Luís Loureiro, Amorim Rosa, Tânia Morgado, Rosa Simões
{"title":"Mental Health and Well-Being of Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Canonical Correlation Analysis.","authors":"Luís Loureiro, Amorim Rosa, Tânia Morgado, Rosa Simões","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15090169","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15090169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> In recent decades, the relationship between mental health and well-being has been explored from many perspectives, with emphasis on the two-continua model of health in different contexts, with an emphasis on young higher education students. Both mental health and well-being are considered predictors of academic success. This study aims to analyze the relationship between mental health and well-being among first- and fourth-year nursing students. The sample consisted of 473 nursing students from a university in the central region of mainland Portugal. <b>Methods:</b> Data were collected using the short versions of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). <b>Results:</b> Canonical correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between psychological distress and mental well-being. The first statistically significant canonical function (<i>p</i> < 0.05; Cr = 0.601) was primarily defined by depression (canonical loading = -0.992) in the distress group and emotional well-being (canonical loading = 0.948) in the well-being group. Redundancy analysis confirmed a significant interdependence: variables related to psychological distress explained 27.8% of the variance in well-being, while well-being variables explained 23.8% of the variance in distress. <b>Conclusions:</b> These results reinforce the two-continua model, highlighting the need to address both mental health and well-being throughout higher education.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468051/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145150584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan José Mora-Ascó, Carmen Moret-Tatay, María José Jorques-Infante, María José Beneyto-Arrojo
{"title":"Adaptation and Vulnerability in Chronic Pain: A Study of Profiles Based on Clinical and Psychological Factors.","authors":"Juan José Mora-Ascó, Carmen Moret-Tatay, María José Jorques-Infante, María José Beneyto-Arrojo","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15090168","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15090168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Chronic pain (CP) is a multidimensional condition that exerts a considerable impact on individuals' quality of life and presents a wide range of clinical and psychological expressions. This study sought, firstly, to identify distinct clinical profiles among individuals with CP based on clinical indicators, and secondly, to examine the differences in psychological vulnerability and pain-related coping strategies according to the clinical profiles.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 251 adults diagnosed with CP and residing in Spain participated in the study. Participants completed the Purpose in Life Test, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Pain Coping Questionnaire. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify subgroups within the sample, followed by independent samples <i>t</i>-tests to assess psychological differences between clusters.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study identified two clinical profiles among individuals with CP, distinguished by diagnostic delay, disease progression, and functional impact. Cluster 1 exhibited greater functional impairment, lower quality of life, and higher emotional distress (uncertainty, perceived burdensomeness, emotional dysregulation, and hopelessness). In contrast, Cluster 2 showed lower functional impairment, better quality of life, greater use of distraction strategies, and a higher meaning in life.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings suggest that both medical and psychological aspects appear to be associated with each other and may influence the perception, evolution and adaptation to CP.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468341/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Berta Caro-Puértolas, Inmaculada Báez-Tavero, Laura Lemus-Corchero, Laura Rodríguez-Ruiz, Celia Esther Cerezo-Casillas, Ana Inés Cosa-Aguirre, María Dolores Apolo-Arenas, Alejandro Caña-Pino
{"title":"Preliminary Research: Effectiveness of an Intervention Program Based on New Technologies for the Improvement of Cognitive and Motor Processes in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Berta Caro-Puértolas, Inmaculada Báez-Tavero, Laura Lemus-Corchero, Laura Rodríguez-Ruiz, Celia Esther Cerezo-Casillas, Ana Inés Cosa-Aguirre, María Dolores Apolo-Arenas, Alejandro Caña-Pino","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15090167","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15090167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence, characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms often interfere with academic, social, and family functioning. In recent years, the use of digital tools and video games has garnered attention as an innovative and engaging approach for neurocognitive rehabilitation. The primary objective of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the comparative effects of two cognitive intervention approaches-one based on new technologies and one using traditional methods-on attention, inhibitory control, and processing speed in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Thirty-three participants aged 6-17 years were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 17), which received Nintendo Switch-based therapy, or a control group (n = 16), which received traditional board game therapy. Both interventions lasted 8 weeks and included 16 sessions. Outcomes were assessed using the WISC-V, STROOP, and CARAS-R tests. Results showed significant within-group improvements in both groups. The control group exhibited gains in sustained attention and inhibitory control (CARAS-R and STROOP tests, <i>p</i> < 0.05), while the experimental group improved significantly in processing speed, as measured by the WISC-V (<i>p</i> = 0.001). However, no significant differences were found between groups. These findings suggest that both interventions may be effective for enhancing different cognitive processes in children with ADHD. Importantly, the use of familiar digital technologies like the Nintendo Switch may promote greater motivation and adherence to treatment. Further research with larger samples and long-term follow-up is warranted to validate and extend these preliminary findings, as the current sample size was not powered to detect medium or small effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468899/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145150589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergio Traficante, Luigi Tinella, Antonella Lopez, Sergio A Useche, Sjaan Koppel, Giuseppina Spano, Elisabetta Ricciardi, Rosa Napoletano, Andrea Bosco, Alessandro O Caffò
{"title":"Italian Adaptation of the No-Mobile-Phone-Phobia Questionnaire: Factorial Validity with the ESEM Technique and Population-Based Cut-Off Scores.","authors":"Sergio Traficante, Luigi Tinella, Antonella Lopez, Sergio A Useche, Sjaan Koppel, Giuseppina Spano, Elisabetta Ricciardi, Rosa Napoletano, Andrea Bosco, Alessandro O Caffò","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080166","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nomophobia is a multifaceted phenomenon characterized by fear and anxiety when individuals feel disconnected from their technological environment. Its assessment remains difficult due to limited tools and lack of empirically supported cut-off points. This study aimed to contribute to the Italian validation of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), testing a four-factor structure and establishing normative data by age and gender. Data were collected from 1447 participants. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) assessed different factorial configurations. A bifactor ESEM (B-ESEM) with a four-factor solution showed the best fit (CFI = 0.95; TLI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.06), offering a more accurate representation than the three-factor model. Scores were computed for the 1st and the 99th percentile and for each ventile; the 80th and 95th percentiles indicate risk and presence of nomophobia, respectively. Females scored highest across age groups, while older adults reported the lowest levels. These findings support the NMP-Q's reliability and use in the Italian context.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385476/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giada Mignolli, Daiana Colledani, Francesco Tommasi, Anna Maria Meneghini
{"title":"Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Emotion Regulation Flexibility Questionnaire in the Italian Context.","authors":"Giada Mignolli, Daiana Colledani, Francesco Tommasi, Anna Maria Meneghini","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080165","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Following the idea that individuals engage with different strategies to regulate their emotional experiences, scholars in the field of psychology have shown increasing interest in the notion of emotion regulation flexibility. Despite growing attention to this construct, validated instruments for assessing individuals' capacity to choose among different emotion regulation strategies effectively are limited, particularly in non-English-speaking contexts. The present study aims to extend the use of the Emotion Regulation Flexibility Questionnaire by providing a validation of the Italian version and supporting its generalisability.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Italian Emotion Regulation Flexibility Questionnaire (IT-ERFQ) was included in a cross-sectional study involving <i>N</i> = 887 participants (60.4% female). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, along with tests of measurement invariance across gender and age groups, assessments of internal consistency, and evaluations of external validity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The IT-ERFQ showed a clear unidimensional structure, good internal reliability, and full measurement invariance across groups. The eight-item Italian version correlated negatively with emotion dysregulation and positively with well-being.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings provide strong evidence for the psychometric soundness of the IT-ERFQ and support its use in both basic and applied research.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Virginia Krieger, Cristina Cañete-Massé, Juan Antonio Amador-Campos, Maribel Peró-Cebollero, María Feliu-Torruella, Alba Pérez-González, Adolfo José Jarne-Esparcia, Xavier María Triadó-Ivern, Joan Guàrdia-Olmos
{"title":"Mental Health Among Spanish Doctoral Students: Relationship Between Anxiety, Depression, Life Satisfaction, and Mentoring.","authors":"Virginia Krieger, Cristina Cañete-Massé, Juan Antonio Amador-Campos, Maribel Peró-Cebollero, María Feliu-Torruella, Alba Pérez-González, Adolfo José Jarne-Esparcia, Xavier María Triadó-Ivern, Joan Guàrdia-Olmos","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080164","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental health issues among PhD students are rising, a trend believed to be driven by academic and social challenges.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 1265 doctorate students from a large university in Barcelona, Spain (739 women; 414 men; 112 marked other options), with a mean age of 32.36 years (SD = 8.20, range: 23-67), were evaluated by means of standardized instruments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Totals of 40.6% and 46.5% of the sample exceeded the cut-off point for anxiety and depression symptoms, and 57.7% for life satisfaction. The proportion of females exceeding the cut-off point was significantly higher than that of males for both anxiety (women: 43.8%, men: 34.5%) and depression (women: 49.3%, men: 39.8%), but not for life satisfaction (women: 57.6%, men: 58.4%). Arts and Humanities PhD students' disciplines reported higher anxiety and depression scores than those in Social Sciences, Experimental Sciences and Mathematics, and Health Sciences, respectively, while Social Sciences students showed higher life satisfaction and mentoring support than the other groups. Depression scores were significant predictors of life satisfaction across all doctoral programs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight the importance of mentoring in supporting doctoral students' mental health and life satisfaction and can also inform policies in educational institutions, given that PhD students experiencing psychopathological disorders are at a higher risk of academic failure and dropout.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predicting University Students' Stress Responses: The Role of Academic Stressors and Sociodemographic Variables.","authors":"Cristina Ruiz-Camacho, Margarita Gozalo","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080163","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Academic stress arises when students perceive that university demands exceed their coping resources, leading to cognitive, behavioral, and physiological stress responses. This study examines the predictive role of academic stressors and sociodemographic variables across five dimensions of stress response. <b>Methods:</b> The sample comprised 1014 Spanish university students (64.5% women, 35.5% men; <i>M</i> = 20.56, <i>SD</i> = 3.50). Participants completed the Academic Stressors Scale (E-CEA) and the Stress Responses Scale (R-CEA). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted in two blocks: sociodemographic variables were entered in the first block, followed by academic stressors in the second. <b>Results:</b> Academic stressors accounted for substantial variance in all five stress response dimensions: negative thoughts (47.8%), physical exhaustion (39.5%), physical agitation (32.9%), irritability (29.7%), and sleep disturbances (26.8%). The most recurrent predictors were beliefs about performance, exams, and academic overload. In contrast, sociodemographic variables explained a much smaller portion of the variance (5.9%) and were specifically linked to higher irritability among women and younger students, more negative thoughts among students in Arts and Humanities, and fewer physical symptoms and sleep disturbances in students from science and technical fields. <b>Conclusions:</b> The findings reveal that academic stressors are key contributors to psychological distress among university students, highlighting the need for institutional interventions to alleviate the most frequent stressors. Identifying student groups particularly vulnerable to academic stress further supports the implementation of tailored strategies that address the diversity of students' profiles and needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sofia Oliveira, Tiago Maçarico, Ricardo Pacheco, Isabel Janeiro, Alexandra Marques-Pinto
{"title":"Mind the (Social and Emotional Competence) Gap to Support Higher Education Students' Well-Being: Psychometric Properties of the SECAB-A(S).","authors":"Sofia Oliveira, Tiago Maçarico, Ricardo Pacheco, Isabel Janeiro, Alexandra Marques-Pinto","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080162","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Today's increasingly brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible world of work calls for a socially and emotionally competent workforce. However, there is a clear gap in higher education settings regarding the assessment and promotion of students' social and emotional competence (SEC). Our study aims to address the pressing need to evaluate and develop higher education students' SEC by providing a tool to assess these skills, enabling researchers and practitioners to intervene and actively promote them. A sample of 767 higher education students (62.8% female, <i>M</i> = 22.88 years, <i>SD</i> = 7.30) enrolled in the study. Structural, discriminant and concurrent criterion validity, and reliability of the measure were assessed. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis tested the relation of SEC and well-being. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the hypothesized factorial structures. Coefficient omegas indicated adequate internal consistency. The results also supported the measure's discriminant and criterion validities in relation to external measures. Multi-group invariance across gender and academic fields was attained. We found evidence of the predictive role of intrapersonal skills on students' personal and academic well-being. This study bridges a gap in research and practice by introducing a psychometrically sound yet parsimonious instrument for assessing higher education students' SEC. It also highlights the supportive role of SEC in promoting students' well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura Brunelli, Flavia Pennisi, Antonio Pinto, Loredana Cella, Maria Parpinel, Silvio Brusaferro, Carlo Signorelli, Vincenzo Baldo, Vincenza Gianfredi
{"title":"Prevalence and Screening Tools of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Laura Brunelli, Flavia Pennisi, Antonio Pinto, Loredana Cella, Maria Parpinel, Silvio Brusaferro, Carlo Signorelli, Vincenzo Baldo, Vincenza Gianfredi","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080161","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: Domestic violence (DV), including intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the puerperium, represents a major public health issue, significantly affecting maternal and child health. (2) Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, aimed to identify screening tools used to detect DV and IPV among pregnant and postpartum women and to estimate DV prevalence. The protocol was published in PROSPERO in advance (CRD42023473392). (3) Results: A comprehensive literature search across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted on 1 January 2024, resulting in 34,720 records; 98 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were conducted in over 40 countries, and most were cross-sectional. Commonly used screening tools included the WHO Women's Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire, the Abuse Assessment Screen, and the WHO Violence Against Women Instrument. Meta-analyses showed that 10% of women experienced physical violence, 26% psychological violence, 9% sexual violence, 16% verbal violence, and 13% economic violence. The overall prevalence of IPV during pregnancy and the puerperium was 26%. Despite the widespread use of validated instruments, substantial heterogeneity was observed, underscoring the need for standardization. (4) Conclusion: These findings underline the urgent need to integrate routine IPV screening into maternal care pathways using validated, culturally adapted tools, ensuring women's safety and confidentiality.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Norida Vélez, Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes, Angélica Cruz-Pérez, Ronald López, Alejandra Parada-López, Eliana M Téllez-Ávila, Paola Rodríguez de Silva, Ana Munevar, Diana Marcela Rodríguez González, Paola Fuquen, Juan Carlos Santacruz, Jeadran Malagón-Rojas
{"title":"Promoting Healthy Organizations Through Urban Nature: Psychological and Physiological Effects in Healthcare Workers.","authors":"Norida Vélez, Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes, Angélica Cruz-Pérez, Ronald López, Alejandra Parada-López, Eliana M Téllez-Ávila, Paola Rodríguez de Silva, Ana Munevar, Diana Marcela Rodríguez González, Paola Fuquen, Juan Carlos Santacruz, Jeadran Malagón-Rojas","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe15080159","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe15080159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare professionals experience high levels of stress due to demanding work, especially in metropolitan areas. Nature-based interventions offer potential mental health benefits. This randomized intervention study aimed to evaluate the effects of nature immersion therapies on mental health outcomes in healthcare workers with different psychological risk in Bogota, Colombia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During a period of 6 months, a total of 82 healthcare workers from two institutions were assigned to three groups: two exposed weekly to nature (parks and forests) and one control group with monthly conventional interventions. Psychological assessments of stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep quality were conducted at three time points (baseline, three, and six months of intervention). Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) was measured monthly using immunoassay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A decrease in the proportion of participants reporting high levels of perceived stress was observed in both intervention groups. Both forest and parks interventions significantly reduced anxiety and fatigue, while sleep quality improved only in the forest group. Multivariate analysis found a negative association between fatigue and forest intervention, as well as significant differences in CAR concentrations across groups over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides evidence that nature immersion therapy, particularly urban forests, positively impact mental and physical health, reducing stress, anxiety, fatigue, and CAR levels, and could be considered as an effective intervention to enhance workers' resilience to stress, benefiting their overall health and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12385907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}