Distance Regulation Research Articles

Sleeping for two: a randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in pregnancy.

Insomnia and sleep problems are common in pregnancy and have potentially negative impacts on both parental and infant health. This study examined the sleeping for two adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in pregnancy. A parallel (1:1) randomized controlled trial evaluated CBT-I (n=32) compared to a treatment as usual (TAU) waitlist (n=32) among pregnant individuals from Alberta, Canada experiencing insomnia. Five weekly individual sessions of CBT-I pivoted from in-person delivery to telehealth due to COVID-19 pandemic physical distancing regulations. Insomnia symptom severity (primary outcome), insomnia diagnosis by structured interview, self-reported sleep problems, as well as sleep parameters measured by diary and actigraphy, were assessed pre-treatment at 12-28 weeks gestation (T1), one-week post-treatment (T2), and six months postpartum (T3). Birth information (secondary outcomes) were collected via delivery record and parent report of infant sleep (exploratory outcome) was taken at T3. Multilevel modeling using an intention-to-treat approach showed that CBT-I was associated with a decrease in insomnia symptoms and improved sleep quality across time compared to TAU. The CBT-I group had fewer diagnoses of insomnia post-treatment, but the difference did not reach statistical significance until 6-months postpartum. Participants with worse sleep quality at baseline benefitted substantially more from CBT-I vs. TAU waitlist. CBT-I delivered in pregnancy can reduce symptoms of insomnia and improve sleep quality, which could in turn minimize risk of negative consequences for birthing parent and infant health. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: NCT03918057; Name: Sleeping for Two: RCT of CBT-Insomnia in Pregnancy; URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03301727.

Lifestyle changes and psychological anxiety during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: Using the Korean Community Health Survey

This study investigated changes in lifestyles and psychological anxiety among Koreans during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the 2020 data from the nationwide Korean Community Health Survey. The study outcomes were psychological anxiety about the infection and death, due to COVID-19. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the relationship between psychological anxiety and lifestyle changes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who practiced healthy behaviors and followed social distancing and quarantine regulations experienced increased psychological anxiety for infection and death. Daily life changes during the COVID-19 pandemic were not associated with psychological anxiety. The result of this study can provide baseline measures for further study on psychological anxiety during re-infection of COVID-19 and future pandemics in Korea.

Preferred Distance in Human-Drone Interaction.

In two augmented-reality experiments, we transferred the paradigm of interpersonal distance regulation to human-drone interaction. In the first experiment, we used a simple spherical drone model and explored how both hovering height and approach angle affect the preferred distance. Drone height above the ground had a strong effect. The preferred distance to the drone was larger than that typically found toward human actors, in particular, when the drone trajectory was very high. In the second experiment, we sought to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that may influence this effect. In addition to the simple spherical drone model used in the first experiment, we also varied its appearance and attachment to the ground. Surprisingly, anthropomorphic features increased preferred distances. We, therefore, discuss the extent to which social aspects and subjectively perceived danger influence the preferred distance for interaction with drones, which thus need to be considered in the design of human-drone interaction.

The role of group membership and culture in interpersonal distance regulation

AbstractThe current study aims to examine the influence of group membership and cultural conceptions on the regulation of interpersonal distance (IPD) among Chinese and Italian adolescents. Two‐hundred forty participants completed an online computerized version of the Interpersonal Visual Analogue Scale to assess their preferred IPD. A greater distance was found in Chinese than Italian participants. Chinese participants also chose a larger distance from outgroup than ingroup members, whereas no such tendencies were found among Italian participants. Moreover, in the Chinese group, a larger distance from the male target was chosen by females compared to male participants. Finally, all participants maintained greater distance when outgroup members approached from the back than from the front. These findings not only provide evidence that nationality and group membership impact on how individuals regulate spatial boundaries, but also offer a new lens to understand intergroup dynamics shaping social interactions among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Perceptions of virtual versus in‐person recovery meetings: A cross‐sectional survey of Oxford House residents

AbstractThis study investigates shifts in the modality of addiction recovery communities from person‐to‐person interactions to virtual platforms in the context of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Our study involves members of the Oxford House recovery homes (n = 284), a major network of recovery‐supportive housing in the United States and abroad. Many residents participate in 12‐step meetings during their stay, traditionally conducted in‐person, but due to physical distancing regulations, many of these meetings transitioned to virtual platforms. We collected cross‐sectional survey data focusing on user perceptions of virtual 12‐step meetings in terms of accessibility, cost, convenience, support network strength and recovery network quality. Our study found significant differences in perceptions among different demographic groups, suggesting challenges in transitioning recovery support to online platforms. Notably, participants aged 46 and older showed a greater propensity to use online recovery forums and found online meetings convenient. Non‐White individuals and women demonstrated a more favourable perception of online meetings—a trend that also held true among those with at least some college education. Furthermore, the results show that those who initiated their recovery prior to the COVID‐19 lockdown viewed online methods more favourably, particularly in terms of accessibility and cost. Our data also revealed that participants who were categorically involved in 12‐step recovery (Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous) demonstrated a more positive perception of online methods in terms of the strength of social networks and social support quality, despite some resistance to virtual transition and maintaining focus. Further research is needed to understand these nuanced impacts and develop strategies to enhance the effectiveness of online recovery meetings.

Unpacking the impact of COVID-19 on child immunization: evidence from Ghana

BackgroundWith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments implemented social distancing regulations to limit the spread of the disease. Some health experts warned that these measures could negatively affect access to essential health services, such as routine childhood immunizations. Others noted that without these regulations, COVID-19 cases would increase, leading to overburdened health systems.MethodsWe analyze four years (2018–2021) of monthly administrative data on childhood immunizations in all administrative districts in Ghana and exploit variations in social distancing regulations across districts. Given variations in social distancing regulations across Ghanaian districts, we can further differentiate between the effect of public lockdowns and the effect of the pandemic.ResultsWe find that child immunizations in Ghana declined by 6% during the public lockdown in April 2020, but the country compensated with higher vaccination rates starting in June, and immunization services recovered to pre-pandemic growth levels by 2021. Time-critical vaccines, such as polio, were not affected at all. We do find a substantially larger disruption in April 2020 (14%) and a slower recovery in 2020 in the 40 lockdown-affected districts. Interestingly, vaccination rates already decreased in February and March by about 5% before the public lockdown and before the pandemic had reached Ghana, but with the pandemic already spreading globally and in the news.ConclusionOur results indicate that the negative effect on child immunization was less severe and shorter than predicted by experts. Fear of COVID-19 and delayed vaccination campaigns had a substantial impact on childhood immunization while rising COVID-19 cases and moderate social distancing regulations did not seem to affect immunization rates.

“The genie is out of the bottle”: a qualitative study on the impact of COVID-19 on continuing professional development

BackgroundThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a monumental shift in the field of continuing professional development (CPD). Prior to this, the majority of CPD group-learning activities were offered in-person. However, the pandemic forced the field to quickly pivot towards more novel methods of learning and teaching in view of social distancing regulations. The purpose of this study was to obtain the perspectives of CPD leaders on the impact of the pandemic to elucidate trends, innovations, and potential future directions in the field.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted between April-September 2022 with 23 CPD leaders from Canada and the USA. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and de-identified. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data and generate themes.ResultsParticipants characterised COVID-19 as compelling widespread change in the field of CPD. From the interviews, researchers generated six themes pertaining to the impact of the pandemic on CPD: (1) necessity is the mother of innovation, (2) the paradox of flexibility and accessibility, (3) we’re not going to unring the bell, (4) reimagining design and delivery, (5) creating an evaluative culture, and (6) a lifeline in times of turmoil.ConclusionThis qualitative study discusses the impact of the pandemic on the field of CPD and leaders’ vision for the future. Despite innumerable challenges, the pandemic created opportunities to reform design and delivery. Our findings indicate a necessity to maintain an innovative culture to best support learners, to improve the healthcare system, and to prepare for future emergencies.

Changing risk factors for developing SARS-CoV-2 infection from Delta to Omicron.

One of the few studies to estimate infection risk with SARS-CoV-2 in the general population was the UK Office of National Statistics Infection Survey. This survey provided data that allowed us to describe and interpret apparent risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in a period when variants and COVID-19 controls experienced large changes. The ONS published estimates of likelihood of individuals testing positive in two week monitoring periods between 21st November 2021 and 7th May 2022, relating this positivity to social and behavioural factors. We applied meta-regression to these estimates of likelihood of testing positive to determine whether the monitored potential risk factors remained constant during the pandemic. Some risk factors had consistent relationship with risk of infection (always protective or always linked to higher risk, throughout monitoring period). Other risk factors had variable relationship with risk of infection, with changes seeming to especially correlate with the emergence of Omicron BA.2 dominance. These variable factors were mask-wearing habits, history of foreign travel, household size, working status (retired or not) and contact with children or persons age over 70. Relevance of some risk factors to likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 may relate to reinfection risk, variant infectiousness and status of social distancing regulations.

The Evolution of Consumer Adoption in AI-Enhanced Social Commerce

The COVID outbreak caused governments worldwide to put social distancing regulations, ban physical contact, and close physical enterprises, which changed how multitudinous businesses operated. Due to the epidemic, businesses were impelled to modify their business plans by incorporating the current electronic system of operation, or electronic commerce. Electronic commerce, ore- commerce, enhanced businesses' external connections with their stakeholders. multitudinous businesses stopped operating their physical stores and started up, or bolstered, their online presence by moving toper- existing- commerce platforms (Chengeta, 2022). The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2021 report states that, in distinction to 2018, there was an unexpected 4 rise in global- commerce in 2020. demonstrating the significant increase in e- commerce, which includes business- to- business (B2B) and business- to- consumer (B2C) deals, and the growing significance of online exertion (UNCTAD, 2021). Indeed, while demand shifted from physical stores to online retailers, certain- commerce companies outperformed others in terms of digital addition. predicated on gross wares value (GMV), e-commerce companies like Alibaba, Amazon, JD.com, and Pendulous ranked as the top four B2Ce- commerce enterprises in 2020 (UNCTAD, 2021). Businesses with significant drops in their 2020 GMV compared to 2019 were Expedia, Booking goods, and Airbnb (UNCTAD, 2021). Because of their proficiency with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the top- ranked e- commerce companies demonstrated strong performance in digital addition (Micallef and Gupta, 2021). Thanks to large data, artificial intelligence (AI) has come a technical priority. for multitudinous online retailers in recent times (Davenport Tal, 2018). The use of AI has increased by over 300 in the last numerous times and has the implicit to be profitable for businesses. exploration and examination of the use of AI one- commerce platforms are long overdue. To increase the perceived demands of guests being satisfied, the commerce effectiveness of AI operations one- commerce platforms is a vital concern. E-commerce platforms produce a competitive edge by virtue of their distinct and delicate to replicate characteristics, as demonstrated by the IS literature (Schreyer, 2012). Former studies on AI operations emphasize that to give AI capacity value, organizational and mortal resources are demanded the factory of Ramsbotham teal. ultimate of the disquisition on AI operations in e- commerce has concentrated on handover and operation oddities (Khari, 2020). Consumer- AI operation commerce effectiveness has entered lower attention, and as a result, the benefits of AI operation Ine- commerce have not been fully appreciated. The operation's end stoners, or consumers, anticipate a positive hassle with slice- edge technical apps one- commerce platforms. To close this gap, the current study examines the unique advanced technologies and platform structures one- commerce platforms as AI capabilities that elicit favourable sentiments about consumer participation. It does this by erecting on earlier disquisition from the viewpoint of the consumers (Howard and Roswell- Jones, 2019). This study specifically assesses chatbots, image quest, recommendation machines, and post- purchase backing as AI factors in an online store, and how well they communicate with guests to draw in favourable observed(behavioural) and unobserved(cerebral) engagement stations. Using the instigations- organism- response (S- O- R) model, this study investigates how consumers' behavioural engagement stations(R) are sparked by AI rudiments(S) in response to their cerebral engagement(O) and attention to social comparison (Congeal, 2019). When a consumer interacts with the AI features on and- commerce platform, they witness a happy, fulfilling state of mind known as cerebral engagement. This state is characterized by devotion, absorption, and vitality. The response, which was behavioural the term" engagement" describes the ongoing, visible relations that stoners have with thee- commerce platform because of their positive perceptions of the platform and their relations with the AI rudiments that are there (Luetta., 2019). Literature on AI operations and IT capabilities in information system disquisition is consulted in this study. Also, by using the scale, we created a check instrument to measure guests' satisfaction with AI capabilities and their stations about consumer engagement. development morals set up in the literature on operation information systems (Mackenzie Tal., 2011). This is how the rest of the composition is structured. The literature on the S- OR model, customer involvement, and the history of thee- commerce platforms used for the study is curtly introduced in the following section. Next, the study's abstract frame, hypotheticals, and explanations for the AI constructs are established. The process is also described, and initially, the analysis's outgrowth and interpretation. In conclusion, we go over the results and point out the implications, constraints, and future disquisition directions of the work.

Challenges of Teaching and Learning under Lockdown at Wits University: Implications for the Future of Blended Learning

In response to social distancing regulations of 2020 aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, universities had to rapidly transition from face-to-face learning to Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERTL). University students and staff faced many barriers to reliably accessing online platforms, together with widespread psychosocial challenges associated with the pandemic. This article reports on these challenges, juxtaposing the experiences of university staff members and students at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits). This study used a mixed methods design and drew on two university-wide surveys for staff and one for students, followed by in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Of those invited, 9% of the student body and 7% of staff responded, with 43 students and 22 staff members participating in the interviews and discussions. Three overarching challenges emerged for both staff and students: 1) physical limitations, including poor access to reliable internet, compounded by persistent power outages; 2) pedagogicalchallenges as staff and students adjusted to a new learning modality; and 3) balancing aspects of personal life and wellbeing with work and studies, including remaining productive while contending with family responsibilities and emotional challenges brought about by the pandemic. The study highlights several issues, including structural considerations and the importance of promoting a sense of community and belonging, that should be considered as the University transitions to blended learning.

Compact biologically inspired camera with computational compound eye

Abstract The growing interests have been witnessed in the evolution and improvement of artificial compound eyes (CE) inspired by arthropods. However, the existing CE cameras are suffering from a defocusing problem due to the incompatibility with commercial CMOS cameras. Inspired by the CEs of South American Shrimps, we report a compact biologically inspired camera that enables wide-field-of-view (FOV), high-resolution imaging and sensitive 3D moving trajectory reconstruction. To overcome the defocusing problem, a deep learning architecture with distance regulation is proposed to achieve wide-range-clear imaging, without any hardware or complex front-end design, which greatly reduces system complexity and size. The architecture is composed of a variant of Unet and Pyramid-multi-scale attention, with designed short, middle and long distance regulation. Compared to the current competitive well-known models, our method is at least 2 dB ahead. Here we describe the high-resolution computational-CE camera with 271 ommatidia, with a weight of 5.4 g an area of 3 × 3 cm2 and 5-mm thickness, which achieves compatibility and integration of CE with commercial CMOS. The experimental result illustrates this computational-CE camera has competitive advantages in enhanced resolution and sensitive 3D live moving trajectory reconstruction. The compact camera has promising applications in nano-optics fields such as medical endoscopy, panoramic imaging and vision robotics.

Regional photovoltaic grid power generation output prediction based on SVM and autoencoder

Photovoltaic power generation, which is an important component of clean energy, has been widely used around the world. However, the predictability of photovoltaic power generation systems has always been a challenge because it is affected by meteorological conditions and other external factors. Therefore, accurate photovoltaic power generation output prediction is crucial for the stability and reliability of the power system. This work aims to use two advanced machine learning technologies, supporting vector machine (SVM), and autoencoder (Autoencoder), to improve the prediction performance of regional photovoltaic grid power generation output. First, this article introduces the autoencoder and SVM network, and then we use the SVM algorithm to analyze and model these data. By using SVM, we can build a highly accurate photovoltaic power generation output prediction model that can predict on different time scales, from hourly level to daily level. Next, the principle and working mechanism of the support vector machine will be introduced in detail, and its advantages in processing complex data and high-dimensional features will be explained. Then, this article will use the grid search method to optimize the support vector machine model. A new cluster performance index based on electrical distance and regional voltage regulation capability is proposed, which divides the distribution network into multiple clusters. The voltage control strategy combines cluster autonomous optimization of time scales and distributed inter-cluster coordination optimization. Then we select evaluation indicators to evaluate the obtained model. The results show that the model can predict power generation output and provide a reference for making point arrangements. In terms of model building, this article will explain how to select appropriate features and parameters and use the collected data to train the SVM model. We also perform a detailed evaluation and analysis of the model’s performance. We use a variety of evaluation metrics to measure model accuracy and stability. Experimental results show that the SVM and autoencoder hybrid model have higher prediction accuracy and better generalization performance than traditional methods.

Reintroducing face-to-face support alongside remote support to form a hybrid stop smoking service in England: a formative mixed methods evaluation

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, United Kingdom (UK) stop smoking services had to shift to remote delivery models due to social distancing regulations, later reintroducing face-to-face provision. The “Living Well Smokefree” service in North Yorkshire County Council adopted a hybrid model offering face-to-face, remote, or a mix of both. This evaluation aimed to assess the hybrid approach’s strengths and weaknesses and explore potential improvements.MethodsConducted from September 2022 to February 2023, the evaluation consisted of three components. First, qualitative interviews involved 11 staff and 16 service users, analysed thematically. Second, quantitative data from the QuitManager system that monitored the numbers and proportions of individuals selecting and successfully completing a 4-week quit via each service option. Third, face-to-face service expenses data was used to estimate the value for money of additional face-to-face provision. The qualitative findings were used to give context to the quantitative data via an “expansion” approach and complementary analysis.ResultsOverall, a hybrid model was seen to provide convenience and flexible options for support. In the evaluation, 733 individuals accessed the service, with 91.3% selecting remote support, 6.1% face-to-face, and 2.6% mixed provision. Remote support was valued by service users and staff for promoting openness, privacy, and reducing stigma, and was noted as removing access barriers and improving service availability. However, the absence of carbon monoxide monitoring in remote support raised accountability concerns. The trade-off in “quantity vs. quality” of quits was debated, as remote support reached more users but produced fewer carbon monoxide-validated quits. Primarily offering remote support could lead to substantial workloads, as staff often extend their roles to include social/mental health support, which was sometimes emotionally challenging. Offering service users a choice of support options was considered more important than the “cost-per-quit”. Improved dissemination of information to support service users in understanding their options for support was suggested.ConclusionsThe hybrid approach allows smoking cessation services to evaluate which groups benefit from remote, face-to-face, or mixed options and allocate resources accordingly. Providing choice, flexible provision, non-judgmental support, and clear information about available options could improve engagement and match support to individual needs, enhancing outcomes.

Lightweight polypropylene/BaTiO3 composite foams with tunable dielectric constant

Lightweight dielectric foam materials with tunable dielectric constant of 2–1 have broad application prospects in the field of Luneburg lens. Expandable polystyrene (EPS) foam is commonly used for fabricating discrete dielectric layers of Luneburg lens, while its temperature resistance and mechanical properties are poor. EPS foam with dielectric constant of >1.5 is also difficult to prepare because of its low expansion ratio. In this work, choosing polypropylene (PP) with better temperature resistance and mechanical properties as polymer matrix, PP/BaTiO3 composite foams are fabricated by subcritical CO2 batch foaming and steam-chest molding. Through the dual regulation of expansion ratio and mold-opening distance, the dielectric constant of PP/BaTiO3 foams can be tunable from ∼1.19 to ∼1.91, with the density increasing from ∼0.14 to ∼0.59 g/cm3. Compared with EPS foams, PP/BaTiO3 foams have lower density under the similar dielectric constant, indicating the weight reduction of polymer dielectric foam materials by introducing high dielectric fillers.

New skills for distance regulation: Therapists’ experiences of remote psychotherapy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

New skills for distance regulation: Therapists’ experiences of remote psychotherapy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Revolutionizing the Travel Industry

With the development of ICTs, vivid changes have been experienced in the travel industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of everyday lives and it is also impacting the travel industry to a great extent. The travel industry has always been among the leading industries to adopt the latest technologies. It has also acquired the AI-enabled tools for providing a seamless travelling experience to the travellers. The use of travel chatbots, customer service travel bots, voice assistants, service automation and robots have been able to fulfill the demands of modern day tourists. This eventually leads to personalization of tourism services, upgradation of operations and increment of productivity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proved to be of great help during the COVID-19 pandemic when there were restrictions on travelling and social distancing regulations were being followed by the travellers. It has a promising future in the travel industry as well. The present study tends to discuss the various usages of artificial intelligence in improving the travel industry. The paper also tends to highlight the impact of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing the travel industry and offering a better travel experience to the tourists.

A simple and reliable interenzyme distance regulation strategy based on a DNA quadrangular prism scaffold for ultrasensitive ochratoxin A detection

Developing sensitive and accurate Ochratoxin A (OTA) detection methods is essential for food safety. Herein, a simple and reliable strategy for regulating interenzyme distance based on a rigid DNA quadrangular prism as a scaffold was proposed to establish a new electrochemical biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of OTA. The interenzyme distances were precisely adjusted by changing the sequences of the hybridized portions of hairpins SH1 and SH2 to the DNA quadrangular prism, avoiding the complexity and instability of the previous DNA scaffold-based enzyme spacing adjustment strategies. The electrochemical biosensor constructed at the optimal interenzyme distance (10.4 nm) achieved sensitive detection of OTA in a dynamic concentration range from 10 fg/mL to 250 ng/mL with a detection limit of 3.1 fg/mL. In addition, the biosensor was applied to quantify OTA in real samples, exhibiting great application potential in food safety.

Keeping distance or getting closer: How others' emotions shape approach-avoidance postural behaviors and preferred interpersonal distance.

Understanding the influence of emotions on social interactions is important for a global understanding of the dynamics of human behavior. In this study, we investigated the interplay between emotions, spontaneous approach or avoidance tendencies, and the regulation of interpersonal distance. Fifty-seven healthy adults participated in a three-part experiment involving exposure to approaching or withdrawing emotional faces (neutral, happy, sad, fearful, disgusted, angry). The sequence began with an initial computerized stop-distance task, followed by a postural task in which participants' approach or avoidance tendencies were quantified via center of pressure (CoP-Y) displacements on a force platform, and concluded with a final computerized stop-distance task. Our findings revealed a gradient in postural responses, with the most forward CoP-Y displacements for neutral and happy faces, indicative of approach tendencies. These were followed by lesser forward displacements for sad and fearful faces, and most pronounced backward displacements for disgusted and angry faces, indicating avoidance. Furthermore, we observed modulations in participants' preferred interpersonal distance based on emotional cues, with neutral and happy faces associated with shorter distances, and disgusted and angry faces linked to larger distances. Despite these similar results, no direct correlation was found between CoP-Y and preferred interpersonal distance, underscoring a dissociation between spontaneous and voluntary social behaviors. These results contribute to a better understanding of how emotional expressions shape social interactions and underscore the importance of considering emotional cues, postural action tendencies, and interpersonal distance in facilitating successful social interactions.

Too close for comfort? Social distance and emotion perception in remitted bipolar I disorder

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder that is associated with heightened and persistent positive emotion (Gruber, 2011; Johnson, 2005). Yet, we know little about how troubled emotion responding may translate into dynamic face-to-face interactions involving others, especially in contexts where automatic social regulation of personal distance from others is key to maintaining social boundaries. Method: Using a novel social distance paradigm adapted from a prior work (Kennedy et al., 2009), participants with a clinical history of bipolar I disorder (n = 30) and healthy controls (CTL; n = 31) provided online measurements of social distance preferences in response to positive, negative, and neutral facial images, as well as subsequent social judgment and emotion perception ratings. Results: Results suggest no group differences on social distance, social perception, or general emotion perception ratings. However, exploratory analyses suggest that the BD group rated positive images higher in happiness, but lower in amusement, compared to the CTL group. Conclusion: These findings contribute to a growing literature on socioemotional processes in BD.

Mental health problems among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study from Sweden.

Most international studies have concluded that exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with worse mental health. Sweden implemented lighter restrictions than many other countries. We evaluated the association between changes in exposure of COVID-19 restrictions and changes in mental health problems among Swedish adolescents. Repeated cross-sectional data were derived from the Stockholm school survey, mandatory for all students in municipal schools and voluntary for students in private schools. Unexposed students were assessed in the year 2020 and exposed were assessed in 2022. Mental health was assessed using items similar to the psychosomatic problem scale. All variables were dichotomised, and a non-parametric logistic regression was used to evaluate associations. A significant positive association was found between exposure of COVID-19 restrictions and self-reports of five to seven mental health problems a week for girls (odds ratio (OR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18-1.41), but a non-significant association was found for boys (also after controlling for relevant covariates). Among boys and girls (shown), changes in mental health during the pandemic were moderated by social support from parents (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.98-2.51), bullying victimisation (OR 2.24, 95% CI 2.06-2.66), a sensation-seeking temperament (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24-1.58) and school achievement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18-1.51). Compared with boys, adolescent girls self-reported worse mental health following COVID-19 exposure. Girls may have been more affected by social distancing regulations in Sweden during the pandemic than boys and may require additional psychosocial support post-pandemic. Social support from parents may play an important role.