Correlational Study Research Articles

Type D Personality and Psychological Distress: A Correlational Study among Coronary Heart Disease Patients

The study aimed to explore the relationship between type D personality and psychological distress in coronary heart disease patients. It was proposed that people having type D personality are more likely to have psychological distress, which ultimately leads to coronary heart disease. One hundred fifty heart disease patients were included in the test of the hypotheses. There were 90 men and 60 women aged 45 years and above from different heart disease hospitals took part in the study. For data collection, along with the consent form and demographics sheet, Two scales were used i-e., A 14-item Type D Personality Scale was used to measure the Type D Personality, and a 10-item Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess the Psychological Distress among the selected sample. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between type D personality and psychological distress among coronary heart patients. Furthermore, results also revealed that there were no significant differences found among men and women developing heart diseases in relation to type D personality and psychological distress. Heart diseases are increasing day by day, and they are reported as the “leading cause of death” all over the world. The current research focused on the association of type D personality and psychological distress among heart patients to highlight that both of these variables prevailed among the chosen sample.

Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes in diabetic kidney disease chronic kidney disease 1-5: a correlation study.

To analyze the distribution of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and its related factors. We enrolled 435 patients with DKD, who were not undergoing dialysis, admitted to the Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital from April 2020 to August 2021. Analysis of their TCM syndromes and related factors was carried out. The 435 patients included 109, 117, 86, and 123 chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-2, CKD3, CKD4, and CKD5 cases, respectively. With the progression of CKD1-5, the proportion of Yin deficiency and dry heat syndrome, and that of Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome showed a downward trend, whereas the proportion of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency, blood deficiency, blood stasis, water stagnation, and phlegm turbidity syndromes showed an upward trend; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Yin deficiency and dry heat syndrome was positively correlated with hemoglobin [odds ratio (OR) = 1.022, P = 0.005], albumin (OR = 1.058, P = 0.006), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR = 1.020, P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with male sex (OR = 0.277, P = 0.004). Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with albumin (OR = 1.056, P < 0.001) and eGFR (OR = 1.008, P = 0.022) but negatively correlated with age (OR = 0.977, P = 0.023). Liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with age (OR = 1.028, P = 0.021) and glycosylated hemoglobin (OR = 1.223, P = 0.007) but negatively correlated with total cholesterol (OR = 0.792, P = 0.006). Spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome was negatively correlated with hemoglobin (OR = 0.977, P < 0.001), albumin (OR = 0.891, P < 0.001), and eGFR (OR = 0.978, P < 0.001) but positively correlated with high density lipoprotein (OR = 3.376, P = 0.001). With CKD1-5 progression, TCM syndromes changed from Yin deficiency and dry heat syndrome to syndrome of deficiency of both Qi and Yin, liver-kidney Yin, and spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndromes. TCM syndromes were correlated with laboratory test results.

Musical Advantage in Lexical Tone Perception Hinges on Musical Instrument

Different musical instruments have different pitch processing demands. However, correlational studies have seldom considered the role of musical instruments in music-to-language transfer. Addressing this research gap could contribute to a nuanced understanding of music-to-language transfer. To this end, we investigated whether pitched musicians had a unique musical advantage in lexical tone perception relative to unpitched musicians and nonmusicians. Specifically, we compared Cantonese pitched musicians, unpitched musicians, and nonmusicians on Thai tone discrimination and sequence recall. In the Thai tone discrimination task, the pitched musicians outperformed the unpitched musicians and the nonmusicians. Moreover, the unpitched musicians and the nonmusicians performed similarly. In the Thai tone sequence recall task, both pitched and unpitched musicians recalled level tone sequences more accurately than the nonmusicians, but the pitched musicians showed the largest musical advantage. However, the three groups recalled contour tone sequences with similar accuracy. Collectively, the pitched musicians had a unique musical advantage in lexical tone discrimination and the largest musical advantage in level tone sequence recall. From a theoretical perspective, this study offers correlational evidence for the Precision element of the OPERA hypothesis. The choice of musical instrumental may matter for music-to-language transfer in lexical tone discrimination and level tone sequence recall.

Analysis of ecological literacy level and creative thinking skills of college students

Higher education institution is one of educational institutions that serve as a place of cultural values, and norms expected to become a foundation to foster caring attitudes toward the environment. These attitudes are accordingly meant to develop ecological literacy in order to overcome environmental problems which are likely to be minimized by combining ecological literacy and creative thinking skills. A quantitative descriptive with correlational study was employed in this research. There were 275 college students from three areas in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Sumatera, and Gorontalo involved as respondents of the research. Data was collected by means of Google Forms consisting of tests and opinions. The ecological literacy was analyzed using dimensions of caring, practical competence, and knowledge while the creative thinking skills were analyzed using dimensions of fluency, originality, flexibility, and elaboration. This research is limited to students in the Department of Science and Non-Science. Findings of the research indicates that the ecological literacy level is in the medium category, whereas the creative thinking skills are good. Female students have a higher average score in ecological literacy and creative thinking skills compared to that of male students. Thus, there is a positive relationship between ecological literacy and creative thinking skills.

Impact of prenatal maternal depression on gestational length: post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Shortened gestation is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality with lifelong consequences for health. There is a need for public health initiatives on increasing gestational age at birth. Prenatal maternal depression is a pervasive health problem robustly linked via correlational and epidemiological studies to shortened gestational length. This proof-of-concept study tests the impact of reducing prenatal maternal depression on gestational length with analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Participants included 226 pregnant individuals enrolled into an RCT and assigned to receive either interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) or enhanced usual care (EUC). Recruitment began in July 2017 and participants were enrolled August 10, 2017 to September, 8 2021. Depression diagnosis (Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; DSM 5) and symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Symptom Checklist) were evaluated at baseline and longitudinally throughout gestation to characterize depression trajectories. Gestational dating was collected based on current guidelines via medical records. The primary outcome was gestational age at birth measured dichotomously (≥39 gestational weeks) and the secondary outcome was gestational age at birth measured continuously. Posthoc analyses were performed to test the effect of reducing prenatal maternal depression on gestational length. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03011801). Steeper decreases in depression trajectories across gestation predicted later gestational age at birth, specifically an increase in the number of full-term babies born ≥39 gestational weeks (EPDS linear slopes: OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.10-2.16; and SCL-20 linear slopes: OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.16-2.42). Causal mediation analyses supported the hypothesis that participants assigned to IPT experienced greater reductions in depression symptom trajectories, which in turn, contributed to longer gestation. Supporting mediation, the natural indirect effect (NIE) showed that reduced depression trajectories resulting from intervention were associated with birth ≥39 gestational weeks (EPDS, OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.02-2.66; SCL-20, OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.97). We used a RCT design and found that reducing maternal depression across pregnancy was associated with lengthened gestation. This research was supported by the NIH (R01 HL155744, R01 MH109662, R21 MH124026, P50 MH096889).

A correlational study between Eye Hand coordination and Balance among Geriatric Badminton players

Playing badminton demands a high level of footwork, balance, grip, coordination, strokes, and serves accuracy. The study aims in measuring eye hand coordination and balance among geriatric badminton players. 43 geriatric badminton players, for Eye-hand coordination was assessed using the ruler drop test, while balance was evaluated using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between eye-hand coordination and balance among geriatric badminton players. A correlational study was conducted with 43, geriatric badminton players [71.35±4.99], and Participants completed the ruler drop test and the DGI to assess eye-hand coordination and balance, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to determine the relationship between eye-hand coordination and balance. Results: Contrary to expectations, the correlational analysis revealed no significant correlation between eye-hand coordination and balance among geriatric badminton players (r = [0.12], p &gt; [0.416]). Thus, the findings suggest that there is no discernible relationship between these two factors in this population.

Multimodal sensorimotor assessment of hand and forearm asymmetries: a reliability and correlational study

Background Effective rehabilitation of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders requires multimodal assessment to guide clinicians’ decision-making. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment must include reliable tests. Nevertheless, the interrelationship among various upper limb tests remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of easily applicable upper extremity assessments, including absolute values and asymmetries of muscle mechanical properties, pressure pain threshold, active range of motion, maximal isometric strength, and manual dexterity. A secondary aim was to explore correlations between different assessment procedures to determine their interrelationship. Methods Thirty healthy subjects participated in two experimental sessions with 1 week between sessions. Measurements involved using a digital myotonometer, algometer, inclinometer, dynamometer, and the Nine-Hole Peg test. Intraclass correlation coefficients, standard error of the mean, and minimum detectable change were calculated as reliability indicators. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the interrelationship between tests. Results For the absolute values of the dominant and nondominant sides, reliability was ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ for muscle mechanical properties, pressure pain thresholds, active range of motion, maximal isometric strength, and manual dexterity. Similarly, the reliability for asymmetries ranged from ‘moderate’ to ‘excellent’ across the same parameters. Faster performance in the second session was consistently found for the Nine-Hole Peg test. No systematic inter-session errors were identified for the values of the asymmetries. No significant correlations were found between tests, indicating test independence. Conclusion These findings indicate that the sensorimotor battery of tests is reliable, while monitoring asymmetry changes may offer a more conservative approach to effectively tracking recovery of upper extremity injuries.

Resistance to pyrethroids and the relationship between adult resistance and knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in Aedes albopictus in dengue surveillance areas of Guizhou Province, China

The Ae. albopictus mosquito has gained global attention due to its ability to transmit viruses, including the dengue and zika. Mosquito control is the only effective way to manage dengue fever, as no effective treatments or vaccines are available. Insecticides are highly effective in controlling mosquito densities, which reduces the chances of virus transmission. However, Ae. albopictus has developed resistance to pyrethroids in several provinces in China. Pyrethroids target the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC), and mutations in this gene may result in knockdown resistance (kdr). Correlation studies between resistance and mutations can assist viruses in managing Ae. albopictus, which has not been studied in Guizhou province. Nine field populations of Ae. albopictus at the larval stage were collected from Guizhou Province in 2022 and reared to F1 to F2 generations. Resistance bioassays were conducted against permethrin, beta-cypermethrin, and deltamethrin for both larvae and adults of Ae. albopictus. Kdr mutations were characterized by PCR and sequencing. Additionally, the correlation between the kdr allele and pyrethroid resistance was analyzed. All nine populations of Ae. albopictus larvae and adults were found to be resistant to three pyrethroid insecticides. One kdr mutant allele at codon 1016, one at 1532 and three at 1534 were identified with frequencies of 13.86% (V1016G), 0.53% (I1532T), 58.02% (F1534S), 11.69% (F1534C), 0.06% (F1534L) and 0.99% (F1534P), respectively. Both V1016G and F1534S mutation mosquitoes were found in all populations. The kdr mutation F1534S was positively correlated with three pyrethroid resistance phenotypes (OR > 1, P < 0.05), V1016G with deltamethrin and beta-cypermethrin resistance (OR > 1, P < 0.05) and F1534C only with beta-cypermethrin resistance (OR > 1, P < 0.05). Current susceptibility status of wild populations of Ae. albopictus to insecticides and a higher frequency of kdr mutations from dengue-monitored areas in Guizhou Province are reported in this paper. Outcomes of this study can serve as data support for further research and development of effective insecticidal interventions against Ae. albopictus populations in Guizhou Province.

The Correlation between Students’ Grammar Mastery and Their Writing Ability in Descriptive Text

This study aims to seek the correlation between students’ grammar mastery and their writing ability in descriptive text. This is correlational study was conducted to all seventh-grade students of a high school in Bangka Belitung, Indonesia as the population of the study as well as the sample since the number of the population below 50. This study used two kinds of test as the instruments to collect the data; a grammar mastery test which consists of 25 questions and a descriptive writing test. The Boardman scoring scale was used to measure the score of students’ writing. The result of this study showed the result of correlation coefficient computation was 0,305 and for the critical value from a significant level table 0.05/5% was 0,349. It is considered that the null hyphotesis (Ho) was accepted and the alternative hyphotesis (Ha) was rejected. In other words, there was no significance correlation between students’ grammar mastery and their writing ability. The writer found out that most of the students received good scores both in grammar and writing test but they had low scores in other aspects of writing such as; content, organization, word choice, and mechanics.

Spatial patterns of intestinal parasite infections among children and adolescents in some indigenous communities in Argentina.

Argentina has a heterogeneous prevalence of infections by intestinal parasites (IPs), with the north in the endemic area, especially for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). We analyzed the spatial patterns of these infections in the city of Tartagal, Salta province, by an observational, correlational, and cross-sectional study in children and adolescents aged 1 to 15 years from native communities. One fecal sample per individual was collected to detect IPs using various diagnostic techniques: Telemann sedimentation, Baermann culture, and Kato-Katz. Moran's global and local indices were applied together with SaTScan to assess the spatial distribution, with a focus on cluster detection. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine-learning model was used to predict the presence of IPs and their transmission pathways. Based on the analysis of 572 fecal samples, a prevalence of 78.3% was found. The most frequent parasite was Giardia lamblia (30.9%). High- and low-risk clusters were observed for most species, distributed in an east-west direction and polarized in two large foci, one near the city of Tartagal and the other in the km 6 community. Spatial XGBoost models were obtained based on distances with a minimum median accuracy of 0.69. Different spatial patterns reflecting the mechanisms of transmission were noted. The distribution of the majority of the parasites studied was aligned in a westerly direction close to the city, but the STH presence was higher in the km 6 community, toward the east. The purely spatial analysis provides a different and complementary overview for the detection of vulnerable hotspots and strategic intervention. Machine-learning models based on spatial variables explain a large percentage of the variability of the IPs.

The Students’ Motivation and Grit As Predictors on Reading Achievement

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between students' reading motivation and their reading achievement, as well as the relationship between students' grit and their reading achievement. Additionally, this study aims to explore the interplay among students' motivation, grit, and reading achievement. In this research, the researcher employed two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic, and two types of grit: consistency of interest and perseverance of effort. This research is a quantitative correlational study with the population consisting of fifty-five students in the sixth semester of the S1 English Study Program Regular A of Tanjungpura University in Pontianak in the academic year of 2021/2022 who already took two reading courses (intensive reading and reading skill development) on their past semesters. Data were collected using questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of 40 reading motivation items and 8 grit items on a 4 Likert scale ranging from “Very Different from Me” to “A lot Like Me”. Based on the research findings, there is a correlation with reading achievement (r= 0.551). There exists a positive connection (r=0.748) among grit and reading achievement. Additionally, it is noteworthy that there exists a good association between an individual's motivation to read and their level of perseverance and passion towards achieving success in reading (r=0.758). The study's major findings indicate a favorable correlation between the motivation and grit of great performers. There exists a positive correlation between an individual's level of motivation and grit and their level of achievement.

Early Stimulation in Children Aged 3 to 5 Years: A Correlational Study on Knowledge and Practices in Caregivers

Early Stimulation in Children Aged 3 to 5 Years: A Correlational Study on Knowledge and Practices in Caregivers

Exploring Performance Skills in the Occupation of Learning to Read

ABSTRACT Only one-third of U.S. fourth-grade public school students score at or above reading proficiency on national standardized tests. Current language-based reading instruction methods do not appear to meet many students’ needs. This study explores the role of visual perception in word recognition skills amongst typically developing first graders. It is hypothesized that visual perception is a crucial component of word recognition. This quantitative correlational study explored the relationship between visual perception and word recognition skills in first grade students participating in general education. The findings revealed that several statistically significant relationships exist between visual perceptual functions and skills recruited for word recognition. Phonological processing is strongly associated with spatial relations (r = .35) and sequential memory (r = .38). These correlations are significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Form constancy (r = .28) p < .05 is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed). These relationships suggest that visual perceptual skills and phonological processing are concurrently developed in these participants and that these skills are likely recruited simultaneously when engaging in occupations, such as learning to read. This study highlights the role of visual perception in early reading development. Educators may consider consulting with school-based occupational therapists to explore the potential impact of visual perception when supporting students who struggle with reading.

Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Sexual Violence among Women in Informal Urban Settlements in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Sexual assault is against the law in Kenya. Yet many people, particularly women and girls, continue to experience Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) without receiving much assistance, suggesting that the regulations in place are ineffective. Drug and substance abuse has also become prevalent, especially among persons living within informal urban settings. This with the attendant rise in cases of domestic and SGBV means that there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of the nexus between drug abuse and sexual violence against women, and in particular, within Nairobi's informal urban settlements. Many women in Kenya have experienced sexual or physical assault. The research sought to determine the relationship between substance abuse and sexual violence among women in Nairobi City County's informal urban settlements; The Social Learning Theory guided this research adopting a correlation study design with a target population of 139 women in the groups who have experienced GBV and SGBV. Using stratified selection and proportional sampling approaches, the Yamane formula was utilized to calculate the sample size of 106 respondents. Information was gathered through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics like Pearson moment correlation and chi-square analysis, were used to analyse the data. From the study, it was indicated that both substance abuse and sexual violence have tremendous negative consequences on the health, socioeconomic, emotional, and psychological disposition of a person. The study also demonstrated the rise in drug and substance abuse led to an increase in cases of sexual violence. This shows that efforts to combat drug use and substance abuse have not been successful. Therefore, the study suggests that the government develop more potent methods of combating drug use and substance abuse

The Correlation Study Between Seminal Fluid Enzymes and Effects on Men's Fertility

Objective: By analyzing the relationship between ALP, GOT, and LDH action within the seminal plasma of fruitless men and comparing it with ripe men, this study aimed to investigate the physiological conditions that remain unexplained in most cases. Methods: This study collected forty-four semen tests from normospermic men and 20 tests from fertile men, after a period of forbearance (3-5 days). The tests were analyzed within the Babylon Maternity and Children research facility and private research facilities, from January 2024 to April 2024. Results: The results indicated that ALP and AST activity had a negative correlation in both fertile (r = - 0.123) and normospermic men (r = - 0.038). Similarly, ALP and LDH activity had a negative correlation in fertile men (r = -0.334), but a positive correlation that was not significant (P˃0.05) in normospermic men (r= 0.128). Moreover, the results showed that AST and LDH activity positively correlated in both normospermic (r=0.058) and fertile men (r=0.242). Conclusion: The study hypothesized that normal semen components and gland secretory ability may be indicated by ALP, AST, and LDH activity. The levels of ALP, AST, and LDH activity in males who were fertile and those who were not showed any discernible differences.

Fructosamine and HbA1c A: Correlational Study in a Southeast Asian Population

Fructosamine and HbA1c A: Correlational Study in a Southeast Asian Population

Positive and Negative Correlates of Psychological Well-Being and Distress in College Students’ Mental Health: A Correlational Study

Positive and Negative Correlates of Psychological Well-Being and Distress in College Students’ Mental Health: A Correlational Study

Hyperactivity of indirect pathway-projecting spiny projection neurons promotes compulsive behavior

Compulsive behaviors are a hallmark symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Striatal hyperactivity has been linked to compulsive behavior generation in correlative studies in humans and causal studies in rodents. However, the contribution of the two distinct striatal output populations to the generation and treatment of compulsive behavior is unknown. These populations of direct and indirect pathway-projecting spiny projection neurons (SPNs) have classically been thought to promote or suppress actions, respectively, leading to a long-held hypothesis that increased output of direct relative to indirect pathway promotes compulsive behavior. Contrary to this hypothesis, here we find that indirect pathway hyperactivity is associated with compulsive grooming in the Sapap3-knockout mouse model of OCD-relevant behavior. Furthermore, we show that suppression of indirect pathway activity using optogenetics or treatment with the first-line OCD pharmacotherapy fluoxetine is associated with reduced grooming in Sapap3-knockouts. Together, these findings highlight the striatal indirect pathway as a potential treatment target for compulsive behavior.

Social media addiction, depression and life satisfaction in Turkish pharmacy students: A correlational study

Background: Although research on pharmacy students remains limited, this study is the first of its kind in the field of pharmacy in Turkey and aims to investigate the impact of social media addiction on depression and life satisfaction among pharmacy students. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of 597 students was conducted between September and October 2023 at the pharmacy faculty of a university in Turkey. Three instruments were used to collect the necessary data: the socio-demographic data form, Social Media Addiction Scale, Penate Basic Depression Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. All of these were combined into a single questionnaire. Results: A positive but weak yet significant correlation existed between pharmacy students' total Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) score and their total Basic Depression Scale (BDS) score. Conversely, a negative but weak yet significant relationship was observed between pharmacy students' total SMAS and Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) total scores. According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, social media addiction and life satisfaction were identified as predictors of depression. Conclusion: In developing countries, such as Turkey, there is a lack of sufficient academic literature on this topic. Future research should not only monitor these relationships but also focus on prevention and treatment strategies.

Dual Representation of the Auditory Space

Auditory spatial cues contribute to two distinct functions, of which one leads to explicit localization of sound sources and the other provides a location-linked representation of sound objects. Behavioral and imaging studies demonstrated right-hemispheric dominance for explicit sound localization. An early clinical case study documented the dissociation between the explicit sound localizations, which was heavily impaired, and fully preserved use of spatial cues for sound object segregation. The latter involves location-linked encoding of sound objects. We review here evidence pertaining to brain regions involved in location-linked representation of sound objects. Auditory evoked potential (AEP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies investigated this aspect by comparing encoding of individual sound objects, which changed their locations or remained stationary. Systematic search identified 1 AEP and 12 fMRI studies. Together with studies of anatomical correlates of impaired of spatial-cue-based sound object segregation after focal brain lesions, the present evidence indicates that the location-linked representation of sound objects involves strongly the left hemisphere and to a lesser degree the right hemisphere. Location-linked encoding of sound objects is present in several early-stage auditory areas and in the specialized temporal voice area. In these regions, emotional valence benefits from location-linked encoding as well.