Melissa Mashaba¹, Curwyn Mapaling^2,*, Wandile F. Tsabedze³

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.1, pp. 29-35, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.066007 - 30 April 2025

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic introduced significant psychosocial stressors for morticians in South Africa, yet their coping mechanisms remain underexplored. This study investigated how South African morticians (N = 10, Black males) coped with these stressors during the pandemic through semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) informed thematic analysis identified five themes: (i) death overload distress associated with trauma and fear of exposure; (ii) insomnia due to worry, workload, and fear of infection; (iii) stigmatisation from community avoidance and negative perceptions; (iv) social isolation and anxiety related to emotional disconnection, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, More >

Daniel Lesiba Letsoalo^1,*, Mahlatsi Venolia Semenya², Anastasia Julia Ngobe¹, Joy Katlego Hlokwe¹

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.1, pp. 159-165, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.065764 - 30 April 2025

Abstract There has been an increase in mental health problems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Considering this, it is critical to track the region’s level of mental health literacy (MHL) to identify key mental health priorities and to direct the most effective interventions. The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature on MHL in sub-Saharan Africa. EBSCOhost (inclusive of Academic Search Ultimate, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, APA Psych Articles, and Global Health), CINAHL with full text, Wiley Online Library, Taylor and Francis Online Journals and Google Scholar databases were searched to retrieve relevant articles. The study… More >

Jin Yan^1,#, Liu Yang^2,#, Dongye Lyu³, Songjian Du^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 333-345, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.062297 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Background: Adolescents face increasing academic and social pressures, which significantly impact their mental well-being and coping strategies. Physical activity (PA) has been recognized as crucial in promoting psychological resilience and social development. This study investigates the relationship between PA and adolescents’ coping styles, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of friendship quality and psychological resilience. By examining these associations, the study aims to provide insights into how PA contributes to adolescents’ ability to navigate challenges and develop adaptive coping mechanisms. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design and was conducted in Suzhou, Jiangsu… More >

Jun Zhang^1,#,*, Li Wang^1,#, Shan Liu¹, Yurong Yang², Jingyi Fan³, Yijia Zhang¹

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 287-302, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.060064 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Background: Parents of children with autism are susceptible to parenting burnout due to tremendous parenting burden and parenting challenges. Parenting burnout has a detrimental effect on both children with autism and their parents. However, the underlying mechanisms that lead to parenting burnout remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parenting stress and parenting burnout, along with the serial mediation effect of social support and coping strategies in the context of families with autistic children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 231 parents of autistic children in four autism facilities located in… More >

Wan Ying Gan^1,#,*, Wei-Leng Chin^2,3,#, Shih-Wei Huang^4,5, Serene En Hui Tung⁶, Ling Jun Lee¹, Wai Chuen Poon⁷, Yan Li Siaw⁸, Kerry S. O’Brien⁹, Iqbal Pramukti¹⁰, Kamolthip Ruckwongpatr¹¹, Jung-Sheng Chen¹², Mark D. Griffiths¹³, Chung-Ying Lin^{10,11,14,15,*}

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 319-331, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.060049 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Background: Weight-related self-stigma (WRSS) is prevalent among individuals with different types of weight status and is associated with a range of negative health outcomes. Social support and coping models explain how individuals may use different coping methods to deal with their mental health needs. Psychological distress (e.g., depression and stress) could lead to overuse of social media and smartphones. When using social media or smartphones, individuals are likely to be exposed to negative comments regarding weight/shape/size posted on the social media. Consequently, individuals who experience problematic social media use (PSMU) or problematic smartphone use (PSPU)… More >

Jun Zhang^1,2,#,*, Junqiao Guo^3,#

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 193-214, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.058022 - 03 March 2025

Abstract Background: The academic community is increasingly interested in understanding the mechanisms through which gratitude influences coping strategies. In addition, the role of gratitude in fostering long-term resilience and mental health outcomes has garnered significant attention. This study explores the mechanisms through which gratitude affects problem-focused coping strategies and emotion-focused coping strategies by constructing models involving gratitude, perceived social support, self-esteem, and problem-focused coping strategies, as well as models involving gratitude, perceived social support, self-esteem, and emotion-focused coping strategies. Methods: A longitudinal survey was conducted on 1666 Chinese university students using highly reliable and valid scales,… More >

Dexian Li¹, Wencan Li², Xin Lin^3,*, Xingchen Zhu^4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.1, pp. 1-17, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2024.058744 - 31 January 2025

Abstract Background: The phenomenon of academic anxiety has been demonstrated to exert a considerable influence on students’ academic engagement, leading to the emergence of a phenomenon known as “learned helplessness” and undermining the self-confidence and motivation of high school students. Using acceptance-rejection theory, this study elucidated how a rejective parenting style affects Chinese high school students’ academic anxiety and explored the urban-rural heterogeneity of this relationship. Methods: Data were analyzed using a stratified whole-cluster random sampling method. There are a total of 30,000 high school students in the three regions of northern and central China (from… More >

Jing Li¹, Minghui Li^2,*, Guanghuan Xie³

Psycho-Oncologie, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 249-255, 2024, DOI:10.32604/po.2024.056994 - 04 December 2024

Abstract 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 More >

Peichao Xie^1,#, Kexu Chen^1,#, Yuxuan Ji¹, Qi Wang¹, Kaiyun Li^1,*, Fanlu Jia¹, Ting Peng²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.26, No.11, pp. 887-895, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2024.056305 - 28 November 2024

Abstract Background: Coping self-efficacy can help individuals mitigate the adverse emotional impacts of stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions, and it also influences individuals’ academic performance, including school adjustment and academic burnout. It is an important factor affecting the mental health of adolescents. However, there is no measurement tool specifically designed for adolescent populations in China. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the applicability of the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) among Chinese adolescents. Methods: In September 2023, this study collected data through online questionnaires and ultimately conducted item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory… More >

Carmen Hei Man Shek^1,*, Sally Wai Chi Chan², Michelle Anne Stubbs¹, Regina Lai Tong Lee^1,3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.26, No.11, pp. 905-924, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2024.055706 - 28 November 2024

Abstract Background: There are increasing concerns about the mental health needs of international students. Previous studies report that international students experience additional challenges and higher levels of stress compared to domestic students. This integrative review aimed to identify perceived stressors, coping strategies and factors that contributed to accessing mental health services of international students. Methods: A systematic search was performed between January 2010 and December 2023 using PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and PsycINFO databases. A manual search was also performed that included reference lists of included articles; data was extracted and reviewed by… More >