The effect of sleep deprivation on objective and subjective measures of facial appearance

This study was funded by the Swedish Research Council, FORTE (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare), and The Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences.The faces of people who are sleep deprived are perceived by others as looking paler, less healthy and less attractive compared to when well rested. However, there is little research using objective measures to investigate sleep‐loss‐related changes in facial appearance. We aimed to assess the effects of sleep deprivation on skin colour, eye openness, mouth curvature and periorbital darkness using objective measures, as well as to replicate previous findings for subjective ratings. We also investigated the extent to which these facial features predicted ratings of fatigue by others and could be used to classify the sleep condition of the person. Subjects (n = 181) were randomised to one night of total sleep deprivation or a night of normal sleep (8–9 hr in bed). The following day facial photographs were taken and, in a subset (n = 141), skin colour was measured using spectrophotometry. A separate set of participants (n = 63) later rated the photographs in terms of health, paleness and fatigue. The photographs were also digitally analysed with respect to eye openness, mouth curvature and periorbital darkness. The results showed that neither sleep deprivation nor the subjects’ sleepiness was related to differences in any facial variable. Similarly, there was no difference in subjective ratings between the groups. Decreased skin yellowness, less eye openness, downward mouth curvature and periorbital darkness all predicted increased fatigue ratings by others. However, the combination of appearance variables could not be accurately used to classify sleep condition. These findings have implications for both face‐to‐face and computerised visual assessment of sleep loss and fatigue.PostprintPeer reviewe

Voices of USU: An Anthology of Student Writing, 2015

This collection of student writing represents the voices of over 2,000 students who enroll each academic year in Utah State University’s second-year composition course, Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode. Voices of USU celebrates excellence in writing by providing undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds and disciplines the opportunity to have their work published.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/voicesofusu/1006/thumbnail.jp

2nd Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM)

Disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods, heat waves, nuclear accidents, and large-scale pollution incidents take lives and incur major health problems. The majority of large-scale disasters affect the most vulnerable populations, which often comprise extreme ages, remote living areas, and endemic poverty, as well as people with low literacy. Health emergency and disaster risk management (Health-EDRM) refers to the systematic analysis and management of health risks surrounding emergencies and disasters, and plays an important role in reducing the hazards and vulnerability along with extending preparedness, responses, and recovery measures. This concept encompasses risk analyses and interventions, such as accessible early warning systems, the timely deployment of relief workers, and the provision of suitable drugs and medical equipment to decrease the impact of disasters on people before, during, and after an event (or events). Currently, there is a major gap in the scientific literature regarding Health-EDRM to facilitate major global policies and initiatives for disaster risk reduction worldwide

Self-esteem and Social Media Dependency: A Comparative Analysis of Welsh- and English-Medium Pupils’ Perceptions

Despite not being officially recognized as an addiction, studies suggest social media dependency [SMD] retains similar traits as substance-based addictions and that adolescents are a group particularly at risk. Studies have shown significant positive correlations between SMD and depression, loneliness, and social anxiety. SMD has also shown a significant negative association with self-esteem. Research has yet to explore these relationships within a minority versus majority language comparative context, which is the objective of the thesis. The thesis used cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (three equally-spaced timepoints over nine-months) incorporating quantitative and qualitative designs. There were 1,709 participants (Welsh/Bilingual-medium schools = 844; English-medium schools = 865) aged 12- to 15-years with a mean age of 13.61 years (standard deviation ±.933). All schools were State-maintained and located within Wales. At timepoint one, five Welsh/Bilingual- and four English-medium schools took part. Two Welsh/Bilingual-medium schools dropped out after timepoint one. SMD analysis (Chapter Four) showed a difference between school types but no difference between Welsh/Bilingual-medium attending first language Welsh- [FLWs] and English-speakers [FLEs]. The suggested reason for the difference between the school types was a marginalization of Welsh/Bilingual-medium FLWs’ and FLEs’ first languages within the social media and school environments, respectively. A difference in self-esteem (Chapter Five), depression, loneliness, and social anxiety (Chapter Six) scores was shown for FLWs and FLEs, also, with FLEs showing the poorer scores. The suggested reason was FLWs benefiting in terms of social identification processes and close affiliation to the Welsh language, culture, and community. Structural equation modeling [SEM] (Chapter Seven) indicated that first language mattered whenever SMD predicted self-esteem, depression, loneliness, and social anxiety. Longitudinal analyses (Chapter Eight) showed no difference in FLWs’ and FLEs’ SMD representation at low, medium and high levels over time, but a greater number of FLEs were represented at low self-esteem levels over time. Qualitative analysis (Chapter Nine) suggested FLWs identified a greater array of technical barriers to using Welsh on social media. In conclusion, the suggestion is an individual’s first language matters regarding self-esteem, depression, loneliness, and social anxiety, but not SMD. However, whenever SMD acts as a predictor variable, an individual’s first language appears to play a pivotal role

Development and feasibility testing of a buddy intervention to increase postnatal physical activity

Childbirth is a life event that negatively influences mothers’ physical activity (PA) levels and is identified as a teachable moment for health behaviour change and therefore interventions to increase postnatal PA are required. This thesis broadly follows the first two steps in the Medical Research Council (MRC) intervention development guidance, combined with methods from the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). The first study systematically reviewed the existing literature on the effectiveness of postnatal PA interventions. Eleven studies were included in the narrative review and eight in the meta-analysis. There was a small but significant increase in PA behaviour in the intervention group compared to the control group, but heterogeneity was high. A need for interventions with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods and objective PA measurements was identified. Study two utilised a multi-methods design to explore the factors that influence postnatal PA according to the COM-B model of behaviour. Semi-structured interviews qualitatively explored participants’ views on what factors influenced PA, and a questionnaire determined their relative importance. Qualitative findings indicated that all COM-B components influenced behaviour, and quantitative findings indicated that the most important factors that influenced behaviour were time, feeling tired, lack of available childcare, lack of advice from a healthcare professional, lack of motivation and development of a habit. The results are presented in a behavioural analysis for postnatal PA. The next section of this thesis described the remaining steps of the BCW to identify intervention options, content and implementation options resulting in ‘Buddy Up’, an intervention that matches two new mothers as PA buddies to provide mutual support to increase PA. A buddy is an existing friend or another eligible participant. The intervention includes three PA counselling sessions based on Motivational Interviewing principles supplemented by a booklet. The final study explored the feasibility of delivering ‘Buddy Up’ utilising a single group pre-post study design. The study explored the feasibility of recruitment, data collection, intervention acceptability and preliminary efficacy data. 44 participants (existing friends (n=22); new match (n=22)) were recruited, and 21 participants 5 remained unmatched. Key recruitment challenges were engaging Children’s Centres (CCs) with recruitment and matching participants. Participants engaged in PA with their buddy on 1.06 days (SD=1.76) in the past week and provided support by sending encouraging messages (85.7%), sharing PA ideas/information (71.4%) and doing PA together (60%). Findings from the post-intervention interviews suggest good acceptability of the intervention sessions, minimal usage of the booklet and varied views on the acceptability of the buddy element among participants. Preliminary effectiveness data is promising for objective (Baseline=697.68 counts per minute (cpm); Follow-up=765.05 cpm) and self-report PA (Baseline=1533.56 MET-min/week; Follow-up=1917.50 MET-min/week) and has a significant effect on self-efficacy to overcome some barriers to PA (when feeling depressed, when there is no one to be physically active with, during bad weather and when they have no money). Collectively, this thesis describes the intervention development process and presents the first buddy intervention for postnatal physical activity. The feasibility study findings show promise that this is a fruitful research avenue, but the intervention’s operational feasibility requires further refinement prior to recommending a large-scale efficacy trial.This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care

Internet and Smartphone Use-Related Addiction Health Problems: Treatment, Education and Research

This Special Issue presents some of the main emerging research on technological topics of health and education approaches to Internet use-related problems, before and during the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective is to provide an overview to facilitate a comprehensive and practical approach to these new trends to promote research, interventions, education, and prevention. It contains 40 papers, four reviews and thirty-five empirical papers and an editorial introducing everything in a rapid review format. Overall, the empirical ones are of a relational type, associating specific behavioral addictive problems with individual factors, and a few with contextual factors, generally in adult populations. Many have adapted scales to measure these problems, and a few cover experiments and mixed methods studies. The reviews tend to be about the concepts and measures of these problems, intervention options, and prevention. In summary, it seems that these are a global culture trend impacting health and educational domains. Internet use-related addiction problems have emerged in almost all societies, and strategies to cope with them are under development to offer solutions to these contemporary challenges, especially during the pandemic situation that has highlighted the global health problems that we have, and how to holistically tackle them

Exploring women’s experiences of premenstrual embodiment utilising a material-discursive-intrapsychic framework

Body image concerns are a prominent issue among women, with detrimental consequences for mental health and well-being. Women’s body shame and body dissatisfaction is heightened during the premenstrual phase of the cycle, associated with premenstrual distress. Body management behaviours also fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, manifested by premenstrual food cravings and reduced exercise. However, the meaning and consequences of premenstrual body dissatisfaction and changes to body management remains underexplored. How women construct and negotiate negative premenstrual embodiment in relation to cultural discourse, and factors contributing to premenstrual body shame and dissatisfaction, require further examination. The purpose of the research presented in this thesis was to explore how women who report premenstrual body dissatisfaction construct and experience their premenstrual bodies. A mixed method design was employed, utilising a survey and the arts-based method body-mapping, followed by an interview. In the statistical analysis of standardised survey scales, body shame was associated with higher premenstrual distress and self-objectification. Self-objectification was associated with higher premenstrual emotional/reactivity. Women who reported disordered eating attitudes reported lower premenstrual distress, body shame and self-objectification. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified that negative physical and emotional premenstrual changes were interrelated, associated with construction of the premenstrual body as abject, out of control, separate to the self, and to blame for women’s distress. Drawing on cultural discourse associated with feminine embodiment, constructions of the abject body as fat and leaking were associated with increased self-policing and body scrutiny. Premenstrual changes disrupted women’s usual strict management of their bodies, associated with negative feelings towards the premenstrual body and the self. Many women demonstrated agency and resistance of negative cultural discourses around premenstrual embodiment. Participants critiqued and challenged cultural discourses that negatively construct the premenstrual body, dressed for comfort rather than fashion premenstrually and took a break from restrictive eating and rigorous exercise practices during this phase. Findings of this thesis provide insight into women’s subjective experiences of negative premenstrual embodiment. These findings emphasize the need to acknowledge changes in body dissatisfaction and body management across the menstrual cycle, and the consequences for women’s feelings about the body and the self. The broader implications of these findings suggest that premenstrual body dissatisfaction is complex and multi-layered and plays a role in women’s premenstrual distress