Search Results (23)

Background: Chronic pain affects one in five youth globally and is frequently accompanied by mental health challenges that extend into adulthood. Caregivers play a vital role in supporting youth with chronic pain, yet their own mental and physical health needs are often overlooked. While caregiver well-being is linked to child outcomes, few interventions directly address caregivers’ health, especially among those facing systemic barriers. This study explored the lived experiences of caregivers to better understand their unmet needs and inform the co-design of a supportive digital health solution. Methods: We conducted a qualitative exploratory study involving 32 caregivers of youth with chronic pain across Canada and Australia. Semi-structured interviews were co-facilitated by caregiver partners. Thematic analysis was applied to interview data. Results: Two overarching themes were identified: (1) bearing the weight and sacrifice of caregiving and (2) deep interrelatedness and blurred boundaries. Caregivers reported profound emotional, physical, and financial burdens; strained relationships; and social isolation. Many struggled with self-neglect, prioritizing their child’s needs over their own. Fathers’ evolving caregiving roles challenged traditional gender norms, though mothers continued to bear a disproportionate load. Despite challenges, caregivers demonstrated resilience and recognized their well-being as interconnected with their child’s health. Conclusions: Findings underscore the need for systemic investment in caregiver well-being. Digital health solutions, including virtual peer networks, mental health resources, and tailored education, offer scalable, accessible pathways for support. These insights will inform the development of Power over Pain for Primary Caregivers, a digital solution and knowledge hub aimed at improving caregiver well-being and family outcomes, aligning with global efforts to enhance family-centred pediatric pain care. Full article

Despite increasing interest in workplace mental health, limited attention has been paid to the role of industry-based intermediary organisations in delivering mental health support. This scoping review addresses this gap by examining the mental health-related activities of industry intermediaries in Australia. A systematic search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature from 2010 to 2023, supported by expert consultation and conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, identified 35 relevant records. Interventions were categorised using the WHO Guidelines on Mental Health at Work and evaluation activities coded according to the Conceptual Framework for Implementation Research. Organisational-level interventions were the most common (54%), followed by individual psychosocial support for distressed workers (40%). Mental health-specific intermediaries offered more WHO-recommended interventions and were more likely to evaluate their programs. Although evaluations suggested improvements in mental health literacy and high program acceptability, evidence of impact on worker health and organisational outcomes was limited. The findings suggest that intermediary organisations—including unions, business associations, and professional bodies—are well positioned to support tailored mental health strategies. However, the current lack of robust evaluations limits the understanding of their effectiveness. Future efforts should prioritise industry–research collaborations to strengthen the evidence base and inform sustainable investment in workplace mental health initiatives. Full article

Background: This study compares the cost-utility, visual acuity, and humanistic outcomes of phacoemulsification surgery performed during international outreach campaigns to outcomes in the U.S. Objective: Humanitarian organizations frequently perform cataract surgeries in underserved regions, yet the outcomes of phacoemulsification in these settings remain unexplored. This study aims to compare the visual acuity outcomes, quality-of-life outcomes, and cost of phacoemulsification surgery during international outreach campaigns with those in the U.S. Methods: This retrospective review analyzed 344 cases from Women for World Health (W4WH) missions and 305 consecutive cases from the academic practice of the lead surgeon of W4WH in the US. The pre-operative (pre-op) visual acuity, post-operative (post-op) visual acuity at day 1, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at post-op month 1 were compared to baseline. The change in visual acuity was compared between the two groups. Complication rates, cost per case, and quality-of-life measures were evaluated for the mission group compared to cataract surgery outcomes in the developed world. Results: The mission cohort had worse baseline visual acuity than the U.S. cohort (1.36 logMAR vs. 0.50 logMAR, p < 0.0001) and showed greater mean improvement (1.24 logMAR vs. 0.35 logMAR, p < 0.0001). Both cohorts achieved similar BCVA at post-op month 1 (0.13 logMAR). The cost for the mission group was USD 276 per surgery. A total of 93.94% of patients in the mission group achieved a BCVA of 20/40 or better, which is comparable to the U.S. outcomes. Conclusions: The dramatic impact, immediacy, and enduring effect of cataract surgery using phacoemusification on quality of life, mental health, and economic return on investment make it the ideal procedure for humanitarian settings. Considering all of the available metrics, our data support the continued expansion of humanitarian efforts by cataract surgery organizations worldwide. Full article

Research has advocated for the use of incorrect worked examples targeting specific conceptual barriers to enhance learning. From the perspective of cognitive load theory, we examined the relationship between instructional efficiency (correct and incorrect worked examples [CICWEs] vs. worked examples [WEs] vs. problem-solving [PS]), levels of expertise (low vs. high), and belief in achievement best (realistic vs. optimal) in learning linear equations across two experiments (N = 43 vs. N = 68). In the CICWE group, students compared an incorrect step in the incorrect worked example with the parallel correct step in the correct worked example and justified why the step was wrong. The WE group completed multiple worked example–equation pairs, while the PS group solved equivalent linear equations independently. As hypothesized, the WE group outperformed the PS group for low prior knowledge students, while the reverse occurred for high prior knowledge students, demonstrating the expertise reversal effect. In contrast, the CICWE group did not outperform either the PS or WE group. A student’s indication of optimal best, reflecting what is known as the ‘realistic–optimal achievement bests dichotomy’, aligns with his or her belief in their ability to perform tasks of varying complexity (simple task vs. complex task). Regarding the belief in achieving optimal best as an outcome of instructional manipulation, for low prior knowledge students, there were no significant differences across groups on either the realistic best or optimal best subscales. However, for high prior knowledge students, the groups differed significantly on the optimal best subscale, but not on the realistic best subscale. Importantly, the mental effort invested during learning was unrelated to students’ belief in achieving their optimal best. Full article

Background/Objectives: The use of scientific evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders is crucial for achieving optimal clinical outcomes and providing high-quality care. This study investigates the knowledge, sources of evidence, and attitudes of Brazilian clinical psychologists regarding evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) and discusses barriers to its implementation. Methods: A total of 696 Brazilian clinical psychologists participated in an online questionnaire designed to assess their understanding of EBPP, their familiarity with scientific platforms/databases, and their professional development investments. Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted, which can be used to identify subgroups of psychologists with similar patterns of professional and training characteristics. Results: The results indicate that while psychologists recognized the importance of EBPP for effective patient care, there was a significant gap in understanding its fundamental principles and concepts. Many participants reported the limited use of scientific databases, missing opportunities to access the latest research advancements. A lower percentage of psychologists consistently implemented EBPP in their clinical practice, highlighting a gap between knowledge and application. Four latent classes emerged from the LCA: I—experienced/established professional psychologist; II—academic psychologist; III—supervised traditional psychologist; and IV—young professional psychologist. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the need for better integration of EBPP into psychology curricula and continuing education programs. Enhancing clinical psychologists’ understanding and proficiency in EBPP can promote evidence-based decision-making and improve the quality of mental health care in Brazil. Efforts should be made to familiarize psychologists with reliable scientific databases, equip them with skills to critically appraise research, and foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development. Additionally, it is essential to develop strategies tailored to the distinct profiles of professionals identified in this study, considering their training sources, reference usage, and knowledge of EBPP. Full article

Including motivational variables such as interest in the cognitive load framework is an ongoing process. Of particular interest is the question of how motivational variables influence the investment of mental effort. In this study, we investigated how topic interest affects the investment of mental effort in simple tasks. A total of 1543 students’ judgments regarding invested mental effort, perceived task difficulty, and topic interest for 32 tasks of a chemistry test were analyzed at the task level based on item response theory parameters. Additionally, objective task difficulty was calculated. The Rasch parameters were used for correlation and moderated regression analyses. The results indicated that when perceived task difficulty was low, students invested more mental effort in solving tasks of low topic interest compared to tasks of high topic interest. With increasing perceived task difficulty, the amount of invested mental effort rose for tasks of low as well as high topic interest. However, the difference between tasks of low and high topic interest in the amount of invested mental effort decreased as perceived task difficulty increased and even vanished when perceived task difficulty roughly corresponded to students’ performance capability. These results are in line with flow theory and the expectancy-value-cost model of motivation. When solving tasks that match their performance capability, students can experience a flow situation. However, when solving rather easy tasks of low interest, students can experience motivational costs in terms of additional effort, such as an increased need for motivational self-regulation. The results of this study provide a basis for systematically investigating and better understanding the relationship between interest, task difficulty, invested mental effort, flow experience, and emotional costs. Full article

Background: Prenatal attachment refers to the affective investment that parents develop towards their unborn baby during pregnancy. Studies have identified depressive symptoms, affect dysregulation, and poor marital adjustment as potential risk factors for poor prenatal attachment. However, no research has concurrently examined these factors. This study aims to explore the simultaneous impact of depressive symptomatology, alexithymia, and couple functioning on prenatal attachment to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping the emotional bond between expectant mothers and their fetuses. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 344 women (mean age = 34.1, SD = 4.6) in their last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the National Health System. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Results: Regression analyses indicated that perinatal depression and alexithymia negatively affected the Quality of Prenatal Attachment, while Dyadic Cohesion served as a protective factor. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for early identification of perinatal depression and alexithymia, along with targeted interventions aimed at supporting Dyadic Cohesion during pregnancy. These efforts are crucial for fostering positive prenatal attachment and enhancing maternal mental health. Full article

The growing interest in consumer behavior in the digital environment is leading scholars and companies to focus on consumer behavior and choices on digital platforms, such as the metaverse. On this immersive digital shopping platform, consumer neuroscience provides an optimal opportunity to explore consumers’ emotions and cognitions. In this study, neuroscience techniques (EEG, SC, BVP) were used to compare emotional and cognitive aspects of shopping between metaverse and traditional e-commerce platforms. Participants were asked to purchase the same product once on a metaverse platform (Second Life, SL) and once via an e-commerce website (EC). After each task, questionnaires were administered to measure perceived enjoyment, informativeness, ease of use, cognitive effort, and flow. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine differences between SL and EC at the neurophysiological and self-report levels, as well as between different stages of the purchase process. The results show that SL elicits greater cognitive engagement than EC, but it is also more mentally demanding, with a higher workload and more memorization, and fails to elicit a strong positive emotional response, leading to a poorer shopping experience. These findings provide insights not only for digital-related consumer research but also for companies to improve their metaverse shopping experience. Before investing in the platform or creating a digital retail space, companies should thoroughly analyze it, focusing on how to enhance users’ cognition and emotions, ultimately promoting a better consumer experience. Despite its limitations, this pilot study sheds light on the emotional and cognitive aspects of metaverse shopping and suggests potential for further research with a consumer neuroscience approach in the metaverse field. Full article

China has been successful in getting her people to live longer. But, merely adding years to life and not life to years poses immense socio-economic challenges. However, not much is known about the effects of government policy and program interventions on changes in how well the elderly live over the years. Accordingly, we cross-temporally meta-analyzed 45 research reports (N = 36,352) that utilized the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scale (SF-36) from 2000 to 2020. We found that: (1) the bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental health of the elderly deteriorated over time; however, their physical and emotional roles, as well as their social functioning, improved with time; (2) the rising dependency ratio impoverished the HRQoL of the elderly; (3) the HRQoL indicators of the elderly revealed positive gains under the home-based care model whilst they showed a downward trend under the institutional pension model; (4) the HRQoL indicators of the elderly in economically developed areas produced mixed results; but, they all worsened over the years in economically underdeveloped areas. Thus, more investment efforts from the government and private entities are needed to reduce the dependency ratio and to improve the lives of the elderly under institutional care and/or in economically underdeveloped areas. Full article

Limited efforts have been invested in exploring the interaction effects between genetic factors and gut microbiota on neuroticism and general happiness. The polygenic risk scores (PRS) of gut microbiota were calculated from individual-level genotype data of the UK Biobank cohort. Linear regression models were then used to assess the associations between individual PRS of gut microbiota and mental traits and interaction analysis was performed by PLINK2.0. KOBAS-i was used to conduct gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the identified genes. We observed suggestive significant associations between neuroticism and PRS for the genus Bifidobacterium (rank-normal transformation, RNT) (beta = −1.10, P = 4.16 × 10⁻³) and the genus Desulfovibrio (RNT) (beta = 0.54, P = 7.46 × 10⁻³). PRS for the genus Bifidobacterium (hurdle binary, HB) (beta = 1.99, P = 5.24 × 10⁻³) and the genus Clostridium (RNT) (beta = 1.26, P = 9.27 × 10⁻³) were found to be suggestive positively associated with general happiness. Interaction analysis identified several significant genes that interacted with gut microbiota, such as RORA (rs575949009, beta = −45.00, P = 1.82 × 10⁻⁹) for neuroticism and ASTN2 (rs36005728, beta = 19.15, P = 3.37 × 10⁻⁸) for general happiness. Our study results support the genetic effects of gut microbiota on the development of neuroticism and general happiness. Full article

Initiatives by numerous American associations and various European projects constantly remind of the importance of linking science, technology, engineering and mathematics into a holistic approach to teaching and learning, known as the STEM approach. Comprehensive STEM education research mostly focuses on the effects of this approach on students’ performance and their attitudes towards the approach, whereas a significantly smaller number of studies have examined the instructional efficiency of the STEM approach in science teaching by assessing students’ performance, the mental effort invested in solving tasks and their involvement in STEM classes. With the intention to address the mentioned gap, the aim of this study is to determine the instructional efficiency of and students’ involvement in the STEM approach in biology teaching in primary school, compared to the non-STEM approach. The study employed quantitative research methodology and a true experimental design using pretest-posttest experimental and control groups. The results show that the STEM approach in biology teaching increases students’ performance and involvement and also contributes to the reduction of students’ mental effort. Based on the research results, we conclude that biology teachers should apply the STEM approach in presenting scientific concepts, as this contributes both to the quality of the acquired knowledge and its maintenance. Full article

The European Union (EU) adopts the One Health (OH) approach, based on the relationships between human, animal, and environmental health. OH concerns a multitude of aspects, some of which are discussed here. OH overlaps the European Green Deal plan and its relaunched Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims at spreading organic farms adopting the circular economy, in order to improve human health through both better environmental conditions and healthier food. Nevertheless, zoonoses cause sanitary cost in terms of infected farm personnel, lower productivity, and lower fertility of infected farm animals. In such scenarios, the decreased breeding yield and the lower income induce higher cost of farm products, meaning that the market price rises, becoming uncompetitive when compared to the prices of industrial products. Consequently, lower revenues can hinder the farm growth expected in the framework of the EU Green Deal. Since zoonosis control is a key element in aligning EU policies aimed at achieving the EU Green Deal goal of “ZERO environmental impact” by 2050, the authors suggest the inclusion of the parameter economic health in the OH approach, in order to individuate EU Member States (MSs) economically unable to conduct eradication programmes and to finance them. Economic health is here considered as a starting point of the new ethical and science-based One Health Financial Model that the authors suggest as an in-embryo model, in which specific rules should regulate public funds, private investments, and trading, which should exclusively concern public services and private enterprises complying with most of the OH parameters. In this way, economic losses due to collateral negative effects deriving from human activities can be progressively decreased, and the entire planet will benefit from the process. Despite the considerable efforts being carried out in the context of the OH approach, war causes tragic and devastating effects on the physical and mental health of human beings, on their lives, on pandemic and zoonotic threats, on animals, on plants and, last but not least, on the environment. War is incompatible with OH. Enormous efforts for peace are therefore urgently needed. Full article

This paper presents two experiments examining the influences of media-specific appraisal and attribution on multimedia learning. The first experiment compares four different versions of learning material (text, text with images, animation with text, and animation with audio). Results reveal that the attributed type of appraisal, (i.e., the subjective impression of whether a medium is easy or difficult to learn with) impacts invested mental effort and learning outcomes. Though there was no evidence for the modality effect in the first experiment, we were able to identify it in a second study. We were also able to replicate appraisal and attribution findings from study 1 in study 2: if media appraisal leads to the result that learning with a specific medium is difficult, more mental effort will be invested in information processing. Consequently, learning outcomes are better, and learners are more likely to attribute knowledge acquisition to their own abilities. Outcomes also indicate that the modality effect can be explained by avoidance of split-attention rather than modality-specific information processing in working memory. Full article

Background: Kombucha is an increasingly consumed product classified as a nutraceutical. Legislative efforts about these products remain confusing and without global harmonization. This natural product has been developed to improve or promote physical and mental health. However, it needs regulatory guidelines to control the production and guarantee the product’s efficacy and safety. Aim: The study intends to draw attention to the need for regulatory guidelines and the potential of this product in the market and peoples’ health. Key findings and conclusions: The lack of regulation and the low level of literacy about this product can limit its development, marketing, and impact on health. Thus, it is essential to highlight the potential value of this product and invest in its development and marketing. Likewise, it is important to spread awareness among the population of these products and their impacts on people’s health. Thus, this study focuses on a pertinent theme and alerts to the need for legislation for these products, to draw attention to the inexistent legislative control and the consequent need for regulatory guidelines for better and safer production and consumption. Full article

Countries around the world have tightened their border controls in response to the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, seafarers are prohibited from boarding or leaving ships at most ports, with few exceptions. This situation means that seafarers are highly likely to serve onboard vessels beyond their contracted shifts. Most seafarers are prone to depression because they have to spend long periods at sea away from family and friends, and, thus, banning crew changes will put their mental health further at risk. This will increase the likelihood of maritime accidents, thus jeopardizing global supply chains and ultimately exacerbating current hardships. To tackle this emergency, the International Maritime Organization and the European Commission have called on governments to coordinate efforts to designate ports for crew changes during the pandemic. This study aims to solve the crew change problem by using an integer linear programming model. In the sensitivity analysis section, we find that the number of opening ports for crew changes and the cost of crew changes decrease when the cost of opening ports increases. The results show governments will not invest in opening more ports when the cost of opening ports increases. However, the penalty increases when the number of open ports decreases, and the cost of opening ports increases. As the number of crew changes is decreasing, this leads to the penalty increasing, when the number of open ports decreases. Full article