Version Of Scale Research Articles

Effect of Blended Music on Social Behaviours of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The study aimed to investigate the effects of blended music on social behaviours of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study was quantitative with a single group pretest- posttest research design. Children with ASD studying in special education institutes of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were the population of the study. After screening children for High Functioning Autism through the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), twelve children were selected conveniently for the intervention. The Urdu version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (USRS-2) was used to measure the social behaviours of children with ASD. Blended music based on Raga Bilawal and Taal Keharwa was validated by the music experts for use during eight weeks of intervention. The data was collected before and after exposure to blended music. Mean scores for each positive and problematic social behaviour were calculated to decide upon the improvement in behaviour. The number of items showing improvement was calculated to decide upon the effect of blended music. 26% of positive behaviours were improved and 74% of problematic social behaviours were reduced. It was concluded that blended music was found effective in developing positive social behaviours and reducing the problematic social behaviours of children with ASD.

The extraordinary Atlantic silverside and me

Abstract My career is inextricably linked to the remarkable characteristics and astonishing insights provided by a simple yet elegant species, the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia. My initial field and laboratory studies provided the first demonstration of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and its adaptive significance in fish, as well as the first empirical confirmation of frequency-dependent sex ratio selection. This early work then led to the discovery of countergradient variation in growth, evolutionary trade-offs associated with growth, pioneered the study of fisheries-induced evolution, and furthered our understanding of the spatial scale of local adaptation in marine species. Most of these topics are now vigorous areas of research encompassing numerous species and systems. Here I describe how these unforeseen discoveries were made and led to other findings on bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis). An interest in leadership during my early years was later rekindled as I took on administrative roles. It all began with an intriguing observation stemming from my MS thesis that I was compelled to follow. My career illustrates the value of exploring deeply the natural history of lesser-known yet easy-to-study species and to follow unexpected observations even if peripheral to a preconceived plan of research.

Evaluation of inorganic and organic composite plugging materials with high performance and adaptive fracture scale

In order to address the problem that carbonate fracture-vuggy reservoirs are prone to severe lost circulation during drilling and the difficulty of existing plugging agents to improve the first-time plugging success rate, a composite plugging agent composed of organic and inorganic materials has been developed. The study demonstrates that the plugging agent exhibits high temperature-pressure resistance (exceeding 130 °C and 7 MPa), controllable solidification time and excellent fluidity. Additionally, the plugging agent has strong retention properties within the fractures, exhibiting the capacity to adapt to varying fracture dimensions and effectively form plugging structures due to its viscoelastic properties. The microstructure analysis reveals that the organic and inorganic components of the plugging agent are intertwined and filled with each other, forming a three-dimensional force network, which improves both the toughness and compressive strength of the plugging material, making it highly applicable for addressing severe lost circulation in carbonate fracture-vuggy reservoirs.

Internalized weight stigma and psychological distress mediate the association of perceived weight stigma with food addiction among young adults: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundPerceived weight stigma (PWS) and internalized weight stigma (IWS) are both associated with psychological distress and food addiction (FA). Using the previously proposed ‘cyclic obesity/weight-based stigma’ (COBWEBS) model, the present study extended the framework to investigate the mediating effects of IWS and psychological distress in the association between PWS and FA among young adults. Given that individuals who are overweight/have obesity have different vulnerabilities, this population was separately analyzed alongside the total study population.MethodsAn online survey comprising the Perceived Weight Stigma Scale, Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and modified Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2 was completed by 601 participants (59.6% females; mean age 29.3 years [SD = 6.07]). A total of 219 participants were categorized as being overweight/having obesity.ResultsA direct correlation was found between PWS and FA (standardized coefficient [β] = 0.28, p < 0.001) among both populations, and was mediated by IWS and psychological distress (β [95% CI] = 0.03 [0.01, 0.05] for WBIS score and 0.10 [0.06, 0.14] for DASS-21 score) among the total participants, but only mediated by psychological distress among participants who were overweight/had obesity (β [95% CI] = 0.14 [0.06, 0.24]).ConclusionsThe results demonstrated novel perspectives by showing the direct association between PWS and FA and the mediating roles of IWS and psychological distress. Treatment strategies such as psychological acceptance and psychoeducation could be used to reduce weight stigma, which could have positive downstream benefits of ameliorating FA. Future research may seek to study strategies for reducing weight stigma and psychological distress, to investigate their efficacy in improving disordered eating.

Online Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents: Roles of Family Relationships, Impulsivity, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study examined the associations of passive and active online sexual risk behaviors with perceived family relationships, impulsivity, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 176 adolescents with ADHD and 173 adolescents without ADHD participated in this study. The participants' parents rated their parenting style on the Parental Bonding Instrument. The adolescents self-reported their lifelong experiences of passive and active online sexual risk behaviors, perceived family relationship quality on the family domain of the Taiwanese Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adolescents, and three domains of impulsivity on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations of online sexual risk behaviors with perceived family relationships, impulsivity, and ADHD. Overall, 114 participants (32.7%) reported passive forms of online sexual risk behaviors, and 49 (14.0%) reported active online sexual risk behaviors. Lack of foresight and self-control was significantly associated with passive online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.003). Good family relationship was significantly associated with a decreased risk of active online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.011), whereas seeking novelty and making decisions hastily was significantly associated with an increased risk of active online sexual risk behaviors (p = 0.048). ADHD diagnosis and inability to plan were not significantly associated with online sexual risk behaviors (p > 0.05). A high proportion of Taiwanese adolescents reported exhibiting online sexual risk behaviors. The factors related to the manifestation of these behaviors should be considered when designing relevant intervention programs.

Development and Validation of a College Life Adaptation Scale for Chinese Students

Development and Validation of a College Life Adaptation Scale for Chinese Students

군 병사의 부대 적응 척도 타당화 연구

The purpose of this study was to accurately measure the extent of unit adjustment in a context where policies related to unit adjustment of military personnel are being implemented and interest in unit adjustment is high. To this end, the suitability of the unit adjustment scale developed by Stouffer et al. (1949), translated by Lee Yoon-hee (1963), and modified by Shin Tae-soo (1981) for the Korean military was verified. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, 10 items were removed from the original 26 items, and based on the reliability analysis, the reliability value was highest when all 16 modified items were used. Next, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on these items to present the revised Korean Army Soldiers' Unit Adjustment Scale. The scale was composed of four subfactors as in the original scale. Three of the items, mental and physical condition, willingness to perform duties, and job position and job satisfaction, were the same as the original scale, but for the last factor, attitude toward the military organizational environment, the items were reviewed with the exception of the items that were deleted through the validity analysis, and it was found that it was appropriate to have one factor consisting of perceptions of military officers rather than overall attitudes toward the organizational environment. This study is significant in that it empirically validated the unit adaptation scale with military soldiers in a situation where validation of scales related to unit adaptation is lacking, and it is significant in that it deleted inappropriate items and revised the scale to fit the current military situation.

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Revised Version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale in Chinese Adolescents.

Adolescent-specific ADHD self-report screening measures can greatly increase the likelihood of correct diagnosis and timely treatment of ADHD in adolescents. This study provides preliminary evidence for evaluating the reliability and validity of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-Revised (ASRS-R) in a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents. The ASRS-R and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered to 867 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (Mage = 13.08 years). Construct validity was assessed using correlation analysis of the ASRS-R with the SDQ. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency, retest reliability, and measurement invariance of the scales were examined by gender. CFA showed a two-dimensional factor structure of the ASRS-R, and the model fitted the data well (χ2/df = 4.370, RMSEA = 0.062, TLI = 0.932, CFI = 0.940, GFI = 0.927, AGFI = 0.907, and SRMR = 0.038). The ASRS-R scale was invariant across gender and had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .934) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .874). The construct validity, as calculated using the SDQ, was also acceptable. The ASRS-R can be a psychometrically reliable self-report instrument and provide preliminary support as a simple tool for identifying ADHD symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The findings provide evidence for extending the application of the ASRS, previously limited to adults, to the adolescent populations.

Death Anxiety and Depression among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Empathy

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected life all over the world. Death anxiety has a significant impact on the mental health of individuals, especially in the health care professionals. The fear and apprehension surrounding mortality has significantly affected nurses, leading to various mental health challenges, including depression. While the awareness of death can impose substantial psychological strain, it can also foster positive traits essential for patient care, such as empathy. Objective: The study identifies the relationship between death anxiety, depression and empathy. It also explores the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between death anxiety and depression among nurses. Method: A cross-sectional research design and a purposive sampling strategy were used to collect data from nurses (N=200) working at different government and private hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants' ages ranged from 23 to 52. The Siddiqui-Shah Depression Scale, Urdu-translated versions of the Death Anxiety Scale, and Jefferson Scale of Empathy were administered to nurses. Results: The results reveal a positive relation between death anxiety with depression (r= .43**) and empathy (r = .31**). Death anxiety and empathy were found to be significant predictors of depression. Furthermore, empathy was found to be a significant mediator between death anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Based on the findings, clinical psychologists may devise various interventions/management plans to manage death anxiety and depression among nurses.

Validation of the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale during COVID-19 pandemic and its correlates

ObjectiveTo validate the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale (VCBS) and to investigate and compare its correlates among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsFrom March 19 to April 05, 2021, a nationwide cross-sectional online survey was administered to Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. The study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the VCBS. A binary logistic or linear regression model, along with mediation analysis, was employed to explore the relationship between vaccine conspiracy beliefs and its correlates among healthcare workers. ResultsThe VCBS demonstrated robust psychometric properties, showing satisfactory results from both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, strong internal consistency (KR-20 = 0.947), and calibration validity. Measurement invariance (MI) was also observed. Additionally, individuals' vaccine conspiracy beliefs, as measured by the VCBS, mediate the relationship between occupation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (95 % CI [−2.229, −1.060]), as well as COVID-19 (95 % CI [0.096, 0.304]), influenza (95 % CI [0.075, 0.304]), and HPV (95 % CI [0.009, 0.236]) vaccination uptakes. ConclusionThe Chinese adaptation of the VCBS proves adept at assessing vaccine conspiracy beliefs among Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. Notably, the healthcare workers are less likely to exhibit COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and are more likely to receive COVID-19, influenza, and HPV vaccines. This tendency is partly related to their weaker conspiracy beliefs about vaccination.

FREQUENCY OFANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND ITS PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES AMONG WOMEN RECEIVING ANTENATAL CARE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KARACHI

Objective: To determine the proportion of women suffering from antenatal depression and anxiety visiting a tertiary care hospital for routine antenatal visits to evaluate the psychosocial factors associated with their depression and anxiety. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study Place and Duration Department of Gynaecology &amp; Obstetrics Ward 9B, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi from January 2024 to May 2024. Top of FormMethods: This study was conducted with 249 pregnant women via non-probability, consecutive sampling. Anxiety and depression were assessed using Urdu validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Psychosocial stressors were also recorded. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 23.0. Results: In this study, 20% of women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancies were anxious and 5% were depressed. Critical psychosocial factors included low education, marital stressors such as low social support from husband and/or in-laws, living separately from husband, and intimate partner violence, financial stressors such as husband unemployment and pregnancy-related factors such as unplanned pregnancy and narrow birth spacing. Conclusion: The study provides a significant burden of antenatal mental health issues in our region and their specific associated psychosocial factors. The study emphasizes upon the need for Biopsychosocial support systems and interventions to mitigate the risk of antenatal depression and safeguard maternal well-being during this critical period.

Psychometric properties of the German version of the brief resilience scale in persons with mental disorders

The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess individual differences in the ability to recover from stress despite adversity and has been translated into several languages. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties (i.e., item characteristics, reliability, factor structure, measurement invariance, and validity) of the German version of the BRS in persons with mental disorders. A total of N = 5,986 persons admitted to inpatient treatment completed the German version of the BRS and other questionnaires. The discriminating power of the items, the difficulty of the items, and the internal consistency were all sufficient. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis supported the two–factor structure of the BRS, consistent with the findings of the German validation study in a non–clinical sample. The BRS also had strict measurement invariance across diagnostic groups for mental disorders according to ICD–10. Validity was examined using a network analysis, in which the BRS demonstrated positive correlations with life satisfaction, self–efficacy and optimism and negative correlations with somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. The BRS can serve as a reliable and valid tool for assessing resilience in clinical settings, facilitating the identification of persons with potentially lower psychosocial resources.

Status quo and factors influencing dyadic disease appraisal in chronic heart failure based on latent profile analysis in Northern Sichuan Province, China

PurposeThis study explored potential categories of dyadic disease appraisal differences among patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure (CHF) in China and analyzed the main factors influencing these categories.MethodsA survey was conducted using various tools and scales, including the Chinese version of the Memorial Heart Failure Symptom Appraisal Scale, Heart failure self-care index scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Zarit burden interview, and Self-rating anxiety scale. The data was collected from patients who were hospitalized with CHF in the cardiology department of one of two tertiary hospitals in Nanchong City, China. The dyadic disease appraisal categories were identified using latent profile analysis (LPA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was also employed to analyze the factors influencing the formation of potential categories of differences in dyadic disease appraisal in CHF patients.ResultsA total of 262 pairs of hospitalized CHF patients and their caregivers participated in this study. The dyadic disease appraisal of CHF patients was potentially categorized as the "negative difference group" (28 individuals, 10.7%) and the "positive or convergence group" (234 persons, 89.3%). The results showed that the factors influencing the categorization of dyadic disease appraisal differences included the patient's social support, disease progression, and Caregivers anxiety level, burden, gender, educational attainment, and age (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study findings demonstrated heterogeneity between the two groups of CHF patients in the dyadic disease appraisal. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on patients who have a brief duration of illness and limited social support. Specifically, it is important to prioritize support for female caregivers who are 65 years or older, have lower levels of educational attainment, and experience a significant burden and anxiety. Regular implementation of support person-bilateral co-management strategies can effectively reduce differences in how the disease is perceived and enhance the overall well-being of both caregivers and patients.

Adaptation of the normative rating procedure for the International Affective Picture System to a remote format

BackgroundThe Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), a pictorial scale for the measurement of pleasure and arousal dimensions of emotions, is one of the most applied tools in the emotion research field.ObjectiveWe present a detailed description of a remote method to collect affective ratings in response to pictures by using the SAM scale.MethodsTo empirically validate our remote method, we conducted a study using a digitized version of the SAM scale and delivered online didactic instructions that followed the normative rating procedure for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) to the participants. We presented 70 pictures from the IAPS and an additional set of 22 food pictures to the participants.ResultsWe found strong correlations between the ratings of IAPS pictures obtained in our sample and those reported by North American and Brazilian participants in previous in-person studies that applied the same pictures and methodology. We were also able to obtain an additional standardized set of food pictures.ConclusionThe protocols described here may be useful for researchers interested in collecting remotely valid and reliable affecting ratings.

At-Home Care Versus Total Hospital Care Model for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Lymphoma Patients: A Pilot Case-Control Study.

Lymphoma is the second most prevalent cancer treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Additional resources are required to enhance the provision of care for these patients. To explore the complications and economic costs of home versus hospital care models for ASCT in patients diagnosed with lymphoma and to describe the experience of home care patients. This was an observational pilot case-control study with 1:1 matching, in which all patients assisted at home were included. Data were obtained by reviewing medical records and data from the hospital's financial and resource management service. The IEXPAC scale version 11 + 4 was used to assess the care process experience as perceived by home care patients. The study included 34 patients, in which there was a significant decrease in neutropenic fever, both in frequency and duration (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively), in mucositis days (P = .038), and the rate of red cell concentrate transfusion (P < .001); however, there was a longer neutrophil recovery time (P = .044) in home care versus hospitalized patients. The overall cost was higher in the hospital care model (P = .001). Home care patients obtained high scores on the perceived experience of the care process scale. The home ASCT model is associated with fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and more significant cost savings. The experience of the home care process was rated satisfactorily. This study provides evidence for a model that offers high-quality care and a comfortable experience for ASCT patients. Preparing more nurses for this home care model is imperative.

Navigating Ambiguity: Adapting and Validating the Personal Need for Structure Scale in Spanish.

The Personal Need for Structure (PNS) scale assesses individuals' tendency to seek out clarity and structured ways of understanding and interacting with their environment. The main aim of this study was to adapt the PNS scale to Spanish and assess its psychometric properties. There are two versions of the PNS scale being used, which vary in the number of dimensions (1 vs. 2), and in the number of items (12 vs. 11; because one version excludes Item 5). Therefore, an additional aim of this study was to compare the two existing versions of the PNS scale. This comparison aimed to address the debate regarding the inclusion of Item 5, and the number of dimensions that comprise the PNS scale. A sample of 735 individuals was collected. First, through an approach combining exploratory and confirmatory analyses, evidence was found in favor of the scale being composed of two related but distinguishable factors: Desire for Structure and Response to the Lack of Structure. Scores on these subscales showed acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Evidence supporting the invariance of the internal structure across sociodemographic variables such as gender and age was found. Validity evidence was also analyzed by examining the relationships with other relevant measures. The results indicated that Item 5 can be excluded without reducing scores validity or reliability, which supports preceding research in the literature. In conclusion, the PNS scale was satisfactorily adapted to and validated in Spanish and its use in this context is recommended.

Comparative Clinical Characteristics of Frail Older Adults in the Emergency Department: Long-Term Care Hospital versus Community Residence.

Older patients from long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) presenting to emergency departments (EDs) exhibit a higher prevalence of frailty than those from the community. However, no study has examined frailty in patients from LTCHs in the ED. This study compared frailty in older patients from LTCHs and the community. We retrospectively analyzed data from the EDs of three university hospitals between 1 August and 31 October 2023, involving 5908 patients (515 from LTCHs and 5393 from the community). The Korean version of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS-K) was used to assess individuals aged 65 and older. We compared clinical characteristics, frailty, length of stay (LOS), and diagnosis between patients from LTCHs (LTCH group) and the community (community group). Among ED patients, 55.0% and 35.2% in the LTCH and the community groups, respectively, were frail (p < 0.001). Of these, 71.7% in the LTCH group were hospitalized compared with 53.1% in the community group (p = 0.001). The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was 4.910 (95% CI 1.458-16.534, p = 0.010) for frail LTCH patients and 3.748 (95% CI 2.599-5.405, p < 0.001) for frail community patients, compared to non-frail patients. Patients from LTCHs with frailty had higher hospital admission rates and increased in-hospital mortality compared to those in the community at the same frailty level. This study offers essential insights into the characteristics of older patients in LTCHs for healthcare administrators and medical staff worldwide.

Psychological resilience and intention to stay among nurses: the mediating role of perceived organizational support.

This study aims to analyze the relationship between psychological resilience, perceived organizational support, and intention to stay among nurses. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of perceived organizational support in the relationship between psychological resilience and nurses' intention to stay. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September 2023, involving 1,402 nurses from five Grade 3A hospitals in Guangdong. The survey utilized several instruments, including the General Information Questionnaire (GIQ), the Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Chinese version of the Perceived Organizational Support Scale (POSS), and the Chinese version of the Intention to Stay Scale (ITSS). The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient, while the mediating effect of perceived organizational support was assessed using the PROCESS macro mediation model in SPSS. The overall mean score for psychological resilience among nurses in the five Grade 3A hospitals in Guangdong was 60.54 ± 19.17, the overall mean score for perceived organizational support was 45.77 ± 11.49, and the mean score for intention to stay was 20.82 ± 4.65. The results of the statistical analysis revealed positive correlations between psychological resilience and intention to stay (r = 0.388, p < 0.01), between perceived organizational support and psychological resilience (r = 0.570, p < 0.01), and between perceived organizational support and intention to stay (r = 0.550, p < 0.01). Additionally, perceived organizational support was found to mediate the relationship between psychological resilience and intention to stay, with a mediation effect value of 0.067, accounting for 71.28% of the total effect. Psychological resilience of nursing staff directly impacts their intention to stay and indirectly influences their caring behaviors, with perceived organizational support serving as a key mediator in both relationships. Therefore, nursing managers should implement targeted interventions to enhance nurses' psychological resilience and perceived organizational support. Strengthening these factors can significantly increase nurses' intention to stay in their jobs, improve the quality of care, and contribute to building a strong and stable nursing workforce.

Adaptive location and scale estimation with kernel-weighted averages

A wide variety of location and scale estimators have been developed for light-tailed distributions. Despite indisputable importance in business, finance, cybersecurity, etc., statistical estimation and inference in the presence of heavy tails have received less attention in the literature. We adopt the Kernel-Weighted Average (KWA) approach to location and scale estimation and present a set of extensive comparisons with five prominent competitors. Unlike nonparametric kernel density estimation, the optimally tuned bandwidth for KWA estimators does not necessarily converge to zero as sample size grows. We also perform a large-scale Monte Carlo simulation to search for the optimal bandwidth that minimizes the mean squared error (MSE) of KWA location and scale estimators with simulated samples from Student’s t-distribution with degrees of freedom (df) 1 , 2 , … , 30 . We further develop an adaptive technique to estimate the df that best match the observed samples using Cramér-von Mises test of goodness-of-fit. Unlike many existing methodologies, our approach is data-driven and exhibits excellent statistical performance. To illustrate this, we apply it to three real-world financial datasets containing daily closing prices of AMC Entertainment (AMC), GameStop (GME) and Meta Platforms (META) stocks to calibrate a geometric random walk model with Student’s t log-increments.

Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of the COVID-19 Stressors Scale

Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of the COVID-19 Stressors Scale