Progress in Research on the Impact of Religious Psychological Coping on the Holistic Well-Being of Cancer Patients and Relevant Factors

This study reviews the historical development,current applications,and multifaceted impacts of religious psychological coping on the physical and mental health of cancer patients.As a method for coping with life’s pressures through religious beliefs or activities,religious psychological coping has been proven to alleviate the negative emotions of cancer patients and enhance their spiritual well-being and quality of life(QOL).Research indicates that religious faith can alleviate the physical symptoms of cancer patients,extend survival time,reduce the fear of death,assist in coping with treatment side effects,and improve self-efficacy and overall quality of life.Additionally,this study explores factors influencing religious psychological coping,including demographic and sociological characteristics,the faith status of caregivers,types of religion,the relationship between the course of the disease and the duration of belief,and psychological factors.Considering the cultural differences between China and other countries,this study calls for further research into the real experiences of cancer patients with religious beliefs and provides theoretical guidance for clinical nursing practices to achieve holistic care for the body,mind,and spirit of cancer patients.

Effectiveness of psychological intervention following sport injury

With increasing attention given to the development and implementation of psychological interventions during the sport injury rehabilitation process,there is a need to document the effectiveness of these interventions.The purpose of this review was to summarize the empirical findings of the effects of psychological interventions in reducing post-injury psychological consequences and improving psychological coping during the injury rehabilitation process among competitive and recreational athletes.In February 2012,utilizing a comprehensive search strategy,we conducted electronic searches of multiple electronic databases for randomized and nonrandomized control trials that evaluated interventions targeting populations of injured competitive and recreational athletes age 17 years and older.We included interventions that directly intervene on injured athletes’ psychological outcomes(e.g.,psychological consequences,psychological coping and re-injury anxiety) and utilized psychological strategies including imagery,goal-setting,relaxation,and other common techniques during the post-injury rehabilitation period.Six studies,described in seven peer-reviewed published articles,met study inclusion criteria and were included in this review.Of those studies,two included randomized control trials,two used before and after study designs and two were case study designs.Two interventions utilized guided imagery and relaxation,two interventions utilized goal-setting and one each utilized microcounseling,written disclosure,and acceptance and commitment therapy.Guided imagery/relaxation was shown to be associated with improved psychological coping and reduced re-injury anxiety. Goal setting,however,was not directly associated with the reduction of negative psychological consequences.Other psychological techniques such as microcounseling skills,acceptance and commitment therapy,and written disclosure have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing negative psychological consequences,improving psychological coping,and reducing re-injury anxiety.Our findings suggest a significant need to develop and implement well-designed intervention studies that target improvement of post-injury psychological outcomes in order to assist injured athletes successfully recovery from sport injury.

Association of Sexual Intercourse with Psychological Suppression and Copying Modes for Vocational School Students

Objective To evaluate the association of sex behavior with sexual related psychological suppression and coping modes among students in three vocational schools in Shanghai. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1 368 grade one students from three vocational schools in a district of Shanghai, with Computer Assisted Self- Interview （CASI）. The field work began in the April 2003 for a baseline survey, and completed in the December, 2003. Data on students＇ sexual intercourse, sexual related psychological suppression and psychological coping modes, and communication with parents were collected and analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to adjust the potential confounding factors. Results After controlling for demographic factors, adolescents with middle or high scores of active psychological coping strategies on sexual related events were less likely to have sexual intercourse （ORadj=0.48, 95%CI=0.30-0. 77 and ORadj=0.49, 95%CI=0.30-0.83, respectively）, while association between psychological suppression on sex related events and sexual intercourse was not statistically significant （ORadj= 0.93, 95%CI=0.63-1.37）; sexual related psychological suppression and active coping modes were positively associated with adolescents＇ communicating with parents for 2-7 h/week about school things, but negatively associated with parents＇ open attitudes towards heterosexual contacts and talking sex related things with others. Conclusion Vocational school students with active psychological coping strategies on sexual related events were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse, so interventions focus on reducing unprotected sexual behaviors should target on psychological coping modes skills training.