Objective: Measurement of noise exposure tends to focus on sound level; however, the number of noise events might also influence health and cognition. We investigated how the distribution of noise events over time influences experiences of loudness, annoyance, and task performance. Materials and Methods: We presented recordings of a passenger aircraft flying overhead, either as a single 15-s overflight at 80 dB LeqA15s or four 15-s overflights at 60 dB LeqA15s. Levels were chosen on the basis that an increase of 10 dB doubles the perceived loudness, thus four stimuli at 60 dB might be expected to seem as loud as a single stimulus at 80 dB. Participants performed a mental arithmetic task during half the stimulus presentations and rated their perception of loudness and annoyance to every presentation, while pulse and skin conductance were monitored. Results: Overall, the single 80-dB-flight stimulus was perceived as louder (F = 124.519, P < 0.001) and more annoying (F = 63.530, P < 0.001) than the four 60-dB flights. Noise did not influence task performance; however, there was an interaction (F = 36.256, P < 0.001) in that while doing the task, the four 60-dB flights were perceived as louder and more annoying than without the task, whereas the single 80-dB stimulus was less loud and no more annoying than without the task. Physiological markers were consistent with the intent that the task be difficult and that the single high-sound-level stimulus was more stressful for participants. Conclusion: Results showed that, at the levels used, the higher-level stimulus influenced ratings of loudness and annoyance, even though the lower-level stimulus occurred four times as often. Future research exploring systematically the relationship between the number and sound level of overflights and the reactions they induce is needed.

Many Autistic individuals present with comorbid conditions, including internalising and externalising behaviours, sleep issues, intellectual disabilities, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. We investigated the impact of these child comorbidities on parenting stress in an effort to elucidate the underlying mechanism and how they interact with autistic core symptoms. In total, three theoretical models were tested, being the Amplification, Additive, and Mediation Hypotheses. Participants were 453 parents of an Autistic child reporting on their child’s core symptoms, comorbid conditions, and their parenting stress. Correlation analyses reveal moderate associations between the comorbid conditions and parenting stress, but uncovered a weak link between core symptoms and parenting stress. Regression analyses revealed that, when key variables were allowed to adjust for one another, comorbid conditions were found to be independent predictors of parenting stress. A subsequent path analysis indicated that internalising and externalising behaviours partially mediated the relationship between core symptoms and parenting stress. There was no evidence to support the Amplification Hypotheses, and limited evidence to support the Additive and Mediation Hypotheses. The findings reinforce the argument that Autistic children require multidisciplinary services and interventions that stretch beyond their primary diagnosis. Further suggestions for future research into child comorbid factors and parenting stress are discussed.

Purpose The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is rising globally, and as a long-life condition associated with high support needs, parents of Autistic children experience greater parenting stress and lower quality of life than parents raising typically developing children. However, while research has investigated the relationship between the severity of child autism symptoms and parenting stress, studies into comorbid conditions that likewise impair child function are not as common and often focus on a small subset of conditions. The aim of the current study was to estimate the frequency of the five most common comorbidities reported in the autism literature (Anxiety, ADHD, Intellectual Disability, Gastrointestinal Issues, Sleep Disorder) and relate them to parenting stress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods Using an internet-based survey, parent reports of their Autistic child’s comorbid conditions and the impact these have on their child’s function, parenting stress, and parental HRQOL were obtained from 453 parents residing in New Zealand. A global measure of parenting stress was obtained using the 18-item Parenting Stress Scale, while HRQOL ratings were obtained using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Results While many parents indicated the presence of comorbid conditions in their Autistic child, a substantial proportion were not formally diagnosed. A Linear Mixed-Effects Model indicated that child anxiety, Intellectual Disability, and ADHD had the greatest impact on both child and parent, however, subsequent multivariate analyses clarified that sleep disorder and Gastrointestinal Issues had the largest effect on parental stress and HRQOL, followed by ADHD. This result was robust irrespective of whether parents were asked if the comorbidity was present (vs. absent), diagnosed (vs. undiagnosed), or when related to child (i.e., functional) and parent (i.e., stress) impact. Conclusion Evidence that child sleep disorder, Gastrointestinal Issues, and ADHD are most detrimental to parental well-being indicate that interventions targeting these comorbidities should be prioritised. Coupled with increased child function as a direct result of intervention, better parental outcomes should increase child well-being and family quality of life, indicating that future research into the diagnostic barriers associated with comorbid conditions would be useful.

This study investigated how visual-affective environmental cues influence food choices, physiological responses, and sensory experiences during a multisensory dining experience. A total of 360 adult participants were randomly assigned to consume a standardized meal consisting of various nutrient-dense (vegetables, cherry tomatoes, yoghurt) and energy-dense (pizza, fries, ice cream) foods. Participants ate while viewing one of five digital video environments or a silent control. The environments varied significantly in their affective properties, ranging from calm nature scenes to high-arousal urban and stressful contexts. Results indicated that calm, low-arousal videos elicited positive emotions (contentment), significantly increasing the intake and enjoyment of healthier food options, while reducing post-meal hunger and enhancing post-meal fullness and satiation. Conversely, highly stimulating environments, whether positive (excitement) or negative (distress), triggered elevated heart rate and skin conductance, leading to increased consumption of energy-dense foods. A Bayesian Network (BN) was employed to model the probabilistic dependencies between these variables. The present findings suggest that physiological arousal may represent an important regulatory mechanism linking environmental cues to eating behaviour, influencing unhealthy intake via two distinct mechanisms: a liking mediated hedonic route associated with excitement and a direct stress eating route associated with distress. Specifically, the presence of distress increased the probability of high unhealthy intake to 73 % independent of hedonic liking. These findings indicate that physiological arousal may be one pathway through which emotionally distinct video stimuli influence dietary decisions. More broadly, the findings raise the possibility that low-arousal dining environments may support more mindful and healthier eating patterns by reducing physiological arousal, although this implication requires direct testing in real-world settings.

Introduction:The study "The psychological and physical health and well-being of New Zealand contemporary Veterans" represents one of the few large population studies conducted on contemporary Veterans in New Zealand. Included in this survey was an open-ended question allowing respondents to articulate their thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the Veteran experience. Methods:Responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis framework informed by Mayring's (2022) eight-step content analysis process. A hybrid deductive-inductive approach was used to generate sub-themes from participants' responses, which were categorized under the World Health Organization's four domains of well-being (psychological, social, environmental, and physical). Results:In this study, responses from 1,037 Veterans were analyzed and put into 22 sub-themes and four overarching themes. While many participants expressed positive gains due to their military service, challenges in psychological, social, environmental, and physical well-being were evident. Positive outcomes included gaining educational achievements, career skills, and personal growth and development. Challenges included issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, moral injury, identity confusion, internalized stigma, stereotyping, the strain of demanding work on family life, hearing loss, musculoskeletal problems, and concerns regarding toxic chemical exposure. Discussion:Veterans face challenges in all four domains of well-being. Despite encountering difficulties, there is a reluctance or social stigma associated with Veterans seeking help for their well-being concerns, compounding the challenges they face. Additionally, Veterans perceive a need for more accessible and effective support services.

This study aims to provide a novel understanding of how music and sound varying in arousal can affect temporal changes in food perception and the corresponding emotional responses, measured through both subjective and objective (i.e., electrophysiological) methods. Exciting conditions are associated with low valence and high arousal, whereas calm conditions are associated with high valence and low arousal. Calm music (CM), calm sound (CS), and a combination of calm music and sound (CMCS) evoked emotions such as joy, relaxation, calmness, pleasantness, and at ease, and were correlated with the perception of sweetness and creaminess. Conversely, exciting music (EM) increased arousal, evoked emotions such as, activity, enthusiasm, energy, and excitement, and amplified the perception of roasted and bitter flavours. Exciting sounds (ES) and combined exciting music and exciting sound (EMES) conditions were positively correlated with anxiety, fatigue, unease, unhappiness, difficulty concentrating, irritation, and restlessness, as well as enhancing the perception of roasted and bitter flavours. Furthermore, the EM and EMES conditions gave rise to significantly higher skin conductance and respiration rate, with corresponding correlations with the perception of roasted and bitter flavours. The ES and EMES conditions demonstrated significantly higher heart rate and respiration rate. The CM condition showed significantly higher heart rate and emotional responses while the CS condition showed significantly higher skin conductance. The findings of this study indicate that sensory attributes are closely associated with the emotions and physiological responses evoked when consuming ice cream under different music and sound conditions.

This study utilized the temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA) approach to investigate the impact of viewing video clips on the perception of ice cream. The association between subjectively rated emotions and their electrophysiological correlates was further explored using Bayesian network (BN) modelling. Participants consumed chocolate ice cream under different video conditions, and sweetness, bitterness, milkiness, creaminess, cocoa flavor, and roasted flavor ratings were acquired using the TCATA approach. Additionally, electrophysiological measurements of heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), and blood volume pulse (BVP) amplitude were obtained. The results showed that videos that evoked pleasant emotions, such as enjoyment and relaxation, were associated with increased ratings of sweetness and creaminess. Conversely, videos that evoked negative feelings, such as stress, were linked to higher ratings of bitterness. Furthermore, changes in electrophysiological measures were consistent with the variety of affective states evoked by the videos. Arousing videos increased HR and SC, while videos that induced calmness had the opposite effect. The use of BN modelling revealed significant relationships between affective states and electrophysiological responses with flavor perception. The model demonstrated that HR and SC were positively correlated with positive emotions that contributed to the perception of sweetness and milkiness, respectively. On the other hand, BVP amplitude was negatively correlated with arousal and perceptions of cocoa. Additionally, ratings of 'quiet' and 'excited' emotions were positively correlated to creaminess, while tension was positively correlated to roasted flavor. These findings indicate that understanding the impact of emotions on food perception can facilitate the design of consumer experiences that enhance enjoyment and engagement with food products.

IntroductionReceptive Music Therapy allows individuals with sub-clinical anxiety levels to self-medicate when and where they choose, but the effectiveness of self-administered ‘music medicine’ to enhance psychological well-being is still being investigated. The current study reports on a song (‘Bagels’) designed to alleviate mild anxiety in adolescents and young adults.MethodsA laboratory study was conducted to examine the effect of Bagels on brain states, and upon both subjective and objective measures of state anxiety. Measures of skin conductance and heart rate (HR), and 64-channel Electroencephalography (EEG) were obtained from 30 young adults as they listened to six songs contrasting affective properties. Subjective measures included ratings of a song’s pleasantness, arousal, dominance, and likability, as well as estimates of state anxiety obtained immediately after listening to them.ResultsPreliminary analyses revealed that the six songs differed significantly in terms of affective ratings, with Bagels rated as more pleasant and less arousing, and having lower state anxiety ratings at its terminus. EEG alpha connectivity was also lowest for the song Bagels, particularly in the brain’s frontal lobes. Similarly, Bagels was associated with lower physiological arousal, reflecting less arousal and greater calmness.DiscussionCombined, the analysis suggest that Bagels has the potential to be an effective digital anxiolytic. Discussion around the promise of music medicine and aspects of its management are presented, along with avenues of further inquiry.

Elevated levels of parenting stress have been reported in parents raising an Autistic child. Previous studies have identified a multitude of predictors of parenting stress, including both child-related and parent-related factors, though findings across studies are not always in agreement. In the present study we investigate the determinants of parenting stress using a Network Analysis approach, which is then used to inform a subsequent structural equation model. New Zealand parents (n = 490) of a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provided data on their Autistic child (e.g., ASD core symptoms, problem behaviours) and themselves (i.e., parenting stress). The analysis revealed that both child and parent demographic factors were poor predictors of parenting stress, while the child's current language and communication ability were correlated with diagnostic age and parenting stress. An earlier diagnostic age, in turn, suggested better behavioural and emotional outcomes for children. Overall, the Network Analysis showed itself to be an informative approach to understanding parenting stress in the ASD context. Findings further advocate for the implementation of ASD-related and language-related interventions as early as possible, and that language delays during early infancy justify prompt clinical assessment.

Auditory cues, such as music, can potentially impact our eating behavior. In the present study, the effects of listening to music that varied in liking while consuming a meal on hunger, meal duration, food intake, and hedonic ratings were investigated. Measures of emotion were also obtained to understand the changes in meal duration, and both food intake and a 10-point visual analogue scale rating. A crossover experimental design involving 66 participants (27 males, 39 females) was employed, in which participants consumed lunch in a control condition, and while listening to music that they either liked or disliked. The results showed that listening to liked music significantly increased eating time, the intake of healthy food, and the consumption of afternoon snacks. Conversely, listening to disliked music significantly increased the consumption of unhealthy food. Additionally, the study explored the role of emotions in explaining these changes. It was found that ratings of hunger were higher, and more negative emotions were evoked, when participants consumed lunch while listening to disliked music. The silent and liked music conditions, which evoked more positive emotions, resulted in higher ratings of food pleasantness, overall liking of healthy and unhealthy food, and food satisfaction. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the significant influence of music upon appetite, food liking, and emotional responses during a lunch meal, emphasizing the potential practical applications in promoting healthier eating behaviors in real-world food-eating environments.

BACKGROUND:Unilateral nostril breathing (UNB) has a history linked to ancient yogic traditions where it is believed to affect both physical and mental states however the mechanism(s) by which this technique potentially influences brain electrical activity remains poorly explored. METHODS:In this pilot study we investigated the influence of pressurised device-regulated UNB on brain functional network activity in healthy awake individuals to test its suitability for later use in hypothesis-driven clinical trials. Baseline bilateral EEG data were acquired, and then dominant/nondominant nostril UNB protocols were used to assess changes in brain network functional connectivity signal coherence, and phase lag index. RESULTS:Changes in functional connectivity were detected only when comparing right to left UNB, with the following networks demonstrating changes: the Default Mode Network which included reduced alpha and increased beta wave activity; the Salience Network, which included increased gamma wave activity; the Auditory Network, which included increased gamma and delta wave activity; and the Left Brain Region, which included reduced delta wave activity. CONCLUSIONS:This study revealed that device-regulated pressurised left/right UNB changed brain FC in awake healthy individuals in several brain networks. Nasal cycle dominance was found to play no role in UNB influencing brain FC; rather, nasal morphology (left/right side) seems to be the controlling factor. Further investigations are needed to verify our results and apply them to clinical populations.

Earlier definitions of noise sensitivity implicitly presupposed that some sounds can objectively be defined as noise and that some people are intrinsically more sensitive to it. Moreover, noise sensitivity has typically been thought to moderate the relationship between noise exposure and the feeling of annoyance. This cannot be true though, because the experience of sound as noise is subjective. We therefore suggest that noise sensitivity is actually the process whereby a sound is identified as noise. Using semi-structured interviews, this paper presents the results of a qualitative study focusing on the factors related to noise sensitivity, forming the basis of a revised model of noise sensitivity. Study participants were asked to share their thoughts and experiences of being sensitive to noise. Based on their responses, a thematic analysis was used to generate themes related to noise sensitivity. New factors such as masking and perceived control over the sound emerged and were incorporated into the model. The model was also modified by explicitly adopting the terminology ‘low road’ and ‘high road’ to describe inputs from the limbic system and the cortex, respectively. The revised model elucidates the potential mechanisms underlying the experience of noise, thereby providing avenues for reducing the level of harm to those who experience it.

It is not clear how the distribution of noise sound-energy over time influences people. We compared perceived loudness, annoyance and ability to perform a cognitive task in people exposed to recordings of aircraft noise, presented either as a single 15-second overflight at 80 dB LeqA15seconds or four 15-second overflights at 60 dB LeqA15seconds. Levels were chosen on the basis that an increase of 10 dB doubles the perceived loudness, thus four stimuli at 60 dB might be expected to seem as loud as a single stimulus at 80 dB. Participants performed an engaging mental arithmetic task during half the noise presentations and rated their perception of loudness and annoyance to every presentation. Overall, the single 80-dB-flight stimulus was perceived as louder and more annoying than the four 60-dB flights. While doing the task, the four 60-dB flights were perceived as louder and more annoying than without the task, whereas the single 80-dB stimulus was less loud and no more annoying than without the task. Noise did not influence task performance. Future research may explore systematically the relationship between the number and sound level of overflights and the reactions they induce.

Objective: Demand for children's mental health services has increased in New Zealand, yet little is known of young children's experience of psychological difficulties and treatment. This study investigated psychological symptoms and treatment experiences among primary -aged children. Method: An online survey of parents assessed children's anxiety, depression, attentional, emotional, conduct and peer problems, and experiences seeking psychological treatment. Results: Based on 382 parental reports, between 24.9 and 34.6% of children experienced abnormal -range symptoms. Older children had higher distress, depression, and anxiety. Boys had more conduct, hyperactivity, and peer problems. Ethnicity was not associated with the incidence of symptoms, but parents of Pa over bar keha/European children reported greater impact than Ma over bar ori parents. One-third of children had been referred for assessment; more often older children, and those with higher hyperactivity, impact, and anxiety. Parents reported difficulties accessing assessment, common barriers included waitlists (53%), cost (43%), and not knowing who to contact (36%). Following intervention, only 51% of parents reported improvements. Conclusion: NZ primary -aged children are experiencing more symptoms of psychological distress than previously reported and extensive difficulties accessing treatment. Implications for Public Health: There is a need for further screening and increased access to treatment to prevent worsening mental health outcomes in children.

Sensory cues like music can influence our behaviour towards food. In the present study, the effect of music on hunger, fullness, desire to eat and liking of foods, while viewing real lunch food items, was investigated. To this end, emotions and physiological measures were obtained to understand the changes in hunger, fullness, desire to eat and liking. The study aimed to examine changes in hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and liking when viewing a lunch meal under silent and varying music conditions. Additionally, the study explored the potential role of emotions to explain these changes. A crossover experimental design was employed using 50 participants (17 males and 33 females) who observed lunch food items during a silent condition (control), or while listening to either liked or disliked music. The findings demonstrate the cross-modal influence of music on hunger and food liking ratings when viewing food. Hunger ratings were higher and more negative emotions were evoked while viewing lunch food items and listening to disliked music. In contrast, in the silent and liked music conditions, which elicited more positive emotions, there were increased ratings of healthy and unhealthy food pleasantness, overall food liking, and food satisfaction. Electrophysiological measures of heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were obtained while listening to music and viewing a lunch meal. Viewing food items while listening to disliked music evoked negative emotions and significantly increased SC compared to liked music or silent conditions. Viewing the food items under the silent condition evoked positive emotions and significantly increased HR compared to listening to liked and disliked music. This study showed that the participants' emotions, hunger level, liking, and electrophysiological responses when viewing food are influenced by music that varied with liking. Results from this study may assist in enhancing dining experiences, as well as influencing food choices and satisfaction with meals.

Noise sensitivity is a concept used to explain the different effects of noise on people's health. Numerous definitions of noise sensitivity have been proposed, though none are universally accepted. Hence, a "system model of noise sensitivity" was developed, suggesting that noise sensitivity may contain a set of factors. Based on this, we conducted semi-structured interviews to investigate noise sensitivity and its factors and used qualitative research methods to analyse the data. More factors of noise sensitivity were discovered, and a revised system model was developed. This expanded model provides a more complete definition of noise sensitivity. We hope the improved understanding could lead to identifying ways of coping with noise issues. In the future, more diverse and individualized approaches could be developed to address the many different aspects of noise sensitivity.

Background Raising an autistic child is associated with increased parenting stress relative to raising typically developing children. Increased parenting stress is associated with lower parent wellbeing, which in turn can negatively impact child wellbeing. Aims The current study sought to quantify parenting stress and parent health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the autism context, and further understand the relationship between them by employing a relatively novel statistical method, Network Analysis. Methods and Procedures This cross-sectional study involved 476 parents of an autistic child. Parents completed an online survey requesting information on parent and child characteristics, parent’s perceptions of their autistic child’s symptoms and problem behaviours, and assessed their parenting stress and HRQOL. Outcomes and Results Relative to normative data, parent HRQOL was significantly lower in terms of physical health and mental wellbeing. The structure extracted by the Network Analysis indicated that child age and externalising behaviours were the main contributors to parenting stress, and that externalising behaviours, ASD core behavioural symptoms, and parenting stress predicted HRQOL. Conclusions and Implications Parental responses to child-related factors likely determine parent HRQOL. Findings are discussed in relation to the transactional model, emphasising the importance of both parent and child wellbeing.