Determinants of self-reported chronic disease diagnoses among older persons in South Africa.

BACKGROUND:  Chronic diseases tend to affect the quality of life for older persons worldwide, especially in resource-constrained developing countries. Chronic diseases contribute to a large number of deaths among the population of South Africa. AIM:  This study examines the determinants of self-reported chronic disease diagnoses among older persons in South Africa. SETTING:  The study setting was South Africa. METHODS:  Cross-sectional data from the 2019 South Africa General Household Survey were analysed (n [weighted] = 4 887 334). We fitted a binary logistic regression model to determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and being diagnosed with self-reported chronic diseases. RESULTS:  We found that at least 5 in 10 older persons were diagnosed with self-reported chronic disease. The bivariate findings showed that age, population group, sex, marital status, level of education, disability status, household composition and province were significantly associated with self-reported chronic disease diagnoses. At the multivariate level, we found that age, sex, population group, marital status, educational level, disability status, household wealth status, household composition and province were key predictors of self-reported chronic disease diagnoses. CONCLUSION:  We found that various factors were key determinants of being diagnosed with self-reported chronic diseases. This study offers important insights into the main correlations between older adults and self-reported chronic illness diagnoses. More study is required on the health of the elderly as it will help direct policy discussions and improve the development of health policies about the elderly.Contribution: This study highlights the need for a better understanding of, and continued research into, the determinants health among older populations to guide future healthcare strategies.

Validating interRAI Chinese self-reported carer needs (SCaN) assessment and predicting caregiving distress among informal Chinese caregivers of older adults.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to (1) determine the reliability and validity of the interRAI Chinese Self-reported Carer Needs (SCaN) assessment among informal Chinese caregivers of older adults, (2) identify predictors of caregiving distress in Asian regions with long-standing Confucian values of filial piety and family responsibility. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 531 informal Chinese caregivers of older adults in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Singapore. The scale reliability was examined using Cronbach's alphas (α) and McDonald's omega coefficient (ω). The concurrent validity and discriminant validity were assessed using Spearman rank correlations (rho). To examine the predictors of caregiving distress among informal caregivers of older adults, we employed hierarchical linear regression analyses informed by the Model of Carer Stress and Burden and categorized the predictors into six domains. RESULTS: Results revealed good internal consistency reliability (α = 0.83-0.96) and concurrent validity (rho = 0.45-0.74) of the interRAI Chinese SCaN assessment. Hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that entering the background factors, primary stressors, secondary stressors, appraisal, and exacerbating factors all significantly enhanced the model's predictability, indicating that the source of caregiving distress is multidimensional. In the full model, caregivers with longer informal care time, lack of support from family and friends, have unmet needs, experience role overload, have sleep problems, and low IADL functioning are at a higher risk of caregiving distress. CONCLUSIONS: The interRAI Chinese SCaN Assessment was found to be a reliable and valid tool among the Chinese informal caregivers of older adults. It would be useful for determining family caregivers' strengths, needs, and challenges, and tailoring interventions that address the potentially modifiable factors associated with caregiving distress and maximize support. Healthcare providers working in home and community settings should be aware of the early identification of caregiving distress and routine assessment of their needs and empower them to continue taking care of their needs and providing adequate care to the care recipient.

Reliability and validity of the short version of the childhood abuse self report scale in Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND: The reliability and validity of the current scale for measuring childhood abuse in China are worrying. The development of the Short Version of the Childhood Abuse Self Report Scale (CASRS-12) helps to change this situation, but the effectiveness of the tool has not yet been tested in Chinese participants. This study aims to test the reliability and validity of the CASRS­12 in Chinese college students. METHODS: A total of 932 college students were investigated, of whom 418 were investigated for the first time, and only the CASRS­12 was filled out. In the second survey, 514 participants filled out the CASRS­12, Depression Scale, Self-esteem Scale and Subjective Well-being Scale in turn. After 4 weeks, 109 participants were selected for retest. RESULTS: Each item of the CASRS­12 had good discrimination. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (χ2/df = 4. 18, RMSEA = 0. 079, CFI = 0. 95, TLI = 0. 94, IFI = 0. 95, NFI = 0. 94) all supported the four-factor structure of the scale, and the cumulative contribution rate of variance was 76.05%. Cronbach's α coefficient and retest reliability were 0.86 and 0.65, respectively. Childhood abuse was positively correlated with depression (r = 0. 42, p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r=-0. 33, p < 0.01) and subjective well-being (r=-0. 32, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of CASRS­12 meets the measurement standard and could be used to measure the level of childhood abuse of Chinese college students.

Self-reported suicidal behaviour among people living with disabilities: prevalence and associated factors from a cross-sectional nation-wide survey in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Disability marginalises a large portion of Bangladesh's population. Global pre- and post-pandemic research evidently states that, this group is more prone to develop mental health problems, which increases the risk of self-harm and suicide among them. It is crucial to comprehend and mitigate the mental health challenges among the people with disabilities which in turn can promote their greater participation in community, and in national socioeconomic development. However, currently there is limited information available, regarding the suicidal behaviour of this group in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of suicidal behaviour among people with disabilities. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during September and October 2022, among the participants who had selected disabilities, by using probability proportional to size sampling technique across all eight divisions of Bangladesh. A semi-structured questionnaire comprising information about sociodemographic, lifestyle, health; and Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revision (SBQ-R) was used. The association between the determinants and mental health outcome was investigated using the Chi-square test, and the contributing factors were investigated using the multiple binary logistic regression. RESULT: About 10.45% of the participants reported to have suicidal behaviour (e.g., suicidal ideation, attempts, completed suicide), considering the cut-off score as 7 for the SBQ-R in the study period. Approximately, 40% respondents mentioned suicidal ideation in their lifetime, whereas, 9.01% had suicidal ideation over the past 12 months. Additionally, 8.87% of the person with disabilities, mentioned about their suicidal intent to the family members, and 5.94% reported the likelihood of suicide in the future. Being female, having multiple disabilities, and not being connected with family and friends were found to be significantly associated with suicidal behaviour. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates the significance of treating mental health issues and expanding accessibility to pre-existing services to lessen the impact of the limitations generated by disabilities. Policymakers can utilize this baseline findings to design large scale research and develop measures for suicide prevention, and management for at-risk groups.

Giving a Voice to Patients With Smell Disorders Associated With COVID-19: Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Analysis Using Natural Language Processing of Self-Reports.

BACKGROUND: Smell disorders are commonly reported with COVID-19 infection. The smell-related issues associated with COVID-19 may be prolonged, even after the respiratory symptoms are resolved. These smell dysfunctions can range from anosmia (complete loss of smell) or hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) to parosmia (smells perceived differently) or phantosmia (smells perceived without an odor source being present). Similar to the difficulty that people experience when talking about their smell experiences, patients find it difficult to express or label the symptoms they experience, thereby complicating diagnosis. The complexity of these symptoms can be an additional burden for patients and health care providers and thus needs further investigation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the smell disorder concerns of patients and to provide an overview for each specific smell disorder by using the longitudinal survey conducted in 2020 by the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, an international research group that has been created ad hoc for studying chemosensory dysfunctions. We aimed to extend the existing knowledge on smell disorders related to COVID-19 by analyzing a large data set of self-reported descriptive comments by using methods from natural language processing. METHODS: We included self-reported data on the description of changes in smell provided by 1560 participants at 2 timepoints (second survey completed between 23 and 291 days). Text data from participants who still had smell disorders at the second timepoint (long-haulers) were compared with the text data of those who did not (non-long-haulers). Specifically, 3 aims were pursued in this study. The first aim was to classify smell disorders based on the participants' self-reports. The second aim was to classify the sentiment of each self-report by using a machine learning approach, and the third aim was to find particular food and nonfood keywords that were more salient among long-haulers than those among non-long-haulers. RESULTS: We found that parosmia (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% CI 1.35-2.37; P<.001) as well as hyposmia (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.34-2.26; P<.001) were more frequently reported in long-haulers than in non-long-haulers. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between long-hauler status and sentiment of self-report (P<.001). Finally, we found specific keywords that were more typical for long-haulers than those for non-long-haulers, for example, fire, gas, wine, and vinegar. CONCLUSIONS: Our work shows consistent findings with those of previous studies, which indicate that self-reports, which can easily be extracted online, may offer valuable information to health care and understanding of smell disorders. At the same time, our study on self-reports provides new insights for future studies investigating smell disorders.

FEMaLe: The use of machine learning for early diagnosis of endometriosis based on patient self-reported data-Study protocol of a multicenter trial.

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects up to 190 million women and those assigned female at birth and remains unresolved mainly in terms of etiology and optimal therapy. It is defined by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity and is commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and decreased quality of life. Despite the availability of various screening methods (e.g., biomarkers, genomic analysis, imaging techniques) intended to replace the need for invasive surgery, the time to diagnosis remains in the range of 4 to 11 years. AIMS: This study aims to create a large prospective data bank using the Lucy mobile health application (Lucy app) and analyze patient profiles and structured clinical data. In addition, we will investigate the association of removed or restricted dietary components with quality of life, pain, and central pain sensitization. METHODS: A baseline and a longitudinal questionnaire in the Lucy app collects real-world, self-reported information on symptoms of endometriosis, socio-demographics, mental and physical health, economic factors, nutritional, and other lifestyle factors. 5,000 women with confirmed endometriosis and 5,000 women without diagnosed endometriosis in a control group will be enrolled and followed up for one year. With this information, any connections between recorded symptoms and endometriosis will be analyzed using machine learning. CONCLUSIONS: We aim to develop a phenotypic description of women with endometriosis by linking the collected data with existing registry-based information on endometriosis diagnosis, healthcare utilization, and big data approach. This may help to achieve earlier detection of endometriosis with pelvic pain and significantly reduce the current diagnostic delay. Additionally, we may identify dietary components that worsen the quality of life and pain in women with endometriosis, upon which we can create real-world data-based nutritional recommendations.

Healthy Minds Index: A brief measure of the core dimensions of well-being.

We developed a self-report measure of psychological well-being for teens and adults, the Healthy Minds Index, based on a novel theory that four trainable pillars underlie well-being: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. Ninety-seven items were developed and revised by experts and guided by qualitative testing with teens (n = 32; average age = 16.0 years). After assessing the internal validity and factor structure in teens (n = 1607; average age = 16.7 years) and adults (n = 420; average age = 45.6 years), we reduced the survey to 17 items. We then validated the factor structure, internal and convergent and divergent validity, and retest reliability of the 17-item Healthy Minds Index in two new teen samples (study 1: n = 1492, average age = 15.7 years; study 2: n = 295, average age = 16.1 years), and one adult sample (n = 285; average age = 45.3 years). The Healthy Minds Index demonstrated adequate validity and provided a comprehensive measure of a novel theory of psychological well-being that includes two domains not found in other conceptualizations of this construct-awareness and insight. This measure will be invaluable for primary research on well-being and as a translational tool to assess the impact and efficacy of widely used behavioral training programs on these core dimensions of wellbeing.

The self-reported driving and pedestrian behaviour of adults with developmental coordination disorder.

BACKGROUND: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects movement coordination, but little is known about how the condition impacts the behaviours of car drivers and pedestrians. AIMS: This study examined the self-reported driving and pedestrian behaviours of adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: One hundred and twenty-eight participants (62 adults with DCD vs. 66 TD adults) responded to an online survey asking them about their perceptions of confidence and self-reported driving and pedestrian behaviours in the real-world. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Results suggested that adults with DCD felt less confident and reported more lapses in attention (e.g., forgetting where their car was parked) and errors (e.g., failing to check their mirrors prior to a manoeuvre) when driving compared to typically developed (TD) adults. Adults with DCD also reported feeling less confident and reported less adherence to road traffic laws (e.g., not waiting for a green crossing signal before crossing the road) when walking as pedestrians. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results offer some much-needed insight into the behaviours of those with DCD outside of the laboratory environment and underline the need for research investigating the driving and pedestrian behaviours of individuals with DCD in 'real-world' contexts.

Factors associated with the quality of life of living kidney donors in Korea: A cross-sectional study.

This study investigated the relationship between self-determination, physical health status, and Health related Quality of Life (=HRQoL) among living kidney donors. A descriptive survey was conducted between 2019 and 2020 and included 111 kidney donors. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire on general and donation-related characteristics, self-determination, and HRQoL. The data also included medical records reflecting the physical health status at the time of the survey. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression model. Factors associated with HRQoL were perceived health recovery after donation (ß = 0.42, P < .001), up to 1 year since donation (ß = 0.33, P = .008), more than 1 up to 5 years since donation (ß = 0.52, P < .001), more than 5 up to 10 years since donation (ß = 0.53, P < .001), and competence of self-determination (ß = 0.23, P = .033). The explanatory power of these variables was 43.3%. HRQoL of living kidney donors can be affected by subjective and psychological factors. Therefore, health care providers should help living kidney donors have high self-determination during pre and post donation and concentrate on the subjective and psychological factors as well as objective health status.

Examining the impact of interventions in reducing self-reported engagement in distracted driving: A systematic review.

Despite the implementation of legal countermeasures, distracted driving remains a prevalent concern for road safety. This systematic review (following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines) summarised the literature on the impact of interventions targeting attitudes/intentions towards, and self-reported engagement in, distracted driving. Studies were eligible for this review if they examined self-reported behaviour/attitudes/intentions pertaining to distracted driving at baseline and post-intervention. Databases searched included PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and TRID. The review identified 19 articles/interventions, which were categorised into three intervention types. First, all program-based interventions (n = 6) reduced engagement in distracted driving. However, there were notable limitations to these studies, including a lack of control groups and difficulties implementing this intervention in a real-world setting. Second, active interventions (n = 9) were commonly utilised, yet a number of studies did not find any improvements in outcomes. Finally, four studies used a message-based intervention, with three studies reporting reduced intention and/or engagement in distracted driving. There is opportunity for message-based interventions to be communicated effortlessly online and target high-risk driving populations. However, further research is necessary to address limitations highlighted in the review, including follow-up testing and control groups. Implications are discussed with particular emphasis on areas where further research is needed.

Technology Use Among Older Adults and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: Informal caregivers are called upon to provide substantial care, but more needs to be known about technology use among older adult and caregiver dyads. Objective: This study described technology use among older adults and their caregivers, explored potential correlates of technology use, and highlighted implications for practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among unpaid caregivers of older adults (n=486). Primary outcomes were self-reported technology (devices and functions) use among caregivers and their oldest care recipient. The concordance of technology use among caregivers and care recipients was also examined. Multivariable regression models were conducted separately for caregivers and care recipients. Results: Greater proportions of caregivers used all examined technologies, except for the medication alerts or tracking function, than care recipients. Caregivers used an average of 3.4 devices and 4.2 functions, compared to 1.8 devices and 1.6 functions used by their care recipients. Among caregivers, younger age, higher income, and higher education were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Among care recipients, younger age, not having cognitive dysfunction, and caregiver's technology use were associated with more technology use (P<.05). Conclusions: Understanding technology use patterns and device adoption across diverse caregiver and care recipient populations is increasingly important for enhancing geriatric care. Findings can guide recommendations about appropriate technology interventions and help providers communicate and share information more effectively with patients and their caregivers.

Insomnia symptom prevalence in England: a comparison of cross-sectional self-reported data and primary care records in the UK Biobank.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to use a large dataset to compare self-reported and primary care measures of insomnia symptom prevalence in England and establish whether they identify participants with similar characteristics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with linked electronic health records (EHRs). SETTING: Primary care in England. PARTICIPANTS: 163 748 UK Biobank participants in England (aged 38-71 at baseline) with linked primary care EHRs. OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared the percentage of those self-reporting 'usually' having insomnia symptoms at UK Biobank baseline assessment (2006-2010) to those with a Read code for insomnia symptoms in their primary care records prior to baseline. We stratified prevalence in both groups by sociodemographic, lifestyle, sleep and health characteristics. RESULTS: We found that 29% of the sample self-reported having insomnia symptoms, while only 6% had a Read code for insomnia symptoms in their primary care records. Only 10% of self-reported cases had an insomnia symptom Read code, while 49% of primary care cases self-reported having insomnia symptoms. In both primary care and self-reported data, prevalence of insomnia symptom cases was highest in females, older participants and those with the lowest household incomes. However, while snorers and risk takers were more likely to be a primary care case, they were less likely to self-report insomnia symptoms than non-snorers and non-risk takers. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small proportion of individuals experiencing insomnia symptoms have an insomnia symptom Read code in their primary care record. However, primary care data do provide a clinically meaningful measure of insomnia prevalence. In addition, the sociodemographic characteristics of people attending primary care with insomnia were consistent with those with self-reported insomnia, thus primary care records are a valuable data source for studying risk factors for insomnia. Further studies should replicate our findings in other populations and examine ways to increase discussions about sleep health in primary care.

Exploring workability in an older working population: associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and technostress.

Objective: This observational study investigates workability and its associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality and technostress among an older working population, also shedding light on potential differences between two occupational categories with different work schedules. Methods: Workers aged over 50, employed in different working sectors (banking/finance, chemical and metal-mechanic industry) were administered a self- report questionnaire including Work Ability Index (WAI), cognitive tests (Stroop Color Task, Corsi Blocks, Digit Span), sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI; Insomnia Severity Index-ISI; Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test-FIRST) and technostress scale. Linear regression models evaluated associations among variables, interaction effects investigated potential moderators. Results: A total of 468 aged workers categorized as white (WCWs; N = 289, 62%) or blue collars (BCWs; N = 179, 38%) were enrolled; most BCWs (N = 104; 58%) were night shift workers. WCWs reported higher workability, cognitive functioning, sleep quality and lower technostress (except for invasion and privacy subscales) than BCWs. Associations between cognitive functioning and workability were statistically significant only for BCWs [slopes equal to 0.2 (0.33), 0.8 (0.34), -0.02 (0.001) for Memory Span Corsi, Block Span Digit and Interference Speed respectively]; additionally, sleep quality significantly moderated this association (p = 0.007). Higher levels of technostress were associated with lower workability, and this relationship was stronger for BCWs. Conclusion: The aging of the workforce has important implications for occupational health and safety. Our findings suggest potential interventions and protective measures to promote older workers' wellbeing; blue-collar workers particularly should benefit from tailored intervention to sustain workability and prevent technostress, considering the role of healthy sleep habits promotion.

Could self-reported physical performance help predict individuals at the highest risk of mortality and hospital admission events in clinical practice? Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

AIM: To consider how self-reported physical function measures relate to adverse clinical outcomes measured over 20 years of follow-up in a community-dwelling cohort (aged 59-73 at baseline) as compared with hand grip strength, a well-validated predictor of adverse events. BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has emphasized the significant association of physical activity, physical performance, and muscle strength with hospital admissions in older people. However, physical performance tests require staff availability, training, specialized equipment, and space to perform them, often not feasible or realistic in the context of a busy clinical setting. METHODS: In total, 2997 men and women were analyzed. Baseline predictors were measured grip strength (Jamar dynamometer) and the following self-reported measures: physical activity (Dallosso questionnaire); physical function score (SF-36 Health Survey); and walking speed. Participants were followed up from baseline (1998-2004) until December 2018 using UK Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, which report clinical outcomes using ICD-10 coding. Predictors in relation to the risk of mortality and hospital admission events were examined using Cox regression with and without adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. FINDINGS: The mean age at baseline was 65.7 and 66.6 years among men and women, respectively. Over follow-up, 36% of men and 26% of women died, while 93% of men and 92% of women were admitted to hospital at least once. Physical activity, grip strength, SF-36 physical function, and walking speed were all strongly associated with adverse health outcomes in both sex- and fully adjusted analyses; poorer values for each of the predictors were related to greater risk of mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular-related) and any, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, any fracture, and falls admissions. SF-36 physical function and grip strength were similarly associated with the adverse health outcomes considered.

Occupational inequalities and gender differences: work accidents, Brazil, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution and association of sociodemographic and occupational factors with self-reported work accidents (WA) in a representative sample of the Brazilian population, with emphasis on occupational class, and to examine gender differences in this distribution. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study, using data from the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS), analyzed the responses of a sample of adults aged 18 or over. Factors associated with WA were investigated using binary logistic regression and hierarchical analysis using blocks (sociodemographic and occupational variables). The final model was adjusted by variables from all blocks, adopting a significance level of 5%. The values of odds ratios (OR) and respective confidence intervals were obtained. RESULTS: Among the participants, 2.69% reported having suffered a WA, with a higher prevalence in men (3.37%; 95%CI 2.97-3.82%) than in women (1.86%; 95%CI 1.55-2.23%). The analysis identified that age group, night work, working hours, and exposure to occupational risks were associated with WA, with emphasis on gender differences. The class of manual workers, both qualified (ORwomen = 2.87; 95%CI 1.33-6.21 and ORmen = 2.46; 95%CI 1.37-4.40) and unskilled (ORwomen = 2.55; 95%CI 1.44-4.50 and ORmen = 3.70; 95%CI 1.95-7.03), had a higher chance of WA than the class of managers/professionals. CONCLUSION: Occupational factors contributed significantly to the increase in the probability of WA for men and women, with greater magnitude among those positioned in the lower strata of the occupational structure. The results obtained are clues for working out WA prevention actions.

Australian Headache Epidemiology Data (AHEAD): a pilot study to assess sampling and engagement methodology for a nationwide population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: There are no robust population-based Australian data on prevalence and attributed burden of migraine and medication-overuse headache (MOH) data. In this pilot cross-sectional study, we aimed to capture the participation rate, preferred response method, and acceptability of self-report questionnaires to inform the conduct of a future nationwide migraine/MOH epidemiological study. METHODS: We developed a self-report questionnaire, available in hard-copy and online, including modules from the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire, the Eq. 5D (quality of life), and enquiry into treatment gaps. Study invitations were mailed to 20,000 randomly selected households across Australia's two most populous states. The household member who most recently had a birthday and was aged ≥ 18 years was invited to participate, and could do so by returning a hard-copy questionnaire via reply-paid mail, or by entering responses directly into an online platform. RESULTS: The participation rate was 5.0% (N = 1,000). Participants' median age was 60 years (IQR 44-71 years), and 64.7% (n = 647) were female. Significantly more responses were received from areas with relatively older populations and middle-level socioeconomic status. Hard copy was the more commonly chosen response method (n = 736). Females and younger respondents were significantly more likely to respond online than via hard-copy. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicates that alternative methodology is needed to achieve satisfactory engagement in a future nationwide migraine/MOH epidemiological study, for example through inclusion of migraine screening questions in well-resourced, interview-based national health surveys that are conducted regularly by government agencies. Meanwhile, additional future research directions include defining and addressing treatment gaps to improve migraine awareness, and minimise under-diagnosis and under-treatment.

Motivation for Physical Activity as a Key Determinant of Sedentary Behavior Among Postsecondary Students.

It is known that the transition to adulthood represents a critical period of life when acquiring healthy behaviors can influence lifestyle and health throughout adulthood. Given the importance of the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, identifying influence factors is key to improving healthy behaviors. The objective of this study is to explore the role of postsecondary students' motivation toward physical activity in the association with their screen time and out-of-school physical activity practice. A total of 1522 postsecondary students (90% were aged 17-20 years) recruited from 17 postsecondary institutions completed the self-reported questionnaire during course time. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association between motivation to move including additional predictors of behavior such as intention and tendency to self-activate and self-reported screen time and physical activity controlling for age and sex. Motivation including all 3 motivational variables (interest, utility, competence) was negatively associated with screen time, b = -0.498 (95% CI between -0.635 and -0.361) and positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, b = 133.986, (95% CI between 102.129 and 165.843). Of the 3 motivational variables, interest had the strongest negative association with screen time, b = -0.434 (95% CI between -0.551 and -0.317), and the strongest positive association with physical activity, b = 113.671, (95% CI between 86.396 and 140.946). These findings indicate that the motivation of postsecondary students toward physical activity significantly influences their behaviors, including screen time and physical activity engagement.

Susceptibility to positive versus negative emotional contagion: First evidence on their distinction using a balanced self-report measure.

Susceptibility to emotional contagion is defined as the disposition of how susceptible someone is to catch others' emotions and it has long been studied in research on mental health, well-being, and social interaction. Given that existing self-report measures of susceptibility to emotional contagion have focused almost exclusively on negative emotions, we developed a self-report measure to assess the susceptibility to emotional contagion of both positive and negative emotions (2 scales). In two studies, we examined their factor structure, validity, and reliability using exploratory factor analysis (Study 1, N = 257), confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2, N = 247) and correlations. Our results confirmed the two-factor structure and demonstrated good internal consistencies. Regarding external validity, our scales showed diverging correlational patterns: While susceptibility to negative emotional contagion was linked to mental health problems and negative emotions, susceptibility to positive emotional contagion was linked to interpersonal functioning and prosocial tendencies. In conclusion, our scales appear to be internally/externally valid and a promising tool for future research.

Investigating oral somatosensory perception and oral symptoms of head and neck cancer patients: insights on eating behaviour.

PURPOSE: Sensory alterations and oral manifestations are prevalent among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. While taste and smell alterations have been thoroughly investigated, studies on their oral somatosensory perception remain limited. Building upon our previous publication that primarily focused on objective somatosensory measurements, the present work examined self-reported sensory perception, including somatosensation and oral symptoms, in HNC patients and evaluated their link with eating behaviour. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-reported questionnaires on sensory perception, oral symptoms, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour among HNC patients (n = 30). Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to categorise patients based on their sensory perception. Correlations between oral symptoms score, sensory perception, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour were explored. RESULTS: Two distinct sensory profiles of patients were identified: no alteration (n = 14) and alteration (n = 16) group. The alteration group showed decreased preference towards several sensory modalities, especially the somatosensory. Concerning eating behaviour, more patients in the alteration group agreed to negatively connotated statements (e.g. having food aversion and eating smaller portions), demonstrating greater eating difficulties. In addition, several oral symptoms related to salivary dysfunction were reported. These oral symptoms were correlated with sensory perception, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour. CONCLUSION: This study presented evidence demonstrating that sensory alterations in HNC patients are not limited to taste and smell but cover somatosensory perception and are linked to various aspects of eating. Moreover, patients reported experiencing several oral symptoms. Those with sensory alterations and oral symptoms experienced more eating difficulties.

Hope level and associated factors among older people living with HIV/AIDS: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In China, little is known about the hope level of older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study was to examine the hope level of older PLWHA in China and identify related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Sichuan province in China among older PLWHA. A standardized self-report questionnaire, the Herth Hope Index, was adopted. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors influencing hope level. p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: There were 314 participants with an average age of 64.5 (SD ± 8.7). Most of the participants were males (72.6%), primary school and below (65.9%), rural household registration (58.6%) and married (64.3%). More than half of the older adults had pension insurance, had a monthly income of more than RMB 1,000 and considered themselves to be in good health. About 80% confirmed being diagnosed for more than a year and disclosed their HIV status to family and friends. The majority of the population had low medium social support (79%). More than 80% had moderate and severe HIV stigma. Many older PLWHA had medium and high levels of hope, with an average score of 34.31 (SD ± 4.85). Multiple linear regression showed that having pension insurance (ß = 1.337, p = 0.015), longer diagnosis (ß = 0.497, p = 0.031), better self-reported health (ß = 1.416, p<0.001) and higher levels of social support (ß = 2.222, p < 0.001) were positively associated with higher levels of hope. HIV stigma (ß = -1.265, p < 0.001) was negatively correlated with hope level. Conclusion: The hope level of older PLWHA is good, but there is still room for improvement, and its hope is related to multiple factors. Therefore, the AIDS-related healthcare sector should pay special attention to the hope of older PLWHA, help them to improve their health, provide financial assistance and social aid to those with financial difficulties, and take measures to reduce HIV stigma, improve family support for the older adults, and guide the older adults to adopt a positive approach to life.