This study highlights the importance of using momentary measures to understand complex and changeable inter-relationships. While also clarifying the targets of intervention programmes aimed at preventing burnout within the nursing profession.

Background and aim:This study is about the influence of each one of the dimensions of the Perceived Emotional Intelligence (EI) on coping strategies deployed in face of daily stress. Material and methods:The sample was set up of 50 people between 18 and 25 years old. Emotional intelligence was assessed through the TMMS-24 that contains three dimensions: emotional attention, emotional clarity and emotional repair. Coping with daily stress was assessed through a momentary ecological assessment. Four types of coping were evaluated: Coping focused on the problem, seeking social support, acceptance of emotions and rejection. Results:The results showed that: a) People with high emotional clarity used more coping focused on the problem, acceptance of emotions and less rejection, b) people with high emotional repair used more coping focused on the problem, searching for social support and less rejection; and c) people with high emotional attention used more both acceptance of emotions and social support search. Conclusions:These results support the hypothesis of emotional intelligence strengthens emotional well-being because it promotes the adaptive coping of daily stress.

A longitudinal study with three periods of data collection has been designed to test a model concerning the antecedents and consequences of coping in the anticipatory stage of an examination stress process. The model tested focuses on the role of positive and negative affect at an early stage as the main antecedents for coping. Primary and secondary appraisal, and dispositional variables (perceived personal competence and optimism) have been related to early affect. Moreover, the consequences of coping, considered as the affect measured after the deployment of coping strategies, and the grade obtained in the exam, are also tested. Results show that early affect is the main antecedent of displayed coping strategies. Dispositional variables and appraisal are related to affect, and differential effects of coping in later affect have been noticed. No relationship between coping and grade has been found. Implications for research on coping with examination stress are discussed.

Chronic emotional stress is associated with increased cortisol release and metabolism disorders. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of chronic stress on calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone disease and its recurrence. A total of 128 patients were enrolled in this case-control study over a period of 20 months. All patients were CaOx stone formers with a recent stone episode (<3 months); 31 were first-time stone formers (FS) and 33 recurrent stone formers (RS). Dimensions of chronic stress were evaluated with self-reported validated questionnaires measuring stressful life events, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and satisfaction with life. An ad hoc self-reporting questionnaire was designed to evaluate stress-related specifically to stone episodes. Blood and urine samples were collected to determine cortisol levels and urinary composition. In addition, epidemiological data, socioeconomic information, diet and incidences of metabolic syndrome (MS) were reported. Overall, no significant differences were observed in the scores of cases and controls on any of the questionnaires dealing with stress. The number (p < 0.001) and the intensity (p < 0.001) of perceived stressful life events were higher in RS than in FS, but there were no differences between the two groups in other dimensions of stress. RS had higher glucose (p = 0.08), uric acid (p = 0.02), blood cortisol (p = 0.01), and urine calcium levels (p = 0.01) than FS. RS also had lower economic levels (p = 0.02) and more frequent incidences of MS (p = 0.07) than FS. Although no differences were observed in cases and controls among any dimension of chronic stress, the number and intensity of stressful life events were higher in RS than in FS. These differences correlate with variations in blood and urinary levels and with metabolic disorders, indicating an association between chronic stress and risk of recurrent CaOx stone formation.

A not negligible proportion of elderly patients with STEMI fulfilled the frailty criteria. Frailty was independently associated with mortality. A very simple, feasible geriatric assessment by trained nurses can contribute to predict mortality.