Assessment of differences in psychosocial resources and state of health of rural and urban residents – based on studies carried out on students during examination stress
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2014, Vol 21, Issue 4
Abstract
[b]introduction[/b]. Civilization changes of the environment shaping the psychosocial resources from rural to urban influence human health. [b]aim.[/b] The study aimed to identify the differences due to the place of residence (rural, urban) as far as health resources are concerned (social support, sense of coherence, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentration in plasma) and health in examination stress situations. The study also determined the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (health resource) and cortisol (stress indicator). [b]material and methods.[/b] The psychosocial variables were assessed using the scales: ISEL-48v. Coll., SOC-29, SF-36v.2™ o and analogue scale (perception of examination stress). The study included, based on a stratified sampling (year of study) and purposive sampling (written examination, major), 731 students representing the six universities in Lublin, south-east Poland. Among the respondents, 130 students were rural residents. [b]results.[/b] Health resources of students living in rural and urban areas generally differ statistically significantly in social support and the subscales of availability of tangible support, availability of appreciative support, the availability of cognitive-evaluative support and a sense of resourcefulness. The study recorded a sstatistically significantly larger network of family ties among students living in rural areas. The demonstrated diversity of resources did not substantially affect the perceived health, with the exception of pain sensation. Examination stress assessed by subjective opinion of the respondents and plasma cortisol levels vary relative to the place of residence. Students residing in rural areas showed significantly lower cortisol levels values, but subjectively perceived the situation of examation as more stressful. [b]conclusions[/b]. Differences in health resources and their mechanism of impact on health, to a limited extent, were conditioned by the place of residence, but they are so important in the light of human choices that they require further analysis.
Authors and Affiliations
Danuta Zarzycka, Barbara Ślusarska, Ludmiła Marcinowicz, Irena Wrońska, Maria Kózka
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80899
- DOI -
- Views 161
- Downloads 0
Comparison of selected sperm parameters between 6,278 males in Poland and Ukraine
The phenomenon of deterioration of the quality of sperm in Poland and Ukraine has not been unequivocally evidenced by scientific research. Spermiogramms of males reporting for the first time to infertility treatment cent...
Effectiveness of the National Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in Poland – Outcomes, problems and possible solutions 7 years after implementation
Cervical cancer is a substantial issue for public health in Poland. In 2006, in order to improve epidemiological data, the National Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Programme was developed and implemented. The...
Pedometer assessed physical activity of people with metabolic syndrome in Poland.
introduction. Metabolic syndrome is a contemporary disease of civilization, an effect of lack of healthy behaviour, a consequence of lifestyle devoid of physical activity, eating poor quality food rich in calories and ex...
Nutritional habits in the light of general health behaviours of pregnant women
introduction and objective. Teaching pregnant women behaviours connected with care for one’s health condition and a healthy lifestyle is crucial in perinatal care. Desired health behaviours, including nutritional habits,...
Exposure and respiratory health in farming in temperate zones--a review of the literature.
To review studies in farming populations from temperate zones focusing on: (1) exposure to dust, bacteria, moulds, endotoxin, and ammonia, (2) sensitisation to common airborne allergens, (3) prevalence, incidence and ris...