Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour

Social Support and Stress Among University Students in Jordan

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perception of social support and perceived stress among university students in Jordan. A sample of 241 university students from private and government universities in Jordan answered self-report questionnaires including the perceived social support scale and perceived stress scale. The results showed that university students have moderate perception of social support and stress. Female university students had higher perception of stress and social support than male university students. Perceived stress had a negative correlation with perceived social support from family (−0.29, p < 0.05). The perceived social support from family was a better predictor of perceived life event as stressful situations than perceived social support from friends. The study implications for research and intervention were discussed.

Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Depressive Symptomatology, Stress and Coping Strategies among Jordanian University Students

The study examined the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with university students suffering from moderate to severe depressive symptoms in Jordan. Eighty-four university students were recruited and assigned randomly to control and intervention groups. Intervention impact was assessed on measures of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and coping strategies at three time points; baseline, postintervention, and 3-months postintervention. The interventional model used was the Modified Teaching Kids to Cope (MTKC), and the control group received no treatment. Overall, using CBT showed a significant improvement in the outcome measures. At postintervention, students had lower scores on perceived stress, lower depressive symptoms, less use of avoidance coping strategies, and more use of approach coping strategies. The findings are discussed in terms of treatment implications and recommendations for use at academic and health care settings.

Depression, hostility, and substance use among university students in Jordan

Background: University students are a target population for a number of research studies due to a high prevalence of mental health and psychosocial problems. Aims: To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, hostility, and substance use among university students in Jordan. Methods: This is a descriptive correlation study. Data were collected on demographics, depressive symptoms, hostility, and substance use from 572 university students in Jordan. Results: Almost 75% of the university students exhibited some degree of depressive symptoms. Tobacco, painkillers, stimulants, tranquilizers, inhalants, and alcohol respectively were the most used substances. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with hostility and tobacco use. Similarly, depression had a positive correlation with the frequency of using painkillers, inhalants, stimulants, tranquilizers, and heroin. Male and female university students were not different in their depressive symptoms, hostility, and frequency of substance use. ...

Knowledge and nursing practice of critical care nurses caring for patients with delirium in intensive care units in Jordan.

Delirium can have serious consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. An extensive literature review showed that delirium is not well understood, recognized, or managed by medical and nursing professionals. The goal for this study was to determine the level of knowledge and management skills among critical care nurses caring for patients with delirium who were treated in intensive care units (ICUs) in Jordan. A total of 232 critical care nurses, employed in different ICUs in Jordan, completed self-reported questionnaires. The nurses in critical care units who completed the questionnaires identified a need for more delirium-specific knowledge and skills to assess and manage this condition more effectively. To enhance health outcomes for patients treated in the ICU who have delirium, nurses need to receive education on current assessment and management modalities. These regular education programs should be complemented with evaluative research focusing on both nursing care and patient outcomes.

Predictors of hostility among university students in Jordan

OBJECTIVE The study aimed at examining predictors of hostility among university students in Jordan. METHODS Two-step multiple hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between hostility, perceived stress, perceived social support, depression, moral commitment, life satisfaction and optimism utilizing data collected from 428 university students were recruited from six different universities in Jordan. RESULTS Life satisfaction, depression and perceived stress were significant predictors of hostility among university students (p < 0.05). Life satisfaction was inversely related, whereas depression and perceived stress were positively related to hostility. Male and female university students were not different in their hostility scores. CONCLUSION Assessment of psychosocial well being is an important component to manage hostility among university students. The importance of psychosocial well being is highlighted and implications for mental health nurses and professionals are presented.

Evaluating the Mental Health of Jordanian Women in Relationships with Intimate Partner Abuse

This study evaluated the mental health consequences of abuse among Jordanian women and tested the effectiveness of using cognitive behavioral interventions to change the level of depression and level of stress among Jordanian women experiencing intimate partner abuse (IPA). A mixed methods design using phenomenology and quasi-experimental research data collection and analysis was implemented. The most commonly reported form of abuse was psychological abuse. Prior to cognitive behavioral intervention, participants demonstrated moderate to severe levels of depression, low levels of perceived social support, moderate to high levels of self-efficacy, and used approach coping skills more frequently than avoidance coping. Cognitive behavioral interventions resulted in decreased depression (p = .003) and decreased stress levels, although this finding did not reach significance (p > .05). Cognitive behavioral interventions are effective interventions when working with women experiencing IPA.

Prevalence and Predictors of Postpartum Depression Among Arabic Muslim Jordanian Women Serving in the Military

The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study was to investigate the prevalence of symptoms and psychosocial predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) among Arabic Muslim Jordanian women serving in the military. Jordanian active-duty military women who had given birth within the last year (n = 300) and were working in 4 military hospitals participated in the study. Tools used included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale–Revised, and the Multidimensional Perception of Social Support. Sixty-seven percent of study participants had mild to moderate symptoms of PPD, and 16% had high levels of symptoms of PPD. Seventy-five percent reported having adequate social support, and 75% reported perceived stress above the cutoff score. There was a strong positive significant relationship between symptoms of PPD and perceptions of stress. There was a significant moderate negative relationship between symptoms of PPD and perception of social support. Income, intendedness of pregnancy, mode of birth, family social support, and perception of stress were the strongest predictors of PPD. There was a reciprocal relationship between PPD and psychosocial variables, with women having low levels of perceived stress and satisfaction with social support having fewer symptoms of postpartum. These findings demonstrate the need to address the psychosocial needs of Arabic Muslim Jordanian childbearing women serving in the military through comprehensive interventions. Findings highlight the importance of social support in decreasing perceived stress and symptoms of PPD in these women.

Attitudes of Jordanian nursing students towards nursing research

Attitudes towards research are significant indictors that connect practice to research and enhance nursing evidence-based practice. This correlational study was conducted to assess the attitudes of Jordanian nursing students towards nursing research. A self-administered questionnaire received from 612 senior nursing students at one of the largest universities in Amman, Jordan, was carried out. The results showed that nursing students had positive attitudes towards research. The majority of them believed that research has a role in developing the nursing profession, and that nurses must learn how to read and utilise research findings in practice. The majority also realised the value of research in improving quality of care, expressed the need to learn about nursing research, appreciated the necessity of research for the development of the nursing profession and had a willingness to conduct nursing research in clinical settings. Four attitude domains were identified, including research abilities, usefulness of research, personal interest in research and using research in clinical practice. The highest scores were observed on items related to ‘usefulness of research’ and the lowest were related to ‘research abilities’. Providing students with information and strengthening their research abilities might enhance their positive feelings and increase their involvement in research activities after graduation.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards family planning among women in the rural southern region of Jordan.

Data about family planning among women in rural and remote areas of Jordan are lacking. This study explored the prevalence of use and knowledge and attitudes towards family planning among rural Jordanian women. A descriptive study was conducted with 807 ever-married women aged 15-49 years in a household survey of 29 villages in the southern region of Jordan. The most common contraceptive methods ever used were oral contraceptive pills (31.1%); intrauterine device (24.8%) and withdrawal (19.5%). Of the women interviewed, 37% were currently using contraception. Being pregnant (11%) and breastfeeding (10%) were the most reported reasons for not using contraceptives. None of the women reported obtaining supplies or the cost of them as barriers, while opposition from husband or family members or religious reasons were reported by less than 1% of the women. About 95% of the women agreed that using family planning had positive advantages for health. The results highlight some educational needs among these women.

PSYCHOMETRIC QUALITIES OF THE COPING RESPONSE INVENTORY-YOUTH FORM

This study examined the psychometric qualities of the Coping Response Inventory-Youth (CRI-Y) form. Participants were 376 females and 248 males (age 15.9 + 1.0 year) recruited from four rural high schools in Western Pennsylvania who completed the CRI-Y as part of the instrument battery of a longitudinal study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial validity of the CRI-Y scale, and reliability coefficients were examined to address the reliability of the scale. The eight subscales of CRI-Y exhibited low to moderate reliability coefficients (from .47 to .70). The approach, avoidance, cognitive, and behavioral coping domains and total CRI-Y showed good reliability coefficients (.81, .87, .85, .84, and .91, respectively). Factor analysis of CRI-Y subscales exhibited a unidimensionality of the subscales with a one-factor solution explaining 28%–40% of the total variance.