Critical Behavioral Traits Foster Peer Engagement in Online Mental Health Communities

Online Mental Health Communities (OMHCs), such as Reddit, have witnessed a surge in popularity as go-to platforms for seeking information and support in managing mental health needs. Platforms like Reddit offer immediate interactions with peers, granting users a vital space for seeking mental health assistance. However, the largely unregulated nature of these platforms introduces intricate challenges for both users and society at large. This study explores the factors that drive peer engagement within counseling threads, aiming to enhance our understanding of this critical phenomenon. We introduce BeCOPE, a novel behavior encoded Peer counseling dataset comprising over 10,118 posts and 58,279 comments sourced from 21 mental health-specific subreddits. The dataset is annotated using three major fine-grained behavior labels: (a) intent, (b) criticism, and (c) readability, along with the emotion labels. Our analysis indicates the prominence of ``self-criticism'' as the most prevalent form of criticism expressed by help-seekers, accounting for a significant 43% of interactions. Intriguingly, we observe that individuals who explicitly express their need for help are 18.01% more likely to receive assistance compared to those who present ``surveys'' or engage in ``rants.'' Furthermore, we highlight the pivotal role of well-articulated problem descriptions, showing that superior readability effectively doubles the likelihood of receiving the sought-after support. Our study emphasizes the essential role of OMHCs in offering personalized guidance and unveils behavior-driven engagement patterns

Examining the differential protective effects of women\u27s spirituality and religiosity on alcohol and marijuana use by sexual identity

The current study explored how religiosity and spirituality may differentially influence substance use by sexual identity based on a sample of adult sexual minority women (SMW; n = 437 lesbian; n = 323 bisexual) relative to a heterosexual comparison sample (n = 636). We examined three questions: (1) whether spirituality was differentially associated with alcohol and marijuana use by sexual identity; (2) whether religiosity was differentially associated with alcohol and marijuana use by sexual identity; (3) whether observed differences between spirituality or religiosity and substance use by sexual identity persisted after adjusting for religious environment. Measures included spirituality (importance of spirituality), religiosity (importance of religion, attending religious services), and past year substance use (alcohol use disorder [AUD], any marijuana use, and regular marijuana use). Higher levels of spirituality were associated with increased odds of AUD among both lesbian and bisexual respondents relative to heterosexuals. Higher levels of religiosity among lesbian participants were associated with increased odds of AUD relative to heterosexuals with higher levels of religiosity. Consistent with theories of minority stress, findings suggest that spirituality and religiosity are less protective for SMW than heterosexual women and, in some cases, may contribute to greater risk of substance use

Refining an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Binge Eating Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Young Women: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study

Background: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is used to capture daily lived experiences, states, and environments. Although EMA is commonly used in behavioral health research, there remains a dearth of literature on how researchers account for design considerations of EMA techniques when designing studies. The goal of this formative mixed methods study was to elicit feedback on EMA study procedures and materials from the target populations for a larger study about binge eating among sexual minority and heterosexual young women, in which data are collected entirely remotely. Methods: Sexual minority (n=12) and heterosexual (n=9) women ages 18–30 who binge ate took part in a pilot EMA study and exit interview and survey. As part of the consent and orientation process, participants reviewed video and written materials describing the study purpose and procedures. Using a smartphone app, for seven consecutive days they completed a survey each morning, 5 random surveys per day, and self-initiated a survey each time they binge ate. Participants then provided feedback on the study via a 1-hour virtual interview and online survey. Interviews were transcribed and reviewed by two coders to identify themes on the acceptability and feasibility of the EMA procedures with a focus on: (I) the training and study description materials; (II) general smartphone app and survey preferences; and (III) specific EMA survey question content and wording. Results: The qualitative and quantitative data converged to suggest participants were able to easily download and use the app to complete surveys and report on binge eating events. Participants provided feedback that was incorporated into revisions on general study procedures, the training video content, and EMA question content for binge eating, identity-related stressors, and appearance-related pressures. No systematic themes in the quantitative or qualitative data emerged to suggest questions were perceived differently by sexual minority and heterosexual young women. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence for the feasibility of conducting a remote EMA study to assess young women’s experiences around binge eating. This formative study provides an example of how a mixed methods approach can be used to refine EMA study methods and questions to improve study design

Artesãos, cartografia e império. A produção social de um instrumento náutico no mundo ibérico, 1500-1650

Explicar cómo y en qué condiciones fueron construidos algunos de los instrumentos científicos más emblemáticos del mundo moderno sigue siendo un desafío para los historiadores de la ciencia y de la tecnología. Este principio afecta también a los instrumentos náuticos. Así, el objetivo del presente artículo es considerar el “cómo” y el “en qué condiciones”, en un sentido amplio, analizando uno de estos artefactos: las cartas náuticas construidas durante la expansión marítima europea. Originalidad: La originalidad del texto no reside únicamente en llevar a cabo una reconstrucción de este instrumento en Portugal y España que aporte nuevos datos sobre su proceso de fabricación y sus fabricantes, sino también en arrojar luz sobre antiguos debates historiográficos que subyacen a la génesis de la ciencia moderna, tales como la difícil colaboración entre hombres prácticos y hombres teóricos; la aportación de comunidades de artesanos al mundo del conocimiento; el papel que los saberes prácticos tuvieron en el establecimiento de nuevas formas de estandarización en ciencia; la adopción de una metodología empírica para el dominio del mundo o la construcción de grandes imperios globales cimentados sobre la base del trabajo manual. Metodología: El análisis de estos debates requiere una aproximación metodológica que atienda a las categorías y los conceptos principales puestos en circulación tanto por la historia como por la filosofía de la ciencia más reciente. En definitiva, se trata de atender a las condiciones que permitieron el establecimiento de acuerdos (y también de controversias) epistemológicos entre diferentes comunidades de conocimiento tomando un instrumento náutico como “mediador”. Conclusiones: El artículo concluye que la consideración de las culturas empíricas del conocimiento y sus realizaciones materiales son una condición sine qua non para entender la génesis de la modernidad científica europea y la construcción de un mundo globalExplaining how and under what conditions some of the most emblematic scientific instruments of the modern world were built remains a challenge for historians of science and technology. This principle also affects nautical instruments. Thus, the objective of this article is to consider the “how” and the “under what conditions”, in a broad sense, by examining one of these devices: the nautical charts developed during the European maritime expansion. Originality: The originality of this article lies not only in the reconstruction of this instrument in Portugal and Spain, providing new information about its development process and its manufacturers, but also in shedding light on old historiographical debates that underlie the genesis of modern science, such as the difficult collaboration between practical men and theoretical men; the contribution of artisan communities to the world of knowledge; the role that practical knowledge played in the establishment of new forms of standardization in science; the adoption of an empirical methodology for achieving mastery of the world or the construction of large global empires founded upon manual labor. Methodology: Analyzing these debates requires a methodological approach that addresses the main categories and concepts put into circulation by the most recent history and philosophy of science. In short, unveiling the conditions that enabled the establishment of epistemological agreements (and also disputes) between different knowledge communities by taking a nautical instrument as “mediator.” Conclusions: The article concludes that examining empirical knowledge cultures and their material achievements are a sine qua non condition to understand the genesis of European scientific modernity and the construction of a global worldExplicar como e em que condições foram construídos alguns dos instrumentos científicos mais emblemáticos do mundo moderno continua sendo um desafio para os historiadores da ciência e da tecnologia. Esse princípio afeta também os instrumentos náuticos. Assim, o objetivo do presente artigo é considerar o “como” e o “em que condições”, em um sentido amplo, e analisar um desses artefatos: as cartas náuticas construídas durante a expansão marítima europeia. Originalidade: A originalidade do texto não reside unicamente na realização de uma reconstrução desse instrumento em Portugal e na Espanha de forma que traga novos dados sobre seu processo de fabricação e de seus fabricantes, mas também em lançar luz sobre antigos debates historiográficos que subjazem à gênese da ciência moderna, tais como a difícil colaboração entre homens práticos e homens teóricos, a contribuição de comunidades de artesãos ao mundo do conhecimento; o papel que os saberes práticos tiveram no estabelecimento de novas formas de padronização na ciência, a adoção de uma metodologia empírica para o domínio do mundo ou a construção de grandes impérios globais cimentados sobre a base do trabalho manual. Metodologia: A análise desses debates requer uma aproximação metodológica que atenda às categorias e aos principais conceitos colocados em circulação tanto pela história quanto pela filosofia da ciência mais recente. Definitivamente, trata-se de atender às condições que permitiram o estabelecimento de acordos (e também de controvérsias) epistemológicos entre diferentes comunidades de conhecimento tomando o instrumento náutico como “mediador”. Conclusões: O artigo conclui que a consideração das culturas empíricas do conhecimento e suas realizações materiais são uma condição sine qua non para entender a gênese da modernidade científica europeia e a construção de um mundo globa

Large scale multifactorial likelihood quantitative analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants: An ENIGMA resource to support clinical variant classification

The multifactorial likelihood analysis method has demonstrated utility for quantitative assessment of variant pathogenicity for multiple cancer syndrome genes. Independent data types currently incorporated in the model for assessing BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants include clinically calibrated prior probability of pathogenicity based on variant location and bioinformatic prediction of variant effect, co-segregation, family cancer history profile, co-occurrence with a pathogenic variant in the same gene, breast tumor pathology, and case-control information. Research and clinical data for multifactorial likelihood analysis were collated for 1,395 BRCA1/2 predominantly intronic and missense variants, enabling classification based on posterior probability of pathogenicity for 734 variants: 447 variants were classified as (likely) benign, and 94 as (likely) pathogenic; and 248 classifications were new or considerably altered relative to ClinVar submissions. Classifications were compared with information not yet included in the likelihood model, and evidence strengths aligned to those recommended for ACMG/AMP classification codes. Altered mRNA splicing or function relative to known nonpathogenic variant controls were moderately to strongly predictive of variant pathogenicity. Variant absence in population datasets provided supporting evidence for variant pathogenicity. These findings have direct relevance for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant evaluation, and justify the need for gene-specific calibration of evidence types used for variant classification

Large scale multifactorial likelihood quantitative analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants: An ENIGMA resource to support clinical variant classification

Abstract The multifactorial likelihood analysis method has demonstrated utility for quantitative assessment of variant pathogenicity for multiple cancer syndrome genes. Independent data types currently incorporated in the model for assessing BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants include clinically calibrated prior probability of pathogenicity based on variant location and bioinformatic prediction of variant effect, co-segregation, family cancer history profile, co-occurrence with a pathogenic variant in the same gene, breast tumor pathology, and case-control information. Research and clinical data for multifactorial likelihood analysis were collated for 1395 BRCA1/2 predominantly intronic and missense variants, enabling classification based on posterior probability of pathogenicity for 734 variants: 447 variants were classified as (likely) benign, and 94 as (likely) pathogenic; 248 classifications were new or considerably altered relative to ClinVar submissions. Classifications were compared to information not yet included in the likelihood model, and evidence strengths aligned to those recommended for ACMG/AMP classification codes. Altered mRNA splicing or function relative to known non-pathogenic variant controls were moderately to strongly predictive of variant pathogenicity. Variant absence in population datasets provided supporting evidence for variant pathogenicity. These findings have direct relevance for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant evaluation, and justify the need for gene-specific calibration of evidence types used for variant classification. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Examining the effectiveness of the "Latino/a Educational Equity Project" (LEEP): A program designed for Latino/a college students

xiii, 102 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine the effectiveness of an intervention program specifically designed to facilitate social awareness and adjustment to college for Latino/a students enrolled in four-year universities in the Pacific Northwest. I designed an intervention program, the Latino/a Educational Equity Project (LEEP), as a multifaceted prevention intervention to increase student capacities and knowledge of: (a) the importance of building a network of individuals to support their academic endeavors, (b) political awareness of race and higher education and the importance of college retention and completion, (c) awareness of university demands and development of skills that are needed to balance home and university demands, as well as (d) comfort with and increased utilization of campus resources. As identified by the research literature, these components have been associated with both the needs of Latino/a students in higher education and with Latino/a student retention. I utilized quasi-experimental design with between- and within-subject measurement, including assessments at pre- and three-week post-test, to evaluate the effects of the LEEP program in comparison with a no-treatment control condition. The LEEP intervention was conducted at three public universities in the Pacific Northwest. The total sample for the present study was 40 treatment participants and 41 participants in the control condition. A repeated-measures MANCOVA was utilized to assess the effectiveness of the LEEP intervention program. Results demonstrated partial success for the LEEP intervention program. The intervention successfully improved participants' overall adjustment to college in comparison with control condition participants. However, intervention effects for LEEP participants were not statistically different from control participants on outcomes related to increased critical consciousness, collective self-esteem, or enhanced cultural congruity. Initial pre-test scores and lower statistical power than optimal (.35) for this type of study may partially explain why the intervention was not fully successful in these other areas. A discussion of results, strengths, and limitations of the present study and implications for future intervention research and practice and provided.Committee in charge: Benedict McWhirter, Chairperson, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Ellen McWhirter, Member, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Charles Martinez, Member, Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership; Brian Klopotek, Outside Member, Anthropolog

An Examination of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder–Related Symptoms Among a Sample of Latinx Sexual- and Gender-Minority Immigrants

Latinx sexual- and gender- minority (SGM) immigrants experience stress across multiple axes of identity, which can lead to negative health consequences. Using an intersectional-cultural theory of stress, the current study sampled 194 Latinx SGM immigrants to examine the association between intersectional discrimination (i.e., race- and sexual orientation-based), acculturative stress, symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and somatic distress. We used moderated hierarchical linear regression analysis to determine whether social support moderated the associations among intersectional discrimination, acculturative stress, and PTSD symptoms. The results showed that after controlling for time in the United States, PTSD symptoms were associated with intersectional discrimination, [beta] = .57, SE = 3.14, p \u3c .001, and acculturative stress, [beta] = .42, SE = 2.47, p \u3c .001, at higher levels of social support. The variability in outcome explained by the variables of interest was approximately 47%. These findings offer important and timely data that can inform future research and clinical applications in this underserved and understudied community