Pathological Buying Online as a Specific Form of Internet Addiction: A Model-Based Experimental Investigation

The study aimed to investigate different factors of vulnerability for pathological buying in the online context and to determine whether online pathological buying has parallels to a specific Internet addiction. According to a model of specific Internet addiction by Brand and colleagues, potential vulnerability factors may consist of a predisposing excitability from shopping and as mediating variable, specific Internet use expectancies. Additionally, in line with models on addiction behavior, cue-induced craving should also constitute an important factor for online pathological buying. The theoretical model was tested in this study by investigating 240 female participants with a cue-reactivity paradigm, which was composed of online shopping pictures, to assess excitability from shopping. Craving (before and after the cue-reactivity paradigm) and online shopping expectancies were measured. The tendency for pathological buying and online pathological buying were screened with the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS) and the Short Internet Addiction Test modified for shopping (s-IATshopping). The results demonstrated that the relationship between individual’s excitability from shopping and online pathological buying tendency was partially mediated by specific Internet use expectancies for online shopping (model’s R² = .742, p < .001). Furthermore, craving and online pathological buying tendencies were correlated (r = .556, p < .001), and an increase in craving after the cue presentation was observed solely in individuals scoring high for online pathological buying (t(28) = 2.98, p < .01, d = 0.44). Both screening instruments were correlated (r = .517, p < .001), and diagnostic concordances as well as divergences were indicated by applying the proposed cut-off criteria. In line with the model for specific Internet addiction, the study identified potential vulnerability factors for online pathological buying and suggests potential parallels. The presence of craving in individuals with a propensity for online pathological buying emphasizes that this behavior merits potential consideration within the non-substance/behavioral addictions.     

Compulsive buying: Relationship with body mass index

Objective:

Compulsive buying has historically been associated with various self‐regulatory disturbances, including eating pathology (e.g., binge eating). Therefore, a relationship between scores on a measure of compulsive buying, the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS), and body mass index (BMI) in adulthood was hypothesized.

Design and Methods:

Using a self‐report survey methodology in a cross‐sectional consecutive sample of convenience of 373 obstetrics/gynecology patients, correlations between CBS scores and BMI, both generally and with regard to race were examined.

Results:

A modest general correlation between CBS scores and BMI (r = 0.17, P < 0.01) was found. However, when these data were examined by race, CBS scores and BMI were significantly related among Caucasian women (r = 0.25, P < 0.01), but not in African American women (r = 0.04, P = n.s.).

Conclusions:

Findings indicate that compulsive buying is associated with increasing BMI in adulthood, particularly among Caucasian women.     

Structure of the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES) with Children and Adolescents Exposed to Debris Flood

Aim

PTSD symptoms were pervasive among children and adolescents after experiencing or exposure to traumatic events. Screening and diagnosis of PTSD symptoms is crucial in trauma-related research and practice. The 13-item Children''s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES) has been demonstrated to be a valid and reliable tool to achieve this goal. This study was designed to examine the psychometric properties of the 13-item CRIES in a sample of Chinese debris flood victims.

Methods

A total of 268 participants (145 girls, 123 boys) aged 8–18 years were recruited from an integral part of a service oriented project, supported by the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences following the debris flood. The participants were given the 13-item CRIES 3 months after the debris flood.

Results

The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two-factor structure (intrusion+arousal vs avoidance) emerged as the model best fit in total sample, boys and girls subsamples, respectively. The scale was also demonstrated to have good internal consistency (Cronbach''s alpha = 0.83).

Conclusion

The study confirmed the good psychometric properties of the CRIES and its'' applicability to Chinese children and adolescents. Moreover, these findings imply that the CRIES factor structure is stable across age, gender, and different types of trauma.     

Additional psychometric evidence and construct validity for a revised Preferences Scale of morningness

The Preferences Scale of morningness was originally conceived as a two-factor, 11-item model. More recently, a two-factor, six-item model has been developed and supported in two independent samples. These competing models were examined using structural equation modeling in a mixed student and working sample (n=120). The results supported the two factor, six-item model (chi(2)(8, N=120)=10.84, p>0.05) as best fitting the sample data. The two factors explained 59% of the variance and Cronbach's alpha was 0.71. Significant differences (p<0.01) in self-reported driving ability between morning and evening types were obtained by time-of-day, providing some evidence of construct validity. Morning types rated their performance as better in the morning hours and evening types rated their performance as better at night. We then examined whether self-rated performance is subject to some degree of bias. For both morning and evening types, there was a tendency for those scoring high on self-deception to rate their driving ability as better, but these differences were not significant. Overall, these findings suggest that self-ratings are suitable for use in determining construct validity. Recommendations for future studies are made.     

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale in policewomen

Background

The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is one of most widely used instruments to measure a global level of perceived stress in a range of clinical and research settings. This study was conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the Simplified Chinese version of the PSS-10 in policewomen.

Methodology

A total of 240 policewomen were recruited in this study. The Simplified Chinese versions of the PSS-10, the Beck Depression Inventory Revised (BDI-II), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to all participants, and 36 of the participants were re-tested two weeks after the initial testing.

Principal Findings

The overall Cronbach''s alpha was 0.86, and the test–retest reliability coefficient was 0.68. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) yielded 2 factors with eigenvalues of 4.76 and 1.48, accounting for 62.41% of variance. Factor 1 consisted of 6 items representing “negative feelings”; whereas Factor 2 consisted of 4 items representing “positive feelings”. The item loadings ranged from 0.72 to 0.83. The Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated a very good fit of this two-factor model to this sample. The PSS-10 significantly correlated with both BDI-II and BAI, indicating an acceptable concurrent validity.

Conclusions

The Simplified Chinese version of the PSS-10 demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for evaluating stress levels. The results support its use among the Chinese population.     

Development of a New Index of Balance in Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Purposes

The first objective was to propose a new model representing the balance level of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) using Principal Components Analysis (PCA); and the second objective was to use the results from the PCA recorded by regression method to construct and validate summative scales of the standardized values of the index, which may be useful to facilitate a balance assessment in adults with IDD.

Methods

A total of 801 individuals with IDD (509 males) mean 33.1±8.5 years old, were recruited from Special Olympic Games in Spain 2009 to 2012. The participants performed the following tests: the timed-stand test, the single leg stance test with open and closed eyes, the Functional Reach Test, the Expanded Timed-Get-up-and-Go Test. Data was analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) with Oblimin rotation and Kaiser normalization. We examined the construct validity of our proposed two-factor model underlying balance for adults with IDD. The scores from PCA were recorded by regression method and were standardized.

Results

The Component Plot and Rotated Space indicated that a two-factor solution (Dynamic and Static Balance components) was optimal. The PCA with direct Oblimin rotation revealed a satisfactory percentage of total variance explained by the two factors: 51.6 and 21.4%, respectively. The median score standardized for component dynamic and static of the balance index for adults with IDD is shown how references values.

Conclusions

Our study may lead to improvements in the understanding and assessment of balance in adults with IDD. First, it confirms that a two-factor model may underlie the balance construct, and second, it provides an index that may be useful for identifying the balance level for adults with IDD.     

Lipid Peroxidation and Depressed Mood in Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women

It has been hypothesized that cellular damage caused by oxidative stress is associated with late-life depression but epidemiological evidence is limited. In the present study we evaluated the association between urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-iso-PGF_2α), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, and depressed mood in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults. Participants were selected from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study, a community-based longitudinal study of older persons (aged 70–79 years). The present analyses was based on a subsample of 1027 men and 948 women free of mobility disability. Urinary concentration of 8-iso-PGF_2α was measured by radioimmunoassay methods and adjusted for urinary creatinine. Depressed mood was defined as a score greater than 5 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and/or use of antidepressant medications. Depressed mood was present in 3.0% of men and 5.5% of women. Depressed men presented higher urinary concentrations of 8-iso-PGF_2α than non-depressed men even after adjustment for multiple sociodemographic, lifestyle and health factors (p = 0.03, Cohen’s d = 0.30). This association was not present in women (depressed status-by-sex interaction p = 0.04). Our study showed that oxidative damage may be linked to depression in older men from a large sample of the general population. Further studies are needed to explore whether the modulation of oxidative stress may break down the link between late-life depression and its deleterious health consequences.     

Factor structure of a Cantonese-version Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

The objectives of this study were to translate, validate and test the factor structure of a Cantonese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Cantonese-PSQI) in support of its use among Cantonese-speaking Chinese in Hong Kong, southern China and Chinese immigrant communities in the West. The study involved Cantonese-speaking Chinese aged 45 or over in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional survey of 97 participants was firstly conducted to validate the Cantonese-PSQI. A second survey of 794 participants identified the best-fitted factor structure of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis then functioned to develop and test a single-factor model, a two-factor model, and a three-factor model. The one-factor model turned out to be unacceptable due to its poor fit (L² = 303.408, d.f. = 14, SRMR = 0.085; RMSEA = 0.161; CFI = 0.805). The three-factor model, despite its very good fit (L² = 36.450, d.f. = 11, SRMR = 0.022; RMSEA = 0.054; CFI = 0.983), was unacceptable because of the extraordinarily high correlation (r = 0.928) between two of its three factors, namely the sleep quality factor and the daily disturbances factor. The two-factor model showed a good fit with the data of all the participants (L² = 46.339, d.f. = 13, SRMR = 0.028; RMSEA = 0.057; CFI = 0.978), and with those of the middle-aged, the young-old and the old-old groups. The two-factor model of the Cantonese-PSQI characterized by sleep efficiency and sleep quality is therefore better than the original one-factor model and the three-factor model for measuring the sleep quality of middle-aged and older Cantonese-speaking Chinese.

     

Crystal Structures of the CBS and DRTGG Domains of the Regulatory Region of Clostridiumperfringens Pyrophosphatase Complexed with the Inhibitor, AMP, and Activator, Diadenosine Tetraphosphate

Nucleotide-binding cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) domains serve as regulatory units in numerous proteins distributed in all kingdoms of life. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain to be established. Recently, we described a subfamily of CBS domain-containing pyrophosphatases (PPases) within family II PPases. Here, we express a novel CBS-PPase from Clostridium perfringens (CPE2055) and show that the enzyme is inhibited by AMP and activated by a novel effector, diadenosine 5′,5-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (AP₄A). The structures of the AMP and AP₄A complexes of the regulatory region of C. perfringens PPase (cpCBS), comprising a pair of CBS domains interlinked by a DRTGG domain, were determined at 2.3 Å resolution using X-ray crystallography. The structures obtained are the first structures of a DRTGG domain as part of a larger protein structure. The AMP complex contains two AMP molecules per cpCBS dimer, each bound to a single monomer, whereas in the activator-bound complex, one AP₄A molecule bridges two monomers. In the nucleotide-bound structures, activator binding induces significant opening of the CBS domain interface, compared with the inhibitor complex. These results provide structural insight into the mechanism of CBS-PPase regulation by nucleotides.     

AlphaFold and Structural Mass Spectrometry Enable Interrogations on the Intrinsically Disordered Regions in Cyanobacterial Light-harvesting Complex Phycobilisome

Intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPRs) are a very large and functionally important class of proteins that participate in weak multivalent interactions in protein complexes. They are recalcitrant for interrogations using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. The IDPRs observed at the interface of the photosynthetic pigment protein complexes (PPCs) remain much less clear, e.g., the major cyanobacterial light-harvesting complex (PBS) contains an unstructured PB-loop insertion in the phycocyanobilin domain (PB domain) of ApcE (the largest polypeptide in PBS). Here, a joint platform is built to probe such structural domains. This platform is characterized by two-round progressive justifications of in silico models by using the structural mass spectrometry data. First, the AlphaFold-generated 3D structure of the PB domain (containing PB-loop) was justified in the context of PBS. Second, docking the AlphaFold-generated ApcG (a ligand) into the first-step justified structure (a receptor). The final ligand-receptor complex was then subjected to a second-round justification, again, by using unequivocal isotopically-encoded cross-links identified in LC-MS/MS. This work reveals a full-length PB-loop structure modelled in the PBS basal cylinder, free from any spatial conflicts against the other subunits in PBS. The structure of PB domain highlights the close associations of the intrinsically disordered PB-loop with its binding partners in PBS, including ApcG, another IDPR. The PB-loop region involved in the binding of photosystem II (PSII) is also discussed in the context of excitation energy transfer regulation. This work calls attention to the highly disordered, yet interrogatable interface between the light-harvesting antenna complexes and the reaction centers.     

Epidemiology of Functional Abdominal Bloating and Its Impact on Health Related Quality of Life: Male-Female Stratified Propensity Score Analysis in a Population Based Survey in Mainland China

Background

The epidemiology of Functional abdominal bloating (FAB) and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese people remains unclear.

Methods

Randomised, stratified, multi-stage sampling methodology was used to select a representative sample of the general population from five cities in China (n = 16,078). All respondents completed the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were asked to complete the 36-item Short Form (SF-36). The associated factors of FAB were analyzed. The effects of FAB on HRQoL were estimated with gender stratification using propensity score techniques in 20% subsample.

Results

Overall, 643 individuals (4.00%) had FAB and it was more prevalent in males than in females (4.87% vs. 3.04%, P<0.001). For males, self-reported history of dyspepsia was most strongly associated with FAB (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.59, 4.72). However, the most strongly associated factor was self-reported health status for females (moderate health vs. good health: OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.96. P = 0.030; poor health vs. good health: OR = 5.71, 95% CI: 2.06, 15.09). Concerning HRQoL, FAB was found to be related to two domains: role limitation due to physical problems (P = 0.030) and bodily pain (P<0.001) in females. While, in males, there were significant differences in multiple domains between those with and without FAB.

Conclusion

The prevalence of FAB in China was lower than previous reports. Males who had ever been diagnosed with dyspepsia and females who were in a poor self-reported health status were correlated with a higher prevalence of FAB. FAB affected only physical health in females, but impaired both physical and mental health in males.     

Insomnia and Relationship with Anxiety in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Designed Study

Purpose

Sleep disorders (SDs) are now recognized as a public health concern with considerable psychiatric and societal consequences specifically on the academic life of students. The aims of this study were to assess SDs in a group of university students in Lebanon and to examine the relationship between SDs and anxiety.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Saint-Joseph University, Lebanon, during the academic year 2013–2014. Four questionnaires were face-to-face administered to 462 students after obtaining their written consent: Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7).

Results

The prevalence of clinically significant insomnia was 10.6% (95% CI: 7.8–13.4%), more frequent in first year students. ISI mean score was 10.06 (SD = 3.76). 37.1% of the participants were poor sleepers. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and poor sleep were significantly more frequent among participants with clinical insomnia (p = 0.031 and 0.001 respectively). Clinically significant anxiety was more frequent in students suffering from clinical insomnia (p = 0.006) and in poor sleepers (p = 0.003). 50.8% of the participants with clinically significant anxiety presented EDS versus 30.9% of those with no clinically significant anxiety (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

The magnitude of SDs in this sample of Lebanese university students demonstrate the importance of examining sleep health in this population. Moreover, the link between SD and anxiety reminds us of the importance of treating anxiety as soon as detected and not simply targeting the reduction of sleep problems.     

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS): exploration and confirmation of factor structure in a healthy Chinese sample

Background

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) is a measure specifically designed to capture the anticipatory and consummatory facets of pleasure. However, few studies have examined the structure of the measure in non-Western samples. The current study aimed to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the TEPS in a Chinese sample.

Methods

We administered the Chinese version of the TEPS to 2275 healthy Chinese college students. They were randomly split into two sub-samples. The first sub-sample was used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the structure of the TEPS in a Chinese sample. The second sub-sample was used as a validation sample for the identified structure from the EFA and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was adopted.

Results

Results of the EFA suggested a four-factor model (consummatory contextual, consummatory abstract, anticipatory contextual, and anticipatory abstract factors) instead of the original two-factor model (consummatory and anticipatory factors) ascertained from Western samples in the United States. The CFA results confirmed these results in the second sub-sample. Internal consistency and test-retest stability of the TEPS factors were good.

Conclusions

The TEPS has four factors among Chinese participants. Possible reasons for cultural difference and potential applications of the TEPS for cross-cultural comparison are discussed.     

Deciphering the Hybridisation History Leading to the Lager Lineage Based on the Mosaic Genomes of Saccharomyces bayanus Strains NBRC1948 and CBS380T

Saccharomyces bayanus is a yeast species described as one of the two parents of the hybrid brewing yeast S. pastorianus. Strains CBS380^T and NBRC1948 have been retained successively as pure-line representatives of S. bayanus. In the present study, sequence analyses confirmed and upgraded our previous finding: S. bayanus type strain CBS380^T harbours a mosaic genome. The genome of strain NBRC1948 was also revealed to be mosaic. Both genomes were characterized by amplification and sequencing of different markers, including genes involved in maltotriose utilization or genes detected by array-CGH mapping. Sequence comparisons with public Saccharomyces spp. nucleotide sequences revealed that the CBS380^T and NBRC1948 genomes are composed of: a predominant non-cerevisiae genetic background belonging to S. uvarum, a second unidentified species provisionally named S. lagerae, and several introgressed S. cerevisiae fragments. The largest cerevisiae-introgressed DNA common to both genomes totals 70kb in length and is distributed in three contigs, cA, cB and cC. These vary in terms of length and presence of MAL31 or MTY1 (maltotriose-transporter gene). In NBRC1948, two additional cerevisiae-contigs, cD and cE, totaling 12kb in length, as well as several smaller cerevisiae fragments were identified. All of these contigs were partially detected in the genomes of S. pastorianus lager strains CBS1503 (S. monacensis) and CBS1513 (S. carlsbergensis) explaining the noticeable common ability of S. bayanus and S. pastorianus to metabolize maltotriose. NBRC1948 was shown to be inter-fertile with S. uvarum CBS7001. The cross involving these two strains produced F1 segregants resembling the strains CBS380^T or NRRLY-1551. This demonstrates that these S. bayanus strains were the offspring of a cross between S. uvarum and a strain similar to NBRC1948. Phylogenies established with selected cerevisiae and non-cerevisiae genes allowed us to decipher the complex hybridisation events linking S. lagerae/S. uvarum/S. cerevisiae with their hybrid species, S. bayanus/pastorianus.     

Reliability and Determinants of Self-Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ) Score: A Symptoms-Based Measure of Dysfunctional Breathing

Dysfunctional breathing is characterised by an abnormal breathing pattern leading to respiratory symptoms. The 25-item Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ) has been developed to measure breathing-related symptoms and their severity but lacks thorough evaluation. To determine reproducibility, internal consistency and predictors of SEBQ score, 180 participants completed an online SEBQ with additional demographic and lifestyle questions. Two weeks later, 155 of those repeated SEBQ. Test–retest correlation of the SEBQ was high [intraclass correlation coefficient (3, 1) = 0.89; 95 % CI 0.85–0.92]. There was no difference in SEBQ score between test and retest (15.1 (11.6) [mean (SD)] versus 14.7 (12.4); P = 0.4) and the score showed a typical error (standard error of measurement) of 4.0. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.93), and a single factor structure for items was shown. Smoking status, reported respiratory disease, recent respiratory illness and female gender were positively-associated predictors of SEBQ score, and together explained 25.6 % of score variance (P ≤ 0.001). The SEBQ has high test–retest reproducibility and its score may be predicted by current smoking, chronic respiratory disease, recent respiratory illness and female gender, thus may be a useful clinical screening tool for dysfunctional breathing.     

Development and Validation of a Discriminative Dissolution Method for Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets using in vivo Data by LC and UV Methods

A dissolution method to analyze atorvastatin tablets using in vivo data for RP and test pilot (PB) was developed and validated. The appropriate conditions were determined after solubility tests using different media, and sink conditions were established. The conditions used were equipment paddle at 50 rpm and 900 mL of potassium phosphate buffer pH 6.0 as dissolution medium. In vivo release profiles were obtained from the bioequivalence study of RP and the generic candidate PB. The fraction of dose absorbed was calculated using the Loo–Riegelman method. It was necessary to use a scale factor of time similar to 6.0, to associate the values of absorbed fraction and dissolved fraction, obtaining an in vivo–in vitro correlation level A. The dissolution method to quantify the amount of drug dissolved was validated using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and validated according to the USP protocol. The discriminative power of dissolution conditions was assessed using two different pilot batches of atorvastatin tablets (PA and PB) and RP. The dissolution test was validated and may be used as a discriminating method in quality control and in the development of the new formulations.     

Focus: The Aging Brain: The Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Correlates in a Lifespan Sample

The authors examined the factor structure of the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ) [1] using confirmatory factor analysis in a lifespan sample of 933 individuals who ranged in age from 18 to 101. Participants were college students at Louisiana State University and adults from the community enrolled in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS). A two-factor solution was expected, consistent with the normal and pathological memory aging dimensions that comprise the KMAQ. A bi-factor solution with items loading on a general response bias factor and either a normal or pathological knowledge-specific factor showed good model fit. Knowledge scores were correlated with demographic and cognitive performance variables. Implications of these data for clinical settings and research are considered.     

Inclusion of cocoa by-product in the diet of dairy sheep: Effect on the fatty acid profile of ruminal content and on the composition of milk and cheese

In this study, we hypothesized that dietary cocoa bean shell (CBS) as a partial replacer of human edible cereal grains in the diet of lactating ewes may affect performance and milk and cheese composition. Twenty Comisana lactating ewes allotted into control (CTRL; n = 10) or cocoa (CBS; n = 10) group received alfalfa hay ad libitum and 800 g of conventional (CTRL) or experimental (CBS) concentrate containing 11.7% CBS to partially replace corn and barley of the CTRL concentrate. Milk yield and composition did not differ between groups, and only urea concentration was lower in CBS milk. Dietary CBS increased cheese fat and reduced protein percentage in CBS group. Fatty acid composition of rumen content partially reflected that of the ingested diet, with total saturated fatty acids (SFA), total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1c9 greater in the CBS group. Moreover, all the identified trans- and cis-18:1 isomers were greater in CBS rumen content. Milk and cheese showed a similar fatty acid composition. Total MUFAs were greater in milk and cheese of CBS, mainly due to the proportion of 18:1c9, and conversely, total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFAn-6 and PUFAn-6-to-PUFAn-3 ratio was greater in CTRL group. Concluding, the inclusion of CBS in the diet of lactating ewes within the limit imposed by the current legislation did not cause detrimental effects on animal performance and milk composition. Interestingly, dietary CBS reduced milk urea concentration probably due to the phenols contained in CBS concentrate. However, our results support that biohydrogenation was weakly impaired by dietary CBS. Finally, CBS negatively affected cheese nutritional characteristics due to lower protein and greater fat content, but improved fat health indexes in milk and cheese.     

Sense of coherence in people with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus: an observational study from Greece

Background Antonovsky''s concept of sense of coherence (SOC) has been suggested to relate to health, especially mental health and preventive health behaviours. Psychological distress has been identified as a risk factor for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study of SOC and diabetes has not received much attention in Greece. This study aims to explore the extent to which type 2 diabetes mellitus can affect the SOC score.Methods An observational design was used to test the study hypothesis that individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus would have a lower SOC than those without diabetes mellitus. A total of 202 individuals were studied, consisting of 100 people with diabetes mellitus (the study group) and 102 people with non-chronic orthopaedic conditions (the control group). All of the participants were patients of the Diabetic Clinic or the Orthopaedic Clinic of Livadia Hospital in Central Greece. SOC was assessed using a 29-item SOC questionnaire that had been translated into Greek and validated.Results Patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus had 2.4 times higher odds of having a high SOC score than patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.036; odds ratio [OR] = 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–5.23). Male patients had 3.9 times higher odds of having a high SOC score (P < 0.001; OR = 3.85, 95% CI = 1.71–8.67) than female patients. With regard to education, patients with a lower level of education had almost three times higher odds of having a high SOC score than patients with a higher level of education (P = 0.024; OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.15–7.67).Conclusions This study adds to the existing literature and indicates that SOC is a health asset. A study with an experimental design would clarify the interesting hypothesis of this study.