Connectedness as a candidate pathway linking psilocybin retreat experiences to sustained wellbeing: a prospective naturalistic study

Background: Awareness of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services (YFSRHS) is an important starting point for enabling young people to identify and seek appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and care. However, awareness of these services may vary across settings, including higher education institutions. Objective: To determine the level of awareness of YFSRHS among undergraduate students at Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Malimbe Campus. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at SAUT Malimbe Campus. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Of 109 questionnaires distributed, 108 completed questionnaires were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize students’ awareness and reported sources of information. Results: Of the 108 respondents, 96 (88.9%) reported having heard of YFSRHS, while 12 (11.1%) had not. Social media was the most frequently reported source of information (44.0%), followed by friends or peers (41.0%) and health facilities (36.0%). University programmes and posters or advertisements were reported less frequently. Conclusion: Most respondents had heard of YFSRHS, with social media and peer networks serving as prominent information channels. Strengthening accurate information through these channels, alongside university-based communication, may help address the awareness gap among students who remain unreached.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the economic self-management strategies used by students of the Faculty of Business Sciences of the Technical University of Machala during their academic training; Interest in this study arose from the need to understand how students face economic difficulties that arise in their training. A mixed approach was applied and a survey was used on a representative sample of 367 students, identifying the main source of income for a part of the student population, evidencing alternatives to sustain their expenses and reduce their economic dependence. The most used strategies were observed when they go through difficult situations and if the income is sufficient to cover their expenses, reflecting the existence of limitations and conditioning the way of organizing their resources and decision making. Likewise, it was identified that students usually perceive an impact. in their academic performance. The results allowed us to understand the economic dynamics experienced by university students and provide information for the design of institutional strategies that contribute to strengthening permanence, well-being and academic success.

Generation Alpha (born 2010-2024) and Generation Beta (born 2025-2039) represent an unprecedented developmental archetype defined by total digital integration and ubiquitous artificial intelligence (AI). This empirical study evaluated specialized psychological adaptation mechanisms, parenting models, and mental health intervention frameworks across these cohorts. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were gathered from $N = 300$ parents (Gen Alpha parents and expectant/early Gen Beta parents) using the Modified Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), supplemented by qualitative interviews with $N = 20$ pediatric mental health experts. Independent samples $t$-tests confirmed that Gen Alpha/Beta display significantly higher digital dependency anxiety ($M = 38.60, p < .001$) alongside superior visual-spatial intelligence ($M = 44.10, p < .001$) relative to normative baselines. Crucially, a proactive "Digital Integration" co-navigation parenting framework yielded significantly lower parental stress ($M = 29.50$) compared to rigid "Digital Detox" restriction models ($M = 42.80, p < .001$). A preventive clinical framework focusing on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and cognitive impulse management is proposed.

Although physical activity enjoyment is associated with athletes’ psychological outcomes, the mechanisms underlying its relationship with mental well-being remain unclear. This study examined the mediating role of loneliness among athletes. A correlational survey design was employed. The participants consisted of 350 athletes selected through criterion sampling, including 178 females (Mage= 20.58 ± 1.99) and 172 males (Mage= 21.91 ± 4.88). Data were collected using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale–Short Form, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Pearson correlation analysis and PROCESS Macro Model 4 mediation analysis were conducted, and indirect effects were tested using 5,000 bootstrap samples. Physical activity enjoyment was positively associated with mental well-being (r= .586, p< .01) and negatively associated with loneliness (a= −.196, p< .01). Loneliness was negatively associated with mental well-being (b= −.447, p< .01). The mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of physical activity enjoyment on mental well-being through loneliness (indirect effect= .088, 95% CI [.026, .147]). These findings indicate that enjoyment of physical activity contributes to athletes’ mental well-being and that loneliness partially explains this relationship. The results emphasize the importance of considering social connectedness and psychological experiences in understanding athletes’ well-being.

Transitioning out of professional sport can present challenges for athletes and their wider environments, frequently necessitating coordinated physical, psychological, and economic support. Although these concerns have been documented in elite cycling, the extent to which structured transition programmes exist within the sport remains insufficiently understood, particularly in Europe, the historical centre of professional cycling. We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative documentary analysis, distributing a standardised inquiry to all European Cycling Federations (ECFs; N = 51) between December 2024-March 2025. Federations were asked whether they had formal strategies, policies, or resources related to athlete retirement. Responses were categorised as “ECF-level literature or initiative”, “No ECF-level provision”, or “No response” and relevant materials were descriptively synthesised. Amongst the 21 federations that responded, the majority (n = 17; ≈81%) reported no ECF-level retirement initiatives. Common reasons included limited resources, low perceived demand, or reliance on national or international bodies (i.e., Olympic Committees or sport-specific unions). Four ECFs (~19%) described transition-related structures, though these varied considerably in scope, definition, and delivery. Despite well-documented needs, structured retirement support for professional cyclists remains uncommon across European national federations, and existing programmes appear heterogeneously applied. As cycling expands globally, effective transition planning becomes increasingly important for athlete wellbeing and the long-term sustainability of the sport. Holistic, international collaborations led by cycling’s major governance bodies could strengthen career-long support systems, reinforce the public image of cycling as a health-promoting discipline, and create responsible, athlete-centered ecosystems.