Significant Univariate Effects Research Articles

Mean Length of Utterance in Czech Toddlers: Validity Estimates and Comparison of Words, Morphemes, and Syllables.

We examined the properties of mean length of utterance (MLU) in Czech, a morphologically complex Slavic language. We compared the scores of MLU calculated in different units and based on different sample lengths and assessed its validity against another transcript and test-based measures. One hundred nine children were recorded during free-play at 2;6 and 3;11 (years;months). We compared MLU in syllables, morphemes, and words (MLUw) in transcripts of different lengths (50, 75, 100, and all available utterances). For evaluating the validity of MLU, we also calculated Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn) and number of different words (NDW) and used results of receptive vocabulary and grammar comprehension tests. The different MLU measures based on different sample lengths correlated closely with MLU in transcripts of all utterances (all rs > .87). We found mostly strong correlations between MLU, IPSyn, and NDW at both time points and weak or moderate correlations between MLU and grammar and vocabulary. Regression models showed the significant unique effect of MLUw at 2;6 for MLUw (β = .29) and grammar (β = .33) at 3;11 and vocabulary (β = .27) at 3;7. MLUw based on all utterances was confirmed as a valid measure of early language skills in Czech, as it is stable in time and shows concurrent and predictive relations with other transcript-based and test-based measures. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25215203.

Longitudinal associations among adult attachment orientations, emotion regulation tendencies, and transdiagnostic anxiety and depression symptoms in young adults

Adult attachment orientations can influence emotion regulation. Such influence on the tendency to employ two strategies, cognitive reappraisal (which aims to modify emotional experiences) and expressive suppression (which inhibits emotional expression) and later symptoms is understudied. This longitudinal study evaluated indirect associations between adult attachment orientations—with a focus on the dimension of security—and transdiagnostic anxiety and depression symptoms (General Distress; GD) through reappraisal and suppression. Correlational analyses examined cross-sectional associations among constructs across four timepoints. A cross-lagged panel model was fit to examine prospective hypotheses using 30-month longitudinal data from young adults ( N = 270 at baseline). Correlational evidence provided support for expected cross-sectional associations. In prospective analyses, there was a significant unique effect of attachment-related avoidance on expressive suppression such that higher attachment-related avoidance predicted higher use of subsequent expressive suppression. There were significant unique effects of emotion regulation on symptoms such that higher reappraisal predicted lower subsequent GD and higher suppression predicted higher subsequent GD. There was no evidence for significant direct or indirect effects of attachment orientations on GD. Results suggest that adult attachment orientation may inform how one expresses emotions in the future, and how one regulates emotions may inform subsequent shared symptoms of depression and anxiety. There was no evidence that attachment orientations informed future transdiagnostic symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Predictive value of forearm muscle oxygenation parameters for climbing-specific finger endurance and competitive climbing performance

PurposeNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a valid and reliable method to assess forearm muscle oxygenation in sport climbing, focusing on evaluating single parameters. The study assessed the predictive value of various NIRS parameters in climbing-specific settings, during intermittent finger endurance testing and in a simulated climbing competition.Methods52 recreational climbers (28.5 ± 6.3 y) performed an intermittent finger endurance test and 10 competitive climbers (20.2 ± 6.3 y) participated in a simulated lead climbing competition. Continuous-wave NIRS were used to assess oxygenation and blood volume changes.ResultsNIRS parameters predicted 26.4% of the variance in the intermittent test, with mean minima and maxima of O2Hb and mean maxima of TSI% of the single repetitions being the predictors. No significant differences existed between the last valid and the first nonvalid repetition on the combined dependent variable. For the simulated competition, a statistically significant difference between the 20 s intervals on the combined dependent variables was found with posthoc testing showing significant univariate within-subjects effects for HHb, tHb & TSI, but not for O2Hb.ConclusionThe results indicate that for the intermittent test, high re- and deoxygenation abilities, and for the climbing competition, the accumulation of HHb concentration levels have the highest predictability.

Measuring the rate of psychological growth and examining its antecedents: A growth curve modeling approach.

Humanistic psychologists have conceptualized a tendency among humans to experience continual open-ended psychological growth. This study aims to measure the rate at which one grows psychologically using a novel growth curve modeling approach that addresses previous limitations. We also examine the effects of nine potential contributors to growth identified from the literature. Throughout the freshman year, 556 college students responded six times. Increments of growth were added up to create cumulative growth, which was then fit to a growth curve model to produce an estimate of the growth rate. The growth rate was then regressed on the Time 1 predictors to examine their unique effects. Models fit well. Five predictors significantly predicted the growth rate after controlling for the average of other predictors. When all predictors were entered simultaneously, three predictors (hope, meaning, and personal growth initiative) showed significant unique effects. The growth rate predicted well-being and satisfaction at Time 6. We successfully measured the rate of psychological growth and examined its antecedents. Follow-up analyses suggested that the predictors not showing unique effects may indirectly predict growth rates via the proximal role of the three significant predictors, an idea that awaits future corroboration using within-individual designs.

Big Five personality traits in the workplace: Investigating personality differences between employees, supervisors, managers, and entrepreneurs.

Personality relates to employment status. Previous studies have mainly compared the difference between entrepreneurs and managers. It remains unknown how personalities differ in entrepreneurs, managers, supervisors, and employees. In this research, we answer the questions by analyzing data from Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) that consisted of 2,415 entrepreneurs, 3,822 managers, 2,446 supervisors, and 10,897 employees. By using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and ANOVA, we found that employment status has a significant multivariate effect on personality traits (F(5, 17,159) = 172.51, p < 0.001) after taking account into demographics. Moreover, there were also significant univariate effects for Neuroticism (F(3,19502) = 16.61, P < 0.001), Openness (F(3,19502) = 3.53, P < 0.05), Agreeableness (F(3,19502) = 66.57, P < 0.001), Conscientiousness (F(3,19502) = 16.39, P < 0.001), and Extraversion (F(3,19502) = 31.61, P < 0.001) after controlling for demographics. Multiple comparisons revealed that entrepreneurs are characterized by low Neuroticism, high Openness, high Conscientiousness, and high Extraversion while managers had low Neuroticism, low Agreeableness, high Openness, high Conscientiousness, and high Extraversion. Finally, supervisors are associated with high Conscientiousness. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Screw Thread Configuration Has No Effect on Operative Outcomes of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

INTRODUCTION The current “gold standard” treatment for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is insertion of a single cannulated screw down the epiphyseal center. Debate remains as to whether partially- (PTCS) or fully-threaded (FTCS) cannulated screws, and what number, are optimal. The present retrospective cohort study compares such constructs in a clinical model. METHODS IRB approval was obtained. Patients (N=158) presenting to a level-one pediatric trauma center for in situ pinning of SCFE between January 2005 and April 2018 were included. Covariates analyzed were sex, race, BMI, history of endocrinopathy, and preoperative designation of unstable SCFE. Outcomes included return to the operating room (OR), avascular necrosis (AVN), hardware failure/removal, and the sequelae of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Multivariable logistic regression models included covariates with significant univariate effects, as well as thread configuration, number of screws, preoperative instability, and the screw*thread and screw*instability interactions. RESULTS Average patient age at surgery was 12.3±1.9 years; 63% of patients were male; 68% of patients were White/Caucasian and the remaining 32% were Black/African American. Mean BMI was 28.4±6.4 kg∙m-2. PTCS were utilized in 81.0% of constructs and 1 screw was placed in 83.5% of hips. Outcome rates were as follows: return to OR=15.8%, AVN=7.6%, FAI=7.0%, hardware failure/removal=9.5%. Univariate modeling demonstrated no significant covariate effects on return to OR (each P≥0.181) or AVN (each P≥0.099). Sex had a significant effect on FAI (P=0.012). Age and bilateral SCFE were significantly related to hardware failure/removal (P=0.039 and P=0.015, respectively). Multivariable models found that 2 screw constructs were associated with increased odds of return to OR [P=0.027; OR=3.01 (1.13-7.98)]. Odds of AVN were increased by older age (P=0.024; OR=1.45 [1.03-2.03]) and 2 screw constructs in stable SCFE [screws*stability interaction: P&lt;0.001; OR=60.5 (5.60-652.31)]. Female sex increased odds of FAI (P=0.012; OR=5.17 [1.31-20.36]). Finally, odds of hardware failure/removal were increased by 2 screw constructs [P=0.038; OR=3.64 (1.13-11.70)] and bilateral SCFE [P=0.027; OR=3.51 (1.15-10.74)]. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION A single, PTCS comprises the majority of SCFE constructs, and this construct carries the least risk for negative outcomes in cases of stable SCFE. These data demonstrate no significant effects of thread configuration on outcomes. The authors caution orthopaedic surgery providers against using more than one screw in cases of stable SCFE, as well as to monitor older, female, and/or bilateral SCFE patients more closely due to an increased risk for complications.

Effect of Job Satisfaction on Organizational Commitment: Evidence from Employees of a Special Mission Organization in Rwanda

This study assessed the effect of job satisfaction and demographic characteristics on the organizational commitment of employees (N = 119) in Rwanda. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design for data collection. Descriptive, correlation, standard, and hierarchical regression analysis techniques were used to carry out the analysis. The effect of intrinsic job satisfaction was positive and significant on overall organizational commitment, continuance, and normative commitment, but negative and significant on affective commitment. The opposite was the case for extrinsic job satisfaction, although the effect on affective commitment was insignificant. The effect of satisfaction with the work environment was positive but only significant on affective commitment and significantly negative on continuance commitment. Job satisfaction dimensions had a significant unique effect on the overall and all the organizational commitment dimensions, even after controlling for the effect of the five demographic characteristics. From the results, it is recommended that for the organization to enhance employees’ commitment, management should adopt measures that enhance job satisfaction among them. This study adds to the much-needed empirical evidence from the developing world, but more importantly, from a special mission organizational context, consistent with the interconnectedness of organizations across the globalized world.

Unravelling the effects of multiple types of disturbance on an aquatic plant metacommunity in freshwater lakes

Abstract Lakes and ponds experience numerous forms of disturbance, including land use (anthropogenic), invasive species (biotic), and eutrophication (abiotic). Although these disturbances act independently or synergistically to affect native species composition, their effects generally are not considered simultaneously, thereby failing to account for appreciable variation or inaccurately attributing joint effects to a single type of disturbance. We assessed defining characteristics (coherence, turnover, and boundary clumping) of a metacommunity of 67 native aquatic macrophyte species that inhabit 104 lakes to determine the extent to which species respond to the same latent environmental gradient and the association of that gradient with multiple interrelated types of disturbance. Species generally responded to the same latent environmental gradient, with their distributions replacing one another along that gradient, resulting in a compartmentalised structure (i.e. Clementsian pattern). The latent environmental gradient was associated with disturbance; different functional or phylogenetic groups of species were associated with high or low levels of disturbance. We used variation partitioning to evaluate whether spatial or environmental attributes were more important in driving variation among lakes along the latent environmental gradient. We accounted for 78.7% of variation among lakes in species composition of native aquatic plants, with 10.0% due to unique attributes of space, 16.4% due to unique attributes of environment, and 52.2% due to spatially structured environmental attributes, highlighting the importance of species sorting. We separated environmental attributes into three subcategories: abiotic (water quality), biotic (invasive species), and anthropogenic (land use). We used variation partitioning on the three environmental subcategories and on spatial attributes to disentangle their independent and joint effects. We then used hierarchical partitioning to unravel the independent and joint effects of each attribute within each subcategory. Abiotic (water quality), biotic (invasive species), and anthropogenic (land use) disturbances each had significant total effects that are highly conflated with each other. Importantly, each subcategory of disturbance had significant unique effects on native aquatic plant composition. By using spatial characteristics as well as abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic attributes that are related to disturbance, we accounted for most of the variability in species composition among lakes. Of particular importance, invasive species independently, and interactively with other environmental characteristics, affected the metacommunity structure of native species. The emergent compartmentalised structure (Clementsian) of native species in the metacommunity arises because of species‐specific differences in response to a disturbance gradient, resulting in species with distinctive functional characteristics and phylogenetic histories at different ends of a disturbance gradient. ​

Difficulties in reporting purpose and dosage of prescribed medications are associated with poor cognition and depression.

Knowledge on prescribed medication is important for medication adherence. We determined the presence of cognitive impairment in neurological patients who report not to know reasons and dosages of their medication. Data from 350 patients were collected: sociodemographic data, German Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (SAMS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Eighty-eight (29.0%) patients did not know the reasons for taking their prescribed medication and 83 (27.4%) did not know the doses. Sixty-three (20.8%) knew neither reasons nor dosage. The latter were characterized by higher nonadherence, higher number of prescribed medication per day, lower MoCA, higher BDI, and had more often a lower education level compared with patients who knew the reasons. The MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate effect for not knowing the reasons and not knowing the dosages of medication on MoCA and BDI. Significant univariate effects for not knowing reasons were found for depressive mood, but not for cognitive performance. Significant univariate effects for not knowing dosages were found for cognitive performance, but not for depressive mood. Inaccurate medication reporting is not solely associated with cognitive problems, but also with depression, which has to be taken into account in daily practice and research.

Cognitive decline among European retirees: impact of early retirement, nation-related and personal characteristics

AbstractOur study aimed to enhance understanding of memory decline (MD) in old age by evaluating longitudinal effects of personal and national contributing factors. We used data collected by the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 12 European countries and Israel. Our sample included 11,930 retirees aged 50+, interviewed at baseline and four years later. MD was evaluated by the change in the number of recalled words from first to second interview. Except for gender, all of our explanatory variables had a significant unique effect on MD – age, education, type of occupation, European geographical region, early retirement, time elapsed from retirement, reason for retirement, active lifestyle, re-employment, health/function status, depressive symptoms, and decline in physical and mental health – over the four years of the study. Our findings indicate that MD can be postponed by national policies such as those which prolong years of education and participation in the workforce, and by social interventions directed to promote active lifestyles in late life, especially in Mediterranean and Eastern European nations.

Testing and transfer: Retrieval practice effects across test formats in English vocabulary learning in school

AbstractThe application of knowledge to new contexts (i.e., transfer) is a central aim of learning processes and has become a new focus of testing effect research. In a quasi‐experimental design, we investigated the transfer of retrieval practice effects on English vocabulary learning on eighth‐grade students (N = 182) by applying a typical testing effect study paradigm including study, initial test or restudy, and final test. The final test comprised four test formats, one identical to the initial test (non‐transfer context), and three deviating from the initial test (transfer context). Comparing testing and restudy conditions yielded a significant multivariate effect of testing across all final test formats and significant univariate effects in three of the four test formats. Comparing transfer and non‐transfer contexts revealed smaller retrieval practice effects when transfer was required. The results are discussed against the theoretical background of transfer‐appropriate‐processing, elaborative retrieval, and a distribution‐based model of retrieval.

Changes in Maximal Strength and Home Run Performance in NCAA Division I Baseball Players Across 3 Competitive Seasons: A Descriptive Study.

The purpose of this longitudinal, descriptive study was to observe changes in maximal strength measured via isometric clean grip mid-thigh pull and home runs (total and home runs per game) across three years of training and three competitive seasons for four National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 baseball players. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, revealing significant univariate effects of time for peak force (PF) (p = 0.003) and peak force allometrically scaled (PFa) (p = 0.002). Increases in PF were noted from season 1 to season 2 (p = 0.031) and season 3 (p = 0.004), but season 2 was not significantly different than season 3 (p = 0.232). Additionally, increases in PFa were noted from season 1 to season 2 (p = 0.010) and season 3 (p < 0.001), but season 2 was not significantly different than season 3 (p = 0.052). Home runs per game rose from the 2009 (0.32) to 2010 season (1.35) and dropped during the 2011 season (1.07). A unique aspect of the study involves 2010 being the season in which ball-bat coefficient of restitution (BBCOR) bats were introduced to the NCAA competition.

Differences In Wellness Levels Between Division Ii Athletes’ Completion/non-completion History Of A College Wellness Course

Previous research on NCAA Division II student-athletes (SAs) as it relates to multi-dimensional wellness is scarce. PURPOSE: To examine differences in wellness levels between SAs who completed a college wellness course and those who did not. METHODS: Overall, 530 SAs (nmales = 355, nfemales = 175) between 18 and 23 years of age (M = 19.40, SD = 1.33) from 21 teams voluntarily completed the paper-based Multi-Dimensional Wellness Inventory (Mayol, Schreiber & Scott, 2017) and a demographic questionnaire. The 45-item MDWI measures one’s perceived behavior with respect to personal wellness orientation within nine dimensions: physical wellness exercise (PWE), physical wellness nutrition (PWN), mental (MW), social (SW), spiritual (SPW), intellectual (IW), environmental (EW), occupational (OW) and financial (FW). A factorial MANOVA was performed to analyze the differences in wellness levels. An alpha level of p ≤ .05 was set for statistical significance. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant multivariate effect in SAs, F(9, 451) = 4.72, p < .001, Wilk's Λ = .91, partial η2 = .09 with seven significant univariate main effects seen for PWE, F(1, 459) = 8.60, p =.004; PWN, F(1, 459) = 21.35, p < .001; MW, F(1, 459) = 13.01, p < .001; SW, F(1, 459) = 12.32, p < .001; IW, F(1, 459) = 14.13, p < .001; OW, F(1, 459) = 14.66, p < .001; and FW, F(1, 459) =10.58, p = .001. No statistically significant univariate effects were seen for SPW and EW (p > .05). SA wellness course completers demonstrated higher PWE, PWN and MW levels (M = 14.43, SD = 3.29; M = 13.36, SD = 3.40; M = 17.08, SD = 2.14) than SA non-completers (M = 13.36, SD = 3.40; M = 13.36, SD = 3.40; M = 16.18, SD = 3.32). Additionally, SA wellness course completers showed higher SPW, EW and OW levels (M = 15.44, SD = 1.83; M = 15.08, SD = 2.65; M = 16.34, SD = 2.30) than SA non-completers (M = 14.87, SD = 2.03; M = 14.24, SD = 2.70; M = 15.81, SD = 2.36). CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated higher scores in PWE, PWN, MW, SW, IW, OW and FW for SAs who completed the wellness course versus SAs who did not. Findings indicate a need for future research pertaining to holistic wellness programming for SAs as well as targeted programming and support for this population. A multi-dimensional wellness intervention may assist in identifying and improving wellness deficits to further facilitate overall well-being in SAs.

The role of spatial, verbal, numerical, and general reasoning abilities in complex word problem solving for young female and male adults

This study analyzed the relative importance of different cognitive abilities for solving complex mathematical word problems (CWPs)—a demanding task of high relevance for diverse fields and contexts. We investigated the effects of spatial, verbal, numerical, and general reasoning abilities as well as gender on CWP performance among N = 1282 first-year university engineering students. Generalized linear mixed models unveiled significant unique effects of spatial ability, β = 0.284, verbal ability, β = 0.342, numerical ability, β = 0.164, general reasoning, β = 0.248, and an overall gender effect in favor of male students, β = 0.285. Analyses revealed negligible to small gender effects in verbal and general reasoning ability. Despite a gender effect in spatial ability, d = 0.48, and numerical ability, d = 0.30—both in favor of male students—further analyses showed that effects of all measured cognitive abilities on CWP solving were comparable for both women and men. Our results underpin that CWP solving requires a broad facet of cognitive abilities besides mere mathematical competencies. Since gender differences in CWP solving were not fully explained by differences in the four measured cognitive abilities, gender-specific attitudes, beliefs, and emotions could be considered possible affective moderators of CWP performance.

The unique effect of dynamic motivation and different perception of organisational politics on students' ethics

Although scholars coincide with the need to support higher education students toward higher levels of ethics, their findings lack dynamic individual behaviour and environmental influence. Students' motive and their perception of external dynamics are closely to react to their ethical behaviour. Various education systems and technologies are believed to boost students' ethics behaviours differently. This study investigates the effect of motivation and perception of organisational politics on students' ethics. It is employed by 2,375 higher educations' students. This study expected that students' motivation and their perception of organisational politics have a significant unique effect on their ethics. Multiple regressions are used to analyse the data. The better ethical behaviour of the student is shown by a student with higher motivation and perceives less political behaviour at school. The unique findings show that motivation able to strengthens the effect of perception of organisational politics on their ethical behaviour, and perception of organisational politics strengthen the effect of students' motivation on their ethical behaviour. Implications and future research are discussed.

The unique effect of dynamic motivation and different perception of organisational politics on students' ethics

Although scholars coincide with the need to support higher education students toward higher levels of ethics, their findings lack dynamic individual behaviour and environmental influence. Students' motive and their perception of external dynamics are closely to react to their ethical behaviour. Various education systems and technologies are believed to boost students' ethics behaviours differently. This study investigates the effect of motivation and perception of organisational politics on students' ethics. It is employed by 2,375 higher educations' students. This study expected that students' motivation and their perception of organisational politics have a significant unique effect on their ethics. Multiple regressions are used to analyse the data. The better ethical behaviour of the student is shown by a student with higher motivation and perceives less political behaviour at school. The unique findings show that motivation able to strengthens the effect of perception of organisational politics on their ethical behaviour, and perception of organisational politics strengthen the effect of students' motivation on their ethical behaviour. Implications and future research are discussed.

Patients’ pre- and postoperative expectations as predictors of clinical outcomes six months after cardiac surgery

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate not only preoperative expectations (as shown previously), but also postoperative expectations of patients predict clinical outcomes six months after cardiac surgery. Furthermore, the study sought to examine illness behavior as a possible pathway through which expectations may affect postoperative well-being. Seventy patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were examined one day before surgery, ~7–10 days after surgery, and six months after surgery. Regression analyses indicated that disability at follow-up (primary outcome) was significantly predicted by postoperative (β = −.342, p = .008), but not by preoperative expectations (β = −.213, p = .069). Similar results were found for the secondary outcomes, i.e. quality of life and depressive symptoms. A bootstrapped mediation analysis showed that although both postoperative expectations and illness behavior had significant unique effects on disability, there was no significant mediation effect. While previous studies have mainly focused on patients’ preoperative expectations, the present is the first to emphasize the predictive value of patients’ expectations a few days after surgery, pointing to the potential of interventions targeting postoperative expectations. However, given the non-significant results of the mediation analysis, it remains unclear how exactly patients’ expectations affect clinical outcomes in cardiac surgery.

Effects of High Frequency Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation on Gambling Reinforcement, Delay Discounting, and Stroop Interference in Men with Pathological Gambling

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce cravings and improve cognitive function in substance dependent individuals. Whether these benefits extend to individuals with pathological gambling (PG) is unclear. High-frequency rTMS of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) of the right dorsolateral PFC can reduce impulsive choice in healthy volunteers. This study aimed to assess the effects of these two protocols on gambling reinforcement and related responses in otherwise healthy men with PG. Participants (n = 9) underwent active or sham treatments at weekly intervals in a repeated-measures, Latin square design. Subjective and physiological responses were assessed before and after a 15-min slot machine game on each session. Delay discounting and Stroop tasks measured post-game impulsive choice and attentional control. Multivariate analysis of covariance, controlling for winnings on the slot machine under each treatment, found that rTMS reduced the post-game increase in Desire to Gamble; cTBS reduced amphetamine-like effects, and decreased diastolic blood pressure. Treatment had no significant univariate effects on bet size or speed of play in the game; however, a multivariate effect for the two indices suggested that treatment decreased behavioral activation. Neither treatment reduced impulsive choice, while both treatments increased Stroop interference. rTMS and cTBS can reduce gambling reinforcement in non-comorbid men with PG. Separate processes appear to mediate gambling reinforcement and betting behavior as against delay discounting and Stroop interference. Interventions that modify risky as opposed to temporal aspects of decision making may better predict therapeutic response in PG.

A social network-based intervention stimulating peer influence on children's self-reported water consumption: A randomized control trial

The current pilot study examined the effectiveness of a social network-based intervention using peer influence on self-reported water consumption. A total of 210 children (52% girls; M age = 10.75 ± SD = 0.80) were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 106; 52% girls) or control condition (n = 104; 52% girls). In the intervention condition, the most influential children in each classroom were trained to promote water consumption among their peers for eight weeks. The schools in the control condition did not receive any intervention. Water consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, and intentions to drink more water in the near future were assessed by self-report measures before and immediately after the intervention. A repeated measure MANCOVA showed a significant multivariate interaction effect between condition and time (V = 0.07, F(3, 204) = 5.18, p = 0.002, pη2 = 0.07) on the dependent variables. Further examination revealed significant univariate interaction effects between condition and time on water (p = 0.021) and SSB consumption (p = 0.015) as well as water drinking intentions (p = 0.049). Posthoc analyses showed that children in the intervention condition reported a significant increase in their water consumption (p = 0.018) and a decrease in their SSB consumption (p < 0.001) over time, compared to the control condition (p-values > 0.05). The children who were exposed to the intervention did not report a change in their water drinking intentions over time (p = 0.576) whereas the nonexposed children decreased their intentions (p = 0.026). These findings show promise for a social network-based intervention using peer influence to positively alter consumption behaviors. Trial registrationThis RCT was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12614001179628). Study procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Radboud University (ECSW2014-1003-203).

Treatment Response of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients and Health-Related Quality of Life

Objective(s): The objectives of present study were to investigate the response of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients to pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin (PEG-INF/RBV) combination therapy, to identify factors that could predict their response to treatment and to assess their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) before, during and after PEG-INF/RBV combination therapy. Methods: An intervention study (one group pre-test - post-test design) was used. Data were collected from 300 CHC patients who attended the Hepatology and Interferon Therapy Unit at Gamal Abd El Naser Insurance Hospital using a pre-designed structured interviewing questionnaire and viral hepatitis C quality of life questionnaire. Review of the patients’ medical records and their laboratory investigations was also carried out. Results: The cumulative seronegativity rate of treated patients was 74%. The proportion of CHC patients who survived seronegativity was 0.270 at the 12 th week, 0.261 at the 24 th week and 0.250 at the 48 th week of treatment. Patients’ age and viral load significantly affected seronegativity. Significant univariate main effects for age were statistically associated with poor HRQOL in the domains of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, emotional problems and pain. Presence of chronic diseases and HC viral load had a significant effect on physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, emotional problems and pain. All domains of the HRQOL short form (SF36) decreased by the end of the 4 th week and started to increase at the 24 th and 48 th weeks of the follow up period. Conclusion: The proportion of CHC patients who survived seronegativity was 0.250 at the 48 th week of treatment. Factors associated with seroconversion were age and hepatitis C virus (HCV) load. CHC patients aged 55 years and above, those with chronic diseases and those with HC viral load of ≥ 900,000 IU/ml were found to be statistically associated with poor HRQOL. All the domains of the SF36 decreased by the end of the 4 th week and started to increase at the 24 th and 48 th weeks of follow up period. Keywords: hepatitis C, treatment, quality of life.