The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

Background: The study of the immune system has been approached using two separate paths, the biological immune system and the behavioral immune system. Recently, Gangestad and Grebe proposed a unique integrated compensatory immune system, where both systems work together and one of them could compensate for the other when necessary. However, few studies have confirmed the existence of this integrated compensatory immune system. Our study represents an attempt to explore the existence of this unique immune system, investigating if the behavioral immune system variables increase when the biological immune system weakens with age. Material and Methods. The cross-sectional design study was made up of a final sample of 1108 participants (45.2% men and 54.2 women) aged 18–64 years. The younger group (18–21 years) was made up of students, whilst the older groups (22 to 64 years) were composed by their relatives and acquaintances, following the snow ball process. The participants completed the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire that assesses perceived infectability and germ aversion. Correlations, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and independent group comparisons were performed. These analyses showed the relationships between the variables studied, the effects of age and gender in perceived infectability and germ aversion, and the differences that perceived infectability and germ aversion presented in different age-groups separated by gender. Results: A pattern emerged where germ aversion increases as both men and women get older, but perceived infectability decreases up to the age of 50, and then it increases in women from that age onward. Gender differences are only significant in younger participants, with women having higher scores than men in both variables. Conclusion: The results partially support the existence of a unique integrated compensatory biological/behavioral immune system.

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Correlation between bone turnover and metabolic markers with age and gender: a cross-sectional study of hospital information system data

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-020-03610-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ju Shao ◽

Shao-Song Zhou ◽

Yuan Qu ◽

Bi-Bo Liang ◽

Qing-Hong Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Turnover ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Medication History ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background Bone turnover and metabolic indicators are related to age and gender. Age and gender should be matched in subjects in disease control research of bone turnover and metabolism, but strict matching of gender and age increases the difficulty and cost of the research. Therefore, the aim of this study was to solve it is necessary to strictly match age and gender in clinical research in bone metabolism. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from the data were extracted from the HIS of ZhuJiang Hospital. Data relating to seven bone turnover and metabolic indicators from 1036 patients between January 2018 and October 2019 were analyzed. Results P1NP, β-CTx and 25(OH)D were significant different in individuals younger than 20 years of age. ALP was significantly higher in those under 20 years of age and lower at age 20–39 compared with other age groups. The concentrations of Ca and P were different among the groups aged 0–19, 20–39, and 40–59 years of age groups but exhibited no difference above 60 years of age. PTH expression was not dependent on age. P1NP, β-CTx and PTH concentrations were not significantly different between the genders within the same age group. ALP was significantly different between genders within the age range 20–59 years. Ca and 25(OH)D were significantly different between the genders for those older than 60. Serum P was significantly different in the two genders for those aged 40–79. Patients received both alfacalcidol and calcium treatment differently from the others in P1NP, β-CTx, Serum Ca, P and ALP. Conclusion P1NP and β-CTx were highly correlated with age. If these two indictors require analysis in a case control study, the patients and controls should be strictly matched by age under 20 years. The demarcation point for ALP was 40 years of age. Ca and P were strongly recommended strict matching according to age in disease research. The difference in P1NP, β-CTx, 25(OH)D and ALP between genders depends on age differences. Medication history should be considered in bone turnover and metabolic clinical research.

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Prominent seasonality of 25(OH)D vitamin deficiency in Latvia: Age and gender-related variations and testing regimen

SHS Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/shsconf/202213102004 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 131 ◽

pp. 02004

Author(s):

Sergey Nikulshin ◽

Jana Osite ◽

Stella Lapina ◽

Anda Krisane ◽

Iveta Dzivite-Krisane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Latitude ◽

Social Impact ◽

Age Groups ◽

Central Laboratory ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Younger Age ◽

Optimal Period ◽

And Gender ◽

Sectional Analysis

Seasonality of 25(OH)D deficiency rate is a factor of major clinical and social impact and should be considered when planning for appropriate testing and tailored correction. We present retrospective cross-sectional analysis of over a million 25(OH)D tests performed in two leading Latvian laboratories – Central Laboratory and E.Gulbja Laboratory. Both series of tests demonstrated prominent seasonal variability of 25(OH)D deficiency rate (<20 ng/ml) and critical deficiency rate (<12 ng/ml): the lowest percentage of deficient tests was in August, while a significant peak was found in March-April. This trend was present at all ages and in both genders, variations were pronounced even for a high-latitude country and more prominent for critical deficiency, in younger age groups and in males. Analysis of testing regimens of both laboratories revealed that schedule was not optimal, period of higher testing intensity being far removed from the 25(OH)D deficiency peak.

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Correlation between bone turnover and metabolic markers with age and gender: a cross-sectional study of hospital information system data

10.21203/rs.3.rs-17191/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shao Ju ◽

Shaosong Zhou ◽

Yuan Qu ◽

bibo liang ◽

Qing-Hong Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Turnover ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Metabolic Markers ◽

The Difference ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background: Bone turnover and metabolic indicators are related to age and gender. Age and gender should be matched in subjects in disease control research of bone turnover and metabolism, but strict matching of gender and age increases the difficulty and cost of the research. Therefore, the aim of this study was to solve the question of whether it is necessary to strictly match age and gender in clinical research in bone metabolism.METHODS: Patient data were extracted from the HIS of ZhuJiang Hospital, Southern Medical University. From these data, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Data relating to seven bone turnover and metabolic indicators from 1036 patients between January 2018 and October 2019 were analyzed. A total of 156 patients aged under 20 were identified and analyzed separately. RESULTS: P1NP, β-CTx and 25(OH)D were significant different in individuals younger than 20 years of age. ALP was significantly higher in those under 20 years of age and lower at age 20-39 compared with other age groups. The concentrations of Ca and P were different among the groups aged 0-19, 20-39, and 40-59 years of age groups but exhibited no difference above 60 years of age. PTH expression was not dependent on age. P1NP, β-CTx and PTH concentrations were not significantly different between the genders within the same age group. ALP was significantly different between genders within the age range 20-59 years. Ca and 25(OH)D were significantly different between the genders for those older than 60. Serum P was significantly different in the two genders for those aged 40-79. CONCLUSION: P1NP and β-CTx were highly correlated with age. If these two indictors require analysis in a case control study, the patients and controls should be strictly matched by age under 20 years. The demarcation point for ALP was 40 years of age. Ca and P were strongly recommended strict matching according to age in disease research. The difference in P1NP, β-CTx, 25(OH)D and ALP between genders depends on age differences.

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UNPUBLISHED, REJECTED MANUSCRIPT NOT TO BE RESUBMITTED: Infection and ideology- Perceived vulnerability to disease predicts political conservatism

10.31234/osf.io/6ag92 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph A Vitriol

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

The Political ◽

World Values Survey ◽

Perceived Vulnerability ◽

Behavioral Immune System ◽

The World ◽

Political Conservatism ◽

Perceived Vulnerability To Disease ◽

Political Right

Recent research on the behavioral immune system suggests that perceived vulnerability to disease is associated with greater ingroup preference, conformity, and support for established cultural practices. However, little of this research has looked at the implications of perceived vulnerability to disease for an orientation linked to many of the above outcomes: ideology. In two studies, we test the hypothesis that perceived vulnerability to disease should be associated with greater political conservatism. In Study 1, we find a relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease and increases in conservatism over time. In Study 2, we use data from the World Values Survey to demonstrate that perceived vulnerability to disease predicts a stronger preference for the political right in a large sample of respondents from a wide variety of nations. Together, these results suggest that the consequences of the behavioral immune system may extend to abstract identifications like ideology.

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Correlation between bone turnover and metabolic markers with age and gender: a cross-sectional study of hospital information system data

10.21203/rs.3.rs-17191/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shao Ju ◽

Shaosong Zhou ◽

Yuan Qu ◽

Bibo Liang ◽

Qing-Hong Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Turnover ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Medication History ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

And Gender

Abstract Background: Bone turnover and metabolic indicators are related to age and gender. Age and gender should be matched in subjects in disease control research of bone turnover and metabolism, but strict matching of gender and age increases the difficulty and cost of the research. Therefore, the aim of this study was to solve it is necessary to strictly match age and gender in clinical research in bone metabolism.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from the data were extracted from the HIS of ZhuJiang Hospital. Data relating to seven bone turnover and metabolic indicators from 1036 patients between January 2018 and October 2019 were analyzed.RESULTS: P1NP, β-CTx and 25(OH)D were significant different in individuals younger than 20 years of age. ALP was significantly higher in those under 20 years of age and lower at age 20-39 compared with other age groups. The concentrations of Ca and P were different among the groups aged 0-19, 20-39, and 40-59 years of age groups but exhibited no difference above 60 years of age. PTH expression was not dependent on age. P1NP, β-CTx and PTH concentrations were not significantly different between the genders within the same age group. ALP was significantly different between genders within the age range 20-59 years. Ca and 25(OH)D were significantly different between the genders for those older than 60. Serum P was significantly different in the two genders for those aged 40-79. Patients received both alfacalcidol and calcium treatment differently from the others in P1NP, β-CTx, Serum Ca, P and ALP.CONCLUSION: P1NP and β-CTx were highly correlated with age. If these two indictors require analysis in a case control study, the patients and controls should be strictly matched by age under 20 years. The demarcation point for ALP was 40 years of age. Ca and P were strongly recommended strict matching according to age in disease research. The difference in P1NP, β-CTx, 25(OH)D and ALP between genders depends on age differences. Medication history should be considered in bone turnover and metabolic clinical research.

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Hand Force of Men and Women Over 65 Years of Age as Measured by Maximum Pinch and Grip Force

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.16.1.24 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 24-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Caroline W. Stegink Jansen ◽

Bruce R. Niebuhr ◽

Daniel J. Coussirat ◽

Dana Hawthorne ◽

Laura Moreno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grip Force ◽

Force Measurement ◽

Age Groups ◽

Normative Values ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Pinch Force ◽

Hand Force ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of age and gender on 4 measures of grip and pinch force of well elderly community dwellers and to provide normative values. The hypotheses were that age and gender affect pinch and grip force and that these 2 factors might interact. Hand strength of 224 seniors 65–92 years old was tested. Grip and pinch force decreased in successively older age groups past 65 years. Men’s grip force exceeded that of women in all age groups. Men’s hand-force decline was steeper than that of women over successive age groups, suggesting that gender differences in force decreased with age. Trends were the same for all 4 types of grip- and pinch-force measurement but were most clearly visible in grip and key-pinch force. Norms were provided for seniors age 65–85+ years in 5-yr increments.

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Prevalence of refractive errors by age and gender in patients reporting to ophthalmology department.

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2020.27.09.5216 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (09) ◽

pp. 1989-1994

Author(s):

Adeel Ahmed Siddiqui ◽

Muhammad Ajmal Chaudhary ◽

Muhammad Zafar Ullah ◽

Majid Hussain ◽

Nadeem Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Care ◽

Age Groups ◽

P Value ◽

Refractive Errors ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Age Group ◽

Ocular Surgery ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

And Gender

Objectives: To determine the age and gender specific prevalence of different refractive errors in the patients presenting to the Ophthalmology Departments of the tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional study. Setting: Departments of Outpatient Ophthalmology at THQ Hospital Kabirwala, The Children’s Hospital & The Institute of Child Health Multan and Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Period: January 2020 to May 2020. Material & Methods: A total of 400 patients ≥ 4 years age of either gender were included. Patients with history of ocular surgery, trauma and advanced fundus disease were excluded. Age and gender of the patients was noted. Clinical examination and autorefraction were carried out. Quantitative data is presented as mean ± SD and qualitative data as frequency and percentages. Chi-square test is used to assess the association of refractive errors with age groups and gender. Results: Median age of the participants was 20 years (range 04 – 92 years). Males constituted 58% (n = 232) of the study participants. Most common refractive error were astigmatism (n=298, 74.5%) and myopia in 187 (46.75%) patients. Prevalence of myopia was significantly higher (p-value < 0.001) in 11-20 (39.6%) and 21-40 (34.2%) years age group and in males (64.7%, p-value 0.01). Hypermetropia was significantly higher (p-value <0.001) in 4-10 (36.8%) and ≥ 41 (38.7%) years age group with no gender predilection. Conclusion: This study shows prevalence of myopia being highest in males age 11-40 years and prevalence of hypermetropia being highest in children between 4-10 year and elderly ≥ 41 year with no gender predilection.

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Influencers on YouTube: a quantitative study on young people’s use and perception of videos about political and societal topics

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-020-01164-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Zimmermann ◽

Christian Noll ◽

Lars Gräßer ◽

Kai-Uwe Hugger ◽

Lea Marie Braun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Study ◽

Role Model ◽

Age Groups ◽

Research Field ◽

Future Research ◽

Opinion Formation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Youtube Videos ◽

And Gender

AbstractThe roles of YouTube videos and YouTubers for getting information about political and societal topics are becoming gradually more important to young people. Quantitative research about young people’s use and perception of YouTube-videos and their potential effects on opinion formation is sparse though. This cross-sectional quantitative study addresses this empirical gap. We examined young people’s analytic-critical evaluations of YouTubers and their videos about political and societal topics (YTPS-videos), and how these are affected by the young people’s age and gender. We analysed questionnaire data of 562 participants and divided them into three different age groups. Overall, the participants reported a moderate watching frequency of YTPS-videos. They also rated YTPS-videos as moderately credible and considered specific characteristics of YTPS-videos and their producers as being moderately indicative for fake news. When comparing to traditional TV news, YTPS-videos were perceived as more entertaining, emotional, funny, exciting, modern, and motivating but also as more subjective and manipulating. Regarding YouTubers, the participants ascribed them an important role model function, but criticised them for handling it rather irresponsibly. Concerning opinion formation processes, the participants reported of a rather unimportant role of YTPS-videos for their learning about political and societal topics. They also perceived themselves as less influenceable than other peers and younger people. Still, they prefer talking with friends instead of teachers about YTPS-videos. Age and gender also had effects on various scales. These results deliver essential data for future research and educational measures and opened up unexplored areas in this research field.

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Behavioral Immune System Responses to Coronavirus: A Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Explanation of Conformity, Warmth Toward Others and Attitudes Toward Lockdown

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566237 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Alison M. Bacon ◽

Philip J. Corr

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Immune System ◽

Social Norms ◽

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory ◽

Perceived Vulnerability ◽

Behavioral Immune System ◽

Sensitivity Theory ◽

Reinforcement Sensitivity ◽

Approach Behaviors ◽

Perceived Vulnerability To Disease

Behavioral immune system (BIS) describes psychological mechanisms that detect cues to infectious pathogens in the immediate environment, trigger disease-relevant responses and facilitate behavioral avoidance/escape. BIS activation elicits a perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) which can result in conformity with social norms. However, a response to superficial cues can result in aversive responses to people that pose no actual threat, leading to an aversion to unfamiliar others, and likelihood of prejudice. Pathogen-neutralizing behaviors, therefore, have implications for social interaction as well as illness behaviors and responses to health communications. In this study, we investigate how PVD influences conformity, attitudes to other people and to lockdown regulations through the lens of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). RST describes personality in terms of biologically-driven approach and avoidance motivations which support personal goals. Participants from the United Kingdom public (N = 605) completed an RST personality questionnaire and then read either (a) coronavirus morbidity-mortality statistics and current United Kingdom government lifestyle regulations, (b) just the regulations (as presented in most government publicity materials), or (c) no information at all. They all completed the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease scale to assess BIS-relevant Germ Aversion and Perceived Infectability, followed by questions measuring social conformity, warmth toward others and attitudes toward lockdown measures. Significantly lower PVD scores were observed in the no-information condition, with the other conditions showing no difference. In terms of RST, approach behaviors related to goal-drive persistence work alongside fear in explaining conformity to social norms. Reward related approach behaviors partially explained warmth toward others, indicating that social rewards gained through interaction continue to be strong drivers of behavior. We found no role for RST traits in attitudes toward lockdown. Overall, coronavirus-related behavior is not driven purely by fear, but also by social and/or protection goals regulated by approach motivation. This study presents new insights into public perceptions of coronavirus and government regulated lifestyle restrictions, helping to explain social behaviors in terms of biologically driven mechanisms. Such understanding is vital if we are to successfully motivate public behavior to constrain spread of the virus.

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Testing the Disgust-Based Mechanism of Homonegative Attitudes in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647881 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Aleksandra Szymkow ◽

Natalia Frankowska ◽

Katarzyna Galasinska

Keyword(s):

System Theory ◽

Immune System ◽

Defense Mechanisms ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Perceived Vulnerability ◽

Behavioral Immune System ◽

Functional Flexibility ◽

Sexual Disgust ◽

Perceived Vulnerability To Disease

Negative attitudes and stigmatization can originate from the perception of a disease-related threat. Following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is often suggested that incidents of discriminatory behavior are the result of defense mechanisms aimed at avoiding pathogens. According to the behavioral immune system theory, people are motivated to distance themselves from individuals who show signs of infection, or who are only heuristically associated with a disease, primarily because of the disgust they evoke. In this paper we focus on negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians who are among social groups that have been persistently framed as “unclean.” In our correlational study (N = 500 heterosexual participants; Polish sample data collected during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Poland, in March/April 2020) we tested moderation models derived from the behavioral immune system theory. Specifically, we investigated whether perceived vulnerability to disease and perceived threat of contracting COVID-19 moderate the relation between disgust and homonegativity. We found that sexual disgust (but not pathogen nor moral disgust) predicted homonegative attitudes. This effect was stronger for participants expressing higher levels of perceived vulnerability to disease but was not dependent on the perception of the COVID-19 threat. The results reaffirm previous evidence indicating a pivotal role of disgust in disease-avoidance mechanisms. They also point to functional flexibility of the behavioral immune system by demonstrating the moderating role of perceived vulnerability to disease in shaping homonegative attitudes. Finally, they show that the threat of COVID-19 does not strengthen the relationship between disgust and homonegativity.

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