Search

Long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic individuals and their families are recently emerging. This study investigated these effects in 40 mother-child dyads by measuring the behavioral problems of autistic individuals (via Aberrant Behavior Checklist) and their mothers' anxiety levels (via Beck Anxiety Inventory) during the pre-pandemic period, one month after, and one year after its onset. One year into the pandemic, aberrant behaviors of autistic individuals worsened only for those whose mothers had high anxiety levels. The continued negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behavior of autistic individuals is related to their mother's anxiety level, highlighting the need to support maternal mental health in families with individuals with autism.

This study sought to examine whether mumbling might, for some youths, arise among traumatic sequelae. College students provided retrospective reports of mumbling and completed standardized measures of trauma history and posttraumatic distress (Brief Trauma Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory for Primary Care, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale). Mumbling was associated with a higher likelihood of sexual abuse but not other forms of trauma. Several measures of distress were significantly elevated for those who reported mumbling (Fear of Negative Evaluation, Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Anxiety--with the first two accounting for significant specific variance). Findings suggest that mumbling in young people could be a sign that encourages screening for sexual trauma and distress.

The role of the parents is crucial in the children's effective functioning, having a long-term effect on the physical, mental and social health of the individuals. Sense of coherence is one of the most important elements of mental health, having a significant effect on the various aspects of life. So do parental goal emphasis by setting the main directions for the children. The current survey aimed to study the impact of sense of coherence and the perceived parental goal emphasis for teenagers' anxiety disorder. 80 of these students (40 suffering from anxiety disorder and 40 normal individuals) were selected due to a questionnaire about anxiety and sampling method, considering the goal of the research. The sense of coherence questionnaire was filled by students' mothers, and to understand parents, the perceived parental goal emphasis questionnaire was filled by the students themselves. The results were calculated and analysed by a statistical program called SPSS (V.20) with MANOVA on the Dependent variables test. The results indicate that the sense of coherence was different in two groups of mothers and students than anxiety disorder and normal individuals. It shows that sense of coherence had a higher rate in normal students' mothers. Also, the orientation senses of parents and its component had a huge superiority over students with an anxiety disorder than normal.

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been associated with decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population, but more consistent evidence is needed in the university population. Purpose: Investigate the association between physical activity and depressive and anxiety symptoms in undergraduates. Methods: 100 university students (23 ± 4 years, 47% female) were included in this cross-sectional study. We performed multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the association between the main variables. Results: The physical activity (MET/min/week) had a significant association with depressive (F(2, 97) = 15.104, p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.222) and anxiety symptoms (F(2, 97) = 11.853 p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.180), explaining these outcomes in approximately 22% and 18%, respectively. Moderate or vigorous physical activity did not have an association with depressive (B = -0.10, t = -0.700, p = 0.486) or anxiety symptoms (B = -0.11, t = 0.725, p = 0.470). Discussion: Individuals with high levels of physical activity have lower depressive and anxiety symptoms than individuals with lower levels of PA. Translation to Health Education Practice: Increasing the level of physical activity may be a viable strategy to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in university students. A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars.

Use of breath, close physical proximity, and tactile cues are some of the unique facets of dance training. In March of 2020, as COVID-19 lockdowns occurred, these aspects were removed from the lexicon of dance educators as virtual learning took the place of in-person training. This data-driven project explores the benefits and challenges of virtual dance, examining whether online dance can acutely improve mental health and enhance social connectivity. We explore our findings from an education perspective, focusing on learning style, class experience, and dance history. Our findings suggest that online dance can improve mood and increase community connectedness in healthy adults. Importantly, we found that an individual's trait learning style can influence the effectiveness of online learning, with tactile learners benefitting the most in terms of mood state and visual learners benefitting the most in terms of social connectivity. Additionally, we found that greater levels of experienced enjoyment provided the greatest benefits to mood state, whereas greater levels of perceived difficulty may have detrimental effects. We suggest best practices for online dance learning, provide future areas of research, and highlight the importance of using online learning to increase dance accessibility to diverse populations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to delineate the moderating roles of negative experiences related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the association between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms and anxiety symptoms and internalizing behaviors during Fall 2020. Method: Participants were 200 college students. Using a moderated moderation model, researchers found that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms predicted anxiety symptoms for those who internalized behaviors and experienced COVID-19 more negatively. Results: Results suggested that ADHD symptoms were playing a role in the manifestation of anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and that college students who internalize behaviors experienced worsened ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: Clinical implications underscore the importance of providing mental health resources for students on campus, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specialized treatment may include help with developing time management skills and teaching interventions such as mindfulness exercises that may help alleviate anxiety and improve attention and concentration.

Background: Today's college students are experiencing unprecedented rates of stress, anxiety, and mental health issues. As a result, college counseling centers are often overwhelmed by the demand for mental health services. Methods: The current study evaluated the potential for Hatha yoga classes to be used as an alternative to conventional psychotherapy for college students reporting high levels of stress and anxiety. Results: After 6 weeks of twice-weekly, hour-long yoga classes, significant reductions in stress, anxiety, pathological worry, and rumination were reported by 7 undergraduate college students. Conclusions: Results of this pilot study suggest that Hatha yoga classes may serve as a widely accessible, cost-effective early intervention that can be offered as a first-line recommendation to students who are struggling with heightened levels of stress and anxiety.

Background: The psychological well-being of students may be especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; international students can lack local support systems and represent a higher risk subgroup. Methods: Self-reported depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, alcohol use, academic stress, and loneliness were examined in two cohorts of university students (March 2020 n = 207, March 2021 n = 142). We investigated differences i) between 2020 and 2021, ii) between domestic and international students, and iii) whether differences between the two cohorts were moderated by student status. Results: More depressive symptoms, academic stress, and loneliness were reported in 2021. International students reported more depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, anxiety, PTSD, academic stress, and loneliness. The main effect of cohort was not moderated by student status. Conclusions: International students had worse mental health outcomes overall, but were not affected more by the COVID-19 pandemic than domestic students.

Maths anxiety is common and refers to feelings of anxiety, fear and other negative emotions and thoughts in individuals when confronted with mathematical tasks or numerical information. Self-report measures of maths anxiety have been created, but the majority are in English and are not culturally relevant to all countries. This study aimed to translate and validate existing measures for future use in Hebrew-speaking adult populations. The Mathematics Anxiety Scale -- UK (MAS-UK) was translated to Hebrew and adult participants completed it alongside the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale -- Revised (MARS-R) and a general anxiety measure. Factor structures were explored for both the translated MAS-UK and a Hebrew version of the MARS-R, as well as being checked for reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. Results from a final sample of 213 participants, indicated the shortened, Hebrew version of the MAS-UK and the MARS-R are internally consistent and suitable for use in future maths anxiety research in adult Israeli populations. Findings regarding sex differences in maths anxiety are also discussed.

In this study, interpersonal cognitive distortions and emotional intelligence were identified as predictors of anxiety. In this regard, this study was conducted to describe the connections among interpersonal cognitive distortions, anxiety, and emotional intelligence and disclose the mediation of emotional intelligence between interpersonal cognitive distortions and anxiety. A total of 235 university students (135 females and 100 males) were surveyed for the correlational model in the study. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Test, a Personal Information Form, and the Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale were utilized for collecting the data. According to the findings, emotional intelligence, interpersonal cognitive distortions, and anxiety have statistically significant negative correlations. Furthermore, it was found that interpersonal cognitive distortions had a positive and statistically significant correlation with anxiety. Based on the mediation analyses conducted in the study, it was determined that the association between interpersonal cognitive distortions and anxiety was partially mediated by emotional intelligence. As a result, the indirect influence of interpersonal cognitive distortions on anxiety is statistically significant. Experts who design programs to help persons with anxiety and who study family therapy are expected to benefit from the findings of the study.

More students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are pursuing higher education. Existing studies have investigated the postsecondary educational outcomes of college students with ADHD, finding that these students typically have lower academic performance and higher dropout rates than their non-ADHD peers. Far fewer studies address the reasons for these poor outcomes. The current study sought to better understand which pre-college and college factors are related to the (1) academic performance (i.e., cumulative grade point average) and (2) retention of college students with ADHD. Data collected through direct testing and self-report ratings were analyzed for 228 first year college students with ADHD. Results indicated that two pre-college factors, gender (i.e., being male) and lower standardized test scores, significantly predicted lower GPA. Conversely, only one college factor, greater motivation, was found to significantly predict higher GPA and retention. Taken together, findings draw attention to several variables that both secondary and postsecondary institutions can target for intervention to support a more successful transition to college. Additionally, findings highlight the need for future research to elucidate factors related to college academic success for students with ADHD.

Background: The increasing burden of mental health problems continues in the post-COVID-19 era, and nursing interns were particularly likely to experience negative emotions during the pandemic. Both psychological resilience and social support affect negative emotion, but the relationship among the three has not been explored in nursing interns in the postpandemic era. Objectives: To explore the current prevalence of negative emotions among nursing interns and the role of psychological resilience in mediating the relationship between social support and negative emotions in the postpandemic era. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 788 nursing interns was conducted. The instruments included Psychological Resilience Scale, Social Support Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the mediating role of psychological resilience. Results: The prevalence of anxiety disorder among nursing interns was 24.7%, while that of depression was 10.5%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that both social support and psychological resilience negatively correlated with negative emotions, while psychological resilience positively correlated with social support. Psychological resilience showed a partial mediating effect (53.9%) between social support and negative emotion, with an effect value of -0.1456. Conclusion: Psychological resilience and social support protect nursing students from negative emotions, and psychological resilience partially mediates the relationship between social support and negative emotion in the postpandemic era.

Autistic adults are at risk of stress-related psychiatric disorders and reduced life quality due to social, cognitive, and perceptual challenges. Mental health interventions adapted to autistic adults are scarce. Acceptance and commitment therapy has preliminarily indicated health benefits in autistic adults, although it has not been robustly evaluated. Overall, 39 adults (21 males; 21-72 years) with autism spectrum disorder and normal intellectual ability (IQ M = 108.5; SD = 13.5) were randomized to 14 weeks of adapted acceptance and commitment therapy group treatment (NeuroACT) or treatment as usual. The intervention was feasible. Perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), alongside psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, cognitive and behavioral avoidance, and autistic mannerism were statistically significantly improved in NeuroACT compared with treatment as usual (d = 0.70-0.90). Clinically significant changes in perceived stress and quality of life were in favor of NeuroACT. Between-group altered depression, anxiety, sleep problems, one quality of life measure, functional impairment, social aspects of autism, and executive difficulties were statistically non-significant. Dropout was slightly higher in NeuroACT. NeuroACT may be a promising treatment for autistic adults with co-existing stress and reduced quality of life. More extensive studies are warranted to evaluate NeuroACT further.

Despite extant research suggesting the important role of family in supporting youth with disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities) making the transition to university, family relational influences on youth with mental illness undergoing this transition remains unclear. Adopting a family resilience perspective, this mixed-methods study aimed to examine (a) how parent-child relationship factors relate to youths' mental illness symptoms and well-being and (b) youth and parent perspectives on how parents can best support youth in this transition. A total of 225 youth with mental illness (aged 17-23, M = 18.43, SD = 0.91, 87% white) completed questionnaires assessing parent-child relationship satisfaction, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and life satisfaction. For 22 of these youth, a parent (aged 45-57, M = 49.77, SD = 3.57, 100% white) completed questionnaires assessing caregiver burden and reward. Parents (and their child) completed written responses addressing what youth most need from parents during this transition. Parent-child relationship factors were moderately associated with youth mental illness and well-being. Thematic analysis indicated much agreement and some difference between youth and caregivers on the aspects of parental support most valued during this transition. Implications for supporting such youth as they adapt to university are discussed.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the role of a child's behavioral inhibition in mediating the relationship between parental anxiety and childhood anxiety in the Malaysian context. Participants were 92 parents (father = 23, mother = 69) of young children aged four to six years old. They completed three measures which were The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), The Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS) and Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ). Results indicated that there was a correlation between: (1) parental anxiety and child anxiety; and (2) child's behavioral inhibition and child anxiety, which supported our hypothesis. However, our findings did not provide support for the hypothesis that a child's behavioral inhibition plays a mediating role in the association between parental anxiety and childhood anxiety. Although this study does not illuminate the mediating role of a child's behavioral inhibition, our results still provided a groundwork for the development of a specific early intervention program for young children in Malaysia with childhood anxiety symptoms, with the inclusion of precursors of the presence of parental anxiety and child's behavioral inhibition. Future improvements should focus on recruiting a larger sample size and incorporating the feedback from both father and mother in completing the measures.

The college transition constitutes a vulnerability period for at-risk students. Although several risk factors associated with depression have been identified in the young adult population, very few studies to date have focused on the aspect of resilience during this academic transition. In the present study, a subgroup of resilient students, who did not report depressive symptoms despite experiencing some family risk factors, was compared to a subgroup of depressive students. The results revealed that, among these variables, a low level of dysfunctional attitudes related to dependency and well-defined personal goals can be considered as being higher resiliency variables.

This study aims to analyze anxiety, guilt and embarrassment changes of university students who do and who do not do sports depending on some socio-demographic factors. In the study conducted with university students, a total of 585 university students are included, 307 of students whom do sports and 278 of students whom don't do sports. "Beck Anxiety Inventory", developed by Beck et al. (1988) and adapted to Turkish and conducted reliability and validity studies by Ulusoy et al. (1998), has been used to determine depression levels and "Guilt-Embarrassment Scale" developed by Sahin and Sahin (1992) has been used to determine the levels of guilt and embarrassment. Independent sample t test for paired comparison, One-way ANOVA for multiple comparisons, Tukey HSD test to determine the source of difference were used. In the study, Cronbach's Alpha value has been determined as 0.75 for Beck Anxiety Inventory and 0.82 for Guilt-Embarrassment Scale. As a result, it has been determined that changes depending on doing sports and gender factors are statistically significant (p < 0.05). No statistical change has been observed depending on shelter and income factors. In the light of these findings, it has been found that anxiety scores are higher in males while guilt scores are higher in females. It is thought that this result can be caused by the physical and mental changes between male and female, as well as the sociocultural structure, the social role and status given to female and male. It can also be said that the sport positively affects anxiety and does not have any effect on guilt and embarrassment.

Objective: College students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for numerous educational and psychosocial difficulties. This study reports findings from a large, multisite randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a treatment for this population, known as ACCESS -- Accessing Campus Connections and Empowering Student Success. Method: ACCESS is a cognitive--behavioral therapy program delivered via group treatment and individual mentoring across two semesters. A total of 250 students (18-30 years of age, 66% female, 6.8% Latino, 66.3% Caucasian) with rigorously defined ADHD and comorbidity status were recruited from two public universities and randomly assigned to receive ACCESS immediately or on a 1-year delayed basis. Treatment response was assessed on three occasions, addressing primary (i.e., ADHD, executive functioning, depression, anxiety) and secondary (i.e., clinical change mechanisms, service utilization) outcomes. Results: Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) revealed significantly greater improvements among immediate ACCESS participants in terms of ADHD symptoms, executive functioning, clinical change mechanisms, and use of disability accommodations, representing medium to large effects (Cohen's d, 0.39 - 1.21). Across these same outcomes, clinical significance analyses using reliable change indices (RCI; Jacobson & Truax, 1992) revealed significantly higher percentages of ACCESS participants showing improvement. Although treatment-induced improvements in depression and anxiety were not evident from LGCM, RCI analyses indicated that immediate ACCESS participants were less likely to report a worsening in depression/anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Findings from this RCT provide strong evidence in support of the efficacy and feasibility of ACCESS as a treatment for young adults with ADHD attending college.

Developmental theories suggest affect-biased attention, preferential attention to emotionally salient stimuli, emerges during infancy through coordinating individual differences. Here we examined bidirectional relations between infant affect-biased attention, temperamental negative affect, and maternal anxiety symptoms using a Random Intercepts Cross-Lagged Panel model (RI-CLPM). Infant-mother pairs from Central Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey (N = 342; 52% White; 50% reported as assigned female at birth) participated when infants were 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Infants completed the overlap task while eye-tracking data were collected. Mothers reported their infant's negative affect and their own anxiety symptoms. In an RI-CLPM, after accounting for between-person variance (random intercepts representing the latent average of a construct), it is possible to assess within-person variance (individual deviations from the latent average of a construct). Positive relations represent "stability" in constructs (smaller within-person deviations). Negative relations represent "fluctuation" in constructs (larger within-person deviations). At the between-person level (random intercepts), mothers with greater anxiety symptoms had infants with greater affect-biased attention. However, at the within-person level (deviations), greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 12- and 18 months prospectively related to greater stability in attention to angry facial configurations. Additionally, greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 18 months prospectively related to greater stability in attention to happy facial configurations. Finally, greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 4- and 12 months prospectively related to greater stability in infant negative affect. These results suggest that environmental uncertainty, linked to fluctuating maternal anxiety, may shape early socioemotional development.

Worry is a phenomenon that is present in multiple psychopathologies. Given the widely accepted transdiagnostic role that worry plays in psychopathology, reliable measures for this construct are pivotal for clinical practice. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is one of the most widely used and established measures of worry in both clinical and non-clinical populations and it is accepted as a highly reliable measure. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the PSWQ for the Portuguese population. The total sample consisted of 428 participants, 256 from the community, and 172 from the clinical population. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a model of one factor with a method factor containing the negatively worded items.

The 2016 U.S. Presidential election led to a rise in mental health concerns among marginalized youth. We consider how LGBTQ+ and ally youth responded in Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs). In this secondary analysis, we used survey data to assess for associations between frequency of discussions of the election in GSAs and mental health outcomes. We found that youth in GSAs that discussed the election and its sequelae more frequently reported lower depressive symptoms at the end of the year, but this association held true only for White youth and not racial/ethnic minority youth and only in the 2016 to 2017 academic year and not the 2017 to 2018 academic year. Implications are discussed.

This study aims to examine the anxiety and internet addiction levels of divorced and married individuals. In this study, a statistically significant difference was found between the anxiety and internet addiction levels of married and divorced individuals, where the divorced persons had higher levels of anxiety and internet addiction than the married ones. No statistically significant difference was found between the anxiety and internet addiction levels of divorced and married individuals by gender. However, a statistically significant difference was determined between the anxiety levels of married individuals with respect to gender, where the females had higher anxiety levels than the males. In addition, no statistically significant difference was found between the anxiety and internet addiction levels of divorced individuals with respect to status of having children, whereas the level of internet addiction in married individuals varied statistically significantly according to this variable. It was noteworthy that individuals without children had significantly higher levels of internet addiction than those with children.

In this study, we aimed to examine how counseling service provided to college students, through a contextual clinical counseling model, affects the anxiety level of college students at a university in the east of Turkey. We followed a quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and with control group design method. The experimental group comprised 205 and the control group comprised 75 college students. Seven supervisors with Ph.D. or MD degree in mental health professions provided weekly supervision to 120 counselors-in-training who provided individual counseling services to the participants. Each client in the experimental group received in average five sessions, each for 45-55 minutes. We have used an adapted version of Beck Anxiety Inventory for Turkey to examine the clients' anxiety levels. Throughout the counseling process, we have collaborated with the psychiatry department at the university when it was necessary. Additionally, in order to conduct the complex quasi-experimental study in a smooth process, we utilized the contextual clinical counseling model developed by the first author; as such models are utilized in some of the best counseling departments in the USA. The model facilitated to conduct the complex and dynamic research and providing the services with limited resources. That means optimized the resources through the model and got significant results. As a result, receiving counseling service seems significantly decreasing anxiety level for this sample. The current study meets some important gaps in mental health. We discussed the findings from an ecological systems theory perspective and suggested some implications in mental health.

Objectives: Despite advances in understanding associations among attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion dysregulation (ED), and related outcomes, there is incongruity between ADHD-relevant conceptualizations of ED and available measures of ED. To assess the psychometric properties of a parent-report questionnaire of ED conceptualized as deficits in the ability to modulate the (a) speed/degree of emotion escalation; (b) expression intensity; and (c) speed/degree of de-escalation. Methods: Participants were 209 adolescents with ADHD (78% male; 13.5-17.8 years old [M = 15.2 SD = 0.91]). Questionnaire items were selected from parent-report scales of ED and oppositional defiant disorder and subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and validity analyses. Results: The EFA revealed two factors, with speed/degree of escalation combined with intensity as factor one, and speed/degree of de-escalation as factor two. Factor one scores were related to ADHD impulsivity symptoms but not to anxiety and depression symptoms and they remained predictors of impulsivity even in the presence of self-report ED, evincing convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. Factor two scores were related to anxiety and depression but not impulsivity, evincing convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion: These results inform our understanding of ADHD-relevant ED in adolescence and offer avenues for future research in measurement development, as well as for understanding ED and ADHD-related impairment.

Research suggests a relationship between anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder. The aim of the current study was to examine social attention in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder compared with age- and sex-matched typically developing groups, and to examine whether lowered social motivation could explain reductions in social attention across the two disorders. Participants' eye movements were tracked while watching a dynamic social scene. The proportion of fixation duration to faces, bodies and non-social areas of interest were compared across groups. Participants with autism spectrum disorder looked at faces significantly less often than controls, however, there were no differences between anorexia nervosa and controls in attention to faces. Typically developing -normed z-scores indicated that attention to faces showed the greatest deviation from normative data compared with body or non-social areas of interest in both autism spectrum disorder and anorexia nervosa, however, differences were larger in autism spectrum disorder than in anorexia nervosa. Social motivation scores did not predict attention to faces in either autism spectrum disorder or anorexia nervosa. Our results do not support the hypothesis that differences in social motivation underlie reduced social attention in both anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder.

Autistic young people experience high levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties, across their lifespan. Understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms which underlie these difficulties is vital in developing personalised supports and interventions. Cognitive inflexibility is one candidate mechanism which is associated with co-occurring mental health comorbidities but is also associated with other features of autism such as restricted and repetitive behaviours. This study investigates the distinct longitudinal association between cognitive inflexibility, measured using objective neuropsychological measures and emotional and behavioural problems across adolescence and early adulthood. Eighty-one autistic people from a population-based longitudinal study were assessed at 16 and 23 years on measures of emotional and behavioural problems, with cognitive inflexibility, restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient measured at 16 years. We used structural equation modelling to investigate the relationship between cognitive inflexibility and emotional and behavioural symptoms at both timepoints while accounting for the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient. Our results indicate an effect of cognitive inflexibility on increased behavioural problems at 16 years and emotional problems across timepoints, which is distinct from restricted and repetitive behaviours and verbal intelligence quotient. Exploratory mediation analyses suggest that cognitive inflexibility may be one mechanism through which emotional difficulties are maintained longitudinally.

Objective: To examine the impact of a self-determination theory-informed school-based lunchtime games intervention on wellbeing and symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescent girls in Ireland. Design: Non-randomised controlled intervention design. Method: This self-determination theory-informed intervention consisted of lunchtime games for girls aged 13 ± 0.7 years, 3 days a week. After a 2-week 'sampling' period, students self-selected to 0, 1, 2 or 3 days of lunchtime games. Intervention and control groups were compared by pre- and post-testing. Participants were included in the intervention design via a survey to ascertain the most popular games and activities at the outset. Results: Participating in games twice a week led to significant decreases (p < 0.01) in symptoms of anxiety and depression while the control group showed significant increases (p < 0.01) in symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mental wellbeing significantly (p < 0.01) increased among those who participated two and three times a week. Increases in mental wellbeing were similar in effect size to increases in self-efficacy. Conclusion: Higher frequencies of physical activity led to increased mental health. Self-efficacy may act as an underlying mechanism for increases in mental health through physical activity.

College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher than average risk for alcohol and substance use; however, it is unclear whether having ADHD, either alone or in combination with other factors, increases this risk. Further, no prior studies have systematically examined factors that correlate with alcohol and substance use among college students with ADHD. A sample of first year college students with (n = 228; 52.2% female; 76.8% Caucasian) and without (n = 228; 51.3% female; 51.3% Caucasian) ADHD from 10 eastern US universities participated in a longitudinal study examining the long-term outcomes of college students with ADHD. Participants completed a battery of measures including self-report ratings of alcohol and substance use; ADHD, externalizing disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression symptoms; executive functioning; and learning and study strategies. First-year college students with ADHD were significantly more likely to use tobacco, cannabis, and illicit drugs (Cohen's d range = 0.30 to 0.33), but not alcohol (Cohen's d = 0.18). Separate multiple regression models indicated that each of the four substance use outcomes was best explained by a unique combination of predictive factors with anxiety symptoms and executive functioning deficits correlated with increased use of at least two of the substances. Additional longitudinal research is necessary to identify variables associated with ongoing substance use in college students with ADHD so as to inform screening, prevention, and intervention efforts.

The present study sought to better understand the role of stress and trauma history and resiliency among students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and their college academic outcomes. Self-reported history of stressful and traumatic life events, resilience, and demographic factors were collected at orientation for 54 "poor" students as determined by Federal standards. Academic record information was collected at the end of the first semester. The study sample was similar to other students in terms of event exposure, self-reported mental health symptoms, and resilience. Event exposure significantly correlated with course withdrawals, low grades (Fs and Ds), and mean grade point average. This research has implications for educators, mental health professionals, and college administrators.

International students often experience significant challenges and difficulties adjusting to their new campus and university environment abroad. As a result, understanding the unique needs of these students has become an important priority for many university administrators and mental health professionals amid growing health concerns faced by members of this community. This study examines the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a sample of international students enrolled in a mid-size U.S. university. A hierarchical multiple regression model revealed that poor English fluency, increased acculturative stress, and perceived discrimination were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, whereas increased social support was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Implications for university administration and support services are discussed.

Anxiety is a common affective state, characterized by the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over an anticipated event. Anxiety is suspected to have important negative consequences on cognition, decision-making, and learning. Yet, despite a recent surge in studies investigating the specific effects of anxiety on reinforcement-learning, no coherent picture has emerged. Here, we investigated the effects of incidental anxiety on instrumental reinforcement-learning, while addressing several issues and defaults identified in a focused literature review. We used a rich experimental design, featuring both a learning and a transfer phase, and a manipulation of outcomes valence (gains vs losses). In two variants (N = 2 × 50) of this experimental paradigm, incidental anxiety was induced with an established threat-of-shock paradigm. Model-free results show that incidental anxiety effects seem limited to a small, but specific increase in postlearning performance measured by a transfer task. A comprehensive modeling effort revealed that, irrespective of the effects of anxiety, individuals give more weight to positive than negative outcomes, and tend to experience the omission of a loss as a gain (and vice versa). However, in line with results from our targeted literature survey, isolating specific computational effects of anxiety on learning per se proved to be challenging. Overall, our results suggest that learning mechanisms are more complex than traditionally presumed, and raise important concerns about the robustness of the effects of anxiety previously identified in simple reinforcement-learning studies.

We evaluated the usefulness of scores from two transdiagnostic scales--the 8-item version of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth and the second edition of the Avoidance and Action Questionnaire--for estimating symptom severity on two measures of depression and anxiety. Responses from 797 college students, who mostly identified as White and female, to both measures of psychological inflexibility were analyzed to determine how well scores estimated anxiety and depression above or below a given severity level and at specific categories of symptom severity. Findings indicated that scores from both measures were acceptable to excellent screeners of concurrent ratings of anxiety and depression. Results varied somewhat depending on the measure used, level of severity targeted, and scope of screening. By investigating the screening accuracy of these transdiagnostic measures and potential cut scores to ease in interpreting results, we hope these measures might prove useful for addressing barriers in public health screening endeavors.

Objective: This study compared online, synchronous video counseling to in-person counseling using solution-focused brief therapy for college students with mild to moderate anxiety. Participants: Participants were 49 undergraduate students who were seeking counseling for mild to moderate anxiety. The study was conducted from November, 2017 to December 2018. Methods: In a randomized, non-inferiority design, undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to online, synchronous video counseling or in-person treatment for anxiety using solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). Participants completed the Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and College Counseling Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS) to assess outcomes. Results: The results showed significant changes in scores on the BAI and the CCAPS Generalized Anxiety and Social Anxiety subscales for participants in both study conditions, and no significant differences in effectiveness of the two delivery methods. Conclusions: The findings provide support for the treatment of college students with anxiety with SFBT through online, synchronous video counseling. Limitations related to sample size and diversity are discussed.

College students experience high levels of anxiety and stress, resulting in academic, interpersonal, and functional challenges. Despite awareness of anxiety and stress amongst students, universities and colleges fail to meet their mental health needs. Neurofeedback (NFB) training, a noninvasive approach designed to regulate brain processes to mitigate anxiety and stress-based symptoms, is an innovative option to help college students. A pre-posttest control group quasi-experimental design was implemented to measure whether a treatment group reported differences in anxiety and stress (as measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI], Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], and Social Anxiety Thought [SAT] questionnaire) as compared to a waitlist control group. Results indicated significant decreases in SAT and PSS scores between groups, with no significant difference for BAI scores. Additionally, no significant differences were found over time between groups, regardless of gender. Limitations and future recommendations are explored.

This study sought to examine the effects of substance use and stress-induced cognitive impairment on anxiety and depression among college students. The data for this study came from a sample of 328 undergraduate students from a public university. The subjects in this study completed a 101-item self-administered questionnaire, which was part of a larger study on college stress. This study included not only students who are typically expected to seek help at the counseling centers, but it expanded to include self-reported cases of students who do not have documented problems of substance use or anxiety/depression. To address the main objective of this study, an eight-variable model was developed and tested for each of the two outcome variables: anxiety and depression. The results that emerged from this study show that both substance use and stress-induced cognitive impairment have a positive and a statistically significant effect on anxiety and depression in college students.

Objective: This study evaluated variation in substance use and mental health among graduate student subgroups. Participants: A sample of 2,683 master's and doctoral students completed an online survey in October 2017. Methods: Subgroup variation in behavioral health by demographic and program characteristics, particularly degree type and academic discipline, was explored. Results: Compared with academic doctoral students (ie, PhD students), professional doctoral students (ie, MD, JD, etc.) were significantly more likely to report high stress levels and moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. Master's students were more likely to report moderate or severe anxiety symptoms and use marijuana than academic doctoral students. Students in the behavioral and social sciences, social work, and arts and humanities disciplines were more likely to use substances and report mental health problems than engineering and business students. Conclusions: These findings highlight graduate student subgroups who might require closer attention with respect to access to behavioral health services.

Preterm birth consequences may lead to developmental deficits, psychiatric disorders and may also cause parental mental health problems. Our aim was to describe quality of life and internalizing-externalizing behaviours of preterm children at 2 years regarding parental mental health. 112 mothers of preterm children provided the following information: pediatric quality of life, internalizing-externalizing behaviours, maternal perceived stress, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life. Regarding emotional and behavioural problems and low quality of life, risk factors are lower birthweight, neonatal morbidities and lower socioeconomic status. Mothers with higher stress, more anxiety and depression symptoms and lower satisfaction with life reported more internalizing-externalizing behaviours and lower quality of life about their children. Among low birthweight children, conduct and hyperactivity problems are the most common at 2 years old. We emphasize the importance of parental mental health and the need for early prevention and intervention in order to minimalize the burden of hyperactivity symptoms.

College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than peers for impaired educational functioning; however, little is known regarding their longitudinal academic outcomes. This study examined: (a) differences between ADHD and control participants in academic outcomes (i.e., semester GPA, credits attempted, credits earned) over the first two years of college, and (b) factors that predict second year outcomes. A sample of 456 students (50% with ADHD; 51.8% female; 71.7% Caucasian) from 10 universities completed two annual assessments. Compared to students without ADHD, students with ADHD experience more academic difficulties that persist over two years. Motivation to study reported in year one was a significant predictor of year two GPA, suggesting the importance of providing services as early as possible to support students before they struggle.

Objective: This study was planned as a descriptive study to determine the anxiety levels of university students residing at state dormitory. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out among female and male students residing in dormitories linked to Trabzon province Credit and Residence Institution. A total of 243 students (115 girls-128 boys) formed the sample of the research. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAE) and a data collection tool developed by researchers were used. Due to the abnormal distribution of anxiety scores by gender and other grouping variables (p = 0,001) and the non-homogeneous distribution (p = 0,002), analyze was performed by non-parametric methods and Mann Whitney-U test was applied. Findings: Of the 243 students who completed the whole questionnaire, 47.2% were females (n = 115) and 57.2% were males. 80.0% of female students (n = 92) and 72.7% of male students (n = 93) were found to have severe anxiety. 78.8% (n = 115) of students with severe anxiety were between 21-23 age group. There was a significant relationship between students' anxiety levels by gender (p = 0.007). The mean rank of anxiety scores of females (134,88; n = 115) was found to be higher than that of male anxiety scores (110,43; n = 128) (Z = - 2,710; p = 0.007). No significant relationship was found between students' regular drug use and anxiety levels (p = 0.072). Results: It has been determined that a large part of the students residing at dormitory have severe anxiety. The relatively small number of the sample restrains the generalization of the results. It is suggested that similar studies should be carried out with larger samples to achieve more generalized results.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid among children and adolescents with a history of maltreatment and trauma. This comorbidity is linked to increased symptom severity and poor academic and social outcomes. Such negative outcomes are shown to have further negative outcomes during the college years. However, research has yet to directly examine the associations between ADHD, trauma exposure, and PTSD among college students. To address this gap, the current study examined the relations between childhood ADHD symptoms, lifetime trauma exposure, and current PTSD symptoms among a racially and ethnically diverse group of college students (N = 454). Analyses controlled for symptoms of depression and anxiety and examined demographic differences. Findings indicated that college students with a childhood history of elevated ADHD symptoms reported significantly higher numbers of trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms. Findings also indicated that trauma-related arousal symptoms and more general depressive symptoms were the strongest mediators in the association between ADHD symptoms and trauma exposure. These results have implications for child and adolescent clinical interventions, as well as for college counseling and accessibility services related to psychological well-being and academic accommodations.

The relationship between problematic Internet use (PIU), depression and quality of life levels of individuals is a growing concern in many societies. One of the main purposes of this study was to examine the relationships or correlations among PIU, depression and quality of life levels of Turkish undergraduate students. Furthermore, this study sought to investigate whether correlated variables; if any, simultaneously predicted students' quality of life levels on different domains of WHOQOL-BREF-TR in a significant manner. Moreover, this research examined whether some or any of study variables had a mediating effect in relationships between domains of WHOQOL-BREF-TR and other study variables. The data collected from 758 undergraduate student participants (431 female and 327 male) attending different faculties and colleges at a public university in Turkey. A demographical information form, the Beck Depression Inventory, the World Health Organization's Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF-TR) and Online Cognition Scale (OCS) were used to collect data from the undergraduate Turkish students. The results indicated that the students' PIU and depression levels were negatively associated with quality of life levels and positively associated with each other in a significant manner. Moreover, the results of hierarchical regression analysis revealed that PIU levels of the students on the "diminished impulse control" dimension partially mediated the relationships between depression and quality of life levels on all domains of WHOQOL-BREF-TR.

College attendance is increasing for students who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet a dearth of literature exists about their progress in postsecondary education. This study describes a group of college students who have the formal diagnosis of an ASD to uncover factors related to their academic performance. Twenty-three first-year college students who have the diagnosis of ASD were tracked for two contiguous semesters to determine if anxiety and executive function are related to end-of-year grade point average (GPA). A significant positive correlation between the BRIEF-A composite index of behavioral regulation and GPA was found. Study participants reported no or mild levels of anxiety, and six reported clinically significant ADHD symptoms. Twenty-two of 23 members of the study remained enrolled for full two semesters, suggesting a successful transition to college. Implications for postsecondary services are discussed.

This study aims to examine the relationships between subdimensions of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety. The participants in the study were 841 undergraduate students (411 females; 430 males) randomly selected from three different faculties--Faculties of Technical Education, Education, and Sport Sciences--at Mugla Sitki Kocman University. Data collection instruments included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised, (ASI-R), and also Beck Anxiety Inventory, (BAI). The data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicate that there were significant positive associations between subdimensions of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety. The results also indicated that the fear of cognitive dyscontrol subdimension of anxiety sensitivity was the most important predictor of the anxiety for emerging adults. Further research examining the relationships between subdimensions of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety are necessary to strengthen the current study's findings.

This study aimed to identify and rank the personal, family-related, social, and academic correlates of depressive symptoms in first-year college students. A questionnaire that included the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was administered to 389 first-year college students (mean age = 18.9; SD = 3.38; 59.4% female). Eight variables contributed uniquely to the variance of depressive symptoms and were, in decreasing order of importance: (1) the absence of personal goals, (2) a high level of anxiety and (3) of dysfunctional thoughts regarding success, (4) a lack of emotional adjustment to college, (5) being female, (6) receiving little warmth and encouragement of autonomy from one's mother and (7) from one's father, and (8) being attracted to members of the same or both sexes. These results suggest that a multimodal intervention is required to support students' mental health.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that student-athletes suffer from sleep difficulties. This study explored the impact of tDCS on sleep parameters among student-athletes. Method: Thirty student-athletes (15 females, 15 males, age 21.1 ± 2.1 years) were recruited. All participants underwent a series of questions to rule out depressive and anxiety disorders or any specific tDCS exclusion criteria. All participants were advised to maintain their usual sleep schedule. Results: Compared polysomnographic and Psychomotor Vigilance Task data analyses did not show any improvement after experimental tDCS. Regardless of groups, PVT mean reaction time was decreased. Regarding the questionnaires, data analyses showed improvement on the PSQI (p < 0.001), ISI (p < 0.001) and ASSQ (p < 0.007) scores after tDCS. Discussion: tDCS appears to increase total sleep time and should be further explored. Improvements in subjective sleep suggest that tDCS bears interesting possibilities into the enhancement of sleep among student-athletes.

This preliminary study examined the effects of 16 sessions of neurofeedback (NF) training protocol on levels of depression, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy in college students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results identified that NF was a viable option for mitigating depression and anxiety symptoms as well as increasing academic self-efficacy scores in college students with ADHD, based on their scores over time. Implications for college counselors are presented.

We examined the association of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms with the weight status of children at preschool age. The current study is a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in the homes of the participants between July 2016 and August 2017. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Of the 216 children included in the study, 69.4%, 21.3% and 9.3% were classified as [less than or equal to]85th, >85th and <97th and >85th percentile, respectively. The prevalence of moderate/severe maternal depression and anxiety symptoms was 20.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Children whose mothers had moderate/severe symptoms of depression and minimal/mild symptoms of anxiety were more likely to have excess body weight at preschool age than children whose mothers had both minimal/mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. We found that maternal depression symptoms are associated with excess body weight in children at preschool age.