Background/Aim. There are data on an increased stress level in primary health care workers. The aim of this paper was to investigate the state of stress among employees in the field of primary health care in order to identify the factors that most affect stress and groups that are particularly susceptible to stress. Methods. The study was conducted using a sample of 95 health care workers in the field of primary health care. Data were collected through an anonymous survey consisting of two parts. The first part of the survey included questions related to the characteristics of the workplace and professional and socio-demographic characteristics of the employees. The second part of the survey was based on the Behavioral Health Concepts (BHC) stress test, which is used to estimate the adaptation to stress across four dimensions: overall assessment, quality of life assessment, symptomatology, and level of functioning. Results. Although the total number of respondents fell under the group of moderate stress (mean = 3.97), using descriptive statistical analysis, it was discovered that, 4.2% of the respondents had an increased level of stress. The variance analysis demonstrated that there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.00) between the effects of educational variables (F = 11.68), workplace (F = 14.07) and work time (F = 9.16) on overall stress. Significant interaction between variables workplace and work time was also found [F (2.72) = 3.22; p < 0.046]. Conclusion. Primary health care employees have an increased level of stress, which depends on both the working conditions and the personal characteristics of the employees.

Background/Objectives: The correlation of handgrip strength (HGS) and morphological characteristics with Big Five personality traits is well documented. However, it is unclear whether these relationships also exist in highly trained and specialized populations, such as tactical athletes, and whether there are specific differences compared to the general population. This study aimed to explore the interplay of handgrip neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in tactical athletes and the general population of both genders. Methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 205 participants. A standardized method, procedure, and equipment (Sports Medical solutions) were used to measure the isometric neuromuscular characteristics of the handgrip. Basic morphological characteristics of body height, body mass, and body mass index were measured with a portable stadiometer and the InBody 720 device. Psychological characteristics were assessed with the Mental Toughness Index and Dark Triad Dirty Dozen questionnaires. Results: Numerous significant correlations were obtained, as well as differences between tactical athletes and the general population of both genders. The most prominent correlations were between the excitation index with Psychopathy and the Dark Triad (ρ = −0.41, −0.39) in female tactical athletes, as well as Neuroticism with body height, maximal force, and the maximum rate of force development in the male general population (ρ = 0.49, 0.43, 0.41). The obtained results also revealed gender and occupational specific patterns of researched relationships. Conclusions: Although the results of this study indicated the possibility of the existence of correlations between handgrip neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in tactical athletes of both genders, nevertheless, at the moment, there is not enough solid evidence for that. That is why new research is needed. An analysis of muscle contractile and time parameters as neuromuscular indicators in the HGS task proved to be a possible promising method, which brought numerous new insights about the researched relationships. For practical application in the field, we propose including Mental Toughness and the Dark Triad traits in the selection process for future police officers and national security personnel based on the obtained results.

Dosadašnja istraživanja djelomično potvrđuju psihodinamske pretpostavke da neugodni i novi sadržaji mogu poticajno djelovati na kreativnost. Upitno je, međutim, na koji način bliskost sadržaja, pojedine dimenzije emocionalnog doživljaja, i kvalitete emocija djeluju na produkciju izrazito kreativnih osoba i pokazuju li oni izvjesne specifičnosti tijekom generativnih procesa. U ovom istraživanju ispituje se stupanj i vrsta povezanosti između kreativnosti odgovora i kvalitete emocija (radosti, žalosti, straha, srdžbe, iznenađenja i gađenja), dimenzija emocionalnog doživljaja (valencije i uzbuđenosti) i bliskosti sadržaja kod različitih studentskih populacija. Eksperiment je izveden uz sudjelovanje 59 studenata, a za vizualnu stimulaciju je izabrano 40 fotografija, tako da su vrijednosti dimenzija i kvalitete emocionalnog doživljaja sustavno varirane. Od ispitanika je traženo da ocijene koliko im je blizak sadržaj fotografija, a zatim da smisle najkreativniji naslov za svaku od njih. Kreativnost naslova je mjerena putem koeficijenata kreativnosti i izuzetnosti baziranih na statističkoj procjeni originalnosti. Rezultati potvrđuju umjerenu negativnu povezanost kreativnosti s valencijom, s bliskošću sadržaja i s radošću, zatim umjerenu pozitivnu povezanost kreativnosti s uzbuđenošću, žalošću, strahom, srdžbom, iznenađenjem i gađenjem, kao i specifičnosti kreativnog procesa studenata umjetnosti, kod kojih novina i iznenađenje preuzimaju primat pred drugim dimenzijama i kvalitetama emocionalnog doživljaja. Ključne riječi: kreativnost, primarne emocije, bliskost sadržaja, dimenzije emocionalnog doživljaja, umjetnička produkcija

Study aim : The aim of this study was to explore empathy and mental toughness as predictors of match performance of young basketball players. Material and methods : The correlation design was used in order to meet the research goals. The research was conducted on a sample of 40 female basketball players, with average age of 16.15 ± 1.02 years, members of the four best teams of the National First Women’s Cadet League. Half of the players in the sample were also national team members. The independent variables empathy and mental toughness were assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire. The dependent variable match performance was assessed through match performance analysis based on indicators from official league statistics by calculating the performance index rating (PIR). Results : The results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that by adding empathy to the model of mental toughness, the percentage of PIR variance explained increased from 21% to 46%. Conclusion : Adding empathy to the model of mental toughness increased its predictive value. The model of mental toughness and empathy, as predictors of match performance of young basketball players, was found to be very effective. The results are not unambiguous and indicate the need for further research in this area, as it could have a positive impact on the selection system in sport. Also, the research represents a step towards greater integration of sports and collective creativity studies.

The aim of this paper is to present the necessary knowledge, abilities and skills of police officers, offered by Special Physical Education (SPE), which police officers should possess in order to efficiently perform police tasks. SPE is studied at all levels of police education in the Republic of Serbia. According to the scientific nomenclature, SPE belongs to police sciences, the group of special police sciences, but it is also a part of physical education and sport. As a teaching subject, SPE belongs to the group of professional subjects, and at the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies in Belgrade to the group of compulsory subjects. Education and training in SPE is based on science, scientific methods as well as police practice, and, together with other scientific disciplines, participates in building the personal integrity and professional capacity of police officers, using specially designed educational training programs.