Behavioral Effects Research Articles

The Behavioral Effects of Noncontingent Breaks from Task with Access to Sensory Activities during Pediatric Occupational Therapy Sessions

The Behavioral Effects of Noncontingent Breaks from Task with Access to Sensory Activities during Pediatric Occupational Therapy Sessions

Behavioural phenotypes of Dicer knockout in the mouse SCN

AbstractThe suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master clock that directly dictates behavioural rhythms to anticipate the earth's light/dark cycles. Although post‐transcriptional regulators called microRNAs have been implicated in physiological SCN function, how the absence of the entire mature miRNome impacts SCN output has not yet been explored. To study the behavioural consequences of miRNA depletion in the SCN, we first generated a mouse model in which Dicer is inactivated in the SCN by crossing Syt10Cre mice with Dicerflox mice to study behavioural consequences of miRNA depletion in the SCN. Loss of all mature miRNAs in the SCN shortened the circadian period length by ~37 minutes at the tissue level and by ~45 minutes at the locomotor activity level. Moreover, knockout animals exhibited a reduction in the precision of the circadian rhythm with more variable activity onsets under both LD 12:12 and DD conditions. We also observed that knockouts with higher onset variations were inclined to develop ultradian rhythms under constant light. In a second mouse model, recombination of Dicerflox via Cre delivery specifically in the SCN resulted in loss of behavioural rhythms in some animals depending on the injection efficiency. Together, our observations highlight the importance of microRNAs for a physiological SCN function and their pivotal role in robust circadian oscillations.

Acute Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of Sulpiride in Adult Zebrafish.

Affective and psychotic disorders are highly prevalent and severely debilitating mental illnesses that often remain untreated or treatment-resistant. Sulpiride is a common antipsychotic (neuroleptic) drug whose well-established additional (e.g., antidepressant) therapeutic effects call for further studies of a wider spectrum of its CNS effects. Here, we examined effects of acute 20-min exposure to sulpiride (50-200mg/L) on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, as well as on brain monoamines, in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Overall, sulpiride exerted overt anxiolytic-like effects in the novel tank test and showed tranquilizing-like effects in the zebrafish tail immobilization test, accompanied by lowered whole-brain dopamine and its elevated turnover, without affecting serotonin or norepinephrine levels and their turnover. Taken together, these findings support complex behavioral pharmacology of sulpiride in vivo and reconfirm high sensitivity of zebrafish-based screens to this and, likely, other related clinically active neuroleptics.

Sex-specific GABAergic microcircuits that switch vulnerability into resilience to stress and reverse the effects of chronic stress exposure.

Clinical and preclinical studies have identified somatostatin (SST)-positive interneurons as critical elements that regulate the vulnerability to stress-related psychiatric disorders. Conversely, disinhibition of SST neurons in mice results in resilience to the behavioral effects of chronic stress. Here, we established a low-dose chronic chemogenetic protocol to map these changes in positively and negatively motivated behaviors to specific brain regions. AAV-hM3Dq-mediated chronic activation of SST neurons in the prelimbic cortex (PLC) had antidepressant drug-like effects on anxiety- and anhedonia-like motivated behaviors in male but not female mice. Analogous manipulation of the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) had such effects in female but not male mice. Moreover, the activation of SST neurons in the PLC of male mice and the vHPC of female mice resulted in stress resilience. Activation of SST neurons in the PLC reversed prior chronic stress-induced defects in motivated behavior in males but was ineffective in females. Conversely, activation of SST neurons in the vHPC reversed chronic stress-induced behavioral alterations in females but not males. Quantitation of c-Fos+ and FosB+ neurons in chronic stress-exposed mice revealed that chronic activation of SST neurons leads to a paradoxical increase in pyramidal cell activity. Collectively, these data demonstrate that GABAergic microcircuits driven by dendrite targeting interneurons enable sex- and brain-region-specific neural plasticity that promotes stress resilience and reverses stress-induced anxiety- and anhedonia-like motivated behavior. The data provide a rationale for the lack of antidepressant efficacy of benzodiazepines and superior efficacy of dendrite-targeting, low-potency GABAA receptor agonists, independent of sex and despite striking sex differences in the relevant brain substrates.

From ink to influence: analyzing the impact of media translations in late Qing China through media system dependency theory

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of periodicals in late Qing China through Media System Dependency theory. It emphasizes the synergy between media and translation studies, exploring how this combination influenced public discourse and catalyzed social reforms. It also focuses on how periodicals – as exclusive access to foreign knowledge – created a dependency among readers. This exclusivity and dependency empowered these publications to shape the intellectual and cultural milieu through strategically embedded translations. After analyzing cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects, this study demonstrates how media messages, particularly translations, introduced progressive concepts and advocated for social reforms, ultimately driving social and cultural shifts. By applying Media System Dependency theory, this study underlines the role of media as an agent of social change, extending insights beyond the historical context of late Qing China to contemporary media dynamics. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to a deeper appreciation of how media and translations collectively function as catalysts for cultural exchange and social transformation.

Revealing the Bioactivities of Physalia physalis Venom Using Drosophila as a Model

Physalia physalis, commonly known as the Portuguese Man o’ War, is one of the most venomous members of the Cnidaria yet is poorly understood. This article investigates the toxicity of P. physalis venom by assessing its behavioral and toxicological effects on Drosophila melanogaster. The venom administered orally revealed dose- and time-dependent mortality, with an LD50 of 67.4 μg per fly. At sublethal doses, the treated flies displayed uncoordinated movement and fell when attempting to climb. Real-time analysis of flies exposed to the venom revealed hyperexcitability followed by paralysis, with phenotypes similar to those observed in vertebrate models. The venom was shown to be non-thermolabile, as no significant differences in behavior and locomotion were observed between flies exposed to untreated or thermally treated venom. The circadian rhythm alterations, the enhanced light attraction, and the reduction in heat avoidance suggest altered neuronal function. This abnormal behavior indicates that the venom contains bioactive molecules, opening avenues for discovering new compounds with potential for pharmacological applications.

Isolation of psychedelic-responsive neurons underlying anxiolytic behavioral states.

Psychedelics hold promise as alternate treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the neural mechanisms by which they drive adaptive behavioral effects remain unclear. We isolated the specific neurons modulated by a psychedelic to determine their role in driving behavior. Using a light- and calcium-dependent activity integrator, we genetically tagged psychedelic-responsive neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing revealed that the psychedelic drove network-level activation of multiple cell types beyond just those expressing 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors. We labeled psychedelic-responsive mPFC neurons with an excitatory channelrhodopsin to enable their targeted manipulation. We found that reactivation of these cells recapitulated the anxiolytic effects of the psychedelic without driving its hallucinogenic-like effects. These findings reveal essential insight into the cell-type-specific mechanisms underlying psychedelic-induced behavioral states.

A multicenter, cross-sectional analysis to assess the safety and usage pattern of brivaracetam in the management of partial-onset seizure with BAEs-BREEZE study: A post-hoc analysis.

Brivaracetam (BRV), a third-generation anti-seizure medication (ASM) offers strong conformational receptor domain binding, faster blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and better tolerability making it potential therapeutic option as an initial line or initial line add-on strategy for focal onset seizure (FoS). The following study was planned to further understand the role and relevance of BRV in the real world settings of India. This was a multicentric, cross-sectional, and non-interventional study conducted in patients with FoS across India. The study was approved by central independent ethics committee. Descriptive and analytical statistics employed using SPSS version 29.0.1.0. Per protocol (PP) analysis included 8479 eligible patients from 1069 sites, gender; 5771 (68.06%) male and 2708 (31.94%) female with mean age 41.21 ± 12.74 years. Total 8019 (94.57%) patients had FoS and 460 (5.43%) patients had focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCs). In FoS, 4105 (51.19%) patients switched from LEV to BRV whereas 3914 (48.81%) switched from other ASMs to BRV. BAEs accounted for 2059 (50.16%) patients in LEV to BRV switch versus 133 (3.39%) in other ASM to BRV switch. Post switch, LEV-associated BAEs reduced irrespective of being used as monotherapy 85.65% (p < 0.001) or as an adjuvant therapy 83.71% (p < 0.001) at BRV dosage of 50 to 100 mg BID. This RWE showed the utility of BRV as mono component as an initial add-on strategy in FoS cases. BRV remains a pertinent therapeutic choice for FoS for the treatment naïve and/or BAE cases. Exposure of LEV leads to considerable BAEs compared to patients without LEV exposure. Patients who switched to BRV due to LEV-induced BAEs significantly improved tolerability with BRV irrespective being used as monotherapy or as adjuvant therapy. Current study was planned to understand the clinical role and relevance of third-generation anti-seizure medication (ASM), brivaracetam (BRV) in the real world settings of India. Outcome of the study highlighted that BRV is an emerging, potential and safe ASM treatment option for epilepsy in Indian context. Many patients with epilepsy who are not able to tolerate the other ASM including levetiracetam (LEV) primarily due to behavioral side effects improves tolerability post switch to BRV, additionally results are consistent either BRV being used as an adjuvant therapy or as monotherapy therapy.

Horizon problem and capital expenditures: evidence from the public sector in Indonesia

PurposeThis study investigates whether horizon problems affect the allocation of capital budgets and their implementation in a government setting.Design/methodology/approachWe use data from 2005 to 2020 for local governments in Indonesia, which apply a limit of two five-year terms for mayors. We use regression analyses for panel data with total observations of 4,541 local government years from 448 unique local governments. We also use graphical analyses and t-tests to provide robustness to our results.FindingsMayors allocated lower capital expenditures in the second term than in the first. Capital budget allocation is lower for local governments whose mayors are older than 60. Our additional analysis shows that incumbents seeking re-election allocate more capital expenditure than those not seeking re-election.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature on the behavioral effect of term limits on local government's allocation and implementation of capital budgets. Limiting elected government officials to a certain number of terms will prevent the monopoly of power. However, it may negatively affect budget allocation on capital programs in their last term. Our findings should interest public policymakers in discerning the costs and benefits of term limits for elected offices.Originality/valueMost studies on horizon problems have focused on the corporate setting. This study provides evidence of the effects of horizon problems in the government setting, especially in Asia.

Effects of 5-ion 6-beam sequential irradiation in the presence and absence of hindlimb or control hindlimb unloading on behavioral performances and plasma metabolic pathways of Fischer 344 rats

IntroductionEffects and interactions between different spaceflight stressors are expected to be experienced by crew on missions when exposed to microgravity and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). One of the limitations of previous studies on simulated weightlessness using hindlimb unloading (HU) is that a control HU condition was not included.MethodsWe characterized the behavioral performance of male Fischer rats 2 months after sham or total body irradiation with a simplified 5-ion 6-mixed-beam exposure representative of GCRs in the absence or presence of HU. Six months later, the plasma, hippocampus, and cortex were processed to determine whether the behavioral effects were associated with long-term alterations in the metabolic pathways.ResultsIn the open field without and with objects, interactions were observed for radiation × HU. In the plasma of animals that were not under the HU or control HU condition, the riboflavin metabolic pathway was affected most for sham irradiation vs. 0.75 Gy exposure. Analysis of the effects of control HU on plasma in the sham-irradiated animals showed that the alanine, aspartate, glutamate, riboflavin, and glutamine metabolisms as well as arginine biosynthesis were affected. The effects of control HU on the hippocampus in the sham-irradiated animals showed that the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan pathway was affected the most. Analysis of effects of 0.75 Gy irradiation on the cortex of control HU animals showed that the glutamine and glutamate metabolic pathway was affected similar to the hippocampus, while the riboflavin pathway was affected in animals that were not under the control HU condition. The effects of control HU on the cortex in sham-irradiated animals showed that the riboflavin metabolic pathway was affected. Animals receiving 0.75 Gy of irradiation showed impaired glutamine and glutamate metabolic pathway, whereas animals receiving 1.5 Gy of irradiation showed impaired riboflavin metabolic pathways. A total of 21 plasma metabolites were correlated with the behavioral measures, indicating that plasma and brain biomarkers associated with behavioral performance are dependent on the environmental conditions experienced.DiscussionPhenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism as well as phenylalanine and tryptophan as plasma metabolites are biomarkers that can be considered for spaceflight as they were revealed in both Fischer and WAG/Rij rats exposed to simGCRsim and/or HU.

Building the foundation for polar bear science: Fifty years of research on polar bears in Western Hudson Bay

In 1966, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) (then Canadian Wildlife Service) initiated a research program on polar bears belonging to the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation (WH). This paper provides an overview of that program, highlighting the long-term research on WH polar bears with a focus on ECCC-led work. The WH research program, which has now extended across five decades with data on over 4600 individual bears, has evolved from a study of the basic ecology of polar bears into foundational work on the life history, demography, genetics, movement, behaviour, and ecology of an apex predator in a rapidly changing Arctic. Research on polar bears in Canada supports commitments under the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears (1973), the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), and Canada’s Species at Risk Act (2002). Among Canada’s 13 polar bear subpopulations, only WH has sufficient long-term monitoring of individuals to assess demographic, behavioural, and life history consequences of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. Future research should continue to ask key questions on how long-term environmental changes impact the ecology of polar bears. Integrating community priorities into the research program is necessary for it to continue to be successful in the future.

Partisanship, political alignment, and charitable donations

AbstractThis paper examines how alignment with the government influences beliefs about the efficiency and role of government, and examines the behavioral consequences of these beliefs. In particular, we examine how support of versus opposition to the government affects people’s charitable donations. For both Republicans and Democrats, we find that alignment with the government leads to a reduction in charitable donations. Specifically, when accounting for government spending, supporters of the incumbent government decrease their charitable contributions, while detractors increase theirs. We explain this result by documenting a shift in people’s beliefs about the efficiency and normative role of government.

Possible Potentiating Effects of Combined Administration of Alcohol, Caffeine, and Nicotine on In Vivo Dopamine Release in Addiction-Related Circuits Within the CNS of Rats

Background: Studies that assess the effects of the interaction of psychoactive substances on dopamine release, the key neurotransmitter in the neurochemical and behavioral effects related to drug consumption, are crucial to understand both their roles and the dysfunctions they produce in the central nervous system. Objective: We evaluated the effects of individual and combined administration of the three most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world, ethanol, caffeine, and nicotine, on dopaminergic neurotransmission in three brain regions of rats related to addiction: the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and the dorsal striatum. Methods: The dopamine levels were measured in vivo by cerebral microdialysis associated with HPLC-ED. Results: We observed that local administration of a single concentration of caffeine (5 mM) or nicotine (5 mM) significantly increased the dopamine levels in all three areas studied, while ethanol (300 mM) increased them in the NAcc and striatum. Perfusion of nicotine + caffeine produced a synergistic effect in both the NAcc and striatum, with increases in the in vivo dopamine release greater than the sum of the effects of both substances. When administering the combination of nicotine + caffeine + ethanol, we observed an additive effect in the NAcc, while in the PFC we observed a synergistic effect. Conclusions: Our results support the stimulating effects of caffeine, nicotine, and ethanol on the brain reward system. In addition, we also observed that the administration of different mixtures of these substances produces synergistic and additive effects on the release of dopamine in the mesocortical and nigrostriatal systems.

Driving Fatigue Onset and Visual Attention: An Electroencephalography-Driven Analysis of Ocular Behavior in a Driving Simulation Task

Attentional deficits have tragic consequences on road safety. These deficits are not solely caused by distraction, since they can also arise from other mental impairments such as, most frequently, mental fatigue. Fatigue is among the most prevalent impairing conditions while driving, degrading drivers’ cognitive and physical abilities. This issue is particularly relevant for professional drivers, who spend most of their time behind the wheel. While scientific literature already documented the behavioral effects of driving fatigue, most studies have focused on drivers under sleep deprivation or anyhow at severe fatigue degrees, since it is difficult to recognize the onset of fatigue. The present study employed an EEG-driven approach to detect early signs of fatigue in professional drivers during a simulated task, with the aim of studying visual attention as fatigue begins to set in. Short-range and long-range professional drivers were recruited to take part in a 45-min-long simulated driving experiment. Questionnaires were used to validate the experimental protocol. A previously validated EEG index, the MDrow, was adopted as the benchmark measure for identifying the “fatigued” spans. Results of the eye-tracking analysis showed that, when fatigued, professional drivers tended to focus on non-informative portions of the driving environment. This paper presents evidence that an EEG-driven approach can be used to detect the onset of fatigue while driving and to study the related visual attention patterns. It was found that the onset of fatigue did not differentially impact drivers depending on their professional activity (short- vs. long-range delivery).

Hypocretin modulation of behavioral coping strategies for social stress.

Best known for promoting wakefulness and arousal, the neuropeptide hypocretin (Hcrt) also plays an important role in mediating stress responses, including social stress. However, central and systemic manipulation of the Hcrt system has produced diverse behavioral outcomes in animal models. In this review, we first focus on studies where similar manipulations of the Hcrt system led to divergent coping behaviors. We hypothesize that Hcrt differentially facilitates active and passive coping behaviors in response to social stress by acting in different brain regions and on different cell types. We then focus on region and cell type-specific effects of Hcrt in the ventral pallidum, lateral habenula, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Overall, the evidence suggests that rather than enhancing or inhibiting behavioral responses to social stress, Hcrt may signal the heightened arousal associated with stressful contexts. The resulting behavioral effects depend on which circuits Hcrt release occurs in and which receptor types are activated. Further study is needed to determine how and why circuit specific activation of Hcrt neurons occurs.

Molecular and Behavioral Neuroprotective Effects of Clavulanic Acid and Crocin in Haloperidol-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia in Rats.

Clavulanic acid (ClvA), a beta-lactamase inhibitor, is being explored for its significant neuroprotective potential. The effects of ClvA were assessed both individually and in combination with crocin (Cr), an antioxidant derived from saffron, in the context of tardive dyskinesia (TD). In rat haloperidol (Hp)-induced-TD (1mg/kg, i.p. 21days), the effects of ClvA (50, 100, 150mg/kg) and Cr (10, 20, 40mg/kg) were assessed via vacuous chewing movements (VCM) and tongue protrusion (TP). Striatal malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured spectrophotometrically. Based on the results, ClvA (100mg/kg) and Cr (10mg/kg) were determined with sub-effective doses. Glutamate transporter-subtype1 (GLT1), dopamine active transporter (DAT), vesicular monoamine transporter-type2 (VMAT2), Bax/Bcl2, cleaved Caspase3, phosphorylated AKT/AKT, IL1β, and TNFα levels were quantified using western blotting in sub-effective doses and their combination. The behavioral results of catalepsy and orofacial dyskinesia demonstrated model establishment. Hp decreased GLT1 (p < 0.05), DAT (p < 0.01), VMAT2 (p < 0.001), GSH and pAKT/AKT (p < 0.0001); increased TNFα (p < 0.05), IL1β, cleaved Caspase3 (p < 0.001); MDA and Bax/Bcl2 (p < 0.0001). ClvA 100mg/kg reversed the decreased GLT1 and VMAT2 (p < 0.01), alongside the increased MDA (p < 0.0001) and VCM (p < 0.05). It also increased AKT phosphorylation (p < 0.05). No effects were noted on DAT, GSH, Bax/Bcl2, or inflammatory factors. However, the combination with Cr at 10mg/kg influenced ClvA on DAT (p < 0.01) and resulted in a significant increase in GSH (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was a marked decrease in TNFα (p < 0.0001) and IL1β (p < 0.001), enhancing its effects on reducing MDA and increasing pAKT/AKT (p < 0.0001). The combination adversely affected GLT1. ClvA protects against TD via GLT1 and VMAT2; combined with Cr, it enhances antioxidant effects, improves DAT, and requires dose optimization for GLT1 disruption.

Neural mechanisms underlying robust target selection in response to microstimulation of the oculomotor system.

Despite its prevalence in studying the causal roles of different brain circuits in cognitive processes, electrical microstimulation often results in inconsistent behavioral effects. These inconsistencies are assumed to be due to multiple mechanisms, including habituation, compensation by other brain circuits, and contralateral suppression. Considering the presence of reinforcement in most experimental paradigms, we hypothesized that interactions between reward feedback and microstimulation could contribute to inconsistencies in behavioral effects of microstimulation. To test this, we analyzed data from electrical microstimulation of the frontal eye field of male macaques during a value-based decision-making task and constructed network models to capture choice behavior. We found evidence for microstimulation-dependent adaptation in saccadic choice, such that in stimulated trials, monkeys' choices were biased toward the target in the response field of the microstimulated site (Tin ). In contrast, monkeys showed a bias away from Tin in non-stimulated trials following microstimulation. Critically, this bias slowly decreased as a function of the time since the last stimulation. Moreover, microstimulation-dependent adaptation was influenced by reward outcomes in preceding trials. Despite these local effects, we found no evidence for the global effects of microstimulation on learning and sensitivity to the reward schedule. By simulating choice behavior across various network models, we found a model in which microstimulation and reward-value signals interact competitively through reward-dependent plasticity can best account for our observations. Our findings indicate a reward-dependent compensatory mechanism that enhances robustness to perturbations within the oculomotor system and could explain the inconsistent outcomes observed in previous microstimulation studies.Significance Statement Electrical microstimulation has been used to study the causal contributions of certain brain areas or circuits to cognition and behavior. Nonetheless, the overall impact of microstimulation on behavior remains inconclusive, hinting at neural mechanisms that interact with experimental perturbation of neural activity. We hypothesized that this interaction could be driven by the reward feedback animals receive while performing tasks, either with or without external perturbations. Using computational modeling and data from microstimulation during a reward-dependent decision-making task, we found microstimulation and reward-value signals competitively interact within the oculomotor system. This interaction enhances the system's robustness to both internal and external perturbations. Our results have important implications for employing microstimulation in basic and clinical research.

Pharmacological modulation of dopamine receptors reveals distinct brain-wide networks associated with learning and motivation in non-human primates.

D1 and D2 receptors are heavily implicated in cognitive and motivational processes, as well as in a number of psychiatric disorders. Despite this, little is known about how selective manipulation of these different receptors impacts cognition through changing activity across brain-wide intrinsic networks. Here, we examined the acute behavioral and brain-wide effects of D1 and D2 receptor-selective antagonists, SCH-23390 and haloperidol, in macaques performing a probabilistic learning task. SCH administration diminished, and haloperidol improved, animals' task performance. Mirroring these effects on behavior, SCH reduced, and haloperidol increased, the resting-state functional connectivity across brain-wide networks, most notably in the cortico-striatal areas. Thus, our results highlight the opposing effects of D1 and D2 receptor modulation on the brain and behavior.

Umbrella review of meta-analyses on the risk factors, protective factors, consequences and interventions of cyberbullying victimization.

The increasing prevalence of cyberbullying victimization has become a commonplace issue globally. Although research has explored various predictors and consequences of cyberbullying victimization, most focus on a narrow range of variables or contexts, highlighting the need to comprehensively review and synthesize the wealth of empirical findings. We conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses on cyberbullying victimization, incorporating 56 meta-analyses and 296 effect sizes (sample size range 421-1,136,080, sample size median 53,183; searched via EBSCOhost ERIC, EBSCOhost PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, 13 cyberbullying-related journals, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) to address the following critical questions: (1) What are the crucial sociodemographic and psychological profiles of cyberbullying victims? (2) What critical contextual and environmental factors are associated with cyberbullying victimization? (3) What are the key psychological and behavioural consequences of cyberbullying victimization? (4) How effective are existing interventions in mitigating impacts of cyberbullying? Included meta-analyses had to focus on cyberbullying victimization and report at least one predictor or consequence. A quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instrument for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Findings suggest that females, school-aged populations, traditional bullying victims and frequent internet users were more likely to be cyberbullied. Unregulated school environments and unsupportive parental relationships were also associated with increased cyberbullying victimization. Cyberbullying victimization was consistently associated with negative psychological outcomes, lower school performance and maladaptive coping behaviours. More importantly, the current review found that cyberbullying intervention programmes show promising results. The current review underscores the importance of devoting adequate resources to mitigating cyberbullying victimization.

Fear more or fear no more: examining the emotional and behavioral consequences of FOMO and JOMO

PurposeFear of Missing Out (FOMO) is characterized by anxiety over potentially missed experiences, while Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) embraces contentment in opting out of social engagements. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory, this study aims to investigate how FOMO and JOMO appeals influence pride, gratitude and purchase intention while considering the impacts of age and social comparison orientation.Design/methodology/approachThree experiments examined the impact of FOMO (Study 1), JOMO (Study 2), and comparison between FOMO and JOMO (Study 3) on pride, gratitude and purchase intention. Moderated-moderated mediation models were also tested to assess the roles of age and social comparison orientation (SCO).FindingsFOMO appeals tend to boost feelings of pride, while JOMO appeals promote gratitude, both of which result in a higher likelihood of making a purchase. The effect of FOMO appeal on purchase intention via pride is stronger among younger consumers with high SCO. In contrast, the impact of JOMO appeal on purchase intention via gratitude is higher among older consumers with low SCO.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the nuances of different advertising appeals and their effect on consumer emotions (e.g. pride and gratitude) and purchase intention can inform marketers and advertising agencies in crafting more targeted and effective advertising campaigns that resonate with diverse consumer segments.Originality/valueThis study adds to the consumer emotion literature and generational research by emphasizing the role of emotions and age in shaping consumer responses to advertisements.