Orly Sarid

The Effect of Helping Behavior and Physical Activity on Mood States and Depressive Symptoms of Elderly People

The current study examines the effects of helping behavior and physical activity on mood states and depressive symptoms of older adults. Participants (n = 102) reported their chronic conditions, volunteering, supporting behavior, and physical activity. Helping behavior, as well as physical activity, was practiced by more than half of the participants. Physical activity was positively associated with cheerfulness and vigor and explained 4% of the variance in both moods. No links were detected between the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms. Helping behavior was positively correlated with cheerfulness and vigor and explained 6% and 22% of these moods, respectively. It was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and explained 6% of the variance in their occurrence. The positive link between helping behavior and physical exercise can be explained by adaptation theories of aging which regard the psychological benefits of multiple forms of activity in late life.

Are coping resources related to humoral reaction induced by academic stress? An analysis of specific salivary antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether coping resources mediated the changes in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) specific salivary antibodies caused by academic stress. Fifty-four first-year female students of nursing and physiotherapy completed pencil and paper written questionnaires and concurrently donated saliva samples. The instrument included the short version of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, measures of social support, current health, health practices, the scale of psychological distress, and state anxiety questionnaire. Data and saliva samples were collected one month after the beginning of the first semester, during term examinations period and a month into the second semester. Statistically significant changes in the level of specific salivary EBV and HCMV antibodies were observed between the four study points. State anxiety and psychological distress were significantly associated with HCMV-specific salivary antibody level increase during examinations and its decrease after the stress was over. Coping resources, however, were not associated with changes in any of the antibodies studied.

Reactions of students to different settings of field experience

The study assessed Israeli students’ emotional–experiential reaction and attitude to different client populations, following a week-long experience in one of five social services settings. The study provides preliminary findings regarding the implications of first year students’ experience on their emphatic skills, a subject that generally has not received adequate scholarly attention. Using a purpose-built, self-administered questionnaire, we found students’ emotional–experiential response to their experience differed by the setting in which they were placed, being lowest in the Bedouin oriented services, intermediate among those placed in juvenile correction services, and highest in mental health, adult and child disability services. Responses were independent of all other explanatory variables, including sex, cognitive ability, previous training experience and perceptual shifts concerning the population served. We discuss possible reasons for these differences.