Category: Nevin Manimala

Psychol Methods. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/met0000651. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Psychologists tend to rely on verbal descriptions of the environment over time, using terms like “unpredictable,” “variable,” and “unstable.” These terms are often open to different interpretations. This ambiguity blurs the match between constructs and measures, which creates confusion and inconsistency across studies. To better characterize the environment, the field needs a shared framework that organizes descriptions of the environment over time in clear terms: as statistical definitions. Here, we first present such a framework, drawing on theory developed in other disciplines, such as biology, anthropology, ecology, and economics. Then we apply our framework by quantifying “unpredictability” in a publicly available, longitudinal data set of crime rates in New York City (NYC) across 15 years. This case study shows that the correlations between different “unpredictability statistics” across regions are only moderate. This means that regions within NYC rank differently on unpredictability depending on which definition is used and at which spatial scale the statistics are computed. Additionally, we explore associations between unpredictability statistics and measures of unemployment, poverty, and educational attainment derived from publicly available NYC survey data. In our case study, these measures are associated with mean levels in crime rates but hardly with unpredictability in crime rates. Our case study illustrates the merits of using a formal framework for disentangling different properties of the environment. To facilitate the use of our framework, we provide a friendly, step-by-step guide for identifying the structure of the environment in repeated measures data sets. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023977 | DOI:10.1037/met0000651

J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/xlm0001338. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate quantification of effect sizes has the power to motivate theory and reduce misinvestment of scientific resources by informing power calculations during study planning. However, a combination of publication bias and small sample sizes (∼N = 25) hampers certainty in current effect size estimates. We sought to determine the extent to which sample sizes may produce errors in effect size estimates for four commonly used paradigms assessing attention, executive function, and implicit learning (attentional blink, multitasking, contextual cueing, and serial response task). We combined a large data set with a bootstrapping approach to simulate 1,000 experiments across a range of N (13-313). Beyond quantifying the effect size and statistical power that can be anticipated for each study design, we demonstrate that experiments with lower N may double or triple information loss. We also show that basing power calculations on effect sizes from similar studies yields a problematically imprecise estimate between 40% and 67% of the time, given commonly used sample sizes. Last, we show that skewness of intersubject behavioral effects may serve as a predictor of an erroneous estimate. We conclude with practical recommendations for researchers and demonstrate how our simulation approach can yield theoretical insights that are not readily achieved by other methods such as identifying the information gained from rejecting the null hypothesis and quantifying the contribution of individual variation to error in effect size estimates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023976 | DOI:10.1037/xlm0001338

Rehabil Psychol. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/rep0000562. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the predictive value of illness and treatment beliefs for patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents receiving inpatient rehabilitation treatment. In addition, we examined the relationship between fulfilled rehabilitation-related treatment expectations and patient satisfaction.

METHOD: In this longitudinal study (recruitment between April 2019 and March 2020), 170 participants (M = 14.3 years [SD = 1.6]) answered self-report questionnaires before and at the end of rehabilitation (6 weeks later). We applied multiple hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic and diagnoses variables.

RESULTS: The results showed fulfilled expectations of treatment success and sustainability to be a significant predictor of patient satisfaction (p < .01). The illness belief dimension of emotional representation predicted HRQOL (p < .01). Rehabilitation-related treatment beliefs were not predictive of any outcome.

CONCLUSION: This study provides a first insight into the relationships between these constructs in the context of inpatient pediatric rehabilitation. However, future research is needed to further examine illness and treatment beliefs in this specific treatment setting. Practical implications concern the incorporation of children’s and adolescents’ beliefs into treatment management to optimize rehabilitation outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023956 | DOI:10.1037/rep0000562

Psychol Trauma. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/tra0001726. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study explored rates of burnout and racial trauma among 182 Black mental health professionals (BMHPs) and utilized racial-cultural theory to explore potential protective factors against burnout and racial trauma.

METHOD: We collected data from 182 Black psychologists and counselors who were active mental health professionals during 2020. Descriptive statistics, multivariate analyses of variance, follow-up univariate analyses of variance, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression analyses were used.

RESULTS: Both burnout and racial trauma were considerably higher among BMHPs than has been reported across general samples of helping professionals and across a sample of Black participants across the United States. Differences among rates of burnout and racial trauma existed across genders and specialties (i.e., counseling and psychology). Higher levels of social support and an external locus of control significantly predicted lower levels of burnout and racial trauma. In addition, higher levels of resilient coping predicted lower levels of burnout. Last, more frequent meetings with a mentor significantly predicted lower levels of racial trauma.

CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that BMHPs may be more susceptible to burnout and race-based traumatic stress as a result of their work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023947 | DOI:10.1037/tra0001726

Psychol Trauma. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/tra0001728. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The City Birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS) assesses postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) criteria. Although it has been validated worldwide, predictive validity has not been previously examined. Moreover, no Italian version of the scale exists. This study aimed to test the bifactor latent structure and alternative models, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, divergent validity, and predictive validity of the City BiTS.

METHOD: Women (N = 629) who had given birth within the past 3 months completed an online survey including sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, the City BiTS, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. After 3 months, women completed the City BiTS again and reported their intention to breastfeed during the 1-year postpartum.

RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the two-factorial structure. In confirmatory factor analysis, the two-factorial solution showed the best model fit. Internal consistency was good to excellent for the subscales and the total scale. Correlation analyses showed strong convergent validity with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, high divergent validity with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, high test-retest reliability, and good predictive validity with the intention to exclusively breastfeed. Moreover, the Birth-Related Symptoms subscale distinguished between different types of delivery.

CONCLUSIONS: The City BiTS-Italian is the first measure evaluating and diagnosing childbirth-related PTSD symptoms based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) in Italy. The factorial structure and validity reported in other cultural contexts were confirmed; moreover, findings add evidence to the scale’s temporal stability and predictive validity. Besides contributing to clinical purposes, the City BiTS-Italian will facilitate international comparability regarding the prevalence of PTSD following childbirth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023943 | DOI:10.1037/tra0001728

Psychol Rev. 2024 Jul 18. doi: 10.1037/rev0000479. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The explanation of psychological phenomena is a central aim of psychological science. However, the nature of explanation and the processes by which we evaluate whether a theory explains a phenomenon are often unclear. Consequently, it is often unknown whether a given psychological theory indeed explains a phenomenon. We address this shortcoming by proposing a productive account of explanation: a theory explains a phenomenon to some degree if and only if a formal model of the theory produces the statistical pattern representing the phenomenon. Using this account, we outline a workable methodology of explanation: (a) explicating a verbal theory into a formal model, (b) representing phenomena as statistical patterns in data, and (c) assessing whether the formal model produces these statistical patterns. In addition, we provide three major criteria for evaluating the goodness of an explanation (precision, robustness, and empirical relevance), and examine some cases of explanatory breakdowns. Finally, we situate our framework within existing theories of explanation from philosophy of science and discuss how our approach contributes to constructing and developing better psychological theories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39023936 | DOI:10.1037/rev0000479

Chaos. 2024 Jul 1;34(7):073138. doi: 10.1063/5.0206406.

ABSTRACT

Transformations are a key tool in the qualitative study of dynamical systems: transformations to a normal form, for example, underpin the study of instabilities and bifurcations. In this work, we test, and when possible establish, an equivalence between two different artificial neural networks by attempting to construct a data-driven transformation between them, using diffusion maps with a Mahalanobis-like metric. If the construction succeeds, the two networks can be thought of as belonging to the same equivalence class. We first discuss transformation functions between only the outputs of the two networks; we then also consider transformations that take into account outputs (activations) of a number of internal neurons from each network. Whitney’s theorem dictates the number of (generic) measurements from one of the networks required to reconstruct each and every feature of the second network. The construction of the transformation function relies on a consistent, intrinsic representation of the network input space. We illustrate our algorithm by matching neural network pairs trained to learn (a) observations of scalar functions, (b) observations of two-dimensional vector fields, and (c) representations of images of a moving three-dimensional object (a rotating horse). We also demonstrate reconstruction of a network’s input (and output) from minimal partial observations of intermediate neuron activations. The construction of equivalences across different network instantiations clearly relates to transfer learning and will also be valuable in establishing equivalence between different machine learning-based tools.

PMID:39023924 | DOI:10.1063/5.0206406

JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 1;7(7):e2419873. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19873.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Endothelin receptor antagonists are first-line therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The first 2 agents approved in the class, bosentan and ambrisentan, initially carried boxed warnings for hepatotoxicity and required monthly liver function tests (LFTs) as part of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS); however, in 2011, as further safety data emerged on ambrisentan, the boxed hepatotoxicity warning and LFT requirements were removed.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in the use of and LFT monitoring for ambrisentan and bosentan after changes to the ambrisentan labeling and REMS.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This serial cross-sectional study used data from 3 longitudinal health care insurance claims databases-Medicaid, Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart, and Merative Marketscan-to perform an interrupted time series analysis of prescription fills and LFTs for patients taking ambrisentan and bosentan. Participants were patients filling prescriptions for ambrisentan and bosentan from July 1, 2007, to December 31, 2018. Data analysis was performed from April 2021 to August 2023.

EXPOSURE: Removal of the boxed warning for hepatotoxicity and the REMS LFT monitoring requirements on ambrisentan in March 2011.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were use of ambrisentan (ie, individuals with at least 1 dispensing per 1 000 000 individuals enrolled in the 3 datasets) vs bosentan and LFT monitoring (ie, proportion of initiators with at least 1 ordered test) before initiation and before the first refill.

RESULTS: A total of 10 261 patients received a prescription for ambrisentan during the study period (7442 women [72.5%]; mean [SD] age, 52.6 [17.6] years), and 11 159 patients received a prescription for bosentan (7931 women [71.1%]; mean [SD] age, 47.7 [23.7] years). Removal of the ambrisentan boxed hepatotoxicity warning and LFT monitoring requirement was associated with an immediate increase in the use of ambrisentan (1.50 patients per million enrollees; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.92 patients per million enrollees) but no significant change in the use of bosentan. There were reductions in recorded LFTs before drug initiation (13.1% absolute decrease; 95% CI, -18.2% to -8.0%) and before the first refill (26.4% absolute decrease; 95% CI, -34.4% to -18.5%) of ambrisentan but not bosentan.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this serial cross-sectional study of ambrisentan, labeling changes and removal of the REMS-related LFT requirement were associated with shifts in prescribing and testing behavior for ambrisentan but not bosentan. Further clinician education may be needed to maximize the benefits of REMS programs and labeling warnings designed to ensure the safe administration of high-risk medications.

PMID:39023895 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19873

JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 1;7(7):e2421680. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21680.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: The US registered nurse (RN) workforce is in flux, with high rates of burnout, intention to leave, and vacancies. Rapid, repeated assessments of the nursing workforce can help hospital executives and policymakers enact effective recruitment and retention strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in practicing RNs’ employment plans and workplace assessments between the 2022 and 2023 surveys.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This survey study compared data collected from the Michigan Nurses’ Study at 2 time points: February 22 to March 1, 2022, and May 17 to June 1, 2023. Practicing RNs with an active, unrestricted license in Michigan and a valid individual email address were included.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was nurses’ intention to leave their current position within 1 year. In the 2023 survey, nurses who planned to leave were queried on their next career step and the primary reason for their planned departure. Workplace assessments included questions about abusive or violent workplace events, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, the practice environment’s delivery of high-quality care, and the clinical setting’s safety rating. Regression analysis was used to examine workplace assessments and personal factors associated with planned departures.

RESULTS: This study obtained data on 9150 nurses (6495 females [71.0%]) and 7059 nurses (5134 females [72.7%]) responding to the 2022 (response rate, 8.3%) and 2023 (response rate, 7.4%) surveys, respectively. In the 2023 survey, 32.0% (2259) of nurses planned to leave their position, compared with 39.1% (3576) in the 2022 survey. Of these nurses, 957 (41.8%) planned to leave their current employer but remain in nursing, with workloads as the most frequently cited reason (29.4% [672]). Compared with the 2022 cohort, nurses in the 2023 sample reported less workplace abuse or violence (4591 [50.2%] vs 3063 [43.4%]; P < .001), fewer understaffed shifts (4407 [48.2%] vs 2898 [41.0%]; P < .001), and less frequent use of mandatory overtime (1709 [18.7%] vs 824 [11.7%]; P < .001). Factors associated with increased likelihood for planned departures included workplace abuse or violence (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05-1.82) and higher emotional exhaustion scores (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 2.38-3.91). Favorable practice environments (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22-0.62) and excellent clinical setting safety ratings (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.14-0.56) were associated with lower likelihood of planned departure.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this study showed that nurses reported improved workplace conditions in the 2023 vs the 2022 survey; however, planned departure rates, abusive or violent events, and unsafe conditions remained high, and understaffing remained a primary concern for most nurses. Health system leaders and policymakers should prioritize initiatives that support nurse retention and reduce potential workforce instability.

PMID:39023894 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21680

JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 1;7(7):e2422815. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.22815.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Prenatal diet may be causally related to autism; however, findings are inconsistent, with a limited body of research based on small sample sizes and retrospective study designs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of prenatal dietary patterns with autism diagnosis and autism-associated traits in 2 large prospective cohorts, the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used data from MoBa and ALSPAC birth cohort studies conducted across Norway and in the Southwest of England, respectively. Participants were people with singleton pregnancies with self-reported food frequency questionnaire responses. MoBa recruited between 2002 and 2008, and ALSPAC recruited between 1990 and 1992, and children were followed-up until age 8 years or older. Recruitment rates were 41% (95 200 of 277 702 eligible pregnancies) in MoBa and 72% (14 541 of 20 248 eligible pregnancies) in ALSPAC. Data analysis occurred February 1, 2022, to August 1, 2023.

EXPOSURE: A healthy prenatal dietary pattern was derived using factor analysis and modeled as low, medium, and high adherence.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: In MoBa, the offspring outcomes were autism diagnosis and elevated social communication questionnaire score at ages 3 years and 8 years, with further analysis of the social communication difficulties and restrictive and repetitive behaviors subdomains. In ALSPAC, offspring outcomes were elevated social communication difficulties checklist score at age 8 years. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using generalized nonlinear models.

RESULTS: MoBa included 84 548 pregnancies (mean [SD] age, 30.2 [4.6] years; 43 277 [51.2%] male offspring) and ALSPAC had 11 760 pregnancies (mean [SD] age, 27.9 [4.7] years; 6034 [51.3%] male offspring). In the final adjusted models, high adherence to a healthy dietary pattern, compared with low adherence, was associated with reduced odds of autism diagnosis (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66-0.92) and social communication difficulties at age 3 years in MoBa (OR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.70-0.82) and age 8 years in ALSPAC (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-0.98). There was no consistent evidence of association with the other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of mother-child dyads, adherence to a healthy prenatal dietary pattern was associated with a lower odds of autism diagnosis and social communication difficulties but not restrictive and repetitive behaviors.

PMID:39023891 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.22815