ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2635-7780
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2019
DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2019.1568864
Abstract: The aim of the study was to elucidate the association between performance-related neurocognitive abilities and Theory of Mind (ToM) as measured by the Hinting Task (HT) performance and investigate the psychometric properties of the HT for use in First-Episode Psychosis (FEP). Cross-sectional data of 132 participants with FEP, aged 15-25 years, enrolled in a randomised controlled trial of vocational intervention, were analysed. A comprehensive cognitive battery including social cognitive and neurocognitive measures, a social and occupational functioning measure and psychopathological measures, were used. Psychometric properties were measured through bivariate correlations and associations with neurocognitive domains were assessed through hierarchical regression. Low convergent validity of the HT with other ToM measures, moderate discriminant validity with an emotion recognition task, low predictive validity with social and occupational functioning, and high internal consistency were revealed. HT performance was significantly associated with verbal reasoning and verbal memory. Results provide preliminary evidence of low convergent validity and moderate discriminant validity of the HT in FEP, and the influence of verbal reasoning and verbal memory on HT performance, indicating that caution is warranted when employing the HT as a screening tool in isolation for detection of ToM deficits in FEP.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-10-2018
Abstract: It remains unclear whether the onset of psychosis is associated with deterioration in cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to examine the course of cognitive performance in an ultrahigh risk (UHR) cohort, and whether change in cognition is associated with transition to psychosis and change in functioning. Consecutive admissions to Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) Clinic between May 1994 and July 2000 who had completed a comprehensive cognitive assessment at baseline and follow-up were eligible (N = 80). Follow-up ranged from 7.3 to 13.4 years (M = 10.4 years SD = 1.5). In the whole s le, significant improvements were observed on the Similarities (P = .03), Information (P .01), Digit Symbol Coding (P .01), and Trail Making Test-B (P = .01) tasks, whereas performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Trials 1–3) declined significantly (P .01) over the follow-up period. Change in performance on cognitive measures was not significantly associated with transition status. Taking time to transition into account, those who transitioned after 1 year showed significant decline on Digit Symbol Coding, whereas those who did not transition improved on this measure (P = .01 effect size [ES] = 0.85). Small positive correlations were observed between improvements in functioning and improvements in performance on Digit Symbol Coding and Arithmetic (0.24, P = .03 and 0.28, P = .01, respectively). In summary, the onset of psychosis was not associated with deterioration in cognitive ability. However, specific findings suggest that immediate verbal learning and memory, and processing speed may be relevant domains for future risk models and early intervention research in UHR in iduals.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-11-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-022-14459-0
Abstract: Exploring parental motives for providing smartphones and tablets to young children is important to better understand ways to optimise healthy use of mobile screens in early childhood. To date, no study has qualitatively examined the factors underpinning parental motives of providing mobile screens to young children, using a theoretically driven approach. We conducted 45 in-depth, semi structured online interviews with primary caregivers of toddlers and pre-schoolers from erse family backgrounds who participated in a large online survey in Australia. Themes were generated from the transcribed interviews using template thematic analysis. The coding was completed deductively using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and data-driven induction. Participants consistently reported a spectrum of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control aspects which drove their decision to provide or not provide a mobile screen device to their child. Five main descriptive themes were generated, guided by the TPB: (1) Convenience, connection, and non-traditional learning experience (2) Negative behavioural consequences and potential activity displacement through mobile screens (3) Influences of society and resources (4) Managing and achieving a balance (5) External challenges. Overall, the findings demonstrated that parents experienced cognitive dissonance between their attitudes and behaviour, primarily from perceived behavioural control and subjective norms negating the influence of attitudes on their motives to provide a device. These insights offer important avenues for public health messaging and resources to better involve and support parents in decision-making relating to mobile screens in everyday lives of young children.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 19-01-2022
Abstract: The current study provides the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations of smartphone and tablet use with psychosocial, cognitive, and sleep-related factors in early childhood development. The meta-analysis aimed to provide an overall assessment of the evidence while the systematic review offered a rich overview of the methodological approaches adopted to assess these associations. Studies were included in the review if they examined the association of smartphone or tablet use with a measure of psychosocial development, cognitive development, or sleep in toddlers or preschoolers. Out of 1050 articles that were initially identified, 26 studies were included in the final s le of the systematic review, of which 19 were included in the meta-analysis. Data were screened, extracted, and synthesized according to PRISMA guidelines. A random-effects meta-analysis of correlations found a significant yet weak association of increased smartphone and tablet use with poorer overall child developmental factors. Additionally, a similar but stronger association was found between parental perceptions of problematic device use and poorer overall child factors. Meta-correlations with device use were significant for sleep, but not for psychosocial and cognitive factors. Overall, the results suggest that longitudinal cohort and experimental investigations would elucidate more causal relationships of child factors with smartphone and tablet use. Employing multiple methods of screen-use assessment, and considering the multiple levels of proximal and distal influences on child smartphone and tablet use, would also be useful. Adopting more rigorous research practices in the future, will facilitate deeper insights into the potential developmental implications of smartphone and tablet use in early childhood.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 15-11-2022
Abstract: Despite the increasing rates of early childhood smartphone and tablet use and the possible link to engagement-promoting persuasive digital environment design, there has been limited research examining persuasive design features in early childhood apps. The current content analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the prevalence of persuasive design features within popular early childhood apps. Comparisons in persuasive design features between free and paid apps, as well as ‘Teacher-Approved’ and other apps were also examined. A coding scheme, guided by the Fogg behavioral model (2009), was applied to 132 apps. Each persuasive feature belonged to either of the three main components motivation, ability or prompts, and was dichotomously coded to indicate whether it was present. Of the 132 apps analyzed, a high prevalence of passive motivation features (vibrant colors and music), and ability features (in-game help suggestions and repetitive tasks) were noted across a majority of apps. Further, prompts were more prevalent in free apps compared to paid apps, while there were no differences between free and paid apps in other features. Teacher-Approved apps contained less advertising and fear-based motivation features compared to non-approved apps. These results outline the need to consider the developmental implications of persuasive design features in apps and to examine how they may contribute to problematic screen behaviors in early childhood.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 05-2021
Abstract: This study utilized data from a nationally representative s le of Australian adults (n =1164 50.7% female age M = 44.9 years, SD = 16.3) to examine the relationships between age, technology concerns, self-rated and objective amount of smartphone use, and problematic smartphone use. Participants completed measures of problematic smartphone use and technology concern, while amount of smartphone use was self-rated and objectively measured using smartphone screen time reporting tools (Screen Time for iOS and Digital Wellbeing for Android). Amount of self-rated and objective smartphone use declined linearly with age. In contrast, problematic smartphone use was relatively high and stable in young adults before rapidly declining around age 40. People were reasonably good at estimating their amount of smartphone use (r = .73), although they did tend to underestimate usage. Technology concern was high across all ages, but unrelated to amount of usage and problematic smartphone usage. Age related differences are interpreted in terms of a combination of developmental and generational changes. Results also suggest that amount of use is an important but not complete cause of problematic smartphone use.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 16-09-2019
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291719002344
Abstract: Despite knowing for many decades that depressive psychopathology is common in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders (FES), there is limited knowledge regarding the extent and nature of such psychopathology (degree of comorbidity, caseness, severity) and its demographic, clinical, functional and treatment correlates. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of depressive disorder and caseness, and the pooled mean severity of depressive symptoms, as well as the demographic, illness, functional and treatment correlates of depressive psychopathology in FES. This systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression was prospectively registered (CRD42018084856) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Forty studies comprising 4041 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of depressive disorder and caseness was 26.0% (seven s les, N = 855, 95% CI 22.1–30.3) and 43.9% (11 s les, N = 1312, 95% CI 30.3–58.4), respectively. The pooled mean percentage of maximum depressive symptom severity was 25.1 (38 s les, N = 3180, 95% CI 21.49–28.68). Correlates of depressive psychopathology were also found. At least one-quarter of in iduals with FES will experience, and therefore require treatment for, a full-threshold depressive disorder. Nearly half will experience levels of depressive symptoms that are severe enough to warrant diagnostic investigation and therefore clinical intervention – regardless of whether they actually fulfil diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder. Depressive psychopathology is prominent in FES, manifesting not only as superimposed comorbidity, but also as an inextricable symptom domain.
No related grants have been discovered for Sumudu Mallawaarachchi.