Showing papers on "Somatic anxiety published in 2021"

Lonely, anxious, and uncertain: Critical risk factors for suicidal desire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: Public health measures enacted early in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented physical isolation. Social isolation, or the objective experience of being alone, and loneliness, the subjective feeling of being lonely, are both implicated in suicidal ideation. Anxiety sensitivity (i.e., fear of somatic anxiety) and intolerance of uncertainty (distress due to uncertainty), may also be heightened in response to the pandemic increasing risk for suicidal ideation in response to social isolation and loneliness. The direct and interactive relations loneliness, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty shared with suicidal ideation were examined using structural equation modeling across two samples. Sample 1 comprised 635 people (M age = 38.52, SD = 10.00; 49.0% female) recruited using Mechanical Turk in May 2020. Sample 2 comprised 435 people (M age = 34.92, SD = 14.98; 76.2% female) recruited from faculty, staff, and students at a midwestern university in June 2020. Loneliness and anxiety sensitivity were positively, uniquely associated with suicidal ideation across samples. Results of this study were cross-sectional and included only self-report measures. These findings highlight loneliness and anxiety sensitivity as important correlates of suicidal ideation. Modular treatments should be employed to target these mechanisms to reduce COVID-19-related suicidal ideation.

Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Anxiety of Adolescents Aged 13-16 Years: A Comparative Analysis of Longitudinal Data From China

Abstract: Background: Adolescence is an important stage of psychological development, and the psychological and mental problems of many adults are affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. The aim of this study was to understand the psychological status of this group during the epidemic, and to determine the risk factors leading to psychological stress, as well as protective factors. Methods: An online survey was run on April 2, 2020. The participants were 254 adolescents aged 13-16 years from a junior high school in Jiangsu, China. The results were compared with the pre-epidemic data, which came from the psychological status survey routinely carried out by the school. Mental health variables were assessed via the Mental Health Test that included one validity subscale and eight content subscales. Results: The number of adolescents with poor mental health increased significantly from 12.3 to 24.2%. There was significant increase in learning anxiety (33.7 vs. 56.4%), sensitivity tendency (19.8 vs. 46%), somatic anxiety (13.9 vs. 40.7%) and phobia tendency (4.4 vs. 10.1%). During the epidemic, there were significant differences between adolescents with normal and poor mental health in family structure, personality, relationship with siblings, daily exercise time, and risk of family members coming in contact with COVID-19. Living in stem family, no siblings, and risk of contracting COVID-19 from family members were significant risk factors for teenagers with poor mental health. Risk of contracting COVID-19 from family members was the most influential risk factor for learning anxiety, self-blaming tendency, sensitivity tendency, and somatic anxiety. Exercising for ≥1 h per day was a significant protective factor for poor mental health. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 epidemic, adolescents aged 13-16 years have had psychosocial problems, especially learning anxiety, sensitivity tendency, somatic anxiety, and phobia tendency, as well as risk factors for developing them. Our study provides insights for potential interventions.

Alexithymia, Emotional Distress, and Perceived Quality of Life in Patients With Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Abstract: Emotion-processing impairment represents a risk factor for the development of somatic illness, affecting negatively both health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease management in several chronic diseases. The present pilot study aims at (i) investigating the associations between alexithymia and depression, anxiety, and HRQoL in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT); (ii) examining the association between these three psychological conditions together with HRQoL, and thyroid autoantibodies status as well as thyroid echotexture in patients with HT; and (iii) comparing the intensity of all these clinical psychological features in patients with HT versus controls. Twenty-one patients with serologically or ultrasonographically verified HT and 16 controls with non-toxic goiter or postsurgical hypothyroidism were recruited for this study. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine, as well as thyroid autoantibodies (thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies), were assayed. Alexithymia, depression, anxiety, and HRQoL were assessed with Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Beck Depression Inventory, second edition; Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; and Health Survey Short-Form 36, respectively. A negative relationship between the difficulty to describe feelings and the cognitive component of depression was found (r = -0.46, p = 0.04). Besides, patients with seronegative HT had lower somatic anxiety than patients with HT who tested positive (r = -0.68, p = 0.01 and r = -0.59, p = 0.04, respectively). Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with HT and controls with regard to somatic anxiety. The present study suggests the relevance of alexithymia in patients suffering from HT, which may be intertwined with a possible state of underreported depression that is mainly expressed through physical complaints. Promoting the capability to describe and communicate feelings could contribute to psychological elaboration and coping with the disease and, consequently, to the improvement of self-management and perceived HRQoL.

Therapeutic effects of Silexan on somatic symptoms and physical health in patients with anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis.

Abstract: A meta-analysis was performed to examine therapeutic effects of Silexan on somatic symptoms, including insomnia/fatigue, and physical health in patients with anxiety disorders. Five randomized, placebo-controlled trials were included in this analysis: The efficacy of Silexan (80 mg/day) was investigated in patients with subthreshold anxiety disorders (three trials) and in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (two trials). Silexan was superior to placebo in terms of the mean change from baseline in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) subscore somatic anxiety at week 10 with a standardized mean difference of -0.31 [95% Cl: -0.52 to -0.10, p = .004]. Treatment effects of silexan on somatic anxiety were independent of gender and age. Statistically significant differences were also shown for single HAMA items somatic muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, and genitourinary symptoms, indicating clinical relevance with small to medium effects of Silexan. Similar clinically meaningful effects of Silexan on SF-36 physical health, including reduced bodily pain and improved general health, and on insomnia complaints and fatigue, were demonstrated. In this meta-analysis including all placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with anxiety disorders to date, statistically significant and clinically meaningful advantages of Silexan over placebo treatment were found in improving somatic symptoms and physical health.

An investigative study on the types and causes of esl writing anxiety: a case study of learners from a chinese independent middle school

Abstract: Feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry make the learning of ESL / EFL difficult as learners’ focus is being interrupted Writing; whether in first or second language, is considered a difficult process The arousal of negative psychological experience in a second/foreign language writing is known as foreign language writing anxiety As such, the underlying causes of ESL / EFL anxiety need to be understood to ensure a smooth language writing process for ESL / EFL learners This study aims to investigate the level, types, and causes of writing anxiety among the students in a Chinese Independent Middle School A convenience sample total of 30 Chinese Independent Middle School students were purposely chosen to participate in this study This research adopted two survey questionnaires; Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) by Cheng (2004) and Causes of Writing Anxiety Inventory (CWAI) by Rezaeia & Jafari (2014) The findings revealed that these students experience a high level of cognitive anxiety, moderate level of somatic anxiety, and low level of avoidance behaviour It is discovered that the level of writing anxiety being experienced by the students is at the level of moderate to high anxiety Meanwhile, in terms of the causal factor for writing anxiety, the results reported high means scores for each causal of writing anxiety theme are 'afraid of writing tests' for negative writing experience theme, 'feel worried to write under time constraints' for negative writing attitude theme and 'often encounter some linguistic problems' for limit writing knowledge and skill theme The researcher proposed some strategies that could be used in reducing ESL writing anxiety which are: process writing approach, affective strategies, positive error correction, and vocabulary knowledge enhancement Article visualizations:

Do side effects of antidepressants impact efficacy estimates based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale? A pooled patient-level analysis.

Abstract: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) measures symptoms that may overlap with common antidepressant side effects (e.g., sexual dysfunction), thus making it possible that side effects of antidepressant treatment are erroneously rated as symptoms of depression, and vice versa. This study uses patient-level data from previously conducted antidepressant treatment trials to assess whether side effect ratings co-vary with HDRS-17 ratings. Data from all HDRS-17-rated, industry-sponsored pre- and post-marketing trials (n = 4647) comparing the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, duloxetine, to placebo and/or to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor were pooled; three studies, which utilised sub-therapeutic doses, did not have symptom-level ratings available and could not be included. Severity was assessed for side effects related to sleep, somatic anxiety, gastrointestinal function, and sexual dysfunction. Analysis of covariance was used to assess the relation between these side effects and ratings of relevant HDRS-17-derived outcome parameters. Side effects related to sleep, somatic anxiety and sexual dysfunction significantly and exclusively associated with higher scores on HDRS-17 items measuring the corresponding domains. Side effects related to gastrointestinal function associated with higher HDRS-17 item scores on all assessed domains. Treatment outcome was significantly related to side effect severity when assessed using HDRS-17-sum (beta 0.32 (0.074), p < 0.001), but not when the HDRS-6-sum-score (beta 0.035 (0.043), p = 0.415) or the depressed mood item (beta 0.007 (0.012), p = .527) were used as effect parameters. That some HDRS-17 items co-vary with common antidepressant side effects suggests some of these adverse events are counted twice, potentially leading to an underestimation of antidepressant efficacy.

Finnish students’ enjoyment and anxiety levels during fitness testing classes

Abstract: Background: Fitness testing is a commonly applied learning and teaching practice implemented in both secondary and elementary school physical education (PE). Many teachers believe that by using a v...

Conscientiousness in Pilots Correlates with Electrodermal Stability: Study on Simulated Flights under Social Stress

Abstract: For pilots, the capacity to cope with anxiety is crucial during a flight since they may be confronted with stressful situations. According to the Big Five Inventory, this capacity can be modulated by two important personality traits: conscientiousness and neuroticism. The former would be related to concentration skills and the latter to the attention bias towards anxiety-provoking stimuli. Given the current development of monitoring systems for detecting the users’ state, which can be incorporated into cockpits, it is desirable to estimate their robustness to inter-individual personality differences. Indeed, several emotion recognition methods are based on physiological responses that can be modulated by specific personality profiles. The personality traits of twenty pilots were assessed. Afterwards, they performed two consecutive simulated flights without and with induced social stress while electrodermal activity was measured. Their subjective anxiety was assessed before the second flight, prior to the stress-induced condition. The results showed that higher scores in neuroticism correlated positively with cognitive and somatic anxiety. Moreover, under social stress, higher scores in conscientiousness correlated positively with electrodermal stability, i.e., a lower number of skin conductance responses. These results on both self-reported and physiological responses are in favor of the integration of personality differences into pilots’ state monitoring.

Sensory Processing in the Autism Spectrum: The Role of Attention to Detail and Somatic Trait Anxiety in the Olfactory Perception of the General Population.

Abstract: Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as autism traits (AT), have been associated with altered sensory processing. However, the role of AT in olfactory processing is still unclear. We analyzed the impact of AT and trait anxiety (TANX), relevant in the context of autism and olfactory perception, in the olfactory abilities of a nonclinical adult sample. Participants (N = 116) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and the Sniffin’ Sticks Extended Test to measure AT, TANX and olfactory abilities, respectively. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis suggested that women and higher scores on the Attention to Detail subscale of AQ were associated with better odor discrimination, and higher somatic TANX was related to poorer odor discrimination.

Effects of a Physical Education Program on Physical Activity and Emotional Well-Being among Primary School Children

Abstract: (1) Background: It has been identified that schools that adopt at least two hours a week of physical education and plan specific contents and activities can achieve development goals related to physical level, such as promoting health, well-being, and healthy lifestyles, on a personal level, including bodily awareness and confidence in physical skills, as well as a general sense of well-being, greater security and self-esteem, sense of responsibility, patience, courage, and mental balance. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of physical education programs on the physical activity and emotional well-being of primary school children. (2) Methods: The experimental group comprised 45 girls and 44 boys aged 6-7 years (First Grade) and 48 girls and 46 boys aged 8-9 years (Second Grade), while the control group comprised 43 girls and 46 boys aged 6-7 years (First Grade) and 47 girls and 45 boys aged 8-9 years (Second Grade). All children attended the same school. The Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire was used, which is based on the Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey questionnaire, which includes activities specific to young children (e.g., "playing in a playhouse"). Emotional well-being status was explored by estimating three main dimensions: somatic anxiety, personality anxiety, and social anxiety. The Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) was used. (3) Results: When analysing the pre-test results of physical activity of the 6-7- and 8-9-year-old children, it turned out that both the First Grade (92.15 MET, min/week) and Second Grade (97.50 MET, min/week) participants in the experimental group were physically active during physical education lessons. When exploring the results of somatic anxiety in EG (4.95 ± 1.10 points), both before and after the experiment, we established that somatic anxiety in EG was 4.55 ± 1.00 points after the intervention program, demonstrating lower levels of depression, seclusion, somatic complaints, aggression, and delinquent behaviours (F = 4.785, p < 0.05, P = 0.540). (4) Conclusions: We established that the properly constructed and purposefully applied eight-month physical education program had positive effects on the physical activity and emotional well-being of primary school children (6-7 and 8-9 years) in three main dimensions: somatic anxiety, personality anxiety, and social anxiety. Our findings suggest that the eight-month physical education program intervention was effective at increasing levels of physical activity. Changes in these activities may require more intensive behavioural interventions with children or upstream interventions at the family and societal levels, as well as at the school environment level. These findings have relevance for researchers, policy makers, public health practitioners, and doctors who are involved in health promotion, policy making, and commissioning services.

Writing Anxiety among EFL Students of John Senior High School

Abstract: The objective of this is to examine the level of deep writing anxiety experienced by high school students in learning English as a foreign language for various reasons and consequences of the anxiety. Many results of research on scientific papers in this decade indicate that writing anxiety in foreign languages has negative effects on attitudes, success, student achievement, hinders the writing process, and reduces interest in writing. In this study, the quantitative research method is used to measure the level of anxiety experienced by students. This study adapted the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory questionnaire compiled by (Cheng, 2004). The results showed that the participants had high and moderate writing anxiety. Cognitive anxiety showed the highest result. Whereas, avoidance anxiety was reported in the second position of writing anxiety. The lowest score was performed by somatic anxiety that occurred in the result. They have problems in choosing a topic to write on, finding helpful ideas, time constraints, and a lack of effective feedback are the most worrying factors, followed by grammar, brainstorming, idea organization, and topic sentence writing.

The Role of Experience, Perceived Match Importance, and Anxiety on Cortisol Response in an Official Esports Competition.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyse the neuroendocrine stress response, psychological anxiety response, and perceived match importance (PMI) between expert and non-expert control gamers in an official competitive context. We analyzed, in 25 expert esports players and 20 control participants, modifications in their somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, self-confidence, PMI, and cortisol in a League of Legends competition. We found how expert esports players presented higher cortisol concentrations (Z = 155.5; p = 0.03; Cohen's d = -0.66), cognitive anxiety (Z = 99.5; p = 0.001), and PMI (Z = 50.5; p < 0.001) before the competition than non-experts participants. We found a greater statistical weight in the cognitive variables than in the physiological ones. The results obtained suggest that real competitive context and player's expertise were factors associated with an anticipatory stress response. The PMI proved to be a differentiating variable between both groups, highlighting the necessity to include subjective variables that contrast objective measurements.

Association Between Anxious Symptom Severity and Olfactory Impairment in Young Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Case-Control Study.

Abstract: Objective The findings of olfaction are inconsistent in anxiety disorders, and few studies have reported on the olfactory performance in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Therefore, we aim to investigate the olfactory function of patients with GAD and the association between olfactory function and anxiety symptoms. Methods We conducted a case–control study by selecting 107 patients with GAD and 107 healthy controls matched for sex and age, to investigate olfaction deficits in GAD and the association between anxiety severity and olfaction. All patients were treatment-naive prior to the inclusion. Anxiety severity and olfaction were assessed by the Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) and the Sniffin’ Sticks test (SST), respectively. Partial correlations were used to analyze the relationship between olfaction and anxiety severity. False discovery rate (FDR) correction was used in multi-correlation analyses. Results Compared with healthy controls, patients in the GAD group demonstrated odor threshold, discrimination and identification deficits. In the moderate/severe anxiety subgroup, discrimination score was significantly and inversely correlated with the somatic anxiety score (γ=−0.44, q = 0.03), and identification score was significantly and inversely correlated with the HAM-A total score (γ=−0.42, q= 0.04). The TDI score (the sum of threshold, discrimination and identification scores) was significantly and inversely correlated with the somatic (γ=−0.44, q = 0.04) and psychic (γ=−0.45, q = 0.04) anxiety scores in the moderate/severe anxiety subgroup. Conclusion This study demonstrated the olfactory impairment in patients with GAD and that poorer odor discrimination was correlated with greater severity of somatic anxiety.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms in first generation college students.

Abstract: Objectives: Depression and anxiety contribute to the burden of disease among college students. The current study determined if depressive and anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in first generation students and if social and emotional support moderated this relationship. Methods: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured in 432 U.S. college students via an online survey. Single items determined student generation status and available social support. The CES-D10 and GAD-7 measured depression and anxiety, respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to identify significant effects. Results: First generation status was associated with increased cognitive-emotional (p = 0.036) and somatic (p = 0.013) anxiety symptoms, but not depression. High social and emotional support appeared to suppress somatic anxiety symptoms experienced by first generation students (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Greater anxiety symptoms in first generation students may be due to increased general and acculturative stress, although more research is needed. Large national surveys of college students should consider adding a question about first generation status.

Comparing Three Music Therapy Interventions for Anxiety and Relaxation in Youth With Amplified Pain

Abstract: Research in pediatric hospitals has shown that active music engagement, preferred music listening, and music-assisted relaxation can decrease anxiety and increase relaxation responses. However, there is little research on the use of music therapy with pediatric chronic pain conditions such as amplified pain syndromes. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of 3 specific music therapy interventions (active music engagement, live patient-selected music, and music-assisted relaxation) on anxiety and relaxation levels in youth (ages 10-18) participating in a 40 hr per week hospital-based intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment program. A sample of 48 patients participated in this study which utilized a 3-period, 3-treatment cross-over design with 3 interventions delivered in a quasi-randomized order determined by when the patients started the treatment program. State anxiety was measured via the state form of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety for Children and relaxation scores were assessed with a Visual Analog Scale. Statistically significant changes were found in anxiety and relaxation outcomes across all interventions provided. Results suggest that music therapy services (using active music engagement, live patient-selected music, and music-assisted relaxation) may be an effective modality to decrease anxiety and increase relaxation levels in pediatric patients with amplified pain syndromes.

Effects of Mental Training Through Imagery on the Competitive Anxiety of Adolescent Tennis Players Fasting During Ramadan: A Randomized, Controlled Experimental Study

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the effects of mental training through imagery on the competitive anxiety of young tennis players fasting during Ramadan. This is an experimental study conducted with 38 male tennis players, randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (EG, n = 18), aged (16.9 ± 0.6 years) and control group (CG, n = 20) aged 16.7 ± 0.8 years. The study was designed as a randomized and controlled experimental study. Control group watched historical videos of the Olympics, while experimental group performed mental training. The competitive anxiety state assessment was taken four times. The first measurement was carried out, one week before Ramadan, the second measurement was carried out during the first week of this month, the third measurement was carried out at the end of the second week, and finally a fourth measurement was carried out during the fourth week of Ramadan. Our results revealed a significant interaction [Time x Groups] for all competitive anxiety subscales. Higher intensity and direction for the cognitive and somatic anxiety subscale during Ramadan compared to before-Ramadan for both groups at (P <0.001). Higher intensity and direction for the cognitive and somatic anxiety subscale during Ramadan compared to pre-Ramadan for both groups at (P <0.01). This increase in scores was greater for the control group than for the experimental group in the middle and end of Ramadan at (P <0.001). Finally for the self-confidence subscale score, results revealed that intensity and direction were lower during Ramadan compared to pre-Ramadan for the two groups at (P <0.01). The score for the intensity of self-confidence is higher for the experimental group compared to the control group at the end of Ramadan at (p <0.001). It was concluded that mental imagery training was effective in reducing anxiety (cognitive and somatic) and increasing self-confidence in the intensity dimension of young tennis players who fast during Ramadan.

Development and psychometric validity of the perioperative anxiety scale-7 (PAS-7).

Abstract: Background Preoperative anxiety is a common psychological reaction in perioperative patients. The absence of a valid measurement tool hinders the evaluation of interventions to treat preoperative anxiety in China. This study aims to develop the Perioperative Anxiety Scale-7 (PAS-7) and test its reliability, validity, and cut-off value. Methods A total of 280 patients over 16 years old (M = 55.1, SD = 14.3) who were undergoing elective surgery were recruited to complete the PAS-7 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7) one day before surgery. Results The PAS-7 included seven items divided into two dimensions: mental anxiety and somatic anxiety. These two dimensions could explain 74.294% of the population variance. The internal consistency of each dimension ranged from 0.761-0.933. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit of the scale was good (χ2= 34.798, df = 13, χ2/df = 2.677, CFI = 0.949, TLI = 0.918, SRMR = 0.057, RMSEA = 0.115). The correlations between the GAD-7 and each dimension and the scale's total score were significant (0.711-0.789). A cut-off score of 8, maximizing the Youden Index, yielded a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 84.6% (95% CI: 0.88 ~ 0.97). Conclusions The PAS-7 had good reliability and validity and could be used as an effective tool to evaluate preoperative anxiety.

Motivación, autoconfianza y ansiedad en judo: Sexo y nivel competitivo

Abstract: The objective of the study was to identify the possible differences in level of motivation, self-confidence and anxiety according to sex and the competitive level of two groups of judokas (High Performance Group and Specialization Group). The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2R) and the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ) were administered 10 minutes before the judokas entered the tatami on the day of the competition. The results revealed differences at the level of somatic anxiety (intensity), being observed higher in women than in men. Significant differences were also found in the variable self-confidence (intensity), showing the judokas of the national team higher values than those of specialization. No differences were found in the motivation and self-confidence variables according to sex, nor in the motivation and anxiety variables in the comparison between both groups,

Comparison of Sport Competitive Anxiety Levels of Flemish athletes with and without intellectual disability.

Abstract: BACKGROUND High anxiety levels are common in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and anxiety can affect sport performance, but sport competitive anxiety profiles in athletes with ID are unknown. METHODS A total of 303 athletes; 116 with ID (33% female, M age = 22.64, SD = 3.94), and 187 without ID (54% female, M age = 21.81, SD = 3.23), completed the modified questionnaire Sport Anxiety Scale-2-FLemish-ID (SAS-2-FL-ID). RESULTS The SAS-2-FL-ID was a valid tool to use in a population of athletes with ID. They had higher trait anxiety (9.36 ± 2.62) than peers without ID (7.58 ± 2.44), F = 26.95, p<.001. With respect to sport anxiety, they only scored higher on the "concentration disruption" subscale. Their overall level of competitive anxiety across all subscales (24.14 ± 7.73) was significantly lower compared to athletes without ID (26.51 ± 7.49), F = 27.10, p<.001. CONCLUSION On the sporting field, athletes with ID worry less and feel less somatic anxiety compared to athletes without ID.

Team Dynamics Perceptions, Motivation, and Anxiety in University Athletes

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the interrelation between team dynamics with motivation types and anxiety factors in university athletes, highlighting the role played by team members’ point of view and coach’s point of view. Participants were 674 university athletes, men (46.4%) and women (53.6%), from different sports, with an age range between 18 and 28 years (M = 21.06; SD = 2.07). Instruments used were Cooperation Workteam Questionnaire (CWQ), the Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-II), and the Sports Anxiety Scale (SAS-2). The model from the team member’s point of view presented adequate fit indices (χ2 (924) = 2690.17, χ2/df = 2.91, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.05), same as the model from the coach’s point of view (χ2 (924) = 2692.82, χ2/df = 2.99, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.05). The results obtained in both models show five indirect effects, two of them between team dynamics from both points of view with somatic anxiety and deconcentration, with autonomous motivation as a mediator, and the other three between the team dynamics from both perspectives with somatic anxiety, worry, and deconcentration, having controlled motivation as a mediator.

The effect of sports massage towards cortisol and pre-competition anxiety among Malaysian elite tennis athlete

Abstract: Nowadays, psychological issues often occurs among elite athletes and were higher than the general population. However, this problem can be controlled by providing an appropriate intervention. In addition, studies on the impact of Sports Massage toward cortisol and pre-competition anxiety were still lacking in attention on tennis. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Sports Massage intervention on cortisol and pre-competition anxiety. A total of 14 elite tennis athletes were participated in this study and were divided into treatment groups and control groups by using the Quasi-Experimental study design, quantitatively. Instruments used in this study were Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2). There were three phase of instrument measurement in this study namely pretest, first posttest and second posttest. Repeated Measures Two Way ANOVA was performed, there was a significant difference in the cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence (p 0.05). These findings suggested as the basis for determining the effect of Sports Massage therapy towards cortisol level and pre-competition anxiety level among Malaysian elite tennis athlete.

Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and Validity Comparison With Measures of Negative Emotionality.

Abstract: This study explored the factor structure of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and measurement invariance between genders. We also measured concurrent and divergent validity of the STICSA as compared to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A sample of 1064 (N Females = 855) participants completed questionnaires, including measures of anxiety, depression, stress, positive and negative affect. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original factor structure of the STICSA, which was invariant between genders. Overall, the STICSA had superior concurrent and divergent validity as compared to the STAI. The somatic subscales were also significantly less correlated with depression, and positive and negative affect. Further, the somatic, as compared to cognitive anxiety STICSA subscales were less correlated with depression. This suggests that the STICSA, especially the somatic anxiety subscales, might hold the key to distinguishing between different types of anxiety, as well as between anxiety and depression.

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) in a sample of young and adult athletes

Abstract: Aims: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Methods: Participants were five hundred and nineteen young and adult athletes who responded to the ABQ and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R. Data analysis was conducted through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach’s alpha, Composite reliability, average variance extracted, multigroup analysis, and Pearson’s correlation (p .70). External validity revealed a positive correlation between PEE (r=.14) and RSSA (r=.23) with somatic anxiety and a positive correlation of PEE (r=.15), RSSA (r=.30), and SD (r=.14) with cognitive anxiety. Further, all dimensions of burnout had negative correlations with the self-confidence (r=.17-.23). In the factor invariance analysis, satisfactory data were found in the model’s fit, establishing good factor loadings, variance/covariance, and residuals in both age groups (up to 18 years and over 18 years) and genders (men and women). Conclusion: It was concluded that the Brazilian version of the ABQ is satisfactory for the application of possible studies involving burnout syndrome in the Brazilian sports context in different group extracts.

Comparison of pre-competitive anxiety between futsal players of sub-16 and sub-19 category

Abstract: The aim of the study was to compare the values of anxiety in futsal players from different age categories. Materials and methods. The sample consisted of 18 male futsal players which 9 of them are from the under-16 category (mean=16 years) and 9 from the under-19 category (mean=18.22 ±0.22 years). The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) questionnaire was used, which was applied 30 minutes before the games. Results and Discussion. In individual values, in the sub-16 category, 100% of the players expressed Self-confidence higher than the values of Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic Anxiety and 66.66% of the players had Cognitive Anxiety less than Somatic Anxiety. In the under-19, individual data showed that 88.88% of the players had higher self-confidence than the values of Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic Anxiety. Also 77.77% of the players expressed lower Cognitive Anxiety values than Somatic Anxiety. In relation to the averages, the players in the sub-16 and under-19 categories presented in Low Cognitive Anxiety, Medium Somatic Anxiety and High Self-confidence. The under-16 and under-19 showed similarity in Cognitive Anxiety. In the under-19, Somatic Anxiety was superior to the under-16 and greater Self-confidence in the under-16. In both categories, the anxiety values had the same classification. Conclusion. In terms of average values, anxiety between the categories were different, however, the classification of anxiety was the same.

Somatic, Anxiety, and Depressive (SAD) Symptoms in Young Adult Latinx Immigrants: Prevalence and Predictors.

Abstract: Certain immigration factors may increase somatic, anxiety, and depressive (SAD) symptoms in Latinx immigrants. Our study examined prevalence of SAD symptoms in Latinx immigrants 18–29 presenting to primary care with correlates of acculturation, immigration, and legal status. SAD symptoms were measured using the PHQ-14, GAD-7 and PHQ-8. Moderate somatization (37%), anxiety (20%), and depression (25%) were common. Multivariable analysis found five immigration factors predicted a higher composite SAD score and the presence of each additional factor increased likelihood of a SAD score ≥ 20 (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.5). SAD scores increased in a dose–response fashion (8.3, 10.5, 14.8, 17.1, 21.7, 29.3) with the added presence of each factor. Elevated SAD scores were not associated with gender, marital status, education, income, country of origin, or acculturation. Screening with our five factor immigration distress index may help identify patients at risk for higher SAD scores during a primary care visit.

Is Anxiety-Inducing VR Experienced Differently Depending on Personality? The Mediating Role of Presence

Abstract: This study attempted to investigate the role of presence in an anxiety-inducing virtual reality (VR) experience and explain possible individual differences in the feeling of presence. More specifically, it was investigated if the feeling of presence (a) differed by personality and (b) affected individual levels of anxiety. This study utilized the psychobiological model of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to study personality in the context of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). In total, thirty six individuals participated in a lab experiment in which anxiety-inducing VR content was experienced through a head-mounted display. The results suggested that individuals with high levels of cooperativeness and self-transcendence experienced increased levels of presence, which further enhanced cognitive anxiety levels. On a physiological level, cooperativeness and reward dependence enhanced somatic anxiety (respiration), but presence was not a significant mediating factor.

Mastery Imagery Ability Is Associated With Positive Anxiety and Performance During Psychological Stress.

Abstract: Mastery imagery (i.e., images of being in control and coping in difficult situations) is used to regulate anxiety. The ability to image this content is associated with trait confidence and anxiety, but research examining mastery imagery ability’s association with confidence and anxiety in response to a stressful event is scant. The present study examined whether trait mastery imagery ability mediated the relationship between confidence and anxiety, and the subsequent associations on performance in response to an acute psychological stress. Participants (N = 130; 55% male; Mage = 19.94 years; SD = 1.07 years) completed assessments of mastery imagery ability and engaged in a standardized acute psychological stress task. Immediately prior to the task, confidence, cognitive and somatic anxiety intensity, and interpretation of anxiety symptoms regarding the task were assessed. Path analyses supported a model whereby mastery imagery ability mediated the relationship between confidence and cognitive and somatic anxiety interpretation. Greater mastery imagery ability and confidence were both directly associated with better performance on the stress task. Mastery imagery ability may help individuals experience more facilitative anxiety and perform better during stressful tasks. Improving mastery imagery ability by enhancing self-confidence may help individuals successfully cope with anxiety elicited during stressful situations.