• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.429-438
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• 2020

Objectives: Given that Argentinian public-sector workers are highly exposed to stressful conditions, and that the psychometric properties of the widely used Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) should be evaluated in different settings, this work aimed to compare the psychometric properties of the Latin American Spanish PSS-10 and PSS-4 and to identify the optimal scale for stress assessment. Methods: A sample of 535 participants was randomly divided into 2 groups to evaluate dimensionality by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The reliability of both scales was also evaluated. Convergent validity was estimated using the Executive Complaints Questionnaire, the average variance extracted, and the composite reliability. Discriminant validity was based on the correlation with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the phi-square correlation between the components. Results: The factor analyses supported bidimensionality of the PSS-10 (stress and coping), which showed a better fit than the PSS-4. Moreover, the reliability of the PSS-10 was higher, whereas the PSS-4 did not achieve adequate values of internal consistency. The PSS-10 was also correlated significantly with all validation scales, and presented proper internal convergent and divergent validity. Conclusions: The PSS-10 is a reliable and structurally valid instrument to measure perceived stress and coping in a Latin American Spanish-speaking population with high work demands, and the findings of this study expand our knowledge on the geographical and sociocultural applicability of the PSS.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.178-187
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how college students' perceived stress, cognitive stress, and somatization affect their heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: This study is a cross-sectional survey research on 191 university students, registered at the G University. The perceived stress scale (PSS) and cognitive stress response scale, were used to assess level of stress. The somatization symptom scale of the Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90), was used to assess level of somatization caused by stress. To assess heart rate variability (HRV), we conducted a five-minute test using a pulse wave analyzer, to analyze short-term HRV. Results: The SCL-90 somatization score had relatively high positive correlation (p< .001) with cognitive stress, but low positive correlation (p< .001) with perceived stress. Cognitive stress response had low negative correlation (p< .001) with 1nSDNN and 1nRMSSD among HRV parameters. Perceived stress was not correlated with HRV. Multiple regression analysis showed that variables of perceived stress, cognitive stress, and somatization symptoms, could not explain HRV. By contrast, one of the HRV indicators, 1nSDNN, was affected by age, gender, and aggressive-hostile thought, the latter being a subscale of the cognitive stress response scale. Conclusion: This study suggests that stress evaluation for people in early adulthood will be more effective, if the evaluation examines cognitive stress and heart rate variability.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.308-315
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• 2017

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) test is a standardized ultrasound procedure that screens for and monitors atherosclerosis in a safe and non-invasive manner, even in individuals with no symptoms of heart disease. The purpose of this study was to research the relationship between CIMT, as measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of individual perceived stress. There was a total of 168 (male: 46, female: 122) university students in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, without other diseases. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. CIMT was measured in the right and left common carotid arteries 1 cm below the bifurcation, and internal carotid artery, using non-invasive high-resolution Medison Accuvix V20 prestige ultrasound equipment and perceived stress, was measured with the 10-item PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) questionnaire. This study indicates that PSS may be appropriate to estimate perceived stress levels and weight. Failure to control stress anxiety could lead to weight and CIMT soaring to dangerous levels, resulting in a myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. There was a statistically significant difference between left CIMT (p<0.05) and weight (p<0.05) according to each stress classification. The results of this study suggest that the weight measurement is influenced in part by one's generalized stress levels. Future continuous studies should be conducted to test the influences of perceived stress and generalized anxiety on CIMT when these are many continuous variables.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate relationship between perceived stress level, cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategy and hope in group with high depressive symptom and higher-level perceived stress (H-H) and group with high depressive symptom and lower-level perceived stress (H-L) in patients with depression. Method : A total of 85 patients (over score of 16 by Beck depression Inventory; BDI) were surveyed with Cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ), Perceived stress scale (PSS), and The state hope scale (SHS). Mean scores of CERQ and SHS were compared between relatively higher perceived stress and lower perceived stress groups. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the effect of BDI, PSS and CER strategy on SHS in two groups. Results : In ANOVA, the level of hope and maladaptive CERQ score proved to be significantly lower among the H-H group than among the H-L group, while adaptive CERQ scores were not. In Regression analysis, the effective CER strategy in SHS were 'Refocus on planning' in H-H group, while it was 'Acceptance' CER strategy in H-L group. The final regression model explained 36% of the variance of SHS in H-H group and explained 21% of SHS in H-L group. Conclusion : These findings suggest that 'Refocus on planning' and 'Acceptance' cognitive emotion strategy are helpful in promotion of state hope on depression. Especially, 'Refocus on planning' strategy is more effective in high depressive symptom and high-perceived stress level, while 'Acceptance' strategy help to promote hope in high depressive symptom and low-perceived stress level in patients with depression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.45-60
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the effectiveness of Brief Qigong-based Stress Reduction Program(BQSRP) and personality. Methods : Twenty nine women and nine men from the community with symptoms of distress(mean age 39.4 years, SD=11.4) were randomized into a group receiving a 4-week intervention of BQSRP(n=19) or a waiting-list control group. All subjects completed the temperament and character inventory (TCI) before the intervention. Before and after the intervention period, questionnaires were completed on perceived stress scale(PSS), anxiety, and quality of life. Results : 1. Those who have higher temperament of harm avoidance or lower character of self-directedness showed higher PSS, Hwa-Byung character, Hwa-Byung symptom, STAI and lower WHOQOL-BREF scores. 2. In the BQSRP training group, a correlation analysis demonstrated an association between higher temperament of harm avoidance and greater improvement of perceived stress and an association between lower character of self-directedness and greater improvement of perceived stress. 3. Those who have high Hwa-Byung symptom scores prefer the breathing meditation and there were no differences in effects of BQSRP group by the preference Brief Qigong-based Meditation(BQM) component. Conclusions : These results suggest that a BQSRP training may be effective for those with higher harm avoidance trait and low self-directedness.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Objectives : The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global medical crisis imposing particular burden on public sector employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychiatric distress among public sector workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study with 531 public sector workers in Gwangmyung city who completed Korean versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised-Korean (IES-R-K). Results : The results revealed more than moderate levels of stress (85.2%), depressive symptoms (22.2%), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (38.8%). PSS total score was significantly correlated with PHQ-9, IES-R-K total scores as well as IES-R-K subscale scores. Total scores on the PSS, PHQ-9, and IES-R-K were all inversely correlated with age. Conclusions : COVID-19-related workers experience considerable stress and depressive symptoms, with self-rated stress correlating significantly with depression scores. Age may serve as a protective factor against occupational stress and burnout. These findings highlight the need for adequate psychiatric screening and intervention for public sector workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2014

Background: The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first trimester of 2011 in 23 police stations in the greater Athens area. A total of 201 police officers agreed to participate (response rate 44.6%). The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess general health, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaires were used to assess QoL and perceived stress, respectively. Results: The PSS and GHQ subscales and total scores exhibited strong, positive, and significant correlations coefficients (r): 0.52 for somatic disturbances, 0.56 for stress and insomnia, 0.40 for social dysfunction, and 0.37 for depression, yielding an r equal to 0.57 for the total GHQ score. A higher level of perceived stress was related to a lower likelihood of being satisfied with their job; in this regard, male participants and higher ranked officers reported lower job satisfaction. The PSS and GHQ scores were inversely, consistently, and significantly related to almost all of the QoL aspects, explaining up to 34% of their variability. Parenthood had a positive effect on QoL related to physical health, and women reported lower QoL related to psychological health. Conclusion: Higher levels of stress are related to an increased risk of reporting suboptimal job satisfaction and QoL. The magnitude of these associations varied depending on age, gender, and rank, highlighting the need for stress-management training.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

Patients diagnosed with cancer face mental problems such as alienation, isolation, anxiety about death and fear, recovering from psychological difficulties. In this study, a forest healing program was provided for cancer patients to recover from psychological stress, depression, social isolation and self-esteem caused by cancer and changes in salivary cortisol through psychological and emotional recovery were measured. From September 19 to November 28, 2017, a forest healing program composed of a total of 10 sessions, two hours per session was provided for 12 cancer patients in the Forest of Taegyo located in Yongin. Psychological tests were performed with Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS), Korean-version Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 18.0. The salivary cortisol level was measured along with the psychological tests and were analyzed by a specialized testing agency. The results of the analysis showed that the pre- and post-assessment score of SASS was 29.17 and 25.92, respectively, and that the pre- and post-assessment score of PSS was 30.50 and 23.92, respectively. The pre- and post-assessment score of BDI was 41.00 and 34.83, respectively, which showed significant differences. In addition, the pre- and post-assessment level of saliva cortisol was 3.13 and 1.68, respectively, showing a significant decrease. In short, the forest healing program was found to be effective in reducing physiological changes caused by social isolation and stress due to the emotional and psychological difficulties that the subjects who were diagnosed with cancer and were recovering from it have. In the future, it will be necessary to develop and implement a forest healing program by conducting a forest healing requirement survey on cancer patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.87-95
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• 2023

Purpose: To quantify the relationship between perceived pain intensity and psychological variables in a sample of participants with temporomandibular disorder, with or without central sensitization (CS). Methods: A cross-sectional study with nonprobability convenience sampling was conducted from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire, STAI), catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (IBM Co.), which included descriptive and normality analyses and the calculation of strength of multiple correlational regression. Results: A total of 52 (n=34 female 65.4%; n=18 male 34.6%) subjects with diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were finally included. A total of 26 participants (n=26, 50.0%) were cases suffered from CS (TMD-CS mean=46.62±11.24) while the remaining participants (n=26, 50.0%) were the controls (TMD-nCS mean=26.77, standard deviation [SD]=8.42). The pain intensity was moderate in both groups TMDCS (mean=7.62, SD=0.83) and TMD-nCS (mean=7.05, SD=0.86), anxiety (TMD-CS STAI mean=53.27, SD=11.54; TMD-nCS STAI mean=49, SD=11.55), catastrophizing (TMD-CS PCS mean=46.27, SD=9.75; TMD-nCS PCS mean=26.69, SD=4.97), perceived stress (TMDCS PSS mean=30.35, SD=4.91; TMD-nCS PSS mean=26.12, SD=6.60) and sleep quality (TMD-CS PSQI mean=15.81, SD=3.65; TMD-nCS PSQI mean=12.77, SD=2.76) levels were measured in both groups. In TMD-CS and TMD-nCS, higher anxiety levels were moderately and significantly associated with greater pain intensity β=0.4467 (t=2.477, p=0.021) and β=0.5087 (t=2.672, p=0.014). Nevertheless, catastrophizing, perceived stress and sleep quality were not associated to pain intensity in neither of group. Conclusions: In both TMD-CS and TMD-nCS patients, elevated anxiety levels were moderately and significantly associated with increased pain intensity. However, heightened levels of pain catastrophizing, perceived stress, and poor sleep quality were not significantly associated with increased pain intensity in either of the two analyzed groups.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.241-257
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• 2022

Objectives: To investigate emotional characteristics of healthy adults using the Core Seven Emotions Inventory-Short Form (CSEI-s) and to investigate the correlation between the CSEI-s and Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale (K-PSS). Methods: Overall, 2,178 healthy adults aged ≥19 years who completed the CSEI-s and K-PSS in a nationwide multicenter study were included in this study. One-way analysis of variance was performed to identify associations of seven emotions with sociodemographic characteristics. Bonferroni corrected post-hoc tests were performed for multiple comparisons. Pearson's correlation analyses were conducted to examine the correlation between each emotion and stress. Results: Scores of all emotions except for joy (喜) and stress were significantly greater in women than in men. However, the score of joy (喜) in women was significantly less than that in men. There were significant differences in joy (喜), thought (思), depression (憂), fear (恐), and fright (驚) according to age groups in both men and women. The score of depression (憂) was significantly lower in women attending or graduating from graduate school than in those attending or graduating from undergraduate school. Significantly lower scores in joy (喜), thought (思), depression (憂), sorrow (悲), fear (恐), and fright (驚) were observed in married men than in single men. There were significant positive correlations between depression (憂) and stress and between sorrow (悲) and stress in both men and women. Conclusions: There were significant associations of seven emotions with sociodemographic characteristics in healthy adults.