General Fear Research Articles

Associations between pain-related fear and lumbar movement variability during activities of daily living in patients with chronic low back pain and healthy controls

Low back pain (LBP) is a global issue involving biological, psychological, and social factors. Pain-related fear has been shown to influence movement behavior, however, its association with some measures of movement behavior, such as spinal movement variability, remains inconclusive. To further investigate this, spinal kinematics during various activities of daily living (i.e., walking, running, lifting, and stair climbing) of 49 patients with chronic LBP and a group of 51 sex-, age-, and BMI-matched healthy controls were used to calculate lumbar spine movement variability which was quantified using different indices (i.e., coefficient of variation, coupling angle variability in vector coding, deviation phase of the continuous relative phase and an angle-angular velocity variability). General and task-specific pain-related fear was assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and the Photograph Series of Daily Activities—Short Electronic Version, respectively. Linear regression analyses showed no significant association between movement variability and pain-related fear, however, the sample consisted of younger individuals with moderate disability and with low levels of pain and pain-related fear. In addition, the different variability indices were weakly correlated and varied greatly depending on the method used and the task performed. Therefore, comparisons between studies with different movement variability calculation methods or different activities should be treated with caution.

Characterization of Patient Activation among Childhood Cancer Survivors in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE).

Patient activation describes a willingness to take action to manage health and is associated with health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to characterize patient activation and its association with psychological outcomes and health behaviors in childhood cancer survivors. Participants were from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE). Activation levels (1-4, 4 = highest activation) were measured with the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Psychological outcomes and health behaviors were obtained via self-report. Cognitive function was assessed by trained examiners. ANOVA or chi-squared tests were utilized to assess group-level differences in activation. Multivariable regression models were used to assess associations between PAM scores and outcomes of interest. Among 2708 survivors and 303 controls, more survivors endorsed lower activation levels than the controls (11.3 vs. 4.7% in level 1) and fewer survivors endorsed the highest level of activation than the controls (45.3 vs. 61.5% in level 4). Not endorsing depression (OR: 2.37, 95% CI 1.87-2.99), anxiety (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.73-2.83), and somatization symptoms (OR: 1.99, 95% CI 1.59-2.50), general fear (OR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.23-1.71) and body-focused (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.83-2.66), cancer-related worry, and physical (OR: 2.57, 95% CI 2.06-3.20) and mental (OR: 2.08, 95% CI 1.72-2.52) HRQOL was associated with higher levels of activation. Lower activation was associated with not meeting physical activity guidelines (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.53-2.80). Survivors endorsed lower activation levels than peers. Interventions to improve physical and psychological health outcomes could leverage these results to identify survivors who benefit from support in patient activation.

Dental Anxiety Amongst Pregnant Women: Relationship with Dental Attendance and Sociodemographic Factors

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between dental anxiety amongst pregnant women and their dental attendance patterns, considering various sociodemographic factors, at health centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 386 pregnant women seeking care at Saudi Ministry of Health centers. A validated version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) was used to measure dental anxiety. Questionnaires including background data and dental anxiety were used and clinical data were collected. The association between oral health literacy and dental anxiety was evaluated with Spearman’s correlation coefficient. A multiple linear regression model with dental anxiety (MDAS score) as the dependent variable was developed to investigate further the relationship dental anxiety amongst pregnant women and their dental attendance patterns. Results: The prevalence of dental anxiety was very anxious (3.595). According to a multiple binary logistic regression model, previous experiences with dentists, household income, educational level, number of times and months of pregnancy, and the perception that oral care should be avoided during pregnancy were independently associated with dental anxiety. Conclusions: Dental anxiety in pregnant women is linked to social and psychological factors, in addition to oral health. Specifically, prior experiences with dentists, attitudes toward dental care, and general fear appear to have the strongest influence on dental anxiety. The prevalence of dental anxiety was high among this sample of pregnant women. The study shows that dental care providers need to pay attention to providing a supportive dental care situation, where patients should not experience pain. There is a need to understand the psychological factors associated with dental care procedures.

Task-Specific Perceived Harmfulness Predicts Protective Movement Behaviour in Chronic Low Back Pain.

Background/Objectives: There is emerging evidence that task-specific pain-related psychological measures may better predict movement behaviour in chronic low back pain (CLBP) than general pain-related psychological measures. Currently, little is known regarding the prediction of movement duration and movement velocity. Methods: Baseline data from a previously published randomized controlled trial were used (clinicaltrials.gov NCT02773160). Fifty-five patients with CLBP and 54 pain-free persons performed a lifting task while kinematic measurements were obtained to calculate movement velocity of the L1 vertebra, S1 vertebra, and the lumbar spine, as well as the time to complete the lifting task. Scores on the Photograph Daily Activities Series-Short Electronic Version (PHODA-SeV), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and its Activity Avoidance and Somatic Focus subscales were used as general pain-related psychological measures. The score on a picture of the PHODA-SeV, showing a person lifting an object with a bent back (PHODA-Lift), was used as task-specific measure of perceived harmfulness. Results: The task-specific measure best predicted movement duration and movement velocity of L1 and the lumbar spine, and explained 35%, 19%, and 25% of the respective movement parameters. Although general perceived harmfulness predicted S1 velocity and movement duration, it only explained 6% and 8% of the respective movement parameters. General measures of pain-related fear were not predictive for any of the movement parameters. It took patients with CLBP significantly longer to complete the lifting task when compared to the pain-free participants (ES = 1.01, p < 0.0001), and patients with CLBP also moved significantly slower at L1 (ES = 0.85, p < 0.0001) and the lumbar spine (ES = 1.01, p < 0.0001). These between-groups differences were larger for CLBP subgroups with higher scores on the PHODA-Lift, and to some extent for subgroups with higher total scores on the PHODA-SeV. Conclusions: Task-specific perceived harmfulness best predicts movement velocity. General pain-related fear measures (i.e., TSK and its subscales) do not predict these movement parameters.

How should coronaphobia Be conceptualized? Evaluating competing models of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale using confirmatory factor analysis

Coronaphobia represents the fears and phobias attributed to the COVID-19 virus and pandemic. The COVID-19 Phobia Scale, previously validated as a four-factor structure, is a widely used multidimensional measure to assess coronaphobia. The current study scrutinized various competing factor structures of this instrument to identify the optimal psychometric representation of coronaphobia. Adults (N = 412) ranging in age from 19 to 84 years completed the COVID-19 Phobia Scale. Several theoretically plausible factor structures of coronaphobia were tested and compared using confirmatory factor analysis: four-factor structure, one-factor structure, higher-order factor structure, and five-factor bifactor structure. The one-factor structure showing an overarching factor of COVID-19 phobia revealed the poorest fit to the data. The five-factor bifactor structure that allowed every item to double-load on the COVID-19 general phobia factor alongside one of the COVID-19 specific phobia factors (psychological phobia, psycho-somatic phobia, economic phobia, or social phobia) produced the strongest fit indices and was superior to the widely accepted four-factor structure. The five-factor bifactor structure demonstrated multi-group measurement invariance across gender, race, age, and state urbanization. Furthermore, the general phobia factor and the psycho-somatic phobia factor from the five-factor bifactor structure uniquely predicted present moment state anxiety using structural equation modeling. This psychometric investigation underscores that coronaphobia is experienced as a general pandemic fear that is simultaneously experienced with specific domains of pandemic fears. Theoretical and methodological insights are offered for conceptualizing and measuring coronaphobia and understanding how pandemic phobias differ from traditional phobias.

외국인 밀집지역의 무질서가 범죄두려움에 미치는 영향과 사회통제에 따른 조절효과

As the number of foreigners in the country increases, existing foreigner neighborhoods are spreading out. As the number of foreign residents increases, foreign crime seems to increase, but the foreign crime rate remains at a similar level. However, in areas where foreigners are concentrated, the top five violent crimes, illegal immigration, and drug-related crimes are increasing compared to those of Koreans, and it is necessary to prepare and operate security policy measures. In addition, the level of fear of crime is higher in the case of Koreans in areas with high concentration of foreigners compared to Koreans in areas with low concentration of foreigners, and it is necessary to continue research on this topic. Therefore, this study set up a research model based on disorder and social control factors, which are the main influencing factors that are related to crime fear in previous studies. This study aimed to test the moderating effects of formal social control and informal social control on the relationship between foreigners' and locals' perceptions of disorder and general crime fear in foreigner-dense areas. The results showed that the level of perceived social disorder influenced general crime fear among foreigners, and both physical disorder and social disorder influenced general crime fear among natives. Finally, the moderating effect of social control was found to be that for foreigners, formal social control moderated both social disorder and general fear of crime. Based on this, it can be seen that it is necessary to strengthen formal social control in areas where foreigners are concentrated and build a social system that allows informal social control to function properly. It is hoped that the results of this study will be used as a basis for the development of public security policies to resolve problems such as the increase in the number of foreigners in Korea and the fear of crime that may arise due to the continuous increase in the number of foreigners staying in Korea.

Effects of planned training and music listened to before a cesarean section on surgical fear, anxiety and depression: A randomized controlled trial

PurposeThis research was conducted to determine the impact of a planned training program and music on fear, anxiety, and depression among women undergoing cesarean section.MethodsThe sample of the randomized-controlled experimental study consisted of a total of 120 pregnant women (music 40, training 40, and the control 40) scheduled for cesarean section at the Obstetrics Service. Instrumental music from the Turkish music modes (the Hejaz, Neva, and Acemaşıran modes) was played for the music group, a planned training was given for the training group (what a cesarean section is, why a cesarean section should be performed, breastfeeding, mobilization, etc.) before the cesarean section, and no additional interventions were made for the control group. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsAfter the planned training and listening to music applications, statistically significant differences were found between the music, training, and the control groups in terms of the short-term, long-term sub-scale scores and the overall score of the Surgical Fear Questionnaire and the anxiety sub-scale scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (p < 0.05).ConclusionsListening to music before the cesarean section was effective in reducing women’s short-term and general surgical fears, and the training was also effective in reducing their short-term, long-term, and general surgical fears and anxiety levels. However, the applications did not change depression levels. According to these findings, listening to music and provision of training are recommended to reduce surgical fears and anxiety levels of women before a planned cesarean section.

Barriers and facilitators to viral hepatitis testing in Uzbekistan: scoping qualitative study among key stakeholders, healthcare workers, and the general population

IntroductionIn the World Health Organization European Region, an estimated 14 million people live with a chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV), and 12 million are affected by a hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Uzbekistan bears a major burden of HBV and has one of the highest HCV prevalence in the region. Following a presidential decree in May 2022, significant funds were allocated to the viral hepatitis (VH) elimination program in Uzbekistan. The program expands VH testing to reach 500,000 people annually during 2022–2025 as part of the VH elimination strategy that includes the provision of free testing and affordable treatment. Exploring the existing barriers and facilitators to VH testing is pivotal for informing these interventions.MethodsThis study uses a cross-sectional qualitative design to identify and explore the barriers and facilitators to VH testing among the general population in Uzbekistan. We collected data during October-November 2022 through semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants (KIs) and 7 focus group discussions with two target populations: the general population and healthcare workers (HCW) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.ResultsFollowing the capability-opportunity-motivation-behavior model (COM-B model) as a framework for the analysis, we identified major capability barriers to VH testing primarily linked to low health literacy and limited knowledge about VH types, symptoms, transmission, testing and treatment. Physical opportunity barriers included the time and financial costs associated with testing, diagnostics, and treatment. Sociocultural opportunity barriers involved anticipated negative reactions and stigmatization, particularly affecting women. Motivational barriers included a reluctance to be tested when asymptomatic and a general fear of receiving positive test results. The involvement of healthcare workers in promoting VH awareness and motivating the general population emerged as a facilitator.ConclusionsA multi-pronged approach is recommended to achieve VH testing goals among the general population, focusing on raising awareness and health literacy and creating an enabling environment that ensures easy accessibility and minimizing VH testing-associated costs.

Anhedonia is associated with overgeneralization of conditioned fear during late adolescence and early adulthood

BackgroundPavlovian fear paradigms involve learning to associate cues with threat or safety. Aberrances in Pavlovian fear learning correlate with psychopathology, especially anxiety disorders. This study evaluated symptom dimensions of anxiety and depression in relation to Pavlovian fear acquisition and generalization. Methods256 participants (70.31 % female) completed a Pavlovian fear acquisition and generalization paradigm at ages 18–19 and 21–22 years. Analyses focused on indices of learning (self-reported US expectancy, skin conductance). Multilevel models tested associations with orthogonal symptom dimensions (Anhedonia-Apprehension, Fears, General Distress) at each timepoint. ResultsAll dimensions were associated with weaker acquisition of US expectancies at each timepoint. Fears was associated with overgeneralization only at age 21–22. General Distress was associated with overgeneralization only at age 18–19. Anhedonia-Apprehension was associated with overgeneralization at ages 18–19 and 21–22. ConclusionsAnhedonia-Apprehension disrupts Pavlovian fear acquisition and increases overgeneralization of fear. These effects may emerge during adolescence and remain into young adulthood. General Distress and Fears also contribute to overgeneralization of fear, but these effects may vary as prefrontal mechanisms of fear inhibition continue to develop during late adolescence. Targeting specific symptom dimensions, particularly Anhedonia-Apprehension, may decrease fear generalization and augment interventions built on Pavlovian principles, such as exposure therapy.

Exploration of skin redness and immunoglobulin A as markers of the affective states of hens

Non-invasive markers of affective states can help understanding animals' perception of situations and improving their welfare. These markers are scarce in avian species. In this study, we investigate the potential relation between alterations in facial skin redness in hens and their corresponding affective states. Six hens were filmed in both naturally unfolding scenarios and controlled tests designed to elicit various affective states. The facial skin redness was measured from images extracted from the videos. Our observations revealed that hens exhibited the highest degree of facial skin redness in negative situations of high arousal, a high redness in positive situations of high arousal, and the lowest in positive situations of low arousal. In a second study, we further examined whether facial skin redness and secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) can serve as markers for the quality of the human-animal relationship. Two groups of hens, one habituated to humans (n=13) and one non-habituated (n=12), were compared for general fearfulness in an open field test and for fear of humans in a reactivity to human test. In the open-field test, there were no statistical differences in general fearfulness, facial skin redness or S-IgA concentrations between both groups. However, habituated hens exhibited significantly lower fearfulness and facial skin redness in the presence of humans compared to non-habituated hens in the reactivity to human test. Additionally, habituated hens showed significant lower S-IgA concentration in lachrymal fluid in the presence of humans, with no significant differences in saliva or cloacal samples. We propose that changes in facial skin redness reflect variations in affective states and can be used as a marker for assessing the quality of the human-hen relationship. The relationship between S-IgA concentrations and affective states requires further investigation.

Deconstructing Fears of Terrorism: A Comparison between Fear from Domestic and International Terrorist Groups

ABSTRACT Although research on fears of terrorism has been growing, previous studies approached the topic of the fear of terrorism as a monolithic concept without considering the various political aspects of terrorism as a crime. The current research employed a novel approach to studying the fear of terrorism as a polylithic phenomenon by comparing three different types of fears of terrorism among Americans: general fears of terrorism, fears of domestic terrorist groups, and fears of international terrorist groups. Drawing on a nationally representative sample from the Chapman Survey of American Fears, Wave 5 (2018), the results of the analysis indicated that the predictors were differentially associated with the three types of fear with respect to their statistical significance and correlation directions. Thus, this study provides a significant contribution to the literature on the fear of terrorism topic by illustrating the important differences among general fears of terrorism, fears of domestic terrorist groups, and fears of international terrorist groups.

War in Ukraine as a mental health challenge of Czech health care workers

IntroductionCzech health care workers recently experienced serious challenges to their mental health. After the COVID-19 pandemic that was extremely stressful, a war in Ukraine caused a flood of refugees that needed health care. Although the Czech Republic does not have borders with Ukraine, it welcomed more than 400,000 refugees in 2022.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between depression and working with Ukrainian refugees among health care workers and the nature of emotional burden connected with this situation.MethodsWe use data from an online survey of the Czech COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) Study collected in September - November 2022 (n=1,076). We combined quantitative binary logistic regression and qualitative content analysis of answers to an open-ended question (“How does the current situation of war in Ukraine affect your mental well-being and working conditions?”). Logistic regression estimated odds ratio (OR) of at least moderate depression, defined as =&gt; 10 points on the Patient Health Questionnaire.ResultsAmong our participants (75.1% women, mean age 46 (SD 11.0)), 62.1% had experience of working with Ukrainian refugees, and 13.8% reported moderate to severe depression. Logistic regression model (adjusted for potential confounders) indicated that health care workers who worked with Ukrainian refugees had slightly greater chance of having depression, but the association was not statistically reliable (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.59-1.86). Out of all survey respondents, 867 replied to an open-ended question. As follows from qualitative analysis, three categories of psychological strain were described by the health care workers: 1) specificity of work with the refugee patients (e.g. language barrier, increased workload, opinion conflicts), 2) insecurity, threat of war and fears about future (regarding global and nuclear war, security, future of kids, economic burden, etc.), 3) grief and compassion for the suffering of refugees. It was also frequently mentioned in the responses that war is a greater threat to health care workers than the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsThere is a slight association between working with refugees and depression. However, health care workers are also endangered by general fears of war and insecurity in a nearby country. In this changing world, it is of the greatest importance to pay attention to resilience building and stress prevention programs. Further, health care workers should be offered psychological support and practical resources to deal with the varying workload.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Decolonizing big data: addressing data colonialism in social work’s grand challenges

ABSTRACT The acceleration and escalation of datafication has increased interest in advancing the use of big data throughout social work. While one of the current Grand Challenges of Social Work focuses on harnessing technology for the social good, the present work expands on this endeavor with a particular focus on big data in social work. Despite mandates from the CSWE EPAS to engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research, prior work has extensively documented social work students' general fear and apprehension of research in practice. At the same time, big data continues to grow, perpetuating colonialism inherent within the data. This work delineates how social work can rise to the occasion, remain dedicated to social justice, and work to decolonize big data.

Comparisons between atypical anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa: Psychological and comorbidity patterns.

Literature comparing "atypical" anorexia nervosa (atypical AN) and anorexia nervosa (AN) suggests these diagnoses share significant similarities in eating disorder (ED) pathology and psychiatric comorbidities. This study evaluated potential differences in ED pathology, psychiatric comorbidity, associated mechanisms (i.e., ED fears and perfectionism), and demographic factors (i.e., ethnicity and age) between individuals with atypical AN and AN. Data from seven protocols were combined for a total 464 individuals diagnosed with atypical AN (n = 215) or AN (n = 249). Between-group differences in ED severity and behaviors, psychiatric comorbidities, ED fears, perfectionism, and demographic factors were assessed using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and Fisher's exact test. Participants with atypical AN reported higher levels of overvaluation of weight and shape than those with AN. Participants with AN scored higher on food-related fears (anxiety about eating, food avoidance behaviors, and feared concerns) and fears of social eating, as well as obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Participants with AN were more likely to identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. No other statistically significant differences were found between groups for overall ED severity, ED behaviors, psychiatric comorbidities, general ED fears, perfectionism, or demographic factors. Overall, results support previous literature indicating limited differences between individuals with atypical AN and AN, though individuals with atypical AN reported more overvaluation of weight and shape and those with AN reported higher food and social eating fears and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Relatively few overall differences between atypical AN and AN highlight the importance of exploring dimensional conceptualizations of AN as an alternative to the current categorical conceptualization. This study assessed differences among individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa in eating disorder severity and behaviors, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, associated mechanisms, and demographic factors. Few differences emerged, though participants with atypical anorexia nervosa reported more overvaluation of weight and shape, while those with anorexia nervosa reported more food and social eating fears and higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Results support exploration of these diagnoses as a spectrum disorder.

The Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey

An often overlooked aspect of New Jersey history is that of the Ku Klux Klan activities throughout the state during the 1920s. Driven by a resurgence of anti-immigration rhetoric, the diversity of urban centers, and the general fears of some white Protestant residents of New Jersey, the Klan targeted immigrants, participated in public demonstrations and parades, hosted social events, and attempted to intimidate Catholic politicians in particular. This paper will examine this aspect of New Jersey history by using underutilized sources like the George Moss Collection at Monmouth University’s Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Memorial Library. Hopefully, by understanding the influence the Klan had on local politics, the mistakes of the past can avoid being repeated.

Validation of the Perceived Islamophobia Scale (PIS) among Muslims living in the United States

Islamophobia (i.e., the fear of Islam and Muslims) increases dramatically in response to local and global events. The Perceived Islamophobia Scale (PIS) captures perceptions of Islamophobia within a culture via three subscales titled Islamophobia in the Media, Fear of Islamization, and General Fear (Kunst et al., 2013). The PIS has been validated among both Muslims and non-Muslims in several countries. Although it has been used in US samples, exploring its psychometric properties among Muslims living in the United States (MLUS) is needed as MLUS are particularly vulnerable for experiencing Islamophobia. The current study validated the PIS in a representative sample of 350 MLUS (50% women; 33% immigrants). Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) revealed both a four-factor structure, encompassing the three original subscales alongside a separate factor with the reverse-scored items (Items 3, 4, and 5), and a higher-order factor structure encompassing all 12 items. This suggests that the full-scale PIS may be used as a standalone measure. Tests of measurement invariance across gender, immigrant status, and denomination of Islam suggested the PIS demonstrates strict measurement invariance, but only when used without its reverse-scored items. Further, there was a positive association between total scores on the PIS and the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS; Williams et al., 1997), demonstrating construct validity of the PIS with an established measure of individual-level discrimination. Further tools are needed to capture the private and structural forms of Islamophobia experienced by Muslims.

Work-life balance of university teachers after two years of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Apart from being a topic of key interest during the last decades for its individual and organizational effectiveness, work-life balance also has specific implications during the period of imposed remote work. OBJECTIVE: The article outlines some of the antecedents of university teachers’ work-life balance. They were the only professionals teleworking during the whole period of imposed restriction and furthermore, university teachers are a group of professionals without any prior home office or remote work experience. METHODS: The cross-sectional study comprises randomized convenient sample of 708 university teachers who were administered an online instrument, measuring the constructs of work-life balance, perceived stress, burnout, job satisfaction, general health, general fears and anxiety, and satisfaction with personal relations. RESULTS: The results reveal that perceived stress, burnout, job satisfaction, physical and mental health, psychosomatic problems and quality of relations are antecedents of participants’ work-life balance. CONCLUSIONS: University teachers have adapted to the new working mode and succeeded in maintaining moderate levels of work-life balance and burnout. However, our findings outline the need of a robust comprehensive framework, accounting for the multiple and multi-level predictors of work-life balance. Future research and HR perspectives have been outlined.

Effects of Cooperative, Competitive, and Solitary Exergames on Cognition and Anxiety Levels in Children with Developmental Disabilities.

Objective: Exergames are playing an important role in person-centered therapy, health care services, and in the rehabilitation field. This study aimed to compare the effects of cooperative, competitive, and solitary exergames on cognition and anxiety levels in children with developmental disabilities (DD). Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial pretest-posttest including 36 children with DD who were allocated to the cooperative exergame group (CGG), competitive exergame group (CmGG), and solitary exergame group (SGG). The exergame program was performed two times a week for 8 weeks and the outcome measurements were conducted before and after the program. A paired sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the changes within and between the groups. Results: The result indicated a significant improvement in memory, attention, and visual perception in all groups; the CGG and CmGG showed a high increase in attention compared with the SGG. However, only the CGG presented a significant improvement in the language subscale. In terms of anxiety, only the CGG presented substantial improvements in all anxiety subscales. The CmGG showed improvement in social phobia and the SGG in physical injury fears, social phobia, and general anxiety fears. Conclusion: The findings suggest that cooperative and competitive exergames may be used to effectively improve cognitive functions; cooperative exergames can be applied as the most effective method to reduce anxiety compared with the other game types for children with DD.

시민들의 CPTED 인식과 범죄두려움의 관계에서 무질서 인식의 매개효과

This study aims to verify the mediating effect of disorder perception in the relationship between citizens' perception of CPTED and fear of crime in 539 citizens living in Seoul. Specifically, in this study, the concept about perception of CPTED was operationalized into territoriality, surveillance, and activity support, and the effect of these variables on crime fear was individually verified. And based on previous studies related to differences in fear of crime according to gender, the relationship between perception of CPTED, disorder perception, and fear of crime was more clearly verified through multi-group analysis of two groups, men and women.&#x0D; First, in the case of men, activity support completely mediated perception of disorder, statistically significantly predicting reduction in general and specific fear of crime. In addition, in the case of women, it was found that perception of disorder completely mediated the relationship between activity support and general fear of crime. Second, in the case of women, the partial mediating effect of perception of disorder has been verified in the relationship between surveillance and general, specific fear of crime. Third, in the case of women, territoriality completely mediated perception of disorder, statistically significantly explaining the reduction in specific fear of crime.&#x0D; In this study, the relationship between CPTED perception, disorder perception, and fear of crime was verified in detail and accurately by dividing the sample based on gender. Also based on the results, empirical evidence was presented that activation of CPTED policies could reduce fear of crime among citizens. In addition, this study is significant in that it presents policy suggestions for the CPTED project, which is currently being used in various directions, based on these grounds.

Do exogenous economic crises change investors’ response to earnings announcements?: A detailed review using the data from COVID-19 pandemic

We investigate the impact of an exogenous economic crisis on investors' response to corporate earnings announcements. We use COVID-19 as an exogenous shock as an unanticipated macroeconomic event. Given the general fear and economic uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic provides a natural setting to investigate how investors reacted to earnings announcements. Did the investors excessively punish the stock for negative performance (since it confirmed their general fear), or did they reward good performers excessively since beating expectations was especially tough in the crisis? We find that the pandemic exacerbated investors' responses to earnings announcements. We further find that investors' reactions to significant positive earnings surprises were more prominent than to large negative ones. Our results are robust to alternate specifications and parallel trend analysis. We contribute to the literature by providing evidence on how the uncertainty caused by an economic crisis can impact investors’ response to earnings news.