Functional Difficulties Research Articles

Longitudinal relations of screen time duration and content with executive function difficulties in South Korean children

ABSTRACT Research has consistently shown that excessive screen time (ST) is harmful to children’s cognitive development including executive function (EF). Most studies have investigated the long-term consequences of excessive ST and have not explored how content impacts cognitive development. Thus, the current study aimed to examine (1) the associations among the duration and content of ST and EF difficulties and (2) the interaction effect of ST duration and content on EF difficulties. A total of 1,484 third-grade children participated in the study and were followed up one year later. ST duration was measured by the average daily hours on smart devices and computers, and ST content was assessed by the extent to which children engaged in educational or recreational ST. EF difficulties were measured by parental reports of their child’s EF-related behaviors. The results showed ST duration did not predict EF difficulties one year later. However, higher levels of educational ST predicted fewer EF difficulties. A significant interaction effect between ST duration and educational ST demonstrated the benefits of educational ST were not present in children with higher levels of duration. These findings provide a foundation to develop more practical, efficient, and specific ST guidelines considering both ST content and duration.

Agreement and disagreement in pediatric functional neurological symptom disorders: Comparing patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinician assessments

Youth with functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) often perceive themselves as having limited capabilities, which may not align with clinical evaluations. This study assessed the disparities between clinician evaluations and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) regarding pain, motor function, and learning difficulties in youth with FNSD. Sixty-two youths with FNSD participated in this study, all of whom reported experiencing pain, motor problems, and/or learning difficulties. Clinicians also assessed these domains, resulting in a two-by-two categorization matrix: (1) agreement: child and clinician report "problems"; (2) agreement: child and clinician report "no problems"; (3) disagreement: child reports "problems" while the clinician does not; and (4) disagreement: clinician reports "problems" while the child does not. Agreement/disagreement differences were analyzed. No significant differences in prevalence were observed between the evaluators regarding pain (clinician-85%, child-88%), motor (clinician-98%, child-95%), or learning problems (clinician-69%, child-61%). More than 80% of the children and clinicians report pain and motor disorders. Instances in which children and clinicians reported learning problems (40.3%) exceeded cases in which both reported no problems (9.6%) or only the child reported problems (20.9%). Overall, the agreement between pain and motor function assessments was high (>90%), whereas that concerning learning difficulties was moderate (49.9%). Disagreement in pain/motor assessments was minimal (<5%), whereas for learning difficulties, disagreement rates were high (>20%). In conclusion, a significant concordance exists between PROMs and clinician assessments of pain and motor problems. However, the higher frequency of disagreements regarding learning difficulties emphasizes the importance of incorporating patient and clinician evaluations in pediatric FNSD treatment.

An evaluation of the moderating effects of routine and busyness on the relationship between prospective memory and everyday functioning in older persons with HIV disease

ABSTRACT Introduction People living with HIV (PLWH) often experience difficulties in everyday functioning, which can arise in part from deficits in the strategic/executive aspects of prospective memory (PM). Using Suchy’s Contextually Valid Executive Assessment (ConVExA) framework, this study sought to determine whether the contextual factors of busyness and routine moderate the relationship between the strategic/executive aspects of PM and everyday functioning in older PLWH. Methods Participants in this cross-sectional analysis were 145 PLWH aged 50 years and older who had completed the Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) questionnaire of routine and busyness, the performance-based Cambridge Test of Prospective Memory, and self-report measures of activities of daily living (ADLs) and cognitive symptoms in daily life. Results Multiple regression analyses covarying for relevant comorbidities showed that higher levels of busyness – but not routine – were associated with more frequent cognitive symptoms in daily life. Neither busyness nor routine interacted with PM in association with cognitive symptoms. However, routine and a strategic/executive measure of PM interacted in predicting ADLs; specifically, the association between time-based PM and ADLs was stronger in persons with higher levels of routine in their daily lives. Parallel analyses with less executively-demanding event-based PM were null and small. Conclusions Overall, findings provided mixed – and unexpected – evidence for the associations between contextual factors (i.e. routine and busyness), everyday functioning, and PM in this sample of older adults with HIV disease. Results and clinical implications are interpreted and discussed in the framework of the ConVExA model.

Digital noise spectroscopy with a quantum sensor

We introduce and experimentally demonstrate a quantum sensing protocol to sample and reconstruct the autocorrelation of a noise process using a single-qubit sensor under digital control modulation. This Walsh noise spectroscopy method exploits simple sequences of spin-flip pulses to generate a complete basis of digital filters that directly sample the power spectrum of the target noise in the sequency domain, from which the autocorrelation function in the time domain, as well as the power spectrum in the frequency domain, can be reconstructed using linear transformations. Our method, which can also be seen as an implementation of frame-based noise spectroscopy, solves the fundamental difficulty in sampling continuous functions with digital filters by introducing a transformation that relates the arithmetic and logical time domains. In comparison to standard, frequency-based dynamical-decoupling noise spectroscopy protocols, the accuracy of our method is only limited by sampling and discretization in the time domain and can be easily improved, even under limited evolution time due to decoherence and hardware limitations. Finally, we experimentally reconstruct the autocorrelation function of the effective magnetic field produced by the nuclear-spin bath on the electronic spin of a single nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond, discuss practical limitations of the method, and avenues to further improve the reconstruction accuracy.

Differences in Well-Being at School Between Young Students With and Without a Refugee Background.

Students with a refugee background are a vulnerable group in education. Adverse experiences and unsafe circumstances that they encounter prior, during and after their flight can place a great burden on their mental health and psychological well-being. Little is known about the psychological well-being of young refugee students in kindergarten and early years of primary school. The current study examined the psychological well-being of 4- to 8-year-old students with a refugee background residing in the Netherlands (n = 136), compared to Dutch peers without a refugee background (n = 406). Primary school teachers completed three questionnaires which assessed multiple indicators of their students' psychological well-being: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Social-Emotional Questionnaire (SEV) and Risk and Protective factors Trauma Observation School Situations (RaPTOSS). In line with the hypothesis, results showed overall lower psychological well-being among refugee students compared to non-refugee students. Teachers observed more total difficulties in socio-emotional functioning, anxious and mood disturbing behavior, ADHD symptoms, problematic social behavior and post-traumatic stress symptoms (small effects), and less developed trauma protective factors and prosocial behavior (medium effects) among students with a refugee background compared to their non-refugee peers. However, the findings also demonstrated that half of the refugee students did not have any scores that fall in the clinical range of the psychological and behavioral problems assessed. The results underline the need to promote protective factors such as positive self-image, self-regulation skills, safety and relations in the classroom and prosocial behavior among students with a refugee background.

Enhancing Predictive Maintenance in Water Treatment Plants through Sparse Autoencoder Based Anomaly Detection

The deployment of Machine Learning (ML) for improving Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) predictive maintenance is investigated in the present article. Proactively detecting and fixing functional difficulties which might cause catastrophic effects has historically been an endeavour for reactive or schedule-based maintenance methods. Anomaly Detection (AD) in WTP predictive maintenance frameworks is the primary goal of this investigation, which recommends a novel approach based on autoencoder (AE)-based ML models. For the objective of examining high-dimensional time-series sensor data collected from a WTP over a long time, Sparse Autoencoders (SAEs) are implemented. The data collected involves an array of operational measurements that, evaluated together, describe the plant's overall performance. With the support of the AE, this work aims to develop a practical framework for WTP operation predictive maintenance. Anomalies are all system findings from testing that might result in flaws or malfunctions. The research article analyses January and July 2023 WTP data from Jiangsu Province China. The AE paradigm had been evaluated using F1-scores, recall, accuracy, and precision. SAE has substantially improved AD functionality.

Health related quality of life and its predictive factors on cervical cancer patients in two teaching hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BackgroundCervical cancer is the second most prevalent and the leading cause of cancer related deaths among Ethiopian women; and about three fourth are diagnosed at advanced stages. Cervical cancer can affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in multiple ways. The main aim of this study was to describe the HRQOL of cervical cancer patients and the predictive factors using validated tools.MethodsInstitution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 264 cervical cancer patients using the validated Amharic version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) modules; QLQ-C30 and QLQ CX24. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the raw data. One way ANOVA was used to determine the significance of mean differences between the dependent and independent variables. Binary and multivariable regression analysis were used to measure the association between Global Health Status and independent factors. The level of significance was set at p-value < 0.05.ResultsOn EORTC QLQ-C30 scales, the mean Global Health Status (GHS) was 42.57 ± 23.31. The least and highest affected functions were physical and social, mean (SD) = 76.39 ± 23.24 and 50.40 ± 32.19, respectively. The financial difficulty was the most affected among the symptom scales, 57.83 ± 35.34. Only physical function and financial difficulty have shown an independent association with GHS, (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.05–0.84), (AOR = 0.21 95% CI = 0.07–0.59), respectively. Illiterate, can read and write, were among the predictor factors that showed an independent association with the Global Health Status. Among the EORTC QLQ-CX24 symptom scales, the highest affected score was for sexual worry, mean (SD) = 51.81 + 32.197.ConclusionsIn an effort to improve the Global Health Status of cervical cancer patients in Ethiopia; physical function and financial difficulty should be the priority areas. The Illiterate and those who lack formal education need due attention in order to improve the health-related quality-of-life.

Combat-Genital Injury in UK Male Military Veterans: A Pilot and Feasibility Study Exploring Long-Term Psychosocial and Sexual Experiences and Support Needs

During the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, genital injuries were reported among male personnel at rates higher than previous conflicts. To date, research has focused predominantly on immediate medical management with limited published research exploring the long-term psychosocial and sexual impacts of combat-genital injury. This pilot study, therefore, aimed to explore the psychosocial and sexual health outcomes, experiences and support needs of military veterans who sustained combat-genital injuries and to assess the feasibility of conducting further research on this topic. A cross-sectional online survey design was used, comprising open and closed questions. Recruited through opportunity and snowball sampling, 11 eligible male UK veterans who had sustained a combat-genital injury completed the survey between March and July 2021. The results indicate that participants experienced long-term challenges related to their genital injury including low self-esteem, sexual function difficulties, and fertility concerns. The findings provide preliminary evidence of unmet long-term psychosocial, sexual, and fertility support needs among UK veterans with combat-genital injury. Further research is required to better understand the psychosexual wellbeing of combat veterans who have sustained physical injuries more broadly and to determine how best to provide psychosexual support to those who may benefit.

Psychological Background of Sexual Dysfunctions – a Comparative Study on Hungarian and Spanish Samples

IntroductionSexual dysfunctions are prevalent issues affecting individuals’ sexual well-being and relationships. These conditions encompass a range of difficulties in sexual functioning, from desire and arousal to orgasm and pain. Psychological factors, such as dysfunctional beliefs about sexuality, play a significant role in the development and perpetuation of sexual dysfunctions (Nobre, Pinto-Gouveia, 2006; Nobre, Pinto-Gouveia, 2008). Additionally, personality traits, particularly those associated with the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy), have been suggested as potential protective factors to sexual problems, probably in interaction with sexual assertiveness and a wider experience in sexual behavior (Pilch, Smolorz, 2019).ObjectivesThis study investigates the interplay between sexual dysfunctions, sexual dysfunctional beliefs, and Dark Triad personality traits, and compares the differences and similarities in the two different cultural (Hungarian and Spanish) samples.MethodsBoth samples were collected online by sharing the questionnaires on various platforms. Apart from the demographic and sexuality related background questions (age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual lifestyle, etc.) our set of questionnaires included the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire (SDBQ, Male and Female Version) and The Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3).ResultsThe Hungarian sample consists of 465 participants, the Spanish of 215. However, the processing of the data is still underway, our preliminary results show, that there is a connection between the number of dysfunctional beliefs and occurrence of sexual dysfunctions. Just like Dark Triad traits seem to have negative correlation with dysfunctions.Conclusions Our research gives an opportunity to a better understanding of the psychological background of sexual dysfunctions. By taking in consideration the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs and said disorders, professionals can optimize sexual education to aid the prevention of them. Nevertheless, our findings can help the practice of psychotherapy in finding more advanced treatments, thus improving individuals’ overall sexual, and general well-being.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The uncharted territory of female adult ADHD: a comprehensive review

IntroductionAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), once considered a predominantly childhood condition, has increasingly gained recognition as a prevalent and clinically significant concern among adult women. They often display a distinctive symptom profile characterized by high levels of inattention, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties in executive functioning. Diagnosis of female adult ADHD is frequently complicated by gender bias in traditional diagnostic criteria, which may fail to account for the unique ways in which women manifest the disorder.ObjectivesThis comprehensive literature review aims to characterize the unique symptomatology of female adult ADHD, including variations in inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, as well as the presence of emotional dysregulation. It also seeks to explore the diagnostic challenges stemming from gender bias in diagnostic criteria and the role of comorbidity in diagnostic complexity. Additionally, the review assesses the broad spectrum of functional impairments experienced by adult women with ADHD, spanning academic, occupational, interpersonal, and emotional domains.MethodsThis literature review comprises a systematic examination of published research articles, clinical studies, and relevant academic literature addressing female adult ADHD. A comprehensive search strategy involving electronic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, was employed to identify peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2023. The selected studies underwent critical appraisal for quality and relevance to the review’s objectives.ResultsThe synthesis of existing literature reveals that female adult ADHD presents a distinctive clinical picture characterized by a higher prevalence of inattention, emotional dysregulation, and comorbid conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders. Diagnostic challenges arise from gender bias in diagnostic criteria and the absence of overt hyperactivity, often leading to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Functional impairments extend to academic, occupational, interpersonal, and emotional domains, affecting the overall quality of life for affected individuals. Gender-specific factors, including societal expectations and biases in healthcare evaluation, contribute to diagnostic disparities and hinder timely access to appropriate interventions.ConclusionsThe literature review underscores the critical need for enhanced recognition, understanding, and tailored support for female adults with ADHD. The distinct symptomatology, diagnostic complexities, functional impairments, and gender-specific factors contribute to a multifaceted clinical landscape. Advancing gender-sensitive diagnostic criteria, increasing awareness among healthcare professionals, and developing interventions that address the unique needs of this population are essential steps toward improving the quality of life and outcomes for female adults with ADHD.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Associations of sexual dysfunction with problematic pornography use and attachment styles: a cross-sectional study of Hungarian-Spanish samples

IntroductionIn the last decades, growing evidence suggests, that young adults and even adolescents consume more and more pornographic content, which might lead to behavioural addictions. Excessive pornography use was found to be associated with higher rates of sexual dysfunctions, such as genital dysfunction or disorders related to desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. The role of attachment style on sexual function has still rarely been investigated.ObjectivesTo examine associations between sexual dysfunction, problematic pornography use and attachment styles in a Spanish-Hungarian sample.MethodsA cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in 2023 which included a Hungarian (N=447; 63% female; age: 30,5±9,8) and a Spanish sample (N=201; 72% female; age: 40,7±14) from the general population. In the online survey, we used the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) to measure sexual dysfunction, the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPCS) to assess pornographic content consumption within the theoretical framework of addiction and the Relationships Questionnaire to explore the attachment styles of the subjects.Results13% of the Hungarian sample and 19% of the Spanish sample reported severe sexual dysfunction (ASEXTotal &gt;19). The Hungarian sample reported more problems related to orgasm (climax and satisfaction). Overall, 7% of the Hungarian sample and 1% of the Spanish sample reported very severe problems (PPCSTotal &gt;76) with pornography use. We found significant differences in every subscale and the Hungarian sample reportedly showed more difficulties in every aspect, especially in salience and mood change. Regarding attachment styles, the samples also showed significant differences (Hungarian: 31% secure, 26% anxious-ambivalent, 20% avoidant, 23% disorganized; Spanish: 53% secure, 11% anxious-ambivalent, 23% avoidant, 13% disorganized). In the combined sample, secure attachment style was associated with the least difficulties in sexual functioning, whereas subjects with anxious-ambivalent style reported more problems in sexual drive, arousal and erection. Disorganized attachment style was associated with the most severe dysfunction in orgasm (climax and satisfaction). The association between problematic pornography use and attachment styles was more consistent. Secure attachment style showed the least of problems, whereas subjects with anxious-ambivalent and disorganized attachment styles reported the most, especially in salience and mood change.ConclusionsOur findings showed significant intercultural differences between the two samples and highlighted the potential role of attachment styles in sexual functioning and problematic pornography use. A more profound understanding of the relationship between attachment and sexual functioning could facilitate potential treatment of sexual dysfunctions by addressing attachment issues in psychotherapy.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

An Initial Feasibility Trial of Providing Yoga in School for Children with Additional Support Needs.

Yoga is used widely as a therapeutic tool for physical and mental well-being. However, greater understanding of the effect yoga may have on young people who require additional support for learning is warranted. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of delivering and evaluating an 8-week school-based yoga program targeted to children with additional support needs in a mainstream primary school. Data were collected from 11 pupils (aged 4-12) with additional support needs. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were completed pre- and postintervention by parents and the pupil's schoolteachers. Observation of the yoga class engagement was conducted at baseline, midway through, and at the end of the intervention. A visual adaptation of the Children's Feeling Scale was completed each week pre- and post-yoga class by each student. Qualitative measures, including a parent feedback questionnaire, interview with the yoga instructor, and focus group with the pupil support assistants, were undertaken. The program was delivered as planned. The yoga instructor, parents, and pupil support assistants found the program to be beneficial to the students and a feasible part of their school week. There were no significant differences pre- to postintervention in any scores of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Some positive changes in mood were found, although effect sizes were small. This study demonstrates the feasibility of delivering a school-based yoga program for children with additional support needs, as well as a feasible evaluation approach. The overall experiences for pupils, pupil support assistants, and the yoga teacher were positive and suggest that wider implementation and evaluation of the school-based yoga program would be of value.

Executive functioning in child victims of sexual abuse: A multi-informant comparative study

BackgroundResearch examining the association between child sexual abuse and executive functions is limited. Yet, exposure to traumatic situations at a young age has been associated with changes in the prefrontal cortex, which hosts executive functions (Wesarg et al., 2020). These functions are crucial for social adaptation, as they make it possible to inhibit maladaptive behavior and respond flexibly to the demands of the environment. As middle childhood is a sensitive period for the development of self-regulatory abilities, exploring executive functioning in school-age children could provide potential intervention targets (Dajani & Uddin, 2015). ObjectiveUsing multiple informants, this study compared executive functioning of sexually abused children to that of non-sexually victimized children and examined whether the differences were moderated by sex. MethodsThe sample consisted of 225, 6-to-12 years old children with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) and 97 children without a history of CSA. Children completed two executive functioning tasks measuring cognitive flexibility and inhibition. Parents and teachers completed questionnaires evaluating children's executive functioning. ResultsIn comparison to non-abused children, children with a history of CSA displayed greater executive functioning difficulties as assessed by both informant-reported questionnaires and self-completed tasks. Significant interaction effects were found, such as CSA predicting lower inhibition and executive functions at school in boys but not in girls. ConclusionThis study is a first step in understanding the association between CSA and executive functioning and offers a clearer picture of the differential impact of sexual trauma according to children's sex.

Prevalence and determinants of continued breastfeeding beyond 6 months among Algerian women. Evidence for Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys

Breastfeeding is considered the best nutrition for infants and plays a significant role in a child's growth and development. In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, as well as continued breastfeeding when safe and appropriate complementary foods are introduced, up to 2 years of age or beyond. Nonetheless, breastfeeding practices remain sub-optimal in many parts of the world. In this respect, many children have shown not to be breastfed up to 6 months of age or are not breastfed during their first hours of life or are weaned too early. This allows for the use of infant formula, which can be life threatening due to poor hygiene, storage conditions or inappropriate foods. Likewise, breastfeeding rates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are lower than the global average. In Algeria, the breastfeeding rate up to 6 months of age is among the lowest in the world according to previous Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS) reports. In addition, by the end of the sixth month, the percentage of children exclusively breastfed is less than 3% and only 23% of children receive breast milk at 22-23 months. The median duration of breast-feeding is 12 weeks. However, the socio-demographic factors associated with this sub-optimal breastfeeding practice are not explored in these reports, as studies and research conducted in this context using other data are few and mostly conducted in limited geographical areas. This stands for a descriptive cross-sectional study of all children who were breastfed in the MICS database, carried out in 2019, 8 709 children, including 4 471 boys and 4 238 girls, registered in the database. To explore factors associated with the duration of breastfeeding, we only included weaned children to minimize bias related to children who were still breastfeeding. This allowed to analyze data from 3 761 children, including 1 930 boys (5.4%) and 1,831 girls (48.6%). Through using a logistic regression model, we could attain the assessment of the role of different socio-demographic, economic and geographical factors in the maintenance of breastfeeding beyond 6 months. The prevalence of breastfeeding is 81.1%; the rate of exclusive breastfeeding of children aged 0-6 months is 28.7%. The factors associated with breastfeeding beyond six months are area of residence, mother's occupational status and wealth quintile. In fact, rural area appears to be a factor favoring the continuation of breastfeeding beyond six months, compared with urban area (OR = 1.29; CI [1.032-1.369]). Mothers living in the Eastern Highlands geographic region appear to be 1.56 times more likely to maintain breastfeeding for more than six months compared to those living in the Southern region (OR = 1.56; CI [1.123 - 1.677]). Children of non-working mothers are almost 1.5 times more likely to be breastfed after 6 months than those of working mothers (OR = 1.489; CI [1.107 - 1.947]). Parents belonging to the "richest" wealth quintiles appear to increase the chance of continued breastfeeding after 6 months with a 1.24-fold increase compared to those belonging to the "poorest" quintile (OR = 1.24; CI [1.086 - 1.812]). Factors such as the child's gender, maternal education level, and functional difficulties do not appear to be determining factors for the continuation of breastfeeding after six months. The prevalence and factors associated with the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding vary from one country to another. Notwithstanding the numerous studies to better comprehend mothers' breastfeeding behaviour and various initiatives for promotion thereof, many countries have low rates. In consequence, the downward trend in breastfeeding is directly linked to advances in the production and marketing of industrial milks, the lack of information and awareness among mothers and the lack of training of health professionals. In this respect, it is highly recommended to encourage behavioural changes, to improve communication about the duration of breastfeeding, to increase the use of postnatal counselling and training of paramedical staff according to the recommendations with support for mothers.This study is of great interest in developing countries like Algeria, in order to adopt preventive interventions, and to organise communication and pre- and post-natal counselling in the breastfeeding project. Clearly, this study should be enhanced with supplementary qualitative studies concerning the factors contributing to early discontinuation of breastfeeding.

Social Functioning in Children and Adolescents with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Disorder Comparison

ABSTRACT Objective Social functioning can be defined according to three main components: social perception, social performance, and social knowledge. Although they are important in daily life relationships and in children’s adaptation, these components have never been tested together in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using lab-based tasks. The present study used a cross-disorder approach to compare the performance of children with ADHD and ASD and non-diagnosed (ND) peers utilizing a task that involves these three fundamental social functioning components. Methods Two hundred and twenty-five Italian children (86% boys) aged between 8 and 16 (66 with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD; 51 with a clinical diagnosis of ASD, level 1; 108 ND children) were enrolled. The three groups were matched for age, gender, and IQ. Social functioning was assessed using a lab-based task, including videos of problematic interactions among peers, created ad hoc for the study, and a semi-structured interview based on the Social Information Processing model. Results Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVAs and multinomial mixed effects models. Our findings suggested that both groups with ADHD and ASD presented social functioning difficulties in comparison to ND children. However, a different pattern of performance emerged. Children with ADHD showed higher difficulties in social performance than those with ASD, whereas autistic children revealed more difficulties in social perception and in some aspects of social knowledge. Conclusions Our findings have important clinical implications for assessment, intervention, and differential diagnosis, and should encourage clinicians to investigate different aspects of social functioning and identify specific strengths and weaknesses in each social profile.

Comparison between Work Related Musculoskeletal Wrist Pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Students of Figurative Painting and Calligraphy

O b j e c t i v e : To compare painting related variables for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and musculoskeletal wrist pain among students of calligraphy and figurative painting. M e t h o d o l o g y : A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 participants from 21 January to 25 May 2023. The data was collected from the fine arts departments of public and private universities in Sialkot, Pakistan. Phalen’s clinical test was used to screen the CTS and Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire was used as an outcome measuring tool. SPSS version 22 was used to analyze the data. Mean, Standard deviation and Independent-t-test was used to compare the groups at significance level (p=0.05). R e s u l t s : Out of 212, (N=148, 69.81%) were participants in figurative painting (group A) and (N=64, 30.18%) were in calligraphy (group B) with positive Phalen test. The total mean score of symptom severity scale for CTS was (26.49 ± 6.25) and functional status (21.26±7.58) which determines moderate difficulty with routine tasks. The symptom severity scale for CTS among groups A and B had mean scores (27.83 ± 6.20) and (23.40, ± 5.20) whereas the functional status scale among group A; had mean scores (23.20 ± 7.67) and B (16.79, ± 5.13) respectively. Factors that showed significant difference between painters and calligraphers BCTQ were working hours, medium of paints, size of paint brushes and types of paint brushes (p-value= 0.00). C o n c l u s i o n : The results of this study showed an overall 'moderate' symptom severity and functional difficulty level among participants with CTS but figurative painters were more affected in some factors than calligraphers

부⋅모⋅자녀의 스마트 기기 의존, 가족과 함께하는 시간의 양, 아동 집행기능 곤란의 구조적 관계 탐색

Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the structural relationships among fathers', mothers', and children's smart devices dependence, the amount of family time spent together, and executive functioning difficulties.&#x0D; Methods Data from 548 pairs of parents and children who responded to all relevant factors in the 13th Korean Child Panel Survey(2020) were analyzed. Reliability analysis for scales, correlation analysis between variables, and descriptive statistics analysis were conducted. Validity was confirmed through measurement model validation, and structural model analysis was conducted by applying the maximum likelihood method (MLB) to the theory-based research model. Afterward, a mediation effect test based on bootstrapping and an individual indirect effect test using phantom variables were conducted.&#x0D; Results The results showed that mothers' dependence on smart devices increased children's dependence on smart devices, and the amount of family time spent together reduced both dependence on smart devices and executive functioning difficulties. In addition, children's smart device dependence increased executive functioning difficulties and mediated the relationship between maternal smart device dependence and children's executive functioning difficulties.&#x0D; Conclusions Exploration of the structural relationships among the study variables confirmed that maternal and child dependence on smartphones and the amount of family time spent together influenced children's executive functioning difficulties.&#x0D;

Effects of Media Device Use on Executive Function Difficulties of Children

Effects of Media Device Use on Executive Function Difficulties of Children

Narrative-Derived Indices of Metacognition among People with Schizophrenia: Associations with Self-Reported and Performance-Based Social Functioning.

Metacognitive functioning-which broadly encompasses the mental processes involved in thinking about the thinking of one's self and the thinking of others-is often impaired among individuals living with schizophrenia and may contribute to difficulties in social and interpersonal functioning. Although the majority of studies assessing metacognition among individuals with schizophrenia use standardized, laboratory-based measurements, an increasing number of studies have measured metacognitive capacity using natural language produced by individuals living with mental illness. At the same time, less is known about how language-derived indices of metacognitive function relate to key social outcomes among people with schizophrenia. The primary objective of this study was to employ a validated language coding system (the Metacognition Assessment Scale, Abbreviated; MAS-A) to assess metacognitive functioning from the spoken life narratives of individuals with schizophrenia (n = 32) and community controls (n = 15). Among individuals with schizophrenia, we also examined the associations between language-derived metacognition and measures of self-reported and performance-based social functioning. Our results suggest that most aspects of metacognition in our sample were not significantly diminished in people with schizophrenia compared to community controls. Unexpectedly, the MAS-A subscale related to one's ability to master psychological difficulties was rated higher among individuals with schizophrenia. Further, our results suggest that among people with schizophrenia, higher metacognitive functioning in the domain of self-reflectivity was associated with poorer self-reported social functioning, while a greater metacognitive awareness of other individuals' minds was associated with better scores on aspects of performance-based social functioning. Collectively, these results underscore the utility of assessing metacognitive functioning via life-story narratives to understand social outcomes and highlight possible aspects of resiliency among individuals who have experienced a serious mental illness.

Functional difficulty among young children in Bangladesh: An analysis of nationally representative data.

Functional difficulty in children is a crucial public health problem still undervalued in developing countries. This study explored the socio-demographic factors and anthropometry associated with children's functional difficulty in Bangladesh. Data for 2-4-year-old children, obtained from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, were used in this study. The mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. Children whose mothers had functional difficulty were found to be 2.75 times more likely to have functional difficulty than children whose mothers had no functional difficulty (95% CI 1.63-4.63). Male children were more likely to experience functional difficulty than female children (OR = 1.48). Furthermore, stunting was found to be significantly associated with functional difficulty (OR = 1.50). The study also revealed that division and mother's education, specifically, children with mothers having higher secondary + education, had significant association with the outcome variable. The findings provided a vital overview of child disability in a developing country.