Academic procrastination, a prevalent issue in higher education, has been associated with various adverse outcomes. This study aims to discern and compare the degrees of academic procrastination among university students in Honduras and Spain while also investigating the relationship between academic procrastination and the Big Five personality factors alongside self-esteem. The sample comprised 457 university students, encompassing 237 Hondurans and 220 Spaniards. The research employed descriptive, comparative, correlational, and regression analyses. Honduran university students exhibited a significantly lower level of academic procrastination. Correlational analyses revealed that self-esteem and all Big Five personality factors, except for neuroticism in the Spanish cohort, displayed noteworthy associations with academic procrastination. Further regression analyses demonstrated that conscientiousness emerged as a significant predictor of procrastination in both samples. This study\'s findings can be pivotal in identifying students at risk of procrastination at an early stage. Additionally, the results can inform the development of intervention programs designed to mitigate procrastination tendencies among university students.

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a serious mental health problem among university students. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a novel intervention that targets suicide risk by enhancing self-esteem and self-compassion.
METHODS: Participants were recruited from the healthcare center at a Japanese University. Measurements of suicidal risk, self-compassion, self-esteem, and other psychological variables were collected at baseline, post-intervention, four-week follow-up, eight-week follow-up, and twelve-week follow-up. Participants also provided feedback on the program\'s acceptability.
RESULTS: A total of 17 participants consented to participate in the intervention, 14 completed post-treatment assessment, 10 completed the four-week follow-up assessment, and 8 completed the eight-week and twelve-week follow-up assessment. Following the intervention, the study observed moderate to large improvements in self-esteem, self-compassion, hopelessness, depression, and suicide risk. The participants also reported reliable changes in clinical outcomes and positive perceptions of the program.
CONCLUSIONS: The psychoeducation program exhibited high acceptability and feasibility and promising early outcomes. Despite the small sample size and lack of a control group, these findings suggest potential benefits of the program. Further studies for examining the efficacy of the program are highly warranted.

Negative habits persist in contemporary society that can sometimes result in overweight or the deterioration of body image. This study aimed to assess the suitability of a nutritional and psychosocial intervention as part of an interdisciplinary approach to improve the perception of body image and increase the self-esteem of individuals who are overweight or obese. A total of 55 participants (25 men and 30 women) were included in this quasi-experimental intervention study. Measurements were taken as part of an ambulatory treatment to obtain values for weight, self-esteem, and body image perception using the Rosenberg scale and the Body Self-Esteem scale. At the end of the intervention and after one year, the weight reductions reached an average of 13.4 kg, positive self-image perception improved from a mean of 88.73 at pretest to 148.02 at follow-up, and self-esteem improved from a mean of 22.6 to 32.6. These were all statistically significant changes (p < 0.001). The model is effective in terms of weight reduction, together with improved levels of self-esteem and favorable perceptions of body image.

BACKGROUND: Social adjustment, self-esteem and social skills may influence students\' professionalization and academic success. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a social skills-based blended education on the social adjustment, self-esteem and social skills of new nursing students.
METHODS: First-year undergraduate nursing students in Tehran, Iran, participated in this experimental study in 2023. Participants were selected from two classrooms, one as a control group (26 people) and the other as an intervention group (26 people). The study instruments included the California Personality Test, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Teenage Inventory of Social Skills. The social skills-based blended education was delivered in 10 sessions of blended education (traditional and virtual education). Data were collected at three stages including baseline, immediately and one month after the intervention. A significance level of 0.05 was used.
RESULTS: According to the results, the average score of social adjustment and social skills of the students in the intervention group increased significantly from baseline to one month after the intervention (P < 0.001). In the control group, this variable did not increase significantly. The results of the two-way repeated measures ANOVA (comparing the effect of time and group) showed that social skills-based blended education can improve the overall average score of students\' social adjustment and social skills (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01 respectively), but it had no significant effect on their self-esteem.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings can be used by managers and educational planners to design and implement social skills-based blended education in order to improve the social adjustment and social skills of new nursing students.

UNASSIGNED: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a unique yoga practice incorporated into the Art of Living course. It is found to have a beneficial effect on different psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of SKY practice on stress and self-esteem among medical doctors.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective study was conducted among medical doctors (interns, residents, and consultants) in a tertiary care center. The Perceived Stress Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used for the assessment of stress and self-esteem levels, respectively. The parameters were assessed at baseline, 3-day and 40-day follow-up of SKY practice. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 58 participants were included in the study. The scores for stress decreased (19.07 to 18.62 to 16.33) and self-esteem levels increased (19.09 to 19.64 to 20.81) after the practice signifying the beneficial impact. It was statistically significant (P<0.05) with considerable effect sizes (Cohen\'s d 0.2-0.5 and >0.5 for self-esteem and stress levels, respectively). On MANOVA, gender (more in male participants) was significantly associated with stress levels even after the practice of SKY (P=0.042).
UNASSIGNED: Amid the hectic schedule, regular practice of SKY is proven beneficial for medical doctors with its positive impact on stress, and self-esteem levels by our study.

UNASSIGNED: Previous studies investigating the effectiveness of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation in body weight reduction provided unequivocal results. We hypothesized that psychological factors such as self-efficacy, locus of control or dispositional optimism can affect the success of the intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the psychological factors that modulate the effectiveness of CLA supplementation in overweight or obese women and affect the ability to successfully complete the study.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 74 subjects were recruited into this three-month randomized trial and divided into intervention and control groups receiving, respectively, capsules containing 3 g 80% CLA per day and capsules containing 3 g of sunflower oil. The following psychological tests were performed before the intervention: Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES), Health Behavior Inventory scale and Life Orientation Test (LOT-R).
UNASSIGNED: A total of 60 women completed the study and the subjects who dropped out obtained higher scores in the GSES (p = 0.0490) and the LOT-R (p = 0.0087) tests than subjects who completed the trial. Besides, multivariate linear regression demonstrated that the SWLS test (p = 0.0345) results were independent predictors of body weight changes.
UNASSIGNED: In conclusion, psychological factors like self-efficacy and optimism may be associated with a higher risk of withdrawal from the study, while satisfaction with life may have an impact on the effectiveness of body weight reduction.Clinical trial registration: [https://drks.de/search/en], identifier [DRKS00010462].

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of online social networks, particularly among the younger demographic, has catalyzed a growing interest in exploring their influence on users\' psychological well-being. Instagram (Meta), a visually oriented platform, has garnered significant attention. Prior research has consistently indicated that Instagram usage correlates with heightened levels of perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, and diminished self-esteem. Perfectionism is closely linked to self-criticism, which entails an intense self-scrutiny and is often associated with various psychopathologies. Conversely, self-compassion has been linked to reduced levels of perfectionism and stress, while fostering greater positive affect and overall life satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the relationship between Instagram usage (time of use and content exposure) and users\' levels of self-compassion, self-criticism, and body dissatisfaction.
METHODS: This study comprised 1051 adult participants aged between 18 and 50 years, either native to Spain or residing in the country for at least a decade. Each participant completed a tailored questionnaire on Instagram usage, along with abbreviated versions of the Self-Compassion Scale, the Body Shape Questionnaire, and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, spanning from January 23 to February 25, 2022.
RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between daily Instagram usage and self-criticism scores. Participants of all age groups who spent over 3 hours per day on Instagram exhibited higher self-criticism scores than users who spent less than 1 hour or between 1 and 3 hours per day. Contrary to previous findings, no significant relationship was detected between Instagram usage time and levels of self-compassion or body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, content centered around physical appearance exhibited a positive correlation with self-criticism and body dissatisfaction scores. Among younger participants (aged 18-35 years), those who primarily viewed beauty or fashion content reported higher self-criticism scores than those consuming science-related content. However, this association was not significant for participants aged 35-50 years. Conversely, individuals who predominantly engaged with sports or fitness or family or friends content exhibited higher levels of body dissatisfaction than those focusing on science-related content. No significant associations were observed between self-compassion scores and daily Instagram usage or most-viewed content categories.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study underscore the considerable impact of Instagram usage on self-criticism and body dissatisfaction-2 variables known to influence users\' psychological well-being and be associated with various symptoms and psychological disorders.

BACKGROUND: The unsuccessful treatment of infertility can lead to heightened levels of negative emotions, which are often associated with various psychological consequences. These consequences may include a decrease in self-confidence, feelings of loneliness, reduced self-esteem, and even discontinuation of treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to implement interventions that can help improve these consequences for women who have experienced IVF failure. The present study aimed to examine the effect of supportive counseling on self-esteem of infertile women after IVF failure.
METHODS: this randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 63 infertile women after IVF failure, referred to Milad Infertility Center in Mashhad in 2021. In the intervention group, the researcher provided individual supportive counseling sessions. These sessions took place over a span of four weeks, with each session lasting 60 min (One session every week). Data collection was conducted both before and one month after the study using Eysenck self-esteem Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS25, as well as statistical tests such as chi-square, independent t-test, Paired t-test and Mann-Whitney tests. A significance level of less than 5% was considered.
RESULTS: The study found no significant difference in mean scores of self-esteem between the two groups before the study (p = 0.823). However, after one month, the intervention group had significantly higher self-esteem scores (24.3 ± 18.55) compared to the control group (21.74 ± 5.62) (p = 0.043) Moreover, Based on the Within-group comparison, there was a 2.43 ± 3.24 point increase in self-esteem scores of the intervention group after one month, while the control group showed a -0.33 ± 3.72 point decrease.
CONCLUSIONS: Supportive counseling was found to be effective in improving self-esteem following IVF failure. As a result, it can be recommended as an effective, affordable, and low-risk counseling approach for women who have experienced IVF failure. By offering supportive counseling, it is possible to help prevent and alleviate the psychological consequences associated with IVF failure.
BACKGROUND: This research project was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with code IRCT20210407050883N1- Date of registration 2021-05-25.

UNASSIGNED: Sexuality plays a significant role in social relationships and overall development. For women, the breasts hold considerable importance in sexual expression. Deviation from societal norms regarding breast size can lead to mental and sexual health issues. This study aimed to examine the impact of breast reduction surgery on self-esteem, body image, and sexual desire in women undergoing the procedure.
UNASSIGNED: A descriptive correlational study was conducted, involving 50 women who underwent reduction mammoplasty.
UNASSIGNED: Regarding pre- and post-surgical measurements, breast reduction surgery was associated with improvements in body image perception, as indicated by the BREASTQ reduction module, and both dyadic and solitary sexual desire. However, self-esteem remained unaffected by the intervention. Correlational analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between psychosocial well-being and other dimensions of body image, as well as sexual desire. Sexual well-being also correlated with breast and nipple satisfaction, along with dyadic sexual desire. Notably, age and self-esteem did not exhibit significant correlations with the variables studied.
UNASSIGNED: These findings suggest that breast reduction surgery can improve body image and sexual desire in women, but further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and the specific factors that contribute to these outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with brain cancer and painful symptoms of the disease experience heavy pressure and negative inner experiences, leading to a sense of stigma. Therefore, this study assessed the level of stigma in patients with brain cancer and analyzed the risk factors for stigma to analyze the underlying relationships among depression, social support, low self-esteem, and stigma.
METHODS: Patients completed the Social Impact Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Herth Hope Index, Social Support Rating Scale, and Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with stigma. Parallel mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating role of the relationship between psychoemotional factors and stigma.
RESULTS: A multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between age (β =  - 0.189, P = 0.002), treatment (β = 0.184, P = 0.003), self-esteem (β =  - 0.128, P = 0.046), depression (β = 0.273, P < 0.001), hope (β =  - 0.217, P = 0.003), and self-perceived burden (β = 0.260, P < 0.001) with brain cancer. It was observed that the social support received by brain cancer patients directly impacted their stigma (total effect, - 0.851, P = 0.001). Additionally, this relationship was influenced by depression and self-esteem through two distinct pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Increased stigma among brain cancer patients was found to be associated with severe depression, feelings of inferiority, diminished hope, and a heavy perceived burden. The structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that social support negatively influenced stigma through depression and self-esteem. It is imperative to grasp patients\' inner needs, implement psychological interventions, and cultivate a cancer-friendly social environment to prevent stigmatization and discrimination based on their patient status.