Frontiers in Psychology

BackgroundThe cognitive demands of medical education require optimal learning environments. While the influence of background music on cognition has been widely studied, existing research exhibits a significant Eurocentric bias, predominantly focusing on Western classical music like the "Mozart Effect." This leaves a critical gap in understanding the impact of culturally salient, non-Western musical traditions on learning within their native contexts. MethodsA single-blind, randomized controlle...

This study compared the effects of a 25-min nap opportunity and a 10-min non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) condition on perceptual, cognitive, and physical performance in physically active young adults. Sixty participants (26 female, 34 male; 22 {+/-} 4 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (nap, NSDR, control; n = 20 each). All groups completed identical assessments immediately, 20 min, and 40 min post-intervention. Mixed-effects models, adjusted for sex, prior-night sleep, and weekly p...

Background and AimsAvoidance of symptom-related situations is common in chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, contributing to greater symptom severity, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. However, no validated measure exists to comprehensively assess GI-specific avoidance. We developed and validated the GI-specific Avoidance Scale (GIAS), a self-report instrument measuring behavioral and cognitive avoidance specific to GI symptoms. MethodsFollowing literature review and mul...

BackgroundEmerging research indicates that light exposure may influence sleep quality. Identifying key light-exposure behaviours associated with poor sleep quality in athletes may allow practitioners to efficiently screen for sleep difficulties and prioritise athletes for further assessment. Translating these findings into a practical screening tool could enhance willingness of high-performance professionals to monitor sleep and light exposure in athletes. HypothesisKey predictor variables iden...

BackgroundMental well-being encompasses positive psychological functioning, life satisfaction, and engagement with daily activities. It is influenced by multiple interrelated factors, including symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological inflexibility. Network analysis provides a data-driven framework for examining the complex interconnections between these components and for identifying elements that may play a central role in the mental well-being system. The present study aimed...

BackgroundThoracic spine mobilization (TSM) has been proposed to influence autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, yet evidence remains inconsistent and feasibility of standardised protocols is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether a randomized TSM protocol can be implemented successfully in healthy participants and to provide preliminary estimates of its effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR). MethodsA randomized feasibility trial was conducted with healthy young ...

Gait variability is a critical functional indicator of dynamic balance and neurocognitive decline in health. Its translation into clinical practice is, however, challenged by a lack of age-related normative trajectories and reference values under real-world ecological settings. Furthermore, the conventional metrics used to estimate gait variability (Coefficient of Variation, CV; Standard Deviation, SD) have a fundamental methodological flaw: the inherent sensitivity of conventional metrics to th...

Background: Quadriceps weakness may reduce sagittal plane shock absorption during landing, shifting load toward the frontal plane and increasing knee abduction moment (KAM), a biomechanical risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between isokinetic quadriceps strength and peak KAM during drop vertical jump landing in adolescent athletes. Study Design: Secondary analysis of previously collected data. Methods: He...

Depression is a common and clinically significant mental health condition among university students, particularly those experiencing academic failure and course repetition, and is associated with adverse effects on cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and academic performance. This study evaluated the efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) intervention, MoodGYM, in reducing depressive symptoms among repeating undergraduate students at the University of Zambia ...

BackgroundRisk communication is critical in shaping public response during infectious disease outbreaks. This study quantitatively examined whether Nigerian media coverage during the 2024 cholera outbreak reflected a proactive or reactive risk communication pattern. MethodsA Python-based systematic content analysis was conducted on 352 unique news articles published by major Nigerian media sources in 2024. K-Means was used to cluster and quantify thematic patterns, TextBlob for sentiment polari...

BACKGROUNDThe recovery from sport-related concussion (SRC) is highly heterogenous, with many individuals experiencing symptoms that persist beyond typical recovery timeframes. The early identification of individuals at risk of prolonged symptoms is therefore critical to inform timely interventions and set realistic recovery expectations. Although acute symptom burden is one predictor of future symptom burden, reliance on self-reported measures may limit objectivity and reduce clinical utility in...

BackgroundHealth behaviors established during young adulthood significantly shape the long-term risk of non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders. Although behaviors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and substance use are often targeted individually, growing evidence suggests these behaviors function as an interconnected system. However, the organization of lifestyle behaviors at the system level, and which behaviors exert the greatest structural influence, remains poorly under...

Abstract/SummaryFinancial exploitation of older adults is an increasingly prevalent public health concern, yet few have characterized fraud prevalence longitudinally or evaluated whether financial exploitation vulnerability measures prospectively predict fraud outcomes. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we examined fraud prevalence across a 14-year period and tested whether the Perceived Financial Vulnerability Scale (PFVS) predicts subsequent fraud victimization among older adult...

Olfactory decline is a well-established aspect of Parkinsons disease (PD) and is considered one of its earliest signs, often preceding motor symptoms by years to decades. However, because olfactory impairment is also common in healthy aging and other medical conditions, current olfactory tests that score performance (odor detection, discrimination, and identification) lack disease specificity. In contrast to performance scores, olfactory perceptual fingerprints are derived from odor ratings and ...

ContextClinical assessments of landing mechanics often require complex scoring systems or laboratory-based motion analysis, which can limit feasibility in routine practice. A visually based landing-mechanics score centered on a standardized optimal joint-alignment configuration ("Zero Position") may offer a simple, clinically deployable alternative. ObjectiveTo determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a landing mechanics score based on standardized optimal joint alignment at the mome...

AIMExecutive functions (EF) are advanced cognitive processes that play an essential role in daily functioning and may be of increased importance in cerebral palsy (CP), given the complexity of primary and associated impairments. This study aims to synthesize existing evidence on the relation between EF and domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in individuals with CP, and to quantify the magnitude of these associations through meta-analysis. METH...

Objectives: Compare Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scores over time following ACL reconstruction (ACLR) between male and female patients aged 15 to 25 years with primary ACL injuries and ACL reinjuries. Design: Retrospective cohort design. Setting: Sports physical therapy clinics. Participants: 332 patients aged 15-25 years who underwent ACLR following either primary ACL injury or ACL reinjury, either contralateral or ipsilateral graft reinjury, and had a...

Aims/hypothesisTo investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week remotely-delivered exercise snacks (ES) intervention in adults with type 2 diabetes. MethodsInsufficiently active adults with type 2 diabetes (N=69; 46 females; mean age {+/-} SD: 58{+/-}11 years) were randomized to an ES or mobility/stretching comparator group (CON), which involved 4 x 1-min bouts of either vigorous or low intensity exercise, respectively, on [≥]5 days/week. The primary outcome was feasibili...

Background: Psychological readiness to return to sport and subjective knee function are critical outcomes following ACL reconstruction (ACLR), yet they do not always progress in parallel. An athlete may demonstrate high subjective knee function but low psychological readiness, suggesting a mental barrier to return, or conversely, report high readiness despite persistent functional limitations, raising concerns of overconfidence and reinjury risk. Understanding how these domains change together d...

BACKGROUNDFall injuries in older adults are devastating and often caused by impaired reactive balance to unexpected trips and slips, which conventional exercise programs do not target. This study examined whether a low-dose perturbation balance training (PBT) program among older adults can improve balance recovery following trips and slips and reduce falls and fall injuries. METHODS111 older adults (65+ years) were randomised into an intervention or control group. The intervention group underto...