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Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Internet-based self-help interventions in treating depression in adolescents and young adults. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six databases, including PubMed, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that satisfied the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The intervention measure consisted of Internet-based self-help interventions. Results: A total of 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this analysis. Meta-analysis indicated that Internet-based self-help therapies significantly reduced depression scores in adolescents and young adults. (OR = -0.68, 95%CI [-0.88, -0.47], P < 0.001). We examined the effects of patient recruitment from various regions, medication usage, therapist involvement, weekly intervention time, and intervention duration. Patients selected from school, primary healthcare centers, clinics and local communities had better results. Intervention lasting 30 to 60 min and 60 to180 minutes per week were effective in the short term. Conclusion: The internet-based self-help intervention can be effective in treating depression in adolescents and young adults. However, factors such as patient recruitment locations, medication usage, Therapists' involvement, weekly intervention time, and intervention duration interacted with the outcome. Subgroup analysis on potential adverse effects and gender was impossible due to insufficient data from the included studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior literature has long established self‐gifts as a form of symbolic self‐communication that can be particularly meaningful and impactful for individuals to enhance self‐concept clarity and self‐definition during life transitions. However, little is known about how life transitions may bring about changes in the practices and meanings of self‐gifting. Drawing on individual interviews with 22 first‐time older mothers, this research uses temporal self‐appraisal theory as the theoretical lens and temporal landmarks as a sensitizing framework to explore how people's past, present, and future selves may unfold and interact in influencing their self‐gifting practices and meanings. Our findings contribute to a fuller understanding of the temporal nature of self‐gifting by highlighting the varying self‐gifting orientations that emerge from the interaction, reflecting changes in temporal self‐appraisals and how they enable a sense of self‐(dis)continuity for psychological well‐being. The temporal perspective of self‐gifts offers a theoretical framework for understanding how self‐gifts, a form of symbolic self‐communication, express, manage, or facilitate perceived self‐changes and the need for self‐continuity. The marketing implications and applications of the theoretical framework are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Behavioral activation has gained increasing attention as an effective treatment for depression. However, the effectiveness of Behavioral Activation Group Therapy (BAGT) in controlled conditions compared to its self-help programs requires more investigation. The present study aimed to compare their effectiveness on depressive symptoms, repetitive negative thinking (RNT), and performance in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were recruited based on a structured clinical interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Participants were allocated to BAGT (n = 20) and self-help behavioral activation (SBA; n = 20) groups. BAGT received ten weekly sessions (90 min), while the SBA group followed the same protocol as the self-help intervention. Participants were evaluated at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and the 2-month follow-up using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), repetitive thinking questionnaire (RTQ-31), and work and social adjustment scale (WSAS). Results: The results of a Mixed ANOVA analysis revealed that participants who underwent BAGT showed significant improvement in depression, rumination, work, and social functioning post-treatment and at the 2-month follow-up. However, the SBA group did not show significant changes in any outcome. The study also found that, based on clinical significance, 68% of the BAGT participants were responsive to treatment, and 31% achieved a high final performance status at the 2-month follow-up. Discussion: BAGT was more effective than SBA in MDD patients. Participants' engagement with self-help treatment is discussed. Trial registration: The present trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Center (IRCT ID: IRCT20181128041782N1|| http://www.irct.ir/) (Registration Date: 04/03/2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of mindfulness in education and religious education. It explores the definition of mindfulness as "paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally" and its religious roots in Buddhism. The article also examines the various programs and benefits of incorporating mindfulness into education, such as improved concentration, positive mood enhancement, and stress reduction. However, it acknowledges the criticisms of mindfulness in education, including the lack of conceptual clarity, the exclusion of social change, and the potential loss of religious and ethical bases. The article concludes by calling for further research and discussion on the religious and spiritual dimensions of mindfulness in education. [Extracted from the article]

Self-regulated learning is a crucial skill that may enable massive numbers of learners to thrive in MOOCs, but MOOC learners differ in their self-regulated learning skills, as low self-regulated learners need support to regulate their learning process in MOOCs. Designing self-regulated learning scaffoldings builds upon an accurate appraisal of learners' self-regulated learning and also a person-centered understanding of self-regulated learner profiles in MOOCs. Therefore, this study applied a two-parameter item response theory model to accurately evaluate online learners' self-regulated learning in MOOCs and then performed a cluster analysis to identify learner profiles in terms of their traits in each phase of self-regulated learning. The findings of this study identified five clusters of self-regulated learner profiles, upon which a further statistical analysis result indicated that the learners with lower forethought skills might be less committed to completing course assignments. Implications for self-regulated learning in MOOCs are discussed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of Orff music therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from the perspectives of parents, evaluators, and therapists. Methods: 93 children with ASD aged 3-6 years participated in the study. They were divided into an observation group (n = 48) receiving comprehensive rehabilitation intervention including Orff music therapy, and a control group (n = 45) receiving only comprehensive rehabilitation intervention. The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Psychoeducational Profile-3rd edition (PEP-3) were used for assessments before and after the intervention. Results: There were no significant demographic differences between the two groups. Both groups showed significant improvements in Sensory, Relating, Language, CVP, EL, RL, VMI, AE, SR, and CARS scores at T1, T2, and T3 (T1 vs. T2, T2 vs. T3, T1 vs. T3) (all p < 0.05). The observation group demonstrated significant changes in Body and Object use and FM, while the control group showed some changes in these domains. Social and self-help, GM, CMB, and CVB also significantly improved in both groups after 6 months of intervention (all p < 0.05). In terms of different time intervals, the observation group showed greater improvements in Sensory, Relating, Language, CARS scores, EL, RL, and SR compared to the control group (all p < 0.05). The improvement levels in Body and Object use, CVP, FM, VMI, and AE did not differ significantly between the two groups in the T1-T2 interval, but were significantly higher in the observation group in the T2-T3 and T1-T3 intervals (all p < 0.05). The magnitude of changes in Social and self-help, GM, CMB, and CVB did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion: Orff music therapy showed significant improvements in language expression, language comprehension, social skills, cognitive abilities, imitation abilities, emotional expression and fine motor in children with ASD. These findings provide support for the use of Orff music therapy as an effective intervention for children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica has experienced diverse negative effects from the North Atlantic hurricane season, including deadly storms like Hurricane Maria in 2017. Vulnerability is increased by geographic location, small island developing state (SIDS) status, and ecosystem characteristics. A variety of negative health effects including stress and anxiety are caused by powerful storms. The perspectives of middle-aged (the "sandwich generation") survivors in this post-storm milieu are understudied. Methods: This phenomenological qualitative study describes the perceptions of middle-aged (35-55 years) Dominicans, purposively recruited with gatekeeper assistance from communities stratified according to four natural hazard vulnerability categories designated by the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), regarding their lived experiences in the context of severe storms. Data was collected between June and August 2022, using primarily Zoom-based semi-structured, individual interviews (12 of 13), guided by the principles of saturation and maximum variation. Verbatim interview transcripts were thematically analyzed with constant comparison using an ATLAS.ti-supported hybrid deductive-inductive coding frame. Reflexivity and contact summary sheets were used to minimize bias. Results: Ten women and three men from diverse CREAD vulnerability and sociodemographic backgrounds were recruited. Data condensation yielded three organizing themes: (i) "The diverse health effects of severe storms", (ii) "Response to and recovery from severe storms", and (iii) "Preparedness and precaution for severe storms". These themes encapsulated the health impacts of severe storms on Dominicans and elucidated the role of facilitating and barricading resilience factors. Discussion: Severe storms produced direct and indirect mental, social, and physical health impacts on middle-aged Dominicans, including anxiety and burnout. Participants used faith-based, tangible community-based support, and emotional mechanisms to cope with and demonstrate resilience. Better risk communication and early warning systems would improve population readiness. Persistent dispirited attitudes toward storm preparedness among some participants suggest the need for targeted methods to enhance community involvement in disaster planning, including traditional approaches like "coup-de-main" (self-help). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone apps may help to prevent the transition from minor to severe mental health problems. We compared a free self-help smartphone app (COGITO; www.uke.de/cogito%5fapp) against a wait-list condition for the improvement of self-esteem and depression. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale represented the primary outcome in this controlled trial. The final sample (n = 213) was randomly assigned to either the app or to the control condition. The app condition significantly improved the primary outcome relative to controls for all analyses. Satisfaction of completers was high. The present results warrant independent replication; the retention rate needs to be increased to allow solid inferences about acceptance. The present study demonstrates that the COGITO app may represent an effective self-help tool for psychological problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, the so-called neoliberal-inspired transition generally refers to an ideological agenda. However, one should distinguish between neoliberal reforms carried out in accordance with a political agenda and the genuine local evolution of ideas based on the influence of foreign thinkers. By leveraging key notions such as 'individual responsibility' (jiko sekinin), 'self-help' (jijo), 'mutual aid' (kyōjo) and 'public aid' (kōjo), this paper accounts for older roots of Japanese-style neoliberalism. It highlights how, throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, predating current liberal norms, certain notions preceded contemporary liberal ideas and served as a discursive framework, while others became intertwined with 'foreign' ideas as they permeated the political discourse. It illuminates how shorter-term politics characterized by conflicts of interest and political strategies fit within longer-term political notions and their ideological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown that music therapy can be used as a therapeutic aid for clinical disorders. To evaluate the effects of music therapy (MT) on language communication and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a meta-analysis was performed on eligible studies in this field. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in eight databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, the Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) Database, and the VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database. The standard mean difference (SMD) values were used to evaluate outcomes, and the pooled proportions and SMD with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also calculated. Results: Eighteen randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were included, with a total of 1,457 children with ASD. This meta-analysis revealed that music therapy improved their language communication [SMD = -1.20; 95%CI -1.45, -0.94; χ² (17) = 84.17, I² = 80%, p<0.001] and social skills [SMD = -1. 13; 95%CI -1.49, -0.78; χ² (17) = 162.53, I² =90%, p< 0.001]. In addition, behavior [SMD = -1.92; 94%CI -2.56, -1.28; χ² (13) = 235.08, I² =95%, p< 0.001], sensory perception [SMD = -1.62; 95%CI -2.17, -1.08; χ² (16) = 303.80, I² = 95%, p < 0.001], self-help [SMD = -2. 14; 95%CI -3.17, -1.10; χ² (6) = 173.07, I² = 97%, p< 0.001] were all improved. Conclusion: Music therapy has a positive effect on the improvement of symptoms in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is one of the leading causes of human misery and disability worldwide. For those fortunate enough to have access to the rapidly expanding World Wide Web, online self-help tools can guide those suffering from depression, with or without professional intervention, to better manage their symptoms and maintain some measure of self-actualization. This study assesses the efficacy of the widely used, online self-help tool, iFightDepression®. Methods: A six-week, observational study was conducted with 143 participants (29.4% men, mean age: 37.8; standard deviation [ SD ] = 12.05, range = 18–70, years) in three intervention groups, as follows: 1) Treatment As Usual (TAU), 2) TAU combined with access to the iFightDepression® tool (TAU + iFD®), 3) TAU combined with iFightDepression® and weekly phone support (TAU + iFD® + phone). Depression symptoms were measured pre- and post- by Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: There was a significantly greater decrease of depressive symptoms in both iFD® groups compared to the TAU group (time × group interaction: F (2) = 34.657, p < 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.331). The reliable change index calculation identified one participant (0.7%) as having experienced a statistically reliable deterioration in depression. A total of 102 participants (71.3%) showed no reliable change, while 40 participants (28.0%) showed a statistically reliable improvement. Multiple binary logistic regression analysis found odds of reliable improvement to be significantly higher in both iFD® groups compared to the TAU group (TAU + iFD®: OR = 18.52, p = 0.015, TAU + iFD® + Phone: OR = 126.72, p < 0.001). Participants living in Budapest were found to have significantly higher odds for a reliable improvement compared to those living in the countryside (odds ratio [OR] = 4.04, p = 0.023). Finally, higher levels of depressive symptoms at baseline (pretest) were also associated with increased odds for post-intervention improvement (OR = 1.58, p < 0.001). The variance explained by the model is 62.0%. With regards to the iFD® self-help program, the mean of completed modules was 4.8 (SD = 1.73, range = 1–6). Participants in the group supported by weekly phone calls completed significantly more modules (n = 50, M = 5.7, SD = 0.76) than participants without weekly telephone support (n = 52, M = 3.9, SD = 1.94, Z = 5.253, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the number of completed modules between respondents with a reliable improvement in depression (n = 39, M = 4.9, SD = 1.57) and those without a reliable change (n = 63, M = 4.7, SD = 1.83, Z = 0.343, p = 0.731). Conclusion: Our results confirm previous findings regarding the efficacy of web-based interventions with the low-intensity guidance of mental health professional. Findings suggest that a relatively short additional weekly call may result in a significant decrease in depressive symptoms and higher number of completed iFD® modules. The study confirms that the IFD® tool, both alone and with additional phone support, is a possible and effective way to help patients with mild to moderate and, in some cases, even severe depression. Providing mental and primary health care systems with the availability of online self-help tools may contribute to the efficacious treatment of depression and prevention of the increase in depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We applied a convergent mixed-methods research design, focusing on data from Swiss students to identify patterns of resilience development in high school. Method: The study consisted of an online longitudinal survey conducted in two waves, in autumn 2019 (n = 377 grade seven) and spring 2021 (n = 257 grade eight). By combining latent transition analysis (LTA), a person-oriented quantitative method, and qualitative content analysis, we detected four resilience patterns. Results: The longitudinal survey revealed a decrease in the "blooming" pattern (students who displayed high levels of individual and social support indicators as well as satisfaction with their grades and academic success measures) over time and, on the other hand, an increase in the "challenged" pattern, suggesting larger numbers of students with low levels of social support and academic success. Additionally, qualitative interviews were conducted with four students from the sample. These interviews provided insights into the stressors; coping experiences, skills, processes, and resources; and outcomes related to resilience. Discussion: The analysis revealed key factors contributing to resilience, including empowering experiences, supportive individuals, self-help as a prioritized resource, and a positive school environment. Merging the data has elicited various claims such as improving both home and school environments, along with focusing on elaborating their interplay, is the most efficacious approach to bolstering resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) records geriatric syndromes in a standardized manner, allowing individualized treatment tailored to the patient's needs and resources. Its use has shown a beneficial effect on the functional outcome and survival of geriatric patients. A recently published German S1 guideline for level 2 CGA provides recommendations for the use of a broad variety of different assessment instruments for each geriatric syndrome. However, the actual use of assessment instruments in routine geriatric clinical practice and its consistency with the guideline and the current state of literature has not been investigated to date. Methods: An online survey was developed by an expert group of geriatricians and sent to all licenced geriatricians (n = 569) within Germany. The survey included the following geriatric syndromes: motor function and self-help capability, cognition, depression, pain, dysphagia and nutrition, social status and comorbidity, pressure ulcers, language and speech, delirium, and frailty. Respondents were asked to report which geriatric assessment instruments are used to assess the respective syndromes. Results: A total of 122 clinicians participated in the survey (response rate: 21%); after data cleaning, 76 data sets remained for analysis. All participants regularly used assessment instruments in the following categories: motor function, self-help capability, cognition, depression, and pain. The most frequently used instruments in these categories were the Timed Up and Go (TUG), the Barthel Index (BI), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Limited or heterogenous assessments are used in the following categories: delirium, frailty and social status. Conclusions: Our results show that the assessment of motor function, self-help capability, cognition, depression, pain, and dysphagia and nutrition is consistent with the recommendations of the S1 guideline for level 2 CGA. Instruments recommended for more frequent use include the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the WHO-5 (depression). There is a particular need for standardized assessment of delirium, frailty and social status. The harmonization of assessment instruments throughout geriatric departments shall enable more effective treatment and prevention of age-related diseases and syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though contemporary evidence suggests that upwards of one-in-nine UK male university students engage in sexually violent behaviors (Hales and Gannon in Sexual Abuse 34:744–770, 2022), few evidence-based primary prevention strategies have been developed to prevent their perpetration. To help contribute to this evidence gap, this study evaluated the short and longer-term effectiveness of a novel psychoeducation-based online self-help intervention for university male sexual aggression called The Pathways Programme. Designed around current empirical understanding of university-based sexual harm in the UK, the program contains six modules that correspond with known risk factors for perpetration. Data were collected as part of a randomized control trial from 254 self-identified heterosexual male students enrolled at a UK university who reported a proclivity towards sexual aggression. Results showed that participants who took part in the program displayed moderate reductions in their self-perceived likelihood of sexual aggression (our primary treatment target) across testing points, as well as reductions in their self-reported levels of hostility towards women, rape myth acceptance, and problematic sexual fantasies (our secondary treatment targets). Control participants also displayed reductions in some domains over time, albeit to a lesser degree. Additional analyses probed the factors associated with participant drop-out, clinical and reliable change, and user feedback. Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of The Pathways Programme at reducing UK university males' risk of sexual aggression; however, we caution readers that more robust evaluation is necessary to support intervention rollout. We discuss our findings alongside the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is a prevalent and stigmatized phenomenon associated with adverse (mental) health outcomes. However, evidence-based interventions to alleviate loneliness are scarce. This randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov-ID: NCT04655196) evaluated the efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioral self-help intervention (ICBT) to reduce loneliness by comparing two intervention groups with guidance or automated messages against a waitlist control group. Adults (N = 243) suffering from loneliness were recruited from the general public and then randomly assigned (2:2:1) to a 10-week ICBT with human guidance (GU) or automated messages (AM) or to a waitlist control group (WL). Loneliness, assessed with the UCLA-9, was the primary outcome. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks (post) and analyzed using mixed-effects models. The pooled intervention conditions resulted in lower loneliness scores at post-assessment than the WL (Cohen's d = 0.57, 95% CI [0.25; 0.89]) and reduced depressive symptoms, social anxiety, social avoidance behavior, and rejection sensitivity (d = 0.32–0.52). The GU group had lower loneliness scores at post-assessment than the AM group (d = 0.42, 95% CI [0.13; 0.70]). ICBT effectively alleviated loneliness, and guidance increased the reduction in loneliness compared to automated messages. Alleviating loneliness with ICBT further seems to reduce the overall burden of psychopathological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looks into a rising realm within Turkey's culture industry, namely Islamic-oriented self-help culture, and explores the marriage advice offered by Islamic self-help authors and therapists on social media. Based on a discourse analysis of social media posts and the comments by followers, the study traces the meanings and discussions produced around problems in marriages in order to understand how Islamic self-help discourse relates to the hegemonization of a neoconservative understanding of gender relations in contemporary Turkey. The findings suggest that Islamic self-help advice on marriage bears ambivalences. On the one hand, it naturalizes traditional gendered power relations in marriage, glorifies an imagined ideal masculinity, and makes women responsible for 'healing' the problems in marriage. On the other hand, it raises discussions on previously silenced problems in marriages and advises women to improve their self-confidence and psychological strength, even though within the confines of traditional gender roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research suggests that individuals with a mental health diagnosis often engage in social media to access support for their diagnosis. However, there is a lack of information on online usage in those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Furthermore, there is little research using qualitative interviews to examine the use of social media, such as YouTube, for psychological support. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to explore experiences of YouTube in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, including its impact on their offline lives. Methods: Six participants were recruited on social media; all those who contacted the researcher and met inclusion criteria were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were used, lasting between 40 and 60 min. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings: The analysis produced two global themes: 'YouTube as a form of self-help' and 'YouTube transforming the self'. Limitations: All the participants were female, limiting transferability of the findings. Originality: This paper is the first to show that YouTube could be used in addition to regular support to initiate recovery for those with BPD. It could provide them with a way to reduce self-stigma, enhance self-awareness and learn coping techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]