Implicit prejudices based on race and sexual orientation do not predict COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Italy during the post-pandemic era

Background. COVID-19 has led to over 14 million deaths worldwide, evidencing the importance of investigating its antecedents. However, despite the increasing research efforts, the psychological underpinnings of vaccine rejection and vaccine hesitancy have not yet been completely understood. Previous literature showed in large samples that vaccine rejection is associated with explicit prejudice towards immigrants in UK and Ireland (Murphy et al., 2021). Aims. Building upon the existing literature and recognizing a research gap, our research aims to delve into the intricate nexus of factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Specifically, we investigate the role of social behavior by focusing on implicit prejudices concerning Race and Sexual Orientation. Method. The present study involved the administration of two Implicit Association Tests (IATs), focusing on Race and Sexual Orientation, and VH score. A regression (employing generalized linear models) with the IAT score as predictor and VH score as predicted for each IAT, and two independent samples T-test for comparing race IAT and sexual orientation IAT scores in participants with high- vs low VH. Results. Results showed that vaccine hesitancy and vaccine rejection are not related to implicit prejudice for either race and sexual orientation in our sample of young Italian students in the post-pandemic era

Implicit prejudices based on race and sexual orientation do not predict COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Italy during the post-pandemic era.

Background. COVID-19 has led to over 14 million deaths worldwide, evidencing the importance of investingating its antecedents. However, despite the increasing research efforts, the psychological underpinnings of vaccine rejection and vaccine hesitancy have not yet been completely understood. Previous literature showed in large samples that vaccine rejection is associated with explicit prejudice towards immigrants in UK and Ireland (Murphy et al., 2021). Aims. Building upon the existing literature and recognizing a research gap, our research aims to delve into the intricate nexus of factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Specifically, we investigate the role of social behavior by focusing on implicit prejudices concerning Race and Sexual Orientation. Method. The present study involved the administration of two Implicit Association Tests (IATs), focusing on Race and Sexual Orientation, and VH score. A regression (employing generalized linear models) with the IAT score as predictor and VH score as predicted for each IAT, and two independent samples T-test for comparing race IAT and sexual orientation IAT scores in participants with high- vs low VH.Results. Results showed that vaccine hesitancy and vaccine rejection are not releted to implicit prejudice for either race and sexual orientation in our sample of young Italian students in the post-pandemic era

Risk-taking behavior, the second-to-fourth digit ratio and psychological features in a sample of cavers

Background The risk-taking behavior is largely modulated by the subject’s history, its lifestyles, by the characteristics of the situations with which it is compared, and also by the effects of prenatal androgens. Thus, the personality of the single person is a significant predictor of such way of acting. Methods The present study aimed to explore the relationship between Digit Ratio Measurement (2D:4D) and personality factors capable to be good predictors for choosing highly risky activities, such as caving. Furthermore, our purpose was to investigate whether 2D:4D ratio is related to cavers’ affective states and to assess the personological and emotional features of 34 healthy cavers, aged between 24 and 71 years (M = 39.70, SD = 9.81). Results Data analysis showed several significant correlations between 2D:4D and Deliberate Risk Taking (RTI) and Precautionary Behavior (RTI), confirming that 2D:4D is a reliable index able to predict risk-taking behaviors. Furthermore, data analysis showed that Conscientiousness and its sub-dimension Scrupulousness (BFQ-2) are recurrent among significant correlations; in particular, the latter reports negative correlations with many factors of POMS. Moreover, all participants seemed to have a good attitude to collaboration, in terms of goal-direct strategy, and an adequate management of negative affective states, useful to maintaining a good level of stress within the group. Finally, the BFQ-2 factor Openness to culture seemed to be a predominant feature in the cavers, and this feature could be considered as predictive in the choice of an activity, such as caving, which requires curiosity, perseverance and a great planning of cave exploration

Emotion Recognition: Photoplethysmography and Electrocardiography in Comparison

Automatically recognizing negative emotions, such as anger or stress, and also positive ones, such as euphoria, can contribute to improving well-being. In real-life, emotion recognition is a difficult task since many of the technologies used for this purpose in both laboratory and clinic environments, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG), cannot realistically be used. Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive technology that can be easily integrated into wearable sensors. This paper focuses on the comparison between PPG and ECG concerning their efficacy in detecting the psychophysical and affective states of the subjects. It has been confirmed that the levels of accuracy in the recognition of affective variables obtained by PPG technology are comparable to those achievable with the more traditional ECG technology. Moreover, the affective psychological condition of the participants (anxiety and mood levels) may influence the psychophysiological responses recorded during the experimental tests

Self-Efficacy and the Digit Ratio in a Group of Sports University Students

Self-efficacy is one’s awareness of being able to cope optimally with different situations. Perceived self-efficacy is a belief that closely involves emotional and personological functioning. In fact, when one perceives oneself as capable, the likelihood of success increases significantly. The aim of this research was to verify a possible correlation between self-efficacy and the Digit Ratio (2D:4D), referred to as prenatal androgen levels, and whether these correlate with some psychological variables, considering possible gender differences. This study involved 56 sports university students, whose 2D:4D ratio was calculated. Moreover, self-assessment questionnaires: the Self-efficacy Scale (SES), the Big Five Questionnaire-2 (BFQ-2), the Profile of Mood State (POMS), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) were administered. The data show that the perceived levels of self-efficacy seem to be influenced by an innate predisposition linked to prenatal androgen values to which the subjects were exposed during uterine life (2D:4D). This negative correlation indicates that the higher the value of the digit ratio, the more likely it is that the level of perceived self-efficacy will be lower. Finally, the degree of perceived self-efficacy also seems to depend on the levels of subjective anxiety, understood both as a personological disposition and a contingent condition, and the latter also seems to be influenced by prenatal androgen levels, particularly in women

Photoplethysmographic Prediction of the Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index through a Machine Learning Approach

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death. Several markers have been proposed to predict cardiovascular morbidity. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) marker is defined as the ratio between the ankle and the arm systolic blood pressures, and it is generally assessed through sphygmomanometers. An alternative tool for cardiovascular status assessment is Photoplethysmography (PPG). PPG is a non-invasive optical technique that measures volumetric blood changes induced by pulse pressure propagation within arteries. However, PPG does not provide absolute pressure estimation, making assessment of cardiovascular status less direct. The capability of a multivariate data-driven approach to predict ABI from peculiar PPG features was investigated here. ABI was measured using a commercial instrument (Enverdis Vascular Explorer, VE-ABI), and it was then used for a General Linear Model estimation of ABI from multi-site PPG in a supervised learning framework (PPG-ABI). A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis allowed to investigate the capability of PPG-ABI to discriminate cardiovascular impairment as defined by VE-ABI. Findings suggested that ABI can be estimated form PPG (r = 0.79) and can identify pathological cardiovascular status (AUC = 0.85). The advantages of PPG are simplicity, speed and operator-independency, allowing extensive screening of cardiovascular status and associated cardiovascular risks