EQ Scores Research Articles

Recognition of Dynamic Emotional Expressions in Children and Adults and Its Associations with Empathy.

This present study investigates emotion recognition in children and adults and its association with EQ and motor empathy. Overall, 58 children (33 5-6-year-olds, 25 7-9-year-olds) and 61 adults (24 young adults, 37 parents) participated in this study. Each participant received an EQ questionnaire and completed the dynamic emotion expression recognition task, where participants were asked to identify four basic emotions (happy, sad, fearful, and angry) from neutral to fully expressed states, and the motor empathy task, where participants' facial muscle activity was recorded. The results showed that "happy" was the easiest expression for all ages; 5- to 6-year-old children performed equally well as adults. The accuracies for "fearful," "angry," and "sad" expressions were significantly lower in children than in adults. For motor empathy, 7- to 9-year-old children exhibited the highest level of facial muscle activity, while the young adults showed the lowest engagement. Importantly, individual EQ scores positively correlated with the motor empathy index in adults but not in children. In sum, our study echoes the previous literature, showing that the identification of negative emotions is still difficult for children aged 5-9 but that this improves in late childhood. Our results also suggest that stronger facial mimicry responses are positively related to a higher level of empathy in adults.

P-226 Consistent quality in Duostim cycle embryos: Concordant assessment by embryologists and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract Study question Does the Duostim protocol, evaluated by embryologists and AI, yield similar embryo quality in both cycles, and what impact does it have on reproductive outcomes? Summary answer Duostim protocol, when assessed by both AI and embryologists, maintains consistent embryo quality, making it a promising therapeutic option in assisted reproductive technology. What is known already Duostim optimises ovarian cycles with consecutive stimulations in the follicular and luteal phases, particularly beneficial for poor prognosis and oncological patients, aiming to boost oocyte production in a short period. It’s crucial to evaluate its impact on embryo quality. AI tools like CHLOE-EQ assist embryologists by automatically generating an embryo quality score (EQ Score) from time-lapse videos and morphokinetic annotations. This study compares the embryo quality from the initial and subsequent stimulations in a Duostim cycle, examining both AI-generated EQ Scores and assessments by embryologists. Study design, size, duration In a retrospective study spanning from February to December 2022, 234 embryos resulting from Duostim protocols were analyzed. The embryos were divided into “first” (n = 112) and “second” (n = 122) stimulations. Evaluation of embryo quality utilized CHLOE-EQ scores (Fairtility Ltd), morphokinetic events (tPNa-tEB), and Direct Unequal Cleavage (DUC) automatically annotated by AI. Manual annotations by embryologists included parameters like euploidy, utilization, and fragmentation. Participants/materials, setting, methods The study included embryos from Duostim protocols. Embryo quality of each stimulation group was evaluated using EQ score and embryo development pace (tPNa-tEB), measured by 2-sample t-test. Additional analysis compared euploidy, utilization, and abnormalities (DUCs, fragmentation) between first and second stimulation and was evaluated using chi-squared tests. Main results and the role of chance Patient age averaged 40±3 years. EQ scores revealed comparable embryo quality between “first” and “second” stimulation cycles (3.2 ± 3.6 vs. 2.9 ± 3.7), with a similar distribution of low, medium, and high-quality embryos.Similarities were observed in development rates between embryos derived from the first and second stimulation; tPNA(9 ± 3 vs 9 ± 3); tPNf(22 ± 7 vs 22 ± 5); t2(27 ± 4 vs 27 ± 4); t3(37 ± 6 vs 37 ± 5); t4 (39 ± 6 vs 39 ± 6); t5(48 ± 9 vs 49 ± 8); t6(54 ± 9 vs 56 ± 10); t7(57 ± 10 vs 59 ± 10); t8(61 ± 12 vs 61 ± 12); t9(70 ± 12 vs 73 ± 12); tM(89 ± 12 vs 88 ± 14); tSB(106 ± 12 vs 107 ± 16); tB(113 ± 12 vs 116 ± 15); tEB(124 ± 11 vs 125 ± 14), p=NS. Both stimulation groups had similar utilization (39% vs. 33%), euploidy (54% vs. 45%), DUCs (19% vs. 17%), and fragmentation rates (≤25%: 95% vs. 96%; >26%: 5% vs. 4 The quantity of oocytes retrieved from the first and second stimulations (112 vs. 122) further supported these findings. Limitations, reasons for caution The sample, while substantial, may not represent diverse populations. Generalizability and potential confounding variables should be considered. To enhance applicability, assessments across diverse IVF centers with varied patient demographics are crucial. Wider implications of the findings Duostim, assessed by both AI and embryologists, emerges as a promising therapeutic option without compromising embryonic quality or euploidy. The study supports AI integration for assessing therapeutic protocols and their impact on embryonic quality, emphasizing its potential in enhancing reproductive medicine practices. Trial registration number NA

P-168 Both artificial intelligence and manual embryo selection methods show sex-bias, favouring male embryos – insights from the largest embryo sex study using time-lapse and PGT-A

Abstract Study question Do AI-based and manual embryo selection strategies based on morphological and kinetic evaluation favour male over female embryos? Could the differences enable sex selection? Summary answer Male embryos receive higher-quality scores using both AI-based models and manual grading, but not using deep-learning approaches. The differences, although present, preclude reliable sex selection. What is known already A key aspect of IVF, embryo selection, involves methods executed manually via direct embryo morphological assessment, or by artificial intelligence algorithms which assess parameters such as tPNf, t2, t3, t4, t5, t8, tB and ICM and TE grades using time-lapse imaging. However, all current embryo selection models do not take embryo sex into account despite reported differences in developmental timings between XX and XY embryos. If the predictions of embryo selection algorithms themselves are affected by embryo sex, their accuracy and fairness may be impacted, leading to sex disparities in populations heavily reliant on IVF. Study design, size, duration A retrospective study was conducted on 1411 embryos with known sex information following PGT-A, at a single centre between 2018-202, making this the largest study to date interrogating morphological and morphokinetic sex differences using time-lapse and PGT-A data. Three embryo assessment methods were interrogated: manual morphological grading (Gardener system), KIDScore D3 (VitroLife) and CHLOE (Fairtility). These algorithms are representative of the current embryo grading landscape, encompassing manual selection, traditional machine-learning and modern deep-learning approaches, respectively. Participants/materials, setting, methods Kinetic parameters were annotated using CHLOE on incubator time-lapses. KIDScore computation was implemented according to Petersen et al.,2016 making use of kinetic annotations from CHLOE. Manual morphological grading was done at the blastocyst stage using a modified Gardner system. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests compared XX and XY gradings, with detailed analyses on morphokinetics (tPNf,t2-t9+,cc2,cc3,tM,tSB-tEB,ICM and TE grades). To evaluate the ability of morphokinetic differences to predict embryo sex, four machine learning models were built. Main results and the role of chance Overall, XY embryos (4.182 ± 1.353, N = 692) were more likely to be assigned higher scores than XX embryos (4.022 ± 1.420, N = 642) by the machine learning-based KIDScore (U = 207604, p = 0.0182). Similarly, XY (462/668) blastocysts were more likely to receive good grades than XX (351/614) blastocysts under manual morphological grading (χ2 =19.843, df = 1, p < 0.00001). We pinpoint the source of sex disparities in conventional morphological grading to variations in trophectoderm morphology (male embryos receiving higher TE grades). Nevertheless, the observed differences, although present, were of marginal magnitude, and the overlap between the sexes substantial enough to preclude reliable sex selection. No significant difference was found in the scores assigned by more advanced deep learning methods such as CHLOE EQ scores between XX (0.787 ± 0.276, N = 628) and XY (0.802 ± 0.254, N = 679) embryos (U = 204621, p = 0.208). Limitations, reasons for caution This retrospective, single-centre study encounters limitations such as selection bias and constrained generalisability beyond the specific centre. It focuses on blastocyst-stage sex analysis, which, while statistically-powerful, may not fully represent the societal implications of embryo selection on sex ratios. The use of automated kinetic annotations, while efficient, might introduce inaccuracies. Wider implications of the findings Our findings raise significant questions surrounding the fairness of widely-used embryo assessment methods. We highlight the urgent need for the reproductive health community to recognise and address algorithmic bias, ensuring equitable and ethical treatment of all embryos, especially in the context of increasing global reliance on assisted reproduction. Trial registration number not applicable

Disrupted cognitive and affective empathy network interactions in autistic children viewing social animation.

Empathy can be divided into two core components, cognitive empathy (CE) and affective empathy (AE), mediated by distinct neural networks. Deficient empathy is a central feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), but it is unclear if this deficit results from disruption solely within empathy networks or from disrupted functional integration between CE and AE networks. To address this issue, we measured functional connectivity (FC) patterns both within and between empathy networks in autistic children (4-8 years, n = 31) and matched typically developing (TD) children (n = 26) using near-infrared spectroscopy during the presentation of an animated story evoking CE and AE. Empathy and social communication ability were also assessed using the Empathy Quotient/Systemizing Quotient (EQ/SQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale, respectively. The results showed that the FC in the AE network of autistic children did not differ from the TD group across conditions; however, the ASC group showed weaker FC in the CE network under the CE condition and weaker FC between networks when processing AE information, the latter of which was negatively correlated with EQ scores in ASC. The empathy defect in ASC may involve abnormal integration of CE and AE network activities under AE conditions.

Investigating the relationship of theory of mind and empathy with neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and neuropsychiatric data in persons with multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT Theory of Mind (ToM) is understanding others’ minds. Empathy is an insight into emotions and feelings of others. Persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) may experience impairment in ToM and empathy. To investigate ToM, empathy, and their relationship with neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and neuropsychiatric data. 41 pwMS and 41 HC were assessed using RMET for ToM, EQ, BICAMS, HADS. Cortical and subcortical gray matter volumes were calculated with Freesurfer from 3T MRI scans. pwMS showed lower EQ scores (44.82 ± 11.9 vs 51.29 ± 9.18, p = 0.02) and worse RMET performance (22.37 ± 4.09 vs 24,47 ± 2.93, p = 0.011). Anxiety and depression were higher in pwMS. EQ correlated with subcortical (amygdala) and cortical (anterior cingulate) volumes. RMET correlated with cortical volumes (posterior cingulate, lingual). In regression analysis, amygdala volume was the single predictor of empathy performance (p = 0.041). There were no significant correlations between social cognitive tests and general cognition. A weak negative correlation was found between EQ and the level of anxiety (r = -0.342, p = 0.038) The present study indicates that pwMS have impairment on ToM and empathy. The performance of ToM and empathy in MS is linked to the volumes of critical brain areas involved in social cognition.

Dart Emotional Spiritual Quotient (DESQ) Impact on Employee Performance and Role of Training Module (TM-DESQ): A Public Enterprise Perspective for Islamic Republic of Pakistan

This study is focused on the effect of emotional intelligence (EQ), spiritual intelligence (SQ), and dart accountability quotients training modules (TM-DESQ) on employees’ performance working in the public enterprise (and private sector) of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Research manifests that EQ and SQ positively and significantly affect employee performance, progress, and development. The importance of emotional intelligence has been widely emphasized in human resource studies, similarly, literature articulates that accountability is an essential factor for the good governance of the public sector enterprise performance. Worldwide studies have a few contradictory results concerning EQ and SQ, and their impact on performance. Training programs on SQ learning lack longitudinal studies. SQ training’s impact on individual learning, performance, and HRD training was a research gap bridged through this study. A sample of 42 public and private sector employees took their EQ, SQ, and Dart Accountability scores as pen-and-paper self-report measures whereas the performance of employees was reported by their supervisors or managers as the second source of data. Basic training on EQ, SQ, and Dart Accountability (DESQ) was designed and TM-DESQ Intervention was instructed to respondents through webinars amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. The results demonstrated a positive and significant impact of emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and dart accountability on employee performance. However, the insignificant effect of a few facets of some variables has opened other dimensions of research.

Levels of Empathy among Turkish Students in Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services Programs

To our knowledge, there is currently no research examining the levels of empathy among students enrolled in pharmacy or pharmacy services programs in Türkiye. The purpose of the present study was to address this gap in the literature by assessing the empathy levels of students enrolled in the pharmacy and pharmacy services programs at Atatürk University using the Turkish version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ-40) measurement tool. The study aims to answer two primary questions: (1) what are the empathy levels of students in the pharmacy services and the pharmacy programs? and (2) are there any differences in empathy levels based on demographic variables such as gender, academic year, and family income? A total of 306 students out of 766 pharmacy program students and 86 students out of 144 students in the pharmacy services program at Atatürk University voluntarily participated in the study. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, administering the Turkish version of the Empathy Quotient to students via a questionnaire delivered through Google Forms. The mean EQ scores for pharmacy and pharmacy services students were 45.8±11.1 and 45.9±12.9, respectively. And there was no statistically significant difference between the empathy scores of two programs. After conducting one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test to investigate the difference between academic year and empathy scores, a significant difference was observed in the pharmacy program, but no significant difference was observed in the pharmacy services program. Our findings showed that empathy scores for pharmacy students were slightly above average, fluctuated throughout their education, and were notably low in recent years. Additionally, empathy scores were slightly above average among students enrolled in pharmacy services program. These findings suggest that both programs should incorporate empathy education into their curricula to enhance students' empathy levels, which in turn would ensure that future professionals possess the necessary skills to communicate effectively with patients and provide optimal care.

The impact of emotional intelligence (EQ) in the B2B exchange processes: Increasing salespeople’s adaptive selling behaviour (ASB)

In today’s globalised markets, the business-to-business (B2B) exchange processes have become much more complex, as a result adaptive selling behaviour (ASB) has become essential to sales success within B2B organisations. This study has explored the phenomenon by examining whether emotional intelligence (EQ) has an impact on salespeople’s adaptive selling behaviour. Scholars have suggested that individuals possessing high EQ traits are more likely to be successful in adaptive selling, however there are limited studies available to address the gap in research. The research question is as follows, RQ1: To what extent does EQ have an impact on salespeople’s ASB? An exploratory qualitative approach, which consisted of a semi-structured interview, complemented with the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and a case study performance assessment, was conducted on 8 salespeople, employed in a B2B telemarketing company. The results of the thematic analysis have identified consistent themes within the interview, indicating that higher EQ scores could potentially enhance sales behaviour adaptability. 6 themes were identified as being reflective of the ‘Analytical’ adaptation criteria, 6 themes were identified for ‘Driver’ adaptation, 6 themes were identified for ‘Amiable’ adaptation and 8 themes were identified for ‘Expressive’ adaptation. These results highlight practical implications of incorporating EQ into employee selection, performance management and leadership training policies, within the current workforce.

Gender Differences in Teaching Literature Through an Emotional Intelligence Model

This 12-week experimental study examines the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) scores and gender in an effort to clarify the persistent generalization that males are less emotionally intelligent than girls. The intervention program's curriculum that was introduced to 87 grade 11 male and female Lebanese students included four literary short stories with three levels of analysis: informational, conceptual, and ESL. Characters, emotional intelligence abilities, and attributes were analyzed at the last level of analysis. At the start of the program and following therapy, the participants took the Shutte Social Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). The study did not reveal any appreciable variations between genders in this regard. Males and females were almost equally emotionally intelligent. It is advised that, in addition to gender, the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic success be explored in order to uncover any correlations that may benefit students in their studies. The study found that EQ scores improved for both sexes after the intervention, but there was a small but significant difference in mean EQ scores between males and females after the intervention. This indicates that teaching literature using an emotional intelligence paradigm has a statistically significant impact on the emotional intelligence EQ scores of males and females as indicated by the Shutte Social Emotional Intelligent Test.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity in elementary school children in Ulaanbaatar: spectral analysis of electroencephalogram and emotional intelligence

ADHD stands for Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; it is a disorder that occurs during childhood development and presents signs of reduced attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. This study presented the direct association between emotional ability and spectral analysis of electroencephalography of Mongolian children with ADHD. Of a total of 1200 children, who were attending primary schools in Ulaanbaatar, 30 children were diagnosed with ADHD according to Teachers' and Parents' survey versions of DSM-IV ("Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"). The sample consisted of 60 children aged 7-12 years (20 % female and 80 males; M age = 9.34, SD = 0.96): 30 children diagnosed with ADHD and 30 healthy children as a control group and presented the same sociodemographic characteristics of the study sample. They all completed Bar-On Quotient Inventory Youth Version (EQ-i: YV), and performed electroencephalography (EEG). Results indicated that children with ADHD presented significantly lower scores in interpersonal scales, adaptability, general mood scales, and total EQ scores than the control group. Comparing forms of ADHD, the intrapersonal scale statistically differed between the hyperactive and combined forms (p = 0.021) and the adaptability scale between attention deficit and the combined form (p = 0.026). Moreover, the study found a statistically significant increase in the posterior delta and theta power, whereas there was a decrease in theta/beta and theta/alpha wave ratio in all brain parts in the ADHD group concerning the healthy group.

Investigating the Impact of Voice Impairment on Quality of Life in Stroke Patients: The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) Questionnaire Study.

The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is a patient-centered evaluation tool specifically designed for assessing voice-related quality of life. Although the VHI has been extensively used in patients with voice disorders, its applicability in stroke patients has not been fully established. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using the VHI questionnaire in identifying stroke patients with voice problems. The study included a cohort of acute to subacute first-ever stroke patients (n = 48), with or without voice problems, as well as other non-stroke patients (n = 31) who agreed to complete the VHI questionnaire. Stroke patients with self-reported voice problems demonstrated significantly higher VHI scores and poorer life quality scores compared to the control groups. These patients also had lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Euro-QoL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) scores. Spearman correlation analysis revealed an inverse association between VHI scores and EQ-5D-5L (rho = -0.77, p < 0.001), Korean Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (rho = -0.51, p < 0.001), and other functional parameters, including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, MMSE, and MBI scores. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the VHI score was the biggest contributing factor to EQ scores. This is the first study to demonstrate that stroke patients with voice problems may experience reduced quality of life, even after controlling for other confounding factors such as dysphagia or neurological deficits. Future studies are needed whether addressing these issues by implementing the VHI may facilitate the improvement of patients' quality of life.

Business intelligence and analytics: The case of human resource management decisions

This case is designed to illustrate the conceptual foundations of business intelligence (BI) and business analytics (BA); thus, analysts can develop an understanding of how to utilize the BI &amp; BA framework to make proper decisions in human resource recruitment. The case starts when Roger, the HR General Manager of Ford Motor Company Thailand, and his team decided to develop a BI-based integrated Team Leader Recruitment System for not only selecting the right candidates for the job but developing them into great team leaders for Ford production line as well. The team started discussing its current evaluation criteria, such as the score from its production system exam, the results of a case study and roleplay exam, and the final interview score, and then dove into more factors that helped create insights into the value of Ford employees. Employee Lifetime Value (ELTV) was then introduced, along with some other factors such as IQ and EQ scores and Myers Briggs Psychological Type Indicator (MBTI) scores. Finally, the team developed a BI dashboard that gathered all relevant factors to evaluate its final five candidates: Tom, James, Andy, Jonas, and Tony. The dashboard also displayed each candidate’s individual KPIs and the departmental and corporate KPIs they contributed to. Indexes measuring the candidate’s job satisfaction, workplace culture, and leadership and teamwork skills were also included as important factors for selecting the right candidates.

Feelings first? Sex differences in affective and cognitive processes in emotion recognition.

The recognition of emotional expressions is important for social understanding and interaction, but findings on the relationship between emotion recognition, empathy, and theory of mind, as well as sex differences in these relationships, have been inconsistent. This may reflect the relative involvement of affective and cognitive processes at different stages of emotion recognition and in different experimental paradigms. In this study, images of faces were morphed from neutral to full expression of five basic emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, and sadness), which participants were asked to identify as quickly and accurately as possible. Accuracy and response times from healthy males (n = 46) and females (n = 43) were analysed in relation to self-reported empathy (Empathy Quotient; EQ) and mentalising/theory of mind (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test). Females were faster and more accurate than males in recognising dynamic emotions. Linear mixed-effects modelling showed that response times were inversely related to the emotional empathy subscale of the EQ, but this was accounted for by a female advantage on both measures. Accuracy was unrelated to EQ scores but was predicted independently by sex and Eyes Test scores. These findings suggest that rapid processing of dynamic emotional expressions is strongly influenced by sex, which may reflect the greater involvement of affective processes at earlier stages of emotion recognition.

Cross-Cultural Differences and Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Actions and Feelings Questionnaire (J-AFQ).

Aims: We aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a Japanese version of the Actions and Feelings Questionnaire (J-AFQ), an 18-item self-report measure of non-verbal emotional communication, as well as to examine its transcultural properties.Methods: The J-AFQ was administered to 500 Japanese adults (age 20–49, 250 male), alongside the Japanese Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ-J) and Empathy Quotient (EQ-J). These were compared to a group of 597 British and Irish participants (age 16–18, 148 male). J-AFQ was assessed in terms of validity by confirmatory factor analysis and convergence with BAPQ-J and EQ-J using Pearson correlation. Internal consistency and differential item functioning (DIF) were assessed and compared between Japanese and UK/Irish participants.Results: Reversed worded items (RWIs) showed poor item-total correlations but excluding these left a 13-item version of the J-AFQ with good internal consistency and content validity. Consistent with the English version, J-AFQ scores correlated with EQ and lower BAPQ scores. However, comparing across cultures, J-AFQ scores were significantly lower in the Japanese sample, and there was evidence of important DIF by country in over half of the J-AFQ itemsConclusion: Cultural differences in attitudes to self-report, as well as increased acquiescence to RWI's also seen in previous studies, limit the value of the 18-item instrument in Japanese culture. However, the 13-item J-AFQ is a valid and reliable measure of motor empathy, which, alongside the English version, offers promise for research in motor cognition and non-verbal emotional communication across cultures.

THE IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE

This paper highlights the relationship between employees` emotional intelligence and their experience of organizational climate. We analyze the two concepts in two Romanian multinational organizations and we demonstrate that emotional intelligence has a positive impact on organizational climate, which means that employees with higher scores of emotional intelligence experience a more positive organizational climate. Also, a higher level of heterogeneity in EQ scores leads to a more negative perception of organizational climate.

Individual empathy levels affect gradual intonation-meaning mapping: The case of biased questions in Salerno Italian

The paper investigates the interplay between intonational cues and individual variability in the perceptual assessment of speakers’ epistemic bias in Salerno Italian yes-no questions. We present a perception experiment in which we manipulated pitch span within the nuclear configuration (both nuclear accent and boundary tone) to predict degree of perceived positive bias (i.e., expected positive answer) to yes-no question stimuli. Our results show that a wider pitch span within the nuclear region predicts a higher degree of perceived positive bias, while negative bias is predicted by narrow pitch span. Crucially, though, two interacting sources of listener variability were uncovered, i.e., prolonged exposure to a non-native dialect as well as degree of empathy (i.e., Empathy Quotient, EQ). Exposure to non-native phonological systems was found to affect the way pitch span is mapped onto perceived epistemic bias, through category interference, though mediated by EQ levels. Specifically, high-empathy listeners were more affected by degree of non-native dialect exposure. EQ scores were hence found to have an effect on gradual span manipulation by interacting with the dialect exposure effect. These results advance our understanding of the intonation-meaning mapping by taking into account both the impact of gradual phonetic cues on meaning processing as well as uncovering sources of cognitive variability at the perceiver’s level.

Psychological predictors of quality of life and functional outcome in patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease

To quantify the correlation between patients' psychopathological predisposition, disability and health-related quality of life (QOL) after surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease. We prospectively included patients undergoing decompression for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or disc herniation with additional fusion of up to two segments. Patients completed a structured psychological assessment including the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (ADS-K), Post-Traumatic Stress Scale-10 (PTSS-10), State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Anxiety (STAI-S and STAI-T) and Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) before surgery, after 3 and 12months. Outcome measures included EuroQol 5D (EQ), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. In total, 245 patients between March 2013 and November 2017 received surgery, of which 180 (73.5%) fully completed follow-up after 3months and 12months. QOL scores significantly increased by 3months (EQ: +0.2; p < 0.001; SF-36 PCS: +7.0; p < 0.001; SF-36 MCS: +3.3; p = 0.018), a benefit which was retained at 12months, without statistically significant difference between fused and non-fused patients. Depressed patients exhibited impaired mean scores of EQ (0.58 vs. 0.36; p < 0.001) and ODI mean scores (35.5 vs. 51.9; p < 0.001) at baseline, which significantly improved and converged with scores of non-depressed patients after 12months. Linear regression analysis identified statistically significant predictors in age, STAI-T and SF-36 MCS for post-operative QOL and disability. Despite exhibiting pronounced psychological distress preoperatively, patients may significantly benefit from surgery with an outcome equal to psychologically healthy patients after 12months. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and the Different Roles in Cyberbullying Among High School Students in Tehran

Background: Cyberbullying is any kind of intentional harassment with the intent to harm others that is carried out via smartphones, the internet, and digital technologies. Emotional intelligence (EQ) and the ability to understand emotions play major roles in the emotional and social development of children. There may be a relationship between the roles of victim, bully, and bystanders in cyberbullying and EQ. Objectives: This study aims to examine the prevalence of cyberbullying through new communication technology among high school students and the relation of EQ to the different roles assumed by the individuals involved in a cyberbullying event. Methods: In this study, 505 junior high school students who were in the 11th grade in Tehran (the capital city of Iran) in 2013 - 2014 were randomly selected. Their personal demographic data was collected using a demographic questionnaire. Their EQ was evaluated by a Bar-On questionnaire. To assess cyberbullying and the different roles of the participants, a self-designed questionnaire was used. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software, version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). A P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. To compare between groups, the chi-squared test (or Fisher’s exact test), the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric ANOVA, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. Results: The total number of participants was 505. This included 293 boys (58%) and 212 girls (42%). In general, 34.2% of the participants were reported to be victims, 46% were bystanders, 27.3% were bullies, and 34% did not experience cyberbullying at all. The study showed that 26.6% of males were victims vis-a-vis 44.8% of females (P < 0.05), while 31.8% of males were bullies vis-a-vis 22.2% of females (P < 0.05). There was no significant relationship between the total EQ score of the individuals and the different roles they assumed in cyberbullying. But in a gender-stratified analysis, male victims had a higher EQ score. Conclusions: This study showed that the rate of cyberbullying was high among high school students in Tehran. In contrast to traditional bullying, the EQ score is not associated with playing different roles in cyberbullying. However, when considering gender, the male victims had higher EQ scores.

Validation of the Empathy Quotient in Mainland China

ABSTRACTThis research aimed to validate a simplified Chinese version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ; 60 items) for use with Mainland Chinese people. The original English version of the EQ was translated into simplified Chinese. Through an online survey, 588 Mainland Chinese participants completed the EQ and 3 other questionnaires: the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS–20). Thirty-five participants completed retesting of the EQ 3 to 4 weeks later. Sex differences on the EQ scores and psychometric properties of the EQ items were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that an EQ 15-item structural model fitted the data quite well. Self-report empathy, as assessed by the current simplified Chinese version of the EQ, appeared to relate to participants' autistic and alexithymic traits but not sex.

Personal Effectiveness in Relation with Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control for the Working Professionals from E-Commerce Industries in Bangalore City

The present study aimed to explore the personal effectiveness of working professionals from E-Commerce Industries based out of Bangalore, in relation with their Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control. The study was conducted on 200 working professionals in various job roles and experience levels amongst five companies in E-Commerce domain, with an equal mix of male and female respondents ranging from Assistant Manager to General Managers, with the work experience between 5 years to 15 years respondents from E-Commerce Industry in the city of Bangalore. The standardised psychometric tools developed by Udai Pareek‘s Personal Effectiveness Scale (G), D. Singh & N.K. Chadha‘s Emotional Quotient test and Udai Pareek‘s Locus of Control Inventory were applied to collect the data on the variables. The results of the study revealed that emotional intelligence and locus of control have significant correlation with personal effectiveness. The respondents with high emotional intelligence and internal locus of control have scored significantly high on personal effectiveness scale, as compared with the respondents with low emotional intelligence scores and internal locus of control. While comparing the responses of male and female respondents, it was observed that females have scored relatively higher on the EQ Scores and also those who have scored higher on EQ have scored better on the personal effectiveness scale too. As regards the Locus of Control, there were no specific gender related inferences or conclusions that could be drawn.