This study aims to analyze the self-care performance of pregnant individuals in preventing COVID-19, and how this relates to their perceived stress level during the epidemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 228 pregnant women seeking prenatal care at health centers in Tabriz, Iran. Cluster sampling was instrumental in their selection. Among the data collection tools employed were questionnaires concerning Demographic-Social Characteristics, the Self-Care Performance Questionnaire, and the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale. A correlation analysis, specifically using Spearman's correlation coefficient, was conducted to investigate the relationship between self-care performance and perceived stress in both bivariate and multivariate frameworks. Multivariate linear regression analysis was undertaken, accounting for demographic-social and obstetric characteristics as potential confounders. Placental histopathological lesions Participants' self-care performance, measured via the median (25th to 75th percentiles), scored 0.71 (0.65-0.76) out of a possible 80, while their perceived stress, averaged, was 2.55 (standard deviation 0.56) from a 0-56 scale. A significant negative correlation was observed between perceived stress and self-care performance scores, as assessed by Spearman's rank correlation test (r = -0.13; p = 0.0041). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that pregnant women's self-care abilities, their level of education, their spouse's education, and the number of family members each contributed to their perceived levels of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women's self-care efforts in mitigating COVID-19, as assessed in this study, demonstrated a positive outcome, with stress levels reported as moderate. A strong inverse relationship was found between self-care efficacy and stress perception, likely a reflection of the mother's dedication to the well-being of the fetus and her strict adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines, resulting in reduced stress levels and a sense of calmness.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global wave of fear, anxiety, and depression has touched the wider public. This study sought to determine the rate of fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms linked to COVID-19, identifying factors contributing to their emergence, and analyzing any changes in societal mental health patterns in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a year following the initial study. A Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-based online survey was administered anonymously to the general population in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. serum biochemical changes In a study of 1096 participants, a significant portion, 813%, were female, 338% had completed high school, 564% were married, 534% engaged in intellectual work. Fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting 423%, 729%, and 703% of the participants respectively. The subjects' average age was 35.84 ± 1086. In response to the survey, 501% of participants had contracted COVID-19 and a staggering 638% demonstrated related symptoms. Moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 9514) coupled with COVID-19 related fear (OR = 1972) during the COVID-19 pandemic, were associated with the development of mild to severe anxiety. This anxiety was then further connected with the development of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 10203) and COVID-19-related fear (OR = 2140), potentially showcasing a vicious cycle. Those who tested positive for COVID-19 (OR = 1454) were significantly more susceptible to experiencing anxiety symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina triggered a marked escalation in the experience of fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Factors like age, gender, marital status, and COVID-19 status exhibited a significant association and interconnectedness with the observed phenomena. Consequently, a necessary mental health intervention must be implemented to prevent the manifestation of mental health problems.

Objective Non-constant current stimulation (NCCS) is a neuromodulatory method that applies weak alternating, pulsed, or random currents to the human head through electrodes placed on the scalp or earlobes. Basic and translational research commonly incorporates this approach. However, the causative pathways of NCCS, leading to biological and behavioral consequences in the cerebral structures, remain largely undefined. In this review, the NCCS techniques currently active in neuroscience research are examined, including transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS), transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). A non-systematic search encompassing conference papers, journal articles, chapters, and textbooks was conducted to investigate the biological mechanisms of NCCS techniques. NCCS's foundational principle posits that these low-level currents engage with neuronal activity, affecting neuroplasticity and synchronizing cortical networks, thereby impacting cognition and behavior. Explanations of the mechanisms of action are provided for each NCCS technique. Neural entrainment and stochastic resonance, among other mechanisms, might result in microscopic changes to ion channels and neurotransmission systems, and macroscopic alterations in brain oscillations and functional connectivity through the use of these techniques. NCCS's allure stems from its potential to noninvasively adjust neuroplasticity, combined with its ease of use and good tolerance. Reported data provides compelling and promising support for NCCS's potential to influence neural pathways and the governed behaviors. Optimizing this advancement is the challenge of today. Continued methodological improvements in NCCS approaches will lead to a more profound understanding of NCCS's capacity to modulate nervous system activity and subsequent behaviors, with applications across non-clinical and clinical practices.

A rising trend of smartphone addiction is causing concern about potential issues and complications. The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), a self-administered survey, examines the extent of smartphone usage and the resulting dependency. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the abbreviated version of the SAS questionnaire into Persian (SAS-SV-Pr), and to examine its psychometric properties. The SAS-SV translation procedure standardized the steps for double-forward and backward translations. A sample of 250 students, readily available from three medical universities in Tehran, participated in the completion of both the SAS-SV and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). To assess content validity, the content validity index (CVI), along with floor and ceiling effects, were considered. Internal consistency was evaluated by means of Cronbach's Alpha, and test-retest reliability was determined through the application of the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC21). The criterion validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between the total scores on the SAS-SV-Pr and IAT questionnaires (Pearson's r). The methodology for evaluating construct validity involved exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and its subsequent confirmation through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The translation and adaptation process for cultural reasons only required minor changes in wording. Validity of the IAT was confirmed by a significant correlation of 0.57 with the SAS-SV-Pr. The data showed substantial internal consistency (0.88), a noteworthy split-half reliability (0.84), and a composite reliability of 0.78, as well as a strong test-retest reliability, measured by ICC(21) = 0.89. The subsequent EFA produced a factor structure that was borderline between a one-factor and a two-factor model, explaining 50.28 percent of the total variance. The CFA's conclusion was that the two-factor solution was the preferred method. Our investigation of the data concluded with no presence of floor or ceiling effects. The outcome of the Persian SAS-SV, a two-factor structure, quantifies smartphone user dependency. The instrument displays satisfactory psychometric properties—validity, reliability, and factor structure—and is thus suitable for screening and research aims among Persian populations.

Indonesian early childhood education programs frequently incorporate the memorization of the Quran, which studies indicate has a positive effect on the emotional development of children. The Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA) index is employed in this study to explore the impact of Quranic memorization on the emotional dynamics of children in a specific situation. Four children, aged between five and seven, studying at Islamic schools in Surakarta, constituted the sample group for the method. Quranic learning involved three approaches: visually, through video; aurally, by listening to Quranic recitations; and memorization through repetition. Akt activator Data from Electroencephalography (EEG) channels F8 and F7, representing absolute power, is subjected to a natural logarithm calculation (ln[right alpha power] – ln[left alpha power]) to generate the FAA index measurement. Participants, for the most part, demonstrated a positive FAA index across most of the tasks. A nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test for the FAA index across different tasks produced a p-value of 0.0592, signifying no substantial difference between the tasks. The post hoc Mann-Whitney U test yielded no intervention that exhibited exceptional performance compared to the others. Visual, auditory, and memory-focused Quranic learning methods demonstrably enhance children's emotional states, creating feelings of happiness, motivation, and excitement, as assessed by the FAA index.

Mental health literacy holds particular significance during the adolescent and young adult years, as these periods are commonly characterized by the initial appearances of various mental disorders.