Self-reported Variables Research Articles

Scrolling Your Sleep Away: The Effects of Bedtime Device Use on Sleep Among Young Adults with Poor Sleep.

Many young adults report sleep problems, including insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality. Young adults are heavily reliant on electronic devices, even using them during bedtime with adverse effects on sleep. Given the importance of adequate sleep, the present study examined the daily association between using electronic devices during bedtime and sleep in a diverse sample of young adults with poor sleep. We analyzed data from a pilot randomized controlled trial in which young adults with poor sleep [n = 46; 84% female; mean age 19.3 (SD = 2.9); 30% Asian, 19% Black/African American, 9% multiracial; 34% Hispanic/Latino] wore an electronic sleep tracking device (Fitbit Charge 3) and completed daily sleep diaries including questions about sleep and bedtime routine for 4 weeks following a behavioral sleep intervention. The effect of bedtime device use on sleep latency-time needed to fall asleep-and sleep duration was estimated by generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), adjusting for weeknights/weekend nights. Bedtime device use on a given night was significantly associated with shorter self-reported sleep duration (b = - 19.80, p = .011), but not with sleep latency. Concordance between the self-reported and Fitbit-measured sleep variables was low, and bedtime device use was not associated and Fitbit-measured sleep variables. Using electronic devices before bed negatively affected self-reported sleep duration the following night. This finding highlights the importance of minimizing nightly device use among young adults with poor sleep and suggests that the inconsistency between self-reported sleep and device use warrants further investigation.

Influence of physical activity on the epigenetic clock: evidence from a Japanese cross-sectional study

BackgroundBiological age, especially epigenetic age derived from the epigenetic clock, is a significant measure of aging, considering the differences in aging rates among individuals. The epigenetic clock, a machine learning-based algorithm, uses DNA methylation states to estimate biological age. Previous studies have reported inconsistent associations between physical activity (PA) and the epigenetic clock, especially second-generation clocks such as PhenoAge and GrimAge. This study aimed to clarify this relationship using cross-sectional data from Japanese participants aged 40–69.MethodsWe used two datasets from the Saga J-MICC study, of which 867 samples were available for analysis. DNA methylation data from peripheral blood samples were used to calculate the epigenetic age using the epigenetic clocks PhenoAge and GrimAge. PA and sedentary time were measured using a single-axis accelerometer, while self-reported PA, sedentary time, and covariates were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The association between PA or sedentary time and epigenetic age acceleration was assessed using multiple linear regression.ResultsPearson's correlation coefficients between accelerometer-based and self-reported PA variables ranged from 0.09 to 0.20. Multivariable regression analysis showed that accelerometer-based PA and sedentary time were associated with epigenetic age decelerations and accelerations, respectively. However, self-reported PA was not associated with the epigenetic age accelerations.ConclusionsThese results indicate that reducing sedentary time and increasing PA were associated with slowing both PhenoAge and GrimAge, even in East Asian populations with different exercise habits, body shapes, and lifestyles. This study highlights the potential of objective second-generation epigenetic age acceleration as an outcome index for healthcare interventions and clinical applications.

Vegetarian diet and pregnancy outcome

ObjectiveVegetarian diets are becoming increasingly popular. Our aim was to evaluate the association of a vegetarian diet with pregnancy, labor, and newborn’s outcome. Study designThis retrospective case-control study included 150 women on a vegetarian diet and 300 omnivores. The data were collected from Tampere University Hospital pregnancy database from January 2015 to April 2021. Diet was a self-reported variable. Outcomes of interest were compared between the groups. The frequency of small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns and low birth weight were primary outcomes. Other parameters concerning pregnancy, labor, and newborn served as secondary outcomes. ResultsThe rate of SGA at the 10 % cutoff was lower in the vegetarian group. Based on a definition of two standard deviations, SGA did not differ between the vegetarian diet group and the control group. The median birthweight was significantly higher in the vegetarian group. Gestational diabetes (GDM) was more common in the vegetarian group, however the numbers of large for gestational age (LGA) newborns were comparable between the study groups. Labor induction was more common, and the second stage of labor was longer in the vegetarian group. Preterm births (< 32+0 and < 37+0 gestational weeks) were more common in the control group. No differences were found in the mean umbilical artery pH value, 1- and 5- minutes Apgar scores or the number of newborns transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal ward. The proportions of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy did not differ between the groups. ConclusionAccording to our results, a vegetarian diet may be considered safe during pregnancy. It was not associated with an increased risk of pregnancy- or neonatal complications.

Association between infertility and cervical insufficiency in nulliparous women- the contribution of fertility treatment

Pregnancies conceived through assisted reproduction have been associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy and delivery outcomes, including cervical insufficiency (CI). Despite CI being a significant cause of late miscarriage or preterm birth, there are minimal published data on the associations of infertility (with or without fertility treatment) with CI. This study uses Swedish national health registers to examine the associations between infertility, assisted reproduction and CI in nulliparous women. This population-based case-control study is based on data from Swedish national health registers. Using the information on parity and multiple gestation in the Medical Birth Register, singleton pregnancies of nulliparous women were extracted and linked to the National Patient Register and the National Quality Register for Assisted Reproduction. Using diagnostic codes for CI and procedural codes for cervical cerclage, a total of 2662 CI cases were identified for deliveries in the 21-year period, 1992-2012. A reference group of 26,620 controls were extracted from the population of non-cases using simple random sampling.. Infertility was classified using a woman's report of difficulty conceiving for at least one year. Fertility treatment was assessed through self-reported variables in the Medical Birth Register and fertility treatment registration in the National Quality Register for Assisted Reproduction. On adjusting for maternal characteristics and medical history, infertility was associated with CI, overall (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) ) 1.91 (1.53, 2.39) and in the subgroup of non-users of fertility treatment (aOR) 1.60 (1.21, 2.12), compared to women without infertility. Among women with infertility, pregnancies conceived with the aid of fertility treatment had higher risk of CI than naturally-conceived pregnancies (aOR 1.49 (1.05, 2.10). In the subgroup of women with infertility and no history of miscarriage, the use of fertility treatment was associated with CI (aOR 3.48 (2.02. 5.98)). No association was found between fertility treatment and CI in the pregnancies of women with infertility and a history of miscarriage. From this study, we conclude that CI in nulliparous women is associated with both infertility and its treatment. For infertile women, the risk of CI following fertility treatment was seen only in those with no history of miscarriage, providing crucial information for improving risk assessment and management strategies for preterm birth prevention in populations availing of fertility treatment.

Associations of 2 Established Methods of Measuring Gait Speed and Sit-To-Stand Performance With Frailty and Life-Space Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectivesThe 4-m gait speed (4mGS) and 10-m gait speed (10mGS) tests and the 30-second sit-to-stand (30sSTS) and 5-times sit-to-stand (5xSTS) tests are commonly used and advocated in consensus recommendations. We compared these tests on their predictive and clinical value concerning the risk of prefrailty/frailty and restricted life-space mobility (RLSM). DesignCross-sectional study. Setting and ParticipantsA sample of 1235 community-dwelling adults (mean ± SD, 68 ± 7 years) participated in this prospective cohort study. MethodsAt baseline assessment, participants completed a survey and functional assessment, from which gait speed, sit-to-stand performance, self-reported mobility limitation, 40-item Frailty Index, and Life Space Assessment were measured. Participants with a 40-item Frailty Index >0.15 and a Life Space Assessment <60 points were classified as having prefrailty/frailty and RLSM, respectively. At 1-year follow-up assessment, prefrailty/frailty and RLSM were evaluated. ResultsCorrelations between gait speed and sit-to-stand measures were high (ρ values >0.80). In multivariable ordinal models, these measures added incremental prognostic value beyond a base model comprising demographics and self-reported mobility limitation variables in predicting baseline and 1-year outcomes. Between 10mGS and 4mGS, models with 10mGS had higher concordance indices (differences, 0.005-0.009), and these differences translated to generally greater net benefit in decision curve analyses. Between 30sSTS and 5xSTS measures, no one measure consistently outperformed the other, with small net benefit differences between measures (<0.2%). Conclusions and ImplicationsIn community-dwelling older adults, gait speed and sit-to-stand measures meaningfully predicted prefrailty/frailty and RLSM. 10mGS provided more robust prognostic information than the 4mGS, whereas 5xSTS and 30sSTS measures showed near equivalence of performance. These findings could guide the choice of functional measures in clinical and research settings.

Competencies developed by students while working in nutrition junior enterprises

Introduction: Reflections arise on how junior companies have been structuring themselves alongside the teaching dynamics in Brazilian universities and their effective contributions to the professional training and development of skills of their members. Thus, this study aimed to identify competencies perceived by students in nutrition junior enterprises in Brazil and compare them according to their profile (time of participation, number of positions and weekly workload). Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out with a representative sample of students working in nutrition junior enterprises. Self-reported variables were collected on sociodemographic, occupational, technical-scientific performance data, aptitude for entering the job market, intention of professional activity and perception of the skills developed. Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to determine differences in the perception of acquired skills between the performance profiles. Results: Participation in junior enterprises influenced the development of various entrepreneurial skills that change according to the student's performance profile in junior enterprises. The greater dedication of time and activities in junior companies provided recognition of significant skills such as leadership (p&lt;0.001), problem-solving ability (p&lt;0.01), and social responsibility (p=0.05). On the other hand, only a quarter of students took courses on entrepreneurship and only two in ten were willing to become an entrepreneur after academic training. Conclusion: This study presents which entrepreneurial skills are most developed through participation in a junior enterprise. This research can contribute to promoting scientific data on entrepreneurship education, which is still scarce in developing countries. Furthermore, it can encourage the participation of students in junior enterprises and promote support for this activity among professors and universities.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Opt-Out Screening of Justice-Involved Females During Intake at the Los Angeles County Jail: The Pivotal Role of Correctional Health Systems.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, presenting major public health challenges and resulting in billions of dollars in direct medical costs in the U.S. Incarcerated females have a particularly elevated risk of these infections, which can result in serious sequelae if left untreated. On December 13, 2021, the Los Angeles County Jail system began offering opt-out urogenital chlamydia and gonorrhea screening to all newly incarcerated females. We retrospectively analyzed electronic health record data for completed urogenital chlamydia/gonorrhea screening among newly incarcerated females between December 13, 2021, and May 31, 2023. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of STIs and treatment non-initiation outcomes with various demographic and self-reported variables. Of the 13,739 female entrants offered STI testing, 10,717 (78%) completed screening, with 1151 (11%) having a chlamydial infection, 788 (7%) having a gonococcal infection, and 1626 (15%) having >1 infection. STI positivity was associated with age 18-34, reported houselessness, amphetamine use, and history of a positive prior treponemal antibody test. STI treatment non-initiation was associated with shorter jail stay for both chlamydial ([aOR] = 87.4, 95% CI (34.2, 223.2)) and gonococcal ([aOR] = 9.0, 95% CI (5.2, 15.7)) infections. The STI prevalence among female detainees tested was manyfold higher than that of the general population. The implementation of routine opt-out STI screening in carceral settings provides a unique opportunity to benefit the health of both the correctional population and potentially that of the surrounding community.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of 1-Year Survival Using Subjective and Objective Parameters in Patients With Cancer.

Palliative care is recommended for patients with cancer with a life expectancy of <12 months. Machine learning (ML) techniques can help in predicting survival outcomes among patients with cancer and may help distinguish who benefits the most from palliative care support. We aim to explore the importance of several objective and subjective self-reported variables. Subjective variables were collected through electronic psycho-oncologic and palliative care self-assessment screenings. We used these variables to predict 1-year mortality. Between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, a total of 265 patients with advanced cancer completed a patient-reported outcome tool. We documented objective and subjective variables collected from electronic health records, self-reported subjective variables, and all clinical variables combined. We used logistic regression (LR), 20-fold cross-validation, decision trees, and random forests to predict 1-year mortality. We analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-AUC, the precision-recall curve-AUC (PR-AUC)-and the feature importance of the ML models. The performance of clinical nonpatient variables in predictions (LR reaches 0.81 [ROC-AUC] and 0.72 [F1 score]) are much more predictive than that of subjective patient-reported variables (LR reaches 0.55 [ROC-AUC] and 0.52 [F1 score]). The results show that objective variables used in this study are much more predictive than subjective patient-reported variables, which measure subjective burden. These findings indicate that subjective burden cannot be reliably used to predict survival. Further research is needed to clarify the role of self-reported patient burden and mortality prediction using ML.

Social and health factors influence self-reported evacuation intentions in the wildfire-prone island of Tasmania, Australia

BackgroundPersonal decisions regarding evacuation to a safer place in response to the threat of wildfire have multiple social and cultural influences. However, little is understood about the role of an individual's health in shaping these decisions. Aim: To investigate associations between self-reported sociodemographic and health-related variables and wildfire evacuation intentions. MethodsWe used data collected in the 2016 Tasmanian Population Health Survey and implemented log binomial regression modelling to characterise associations between variables, including overall health status, presence of a chronic medical condition, age group, sex, educational attainment, employment status, financial security, and intention to leave during a wildfire threat. ResultsFemales were significantly more likely than males to report an intention to leave (RR = 1.52, 95 % CI [1.40–1.66]), as were those with higher versus lower educational attainment (RR = 1.02, 95 % CI [1.00–1.03]), and those with a diagnosis of depression/anxiety (RR = 1.07, 95 % CI [1.00–1.15]) compared to those without. When stratified by sex, significant associations with intention to leave and asthma and higher educational attainment were observed in males (asthma: RR = 1.28, 95 % CI [1.04–1.57]; educational attainment RR = 1.05, 95 % CI [1.01–1.09]), while the association with anxiety/depression was imprecisely elevated for females (RR = 1.08, 95 % CI [1.00–1.16]). For males only, the presence of a chronic condition was significantly associated with an intention to stay (RR = 0.78, 95 % CI [0.62–0.99]). ConclusionSex, educational attainment, and the presence of asthma and depression/anxiety influenced evacuation intentions for residents in our study. Such social, demographic and health differences should be considered in planning communication and messaging to residents in fire-prone areas.

An Evaluation of Positive Psychology Primals and Implications for Psychology

AbstractThis article describes two studies which test predictions derived from the Theory of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis in relation to self-report, correlational data. The theory proposes that all self-report data contain a common source of variance called Homeostatically Protected Mood (HPMood). It is therefore hypothesised that the magnitude of inter-correlations between self-report measures will diminish after their shared variance of HPMood has been removed. The first study analyses the extent to which the Primal World Beliefs (Primals) correlate with subjective wellbeing (SWB), before and after controlling for HPMood. The second study confirms the reliability of study 1 results. It also extends the analyses to examine the correlation between the brief 4-item Primals measure, and other related self-report measures, again before and after controlling for the HPMood. Analyses are based on data from approximately 1,000 participants collected at two timepoints. The hypotheses are supported, showing that both the Primals and other tested measures do not represent constructs that are independent from HPMood. This result throws doubt on the interpretation of correlations between Primals and the other self-report variables that were tested, bringing into question the validity of positive psychology overall.

Bedtime Screen Use Behaviors and Sleep Outcomes in Early Adolescents: A Prospective Cohort Study

PurposeTo determine prospective associations between bedtime screen use behaviors and sleep outcomes one year later in a national study of early adolescents in the United States. MethodsWe analyzed prospective cohort data from 9,398 early adolescents aged 11–12 years (48.4% female, 45% racial/ethnic minority) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Years 2–3, 2018–2021). Regression analyses examined the associations between self-reported bedtime screen use (Year 2) and sleep variables (Year 3; self-reported sleep duration; caregiver-reported sleep disturbance), adjusting for sociodemographic covariates and sleep variables (Year 2). ResultsHaving a television or Internet-connected electronic device in the bedroom was prospectively associated with shorter sleep duration one year later. Adolescents who left their phone ringer activated overnight had greater odds of experiencing sleep disturbance and experienced shorter sleep duration one year later, compared to those who turned off their phones at bedtime. Talking/texting on the phone, listening to music, and using social media were all prospectively associated with shorter sleep duration, greater overall sleep disturbance, and a higher factor score for disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep one year later. DiscussionIn early adolescents, several bedtime screen use behaviors are associated with adverse sleep outcomes one year later, including sleep disturbance and shorter weekly sleep duration. Screening for and providing anticipatory guidance on specific bedtime screen behaviors in early adolescents may be warranted.

Investigating the efficacy of digital cognitive behavioural therapy in comparison to a sleep-monitoring application via integrated diary and actigraphy: A randomised-controlled trial.

Dissemination of digital cognitive behavioural therapy is a promising approach for treating insomnia in the broad population. Current evidence supports the effectiveness of the digital format, but clinical findings are often limited by the choice of control group and lack of in-depth therapeutic measures. This study was designed to investigate the specific effects of digital cognitive behavioural therapy in comparison to a self-monitoring application. Participants meeting criteria for insomnia were randomly allocated (1:1) to 8 weeks of digital cognitive behavioural therapy or 8 weeks of digital sleep monitoring (control application). The primary outcome, insomnia severity, was assessed at baseline, 8- and 16-weeks post-randomisation. Secondary outcomes included the assessment of sleep via application-integrated sleep diaries and actigraphy. Linear-mixed models were fitted to assess between-group differences. Fifty-six participants (48 females, mean age: M = 45.55 ± 13.70 years) were randomised to either digital cognitive behavioural therapy (n = 29) or digital sleep monitoring (n = 27). At 8- and 16-weeks post-randomisation, large treatment effects (d = 0.87-1.08) indicated robust reductions (-3.70 and -2.97, respectively; p ≤ 0.003) in insomnia severity in the digital cognitive behavioural therapy arm, relative to digital sleep monitoring. Treatment effects in favour of digital cognitive behavioural therapy were also found for self-reported and actigraphy-derived sleep continuity variables, indicating that sleep improved throughout the 8-week intervention period. Our study reinforces the role of digital cognitive behavioural therapy in achieving clinical improvements for patients with insomnia, affirming previous findings and supporting the specific effects of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionInsomnia is a common symptom among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, negatively impacting symptom severity, functioning and well-being; however, it is rarely the direct focus of treatment. The main...

Examining the Relationship Between E-Cigarette Status and Wearable Device Use on Physical Activity Levels in U.S. Adults.

The aim of this analysis is to investigate physical activity levels amongst e-cigarette users based on their wearable device use. Cross-sectional secondary data analysis using 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Data from the 2017 BRFSS were used. 5,562 U.S. adults (age 18+). Self-reported physical activity related variables from U.S. adults (age 18+). Separate unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were performed for each of the dependent variables using survey analysis. Non-users of wearable devices and e-cigarettes account for 96.6% (95%CI [95.7, 97.6]) of the sample, whereas users of wearable devices and e-cigarettes account for 3.3% (95%CI [1.2, 5.4]) of the sample. Those who use e-cigarettes participate in almost 50% less vigorous physical activity minutes per week than nonusers, 46 (95%CI [0.43, 91.57]) and 93 (95%CI [80.59, 106.34]) minutes respectively. Individuals who use e-cigarettes and use wearable devices were found to spend significantly more time in total physical activity per week in both the unadjusted and adjusted linear regressions, P = =0.01 and P = =0.04 respectively. The use of e-cigarettes, wearable devices, or both technologies may influence the physical activity levels of its users. Additional research is needed to better understand the association between physical activity levels and the usage of these technologies.

The effectiveness of cognitive training in people in psychiatry with depressive symptoms – A randomized controlled study

Ninety percent of people with depression also report suffering from additional cognitive disorders. However, despite the high prevalence, the effectiveness of cognitive training methods for mental illnesses has not yet been extensively researched.In our study, ninety-six adult patients with depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups or a passive control group. Ultimately, 48 patients successfully completed the training and assessments. The first intervention group completed computer-based cognitive training (three times a week for 20 min). The second intervention group practiced different memory strategies three times a week, in addition to completing the same computer-based cognitive training as the first intervention group.All groups demonstrated several improvements in cognitive performance and experienced benefits in everyday life over time. However, we found neither a significant group effect nor a significant time × group interaction effect for any of the measures. Despite this, on a descriptive level, the intervention groups showed improvements across all five cognitive test performance outcomes (especially attention and working memory) and displayed better scores in the post intervention assessment of the self-reported personal variables (well-being, emotional regulation and depressive symptoms). Approximately 50 % of the subjects in each group did not complete the training or the post intervention assessment and were excluded. We worked closely with healthcare professionals, therapists and doctors and were thus able to gather not only research results but also valuable experience in dealing with patients with depressive symptoms who are undergoing cognitive training. Our findings and experiences may have implications for optimizing the reintegration of people with depressive symptoms.

The Real-World Usability, Feasibility, and Performance Distributions of Deploying a Digital Toolbox of Computerized Assessments to Remotely Evaluate Brain Health: Development and Usability Study.

An ongoing global challenge is managing brain health and understanding how performance changes across the lifespan. We developed and deployed a set of self-administrable, computerized assessments designed to measure key indexes of brain health across the visual and auditory sensory modalities. In this pilot study, we evaluated the usability, feasibility, and performance distributions of the assessments in a home-based, real-world setting without supervision. Potential participants were untrained users who self-registered on an existing brain training app called BrainHQ. Participants were contacted via a recruitment email and registered remotely to complete a demographics questionnaire and 29 unique assessments on their personal devices. We examined participant engagement, descriptive and psychometric properties of the assessments, associations between performance and self-reported demographic variables, cognitive profiles, and factor loadings. Of the 365,782 potential participants contacted via a recruitment email, 414 (0.11%) registered, of whom 367 (88.6%) completed at least one assessment and 104 (25.1%) completed all 29 assessments. Registered participants were, on average, aged 63.6 (SD 14.8; range 13-107) years, mostly female (265/414, 64%), educated (329/414, 79.5% with a degree), and White (349/414, 84.3% White and 48/414, 11.6% people of color). A total of 72% (21/29) of the assessments showed no ceiling or floor effects or had easily modifiable score bounds to eliminate these effects. When correlating performance with self-reported demographic variables, 72% (21/29) of the assessments were sensitive to age, 72% (21/29) of the assessments were insensitive to gender, 93% (27/29) of the assessments were insensitive to race and ethnicity, and 93% (27/29) of the assessments were insensitive to education-based differences. Assessments were brief, with a mean duration of 3 (SD 1.0) minutes per task. The pattern of performance across the assessments revealed distinctive cognitive profiles and loaded onto 4 independent factors. The assessments were both usable and feasible and warrant a full normative study. A digital toolbox of scalable and self-administrable assessments that can evaluate brain health at a glance (and longitudinally) may lead to novel future applications across clinical trials, diagnostics, and performance optimization.

Efficacy of a transdiagnostic internet-based program for adolescents with emotional disorders: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) is a well-established transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy (T-CBT) intervention. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of the program Learn to Manage your Emotions [Aprende a Manejar tus Emociones] (AMtE), a self-applied transdiagnostic internet-delivered program based on the Spanish version of the UP-A. This is the first transdiagnostic internet-based program designed for the treatment of emotional disorders in adolescents. MethodA sample of Spanish adolescents with a primary diagnosis of an anxiety and/or depressive disorder (n = 58; age range = 12–18 years; 78.3% girls; 90% Caucasian) were randomly allocated to receive AMtE (n = 28) or the UP-A via videocall (n = 30). Pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up data were collected using self-reports and clinician-rated measures of anxiety, depression, positive and negative affect, anxiety sensitivity and emotional avoidance. ResultsBased on generalized estimating equations (GEE) models, both intervention programs were effective in significantly reducing self-reported anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms and clinician-rated severity of anxiety and depression, as well as self-reported transdiagnostic outcome variables. ConclusionsData provide empirical support for the efficacy of AMtE as a transdiagnostic online CBT treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescents. No marked nor consistent differences were observed between the UP-A and AMtE, highlighting the potential usefulness of the online self-administered AMtE program.

Orthodontic Status and Association with Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life-A Study of 16-Year-Old Norwegians with a Cleft Lip and Palate.

To assess the association between clinical orthodontic indicators and oral-health-related quality of life, adjusted for socio-demographic factors, focusing on 16-year-old patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). One hundred and twenty-two patients with CL/P, representing cleft-lip (CL), cleft-palate (CP), unilateral/bilateral cleft-lip-palate (UCLP/BCLP), enrolled in the national CLP-Team, Bergen, Norway. A cross-sectional study by two orthodontists assessing the number of teeth, intermaxillary sagittal relation (ANB-angle), dental arch and occlusion of 16-year-old patients with CL/P. All completed a digital questionnaire including self-reported socio-demographic variables, OHIP-14 questionnaire and dental aesthetics. Cross-tabulations with Pearson's Chi-square test were used to identify associations between self-reported OHRQoL and socio-demographic and clinical indicators. Multiple variable analyses were conducted with binary logistic regression analysis using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess associations between OHRQoL and clinical indicators adjusted for socio-demographic variables. Ethical approval was granted by the regional ethics committee. Patients with UCLP and BCLP had poorer clinical indicators compared to patients with CL and CP (p < 0.05). A total of 80% of the patients had OHIP-14 > 0. The highest oral impact was reported for psychological domains and articulation and the least for functional domains. Respondents with BCLP and those with poor intermaxillary relationships (ANB < 0°) reported a high impact on OHRQoL (p < 0.05). No statistically significant associations between other clinical indicators and socio-demographic variables such as gender, educational aspiration, and place of residence were reported. The study revealed an association between severe cleft diagnosis, missing teeth, misaligned teeth, negative overjet, and poor OHRQoL, but a statistically significant association was found only between OHRQoL and poor intermaxillary sagittal relations (unfavorable profile). To improve OHRQoL among patients with clefts, there is a need for an individual follow-up and prioritization of oral healthcare.

Unraveling the core symptoms of mental health in senior grade three students- a network analysis.

Adolescence is not only an important transitional period of many developmental challenges, but also a high risk period for mental health problems. Psychotherapy is recommended for mental health problems in adolescents, but its effectiveness is not always satisfactory. One possible contributing factor may be the lack of clarity surrounding core symptoms. In this study, we investigated the mental health status of senior grade three students, a group of adolescents facing college entrance exams, by the Middle School Student Mental Health Test (MHT) and analyzed the core symptoms by network analysis. This study was conducted through an online survey platform (www.xiaodongai.com) from 15 February 2023 to 28 March 2024. The subjects scanned a QR code with their mobile phone to receive the questionnaire. The mean age of these 625 students were 18.11 ± 2.90 years. There are 238 male participants and 387 female participants. 107 individuals scored above 56 (107/461, 23.2%), with individual scale scores over 8 up to over 60% of participating students. Notably, the top three prominent symptoms were "academic anxiety", "allergic tendency" and "somatic symptoms". However, upon conducting network analysis, it became evident that three strongest edges in this network were "somatic symptoms" and "impulsive tendency", "academic anxiety" and "social anxiety" as well as "social anxiety" and "Loneliness tendency". "somatic symptoms", "social anxiety" and "self-blame tendency" exerted the highest expected influence. This suggests that, statistically speaking, these three symptoms exhibited the strongest interconnections within the network. Cross-sectional analysis; Bias in self-reported variables. These findings can deepen the knowledge of mental health among senior grade three students and provide some implications (i.e., targeting symptoms having highest expected influence) for clinical prevention and intervention to address the mental health needs of this particular group.

Promoting Teachers' Social and Emotional Competence in Light of the Close Connection between Professional Role and Personal Characteristics: Preliminary Evidence of the Efficacy of the "ME4YOU" Training Program.

Within the field of research on the promotion of teachers' social and emotional competence, the present paper illustrates preliminary evidence of the efficacy of a new training program named "ME4YOU" aimed at supporting teachers' self-reflexive competences to deal with the emotional and relational dimensions of teaching, with constant and continuous attention towards underlining the close connection between the way teachers perform as professionals at work and the way they function as individuals in their personal life. A total of 109 teachers from kindergarten to primary school took part in the experimental group, while 67 teachers constituted the control group; the two groups were compared using a pre-test/post-test approach with regard to some self-reported variables related to professional and personal aspects. Teachers in the experimental group exhibited increased levels of professional self-efficacy and self-efficacy as emotional socializers toward students' emotions; moreover-although with a more limited impact-they reported benefits with regard to their personal life (i.e., reduced denial of own emotions and improved authenticity). The findings are discussed highlighting that health promotion among teachers is both of value in itself and an investment that can generate health in the whole school system.