Search Results (201)

This narrative review explores the role of artificial light at night (ALAN) as an emerging environmental determinant of liver and metabolic health, with particular emphasis on its contribution to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The objective was to synthesize and critically evaluate experimental and epidemiological evidence linking nocturnal light exposure, circadian disruption, and hepatic metabolic alterations. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases covering the period 1980–2025 using predefined search terms related to ALAN, circadian rhythm disturbance, melatonin suppression, sleep disruption, and MASLD. Relevant experimental studies in animal models and observational studies in humans were included. Evidence indicates that blue-enriched light (~460–480 nm) suppresses melatonin, desynchronizes central and hepatic circadian clocks, and disrupts glucose–lipid metabolism, leading to insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and hepatic steatosis. Chronic ALAN exposure also alters gut microbiota composition and increases intestinal permeability, suggesting a light–gut–liver axis in MASLD pathogenesis. Human epidemiological studies associate higher environmental ALAN exposure with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and poor sleep quality—recognized risk factors for MASLD. Recognizing ALAN as a modifiable environmental exposure highlights the need for public health strategies and clinical guidelines to mitigate its metabolic impact through improved lighting design and sleep hygiene. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to analyze parents’ perceptions regarding adolescents’ screen use, signs of screen dependency, and its impact on sleep among 10- to 16-year-olds in the district of Leiria, Portugal. A descriptive–correlational, cross–sectional study was conducted in April 2024 using an online questionnaire completed by a non-probabilistic accidental sample of 616 parents or legal guardians. Nearly half of the respondents (48.2%) perceived adolescents as dependent on screens, while 68.7% believed that their screen time was excessive. Several behavioural signs consistent with digital dependence were reported. Increased screen use was significantly associated with shorter sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and difficulties initiating sleep. Although many adolescents still achieved the recommended number of hours of sleep, those perceived as screen-dependent were more likely to experience compromised sleep quality and quantity. These findings reinforce the growing concern about adolescents’ digital habits and underscore the importance of implementing targeted health promotion strategies focused on responsible screen use and sleep hygiene among school-aged youth. Full article

Background: Social media addiction is a growing concern among undergraduates, with nursing students particularly vulnerable as their stressful academic and clinical context may promote excessive use, impaired sleep, and higher depression risk. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether sleep disturbance mediates the association between problematic social media use and symptoms of depression among nursing students in Mexico. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional, analytical study using a random sample of 638 nursing students from three Mexican public universities. Between August and December 2024, participants completed validated scales for social media addiction, sleep quality, and depression. Counterfactual causal mediation analysis was performed using logistic regression with robust errors. Results: Sleep disturbance affected 51.7% of students, and 27.5% reported depression. Social media addiction showed a dose–response association with both outcomes. Mediation analysis revealed a total effect on depression (OR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.45–3.30) and an indirect effect via sleep disturbance (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.01–1.38), explaining 31.4% of the effect. Conclusions: Sleep disturbance partially mediates this association. Interventions addressing digital behavior and sleep hygiene may improve mental health in nursing students. Full article

Background and Objectives: Lifestyle and dietary behaviors are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing symptom management and quality of life (QoL) in patients with rheumatic diseases. However, evidence remains limited regarding how specific lifestyle patterns interact with sociodemographic and clinical variables to shape patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between diet, lifestyle behaviors, and self-perceived QoL in a cohort of patients with rheumatic conditions. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 350 adults with rheumatic diseases completed a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic data, rheumatologic diagnosis and treatment, dietary behaviors, lifestyle factors (physical activity, sleep, smoking, alcohol), and QoL assessments (scales 1–10). Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, Chi-square tests, correlation analyses, logistic regression, and linear regression models to identify predictors of QoL. Results: The majority of participants were female (86.9%) and aged between 26 and 55 years. Urban patients were more likely to attribute a positive influence of diet on QoL, while rural participants reported stronger disease burden. Logistic regression showed that adherence to a special diet significantly increased the odds of reporting good QoL. Linear regression identified sleep quality (β = 0.42), perceived dietary influence (β = 0.29), and physical activity (β = 0.18) as independent predictors of QoL (adjusted R² = 0.47, all p < 0.001). Correlation analyses further revealed that disease burden negatively impacted emotional well-being and sleep, while dietary influence correlated positively with QoL. Conclusions: This study highlights the multidimensional role of diet and lifestyle in shaping QoL in patients with rheumatic diseases. Alongside pharmacological treatment, targeted lifestyle interventions focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and sleep hygiene may substantially improve patient outcomes. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these associations and explore causal mechanisms. Full article

Shift workers face a heightened risk of insomnia. Recent research has yielded promising insights, but further progress is necessary to better treat insomnia in this group. The present pilot study evaluates how different characteristics impact sleep in shift workers to develop an innovative therapeutic approach. An online survey was administered to an ad hoc sample of N = 225 (112 shift workers), and correlations were calculated between sleep variables and specific characteristics (e.g., psychological impairment, personality traits, sleep-related behavior, attitudes towards sleep and shift work). Group differences between good/poor sleepers and day/shift work were determined using Mann–Whitney U-tests and Kruskal–Wallis H-tests. Regression was used to identify appropriate predictors. All factors (except perfectionism, chronotype, and importance of sleep) yielded significant results in both correlations and group differences (good/poor sleepers). The two groups of day/shift workers showed only minor differences. Dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, pre-sleep arousal, and depression were identified as predictors of poorer sleep. We conclude that interventions on psychological constraints (anxiety and depression), personality traits (anxiety, concern, emotional instability, and tension), social integration, sleep-related factors (dysfunctional beliefs, especially cognitive pre-sleep-arousal, sleep hygiene) and the attitude toward shiftwork, can replace those on regularity and will build an innovative therapy for shift workers on this basis. Once the newly developed treatment manual is finalized, its efficacy will be assessed through a randomized controlled trial. Full article

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health challenge in Poland and worldwide, associated with serious long-term health consequences. Effective prevention requires family-centered, evidence-based interventions that actively engage both children and their caregivers. This study presents the Finnish Smart Family practice—an evidence-based lifestyle counseling method developed by the Finnish Heart Association—and describes its adaptation and implementation in Poland as part of the EU Health4EUkids project. The study emphasizes the method’s practical utility for professionals working with families of children with obesity. Methods: The Smart Family approach is a structured lifestyle counseling method based on findings from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) that is grounded in health psychology and strength-based counseling principles. Unlike traditional counseling, which focuses mainly on information transfer, Smart Family promotes motivation, families’ active participation, and recognition of their strengths in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and oral hygiene. The method uses practical tools including the Smart Family card, other supporting materials, and dedicated online platforms for both families and healthcare providers. These tools enable families to self-assess their lifestyle, select discussion topics during visits, and set achievable goals while supporting professionals in initiating non-judgmental, collaborative conversations. In Poland, the program was adapted using culturally appropriate materials and professional training, followed by pilot implementation in primary healthcare and educational settings that included pre-implementation planning, practical training sessions, the application of intervention tools, and outcome evaluation. Results: Pilot implementation demonstrated high usability and effectiveness. The approach enabled non-judgmental, supportive engagement with families, facilitated active participation in setting health goals, and promoted sustainable lifestyle changes in nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and other health behaviors. Evaluation highlighted the importance of supporting program objectives at the national level, standardizing child healthcare practices, and engaging media and local authorities to create a supportive ecosystem. Conclusions: The Polish experience confirms that Smart Family is an evidence-based intervention that strengthens professional competence, provides practical tools for family-centered care, and supports the long-term prevention of child-hood obesity and related non-communicable diseases. Its integration into healthcare and educational settings offers a promising strategy for improving public health outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, are increasingly recognized as key determinants of mental health. Disturbances in sleep architecture may exacerbate hormonal dysregulation, contributing to menstrual cycle irregularities and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The study investigate the relationship between insomnia symptoms, menstrual problems, and PMS among nursing students. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey (CAWI) among 72 female graduate nursing students. The questionnaire included questions about menstrual history, the presence of menstrual disorders, PMS symptoms, and lifestyle and body mass index (BMI). Insomnia was assessed using the Polish version of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), taking ≥8 as the cutoff point. Logistic regression analysis with confounding variables was performed. Results: 70% of participants had PMS symptoms, 19.5% had irregular menstrual cycles, and 86.5% reported problems with menstrual bleeding. The mean AIS score was 10.1 (SD = 4.05). Women with insomnia were almost 4 times more likely to experience PMS symptoms (OR = 3.93; 95% CI 1.14–13.59), more than 7 times more likely to experience bleeding problems (OR = 7.56; 95% CI: 1.51–37.97), and each additional AIS score increased the risk of cycle irregularity by 24% (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.50). Conclusions: The findings indicate a significant association between insomnia symptoms, menstrual disturbances, and PMS, underscoring the complex links between sleep, reproductive, and mental health. Preventive interventions, particularly sleep hygiene education, may serve as an effective strategy to support women’s overall health and well-being. Full article

Background: Primary headaches in children and adolescents impose emotional, cognitive, and functional burdens beyond pain. This review synthesizes their psychopathological and neuropsychological dimensions and outlines implications for assessment and care. Methods: We performed a comprehensive review with systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (2015–2025). We included observational/experimental studies and evidence syntheses on 0–18-year-olds with migraine, tension-type, or cluster headache; treatment-only reports were excluded. Results: Across population and clinic samples, primary headaches co-occur with elevated anxiety/depression, frequent ADHD/learning problems, and pervasive sleep disturbances with likely bidirectionality. Interictally, small to moderate neurocognitive differences are most consistent in attention/executive control, processing speed, and verbal memory. Quality of life and school participation are reduced. Standardized tools (e.g., PedMIDAS, PedsQL/KIDSCREEN, SDQ/CBCL, SDSC±actigraphy, NEPSY-II/BRIEF) support multidisciplinary assessment. Conclusions: Care should look beyond pain counts, integrating routine screening of mood, sleep, and cognition; active family involvement; and school–healthcare coordination within stepped-care pathways (education and sleep hygiene for all; targeted CBT for catastrophizing/avoidance) with monitoring that pairs headache frequency with functional outcomes. Full article

Background: Dental caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion are common childhood oral diseases strongly influenced by lifestyle factors, including sleep, exercise, and media use. In Korea, the prevalence of dental caries among elementary school children is approximately 20–25%, periodontal disease 1–2%, and malocclusion 12–18%. Sleep is a key determinant of child health; insufficient sleep is linked to weakened immunity, higher systemic inflammation, and greater susceptibility to cariogenic bacteria, suggesting a potential pathway to poor oral health. This study aimed to analyze the combined effects of sleep duration, exercise frequency, and media use on oral health indicators in Korean elementary school students. Methods: We analyzed Student Health Examination data from the Ministry of Education (2021–2023) for 93,220 children aged 6–12 years. Oral health indicators included dental caries prevalence (DCP), required rate of improved oral hygiene (RRIOH), periodontal disease prevalence (PDP), and malocclusion prevalence (MP). Sleep duration was categorized as short (<8 h) or adequate (≥8 h). Exercise (≥3 times/week) and media use (>2 h/day) were assessed as lifestyle factors. Associations were examined using the Rao-Scott χ² test and logistic regression. Results: Short sleep was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of all oral health indicators, with particularly strong associations for DCP and PDP. Low exercise frequency and excessive media use were also linked to increased DCP and RRIOH. These lifestyle factors were closely interrelated with sleep duration. Conclusions: Short sleep, infrequent exercise, and high media use form a lifestyle pattern associated with poor oral health in children. Improving sleep and lifestyle habits should be emphasized as a preventive strategy in pediatric dentistry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tooth wear (TW) is a prevalent multifactorial condition resulting from chemical erosion and mechanical forces, yet the contributions of risk-group status and salivary factors remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between salivary characteristics and the severity of chemical and mechanical TW in at-risk groups, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep bruxism (SB), eating disorders (EDs) and gambling disorder (GD). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled adults categorized into the four mutually exclusive at-risk groups and an age and sex-matched healthy control group. Demographic information, medical history, oral hygiene, diet, stress, and parafunctional habits were obtained through questionnaires. TW was assessed by a single examiner using TWES 2.0. Maximum bilateral force and salivary pH, flow and buffer capacity was measured. Correlations, multivariate linear regression, and mediation models were used to explore the relationships between the different variables and TW. Results: In total, 147 participants, divided into five groups (34 with GERD, 28 with SB 20 with GD, 20 with ED, and 45 controls) were included. The lowest resting salivary pH was observed in the GERD and ED groups (GERD: 6.63 ± 0.61; ED: 6.62 ± 0.52). The GERD group also exhibited the highest chemical (1.51 ± 0.58) and mechanical (1.08 ± 0.58) TW. Chemical and mechanical wear were strongly correlated, and mechanical wear increased with age. Risk-group status and salivary pH explained 47% of chemical wear, while age and bite force explained 54% of mechanical wear. Conclusions: Chemical TW was strongly linked to risk-group status—particularly GERD/ED—and low salivary pH, while mechanical TW related to age and bite force. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples, employing standardized methodologies and criteria are needed. Full article

Academic performance in adolescence is influenced by both cognitive capacity and physiological factors such as sleepiness. However, the interaction between these dimensions remains understudied. This pilot study examined whether daytime sleepiness moderates the relationship between working memory and academic achievement in a sample of 601 schoolchildren aged 11 to 17 years. Participants completed a digital visuospatial working memory task and self-reported their daytime sleepiness using the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Academic performance was assessed through official grades in Mathematics, Language, and Literature. Regression analyses showed that working memory (total score and average reaction time) and daytime sleepiness were independent predictors of academic performance. These findings support our hypotheses that cognitive and physiological factors each contribute to school success. However, no significant moderation effects were found in the full sample. Subgroup analyses revealed that working memory predicted academic outcomes only among students with normal sleepiness levels, whereas in high-sleepiness students, cognitive predictors lost significance and PDSS scores emerged as the dominant predictor. These results suggest that elevated daytime sleepiness can undermine the positive impact of working memory on academic performance. The findings highlight the importance of assessing both cognitive skills and physiological readiness when evaluating students. They also suggest that sleep-focused interventions may improve learning outcomes, especially during adolescence. Full article

Background/Objective: Video games offer an innovative tool for delivering active aging interventions. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of an enhanced version of a cognitive–behavioral intervention to promote active aging, administered through a video game, on perceived health and healthy lifestyle habits. Methods: A total of 556 participants aged 45 or older (74.3% women, mean age of 60.8 [SD = 8.0]) were randomly assigned to a cognitive–behavioral intervention to promote active aging administered via an interactive, multimedia, online, and serious video game with a complementary smartphone app (CBI-V; n = 279) or to a control group receiving non-specific online information (CG; n = 277). Perceived health (General Health, Body Pain, Physical Functioning, Physical Role, Vitality, Social Functioning, Emotional Role, Mental Health, Physical and Mental Summary Indices); healthy habits, including sleep hygiene behaviors, physical activity, and eating habits; dropouts; adherence to the intervention (completed modules; total playtime; time devoted to cognitive training; number of cognitive task attempts and tasks completed between modules); and satisfaction with the intervention were assessed by independent, blind evaluators via an online platform before and after the intervention. Results: At the post-intervention, the CBI-V group obtained significantly better scores in General Health (p < 0.001), Mental Health (p = 0.015), sleep hygiene (p < 0.001), physical activity (p = 0.024), and eating habits (p = 0.001) than the CG. The effect sizes were small (d = −0.188 to 0.334). Clinically significant changes were higher in the CBI-V group than in the CG in General Health (p = 0.029), Physical Function (p = 0.028), Social Function (p = 0.011), Emotional Role (p = 0.008), Mental Health (p = 0.026), Physical Summary Index (p = 0.010), sleep hygiene (p = 0.020), and eating habits (p = 0.019). Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the intervention, with a mean score of 25.4 (SD = 4.0) out of a maximum of 32 on the intervention satisfaction measure. Conclusions: These findings support the efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral video game intervention in enhancing perceived health and promoting healthy lifestyle habits among people aged 45 and above. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of TMD patients’ adherence to treatment recommendations, given in writing, based on an anonymous survey. Methods: The study material included a group of 80 patients of both sexes, aged 21 to 45 years, who came for prosthetic treatment due to symptoms of TMD at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthodontics, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. Axis I of the DC/TMD was used in the diagnosis of dysfunction. The study used an anonymous questionnaire survey, which asked specific questions regarding the reliability of the implementation of the therapeutic recommendations contained in the written treatment instructions, given to patients at the first diagnostic visit. The questionnaire survey was completed by patients once, at the second visit, which was routinely made after 4 weeks. Results: The analysis showed that the most frequent adherence of respondents was to physiotherapy treatments. The same number of patients (57.5% each) used sleep hygiene, stress management, and maintenance of dental arch dislocation during the day. More than half of the subjects used orthopaedic pillows during sleep and performed daily relaxation exercises. Less than half of the subjects (46.3–47.5%) used hot compresses on the masticatory muscles, took prescribed supplements, controlled the position of the jaw, and used an occlusal splint at the required time. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate a low percentage of adherence to the recommendations made by the doctor. Full article

Background: Student-athletes face the dual challenge of balancing academic and athletic commitments, which may simultaneously promote healthy lifestyle habits while increasing psychosocial and physiological stressors, particularly among female student-athletes. Understanding how these competing demands affect key behavioral (e.g., dietary habits, sleep, and chronotype) and psychological (e.g., body image) factors is essential for supporting their overall well-being. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated body dissatisfaction, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sleep quality, and chronotype in female student-athletes compared to sedentary peers. Methods: Twenty-eight female participants voluntarily participated in the study. Twelve volleyball student-athletes (age 21.6 ± 2.4 years) were assessed during their competitive in-season period, and sixteen non-athlete students with a high sitting time (age 24.0 ± 3.2 years) completed the Mediterranean Diet Adherence questionnaire (PREDIMED), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and Body Image Dimensional Assessment (body dissatisfaction) to assess their overall well-being. Results: Student-athletes showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED: 8.5 ± 1.5 score), although experiencing poorer sleep quality (PSQI: 6.8 ± 3.0 score) compared to non-athlete students with higher sitting times (PREDIMED: 6.7 ± 1.6 score; PSQI: 4.6 ± 2.3 score). Conversely, comparative body dissatisfaction was significantly higher in non-athlete students with a high sitting time (19.4 ± 24.5%) than in student-athletes (5.6 ± 10.5%). No significant differences emerged for chronotype or overall body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: These findings highlight a paradoxical health pattern in female student-athletes who combine healthier eating habits with poorer sleep quality. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive wellness strategies that integrate dietary habits, sleep hygiene, and psychophysiological factors to better support female student-athletes in managing dual-career demands. Full article

Background: The increasing demand for care in hospital settings, often at a high intensity, requires organizing work according to 24 h shifts. Nevertheless, shift work (SW), especially at night, alters the circadian rhythm, negatively affecting the psychophysical health of nurses, compromising their quality of life, and jeopardizing patient safety. Shift-work-related diseases (SWDs) can arise from these disruptions. Methods: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of several types of medical, psychotherapeutic, and educational interventions and strategies on shift-work-related diseases (SWDs). The databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched using the MESH terms “shift work” and “nurses” from January 2015 to March 2025. A total of 43 articles were included in the final analysis. Results: Quantitative findings from the studies showed, for example, improvements in sleep quality scores ranging from 15% to 40% with optimized shift planning, reductions in fatigue scores by 20–35% through strategic napping, and moderate effect sizes for light therapy interventions. Physical activity and relaxation techniques were associated with a 10–25% improvement in subjective well-being indices, while meal timing interventions led to reductions in gastrointestinal symptom prevalence by up to 18%. The selected articles were discussed by dividing them according to the type of intervention applied to shift nurses, namely improvement of shift planning, light and temperature modulation, introduction of napping, supplementation, meal management, psychotherapy, sleep education, physical activity, relaxation techniques and yoga, music therapy, and aromatherapy. This categorization was performed to highlight the range of strategies tested and their relative quantitative impact. Conclusions: There is evidence that SWDs can be mitigated through targeted interventions and strategies. The limitations of the studies examined include small sample sizes, extreme heterogeneity of follow-up, the few numbers of randomized controlled trials, and the prevalence of female or Intensive Care Unit nurses in study samples. Further research should focus on large-scale randomized controlled trials, multicenter longitudinal studies, and the evaluation of the most promising interventions—particularly light therapy, optimized shift scheduling, and structured napping protocols—to assess their long-term efficacy and generalizability. Full article