Cyberbullying Media-Based Prevention Intervention for Adolescents on Instagram: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Rose Kutok ◽  
Shira Dunsiger ◽  
John V Patena ◽  
Nicole R Nugent ◽  
Alison Riese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Prevention Intervention ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Between 15-70% of adolescents report experiencing cybervictimization; cybervictimization is associated with multiple negative consequences, including depressed mood. Few validated, easily disseminated interventions exist to prevent cybervictimization and its consequences. With over 97% of adolescents using social media (such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat), recruiting and delivering a prevention intervention through social media and apps may improve accessibility of prevention tools for at-risk youth. OBJECTIVE To evaluate feasibility and acceptability, and to obtain preliminary outcome data, on a brief remote app-based intervention to prevent and reduce the effect of cyberbullying (IMPACT, Intervention Media to Prevent Adolescent Cyber-conflict through Technology). METHODS A national sample of 80 adolescents with a history of past-year cyber-victimization were recruited through Instagram for a randomized control trial (RCT) of the IMPACT a brief remote Research Assistant (RA) lead intervention and fully automated app-based program versus enhanced online resources (control). Feasibility and acceptability were measured by consent, daily use, and validated surveys. Although not powered for efficacy, outcomes (victimization, bystander self-efficacy, wellbeing) were measured using validated measures at 8 and 16 weeks and compared using SAS 9.3. RESULTS Regarding feasibility, 24.5% of eligible participants provided contact information, and of these 70% completed full enrollment procedures. Of the 80 participants enrolled 36 were randomized into the Intervention and 44 into the enhanced online rescores groups. All participants randomized to the intervention condition completed the remote intervention session, and 89% of daily prompts were answered. Retention rate at 8 weeks was 99% and 96% at 16 weeks for all participants. Regarding acceptability, 100% of intervention participants were at least moderately satisfied with IMPACT overall, and 92% were at least moderately satisfied with the app. Well-being among IMPACT users was significantly higher (b=1.17, SE=.87, P=.02 at 8 weeks; b=3.24, SE=.95, P=.001 at 16 weeks) and psychological stress was lower (b=-.66, SE=.08, P=.04 at 8 weeks; b=-.89, SE=.09, P<.01 at 16 weeks) than in controls. Participants in the intervention group attempted significantly more bystander interventions compared to control at 8 weeks (b=.82, SE=.42, P=.02). CONCLUSIONS Remote app-based interventions for victims of cyberbullying are feasible and acceptable, increase overall well-being and bystander effects, and decrease psychological stress. This is especially noteworthy given the increased anxiety reported from adolescents during the current global pandemics. The use of Instagram to recruit adolescents can be a successful strategy to identify and intervene with those at the highest risk of cybervictimization. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04259216

Supporting Children Who Experience Domestic Violence: Evaluating the Child Witness to Domestic Violence Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110358
Author(s):  
Erin C. Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Child Witness ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Child Gender ◽  
The Impact

Impacting 1 in 4 children in the United States, childhood exposure to domestic violence predicts myriad negative sequelae. Intervening post exposure is critical to help children and their protective parent heal and avoid long-term negative consequences. Children aged 2-17 and their mothers who were victims of domestic violence participated in a 12-week group program delivered by domestic violence agency staff that provides psychoeducation on the impact of trauma and domestic violence and aims to improve parent and child well-being. The impact of the Child Witness to Domestic Violence (CWDV) program was tested in an intervention group ( n = 69 children, 33 mothers) who participated in CWDV and control group ( n = 80 children, 39 mothers) consisting of children whose mothers received adult-focused domestic violence services but were not enrolled in CWDV or other child-focused services. Multiple regression analyses controlling for child gender, child age, mother’s age, and the outcome of interest at time 1 found that participation in CWDV program significantly predicted better child functioning as indicated by less hyperactivity ( B = –.85, p = .06), fewer negative emotional symptoms ( B = –1.14, p = .01), and fewer total behavioral difficulties ( B = –2.48, p = .02) as well as higher maternal hope ( B = .57, p = .03). These data provide promising evidence of the impact of a brief, replicable group intervention that promotes healing and well-being among children and parents exposed to domestic violence. Limitations include a quasi-experimental design and reliance on maternal report.

scholarly journals Educational Intervention on Social Media To Prevent Occupational Neck Pain; A Protocol for a Randomized Trial To Prevention Occupational Neck Pain in Teachers Profession

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedigheh Sadat Tavafian ◽  
Zohre Moradi ◽  
Seyedeh Somayeh Kazemi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Neck pain is one of the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Which has important social and economic consequences such as reduced productivity due to absenteeism, leave and early retirement and financial losses due to medical expenses for the workforce, especially teachers, and is a serious problem among teachers. This study aims was to evaluate whether a theory-based intervention social media could change the high-risk behaviors that cause to job-related neck pain among teachers.Methods: This is a community-randomized controlled trial that will be done in three steps. The stages of the study include: The first stage is a qualitative study to obtain the items and areas of the researcher-made questionnaire based on the health belief model (HBM), the second stage is the psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire and the third stage is the design and implementation of model-based educational intervention in social media. The study population is middle school teachers in the 19th district of Tehran, which are randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group receives training packages on social media and the control group does not receive any training. The intervention tries to improve the knowledge, attitude, skills and self-efficacy in adopting neck pain prevention behaviors among teachers. The study will also assess whether the intervention can reduce disability caused by neck pain among teachers.Discussion: Job-related neck pain can have a negative impact on teachers' health. This study is an attempt to investigate the impact, development and implementation of interventions in reducing job-related neck pain on social media.Trial registration number: IRCT20210301050542N1Registered on 16 March 2021 in IRCT (Iranian registry of Clinical TrialEthics Code: IR.MODARES.REC.1399.163

scholarly journals The Use of Web-Based Social Networks: Trends, Antecedents, and Consequences

Webology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (Special Issue 03) ◽  
pp. 233-245
Author(s):  
Navreet Kaur ◽  
Anmol Sandhu
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Impact

Online Social Networks (OSNs) have redefined interpersonal relationships and added a new dimension to communication patterns. According to latest reports, there has been a steep rise in the number of active social media users around the globe. The present paper is a review of research evidence on the antecedent factors leading to such usage and its consequences thereof. Unique features of the virtual environment trigger certain personality traits which are reported to be major predictors of social networking behaviour. Studies on the impact of social media on consumers have unearthed both positive and negative consequences. Research findings, for example, reveal that social media consumption has a therapeutic effect in terms of fulfilment of certain needs and an increase in self-esteem; whereas activation of a narcissistic state and lowered self-control have an adverse effect on psychological well-being and behaviour. The paper summarizes the workplace implications of web-based social networking and also briefly discusses the recent and emerging trends in digital behaviours with particular reference to the Covid-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Awakening Compassion in Managers—a New Emotional Skills Intervention to Improve Managerial Compassion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Paakkanen ◽  
Frank Martela ◽  
Jari Hakanen ◽  
Lotta Uusitalo ◽  
Anne Pessi
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Organizational Research ◽  
Emotional Skills ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Compassion is in high demand within organizational research, with important implications for leadership, well-being, and productivity. However, thus far only meditation-based interventions have been implemented to increase compassion in organizations. Our aim was to explore whether compassion could be increased among managers through improving their emotional skills. We implemented a quasi-randomized controlled trial with pre-test and post-test design of a new emotional skills cultivation training among managers, measuring the treatment group (N = 68), the control group (N = 90), and their followers (N = 85 and N = 72). Compared to the control group, the managers exhibited significantly increased sense of emotional skills, with some evidence for an improved sense of compassion. We also found that emotional skills mediated the impact of participating in the intervention group and compassion. Additionally, servant leadership behaviors in the intervention group improved following the intervention. These results demonstrate that instead of being something innate, compassion is a skill that can be increased through training emotional skills, with observable benefits for the organization.

Modelling the role of social media usage in improving users well-being: a social enhancement model perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Bodhi ◽  
Tripti Singh ◽  
Yatish Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeEmployees have gradually adopted social media sites and their applications that have been associated with enhanced communication and collaboration at the workplace. However, social technologies have both positive as well as negative consequences. The current study examines the impact of loneliness on employees' psychological well-being (PW); subsequently, the mediating role of social media use intensity (SMI) at the workplace. It also examines the moderating role of gender and management status of employees.Design/methodology/approachThe present study conducted an online and offline survey using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 206 working professionals from the IT industry in India. Structural equation modelling was applied to analyse data.FindingsResults revealed that employee loneliness is positively associated with SMI. Employee's SMI was positively associated with enhanced PW. Unexpectedly, employee loneliness is positively and significantly related to PW. However, the moderating roles of gender and management status of employees were not supported.Practical implicationsThe current study can help managers, policymakers and organizations better understand the role of employee social media use in the workplace. Using the insights and understanding offered by the study, social media can be effectively utilized in the workplace. The study recommends that organizations may allow the use of social media at the workplace. Social media resources may also be helpful in improving employee communication and digital literacy.Originality/valueThe current study is a pioneer work and contributes to the literature by examining the relationship between loneliness, SMI and PW. This study has essential theoretical and managerial contributions.

scholarly journals Effects of Sharing Old Pictures With Grandchildren on Intergenerational Relationships: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/16315 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e16315
Author(s):  
Zoljargalan Gantumur ◽  
Marcos Baez ◽  
Nomin-Erdene Ulamnemekh ◽  
Francisco Ibarra ◽  
Sugarmaa Myagmarjav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background Intergenerational relationships are beneficial for both grandparents and grandchildren. A positive grandparent-grandchild relationship can improve the psychological well-being of older adults and be a source of social support, family history, and identity development. Maintaining meaningful interactions can be, however, a challenging endeavor, especially as life events lead to relocating geographically. Grandparents and grandchildren can have different preferences in terms of communication mediums and different assumptions about the real conversational needs of the other. Objective In this study, we will investigate the feasibility and effect of sharing memories of older adults with their grandchildren in social media. This intervention focuses on bringing snippets of the lives of the grandparents into the grandchildren’s social media feed and analyzing the potential effect on relational quality, relational investment, and conversational resources from the perspective of the grandchildren. Methods A randomized controlled trial will be used to measure the effectiveness of sharing family memories through social media on intergenerational relationships from the perspective of the grandchildren. The study will be implemented in Mongolia among 60 grandparent-grandchild pairs who will be assigned to either a control or intervention group. Pictures and stories will be collected during reminiscence sessions between the researchers and the grandparents before the intervention. During an intervention period of 2 months, grandchildren in the intervention group will receive pictures and stories of their grandparents on their social media account. Pre- and postintervention questionnaires will measure relationship quality, relationship investment, and conversational resources and will be used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Results We conducted a pretest pilot from January to April 2018 among 6 pairs of participants (6 grandparents and 6 grandchildren). The validation of the protocol was focused on the process, instruments, and technological setup. We continued the study after the validation, and 59 pairs of participants (59 grandparents and 59 grandchildren) have been recruited. The data collection was completed in November 2019. Conclusions The results of this study will contribute to strategies to stimulate social interactions in intergenerational pairs. A validation of the study process is also presented to provide further operational recommendations. The lessons learned during the validation of the protocol are discussed with recommendations and implications for the recruitment, reminiscence sessions, technological setup, and administration of instruments. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16315

scholarly journals Testing the effects of Facebook usage in an ethnically polarized setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (25) ◽  
pp. e2022819118
Author(s):  
Nejla Asimovic ◽  
Jonathan Nagler ◽  
Richard Bonneau ◽  
Joshua A. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Intergroup Dynamics ◽  
Interethnic Relations ◽  
Current Events ◽  
The Impact

Despite the belief that social media is altering intergroup dynamics—bringing people closer or further alienating them from one another—the impact of social media on interethnic attitudes has yet to be rigorously evaluated, especially within areas with tenuous interethnic relations. We report results from a randomized controlled trial in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), exploring the effects of exposure to social media during 1 wk around genocide remembrance in July 2019 on a set of interethnic attitudes of Facebook users. We find evidence that, counter to preregistered expectations, people who deactivated their Facebook profiles report lower regard for ethnic outgroups than those who remained active. Moreover, we present additional evidence suggesting that this effect is likely conditional on the level of ethnic heterogeneity of respondents’ residence. We also extend the analysis to include measures of subjective well-being and knowledge of news. Here, we find that Facebook deactivation leads to suggestive improvements in subjective wellbeing and a decrease in knowledge of current events, replicating results from recent research in the United States in a very different context, thus increasing our confidence in the generalizability of these effects.

Investigating the Impact of Cognitive Training for Individuals With Bothersome Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982199474
Author(s):  
Maggie Xing ◽  
Dorina Kallogjeri ◽  
Jay F. Piccirillo
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Index ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training in improving tinnitus bother and to identify predictors of patient response. Study Design Prospective open-label randomized controlled trial. Setting Online. Methods Participants were adults with subjective idiopathic nonpulsatile tinnitus causing significant tinnitus-related distress. The intervention group trained by using auditory-intensive exercises for 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. The active control group trained on the same schedule with non–auditory intensive games. Surveys were completed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results A total of 64 participants completed the study. The median age was 63 years (range, 25-69) in the intervention group and 61 years (34-68) in the control group. Mixed model analysis revealed that within-subject change in Tinnitus Functional Index in the intervention group was not different than the control group, with marginal mean differences (95% CI): 0.24 (–11.20 to 10.7) and 2.17 (–8.50 to 12.83) at 8 weeks and 2.33 (–8.6 to 13.3) and 3.36 (–7.91 to 14.6) at 12 weeks, respectively. When the 2 study groups were compared, the control group had higher Tinnitus Functional Index scores than the intervention group by 10.5 points at baseline (95% CI, –0.92 to 29.89), 8.1 at 8 weeks (95% CI, –3.27 to 19.42), and 9.4 at 12 weeks (95% CI, –2.45 to 21.34). Conclusion Auditory-intensive cognitive training was not associated with changes in self-reported tinnitus bother. Given the potential for neuroplasticity to affect tinnitus, we believe that future studies on cognitive training for tinnitus remain relevant.

scholarly journals Community Health Workers as a Strategy to Tackle Psychosocial Suffering Due to Physical Distancing: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3097
Author(s):  
Dorien Vanden Bossche ◽  
Susan Lagaert ◽  
Sara Willems ◽  
Peter Decat
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many primary care professionals were overburdened and experienced difficulties reaching vulnerable patients and meeting the increased need for psychosocial support. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested whether a primary healthcare (PHC) based community health worker (CHW) intervention could tackle psychosocial suffering due to physical distancing measures in patients with limited social networks. Methods: CHWs provided 8 weeks of tailored psychosocial support to the intervention group. Control group patients received ‘care as usual’. The impact on feelings of emotional support, social isolation, social participation, anxiety and fear of COVID-19 were measured longitudinally using a face-to-face survey to determine their mean change from baseline. Self-rated change in psychosocial health at 8 weeks was determined. Results: We failed to find a significant effect of the intervention on the prespecified psychosocial health measures. However, the intervention did lead to significant improvement in self-rated change in psychosocial health. Conclusions: This study confirms partially the existing evidence on the effectiveness of CHW interventions as a strategy to address mental health in PHC in a COVID context. Further research is needed to elaborate the implementation of CHWs in PHC to reach vulnerable populations during and after health crises.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of the European resilience curriculum in preschool, early and late primary school children

2021 ◽  
pp. 014303432110250
Author(s):  
Celeste Simões ◽  
Anabela C. Santos ◽  
Paula Lebre ◽  
João R. Daniel ◽  
Cátia Branquinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Prosocial Behaviours ◽  
The Impact

Resilience is an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to and persevere during and after significant challenges. Resilience programmes based on a socioemotional learning approach have been associated with an increase in protextive factors (e.g., prosocial competencies), improvements in physical and mental health, and a decrease in internalised and externalised symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the RESCUR curriculum implemented in Portuguese schools on students’ academic, behavioural, and socioemotional outcomes, based on child and teacher reports. Participants included 1,084 children (53.2% male) aged 3-15 ( M = 7.24, SD = 2.31). A quasi-experimental study compared outcomes for an experimental intervention group (AIG) with a waiting list control group (WG). The results showed the RESCUR programme decreased mental health difficulties while increasing both prosocial behaviours and well-being. In addition, academic performance increased for those in preschool after implementation. Both teachers and children consistently reported positive behavioural changes in resilience-related competencies after implementing RESCUR. Our findings contribute to the recent research on the potential of RESCUR to address key socioemotional competencies and improve relevant protextive factors. Study limitations and future recommendations are addressed.

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