This research aimed to explore the effects of physical activity and training routine on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the proclaimed emergency state and curfew. To measure the mental health components of psychological distress and subjective well-being, two studies were conducted on different samples: Study 1 during the beginning of curfew in Serbia (N = 678) and Study 2 during the ending phase (N = 398). The results of Study 1 showed that elite athletes as well as those with high level of physical activity experienced the lowest distress. Furthermore, effects of the changes in the training routine on distress among physically active individuals depended on the level of sports participation with elite athletes who reduced trainings showing lower anxiety compared to recreational athletes who reduced trainings as well or kept the same training routine. Thus, we could conclude that in the early stage of the pandemic, elite athletes showed better mental health and adaptability to the crisis situation. Results of Study 2 showed that although all the participants had decreased well-being during the curfew, compared to the period before the pandemic and the curfew, there were no differences in well-being between elite and recreational athletes, who had higher well-being compared to non-athletes. However, this effect held both before and during the curfew showing that physically active individuals did not additionally benefit from this decrease compared to the non-active. Furthermore, athletes who became physically inactive showed lower well-being compared to those who kept the same training routine. Thus, in the later stage of the pandemic, prolonged physical inactivity had negative effects on mental health.
U savremenim modelima psihopatologije, netolerancija na neizvesnost figurira kao važan transdijagnostički konstrukt. Svrha ovog rada je bila provera metrijskih karakteristika skale koja je namenjena proceni ovog konstrukta budući da je skala adaptirana za srpsko govorno područje sa engleskog i francuskog. Prema preporukama autora originalne skale, formirana je skraćena verzija. Na uzorku studenata (1328), koji su prospektivno praćeni svakih šest meseci tokom tri godine, sprovedena je konfirmatorna faktorska analiza koja je sugerisala da skraćena skala, u skladu sa njenim engleskim i francuskim parnjacima, meri dva faktora: Prospektivnu i Inhibitornu ankioznost. Skraćena skala ima dobru internu konzistenciju, homogenost i reprezentativnost, pri čemu skraćena i duga verzija skale visoko koreliraju. Duga i kratka verzija imaju komparabilne veze sa odgovorajućim konvergentnim i divergentnim merama, što sugeriše da skraćivanje skale nije narušilo njenu konstrukt validnost. U prilog tome svedoči i rezultat daobe verzije skale prospektivno predviđaju simptome anksioznosti i depresije i to povrh varijanse deljene sa Negativnim afektivitetom.Konačno, rezultati hijerarhijske regresije indikuju da subskala Inhibitorne anksioznosti poseduje i odgovarajuću diskriminitavnu validnost. Generalno, skraćena srpska verzija skale se može preporučiti za merenje netolerancije na neizvesnost, pri čemu su date preporuke za dalje usavršavanje skale.
Partic ipation in long-distance races such as a marathon, half, and mini-marathon has become increasingly popular in the last few years in Serbia, and the same trend is evident in a number of other countries. Why does an increasing number of people go beyond limits of ordinary recreation and jogging and participate in such a demanding activity? Data from 289 runners (54% male) who had completed at least one endurance running (ER) race, assessing their motivation (MOMS), positive and negative affect, and subjective well-being has been collected. After testing the original theoretical MOMS model using confirmatory factor analysis, recommendations for the scale and its latent structure were given and the relations between that latent structure and mental health outcomes were examined. Our results suggest that ER is more than physical recreation or competition. Coping with negative emotional states represents a significant reason for practicing ER. As such, it could be understood as a strategy for improvement in the emotional well-being domain, which is an essential component of overall mental-health, hence, the main underlying reason why a large number of people participates in such a physically demanding task.
Recent studies have demonstrated that social isolation during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental and physical health of people worldwide. However, it remains unknown whether physical activity can improve mental health in a state of emergency. The present study aimed to examine the importance of physical exercising and stress management mechanisms (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant) in the context of mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and nonspecific stress) in conditions of social isolation during COVID-19-induced lockdown in Serbia. The sample consisted of 680 adults (66% female), mean aged 35.91years (SD = 12.45). The results indicated a significant relation between physical exercising and a reduced stress response and confirmed the usefulness of the already well-known problem-focused strategies. Avoidant and emotion-focused coping were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. However, as a moderator, physical activity lowered anxiety levels in individuals prone to emotion-focused coping.
Education worldwide has been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the previous evidence that teachers' wellbeing is under a tremendous negative influence of major societal disruptions, this kind of sudden overturn of the routines and practices that were in place for decades could have detrimental effects on teachers' mental health. In the present study, we are interested in examining specific occupational stressors and irrational cognitions as potential contributors to distress, depression, and anxiety among teachers, following enormous lockdown-induced changes in the educational system. The basic theoretical framework in the research is Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (RE & CBT), according to which irrational beliefs have a critical contribution in generating and maintaining dysfunctional emotional reactions. Data were collected from 104 primary school teachers (88% female, age M= 41.39, SD=9.10) during the first wave of COVID-19, from the beginning of lockdown in March until its end in May 2020. We administered the adapted version of the Sources of stress at work questionnaire (IRS), the Teacher Irrational Beliefs Scale (TIBS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21). The questionnaires were distributed electronically by professional associates in schools since classes were conducted online at the time. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis suggest that, when it comes to experiencing stress due to changes in working and living conditions, both the COVID-19 related sources of stress (b=.32, p<.005) and irrational cognitions (b=.25, p<.01) have an independent and significant contribution. However, irrational cognitions only play a significant role in experiencing anxiety (b=.33, p<.005) and depression (b=.36, p<.005).
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