Tag: statistics

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-5. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210615-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between ocular position control ability and stereopsis recovery in children with intermittent exotropia, and to analyze the influencing factors of distance stereopsis recovery.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, 78 children with small angle intermittent exotropia received vision training for 3 months. All patients were examined for distance stereopsis with the synoptophore and for near stereopsis with the Titmus stereogram before and after the training. The patients were divided into low and high Newcastle Control Score (NCS) groups. The stereopsis of the two groups was compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of distance stereopsis recovery.

RESULTS: Among 78 children with intermittent exotropia, 33 had near stereopsis (42.3%) and 22 had distance stereopsis (28.2%); the difference was significant (P < .05). After 3 months of training, there were statistically significant differences between distance and near stereopsis in the low NCS group and the high NCS group (chi-square = 7.127, P = .008; chi-square = 13.005, P < .001). The number of children with distance and near stereopsis in the low NCS group increased significantly compared with before training (chi-square = 13.471, P < .001; chi-square = 22.244, P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age of onset (odds ratio [OR] = 3.768, P = .001), near point of convergence (OR = 0.347, P = .002), and NCS (OR = 0.142, P = .002) were risk factors that affected stereopsis recovery in children with small angle intermittent exotropia.

CONCLUSIONS: Control ability is one of the important indicators to assess the severity of intermittent exotropia. The worse the control ability, the more difficult the recovery of stereopsis. Age of onset, near point of convergence, and NCS are risk factors that affect the recovery of distance stereopsis. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;XX(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435904 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210615-02

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-7. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210707-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical results of full horizontal tendon rectus muscle transposition to the superior rectus muscle insertion, augmented by posterior fixation sutures, in patients with double elevator palsy.

METHODS: In this retrospective comparative study, 17 patients treated by the augmented Knapp procedure (study group) were compared with 28 patients treated by the standard Knapp procedure (control group). Pre-operative and postoperative vertical deviation in primary position, ocular motility, binocular function, and rate of reoperation were evaluated.

RESULTS: The mean preoperative near and distance deviations (hypotropia) decreased by 93% and 97% in the study group and 68% and 69% in the control group, respectively. The improvement in near and distance deviation was statistically more significant in the study group than the control group (P = .001 for each parameter). The mean preoperative elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction improved by 64% and 66% in the study group and 37% and 39% in the control group, respectively. The improvement in elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction was statistically significantly greater in the study group than the control group (P = .001 and .04, respectively). Reoperation was required in 15 patients (54%) in the control group and 2 (12%) in the study group during the follow-up period of 26 ± 4 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative improvement in near and distance deviation and elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction was significantly better in the augmented Knapp procedure than the standard Knapp procedure. This procedure demonstrated a stronger effect in the treatment of double elevator palsy. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435907 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210707-02

Sci Prog. 2021 Jul-Sep;104(3):368504211038191. doi: 10.1177/00368504211038191.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide, compromising the responsiveness of governments and states and thus generating anxiety and fear at the population level.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of anxiety and fear of coronavirus disease 2019 in a Spanish adult population group.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study, using the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 assessment scale (AMICO, for its acronym in Spanish). The sample was composed of 1038 subjects. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were performed, after analysis of normality in the data distribution. Categorical regression analyses were also executed.

FINDINGS: The total sample size was 1036 subjects, 56.3% was made up of females, with a mean age of 48.11 years (SD = 15.13). The mean score obtained on the AMICO scale was 5.54 points (SD = 1.83), with a score range between 1.22 and 10. Bivariate analysis only demonstrated statistically significant differences in the mean score of the scale and the variables: sex, marital status, work area and academic level. The executed categorical regression analysis revealed an R² value of 0.75 and a significance of p = 0.00.

CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that the Spanish population presents moderate anxiety levels to coronavirus disease 2019. Women, married, with primary and/or secondary education level, and working in the public transport, services and/or hospitality sectors are more likely to have high levels of fear and anxiety.

APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: These results could be used for therapeutic and preventive psychological interventions, and also to plan new research under sex perspective and observing the socio-economic environment.

PMID:34435895 | DOI:10.1177/00368504211038191

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-5. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210610-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the clinically significant (5 prism diopters [PD] or greater) changes in deviations after 1 and 24 hours of diagnostic monocular occlusion specifically for basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia.

METHODS: In this prospective study, diagnostic monocular occlusion was performed at 1 and 24 hours before surgery in patients with intermittent exotropia. A change of 5 PD or greater in the near and distance deviation after occlusion was considered clinically significant and used as the cut-off point for analysis. The mean clinically significant changes between the deviations after 1 and 24 hours of occlusion in patients with basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia were compared.

RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with basic type and 20 patients with divergence excess type intermittent exotropia were included. No statistically significant differences were found for the mean near and distance deviations, the number of patients who had a clinically significant (5 PD or greater) increase, or the magnitude of increase in near and distance deviations after 1 hour versus 24 hours of diagnostic occlusion in patients with both types of intermittent exotropia.

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic monocular occlusion for 1 hour is sufficient in patients with basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435900 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210610-02

Psychol Addict Behav. 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1037/adb0000730. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The high rate of statistically significant findings in the sciences that do not replicate in a new sample has been described as a “replication crisis.” Few replication attempts have been conducted in studies of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and the best method for determining whether a finding replicates has not been explored. The goal of the current study was to conduct direct replications within a multisite AUD-randomized controlled trial and to test a range of replication metrics.

METHOD: We used data from a large AUD clinical trial (Project Matching Alcoholism Treatments and Client Heterogeneity [Project MATCH], n = 1,726) to simulate direct replication attempts. We examined associations between drinking intensity and negative alcohol-related consequences (Model 1), sex differences in drinking intensity (Model 2), and reductions in drinking following treatment (Model 3). We treated each of the 11 data collection sites as unique studies such that each subsample was treated as an “original” study, and the remaining 10 subsamples were viewed as “replication” studies. Replicability metrics included the consistency of statistical significance, overlapping confidence intervals, and consistency of the direction of the effect. We also tested effect replication and heterogeneity using meta-analysis.

RESULTS: We observed between 0% and 100% replicability across the replicability metrics depending on which subsample was treated as the “original” study. Meta-analyses indicated results were more similar across subsamples with no significant heterogeneity for Models 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS: We recommend researchers focus on effect sizes and use meta-analysis to evaluate the level of replicability. We also encourage direct replication attempts and sharing of data and code to facilitate direct replication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435835 | DOI:10.1037/adb0000730

Psychol Assess. 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1037/pas0001053. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The trait impulsivity theory suggests that a single, highly heritable externalizing liability factor, expressed as temperamental trait impulsivity, represents the core vulnerability for externalizing disorders. The present study sought to test the application of latent factor models derived from this theory to a clinical sample of children. Participants were 474 German children (age 6-12 years, 81% male) with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and externalizing behavior problems participating in an ongoing multicenter intervention study. Using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), we evaluated several factor models of externalizing spectrum disorders (unidimensional; first-order correlated factors; higher-order factor; fully symmetrical bifactor; bifactor S-1 model). Furthermore, we assessed our prevailing factor models for measurement invariance across raters (clinicians, parents, teachers) and assessment modes (interview, questionnaires). While both CFA and ESEM approaches provided valuable insights into the multidimensionality, ESEM solutions were generally superior since they showed a substantially better model fit and less biased factor loadings. Among the models tested, the bifactor S-1 CFA/ESEM models, with a general hyperactivity-impulsivity reference factor, displayed a statistically sound factor structure and allowed for straightforward interpretability. Furthermore, these models showed the same organization of factors and loading patterns, but not equivalent item thresholds across raters and assessment modes, highlighting cross-situational variability in child behavior. Our findings are consistent with the assumption of the trait impulsivity theory that a common trait, presented as hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, underlies all externalizing disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435849 | DOI:10.1037/pas0001053

Dev Psychol. 2021 Jul;57(7):1111-1123. doi: 10.1037/dev0001081.

ABSTRACT

This longitudinal study examined whether changes in maternal emotional distress (depressive, anxiety, and parenting-stress symptoms) predict changes over time in subjective and objective infant sleep. We recruited 226 Israeli expectant mothers (M age 28.8 ± 3.3), most representing the middle-upper socioeconomic class. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy. After delivery (3, 6, 12, and 18 months), infant sleep quality and duration were assessed for 5 nights using actigraphy and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were reassessed, and maternal parenting-stress was measured at all postpartum assessments. The findings demonstrated significant correlations between maternal emotional distress and mothers’ subjective ratings of infant sleep problems (rs >.16 and < .46). Latent trajectory analyses indicated no significant effects of changes in maternal emotional distress variables on changes in infant subjective or objective sleep. Post hoc power analyses demonstrated that we had enough statistical power to reject the null hypothesis. The results suggest that mothers with higher emotional distress symptoms-and especially those with parenting-stress symptoms-are more likely to experience their infant’s sleep as problematic. However, our results challenge the assumption that maternal emotional distress symptoms contribute to infant sleep disturbances over time. The findings are relevant to mothers with mild to moderate emotional distress symptoms and must not be generalized to mothers who experience major clinical depression. Future studies should evaluate whether maternal emotional distress interacts with other risk factors, such as infant temperament, to predict infant sleep disturbances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435826 | DOI:10.1037/dev0001081

Dev Psychol. 2021 Jul;57(7):1149-1162. doi: 10.1037/dev0001193.

ABSTRACT

Accidents caused by human errors illustrate the fragility of cognitive processing and its coordination by executive functions against stress. To better understand how core executive functions change over time, influence each other, and are affected by chronic stress exposure, a prospective cohort study was conducted from 2016 to 2019. Five hundred sixteen German adults aged 25-55 years (mean age/education age: 38.0/11.3 years, 67% females, 94% occupied, 20% smokers) completed at least one internet-based biannual assessment of response inhibition, updating, and set shifting using a Go/NoGo, spatial 2-Back, and Number-Letter task, respectively. Chronic stress exposure was indicated by self-reports on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). Statistical analyses were performed by multivariate stochastic differential equation modeling. All indicators of executive functions (task-specific RTs in target trials or their contrast to nontarget trials) and chronic stress showed intraindividual stability over time (12% to 63% of their variance was attributable to trait influences). With respect to lagged mutual associations, faster Go/NoGo target RTs predicted faster Number-Letter target RTs later in time, while faster Number-Letter target RTs predicted higher HCC later in time (both with maximum effect sizes of d ≈ 0.1 standard deviations). However, PSS was not predictive of later HCC and vice versa. None of the chronic stress indicators significantly predicted indicators of executive functions at subsequent time points. These findings suggest that set shifting is capable of modulating the body’s physiological response to chronic stress exposure, whereas executive functions appear comparably robust against chronic stress exposure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435829 | DOI:10.1037/dev0001193

Psychol Trauma. 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1037/tra0001084. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Anger is a salient feature of posttraumatic mental health which is linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may have implications for treatment. However, the nature of associations involving anger and PTSD remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine bidirectional influences involving anger and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 PTSD symptom clusters over time among treatment-seeking veterans.

METHOD: Current or ex-serving members (n = 742; 92.4% male) who participated in an accredited outpatient PTSD treatment program were administered measures of PTSD symptoms (PTSD checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition [PCL-5]) and anger (Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale-5 [DAR-5]) at treatment intake, discharge, and three-month follow-up. Bidirectional influences were assessed using cross-lagged panel analyses.

RESULTS: The majority of participants (78%) exhibited significant anger problems at intake. Cross-lagged analyses showed anger was associated with relative increases in PTSD symptoms of intrusive reexperiencing and avoidance at posttreatment, whereas no reverse effects of any PTSD symptoms on anger were observed. Anger continued to influence changes in heightened sense of threat and avoidance symptoms at three-months posttreatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Anger influences change in specific PTSD symptoms over time among military veterans in treatment and may interfere with treatments for PTSD. Veterans who present to clinical services with anger problems may benefit from anger interventions prior to commencing trauma-focused treatment. The findings have additional implications for conceptual models of the relationship between anger and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435811 | DOI:10.1037/tra0001084

Psychol Trauma. 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1037/tra0000913. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Due to severe traumatization, the narrative meaning-making processes of asylum seekers are often disrupted. However, the ability of asylum seekers to integrate trauma into their personal narratives has strong implications on their mental health as well as on their asylum claim.

OBJECTIVE: Starting with the presentation of a new method, the Asylum Seekers Photographic Interview (ASPI), developed through participatory processes and aimed to increase meaning-making processes, the article evaluates the effects of the ASPI on asylum seekers’ narrative organization.

METHOD: A quasi-experimental research design was carried out. The posttraumatic symptomatology of 36 Nigerian asylum seekers hosted in Italy was assessed. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group assessed by the ASPI and a control group assessed by a non-image-mediated narrative interview. Quantitative data were analyzed through a descriptive analysis, and the interviews were analyzed according to various dimensions of narrative meaning-making processes. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was then carried out to evaluate the significance of eventual differences of narrative indexes between the groups.

RESULTS: The MANOVA showed statistically significant differences of narrative indexes in the intervention group in the Word Count, Internal States, and Coherence categories, caused by the only effect of “intervention vs. control group,” F(8, 25) = 5.902, p = .000, η² partial = .65).

CONCLUSION: The results showed the effectiveness of the new methodology in increasing the narrative organization of experiences, contributing to the research on trauma and narratives in the context of forced migration. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435812 | DOI:10.1037/tra0000913