Applied Psychology Research

Job burnout among healthcare workers—The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The overall impact of pandemics on the healthcare sector has been substantial and multidimensional, presenting numerous challenges that have affected healthcare workers on various fronts. Pandemics, particularly the COVID-19 epidemic, caused destabilization in healthcare systems, creating complex challenges for both medical staff and patients. During the pandemic, healthcare professionals faced exceptionally difficult working conditions, such as increased workload, inadequate medical resources, and the pressure of making challenging moral decisions, for instance, related to the allocation of limited resources during a crisis. These factors increased the risk of occupational burnout—a state that may manifest as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased self-esteem and efficacy. Occupational burnout among healthcare workers is a highly significant phenomenon because it can directly impact the quality of care provided to patients. Higher levels of burnout are associated with an increased risk of medical errors, decreased work engagement, and reduced empathy in patient interactions. Additionally, individuals experiencing burnout may encounter reduced social support, further complicating the issue. Consequently, the negative consequences of occupational burnout can have a long-term impact on healthcare workers themselves, the quality of medical care, and patient-provider relationships. Therefore, managing the risk of burnout among medical staff becomes a crucial challenge not only for the mental health of healthcare workers but also for ensuring high-quality healthcare for society. Providing psychological support, proper human resource management, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among medical personnel are essential to alleviate the psychological burden on workers and ensure sustained, high-quality healthcare.

The effect of exercise on quality of life, fatigue, and pain management in older women: A cross-sectional study in Greece

Paraskevi Theofilou, Konstantina Papaemmanouil — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Frequently, the contribution of exercise to the elderly and the associated benefits of such activities are discussed. Aim: This paper deals with the contribution of exercise to the levels of quality of life, fatigue, and pain management. Method: Then, quantitative and cross-sectional research is carried out to investigate the contribution of physical exercise to the levels of quality of life, fatigue, and pain management in women over 60 years of age. For the data collection, the questionnaire used consisted of the Missoula—VITAS Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI), the Pain Assessment Questionnaire (PSeQ), and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Results: From the statistical analysis made between exercise and quality of life, fatigue, and pain management of the women over 60 who participated in the research, it follows that women undergoing exercise show a better quality of life and less fatigue, while no statistically significant difference was detected in terms of pain management. Conclusion: It seems that exercise affects positively quality of life and fatigue. Potential implications must be addressed in order to organize more exercise programs, particularly for older people.

Manifesting the academic psychological contract

Alan Johnston — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The level of research undertaken on the academic psychological contract, and its influence on academic’s behaviour is limited. This paper seeks to consider the academic psychological contract, by reviewing its manifestation within the role of and the influence on their undertaking of the role. Particularly important is academics’ interpretation of the role and what they consider important. Within this, the paper considers in-role and extra-role activities and what may be the grey areas in which time is spent. The research adopts the combined usage of phenomenology with interpretivist processes to investigate the insights of eighteen academics at nine UK University Business Schools. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect to consider the constructs’ manifestation. Key aspects of behaviour were identified as discretionary effort and autonomy and managerialism with links to academic citizenship.

Autocratic parenting of a humanoid robot: A QEEG-based case study

Seyyedeh Sahar Asgari Ghalebin, Akbar Atadokht, Seyyedeh Mahsa Mousavi — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There are four parenting styles based on two indicators of parental affection (parental responsiveness) and parental control (parental strictness). When there is no balance between the love and strictness of the parents, the child sees various damages in different psychological, biological, and social dimensions. These injuries can be continuous and overshadow his whole life. This article is a comprehensive review of the life of a 21-year-old girl with an authoritarian parenting style, i.e., low affection and high strictness. The mother has grown up and this way of interacting with her continues from the mother’s side. Various results have shown that this girl, like her peers, has lost the ability to manage her life and basic human functions such as judgment, decision-making, planning, proper interpersonal communication, continuing education, and recognizing her interests and identity. It has become a robot that only obeys its mother and substitutes for the source of power to gain their satisfaction.

“Brain Fog” as a symptom of the “Long-COVID” syndrome, its impact on the mental health of those affected by COVID-19 and its treatment

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s lives is dramatic. The relationship between Brain Fog and Long-COVID, the consequences on the mental health of patients, and its treatment are the objectives of this systematic review. An electronic search was carried out and databases searched included PubMed, Emerald, EMBASE, and Science Direct. Regarding the review, data collection included English papers with full bibliographies, abstracts, and keywords, published in electronic form in the last 2 years (2020–2022). The findings indicate the importance of a holistic approach and treatment of Post-COVID Brain Fog. It is also necessary for healthcare workers to investigate the biological and psychosocial background of Brain Fog symptoms in detail to provide the appropriate health service. However, more scientific studies are needed on the effectiveness of treatment approaches for the benefit of public health and well-being.