Representative Population Sample Research Articles

Heterogenous social mechanisms drive the intention to purchase organic food

PurposeThis article explores the heterogenous social mechanisms that drive responsible environmental behaviours by investigating differences in the mean effect of the psychosocial determinants of the intention to buy organic foods.Design/methodology/approachUsing data for a representative sample of the Spanish population, we estimated the mean effect of the constructs represented in the responsible environmental behaviour (REB) theory that affect sustainable food consumption, and examined the social mechanisms that may explain heterogeneity in the mean effect of those constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis, linear regression, and latent class regression were used in the analysis.FindingsWe found that the effect of REB’s psychosocial constructs varied significantly, demonstrating social heterogeneity in the estimated average effect. We identified different social mechanisms that explain variations in organic food purchase intentions: environmental attitudes and social norms shape these intentions among socioeconomically privileged consumers, whereas personal norms shape these intentions among less socially advantaged consumers.Originality/valueOur research contributes to the literature by highlighting the existence of differing social mechanisms explaining organic food purchase intentions. The uncovering of three social mechanisms explaining differences in the mean effect of factors driving those intentions provides valuable insights with regard to both further developing a holistic framework for responsible environmental behaviours and developing new public policies and marketing strategies aimed at improving sustainable food consumption.

How does corporate hypocrisy undermine corporate reputation? The roles of corporate trust, affective commitment and CSR perception

Purpose Corporate hypocrisy occurs when a discrepancy exists between corporate talk and actions. As companies assume more extensive economic, societal and global roles, they are more likely to encounter situations in which their words and actions are inconsistent. Therefore, a company’s ability to cope with such situations is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to examine the negative effects of corporate hypocrisy on corporate reputation. First, it reveals the underlying mechanisms by presenting corporate trust and affective commitment as parallel mediators. Additionally, it explores how corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions mitigate the indirect effects of corporate hypocrisy. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online survey conducted at two time points in the context of Korean retail banking companies. A total of 313 respondents participated in a two-wave online survey using a multistage sampling technique to ensure a representative population sample. This study used the Mplus-based Hayes’ PROCESS Macro to test the research hypotheses. Findings The results show that corporate hypocrisy negatively affects corporate reputation by impeding customers’ corporate trust and affective commitment. These negative indirect effects are mitigated when customers’ perceptions of CSR are high. Originality/value By establishing a parallel moderated mediation model that captures the impact of corporate hypocrisy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study presents important academic and managerial implications that have not been provided in the literature.

Changes in acceptability, consideration, intention, and uptake of direct-to-consumer genetic tests in the Netherlands from 2017 to 2022.

Although the popularity of direct-to-consumer genetic tests (DTC-GT) for disease-related purposes increased, concerns persist whether consumers make well-informed decisions about their purchase. To better target pre- and post-test information materials, this study aims to determine the characteristics of people interested in undergoing DTC-GT. In addition, it aims to determine changes in acceptability, consideration, intention, and uptake of DTC-GT since 2017. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2022 with a representative sample of the Dutch adult population. Ordinal regression models and chi-squared tests were used to determine factors associated with DTC-GT acceptability, consideration and intention, and changes in outcomes since 2017, respectively. Of the 907 included respondents, 19.3% found DTC-GT acceptable, 29.4% considered taking a DTC-GT in the future, 6.2% intended to take a test within the coming year, and 0.9% had already tested. High education was associated with lower acceptability, consideration, intention, and higher awareness. Respondents with a chronic disease were less likely to find DTC-GT acceptable. Higher consideration was associated with having a partner, adopted/stepchildren, and lower age. Compared to 2017, in 2022 more respondents found DTC-GT totally unacceptable, while more considered testing, and fewer ruled out taking a test both in the next year and the future. Education status may play an important role in people's acceptability, consideration, intention, and awareness of disease-related DTC-GT in the Netherlands. Easy-to-understand public information materials should be promoted and guidance is needed to help with decision-making and result interpretation. Future research should focus on the best way to provide responsible guidance.

Poor sleep quality is an important modifiable risk factor for dementia: Population attributable fraction of poor sleep in a Brazilian population-based study.

The populational impact of poor sleep quality and the risk of dementia is unclear. We analyzed the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) of poor sleep quality for dementia, and its association with other two sleep parameters through self-reported and single questions collected in a large-scale Brazilian cohort (ELSI-Brazil). A subset of the ELSI-Brazil with complete responses to sleep quality was retrieved for this study. This is a large representative sample of the Brazilian elderly population with an extensive assessment of sociodemographic and health risk variables. Prevalence of poor sleep quality was estimated according to the complex sample design, and its PAF was measured using a meta-analytic relative risk. A total of 6024 (56.3% women, mean 62.8±9.5years of age) individuals had complete responses. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 24.9% (95%CI 23%-26%), and the PAF of poor sleep quality including other 10 modifiable risk factors of dementia was 52.5% in Brazil. Secondary analyses identified that sleep quality, restorative sleep and sleep drug usage varied considerably according to age ranges, race, and gender. Poor sleep quality is an important populational modifiable risk factor for dementia in Brazil. Targeted interventions may provide an important impact in preventing dementia in low- and middle-income countries.

Requirements of the experiment

The purpose of the experiment is to derive inferences about the causal effects of a subset of the characteristics of the units of a target population (explanatory characteristics - treatment factors) on characteristics that express the performance of these units (response characteristics). To achieve this objective, the effects of the treatment factors in the sample must manifest themselves as in the target population. This attempt requires the construction of a valid and representative sample of the target population. It is achieved if the experiment plan and its execution satisfy the experiment requirements. These requirements are considered in this article.

The sense of coherence scale: psychometric properties in a representative sample of the Czech adult population

BackgroundSense of coherence (SOC) is a personal resource that reflects the extent to which one perceives the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. Decades of empirical research consistently show that SOC is an important protective resource for health and well-being. Despite the extensive use of the 13-item measure of SOC, there remains uncertainty regarding its factorial structure. Additionally, a valid and reliable Czech version of the scale is lacking. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the SOC-13 scale in a representative sample of Czech adults.MethodsAn online survey was completed by 498 Czech adults (18–86 years old) between November 2021 and December 2021. We used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factorial structure of the scale. Further, we examined the variations in SOC based on age and gender, and we tested the criterion validity of the scale using the short form of the Mental Health Continuum (MHC) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale as mental health outcomes.ResultsSOC-13 showed an acceptable one- and three-factor fit only with specified residual covariance between items 2 and 3. We tested alternative short versions by systematically removing poorly performing items. The fit significantly improved for all shorter versions with SOC-9 having the best psychometric properties with a clear one-factorialstructure. We found that SOC increases with age and males score higher than females. SOC showed a moderately strong positive correlation with MHC, and a moderately strong negative correlation with GAD. These findings were similar for all tested versions supporting the criterion validity of the SOC scale.ConclusionOur findings suggest that shortened versions of the SOC-13 scale have better psychometric properties than the original 13-item version in the Czech adult population. Particularly, SOC-9 emerges as a viable alternative, showing comparable reliability and validity as the 13-item version and a clear one-factorial structure in our sample.

Machine learning identifies factors most associated with seeking medical care for migraine: Results of the OVERCOME (US) study.

Utilize machine learning models to identify factors associated with seeking medical care for migraine. Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet many people with migraine do not seek medical care. The web-based survey, ObserVational survey of the Epidemiology, tReatment and Care Of MigrainE (US), annually recruited demographically representative samples of the US adult population (2018-2020). Respondents with active migraine were identified via a validated diagnostic questionnaire and/or a self-reported medical diagnosis of migraine, and were then asked if they had consulted a healthcare professional for their headaches in the previous 12 months (i.e., "seeking care"). This included in-person/telephone/or e-visit at Primary Care, Specialty Care, or Emergency/Urgent Care locations. Supervised machine learning (Random Forest) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithms identified 13/54 sociodemographic and clinical factors most associated with seeking medical care for migraine. Random Forest models complex relationships (including interactions) between predictor variables and a response. LASSO is also an efficient feature selection algorithm. Linear models were used to determine the multivariable association of those factors with seeking care. Among 61,826 persons with migraine, the mean age was 41.7 years (±14.8) and 31,529/61,826 (51.0%) sought medical care for migraine in the previous 12 months. Of those seeking care for migraine, 23,106/31,529 (73.3%) were female, 21,320/31,529 (67.6%) were White, and 28,030/31,529 (88.9%) had health insurance. Severe interictal burden (assessed via the Migraine Interictal Burden Scale-4, MIBS-4) occurred in 52.8% (16,657/31,529) of those seeking care and in 23.1% (6991/30,297) of those not seeking care; similar patterns were observed for severe migraine-related disability (assessed via the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale, MIDAS) (36.7% [11,561/31,529] vs. 14.6% [4434/30,297]) and severe ictal cutaneous allodynia (assessed via the Allodynia Symptom Checklist, ASC-12) (21.0% [6614/31,529] vs. 7.4% [2230/30,297]). Severe interictal burden (vs. none, OR 2.64, 95% CI [2.5, 2.8]); severe migraine-related disability (vs. little/none, OR 2.2, 95% CI [2.0, 2.3]); and severe ictal allodynia (vs. none, OR 1.7, 95% CI [1.6, 1.8]) were strongly associated with seeking care for migraine. Seeking medical care for migraine is associated with higher interictal burden, disability, and allodynia. These findings could support interventions to promote care-seeking among people with migraine, encourage assessment of these factors during consultation, and prioritize these domains in selecting treatments and measuring their benefits.

Ophthalmic quality of life in the adult Danish population: an epidemiological study

BackgroundOphthalmic quality of life (OQoL) has been investigated in selected parts of general populations and in patients with ocular disease, but OQoL in unselected general populations has not been studied...

Health-Related Quality of Life and Return to Work after Surgery for Spinal Schwannoma: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Spinal schwannomas are the second most common primary intradural spinal tumor. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the frequency of return to work after the surgical treatment of spinal schwannomas. HRQoL was compared to a sample of the general population. Patients operated for spinal schwannomas between 2006 and 2020 were identified in a previous study and those alive at follow-up (171 of 180) were asked to participate. Ninety-four (56%) responded and were included in this study. Data were compared to the Stockholm Public Health Survey 2006, a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of the general population. An analysis for any potential non-response bias was performed and showed no significant differences between the groups. HRQoL was equal between the spinal schwannoma sample and the general population sample in all but one dimension; men in the spinal schwannoma sample reported more moderate problems in the usual activities dimension than men in the general population (p = 0.020). In the schwannoma sample, there were no significant differences between men and women in either of the dimensions EQ-5Dindex or EQVAS. Before surgery, a total of 71 (76%) were working full-time and after surgery almost all (94%) returned to work, most of them within 3 months of surgery. Eighty-nine (95%) of the patients responded that they would accept the surgery for their spinal schwannoma if asked again today. To conclude, surgical treatment of spinal schwannomas is associated with good HRQoL and with a high frequency of return to work.

Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Adult Women's Lives: A Survey of 1,009 French Women.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory diseases, and has a higher prevalence among females in adulthood. The aim of this observational, cross-sectional, survey-based study was to evaluate the impact of AD on the daily lives of adult women patients. A scientific committee composed exclusively of women constructed a specific questionnaire in partnership with the French Eczema Association. Severity of AD was evaluated with the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). A sample of 1,009 adult women (mean age ± standard deviation: 41.8 ± 14.2 years) with AD was identified from a representative sample of the French population (82% response rate 1,230 women surveyed). According to the POEM, 50.64% (n = 511) of subjects were identified as having mild AD, 39.35% (n = 397) moderate AD, and 10.01% (n = 101) severe AD. Overall, 67.7% (n = 682) reported that their eczema involved a visible area (face, neck or hands), and 19.6% (n = 198) a sensual area (breasts/chest, genital area or buttocks). Of the 720 women with menstrual cycles, exacerbations of AD were reported to occur mostly before (50.6%) and during (48.3%) menstruation. A small proportion of women, 7.3% (n = 74), reported being afraid of becoming pregnant because of their eczema. If AD involvement was in a visible area it had a greater impact on romantic relationships, sexual relationships and occupation. If AD involvement was in a sensual area it had a greater influence on romantic relationships and sexuality. Particular attention should be given to patients with localization of AD on the face, neck or hands, as they have a higher risk of social exclusion. Moreover, these results should encourage health professionals to ask patients with AD about the possible involvement of sensual areas.

Utilization of Mental Health Provision, Epistemic Stance and Comorbid Psychopathology of Individuals with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (CPTSD)-Results from a Representative German Observational Study.

Background: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a severely debilitating recently added symptom cluster in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). So far, only limited information on mental health treatment-uptake and -satisfaction of individuals with CPTSD is available. The aim of this study is to investigate these aspects in a representative sample of the German general population. Methods: Participants completed the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to identify participants with CPTSD, as well as questionnaires on mental health treatment uptake and satisfaction, adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, depression, working ability, personality functioning, and epistemic trust. Results: Of the included n = 1918 participants, n = 29 (1.5%) fulfilled the criteria for CPTSD. Participants with CPTSD had received mental health treatment significantly more often than participants with PTSD or depression (65.5% vs. 58.8% vs. 31.6%; p = 0.031) but reported significantly less symptom improvement (52.9% vs. 78.0% vs. 80.0%; p = 0.008). Lower levels of epistemic trust were associated with higher CPTSD symptoms (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study shows that while the vast majority of individuals with CPTSD had received mental health treatment, subjective symptom improvement rates are not satisfactory. CPTSD was associated with a broad number of comorbidities and impairments in functioning. Lower levels of epistemic trust may partially explain worse treatment outcomes.

The Association between Cardiometabolic Risk and Cognitive Function among Older Americans and Chinese.

Cardiometabolic risk (CMR) is associated with cognitive health, but the association can be affected by broader social, economic, and medical contexts. The US and China have very different developmental and epidemiological histories, and thus CMR among older people could be linked to cognitive function differently in the two countries. Cross-sectional and longitudinal OLS regression models were estimated for each country using nationally representative samples of populations over age 50: 7,430/4,474 Americans and 6,108/3,655 Chinese in the cross-sectional/longitudinal samples. In the US, higher CMR is associated with worse cognitive function (b=-0.08, p<0.016). Longitudinally, CMR increase is associated with worse cognitive function at a marginally significant level (b=-0.10, p=0.055). No relationship between CMR level or change and cognitive function is observed in China. Higher education levels are linked to better cognitive function and slower cognitive decline in both countries. Unlike older Americans, relative to those with very low education levels, among older Chinese with the highest education level, a higher CMR links to better cognitive function (b=0.63, p=0.013) and slower cognitive decline (b=0.35, p=0.062); Nevertheless, a rapid increase in CMR is additionally harmful (b=-0.54, p=0.050) for cognitive function and may lead to faster cognitive decline (b=-0.35, p=0.079). The significant relationship between CMR and cognitive function in the US suggests the importance of monitoring and controlling CMR factors at older ages. The insignificant relationship in China may be explained by the high CMR among those with high education levels, highlighting the need for improving cardiometabolic health through education and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Differential associations between Quantity, content, and context of screen time, and Children's health-related quality of life: A two-wave study

Existing literature suggests that lengthy durations of screen time (ST) are associated with lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other negative outcomes in children. Nonetheless, the current available evidence largely relies on cross-sectional studies. In addition, data on the content and context (parent–child co-use and solitary use) of ST are scarce. We set out to conduct a one-year, two-wave longitudinal study to investigate the association between exposure to different types of ST and HRQoL among primary school children in Hong Kong, from 2021 to 2022. A population representative random sample (N = 1428) participated in the study. Results from pooled ordinary least squares regressions showed children's ST duration was significantly associated with worse HRQoL (β = −1.101, p < 0.0001). However, interactions of ST content and context, including parent–child co-use × TV viewing (β = 1.305, p < 0.0001), parent–child co-use × video gaming (β = 0.280, p < 0.0001), solitary use × video gaming (β = 0.198, p < 0.0001), and solitary use × social media use (β = 0.454, p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with better HRQoL. Our findings suggest that increased overall durations of ST are associated with worse HRQoL in children, but this association is impacted by the types of ST content and context.

A Feasible Estimation of a “Corrected” EQ-5D Social Tariff

ObjectivesTo demonstrate the feasibility of estimating a social tariff free of utility curvature and probability weighting biases and to test transferability between riskless and risky contexts. MethodsValuations for a selection of EQ-5D-3L health states were collected from a large and representative sample (N = 1676) of the Spanish general population through computer-assisted personal interviewing. Two elicitation methods were used: the traditional time trade-off (TTO) and a novel risky-TTO procedure. Both methods are equivalent for better than death states, which allowed us to test transferability of utilities across riskless and risky contexts. Corrective procedures applied are based on rank-dependent utility theory, identifying parameter estimates at the individual level. All corrections are health-state specific, which is a unique feature of our corrective approach. ResultsTwo corrected value sets for the EQ-5D-3L system are estimated, highlighting the feasibility of developing national tariffs under nonexpected utility theories, such as rank-dependent utility. Furthermore, transferability was not supported for at least half of the health states valued by our sample. ConclusionsIt is feasible to estimate a social tariff by using interviewing techniques, sample sizes, and sample representativeness equivalent to prior studies designed to generate national value sets for the EQ-5D. Utilities obtained in distinct contexts may not be interchangeable. Our findings caution against routinely taking transferability of utility for granted.

A cross- sectional study to assess medication safety, knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding nutrition and medication among pregnant women

Objective: To assess pregnant women's knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding nutrition and medication usage, analyse the prescribing pattern, and categorize them based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 264 pregnant women in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of a tertiary care hospital from October 2022 to August 2023. A knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire was prepared in English language by the researchers and validated by an expert panel consisting of 12 members. The validated questionnaire was then translated into regional languages, Kannada and Malayalam. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with test-retest method with a representative sample population of 30 subjects (10 subjects for each language). The subjects' knowledge, attitude, and practice were evaluated using the validated KAP questionnaire. The safety of the medication was assessed using the FDA drug safety classification for pregnancy. Results: The mean scores for nutritional and medication usage knowledge, attitude, and practice were 4.14±1.15, 4.50±1.09, and 3.00±1.47, respectively. Among 30 prescribed medications, 3 belong to category A (no risk in human studies), 8 belong to category B (no risk in animal studies), 18 belong to category C (risk cannot be ruled out) and 1 drug is not classified. A significant association was observed between medication knowledge and practice (r=0.159, P=0.010). Conclusions: Most of the study population knows the need to maintain good dietary and medication practices during pregnancy. Counselling pregnant women regarding diet and medication usage is crucial in maternal care.

Assessing structural models of neighborhood and family sociodemographic characteristics and their relations with externalizing psychopathology.

Externalizing psychopathology has been found to have small to moderate associations with neighborhood and family sociodemographic characteristics. However, prior studies may have used suboptimal operationalizations of neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics and externalizing psychopathology, potentially misestimating relations between these constructs. To address these limitations, in the current study we test different measurement models of these constructs and assess the structural relations between them. Using a population-representative sample of 2,195 twins and siblings from the Georgia Twin Study and data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive and 2000 U.S. Census, we assessed the fit of competing measurement models for family sociodemographic, neighborhood sociodemographic, and neighborhood environment characteristics. In structural models, we regressed a general externalizing dimension on different operationalizations of these variables separately and then simultaneously in a final model. Latent variable operationalizations of family sociodemographic, neighborhood sociodemographic, and neighborhood environment characteristics explained no more variance in broad externalizing psychopathology than other operationalizations. In an omnibus model, family sociodemographic characteristics showed a small association with externalizing psychopathology, while neighborhood sociodemographic and environmental characteristics did not. Family sociodemographic characteristics showed small associations with neighborhood sociodemographic and environmental characteristics, and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics were moderately associated with neighborhood environment. These findings suggest that family sociodemographic characteristics are more associated with the development of broad externalizing psychopathology in youth than neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics and neighborhood environment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Projections of functional dependence among the late middle-aged and older population from 2018-2048 in China: a dynamic microsimulation

BackgroundThe population of China is aging rapidly. However, the long-term trajectories of functionally dependent late middle-aged and older Chinese people are currently absent. The present study aimed to estimate the population size and proportion of late middle-aged and older adults with difficulties and dependence on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in China from 2018 to 2048.MethodsWe constructed a dynamic microsimulation model to project the population size and proportions of late middle-aged and older Chinese people who have difficulty and dependence in ADL and IADL from 2018-2048. The model was populated with a representative sample of the target population and allowed individual-level interaction between risk factors, diseases, and health outcomes. Analyses by socioeconomic subgroups were also conducted.ResultsAlmost 25% and 38% of late middle-aged and older people in China will become ADL- and IADL-dependent by 2048, respectively. Also, 17% of the target population will be severely ADL-disabled by 2048. The inequity in functional status across subgroups by sex, educational level, and urban/rural residency will become substantial.ConclusionsThe numbers and percentages of China's functionally difficult and dependent late middle-aged and older population will increase by magnitudes as of the mid-21st century, the pressure of which is compounded by its disproportionate distribution across subgroups. To alleviate the overwhelming challenge, efforts to improve the functional status of the underserved subpopulation should also be iterated.

Harmonizing Human-AI Synergy in Smart Cities: Exploring Emotion Understanding and Technology Anxiety in an Asian Context

Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) envisions AI surpassing human cognitive abilities, mimicking and developing its own thinking skills. However, this raises ethical and control issues, emphasizing the need for robust regulations in AI development. The prime objective of the study is to align aligning human intelligence with artificial superintelligence in smart cities. Particularly, the study has examined the mediating role of emotion-understanding ability, and the technology anxiety between AI and shared decision-making. This study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and decision-making in the Khon Kaen Smart City, Thailand. Data was collected from various financial institutions, including community and commercial banks, and managers working in the city. The largest and most developed province served as the primary focus of the study, and area cluster sampling was employed to obtain a representative sample of the province's varied population. A total of 297 out of the 700 questionnaires that were given to the seven different groups for the survey were filled out. Shared Decision-Making (SDM) and Emotion-Understanding Ability (EUA) were found to have a strong correlation in the study, which highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in decision-making due to the strong correlation between the two. This comprehension is especially helpful when artificial intelligence is used to improve decision-making processes. This highlights the significance of human factors, such as comprehension and emotion, in the process of developing effective decision-making framework.

Associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and thyroid function in a representative sample of the Korean population

BackgroundDisruption of thyroid function can profoundly affect various organ systems. However, studies on the association between air pollution and thyroid function are relatively scarce and most studies have focused on the long-term effects of air pollution among pregnant women. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and thyroid function in the general population. MethodsData from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015) were analyzed (n = 5,626). Air pollution concentrations in residential addresses were estimated using Community Multiscale Air Quality models. The moving averages of air pollution over 7 days were set as exposure variables through exploratory analyses. Linear regression and quantile g-computation models were constructed to assess the effects of individual air pollutants and air pollution mixture, respectively. ResultsA 10-ppb increase in NO2 (18.8-μg/m3 increase) and CO (11.5-μg/m3 increase) was associated with 2.43% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42, 4.48] and 0.19% (95% CI: 0.01, 0.36) higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, respectively. A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and a 10-ppb increase in O3 (19.6-μg/m3 increment) were associated with 0.87% (95% CI: 1.47, −0.27) and 0.59% (95% CI: 1.18, −0.001) lower free thyroxine (fT4) levels, respectively. A simultaneous quartile increase in PM2.5, NO2, O3, and CO levels was associated with lower fT4 but not TSH levels. ConclusionsAs the subtle changes in thyroid function can affect various organ systems, the present results may have substantial public health implications despite the relatively modest effect sizes. Because this was a cross-sectional study, it is necessary to conduct further experimental or repeated-measures studies to consolidate the current results.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Catalyst for Increased Consumption in Television and Social Media Usage in Romania

The general perception is that the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in social media usage patterns, resulting in increased Internet traffic for communication purposes. This study analyses the use of social media and television by the Romanian population before (in 2018), during (in 2020), and after (in 2023) the COVID-19 lockdown. The results indicate that during and after the lockdown, the most frequently used social networking sites and mobile apps in Romania were Facebook and WhatsApp. TikTok experienced a significant increase in user registrations, surpassing Instagram. Despite the presumption that TV lost market share compared to the Internet, television not only remained the most utilised medium, but TV consumption increased during and after the pandemic. The data was collected by the media agency Dentsu Romania, combining information obtained from BRAT (Biroul Român de Audit Transmedia) and Dentsu Romania, based on a collection methodology involving online and face-to-face interviews, on a representative sample of the Romanian population. BRAT and Dentsu Romania media consumption data was cross-referenced with information on consumption behaviour monitored through people meters by ARMA (Asociația Română pentru Măsurarea Audiențelor).