Analyzing hate speech dynamics on Twitter/X: Insights from conversational data and the impact of user interaction patterns.

This paper investigates the pervasive issue of hate speech within Twitter/X Portuguese network conversations, offering a multifaceted analysis of its characteristics. This study utilizes a mixed-method approach, combining several methodologies of network analysis (triad census and participation shifts) over the network of interaction between users. Qualitative manual content annotation was applied to the dataset to dissect different patterns of hate speech on the platform. Key findings reveal that the number of users followed by an individual and potentially reads is a relevant predictor for a user's propensity to post aggressive content. We concluded also that during a conversation thread, hate speech happens significantly more within the first 2 h of interaction. Transitivity of interactions and individual expression are considerably lower as more hate speech is prevalent in conversations. Our research confirms that hate speech is usually expressed by external individuals who intrude into conversations. Conversely, the expression of hate speech of indirect type by third parties interfering in conversations is uncommon. We also found that counter-speech discourse is strongly correlated with a type of discourse that typically avoids conflict and is not privately held.

Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures.

Nostalgia is a social, self-relevant, and bittersweet (although mostly positive) emotion that arises when reflecting on fond past memories and serves key psychological functions. The majority of evidence concerning the prevalence, triggers, and functions of nostalgia has been amassed in samples from a handful of largely Western cultures. If nostalgia is a fundamental psychological resource, it should perform similar functions across cultures, although its operational dynamics may be shaped by culture. This study (N = 2,606) examined dispositional nostalgia, self-reported triggers of nostalgia, and functions of experimentally induced nostalgia in young adults across 28 countries and a special administrative region of China (i.e., Hong Kong). Results indicated that nostalgia is frequently experienced across cultures, albeit better valued in more-developed countries (i.e., higher national wealth and life-expectancy). Nostalgia is triggered by psychological threats (especially in warmer countries), sensory stimuli (especially in more-developed countries), and social gatherings (especially in less-developed countries). The positive or negative affect prompted by experimentally induced nostalgia varied by country, but was mild overall. More importantly, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory increased social connectedness, self-continuity, and meaning in life across cultures. In less-developed countries, recalling an ordinary memory also conferred some of these functions, reducing the effect size of nostalgia. Finally, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory augmented state satisfaction with life in countries with lower quality of living (i.e., lower life-expectancy and life-satisfaction). Overall, findings confirm the relevance of nostalgia across a wide range of cultures and indicate cultural nuances in its functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Intergroup relations, acculturation orientations, and adaptation of Turkish immigrant descent parents across Europe.

OBJECTIVES: The current research examines whether Turkish immigrant descent parents' perceived discrimination, intergroup contact with the majority, nonimmigrant society, and acculturation orientations are related to their psychological and sociocultural adaptation (i.e., life satisfaction and parental self-efficacy). Additionally, it explores potential differences in these relations between three European countries. METHOD: Participants were parents (Mage = 38.05, SD = 5.81, 85.3%-99.6% female) of Turkish origin from England (n = 293), Germany (n = 338), and the Netherlands (n = 247) who participated in a large-scale structured interview study. RESULTS: As predicted, perceived discrimination was negatively associated with Turkish immigrant descent parents' psychological adaptation, although not with sociocultural adaptation. Positive contact with the majority, nonimmigrant society positively predicted both psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Contrary to the expected, only desire for contact was positively associated with both psychological and sociocultural adaptation, whereas culture and language adoption was not related to adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: Together these findings highlight the importance of majority, nonimmigrant societies fostering conditions and policies that promote opportunities for harmonious interactions between immigrant/immigrant descendants and majority, and nonimmigrant populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Mini nutritional assessment-short form test: criterion and predictive validity in older adults from a long-term care unity / Versión corta del test de valoración nutricional: validez de criterio y predictiva en adultos mayores de una unidad de cuidados de larga duración

Introduction: the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test (MNA-SF) is valid for malnutrition screening and diagnosis of older adults, but few studies evaluated if it predicts hospital length of stay (LOS) and were conducted in long-term care units. Objective: this study aims to evaluate the criterion and predictive validity of MNA-SF. Methods: a prospective observational study was conducted in older adults from a long-term care unity. MNA Long Form test (MNA-LF) and MNA-SF were applied, at admission and at discharge. Percentage of agreement, kappa and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were determined. Sensitivity and specificity of MNA-SF were calculated. The independent association of MNA-SF with LOS (adjustment for Charlson index, sex, age, education) was assessed by Cox regression analysis [results presented as hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI)]. Results: this sample is composed of 109 older adults (62.4 % women), aged 66-102 years. According to MNA-SF at admission, 7.3 % of participants presented normal nutrition status, 55.1 % were at risk of malnutrition and 37.6 % were malnourished. Agreement, kappa and ICC were 83.5 %, 0.692 and 0.768 at admission, and 80.9 %, 0.649 and 0.752 at discharge. MNA-SF sensitivities were 96.7 % at admission and 92.9 % at discharge; specificities were 88.9 % and 89.5 %, at admission and at discharge. According to MNA-SF at discharge, being at risk of malnutrition (HR = 0.170, 95 % CI: 0.055-0.528) or malnourished (HR = 0.059, 95 % CI: 0.016-0.223) lowered the odds of being discharged to home or to usual residence. Conclusions: a high agreement was found between MNA-LF and MNA-SF. MNA-SF revealed high sensitivities and specificities. An independent association was found between risk of malnutrition or malnutrition by MNA-SF and LOS. The use of MNA-SF instead of MNA-LF should be considered in long-term care units given its criterion and predictive validity.(AU)

Introducción: la versión corta del test de valoración nutricional (MNA-SF) es válida para la evaluación del riesgo nutricional y de la desnutriciónde los adultos mayores, pero pocos estudios han evaluado si predice la duración de la estancia hospitalaria (LOS) y se realizaron en unidadesde cuidados de larga duración.Objetivo: evaluar la validez predictiva y de criterio del MNA-SF.Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo en adultos mayores de una unidad de cuidados de larga duración. Se aplicaronel formulario largo del MNA (MNA-LF) y el MNA-SF al ingreso y al alta. Se determinó el porcentaje de concordancia, kappa y coeficientes decorrelación interclase (CCI). Se calcularon la sensibilidad y la especificidad del MNA-SF. Se evaluó la asociación independiente del MNA-SFcon la LOS (ajustada por: índice de Charlson, sexo, edad y educación) mediante análisis de regresión de Cox (resultados: hazard ratio [HR] eintervalos de confianza [IC] del 95 %).Resultados: esta muestra está compuesta por 109 adultos mayores (62,4 % mujeres), con edades de 66-102 años. Según el MNA-SF al ingreso,el 7,3 % de los participantes estaban bien nutridos, el 55,1 % estaban en riesgo nutricional y el 37,6 % estaban desnutridos. La concordancia,kappa y CCI fueron del 83,5 %, del 0,692 y del 0,768 al ingreso y del 80,9 %, del 0,649 y del 0,752 al alta. Las sensibilidades del MNASFfueron de 96,7 % al ingreso y de 92,9 % al alta; las especificidades fueron de 88,9 % y de 89,5 %, al ingreso y al alta. Según el MNA-SF al alta,estar en riesgo nutricional (HR = 0,170, IC 95 %: 0,055-0,528) o desnutrido (HR = 0,059, IC 95 %: 0,016-0,223) redujo las probabilidades deser dado de alta al domicilio o la residencia habitual.Conclusiones: se encontró una gran concordancia entre el MNA-LF y el MNA-SF el MNA-SF reveló grandes sensibilidad y especificidad. Seencontró una asociación independiente entre la desnutrición o el riesgo nutricional por MNA-SF y la LOS...(AU)

Mini nutritional assessment-short form test: criterion and predictive validity in older adults from a long-term care unity.

Introduction: Introduction: the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test (MNA-SF) is valid for malnutrition screening and diagnosis of older adults, but few studies evaluated if it predicts hospital length of stay (LOS) and were conducted in long-term care units. Objective: this study aims to evaluate the criterion and predictive validity of MNA-SF. Methods: a prospective observational study was conducted in older adults from a long-term care unity. MNA Long Form test (MNA-LF) and MNA-SF were applied, at admission and at discharge. Percentage of agreement, kappa and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were determined. Sensitivity and specificity of MNA-SF were calculated. The independent association of MNA-SF with LOS (adjustment for Charlson index, sex, age, education) was assessed by Cox regression analysis [results presented as hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI)]. Results: this sample is composed of 109 older adults (62.4 % women), aged 66-102 years. According to MNA-SF at admission, 7.3 % of participants presented normal nutrition status, 55.1 % were at risk of malnutrition and 37.6 % were malnourished. Agreement, kappa and ICC were 83.5 %, 0.692 and 0.768 at admission, and 80.9 %, 0.649 and 0.752 at discharge. MNA-SF sensitivities were 96.7 % at admission and 92.9 % at discharge; specificities were 88.9 % and 89.5 %, at admission and at discharge. According to MNA-SF at discharge, being at risk of malnutrition (HR = 0.170, 95 % CI: 0.055-0.528) or malnourished (HR = 0.059, 95 % CI: 0.016-0.223) lowered the odds of being discharged to home or to usual residence. Conclusions: a high agreement was found between MNA-LF and MNA-SF. MNA-SF revealed high sensitivities and specificities. An independent association was found between risk of malnutrition or malnutrition by MNA-SF and LOS. The use of MNA-SF instead of MNA-LF should be considered in long-term care units given its criterion and predictive validity.

Introducción: Introducción: la versión corta del test de valoración nutricional (MNA-SF) es válida para la evaluación del riesgo nutricional y de la desnutrición de los adultos mayores, pero pocos estudios han evaluado si predice la duración de la estancia hospitalaria (LOS) y se realizaron en unidades de cuidados de larga duración. Objetivo: evaluar la validez predictiva y de criterio del MNA-SF. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo en adultos mayores de una unidad de cuidados de larga duración. Se aplicaron el formulario largo del MNA (MNA-LF) y el MNA-SF al ingreso y al alta. Se determinó el porcentaje de concordancia, kappa y coeficientes de correlación interclase (CCI). Se calcularon la sensibilidad y la especificidad del MNA-SF. Se evaluó la asociación independiente del MNA-SF con la LOS (ajustada por: índice de Charlson, sexo, edad y educación) mediante análisis de regresión de Cox (resultados: hazard ratio [HR] e intervalos de confianza [IC] del 95 %). Resultados: esta muestra está compuesta por 109 adultos mayores (62,4 % mujeres), con edades de 66-102 años. Según el MNA-SF al ingreso, el 7,3 % de los participantes estaban bien nutridos, el 55,1 % estaban en riesgo nutricional y el 37,6 % estaban desnutridos. La concordancia, kappa y CCI fueron del 83,5 %, del 0,692 y del 0,768 al ingreso y del 80,9 %, del 0,649 y del 0,752 al alta. Las sensibilidades del MNA-SF fueron de 96,7 % al ingreso y de 92,9 % al alta; las especificidades fueron de 88,9 % y de 89,5 %, al ingreso y al alta. Según el MNA-SF al alta, estar en riesgo nutricional (HR = 0,170, IC 95 %: 0,055-0,528) o desnutrido (HR = 0,059, IC 95 %: 0,016-0,223) redujo las probabilidades de ser dado de alta al domicilio o la residencia habitual. Conclusiones: se encontró una gran concordancia entre el MNA-LF y el MNA-SF. El MNA-SF reveló grandes sensibilidad y especificidad. Se encontró una asociación independiente entre la desnutrición o el riesgo nutricional por MNA-SF y la LOS. El uso de MNA-SF en lugar de MNA-LF debe considerarse en unidades de cuidados de larga duración dada su validez predictiva y de criterio.

Cyberbullying during COVID-19 lockdowns: prevalence, predictors, and outcomes for youth.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges to the safety and well-being of young people who were forced to engage in online learning, spending more time than ever online, and cyberbullying emerged as a notable concern for parents, educators, and students. Two studies conducted online examined the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of cyberbullying episodes during the lockdowns due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Portugal. Study 1 (N = 485) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth during the first lockdown period in 2020, focusing on predictors, symptoms of psychological distress and possible buffers of the effects of cyberbullying. Study 2 (N = 952) examined the prevalence of cyberbullying, predictors, and symptoms of psychological distress during the second lockdown period in 2021. Results revealed that most participants experienced cyberbullying, symptoms of psychological distress (e.g., sadness and loneliness) during the lockdowns were higher for those who experienced than for those who did not experience cyberbullying, and those who experienced cyberbullying with higher levels of parental and social support showed lower levels of symptoms of psychological distress (i.e., suicidal ideation). These findings contribute to the existing knowledge on online bullying among youth, specifically during COVID-19 lockdowns. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04394-7.

Imagined and extended contact experiences and adolescent bystanders' behavioral intentions in homophobic bullying episodes.

Bystanders' helping interventions in bias-based bullying are rare, although they have the potential to intervene on behalf of the victim and quickly stop the aggression. Two studies tested, experimentally, the impact of adolescents' imagined (Study 1, N = 113, Mage = 16.17) and extended contact experiences (Study 2, N = 174, Mage = 15.79) on assertive bystanders' behavioral intentions in the context of homophobic bullying, an under-researched but highly detrimental behavior that emerges mainly during early adolescence. Potential mediators (empathic concern, social contagion concerns, and masculinity/femininity threat) were also examined. Results showed that female younger participants revealed more behavioral intentions to help victims of homophobic bullying when asked to imagine an interaction with an outgroup member (Study 1). Younger participants revealed less masculinity/femininity threat in the positive extended contact condition, and female participants revealed less empathic concern in the negative extended contact condition (Study 2). Overall, these findings identify specific conditions (e.g., younger females) where indirect contact interventions (i.e., extended and imagined) are likely to have a stronger impact. Age and sex differences were found to illustrate how adolescents vary in their behavioral intentions, empathic concern, and threat; and also highlight the need to further examine age and sex differences regarding responses to homophobic bullying episodes.

Unpacking all-inclusive superordinate categories: Comparing correlates and consequences of global citizenship and human identities.

Previous research suggests that all-inclusive superordinate categories, such as "citizens of the world" and "humans," may represent different socio-psychological realities. Yet it remains unclear whether the use of different categories may account for different psychological processes and attitudinal or behavioral outcomes. Two studies extended previous research by comparing how these categories are cognitively represented, and their impact on intergroup helping from host communities toward migrants. In a correlational study, 168 nationals from 25 countries perceived the group of migrants as more prototypical of the superordinate category "citizens of the world" than their national group (relative outgroup prototypicality), whereas no differences in prototypicality occurred for the category "humans." Identification with "citizens of the world" was positively associated with a disposition to oppose helping migrants and to offer dependency-oriented help. However, identification with "humans" was positively associated with helping in general, and with offering dependency- and autonomy-oriented help; and negatively associated with opposition to helping. The experimental study manipulated the salience of "citizens of the world" vs. "humans" vs. control category, among 224 nationals from 36 countries. Results showed that the salience of "humans" (vs. "citizens of the world") triggered higher entitativity and essentialist perceptions, and dual-identity representations. No differences due to salience were found for representations of relative ingroup prototypicality or helping responses. Overall, these findings suggest that the interchangeable use of different labels is problematic, considering these might activate different representations, and thus, are likely to lead, in some circumstances, to different attitudinal or behavioral outcomes.

Prediction equations for estimating body weight in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Assessing body weight in older adults may be challenging. Hence, the present study aimed to develop and cross-validate updated and reproducible equations to estimate body weight in a large sample of older adults, namely among the older-old. METHODS: In total, 1456 individuals aged ≥ 65 years, from the Nutrition UP 65 study, were included in the present analysis. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two sub-samples: development (n = 991) and validation samples (n = 465). Prediction equations using height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference (WC), calf circumference (CC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TST) were generated for the development sample using multiple regression analysis and then validated using the validation sample. RESULTS: The model with five predictor variables generated the following equations: females 65-79 years: -114.682 + 0.522 × height (cm) + 0.620 × MUAC (cm) + 0.517 × WC (cm) + 0.893 × CC (cm) + 0.111 × TST (mm) (adjusted r2  = 0.883, standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 4.4); females ≥ 80 years: -110.806 + 0.494 × height (cm) + 0.637 × MUAC (cm) + 0.500 × WC (cm) + 0.986 × CC (cm) + 0.021 × TST (mm) (adjusted r2  = 0.890, SEE = 3.9); males 65-79 years: -114.875 + 0.558 × height (cm) + 0.073 × MUAC (cm) + 0.671 × WC (cm) + 0.717 × CC (cm) + 0.182 × TST(mm) (adjusted r2  = 0.820, SEE=5.0); and males ≥ 80 years: -128.789 + 0.546 × height (cm) + 0.202 × MUAC (cm) + 0.612 × WC (cm) + 1.236 × CC (cm) + 0.093 × TST (mm) (adjusted r2  = 0.906, SEE = 3.5). CONCLUSIONS: Body weight can be estimated with good accuracy in older adults using these sex- and age-specific equations generated from regression models using three to five anthropometric predictor variables.

Urinary Sodium Excretion and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Older Adults.

Despite the well-known benefits of the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), data on the sodium intake is scarce. This study aimed to quantify the association between sodium excretion and the adherence to the MedDiet in the elderly. A representative sample of 1500 Portuguese adults (≥65 years) was assessed (1321 were eligible for the present analysis). A 24 h urine sample was collected and analysed for creatinine and sodium. Excessive sodium intake was defined as above 2000 mg/day. The adherence to the MedDiet was assessed by the PREDIMED. A binary logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the association between urinary sodium excretion and the adherence to the MedDiet. Odds Ratios (OR) and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Excessive sodium excretion was observed in 80.0% of men and 91.5% of women whereas a high adherence to the MedDiet was reported by 42.2% of women and 46.4% of men. After adjusting for confounders, excessive sodium excretion was associated with a high adherence to the MedDiet in men (OR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.03-3.65) but not in women. These results show that the MedDiet can be an important source of sodium and highlight the need for implementing strategies to reduce sodium intake when following a MedDiet.

Association Between Anthropometric Indicators of Nutrition Status and Length of Hospital Stay in Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS). Anthropometrics is required for undernutrition screening and diagnosis. However, the measurements which are more strongly associated with LOS are to be specified. This study aims to measure the independent association of weight, triceps skinfold thickness (TST), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), mid-upper arm muscle area (AMA), mid-upper arm muscle circumference (AMC), and body mass index (BMI) with LOS and investigating whether these indicators had similar validity in predicting LOS. METHODS: Six hundred ninety-five patients participated in a prospective observational study. Participants were dichotomized indicators studied according to the 5th and 25th percentiles described in the literature (for APMT only the 5th percentile was used). Cox regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% CIs. RESULTS: Patients that presented values <5th percentile for TST (HR, 0.759; 95% CI, 0.579-0.995), MUAC (HR, 0.822; 95% CI, 0.687-0.983), APMT (HR, 0.791; 95% CI, 0.671-0.933), AMA (HR, 0.797, 95% CI, 0.660-0.962), and AMC (HR, 0.746; 95% CI, 0.611-0.911) showed a lower probability of being discharged to usual residence. Patients whose TST values were <25th percentile also presented lower probability of being discharged to usual residence (HR, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.673-0.946). No associations were found between weight and BMI with LOS. CONCLUSION: Depletion of TST, MUAC, APMT, AMA, and AMC was associated with lower probability of being discharged to usual residence. A thicker TST was independently associated with this outcome and thus TST should be considered for undernutrition screening and diagnosis.

Sitting time and associated factors among Portuguese older adults: results from Nutrition UP 65.

Older adults are particularly susceptible to sedentary behaviours. Sitting time has been increasingly referred to as a potentially modifiable risk factor in the prevention of chronic diseases. Identifying factors associated with sitting time, particularly those that are modifiable, will allow for more effective public health strategies. This study aimed to describe sitting time among Portuguese older adults and to evaluate associated factors. A cross-sectional study including 1423 older adults ≥ 65 years old was conducted. Sitting time was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Socio-demographic, health, anthropometric and functional variables were collected. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression models were conducted to study the association between these variables and sitting time. The median of sitting time was 300 min/day (interquartile range = 240 min/day), which is equal to 5 h/day. The following factors were directly associated with longer sitting time: being male, age ≥ 80 years, living in Central or Southern Portugal, being retired from work, as well as presenting low physical activity, obesity or longer time to walk 4.6 metres. On the other hand, being married, having higher education and higher household income were inversely associated with longer sitting time. It can be concluded that Portuguese older adults spend a considerable amount of time sitting per day. Potentially modifiable risk factors associated with longer sitting time in this population were related to nutritional status and functional ability.

Low self-esteem predicts out-group derogation via collective narcissism, but this relationship is obscured by in-group satisfaction.

According to social identity theory, low self-esteem motivates group members to derogate out-groups, thus achieving positive in-group distinctiveness and boosting self-esteem. According to the Frankfurt School and status politics theorists, low self-esteem motivates collective narcissism (i.e., resentment for insufficient external recognition of the in-group's importance), which predicts out-group derogation. Empirical support for these propositions has been weak. We revisit them addressing whether (a) low self-esteem predicts out-group derogation via collective narcissism and (b) this indirect relationship is only observed after partialing out the positive overlap between collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction (i.e., belief that the in-group is of high value and a reason to be proud). Results based on cross-sectional (Study 1, N = 427) and longitudinal (Study 2, N = 853) designs indicated that self-esteem is uniquely, negatively linked to collective narcissism and uniquely, positively linked to in-group satisfaction. Results based on cross-sectional (Study 3, N = 506; Study 4, N = 1,059; Study 5, N = 471), longitudinal (Study 6, N = 410), and experimental (Study 7, N = 253) designs corroborated these inferences. Further, they revealed that the positive overlap between collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction obscures the link between self-esteem and out-group derogation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

School achievement and well-being of immigrant children: The role of acculturation orientations and perceived discrimination.

This survey study examined the role of perceived discrimination and acculturation orientations on immigrant children's achievement and well-being in the school context. Immigrant (n = 229), immigrant descendant (n = 196), and native Portuguese children (n = 168) from 4th to 6th grade participated in the study. Results showed the expected gap: immigrant and immigrant descendant children revealed lower school achievement than their native peers; but only immigrant, and not immigrant descendant children, reported lower levels of well-being and peer acceptance. Perceived discrimination was negatively related to school achievement, via an increased desire for culture maintenance, only among immigrant children. The indirect effects of perceived discrimination on well-being and peer acceptance were not significant. However, perceived discrimination was strongly related to lower well-being and acceptance, independently of the target group, suggesting that its negative association with well-being in the school context might encompass a more general process affecting both immigrant and immigrant descendant children.

Adherence to a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern status and associated factors among Portuguese older adults: Results from the Nutrition UP 65 cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) and its associated factors in older Portuguese adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was designed. In the context of the Nutrition UP 65 study, a national cluster sample of 1407 Portuguese individuals ≥65 y of age was analyzed. Adherence to the MDP was evaluated with the Portuguese version of the Prevention with Mediterranean Diet tool. The association between an individual's characteristics and adherence to the MDP was analyzed through hierarchical logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In this study, 43% of participants adhered to the MDP (n = 609). Higher educational level (odds ratio [OR], 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54-3.69), living in the center (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.79), being married or living in a common-law marriage (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.20-1.97), and body mass index (ORpreobese, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.02-2.25) were related with increased odds of adherence to the MDP. Otherwise, lower adherence to the MDP was found for participants who were ≥80 y of age (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.94), who lived in Madeira (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.89) and Azores (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.99), who rated their health as moderate (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50-0.84) or as bad or very bad (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45-0.90), and those who reported six or more comorbidities (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Of the sample, 57% did not adhere to the Mediterranean diet. Potentially modifiable factors associated with lower adherence to the MDP were lower educational and health status.

They (Don't) Need Us: Functional Indispensability Impacts Perceptions of Representativeness and Commitment When Lower-Status Groups Go Through an Intergroup Merger.

Intergroup changes occur often between subgroups who are asymmetric in status (e.g., size, power, prestige), with important consequences for social identification, especially among the members of lower-status groups. Mergers offer an example of such changes, when subgroups (merger partners) merge into a common, superordinate group (post-merger group). Lower-status subgroups frequently perceive they are less represented in the post-merger group, therefore committing less to the changes a merger implies. Five studies offered an intergroup relations' perspective on mergers (N's = 479, 150, 266, 113, and 229, respectively), examining how functional indispensability (instrumental contribution of the ingroup) positively influences perceptions of representativeness in the post-merger group (relative ingroup prototypicality), which, in turn, affect post-merger identification and, finally, change commitment. Additionally, the role of cognitive information processing (heuristic vs. systematic) on prototypicality was explored. Results suggest that functional indispensability impacts relative ingroup prototypicality (Studies 1-5), and this may be moderated by information processing (Study 2). Moreover, prototypicality and identification with the superordinate post-merged group mediated the effect of functional indispensability on change commitment (Studies 1-3). These findings provide important theoretical insights into prototypicality perceptions held by lower-status merger partners and minority groups in general, by identifying functional indispensability as a source of prototypicality other than relative status. In addition, by proposing a functional approach to the relations between social groups, these findings suggest better practices for managing structural changes, such as combining sources of strategic/functional and identity fit when announcing an intergroup change.

Sodium and potassium urinary excretion and their ratio in the elderly: results from the Nutrition UP 65 study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe urinary sodium and potassium excretion and their ratio in a representative sample of Portuguese elderly population, according to sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. METHODS: A cluster sampling approach was used, representing older Portuguese adults (≥65 years) according to age, sex, education level, and regional area within the Nutrition UP 65 study. This cross-sectional evaluation was conducted in 2015 and 2016. From a sample size of 1,500 participants, 1,318 were eligible for the present analysis, 57.3% were women, and 23.5% were aged ≥80 years. Sodium and potassium consumption was evaluated through one 24 h urinary excretion. Inadequate sodium intake was defined as ≥2,000 mg/day, inadequate potassium intake was considered as <3,510 mg/day, and inadequate sodium-to-potassium ratio was defined as >1, according to the World Health Organization cutoffs. RESULTS: The proportion of the participants with an inadequate intake was 80.0% in women and 91.5% in men (sodium), 96.2% of women and 79.4% of men (potassium), and 98.4% of women and 99.1% of men (sodium-to-potassium ratio). Higher sodium adequacy was observed among the older elderly, unmarried, with lower household income, and underweight/normal weight. Higher potassium adequacy was observed in the younger elderly, married, and with higher income. CONCLUSION: The majority of the Portuguese elderly population was classified as having inadequate sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium ratio urinary excretion. Therefore, strategies for reducing sodium and increasing potassium intake are priorities in the Portuguese elderly population.

The Relationship between the Brexit Vote and Individual Predictors of Prejudice: Collective Narcissism, Right Wing Authoritarianism, Social Dominance Orientation.

The Leave campaign in the U.K., which advocated exiting the European Union, emphasized anxiety over immigration and the need to take control of the U.K.'s borders. Citizens who expressed concerns about immigration to the U.K. were more likely to vote to leave. Two correlational studies examined the previously unexplored question of whether the Brexit vote and support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum were linked to individual predictors of prejudice toward foreigners: British collective narcissism (a belief in national greatness), right wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation. The results converged to indicate that all three variables were independently related to the perceived threat of immigrants and, via this variable, to the Brexit vote and a support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum. These variables explained the variance in the perceived threat of immigrants and support for the Brexit vote over and above other previously examined predictors such as age, education, or ethnicity, as well as, national identification and national attachment.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Association between 24-h Urine Osmolality and Weight Status in Older Adults.

Data on the association between hydration and body weight in the elderly are scarce. The objective of this work was to quantify the association between 24-h urine osmolality and weight status in the elderly. A cross-sectional study was conducted within the Nutrition UP 65 study. A quota sampling was implemented to achieve a nationally representative sample of Portuguese older adults (≥65 years) according to age, sex, education and region. From a sample size of 1500 participants, 1315 were eligible for the present analysis, 57.3% were women and 23.5% were aged ≥80 years. Participants were grouped using tertiles of 24-h urine osmolality by sex. World Health Organization cutoffs were used to classify participants according to weight status. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to evaluate the association of tertiles of osmolality with weight status, adjusting for confounders. Odds Ratios (OR) and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Being in the 3rd urine osmolality tertile (highest) was associated with a higher risk of being obese in men, OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.06, 3.66. No such association was found in women. These results highlight the need for implementing studies in order to clarify the association between hydration and weight status in the elderly.

Association between serum 25-hidroxyvitamin D concentrations and ultraviolet index in Portuguese older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The older population is a risk group for hypovitaminosis D. The Ultraviolet Index (UVI) can be an indicator of potential for cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D but physiological and other environmental factors also influence vitamin D synthesis and status. Knowledge about vitamin D status in Portuguese older adults is limited. This study aims to explore the association between Ultraviolet Index and serum 25-hidroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] levels accounting for other potential influential factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2015 and June 2016, in 1497 Portuguese older adults (≥ 65 years) within Nutrition UP 65 project. For each participant, serum 25(OH)D was determined and the mean UVI (mUVI) in the respective residence district was calculated for the previous 30 days. Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted for the following periods of blood collection: between December and June, December and March and April and June. Standardized regression coefficients (Sß) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: The median 25(OH)D concentration was 35.9 nmol/L. The UVI was independently and positively associated with 25(OH)D in the models for December-June (Sß = 0.244, 95% CI: 0.198; 0.291, P < 0.001) and April-June (Sß = 0.295, 95% CI: 0.299; 0.362, P < 0.001) and independently and negatively associated in December-March period (Sß = -0.149, 95% CI: -0.211; -0.087, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample with high vitamin D deficiency frequency, the UVI was a predictor of 25(OH)D levels but the direction of the association varied according to the blood collection period. Our results suggest that accounting for the time of year in future research regarding vitamin status and related public health recommendations may be relevant.