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On March 19-20, 2021 the Sixth International Scientific and Practical Conference “Actual problems of mass consciousness research” was organized by Penza State University. The work of the forum was organized in the format of on-line broadcasting on Zoom platform and in the social network VKontakte. Participants discussed current problems of mass consciousness phenomenon: psychological and social mechanisms for the promotion of worldviews, socio-psychological aspects of cultural transmission, the impact of the global pandemic COVID-19 on mental health and many others. The issues raised at the conference are the most acute psychological, anthropological and philosophical challenges for science and society, and their discussion enabled the participants of the forum to affirm the positive experience of overcoming these problems.

Background: Little is known about the COVID-19 impact on Russian medical, psychology and social work students’ psycho-emotional well-being, substance use and resilience. Methods: More than 2000 helping profession students, 75.4% female, participated in an online survey about COVID-19 impact at a peak time of infection (October/November 2020). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) were used for study purposes. Furthermore, the influence of COVID-19 on student psycho-emotional well-being and substance use (i.e., tobacco and alcohol) was examined. Results: Medical, female and religious students reported higher fear values. Social work students reported more current substance use, including binge drinking (five or more drinks on one particular occasion). Students who reported COVID-19 associated with their psycho-emotional well-being had higher fear values. Regarding resilience, no association was found based on the student study area. However, male and non-religious students reported more resilience. Students who reported substance use and psycho-emotional problems had lower resilience values. Conclusion: COVID-19 fear and substance use differs among Russian students based on background characteristics. including gender, religiosity and study area. The FCV-19S and the BRS were found to be reliable instruments for research of COVID-19-related psycho-emotional problems, substance use and resilience. Study findings have implications for “front line” helping profession students in terms of education, training and intervention, in support of promoting their ability to address difficult conditions resulting from the pandemic and other disaster conditions in the future.

The unstable situation in the modern world leads to an ever-increasing number of forced migrants in Russia from different regions. In most cases, forced migration is a critical, traumatic, extreme and frustrating situation. The events in Ukraine caused the emergence in Russia of forced migrants, including school-aged children, who were given the opportunity to continue their education in Russian schools. It can be assumed that the stressful traumatic situation, in which these children found themselves, negatively affected their physical and mental state, which in the future may affect the process of their school adaptation. Studying the specifics of the school adaptation of children who experienced the stressful traumatic situation of forced migration at the stage of primary general education, it is possible to solve the problem of organising adaptation measures in a general educational institution. The aim of the research was to study the specifics of the adaptation of forced migrant children in general educational institutions (through the example of primary school-aged children from Ukraine). The study involved 241 children, of whom 121 were permanent residents of Penza studying in local educational institutions and 120 were forced migrant children from Ukraine who began their studies in Penza schools. To identify the indicators of the emotional and social-psychological components of their school adaptation, the “Draw-A-Non-Existent Animal” and “DrawA-Family” tests were used; and E. Wagner’s “Hand Test” was used for diagnosing aggressiveness. It was revealed that the school adaptation of forced migrant children from Ukraine as compared with that of their Russian peers has certain specific features, which are more evident in the characteristics of its emotional and social-psychological components. The results of the study can be used in organizing psychological and pedagogical support for forced migrant children during the process of their school adaptation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations between depression, height and body mass index (BMI) in the adolescent and adult population of Penza city and oblast, Russia. The study included 554 adults aged 16–89 years. The presence and severity of depression was evaluated using Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The participants self-reported their height (cm) and weight (kg) and these were used to calculate their BMI (kg/m2). Significant correlations were obtained between depression and short stature in young men, depression and short stature in participants with normal BMI and depression and age in overweight participants. Young women aged 16–23 years, and older men aged 60–89 years, presented the highest and very similar depression scores with no statistically significant difference between them. Special attention should be paid in Russia to these groups due to their higher risk of depressive disorders.

COVID-19 is a major source of fear, stress, and anxiety as well as a major factor impacting the health and wellbeing of people worldwide. The present study builds on the recently developed "Fear of COVID-19 Scale" (Ahorsu et al., In International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8, 2020). The sample comprised of 850 participants, male and female young adults from Russia and Belarus. The majority of survey participants are university students and graduates. Females, students, and others from Russia report higher levels of COVID-19-related fear than those from Belarus. Respondents from Russia and Belarus report less fear than people from Iran who were surveyed earlier. The scale used for the present survey evidenced a good Cronbach's Alpha measure of internal consistency or reliability (0.809). Clearly, further research is needed across locations and over time about the nature and extent of fear caused by COVID 19. Overall, the FCV-19S appears to be a valuable and brief instrument that may provide useful information for intervention and policy purposes to migrate fear and problem behavior linked to infectious disease outbreaks.

Dear Dr. Harvey,The Ben Gurion University of the Negev—Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center (Israel) cooperates with Russian Federation colleagues to research mental health and substance...

Twenty-three scientists met at Krobielowice, Poland to discuss the role of growth, nutrition and economy on body size. Contrasting prevailing concepts, re-analyses of studies in Indonesian and Guatemalan school children with high prevalence of stunting failed to provide evidence for an association between nutritional status and body height. Direct effects of parental education on growth that were not transmitted via nutrition were shown in Indian datasets using network analysis and novel statistical methods (St. Nicolas House Analysis) that translate correlation matrices into network graphs. Data on Polish children suggest significant impact of socioeconomic sensitivity on child growth, with no effect of maternal money satisfaction. Height and maturation tempo affect the position of a child among its peers. Correlations also exist between mood disorders and height. Secular changes in height and weight varied across decades independent of population size. Historic and recent Russian data showed that height of persons whose fathers performed manual work were on average four cm shorter than persons whose fathers were high-degree specialists. Body height, menarcheal age, and body proportions are sensitive to socioeconomic variables. Additional topics included delayed motherhood and its associations with newborn size; geographic and socioeconomic indicators related to low birth weight, prematurity and stillbirth rate; data on anthropometric history of Brazil, 1850-1950; the impact of central nervous system stimulants on the growth of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and pituitary development and growth hormone secretion. Final discussions debated on reverse causality interfering between social position, and adolescent growth and developmental tempo., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The current research studies the problems connected with interrelation between religiosity and intergroup hostility (or prejudice). We hypothesized and verified the connection between identification with religious group and ethno-national attitudes. Diagnostic methods measuring in-group religious identification, ethno-national attitudes, subjective categories of social consolidation and agreement with patriotic ideologems (by C.W. Leach, E. R. Agadullina, A.V. Lovakov, L. M. Drobizheva, O.E. Khukhlaev, N.V. Tkachenko, I.M. Kuznetsov, V.D. Shapiro) were used on the sample of 1032 participants (ages from 17 to 22 years), belonging to one of three religions: Buddhism (Kalmyks), Islam (Chechens) or Orthodoxy (Russians). The regression analysis provided statistically significant connections (p

Dear Dr. Harvey,The global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the uncertainties linked to infection, quarantine, social interaction, and prevention generate anxiety, depression, and subst...

Despite significant research, the benefits and risks of cannabis for medical purposes remain elusive. However, there is one factor about the substance that is clear - there is a dearth of knowledge about attitudes and beliefs toward its use in Russia where the substance in any form is strictly prohibited. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of affiliation with religion on university student attitudes and beliefs toward cannabis for medical conditions. Survey data were collected from 828 medical and allied health students at two Russian universities. Findings indicate that students with a religious affiliation were significantly more likely to express negative attitudes towards medical cannabis.

Objectives: This article presents empirical research results concerning a psychological phenomenon of the migrant homeland separation. Indian students of Penza State University, Russia, took part in the study of their homeland parting experience and their emotions during different stages of adaptation. Methods/Analysis: This research is based on correlation principles of questionnaire results, writing essays, and the HTP test results for each participant. The complex of methods used allows repeated results verification because the questionnaire results confirm results of writing essays and the HTP test. Findings: Moving between countries of residence is accompanied by multiple losses and requires acculturation and integration into the new surroundings. Separation as a social and psychological action is tied to destroying familiar communication forms and makes changes in interpersonal relationship. There is a correspondence between nostalgic emotions and a level of adaptation to new living conditions. At the same time, successful social and psychological adaptation represented by establishing new contacts and achieving professional success usually turns into nostalgic emotions resurging, willing of reuniting with old friends and, as a result, a migrant may wish to return back to his or her country. Novelty/Improvement: Information concerning appearance of nostalgic emotions is especially important because social and psychological adaptation level and intensity of the homeland separation feeling can be relatively unpredictable and unambiguous.

Objectives To assess medical student knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about cannabis use for medical conditions in Russia where it is prohibited. Methods This study uses data collected from 463 Russian origin medical students. Pearson Chi-square test for categorical variables was used to determine whether student knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of medical cannabis (MC) are affected by gender and religiosity. Results Overall, Russian university medical students tend to reflect negative attitudes and beliefs toward MC. Female students were more inclined to recommend MC for patient treatment and its legalization; and, believe it is not addictive and does not pose physical or mental health risk. Students who support MC use believe it has treatment benefits, support additional research as well as policy change for its legalization. Secular, more than religious, students report more positive attitudes toward MC use. About 34% of the students indicate they have no knowledge about cannabis use for medical conditions; and, nearly half report feel they are able to answer patient questions about its use for medical condition if such a situation were to exist. Conclusions This study is the first in Russia to examine medical students’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward MC. Results evidence the majority of survey respondents do not support cannabis legalization for any purpose – medical or recreational. They report a dearth of knowledge about the substance and recommend additional evidence-based research and education to enhance their knowledge about its use. The present study has value in terms of providing usable information for possible curriculum development and education purposes as well as policy change about cannabis use for medical conditions in Russia.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of foreign students toward the use of medical cannabis (MC) for pain management. Methods: This study uses data collected from 549 foreign students from India (n = 289) and Middle Eastern countries mostly from Egypt, Iran, Syria, and Jordan (n = 260) studying medicine in Russia and Belarus. Data collected from Russian and Belarusian origin medical students (n = 796) were used for comparison purposes. Pearson’s chi-squared and t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: Foreign students’ country of origin and gender statuses do not tend to be correlated with medical student responses toward medical cannabis use. Students from Russia and Belarus who identified as secular, compared to those who were religious, reported more positive attitudes toward medical cannabis and policy change. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine the attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs toward medical cannabis among foreign students from India and Middle Eastern countries studying in Russia and Belarus, two countries who oppose its recreational and medicine use. Indian and Middle Eastern students, as a group, tend to be more supportive of MC than their Russian and Belarusian counterparts. These results may be linked to cultural and historical reasons. This study provides useful information for possible medical and allied health curriculum and education purposes.