Microplastic pollution is an escalating environmental and public health issue. Defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, microplastics have been found in oceans, rivers, food, drinking water, air, and even human tissues. While scientific research on microplastics has expanded significantly, public understanding and behavioral change remain limited. This literature scan synthesizes global findings on public awareness, perceptions, and responses to microplastics, drawing from surveys, focus groups, and online behavioral data collected by existing studies. It explores the following: (1) general knowledge and perceived environmental and health risks; (2) trust in scientific and governmental sources; (3) willingness to adopt behavioral changes; (4) attitudes toward policy and corporate responsibility. Public concern is high, especially regarding marine life and food safety, but varies across populations based on education, socioeconomic status, and media exposure. Despite growing concern, psychological distance and persistent knowledge gaps hinder meaningful action. Communication strategies such as school programs, media campaigns, and eco-labels show mixed success, while regulatory interventions like plastic bags or microbead bans are more effective when supported by clear public messaging. This literature scan highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to close the knowledge–behavior–policy gap and strengthen public engagement, particularly in urban settings where consumption and waste generation are concentrated.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) creates abrupt, externally imposed circadian disruptions that can impair sleep regulation, hormonal balance, cognitive performance, and emotional stability. Although these effects are known in the general population, individuals with chronic mental illness, whose circadian systems are often intrinsically dysregulated, may face increased neuropsychological consequences. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from chronobiology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and population health to examine how DST-related circadian misalignment impacts cognitive functioning, mood regulation, suicidality risk, and symptom exacerbation across psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and psychotic disorders. Following the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines, a search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify studies published from 2000–2026 examining DST, circadian rhythm disruption, neuropsychological outcomes, and chronic mental illness. Empirical, theoretical, and mechanistic studies were included to ensure comprehensive synthesis. Across conditions, DST, particularly spring forward transitions, is associated with increased sleep disturbance, impaired executive functioning, reduced attention and working memory, heightened emotional reactivity, increased depressive symptoms, elevated risk of manic episodes, and short-term increases in suicidality. Neurobiological mechanisms include altered melatonin secretion, cortisol dysregulation, Hypothalamus Pituitary Axis (HPA-axis) activation, and clock-gene desynchrony. DST may function as a modifiable negative environmental influence capable of affecting neuropsychological functioning in vulnerable populations. These findings underscore the need for clinical awareness, preventive strategies, and policy reconsiderations, including calls to eliminate seasonal time changes. Standardizing DST-related research outcomes and expanding longitudinal, multi-site studies will be essential for advancing this emerging field.

BACKGROUND Burnout is highly prevalent among undergraduate medical students and is associated with adverse outcomes including depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Spirituality and religiosity are increasingly recognized as potential coping resources that may limit burnout and improve well-being among medical students. However, existing studies vary substantially in how spirituality and burnout are defined and measured. OBJECTIVE The goal of this scoping review was to synthesize evidence on the relationship between spirituality and burnout-related outcomes, including psychological distress and well-being, among undergraduate medical students. METHODS A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted data, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Extracted data included study characteristics, measurement instruments, and key findings related to spirituality and burnout-related outcomes. RESULTS Thirty-nine studies published from 2007 to 2025 across nineteen countries met inclusion criteria. Most were single site, cross sectional surveys with convenience samples. Sample sizes ranged from about 16 to 1,417. About half used validated spirituality measures (e.g., FACIT-Sp, SWBS, DUREL or Brief COPE); others used single item indicators. Burnout itself was measured less often than stress or mood symptoms. Overall, higher spirituality or intrinsic religiosity was frequently associated with lower burnout stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation, and higher resilience, empathy, life satisfaction, and quality of life. Qualitative work found that spirituality provided meaning, comfort, belonging, and moral grounding during training. A smaller set of studies reported null or mixed findings, often when spirituality was measured with single items or in universities with low religious participation and limited formal support for spiritual practice. CONCLUSIONS Across diverse settings, spirituality is commonly used by medical students and is frequently linked with better mental health. Measurement diversity and the dominance of cross-sectional designs limit causal inference. Future work should use clearer constructs, common validated tools, and prospective or interventional designs. These findings may help inform the development of more holistic and inclusive wellness initiatives within medical education that recognize the potential role of spirituality in supporting student mental health and resilience. CLINICALTRIAL This protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TQWSK

BACKGROUND Burnout is increasingly recognized as a critical concern in medical education due to its associations with reduced professional performance, decreased empathy, and increased risk of medical errors. With growing evidence that medical students commonly experience burnout and its associated health consequences (eg, depression and suicide), it is essential to explore factors that may protect against its harmful effects on student well-being. Although spirituality is often considered a potential factor supporting mental health and resilience, its role in buffering burnout among medical students has not been comprehensively reviewed. OBJECTIVE This scoping review seeks to map the extent, range, and characteristics of the literature examining the relationship between spirituality and burnout and defined forms of stress among medical students. Specifically, the review will (1) describe the nature and direction of reported associations and (2) identify gaps to inform priorities for future research. METHODS This scoping review followed PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines to ensure a systematic and transparent process. Studies that examined the relationship between spirituality and burnout or related outcomes and correlates, such as anxiety, depression, stress, or suicidality, among undergraduate medical students were eligible. Only studies that focused specifically on medical students rather than other health care professionals or professional students were eligible. Eligible articles were peer-reviewed and published in English. MEDLINE (PubMed), APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, followed by full-text review to determine final inclusion. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer until consensus was reached. Extracted data were descriptively analyzed and summarized in charts and tables and synthesized narratively according to the review questions. RESULTS The database searches were completed in July 2025 and yielded 1788 records. Screening was conducted from September 2025 through January 2026. Of the database records 39 (2.2%) peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. During full-text screening, articles were most frequently excluded because they did not explicitly evaluate the association between spirituality and burnout, represented an ineligible publication type, or included populations beyond undergraduate medical students without reporting separate results for medical students. Data extraction was completed in April 2026. The manuscript reporting results was completed in May 2026 and is under review as of September 2026. CONCLUSIONS This review will provide a comprehensive overview of how spirituality and religious practices have been examined in relation to burnout and stress among undergraduate medical students. By mapping conceptualizations and experiences of spirituality within medical training, as well as varying patterns in how these practices relate to student well-being, this review highlights key gaps in the evidence and directions for future research on factors that may support medical student mental health. CLINICALTRIAL OSF Registries osf.io/tqwsk; https://osf.io/tqwsk INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/88915