Gender differences in the associations between age trends of social media interaction and well-being among 10-15 year olds in the UK

Background Adolescents are among the highest consumers of social media while research has shown that their well-being decreases with age. The temporal relationship between social media interaction and well-being is not well established. The aim of this study was to examine whether the changes in social media interaction and two well-being measures are related across ages using parallel growth models. Methods Data come from five waves of the youth questionnaire, 10-15 years, of the Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study (pooled n =9859). Social media interaction was assessed through daily frequency of chatting on social websites. Well-being was measured by happiness with six domains of life and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Findings suggest gender differences in the relationship between interacting on social media and well-being. There were significant correlations between interacting on social media and well-being intercepts and between social media interaction and well-being slopes among females. Additionally higher social media interaction at age 10 was associated with declines in well-being thereafter for females, but not for males. Results were similar for both measures of well-being. Conclusions High levels of social media interaction in early adolescence have implications for well-being in later adolescence, particularly for females. The lack of an association among males suggests other factors might be associated with their reduction in well-being with age. These findings contribute to the debate on causality and may inform future policy and interventions

Effect of telehealth on glycaemic control: analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes in the Whole Systems Demonstrator cluster randomised trial

Background: The Whole Systems Demonstrator was a large, pragmatic, cluster randomised trial that compared telehealth with usual care among 3,230 patients with long-term conditions in three areas of England. Telehealth involved the regular transmission of physiological information such as blood glucose to health professionals working remotely. We examined whether telehealth led to changes in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) among the subset of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The general practice electronic medical record was used as the source of information on HbA1c. Effects on HbA1c were assessed using a repeated measures model that included all HbA1c readings recorded during the 12-month trial period, and adjusted for differences in HbA1c readings recorded before recruitment. Secondary analysis averaged multiple HbA1c readings recorded for each individual during the trial period. Results: 513 of the 3,230 participants were identified as having type 2 diabetes and thus were included in the study. Telehealth was associated with lower HbA1c than usual care during the trial period (difference 0.21% or 2.3 mmol/mol, 95% CI, 0.04% to 0.38%, p = 0.013). Among the 457 patients in the secondary analysis, mean HbA1c showed little change for controls following recruitment, but fell for intervention patients from 8.38% to 8.15% (68 to 66 mmol/mol). A higher proportion of intervention patients than controls had HbA1c below the 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) threshold that was targeted by general practices (30.4% vs. 38.0%). This difference, however, did not quite reach statistical significance (adjusted odds ratio 1.63, 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.68, p = 0.053). Conclusions: Telehealth modestly improved glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes over 12 months. The scale of the improvements is consistent with previous meta-analyses, but was relatively modest and seems unlikely to produce significant patient benefit

understanding and tackling poverty and vulnerability in mountain livelihoods in the hindu kush himalaya

This chapter critically reviews the existing knowledge on livelihoods, poverty, and vulnerability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). Development in mountain areas and the practices of people in these areas are uniquely conditioned by distinct characteristics that we term "mountain specificities". Some of these specificities—such as inaccessibility, fragility, and marginality—constrain development. Others—such as abundant biological diversity, ecological niches, and adaptation mechanisms—present development opportunities for mountain people

Prospects and challenges of biodiversity in small-holder systems

There is a wide diversity of cultivated banana (Musa spp.) found growing in small-holder systems around the world. The main types of bananas that are important for small-holders differ from region to region. Diversity is important for small-holders for many reasons. Diversity-rich production systems help to ensure a continuous supply of food throughout the year, losses due to pest and disease attack or unfavourable environmental conditions are reduced and a diverse range of products with different uses can be produced in a small area. Most importantly, diversity-rich production systems are sustainable, flexible and adaptable to change. Several challenges exist in ensuring the maintenance of diversity in small-holder systems. These include the need to combine increased production in the face of growing population pressure, with the need to conserve diversity for the future. To address these challenges, strategies have to be developed which allow improved, high yielding varieties to become part of the farming systems without replacing traditional varieties. At the same time conservation strategies, which combine In situ and Ex situ approaches in a complementary manner must be developed. This paper reviews the various methods of conservation available and emphasises the need for farmers, as the main users, custodians and beneficiaries of diversity, to be fully involved in the development of any such strategies. Key Words: Banana, conservation, Ex-situ, In-situ RESUME Il y a une large diversité des bananes cultivées (Musa spp) trouvée plantée dans des systèmes de petits fermiers dans le monde. Les principaux types de bananes qui sont importants pour les petits fermiers différent d'une région à une autre. La diversité est importante pour les petits fermiers pour plusieurs raisons. Les systèmes de production de la riche diversité aide à assurer un approvisionnement de nourriture tout au long de l'année, les pertes dues aux attaques des pestes et maladies ou aux conditions environnementales défavorables sont réduites et une diverse gamme des produits avec différents usages peut être produite dans une petite aire. Plus important, les systèmes de production de la riche diversité sont durables, flexibles et adaptables au changement. Plusieurs défies existent pour garantir la maintenance dans les systèmes de diversité des petits fermiers. Ceux ci incluent le besoin de combiner l'augmentation de production en face de la pression de la croissance de la population, avec le besoin de conserver la diversité pour l'avenir. Pour adresser ces défies, des stratégies doivent être développées lesquelles stratégies permettent d'améliorer les variétés de production élevée pour devenir une part des systèmes de culture sans remplacer les variétés traditionnelles. En même temps des stratégies de conservation, qui combinent les approches In situ et Ex situ dans de manière complémentaire doivent être développées. Cet article révise les diverses méthodes de conservation disponibles et souligne le besoin des fermiers, comme les principaux usagers, conservateurs et bénéficiaires de la diversité, à être pleinement impliqués dans le développement de pareilles stratégies. Mots Clés: Banane, conservation, Ex-situ, In-situ African Crop Science Journal Vol.12(1) 2004: 51-5