Search Results (97)

Selective Mutism (SM) is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by the persistent inability to speak in specific social settings while being able to speak freely in more comfortable environments, such as at home with family. This condition often leads to significant impairments in social, academic, and occupational functions. This article presents a novel treatment methodology that integrates the physiology of vocal production with pragmatic language instruction through teletherapy, administered to two adolescents diagnosed with selective mutism (SM). The frequency of speaking on the Selective Mutism Questionnaire increased from 35% to 86% and from 25% to 55% for the two children. Pragmatic language skills on the Social Communication Skills: Pragmatics Checklist improved from 47% to 96% and 13% to 40% after treatment. It is crucial to emphasize vocal control for speech initiation and pragmatic language for verbal expression. Detailed strategies, specific activities, and treatment outcomes are provided. Full article

Social media applications (SMAs) stand at the forefront of emerging technologies in language education due to their transformative potential to enhance English speaking skills. Unlike traditional tools, SMAs leverage features like real-time communication, multimedia integration, and global connectivity, fostering authentic, meaningful interactions in socially engaging environments. Although learning management systems (LMSs) such as Brightspace have been predominantly used to conduct English language learning activities, including peer feedback, SMAs like Facebook offer unique affordances that may further promote student engagement and confidence. Developing public speaking skills is critical for effective communication in English language education; however, many students struggle with self-efficacy, speaking anxiety, and providing meaningful feedback to peers. Given the potential benefits of SMAs, this study explored their comparative impact on three dimensions of English language learning: English public speaking self-efficacy, peer feedback self-efficacy, and English speaking performance. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with undergraduate students (n = 15) at a large Midwestern university in the United States. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare outcomes between the Facebook and Brightspace groups. The results revealed that both SMAs and LMSs were equally effective platforms for peer feedback activities, with no significant differences found between groups across the three targeted areas of learning. Full article

Although professionals who work with children and adolescents are well aware of psychological symptom presentations once children and adolescents are in school, such symptom presentations in very young children are less understood. Diagnoses like selective mutism may promote further complications for professionals, as the symptom presentation of anxiety and failure to speak in this diagnosis may overlap with the acquisition of speech and language milestones and problems in very young children. Thus, providing professionals who work with very young children a way to adapt their thinking about selective mutism symptom presentations and interventions is of utmost importance. As a result, this clinically oriented paper will compare DSM-5-TR criteria to DC:0-5 criteria, consider the occurrence of selective mutism symptoms in the context of young children’s speech and language milestones and problems, and reflect upon how intervention adaptations meant to incorporate parents into treatment and account for the capacities of very young children can be helpful in facilitating successful outcomes. It is hoped that having this constellation of clinical information in one place will help providers gain clarity regarding selective mutism symptom presentation and relevant intervention considerations for very young children. Full article

This study validates a Spanish-language instrument designed to assess self-efficacy, digital competence, and anxiety in data-driven decision-making (DDDM) among pre-service teachers. Based on the 3D-MEA and the Beliefs about Basic ICT Competencies scale, the instrument was culturally adapted for Chile and Spain. A sample of 512 participants underwent exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Given the ordinal nature of the data and the assumption of non-normality, appropriate estimation methods were utilized. Results supported a well-defined four-factor structure: Interpretation and Application, Technology, Identification, and Anxiety. Factor loadings ranged from 0.678 to 0.869, and internal consistency was strong (α = 0.802–0.888). The CFA confirmed good model fit (χ² (129) = 189.25, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.985; TLI = 0.981; RMSEA = 0.041; SRMR = 0.061). Measurement invariance was established across gender and nationality, reinforcing the validity of cross-group comparisons. The study is framed within an educational context aligned with socioformative principles and sustainable education goals, which support reflective and ethical data use. This validated tool addresses the lack of culturally adapted and psychometrically validated instruments for assessing DDDM competencies in Spanish-speaking contexts, offering a culturally and linguistically relevant instrument with strong internal consistency and a well-supported factor structure. It supports the design of formative strategies in teacher education, enabling the identification of training needs and promoting evidence-based pedagogical decision-making in diverse Hispanic contexts. Future studies should test factorial invariance across additional contexts and explore longitudinal applications. Full article

Introduction: This study examines the combined use of objective physiological measures (heart rate [HR], heart rate variability [HRV]) and subjective self-reports to gain a comprehensive understanding of anxiety reduction mechanisms—specifically, habituation—in the context of Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) for public speaking anxiety (PSA). The present study evaluated whether a single-session, personalized VRE intervention could effectively reduce PSA. Methods: A total of 39 university students (mean age = 20.97, SD = 3.05) with clinically significant PSA were randomly assigned to a VRE group or a control group. Participants completed a 2 min speech task before and after the intervention and reported subjective distress (Subjective Units of Distress, SUDs), public speaking confidence (Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker, PRCS), and willingness to speak in public. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV; RMSSD) were recorded at baseline and during speech tasks. The VRE protocol used personalized, hierarchical exposure to virtual audiences, with repeated trials until a criterion reduction in SUDs was achieved. Non-parametric analyses assessed group and time effects. Results: VRE participants showed significant reductions in subjective distress (p < 0.001) and HR (p < 0.001), with HR returning to baseline post-intervention. No such reductions were observed in the control group. Willingness to speak improved significantly only in the VRE group (p = 0.001). HRV did not differ significantly across time or groups. Conclusions: A single, personalized VRE session can produce measurable reductions in PSA, particularly in subjective distress and autonomic arousal, supporting habituation as a primary mechanism of change, even after one session. The lack of HRV change suggests that emotion regulation may require more prolonged interventions. These findings support VRE’s potential as an efficient and scalable treatment option for PSA. Full article

Public speaking anxiety, which is closely related to social anxiety, is a crucial factor in the development of adolescents. It affects their ability to regulate their emotions and irrational beliefs, which in turn shapes their relationships and academic success. The purpose of this present study is two-fold: (a) to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool for public speaking anxiety for adolescents, and (b) to determine the mediating role of dysfunctional emotion regulation on the effect of irrational beliefs on public speaking anxiety. To achieve this, data were collected through face-to-face interviews from a total of 1231 adolescent students, including 642 girls (age, $\overline{X}$ = 14.96) and 589 boys ($\overline{X}$ = 14.99), aged between 12 and 17 years old in five stages. Data collection was based on the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) (developed in the current study), the Irrational Beliefs Scale (IBS), the Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire (REQ) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). Data were analysed through SPSS, AMOS, JAMOVI, G-POWER and Microsoft Excel programmes. This study concludes that the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) has demonstrated both valid and reliable psychometric properties. The findings of this study further reveal that internal dysfunctional emotion regulation plays a partial mediating role in the effect of irrational beliefs on public speaking anxiety, and that external dysfunctional emotion regulation, on the contrary, did not have a mediating role in the effect of irrational beliefs on public speaking anxiety. Full article

This study explores the effects of interacting with AI vs. human interlocutors on English language learners’ speaking performance in a game-based learning context. We developed Taboo Talks, a word-guessing game in which learners alternated between giving and guessing clues with either an AI or a human partner. To evaluate the impact of interaction mode on oral proficiency, participants completed a story retelling task, assessed using complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) metrics. Each participant engaged in both partner conditions, with group order counterbalanced. The results from the retelling task indicated modest improvements in fluency and complexity, particularly following interaction with the AI partner. Accuracy scores remained largely stable across conditions. Post-task reflections revealed that learners perceived AI partners as less intimidating, facilitating more relaxed language production, though concerns were noted regarding limited responsiveness. Qualitative analysis of the gameplay transcripts further revealed contrasting interactional patterns: AI partners elicited more structured interactions whereas human partners prompted more spontaneous and variable interactions. These findings suggest that AI-mediated gameplay can enhance specific dimensions of spoken language development and may serve as a complementary resource alongside human interaction. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Dental Neglect Scale (DNS) is known and used to evaluate and assess adult behaviors and attitudes related to oral self-care and oral-health. In English-speaking countries, the DNS has been used in many studies. At the moment, there is no validated version of the DNS that is available in the German language. The aim of this study is to validate a German version of the DNS to evaluate and assess the oral health and behavior among the German population. Methods: The study population consisted of N = 311 German adults (180 female, 130 male, 1 diverse) aged from 18 to 90 years from a dental clinic in Germany. The participants answered a questionnaire. In addition to questions on their socio-demographic background and the DNS, the survey included more standardized instruments relating to preventive behavior, dental anxiety, and oral health. Results: The DNS was translated into German. An explanatory factor analysis was conducted, which supported the unifactorial structure of the scale. The following results were obtained for the reliability of the resulting DNS: Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.710, McDonald’s Omega = 0.711, and Mean = 25.63 (SD = 4.02, Range 12–30). Convergent and divergent validity were demonstrated through associations between the DNS and various oral health scales, and by differences between genders and age groups. Conclusions: This study confirms the quality of the criteria of the DNS for German adults. The DNS is a convincing instrument that is used for epidemiological studies in the field of dentistry and psychology. Further validation with other samples should be conducted. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common movement disorder affecting adults. People diagnosed with PD can have a multitude of physical (motor) symptoms, including tremors, and rigidness, and psychological (non-motor) symptoms, including anxiety and depression. These symptoms dramatically affect daily living activities, including dressing oneself, preparing meals, and speaking and writing. Background/Objectives: To determine the symptom similarities and differences among PD patients, a method referred to as cluster analysis can be applied to patient data. This method can separate patients who differ by symptom presence while grouping patients with disease similarities. Previous PD cluster analysis studies provided patient groups that were defined by their age and disease duration—both numerical values—and excluded categorical values, such as patient gender, family history of the disease, and symptom presence. In addition, patient age and disease duration were limited in range in previous studies, providing a patient group that was too similar to divide into distinct clusters. Methods: This study utilized a decision tree cluster analysis method applied to categorical symptom data from PD patients. The applied cluster method automatically determines the number of clusters, reducing estimation errors, as many cluster analysis methods require the end user to estimate the number of clusters prior to applying cluster analysis. A post analysis of additional categorical and numerical variables was conducted, and this provided a means to describe the PD patient clusters in terms of gender, family history of PD, median age, disease duration, and symptom presence. The patient dataset utilized was accessed from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) website. Results and Conclusions: The cluster analysis results provided a means to describe seven PD patient subtypes based on motor symptom presence, with the largest PD patient cluster containing half of the patient sample, and these individuals had three of the motor symptoms present: bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremors. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to translate and validate the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire-2 for Italian-speaking patients (I-GTQ2). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 participants. The translation process adhered to international standards. Patients completed the I-GTQ2 along with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate construct validity. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency and test–retest reliability (ICC). Known-group validity was also analyzed. Results: The I-GTQ2 showed high reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.61 to 0.94 and ICC between 0.79 and 0.96. Known-group comparisons confirmed discriminative validity, with significant differences between patients with and without trismus in jaw-related problems (p = 0.005, d = 0.575) and large differences between patients and controls in most domains (p < 0.001, d > 0.65) except for muscular tension. Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations between GTQ-2 domains and EORTC QLQ-C30 (e.g., r = −0.54 for facial pain and global health status; r = 0.64 for jaw-related problems and pain) as well as moderate correlations with HADS anxiety (r = 0.39–0.52) and depression (r = 0.37–0.46). Conclusions: The I-GTQ2 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the impact of trismus on the quality of life in Italian-speaking patients, and it is recommended for clinical and research use. Future studies should investigate its relationship with objective trismus measurements. Full article

Mental health disorders represent a substantial global health concern, impacting millions and placing a significant burden on public health systems. Natural Language Processing (NLP) has emerged as a promising tool for analyzing large textual datasets to identify and predict mental health challenges. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the Arabic NLP techniques employed in mental health research, the specific mental health conditions addressed, and the effectiveness of these techniques in detecting and predicting such conditions. This scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) framework. Studies were included if they focused on the application of NLP techniques, addressed mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation) within Arabic text data, were published in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings, and were written in English or Arabic. The relevant literature was identified through a systematic search of four databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. The results of the included studies revealed a variety of NLP techniques used to address specific mental health issues among Arabic-speaking populations. Commonly utilized techniques included Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and advanced transformer-based models such as AraBERT and MARBERT. The studies predominantly focused on detecting and predicting symptoms of depression and suicidality from Arabic social media data. The effectiveness of these techniques varied, with trans-former-based models like AraBERT and MARBERT demonstrating superior performance, achieving accuracy rates of up to 99.3% and 98.3%, respectively. Traditional machine learning models and RNNs also showed promise but generally lagged in accuracy and depth of insight compared to transformer models. This scoping review highlights the significant potential of NLP techniques, particularly advanced transformer-based models, in addressing mental health issues among Arabic-speaking populations. Ongoing research is essential to keep pace with the rapidly evolving field and to validate current findings. Full article

This study employed Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-22) software, a language analysis tool, to examine Spanish-language pro-NSSI Tumblr posts. Pro-NSSI, or “pro non suicidal self-injury”, refers to online content that normalizes or supports self-harming behaviors. Given the strong associations between NSSI and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, understanding how these behaviors are discussed online can help improve interventions. A year’s worth of public posts were collected, focusing on captions and hashtags that included NSSI-related terms. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software, we analyzed linguistic and psychological markers. Log-likelihood ratio tests revealed significantly higher frequencies of words related to negative emotions, sadness, health, and death compared to standard blog norms. Mixed-language posts showed notable code-switching, suggesting a possible emotional distancing mechanism when discussing self-harm. The findings indicate that Spanish-speaking adolescents engaging in pro-NSSI communities exhibit unique linguistic and psychological characteristics, with important implications for clinical assessment and intervention. Mental health counselors and educators can use these insights to develop culturally and linguistically responsive strategies for prevention and support. Full article

Background: Anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) often leads to persistent pain and reduced quality of life (QoL). Conservative treatments frequently fail to provide adequate symptom relief. Objective: To assess the short-term (≥6 months) effectiveness of functional arthroplasty in reducing pain and improving QoL in patients with ADDwoR unresponsive to conservative therapies. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 105 patients (median age 38 years, 80% female) treated at Santa Maria Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. All patients had unilateral painful ADDwoR confirmed via MRI and underwent functional arthroplasty. Primary outcomes included pain reduction (VAS) and QoL improvements (QoL-TMJ questionnaire). Covariates such as age, gender, and baseline mood disturbances were analyzed for associations with surgical outcomes. Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon rank test, Friedman’s ANOVA, and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: Postoperative VAS scores significantly decreased (8.0 pre-op vs. 2.0 post-op, p < 0.001). QoL-TMJ scores improved significantly in pain (p < 0.001), activity (p < 0.05), mood (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.01), but no significant changes were observed in chewing and speaking functions. Improvements in QoL correlated strongly with pain reduction. Gender and age did not influence the outcomes, though females reported higher baseline mood disturbances. Conclusions: Functional arthroplasty effectively reduces pain and improves QoL in patients with ADDwoR, regardless of age or gender. However, limited improvement in chewing and speaking abilities highlights the need for targeted interventions. Future studies should assess the long-term outcomes to confirm the sustained benefits of this procedure. Full article

Is empathy a “double-edged sword”? This study aimed to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the multidimensional empathy construct in the statistical prediction of negative and positive mental health outcomes. More specifically, this research intended to reveal whether, what, and how four individual empathy dimensions (i.e., cognitive empathy for negative emotions, cognitive empathy for positive emotions, affective empathy for negative emotions, and affective empathy for positive emotions) uniquely statistically predicted the levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as well-being. A total of 786 Polish-speaking adults (452 females and 334 males) filled out a series of self-report questionnaires on empathy (the Perth Empathy Scale), anxiety, and depression symptoms, as well as well-being. Adjusting for demographic variables, the frequentist and Bayesian multiple regression analyses revealed that affective empathy dimensions (i.e., abilities to vicariously share others’ emotions) significantly predicted psychopathology symptoms and well-being, whereas cognitive empathy dimensions (i.e., abilities to understand others’ emotions) did not. In particular, higher affective empathy for negative emotions contributed to worse mental health outcomes, whereas higher affective empathy for positive emotions contributed to better mental outcomes. Overall, the results indicated that individual empathy dimensions demonstrated their specific dark and light sides in the statistical prediction of mental illness and well-being indicators, further supporting the clinical relevance of the multidimensional empathy construct. Full article

Background: Caregivers of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at risk for psychological distress. Bright IDEAS^® (BI) is an effective and acceptable modification of problem-solving therapy for caregivers of children with new cancer diagnoses, but it has not been tested on caregivers of children undergoing HSCT. This randomized controlled pilot examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of BI among caregivers of children undergoing HSCT. Methods: English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of children aged 2–21 years were recruited within 10 days of their child’s autologous or allogeneic HSCT. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive six-to-eight individualized BI sessions or usual care. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological distress at enrollment (pre-intervention) and on days 60, 90, and 180 post HSCT. Qualitative interviews were conducted among a subset (N = 7) of intervention completers to assess caregiver perceptions of BI. Results: A total of 107 caregivers were screened for participation; 64 were eligible. Thirty-eight were enrolled (59.4%) and randomized. In the BI group, 14/20 participants (70%) completed six or more sessions. The completion rate for distress measures was at least 78% for both study groups across timepoints. Despite higher baseline scores, caregivers in the BI group reported lower anxiety and depression scores at follow-up timepoints compared to the control group, based on observed trends. Qualitative interviews reflected acceptability of BI. Conclusions: The results support the feasibility and acceptability of BI for caregivers of children undergoing HSCT. A larger efficacy trial of BI in the pediatric HSCT setting is warranted. Full article