Search

Background: Cluttering is a fluency disorder characterized by an abnormally fast or irregular speech delivery rate along with disfluencies that are frequent but are not judged to be stuttering. Data on cluttering prevalence in the general population are scarce, as well as its association with psychological well-being indices, such as anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Aims: To estimate cluttering prevalence among undergraduates, as well as its relationship with psychological and well-being indicators. Methods & Procedures: To address these issues, a large sample (n = 1582) of undergraduates completed a questionnaire that provided a lay definition of cluttering and were asked to identify themselves as clutterers (SI-Clut), as well as to indicate the presence of several psychological and mental well-being indices. Outcomes & Results: A total of 276 respondents (23%) self-identified as clutterers (now or in the past), with 55.1% of those being male. Only 56 respondents (3.5% of the total sample; about 21% of SI-Clut) reported having received speech therapy for cluttering. Relative to students self-identifying as non-clutterers, self-identification of cluttering was associated with higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms, depressive symptoms and stress, indicating a tendency toward internalizing psychopathology, along with lower self-esteem, and lower subjective happiness. Conclusions & Implications: The current findings point to the high prevalence of students self-identifying as clutterers, along with a significant link between cluttering and mental distress. Therefore, it is important to increase public awareness of cluttering, its diagnosis and treatment. From the clinical perspective, the elevated levels of somatic complaints, anxiety and depression may represent internalizing psychopathology, associated with more covert rather than overt symptomatology. Such symptom manifestation calls for special attention from the speech-language pathologists providing cluttering therapy, using designated well-being or mental health screening tools. Although data on standard cluttering treatment are limited, it should be customized to the client's unique difficulties. Speech-language pathologists' understanding of cluttering, which includes both speech characteristics as well as psychological and social aspects of well-being, may assist them in implementing effective treatments.

Background: Prevention of early age initiation of cannabis use is a national priority, highlighting the importance of identifying cannabis-specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control in relation to initiation age. Methods: Data were from the NEXT Generation Health Study, a national longitudinal sample of US adolescents followed from 10th grade (N = 1850). Cannabis-specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control were assessed at 10th grade. Age of first use was reported retrospectively 2-3 years after high-school and participants were categorized as early initiators (<14 years; 3.8%), high-school (HS) initiators (14-18 years; 35.6%), post-HS initiators (>18 years; 8.3%), or never users (52.3%). Results: Relative to never users, early initiators were more likely to endorse pro-use attitudes (AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-4.50), less disapproving parental attitudes toward use (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.45-4.28), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.21-6.60), and higher ease of access (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.14-3.87); HS initiators were similarly more likely to report less disapproving attitudes toward use (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.25-1.91), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI = 2.18-3.65), and higher ease of access (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.21-2.28). Conclusions: Earlier cannabis initiation was associated with more favorable cannabis attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, highlight these variables as potential intervention targets.

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common symptom. It occurs in all age groups from children to the elderly population. Globally, years lived with disability caused by LBP increased by 54% between 1990 and 2015. Our objective was to investigate measures that associate with LBP in students. Participants: A structured, anonymous, self-report questionnaire was distributed in two study years, 2009 and 2015. Participants included 1,026 students, 57.7% of them female, with a mean age of 27.2 (SD = 6.4). Methods: The questionnaire included validated questions on various subjects related to health status and health behaviors. Results: The associated factors of undergraduate students experiencing backaches are higher if they engage in smoking (AOR = 2.15; p<0.01), report study-based stress (AOR = 2.39; p<0.01), and show depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69; p<0.000). Conclusions: Smoking, stress, and depression are strong measures associated with backache in undergraduate students, significantly more than BMI, physical activity, or sedentary behaviors.

Background: Cluttering is a fluency disorder characterized by an abnormally fast or irregular speech delivery rate along with disfluencies that are frequent but are not judged to be stuttering. Data on cluttering prevalence in the general population are scarce, as well as its association with psychological well‐being indices, such as anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Aims: To estimate cluttering prevalence among undergraduates, as well as its relationship with psychological and well‐being indicators. Methods & Procedures: To address these issues, a large sample (n = 1582) of undergraduates completed a questionnaire that provided a lay definition of cluttering and were asked to identify themselves as clutterers (SI‐Clut), as well as to indicate the presence of several psychological and mental well‐being indices. Outcomes & Results: A total of 276 respondents (23%) self‐identified as clutterers (now or in the past), with 55.1% of those being male. Only 56 respondents (3.5% of the total sample; about 21% of SI‐Clut) reported having received speech therapy for cluttering. Relative to students self‐identifying as non‐clutterers, self‐identification of cluttering was associated with higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms, depressive symptoms and stress, indicating a tendency toward internalizing psychopathology, along with lower self‐esteem, and lower subjective happiness. Conclusions & Implications: The current findings point to the high prevalence of students self‐identifying as clutterers, along with a significant link between cluttering and mental distress. Therefore, it is important to increase public awareness of cluttering, its diagnosis and treatment. From the clinical perspective, the elevated levels of somatic complaints, anxiety and depression may represent internalizing psychopathology, associated with more covert rather than overt symptomatology. Such symptom manifestation calls for special attention from the speech–language pathologists providing cluttering therapy, using designated well‐being or mental health screening tools. Although data on standard cluttering treatment are limited, it should be customized to the client's unique difficulties. Speech–language pathologists' understanding of cluttering, which includes both speech characteristics as well as psychological and social aspects of well‐being, may assist them in implementing effective treatments. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Cluttering is a fluency disorder characterized by an abnormally fast or irregular speech rate, along with various disfluencies and articulatory imprecision. It may co‐occur with other disorders, such as learning disabilities, and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Data on cluttering prevalence and its association with psychological well‐being indices, such as anxiety and depression, are limited. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: A total of 276 undergraduates (23%) self‐identified as clutterers, of whom 55.1% were males. A total of 56 respondents (3.5% of the total sample, and about 21% of undergraduates self‐identified as clutterers) reported having received speech therapy for cluttering. Psychosomatic symptoms, depressive symptoms and stress levels were higher among these students, suggesting a tendency toward internalizing psychopathology, along with a lower sense of self‐esteem and subjective happiness. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The high prevalence of students self‐identifying as clutterers, along with the low percentage of respondents who received speech therapy for cluttering, emphasize the need to raise public awareness of the problem, its diagnosis and treatment (Reichel et al., 2010). The association between cluttering and mental distress requires speech–language pathologists to be aware that cluttering may have covert symptomatology, similar to stuttering, which should be addressed in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Academic distress has been frequently reported following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimates academic distress among undergraduate students, characterizes its nature in relation to economic, social, and health indicators, and examines the level of request for help following mental distress. Students with higher levels of academic distress were expected to show lower socio-economic status, lower social connections, and lower wellbeing indices. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a structured anonymous questionnaire was delivered online to more than 1,400 undergraduate students from one university in Israel (women, 66.7%). Results: Academic distress was reported by 27.1% of the sample. Students who reported academic distress were more likely to report stress, negative psychosomatic symptoms, changes in weight since COVID-19, low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, higher COVID-19 concerns, and higher security situation concerns. A hierarchic logistic regression model showed that the probability of reporting academic distress was 2.567 times higher (p < 0.001 95% CI [1.702, 3.871]) for those who reported lower family economic status before COVID-19 and 2.141 times higher (p = 0.004 95% CI [1.284, 3.572]) for those who highly reported depressive symptoms. In contrast, only 15.6% of those who reported academic distress sought help from academic authorities. Discussion: The significant associations of academic distress with health indices indicate that the self-reported distress was real and highly related to adverse health measures. A comprehensive, collaborative model that integrates psychological, economic, and social aspects of intervention is required in times of crisis within academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants and second‐generation immigrants from Ethiopia in Israel are assumed to be more vulnerable to problematic risk behaviours than host culture population. The aim of this study was to assess risk and protective factors associated with multiproblem behaviours such as committing driving violations, alcohol use, drugs use and violence among Ethiopian young adult immigrants and second‐generation immigrants in Israel. This is a cross‐sectional study, based on a self‐reported anonymous structured questionnaire distributed to 383 Ethiopian emerging adults (mean age 25.3; SD = 3.27, 59.3% female). Multiple Problem Behavior Index (MPBI) was created from their responses to 21 risk behaviour variables including driving violations, alcohol use, Marijuana use and violence. Logistic regression to predict multiproblem behaviours was used. We found that unplanned leisure activity hours during weekends (adjusted odds ratio – AOR = 2.594, p <.01, 95% CI 1.332–5.052), excitement seeking (AOR = 2.122, p<.01, 95% CI 1.257–3.582), depression symptoms (AOR = 2.521, p <.01, 95% CI 1.491–4.261) and gender (AOR = 0.277, p <.001, 95% CI 0.164–0.469) were associated with MPBI. In contrast, racism, perceived discrimination, Israeli and Ethiopian identities were not significantly associated with MPBI after adjusting for gender and family status. These results suggest that in a minority of Ethiopian emerging adult immigrants similar to host culture populations, risk factors such as unplanned leisure activities, excitement seeking and depression symptoms are stronger and significant factors associated with multiproblem behaviours rather than racism, perceived discrimination or Israeli and Ethiopian identities. Resources should be allocated to produce appropriate intervention programs with planned content for leisure time, especially on weekends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prevention of early age initiation of cannabis use is a national priority, highlighting the importance of identifying cannabis‐specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control in relation to initiation age. METHODS: Data were from the NEXT Generation Health Study, a national longitudinal sample of US adolescents followed from 10th grade (N = 1850). Cannabis‐specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control were assessed at 10th grade. Age of first use was reported retrospectively 2‐3 years after high‐school and participants were categorized as early initiators (<14 years; 3.8%), high‐school (HS) initiators (14‐18 years; 35.6%), post‐HS initiators (>18 years; 8.3%), or never users (52.3%). RESULTS: Relative to never users, early initiators were more likely to endorse pro‐use attitudes (AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27‐4.50), less disapproving parental attitudes toward use (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.45‐4.28), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.21‐6.60), and higher ease of access (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.14‐3.87); HS initiators were similarly more likely to report less disapproving attitudes toward use (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.25‐1.91), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI = 2.18‐3.65), and higher ease of access (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.21‐2.28). CONCLUSIONS: Earlier cannabis initiation was associated with more favorable cannabis attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, highlight these variables as potential intervention targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common symptom. It occurs in all age groups from children to the elderly population. Globally, years lived with disability caused by LBP increased by 54% between 1990 and 2015. Our objective was to investigate measures that associate with LBP in students. Participants: A structured, anonymous, self-report questionnaire was distributed in two study years, 2009 and 2015. Participants included 1,026 students, 57.7% of them female, with a mean age of 27.2 (SD = 6.4). Methods: The questionnaire included validated questions on various subjects related to health status and health behaviors. Results: The associated factors of undergraduate students experiencing backaches are higher if they engage in smoking (AOR = 2.15; p<.01), report study-based stress (AOR = 2.39; p<.01), and show depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69; p<.000). Conclusions: Smoking, stress, and depression are strong measures associated with backache in undergraduate students, significantly more than BMI, physical activity, or sedentary behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deviant and health risk behaviors among young-adults are associated with many adverse outcomes. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate a broad variety of behaviors by gender differences and their contribution to predicting cannabis use in undergraduate students. Method: This research is based on a structured, self-reported anonymous questionnaire distributed to 1,432 young adult undergraduate students at an Israeli University, 533 males and 899 females (mean age 27.4; SD 6.01). Results: The findings demonstrate a significant proportion of sampled young adults reported to be involved in deviant and health risk behaviors and that all risky behaviors were more frequently significant in males than in females. Among drivers 72% reported speeding, 60% reported failure to keep distance, 44% reported being involved at a car accident as a driver, 40% reported not stopping at a stop sign, and quarter reported driving after drinking alcohol. These findings also expand how certain risk behaviors contribute to predicting cannabis use. Conclusions: The relatively high prevalence of some of these risky behaviors among normative young adults suggests that risky behaviors are considered as normative behavior for this group, especially among man, and therefore, policymakers need to consider prevention and harm reduction interventions relevant to this risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the contribution of the Health Management Bachelor's degree program at an Israeli university to the professional development of its graduates. The aims of this study were: To examine the perceived gaps between acquired knowledge and required knowledge within the workforce; To explore the potential changes in the graduates' occupation conditions or professional status following their studies; To test the contribution of the curricula content studied by the graduates to their understanding, knowledge and integration within the healthcare system; and to examine the graduates perceptions towards required content, that should be added to the curricula.Methods: A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to 182 Health Management Department individuals whom have graduated from the Bachelors program between the years 2005 and 2009.Results: The majority of the graduates reported the existance of a knowledge gap (greater among males, young and single than among females, older and married graduates). Most of the courses which were ranked as the lowest contributing ones were related to Management (e.g. Mathematics for Social Sciences, Accounting Fundamentals, Finance Theory), while the graduates recommended the inclusion of additional components to the curricula.Conclusions: The study demonstrates that a perceived gap exists between the acquired and the required knowledge of the Health Management Studies graduates. Various changes have been reported by the graduates (such as wage raise and role changes), following their study completion, suggesting that the program has partially contributed to their professional status. A 'Learning by Sharing' forum of academic staff, employers and graduates is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]