The Efficacy of Digital Cognitive–Behavioral Interventions in Supporting the Psychological Adjustment and Sleep Quality of Pregnant Women with Sub-Clinical Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present meta-analysis investigated the overall and differential efficacy of digital cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) vs. third-generation CBTs deployed to pregnant women in reducing sub-clinical depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms while fostering sleep quality and quality of life. A PRISMA-guided systematic search was used, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the above-mentioned interventions. Data were pooled using either the mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD). Sub-group analyses were carried out when appropriate. The primary outcomes were depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as well as sleep quality and quality of life. The interventions' acceptability was evaluated through the odds ratio (OR) of drop-out rates. Seven RCTs were included, comprising 1873 pregnant women. The results showed the interventions' efficacy in terms of reducing depression symptoms (SMD = -0.36, CI = 0.61, -0.11, k = 9) at the endpoint, although it was not maintained at follow-up during the postpartum period. The interventions' efficacy in terms of reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD = 1.96, CI = -2.72, -1.21, k = 3) at the endpoint was also significant, while having no effect on sleep quality. The interventions were well accepted (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 0.84, 3.35; k = 7). Although no sound conclusions can be drawn concerning the joint or differential efficacy of the considered interventions, this study was useful in highlighting the need to develop evidence-based digital prevention programs for pregnant women with sub-clinical symptoms

A chatbot-based coaching intervention for adolescents to promote life skills: pilot study

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a challenging period, where youth face rapid changes as well as increasing socioemotional demands and threats, such as bullying and cyberbullying. Adolescent mental health and well-being can be best supported by providing effective coaching on life skills, such as coping strategies and protective factors. Interventions that take advantage of online coaching by means of chatbots, deployed on Web or mobile technology, may be a novel and more appealing way to support positive mental health for adolescents.OBJECTIVE: In this pilot study, we co-designed and conducted a formative evaluation of an online, life skills coaching, chatbot intervention, inspired by the positive technology approach, to promote mental well-being in adolescence.METHODS: We co-designed the first life skills coaching session of the CRI (for girls) and CRIS (for boys) chatbot with 20 secondary school students in a participatory design workshop. We then conducted a formative evaluation of the entire intervention-eight sessions-with a convenience sample of 21 adolescents of both genders (mean age 14.52 years). Participants engaged with the chatbot sessions over 4 weeks and filled in an anonymous user experience questionnaire at the end of each session; responses were based on a 5-point Likert scale.RESULTS: A majority of the adolescents found the intervention useful (16/21, 76%), easy to use (19/21, 90%), and innovative (17/21, 81%). Most of the participants (15/21, 71%) liked, in particular, the video cartoons provided by the chatbot in the coaching sessions. They also thought that a session should last only 5-10 minutes (14/21, 66%) and said they would recommend the intervention to a friend (20/21, 95%).CONCLUSIONS: We have presented a novel and scalable self-help intervention to deliver life skills coaching to adolescents online that is appealing to this population. This intervention can support the promotion of coping skills and mental well-being among youth

Does counterfeiting affect luxury customer-based brand equity?

In recent years, there has been an important debate on the harmful effectof counterfeits on luxury brands. Marketing literature states that fake luxury productsnegatively affect consumers \u2019 perception of the genuine brand. Contrarily, somestudies have reported that fake alternatives do not necessary lower genuine brandproduct evaluations, providing some interesting evidence on single theoreticalconstructs referring to attitudes, perceptions or behaviors. The aim of this study isto deepen the investigation into this phenomenon and try to shed some light on theeffects of counterfeit awareness on genuine brand users \u2019 and on potential users \u2019customer-based brand equity (CBBE). Results show that counterfeits have nonegative effect on consumers \u2019 perception of the luxury brand. Moreover, a positiveshift on the six blocks of CBBE pyramid is observed in consumers who are aware ofthe existence of a fake alternative. The innovative nature of these fi ndings is supportedby a detailed data analysis and the managerial implication discussion

social and cognitive factors in the design and evaluation of multimedia systems

Multimedia information retrieval systems design is currently considered a complex task since it requires an understanding of users specific way of searching, processing and using data conveyed by different media (texts, images, videos, sounds etc.). In this work we first discuss the state of the art of research in the field of textual and visual information retrieval approaching its problems from a user-centred perspective. We then propose a general framework derived from recent studies in social and cognitive ergonomics that should prove useful to guide the design and evaluation of user-system interaction in a multimedia context. We also provide some examples of social and cognitive factors affecting both the design and the evaluation of multimedia systems interfaces, discussing them with particular reference to the field of Digital Libraries. We conclude by stressing some points of strength of our approach and by suggesting new research issues to be further investigated

The effect of message framing on young adult consumers’ sustainable fashion consumption: The role of anticipated emotions and perceived ethicality

The debate about which communication strategies are most effective for inducing consumers to behave sustainably remains open, despite growing attention on more sustainable forms of fashion consumption. To further this understanding, we investigate the effectiveness of positive and negative message framing in promoting sustainable fashion consumption, where the beneficial versus detrimental environmental consequences of choosing second-hand clothing were highlighted. Across two experiments, positively framed messages were more effective than negatively framed ones in prompting consumers to engage in sustainable fashion consumption. Elevation was the anticipated emotion responsible for this effect, while consumers’ subjective beliefs about the ethicality of advertising messages promoting sustainable consumption served as a moderator. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of this research together with its limitations and directions for future research

negotiating a multidimensional framework for relevance space

This work reports the results of an enquiry on the concept of relevance and on relevance judgments carried out during the MIRA workshops activities in 1998/1999. Starting from a previous proposal [23], we present the multidimensional relevance space, a framework for describing the various kinds of relevance, which has been negotiated with experts belonging to the MIRA community. The relevance dimensions of information needs, information resources, and information use context are presented, and a three dimensional graphical representation of the framework is proposed. The differences between the original framework and the revised one, and the advantages of the latter, are discussed. Some implications of the framework for the design and evaluation of information access systems and their user interfaces are also derived and, finally, an exploratory study on the issue of agreement in relevance judgments, and its consequences for the design of multimedia test collections, are presented

Multidimensional Study on Users’ Evaluation of the KRAKEN Personal Data Sharing Platform

Background: Recent advances in the design of blockchain-based personal data sharing platforms bring the benefit of empowering users with more control and privacy-preserving measures in sharing data products. However, so far very little is known about users’ intentions to adopt such platforms for providing or consuming data products. Objective: This study aims to investigate users’ main expectations, preferences, and concerns regarding the adoption of blockchain-based personal data sharing platforms in the health and education domains. Methods: Fifteen participants were involved in a multidimensional evaluation of a prototyped release of the KRAKEN blockchain-based data sharing platform and asked to assess it in the health or education pilot domains. Data collected during online group interviews with participants were analyzed by applying the micro interlocutor technique to provide a descriptive overview of participant responses. Results: Participants showed a marginal acceptance of the prototype usability, asking for some improvements of the user experience and for a more transparent presentation of the platform security and privacy preserving capabilities. Participants expressed interest in using the platform as data providers and consumers as well as setting privacy policies for sharing data products with third parties, including the possibility of revoking access to data. Conclusions: Blockchain-based data sharing platforms are more likely to engage target users when technical design is informed by a deeper knowledge of their needs, expectations, and relevant concerns