Social Scale Research Articles

Effects of Cognitive Flexibility, Prosocial and Problem Behaviours, Parenting Style and Social Support on Social Adaptation Among Children With Leukaemia: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach.

Leukaemia children often encounter various social adaptation issues stemming from changes in their living environment. Identifying and optimising the factors associated with social adaptation is crucial in improving social adaptation in children with leukaemia. To investigate social adaptation in children with leukaemia and to clarify the impact pathway of cognitive flexibility, problem behaviour, prosocial behaviour, parenting style and social support on social adaptation. Using a convenience sampling method, 264 leukaemia children completed a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using the Social Adaptation Assessment Scale for Children with Leukaemia, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Short-Egna Minnenav Barndoms Uppfostran and Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Structural equation modelling was used to test the influencing factors of social adaptation. Social support directly influenced social adaptation (β = 0.19, p < 0.01) and indirectly influenced social adaptation through prosocial behaviour (β = 0.06, p < 0.01) and problem behaviour (β = 0.18, p < 0.01). Prosocial behaviour (β = 0.17, p < 0.01) and problem behaviour (β = -0.61, p < 0.01) directly influenced social adaptation. Negative parenting directly influenced social adaptation (β = 0.12, p < 0.01) and indirectly influenced social adaptation (β = -0.23, p < 0.01) through problem behaviour. Our finding indicated that there are prominent social adjustment problems in the recovery process of children with leukaemia. These findings suggest that targeted education is needed to enhance social adaptation among children with leukaemia. The final model should serve as a framework to guide intervention research targeting social support and negative parenting to improve the social adaptation of children with leukaemia. During the recovery process, nurses need to regularly follow up on the children's social adaptation and encourage them to participate in social activities to increase social support while providing family guidance based on improving parenting styles. The subjects of this study were children with leukaemia aged 8-18 years. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

A novel screening instrument for the assessment of autism in German language: validation of the German version of the RAADS-R, the RADS-R.

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) demonstrated excellent results in its original study, with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 100% (Ritvo et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 41:1076-1089, 2011). As a result, it was included in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (Recommendations | Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE, 2022). The questionnaire includes 80 questions across four subcategories (language, social relatedness, circumscribed interests, sensory motor). So far, the subcategory sensory motor has not been addressed in most available instruments, despite being part of the diagnostic criteria specified in DSM-5 (Falkai et al., in Diagnostisches Und Statistisches Manual Psychischer Störungen DSM-5. Hogrefe, 2015) and ICD-11 (ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, 2022). In our validation study, we tested a translated German version of the questionnaire in 299 individuals (110 persons with ASD according to ICD-10 F84.0, F84.5, 64 persons with an primary mental disorders (PMD), 125 persons with no disorders). To enhance the practical use of the instrument in clinical everyday practice, the questionnaire was completed by the participants without the presence of a clinician-unlike the original study. Psychiatric diagnoses were established following the highest standards, and psychometric properties were calculated using established protocols. The German version of the RADS-R yielded very good results, with a high sensitivity of 92.5% and a high specificity of 93.6%. The area under the curve (AUC = 0.976), indicates a high quality and discriminatory power of RADS-R. Furthermore, the ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal threshold to distinguish between the ASD and non-ASD groups in the German version of the RAADS-R is a score of 81. In comparison to the RADS-R, the co-administered instruments Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and Empathy Quotient (EQ) each showed slightly better specificity but worse sensitivity in this sample.The study included individuals already diagnosed with ASD according to ICD-10 (F84.0, F84.5), with or without an primarymental disorders, preventing us from identifying the influence of comorbidities on the RADS-R results. In addition, a self-report questionnaire has generally only limited objectivity and may allow for false representation of the symptoms. The RADS-R compares well with other questionnaires and can provide valuable additional information. It could turn out to be a helpful diagnostic tool for patients in Germany. We propose naming the German version RADS-R (Ritvo Autism Diagnostic Scale - rRevised) to reflect the change in terminology.

Hierarchical Social Distance: Social Attitudes Toward Ethnic and Immigrant Groups in a Midwestern City

Using the Bogardus social distance scale, the study examined residents' social attitudes toward 10 ethnic and immigrant groups. The analysis focused on Burmese immigrants, a rapidly growing ethnic group in the community. Findings suggest that residents consider whites the closest in social distance, followed by African Americans and Latino immigrants. Burmese immigrants are positioned only slightly closer than Russian immigrants and Muslims. Respondents who are male, Roman Catholic, hold a college degree or higher, and have a higher income demonstrate a greater level of social acceptance of Burmese immigrants. Those who had direct interaction with Burmese, support public resources for diversity and cultural events, maintain optimistic perspectives about the economy and community safety, and believe that immigrants strengthen American society also prefer a closer social distance with Burmese immigrants compared to their counterparts. When comparing these findings with previous research, the rank order of whites–African Americans–Latinos–Asians–Muslims on the social distance scale remains consistent across studies. We argue that social distance scores reveal hierarchical group positions in the larger society.

Development and Initial Validation of a Scale to Measure Social Abuse in Intimate Partner Relationships.

Social abuse represents a distinct form of intimate partner violence characterized by intentional violations of a victim's social rights and inherent need to belong. This is achieved by tactics such as severing, interfering with, and surveilling the victim's social connections as well as limiting their social participation. Such abuse often results in victims experiencing social isolation, potentially causing adverse mental health outcomes and failure to seek help. This study aimed to develop and validate the Social Abuse Scale (SAS) to measure social abuse in intimate partner relationships. After generating the preliminary items, content validity testing was performed. Ten international experts reviewed the items and assessed their relevance. Additionally, 17 interview participants assessed the items for clarity and ease of response. Thereafter, the SAS was administered to 251 individuals, either currently in or who had an intimate relationship in the previous year. The final SAS comprised 30 items unified under a single-factor structure, which accounted for approximately 69.77% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model's satisfactory fit. The instrument showed excellent internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach's alpha and a McDonald's omega value of .986. The SAS can be employed to investigate the prevalence of social abuse, its underlying mechanisms, and its impacts, and it can also assist in further development and evaluation of programs aimed at its prevention.

Effect of Social Skill Training on Social Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective: To explore the effect of Social Skills Training (SST) on the social function of inpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 40 patients with schizophrenia (20 in the intervention group and 20 in the control group) were selected from a psychiatric hospital in Shanghai for 10 times (once a week) of social skills training. The control group was treated with routine hospitalization (drug therapy and routine hospitalization nursing) for 10 weeks. Social Disability Screening Schedule before and after intervention for patients enrolled in the intervention group (Social Disability Screening Schedule, SDSS and Scale of Social Function in Psychosis Inpatients, SSPI). Conclusion: The results of social skills training on SDSS and SSPI were different between the two groups, and there was no statistical value (P &gt; 0.05). Observation of patients in this group, when undergoing social skills training, SSPI score was significantly better than the control group (P &lt; 0.01) and SDSS score was significantly lower than the control group (P &lt; 0.01), the differences were statistically significant. Social skills training and social work group intervention can improve psychiatric symptoms and further enhance social function in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia.

Pathway analysis of the impact of health literacy, social support, and self-management on frailty in patients with chronic heart failure: A cross-sectional study.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a significant global health challenge, and frailty is common among CHF patients. Although abundant evidence has revealed significant intercorrelations among health literacy, social support, self-management, and frailty, no study has explored their associations into 1 model based on a theoretical framework. The study aimed to test the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model in a sample of Chinese CHF patients and explore the potential relationships among social support, health literacy, self-management, and frailty. A cross-sectional study was conducted on CHF patients (n = 219) at a tertiary hospital in China. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator, Heart Failure Specific Health Literacy Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Self-management Scale of Heart Failure Patients were used to assess frailty, health literacy, social support, and self-management, respectively. Structural equation modeling with the bootstrapping method was used to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables. The results showed that 47.9% of the CHF patients suffered from frailty. Frailty was negatively correlated with health literacy (r = -0.268, P < .01) with a moderate effect size, social support (r = -0.537, P < .01) with a large effect size, and self-management (r = -0.416, P < .01) with a moderate effect size. The structural equation modeling model showed that social support was positively associated with health literacy (β = 0.419, P < .01) and self-management (β = 0.167, P < .01) while negatively associated with frailty (β = -0.494, P < .01). Health literacy was positively associated with self-management (β = 0.565, P < .01), and self-management was negatively associated with frailty (β = -0.272, P < .01). Our study suggests the potential positive impacts of health literacy, social support, and self-management on improving frailty in CHF patients. Healthcare providers should strengthen patient health education, improve their health literacy, enhance their social support, and promote their self-management so as to reverse frailty and reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

Associations of fetal and infant growth patterns with behavior and cognitive outcomes in early adolescence

AbstractBackgroundFetal life and infancy might be critical periods for brain development leading to increased risks of neurocognitive disorders and psychopathology later in life. We examined the associations of fetal and infant weight growth patterns and birth characteristics with behavior and cognitive outcomes at the age of 13 years.MethodsPopulation‐based prospective cohort study from fetal life until adolescence. Pregnant women with a delivery date between April 2002 and January 2006 were eligible. Follow‐up measurements were available for 4716 children. Fetal weight was estimated in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy by ultrasonography. Infant weight was measured at birth and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Fetal and infant weight acceleration or deceleration were defined as a change in SD greater than 0.67 between time points. Total, internalizing and externalizing problems and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were measured using Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6–18), autistic traits by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and intelligence quotient (IQ) by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Fifth Edition (WISC‐V).ResultsOne week longer gestational age at birth was associated with a −0.03 SDS (95% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.04, −0.01) lower total behavior problems score, a −0.02 SDS (95% CI: −0.04, −0.01) lower ADHD symptoms score. Also an increase in birth weight of 500 g was associated with a lower odds of having high externalizing problems (OR 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.98) and of having a low IQ score (OR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.88). Compared to children with normal fetal and infant growth, those with accelerated fetal and infant growth had a 0.27 SDS higher IQ (95% Confidence Interval 0.11, 0.44).ConclusionsBoth fetal and infant weight development are associated with behavioral and cognitive outcomes in early adolescence. Follow‐up studies are needed to assess whether these associations link to later life mental health outcomes.

Characteristics of Individuals Losing Autism Diagnosis: A Comparative Study With Typically Developing and Autism Spectrum Disorder Individuals.

This study aims to reveal the characteristics of individuals who have lost an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and to evaluate their current psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, the study aims to compare individuals who have lost ASD with typically developing (TD) individuals and those with ASD in terms of current psychopathology, functionality and sociodemographic and clinical variables. The study included a total of 85 participants aged between 5 and 18, comprising 30 individuals who no longer meet the criteria for ASD (loss of autism diagnosis or LAD), 32 individuals with ASD and 23 TD individuals. While the sociodemographic data form and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were completed by the clinician, the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were completed by the parents. It was found that the LAD group acquired speaking skills earlier, started special education sooner, received preschool education and physical exercise support for a longer duration and exhibited higher mental capacity and lower symptom severity compared to the ASD group. Moreover, 80% of the LAD group had at least one DSM-5 diagnosis. Scores on the ABC and SRS indicated a significant difference, with ASD > LAD > TD. Even if ASD regresses, individuals may still experience residual difficulties and remain at risk for other psychopathologies. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain monitoring and support processes.

Context-Specific Resilience Through a Cultural Lens: Social-Ecological Factors Among Chinese Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

With the rise in attention towards Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Hong Kong and worldwide, understanding the role of social ecological resilience in reducing parenting stress and enhancing child outcomes is crucial, particularly within the unique cultural context of Chinese families. This study utilized a social ecological model to examine resilience factors at individual and interpersonal levels among Hong Kong parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. It also compared the stress and resilience conditions and differential functions of social ecological resilience between parents with and without children diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. A sample of 447 parents of children with and without Neurodevelopmental Disorders were assessed by a newly developed Social Ecological Resilience Scale, along with measures of parenting stress and the internalizing and externalizing behaviors of their children. Independent sample t-tests showed that Chinese parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders report significantly higher parenting stress and more internalizing and externalizing difficulties in their children compared to those without Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that enhanced social ecological resilience among parents predicted improved parenting stress and better outcomes in children's behaviors. Notably, social ecological resilience factors showed varying effects between parents with and without children diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. These findings highlight that both individual and interpersonal resilience factors among parents predicted improved parenting stress and better outcomes in children's behaviors and certain resilience factors may be contextually motivated. Policy makers and practitioners should consider developing context-specific strategies and programmes to help the focal target group.

Correlaciones entre burnout académico, afrontamiento y apoyo social en estudiantes universitarios

The study wasproposeddue to the perception of the scarcity of studies on the correlation between burnout, coping and social support. Thus, the present study aimed to verify the prevalence of academic burnout and its correlationswith coping strategies and social support in students of health courses. The sample consisted of 173 participants, agesbetween 18 and 30 years (M = 23.71; SD = 7.04). For data collection we used: Sociodemographic questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory for students (MBI-SS), Brief COPE (coping inventory) and Social Support Satisfaction Scale for higher education students (SSSS). The results revealed correlations between the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and cynicism, with family support satisfaction [F (3. 201752) = 9184.986, p &lt; .001; r2 = .12] and F (3.168) = 8.473, p &lt; .001; r2 = .131]. Referring to the correlations between coping strategies with the other study variables, the sample most frequently used emotion-focused coping in the strategies of Self-blaming (r = .290, p&lt;.001); Substance Use (r = .241, p&lt;.01); Instrumental Support (r = .206, p&lt;.01) and Positive Reinterpretation (r =.197, p&lt;.01)

The association between caregiver burden, social capital, and family functioning among caregivers of older adults with PSD - A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to explore the relationships between social capital, family functioning, and caregiver burden in caregivers of older adults with post-stroke dementia (PSD). A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted between November 2017 and April 2018 among 105 caregivers of older adults with PSD using a demographic questionnaire, the Social Capital Scale, Family APGAR Index (APGAR), and Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI).An independent samples t-test was also utilized to compare caregiver burden based on demographic characteristics. Statistical analysis comprised Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 22.0 to identify influencing factors. Significant negative correlations were found between caregiver burden and variables such as social capital (p < .001) and family functioning (p < .01). The results of the multivariate analysis revealed that social capital, physical condition, and duration of caregiving were the main influencing factors (β = 58.162, ΔR2 = 0.289, p < .001). These findings suggest that nurses should continue to prioritize the well-being of patients' families, and collaborative efforts should be made to establish care facilities that cater to both medical and social needs.

Impact of flexible assertive community treatment model (FACT) on community rehabilitation of schizophrenia in Southern China.

Schizophrenia is a group of severe mental illnesses of unknown etiology, most of which are slow or subacute in young adults. 160 adult schizophrenic patients were randomly divided into an intervention group given FACT and a control group given routine mental health follow-up. The scale includes the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Social Disability Screening Schedule Scale (SDSS), and the World Health Organization's multicultural quality of life instrument in its brief form Scale(WHOQOL-BREF) were recorded. The average scores of positive scale, negative scale, general psychopathology scale and total score in PANSS scale before intervention(baseline) of the patients in the intervention group were 24.90 ± 5.43, 17.53 ± 3.84, 38.31 ± 4.09 and 80.54 ± 6.75. After 6 months and 12 months of intervention, positive scale, negative scale, general psychopathology scale and total score of the PANSS scale in the intervention group and the total score of SDSS all decreased significantly. The WHOQOL-BREF total score was significantly improved, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The FACT intervention model has a significant effect on the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia in the community, improves their social function, and improves their quality of life.

Digital diaspora

In this paper, we examined the relationship between social networking sites (SNSs) and the coping strategies international students adopt amidst cultural shocks in India, particularly in the vibrant locale of Chandigarh. The study scrutinizes pivotal factors that influence international students' SNS use and creates and validates an instrument that measures this relationship. Grounded in the uses and gratifications theory (UGT), this research introduces an instrument—the Social Capital Assessment Scale and Inventory (SCASI), which was developed via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The research concludes that SNSs play a pivotal role in the globalization of information, encompassing education, knowledge dissemination, interactivity, and cultural exchange in geographically diverse countries such as India.

Investigating the Impact of Social Communication Deficiencies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Their Parents' Depression and Anxiety Levels

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly impacts individuals' social communication abilities, affecting both the diagnosed children and their families, especially the mental health of their parents. While existing literature has focused on the direct implications for individuals with ASD, the psychological toll on caregivers is often overlooked. This study explores the relationship between children's social communication challenges due to ASD and the subsequent mental health outcomes in their parents, specifically depression and anxiety levels. Using a correlational design, the research involved 400 parents of children with ASD aged 4-18 from various urban centers in Turkey. Data were collected using the Social Communication Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess children's social communication deficits and parents' psychological states. Spearman’s correlation coefficients and subgroup analyses evaluated the relationships between the severity of children's social communication problems and parental depression and anxiety levels. The findings revealed a strong correlation between the severity of social communication deficiencies in children with ASD and heightened levels of depression and anxiety among their parents. Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed significant negative correlations, with r=-0.218 for depression and r=-0.263 for anxiety. Parents of children with more severe communication deficits reported higher psychological distress. This pattern was consistent across different demographic subgroups. The study's unique contribution lies in its quantitative confirmation of these relationships within a Turkish urban population, underscoring the need for holistic, family-centered approaches in ASD management.

FMT intervention decreases urine 5-HIAA levels: a randomized double-blind controlled study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often linked to gastrointestinal issues and altered serotonin metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests gut microbiota influence both, with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offering a potential therapeutic approach. However, its impact on serotonin metabolism and ASD symptoms is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of FMT and examine changes in specific urinary metabolites in children with ASD. A randomized double-blind controlled trial was performed to evaluate the clinical effects of FMT on GI and ASD-related symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the ASD-related symptoms were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores. Urinary metabolites were analyzed by homogeneous enzyme immunoassay using commercially available kits. Significant improvements in GI and core ASD symptoms were observed following FMT intervention. The average GSRS scores decreased from 30.17 (before) to 19 (after; p < 0.0001), CARS scores decreased from 36.22 to 33.33 (p < 0.0001), SRS scores decreased from 151.17 to 137.5 (p = 0.0002), and the ABC scores decreased 76.39 to 53.17 (p < 0.0001) in the FMT group. However, in the placebo group, GSRS, CARS, and SRS scores showed no significant changes, while ABC scores decreased from 72 to 58.75 (p = 0.034). The FMT group also showed a significant reduction in urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels from 8.6 to 7.32 mg/L (p = 0.022), while other metabolites showed no significant changes. FMT is a safe and effective treatment for improving GI and core symptoms in children with ASD, with 5-HIAA showing potential as a urinary biomarker for treatment response.

Machine learning's effectiveness in evaluating movement in one-legged standing test for predicting high autistic trait.

Research supporting the presence of diverse motor impairments, including impaired balance coordination, in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing. The one-legged standing test (OLST) is a popular test of balance. Since machine learning is a powerful technique for learning predictive models from movement data, it can objectively evaluate the processes involved in OLST. This study assesses machine learning's effectiveness in evaluating movement in OLST for predicting high autistic trait. In this study, 64 boys and 62 girls participated. The participants were instructed to stand on one leg on a pressure sensor while facing the experimenter. The data collected in the experiment were time-series data pertaining to pressure distribution on the sole of the foot and full-body images. A model to identify the participants belonging to High autistic trait group and Low autistic trait group was developed using a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm with 16 explanatory variables. Further, classification models were built for the conventional, proposed, and combined explanatory variable categories. The probabilities of High autistic trait group were calculated using the SVM model. For proposed and combined variables, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity scores were 1.000. The variables shoulder, hip, and trunk are important since they explain the balance status of children with high autistic trait. Further, the total Social Responsiveness Scale score positively correlated with the probability of High autistic trait group in each category of explanatory variables. Results indicate the effectiveness of evaluating movement in OLST by using movies and machine learning for predicting high autistic trait. In addition, they emphasize the significance of specifically focusing on shoulder and waist movements, which facilitate the efficient predicting high autistic trait. Finally, studies incorporating a broader range of balance cues are necessary to comprehensively determine the effectiveness of utilizing balance ability in predicting high autistic trait.

Efficacy and safety of JNJ-42165279, a fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized, phase 2, placebo-controlled study.

JNJ-42165279, a highly selective and orally bioavailable fatty acid amide (FAA) hydrolase inhibitor, was evaluated for efficacy and safety in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in this phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study (NCT03664232). Participants aged 13-35 years, with a diagnosis of ASD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition) were randomized (1:1) to 12 weeks of treatment with JNJ-42165279 (25 mg, twice-daily) or placebo. Primary endpoints were the change in the Autism Behavior Inventory (ABI) Core Domain (ABI-CD), ABI-Social Communication (ABI-SC), and ABI-Repetitive/Restrictive Behavior (ABI-RB) scores from baseline to day 85. Of the 61 participants (16 female, 45 male) included in the efficacy analyses, 53 (87%) completed the double-blind treatment. At day 85, the JNJ-42165279 group did not show a statistically significant reduction in ASD symptoms versus placebo, as assessed with ABI-CD (p = 0.284), ABI-SC (p = 0.290), and ABI-RB (p = 0.231). However, the following secondary outcomes exhibited small to moderate changes directionally favoring JNJ-42165279: Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS, p = 0.064), Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R, p = 0.006), Zarit Burden Interview short version (ZBI, p = 0.063), Child Adolescent Symptom Inventory-Anxiety (CASI-Anx, p = 0.048), and Caregiver Global Impression of Severity (p = 0.075). Notably, versus placebo, JNJ-42165279-treated participants showed increased concentrations of FAAs throughout the treatment period, with those achieving elevated concentrations experiencing the greatest reduction in the SRS total score at day 85. JNJ-42165279 demonstrated an acceptable safety profile. Although primary endpoints were not met, JNJ-42165279 may have a therapeutic effect on certain aspects of core ASD symptoms.

Are customers naturally attracted to brands? A core social motives scale for measuring brand engagement

PurposeTo extend consumer–brand relationship research to the satisfaction of social needs, we introduce a new construct to assess consumer propensity to develop brand relationships based on the satisfaction of social needs through brands and provide a scale to measure this construct.Design/methodology/approachWe implement a two-stage procedure based on the literature and expert judgments to formulate questions based on questionnaire data, and refinement processes and validation analyses are applied to measure the validity and reliability of the scale.FindingsWe developed a scale for measuring consumer propensity for establishing brand relationships that covers five dimensions: belonging, control, understanding, self-enhancement and trust. The scale was validated and found to be reliable.Research limitations/implicationsThis research could benefit from model testing using samples from outside the USA, thus incorporating the role of culture and considering behavioral outputs.Practical implicationsThe identification and operationalization of the propensity to relate to brands are important in market segmentation for more efficiently deepening brand relationships. Additionally, this conceptualization improves our understanding of the elements that contribute to the relationship between brands and consumers: belonging, control, understanding, self-enhancement and trust.Originality/valueAlthough the consumer–brand relationship is recognized in the literature, the satisfaction of social needs via this relationship has been ignored. This paper aims to enhance our understanding of person–brand relationships by proposing a scheme for analyzing the degree of need satisfaction facilitated by this relationship.

Tingkat Keterampilan Sosial Siswa Kelas 7 SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta Tahun Ajaran 2023/2024

This study aims to determine the level of social skills of 7th grade students of SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta in the 2023/2024 school year and to find out the low items to be proposed as guidance topics. This type of research is descriptive quantitative with the subjects in this study are 7th grade students in the 2023/2024 school year. Determination of the sample from the population was carried out using calculations made by Issac and Michel with an error of 10%. Data collection was carried out using a social skills scale with 46 valid items with a Cronbach alpha reliability index of 0.945 which is in the very strong category. The scale is arranged based on 5 (five) aspects, namely cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. The data analysis technique used descriptive statistics, using the SPSS Ver. 25. With the results, most of the 7th grade students of SMP Negeri 15 Yogyakarta in the 2023/2024 school year have high social skills. The results showed that in 166 students, 35% of students had a very high level of social skills, 55% of students had a high level of social skills, and 10% of students had a moderate level of social skills. There are no low items on the social skills scale that will be proposed as guidance topics.

A prospective randomized controlled study of neurofeedback combined with learning style profile intervention training in children with high-functioning autism

To explore the application of neurofeedback (NFB) combined with learning style profile (LSP) intervention training in children with high-functioning autism (HFA). A prospective study was conducted to select 86 children with HFA admitted to the hospital from February 2022 to February 2024. They were divided into two groups according to the random number table method, with 43 cases in each group. In this double-blind study, the control group was given LSP intervention training, and the observation group was given NFB intervention on the basis of the treatment used in the control group. Both groups were treated for 6 months. The scores of Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) were compared between the two groups before intervention and at 6 months after intervention. The relationship of PedsQL score with ABC, ATEC, and SRS scores was analyzed in children with HFA. After 6 months of intervention, the scores of ABC, ATEC, and SRS in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while the PedsQL score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The PedsQL score was negatively correlated with the ABC, ATEC, and SRS scores in children with HFA (r=-0.238, -0.381, -0.219 respectively; P<0.001). NFB combined with LSP can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and social ability, control the development of the disease, and improve the quality of life in children with HFA.