{"title":"Mindfulness-based self-compassion and vagal nerve stimulation impact on heart rate variability, psychological resilience, and sleep quality in earthquake survivors.","authors":"Merve Bat Tonkuş, Şule Okur Dündar, Arzu Dikici, Ece Alagöz, Behice Belkıs Çaliskan","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2628981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628981","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Earthquakes pose significant risks to both psychological and physiological health by disrupting autonomic regulation and increasing stress-related disorders. This study aims to evaluate the combined effects of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on sleep quality, psychological resilience, and heart rate variability (HRV) in survivors of the February 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes. A randomized experimental study was conducted with 26 earthquake survivors, assigned to either a combined MSC+VNS group or a VNS-only group. The intervention lasted three weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Psychological Resilience Scale, and HRV parameters (RMSSD, pNN50, LF/HF ratio). Both groups showed improvement in sleep quality and resilience, with the MSC+VNS group demonstrating greater gains. Significant improvement was observed in LF/HF ratios in both groups, indicating enhanced autonomic balance. However, changes in RMSSD and pNN50 were not statistically significant. While VNS supports stress reduction, combining it with MSC yields stronger psychological and physiological benefits. These findings suggest that integrative approaches may be particularly effective in post-disaster recovery. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are recommended to validate and expand on these results.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146222256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abigail S Robbertz, Lindsey L Cohen, Lisa P Armistead, Kevin Hommel, Bonney Reed
{"title":"Trajectories of well-being in children with gastrointestinal conditions and their parents during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Abigail S Robbertz, Lindsey L Cohen, Lisa P Armistead, Kevin Hommel, Bonney Reed","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2628978","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Youth with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions often experience higher rates of mental health concerns, social challenges, and family dysfunction compared to healthy peers. It is important to investigate how these children and their parents fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify trajectories of well-being and predictors of the trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic for children with GI conditions and their parents. Biopsychosocial survey data was collected three times from children (<i>n</i> = 55) with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease and one of their parents (<i>n</i> = 58) from September 2020 - December 2022. Latent variables of well-being were constructed, and trajectories were identified with visual and statistical methods. Binomial regression identified predictors of resilience trajectories. Participants fell into five trajectory groups: resilience, improving, worsening, chronic, and time 2 variation. Most children and parents were in the resilience trajectory group. Exploratory analyses revealed a strong parent-child relationship predicted which children belonged to the resilience trajectory, and low isolation predicted which parents belonged to the resilience trajectory. Clinicians should assess mental health concerns at each visit; well-being fluctuated throughout the height of the pandemic. Leveraging a strong parent-child relationship could help support child resilience responses at times of high stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146222266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examination of death anxiety and resilience levels in mothers of pediatric hematology-oncology patients.","authors":"Kamile Akça, Soner Berşe, Beşir Çakır","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2632837","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2632837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parents of children with hematological-oncological conditions face significant psychological challenges, including heightened death anxiety and diminished resilience. This study examined the relationships between resilience, death anxiety, and socio-demographic characteristics among caregiving mothers of children receiving treatment in a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic and children's ambulatory unit. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a hospital in southeastern of Türkiye between July 2022 and April 2023. Data were collected using the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale, the Mother Resilience Scale, and a Participant Information Form. Analyses included chi-square, Mann - Whitney U, Kruskal - Wallis, Spearman's correlation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis. Higher educational attainment was significantly associated with greater resilience (χ<sup>2</sup> = 25.195, <i>p</i> < 0.001); university-educated mothers had the highest scores (<i>M</i> = 145.56 ± 27.48). Sub-dimension means for death anxiety were: Ambiguity = 21.96 ± 13.37, Exposure = 13.93 ± 9.57, and Agony = 7.67 ± 4.03. Resilience and death anxiety were weakly but significantly inversely correlated (ρ = -0.155, <i>p</i> = 0.047). Regression analysis showed that educational level negatively predicted death anxiety (B = -4.715, β = -0.278, <i>p</i> = 0.002; Adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = 0.056). Mediation analysis confirmed that resilience did not mediate this association (indirect effect = -0.38, 95% CI [-1.66, 0.42]). Educational status directly fosters resilience and reduces death anxiety, while resilience independently influences psychological adaptation. Interventions should therefore target resilience enhancement and individualized support to mitigate death anxiety among caregiving mothers.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146214908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The mediating role of e-health literacy in the effect of digital parenting on rational drug use in parents with school-age children: a structural equality model.","authors":"Eda Gülbetekіn, Fatma Gül Can","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2632397","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2632397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, it was aimed at investigating the mediating role of e-health literacy in the effect of digital parenting on rational drug use among parents with school-age children. In this study, a correlational and descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 663 parents with children aged 6-12 who voluntarily participated in the study. 'The Personal Information Form', 'Digital Parenting Attitude Scale', 'Parents' Attitudes Toward Rational Drug Use Scale' and 'E-Health Literacy Scale' were used to collect data. The study revealed that as the level of education increases, the level of digital parenting also increases, and variables such as the caregiver's gender, age, and how much time he/she spends on the internet were also found to affect digital parenting. It was concluded that e-health literacy had a 'partial mediating' role in the effect of digital parenting attitude on the attitude towards rational drug use. Our findings emphasize the heterogeneous relationship between digital parenting, rational drug use, and e-health literacy levels of parents with school-age children. The results of this study have important implications for pediatric nursing practices. Pediatric nurses can help by educating the community about what digital parenting is, what issues need to be considered, and educating parents about rational drug use, e-health literacy, etc. Moreover, nurses can use innovation spaces to guide how to use digital devices for important issues such as health and illness. Incorporating innovation services into pediatric nursing practice may also be beneficial.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146214911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality among palliative caregivers.","authors":"Müjde Kerkez, Mensure Turan","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2623303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2623303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the relationship between uncertainty and sleep quality among palliative caregivers. The caregivers of patients treated in the palliative services of two hospitals participated in the cross-sectional research design. Data were collected using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI). Statistical analyses were performed using correlation and hierarchical regression analysis. The mean IUS total score was 38.30 ± 8.39, and the mean PSQI total score was 8.47 ± 2.91. The correlation coefficient showed that intolerance of uncertainty was not associated with overall sleep quality scores (<i>r</i> = 0.117, <i>p</i> > 0.05) and had a weak positive association with subjective sleep quality scores (<i>r</i> = 0.277, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Hierarchical multiple-regression analysis showed that 46.6% of the variance in sleep quality scale scores was explained by factors including demographic characteristics, care process, psychosocial support, and intolerance of uncertainty. The results of this study demonstrated that sleep quality and intolerance of uncertainty are largely closely related to psychological processes such as caregiving burden, perceived responsibility, control, and role burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146203660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of childbirth Post-traumatic stress disorder on the Mother-Infant Bond: a systematic review.","authors":"Monica Prado, Meritxell Camprecios","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2628980","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628980","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traumatic birth is clinically defined as a labor process perceived by the mother as a significant threat to her or her newborn's safety, which can result in the development of Childbirth-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CB-PTSD). Women affected by CB-PTSD often face difficulties in forming positive and nurturing interactions with their infants, as the child may serve as a constant reminder of the traumatic event. A systematic review, which was based on the PRISMA guidelines, was conducted to analyze and critically assess existing research exploring the relationship between CB-PTSD and the mother-infant bond. The study used multiple databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo. Twenty-one studies were analyzed, 19 of which reported that CB-PTSD has a negative effect on the mother-infant bond; 13 identified a direct effect and 6 highlighted an effect mediated by postpartum depression. The evidence analyzed in this review supports the claim that CB-PTSD negatively impacts the mother-infant bond, emphasizing the importance of addressing this condition within the perinatal context.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-22"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146203594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Linking social support to Chinese kindergarten teachers' mental health: the mediating roles of emotional intelligence, emotional self-efficacy, and job burnout.","authors":"Biru Chang, Qiuxia Guo","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2628984","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628984","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the development of society and the transformation of education, the mental health of Chinese teachers, especially kindergarten teachers, is deteriorating. Although numerous theoretical frameworks and empirical studies have been devoted to exploring factors (e.g. social support, self-efficacy, job burnout, et al.) in relation to individual mental health, limited studies have jointly examined the mechanisms linking these factors to mental health outcomes. This study aimed to apply the social cognitive model of job and life satisfaction to understand Chinese kindergarten teachers' mental health problems. A total of 1114 Chinese kindergarten teachers, whose mean age was 32.75 ± 8.36 and of whom 1073 (96.3%) were female, completed several measures concerning social support, emotional intelligence, emotional self-efficacy, job burnout, and mental health. The Harman single-factor test, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to identify key predictors and mediating pathways among these variables. The integrated social cognitive model of mental health demonstrated a strong fitness to the data across both the general sample and sub-samples categorized by teaching years and parenting experiences. Simultaneously, social support might serve as an indirect predictor of mental health problem, which was mediated primarily via job burnout, the chain links of emotional intelligence and job burnout, the chain links of emotional self-efficacy and job burnout, and the chain links of emotional intelligence, emotional self-efficacy, and job burnout. The mental health of kindergarten teachers fluctuates by a combination of social support, emotional intelligence, emotional self-efficacy, and job burnout. Therefore, constructing an emotional support system, improving teachers' emotional literacy, and integrating teachers' diverse learning experiences might more effectively promote their mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adult attachment, sleep hygiene and sleep quality: a cross-sectional mediation analysis.","authors":"Jolana Samii, Angela Rowe, Michael J Banissy","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2628977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2628977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insecure attachment dimensions have been associated with poorer sleep quality and less health-promoting behaviours, but the mechanisms underlying these associations are not fully understood. This study examined whether sleep hygiene mediates the relationship between adult attachment dimensions and sleep quality. Adult participants were recruited via an online opportunity sample and completed measures of attachment anxiety and avoidance, sleep hygiene, and sleep quality, along with demographic and psychological covariates. Multiple regression and mediation analyses were conducted to test whether attachment dimensions predicted sleep hygiene and sleep quality, and whether sleep hygiene partially accounted for these associations while statistically controlling for sex, age, anxious and depressed mood, and fatigue. Higher scores on both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with poorer sleep hygiene and poorer sleep quality. Sleep hygiene partially mediated the relationships between both insecure attachment dimensions and sleep quality, suggesting that attachment-related differences may influence everyday sleep-related behaviours, which in turn are linked to sleep outcomes. Future research should evaluate whether incorporating attachment-based strategies into sleep hygiene and sleep interventions can enhance their effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146196153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dolapoglu N, Sahin Can M, Demiraslan S, Aydogdu I, Sancar K, Alçı D, Tulaci Rg, Karlıdere T
{"title":"The association between alexithymia, somatic symptoms, and psychological support attitudes in consultation-liaison psychiatry patients.","authors":"Dolapoglu N, Sahin Can M, Demiraslan S, Aydogdu I, Sancar K, Alçı D, Tulaci Rg, Karlıdere T","doi":"10.1080/13548506.2026.2626881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2026.2626881","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alexithymia, characterized by a diminished capacity to recognize and express emotions, may lead individuals to misinterpret emotional distress as physical symptoms, thereby influencing their patterns of seeking medical care. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, perception of somatic symptoms, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help in consultation-liaison psychiatry patients. The sample consisted of 50 patients who initially presented to non-psychiatric medical departments and were subsequently referred to psychiatry due to suspected comorbid psychiatric conditions. Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS), the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Alexithymia was detected in 20% of the referred patients. Among alexithymic participants, a statistically significant positive association was observed between scores on the HADS Anxiety Subscale and the ATSPPHS (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between HADS Depression Subscale scores and SAS scores (<i>p</i> = 0.023). Understanding the interplay between alexithymia and the expression of emotional and physical symptoms is of critical importance for medical professionals. Recognizing and addressing the emotional dimensions of health may enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve patient outcomes, and promote a more holistic, patient-centered approach to care.</p>","PeriodicalId":54535,"journal":{"name":"Psychology Health & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146196142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}