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Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Jun 2024In electroencephalographic (EEG) data, power-frequency slope exponents (1/f) can provide non-invasive markers of in vivo neural activity excitation-inhibition (E:I)... (Review)
Review
In electroencephalographic (EEG) data, power-frequency slope exponents (1/f) can provide non-invasive markers of in vivo neural activity excitation-inhibition (E:I) balance. E:I balance may be altered in neurodevelopmental conditions; hence, understanding how 1/f evolves across infancy/childhood has implications for developing early assessments/interventions. This systematic review (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42023363294) explored the early maturation (0-26 yrs) of resting-state EEG 1/f measures (aperiodic [AE], power law [PLE] and Hurst [HE] exponents), including studies containing ≥1 1/f measures and ≥10 typically developing participants. Five databases (including Embase and Scopus) were searched during March 2023. Forty-two studies were identified (N=3478). Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies tool. Narrative synthesis of HE data suggests non-stationary EEG activity occurs throughout development. Age-related trends were complex, with rapid decreases in AEs during infancy and heterogenous changes thereafter. Regionally, AE maxima shifted developmentally, potentially reflecting spatial trends in maturing brain connectivity. This work highlights the importance of further characterising the development of 1/f measures to better understand how E:I balance shapes brain and cognitive development.
PubMed: 38917647
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101402 -
PloS One 2024Much research on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the unequal impact on men and women in many countries but empirical evidence on later stages of...
OBJECTIVE
Much research on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the unequal impact on men and women in many countries but empirical evidence on later stages of the pandemic remains limited. The objective of this paper is to study differences between men and women in work location, the relative division of childcare, and perceived work-life balance across and throughout different phases of the pandemic using six waves of probability-based survey data collected in the Netherlands between April 2020 and April 2022 (including retrospective pre-pandemic measures).
METHOD
The study used descriptive methods (longitudinal crosstabulations) and multivariate modelling (cross-sectional multinomial logits, with and without moderators) in a repeated cross-sectional design.
RESULTS
Results suggest the pandemic is associated with several phase-specific differences between men and women in where they worked and their relative division of childcare in the Netherlands. Men were less likely than women to work fully from home at the start of each lockdown and to work on location during the first lockdown. Amongst parents, fathers increased their share of childcare throughout the first phase of the pandemic, and this increase remains visible at the end of the pandemic. Women in the Netherlands did not experience worse work-life balance than men throughout the pandemic, but mothers did experience worse work-life balance than fathers at various points during the pandemic.
DISCUSSION
Our results suggest varying long-term implications for gender inequality in society. Gender differences in work location raise concerns about the possible longer-term impact on gender inequalities in career development. Our findings on childcare suggest that many households have experienced different divisions of childcare at different stages of the pandemic, with some potential for longer-term change.
CONCLUSION
Inequalities between men and women in work, childcare, and wellbeing have neither been alleviated by nor unilaterally worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Female; Male; Work-Life Balance; Child Care; Netherlands; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Child; Pandemics; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Gender Equity; Sex Factors; Employment; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38917187
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302633 -
PloS One 2024Although a robust body of previous empirical studies investigated the long-term trend of child behavior problems, limited research discussed the influences of various...
Although a robust body of previous empirical studies investigated the long-term trend of child behavior problems, limited research discussed the influences of various types of neighborhood factors on such trajectory (e.g., neighborhood structural characteristics and collective efficacy). Using a nationally representative longitudinal dataset the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), with six waves from 1998 to 2017, this study captures the longitudinal effects of two types of early childhood neighborhood factors on the co-development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Data was collected at the focal child's age 3, age 5, age 9, age 15 (N = 2,385), and the parallel-process growth curve models were applied. Results suggest that the trajectories of both internalization and externalizing symptoms showed U-shape and bidirectional relationships among internalizing and externalizing problems. The long-term effects of neighborhood social cohesion and economic disadvantages were significantly associated with children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The implication of this study was further discussed.
Topics: Humans; Child; Residence Characteristics; Male; Adolescent; Female; Child, Preschool; Longitudinal Studies; Child Behavior
PubMed: 38917156
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305632 -
PloS One 2024Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a constantly evolving concept that reflects changes in society and the expectations of stakeholders in a process that leads...
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a constantly evolving concept that reflects changes in society and the expectations of stakeholders in a process that leads companies to adapt to respond to new challenges and demands. Similarly, the theory and practice of CSR have moved from regulatory compliance to a more holistic approach that requires more sophisticated models that allow for a deeper understanding. Following the fact that companies now have access to a greater amount of information related to their social and environmental performance, as well as comparative data from other organizations, which is why it is necessary to have a management tool that allows collecting, process, and generating more accurate and meaningful metrics that more effectively reflect a company's impact on society. Consequently, the present work aims to identify a system of variables and dimensions representative of the management of organizations that allows the validation of a generic model of corporate social responsibility determined through factorial and structural modeling capable of reflecting more accurate and up-to-date dimensions and metrics of model variables and dimensions. To carry out the study, a sample of 667 middle and senior managers from medium and large companies in Guayas, Ecuador, were randomly contacted in their respective business contexts by trained interviewers. The data processing was carried out in stages. First, the exploratory factorial analysis method of the items was applied to form relevant factors. Then, the dimensions' structural modeling was formulated and ratified through the pertinent goodness-of-fit indices. The results determined a system of correlated factors whose items present estimators of commonality and high and significant factorial loads, excluding variables that did not exceed the sensitization criteria applied. Finally, a model made up of 15 factors and 66 variables ratified using the comparative adjustment indices, the chi-square likelihood ratio, and the mean square error of approximation is introduced, confirming the proposed corporate social responsibility model.
Topics: Social Responsibility; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Commerce
PubMed: 38917095
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296761 -
JMIR Formative Research Jun 2024Large-scale crisis events such as COVID-19 often have secondary impacts on individuals' mental well-being. University students are particularly vulnerable to such...
BACKGROUND
Large-scale crisis events such as COVID-19 often have secondary impacts on individuals' mental well-being. University students are particularly vulnerable to such impacts. Traditional survey-based methods to identify those in need of support do not scale over large populations and they do not provide timely insights. We pursue an alternative approach through social media data and machine learning. Our models aim to complement surveys and provide early, precise, and objective predictions of students disrupted by COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of language on private social media as an indicator of crisis-induced disruption to mental well-being.
METHODS
We modeled 4124 Facebook posts provided by 43 undergraduate students, spanning over 2 years. We extracted temporal trends in the psycholinguistic attributes of their posts and comments. These trends were used as features to predict how COVID-19 disrupted their mental well-being.
RESULTS
The social media-enabled model had an F1-score of 0.79, which was a 39% improvement over a model trained on the self-reported mental state of the participant. The features we used showed promise in predicting other mental states such as anxiety, depression, social, isolation, and suicidal behavior (F1-scores varied between 0.85 and 0.93). We also found that selecting the windows of time 7 months after the COVID-19-induced lockdown presented better results, therefore, paving the way for data minimization.
CONCLUSIONS
We predicted COVID-19-induced disruptions to mental well-being by developing a machine learning model that leveraged language on private social media. The language in these posts described psycholinguistic trends in students' online behavior. These longitudinal trends helped predict mental well-being disruption better than models trained on correlated mental health questionnaires. Our work inspires further research into the potential applications of early, precise, and automatic warnings for individuals concerned about their mental health in times of crisis.
PubMed: 38916951
DOI: 10.2196/52316 -
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance Jun 2024Mental health disparities have been documented among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the United States. Substance use disorders and suicidal ideation have... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Investigating the Interrelationships Among Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicidal Ideation Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the United States: Population-Based Statewide Survey Study.
BACKGROUND
Mental health disparities have been documented among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the United States. Substance use disorders and suicidal ideation have been identified as important health concerns for this population. However, the interrelationships among these factors are not well understood.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the interrelationships among mental health, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation among LGB adults in the United States using a population-based statewide survey.
METHODS
Our study was an observational cross-sectional analysis, and the data for this study were collected from a sample of LGB adults who participated in the statewide survey. The survey collected information on mental health, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation using validated measures. Descriptive statistics and inferential data analysis were conducted to explore the interrelationships among these factors.
RESULTS
The results showed that LGB adults who reported higher levels of depression and drug abuse and dependence also reported higher levels of suicidal tendency and mental illness. Inferential data analysis using χ tests revealed significant differences in depression score (χ=458.241; P<.001), drug abuse and dependence score (χ=226.946; P<.001), suicidal tendency score (χ=67.795; P<.001), and mental illness score (χ=363.722; P<.001) among the 3 sexual identity groups. Inferential data analysis showed significant associations between sexual identity and mental health outcomes, with bisexual individuals reporting the highest levels of depression, drug abuse and dependence, suicidal tendency, and mental illness.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides important insights into the interrelationships among mental health, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation among LGB adults in the United States. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and research aimed at addressing the mental health needs of sexual minority populations. Future research should aim to better understand the underlying mechanisms driving these disparities and develop culturally sensitive and tailored interventions that meet the unique needs of LGB individuals. Reducing stigma and discrimination against sexual minority populations is also crucial to improving their mental health outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Suicidal Ideation; Adult; Substance-Related Disorders; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; United States; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Mental Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Mental Health; Bisexuality; Aged
PubMed: 38916938
DOI: 10.2196/48776 -
SSM. Qualitative Research in Health Jun 2024Biographical disruption describes the process by which illness impacts not just on a person's body and their participation in activities, but also on their sense of...
INTRODUCTION
Biographical disruption describes the process by which illness impacts not just on a person's body and their participation in activities, but also on their sense of self. Biographical disruption is often followed by a process of biographical repair in which identity is reconstructed and a new normality is restored. People with persistent physical symptoms (sometimes referred to as medically unexplained symptoms) experience biographical disruption. This can be complicated by lack of explanation and the implication that if the problem is not medical, then it might be the person/psychological. We aimed to examine this tension in people attending a novel "Symptoms Clinic" for people with persistent physical symptoms.
METHODS
This study reports an embedded qualitative study in a UK based randomised controlled trial. Data were collected by audio recordings of consultations and semi-structured interviews with patients. We used theoretically informed thematic analysis with regular coding and discussion meetings of the analysis team. This analysis explores the role of intervention components in facilitating biographical repair.
RESULTS
The lack of acceptable explanation for persistent symptoms acted as a block to biographical repair. In the clinic, multi-layered explanations were offered and negotiated that viewed persistent symptoms as understandable entities rather than as indicators of something still hidden. These explanations allowed study participants to make sense of their symptoms and in turn opened new opportunities for self-management. The result was that participants were able to reframe their symptoms in a way that enabled them to see themselves differently. Even if symptoms had not yet improved, there was a sense of being better. This can be understood as a process of biographical repair.
CONCLUSION
Explaining persistent physical symptoms enables biographical repair.
PubMed: 38915733
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100438 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024The effects of sex, race, and Apolipoprotein E ( ) - Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors - on white matter integrity are not well characterized. Diffusion MRI data...
INTRODUCTION
The effects of sex, race, and Apolipoprotein E ( ) - Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors - on white matter integrity are not well characterized. Diffusion MRI data from nine well-established longitudinal cohorts of aging were free-water (FW)-corrected and harmonized. This dataset included 4,702 participants (age=73.06 ± 9.75) with 9,671 imaging sessions over time. FW and FW-corrected fractional anisotropy (FA ) were used to assess differences in white matter microstructure by sex, race, and ε4 carrier status. Sex differences in FA in association and projection tracts, racial differences in FA in projection tracts, and ε4 differences in FW limbic and occipital transcallosal tracts were most pronounced. There are prominent differences in white matter microstructure by sex, race, and ε4 carrier status. This work adds to our understanding of disparities in AD. Additional work to understand the etiology of these differences is warranted. Sex, race, and ε4 carrier status relate to white matter microstructural integrity Females generally have lower FA compared to males Non-Hispanic Black adults generally have lower FA than non-Hispanic White adults ε4 carriers tended to have higher FW than non-carriers The authors used PubMed and Google Scholar to review literature that used conventional and free-water (FW)-corrected microstructural metrics to evaluate sex, race, and ε4 differences in white matter microstructure. While studies have previously explored differences by sex and ε4 status, less is known about racial differences and no large-scale FW-corrected analysis has been performed. Sex and race were more associated with FA while ε4 status was associated with FW metrics. Association, projection, limbic, and occipital transcallosal tracts showed the greatest differences. Future studies to determine the biological and social pathways that lead to sex, racial, and ε4 differences are warranted.
CONSENT STATEMENT
All participants provided informed consent in their respective cohort studies.
PubMed: 38915636
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598357 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Higher education students experience significant levels of exhaustion in their studies, yet there are limited evidence-based support programs available. Therefore, this...
INTRODUCTION
Higher education students experience significant levels of exhaustion in their studies, yet there are limited evidence-based support programs available. Therefore, this study evaluated a novel intervention approach by testing the effectiveness of two online interventions based on the study demands-resources framework. These interventions aimed to balance demands and resources. Derived from the theoretical assumptions of the framework, we hypothesized that the interventions would increase study and personal resources, engagement, and study crafting, and decrease study demands, exhaustion, and self-undermining. Additionally, we hypothesized that demands and resources would mediate the effects of the intervention on engagement, exhaustion, study crafting, and self-undermining.
METHODS
Conducted as a randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control group ( = 71), the study involved participants in two intervention groups who engaged with the interventions for 2 weeks. Intervention group 1 ( = 64) focused on adapting demands, while intervention group 2 ( = 70) focused on increasing resources. The design allowed for a comparison of the effectiveness of these different approaches. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the intervention, and at a 5-week follow-up.
RESULTS
Results of the analyses of variance with repeated measures revealed that the interventions had significant positive effects on the personal resource mindfulness, two study crafting strategies, self-undermining, and exhaustion. Notably, intervention group 2 exhibited more positive outcomes. The hypothesized mediation effects through mindfulness were partially supported.
DISCUSSION
The study demonstrates the considerable potential of interventions based on the study demands-resources framework for higher education institutions in supporting student well-being.
PubMed: 38915428
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1368267 -
EJC Paediatric Oncology Jun 2024Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) require specialized follow-up throughout their lifespan to prevent or manage late effects of cancer treatment. Knowing the size and... (Review)
Review
Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) require specialized follow-up throughout their lifespan to prevent or manage late effects of cancer treatment. Knowing the size and structure of the population of CCS is crucial to plan interventions. In this scoping review we reviewed studies that reported prevalence of CCS in Europe. We searched Medline, Web of Science, and Embase using permutations of terms referring to childhood, cancer, survivors, prevalence, registries, and Europe. We followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines to select studies and The Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool to evaluate their quality. From 979 unique studies published between 1989 and 2022, 12 were included. Limited-duration prevalence (LDP) for all childhood cancers, assessed in three studies using counting method, varied between 450 and 1240 persons per million. Complete prevalence (CP) of survivors of any childhood cancer except skin carcinomas, reported in three studies using observed data complemented with modelled data for the unobserved period, varied between 730 and 1110 persons per million. CP of survivors of an embryonal tumour was estimated by completeness index method in six studies. In four of them CP ranged from 48 to 95 persons per million for all embryonal tumours, while CP for those occurring in central nervous system was 43 per million in one study and CP for rhabdomyosarcoma was 17 per million in another. Information on prevalence of CCS in Europe is fragmented and inconsistent. The large variations in LDP and CP estimates were linked to differences in data availability, the selection of populations, prevalence measure, statistical method, incidence period, index date, age at diagnosis and prevalence, cancer types, sex, and, for LDP, also the length of follow-up. Standardisation of methodology and reporting are needed to systematically monitor and compare CCS prevalence in Europe and provide data to help address survivors' needs.
PubMed: 38915419
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcped.2024.100155