Journal of technology in behavioral science最新文献

Objective: The closure of schools and other educational institutes around the world has been one of the consequences of the COVID-19 and has resulted in online teaching. To facilitate online teaching, there has been an increase in the use of smartphones and tablets among adolescents. However, such enhancement in technology use may put many adolescents at the risk of problematic use of social media. Consequently, the present study explored the direct relationship of psychological distress with social media addiction. The relationship between the two was also assessed indirectly via the fear of missing out (FoMO) and boredom proneness.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 505 Indian adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, studying in grades 7 to 12. Standardized tools (with some modifications to suit the context of the present study) were used to collect data.

Results: The results showed significant positive associations between psychological distress, social media addiction, FoMO, and boredom proneness. Psychological distress was found to be a significant predictor of social media addiction. Moreover, FoMO and boredom proneness partially mediated the relationships between psychological distress and social media addiction.

Discussion: The present study is the first to provide evidence for the specific pathways of FoMO and boredom proneness in the relationships between psychological distress and social media addiction.

Clinical supervision remains a core component of healthcare education. While traditionally conducted face-to-face, the use of telesupervision, or supervision from a distance via technology, has exhibited rapid expansion across healthcare specialties. Although the literature has showcased preliminary empirical support for various methods of implementing telesupervision, limited consolidated works detail the real-world utility and considerations for healthcare supervisors. To address this gap, the current brief discussion aims to provide a primer for the use of telesupervision through a detailing of considerations relevant to telesupervisor practices, including methods of providing telesupervision, the known benefits associated with telesupervision, differences and challenges of telesupervision as compared to face-to-face methods, qualities of effective telesupervisors, and training considerations to foster the effective qualities.

Small Steps for Big Changes (SSBC) is a community-based diabetes prevention program (DPP). SSBC utilizes a motivational interviewing (MI) informed counseling style to deliver a structured diet and exercise curriculum to empower healthy behavioral modifications and prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D). An electronic learning (e-learning) platform to train SSBC coaches was developed to improve flexibility, reach, and accessibility. While e-learning has shown to be an effective mode of teaching content to health professionals, less is known in the context of DPP coaches. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the SSBC e-learning course. Twenty coaches (eleven fitness staff personnel and nine university students) were recruited through existing fitness facilities to participate in the online SSBC coach training which included completing pre- and post-training questionnaires, seven online modules of content and a mock client session. Knowledge regarding MI (M_pre = 3.30 ± 1.95, M_post = 5.90 ± 1.29; p < 0.01), SSBC content (M_pre = 5.15 ± 2.23, M_post = 8.60 ± 0.94; p < 0.01), and T2D (M_pre = 6.95 ± 1.57, M_post = 8.25 ± 0.72; p < 0.01), and self-efficacy to deliver the program (M_pre = 7.93 ± 1.51, M_post = 9.01 ± 1.00; p < 0.01) all significantly increased from pre- to post e-learning training. Participants reported positively on the user satisfaction and feedback questionnaire with a mean score of 4.58/5 (SD = 0.36). These findings suggest e-learning platforms are a promising mode to improve DPP coaches' knowledge, counseling skills, and to bolster confidence in program delivery with high levels of satisfaction. E-learning to train DPP coaches allows for effective and feasible expansion of DPP's, ultimately permitting more reach to adults living with prediabetes.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41347-023-00316-3.