The role of feedback in shaping responses to risky road scenarios: Evidence from electrodermal activity

When faced with hazardous driving situations, rapid and effective risk perception and decision-making processes are of crucial importance for avoiding crashes. In these cases, the processes are accompanied and influenced by underlying psychophysiological mechanisms such as electrodermal activity (EDA) modulations. The present work aims to assess the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying participants’ risk perception and decision-making when facing risky road scenarios, as correlated to the feedback role in modulating participants’ behavior. Study 1 (n = 32) explores the behavioral effects of administering a contingent feedback in a decision (decision-making) and an evaluation (risk perception) task in response to a set of risky and not risky images. The behavioral data reveal an effect on the participants’ probability of response, independently from the type of image presented, when the feedback was administered. In the decision task, the effect is accompanied by a change in the amplitude and percentage of the skin conductance responses (SCRs), which are moderated by block of trials. Study 2 (n = 44) better assesses the role of task and block on participants’ physiological activation, as measured by EDA signal. The results show an increase in psychophysiological activation when the feedback is delivered, in the first part of the tasks, both in terms of SCRs amplitude and percentage to the presented road scenarios, followed by a decrease in the second part of the tasks. Moreover, this effect is more evident in the decision task than the evaluation task. These findings suggest that the role exerted by feedback when facing risky traffic images may be described as based on an associative process that, once the correct response has been learned, tends to be reduced as it becomes automatic. Overall, the results of the two studies represent an important step toward the development of training programs aimed at promoting safer behaviors in risky driving contexts.     

Rôles protecteurs de l’activité de travail,du soutien social perçu et des stratégies de coping en période de confinement et de crise sanitaire

The objective of this study is to determine what organizational and personal factors may have protected workers, placed in different professional status (in the office, teleworking or absence of activity at home) from developing anxiety during the lockdown in the spring 2020 in France. Effects of professional status and personal resources mobilized in these different contexts, through coping strategies and perceived social support, have been studied. Three hundred and twenty-seven public officials were interviewed. The results show that work activity protects from anxiety, like social support from colleagues and friends. Emotion-focused coping strategies has been deleterious unlike problem-focused ones. The family situation does not seem to have had an effect. This study highlights the positive role that work, both in terms of activity and relationships, may have had on individuals during this period.     

Wearable activity schedules to promote independence in young children

Activity schedules consist of a series of visual discriminative stimuli, arranged in booklets or binders, which function as prompts for appropriate behavior. Although activity schedules are useful, their typical presentation in binders can be cumbersome and stigmatizing, placing additional barriers for independence and inclusion. The purpose of the present studies was to evaluate the usefulness of a wearable activity schedule and determine whether prompts provided by it would be sufficient to support completion of a complex chain of behaviors by young children. In Experiment 1, the Octopus watch® provided prompts to children of typical development to complete a morning routine independently. In Experiment 2, the usefulness of the watch was evaluated in children with autism spectrum disorder engaged in play activities in a clinical setting. In both experiments, children reliably displayed a greater proportion of independent engagement in target behaviors when prompts were delivered by the watch compared to control conditions.     

视觉工作记忆的同类别存储优势

概念规律如记忆项间的类别关系如何影响视觉工作记忆容量是一个有争议的问题。针对该问题, 学界存在两种预测截然不同的假说：(1)混合类别优势假说, (2)同类别优势假说。综述文献发现, 该类研究均采用带有细节特征的真实客体作为实验材料, 因此前人研究中发现的混合类别优势效应或同类别优势效应中必然混有低水平知觉特征的影响。故本研究采用去除细节信息的动物剪影作为记忆材料来排除上述因素的影响, 旨在厘清上述两种假设, 并采用对侧延迟活动作为神经指标, 来进一步探讨概念规律影响工作记忆容量的内在机制。两个行为实验发现, 不论记忆项同时呈现还是序列呈现, 均存在同类别记忆优势效应。脑电实验结果发现相比记忆不同类别客体, 记忆同等数量的同类别客体诱发的对侧延迟活动的幅值更小。上述结果一致表明, 视觉工作记忆可借助概念的方式将同类别客体加以组织, 从而有效扩大视觉工作记忆容量, 支持了同类别优势假说。     

Memories of school recess predict physical activity enjoyment and social-emotional well-being in adults

School recess can provide social, emotional, and physical benefits for children. Yet, not all children experience recess the same, as inequity in access to recess and variability in the quality of recess exist. Researchers have yet to understand the long-term implications of recess experiences on adult well-being and physical activity behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the inter-relationships between memories of recess, physical activity, and social-emotional well-being. A total of 514 adults between the ages of 19 and 79 (M = 45.56; SD = 15.62) were surveyed via Prolific, a web-based research platform. Participants were asked about their memories of recess enjoyment and recess exclusion, and current physical activity levels, physical activity enjoyment, social isolation, social role satisfaction, and sense of meaning and purpose. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that memories of recess enjoyment were associated with meaning and purpose (β = 0.138, p < .05) and PA enjoyment (β = 0.183, p < .05). Furthermore, retrospective recess exclusion predicted current social isolation (β = 0.266, p < .05) and was negatively associated with retrospective recess enjoyment (β = −0.379, p < .05). Findings highlight the importance of childhood recess experiences and its impact on current physical activity behaviors, social isolation, and meaning and purpose later in life. Consistent with other research, early positive physical activity experiences, in the form of recess, appear to provide more assurances that one will engage in healthier lifestyle behaviors and more favorable psycho-socio-emotional profiles in adulthood.     

Autonomous motivation,cardiorespiratory fitness,and exercise in rheumatoid arthritis: Randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, characterised by high-grade systemic inflammation, pain, and swollen joints. RA patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined if a 3-month individualised RA-tailored exercise programme with one-on-one Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-based support for physical activity (PA) facilitated autonomous motivation, increased PA behaviour, and induced greater improvements in cardiovascular and RA-related disease characteristics, and wellbeing in RA, compared to a standard provision tailored exercise programme.Methods115 RA patients were randomised into either the SDT-based psychological intervention + exercise programme (experimental group) or an exercise programme only (control group). Cardiorespiratory fitness (primary outcome), self-reported PA, disease characteristics, CVD risk, wellbeing, and SDT constructs were assessed at baseline (pre-intervention), 3 months (post-intervention), 6 months, and 12 months follow-up. Mixed linear modeling was used to examine within- and between participant changes in these outcome measures.ResultsIn 88 patients with complete baseline data, cardiorespiratory fitness did not change from baseline to 3-, 6- or 12 months in either group. CVD risk, disease characteristics, wellbeing, and need satisfaction did not change, with the exception of diastolic blood pressure. Significant group by time interaction effects were found for functional ability (6- & 12-months), CVD risk (6-months) and PA (3-months). Autonomous motivation increased and controlled motivation decreased more in the experimental group compared to the control group at 3 months.ConclusionsDespite improving quality of motivation for exercise, no changes in cardiorespiratory fitness or other psychological and physiological health outcomes were found. This suggests more intensive support is needed when initiating an exercise programme to achieve health benefits in RA.     

Efficacy of physical activity interventions on psychological outcomes in refugee,asylum seeker and migrant populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesThe role of physical activity (PA) in the promotion of mental wellbeing and prevention of psychological disorders in population groups at increased risk for mental health conditions, such as migrant populations, has never been systematically investigated.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Pubmed, Web of Science, SportDiscus. We included randomized (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCT), and pre-post intervention studies, that assessed the efficacy of PA interventions in migrants, compared with any types of controls.ResultsWe included 27 studies (4166 participants) (16 RCTs; 2 CCTs; 9 pre-post design) between 1997 and 2020. Meta-analysis showed a significant beneficial effect of PA over control conditions for general functioning (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.83 to −0.16; 400 participants), outcome expectancies (SMD -0.78, 95% CI -1.17 to −0.40; 118 participants), self-efficacy/coping (SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.52 to −0.03; 269 participants), and psychological symptoms (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.88 to −0.08; 6 RCTs; 597 participants). Similar findings were produced by pre-post intervention studies (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.60 to −0.10; 7 studies; 302 participants).ConclusionsMigrant populations may benefit from PA interventions to improve psychological outcomes. Uncertainty remains about the best approach to promote PA in this population, and future research should consider the complex factors that characterize the migration experience.     

Physical activity is positively associated with college students' positive affect regardless of stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic

The study was designed to determine associations between physical activity (PA) and affect before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and how change in PA predicted change in affect during this time. Before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, college students (n = 107) completed assessments of PA, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, food insecurity, and stressful life events (during stay-at-home order only). Total minutes of PA was positively associated with positive affect before (B = 0.01, p < 0.01) and during (B = 0.01, p = 0.01) COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Change in minutes of PA was positively associated with change in positive affect (B = 0.01, p = 0.01). Associations between PA and positive affect were not moderated by stressful life events. PA only predicted negative affect before COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (B = −0.003, p = 0.04). PA appears to enhance positive affect during a global pandemic. Findings have implications for PA as a tool for maintaining or enhancing mental health during a time of trauma and uncertainty.     

Momentary associations between stress and physical activity among children using ecological momentary assessment

Chronic and acute stress may have a detrimental effect on children's physical activity. Research on stress as a predictor of children's physical activity has mostly focused on stress between children, rather than how children's within-day variation in stress may predict physical activity. The current study assessed the within- and between-effects of stress on subsequent physical activity in three different time windows using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and accelerometry. Children (N = 190; M_{Baseline Age} = 10.1 ± 0.9, 53% female, 56% self-identified Hispanic/Latino) completed six semi-annual assessment bursts across three years. During each burst, participants responded to up to seven (weekend) or three (weekday) randomly prompted EMA surveys on smartphones for seven days and wore a waist-worn accelerometer. Multi-level structural equation modeling examined within- and between-subjects effects of stress as a predictor of children's subsequent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the 15, 30, and 60 min following the EMA prompt. Latent variables were created for within- and between-subjects stress were comprised of three EMA stress items. Higher than average levels of stress (within-subjects) significantly predicted lower MVPA in the subsequent 15, 30 and 60 min (ps < .05). Between-subjects stress was not significantly associated with subsequent MVPA (ps > .05). Results indicate that elevated momentary stress predicts less subsequent MVPA. These findings suggest that within-day fluctuations in stress may be a barrier for children engaging in physical activity. Childhood physical activity promotion and interventions should consider the role of children's stress, aim to reduce the stress children experience throughout the day, and incorporate stress coping strategies.