181 research outputs found
Featural and configurational processes in the recognition of faces of different familiarity
Previous research suggests that face recognition may involve both configurational and piecemeal (featural) processing. To explore the relationship between these processing modes, we examined the patterns of recognition impairment produced by blurring, inversion, and scrambling, both singly and in various combinations. Two tasks were used: recognition of unfamiliar faces (seen once before) and recognition of highly familiar faces (celebrities). The results provide further support for a configurational - featural distinction. Recognition performance remained well above chance if faces were blurred, scrambled, inverted, or simultaneously inverted and scrambled: each of these manipulations disrupts either configurational or piecemeal processing, leaving the other mode available as a route to recognition. However, blurred/scrambled and blurred/inverted faces were recognised at or near chance levels, presumably because both configurational processing and featural processing were disrupted. Similar patterns of effects were found for both familiar and unfamiliar faces, suggesting that the relationship between configurational and featural processing is qualitatively similar in both cases
Explaining long-term trends in adolescent emotional problems: what we know from population-based studies
Over the past four decades, rates of emotional problems in adolescents have increased in many countries, and outcomes for those with mental health problems have worsened. In this review we explore existing population-based studies to evaluate possible explanations for these trends. We include population-based studies that examine both trends in adolescent emotional problems, as well as risk or protective factors previously hypothesised to be associated with trends in youth depression and anxiety. The available evidence on risk or protective factors trends related to family life, young peopleâs health behaviours and lifestyle, school environment, peer relationships, as well as poverty. Studies reviewed suggest that trends in emotional problems are associated with increases in parental emotional problems, youth weight-control behaviours and eating disorders, school-related stress, as well as a rise in family poverty and social inequality in the 21st Century. One of the biggest changes in young peopleâs lives over the last few decades has been the rise of digital media to access information and interact with others, but implications for trends in mental health remain unclear. Other trends are likely to have mitigated against even steeper increases in youth emotional problems, for example improvements in youth substance use and a possible long-term reduction in child maltreatment. Epidemiological studies of unselected cohorts testing explanations for secular trends in mental health are scarce and an urgent priority for future research. Such studies will need to prioritise collection of comparable data in repeated population cohorts. Improving young peopleâs mental health is a major societal challenge, but considerably more needs to be done to understand the connections between social change and trends in youth mental health
Cross-cohort change in parent-reported emotional problem trajectories across childhood and adolescence in the UK
Background
Over the past three decades, the prevalence of adolescent emotional problems (ie, anxiety and depression) has risen. Although the onset and developmental course of emotional symptoms shows high variability, no study has directly tested secular differences across development. Our aim was to investigate whether and how developmental trajectories of emotional problems have changed across generations.
Methods
We used data from two UK prospective cohorts assessed 10 years apart: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) including individuals born in 1991â92, and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) with individuals born in 2000â02. Our outcome was emotional problems, assessed using the parent-rated emotional subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-E) at approximate ages 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 17 years in ALSPAC and ages 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 17 years in MCS. Participants were included if the SDQ-E was completed at least once in childhood and at least once in adolescence. Trajectories were generated using multilevel growth curve models using the repeated assessments of the SDQ-E in children aged 3â17 years.
Findings
Data were available for 19â418 participants (7012 from ALSPAC and 12â406 from the MCS), of whom 9678 (49·8%) were female and 9740 (50·2%) were male, and 17â572 (90·5%) had White mothers. Individuals born between 2000 and 2002 had higher emotional problem scores from around 9 years (intercept statistic ÎČ 1·75, 95% CI 1·71â1·79) than did individuals born in 1991â92 (1·55, 1·51â1·59). The later cohort had an earlier onset of problems than the earlier cohort, and sustained higher average trajectories from around 11 years, with female adolescents showing the steepest trajectories of emotional problems. Differences between cohorts peaked overall at age 14 years.
Interpretation
Our comparison of two cohorts of young people provides evidence that compared with a cohort assessed 10 years prior, emotional problems emerge earlier in development in the more recent cohort, and these are especially pronounced for females during mid-adolescence. Such findings have implications for public health planning and service provision
Does a short-term intervention promote mental and general health among young adults? â An evaluation of counselling
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1988, self-reported mental health problems in Sweden have increased more among young people than in any other age group. Young adults aged 18 â 29 with minor mental health problems were welcomed to four (at most) counselling sessions led by psychotherapists. The present study aimed to evaluate the method's appropriateness and usefulness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population was recruited consecutively during six months (N = 74) and consisted of 59 women and 15 men. Fifty-one, 46 women and five men, met the criterion for a <it>personal semi-structured interview </it>three months post intervention. Self-assessed health data were collected on three occasions using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Pearlin's Personal Mastery Scale and two items from the Swedish Living Conditions Surveys. Thirteen women and six men were not statistically assessed due to incomplete data, but were <it>interviewed by telephone</it>. Four men refused to be interviewed and became <it>dropouts</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The largest group of the study population had long been troubled by their problem(s): 43 percent for over three years and 28 percent for over one year. Among those <it>personally interviewed</it>, 76 percent reported psychological distress (> 3 GHQ points) before the counselling. After the counselling, GHQ-12 distress decreased by 50 percent while mastery and perceived health status increased significantly. A majority experienced an improved life situation, found out something new about themselves and could make use of the sessions afterwards. Personal participant session contentment was about 70 percent and all counsellees would recommend the intervention to a friend. Those <it>interviewed by telephone </it>were not statistically assessed due to incomplete health data. Their personal contentment was just under 50 percent, though all except one would recommend the counselling to a friend. Their expectations of the intervention were more result-orientated compared to the more process-directed personally-interviewed group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This evaluation shows a clear improvement in self-rated mental and general health, mastery and control in the group completing the study agreement. The intervention seems to be effective for young adults with minor mental health problems, but due to the skewed gender-distribution it is unclear if the method is appropriate for men. After the proposed internal quality improvements, this short-term counselling could enhance mental and general health among young people.</p
A Randomised controlled trial of Energetic Activity for Depression in Young people (READY): A multi-site feasibility trial protocol
Background: Prevalence of depression is increasing in young people, and there is a need to develop and evaluate behavioural interventions which may provide benefits equal to or greater than talking therapies or pharmacological alternatives. Exercise could be beneficial for young people living with depression, but robust, large-scale trials of effectiveness and the impact of exercise intensity are lacking. This study aims to test whether a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of an intervention targeting young people living with depression is feasible by determining whether it is possible to recruit and retain young people, develop and deliver the intervention as planned, and evaluate training and delivery. Methods: The design is a three-arm cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial with embedded process evaluation. Participants will be help-seeking young people, aged 13â17 years experiencing mild to moderate low mood or depression, referred from three counties in England. The intervention will be delivered by registered exercise professionals, supported by mental health support workers, twice a week for 12 weeks. The three arms will be high-intensity exercise, low-intensity exercise, and a social activity control. All arms will receive a âhealthy livingâ behaviour change session prior to each exercise session and the two exercise groups are energy matched. The outcomes are referral, recruitment, and retention rates; attendance at exercise sessions; adherence to and ability to reach intensity during exercise sessions; proportions of missing data; adverse events, all measured at baseline, 3, and 6 months; resource use; and reach and representativeness. Discussion: UK National Health Service (NHS) policy is to provide young people with advice about using exercise to help depression but there is no evidence-based exercise intervention to either complement or as an alternative to medication or talking therapies. UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines suggest that exercise can be an effective treatment, but the evidence base is relatively weak. This feasibility trial will provide evidence about whether it is feasible to recruit and retain young people to a full RCT to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an exercise intervention for depression. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN66452702. Registered 9 April 2020
The role of emotions on consumersâ satisfaction within the fitness context
Previous studies have suggested that consumption-related emotions are important to understand post-purchase
reactions. This study examines the relationship between fitness consumersâ emotions and overall satisfaction. After an
initial step of free-thought listing and content validity, followed by a pre-test, a survey was conducted among consumers
of five different fitness centers (n=786). The questionnaire included measures to assess positive and negative emotions,
as well as overall satisfaction with the fitness center. The results gathered through a structural equation model provide
evidence that negative emotion experienced by consumers impacts negatively overall satisfaction, while positive emotion
have a positive effect on overall satisfaction. These findings suggest managerial implications, such as the need to collect
consumersâ perceptions of both tangible and intangible aspects of the services, listen costumersâ opinions in a regular
basis, and provide regular training to staff members, in order to identify the triggers of positive emotions and contribute
to increased levels of overall satisfaction. Guidelines for future research within the fitness context are also suggested.Estudos precedentes sugerem
que as emoçÔes relacionadas com o consumo são importantes para compreender as reaçÔes dos consumidores após a
compra. Este estudo analisa a relação entre as emoçÔes dos consumidores de fitness e satisfação global. Depois de uma
etapa inicial de listagem de pensamento-livre e validade de conteĂșdo, seguido de um prĂ©-teste, foi realizada uma pesquisa
entre os consumidores de cinco centros de fitness diferentes (n = 786). O questionĂĄrio incluiu medidas para avaliar as
emoçÔes positivas e negativas, bem como a satisfação global com o centro de fitness. Os resultados obtidos através de
um modelo de equaçÔes estruturais forneceram evidĂȘncias de que as emoçÔes negativas vivenciadas pelos consumidores
impactam negativamente a satisfação global, enquanto as emoçÔes positivas tĂȘm um efeito positivo sobre a satisfação
global. Estes resultados sugerem implicaçÔes para os gestores, tais como a necessidade de recolher informação sobre a
perceção dos consumidores dos aspetos tangĂveis e intangĂveis dos serviços, ouvir regularmente as opiniĂ”es dos consumidores
e facultar formação regular aos colaboradores. Isto permitirå identificar os aspetos que desencadeiam emoçÔes
positivas e contribuir para o aumento dos nĂveis de satisfação global. OrientaçÔes para futuras pesquisas no contexto de
fitness também são sugeridas.Sin financiación0.185 SJR (2015) Q3, 1090/1779 Medicine (miscellaneous); Q4, 177/229 Health (social science), 112/128 Sports scienceUE
Configural and featural processing in humans with congenital prosopagnosia.
Prosopagnosia describes the failure to recognize faces, a deficiency that can be
devastating in social interactions. Cases of acquired prosopagnosia have often
been described over the last century. In recent years, more and more cases of
congenital prosopagnosia (CP) have been reported. In the present study we tried
to determine possible cognitive characteristics of this impairment. We used
scrambled and blurred images of faces, houses, and sugar bowls to separate
featural processing strategies from configural processing strategies. This
served to investigate whether congenital prosopagnosia results from
process-specific deficiencies, or whether it is a face-specific impairment.
Using a delayed matching paradigm, 6 individuals with CP and 6 matched healthy
controls indicated whether an intact test stimulus was the same identity as a
previously presented scrambled or blurred cue stimulus. Analyses of
dÂŽ values indicated that congenital prosopagnosia
is a face-specific deficit, but that this shortcoming is particularly pronounced
for processing configural facial information
GHQ increases among Scottish 15 year olds 1987â2006
BACKGROUND:
Increases in a number of psychosocial disorders have been identified among Western youth in the second half of the Twentieth century. However findings are not consistent, trends are complex, and comparisons over time are hampered by methodological problems.
METHODS:
Data were drawn from three samples identical in respect of age (15 years), school year (final year of statutory schooling) and geographical location (the West of Scotland). Each sample was administered the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, a measure of self-report psychological distress, in 1987 (N = 505), 1999 (N = 2,196) and 2006 (N = 3,194). Analyses were conducted to examine changes in: GHQ 'caseness'; individual items; and factors, derived via confirmatory factor analysis representing (a) 'negative' and 'positive' items, and (b) 'anxiety and depression', 'loss of confidence or self-esteem' and 'anhedonia and social dysfunction'.
RESULTS:
Based on the standard (2/3) cut-off, 'caseness' rates in 1987, 1999 and 2006 were 12.7, 15.1 and 21.5% (males) and 18.8, 32.5 and 44.1% (females). Similar increases were observed with more stringent 'caseness' cut-offs. Examination of individual items showed some to have increased much more markedly over time than others. There were larger increases among females for all except two items and some evidence, among both genders, of steeper increases among 'negative' items compared with 'positive' ones. However, the differences in slope were very small compared with the overall increases in both types.
CONCLUSIONS:
Data from three samples identical in respect of age, school year and geographical location, show marked increases in GHQ-12 'caseness' among females between 1987 and 1999 and among both males and females between 1999 and 2006. Although slightly steeper increases in 'negative' items raise the possibility that endorsing such symptoms may have become more acceptable, these were small in comparison with increases in all dimensions of psychological distress. The next step is to identify causal explanations for the increases reported here
- âŠ