algorithm outperforms other methods in terms of lower intra-cluster distances, obtaining a reduction rate of 1.48% compared to Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), 8.69% compared to Mayfly Optimization (MOA), 8.45% compared to the Firefly Algorithm (FFO), 2.45% Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), 3.65%, Hybrid Sine Cosine with Cuckoo search (HSCCS), 8.20%, Hybrid Firefly and Genetic Algorithm (FAGA) and 8.68% Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA). This demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in minimizing intra-cluster distances, making it a better choice for student stress classification. This research contributes to the advancement of understanding and managing student well-being within academic communities by providing a robust tool for stress level classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding beliefs about corporal punishment is crucial, as evidence suggests that positive beliefs in its effectiveness predict its use. High parental stress, especially in those valuing corporal punishment, increases the potential for child abuse. Factors such as having many children or low education and socioeconomic status contribute to parental tensions, leading to the use of corporal punishment for behavior correction. We posit that the accumulation of such variables results in heightened stress levels. Our focus aimed to determine the moderating role of stress levels among parental beliefs about corporal punishment and its reported use through quantitative research. In our study, 853 Colombian parents of low, middle, and high socioeconomic status, and from four different regions of Colombia, with children aged 0 to 17 participated. They provided information about their beliefs on corporal punishment, using the Beliefs and Punishment Scale. Correlations indicated that older parents with better socioeconomic status were less inclined to believe that strictness improves children. Regressions suggested that increased belief in corporal punishment modifying behavior, along with higher parental stress, increases corporal punishment use. Moderation models highlighted that when more stressors were present, corporal punishment was used due to stress rather than parental beliefs. Ultimately, stress emerged as a crucial factor influencing corporal punishment use among Colombian parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress among prison inmates is a neglected psychological health issue, but this phenomenon seems worse in Ghana's prisons. This study examined the stress levels, predictors and management strategies utilized among inmates at Ankaful Prison Complex. Method: This survey sampled 1160 inmates using the census approach at the Ankaful Prison Complex with a self-developed questionnaire for the data collection. Frequency counts, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were applied to the data. Results: The findings indicate that more than half of the inmates were moderately or highly stressed. Specifically, inmates at the Maximum Security Prison were the most stressed, followed by Annex Prison, Communicable Disease Prison, and the least, Main Camp Prison inmates. Inmate engagement in exercises, sporting activities, visit and chat with colleagues, and family connectedness outside the prison were stress-management strategies. Inmates' self-reported stress levels were influenced by the prison of custody and state of depression. Conclusion: The moderate to high stress levels identified among inmates of Ankaful Prison Complex are influenced by person–environment factors. Management of the Ankaful Prison Complex is encouraged to initiate health screening services for inmates on common mental health challenges such as stress and to promote functional stress reduction interventions to improve prisoners' mental health and overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is one of the most challenging and difficult areas of reproductive treatment due to the immense emotional suffering inflicted on families and couples affected by RPL. As a result, it is predicted that couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss would have an increase in marital problems, stress levels, and anxiety, preventing them from achieving their family goals. The current cross-sectional study aimed to target pregnant women with thrombophilia with a history of RPL to observe their intimacy problems, stress levels, and couple satisfaction by completing a series of digital questionnaires. These patients were considered as the reference group, while the control group was formed by other women with thrombophilia and a history of RPL who eventually achieved pregnancy and gave birth. A total of 238 complete questionnaires were recorded (157 in the reference group and 81 in the control group). It was observed that women in the reference group who did not give birth had a significantly higher proportion of three or more pregnancy attempts (54.1% vs. 39.5%) and a significantly higher proportion of three more pregnancy losses (68.8% vs. 55.6%). It was observed that patients in the reference group were more likely to be emotion-oriented (42.7% vs. 27.2%). Also, women in the reference group had higher levels of dissatisfaction and lower levels of self-acceptance, pleasure, and marital quality scores. The total SII and DSCS scores were significantly lower than women with thrombophilia with a history of RPL who eventually gave birth. Women from the reference group had significantly greater intimacy problems and stress levels while having lower openness scores and self-esteem scores than women in the control group. It is possible that women with thrombophilia and recurrent pregnancy loss are more dissatisfied with their marriages than those who subsequently had one child. Since the financial status of those who achieved pregnancy was observed to be higher, it is likely that they achieved pregnancy by ART interventions, as they reported in questionnaires. It is important to target families afflicted by thrombophilia and other reasons for infertility to ease their access to ART therapies. By achieving their objectives, affected families will minimize dissatisfaction, divorce rates, and stress.

The present study aims to elucidate the main variables that increase the level of stress at the beginning of military conscription service using an artificial neural network (ANN)-based prediction model. Random sample data were obtained from one battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and a survey was conducted to generate data for the training and testing of the ANN models. Using nonlinearity in stress research, numerous ANN structures were constructed and verified to limit the optimal number of neurons, hidden layers, and transfer functions. The highest accuracy was obtained by the multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) with a 6-2-2 partition. A standardized rescaling method was used for covariates. For the activation function, the hyperbolic tangent was used with 20 units in one hidden layer as well as the back-propagation algorithm. The best ANN model was determined as the model that showed the smallest cross-entropy error, the correct classification rate, and the area under the ROC curve. These findings show, with high precision, that cohesion in a team and adaptation to military routines are two critical elements that have the greatest impact on the stress level of conscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of personal restrictions on physical activity, mental health, stress experience, resilience, and sleep quality in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) during the "lockdown" period of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 112 PH patients and 52 age-matched healthy control subjects completed a questionnaire on the topics of physical activity, mental health, resilience, and sleep quality. PH patients had significantly lower physical activity, mental health, and sleep quality compared to age-matched healthy controls. Physical activity positively correlated with mental health and sleep quality in the PH group. Mental wellbeing and life satisfaction could be predicted by total physical activity, sleep, stress level, and resilience. PH patients appeared as an especially vulnerable group, demanding interventions to promote an active lifestyle and protect mental health in these patients. This could be helpful in counseling on how to carry out physical activity while maintaining infection control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]