Scale Survey Research Articles

Weight stigma in pediatric type 1 diabetes: An associated risk for disordered eating?

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have elevated eating disorder risk. No studies have examined weight stigma as a potential factor associated with disordered eating. This study investigated cross-sectional associations among weight-based victimization, weight bias internalization, and disordered eating in adolescents with T1D. Adolescents (12-17 years; N = 166) self-reported experiences of weight-based victimization from peers, family members, and healthcare professionals. The Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS) and Diabetes Eating Problems Survey (DEPS-R) assessed internalized weight bias and disordered eating, respectively. In a series of multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses (controlling for zBMI, diabetes duration, HbA1c, sex), weight bias internalization, weight-based victimization, and frequency of weight-based victimization by peers, family, and healthcare professionals were all positively associated with disordered eating. Weight stigma is an understudied but potentially important factor to address in adolescents with T1D. Reducing weight stigma may be a promising, novel target for eating disorder prevention in this population.

Development and validation of the online agentic and communal behaviour scale: implications for emotional well-being

ABSTRACT Agentic behaviours are often characterised as actions that revolve around being assertive and achievement-oriented, whereas communal behaviours are centered on cooperation, empathy, and promoting social harmony. While extensive studies have demonstrated how these behaviours can be reproduced in online environments from offline, there is a lack of a suitable scale to measure them. The current study focuses on developing and validating an online agentic and communal behavioural survey scale. Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, two correlated factors emerged and corresponded with the definitions of the agentic and communal dimensions. Through linear regression modelling, it was found that although each dimension was negatively associated with Internet users’ emotional well-being, the positive impact of online communal behaviour on emotional well-being is more pronounced at higher levels of online agentic behaviour. This reflects a theoretical perspective that both dimensions are complementary and should be ‘balanced’ to achieve optimal well-being. In a three-way interaction, it was found that gender moderates the above positive interaction effect in both gender groups. Specifically, gender differences play a part in determining the impact of high vs. low online AC behaviours on emotional well-being. This finding aligns with the theoretical framework explaining gender roles in societies.

Effect of video-based trauma-informed care training for psychiatric nurses: A nonrandomized controlled trial.

To examine the effect of short-time video-based trauma-informed care (TIC) training in improving attitudes related to TIC and mental health among psychiatric nurses. A nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a 60-min TIC training video. The primary outcome measure was the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale 35 (ARTIC-35). The secondary outcome measures were the TIC Provider Survey, Kessler 6 (K6) scale, the Japanese Burnout Scale, and the Japanese Psychological Safety Scale. The main analysis included 100 psychiatric nurses (58 in the intervention group and 42 in the control group). The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the increase in scores on ARTIC-35 was not statistically significant due to calculating the sample size based on an overestimated effect, but the effect size (ES) was moderate (ES = 0.39) at the 4-6-week follow-up. Although there were no significant differences in the TIC Provider Survey, K6, or Japanese Burnout Scale, a significant effect of the intervention was observed in the Japanese Psychological Safety Scale. A per-protocol analysis, which compared the 30 intervention group participants who had watched all four videos to the control group, showed that the ES (= 0.48) was larger for the ARTIC-35 than for the ITT. The intervention led to moderate improvement in attitudes related to TIC, psychological safety, and burnout.

Unpacking the Mood States of Children and Youth in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from the “See Us, Hear Us 2.0” Study

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic created a growing need for insights into the mental health of children and youth and their use of coping mechanisms during this period. We assessed mood symptoms and related factors among children and youth in Saskatchewan. We examined if coping abilities mediated the relationship between risk factors and mood states. Methods: “See Us, Hear Us 2.0”, a cross-sectional study of 563 child–parent dyads, provided the data. The dependent variable, current mood state, was measured by the CoRonavIruS health Impact Survey (CRISIS) scale. Independent variables included sociodemographics, behaviors, household conditions, and coping ability. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted, ensuring sample representativeness with sampling weights and addressing missing data through multiple imputations. Results: The participants reported mood symptoms (“moderate” to “extreme”) ranging from 23% to 38% on the CRISIS scale. Factors such as older children, hybrid learning, disrupted activities, and increased screen time worsened moods. The ethnic minority groups (BIPOC) living in mid-sized cities/towns experienced more negative moods compared to Whites residing in cities. Coping ability mediated the relationship between extracurricular activities and mood states. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of tailored interventions, recognizing the diverse needs of specific age groups, gender identities, and ethnicities and addressing the adverse effects of the pandemic-related disruptions on the mental health and well-being of school children in Saskatchewan. Our study also suggests prioritizing the diverse needs of children and youth during the planning and implementation of mental health services in the province.

Occupational Stress and Its Influence on Employee Performance and Health Outcomes: An Empirical Analysis Across Institutional Sectors in Islamabad

This study examined the psychological, physiological, and performance-related impacts of occupational stress on human resources across various sectors, with a particular focus on employees in institutions at Islamabad. Prior research has highlighted stress as a significant issue driven by changing social dynamics and lifestyle adjustments, contributing to an understanding of its adverse effects. However, stress does not universally yield negative outcomes; eustress, or "positive stress," has been shown to encourage individuals to confront challenges and reach optimal performance. While much of the existing research has concentrated on the Information Technology and Banking sectors, occupational stress affects employees across all fields. This study aimed to shed light on stress as a widespread and often underappreciated issue and to recommend relevant coping strategies. A survey involving 200 employees was conducted to evaluate job-related, organizational, individual, and physiological reactions to stress and their influence on performance. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were applied, providing a comprehensive understanding of occupational stress effects on employee performance. Cronbach’s alpha was utilized to confirm the survey scale's reliability. The findings suggested that occupational stress moderately impacted employee performance, with job-related stressors, particularly job security, playing a significant role. Physiological reactions to stress, including chronic neck and back pain, fatigue, headaches, and migraines, were also observed to moderately impact performance. These health issues, likely due to prolonged sedentary work hours and negative stress effects, underscored the importance of implementing effective stress management strategies in organizational settings.

The EFG Rosetta Stone: translating between DFT calculations and solid state NMR experiments.

We present a comprehensive study on the best practices for integrating first principles simulations in experimental quadrupolar solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SS-NMR), exploiting the synergies between theory and experiment for achieving the optimal interpretation of both. Most high performance materials (HPMs), such as battery electrodes, exhibit complex SS-NMR spectra due to dynamic effects or amorphous phases. NMR crystallography for such challenging materials requires reliable, accurate, efficient computational methods for calculating NMR observables from first principles for the transfer between theoretical material structure models and the interpretation of their experimental SS-NMR spectra. NMR-active nuclei within HPMs are routinely probed by their chemical shielding anisotropy (CSA). However, several nuclear isotopes of interest, e.g.7Li and 27Al, have a nuclear quadrupole and experience additional interactions with the surrounding electric field gradient (EFG). The quadrupolar interaction is a valuable source of information about atomistic structure, and in particular, local symmetry, complementing the CSA. As such, there is a range of different methods and codes to choose from for calculating EFGs, from all-electron to plane wave methods. We benchmark the accuracy of different simulation strategies for computing the EFG tensor of quadrupolar nuclei with plane wave density functional theory (DFT) and study the impact of the material structure as well as the details of the simulation strategy. Especially for small nuclei with few electrons, such as 7Li, we show that the choice of physical approximations and simulation parameters has a large effect on the transferability of the simulation results. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first comprehensive reference scale and literature survey for 7Li quadrupolar couplings. The results allow us to establish practical guidelines for developing the best simulation strategy for correlating DFT to experimental data extracting the maximum benefit and information from both, thereby advancing further research into HPMs.

Analysis of the Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility and Good Corporate Governance on Stock Performance in Public Companies in Indonesia

This study analyzes the effect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Good Corporate Governance (GCG) on Stock Performance (SP) in public companies in Indonesia. Using a sample of 160 companies and a quantitative approach, data was collected through a 5-point Likert scale survey and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling - Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS 3). The findings reveal that both CSR and GCG positively influence stock performance, with GCG having a stronger impact (β = 0.612) compared to CSR (β = 0.384). The results emphasize the importance of ethical practices and effective governance in enhancing investor confidence and improving stock market performance. These findings provide important implications for managers, investors, and policymakers, suggesting that companies focusing on CSR and GCG are likely to experience better financial outcomes in the stock market.

청소년 위기수준 결정, 위기결과 및 자해행동 유형 분석

This study aims to investigate the current state of adolescent crises to determine crisis levels, crisis outcomes, and analyze types of self-harm behavior. The research was conducted on 1,839 middle and high school students in Y region. The survey method employed a self-report questionnaire administered in person, with a survey period from March 25 to April 30, 2024. For data analysis, frequency analysis and t-tests for correspondence were performed to assess adolescent crises. The Crisis Youth Status Survey Scale was used as a measurement tool to assess crisis levels, crisis outcomes, and self-harm behaviors. The results of this study are as follows: First, regarding the effects on determining adolescent crisis levels, when classified into high-risk, risk, potential risk, and general groups, students in the general group showed the highest levels. Second, in terms of the effects on crisis outcomes, internet and smartphone over-dependence was found to be the highest. Third, concerning the effects on self-harm behaviors, behaviors such as burning the body, inflicting burns, and swallowing dangerous substances were found to be the most prevalent. In summary, the current state of adolescent crises has been clearly identified, confirming crisis level determinations, crisis outcomes, and types of self-harm behaviors. This research will provide important foundational data for policy development and improvements in school counseling programs, by identifying the causes of crisis levels and self-harm behaviors. It is expected that this study will play a significant role in establishing more effective prevention and intervention strategies through a deeper understanding of the current state of adolescent crises.

Dye Laser Applications in Cosmetic Dermatology: Efficacy and Safety in Treating Vascular Lesions and Scars

Cosmetic dermatology increasingly utilizes laser technologies to address various aesthetic concerns. This study evaluates the efficacy of the flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser (FPDL) in treating vascular and scar-related conditions. A cohort of 71 patients with diverse vascular lesions, including facial telangiectasia, port-wine stains (PWSs), striae rubrae, erythematous acne scars, facial traumatic scars, and keloids, was treated using the FPDL (Synchro Vas-Q, Deka MELA). Treatment protocols varied based on lesion type, with sessions ranging from one to eight at intervals of four to eight weeks. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a four-point grading scale and patient satisfaction surveys. Results indicated that 70.4% of patients achieved excellent clearance of lesions, while 16.9% and 9.9% showed moderate-good and slight clearance, respectively. Minimal or no improvement was observed in 2.8% of cases. High patient satisfaction was reported, correlating with effective lesion reduction and manageable side effects, primarily post-operative purpura. The study underscores FPDL’s selective efficacy for hemoglobin-rich lesions and its safety profile, advocating for its continued use in cosmetic dermatological practices. These findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting laser therapy as a pivotal tool in aesthetic medicine, emphasizing the importance of tailored treatment protocols and patient education for optimal outcomes.

The Effects of Pedagogy on Student Achievement in Science Classrooms

This mixed-methods study was designed to determine whether a correlational relationship exists between student achievement on the Florida Grade Eight Statewide Science Assessment and the predominant pedagogical practice (student-centered, teacher-directed) found across the three grade levels (six, seven, eight) of associated middle schools. Data was gathered by mining historical public domain and Likert scale surveys of middle school (grades six through eight) science teachers (N = 97). Data analysis procedures included Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Science. Concerning student performance on this assessment, significant differences were established in the following categories: use of formative assessment in the classroom setting, teacher providing traditional notes, and collaborative student group work. Additionally, significant differences were identified regarding school socioeconomic status and school-wide science pedagogical approach. Implications for instructional practices in science classrooms, as well as for teacher preparation programs and current educator professional development, are discussed.

Evidence That Growth Mixture Model Results Are Highly Sensitive to Scoring Decisions

Interest in identifying latent growth profiles to support the psychological and social-emotional development of individuals has translated into the widespread use of growth mixture models (GMMs). In most cases, GMMs are based on scores from item responses collected using survey scales or other measures. Research already shows that GMMs can be sensitive to departures from ideal modeling conditions and that growth model results outside of GMMs are sensitive to decisions about how item responses are scored, but the impact of scoring decisions on GMMs has never been investigated. We start to close that gap in the literature with the current study. Through empirical and Monte Carlo studies, we show that GMM results—including convergence, class enumeration, and latent growth trajectories within class—are extremely sensitive to seemingly arcane measurement decisions. Further, our results make clear that, because GMM latent classes are not known a priori, measurement models used to produce scores for use in GMMs are, almost by definition, misspecified because they cannot account for group membership. Misspecification of the measurement model then, in turn, biases GMM results. Practical implications of these results are discussed. Our findings raise serious concerns that many results in the current GMM literature may be driven, in part or whole, by measurement artifacts rather than substantive differences in developmental trends.

Качество жизни пациентов до и после хирургического удаления конкрементов мочевого пузыря различными способами

Background. The choice of treatments should be based on the impact on the psychological, functional, social and economic lives of patients. According to the 2023 European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines, transurethral cystolithotripsy is safe and effective, but is associated with an increased complication rate and operating time for large stones. Suprapubic percutaneous cystolithotripsy is a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of bladder stones and obstructive causes of their formation. Cystolithiasis and its treatment significantly affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients, which is important to evaluate in patients with bladder stones and bladder outlet obstruction after percutaneous and transurethral cystolithotripsy. Aim of the study: to compare health-related quality of life after surgery with transurethral cystolithotripsy with litholapaxy (TUC) and percutaneous suprapubic cystolithotripsy (PCCL) and to evaluate factors influencing quality of life in patients with urolithiasis. Material and methods. A total of 85 patients who suffered from cystolithiasis secondary to bladder outlet obstruction and underwent surgical treatment (the main group was percutaneous puncture cystolithotripsy, n = 40; the control group was transurethral cystolithotripsy, n = 45). All patients were administered the Short-Form 36-item survey (SF-36) and Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS) to assess health-related quality of life at four timepoints: before and after surgery, 1 week after, and 1 month after lithotripsy. Stone-free rates, complications, and analgesic requirements were evaluated to compare the effects of the two procedures on HRQoL. Results. After treatment, in the main group there was a statistically significant decrease in the level of pain on the VAS scale compared to the control group (p<0.05). According to the SF-36 questionnaire, statistically significant differences in the physical and psychological functioning of patients in different study groups were also revealed (p<0.05), which confirms the effectiveness of the treatment used in the main group. Conclusion. Quality of life after lithotripsy was higher in PCCL compared with TUC in the dynamics of the study. The presence of postoperative complications and greater postoperative pain appeared to be determinants of lower quality of life in the TUC group.

Analyzing how Cultivating Positive Emotions Like Joy, Hope, and Empathy can Motivate Individuals to Engage in Community Service and Social Activism

This study explores the role of positive emotions—joy, hope, and empathy—leading people into social action and community service. From the psychological theories of emotional motivation and prosocial behavior, the research is interested in how these emotions contribute to immediate and long-term involvement in causes. The survey-based quantitative approach included 300 adults involved in activism or community service. Measuring happiness, hope, and empathies, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule PANAS was used. A customized Likert scale survey elicited information on participant's motivation to participate in activism. The statistical techniques conducted were correlation, regression, and mediation analysis to observe that positive emotions showed an effect on the engagement towards activism (r = 0.75 for happiness, r = 0.68 for hope, r = 0.80 for empathy, p < 0.01). Empathy mediated between joy/hope and long term activism; regression analysis indicated that empathy was most predictive of long term commitment (β = 0.30). Whereas joy and hope was the prime movers in short-term activism, it is in that aspect in which empathy actually made long-term participation truly stick together. This does empirically provide evidence to require emotional induction where induction of emotion of empathy seems to make a lot with social activism activation/maintenance at work. Implications: This is very important to nonprofit organizations, activists, as well as policymakers who might look to enhance social participation, as well as long-run dedication to social causes. Further emotional interventions should be researched further; other emotional conditions should be explored for effects in activism, and causal relations with longitudinal studies could be pursued.

Consumer Attitude and Purchase Intention towards Organic Food in Kritipur, Kathmandu

This study examined the relationship between consumer attitudes and purchase intentions toward organic products in Kritipur, Kathmandu. Using a 5-point Likert scale survey, data from 57 respondents were analyzed through correlation and regression techniques. The results reveal a considerable positive impact of consumer attitudes, specifically health concerns and environmental care, on purchase intention, with an unstandardized coefficient of 0.854 (p < .001). Consumer attitudes explained 64.7% of the variance in purchase intention, confirming the critical role of favorable attitudes in promoting organic product purchases. However, contrary to the hypothesis, subjective norms had a negative influence on purchase intention (β = -0.261, p = .004), indicating that social pressures may decrease consumer willingness to buy organic products. The findings suggest that marketers should focus on increasing consumers' trust in organic products and emphasize the health and environmental benefits to increase sales. This study expands existing theoretical models by incorporating health concerns and environmental care as crucial factors influencing consumer attitudes towards organic food.

Self-Perceived vs. Actual Online Engagement: Relationships with Academic Achievement Among Chinese Undergraduate English Learners in a Blended Learning Environment

This study, motivated by the growing integration of digital platforms in higher education, explores the relationships between Chinese undergraduate English learners' online engagement and academic achievement in a blended learning environment. Adopting a quantitative research design, the study involved 138 participants enrolled in an advanced English writing course, delivered through a blended learning approach. Data were collected using an adapted version of the Online Engagement Scale (OES) survey, assessing four constructs: Behavioral Engagement (BE), Cognitive Engagement (CE), Emotional Engagement (EE), and Social Engagement (SE). The study found that learners perceived higher levels of BE and CE compared to EE and SE. Analysis of actual behavioral online engagement revealed significant time spent on tasks, high task completion rates, and strong task performance. Significant correlations were found between BE and CE with total engagement time (TET) and task completion rates (TCR), while EE showed a correlation only with TET. SE did not correlate with any dimension of actual engagement. Despite these correlations, only task engagement scores (TES) significantly predicted academic achievement, with BE, CE, EE, and SE not predicting academic success. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of engagement in blended learning contexts, emphasizing that fostering task engagement, particularly task completion and performance, may enhance academic outcomes in such environments.

Development and Examination of an Educational Program Combining E-Learning and Face-to-Face Training That Nurtures Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nurse Specialists

Introduction: The number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Japan has continued to increase, leading to diverse and complex patient backgrounds. Despite these challenges, the education of IBD nurse specialists has not kept pace with the evolving circumstances. Therefore, our research aimed to develop and validate an educational program for the training of IBD nurse specialists. Methods: We designed an educational program targeting nurses involved with IBD care. The program included e-learning on the assessment of IBD activity and self-care support, as well as face-to-face group discussions. The understanding and practice of disease activity assessment and self-care support were evaluated before and after the e-learning sessions and face-to-face training. Face-to-face training satisfaction was assessed using the Course Interest Survey (CIS) scale and summarized through descriptive statistics. Results: Overall, data from 19 participants were analyzed. Scores for understanding and practice of disease activity assessment and self-care support increased across all training processes. Moreover, the items that significantly increased before and after e-learning were “inflammation” (p = 0.012), “IBD recognition” (p = 0.026), and “treatment” (p = 0.013) in terms of understanding and “inflammation” (p = 0.036) in terms of practice. The items that increased significantly from e-learning to face-to-face training were “inflammation” (p = 0.042), “subject symptoms” (p = 0.018), and “treatment” (p = 0.017) in terms of understanding. No significant differences in mean scores for understanding and practice were observed between the two groups. According to the CIS scale, the “attention” and “relevance” factors indicate that the training design was highly interesting and relevant. However, the “confidence” factor received a slightly lower average score than did the other factors. Conclusion: The educational program showed promising implications for the development of IBD nurse specialists. However, further consideration is needed to devise training content that fosters confidence in clinical practice.

Evaluating the efficacy of full-scale and tabletop exercises in enhancing paramedic preparedness for external disasters: A quasi-experimental study.

The increasing frequency and severity of disasters worldwide needs effective disaster management training to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of emergency responders. This study compares the outcomes of tabletop exercises (TTEs) and full-scale exercises (FSEs) in training senior paramedic students at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A nonequivalent two-group quasi-experimental design was used. Forty-five senior paramedic students who had completed a disaster management course were randomly assigned to either TTE or FSE groups. Both groups participated in a simulated multi-vehicle accident scenario. Data were collected using an adapted CLUT Scale survey, which measured learning, trust, and usefulness immediately after the exercises. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare outcomes between the 2 groups. Both TTE and FSE resulted in high levels of perceived learning, trust, and usefulness among participants, indicating a positive impact on disaster preparedness. While the TTE group scored slightly higher on average across all variables, these differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that both exercise types are similarly effective. The findings underscore the cost-effectiveness of TTEs and their potential to foster collaborative learning environments. Both TTE and FSE are effective in enhancing disaster preparedness among senior paramedic students. Given their adaptability and cost-effectiveness, TTEs may be particularly valuable for resource-constrained training settings. Further research with larger, more diverse samples and pre-/post-intervention assessments is recommended to validate these findings and improve disaster management training programs.

Challenges in Tea Plantation-Based Small Community Water Safety Plan Implementation – A Sri Lankan Experience

This paper presents the challenges and scientific approach adopted to overcome those challenges for Rural WSP (RWSP) implementation for the water supply schemes (WSS) in the Sri Lankan Tea Plantation sector. Factors positively and negatively impacting WSP implementation were identified through a SWOT analysis. Pooled response of the Likert scale survey of WSP team members to evaluate the impact of each contributing factor. A Spearman correlation was conducted to evaluate the correlations. Survey results confirmed that top management engagement, availability of financial resources, organizational structure, clustered community, government regulations, quality certifications, and similar cultural practices positively impact the success of WSP implementation. Poor community awareness, learning culture, communication barriers, poor sanitation and hygiene practices, inadequate stakeholder relationships, inadequate resources, skills, and lack of accountability were the factors hindering the WSP implementation. Correlation analysis showed specific relationships namely, lack of accountability with inadequate resources and skills, availability of financial support with inadequate resources and skills, and lack of awareness with a lack of resources and skills. Converting the negative factors to positive ones will make the WSP application successful in another similar plantation-based WSS. The major lesson from this intrinsic research study is that socioeconomic and cultural factors in the tea plantation are equally important as the typical technical aspects of the WSP.

Impact of Stress on the Endocannabinoid System: A [11C]-CURB Positron Emission Tomography Study in Early Psychosis: Les effets du stress sur le système endocannabinoïde : étude par tomographie par émission de positons avec l'indicateur radioactif [11C-CURB] dans la psychose précoce.

Stress and traumatic experiences are well-established risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Stressful events can induce symptoms of anxiety and depression and may lead to overt psychosis, especially when there is an innate biological vulnerability. This study explores the role of the stress-regulating endocannabinoid system, specifically the activity of the enzyme fatty acid amid hydrolase (FAAH), a key regulatory enzyme for endocannabinoids, in association with stress by analysing data from healthy individuals and patients with psychosis. We performed a post-hoc exploratory analysis on 65 positron emission tomography scans using the selective FAAH radioligand [11C]CURB, encompassing 30 patients with psychosis (6 female) and 35 healthy controls (19 female). The study aimed to examine the association between FAAH activity and stressful life events, assessed through the Recent Life Events, Survey of Life Experiences, and Hassles and Uplifts Scale. There was a significant difference regarding the number of recent stressors with higher levels in patients compared to healthy subjects (Survey of Life Experiences: t = 4.88, p < 0.001, hassles: t = 3.14, p = 0.003), however there was no significant relationship of brain FAAH activity and stressful life events in any of the applied scales across groups (Recent Life Events: F1,57 = 0.07, p = 0.80; Survey of Life Experiences: F1,57 = 1.75, p = 0.19; hassles: F1,56 = 1.06, p = 0.31). Linear mixed models performed separately for each group revealed that there was a positive association between FAAH activity and Recent Life Events in patients with psychosis only (F1,25 = 8.07, p = 0.009). Our data reveal a significant disparity in recent stressors between the two groups, and a correlation between brain FAAH activity and stressful life events in patients with psychosis only. This suggests a complex interplay between stress and the endocannabinoid system.

Impact of Educational Predictors on Music Subject Selection at A-Level in Ugandan Schools: Science Education Policy and Instructional Resources

This paper investigates the key Educational Predictors particularly the impact of science education policy and the availability of instructional resources on A-level music subject selection in Ugandan secondary schools. Despite the potential of A-level music education to foster entrepreneurial skills and income-generating opportunities through avenues such as performance, teaching, and production, the Ugandan secondary education system’s emphasis on science subjects undermines the visibility and support for music subject. This prioritization not only reduces the appeal of music as a viable academic option but also limits students' access to diverse career pathways in the arts and entertainment industries. This study used a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach, collecting quantitative data through a 5-point Likert scale survey and qualitative insights from interviews with students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Descriptive statistics provided an overview of respondents' perspectives, while correlation and logistic regression analyses assessed the influence of key variables. The findings revealed a significant negative relationship between the emphasis on science education policy and music subject selection, as shown by logistic regression (B = -0.651, p &lt; 0.001). Conversely, access to instructional resources positively correlated with music selection (B = 0.527, p &lt; 0.001). These results show the role of science education policy in discouraging music enrollment and shows the positive impact of resource availability on students’ choices. While this study focuses on schools in Uganda’s Central Region, broader research could further validate these findings. The study recommends policy adjustments to balance STEM focus with arts education, enhancing resource allocation to support diverse subject selection, including music, at the secondary level.