FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING PENSIONERS LIVING ALONE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE DURING THE COVID-19 PERIOD: THE CASE OF GEORGIA

Restrictions, physical distancing and lockdown imposed during Covid-19 are associated with many challenges such as financial shortages and lack of social relationships, which have been particularly damaging for vulnerable groups dependent on others. This research aims to study financial and social challenges faced by one of the vulnerable social groups-pensioners living alone below the poverty line during the covid-19 period in four Georgia municipalities (Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Tianeti and Kaspi) in July-August 2020. The survey was conducted with 475 respondents (confidence level 95, interval 4), but 11 questionnaires were discarded due to technical deficiencies. The analysis was performed on 464 data. The study used available sampling where gender (strata) representation was maintained. 78.6% were female and 21.14% male. Overall, the elderly is a fairly vulnerable group in municipalities and across the country. The biggest problem during the pandemic period was a lack of financial resources. The study participants' primary income source is social assistance and various pensions; Thus, the elderly people are financially dependent on state aid. The elderly have limited social relationships; They rarely interact with neighbors, much less with relatives, and even less with friends. The elderly rarely go to the city or village center either. Limited social networking and activities affect the mental health of the elderly. Such a situation is especially noteworthy in a pandemic. There is a positive correlation between limited access to technologies and lack of financial resources that plays a vital role in social relationships among the elderly; Those elderly who cannot afford access to computer/internet and telephone reported higher isolation levels. Keywords: social isolation, Covid-19, pensioners living alone, under poverty line

FUNCTIONS OF ALGORITHMIC THINKING IN THE PROCESS OF DEMONSTRATING CHESS SKILLS

Technological upgrades, progressive scientific and technical developments are a direct reflection of the challenges of the 21st century, the overcoming of which implies a review of the content of education and the results obtained from it, aimed at developing a creative, self-planning, results’ predicting personalities. The acquisition of the mentioned qualities is ensured by the introduction of a chess game in the educational process, the purpose of which is not only to learn chess, but also to develop cognitive, emotional qualities at young age (Karapetyan & Misakyan, 2020), action prediction, thinking quality, decision-making quality, performing analytical actions (Kasparov, 2007).

INDIRECT WITNESSES OF TERRORIST ACTS: PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF INTIMIDATION

The victimhood of indirect witnesses of terrorist acts, which includes both the audience of the media and the population as a whole, is a complex socio-psychological phenomenon. The reasons victimizations are changes in the system of internal regulation of behavior, namely contradictions between the basic beliefs of people and the real consequences of terrorist acts, which are subjectively perceived as an unexpected, uncertain threat to existence (both objective and subjective), the irreparability of what can happen. Among the indirect witnesses were singled three response styles: slightly negative assessment, partial justification of the perpetrators of a terrorist act, negative emotional assessment with expressed anxiety. The most significant consequences of the psychological impact of terrorist acts on the media audience and the general population should be considered: the contradiction between the basic ideas of people and the reality demonstrated by the media: the subjective and objective unexpectedness of a terrorist act; incorrigibility of the offense. Shown, that psychological countermeasures should be based on the information component aimed at preventing inappropriate reactions, especially in the first days after the terrorist act, development and demonstration of optimal algorithms of behavior, prevent recourse to unconscious or subconscious impulses that violate basic illusions existence. With the presence of drivers that trigger patterns of victim-induced behavior, the media can provoke in the general population a massive loss of social and personal identity, meaning of life, prospects, to form a complex of inferiority, to induce certain adverse behaviors. The most significant consequences of the psychological impact of terrorist acts on the audience of the media and the general population should be considered the contradiction between the basic ideas of people (activate the images of death, destruction, horror of nothingness, which subconsciously everyone has. These "forms of the unspoken" violate three basic illusions of existence: the illusion of one's own immortality, the illusion of justice, the illusion of the hidden meaning of life) and the reality published by the media, which is subjectively perceived as a threat to existence; subjective and objective unexpectedness of a terrorist act; incorrigibility of the committed. Psychological measures to combat victimization should be based on the dominance of the information component of counteraction aimed at preventing dangerous reactions, especially in the first hours after the commission of a terrorist act, the development and demonstration of optimal behavioral algorithms. Keywords: indirect witnesses, terrorist attack, psychological measures, induced behavior, optimal algorithms

THE IMPACT OF INTERVENTION PROGRAM ON HEALTH BEHAVIOURS AND SOCIOEMOTIONAL SKILLS AMONG PORTUGUESE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Health promotion is defined as the process of enabling people to increase control over and to enhance their health. It focuses on individual behaviors towards a wide range of interventions on social and environmental determinants of health and other health related aspects of life (WHO, 2015; 2017). Thus, health promotion implies the need to promote and empower people with resources and skills towards health and well-being (Saboga-Nunes, et al., 2019). The literature reports a negative variation in the lifestyle of university students, and simultaneously demonstrates a significant percentage of university students with a set of emotional, relational, anxiety and stress management difficulties (WHO, 2021, 2018). The need to curb behavioral tendencies harmful to the health of young university students comes justify the need for health promotion in the context of these institutions. This study aimed at analyzing the impact of university students' training, in the area of health promotion and of personal and socio-emotional skills. Participated 286 students. The results show that in addition to the skills worked during the training, the students’ well-being and health also improved at the end of the training. The variables that evidenced to be the most important for the university students’ health promotion were that they finished the training with more self-esteem, resilience, psychological well-being, self-efficacy, happiness and less instability and alienation. Regarding the pre and post evaluation comparisons about skills, importance and usefulness of HBSC/JUnP training, it was observed that both knowledge about health aspects and personal and socio-emotional skills, namely the resilience, self-regulation and problem-solving strategies had a strong positive impact on promoting the health and well-being of students. Higher education institutions present themselves as enhancers of public health, contributing to the students make healthy choices. Keywords: health promotion, personal and socio-emotional skills, university students’ training, healthy universities, Portugal

FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO UNHEALTHY SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG PORTUGUESE ADOLESCENTS: 2018 HBSC STUDY

Practicing sexual intercourse (SI) under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been identified as an unhealthy sexual behaviour. The sample consisted of 5695 adolescents, of which 46.1% were males, with a mean age of 15 years old. The measures consisted of asking the adolescent if he or she had ever had SI, age of 1st SI, condom use at last SI, SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs and HIV testing. Most adolescents reported having never had SI (77.0%). Among those who responded affirmatively, they referred having had their 1st SI at 15 years old. A significant minority reported not having used condom at last SI (34.1%) and having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs (14.5%). It was noticeable that males, adolescents with high SES, those who reported not having used condom at last SI, those not having been HIV tested, those who consider themselves fat, smoke daily, and scored lower in emotional sensitivity and quality of life were those who were more likely to have reported having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Adolescents who reported having had SI under the influence of alcohol or drugs have multiple risk behaviours. These results may account for important changes in educational and health policies, directed towards the development of personal and social skills, the importance of adolescents’ quality of life and the activation of all the support structures where adolescents are involved and that are somewhat responsible for promoting a healthy lifestyle. Keywords: unhealthy sexual behaviour, sexual intercourse, substance use, Portuguese adolescents

PARENTS’ SELF-COMPASSION AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF CHILD REARING PRACTICES

The issue of parents’ psychological well-being, parents’ ability to recognize their physical and emotional resources, ability to avoid exhaustion of those resources has become increasingly important. In this context parents’ self-compassion could be psychological resource for parents to implement positive parenting approaches and encourage positive contact with the child. The aim of this research was to examine whether there is an association between parents’ self-compassion and their perceptions of child rearing practices. Data were collected from 203 respondents in 2019. The results showed a statistically significant positive correlation (rs= .268 p < .01) between self-compassion and the Positive parenting indicators; statistically significant negative correlation (rs= -.214 p < .01) between self-compassion and Psychological control; statistically significant negative correlation (rs= -.192, p < .01) between self-compassion and Physical control. Keywords: psychological well-being, self-compassion, perceptions of child rearing

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF STUDIES RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF DOCTORS AND ALLIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Doctors and other allied healthcare professionals are constantly exposed to stressful situations that can undoubtedly negatively affect their psychological well-being. This precarious situation has been further exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the mental stress and trauma among doctors, in light of the pandemic. A number of relevant studies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and case studies) have been gathered to present a global trajectory of the responses of the doctors in the pandemic, and, as a consequence how this has impacted their psychological well-being. Collated findings suggest a need for a more nuanced and global approach, which is necessary towards addressing the immediate and long-lasting effects of the pandemic within the medical community. This study also provides a theoretical framework that can be used to design psychological interventions which can target the healthcare profession. Keywords: community psychology; COVID-19, healthcare professionals, psychological well-being; systematic review

TEACHERS' SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH INDICATORS IN THE DISTANCE LEARNING SITUATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

There were 3 countries which participated in Erasmus+ project „Supporting teachers to face the challenge of distance teaching” (2020-1-LV01-KA226-SCH-094599) during last year. The aim of the project was to develop a well-functioning digital support system for teachers, promoting socio-emotional health and resilience. The main aim of this research was to outline a research problem on teacher well-being factors in three countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, when teachers worked remotely, and to further explore the problem in a focus group in Latvia. The following is a description of the study that was carried out in Latvia on the problems of teachers' social and emotional health factors during distance learning in 2020-2021. The study in Latvia took place in parallel with the study in Slovakia and Lithuania. This article describes the first part of the study in Latvia. One of the tasks of the study was to identify the factors that predicted teachers’ social and emotional health (SEH-T), to determine the relationships between teacher SEH, emotional burnout and teacher engagement in work indicators, and to perform a linguistic and psychometric adaptation of the teacher SEH-T (Social-emotional Health Survey – Teachers, Furlong and Gajdosova, 2019). Latvian teachers from different schools in Latvia participated in this study. Respondents completed three surveys: Teachers SEH-T (Social- emotional Health Survey – Teachers, Furlong and Gajdosova, 2018), Engaged Teachers Scale (ETS; Klassen, Yerdelen & Durksen, 2013) and the K. Maslach Burnout Survey – General Survey (MBI– GS, Maslach, Jackson & Leiter, 1996; Caune, 2004). The results showed that the translation of teachers' SEH-T survey into Latvian language had good internal coherence of articles, the article discrimination index indicator was statically significant, and the reaction index was within the normal range. Teachers SEH is positively predicted by teacher engagement indicators. Demographic and emotional burnout rates do not predict teachers' SEH-T scores. The results showed that there were statistically significant positive correlations between teacher SEH-T, teacher engagement, and emotional burnout rates. There were statistically significant negative correlations between teachers' SEH-T indicators, teacher involvement and emotional burnout indicators. Keywords: Teachers SEH, work engagement, emotional burnout

PAVLIV SESSION CONTINUES: ANNIVERSARY OF SEVEN DECADES FOR PSYCHOLOGY

Seven decades have passed since the "Scientific Session on the Problems of the Physiological Teachings of Academician IP Pavlov" from June 28 to July 4, 1950. Its main direction was the assertion of the leading role of the cerebral cortex with the subordination of all physiological processes reflected in the conditioned reflexes defined by IP Pavlov. JV Stalin's interference in the session is reflected in his comment: "In my opinion, the greatest damage to Pavlov's teachings was caused by Academician Orbeli… The sooner Orbeli is exposed and the more thoroughly his monopoly is eliminated, the better. Beritov and Stern are not so dangerous, because they oppose Pavlov openly and thus facilitate the reprisal of science over these artisan artisans… Now something about the tactics of combating opponents of the theory of Academician Pavlov.

PSYCHOBIOGRAPHY: UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS, STEPS, AND PROCEDURES IN THE STUDY OF LIVES

The process of applying psychological theories to examine the biographical and autobiographical data of famous individuals is what is termed “psychobiography”. Since its inception in the early sixteenth century, this qualitative type of research method has had a fairly storied history in the Western world. This study provides a clear picture of psychobiographical research by defining terms and phrases that are used in relation to psychobiographical research. It also covered its historical antecedent and steps and procedures that are necessary for undertaking psychobiographical research. The steps presented here stemmed from a broad phase in qualitative research and analysis. In practice, however, psychobiographies do not always adhere to systematic formats, but some key decisions and guidelines must be followed in order to ensure the trustworthiness of the study's findings. Thus, the research mainly aims at introducing psychobiography, and life history research to the reader. Keywords: psychobiography, life history research, qualitative methods in psychology