scholarly journals The Impact of Mindfulness Training on the Attention to Facial Expressions

Author(s):  
Taiyong Bi ◽  
Hui Kou ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Yuxia He ◽  
Siqi Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract The improvements of attention by mindfulness training had been proved. But the effects of mindfulness training on attention to emotional stimuli were mixed. We employed a randomized, controlled design to investigate the effects of mindfulness training on the attention to emotional expressions, and investigated whether baseline levels of dispositional mindfulness and emotional intelligence would moderate the intervention effects. Forty participants received 8-week mindfulness training and another forty participants attended two lectures about mindfulness. All participants completed the visual search task, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Emotional Intelligence Scale at both pre-training and post-training. The improvements of search efficiencies were larger in the mindfulness group than those in the control group for sad and angry faces, but not for happy faces (F(2, 156)=4.04, p=0.019, η2=0.05). In addition, baseline emotional intelligence (βsadness=-4.49, t=-2.08, p=0.041, 95%CI [-8.78, -0.19]; βanger=-7.39, t=-4.08, p<0.001, 95%CI [-10.99, -3.78]) but not dispositional mindfulness (βsadness=3.17, t=1.56, p=0.124, 95%CI [-0.89, 7.22]; βanger=-1.89, t=-1.02, p=0.313, 95%CI [-5.61, 1.82]) played a significantly moderating role in the relationship between mindfulness training and emotional attention to sadness and anger. The search efficiencies of negative emotions (i.e., anger and sadness) but not positive emotions (i.e., happiness) were significantly improved by mindfulness training. Individuals with high level of baseline emotional intelligence showed significant improvement on the search efficiencies relative to those with low level of emotional intelligence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Fabbro ◽  
Franco Fabbro ◽  
Viviana Capurso ◽  
Fabio D’Antoni ◽  
Cristiano Crescentini

Among a sample of only female school teachers, we compared a mindfulness meditation (MM) training group ( n = 19) with a waiting-list control group ( n = 20) on several participant-completed questionnaires: the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Big Five Personality Inventory, the Teacher Stress Inventory, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. With these measures, we assessed the participants’ dispositional mindfulness, personality styles, and their stress and burnout. Following mindfulness training, teachers in the MM group showed higher trait mindfulness and conscientiousness and lower neuroticism and stress and burnout levels than teachers in the waiting-list control group. These results support the beneficial role of MM in individuals’ effective management of stressful conditions in the workplace.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (68) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Gonzalez ◽  
Elisabeth Ramos Rodríguez ◽  
Patricia Vásquez Saldías

Las aplicaciones tecnológicas ofrecidas para la educación son variadas, brindando nuevas posibilidades de aprendizaje. Se debe estar en constante vigilancia de las propuestas de gamificación para el aula, dado que su desarrollo y uso no asegura un éxito en la enseñanza. Estudiamos el impacto de la gamificación en la enseñanza de la matemática, analizando su papel en el tratamiento de las figuras geométricas cono y cilindro con estudiantes de 13 y 14 años. Desde un enfoque cuantitativo descriptivo de tipo cuasi-experimental, con grupo control y piloto y aplicación de test, se realiza un análisis estadístico clásico e implicativo, evidenciando un mayor porcentaje de respuestas correctas del grupo piloto, en el ítem sobre la relación entre el volumen del cono y el cilindro, con un 96,3%, en contraste un 73,08% que obtuvo el grupo control. Además, se muestra un comportamiento con alto nivel de similaridad (84,4%) entre el uso del videojuego y responder satisfactoriamente los ítems. Esto nos sugiere que este medio educativo puede provocar mejoras en los aprendizajes del alumnado, quien parece ser proclive a su uso. The technological applications offered for education are varied, providing new learning possibilities. Gamification proposals for the classroom must be constantly monitored, since their development and use does not ensure success in teaching. We study the impact of gamification in the teaching of mathematics, analyzing its role in the treatment of geometric cone and cylinder figures with 13 and 14 years old students. From a descriptive quantitative approach of quasi-experimental type, with a control and pilot group and test application, a classical and implicative statistical analysis is carried out, showing a higher percentage of correct answers from the pilot group, in the item on the relationship between the volume of the cone and the cylinder, with 96.3%, in contrast to 73.08% obtained by the control group. In addition, a behavior with a high level of similarity (84.4%) is shown between the use of virtual games and satisfactorily answering the items. This suggests that this educational medium can cause improvements in the learning of students who seem to be prone to its use.


Author(s):  
Li LI ◽  
Mu LI

Background: The incidence rate of depression in youth demographic increases year by year. High-level psychological capital is conducive to relieving depression, and mindfulness training is an effective psychotherapy. We aimed to investigate the influences of mindfulness training on psychological capital, depression, and procrastination, thereby providing a direction for psychotherapy in the youth demographic. Method: A questionnaire survey on the youths in four resident communities in the cities of Wuhan and Tai’an in China was carried out in 2020 by sending a self-rating depression scale (SDS). A total of 240 youth with SDS standard scores >53 were filtered out, as the research objects to be assessed by using SDS, positive psychological capital questionnaire (PPQ), five-facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ), and pure procrastination scale (PPS). Results: Two groups showed no statistically significant differences in SDS, PPQ, FFMQ, and PPS scores before intervention. Self-efficacy, toughness, hope, optimism, and PPQ scores of the experimental group were improved significantly after intervention compared with those before the intervention, and they were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). SDS, PPQ, FFMQ, and PPS scores showed statistically significant differences before and after intervention. SDS and PPS scores of the experimental group after intervention were far lower than those of the control group, while FFMQ score was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mindfulness training can improve psychological capital of the youth demographic effectively and relieve their depression, thereby improving their procrastination.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-783
Author(s):  
Victor A. Ognev ◽  
Anna A. Podpriadova ◽  
Anna V. Lisova

Introduction:The high level of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease is largely due toinsufficient influence on the main risk factors that contribute to the development of myocardial infarction.Therefore, a detailed study and assessment of risk factors is among the most important problems of medical and social importance. The aim: To study and evaluate the impact of biological, social and hygienic, social and economic, psychological, natural and climatic risk factors on the development of myocardial infarction. Materials and methods: A sociological survey was conducted in 500 people aged 34 to 85. They were divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 310 patients with myocardial infarction. The control group consisted of 190 practically healthy people, identical by age, gender and other parameters, without diseases of the cardiovascular system. Results: It was defined that 30 factors have a significant impact on the development of myocardial infarction.Data analysis revealed that the leading risk factors for myocardial infarction were biological and socio-hygienic. The main biological factors were: hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The man socio-hygienic factor was smoking. Conclusions: Identification of risk factors provides new opportunities for the development of more effective approaches for the prevention and treatment of myocardial infarction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W Suzuki ◽  
Y Nakano ◽  
H Ohashi ◽  
H Ando ◽  
K Waseda ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Normal mitral annulus morphology is known to be saddle shape. There are a few reports regarding the relationship between flattening of the mitral annular saddle shape and mitral regurgitation. However, the relationship between aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral annulus morphology is unknown. Purpose To assess the impact of AS on mitral annular saddle shape using 3-dimentional transesophageal echocardiography. Methods A total of consecutive 83 subjects including 44 patients with severe AS (AS group) and 39 patients without AS (control group), who underwent real-time 3-dimentional transesophageal echocardiography of the mitral valve, were enrolled. The 3-dimentional geometry of the mitral annulus apparatus was evaluated by the parameters analyzed using dedicated quantification software such as anteroposterior diameter (APD), commissural width (CW), annular height (AH), mitral annulus (MA) area and annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR) as shown in Figure. We assessed the impact of severe AS on AHCWR, which is the key parameter showing flattening of the mitral annular saddle shape. These parameters were adjusted by body surface area (BSA). Exclusion criteria included left ventricular ejection fraction &lt;50%, the presence of aortic regurgitation, mitral valve disease, pericardial or congenital diseases, endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, prior myocardial infarction, and paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. Results Comparisons of mitral valve geometry between AS group and control group are summarized in Table. AH/BSA and AHCWR were significantly lower in AS group compared with control group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed severe AS to be a significant and independent predictor of lowering AHCWR (β=−0.39, t=−4.04, p&lt;0.001) (adjusted with MA area, selected by stepwise analysis). Conclusions Severe AS might contribute to flattening of the mitral annular saddle shape, lead to the mitral annular structural remodeling. Assessment of the mitral annulus morphology might help evaluating severe AS. Mitral annulus 3-dimensional geometry Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 152-152
Author(s):  
Afeez Hazzan

Abstract Family caregivers of older people living with dementia are relatives, friends, or neighbors who provide assistance related to this condition, but who are unpaid for the services they provide. Although caregiving could be personally rewarding, many caregivers report a high level of strain. Compared to caregivers of older adults who do not have dementia, family caregivers of older people living with dementia report lower quality-of-life (QoL). In a published systematic review examining the relationship between family caregiver QoL and the quality of care provided, only one study was found to be somewhat relevant. The study suggested that the primary reason for an absence of research into the link between family caregiver QoL and quality of care was the absence of a questionnaire for measuring quality of care in dementia. Therefore, any attempt to investigate the impact of caregiver QoL on the care provided to older people with dementia must first address the lack of an instrument to measure quality of care. To address this issue, we interviewed approximately 20 family caregivers in order to elicit feedback on measurements and interpretation of the quality of care provided by family caregivers of older people living with dementia. Content analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that the quality of relationships with family, caregiver availability to provide or supervise care, and availability of paid or volunteer help are important for the quality of care provided. These results have important implications, particularly for the development of an instrument to measure quality of care in dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Li ◽  
Anrunze Li ◽  
Xue Song ◽  
Xinran Li ◽  
Kun Huang ◽  
...  

PurposeAs academic social Q&A networking websites become more popular, scholars are increasingly using them to meet their information needs by asking academic questions. However, compared with other types of social media, scholars are less active on these sites, resulting in a lower response quantity for some questions. This paper explores the factors that help explain how to ask questions that generate more responses and examines the impact of different disciplines on response quantity.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines 1,968 questions in five disciplines on the academic social Q&A platform ResearchGate Q&A and explores how the linguistic characteristics of these questions affect the number of responses. It uses a range of methods to statistically analyze the relationship between these linguistic characteristics and the number of responses, and conducts comparisons between disciplines.FindingsThe findings indicate that some linguistic characteristics, such as sadness, positive emotion and second-person pronouns, have a positive effect on response quantity; conversely, a high level of function words and first-person pronouns has a negative effect. However, the impacts of these linguistic characteristics vary across disciplines.Originality/valueThis study provides support for academic social Q&A platforms to assist scholars in asking richer questions that are likely to generate more answers across disciplines, thereby promoting improved academic communication among scholars.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnès Ros-Morente ◽  
Carles Alsinet Mora ◽  
Cristina Torrelles Nadal ◽  
Ana Blasco Belled ◽  
Norma Jordana Berenguer

<p>The present study had the objective of analysing the relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Positive Affect, VIA's virtues and character strengths. Additionally, it was explored if Emotional Intelligence predicted the virtue's levels of the participants, and if Positive Affect constituted a possible mediator. To that end, different measures were used: 419 undergraduate students completed the Spanish version of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale for emotional intelligence (TMMS, Fernández-Berrocal, Extremera &amp; Ramos, 2004). Character strenghts and virtues were assessed with the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS; Peterson, Park, &amp; Seligman, 2005), and Positive Affect (PA) was measured with the Spanish version of the Positive and Negative Affect (NA) Schedule (PANAS; Sandín et al., 1999). Our results showed a significant positive correlation between all the VIA strengths and virtues with TMMS scales Emotional Clarity and Emotion Repair. Emotional Attention showed significant correlations for all the virtues except Temperance. Further analyses demonstrated that TMMS scales predicted VIA virtues, and Positive Affect appeared as a possible mediator in the prediction of Temperance and Humanity virtues. These results support the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and strength of character, as well as the importance of Positive Affect in this relationship.<strong></strong></p>


Author(s):  
Raúl Payá Castiblanque

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between the different levels of direct participation of workers (passive, consultative or active-delegated) in risk prevention management with the levels of absenteeism in Spain. To this end, a transversal study was carried out using microdata from the Second European Survey of Companies on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2-Spain, 2014) with a master population of 3162 work centres. A multinomial logistic regression model was carried out, with the dependent variable being the levels of absenteeism and the independent variables, the participation indicators and preventive management, calculating the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) between all the independent and control variables, with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% IC). The results obtained showed how the active-delegative participation of workers in the design and adoption of psychosocial risk prevention measures reported 2.33 less probabilities of having a very high or fairly high level of absenteeism (aOR = 0.43; 95%IC:0.27–0.69). However, having documented aspects of preventive management (plan, risk assessment, planning measures) did not have any impact on absenteeism levels, which shows that we can fall into an unrealistic institutional mirage of security with active policies of co-education or co-management being necessary to reduce absenteeism.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2291
Author(s):  
Jialin Sun ◽  
Weinan Li ◽  
Ye Zhang ◽  
Yun Guo ◽  
Zejia Duan ◽  
...  

Bupleurum (Apiaceae) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases. Although roots are the only used parts in China, other countries use the whole plant. The yield and quality of Bupleurum depend mainly on fertilizers, especially nitrogen. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between the nitrogen fertilization level and the quality and metabolomic response of different parts (flowers, main shoots, lateral shoots and roots) of Bupleurum to three nitrogen fertilization levels (control group: 0 kg·ha−1; low-nitrogen group: 55 kg·ha−1; high-nitrogen group: 110 kg·ha−1). The results showed that a high nitrogen level increases Bupleurum yield and quality parameters only in aerial parts, especially flowers, but has no significant effect on roots. The HPLC method was exploited for simultaneous quantification of three saikosaponins (A, C and D), which are the main bioactive components in the plant. It was found that the total content of saikosaponins decreased with high nitrogen fertilization in roots but significantly increased in flowers. Moreover, nitrogen fertilizer promoted the content of saikosaponin A but inhibited saikosaponins C and saikosaponins D in most parts of the plant. To study the response of primary metabolites, we adopted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC−MS) analysis; 84 metabolites were identified that were mostly up-regulated with a high nitrogen level in flowers but down-regulated in roots. Four differential metabolites—D-fructose, lactose, ether and glycerol—were recognized as key metabolites in Bupleurum under nitrogen fertilization. Meanwhile, The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment results explained that the impact of nitrogen fertilization on Bupleurum was attributed to the C-metabolism, N-metabolism, and lipids metabolism. This research put forward new insights into potential mechanisms and the relationship between the quality and yield of Bupleurum and nitrogen fertilization.


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