Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 29146

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Paola Gremigni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy
Interests: psychometrics; assessment; psychological health and well-being; personality; emotions; health behavior; patient-doctor communication; patient centered care; clinical and health psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Giulia Casu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy
Interests: psychometrics; assessment; data analysis; psychological health and well-being; personality; emotions; patient centered care; caregivers’ behavior and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This 2nd Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on psychological health and its risk and protective factors. Psychological health has been defined as the development of an individual’s optimal state of mind within the limits of maintaining physical, mental, and emotional compatibility with others. Psychological health is therefore a social psychological notion that refers to the individual and the social context within which he or she is observed. It includes conditions that are necessary but not sufficient, such as the absence of mental disease, statistical normality, successful survival, and feelings of well-being. Psychological health is of great interest for both researchers and public health specialists due to the high prevalence of psychological health problems, the influence that a person's psychological health status may have on his or her physical health, and the possibility to develop interventions to prevent disorders and promote well-being. The objective of gaining a positive psychological health status for the population requires knowledge of the mechanisms and factors that determine or influence psychological health at the individual and the societal level.

Papers dealing with the assessment of any specific factors that might be associated with an increased risk of psychological morbidity or any protective factors that might promote an optimal psychological functioning are welcome. Discussions related to practice implications, indications for intervention, and evidence of treatment efficacy are also welcome. The manuscript types accepted include new research papers, reviews, case reports, conference papers, methodological papers, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Prof. Dr. Paola Gremigni
Prof. Dr. Giulia Casu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

assessment
psychological health mental well-being
risk factors
protective factors
practice implications
psychological intervention

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 1756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Distress: An Analysis of Disaggregated Latinx Subgroups Using Data from the National Health Interview Survey

by Anna-Michelle Marie McSorley and Adrian Matias Bacong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064751 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

Differences in socioeconomic status (SES), including income, education, and employment, continue to be significant contributors to health disparities in the United States (US), including disparities in mental health outcomes. Despite the size and diversity of the Latinx population, there is a lack of literature describing differences in mental health outcomes, including psychological distress, for Latinx subgroups (e.g., Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cuban). Therefore, we used pooled data from the 2014–2018 National Health Interview Survey to examine variations in psychological distress among Latinx subgroups as compared to other Latinx subgroups and non-Latinx whites. Additionally, we conducted regression analyses and tested whether race/ethnicity modified the relationship between SES indicators and psychological distress. Findings indicate that individuals categorized as Dominican and Puerto Rican were among the Latinx subgroups with the highest levels of psychological distress when compared to other Latinx subgroups and non-Latinx whites. Additionally, results demonstrate that SES indicators, such as higher levels of income and education, were not necessarily significantly associated with lower levels of psychological distress for all Latinx subgroups when compared to non-Latinx whites. Our findings discourage the practice of making broad generalizations about psychological distress or its associations with SES indicators to all Latinx subgroups using results garnered from the aggregate Latinx category. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Serial Mediation Model of Insecure Attachment and Psychological Distress: The Role of Dispositional Shame and Shame-Coping Styles

by Chiara Remondi, Giulia Casu, Camilla Pozzi, Francesco Greco, Paola Gremigni and Agostino Brugnera

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043193 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3018

Abstract

Shame is an intense, difficult to regulate, self-conscious emotion that predicts aspects of poor psychological functioning and is also strongly related to early relationships. Attachment insecurities, which constitute non-specific risk factors for psychological maladjustment, have been associated with an individual’s tendency to experience shame. In this study, we sought to examine the serial mediating roles of dispositional shame and shame-coping styles (i.e., attack other, attack self, withdrawal and avoidance) in the association between anxious and avoidant attachment, and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional design, self-reported data were collected. The study sample included 978 respondents (57% female) with a mean age of 32.17 ± 13.48 years. The results of the path analysis indicated that both attachment dimensions were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the attack self shame-coping style, which was, in turn, positively related to psychological distress. Further, attachment insecurities were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the avoidance shame-coping style, which was, in turn, negatively related to psychological distress. The model was gender invariant, suggesting that the serial mediation worked in a similar way for men and women. The practical implications of these findings are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Psychometric Instruments and Constructs of Work-Related Stress among Seafarers: A Qualitative Approach

by Siti Nazilah Mat Ali, Lucian-Ionel Cioca, Ruhiyah Sakinah Kayati, Jumadil Saputra, Muhammad Adam, Roxana Plesa and Raja Zirwatul Aida Raja Ibrahim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042866 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2982

Abstract

Due to unpredictable and demanding working circumstances and the significant potential for dangers and accidents, seafaring has been characterised as one of the world’s riskiest and stressful vocations that lead to physical and mental health problems. However, very few instruments measure work-related stress, particularly in a seafaring context. None of the instruments are psychometrically sound. Therefore, a valid and reliable instrument to measure seafaring work-related stress is indispensable. This study aims to review work-related stress instruments and to explore the work-related stress construct among seafarers in Malaysia. This study uses a systematic review and semi-structured interviews across two phases. In Phase 1, we conducted a systematic review of several databases: Academic Search Ultimate, Emerald Journal Premier, Journal Storage (JSTOR), ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Taylor and Francis Online, and Wiley Online Library based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). In 8975 articles, only 4 (four) studies used psychological instruments and 5 (five) studies used survey questionnaires to measure work-related stress. In Phase 2, we conducted a semi-structured interview with 25 (twenty-five) seafarers, online due to COVID-19 restrictions. The semi-structured interview indicated 6 (six) themes, namely, physical stress, personal issues, social living onboard, technostress, work factors, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, the present study has identified three psychometric instruments for measuring work-related stress among seafarers: The Psychological General Well-Being Index, Perceived Stress Scale, and Job Content Questionnaire. We also found psychometric elements in some of the instruments are questionable, such as theoretical basis, construct development, and inadequate internal consistency value. In addition, this study also found that work-related stress is a multidimensional construct that needs to be studied based on work contexts. The findings of this study can contribute to the body of knowledge of a work-related stress construct in a seafaring context and could help to inform policy makers in the maritime industry. This study suggests a psychological instrument to measure work-related stress among seafarers in future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Trust as a Mediator in the Relationship between Green Advertising Skepticism, Environmental Knowledge, and Intention to Buy Green Food

by Sara de Sio, Alessandra Zamagni, Giulia Casu and Paola Gremigni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416757 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4549

Abstract

Changing individual habits towards greener choices is an essential ingredient in tackling the environmental crisis. Engaging in green behavior may improve psychological wellbeing. Although the intention to buy green products is widespread, the eco-friendly market is struggling to leave the ground. Greenwashing can increase skepticism towards green advertising, which in turn can hinder the intention to buy green products. Conversely, a better knowledge of environmental issues can promote a positive attitude towards environment and thus the intention to purchase green products. This study aimed to investigate if trust in green claims can mediate the relationships of green advertising skepticism and environmental knowledge with the intention to buy green food. An online survey was administered to 410 Italian consumers (63% female; 18–78 years). Our mediation model explained 23% of the variability in intention. Trust fully mediated the relationship between green advertising skepticism and intention to buy green food, while it partially mediated the relationship between perceived environmental knowledge and intention. Specifically, GAS was associated with lower INT through lower TR, whereas PEK was linked to higher INT though higher TR. The findings of this study can provide green market operators and policy makers with valuable information to encourage green food purchases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

45 pages, 3987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Dimensional Dynamics of Psychological Health Disparities under the COVID-19 in Japan: Fairness/Justice in Socio-Economic and Ethico-Political Factors

by Masaya Kobayashi, Hikari Ishido, Jiro Mizushima and Hirotaka Ishikawa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16437; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416437 - 8 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3639

Abstract

This article addresses citizens’ psychological health disparities in pandemic-stricken Japan from the perspective of positive psychology with a collective/political perspective. Our analysis of three internet surveys in 2020 and 2021 in Japan indicates most people’s well-being declined continuously during this period, while some people’s well-being increased. As previous studies of health inequality proved about physical health, the objective income/assets level has influenced psychological inequality. This paper demonstrated this relation in Japan, although it is often mentioned as an egalitarian country with comparatively better health conditions. Moreover, psychological levels and changes have been associated with biological, natural environmental, cultural, and social factors. Social factors include economic, societal-community, and political factors, such as income/assets, stratification, general trust, and fairness/justice. Accordingly, multi-dimensional disparities are related to psychological health disparity; tackling the disparities along the multi-layered strata is desirable. Furthermore, subjective perception of fairness/justice is significantly associated with the level of psychological health and mitigating its decrease. Thus, fairness and justice are found to be dynamic and protective factors against the decline of psychological health. While relatively little literature on health inequality analyzes fairness/justice philosophically, this paper highlights these together with income/assets by clarifying the significance of multi-dimensional factors: natural environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and political. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Psychopathological Symptoms and Their Determinants in Four Healthcare Workers’ Categories during the Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic

by Alessandra Gorini, Mattia Giuliani, Elena Fiabane, Alice Bonomi, Paola Gabanelli, Antonia Pierobon, Pasquale Moretta, Giovanna Pagliarulo, Simona Spaccavento, Gaetano Vaudo, Matteo Pirro, Massimo R. Mannarino, Laura Milani, Maria Paola Caruso, Paola Baiardi, Laura Adelaide Dalla Vecchia, Maria Teresa La Rovere, Caterina Pistarini and Damiano Baldassarre

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13712; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013712 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2296

Abstract

Highly stressful situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, induce constant changes in the mental state of people who experience them. In the present study, we analyzed the prevalence of some psychological symptoms and their determinants in four different categories of healthcare workers during the second year of the pandemic. A total of 265 physicians, 176 nurses, 184 other healthcare professionals, and 48 administrative employees, working in different Italian healthcare contexts, answered a questionnaire including variables about their mental status and experience with the pandemic. The mean scores for anxiety and depressive symptoms measured more than one year after the onset of the pandemic did not reach the pathological threshold. In contrast, post-traumatic and burnout symptoms tended toward the critical threshold, especially in physicians. The main determinant of psychological distress was perceived stress, followed by job satisfaction, the impact of COVID-19 on daily work, and a lack of recreational activities. These results increase the knowledge of which determinants of mental distress would be important to act on when particularly stressful conditions exist in the workplace that persist over time. If well-implemented, specific interventions focused on these determinants could lead to an improvement in employee well-being and in the quality of care provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Linking Self-Control, Hope, Positivity Ratio, Anxiety and Handwashing Habits during the Coronavirus Outbreak

by Shira Bukchin-Peles and Tammie Ronen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148859 - 21 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2184

Abstract

The novel COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. In the early stages of the pandemic, Israel struggled to contain its local outbreak through various measures that have virtually halted daily life and placed tens of thousands of people into quarantine. This study explored the role played by self-control and hope for obtaining two desired outcomes: (1) maintaining one’s positivity ratio (having more positive than negative affect—an indicator of wellbeing) and (2) increasing one’s contagion-preventing behavior (in this study—handwashing habits). Path analysis was conducted using survey data collected from 537 Israeli adults. Our findings suggest that self-control’s association with the positivity ratio is mediated through hope and anxiety levels. Self-control positively correlates with hope levels and negatively correlates with anxiety levels. Higher hope levels correlate with a higher positivity ratio, while lower anxiety levels correlate with a higher positivity ratio. The relationship between self-control and handwashing habits was mediated by hope, anxiety, and existing handwashing habits. This study brings research a step forward in demonstrating the vital role of positive components in achieving desired psychological and behavioral outcomes during an anxiety-provoking epidemic outbreak. In addition to its theoretical innovation, the importance of this study lies in its practical value: We focus on variables that are influenced by policy, education, and communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survey on Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in Visually Impaired Individuals: Dancesport vs. Other Sound Input-Based Sports

by Giuditta Carretti, Daniela Mirandola, Eleonora Sgambati, Mirko Manetti and Mirca Marini

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084438 - 7 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2616

Abstract

Sport practice has the widely demonstrated potential of promoting well-being and physical/mental health, especially in disabled individuals. Nowadays, visually impaired people can participate in several sports commonly adapted and played substituting visual input with auditory or tactile ones. By integrating movement and music, dance can simultaneously promote physical and emotional involvement and enhances vicarious sense recruitment. On these premises, we performed a survey to assess the psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) in visually impaired athletes, comparing dancesport vs other sound input-based sports. Twenty-one visually impaired dancers and twenty-seven visually impaired athletes practicing adapted baseball, showdown, blind futsal, or blind tennis completed a structured self-report survey including the Italian version of PWB-18 scale and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire. Dancers reported significantly higher scores in PWB-18 autonomy, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance along with a higher PWB total score than the other athlete group. Similarly, the SF-12 questionnaire results demonstrated significantly higher scores in both physical and mental QoL of visually impaired dancers compared with other athletes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, given its peculiarities, the practice of dancesport may have a stronger positive impact on PWB and QoL of visually impaired individuals than other sound input-based sports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 450 KiB

Open AccessReview

Narrative Review and Analysis of the Use of “Lifestyle” in Health Psychology

by Francesca Brivio, Anna Viganò, Annalisa Paterna, Nicola Palena and Andrea Greco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054427 - 1 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4736

Abstract

Lifestyle is a complex and often generic concept that has been used and defined in different ways in scientific research. Currently, there is no single definition of lifestyle, and various fields of knowledge have developed theories and research variables that are also distant from each other. This paper is a narrative review of the literature and an analysis of the concept of lifestyle and its relationship to health. This contribution aims to shed light on the lifestyle construct in health psychology. In particular, the first part of this manuscript reexamines the main definitions of lifestyle in the psychological and sociological fields through three perspectives: internal, external, and temporal. The main components that characterise lifestyle are highlighted. The second part of this paper explores the main concepts of lifestyle in health, underlining their strengths and weaknesses, and proposes an alternative definition of a healthy lifestyle, which integrates the individual dimensions with the social and cycle dimensions of life. In conclusion, a brief indication of a research agenda is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

2nd Edition of Survey about Psychological Health

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI