bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of exogenous and endogenous cues on attentional orienting in deaf adults
Authors: Li Yunsong , Luo Meili , Zhang Xilin , Wang Suiping
Published: October 2022

Adults who are deaf have been shown to have better visual attentional orienting than those with typical hearing, especially when the target is located in the periphery of the visual field. However, most studies in this population have assessed exogenous visual attention orienting (bottom-up processing of external cues) rather than endogenous visual attention orienting (top-down processing of internal cues). We used a target detection task to assess both types of visual attention orienting. A modified cue-target paradigm was adopted to assess the facilitation effects of exogenous and endogenous cues during short and long inter-stimulus intervals (ISI), using a 2 (Group: deaf/typically hearing) * 2 (Location: central/peripheral) * 2 (Cue Type: exogenous/endogenous) mixed factorial design. ANOVAs showed that both exogenous cues and endogenous cues can facilitate deaf adults’ visual attentional orienting, and the facilitation effect of exogenous cues on attention orienting was significantly stronger for deaf participants than hearing participants. When the ISI was long, the effect was significantly stronger when the exogenous cue appeared in the periphery of the visual field. In the periphery, deaf adults benefited most from exogenous cues, whereas hearing adults benefited most from endogenous cues. The results suggest that not only exogenous cues but also endogenous cues can facilitate deaf adults’ visual attentional orienting. However, the effect of exogenous cues appears to be greater, especially when the stimulus appears in the peripheral visual field.
Families with high-risk characteristics and diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and learning disability in children: A national birth cohort study
Authors: Lung For-Wey , Chen Po-Fei , Shen Li-Jong , Shu Bih-Ching
Published: October 2022

Background

A national birth cohort study was used to investigate whether high-risk family factors at 1.5-year-olds can increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis when children reach 5.5 years. The pathway relationship of high-risk family factors, children's developmental conditions, risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID), learning disability (LD), and ASD was also investigated.

Methods

The 1.5-, 3- and 5.5-year-old Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS) dataset was used (N = 19,185). The high-risk familial factor was measured using five questions assessing whether parents are currently unmarried, unemployed, do not have any social insurance, perceive a “very heavy” economic childcare burden, and at least one of the parents has a disability certification. Developmental conditions were assessed using the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study—Developmental Instrument (TBCS-DI), and ASD risk was measured using the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers. Data on ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnoses were collected at age 5.5. The odds ratio model investigated whether children from families with high-risk factors at 1.5-years were at increased risk of ADHD, ID, LD, or ASD diagnosis at 5.5-years, compared to those children from families without such risks. Structural equation modeling investigated the logistic regression pathway relationship of high-risk familial characteristics, children's developmental conditions, autism screening, and diagnosis.

Results

In the national birth cohort dataset of 19,185 children, 2070 (10.8%) met at least one of the high-risk familial factors. Children who met one high-risk familial factor had a 1.21-fold increased risk for ADHD diagnosis, 1.36-fold increased risk for LD diagnosis, and 1.80-fold increased risk for ASD diagnosis, compared to children from families without risks. High-risk familial factors directly increased the risk of ADHD and ID diagnosis, and indirectly increased the risk of ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnosis through the mediating factor of children's development.

Conclusions

Children who met more high-risk familial characteristics were at higher risk of ADHD, ID, LD, and ASD diagnosis. Development at three years was predictive of diagnosis at 5.5 years. Thus, developmental screening at age three is vital for interventions. Preventive, family-focused, and/or child-rearing services for at-risk families are important for improving outcomes for these children and their families.
VisualEars: How an immersive art exhibit impacts mood during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hadavi Shafagh , Kennedy Kody G. , Mariotti Geneva , DeSouza Joseph F. X.
Published: October 2022

This paper explores the positive impact of viewing a virtual art exhibit on mood during the COVID-19 Pandemic. During global lockdowns, depression, anxiety, and the burden of other mental illnesses have increased even among prior psychiatrically healthy individuals. Art and music-based interventions have shown to be effective clinical interventions in individuals with mental illness. The VisualEars project explored whether a virtual activity involving vision and auditory stimuli could improve positive and negative affect. Eight musical pieces were selected, and 28 visual artists from around the world visualized two musical pieces. A total of 56 works of art were created and hung in eight 3D virtual rooms. Visitors were randomly selected to either view the art exhibit without music (non-immersive) or view the art exhibit while listening to music (immersive). Visitors were asked to complete a positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) in three languages (English, French, and Farsi) pre and post their virtual visit. A total of 160 participants completed baseline PANAS, 58 of which completed the follow-up PANAS. Linear mixed-effects models found that older participants had lower negative affect scores overall (b= −0.3,p= 0.003), while male participants had lower positive affect scores overall (b= −0.27,p= 0.02). Following the virtual exhibit participants of both conditions had higher positive (b= 0.17,p= 0.03), and lower negative affect scores (b= −0.19,p= 0.007). We found that the virtual art exhibit increased positive affect and decreased negative affect in participants, suggesting an overall improvement in mood attributable to the virtual exhibit. This suggests that virtual exhibits may serve as a beneficial and accessible intervention to improve mood during a pandemic.
Research Hotspot and Trend of Employee Creativity Based on Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Shi Yang , Zhang Hong-yuan
Published: October 2022

Employee creativity is the foundation of organizational competitiveness, and it is also the important theme of creativity research. Based on the knowledge graph theory, this article uses the Citespace software to conduct a bibliometric analysis of 1,168 importance literature from the Web of Science and draws the co-citation and co-word clustering knowledge graph to explore research hotspots and trends of employee creativity. The research found that: First, the research on the connotation, dimensions, and behavior of employee creativity is still in the initial stage; second, the research on the psychological, behavioral, and management factors that affect employee creativity is the key content of common concern; and third, it needs to comprehensively consider relevant factors from the combination of individuals, groups, and organizations about employee creativity research. On this basis, this article proposes the main directions for future research.
Differential effects of decisional and emotional forgiveness on distress and well-being: A three-wave study of Indonesian adults
Authors: Cook Kaye V. , Kurniati Ni Made Taganing , Suwartono Christiany , Widyarini Nilam , Worthington Jr. Everett L. , Cowden Richard G.
Published: October 2022

Research suggests that interpersonal forgiveness is beneficial to individual functioning, but few longitudinal studies have explored the independent contributions of decisional and emotional forgiveness to reducing different forms of distress and improving multidimensional well-being. In this three-wave (T1: December 2020; T2: January 2021; T3: February 2021) prospective study of predominantly young Indonesian adults (n = 595), we examined the associations of decisional and emotional forgiveness with three indicators of distress and 10 components of well-being. Applying the outcome-wide analytic template for longitudinal designs, our primary analysis involved estimating two sets of linear regression models (one set for decisional forgiveness and one set for emotional forgiveness) in which the outcomes were regressed on each interpersonal forgiveness process (one outcome at a time). Adjusting for a range of covariates (including prior values of decisional forgiveness, emotional forgiveness, and all 13 outcomes) assessed at T1, decisional forgiveness assessed at T2 was associated with an increase in seven components of well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, physical health, sense of purpose, promote good, delayed gratification, content with relationships, satisfying relationships) approximately 1 month later at T3. In contrast, emotional forgiveness assessed at T2 was associated with an increase in a single component of well-being (i.e., satisfying relationships) assessed at T3. Neither decisional nor emotional forgiveness assessed at T2 showed evidence of associations with any of the subsequent indicators of distress assessed at T3. Our findings suggest that, at least within a principally collectivistic cultural context such as Indonesia, decisional forgiveness in the aftermath of a transgression may have greater short-term benefits for well-being compared to emotional forgiveness. Implications of the findings for research and interventions are discussed.
Phenotyping misophonia: Psychiatric disorders and medical health correlates
Authors: Rosenthal M. Zachary , McMahon Kibby , Greenleaf Anna S. , Cassiello-Robbins Clair , Guetta Rachel , Trumbull Jacqueline , Anand Deepika , Frazer-Abel Emily S. , Kelley Lisalynn
Published: October 2022

Misophonia is characterized by decreased tolerance to specific sounds and associated stimuli that causes significant psychological distress and impairment in daily functioning (Swedo et al., 2022). Aversive stimuli (often called “triggers”) are commonly repetitive facial (e.g., nose whistling, sniffling, and throat clearing) or oral (e.g., eating, drinking, and mouth breathing) sounds produced by other humans. Few empirical studies examining the nature and features of misophonia have used clinician-rated structured diagnostic interviews, and none have examined the relationship between misophonia and psychiatric disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5th version (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In addition, little is known about whether there are any medical health problems associated with misophonia. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to improve the phenotypic characterization of misophonia by investigating the psychiatric and medical health correlates of this newly defined disorder. Structured diagnostic interviews were used to assess rates of lifetime and current DSM-5 psychiatric disorders in a community sample of 207 adults. The three most commonly diagnosed current psychiatric disorders were: (1) social anxiety disorder, (2) generalized anxiety disorder, and (3) specific phobia. The three most common lifetime psychiatric disorders were major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. A series of multiple regression analyses indicated that, among psychiatric disorders that were correlated with misophonia, those that remained significant predictors of misophonia severity after controlling for age and sex were borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. No medical health problems were significantly positively correlated with misophonia severity.
Research on the social capital, knowledge quality and product innovation performance of knowledge-intensive firms in China
Authors: Zhou Xia , Min Min , Zhang Zhen
Published: October 2022

Given the importance of social capital for the success of knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs), scholars have investigated how social capital promotes product innovation through knowledge transfer. However, in contrast to the quantity of transferred knowledge, the role of knowledge quality has been largely ignored. Drawing on the knowledge-based view (KBV) of the firm, this study explores the influences of structural, relational, and cognitive social capital on product innovation and the mediating role of knowledge quality. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted from firm executives and core members of R&D department and data of 159 Chinese KIFs were obtained. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used for hypotheses testing. The results reveal that relational capital and cognitive capital have positive effects on product innovation performance, which are mediated by knowledge quality. However, the effect of structural social capital on knowledge quality is not significant. The results contribute to literature on firm innovation by examining how social capital indirectly affects product innovation performance through the quality of transferred knowledge. Moreover, the conclusions can help top management of KIFs to design more effective informal knowledge management approaches according to differentiated effects of three types of social capital on knowledge quality.
A study of students’ learning perceptions and behaviors in remote STEM programming education
Authors: Su Yu-Sheng , Chang Ching-Yao , Wang Cheng-Hsin , Lai Chin-Feng
Published: October 2022

In recent years, STEM education has developed students’ fundamental subject knowledge, and has allowed students to integrate STEM cross-domain knowledge. Universities emphasize innovative thinking, practice and application, problem-solving, and teamwork to nurture students while learning STEM cross-domain knowledge development in remote STEM program education. When students take online STEM programs, they may encounter unanswered questions and may give up on trying to solve them. Therefore, this study proposed a problem-based learning approach with an online programming system integrated into an online STEM programming course. To help students solve the past programming assignments, the assignments were simplified, decomposed, and reorganized. The teacher guided the students to understand the STEM programming problems and taught them to use appropriate problem-solving skills to motivate them to complete the STEM programming assignments. The experiment was conducted with students in an online STEM programming course at a university in northern Taiwan. In the experimental activities, we used a problem-based learning approach for the online STEM programming activity. The problem-based learning method can be divided into four steps, namely stating the problem, understanding the problem, developing a solution plan, and executing the plan, reflecting, and debugging. This study used a problem-based learning approach and an online programming system integrated into a STEM programming curriculum to explore the differences in students’ perceptions of STEM learning, learning outcomes, and learning behaviors. The experimental results found a significant difference between students’ prior knowledge and learning outcomes. Students showed significant gains in learning the STEM programming content using the problem-based learning approach and the online programming system. In the analysis of their STEM learning perceptions, we found that there were significant differences in students’ responses for each dimension. This shows that using the problem-based learning approach with the online programming system helped students learn the course content. The analysis of students’ behaviors in answering the STEM programming assignments indicated that some students had the habit of taking notes. This helped them to easily associate and integrate STEM cross-domain knowledge with what they had learned in the online course, and enhanced their ability to implement STEM programs. In addition, students could take the initiative and focus on repeatedly watching the teacher solve the material in the online course. Students could try different solving plans to pass the code validation of the STEM programming assignments. This revealed that students wanted to complete the STEM programming assignments to achieve good learning performance.
Emotions and ensuing motor performance are altered by regulating breathing frequency: Implications for emotion regulation and sport performance
Authors: Buchanan Taylor L. , Janelle Christopher M.
Published: October 2022

Breathing interventions have been shown to improve sport performance. Although evidence exists to support the role of perceived arousal as a critical underlying mechanism of breathing interventions, methodological differences in the literature preclude clear understanding of potential contributing factors to the effectiveness of such interventions. Under neutral contexts, we have demonstrated attention, dyspnea, and hindrance may need to be considered as mediators of how breathing frequency affects motor performance. We sought to extend our previous findings to determine how breathing frequency affects motor performance under varying emotional conditions. Participants (N = 35, Mage = 21.68, SD = 2.96; 20 females) performed slow, normal, and fast metronome-paced breathing while viewing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli prior to executing a pinch grip task. Performance was assessed via reaction time (RT), variability (V) and error (AE). Assessment of indices of perceived arousal included measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and visual analog scale responses. Visual analog scales were also used to assess attention, dyspnea, and hindrance. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed slow breathing increased RT and HRV compared to normal and fast breathing under emotional conditions (all p’s < 0.05). Hierarchical multiple regression models revealed that decreased breathing frequency predicted increases in RT (β = −0.25, p < 0.05) under pleasant conditions, while predicting increases in HRV for unpleasant conditions (β = −0.45, p < 0.001). Increases in dyspnea (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) and hindrance (β = 0.35, p < 0.01) predicted increases in RT under pleasant conditions, while only increases in hindrance predicted increases in RT under unpleasant conditions (β = 0.41, p < 0.01). Decreases in breathing frequency predicted increases in HRV under unpleasant conditions (β = −0.45, p < 0.001). Overall, our findings suggest under varying emotional contexts breathing frequency differentially affects movement, potentially mediated by factors other than perceived arousal. In addition, these results inform the use of breath regulation as an antecedent emotion regulation strategy.
An empirical study on the influencing mechanism of Chinese university teachers’ wellbeing
Authors: Pei Shuimei , Chen Zhaojun , Zhang Xingxia , Guo Jianpeng
Published: October 2022

Current studies on teachers’ wellbeing are mainly on lowering stress or burnout. Few studies have noted that faculty wellbeing is related to teaching activities. Teaching engagement and teaching experience are important predictor variables of teachers’ wellbeing, but the internal and external influencing mechanisms of teachers’ wellbeing have not been clearly revealed. Based on the survey data of 7,408 teachers from 271 undergraduate colleges and universities across China, the internal and external influencing mechanisms of teaching engagement and teaching experience on teachers’ wellbeing were investigated through multicluster structural equation modeling. The results were that teachers’ wellbeing was influenced by both teaching engagement and teaching experience. Among teaching engagement, teachers’ pre-class preparation and post-class communication positively influenced teaching experience, but in-class delivery negatively influenced teaching experience. Teaching experience partially mediates the relationship between engagement and wellbeing. At the level of internal influence, the more teachers identify with and feel accomplished by teaching, the more they invest time and energy in teaching; at the level of external influence, the school environment, leadership, and colleague support affect teachers’ wellbeing through the teaching experience. Universities should offer good teaching hardware and software for teachers, provide adequate teaching support, especially encourage teacher-student communication after class, weaken the rigid constraints and controls on teachers’ teaching in class, give teachers enough teaching autonomy, and reduce their teaching burden to inspire teachers to be more actively involved in teaching, improve their teaching experience, and thus enhance their sense of wellbeing.
Can audience involvement stimulate visit intention in Chinese Kung Fu? Using a serial multiple mediation model to explore film tourism
Authors: Xia Jiangtao , Qiu Qihang , Zuo Yifan , Wang Liang
Published: October 2022

The popularity of film and television causes audiences to flock to the location of filming, and thus film tourism is widely been used as an efficient tool in destination branding and marketing. Accordingly, this study takes Chinese Kung Fu film and television as an example, using the method of regression model to study audience involvement, cognitive destination image, tourists’ anticipated experiences, and visit intention into an overall framework. Findings illustrate a significant positive correlation among these four factors. Specifically, cognitive destination image and tourists’ anticipated experiences have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between audience involvement and visit intention. This study provides three suggestions for the development of film tourism, namely maximizing the marketing effect, strengthening the unity of film and images of destinations, and making full use of modern marketing tools.
Transparent by choice: Proactive disclosures increase compliance with digital defaults
Authors: Paunov Yavor , Vogel Tobias , Ingendahl Moritz , Wänke Michaela
Published: October 2022

Default nudges successfully guide choices across multiple domains. Online use cases for defaults range from promoting sustainable purchases to inducing acceptance of behavior tracking scripts, or “cookies.” However, many scholars view defaults as unethical due to the covert ways in which they influence behavior. Hence, opt-outs and other digital decision aids are progressively being regulated in an attempt to make them more transparent. The current practice of transparency boils down to saturating the decision environment with convoluted legal information. This approach might be informed by researchers, who hypothesized that nudges could become less effective once they are clearly laid out: People can retaliate against influence attempts if they are aware of them. A recent line of research has shown that such concerns are unfounded when the default-setters proactively discloses the purpose of the intervention. Yet, it remained unclear whether the effect persists when defaults reflect the current practice of such mandated transparency boils down to the inclusion of information disclosures, containing convoluted legal information. In two empirical studies (N= 364), respondents clearly differentiated proactive from mandated transparency. Moreover, they choose the default option significantly more often when the transparency disclosure was voluntary, rather than mandated. Policy implications and future research directions are discussed.
Does global positioning system-based navigation dependency make your sense of direction poor? A psychological assessment and eye-tracking study
Authors: Yan Wanling , Li Jialing , Mi Can , Wang Wei , Xu Zhengjia , Xiong Wenjing , Tang Longxing , Wang Siyu , Li Yanzhang , Wang Shuai
Published: October 2022

Background

Global positioning system (GPS)-based navigation apps are very useful in our lives. However, whether and how the usage of these apps affects spatial cognition and the sense of direction is still unclear.

Methods

A total of 108 individuals were recruited and completed the GPS dependence, internet gaming behavior, and impulsivity test using scales. The eye-tracking-based general mental rotation (MR) task and target finding (TF; require individuals to find a target specified in a 3D street map in a rotated version of top 2D view map) task were used to assess their spatial cognition and the sense of direction. The correlation was used to relate GPS navigation usage, spatial cognition ability, and impulsivity. Subgroup analyses stratifying by gaming hours of individuals (< 2 h or ≥ 2 h) or maps (countryside or city) in TF task were performed. The moderating and mediating effect analyses were conducted to verify these relationships.

Results

The GPS dependency score was nominal positively correlated with fixations in the TF task in the entire cohort (r = 0.202, unadjusted p = 0.036); it was significant in city (r = 0.254, p = 0.008) and gaming time of < 2 h (r = 0.459, p = 0.001) subgroups. The high-score (upper 30%) group of GPS dependency had more fixations on the original target building in the training area and indicative building in the test area than the low-score (lower 30%) group. GPS dependency was not associated with the correct rate and reaction time in the TF task or any of the indicators in the MR task (p > 0.05). The GPS dependency mediated the indirect effect of impulsivity on the fixations on TF. The internet gaming time moderated the association between GPS dependency and fixations on TF.

Conclusion

The dependency on GPS-based navigation apps was associated with impaired spatial cognition but may not significantly affect the sense of direction.
The role of family functioning: How the Big Five affect metacognitions about smartphone use
Authors: Xie Yuntian , Lei Qian , Xie Ruotong , Yang Yaping
Published: October 2022

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between the Big Five and metacognitions about smartphone use and the mediating role of family functioning. A cohort of 470 Chinese college students was selected as subjects based on the second edition of the Big Five Inventory-2, the Chinese version of the Metacognitions about Smartphone Use Questionnaire, and the general functioning subscale of Family Assessment Device. The results showed that only neuroticism was significantly and positively correlated with positive metacognition, while the correlation between other personality traits and positive metacognition was not statistically significant. Except for openness, the correlation between other personality traits and negative metacognition was statistically significant. In addition, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism were found to directly affect negative metacognitions about smartphone use and indirectly affect the negative metacognitions about smartphone use through family functioning. Findings provide insights into the design of interventions aimed at improving metacognitions about smartphone use and preventing smartphone addiction among college students.
How servant leadership motivates young university teachers’ workplace well-being: The role of occupational commitment and risk perception
Authors: Zeng Jianji , Lai Jiahui , Liu Xiaofan
Published: October 2022

Drawing on the integration of social exchange theory and situational power theory, this paper explores the effect of servant leadership on young university teachers’ workplace well-being and explores the mediating effect of occupational commitment and the moderating effect of risk perception on the indirect effects of servant leadership on workplace well-being. A questionnaire was distributed using the Questionnaire Star online questionnaire platform and a two-wave time-lagged design was used to collect 215 survey samples of young teachers from Chinese higher education institutions. SPSS 23.0 was used to test the hypothesized relationship between the variables. Results revealed that servant leadership was positively related to young university teachers’ workplace well-being. Occupational commitment plays a partial mediating role in linking servant leadership and young university teachers’ workplace well-being. Risk perception plays a moderating role in the indirect relationship between servant leadership, occupational commitment, and workplace well-being. When risk perception has a low level, the mediating effect of occupational commitment is stronger.
The value of compassionate support to address smoking: A qualitative study with people who experience severe mental illness
Authors: McCarter Kristen , McKinlay Melissa L. , Cocks Nadine , Brasier Catherine , Hayes Laura , Baker Amanda L. , Castle David , Borland Ron , Bonevski Billie , Segan Catherine , Kelly Peter J. , Turner Alyna , Williams Jill , Attia John , Sweeney Rohan , Filia Sacha , Baird Donita , Brophy Lisa
Published: October 2022

Introduction

People experiencing severe mental illness (SMI) smoke at much higher rates than the general population and require additional support. Engagement with existing evidence-based interventions such as quitlines and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may be improved by mental health peer worker involvement and tailored support. This paper reports on a qualitative study nested within a peer researcher-facilitated tobacco treatment trial that included brief advice plus, for those in the intervention group, tailored quitline callback counseling and combination NRT. It contextualizes participant life experience and reflection on trial participation and offers insights for future interventions.

Methods

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 participants in a randomized controlled trial (intervention group n = 15, control group n = 14) following their 2-month (post-recruitment) follow-up assessments, which marked the end of the “Quitlink” intervention for those in the intervention group. Interviews explored the experience of getting help to address smoking (before and during the trial), perceptions of main trial components including assistance from peer researchers and tailored quitline counseling, the role of NRT, and other support received. A general inductive approach to analysis was applied.

Results

We identified four main themes: (1) the long and complex journey of quitting smoking in the context of disrupted lives; (2) factors affecting quitting (desire to quit, psychological and social barriers, and facilitators and reasons for quitting); (3) the perceived benefits of a tailored approach for people with mental ill-health including the invitation to quit and practical resources; and (4) the importance of compassionate delivery of support, beginning with the peer researchers and extended by quitline counselors for intervention participants. Subthemes were identified within each of these overarching main themes.

Discussion

The findings underscore the enormity of the challenges that our targeted population face and the considerations needed for providing tobacco treatment to people who experience SMI. The data suggest that a tailored tobacco treatment intervention has the potential to assist people on a journey to quitting, and that compassionate support encapsulating a recovery-oriented approach is highly valued.

Clinical trial registration

The Quitlink trial was registered with ANZCTR (www.anzctr.org.au): ACTRN12619000244101 prior to the accrual of the first participant and updated regularly as per registry guidelines.
Adverse childhood experiences and fronto-subcortical structures in the developing brain
Authors: Buimer Elizabeth E. L. , Brouwer Rachel M. , Mandl René C. W. , Pas Pascal , Schnack Hugo G. , Hulshoff Pol Hilleke E.
Published: October 2022

The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) differs between individuals and depends on the type and timing of the ACE. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between various recently occurred ACEs and morphology in the developing brain of children between 8 and 11 years of age. We measured subcortical volumes, cortical thickness, cortical surface area and fractional anisotropy in regions of interest in brain scans acquired in 1,184 children from the YOUth cohort. ACEs were based on parent-reports of recent experiences and included: financial problems; parental mental health problems; physical health problems in the family; substance abuse in the family; trouble with police, justice or child protective services; change in household composition; change in housing; bereavement; divorce or conflict in the family; exposure to violence in the family and bullying victimization. We ran separate linear models for each ACE and each brain measure. Results were adjusted for the false discovery rate across regions of interest. ACEs were reported for 83% of children in the past year. Children were on average exposed to two ACEs. Substance abuse in the household was associated with larger cortical surface area in the left superior frontal gyrus, t(781) = 3.724, pFDR = 0.0077, right superior frontal gyrus, t(781) = 3.409, pFDR = 0.0110, left pars triangularis, t(781) = 3.614, pFDR = 0.0077, left rostral middle frontal gyrus, t(781) = 3.163, pFDR = 0.0195 and right caudal anterior cingulate gyrus, t(781) = 2.918, pFDR = 0.0348. Household exposure to violence (was associated with lower fractional anisotropy in the left and right cingulum bundle hippocampus region t(697) = −3.154, pFDR = 0.0101 and t(697) = −3.401, pFDR = 0.0085, respectively. Lower household incomes were more prevalent when parents reported exposure to violence and the mean parental education in years was lower when parents reported substance abuse in the family. No other significant associations with brain structures were found. Longer intervals between adversity and brain measurements and longitudinal measurements may reveal whether more evidence for the impact of ACEs on brain development will emerge later in life.
Adolescents’ online communication and well-being: Findings from the 2018 health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study
Authors: Lyyra Nelli , Junttila Niina , Gustafsson Jasmine , Lahti Henri , Paakkari Leena
Published: October 2022

Background

Digital transformation has influenced all areas of adolescents’ lives, including the ways adolescents maintain friendships. Interpersonal communication is one of the most common activities while online. Online communication may provide adolescents with opportunities to expand their social contacts, but these encounters can be risky, especially when the communication is with unknown people on the internet. This study examined the associations between different forms of online communication behavior and well-being.

Materials and methods

Data were collected from Finnish adolescents as part of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study in 2018. The participants were 3,140 Finnish adolescents aged 11–15 years. Descriptive analyses were used to examine the frequency of different forms of online communication behaviors. The associations between online communications and individual factors were analyzed using the X2 test and 95% confidence intervals. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the extent to which adolescents’ online communication behavior explained the variance in adolescents’ well-being indicators.

Results

Overall, 60% of the adolescents reported communicating intensively with close friends, with higher rates of intensive communication reported by girls, higher age groups, and the high health literacy group. 22% of adolescents reported intensive communication with friends they got to know through the internet (online friends), while intensive online communication with unknown people was reported by 13% of adolescents. Overall, around one-fourth of adolescents preferred sharing personal matters online rather than in face-to-face encounters, and 10% of adolescents reported using the internet daily to get to know new people, and to look for like-minded company. The SEM analysis showed that keeping online contact with offline friends was linked to a positive outcome in all the measured well-being indicators; however, intensive communication with people contacted only online (online friends and unknown people) was negatively associated with well-being indicators (lower self-rated health, lower life satisfaction, higher loneliness, and problematic social media use).

Conclusion

Both positive and negative associations were observed between online communication and well-being, depending on the target and content of the communication. The results indicate that online communication has benefits for adolescents who have more offline social life. Overall, one should ensure that the impact of interventions is proportionately greater for adolescents at the bottom end of the health gradient.
Self-reported work-related accumulative fatigue of nurses: A cross-sectional study in public hospitals in China
Authors: Tang Changmin , Chen Xin , Gong Guangwen , Guan Cuiling , Liu Chaojie
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Work-related fatigue is a serious safety risk to nurses and their patients. This study aimed to assess self-reported work-related accumulative fatigue of nurses and its associated factors.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of 2,918 clinical nurses conveniently sampled from 48 public hospitals across six provinces in China was conducted. The “Self-diagnosis Checklist for Assessment of Workers' Accumulated Fatigue” was adopted to assess the level of work-related accumulative fatigue of the study participants. Chi-square tests and ordinal regression analyses were performed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with work-related accumulative fatigue.

Results

About one third of respondents reported low work-related accumulative fatigue, compared with 23.1% reporting high and 24.6% reporting very high levels of work-related accumulative fatigue. Higher levels of work-related accumulative fatigue were associated with female gender (AOR = 0.614 for male relative to female, p = 0.005), age between 30 and 40 years (AOR = 1.346 relative to >40 years, p = 0.034), 5–10 years of work experience (AOR = 1.277 relative to >10 years, p = 0.034), and bachelor or above degree qualifications (AOR = 0.806 for associate degree relative to bachelor or above degree, p = 0.007). Those who worked in rural county hospitals (AOR = 0.816 for metropolitan relative to rural county hospitals, p = 0.006) and resided in central China (AOR = 1.276 relative to western China, p = 0.004) had higher odds of reporting higher levels of work-related accumulative fatigue.

Conclusion

High levels of work-related accumulative fatigue are evident in nurses of public hospitals in China. The problem is more serious in the female nurses in their mid-career and those who worked in the central region and rural setting.
Comparison of different estimators of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic activity on geographical and temporal levels
Authors: Valter Remi , Sembajwe Grace , Descatha Alexis , Fadel Marc
Published: October 2022

Background

Studies began investigating occupational exposures as a source of contamination to SARS-CoV-2, yet few considered the variation in SARS-Cov2 pandemic activity for these exposures. Several indicators were built to assess SARS-Cov2 activity though they usually serve a specific purpose and have limitations. The aim was to compare qualitatively different estimators of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic activity and to create an estimator of pandemic activity level based on daily hospital admissions for job-exposure matrices (JEM) usage.

Methods

From publicly available French databases, we retrieved all data from March 19, 2020 (first day available) to March 25, 2021 (day of data collection) on four different estimators: percentage of intensive care bed occupied, reproductive number, tests' positive rate and number positive tests. An indicator based on new daily hospital admissions was created for a COVID JEM. Due to the heterogeneity of the estimators, a qualitative comparison was carried out.

Results

During the study period, three major outbreaks took place. Though the number of positive tests was the first indicator to worsen during the 2nd outbreak, it failed to identify variation during the outbreak. Though each indicators behaved differently during the study period, the indicator based on new daily hospital admissions and the positive rate seemed to be the closest to one another.

Conclusion

This study highlights the heterogeneity of the indicators used during the first and second SARS-Cov2 outbreaks in France. An indicator based on new daily hospital admissions seems to be a good candidate for estimating SARS-CoV-2 epidemic activity for COVID JEMs and is easily available in countries where usual indicators are not commonly accessible.
Association between community-level social trust and the risk of dementia: A retrospective cohort study in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Hong Jaeyi , Park Sun Jae , Lee Jong-Koo , Jeong Hye Jin , Oh Juhwan , Choi Seulggie , Jeong Seogsong , Kim Kyae Hyung , Son Joung Sik , Park Sang Min
Published: October 2022

Introduction

It is known that biological risk factors and lifestyle behaviors are important determinants of dementia. However, there has been yet to be sufficient evidence to prove that community-level social capital is one of the determinants of dementia. This retrospective cohort study is a large, long-term, population-based study that investigated the association between community-level social trust and the risk of dementia in the Republic of Korea.

Methods

Data came from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The community-level social trust values were determined by the Korean Community Health Survey. The study population consisted of 1,974,944 participants over 50 years of age and was followed up from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019 with a latent period of 5 years from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to obtain the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of dementia according to social trust quintiles.

Results

Participants within the highest quintile of community-level social trust had a lower risk for overall dementia (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86–0.94) and Alzheimer's disease (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85–0.94) compared to those within the lowest quintile of community-level social trust. The alleviating trend association of high community-level social trust on dementia risk was maintained regardless of whether the participants had health examinations.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that higher community-level social trust is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Community-level social trust is a crucial indicator of dementia and improving community-level social trust may lead to a lower risk of dementia.
Assessing young Kenyan women's willingness to engage in a peer-delivered HIV self-testing and referral model for PrEP initiation: A qualitative formative research study
Authors: McGowan Maureen , Casmir Edinah , Wairimu Njeri , Mogere Peter , Jahn Albrecht , Ngure Kenneth , Ortblad Katrina F. , Roche Stephanie D.
Published: October 2022

Background

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, but uptake remains low, especially among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kenya. A model in which trained AGYW using PrEP deliver HIV self-tests to their close friends and refer them to PrEP may help increase PrEP uptake in this population. To understand AGYW's potential willingness to engage in such a model, we conducted a qualitative formative study in Kenya.

Method

We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) with AGYW (16 to 24 years) in Kiambu County who were determined at risk of HIV acquisition. We purposively recruited “PrEP-naïve” (no prior PrEP use) and “PrEP-experienced” AGYW who used PrEP for at least 1 month within the previous year. We solicited perspectives on initiating/engaging in conversations about HIV risk and PrEP, distributing/receiving HIV self-test kits, and referring/following through on a referral to clinic-based HIV services. We analyzed verbatim transcripts using rapid qualitative analysis and a combination of inductive and deductive approaches, with the latter informed by the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM).

Results

From August to December 2020, we conducted 30 IDIs: 15 with PrEP-experienced and 15 with PrEP-naïve AGYW. Participants' median age was 20 [interquartile range (IQR): 20–22]. Overall, most participants anticipated that they would be willing to engage in this model. PrEP-experienced AGYW emphasized the salience of their concerns about friends' HIV risk behaviors, with several noting that they are already in the habit of discussing PrEP with friends. Many additionally expressed positive attitudes toward the proposed target behaviors, perceived these to be normative among AGYW, and expressed confidence in their ability to carry out the behaviors with proper support. Although few participants had HIVST experience, nearly all anticipated they would be able to use an HIV self-test kit correctly if provided instruction.

Conclusion

The Kenyan AGYW who participated in this study generally anticipated that they would be willing to engage in a formal peer PrEP referral model enhanced with peer-delivered HIV self-tests. Future research is needed to pilot test this model to determine its acceptability, feasibility, and effect on HIVST and PrEP uptake within this population.
Anxiety and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of staff and students from a tertiary education center in Malaysia
Authors: Lee Kai Wei , Yap Sook Fan , Ong Hooi Tin , Pheh Kai Shuen , Lye Munn Sann
Published: October 2022

Aim

We examined the anxiety levels and coping strategies among staff and students of a tertiary educational institution during the COVID-19 pandemic and determined the association between anxiety level and coping strategies.

Method

Through an online survey, we used Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) to measure the level of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 crisis and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) to assess the coping responses adopted to handle stressful life events. Coping strategies were classified as adaptive and maladaptive, for which the aggregate sores were calculated. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the predictors of anxiety adjusted for potentially confounding variables. Results from 434 participants were available for analysis.

Results

The mean score (SD) of the CAS was 1.1 (1.8). The mean scores of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were 35.69 and 19.28, respectively. Multiple linear regression revealed that maladaptive coping [Adjusted B coefficient = 4.106, p-value < 0.001] and presence of comorbidities [Adjusted B coefficient = 1.376, p-value = 0.025] significantly predicted anxiety.

Conclusion

Maladaptive coping and presence of comorbidities were the predictors of coronavirus anxiety. The apparent lack of anxiety in relation to COVID-19 and movement restriction is reflective of the reported high level of satisfaction with the support and services provided during the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia. Adaptive coping strategies were adopted more frequently than maladaptive. Nevertheless, public education on positive coping strategies and anxiety management may be still be relevant to provide mental health support to address the needs of the general population.