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This review examined the effects of private and communal participatory prayer on pain. Nine databases were searched. Six randomized controlled trials were included. For private prayer, medium to large effects emerged for 67% to 69% of between-group comparisons; participants in the prayer condition reported lower pain intensity (0.59 < d < 26.17; 4 studies) and higher pain tolerance (0.70 < d < 1.05; 1 study). Pre- to post-intervention comparisons yielded medium to large effects (0.76 < d < 1.67; 2 studies); pain intensity decreased. Although firm conclusions cannot be made because meta-analysis was based on only two studies, the analysis suggested prayer might reduce pain intensity (SMD = − 2.63, 95% CI [− 3.11, − 2.14], I = 0%). (PROSPERO: CRD42020221733). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novelty and uncertainty of the pandemic nourished a generalized fear of the COVID-19, which seems to have exacerbated the pandemic's negative impact. It is thus relevant to monitor fear of COVID-19 and its association with individuals' mental health, well-being, and behaviors. Valid and reliable measures of fear of COVID-19 are necessary for that purpose. 'Ibis study aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of a European Portuguese version of the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19SP). A secondary aim was to assess FCV-19S-P's multigroup measurement invariance (female vs. male). A sample of 572 Portuguese adults (72 % female) completed the FCV-19S-P and measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. I'he study results supported this version validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .84; Composite Reliability -- .83), and a factorial structure similar to the original version. Fear of COVID-19 was positively associated (.23 < r < .31) with depression, anxiety, and stress. Results of the multigroup invariance analysis supported the FCV-19S-P total scalar invariance and its partial residual invariance, suggesting that this measure may be used to reach valid conclusions in respect to gender comparisons in samples of Portuguese adults in regard to group observed composite means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review examined the extent to which measures of religiosity/spirituality (R/S): (1) are associated with pain, function, pain-related beliefs (beliefs), coping responses, and catastrophizing in people with chronic pain; and (2) moderate the association between beliefs, coping and catastrophizing, and pain and function. Experimental and observational studies examining at least one of these research questions in adults with chronic pain were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Twenty studies were included. Most studies focused on the association between R/S and pain or function. When significant associations emerged, those between R/S and psychological function were weak to strong and positive; those between religious/spiritual well-being and pain and physical dysfunction were negative, but weak. Few studies examined the associations between R/S and beliefs/coping/catastrophizing; none examined the moderation role of R/S. The findings suggest that R/S is associated with pain and psychological function in people with chronic pain, and that viewing oneself as being "spiritual," regardless of religion, may contribute to positive psychological adjustment. More research is needed to determine the reliability of this finding. PROSPERO registry CRD42018088803. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the extent to which pain-related beliefs, appraisals, coping, and catastrophizing differ between countries, language groups, and country economy. Design Systematic review. Methods Two independent reviewers searched 15 databases without restriction for date or language of publication. Studies comparing pain beliefs/appraisals, coping, or catastrophizing across two or more countries or language groups in adults with chronic pain (pain for longer than three months) were included. Two independent reviewers extracted data and performed the quality appraisal. Study quality was rated as low, moderate, or high using a 10-item modified STROBE checklist. Effect sizes were reported as small (0.20–0.49), medium (0.50–0.79), or large (≥0.80). Results We retrieved 1,365 articles, read 42 potential full texts, and included 10 (four moderate-quality, six low-quality) studies. A total of 6,797 adults with chronic pain (33% with chronic low back pain) were included from 16 countries. Meta-analysis was not performed because of heterogeneity in the studies. A total of 103 effect sizes were computed for individual studies, some of which indicated between-country differences in pain beliefs, coping, and catastrophizing. Of these, the majority of effect sizes for pain beliefs/appraisal (60%; eight large, eight medium, and eight small), for coping (60%; seven large, 11 medium, and 16 small), and for catastrophizing (50%; two medium, one small) evidenced statistically significant between-country differences, although study quality was low to moderate. Conclusions In 50% or more of the studies, mean scores in the measures of pain beliefs and appraisals, coping responses, and catastrophizing were significantly different between people from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience associated with psychosocial (e.g., pain-related beliefs and pain coping responses) and spiritual factors. Spirituality is a universal aspect of the human experience that has been hypothesized to impact pain experience via its effects on pain, physical/psychological function, resilience and pain-related beliefs, and pain coping responses. However, research evaluating the associations between measures of spirituality and measures of pain and function in individuals with chronic pain is limited. This study seeks to address this limitation. Methods Participants were 62 Portuguese adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants completed measures of spirituality, pain intensity, physical and psychological function, and pain coping responses. Results Spirituality as hope and a positive perspective toward life was positively and moderately associated with better psychological function and coping responses of ignoring pain sensations and coping self-statements. Spirituality as a search for meaning and sense of purpose was positively and moderately associated with the coping response of task persistence. Conclusions These findings suggest the possibility that spirituality may be a useful resource for facilitating psychological adjustment, potentially promoting the use of some adaptive pain coping responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Endometriosis is a gynecologic recurring persistent condition affecting from 8% to 15% of premenopausal women worldwide. About 80% of women with endometriosis have at least one form of chronic pain – a multidimensional experience influenced by a number of psychosocial factors, including pain-related beliefs. The Survey of Pain Attitudes is the most commonly used measure of pain-related beliefs. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of a brief version of the SOPA (the SOPA-35) in a sample of Portuguese women with Endometriosis. Methods: A sample of 199 Portuguese women with Endometriosis provided demographic and pain history information, and completed a Portuguese version of the SOPA-35 and measures of pain intensity, disability, and psychological function. Analyses were performed to evaluate the factor structure of the Portuguese SOPA-35 items as well as the internal consistency, composite reliability, convergent validity, and concurrent validity of the scale scores. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor solution for a 19-item version of the Portuguese version of the Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA-19-P). The six scales evidenced marginal to good reliability (Cronbach's alphas: between 0.60 and 0.84; composite reliability: between 0.61 and 0.84). Four scales evidenced acceptable to good convergent validity (AVE: between 0.51 and 0.63). The findings also supported the concurrent validity of the SOPA-19-P. Conclusions: The results support the use of the Portuguese SOPA-19-P for research and clinical purposes with Portuguese women in chronic pain due to endometriosis. Future research is warranted to further develop a European Portuguese version of SOPA. Implications: The findings provide psychometric information about the SOPA-19-P. The results are helpful to researchers wishing to study the role of pain-related beliefs and their association with adjustment and treatment outcomes in women with chronic pain due to endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original publication of the article contains an error in the co-author name and textual error in Results section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ways in which couples in South Europe manage their money has received little attention. This study uses regression analysis to evaluate the allocative systems of Portuguese couples and their predictors. To do this we use a sample of 3,331 households in Portugal with at least one heterosexual couple. Couples' allocative systems were classified based on Pahl's typology. The results confirm what has been found in previous studies regarding the prevalence of joint pooling management and the predictors of the different models for managing money. However, some particularities have been found: decisions taken in multi-generational familes favour partial joint pooling, as the distinctive characteristics of households in South Europe play a role in assigning intra-family resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research into the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy showed an association with an increased susceptibility to adverse mental health (MH) in the general population. We investigated in the same population the correlations between the various demographic, socioeconomic, biological/clinical history and psychological dimensions and MH in the second, "opening-up", phase of the lockdown. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected data from 26 May to 4 July 2020 on demographic, socioeconomic, perceived risk, general health and quality of life appraisals, worry, interference in life, life satisfaction, perceived happiness and MH by using Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). Results: Of the 300 participants, only 195 responded to MH questions. Older age was positively associated with better MH (r=.15), as was education (r=.19). A negative correlation with MH, with medium-high effect size, was found with quality of life (r=.40) and health (r=.34) appraisals, and the factors "worry about sustenance" (r=.23) and "interference with life" (r=.32). A positive correlation, with strong effect size, was found between MH and life satisfaction (r=.53) and perception of happiness (r=.64). Discussion: During phase two of the lockdown, rather the real impact of COVID-19 restrictions on employment or economic resources, it was worry about finances that was associated with worse MH. Mental distress was associated with the loss of some positive psychological factors. From a homeostatic and biopsychosocial perspective of MH, life satisfaction and perceived happiness represent important mental resources for counteracting the effects of lockdown on MH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to better understand the associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction (i.e. anxiety and depressive symptoms, and anger), and pain intensity and pain interference, in a sample of children with chronic pain. Design Cross-sectional design. Methods Three hundred and forty-two children with chronic pain (8–18 years) completed measures assessing pain intensity, pain interference, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger. Regression analyses examined the direct, interaction (with sex), and mediation effects of sleep quality and psychological dysfunction on pain intensity and interference. Results Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with both pain intensity and pain interference. However, measures of psychological dysfunction were associated significantly only with pain interference. Sex did not moderate these associations. The measures of psychological dysfunction mediated the associations between sleep disturbance and pain interference but not those between sleep disturbance and pain intensity. Conclusions The results confirmed significant cross-sectional associations between both sleep disturbance and psychological dysfunction and pain outcomes in children with chronic pain. Future research to test for causal associations is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the mental health status of adults living in Portugal during the national lockdown of March 2020 to May 2020, how study participants coped with stress during the national lockdown, as well as the association between coping responses and mental health status. 430 adults from the general population living in Portugal completed measures of mental health status and coping. Participants reported a mental health status in the normal range. Most commonly used coping responses were acceptance, planning and active coping. The use of instrumental and emotional support, self-blame, venting, denial, behavioural disengagement, and substance use were associated with poorer mental health. Active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, and humour were associated with better mental health. However, only positive reframing and humour significantly predicted better mental health, while only substance use predicted poorer mental health. Findings suggest that there was not a significant negative impact of the Portuguese national lockdown in the adults living in Portugal. Findings supported positive reframing and humour as being adaptive coping responses in this context. These responses should be encouraged by healthcare professionals and targeted in the context of psychosocial intervention programs directed to most vulnerable populations. • Portuguese adults' mental health was not affected during the 1st mandatory lockdown • Most commonly used coping responses were acceptance, planning and active coping • Positive reframing and humour significantly predicted better mental health • Substance use predicted poorer mental health [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]