Stress And Anxiety

The goal of this randomized crossover trial is to compare the differences in psychological and physiological effects of walking in two different outdoor environments (urban/suburban commercial environments vs. urban/suburban nature areas/preserves) in adults with prediabetes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do psychological measures of stress, anxiety, and affect improve more in one type of outdoor environment over the other? * Do physiological measures of stress improve more in one type of outdoor environment over the other? As this is a crossover trial, participants will serve as their own controls. Researchers will compare both the psychological and physiological effects walking in the two types of outdoor environments. Participants will: * Walk 150-minutes per week for six weeks in each of the two outdoor conditions. * Visit the clinic four times, including before and after each six-week walking period. * Collect saliva samples immediately proceeding or following the four clinic visits. * Return to their pre-study level of physical activity for a 5-week washout period between each of the two walking interventions.

The goal of this pilot randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a mindful eating intervention ("Eat for Life") on eating behavior, body image, and mental health in female nutrition students. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a mindful eating intervention reduce disordered eating behaviors in female nutrition students? Does the intervention improve body appreciation, mindfulness levels, and mental health? Researchers will compare an active control group receiving nutritional guidance to an intervention group participating in the "Eat for Life" mindful eating program to see if the mindful eating intervention reduces disordered eating behaviors and improves overall psychological well-being and body appreciation. Participants will: Complete online questionnaires evaluating eating behavior, mindfulness, mental health, and body image at three distinct time points: before the intervention (baseline), post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. If assigned to the intervention group, attend 12 weekly face-to-face mindful eating sessions lasting approximately two hours each. If assigned to the active control group, receive weekly informative leaflets via WhatsApp with nutritional guidance based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population for 12 weeks

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder. Although the pathophysiology of BPPV is mainly attributed to the displacement of otoconia within the semicircular canals, recent studies suggest that psychological stress and anxiety may be associated with the onset or recurrence of the disease. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood, and objective evaluation of autonomic nervous system function in patients with BPPV is limited. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method widely used to assess autonomic nervous system activity. Short-term HRV measurements provide information about autonomic balance and vagal tone. In particular, parameters such as the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the coefficient of variation of RR intervals (COV RR/R) are considered indicators of parasympathetic activity. The aim of this prospective case-control study is to evaluate vagal tone in patients with BPPV using short-term HRV analysis and to compare the findings with age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Participants will undergo standardized HRV measurements at rest and during controlled breathing. Perceived stress levels will also be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The primary outcomes of the study are RMSSD and the coefficient of variation of RR intervals (COV RR/R), obtained from short-term HRV recordings. These parameters will be compared between BPPV patients and healthy controls, and their associations with perceived stress levels will also be explored. The findings of this study may provide insights into the role of autonomic regulation and stress-related mechanisms in the pathophysiology of BPPV.

This medical education study investigates stress levels among undergraduate medical students during basic life support (BLS) training. It compares traditional face-to-face teaching session with virtual reality (VR) training simulating a resuscitation scenario in a public place. We will measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and self-reported stress to assess acute stress responses. The study also examines physical sensations related to VR, the realism of the virtual environment, and the suitability of VR for BLS training.