Social Consequences Research Articles

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Self-Guided Intervention (MINDxYOU) for Reducing Stress and Promoting Mental Health Among Health Professionals: Results From a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.

The high levels of sustained stress that health professionals often experience are a significant risk factor for developing mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms, that not only affect their well-being but also have major social and organizational consequences. Different interventions, including those based on third-wave psychotherapy principles (ie, mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance), have proven to be effective in reducing stress in this population. Among them, those delivered on the web constitute a promising alternative with notable advantages in accessibility and flexibility, but some adherence inconveniences may limit their efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the MINDxYOU program, a web-based self-guided intervention based on third-wave psychotherapy principles, to reduce perceived stress and promote mental health in a sample of health professionals. In a stepped-wedge cluster randomized design, 357 health professionals from health centers in Aragon and Málaga, Spain, were recruited. They were divided into 6 clusters-3 per region-and randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 sequences, each starting with a control phase and then transitioning to the intervention phase (the MINDxYOU program) after 8, 16, or 24 weeks. This self-guided, web-based program, designed to be completed over 8 weeks, included weekly contact (via WhatsApp, call, or email) from the research team to promote adherence. Participants were assessed on the web every 8 weeks for 5 assessments. Perceived stress was the study's primary outcome, with additional measures of clinical factors (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and process variables (resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance). The program was initiated by 229 participants, 112 (48.9%) of whom were completers (ie, completed at least 3 of the 4 modules). Perceived stress demonstrated a significant reduction both when considering the entire sample (β=-1.08, SE 0.51; P=.03) and the sample of completers (β=-1.84, SE 0.62; P=.003). The proportion of participants reflecting "low stress" increased after the treatment (n=90, 46.6% vs n=100, 28.8% at baseline). Intracluster analysis revealed that pre- versus postintervention moderate effects were present in 2 clusters (Cohen d=0.46 and 0.62), and these were maintained in subsequent assessments. The linear mixed-effects models also showed that depression, anxiety, and somatization, as well as resilience, self-compassion, and some mindfulness facets, experienced significant improvements (P<.05) when comparing the intervention and control phases. The MINDxYOU program was effective in reducing perceived stress and promoting mental health, as well as increasing resilience, mindfulness facets, and self-compassion. These effects suggest that participants experienced a tangible improvement that could potentially enhance their well-being. Adherence to the intervention was moderate, while program use was notable compared to similar interventions. Finding ways to promote adherence to the intervention would contribute to increasing the effectiveness of this program. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05436717; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05436717. RR2-10.1186/s12912-022-01089-5.

Skin Scarred by Structural Violence

This article examines the facial disfigurement caused by vitriolage or acid attacks, and unravels the aesthetics of the disfigured faces by exploring their visually signified materiality, which divulges alternative aesthetics, jarring the viewers into a state of abjection. It unfolds the commonalities between acid-attack survivors and disabled people, given the physical, psychological, and social consequences which led to the inclusion of women acid attack survivors into the category of disability in the RPWD Act 2016 in India. This research probes into three major critical interventions: first, it scrutinises the relation between vitriolage and structural violence; second, it studies its cause and effect through the close textual analysis of select texts, Priya’s Mirror (a graphic novel) and Chhapaak (a Bollywood movie); and third, it delves into the nuances of appearance impairment, and its isolating and disabling effects. Succinctly, this research uncovers the multiple aspects of acid violence in the Indian context by studying the select texts as a cultural archive and, through their respective visual narratives, attempts to inquire about the previously concealed or overlooked corporeality of women acid attack survivors.

Risk Taking With Social Consequences

Strong egalitarian norms and preferences may affect entrepreneurship. If people feel guilty of their success they may take fewer risks, whilst if they expect their successes to be celebrated, they would take more risks. In this paper we ask whether anticipated social consequences influence risky choices. Do people take more, less or the same risk when inequality results from risky choice? We provide experimental evidence from rural Uganda. Subjects choose lotteries for themselves and a partner under different risk resolutions, allowing us to identify their type. We find anticipated social consequences influence risk taking for most people, as only one quarter are indifferent. Two-fifths are ex post inequality seeking, holding their own pay off constant, and take more risk when inequality is common. This possibility is not considered by previous experiments in the West, but is the largest category for our sample. Only one-third are ex-post inequality averse, reducing inequality of outcomes at a cost to their expected earnings. We show types are robust, and document large gender-based heterogeneity. These results imply inequality-aversion is not holding back risk taking on average. Rather there is great heterogeneity in how people respond to anticipated social consequences.

The role of interpersonal emotion regulation tendencies in the association between maternal childhood maltreatment and social support in parenting.

Alleviating psychological stress in parenting is crucial for breaking the intergenerational cycle of childhood maltreatment (CM). However, issues with social support-recognized as effective in addressing parenting challenges, including psychological stress-have been noted among parents with CM experiences. Specifically, these issues include a lack of resources and diminished effectiveness of social support. Previous findings suggest that decreased interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) contributes to both issues; however, no empirical study has examined this mechanism. This study explored the role of IER in the association between CM, social support, and psychological stress. Data from 1889 Japanese mothers were used for analysis. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Structural equation modeling validated the model, indicating that CM is associated with increased psychological stress through decreased IER and reduced social support resources (χ2=8.67, p<.05, CFI=0.99, GFI=1.00, AGFI=0.99, RMSEA=0.042). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant IER×social support utilization interaction effect on psychological stress (β=-0.06, p<.01). Social support utilization significantly associated with reduced psychological stress for both high and low IER mothers; however, the association was stronger for those with high IER (β=-0.23, p<.01) than those with low IER (β=-0.12, p<.01). Decreased IER tendencies are linked to social support challenges among parents with CM experiences. However, high IER tendencies may exacerbate psychological symptoms in parenting contexts, necessitating careful consideration in interventions.

Abstract HUP20: Assessing Social Vulnerability's Effect on Patient Outcomes in Los Angeles County Stroke Patients Among a Health System and Its Impact on Health Disparities

Abstract HUP20: Assessing Social Vulnerability's Effect on Patient Outcomes in Los Angeles County Stroke Patients Among a Health System and Its Impact on Health Disparities

Breeding-Related Changes in Social Interactions Among Female Vulturine Guineafowl.

Agonistic and affiliative interactions with group members dictate individual access to resources, and investment in competing for resources is often traded off with other needs. For example, reproductive investment can reduce body condition and, thereby, an individual's ability to win future agonistic interactions. However, group members may also alter their behaviour towards reproductive individuals, such as becoming more or less aggressive. Here, we investigated the social consequences of reproduction in female vulturine guineafowl Acryllium vulturinum, a plural breeder in which females disperse and are subordinate to males. We found opposing patterns for within- and between-sex dominance interactions experienced by females from before to after breeding. Specifically, breeding females became far less likely to win dominance interactions with non-breeding females after breeding than before breeding, but received considerably fewer male aggressions than non-breeding females after breeding. Despite a limited sample size, our study reveals that reproduction can have nuanced trade-offs with dominance and suggests that the study of dominance may benefit from explicitly considering variation in interaction rates as an additional factor affecting individuals.

What Do We Know About Non-Native, Invasive, and Transplanted Aquatic Mollusks in South America?

Global awareness of introduced species as one of the primary drivers of biodiversity change—causing environmental impacts, and economic and social effects—emphasizes the need to enhance our understanding of these species. Developing a comprehensive database will enable policymakers to identify global bioinvasion patterns and strengthen their capacity to manage them effectively. Aquatic mollusks play a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit, influencing food webs and nutrient cycling, and habitat formation and modification. They are also the dominant group in aquaculture, contributing significantly to the economy while also causing economic losses through macrofouling and posing health risks. Despite their importance, information on the introduction, establishment, and dispersal of mollusk species in South America remains scarce and is often confined to the grey literature. With the aim of organizing, increasing, and strengthening the knowledge of non-native and transplanted mollusks in general and aquatic mollusks in particular, 29 specialists in the introduced mollusks of South America, from seven countries, have been working collaboratively since 2016. Each member contributes expertise, data, and bibliographic resources to build the status of the introduced mollusks in South America and provide critical information to prevent future introductions and transplants. In aquatic environments, 41 non-native mollusk species and 18 transplanted species have been identified. Among them, the bivalve Limnoperna fortunei stands out with the greatest economic effect, while the gastropods Lymnaeidae and Thiaridae represent significant health concerns. Although this research represents a major step forward, it also highlights challenges such as the scarcity of taxonomic studies and the limited investigation of vast areas in South America. The information compiled in this review serves as a resource for researchers, policymakers, and the general public when addressing mollusk bioinvasions in South America.

The Delay and Failure of Residential Investment Projects in Iraq: Review

One of the challenges that arises frequently when carrying out residential investment projects is building delays. This study aims to fill this gap and add more to the body of knowledge about residential investment projects in Iraq. The research methodology was divided into two sections: one on previous studies, as mentioned in this research, and the other on techniques and tools for reducing residential project delays. The researcher concluded that there are several issues with residential projects, like inadequate project comprehension, outdated methods, untrained contractors, etc. This issue is not readily resolved and can have a detrimental effect on the project's outcome, including cost overruns, subpar work, a lack of safety, and schedule delays. In addition to other detrimental social effects, project delays may occur at some point during the construction process, and in certain cases, even when the project is completed. A construction project must be completed on schedule and within the projected budget. Approximately eighty-four pertinent articles over the past twenty-five years have been examined. This issue has a direct influence on people's lives and social welfare. Implementing residential project policies for new clients has sparked building projects and increased demand for residential buildings. However, a lot of residential projects were abandoned or never finished, which seriously concerned the government.

Career adaptability in the new hospitality work paradigm: effects of regulatory focus and organizational socialization

ABSTRACT The hospitality industry is currently in transition, and the workforce has become vulnerable, making career adaptability a crucial skill. Self-regulation plays an important role in adaptation, and thus, regulatory focus can shape how individuals tackle the challenges of a new work environment. Organizational socialization during the onboarding process can influence how well new employees align their behaviors and goals with those of the organization. This paper examines the relationship between regulatory focus and career adaptability among U.S. hospitality employees and tests the mediating role of organizational socialization. Results show a positive association between regulatory focus and both career adaptability and organizational socialization. Moreover, organizational socialization significantly mediates the relationship between regulatory focus and career adaptability. Findings contribute to the career adaptability literature and show how practitioners can help strengthen career adaptability to facilitate transitions to new hospitality work environments.

Accessible halitosis diagnosis: validating the accuracy of novel AI-based compact VSC measuring instrument

Halitosis presents a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of precise and efficient testing methodologies owing to the high prevalence and the associated social and psychological effects. The measurement of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), recognized as primary contributors to halitosis, is particularly significant. While gas chromatography (GC-MS) offers accurate measurements, its bulky and expensive nature limits widespread accessibility. Hence, this study endeavors to devise a compact yet highly accurate AI-based halitosis measurement apparatus, termed 'Kunkun dental' and validate its efficacy. Specifically, we intend to compare the VSC concentrations obtained from halitosis patients' breath samples using Kunkun dental against those from conventional GC-MS to assess the criterion validity of the new testing method. The study cohort comprised 68 halitosis patients aged 20 years or older, attending the breath freshening outpatient clinic at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital between October 2022 and March 2023, who consented to participate and underwent routine measurements. Participants completed an age and sex questionnaire, while VSC concentrations were determined using both GC-MS and Kunkun dental (H2S, CH3SH, (CH3)2S), enabling a comparative analysis of the results. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between GC-MS and Kunkun dental indicated significant correlations for all three gases: 0.719 for H2S, 0.821 for CH3SH, and 0.637 for (CH3)2S. Moreover, sensitivity and specificity in accordance with the predefined thresholds were confirmed, and their values ranged from 0.59 to 0.86 and 0.53-0.77, respectively. Furthermore, grouping Kunkun dental measurements into low-, medium-, and high-concentration groups revealed significantly higher GC-MS VSC concentrations in samples with elevated Kunkun dental readings. The amalgamation of AI technology and a semiconductor gas sensor holds great promise in creating a compact and precise halitosis analyzer. This study underscores the feasibility and effectiveness of Kunkun dental as a reliable tool for halitosis assessment, affirming its utility in clinical practice.

Videos Posted on Social Network Effects on Speaking Performance in Peruvian EFL Students

The present study aims to investigate how social media can influence the development of oral skills in 60 students from a higher education institution in Peru. In this regard, mixed-methods research was conducted, with pre and post-tests, to evaluate the before and after of implementing a program that involved uploading videos recorded by the students on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Additionally, an effort was made to design a model that measured the relationship between the constructs of oral skills (OS), psychological aspects (PA), comment effects (CE), and social networks (SN). In the last stage of this work, a semi-structured interview aimed to gather students' opinions on social networks. Among the most relevant results, a significant difference can be mentioned after applying for the referred program, with a remarkable improvement in oral skills (pre-6.03± 2.30, post-16.85±1.38, p=&lt;0.01) with effect-size 0.9433. On the other hand, an appropriate model was obtained considering the constructs mentioned earlier (RMSEA 0.044; CFI 0.971; and TLI 0.963). Regarding the responses given by the interviewees, Facebook stands out as the most frequented social network by them, with a certain indifference to comments made by others, an improvement in their oral production, and a noticeable motivation. The results obtained in this work could help understand the complexity faced by today's youth and their learning on social media, as well as the possibility of replicating this at other educational levels in Peru.

PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN NORTH-EAST STATE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

This study examines the psychosocial effects of drug abuse among undergraduate students in North-east Nigerian universities, highlighting its implications for guidance and counseling. A descriptive survey design was employed, involving a sample size of 900 students purposively selected from six tertiary institutions, including Adamawa State University, Gombe State University, and Borno State University. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, Psychosocial Effects of Drug Abuse on Undergraduates (PEDAUS), with a reliability index of 0.79, established through a pilot study. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were used for analysis at a 0.05 significance level. Findings reveal that peer pressure, easy access to drugs, and psychological challenges such as depression and loneliness are key drivers of drug abuse, while academic stress and lack of awareness were less influential. Marijuana, alcohol, and stimulants were the most commonly abused substances, consistent with prior studies. The extent of addiction was significant, with physical dependence, psychological addiction, and compulsive behaviors prevalent among students, exacerbating issues such as social withdrawal and academic decline. Social and psychological effects, including strained relationships, social isolation, and heightened anxiety, were also prominent. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions, including peer-led education, psychological counseling, addiction recovery programs, and strict disciplinary measures. Universities must establish well-equipped counseling centers and collaborate with government agencies to enforce stricter drug policies and raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. These recommendations aim to mitigate the pervasive effects of drug abuse on student well-being and academic performance.

POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST YOUTH IN IBADAN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

This study investigates police brutality amongst youth within Ibadan metropolis, focusing on its prevalence, causes, and impacts, particularly on youth aged 18–30. The research examines the systemic factors contributing to police violence, including inadequate training, entrenched impunity, and insufficient accountability, using Social Conflict and Strain Anomie theories as frameworks. Highlighting the 2020 #ENDSARS protests as a case study, the research explores the disproportionate targeting of urban youth by law enforcement and the social consequences of such actions. Findings reveal a disconnect between police operations and constitutional mandates, exacerbated by poor working conditions, internal conflicts, and the use of torture-induced confessions. Recommendations emphasize comprehensive police training, anti-bias initiatives, legislative reforms, and community policing to foster transparency, accountability, and public trust. The study also underscores the need for adopting body cameras, implementing whistle-blower protections, and leveraging data-driven analysis to prevent abuse. While the research relies on secondary data and a small sample size, it provides insights into the systemic challenges and socio-political implications of police brutality in Nigeria. The study contributes to policy discussions on safeguarding human rights and advocates for a collaborative, multifaceted strategy to address police misconduct and rebuild community-police relations, ensuring a more equitable justice system.

The aging human larynx, presbyphonia, and voice quality: The evolutionary and social effects on listeners.

The human voice is a major signal transmission modality for our species. Accordingly, perception of its quality serves as an intraspecific window into the status of an individual's health, robusticity, and even stature in the group. Diminished quality-as may occur in aging or certain diseases-is a major feature in the lessening of an individual's communication modality. Here, we review the underlying anatomy and function that comprise the voice producing elements-the vocal tract sensu lato-from the lungs through the larynx and supralaryngeal modifying elements. Aspects of the aging larynx and constituent elements such as the vocal folds ("true vocal cords") and intrinsic laryngeal joints, are discussed within the context of how their aging or disease degradation may affect an individual's speech and concomitant perception and interpretation by listeners. The aging voice is considered within the context of the overall effects of aging sensory systems in both humans and other mammals.

“Loneliness is a sad disease”: oldest old adults’ empirical definition of loneliness and social isolation from a mixed-method study in Northern Italy

BackgroundLoneliness and social isolation can occur at any stage of life, but some predictors may be more common among older adults. Due to growing population ageing, loneliness and social isolation are relevant social issues. Many studies apply the main definitions of loneliness and social isolation offered by the literature without considering how individual representations, socio-cultural context and the culture of care may influence their perception. This study wishes to fill in these literature gaps by analysing empirical definitions of loneliness and social isolation arising from a mixed-gender randomized sample of Italian oldest old people.MethodsBetween January and March 2019, 132 older people, most aged 80+, living in a northern Italian town, were asked to answer a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. According to a mixed-method analysis the definitions of loneliness and social isolation were analysed by respondents’ gender, living arrangement (e.g., living alone or with partners or other people), and years of education to find possible associations to the meanings attributed to the two concepts.ResultsThe sample was gender-balanced and mid-low educated; more than one fourth of respondents lived alone. The results underline how the empirical definitions of loneliness and social isolation are closer to each other than the academic ones. The two concepts are often perceived by participants as distinct, but they are strongly interconnected so that they can be used interchangeably by older Italian people. The two main themes identified by the analysis are loneliness as “death” and social isolation as “guilt”. In the respondents’ opinion, the main loneliness driver is the loss of loved, close persons, while social isolation is driven by disability. Age, educational level, and living arrangements did not influence the meanings attributed to social isolation. On the contrary, living arrangement (P = 0.002) and educational level (p = 0.023) seem to influence the empirical definitions of loneliness.ConclusionThe knowledge of the meanings that oldest old give to the two concepts may inspire advanced intervention aimed at buffering the psychological and social consequences of loneliness and social isolation in the older population.

The impact of green finance and FinTech mechanisms on financial stability: evidence from advanced and emerging economies

PurposeThis study aims to examine the dynamic effect of FinTech on financial stability, with the moderating role of green finance (GF), its dimensions and mechanisms in the context of the spillover effects of the COVID-19 shock. This study used balanced panel data from 148 countries, including 76 developed and 72 emerging nations, from 2005 to 2022.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilized the dynamic two-step system (GMM), and robustness was performed with the bootstrapped panel quantile regression.FindingsThe findings reveal that FinTech significantly affects financial stability across the entire sample. The overall composite of GF boosts financial stability by improving financial soundness. The GF dimensions, such as environmental, resource and financial, positively influence FS, while the GF economic dimension hurts FS. The moderating role and all interaction terms of GF dimensions with FinTech contribute positively and significantly to FS. While the interaction term GF resources with FinTech negatively impacts FS, indicating that countries should utilize resources more efficiently. Additionally, the COVID-19 spillover effect negatively influences FS across all samples. In advanced countries, FinTech and green finance positively affect FS. In emerging countries, green finance (except for the resource dimension) and FinTech interactions enhance financial stability, (except for the environmental dimension), leading to environmental hazards from their highly intensive industrial carbon policies.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize promoting the adoption of initiatives related to FinTech and green finance by integrating sustainable transition finance policy frameworks to maintain stability and foster low-carbon economies for a sustainable future.Social implicationsImproved financial stability has more significant social effects, such as better investment instruments, confidence and economic growth. Policymakers can leverage these findings to establish resilient financial ecosystems, fostering sustainable economic development and decreasing the risk of financial crises.Originality/valueThis study offers novel insights into how FinTech and multi-dimensional green finance effect financial stability in advanced and emerging nations. It provides unique insights into context-specific dynamics and enhances the literature on financial stability.

Media Representation and Evaluation of Non-travelers

Although about a quarter of the German population are non-travelers, the economic and social consequences that may result from non-travel are still unexplored. For this reason, this study aims to examine via a media analysis the representation and evaluation of non-travelers in German newspapers since the turn of the millennium and gain first insights into the social consequences that non-travelers face. By conducting a discourse analysis, a part of the social reality of non-travelers can be reconstructed. The study concludes that travel is predominantly constructed as a norm in the media and that deviation from this norm leads to negative social sanctions. Over the last 20 years, however, mainly three events have had an impact on the media's assessment of non-travel: the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001, the financial crisis in 2008-09 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a paradigm shift in the evaluation of the phenomenon of non-travel, during which a normalization process of non-travel occurred, at least temporarily. This media analysis thus provides the first indications of the social consequences for non-travelers in the past 20 years in Germany.

Test fairness of the in-house College English examination for Chinese non-English major undergraduates: a case study

IntroductionThe in-house College English examination is a high-stakes assessment for College English, a compulsory course for most non-English major undergraduates in China. However, the fairness of such examinations has not received due attention.MethodsThis paper employs Kunnan’s Test Fairness Framework to investigate common issues of test fairness related to the in-house College English examination, using a university in East China as an example. The data analyzed include the College English examination results of 5,680 non-English major undergraduates from 2018 to 2020.ResultThe research finds various fairness problems in terms of validity, absence of bias, access, administration, and social consequences. These issues can be attributed to underlying factors such as lack of language assessment literacy, time, and funding on the part of examiners or administrators.DiscussionHence, this research proposes a holistic approach to improve test fairness, involving all stakeholders and all procedures in the in-house College English examination. Collaborating with external experts on language tests and lowering the stakes of in-house examinations are suggested as effective measures to mitigate test unfairness issues.

Identification of emerging harms due to COVID-19 outbreak: a qualitative study in Iran

IntroductionAlthough COVID-19 has altered various harms and exacerbated the prevalence of some of them, this period has also set the stage for the emergence of new harms. The present study aims to identify the emerging harms resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran.MethodsThe study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach through semi-structured interviews with 21 experts and professors knowledgeable about social harms and COVID-19 consequences who were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling. Data analysis was carried out using the Graneheim and Lundman’s method in MAXQDA-2018 software. Guba and Lincoln’s criteria were used to trustworthiness of results.ResultsThe results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a range of issues and problems at various levels of society that were not considered social harms before the pandemic, given their prevalence and impact. After analyzing the data, four main categories and fourteen subcategories were identified. The main categories were social fatigue, ineffective education system, formation of a digital lifestyle, and formation of a new understanding and meaning of death and life.ConclusionThe COVID-19 crisis has intensified existing social harms and introduced new ones, rendering previous mitigation strategies ineffective. Designing novel policies and guidelines is crucial to address these evolving challenges and reduce the adverse societal impacts of the pandemic.

Oral and topical spironolactone in acne treatment: A meta-analysis of effectiveness and safety.

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that commonly lasts from adolescence to adulthood and has serious social and psychological consequences. Current treatments typically use antibacterial drugs, which contributes to the rise in antibacterial drug resistance. Spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic with anti-androgen effects, has been used off-label to treat acne by lowering sebum production. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the safety and efficacy of oral and topical spironolactone in acne treatment. Following PRISMA guidelines, a complete search of five databases yielded seven eligible studies (643 individuals) that compared spironolactone to placebo in randomized controlled trials. The total lesion count (TLC), comedones and papule counts, acne severity index (ASI), and adverse events (AEs) were all measured. RevMan was used for statistical analysis, and effect estimates were presented as mean differences (MD) and relative risk (RR), as appropriate. The study found that spironolactone significantly reduced ASI (MD = - 6.53, 95% CI: [- 10.83 to - 2.22], p = 0.003) and had a satisfactory safety profile, particularly in terms of menstruation symptoms. There were no statistically significant variations in TLC, comedone, or papule counts between the 4, 8, and 12-week intervals. Adverse events, including menstrual abnormalities, were similar across groups. Spironolactone, both oral and topical, demonstrated promise in lowering acne severity, particularly in female patients. While larger, long-term trials are required to demonstrate its efficacy and safety, spironolactone is a beneficial option to antibacterial drug therapies for dermatological and cardiovascular issues.