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 167
- Downloads 0
Physical activity of Poles – Critical analysis of research 2010–2014
The aim of the study was an analysis of research on the physical activity (PA) carried out among Poles from 2010 – 2014 on a national scale. The obtained results concerning PA and recommended levels of PA, in particular...
The prevalence and distribution of <em>Dirofilaria repens</em> in dogs in the The prevalence and distribution of Dirofilaria repens in dogs in the Mazovian Province of Central-Eastern Poland
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of canine dirofilariosis from different districts of the Mazovian Province in central-eastern Poland. 462 dogs aged from 1.5–14 years were examined f...
Environmental exposure to zinc and copper influences sperm quality in fertile males
[b][/b][b]Introduction.[/b] The presented study was designed to investigate the associations between environmental exposure to zinc and copper and levels of the parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence syst...
Environmental exposure of pregnant women to infection with Toxoplasma gondii--state of the art.
Infection with T. gondii is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it may lead to the transplacental passage of the parasite. Currently, congenital toxoplasmosis is the second most frequent intrauterine infection....
The influence of upper airways diameter on the intensity of obstructive sleep apnea
Introduction and Objective. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by at least 5 ten-second-long episodes of apnea or hypopnea, per hour of sleep. This disease may lead to severe, life-threatening complications....