The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to cause mental health issues, especially for healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate levels of perceived stress, insomnia, and the sense of family support among nurses in pandemic conditions. We administered in a sample of 150 nurses from different hospital departments during the COVID-19 pandemic the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Family Support Scale (FSS). Individual and demographic data were recorded. In total, 120 women and 30 men completed the study questionnaires. Almost half of the participants (49.7%) reported the presence of insomnia and more than half (50.3%) experienced increased stress levels. Scores on the Athens Insomnia Scale correlated positively with Perceived Stress Scale scores (p < 0.01), and negatively with Family Support Scale scores (p < 0.01). Significantly negative correlations were observed among scores on the Perceived Stress Scale and the Family Support Scale (p < 0.01). The regression models revealed that ‘scores on Perceived Stress Scale’ and ‘years of work experience’ were significant predictors of ‘scores on Athens Insomnia Scale’, each explaining 43.6% and 2.3% of the variance. ‘Scores on Athens Insomnia Scale’ and ‘scores on Family Support Scale’ were significant predictors of ‘scores on Perceived Stress Scale’, explaining 43.7% and 9.2% of the variance. In conclusion, we confirmed that working with COVID-19 patients has a negative impact on the sleep of nurses, possibly mediated by increased levels of stress. Family support, as a protective factor, appears to moderate the deleterious consequences of stress.

Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between religiosity, mental health, and psychological resilience in breast cancer patients.Material and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in an oncology department of a hospital in northern Greece during February and March 2017. The sample consisted of 152 breast cancer patients. Data were collected with the following instruments: Patient Health Questionnaire two-item scale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder two-item scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25, and Centrality of Religiosity Scale. Also, patients’ characteristics were included, specifically demographic, social, and clinical information. Statistical analyses were conducted with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V25.ResultsAccording to our results, approximately 1 out of 3 patients had depression and anxiety. Also, the sample had moderate resilience and were moderately religious. Patients who were classified as end-stage cancer patients and those who underwent mastectomy found to be more religious. Religiosity correlated positively with the resilience, while no correlation was found with depression, anxiety, and symptom burden. Based on regression results, religious beliefs seem to be a predictive factor for resilience and resilience is a predictive factor for depression.ConclusionsOur findings show that there was no association between religiosity and mental health, while a strong relation was highlighted between religious beliefs and psychological resilience. This study should constitute a starting point for further assessments regarding the fact that religiosity can provide social support that facilitates psychological adaption to illness and helps cancer patients to cope with their illness, which should be recognised by health care professionals.

IntroductionDehumanization is defined as the denial to people of their humanness. It is distinguished into animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization. The aim of this study is to examine whether professionals in a public hospital dehumanize the patient and self-dehumanize. MethodsWe used the Dehumanization Questionnaire, the Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Scale, the Human Nature and Human Uniqueness Characteristics Questionnaire, the General Causality Orientation Scale and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 135 mental health professionals (20 from a general hospital and 115 from a psychiatric hospital), 134 other health professionals from the general hospital and 84 people from the general population. ResultsHealth professionals dehumanize the hospitalized patient more than the general population. The secure attachment acts protectively on self-dehumanization and negatively on the dehumanization of the hospitalized patient. Finally, autonomous people are not self-dehumanized. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that measures should be taken for health professionals so that they do not dehumanize the patient.

Background: The covid-19 pandemic is likely to cause mental health issues, especially for healthcare professionals. The aim of this study is to investigate levels of perceived stress, sleep disturbances and sense of family support among nurses in pandemic conditions. Methods: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Family Support Scale (FSS) were administered in a sample of 150 nurses from different hospital departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual and demographic data were recorded. Results: 120 women and 30 men completed the study questionnaires. Almost half of participants (49.7%) reported the presence of sleep difficulties and more than half (50.3%) experienced increased stress levels. Scores on AIS scale correlated positively with PSS scores (P<0.01), and nega­tively with FSS scores (P<0.01). A significantly negative correlation was observed between the PSS scores and the FSS scores (p<0.01). Regression model showed ‘scores on PSS scale’ and ‘years of work experience’ were significant predictors of ‘scores on AIS scale’, each explaining 43.6% and 2.3% of the variance. Scores on AIS scale’ and ‘scores on FSS scale’ were significant predictors of PSS explaining 43.7% and 9,2% of the variance . Conclusion: The study confirmed that working with COVID-19 patients has a negative effect on the sleep of nurses, possibly mediated by increased levels of stress. Family support, as a protective factor, appears to moderate the deleterious consequences of stress.

Lung cancer is a stressful condition for both patient and family. The anxiety and pain accompanying cancer and its treatment have a significant negative influence on the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between anxiety, pain, and perceived family support in a sample of lung cancer patients. The sample consisted of a total of 101 lung cancer outpatients receiving treatment at the oncology department of a general hospital. Anxiety, pain (severity and impact on everyday life), and perceived family support were assessed using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Family Support Scale, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed correlations between anxiety, pain, and family support as perceived by the patients. The intensity of pain had a positive correlation with both state and trait anxiety and a negative correlation with family support. Anxiety (state and trait) had a significant negative correlation with family support. In conclusion, high prevalence rates of anxiety disorders were observed in lung cancer patients. Females appeared more susceptible to anxiety symptoms with a less sense of family support. A negative correlation was evidenced between family support and anxiety and a positive one between anxiety and pain.