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The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Type D personality, along with other personality traits (resilience and sense of coherence), on burnout syndrome and its counterpart, engagement, among students of nursing, midwifery, and psychology. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 university students (91.9% females; M age = 20.2 ± 1.49 years). A Type D personality subscale, School Burnout Inventory, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Sense of Coherence Questionnaire, and Baruth Protective Factor Inventory were used. Linear regression models, Student's t test, and Pearson's correlation analysis were employed. Negative affectivity, a dimension of Type D personality, was a significant personality predictor for burnout syndrome (β = .54; 95% CI = [0.33, 1.01]). The only significant personality predictor of engagement was a sense of coherence. Students who were identified as having Type D personality characteristics scored significantly higher on the burnout syndrome questionnaire ( t = -2.58, p < .01). In health care professions, personality predictors should be addressed to prevent burnout.

It would be beneficial to include specific interventions for decreasing negative affectivity and promoting stress coping skills training in the training programs in nursing school curricula. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(5):296-299.].

Abstract.Cancer is a disease that may potentially affect woman's daily life, including her physical activities, career and social life. Women dealing with cancer can benefit from supportive relationships, and there was found evidence of moderating effect of social support on the harmful effect of stressful events, including life-threatening disease and patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of socio-demographic factors (age, education, employment and marital status, number of children, satisfaction with finances) on perceived social support, as well as the impact of social support on quality of life. 211 gynaecologic cancer patients (cervix, endometrium -115; breasts -52; ovaria -44), between the ages of 34 and 80 were assigned for this study. The Multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) and EORTC QoL C30 questionnaire were employed in the study. It was found that marital status, education, employment status and satisfaction with finances had an influence on social support. Positive correlation was found between total social support and family, friends and significant others subscale, and all functional subscales of quality of life questionnaire as well as overall quality of life Negative correlation was found between social support variables and most of the symptom subscales of QoL questionnaire, except for diarhea. Since the social support is one of the important factors affecting the survival of patients as well as their quality of life, healthcare professionals should also focus on building and strengthening patient's support network when working with these groups of women.

The aim of the study is to examine the relationships between attitudes towards communication skills, self-evaluation of communication abilities, and sense of coherence among students of nursing. A cross-sectional correlational study design was employed. Altogether, 227 university nursing students participated in the study (20.53 ± 2.04; 96.9% females). Communication Skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and short self-evaluation scale of communication ability of own design were used. The results showed a high average score in the positive attitudes subscale and moderate negative attitudinal scores in the CSAS questionnaire, as well as positive self-evaluation of the communication abilities among students. The positive subscale of the CSAS was positively related to the sense of coherence (p = 0.05), while the negative subscale of the CSAS was negatively related to the sense of coherence (p ≤ 0.001). The study showed that sense of coherence is associated with more positive attitudes towards communication skills. Understanding the factors associated with the effective communication strategies provides an important base for improving the content of the current communication curriculum in nursing study programs.

Background: Postpartum depression has a negative impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: A paper and pencil version of the 10-item EPDS questionnaire was administered personally to 577 women at baseline during their stay in hospital on the second to fourth day postpartum (age, 30.6 ± 4.9 years; 73.5% vaginal births vs. 26.5% operative births; 59.4% primiparas). A total of 198 women participated in the online follow-up 6–8 weeks postpartum (questionnaire sent via e-mail). Results: The Slovak version of the EPDS had Cronbach’s coefficients of 0.84 and 0.88 at baseline (T1) and follow-up, respectively. The three-dimensional model of the scale offered good fit for both the baseline (χ2(df = 28) = 1339.38, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.02, and TLI = 0.99) and follow-up (χ2(df = 45) = 908.06, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.09, and TL = 0.90). A risk of major depression (EPDS score ≥ 13) was identified in 6.1% in T1 and 11.6% in the follow-up. Elevated levels of depression symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 10) were identified in 16.7% and 22.7% of the respondents at baseline and follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: The Slovak translation of the EPDS showed good consistency, convergent validity, and model characteristics. The routine use of EPDS can contribute to improving the quality of postnatal health care.

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Introduction: Pregnancy and the postpartum period are a risk period in a woman's life in terms of manifesting mental disorders, such as postpartum depression. Previous research has identified several risk factors affecting the onset and progression of postpartum depression. Aim: (1) to find the occurrence of depressive symptoms in the postpartum women group; (2) to verify the influence of selected factors on the level of postpartum depression. Materials and methods: Study sample consisted of 510 mothers in the postpartum period, mean age 30.6 years (±5.3; range 19-45 years). The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used to measure symptoms of depression; a questionnaire of our own design was used to assess selected factors potentially influencing level of depressive symptoms. Results: In the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, the respondents achieved an average score of 9.3 ± 5.6; and the prevalence of severe depressive symptoms was 25.3%. The linear regression model showed that significant predictors of postpartum depression were: lower education; history of depression; dependence on the opinion of others; concerns about future; low satisfaction with motherhood; problems with partner; problems with breast-feeding; tearful child; negative emotions toward the baby; and poor mastering of maternity. Discussion: Significant predictors of postpartum depression identified in this study can be easily detected in clinical practice using the unique long-term contact that a woman has with her prenatal midwife. Evaluation of mothers' emotional health and screening for postpartum depression risk factors can enable midwives to identify those at risk and intervene in a timely manner.