Just as modern economies undergo periods of boom and bust, human ancestors experienced cycles of abundance and famine. Is the adaptive response when resources become scarce to save for the future or ...to spend money on immediate gains? Drawing on life-history theory, we propose that people's responses to resource scarcity depend on the harshness of their early-life environment, as reflected by childhood socioeconomic status (SES). In the three experiments reported here, we tested how people from different childhood environments responded to resource scarcity. We found that people who grew up in lower-SES environments were more impulsive, took more risks, and approached temptations more quickly. Conversely, people who grew up in higher-SES environments were less impulsive, took fewer risks, and approached temptations more slowly. Responses similarly diverged according to people's oxidative-stress levels—a urinary biomarker of cumulative stress exposure. Overall, whereas tendencies associated with early-life environments were dormant in benign conditions, they emerged under conditions of economic uncertainty.
The purpose of this study was to explore the link between classroom teachers' burnout levels and students' physiological stress response. Drawing from a stress-contagion framework, we expected higher ...levels of teacher burnout to be related to elevated cortisol levels in elementary school students (N = 406, 50% female, Mean age = 11.26, SD = .89).
Classroom teacher burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory modified for teachers. Salivary cortisol was collected as an indicator of students' hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) functioning. We collected salivary cortisol in children at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m. in the classroom setting.
Using Multilevel Modeling, we found that children's morning cortisol levels significantly varied between classrooms (10% variability). Higher levels of classroom teacher burnout significantly predicted the variability in morning cortisol. Teacher burnout reduced the unexplained variability in cortisol at the classroom level to 4.6%.
This is the first study to show that teachers' occupational stress is linked to students' physiological stress regulation. We discuss the present findings in the context of potential stress contagion in the classroom, considering empirical and practical relevance.
•Elementary school children's morning cortisol levels varied among classrooms.•Classroom teacher burnout predicted higher morning cortisol in children.•Burnout explained more than half of the classroom variability in morning cortisol.
This article provides population norms for the Short Form Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) and investigates the relationship between PSS-4 scores and sociodemographic variables. The PSS-4 was ...administered to an English sample (n = 1568) and was found to have acceptable psychometric properties. Sociodemographic variables explained 19.5% of variance in PSS-4 scores, and mean PSS-4 scores were significantly different from the mean scores reported in Cohen and Williamson’s original study. Greater levels of perceived health status, greater levels of social support, being male and being older were predictive of lower PSS-4 scores. Norm values for interpreting PSS-4 scores are presented.
Acute mental stress can impair arterial function (e.g., arterial stiffness and endothelial function) transiently. Repeated exposures to stress-induced transient vascular dysfunction in daily life ...potentially leads to persistent vascular dysfunction, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is important to devise an effective strategy to protect the vasculatures from daily stress, and exercise is one of the possible solutions. This review briefly outlines the detrimental impacts of acute mental stress on arterial function and introduces our recent research regarding exercise as a countermeasure.
The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to quantify the effects that stress has on decisions made under uncertainty. We hypothesized that stress increases reward seeking and risk taking through ...alterations of dopamine firing rates and reduces executive control by hindering optimal prefrontal cortex functioning. In certain decision situations, increased reward seeking and risk taking is dysfunctional, whereas in others, this is not the case. We also assumed that the type of stressor plays a role. In addition, moderating variables are analyzed, such as the hormonal stress response, the time between stress onset and decisions, and the participants' age and gender. We included studies in the meta-analysis that investigated decision making after a laboratory stress-induction versus a control condition (k = 32 datasets, N = 1829 participants). A random-effects model revealed that overall, stress conditions lead to decisions that can be described as more disadvantageous, more reward seeking, and more risk taking than nonstress conditions (d = .17). In those situations in which increased reward seeking and risk taking is disadvantageous, stress had significant effects (d = .26), whereas in other situations, no effects were observed (d = .01). Effects were observed under processive stressors (d = .19), but not under systemic ones (d = .09). Moderation analyses did not reveal any significant results. We concluded that stress deteriorates overall decision-making performance through the mechanisms proposed. The effects differ, depending on the decision situation and the type of stressor, but not on the characteristics of the individuals.
Several studies have shown a positive relationship between local greenspace availability and residents' health, which may offer opportunities for health improvement. This study focuses on three ...mechanisms through which greenery might exert its positive effect on health: stress reduction, stimulating physical activity and facilitating social cohesion. Knowledge on mechanisms helps to identify which type of greenspace is most effective in generating health benefits. In eighty neighbourhoods in four Dutch cities data on quantity and quality of streetscape greenery were collected by observations. Data on self-reported health and proposed mediators were obtained for adults by mail questionnaires (N = 1641). Multilevel regression analyses, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, revealed that both quantity and quality of streetscape greenery were related to perceived general health, acute health-related complaints, and mental health. Relationships were generally stronger for quality than for quantity. Stress and social cohesion were the strongest mediators. Total physical activity was not a mediator. Physical activity that could be undertaken in the public space (green activity) was, but less so than stress and social cohesion. With all three mediators included in the analysis, complete mediation could statistically be proven in five out of six cases. In these analyses the contribution of green activity was often not significant. The possibility that the effect of green activity is mediated by stress and social cohesion, rather than that it has a direct health effect, is discussed.
•Quality of streetscape greenery in neighbourhoods is especially related to health.•The greenery–health relationship is strongly mediated by stress and social cohesion.•Although no important mediator, physical activity may help exposure to greenery.•Results are first step towards identifying effective greenery for health promotion.
Human-robot collaboration (HRC) is an emerging research area that has gained tremendous attention in both academia and industry. Yet, the feature that humans and robots sharing the workplace has led ...to safety concerns. In particular, the mental stress or safety awareness of human teammates during HRC remains unclear but is also of great importance to workplace safety. In this manuscript, we reviewed twenty-five studies for understanding the relationships between HRC and workers' mental stress or safety awareness. Specifically, we aimed to understand: (1) robot-related factors that may affect human workers' mental stress or safety awareness, (2) a number of measurements that could be used to evaluate workers' mental stress in HRC, and (3) various methods for measuring safety awareness that had been adopted or could be applied in HRC. According to our literature review, robot-related factors including robot characteristics, social touching and trajectory have relationships with workers’ mental stress or safety awareness. For the measurement of mental stress and safety awareness, each method mentioned has its validity and rationality. Additionally, a discussion related to the potential co-robot actions to lower mental stress or improve safety awareness as well as future implications were provided.
•Human-robot collaboration has been adopted to leverage the endurance of robots and the dexterity of human workers.•The outcomes of this review show that certain robot-related characteristics can affect workers’ psychological states.•Workers’ mental stress and safety awareness can be measured directly from questionnaire or indirectly from sensor signals.•Very few studies, if there is any, have been conducted in real-world working environments.
Numerous studies have identified factors associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH), but environmental influences have largely been neglected. This study explored regional and university contextual ...factors that impact DSH among undergraduate students in China.
Subjects in this observational cross-sectional study totaled 5016 undergraduate students, who were identified through multistage survey sampling in 22 Chinese universities. Individual-level data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, and environmental variables were extracted from the National Bureau of Statistics database. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine regional correlates of DSH.
The overall prevalence of self-reported DSH in the study sample was 7.5 % (95 % CI: 4.1 %, 10.9 %). The full multilevel logistic model showed university rank and city size were inversely associated with DSH prevalence (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 0.24 and 0.55). Regional unemployment rates were positively associated with DSH prevalence (AOR: 1.98, 95 % CI: 1.48, 2.65).
Contextual disparities appear to contribute to DSH among Chinese undergraduates. Preventive initiatives must focus on redressing imbalances in the allocation of social and economic resources across universities and regions.
•Students studied in higher university rank and bigger city size are associated with lower possibility in DSH.•Residing in high unemployment regions approached higher self-reported prevalence of DSH for undergraduates.
The association between parenting stress and child externalizing behavior, and the mediating role of parenting, has yielded inconsistent findings; however, the literature has typically been ...cross-sectional or unidirectional. In the current study, the authors examined the longitudinal transactions among parenting stress, perceived negative parental reactions, and child externalizing at 4, 5, 7, and 10 years old. Models examining parent effects (parenting stress to child behavior), child effects (externalizing to parental reactions and stress), indirect effects of parental reactions, and the transactional associations among all variables were compared. The transactional model best fit the data, and longitudinal reciprocal effects emerged between parenting stress and externalizing behavior. The mediating role of parental reactions was not supported; however, indirect effects suggest that parenting stress both is affected by and affects parent and child behavior. The complex associations among parent and child variables indicate the importance of interventions to improve the parent–child relationship and reducing parenting stress.
The aim of this study was to explore the expectations and fears faced by doctors during Covid-19 Pandemic.
This is a mixed method exploratory survey. A questionnaire exploring expectations of doctors ...from administration and seniors as well as their fears while working during pandemic, was developed on Google survey Forms. It included eight closed ended questions and four open ended questions. Data was collected through online Google survey Forms during month of March and April 2020. Doctors were approached through email and WhatsApp group.
The mean age of participants was 33.58±4.21 years. Female 150(67.5%) and Male 72(32.4%) participated. 29(13.1%) Associate Professor, 34(15.3%) Assistant Professor, 56(25.2%) Senior Residents and 103(46.3%) residents, medical officers and house officers responded to the survey. 134(60.3%) doctors were working in hospitals which were not dealing with Covid-19. Fear included, infecting family members 177(79.7%), rapid spread of disease 140(63%), complications of disease 134(60.3%), becoming a carrier in 64(28.8%) and 62(27.9%) feared missing the diagnosis. More than 80% expected from seniors and administration, of providing PPE, facilitation, continue chain of supply of essential items, ensuring doctor safety, avoiding exposure of all doctors and keeping reserve workforce, limiting routine checkups, avoid panic and 20% had no expectations.
It was concluded that doctors had their fears and perceptions regarding pandemic which need to be addressed while policy making. They fear wellbeing of their families and contacting Covid-19, if not provided proper PPE. Our study provides insight of expectations, fears and perceptions of our frontline which invariably gives insight of the views of healthcare workers.
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