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Purpose: Conceptualizing adolescent NSSI and emotional symptoms as a system of causal elements could provide valuable insights into the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent. This study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between NSSI, depressive symptoms, and anxious symptoms in adolescents, identifying key symptoms to establish a theoretical foundation for targeted and effective interventions addressing NSSI behaviors in this population. Methods: A total of 412 adolescents with NSSI behaviors were selected from outpatients. Generalized anxious disorder scale (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) were employed to measure anxious symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. The adolescent non-suicidal self-injury assessment questionnaire (ANSSIAQ) was used to evaluate NSSI of adolescent. Using network analysis, the NSSI、depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms network were constructed to identify the most central symptoms and the bridge symptoms within the networks. Results: The findings revealed that the NSSI functional nodes "coping with sadness and disappointment" and "relieving stress or anxious" exhibited the strongest correlation, with a regularized partial correlation coefficient was 0.401. The symptoms "having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop" and the node "depressive symptoms" had the highest strength centrality in the network, and their strength centrality indices were 1.267 and 1.263, respectively. The bridge nodes were "having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop" and "expressing one's despair and hopelessness", with expected impact indices of 0.389 and 0.396, respectively. Conclusion: In adolescents, the network revealed a closer connection between NSSI and depressive symptoms. "The desire to not stop hurting oneself" is not only broadly connected to other nodes but also could activate other nodes to maintain NSSI behavior. In light of these findings, precise targets for pharmacological treatment, psychotherapy, physical therapy, etc., are identified for adolescents with NSSI. Targeting this specific aspect in interventions may contribute to preventing and reducing NSSI behavior in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family incivility, as a new form of family interaction, is more common in daily life and has negative effects on adolescents. The current study explored the association between family incivility and suicidal ideation and tested a moderated mediation model to examine the role of hopelessness, self-esteem, sex, and age in this relationship. A total of 857 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.7 years, SD = 1.68) completed self-report measures of family incivility, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and self-esteem. The findings revealed that family incivility had a positive predictive effect on adolescents' suicidal ideation, which was mediated by hopelessness. Self-esteem moderated the relationship between family incivility and hopelessness. Sex moderated the relationship between family incivility and hopelessness, as well as the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Age moderated the relationship between family incivility and suicidal ideation as well as the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Our study is the first to identify that family incivility is a new risk factor for adolescents' suicidal ideation, which has important theoretical and practical significance for preventing or intervening in adolescents' suicidal ideation from school and family aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) is the most widely used measure of hopelessness, a key psychological construct linked with various mental health outcomes. In clinical settings, the BHS has proven a reliable tool for assessing hopelessness; however, there has been debate regarding the tool's internal consistency among non-clinical populations. Most studies assessing the dimensionality of the BHS have relied on the use of classical test theory (CTT). The length of the BHS has also prompted concerns over its practicality. The BHS-9 was developed to address these critiques and formulated based on psychiatrically hospitalized adult patients. The current study investigates the dimensionality of the BHS-9 among a non-clinical sample using item response theory (Mokken scale analysis and Rasch) and CTT. The results confirm that the BHS-9 is essentially unidimensional. However, a salient finding was that Item 6 violated invariant item ordering. An exploratory factor analysis of the remaining eight items found that the items accounted for 48.05% of the variance. Further exploratory factor analyses, removing one item at a time, showed that the removal of item 18 would increase variance explained > 50%. The revised BHS-7 was found to be unidimensional and maintained strong internal consistency and criterion-related validity. This revised tool effectively captures the essence of hopelessness among a non-clinical population and presents a more refined option for the assessment of this construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disagreement over divergent viewpoints seems like an ever-present feature of American life—but how common is debate and with whom do debates most often occur? In the present research, we theorize that the landscape of debate is distorted by social media and the salience of negativity present in high-profile spats. To understand the true landscape of debate, we conducted three studies (N = 2985) across online and lab samples. In contrast to the high-profile nature of negative debates with strangers, we found that people most commonly debate close contacts, namely family members and good friends. In addition, they often report feeling positive after engaging in debate. We then directly measured misperceptions regarding debate in a representative sample of Americans (N = 1991). We found that Americans systematically overestimated how often others engage in debate. This overestimation extended across debate partners (family members, good friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and strangers) and contexts (in-person and online; p's < 0.001, d's > 0.98), most strongly overestimating how often Americans debate strangers online. This misprediction may be psychologically costly: overestimating how often Americans debate strangers online significantly predicted greater hopelessness in the future of America. Together, our findings suggest that Americans may experience a false reality about the landscape of debate which can unnecessarily undermine their hope about the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. There was a remarkable downgrade in China's COVID-19 response strategies in January 2023. The COVID-19 infection rate grew rapidly in the early stages following the management policy shift. This study attempted to explore the associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mental or physical health status in pregnant and postpartum women and the role of perceived health risks and family members' SARS-CoV-2 infection status on these associations by capturing the impact of policy shifts in a short period of time. Methods. This cross-sectional study with a random sample from a convenience sample of hospitals was conducted in pregnant and postpartum women in January 2023. Standardized assessment tools were employed to assess anxiety, depressive and physical symptoms, and feelings of hopelessness. Hierarchical multiple logistic regressions were conducted to examine the mechanisms of associations of interests by including a range of sociodemographic factors, self-perceived health, SARS-CoV-2 infection status, and perceived health risks as covariates. Results. Of the 1,013 pregnant and postpartum women aged 32.0 ± 0.3 years, 58.2% (n = 590) were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 49.4% (n = 500) had family members who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Nearly 98% of the included participants took measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. A COVID-19 diagnosis was positively associated with feelings of hopelessness (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.20–2.35), probable anxiety (OR = 6.42, 95% CI: 2.18–24.61), possible depression (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.07–6.70), and physical symptoms (OR = 6.28, 95% CI: 1.63–42.03) after adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics, while the associations presented no statistical significance when family members' SARS-CoV-2 infection status and perceived health risks were introduced into the models. Conclusions. Our results suggested that pregnant and postpartum women may experience physical and mental health challenges when they or their family members contracted COVID-19 in the context of a considerable shift in COVID-19 management. Early detection of poor health status and its risk factors for vulnerable groups during shifts in health policy and administrative practice is very necessary, and health services, including easy access to psychosocial support and obstetric counselling, should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic fatigue is a distressing symptom for endometriosis patients but is not widely investigated in the literature. Our aim was to explore patients' lived experiences of chronic fatigue and how they make meaning of it. We analysed a subset of data from seven severely fatigued endometriosis patients, drawn from a broader qualitative study in South Africa, using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three superordinate themes and eight subordinate themes were developed. The three superordinate themes were powerlessness, which was a core aspect of the chronic fatigue experience among participants; struggle and anguish, as their lives had become a daily struggle resulting in feelings of despair and anger; and otherness, as they felt different from their peers due to the fatigue. The findings demonstrate the far-reaching effects that chronic fatigue has in the lives of endometriosis patients, including on their self-perception, and highlights the critical need for fatigue management strategies within treatment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive longitudinal designs have been increasingly leveraged to examine short-term risk factors for suicidal ideation and intent. Less understood, however, are factors that may increase risk for momentary engagement in suicidal behaviors (i.e., plans, preparations, and attempts). The present study examines commonly cited transdiagnostic suicide risk factors as predictors of suicidal behaviors at the prompt-, day-, and participant-levels using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). A sample of 237 community-based adults at high risk for suicide (Mage = 27.12 years, 61.6% cisgender women) completed six EMA prompts per day for two weeks. Three-level multilevel models, nesting prompts (Level 1) within days (Level 2) within participants (Level 3), were used to examine concurrent and prospective predictors of suicidal behaviors. Several factors, including general rumination (OR = 2.03, p =.049), suicide-specific rumination (OR = 13.88, p <.001), physical distance to suicide methods (OR = 3.09, p =.002), psychological distance to suicide methods (OR = 2.34, p =.042), and life event stress (OR = 1.96, p <.001), were significant prompt-level predictors of concurrent suicidal behaviors. However, no significant day-level or participant-level predictors of concurrent suicidal behaviors emerged. Furthermore, prospectively, there were no significant predictors of subsequent time-point suicidal behaviors at any level. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for the roles of perseverative thinking, lethal means accessibility, and stressful life events as correlates of suicidal behaviors. Notably, however, these findings also highlight the difficulties in predicting future suicidal behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hopelessness is a key risk factor for suicide. This analysis explored whether hopelessness indicates a recent suicide crisis state and is linked with magnetoencephalography (MEG) oscillatory power and effective connectivity differences. Change in hopelessness ratings and effective connectivity post-ketamine were also evaluated in a subsample of high-risk individuals to evaluate correlates of dynamic changes over time. Participants (66F;44 M;1 transgender) included individuals with suicide crisis in the last two weeks (High Risk (HR), n = 14), those with past suicide attempt but no recent suicide ideation (SI) (Low Risk (LR), n = 37), clinical controls (CC, n = 33), and healthy volunteers at minimal risk (MinR, n = 27). MEG oscillatory power and clinical hopelessness ratings (via the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)) were evaluated across groups. Dynamic casual modeling (DCM) evaluated connectivity within and between the anterior insula (AI) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). A subsample of HR individuals who received ketamine (n = 10) were evaluated at Day 1 post-infusion. The HR group reported the highest levels of hopelessness, even when adjusting for SI. MEG results linked hopelessness with reduced activity across frequency bands in salience network regions, with no group or group-by-interaction effects. Using DCM, the HR group had reduced intrinsic drive from granular Layer IV stellate cells to superficial pyramidal cells in the ACC and AI. In the pilot HR study, reduced hopelessness was linked with increased drive for this same connection post-ketamine. Hopelessness is a possible proxy for suicide risk. Electrophysiological targets for hopelessness include widespread reductions in salience network activity, particularly in the ACC and AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study underscores The Lily and the Bird's response to despair in The Sickness unto Death. By suggesting in The Lily and the Bird that we look to nature's creatures to learn an attunement and responsiveness to our situation as physical creatures subject to finite constraints, Kierkegaard's text comes into dialogue with a form of misalignment portrayed in The Sickness unto Death as a refusal of the given, "the finite," and "the necessary." One way of seeking alignment in The Lily and the Bird entails learning to hear and to answer within one's given environment, opening up the possibility of embodied joy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three letters, Pavithra describes to their unborn child what it's like to be pregnant. The first conveys the terror of carrying a new being into a violently homophobic and racist world. The second and third letters recall the desire and beauty that the unborn child sparks in them. In the fourth letter, Pavithra writes to Noor Momo, now six years old, reflecting on the realities of parenting amidst ongoing violence and the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this final letter, Pavithra invokes Noor's aunts: her sister Raksha, and her dear friends Kriti, Batool, Mabel, and Marie. The words Chitthi, Masi, Khala and Chyama refer to "mother"s sister" in Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, and Nepali, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Observational data suggest hope is associated with the quality of life and survival of people with cancer. This trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of "Pathways," a hope intervention for people in treatment for advanced lung cancer. Methods: Between 2020 and 2022, we conducted a single‐arm trial of Pathways among participants who were 3–12 weeks into systemic treatment. Pathways consisted of two individual sessions delivered during infusions and three phone calls in which participants discussed their values, goals, and goal strategies with a nurse or occupational therapist. Participants completed standardized measures of hope and goal interference pre‐ and post‐intervention. Feasibility was defined as ≥60% of eligible patients enrolling, ≥70% of participants completing three or more sessions, ≥70% of participants completing post‐assessments, and mean acceptability ratings ≥7 out of 10 on intervention relevance, helpfulness, and convenience. Linear regression fixed effects models with covariates modeled pre–post changes in complete case analysis and multiple imputation models. Results: Fifty two participants enrolled: female (59.6%), non‐Hispanic White (84.6%), rural (75.0%), and with low educational attainment (51.9% high school degree or less). Except for enrollment (54%), feasibility and acceptability markers were surpassed (77% adherence, 77% retention, acceptability ratings ≥8/10). There was moderate improvement in hope and goal interference from pre‐to post‐intervention (d = 0.51, p < 0.05 for hope; d = −0.70, p < 0.005 for goal interference). Conclusions: Strong feasibility, acceptability, and patient‐reported outcome data suggest Pathways is a promising intervention to increase hope and reduce cancer‐related goal interference during advanced lung cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interpersonal theory of suicide hypothesizes that suicide ideation (SI) emerges specifically in the context of hopelessness about the immutability of thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB; i.e., interpersonal hopelessness). The psychometrics of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale (IHS), which could be used to test this hypothesis directly, have not been rigorously evaluated. Participants (U.S. adults reporting past-year SI) completed online self-report assessments at Waves 1 (W1; N = 595) and 2 (W2; N = 215), 1 week apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure, IHS-TB and IHS-PB. Correlations indicated strong concurrent validity. Hurdle negative binomial regressions indicated that W1 IHS-TB and IHS-PB scores were associated with SI presence and severity at both waves, but this was inconsistent when adjusting for other W1 variables. IHS-TB and IHS-PB demonstrated excellent internal consistency and moderate to good test–retest reliability. The IHS could improve theory testing and suicide risk assessment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why does Kant reject atheism in such strong terms despite his denial of the traditional proofs for the existence of God? I take the position that the question of atheism and the problem it entails are not a side issue but the recurring portrait of a figure that haunts Kant not just in the Religion, but throughout his critical philosophy. I seek to expand what Kant criticizes in atheism or, more accurately, to identify atheism as part of a collection of positions that Kant rejects on grounds of what John Hare calls "rational instability," which is ultimately a moral-rational instability. This includes also certain forms of theism and theological beliefs. I claim that Kant's agenda is to construct a world view in which genuine moral behaviour is possible by preserving the world as a moral space in which individuals are free to be moral, and that the target of his metaphysical criticism is those who over-explain the world so as to deny the possibility of a meaningful self-consciousness of agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article features a conversation with Karsonya Wise Whitehead, the past president of the National Women's Studies Association, discussing the challenges faced by feminist studies, African American history, and LGBTQIA+ studies in the United States. Whitehead emphasizes the importance of addressing attacks on education at all levels and highlights the personal and cultural significance of these fields. The text emphasizes the need for multiple strategies, including activism and academic work, to sustain the movement and bring about change. It also expresses hope in the younger generation's engagement and activism and calls for continued support and mobilization. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses two recent books on the construction of women and gender in the United States. Lillian Faderman's book, "Woman: The American History of an Idea," traces the evolution of the concept of "woman" from the seventeenth century to the present. Sandra Eder's book, "How the Clinic Made Gender," focuses on the emergence of the term "gender" in the mid-twentieth century and its role in distinguishing between physical sex characteristics and socially constructed gender roles. While Faderman's book primarily explores the experiences of white women and their portrayal as domestic creatures, Eder's book examines the specific historical circumstances that led to the concept of gender. Both books provide valuable insights into the history of women and gender in the United States. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Recent Government guidelines have promoted returning people with learning disabilities and/or autism from out‐of‐area placements to their local communities. These transitions not only impact the individuals but also their families. Methods: This study explores the experiences of family members who have been involved in the repatriation of people with learning disabilities and/or autism to their local community in Guernsey. Using semi‐structured interviews, participants' experiences were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings: Three superordinate themes emerged: 'distress, powerlessness and hopelessness', 'not feeling included' and 'parental role'. Conclusions: The findings highlight the barriers and successes family members experience when supporting a relative with learning disabilities and/or autism to move back to Guernsey. Recommendations for healthcare services such as requirements for better communication and to include families in decision‐making are discussed. Accessible summary: People with learning disabilities and/or autism should not be living far away from home unless they want to.People with learning disabilities and/or autism should be helped to move back to their local communities.This research explores the experiences of family members who have helped a relative with learning disabilities and/or autism to move back to their local community in Guernsey.The study found that families face some challenges when supporting their relative return to Guernsey. The study also found things that helped families.Suggestions have been made to healthcare services about how they can improve services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors' aim in this study was to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being, hope and depression in gynecologic oncology patients. This is a descriptive and correlational study. The patients received a total of 41.59 ± 12.11 points from the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, 5.57 ± 4.19 points from the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and 14.92 ± 11.61 points from the Beck Depression Scale. Gynecologic oncology patients had high spiritual well-being levels and low hopelessness and depression levels, and their hopelessness and depression levels decreased and hope levels increased as their spiritual well-being levels increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Depressive symptoms are common in patients with heart failure (HF) and are associated with adverse outcomes in this group. This study examined depressive symptoms and associated determinants in patients with HF based on the hopelessness theory of depression. Methods and results In this cross-sectional study, a total of 282 patients with HF were recruited from 3 cardiovascular units of a university hospital. Symptom burden, optimism, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (MCERSs), hopelessness, and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. A path analysis model was established to evaluate the direct and indirect effects. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13.8% in the patients. Symptom burden had the greatest direct effect on depressive symptoms (β = 0.406; P < 0.001), optimism affected depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly with hopelessness as the mediator (direct: β = −0.360; P = 0.001; indirect: β = −0.169; P < 0.001), and MCERSs only had an indirect effect on depressive symptoms with hopelessness as the mediator (β = 0.035; P < 0.001). Conclusion In patients with HF, symptom burden, decreased optimism, and hopelessness contribute to depressive symptoms directly. What is more, decreased optimism and MCERS lead to depressive symptoms indirectly via hopelessness. Accordingly, interventions aimed at decreasing symptom burden, enhancing optimism, and reducing the use of MCERSs, while declining hopelessness, may be conducive to relieving depressive symptoms in patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a terminal and progressive condition which often brings with it a loss of hope, and feelings of hopelessness in those living with the condition and their family carers. Community nurses are in a unique position of being able to interact with people with dementia and their family carers in their own homes, or the care settings in which they reside, and in some case, will be the only professionals with regular contact with the family. Therefore, they have the opportunity to increase feelings of hope in those they work with. This article will discuss the concept of hope as it relates to dementia. It goes on to give an overview of Snyder's model of hope, which presents hope as a cognitive state, and therefore presents the opportunity for professionals to increase feelings of hope. An overview of the research evidence around hope-based interventions is then given, with the ideas applied to community nursing practice using a case study. This article aims to add some hope-based interventions to the toolkit of community nurses as they work with people and families affected by dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being a significant other (SO) to a person with borderline personality disorder (BPD) affect their health. High incidence of substance use disorder, post‐traumatic stress disorder, stress, fear, anxiety, depression, family burden and grief are common. Some specific therapies for BPD, have included support to SOs, however resources are scarce and to participate in the support it assumes that the person with BPD is included in these therapies. Although the SO support has been shown to be helpful, they all have a similar structure, and only a small exclusive group of SOs have access to the support. Aim: The aim was to describe experiences and need of support for significant others to persons with borderline personality disorder from the perspective of themselves and of health care workers. Methods: Data was collected via two focus groups. One with five SOs to persons with BPD, one with five health care workers. Two interview sessions in each group were conducted and data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of Lund (2016–1026). Results: The results revealed four themes; not being seen by health care professionals creates hopelessness, being seen by healthcare professionals creates trust, experience of support ‐ helpful or shameful and the step from loosely structured support to a structured support group. Both groups expressed a need for further support as a complement to already existing support. Conclusions: The need of support is extensive. The results suggest a professional coordinator intended for SOs and peer support groups not linked to a particular psychiatric treatment yet offering support in a structured way. Further studies examining these complements to existing support, is therefore recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inpatient psychiatric units are heavily regulated physical environments designed around the twin aims of treatment and containment. Less formally regulated but no less important are emotional norms and tones that also contribute significantly to psychiatric care environments. Inpatient psychiatric units are co-created by patients and clinicians, but clinicians have authority that patients do not. This means that clinicians' management of their own transference and reactions is clinically and ethically important. This article defines transference reactions and draws on case examples to canvass how positive and negative transference reactions can influence inpatient care of patients who are suicidal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many ways, the cascading effects of the age of the Anthropocene have accelerated life as we know it towards a certain kind of reckoning, which has only been exacerbated amidst the global inequities present within the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma studies, as an interdisciplinary field, has recently been linked to the experience of despair at both personal and collective levels. Yet, trauma scholars are increasingly amenable to diverse forms of spirituality and its perspectives as core to the work of addressing suffering in the world, especially for marginalized communities as ways to access the wisdom of bodies, thoughts, emotions, and cultural/spiritual longings. Moving further in this direction, a practical theology which bridges trauma studies with Christian spirituality (and the emphases on spiritually rooted social action and the centrality of the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete: helper, counsellor, advocate, and comforter) is timely. This paper imagines how contemporary trauma care approaches might be supported by emergent forms of Christian spirituality enabling greater posttraumatic growth and resiliency and subsequently how this can renew the practice and study of Christian spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted with two groups (training and control) using a pretest/post-test design to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral approach-based psychoeducation on the levels of coping with hopelessness and stress of parents of children with cancer. The data were collected using the "Personal Information Form", "Coping with Stress Scale" and "Beck Hopelessness Scale." The training was given as a total of eight sessions of individual training every 2 weeks. The study showed that after the training, the training group scored significantly lower than the control group in the sub-dimensions of helpless and submissive approach in coping with stress and hopelessness levels and scored higher in the sub-dimensions of self-confident approach, optimistic approach, and seeking social support approach. It was found that cognitive-based psychoeducation had an effect on increasing the ways of coping with stress and decreasing the hopelessness levels of parents of children with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The prevalence of suicidal behavior in university students ranges from 14.1% to 27.9%, with suicide being the fourth leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 29. Hopelessness, decreased self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation are among the main risk factors. Objective. To determine the effect of hopelessness, depression, anxiety, stress, drug use, and self-efficacy on suicide attempts in Mexican psychology students. Method. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was undertaken with a sample of 3,438 students from sixty-two universities accredited by the National Council for Teaching and Research in Psychology (CNEIP) from six regions in Mexico. Results. A total of 19.9% reported attempted suicide (85.1% women and 14.9% men); 36.4% drug use; 40.2% moderate to extreme stress; 50.1% anxiety, and 40.7% depression; 74.1% medium to high emotional dysregulation; 30.2% moderate to high hopelessness, and 32.9% low self-efficacy. Drug use (OR 1.897), sex (OR 1.756), anxiety (OR 1.218), hopelessness (OR 1.209), depression (OR 1.756), and stress (OR 1.050) respectively account for 17.2% of the variability of suicide attempts. Discussion and conclusion. Confirmation of the effect of the variables analyzed on the suicide attempts of psychology students underlines the importance of incorporating actions that will contribute to controlling the incidence of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore how experiences of increased loneliness during the COVID‐19 pandemic affected emotional distress and changes in perceptions of physical and mental health. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: Data from the Socio‐Economic Impacts of Covid‐19 Survey, a national survey administered to 5033 adults in August and September 2020 in the United States, was utilized in this study. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the associations between increased experiences of loneliness during the pandemic, emotional distress and changes in perceptions of physical and mental health. Results: Among the 47% of participants who reported increased experiences of loneliness during the pandemic, 31% reported a poorer perceived change in mental health and 12% reported a poorer perceived change in physical health. Increased experiences of loneliness during the pandemic were significantly associated with emotional distress and poorer perceived mental and physical health changes. Emotional distress significantly mediated the effect between increased experiences of loneliness during the pandemic and poorer perceived mental and physical health changes. These findings highlight the importance of producing preventative actions to combat increased loneliness and emotional distress during and after future pandemics in order to improve health perceptions, which can result in negative health outcomes over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The text explores the incorporation of discussions on race and justice into Columbia University's Contemporary Civilization Core Curriculum course following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. It acknowledges the potential for despair among students when confronted with the deeply rooted system of white supremacy, but argues that collective despair can be a form of political agency that leads to hope and the belief in the possibility of change. The text also delves into the work of abolitionist David Walker, who aimed to mobilize Black readers through instilling despair and highlighting the oppression faced by Black Americans during slavery. Walker condemns the use of Christianity to justify slavery and criticizes colonizationists who claim to act in the interest of Black Americans. Despite the despair caused by white supremacist domination, Walker's goal is to awaken a sense of political agency and hope among Black Americans. The text emphasizes the role of educators in helping students recognize the potential for despair and the importance of humanistic study in understanding political agency. [Extracted from the article]

Noir's atmosphere of anxiety and/or despair stems not from environment and setting but rather from character and from an outsider defined by and riddled with a very Kierkegaardian sense of existentialist despair. As works by John D. MacDonald and David Goodis demonstrate, the despairing protagonist is the foremost defining characteristic of noir fiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal is the property of Humanities & Educational Sciences Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study aims to probe the relationship of facial disfigurement, stigmatization, burdensome, hopelessness and suicidal ideation in acid attack survivors and to scrutinize the mediating role of perceived burdensome and hopelessness in connection between facial disfigurement, social stigmatization and suicidal ideation among acid attack survivors. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from Holy Family Hospital which is located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Acid Survivors Foundation and social media sites. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the sample. Sample comprised of N = 74 acid attack survivors. English version of discrimination and stigma scale, interpersonal needs questionnaire perceived burdensome scale, suicidal ideation attributes scale, Beck hopelessness scale and observer-rated facial disfigurement scale were used for the assessment. Statistical analysis includes correlation and mediation analysis through process macro. Findings: Results indicated significant positive relationship between facial disfigurements, unfair treatment, stopping self and perceived burdensome with suicidal ideation, whereas overcoming stigma, hopelessness and positive treatment present a negative relationship with suicidal ideation. Results of the current study also showed that burdensome and hopelessness appear as significant mediator in association between facial disfigurement, social discrimination and suicidal ideation. This study provides the awareness about how by decreasing the hopelessness and perceived burdensome and resolving social stigmatization can minimize suicidal ideation and risks accompanying it. Originality/value: This research covers a topic that violates human rights, it is a topic that never gets old and people are still facing its effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant scientific advancement in deciphering the "deaths of despair" narrative, most relevant studies have focused on drug-, alcohol-, and suicide-related (DAS) deaths. This study directly investigated despair as a determinant of death and the temporal variation and racial heterogeneity among individuals. We used psychological distress (PD) as a proxy for despair and drew data from the US National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files 1997 to 2014, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Multiple Cause of Death database 1997 to 2014, CDC bridged-race population files 1997 to 2014, Current Population Survey 1997 to 1999, and the American Community Survey 2000 to 2014. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate mortality hazard ratios of PD and compared age-standardized PD-and DAS-related mortality rates by race/ethnicity and over time. We found that while Whites had a lower prevalence of PD than Blacks and Hispanics throughout the whole period, they underwent distinctive increases in PD-related death and have had a higher PD-related mortality rate than Blacks and Hispanics since the early 2000s. This was predominantly due to Whites' relatively high and increasing vulnerability to PD less the prevalence of PD. Furthermore, PD induced a more pervasive mortality consequence than DAS combined for Whites and Blacks. In addition, PD-and DAS-related deaths displayed a concordant trend among Whites but divergent patterns for Blacks and Hispanics. These findings suggest that 1) DAS-related deaths underestimated the mortality consequence of despair for Whites and Blacks but overestimated it for Hispanics; and 2) despair partially contributed to the DAS trend among Whites but probably not for Blacks and Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the levels of self-esteem, hopelessness, quality of life, and psychological symptoms among individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease and compare them with those who were not diagnosed with periodontal disease. The literature review revealed a scarcity of studies that explore the relationship between psychological symptoms and periodontal diseases, and the absence of a comprehensive study that addresses the variables considered in this study. The participants were recruited from patients seeking treatment at a university's faculty of dentistry, including those who were diagnosed with periodontitis and gingivitis, as well as those who did not receive any such diagnoses. A total of 90 individuals (nwomen= 45, nmen= 44, 1 not specified) voluntarily participated in the study. The study utilized the Beck Hopelessness Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, and demographic information form to collect data. The experimental method, a quantitative research technique, was employed. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25, employing ANOVA and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that the healthy group had a higher mean for the general health status dimension of quality of life than those diagnosed with periodontitis, and those diagnosed with gingivitis had a higher mean than those diagnosed with periodontitis. Additionally, the mean scores of the healthy group were lower than those diagnosed with periodontitis for both hopelessness and depression. Finally, the mean scores of patients diagnosed with gingivitis were lower than those diagnosed with periodontitis for hostility. The correlation analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between self-esteem and quality of life for all three groups. The results of this research have important implications, such as reducing interrelated psychological symptoms and periodontal diseases, planning early intervention studies, reducing the cost of treatment, improving oral health, and preventing unnecessary appointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic exercise (AE) combined with pharmacotherapy is known to reduce depressive symptoms; however, studies have not focused on long-term AE for volumetric changes of brain regions (amygdala, thalamus, and nucleus accumbens [NAcc]) linked to the control of affective responses and hopelessness in individuals with major depression (MD). In addition, AE with motor complexity (AEMC) would be more effective than AE in causing brain plasticity. We compared the effects of 24 weeks of AE and AEMC combined with pharmacotherapy on clinical and volumetric outcomes in individuals with MD. Forty medicated individuals with MD were randomly assigned to nonexercising control (C), AE, and AEMC groups. The training groups exercised for 60 min, twice a week for 24 weeks. Clinical and volumetric outcomes were assessed before and after the 24 weeks. Effect size (ES) and confidence interval (CI) were calculated for within-group and between-groups changes. AE and AEMC reduced hopelessness (ES = −0.73 and ES = −0.62, respectively) and increased affective responses (ES = 1.24 and ES = 1.56, respectively). Only AE increased amygdala (ES = 0.27 left and ES = 0.34 right), thalamus (ES = 0.33 left and ES = 0.26 right) and left NAcc (ES = 0.54) volumes. AE was more effective than the C group in reducing hopelessness and causing brain plasticity. The changes in the right amygdala volume showed a strong trend in explaining 72 % of the changes in affective responses following AE (p = 0.06). Lack of posttraining follow-up and small sample size. These preliminary data indicate that AE combined with pharmacotherapy can cause clinical improvement and brain plasticity in individuals with MD. • Aerobic exercise (AE) with and without motor complexity improves clinical outcomes. • Only AE increases the bilateral amygdala, thalamus, and left nucleus accumbens volume. • Volumetric change of the right amygdala may explain improved affective response to AE. • AE with motor complexity did not cause any volumetric change. • Both training groups showed high adherence to interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a potential period in preparing for better future results. At this time, adolescents also have potential for development that is able to repair decline, which is called Personal Growth Initiative, which will help a series of steps that continues to grow throughout their journey of life. However, the facts show that many adolescents experience psychological difficulties. Data proves that adolescents experience mental health problems and mental disorders. This data explains that they will tend to feel fall down, despair, don’t want to try, give up easily, engage in risky behavior, and have the desire to end their life which becomes real problems in their Personal Growth Initiative. It certainly affects and hinders adolescents from developing into better individuals. One of the factors that can influence individuals to change in a positive direction is Perceived Social Support. Using resources in Personal Growth Initiative can be the main aspect that can be accessed by individuals in utilizing social support that is felt by individuals (Perceived Social Support). The subjects of this study were 392 high school students aged 15–18 years, both boys and girls. The measuring tool used is a Likert scale for both variables. The sampling technique uses probability sampling with simple random sampling. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant positive (R² = 0.120) effect between the variable Perceived Social Support (x) and Personal Growth Initiative variable (y), F = 17.714 (P 0.05). With the equation of the multiple linear regression line Y = 40.226 + 0.312*X1 + 0.107*X2 + 0.040*X3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to examine the moderator effect of organ transplant waiting time on hopelessness and death anxiety. The study was conducted in a descriptive and correlational design with 378 patients on the transplant waiting list (Agust 2021- March 2022). Multiple linear regression and PROCESS macro-Model 1 were used in the analyses. In this study, the STROBE checklist was followed. According to the results of the regression analysis, waiting for a transplant for 6–10 years reduced death anxiety by 9.38 times and waiting for a transplant for 16–20 years increased death anxiety by 31.3 times. The predictors in the regression analysis explained 33% of the model. The moderator effect constituted 6.4% of the explained part of the model, which was 25.4%; the R2 change was 3.4% and significant. We found that the longer the waiting period for organ transplant recipients, the higher the hopelessness and death anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) that includes anhedonia and impacts quality of life but is not effectively treated with conventional antidepressants clinically. Vagus nerve stimulation improves treatment-resistant depression in the general population, but research about its antidepressant efficacy in PD is limited. Here, we administered peripheral non-invasive focused ultrasound to hemiparkinsonian ('PD') and non-parkinsonian (sham) rats to mimic vagus nerve stimulation and assessed its antidepressant-like efficacy. Following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion, akinesia-like immobility was assessed in the limb-use asymmetry test, and despair- and anhedonic-like behaviors were evaluated in the forced swim test and sucrose preference test, respectively. After, tyrosine hydroxylase immuno-staining was employed to visualize and quantify dopaminergic degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta, ventral tegmental area, and striatum. We found that PD rats exhibited akinesia-like immobility and > 90% reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase immuno-staining ipsilateral to the lesioned side. PD rats also demonstrated anhedonic-like behavior in the sucrose preference test compared to sham rats. No 6-OHDA lesion effect on immobility in the forced swim test limited conclusions about the efficacy of ultrasound on despair-like behavior. However, ultrasound improved anhedonic-like behavior in PD rats and this efficacy was sustained through the end of the 1-week recovery period. The greatest number of animals demonstrating increased sucrose preference was in the PD group receiving ultrasound. Our findings here are the first to posit that peripheral non-invasive focused ultrasound to the celiac plexus may improve anhedonia in PD with further investigation needed to reveal its potential for clinical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound effects on college students, and those with mental health conditions are more vulnerable to the impact of this stress. Objective: To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students' mental health. Participants: Participants (n=489) were mostly female, undergraduate, and aged 18–25. Methods: Participants completed an online survey assessing symptoms of mental health problems including hopelessness, loneliness, sadness, anxiety, sadness, and anger. Results: Approximately 81.6 % self-reported at least one negative mental health symptom. Students reported increased feelings of hopelessness (+7.8%), loneliness (+6.7%), sadness (+8.8%), depression (+2.6%), anxiety (+5.2%), and anger (+14.6%) during the pandemic than before. LGBTQ students and Black students had significantly more mental health symptoms during the pandemic than straight and White students. Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the negative impact of the pandemic and resultant changes on college students' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience suffering that affects their families and community relationships. However, no studies provide an explicit account of social suffering among these individuals. This secondary analysis was conducted to understand the lived experiences of social suffering in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The theory of social suffering guided the analysis of an interpretative phenomenological study. Thirteen individuals were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were generated: a) prevailing hopelessness and burden, b) progressing relational adversities, and c) struggling with co-dependency. Social suffering is a complex entity experienced by the patients and the family caregivers. For enhanced caregiving, health professionals could prepare patients to tackle the suffering through collective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intervention process for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is inextricably associated with their parents' mental health problems, such as hopelessness, which may adversely affect resilience and indirectly impact the effectiveness of interventions for their children. Hence, the motivation to help parents of children with ASD reduce hopelessness prompted us to conduct the present study and explore the interrelationship between hopelessness symptoms and resilience. This study evaluated hopelessness and resilience using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD‐RISC). Participants met the criteria for their children's ASD diagnosis by a psychiatrist (N = 448; 54.69% mothers; Meanage = 34.59 years, SDage = 4.94 years). Moreover, we used symptom network analysis to examine the variability in network structure between fathers and mothers. The flow function was applied to examine which hopelessness symptoms were directly or indirectly associated with resilience. The results showed that #BHS11 (i.e., unpleasantness‐ahead) was the central symptom found in the network structure for all parents and fathers, while #BHS17 (i.e., no‐future‐satisfaction) was the central symptom in the network structure for mothers. Additionally, #BHS6 ([NOT] expect‐to‐succeed) was directly and positively associated with resilience in all three network structures (i.e., all parents, fathers, and mothers). The results of the present study provide evidence that influential symptoms should be addressed and offer guidance for further interventions to reduce hopelessness and enhance resilience among parents of children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There are many burgeoning treatments, and a large range of therapeutic options for 21st century psychiatry. This paper briefly comments upon considerations for balancing treatment to suit the patient, their illness, and their milieu. Conclusions: Therapeutic equipoise, for psychiatric care, is an aspiration rather than a position easily achieved. In day-to-day clinical practice, there will be unexpected demands and barriers that cannot always be accommodated or surmounted. Psychiatrists can work collaboratively with patients, carers, and colleagues in conceptualising and care-planning to avoid extremes of therapeutic hubris and despair, and to adapt evidence-based care more effectively so that it is suited to the patient and their circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual psychology, which was pioneered by Alfred Adler, believes that humans have an innate drive to overcome their weaknesses so that they can develop their potential using self-actualization. This research aims to analyze research on the Adlerian counseling approach. The method used in this research is the PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The data sources were obtained from Scopus and Crossref with a period of 2013 to 2023. The data sources obtained from Scopus were 59 articles and Crossref 145 articles, then the inclusion and exclusion data were reduced so that the data sources from Scopus were 3 articles and Crossref 11 articles. The results of this research indicate that Adlerian counseling has the same principles as a neuroscientific perspective. The implementation of Adlerian counseling cannot be separated from counseling techniques to help solve client or counselee problems. The discovery of a new counseling technique, namely Adventure Therapy, and supervision of the implementation of Adlerian counseling aims to develop counseling skills in counselors. The Adlerian counseling approach is effective in reducing levels of anxiety and hopelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant threat to the lives of individuals, particularly frontline healthcare workers. This brought about negative emotions, such as anxiety and hopelessness. Despite the existence of research evaluating psychiatric symptoms among healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study is also significant in terms of evaluating and emphasizing the common negative emotions experienced by frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate anxiety and hopelessness levels in emergency service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine these levels in terms of specific variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among emergency service healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and healthcare officers working in a training and research hospital from July 10 to August 10, 2020 during the pandemic. Participants completed a survey that included a sociodemographic information form, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). A total of 135 personnel without a history of psychiatric illness or use of psychiatric medication were included in the study. Results: Of the 135 participants in the study, 67 were female, and 68 were male. The mean state anxiety score for all participants was 44.5 (12.6), trait anxiety score was 44.2 (7.3) and hopelessness score was 7.1 (5.2). It was found that the anxiety of emergency service workers during the pandemic was at a moderate level and their hopelessness was at a mild level. In the study, higher scores were found in hopelessness and state-trait anxiety measurements in married individuals compared to single participants (P=0.040, P=0.003, P=0.001, respectively). Trait anxiety scores were significantly higher among those with chronic diseases compared to those without chronic diseases, and in those living with families compared to those living alone (P=0.039 and P=0.017, respectively). A positive and moderate relationship was observed between hopelessness levels and statetrait anxiety levels (P<0.001 for all, r=0.457, r=0.425, respectively). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased levels of anxiety and hopelessness were detected among healthcare workers in emergency services. It was observed that as the working time in the emergency department increased, hopelessness and state anxiety levels of the employees also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a set of measurable goals and targets agreed to by all United Nations (UN) member countries in 2001 or thereafter to achieve substantial socio‐economic improvement for all developing countries by 2015. The MDGs were defined by some as an 'international super‐norm' that made the eradication of extreme poverty a global policy and responsibility. In this article, we examine the broader historical and discursive context that facilitated this institutional emergence and draw on Rorty and Braithwaite to suggest that the MDGs can be considered an 'institution of hope.' The paper contextualises the political economy of despair that prevailed in the 1990s before outlining Rorty's critique of neo‐liberalism and post‐developmentalism and explaining the political value of hope as a collective motivating emotion. The paper then examines critiques of the MDGs before concluding that the MDGs performed a valuable function in reinvigorating global concern over poverty eradication, even if, in retrospect, the MDGs themselves remained only what Rorty referred to as a 'plausible narrative of progress.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing loss has an extremely high prevalence worldwide and brings incredible economic and social burdens. Mechanisms such as epigenetics are profoundly involved in the initiation and progression of hearing loss and potentially yield definite strategies for hearing loss treatment. Non-coding genes occupy 97% of the human genome, and their transcripts, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are widely participated in regulating various physiological and pathological situations. NcRNAs, mainly including micro-RNAs (miRNAs), long-stranded noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and cell death by modulating gene expression and protein-protein interactions, thus impacting the occurrence and prognosis of hearing loss. This review provides a detailed overview of ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs, in the pathogenesis of hearing loss. We also discuss the shortcomings and issues that need to be addressed in the study of hearing loss ncRNAs in the hope of providing viable therapeutic strategies for the precise treatment of hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to official statistics, more and more people are dying from chronic and oncological diseases, dragging the last days of life into health institutions. In this sense, the discussion about the defence of the dignity of the patient at the end of life has often gone hand in hand with the discussion of euthanasia. We carried out an exploratory study of a qualitative nature, with the aim of identifying the situations that, in the opinion of nursing students, can lead to the loss of dignity of the terminally ill patient and the reasons that can lead them to request euthanasia. The sample consisted of 55 undergraduate nursing students, and the data was collected using a questionnaire consisting mainly of open questions. The data was processed using content analysis following the procedures described by Bardin. The main results indicate that the situations that can lead patients to feel a loss of dignity are loss of autonomy, abandonment, suffering, lack of respect, pity and loss of self. The reasons for evoking euthanasia are suffering, loss of autonomy, loss of hope, being a burden on the family and loss of meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ I will defend the necessity and urgency of implementing an ecoculture in such a way that it is possible to live the present and look to the future beyond the fear of destruction. The happy dream for the human family, as described in Laudato Si’, will mean breaking free from the chains of the paradigm of fear, where having takes precedence over being and, consequently, leads to the agony of the whole Creation in a spiral of survival, where the fullness of life has no place. Ecoculture will make possible a sobriety that is able, without despair or fatalism, to develop an action of compassion for Creation - a compassion in which the human being understands himself as an integral part of Creation, suffering with it whenever destruction is victorious. In an ecoculture, human beings reassume their original role in Creation, abandoning all ambitions and attempts at superiority, but rather seeking the common good of Creation, in which technical progress, policies, and social relations are allies in safeguarding the common home and never sacrificers of integral ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Fantasy: How It Works" by Brian Attebery challenges traditional notions of fantasy literature by exploring its meaning and purpose rather than providing a strict definition. The book delves into various aspects of fantastic storytelling and worldbuilding, emphasizing their interconnectedness. Attebery also examines the intertextual nature of fantasy literature and highlights the influence of science fiction. The review suggests that the book will be valuable for scholars studying utopian and dystopian literature. Overall, "Fantasy: How It Works" offers multiple interpretations of fantasy literature and encourages readers to reconsider its significance in the field of literary scholarship. [Extracted from the article]