The Impact of Instructional Technology Use, Course Design, and Sex Differences on Students’ Initial Perceptions of Instructor Credibility

Women are more likely than men to meet lifetime criteria for an anxiety disorder. Moreover, anxiety is a risk factor for the development of other psychiatric conditions, including major depression. Numerous studies have identified evidence of sex differences in anxiety disorders, and there is considerable research concerning factors that may contribute to vulnerability for anxiety in females. In addition to psychosocial influences, biological components such as the female reproductive hormone cycle have also been implicated. Although psychotropic medication is more likely to be prescribed to women, there is little controlled data available concerning sex differences in the efficacy and/or tolerability of pharmacotherapy in anxiety disorders. This chapter provides an overview of the impact of gender in the epidemiology, phenomenology, course, and treatment response in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Download Full-text

Adoption of improved agricultural technology and its impact on household income: a propensity score matching estimation in eastern Ethiopia

Agriculture & Food Security ◽

10.1186/s40066-020-00278-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Muluken G. Wordofa ◽

Jemal Y. Hassen ◽

Getachew S. Endris ◽

Chanyalew S. Aweke ◽

Dereje K. Moges ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Technology Use ◽

Household Income ◽

Agricultural Technology ◽

Primary Data ◽

Farm Income ◽

Agricultural Technologies ◽

Eastern Ethiopia ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Adoption of improved agricultural technologies remains to be a promising strategy to achieve food security and poverty reduction in many developing countries. However, there are limited rigorous impact evaluations on the contributions of such technologies on household welfare. This paper investigates the impact of improved agricultural technology use on farm household income in eastern Ethiopia. Methods Primary data for the study was obtained from a random sample of 248 rural households, 119 of which are improved technology users and the rest are non-users. The research employed the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) procedure to establish the causal relationship between adoption of improved crop and livestock technologies and changes in farm income. Results Results from the econometric analysis show that households using improved agricultural technologies had, on average, 23,031.28 Birr (Birr is the official currency of Ethiopia. The exchange rate according to the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) was 1 USD = 27.6017 Birr on 04 October 2018.) higher annual farm income compared to those households not using such technologies. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting multiple and complementary agricultural technologies among rural smallholders. Conclusions We suggest that rural technology generation, dissemination and adoption interventions be strengthened. Moreover, the linkage among research, extension, universities and farmers needs to be enhanced through facilitating a multistakeholders innovation platforms.

Download Full-text

Vulnerability factors for mephedrone-induced conditioned place preference in rats—the impact of sex differences, social-conditioning and stress

Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1007/s00213-021-05910-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Olga Wronikowska ◽

Maria Zykubek ◽

Łukasz Kurach ◽

Agnieszka Michalak ◽

Anna Boguszewska-Czubara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Conditioned Place Preference ◽

Low Dose ◽

Social Factor ◽

Place Preference ◽

Female Rats ◽

Male Rats ◽

Social Conditioning ◽

Male And Female Rats ◽

The Impact

Abstract Rationale Mephedrone is a frequently overused drug of abuse that belongs to the group of novel psychoactive substances. Although its mechanism of action, as well as toxic and psychoactive effects, has been widely studied, the role of different factors that could contribute to the increased vulnerability to mephedrone abuse is still poorly understood. Objectives The aim of the presented study was to assess the impact of several factors (sex differences, social-conditioning, and chronic mild unpredictable stress — CMUS) on the liability to mephedrone-induced reward in Wistar rats. Methods The rewarding effects of mephedrone in male and female rats were assessed using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. Furthermore, the impact of social factor and stress was evaluated in male rats using social-CPP and CMUS-dependent CPP, respectively. Results Mephedrone induced classic-CPP in female (10 mg/kg), as well as in male (10 and 20 mg/kg) rats. However, the impact of mephedrone treatment during social-CPP was highly dose-dependent as the rewarding effects of low dose of mephedrone (5 mg/kg; non-active in classic-CPP) were potentiated when administered during social-conditioning. Interestingly, social-conditioning with a higher dose of 20 mg/kg (that induced classic-CPP) was able to reverse these effects. Finally, CMUS potentiated rewarding effects of a low dose of mephedrone (5 mg/kg) and increased the level of corticosterone in rats’ prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Conclusions Altogether, the presented results give new insight into possible factors underlying the vulnerability to mephedrone abuse and can serve as a basis for further studies assessing mechanisms underlying observed effects.

Download Full-text

Sex differences in self-report anxiety and sleep quality during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders

Biology of Sex Differences ◽

10.1186/s13293-020-00333-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jeremy A. Bigalke ◽

Ian M. Greenlund ◽

Jason R. Carter

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

State Anxiety ◽

Severity Index ◽

Self Report ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Chi Square ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Abstract Background COVID-19 and home isolation has impacted quality of life, but the perceived impact on anxiety and sleep remains equivocal. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders on self-report anxiety and sleep quality, with a focus on sex differences. We hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic would be associated with increased anxiety and decreased sleep quality, with stronger associations in women. Methods One hundred three participants (61 female, 38 ± 1 years) reported perceived changes in anxiety and sleep quality due to stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic and were administered the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Chi-square and T test analyses were utilized to assess sex differences in reported anxiety and sleep. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the associations between reported impact of COVID-19 and anxiety/sleep parameters. Results Women (80.3%) reported higher prevalence of increased general anxiety due to COVID-19 when compared to men (50%; p = 0.001) and elevated STAI state anxiety compared to men (43 ± 1 vs. 38 ± 1 a.u., p = 0.007). Despite these differences in anxiety, the perceived impact of COVID-19 on PSQI was not different between sexes. However, when stratified by perceived changes in anxiety due to COVID-19, participants with higher anxiety responses to COVID-19 had higher ISI compared to those with no perceived changes in anxiety (9 ± 1 vs. 5 ± 1 a.u., p = 0.003). Additionally, participants who reported reduced sleep quality due to COVID-19 reported higher state anxiety (45 ± 1 a.u.) compared to those that perceived no change (36 ± 2 a.u., p = 0.002) or increased (36 ± 2 a.u., p < 0.001) sleep quality. Conclusion COVID-19 and state-ordered home isolation was associated with higher anxiety and reduced sleep quality, with a stronger association in women with respect to anxiety.

Download Full-text

Sex-Differences in the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Tissue Plasminogen Activator–Induced Recanalization

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.108.546564 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Georgios Tsivgoulis ◽

Konstantinos Voumvourakis ◽

Elefterios Stamboulis

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Plasminogen Activator ◽

Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽

Tissue Plasminogen ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Sex-Related Differences in the Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on Glucose and Insulin Homeostasis

Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1155/2014/424130 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alexandra Bédard ◽

Louise Corneau ◽

Benoît Lamarche ◽

Sylvie Dodin ◽

Simone Lemieux

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Sex Difference ◽

Premenopausal Women ◽

Nonesterified Fatty Acids ◽

Time Interaction ◽

Insulin Homeostasis ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Impact

Objective. To document sex differences in the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on glucose/insulin homeostasis and to verify whether these sex-related effects were associated with changes in nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA).Methods. All foods were provided to 38 men and 32 premenopausal women (24–53 y) during 4 weeks. Variables were measured during a 180 min OGTT before and after the MedDiet.Results. A sex-by-time interaction for plasma insulin iAUC was found (men: −17.8%,P=0.02; women: +9.4%,P=0.63;Pfor sex-by-time interaction = 0.005). A sex-by-time interaction was also observed for insulin sensitivity (Cederholm index,P=0.03), for which only men experienced improvements (men: +8.1%,P=0.047; women: −5.9%,P=0.94). No sex difference was observed for glucose and C-peptide responses. Trends toward a decrease in NEFA AUC (P=0.06) and an increase in NEFA suppression rate (P=0.06) were noted, with no sex difference. Changes in NEFA were not associated with change in insulin sensitivity.Conclusions. Results suggest that the more favorable changes in glucose/insulin homeostasis observed in men compared to women in response to the MedDiet are not explained by sex differences in NEFA response. This clinical trial is registered with clinicaltrials.govNCT01293344.

Download Full-text

Sex Differences in Interpreting Male-Female Dyad Interactions: Males' Predominance in Perceiving Sexual Intent

International Review of Victimology ◽

10.1177/026975800200900304 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 289-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Aldert Vrij ◽

Emma Kirby

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Social Environment ◽

Rape Myths ◽

Rape Myth ◽

Sexual Intent ◽

Female Dyad ◽

Acceptance Scale ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Astudy is reported investigating gender differences in judging the behaviour of males and females during mixed-dyad conversations and the impact of the endorsement of rape myths in explaining these gender differences. A total of 51 males and 40 females watched a videotape of a male actor and female actor verbally interacting in a social environment and were asked to give their impression about this interaction. They were also requested to fill in the Rape Myths Acceptance Scale (1980). Results revealed that compared to females, males had a stronger tendency to see the interaction in sexual terms. Also, male participants endorsed rape myths more strongly. Finally, gender differences in rape myth endorsements accounted for gender differences in perceiving male-female mixed-dyad interactions to alimited extent. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Download Full-text