Implications for a mindfulness-enhanced positive affect induction: A brief commentary toward acute pain management

Journal of Health Psychology, Ahead of Print.
Over the past decade research has increased on dynamics between mindfulness, positive affect, and pain. While there have been studies examining the direct use of positive psychology for pain management, few have examined the use of a specific mindfulness-enhanced positive affect induction (i.e. a singular brief technique engendering mindfulness and strong positive affect) toward acute pain and pain flare management. This topical commentary discusses the need for such a technique toward bolstered gold-standard interventions, related studies, and possible future directions for acute and post-surgical pain management. Future research is encouraged to build from prior research on loving-kindness meditation and examine novel, brief mindfulness-enhanced positive affect inductions for acute pain management.

Body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and engagement in healthy behaviors: The conditional effect of future-self continuity

Journal of Health Psychology, Ahead of Print.
The relationship between body dissatisfaction and negative affect is complex, with some research suggesting that this combination motivates individuals to engage in more health-related behaviors; while other studies find it increases unhealthy behavior. To bridge this gap, it may be the case that to the extent these individuals have continuity between their present and future selves, the more likely they are able to make positive health-related choices with this future self in mind. We examined individuals (n = 344; 51.74% men) aged between 18 and 72 years (M = 39.66, SD = 11.49) who endorsed high negative affect along with body dissatisfaction but either had high or low levels of future self-continuity. We found individuals experiencing body dissatisfaction and negative affect reported higher engagement in healthy behaviors only if they had a strong connection to their future self, index of moderated mediation = 0.07 (95% CI = 0.02, 0.13). These findings support targeting future-self continuity in therapeutic regimens to bolster engagement in healthy behaviors among individuals with body dissatisfaction and high negative affect.

Maternal and Neonatal Risk Factors Associated with Perinatal Depression—A Prospective Cohort Study

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, Ahead of Print.
Background:Perinatal depression (PND) is often under-treated and under-recognized. It has a negative impact on infant development and mother–child interactions. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of PND during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and the effect of sociodemographic factors, psychosocial stressors, and obstetric and neonatal factors on PND.Methods:166 antenatal mothers attending tertiary center, who completed the 1st-trimester, were evaluated on baseline sociodemographic, psychosocial, obstetric, neonatal, and post neonatal factors by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Periodic prospective assessments were done using Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) at the end of the second and third trimesters and first and sixth weeks of the postpartum period.Results:Prevalence of PND was 21.7%, 32.2%, 35%, 30.4%, and 30.6%, at the end of the first trimester, during second, and third trimesters, and first and sixth week postpartum, respectively. Factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms included history of previous children with illness (P: 0.013, OR—5.16, CI—1.3-19.5) and preterm birth (P: 0.037, OR—3.73, CI—1.1- 13.2) at the time of recruitment; history of abuse (P: 0.044, OR—3.26, CI—1.1-10.8) and marital conflicts (P: 0.003, OR—3.2, CI—1.4-6.9) by the end of second trimester; history of miscarriages (P: 0.012, OR—2.58, CI—1.2-5.4) by the end of third trimester; lower SES (P: 0.001, OR—3.48, CI—1.64-7.37), unsatisfied living conditions (P: 0.004, OR—2.9, CI—1.4-6.04), alcohol use in husband (P: 0.049, OR—2.01, CI—1.1-4.11), history of depressive episodes (P: 0.049, OR—2.09, CI—1.1-4.46), history of high-risk pregnancy (P: 0.008, OR—2.7, CI—1.29-5.64), history of miscarriages (P: 0.049, OR—2.04, CI—1.1-4.2), stressful events in the postpartum period (P: 0.043, OR—2.58, CI—1.01-6.59), IUD (P: 0.002), preterm birth (P: 0.001), congenital malformations (P: 0.001), dissatisfaction with the sex of the child (P: 0.005, OR—3.75, CI—1.42-9.91), poor family support (P: 0.001), and low birth weight (P: 0.001, OR—16.78, CI—6.32-44.53) in the postpartum period. These analyses are purely exploratory.Conclusions:PND is highly prevalent from the early antenatal period onwards; this warrants periodic assessment of depression among high-risk mothers, using a validated tool, for early diagnosis and management.

Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Leaders’ Perspectives on Leading During COVID-19

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Ahead of Print.
Post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) delivery is complex, and the COVID-19 pandemic created additional complexities. This qualitative study investigates how PALTC administrators responded to the pandemic, factors that impacted their leadership role and decision-making. Participants from North Carolina (N = 15) and Pennsylvania (N = 6) were interviewed using an interview guide containing open-ended questions. The results revealed three themes: (1) critical knowledge and competencies; (2) resources, supports and essential actions taken; and (3) psychosocial impact. The findings suggest communication and relationship building were the most useful competencies. Lack of staff was a primary stress point during and after the pandemic.