Irish Participants Research Articles

Generation Z's perception of food healthiness: The case of Kellogg's cereals – A qualitative study in Germany and Ireland

One way to prevent diseases caused by unhealthy diets is to help consumers make better dietary choices. Knowledge about the consumer perception of food healthiness can help to understand which indicators are important for consumers to make healthy food choices.Generation Z members are young consumers who can influence the market supply in the next few years. To better understand Generation Z's perception of healthy food, sample products from Kellogg's brand were used to conduct focus group discussions in Germany and Ireland. Eight young consumers, aged between 18 and 25 years, participated in each focus group discussion. Both focus group discussions were summarized and analyzed according to Mayring.Essentially, what emerged was that both focus groups use the same indicators to evaluate the health value of a product. The indicators included the ingredient list, nutritional value table, packaging design, and additional information on the package. Noticeable differences in the subtopics were that young German consumers discussed the ingredient list in general and discussed the understanding and order of ingredients, whereas young Irish consumers discussed specific ingredients in more detail. In addition, German participants perceived the colours green, blue, and purple of product packaging as indicators of product healthiness, whereas Irish participants generally perceived darker colours as indicators. German participants generally perceived the ingredients of a product as the most important indicator, whereas Irish participants also considered the nutritional value information to be very important. Furthermore, a variety of foods was generally important in the German focus group, and origin and price were indicators in the Irish focus group. The study also shows that Generation Z consumers in Germany and Ireland are uncertain when evaluating a product, and thus, better consumer education is desired to improve the level of knowledge.

The peer mental health stigmatization scale-revised (PMHSS-R): Psychometric properties and cross-cultural factorial invariance in university students in Ireland and Argentina.

The study aimed to assess the psychometric quality of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale - Revised (PMHSS-R), by examining its factorial structure among young adults in Ireland and Argentina. A total of 429 participants aged between 18 and 25 years old were recruited (n = 187 Ireland, n = 242 Argentina). The PMHSS-R was completed by Irish participants and was translated, pilot-studied, and subsequently completed by Argentinian participants. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated optimal factor loadings for an eight-item solution and acceptable internal consistency for both scale dimensions in the Argentinian sample. Satisfactory levels of partial scalar invariance were achieved between countries, indicating that the scale measures mental health stigma consistently across cultures. Our findings highlight the PMHSS-R as a cross-culturally valid and reliable psychometric instrument to evaluate interventions targeting stigma. In conclusion, the PMHSS-R can be used in cross-cultural research to compare levels of mental health stigma and investigate the interplay between stigma and other psychologically relevant constructs between different countries and cultural contexts.

Us versus them: The role of national identity in the formation of false memories for fake news.

People are prone to forming false memories for fictitious events described in fake news stories. In this preregistered study, we hypothesized that the formation of false memories may be promoted when the fake news includes stereotypes that reflect positively on one's own nationality or negatively on another nationality. We exposed German and Irish participants (N = 1,184) to fabricated news stories that were consistent with positive or negative stereotypes about Germany and Ireland. The predicted three-way interaction was not observed. Exploratory follow-up analyses revealed the expected pattern of results for German participants but not for Irish participants, who were more likely to remember positive stories and stories about Ireland. Individual differences in patriotism did not significantly affect false memory rates; however, higher levels of cognitive ability and analytical reasoning decreased false memories and increased participants' ability to distinguish between true and false news stories. These results demonstrate that stereotypical information pertaining to national identity can influence the formation of false memories for fake news, but variations in cultural context may affect how misinformation is received and processed. We conclude by urging researchers to consider the sociopolitical and media landscape when predicting the consequences of fake news exposure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Dementia research in Ireland: What should we prioritise?

Dementia research prioritisation allows for the systematic allocation of investment in dementia research by governments, funding agencies and the private sector. There is currently a lack of information available in Ireland regarding priority areas for dementia research. To address this gap, a dementia research prioritisation exercise was undertaken, consisting of an online survey of professionals in the dementia field and workshops for people living with dementia and family carers. (1) An anonymous online survey of professionals, based on an existing WHO global survey: the global survey was adapted to an Irish context and participants were asked to score 65 thematic research avenues under five criteria; (2) A mixed-methods exercise for people living with dementia and family carers: this involved two facilitated workshops where participants voted on the research themes they felt were important to them and should be addressed through research. Eight of the top ten research priorities in the survey of professionals ( n=108) were focused on the delivery and quality of care and services for people with dementia and carers. Other research avenues ranked in the top ten focused on themes of timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia in primary health-care practices and diversifying therapeutic approaches in clinical trials. Participants in the workshops ( n=13) ranked 'better drugs and treatment for people with dementia', 'dementia prevention/ risk reduction' and 'care for people with dementia and carers' as their top priority areas. Findings from this prioritisation exercise will inform and motivate policymakers, funders and researchers to support and conduct dementia-focused research and ensure that the limited resources made available are spent on research that has the most impact for those who will benefit from and use the results of research.

Genetic and inflammatory effects on childhood trauma and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia and healthy participants

Recent studies have reported a negative association between exposure to childhood trauma, including physical neglect, and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Childhood trauma has been found to influence immune functioning, which may contribute to the risk of schizophrenia and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that physical neglect is associated with cognitive ability, and that this association is mediated by a combined latent measure of inflammatory response, and moderated by higher genetic risk for schizophrenia. The study included 279 Irish participants, comprising 102 patients and 177 healthy participants. Structural equation modelling was used to perform mediation and moderation analyses. Inflammatory response was measured via basal plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, and cognitive performance was assessed across three domains: full-scale IQ, logical memory, and the emotion recognition task. Genetic variation for schizophrenia was estimated using a genome-wide polygenic score based on genome-wide association study summary statistics. The results showed that inflammatory response mediated the association between physical neglect and all measures of cognitive functioning, and explained considerably more variance than any of the inflammatory markers alone. Furthermore, genetic risk for schizophrenia was observed to moderate the direct pathway between physical neglect and measures of non-social cognitive functioning in both patient and healthy participants. However, genetic risk did not moderate the mediated pathway associated with inflammatory response. Therefore, we conclude that the mediating role of inflammatory response and the moderating role of higher genetic risk may independently influence the association between adverse early life experiences and cognitive function in patients and healthy participants.

Subtyping Severe Hypercholesterolemia by Genetic Determinant to Stratify Risk of Coronary Artery Disease.

Severe hypercholesterolemia, defined as LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (LDL-C) measurement ≥190 mg/dL, is associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Causes of severe hypercholesterolemia include monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia, polygenic hypercholesterolemia, elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] hypercholesteremia, polygenic hypercholesterolemia with elevated Lp(a) (two-hit), or nongenetic hypercholesterolemia. The added value of using a genetics approach to stratifying risk of incident CAD among those with severe hypercholesterolemia versus using LDL-C levels alone for risk stratification is not known. To determine whether risk stratification by genetic cause provided better 10-year incident CAD risk stratification than LDL-C level, a retrospective cohort study comparing incident CAD risk among severe hypercholesterolemia subtypes (genetic and nongenetic causes) was performed among 130 091 UK Biobank participants. Analyses were limited to unrelated, White British or Irish participants with available exome sequencing data. Participants with cardiovascular disease at baseline were excluded from analyses of incident CAD. Of 130 091 individuals, 68 416 (52.6%) were women, and the mean (SD) age was 56.7 (8.0) years. Of the cohort, 9.0% met severe hypercholesterolemia criteria. Participants with LDL-C between 210 and 229 mg/dL and LDL-C ≥230 mg/dL showed modest increases in incident CAD risk relative to those with LDL-C between 190 and 209 mg/dL (210-229 mg/dL: hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.7]; ≥230 mg/dL: HR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.0-1.7]). In contrast, when risk was stratified by genetic subtype, monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia, elevated Lp(a), and two-hit hypercholesterolemia subtypes had increased rates of incident CAD relative to the nongenetic hypercholesterolemia subtype (monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia: HR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4-4.0]; elevated Lp(a): HR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.2-2.0]; two-hit: HR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.4-2.6]), while polygenic hypercholesterolemia did not. Genetics-based subtyping for monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia and Lp(a) in those with severe hypercholesterolemia provided better stratification of 10-year incident CAD risk than LDL-C-based stratification.

Dementia research in Ireland: What should we prioritise?

Background: Dementia research prioritisation allows for the systematic allocation of investment in dementia research by governments, funding agencies and the private sector. There is currently a lack of information available in Ireland regarding priority areas for dementia research. To address this gap, a dementia research prioritisation exercise was undertaken, consisting of an online survey of professionals in the dementia field and workshops for people living with dementia and family carers. Methods: (1) An anonymous online survey of professionals, based on an existing WHO global survey: The global survey was adapted to an Irish context and participants were asked to score 65 thematic research avenues under 5 criteria; (2) A mixed-methods exercise for people living with dementia and family carers: This involved two facilitated workshops where participants voted on the research themes they felt were important to them and should be addressed through research. Results: Eight of the top ten research priorities in the survey of professionals (n=108) were focused on the delivery and quality of care and services for people with dementia and carers. Other research avenues ranked in the top ten focused on themes of timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia in primary health-care practices and diversifying therapeutic approaches in clinical trials. Participants in the workshops (n=13) ranked ‘better drugs and treatment for people with dementia’, ‘dementia prevention/ risk reduction’ and ‘care for people with dementia and carers’ as their top priority areas. Conclusions: Findings from this prioritisation exercise will inform and motivate policymakers, funders, and researchers to support and conduct research to address the burden of dementia and ensure that the limited resources made available are spent on research that has the most impact for those who will benefit from and use the results of research.

Preparing for Group B Streptococcus vaccine. Attitudes of pregnant women in two countries

ABSTRACT Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccines, designed to be given to pregnant women, are in clinical trials. There is an opportunity to conduct preparatory research now to understand the drivers of and barriers to GBS vaccine acceptance. This will enable targeted interventions so that delays in vaccine uptake might be avoided. A multicenter, mixed-methodology, cross-sectional study evaluated the acceptability of a hypothetical GBS vaccine among pregnant women in two countries with differing health systems. Pregnant women in Philadelphia, US, and Dublin, Ireland, completed an electronic survey and a Discrete Choice Experiment. Five hundred and two women were included in the final analysis. Fifty-three percent of US and 30% of Irish participants reported both awareness and understanding of GBS. The median likelihood score for vaccine receipt (measured on a 10-point scale) was 9 (US: 9 (IQR 7–10), IRL: 9 (IQR 6–10)). Among the US participants, identifying as Black or African American was associated with a lower likelihood of vaccine receipt. Possession of a college degree was associated with increased likelihood of vaccine receipt. Perceived infant benefit was the most important driver of GBS vaccine acceptance. Safety concerns about a novel vaccine was the most prominent barrier identified. Good GBS vaccine uptake is achievable through strong messaging that highlights vaccine safety and the potential infant benefits. Preparation for vaccine implementation should include efforts to increase awareness among pregnant women about GBS infection and a continued focus on improving acceptability of currently recommended maternal vaccines, particularly in population subgroups with low uptake of maternal immunizations.

Perceived Fairness Concerns Within Pandemic Response Technology

Abstract The response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has involved the creation of complex, novel public health technologies deployed at an unprecedented scale. One such technology intervention is the deployment of digital COVID certificates, applications that confirm a person’s COVID-19 immunity status via vaccination, negative tests or having contracted the disease. These certificates have formed part of governmental strategies to manage the resumption of travel and social activities. The potential impact of these technologies on daily life has led to perceived concerns regarding the fairness of the restrictions associated with these systems. These fairness concerns are intuitively understood by users, and challenges exist in conceptualizing them in a manner that is addressable with the tools available to application and system designers. In order to improve our understanding of the fairness concerns of users and how we might conceptualize them, we analysed 27 semi-structured interviews with Irish participants regarding the use of digital immunity certificates. Our results suggest that the user perceptions of the fairness of such solutions are primarily thought about at the group level, with the concerns of Anti-discrimination and Egalitarianism being the most frequently discussed. Based on our analysis, we further identify societal and technical accessibility as important factors when attempting to address these fairness concerns.

Interactions between Medications and the Gut Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

In view of the increasing evidence that commonly prescribed, non-antibiotic drugs interact with the gut microbiome, we re-examined the microbiota variance in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to determine the degree to which medication and supplement intake might account for compositional differences between disease subtypes and geographic location. We assessed the confounding effects of various treatments on the faecal microbiota composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing) in persons with Crohn’s disease (CD; n = 188) or ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 161) from either Cork (Ireland) or Manitoba (Canada) sampled at three time points. The medication profiles between persons with UC and CD and from different countries varied in number and type of drugs taken. Among Canadian participants with CD, surgical resection and overall medication and supplement usage is significantly more common than for their Irish counterparts. Treatments explained more microbiota variance (3.5%) than all other factors combined (2.4%) and 40 of the 78 tested medications and supplements showed significant associations with at least one taxon in the gut microbiota. However, while treatments accounted for a relatively small proportion of the geographic contribution to microbiome variance between Irish and Canadian participants, additive effects from multiple medications contributed significantly to microbiome differences between UC and CD.

Association of TGFB1 rs1800469 and BCMO1 rs6564851 with coronary heart disease and IL1B rs16944 with all-cause mortality in men from the Northern Ireland PRIME study.

BackgroundHistorically, high levels of morbidity and mortality have been associated with cardiovascular disease in the Northern Ireland population. Previously reported associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cardiovascular disease within other populations have not always been consistent.ObjectiveTo investigate associations between 33 SNPs with fatal or non-fatal incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events and all-cause mortality in the Northern Irish participants of the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME).MethodPhase 2 of the PRIME study prospectively evaluated 2,010 men aged 58–74 years in Northern Ireland for more than 10 years for incident CHD events (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass, and cardiac death) and more than 15 years for all-cause mortality. SNPs previously reported in association with cardiovascular outcomes were evaluated against incident CHD events and all-cause mortality using Cox’s proportional hazards models adjusted for established cardiovascular disease risk factors.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 177 incident CHD events were recorded, and 821 men died. Both BCMO1 rs6564851 (Hazard ratio [HR] = 0.76; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.60–0.96; P = 0.02) and TGFB1 rs1800469 (HR = 1.30; CI: 1.02–1.65; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with incident CHD events in adjusted models. Only IL1B rs16944 was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR = 1.18; CI: 1.05–1.33; P = 0.005). No associations remained significant following Bonferonni correction for multiple testing.ConclusionWe report a novel association between BCMO1 rs6564851 and risk of incident CHD events. In addition, TGFB1 rs1800469 and IL1B rs16944 were associated with the risk of incident CHD events and all-cause mortality outcomes respectively, supporting previously reported associations.

Impact of front-of-pack labels with nutrition and Grass-Fed claims on consumer perceptions and expected sensory and nutritional characteristics of Cheddar cheese – A comparative study of Irish and US consumers

Consumer interest in Grass-Fed dairy products is increasing with some consumer groups willing to pay a premium for dairy labelled as Grass-Fed. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the term Grass-Fed on a label in combination with claims on fat content, on consumer perceptions of Cheddar cheese in Irish and US participants. Consumers from Ireland (n = 345) and the United States (n = 432) completed an anonymous online survey and were presented with one of two sets of cheese label images, either Regular-Fat and Regular-Fat-Grass-Fed or Lighter-Fat and Lighter-Fat-Grass-Fed. Participants were asked to rate expected sensory characteristics and perceived healthiness and naturalness, based on each label. Participants then selected a portion of each cheese that they would be likely to consume on a slice of toast for lunch, from 100 portion size images ranging from 1.2 g to 120 g. Inclusion of a Grass-Fed claim on a cheese label did not influence sensory expectations of cheese, but perceived healthiness and naturalness were higher, in both cohorts. The Lighter-Fat claim had a negative influence on sensory expectations, with consumers in both cohorts reporting a lower expected liking and flavour intensity. In the Irish cohort, a Lighter-Fat claim enhanced perceived healthiness. The front-of-pack claim had no impact on portion selection in US consumers. Irish consumers, however, chose a larger portion for the Lighter-Fat cheese compared to the Regular-Fat-Grass-Fed cheese. Inclusion of Grass-Fed on the label alongside information on Regular-Fat or Lighter-Fat may enhance consumers’ perceptions of healthiness and naturalness, without compromising sensory expectations. Products with Lighter labels may be chosen in larger portions, with potential implications for consumers who choose them as part of a weight-control strategy.

COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours among health and social care workers in the UK: A mixed-methods study

The UK began delivering its COVID-19 vaccination programme on 8 December 2020, with health and social care workers (H&SCWs) given high priority for vaccination. Despite well-documented occupational exposure risks, however, there is evidence of lower uptake among some H&SCW groups. We used a mixed-methods approach-involving an online cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews-to gain insight into COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours amongst H&SCWs in the UK by socio-demographic and employment variables. 1917 people were surveyed- 1656 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 261 social care workers (SCWs). Twenty participants were interviewed. Workplace factors contributed to vaccination access and uptake. SCWs were more likely to not be offered COVID-19 vaccination than HCWs (OR:1.453, 95%CI: 1.244-1.696). SCWs specifically reported uncertainties around how to access COVID-19 vaccination. Participants who indicated stronger agreement with the statement 'I would recommend my organisation as a place to work' were more likely to have been offered COVID-19 vaccination (OR:1.285, 95%CI: 1.056-1.563). Those who agreed more strongly with the statement 'I feel/felt under pressure from my employer to get a COVID-19 vaccine' were more likely to have declined vaccination (OR:1.751, 95%CI: 1.271-2.413). Interviewees that experienced employer pressure to get vaccinated felt this exacerbated their vaccine concerns and increased distrust. In comparison to White British and White Irish participants, Black African and Mixed Black African participants were more likely to not be offered (OR:2.011, 95%CI: 1.026-3.943) and more likely to have declined COVID-19 vaccination (OR:5.550, 95%CI: 2.294-13.428). Reasons for declining vaccination among Black African participants included distrust in COVID-19 vaccination, healthcare providers, and policymakers. H&SCW employers are in a pivotal position to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination access, by ensuring staff are aware of how to get vaccinated and promoting a workplace environment in which vaccination decisions are informed and voluntary.

“Oh My God, You Look Gorgeous”. Polite but Inappropriate? A Gendered Exploration of Compliment Perceptions Among Young Irish Adults

Set against the backdrop of the #metoo movement which has positioned inter-gender communication as a “locus of struggle” (Watts, 2003, p. 21) with respect to what constitutes appropriate means of communication, the current study aims to shed light on how young Irish adult females and males aged 18-25 perceive gendered compliments in terms of politeness and appropriateness. A questionnaire was developed using 24 compliments from a corpus of compliments generated from Irish participants of the same age (Marnane, 2020). Of the compliments presented, half originated from females and other half from males and they were evenly distributed between appearance and performance compliments. The participants were blinded to the gender of the complimenters, and although the situations were provided, it was not explicitly stated which compliments were appearance based and which were performance based. Participants were subsequently asked to rate the compliments in terms of politeness and appropriateness. A total of 150 replies were received which included 60 self-identifying males and 90 self-identifying females. The study finds that not only do Irish males and females perceive compliments differently but that these differences relate to compliment type and the gender of the person receiving the compliment. It is hypothesised that the differences between Irish males and females’ compliment perceptions are due to gendered enactment of compliments as well as changing cultural norms.

Beyond comparisons: The complexity and context‐dependency of collective victim beliefs

AbstractSocial psychological research on collective victimhood has focused on just a few ways in which people think about the ingroup's victimization that imply certain assumptions and limit our understanding of collective victim beliefs. Additionally, different historical and sociopolitical contexts may make different collective victim beliefs relevant. This article examines collective victim beliefs expressed in open‐ended survey responses among six different groups: Northern Irish participants, Greek Cypriots, Hungarians, Poles, Jewish Americans, and Armenian Americans (N = 638). Qualitative content analysis revealed five broader categories with several collective victim beliefs each. General appraisals of the ingroup's collective victimization entailed centrality of ingroup victimization versus defocusing victimhood. More specific appraisals included context‐specific characteristics of the ingroup's victimization, perceptions of the perpetrator group (attributions of blame), and perceptions of other victim groups (comparative victim beliefs, including rejecting comparisons). The findings extend and challenge commonly studied collective victim beliefs, and propose novel theoretical directions.

83 ‘WHAT DOES “ACTIVE AGEING” MEAN TO YOU?’ A FIVE-COUNTRY SURVEY OF ACADEMICS, STUDENTS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND ‘EXPERT’ OLDER PEOPLE

Abstract Background Older people are projected to make up almost one third of the European population by 2060. Healthy and active ageing (HAA) is a key to maximising the opportunities that the increasingly older demographic presents. A multinational survey was conducted to inform a new online EU-based master’s programme in active ageing, and a fundamental initial issue to explore was stakeholders’ understanding of the concept of ‘active ageing’. Methods An anonymous online survey, in five partner countries (Ireland, Greece, Austria, Slovenia and Greece) asked senior undergraduates and recent graduates; future employers; relevant academics; and other key stakeholders (e.g. advocacy groups, policy makers, and ‘expert’ older people): ‘What does the term active ageing mean to you?’. Content analysis of their replies ensued. Results Within the first 473 responses, the most common concept (at nearly 50%) was active participation in society, including social engagement and other gainful activities, while hobbies and activities were also mentioned. The other main concept was that active ageing means favourable personal life qualities. This encompassed a broad range of aspects such as dignity, and physical, psychological, and social wellness. Health (physical and psychological), living longer in good health, and health promotion were often specified, while positive self-esteem, self-image, and self-respect were mentioned occasionally. Independence, including autonomy, ability to self-care, and decision-making and financial independence, was another key concept. Service provision in health and social care, and policy and rights were frequently mentioned. Most concepts were similarly reported in all five countries, but there were some nuances, such as Irish participants citing autonomy and service provision less often. Conclusion This European data highlights the understanding, among a range of stakeholders, of the concept of ‘active ageing’, as occurring at both a societal/service level, and at a personal level, with health, wellness and independence being key elements of the latter.

The Role of Attachment Style, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dissociation in Migraine

ABSTRACT Migraine and chronic migraine are caused by a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable genetic, social, behavioral and environmental risk factors. Further research of possible modifiable risk factors for this headache disorder is merited, given its role as one of the leading causes of years lived with disability per year. The first aim of this online cross-sectional study was to investigate the psychosocial risk factors that predicted chronic migraine and severe migraine-related disability in 507 Irish and UK participants, focusing specifically on childhood maltreatment, attachment and tendency to dissociate, or experience depressed mood and/or anxiety. Additionally, this study aimed to examine variables that mediated the relationships between these psychosocial risk factors and migraine chronicity or severe migraine-related disability. Adjusted binary logistic regression revealed that shutdown dissociation (Odds Ratio [OR] 4.57, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.66–7.85) and severe physical abuse (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.44–12.83 had significant odds of predicting migraine chronicity, while depression (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.86–5.77) significantly predicted severe migraine-related disability. Mediation analyses indicated that shutdown dissociation mediated the relationship between seven predictor variables and both chronicity and severe disability including possible predisposing factors emotional abuse, physical neglect, avoidant attachment and anxious attachment. These findings suggest that early life stressors (such as childhood trauma and avoidant attachment style), shutdown dissociation and depression may impact on migraine trajectory. To investigate whether these psychosocial factors are risk factors for migraine chronicity or disability, prospective research should be conducted in this area to account for fluctuations in migraine chronicity over time.

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.

An analysis of patient self-reported COVID-19 symptoms during the first wave of the pandemic in Ireland.

BackgroundSince the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, there have been more than 115 million cases worldwide (1). Symptoms of COVID-19 vary widely and the spectrum of clinical presentation has yet to be fully characterised (2). Many countries have detailed their early experience with COVID-19, with a focus on the clinical characteristics of the disease. However, to our knowledge, there has been no such study detailing symptoms in the Irish population.AimOur aim is to describe COVID-19 symptoms in the Irish population at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and compare symptoms between those reporting positive and negative test results.MethodA Web page MyCovidSymptoms.ie was created by researchers at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in April 2020 to investigate COVID-19 symptoms in Ireland. The Web page invited participants to self-report RT-PCR test outcome data (positive, negative, untested), temperature and a range of symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste, loss of smell).ResultsOne hundred and twenty-three Irish participants who had a RT-PCR test for COVID-19 logged their symptoms. Eighty-four patients reported that they tested positive for COVID-19, and 39 patients reported a negative COVID-19 test. In our cohort of respondents with a positive COVID-19 test, 49/84 (58%) respondents reported a cough. Of the 39 respondents with a negative COVID-19 test, 17 (44%) reported having a cough. The distribution of temperature was similar in both those with and without COVID-19. Levels of self-reported fatigue were high in both groups with 65/84 (77%) of COVID-19-positive patients reporting fatigue and 30/39 (77%) of those who were COVID-19-negative reporting fatigue. New symptoms emerging at the time of data collection included loss of taste and smell. We demonstrated a higher proportion of loss of smell (p = 0.02) and taste (p = 0.01) in those reporting a positive result, compared to those reporting a negative result.ConclusionThese data represents an early picture of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in an Irish population. It also highlights the potential use of self-reported data globally as a powerful tool in helping with the pandemic.

Comparison of barriers and facilitators of MIND diet uptake among adults from Northern Ireland and Italy

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to identify and compare components of the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour) model, that influences behaviour to modify dietary patterns in 40–55-year olds living in Northern Ireland (NI) and Italy, in order to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in later life.MethodsThis was a qualitative study examining factors influencing Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet behaviour. This study further elaborated the COM-B components into the 14 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework to further understand behaviour. Twenty-five Northern Irish and Italian participants were recruited onto the study, to take part in either a focus group or an interview. Participants were both male and female aged between 40 and 55 years.ResultsThematic analysis revealed that the main barriers to the uptake of the MIND diet were; time, work environment (opportunity), taste preference and convenience (motivation). Culture (motivation), seasonal foods and lack of family support (opportunity) to be a barrier to the Italian sample only. The main facilitators reported were; improved health, memory, planning and organisation (motivation) and access to good quality food (opportunity). Cooking skills, knowledge (capability) and heathy work lunch (opportunity) reported as a facilitator to the Italian sample only.ConclusionsCross-cultural differences in relation to psychosocial barriers and facilitators were found in both samples. More barriers than facilitators towards uptake of the MIND diet were found. There is a need for interventions that increase capability, opportunity, and motivation to aid behaviour change. The findings from this study will be used to design a behaviour change intervention using the subsequent steps from the Behaviour Change Wheel.