Slovak Adults Research Articles

"I loved before, but now I love even more." Qualitative study of posttraumatic growth as a consequence of severe COVID-19 experience in Slovak adults.

The results indicate that post-traumatic growth does indeed occur after overcoming the severe form of COVID-19. It suggests that this posttraumatic growth most often occurred through a reassessment of priorities and an appreciation of life itself and loved ones. COVID-19 disease has been one of the most discussed and researched topics for several years, as it dramatically affects everyone's daily life. The qualitative study presented here focuses on health psychology, especially post-traumatic growth after overcoming a severe form of the COVID-19 disease. We worked with adult people who had either been treated in the intensive care unit or had been hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Thematic analysis was used to determine categories and subcategories. The study presented here contributes to knowledge about the COVID-19 experience by mapping a Slovakian sample of adult participants. The results obtained by Thematic analysis help us better understand how people experience the disease, especially those who have overcome a severe form of the disease and thus had a borderline experience when their lives were directly threatened, as well as their overall health.

The Role of Age, University Attendance and Other Demographic Factors in Experiencing Emerging Adulthood

There is an ongoing debate about the importance of university attendance, age, life transitions and other demographic factors on experiencing the emerging adulthood. The present study aims to explore the effect of demographics (age, college attendance, subjective economic status, financial independence, living conditions, relationship status or having a child) on the emerging adulthood. Slovak adults ( N = 800), between 18 to 29 years old, reported their demographics and completed the Inventory of dimensions of emerging adulthood. The results showed slight differences between those who attended university and those who did not - mainly in experimentation, however, both groups experienced the features of emerging adulthood. Age makes a greater difference, which might be connected to parenthood, relationship status and living conditions.

Cardiometabolic risk assessment in Eastern Slovak young adults using anthropometric indicators

Introduction: Selected anthropometric indicators, such as anthropometric measurements, indices, or ratios could be reliable predictors of future cardiometabolic risk in primary prevention, especially in young adults. Aim: This study aimed to establish cardiometabolic risk status in young Eastern Slovak adults according to anthropometric indicators. Material and methods: Indicators used in this study, such as heart rate, blood pressure, five anthropometric measurements, as well as a total of 23 anthropometric indices and ratios were selected based on the available literature. These indicators were analyzed in 162 young adult participants of both sexes with a mean age of 20.78±2.22 years. The analyzed indices and ratios were calculated by routine anthropometry and were correlated with blood pressure and heart rate in the whole research group as well as among subgroups divided according to sex, obesity and hypertension status. Results: Our results showed frequently higher values of input characteristics in males (71.88%), and statistically significant differences between sexes in 81.25% of the characteristics. The values of systolic blood pressure were above the norm in all males, and they also dominated in the obesity group. Correlation analyses conducted on all participants and in subgroups indicated a positive statistical significance in several indicators. The vast majority of the anthropometric indicators were significantly correlated with physiological indicators in almost all subgroups. Only A body shape index (ABSI) correlation coefficients did not show a significant correlation with physiological indicators in all analyzed subgroups. The correlations tended to be stronger among subgroup exhibiting potential to obesity. All analyzed indices and ratios were significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.05), predominantly with blood pressure components rather than heart rate, especially in participants with the potential for disease complications than in participants without them. Conclusion: The analyzed indicators are noninvasive and useful although they may be at different levels of association and clinical significance for various conditions. Thus some of the indicators may be standardly used in the early diagnostic process for monitoring cardiovascular health and risk stratification of patients.

Reducing Error Rate in Property Tax Declaration Forms through Simplification and Highlighting Instructions

Abstract The paper is mixed-method research on reducing administrative burden and, more specifically, the learning costs of filling out a property tax declaration form. It presents the development process of a guidebook, which simplified the instructions and experimentally tested the effectiveness of the guidebook in lowering the error rate. Young Slovak adults (N=43) were divided into two groups; the treatment group worked with the guidebook, and the control group used the official instructions the Ministry of Finance provided. The guidebook aimed to decrease learning costs using behavioural support (simplification, highlighting, examples, and the like). The results suggest that the guidebook helps significantly decrease the number of errors compared to the complex instructions the Ministry of Finance provided. However, while the guidebook is very effective in reducing errors in simple tasks, it may not be sufficient help for more complex tasks such as mathematical calculations. Therefore, simplified instructions must go hand-in-hand with interventions such as pre-populating of forms.

Hope, optimism, and pessimism as predictors of positive and negative psychological changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovak adults.

Positive and negative changes in outlook represent psychological changes that are the results of the cognitive processing of stressful and traumatic events by an individual. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the level of occurrence and types of positive and negative changes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in Slovakia and (2) to study the role of personality factors such as hope (dispositional and perceived) and life orientation (optimism and pessimism) in the prediction of positive and negative changes in adults during the fourth pandemic wave. A Short Form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CiOQ-S), the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS), the Perceived Hope Scale (PHS), and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) were administered. The research sample consisted of 102 participants, whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years (Mage = 38.90, SD = 14.28). The research design was quantitative, exploratory, and confirmatory. In total, 95% of participants reported positive changes related to COVID-19. Concurrently, up to 70% of these participants also reported negative changes from the impact of the pandemic. Only 25% of participants reported positive changes without noticing any negative perception of the consequences of the pandemic. Overall, 68% of participants reported negative changes related to COVID-19. Only 29% of participants reported negative changes without noticing any positive perception of the consequences of the pandemic. In total, up to 86% of participants agreed with experienced psychological changes (positive or negative) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The high prevalence of positive changes along with the relatively high prevalence of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic outline the question of whether reported positive changes represent real or illusory growth. Optimism and pessimism were found to be significant independent predictors of positive changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope was identified as a significant independent predictor of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report on accessory renal arteries incidence in Slovak adults: Cadaveric study and surgical correlation

The aim of the study was to evaluate renal arterial variations in Slovak context. Forty cadavers (80 formalin-fixed cadaveric kidneys) were included in the study. The accessory renal arteries (ARAs) were evaluated on the basis of point of origin, termination in the kidney (superior pole, hilum, inferior pole), and symmetry. The incidence of ARAs was detected in 20 % (8/40) of the cadavers. Double renal arteries were observed in 9 (11.25 %, n = 80) of kidneys. Among 8 cadavers with ARAs, the unilateral presence of ARA was found in 7 cadavers and bilateral presence in 1 cadaver. Among 9 ARAs, polar artery was the most common anomaly seen in 7 (78 %) kidneys (inferior polar artery 5, superior polar artery 2) followed by the hilar artery in 2 kidneys. This is the first cadaveric study on the incidence and morphology of ARAs in Slovakia. The study has shown that the variations in renal arterial anatomy are afrequent finding (20 % of cadavers) while all of the described variants have significant implications for avariety of surgical procedures in the retroperitoneal space. The variations in renal arteries should be considered an integral part of anatomy teaching as they point to the diverse clinical reality of anatomy (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 35). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: renal artery, variation, polar artery, double renal artery, cadaver.

Estimation of stature and body weight from static and dynamic footprints – Forensic implications and validity of non-colouring cream method

In the present study, the metric properties of dynamic footprints were analysed using non-colouring method in relation with body parameters and compared with static footprint measurements. The results of the study provide a better understanding of the relationship between static and dynamic footprints, which may be useful for biological profiling that allows more accurate identification. Stature, body weight, five length and two width parameters of dynamic (walking) footprints of young Slovak adults (65 females and 68 males) were analysed. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and equations for prediction of stature and body weight by linear regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were developed. Intersex differences were confirmed for all parameters and bilateral for some. Statistically significant differences were found in all measurements (p-value>0.05), except for the width of the standing and walking footprint in the mixed group. A positive correlation was found between the selected footprint diameters with stature (max - r = 0.82) and body weight (max - r = 0.70). Stature could be calculated with an accuracy of up to 4.40 cm and body weight with an accuracy of up to 9.56 kg. The results of the present study show that selected measurements of dynamic footprints correlate with stature and body weight. These results could be used in biological profiling in the medical and forensic fields.

How are you holding up? Personality, cognitive and social predictors of a perceived shift in subjective well-being during COVID-19 pandemic

While well-being is known to be mainly predicted by relatively stable personality traits and demographic factors, under circumstances of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the role of these predictors may be attenuated, and more situational factors may come into play. In the present study, we examined those relatively stable predictors of well-being along with COVID-19 specific factors, such as the perception of health and economic threat, unrealistic optimism, lack of control, trust in government regulations, and the endorsement of conspiracy beliefs. The data collection took place in early November 2020, when the second wave in Slovakia started to gain momentum and a strict lockdown was issued. Slovak adults (N = 1020) reported their current positive and negative affect and current, as well as estimated pre-pandemic and predicted future life satisfaction. The results showed that positive and negative affect was predicted mainly by extraversion and negative emotionality. On the other hand, life satisfaction, and its perceived change from before the pandemic and in three months, was predicted mainly by COVID-19 factors, especially perceived economic threat, unrealistic optimism, and trust in governmental regulations. We discuss the importance of these factors when considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples' well-being.

What Makes Spiders Frightening and Disgusting to People?

The quality of human-animal interactions may crucially influence conservation efforts. Unfortunately, and despite their important roles in the functioning of the ecosystem, some animals are considered notoriously unpopular. Using the forced-choice paradigm, we investigated which cues humans perceive as frightening and disgusting in spiders, one of the most unpleasant animals in the world. The research was carried out with a representative sample of N = 1,015 Slovak adults. We found that perceived fear and disgust of spiders were triggered predominantly by enlarged chelicerae, enlarged abdomen, and the presence of body hair. Longer legs were associated with perceived fear as well; however, the presence of two eyes did not produce any statistical significance in terms of fear. We hope that further research in this field, where additional cues can be manipulated (e.g., color and number of legs), will improve conservation efforts by using an improved reputation of spiders in the eyes of the general public.

Everybody Bullshits Sometimes: Relationships of Bullshitting Frequency, Overconfidence and Myside Bias in the Topic of Migration

Current research on bullshit has shifted its focus from the recipient of bullshit to the producer of bullshit; this trend being reflected in the new Bullshitting frequency scale (Littrell et al., 2020) measuring persuasive and evasive bullshitting. The aim of our study was to validate the scale on the Slovak population and to examine the relationship between persuasive and evasive bullshitting behavior, overconfidence and myside bias in the context of the topic of migration. Six hundred and sixty-six Slovak adults (52.7% men, Mage = 41.84) participated in an online study. The two-factor structure of BFS was confirmed. The results showed that people high in persuasive bullshitting (“persuasive bullshitters”), after controlling for evasive bullshitting, felt they had more knowledge about migration, but they also showed more myside bias. Similarly, people high in evasive bullshitting (“evasive bullshitters”), after controlling for persuasive bullshitting, felt they had less knowledge about migration and tended to underestimate their knowledge. Contrary to our expectations, correlation between overconfidence and persuasive bullshitting disappeared when evasive bullshitting was controlled for, and it seems that negative the correlation was caused by evasive bullshitters being underconfident. Our results further expand the knowledge about cognitive characteristics of bullshitters and support the distinction between the two kinds of bullshitting behavior, which has implications for political debates as well.

The Analytic Cognitive Style and Conspiracy Mentality as Predictors of Conspiracy Beliefs

The study aims to replicate previous findings on a student and non-student sample - the mid-pointed level of conspiracy beliefs and the relationship of conspiracy beliefs with analytic cognitive style and preference for analytic thinking. A total of 639 Slovak adults (58.7% women; 26.4% students) aged 18-73 years (M = 36.53; SD = 14.94) completed the Slovak Conspiracy Belief Scale, Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, Cognitive Reflection Test, Jellybean Task, Rational-Experiential Inventory, and Master Rationality Motive Scale. Conspiracy beliefs were at the mid-pointed level. There were no differences between students and non-students in their conspiracy beliefs or conspiracy mentality. Women did not differ from men in their conspiracy beliefs but had a more pronounced conspiracy mentality than men. Finally, conspiracy mentality was the strongest predictor of conspiracy belief. Moreover, conspiracy beliefs were also predicted by a lower level of cognitive reflection and motivation for rational integration, and higher age.

Psychosocial aspects of perception and emotional experience of older adults during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Slovakia

Psychosocial aspects of perception and emotional experience of older adults during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Slovakia

Who Should Be Given an Opportunity to Live in Slovakia? A Conjoint Experiment on Immigration Preferences

So far, little is known about which personal attributes of immigrant applicants play a role in public preferences on who should be given an opportunity to live in Slovakia. To provide novel evidence and to test theoretical predictions of economic and socio-psychological approaches to immigration attitudes, we conducted a preregistered conjoint experiment with a sample of young Slovak adults (N = 873). We found that participants preferred younger, more educated, female, and non-Muslim applicants and to a lesser extent, applicants coming from non-Muslim majority countries. Participants’ gender and place of residence played inconclusive roles in their immigration preferences.

Re-examining public opinion preferences for migrant categorizations: “Refugees” are evaluated more negatively than “migrants” and “foreigners” related to participants’ direct, extended, and mass-mediated intergroup contact experiences

Although migrant categorizations (e.g. “migrants”, “refugees”) are often conflated in political and academic discourse, they may be ascribed to different people and inspire different preferences in public opinion. Previous research in Western Europe has identified more positive attitudes toward “refugees” than toward “migrants” due to the legitimate need for international protection of “real refugees” compared to the perceived illegitimate claims by “economic migrants”. However, little evidence suggests that the same preference also exists in Eastern European countries that have historically received smaller numbers of refugees and had fewer frequent experiences with migrants and foreigners compared to West European countries. Moreover, the term “refugee” was intensively recategorized as “bogus” and de-legitimized in East European political discourse. To provide new evidence, we conducted a pre-registered comparative survey-based study with a sample of young Slovak adults (N = 873) to compare evaluations of three commonly used migrant categorizations in Slovakia -- “refugees”, “migrants”, and “foreigners” -- on multiple attitudinal and behavioural measures. In addition, we also tested the intergroup contact hypothesis about the relationship between participants’ evaluations and their experiences of direct, extended, and mass-mediated contact with these target groups. We found that “refugees” invoked less favourable feelings, attitudes, trust, and greater social distance compared to “migrants” and “foreigners”. These evaluations related to the valence (and less to the quantity) of participants’ experience of intergroup contact. These results challenge previous findings about public opinion preferences for “refugees” over “migrants”, support the intergroup contact hypothesis, and make a case for a more contextualized research.

Normative data for the Slovak version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)

The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a well-established screening measure of frontal lobe pathology. The aim of this study is the development of normative data for healthy Slovak adults. The final sample consisted of 487 healthy adults (54% of them female). The mean age in our sample was M = 55.29 (SD = 19.96). For the whole sample, the mean score on the FAB was 16.46 and the SD was 1.64. The mean score on the MMSE for the whole sample was 28.39 and the SD was 1.43. All participants underwent a complex neuropsychological examination spanning the relevant cognitive domains. FAB scores were found to be negatively associated with age (rs = −0.464, p < 0.001) and positively associated with years of education (rs = 0.199, p < 0.001). FAB scores positively correlated with the performance in MMSE (rs = 0.266, p < 0.001). Statistically significant and theoretically meaningful associations to other neuropsychological tests used in this study suggested the adequate convergent validity of the Slovak version of the FAB. The present study provided accurate normative FAB data, which can be used for clinical and research purposes.

Health Literacy Associations with Periodontal Disease among Slovak Adults.

Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums and without good oral hygiene, it can progress to periodontitis. Oral hygiene might be related to a patient’s health literacy (HL), defined as ability to gain access, understand, and use information to promote and maintain good health. The aim of our study is to examine the associations of HL with indicators of periodontal disease. A cross-sectional study on 1117 adults (36.2% males; mean age = 36.4, SD = 14.2) attending dental hygiene treatment was conducted. Data on demographics, socioeconomic status, and nine domains of HL (Health Literacy Questionnaire, HLQ) were collected by questionnaire, and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) was established by the dental hygienist. Data were analysed using t-tests and logistic regression. Respondents with periodontal disease (N = 152) had statistically significantly lower levels of HL in seven out of nine HLQ domains compared to intact patients (N = 818) (t from 3.03 to 4.75, p < 0.01). Association of higher HL in seven domains with lower chance of diagnosed periodontal disease remain significant even after adjustment for age, gender and educational attainment (adjusted ORs 0.55–0.67, p < 0.05). Our findings confirm that an individual’s lower HL is significantly associated with higher chance of periodontal disease incidence, specifically among Slovak adults attending oral hygiene clinics. HL might be a promising factor in the improvement of oral health in this population, worthy of consideration in intervention and preventive activities.

Distribution of the Minutiae in Hypothenar Palm Prints in Slovak Adults: Indications for Personal Identification.

Minutiae are small distinguishing features found along every ridge flow, which make each friction ridge print unique. The most common friction ridge prints found at the crime scene are fingerprints; therefore, the most of the minutiae studies are focused exactly on this kind of prints. The authors believe that further examination and enlargement of the palm print database could result in better use of the palm prints for personal identification. We analyzed a total of 160 palm prints from 40 females and 40 males aged between 18 and 70years from Slovakia. For the evaluation of the minutiae, the area of the hypothenar had to be marked out. The classification of the minutiae used for this study was based on a modified version of the classification system using the total of 13 types of minutiae. The frequency of every minutiae type was calculated and, using the chi-square test with Yates's correction, bilateral and sex differences were assessed. The relationship between the different types of minutiae was examined with Pearson's correlation test. During the initial phases of the identification process, the focus should be on the least common types of minutiae (Y or M and return), which were found not to correlate; thus, their mutual occurrence is random (e.g., overlap-Y or M, crossbar-return, or Y or M-dock). The results of the present study show which specific minutiae types are the most suitable for personal identification. These findings may be beneficial in more effective outcome of the identification process.

Factors Influencing Persistence of Diphtheria Immunity and Immune Response to a Booster Dose in Healthy Slovak Adults.

We assessed the long-term persistence of humoral immunity against diphtheria in adults with childhood vaccination and the immunogenicity of a booster dose considering demographic, behavioural and vaccinating factors. We conducted a trial in 200 healthy Slovak adults aged 24–65 years, immunised against diphtheria in childhood and against tetanus at regular 10–15 year intervals, and receiving a dose of a tetanus-diphtheria toxoid vaccine. The response was determined by ELISA antibody concentrations of paired sera before and at 4 weeks post-vaccination. A seroprotection rate of 21% (95% confidence interval, CI 15.6–27.3%) was found in adults up to 59 years since the last vaccination with seroprotective levels of antibodies against diphtheria ≥0.1 IU/mL and a geometric mean concentration of 0.05 IU/mL. Conversely, seropositive levels ≥0.01 IU/mL were observed in 98% of adults (95% CI 95–99.5%). Booster-induced seroprotection was achieved in 78% of adults (95% CI 71.6–83.5%) clearly depending on pre-booster antibody levels correlating with age and time since the last vaccination. Moreover, only 54.2% of smokers and 53.3% of patients on statins exhibited seroprotection. Booster vaccination against diphtheria was unable to confer seroprotection in all recipients of only childhood vaccination.

Gender-associated differences in the prevalence of central obesity using waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, and that of general obesity, in Slovak adults.

Central obesity represents an increased risk to develop cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines of international societies suggest estimating central obesity by measuring waist circumference (WC). Robust statistical data in literature provide evidence on the superiority of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) over WC and body mass index (BMI) for detecting cardiometabolic risk in both genders. Based on measurements of weight, height and waist circumference we compared the prevalence of central obesity using both the above mentioned criteria in the apparently healthy Slovak adults, and compared the prevalence of central obesity to that of general obesity (BMI). Data collected from 5,184 individuals (45% males) aged ≥18 years in four cross-sectional studies carried out between the years 2009-2012 were subjected to secondary analysis. Waist circumference underestimated central obesity in males and overestimated in females: 37.3% of males and 41.8% of females presented central obesity according to WC, 54.2% males and 34.9% females according to WHtR. 17.3% of males centrally obese according to WC present WHtR < 0.5; while 7.8% of females centrally obese according to their WHtR do not display increased WC. The frequency of central obesity increased with age. According to BMI, the prevalence of overweight was 39% in males and 22% in females; that of obesity was 17% and 15%, respectively. The prevalence of central obesity estimated using WC vs. WHtR differs significantly in Slovak adults. WHtR is considered superior for detection of the risk of future development of cardiovascular afflictions. Thus, further studies addressing the gender-associated discordance of central obesity measures are required to determine whether our results are consistent across geographical regions and ethnic groups.

Estimation of stature and body weight in Slovak adults using static footprints: A preliminary study.

The stature and the body weight as part of the biological profile can aid the personal identification. The dimensions of the human foot, as well as the footprint, can be used for the prediction due to the existence of its positive correlation with the stature and body weight. Five diagonal axes and ball breadth of bilateral static footprints of 132 young Slovak adults were obtained. All diameters were larger in a male group than female group. No bilateral differences were found except the first diagonal axis and ball breadth. A positive correlations between the selected footprint diameters with the stature (r = 0.37-0.64) and the body weight (r = 0.29-0.71) were confirmed. The linear and multiple regression prediction equations were developed. A stature prediction equation using the most lateral diameters (the fourth and fifth diagonal axis) exhibited the highest accuracy ranging from 4 to 7.5 cm. Similar results were found for the body weight estimation of the male and mixed group. In the female group, the most medial axis (first and second) exhibited the highest accuracy. The body weight estimation accuracy ranges from 9.09 to 11.09 kg. The real and predicted stature and body weight were compared and found differences were lower than calculated SEEs. Thresholds and prediction trend of under- or overestimation was identified. The results of the present study show that selected measurements of static footprints could be used to predict stature and body weight but should be applied only for Slovaks due to population specificity.