Video games: good, bad, or other?

Video games are a pervasive pastime among children and adolescents. The growing popularity of video games has instigated a debate among parents, researchers, video game producers, and policymakers concerning potential harmful and helpful effects of video games on children. This article provides an overview of research findings on the positive and negative effects of video games, thus providing an empirical answer to the question, are video games good or bad? The article also provides some guidelines to help pediatricians, parents, and other caregivers protect children from negative effects and to maximize positive effects of video games.

Effects of prosocial, neutral, and violent video games on college students' affect.

Recent research reveals that playing prosocial video games increases prosocial cognitions and helpful behaviors [Gentile el al., 2009; Greitemeyer and Osswald, 2009; 2010; 2011]. These results are consistent with social-cognitive models of social behavior [e.

Applying the novice-to-expert model to infusion nursing.

The novice-to-expert continuum serves as the basis for many development and advancement models. Consideration of the intent of the model, domains, and characteristics of practice, a foundation in reflective practice, and implications for educators are essential for successful implementation of a novice-to-expert model. An example of a long-standing novice-to-expert model and application of a novice-to-expert model to infusion nursing are discussed.

"Frenemies, Fraitors, and Mean-em-aitors": Priming Effects of Viewing Physical and Relational Aggression in the Media on Women.

Past research has shown activation of aggressive cognitions in memory after media violence exposure, but has not examined priming effects of viewing relational aggression in the media. In the current study, 250 women viewed a video clip depicting physical aggression, relational aggression, or no aggression. Subsequent activation of physical and relational aggression cognitions was measured using an emotional Stroop task.

Impulsivity, self-regulation,and pathological video gaming among youth: testing a mediation model.

Given the potential negative mental health consequences of pathological video gaming, understanding its etiology may lead to useful treatment developments. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of impulsive and regulatory processes on pathological video gaming. Study 1 involved 2154 students from 6 primary and 4 secondary schools in Singapore.

The association between morning cortisol and adiposity in children varies by weight status.

Objective: To examine the associations between morning cortisol and adiposity in children at baseline and 9-month follow-up.

Methods: Participants included 649 (301 males, 348 females) children (9.6 +/- 0.

Exploration of session process: relationship to depth and alliance.

This study investigates the relationship between the Depth of elaboration, the therapeutic alliance, and dimensions of the psychotherapy process--the therapist interventions, the patient contributions, and patient/therapist patterns of interaction. Sixty psychotherapy sessions that were audio-taped and transcribed were rated by external judges by using a battery of instruments that included the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set (Jones, 1985, 2000), the Working Alliance Inventory-Observer (Horvath, 1981, 1982; Horvath & Greenberg, 1989), and the Depth Scale of Session Evaluation Questionnaire (Stiles & Snow, 1984a). The results show a significant positive correlation between Depth and therapeutic alliance, as well as between Depth, therapeutic alliance, and some variables of the therapeutic process.

Brains on video games.

The popular press is replete with stories about the effects of video and computer games on the brain. Sensationalist headlines claiming that video games 'damage the brain' or 'boost brain power' do not do justice to the complexities and limitations of the studies involved, and create a confusing overall picture about the effects of gaming on the brain. Here, six experts in the field shed light on our current understanding of the positive and negative ways in which playing video games can affect cognition and behaviour, and explain how this knowledge can be harnessed for educational and rehabilitation purposes.

Appendiceal mucocele. A case report and literature review.

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare disease (0.3% of all appendectomy) and is characterized by the accumulation of mucoid material in the appendiceal lumen. Etiopathogenesis can be inflammatory or neoplastic.

Parents' evaluation of media ratings a decade after the television ratings were introduced.

Objective: The 3 national studies reported here were designed to find out how satisfied parents are with media rating systems, how regularly they use them, and what types of information they ideally would like to have.

Methods: Parents (n=745, study 1; n=768, study 2; n=769, study 3) were surveyed nationally by independent research firms. Studies 1 and 2 were conducted by Harris Interactive, and study 3 was conducted by Research Now.

Ghost ileostomy after anterior resection for rectal cancer: a preliminary experience.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the feasibility and the eventual advantages of ghost ileostomy (GI) versus covering stoma (CS) in terms of complications, hospital stay and quality of life of patients and their caregivers after anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Methods: In this prospective study, we included patients who had rectal cancer treated with laparotomic anterior resection and confectioning a stoma (GI or CS), in the period comprised between January 2008 and January 2009. Short-term and long-term surgery-related mortality and morbidity after primary surgery (including that stoma-related and colorectal anastomosis-related) and consequent to the intervention of intestinal recanalization (CS group) and GI closure were evaluated.

Preliminary evidence for the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma.

Objective: Evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between stress and asthma exacerbations in children, suggesting that interventions to reduce stress may improve both psychosocial quality of life and disease course. Here, we examine the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma.

Methods: Two trials were conducted.

Media violence, physical aggression, and relational aggression in school age children: a short-term longitudinal study.

Many studies have shown that media violence has an effect on children's subsequent aggression. This study expands upon previous research in three directions: (1) by examining several subtypes of aggression (verbal, relational, and physical), (2) by measuring media violence exposure (MVE) across three types of media, and (3) by measuring MVE and aggressive/prosocial behaviors at two points in time during the school year. In this study, 430 3rd-5th grade children, their peers, and their teachers were surveyed.

Sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a well-established treatment option for allergic rhinitis in several European countries, but it is considered investigational in the United States. Studies conducted in Europe provided a large body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of SLIT, but those studies used allergen products that are different from those that are likely to be approved in the United States, and many of them were not controlled, randomized, double-blinded trials. This review summarize research conducted on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of SLIT published during the past year, with a focus on ragweed and grass antigens.

Reliability and validity of the Global Pain Scale with chronic pain sufferers.

Background: Many pain scales exist today; however, a comprehensive, easy-to-analyze test has yet to be available to evaluate a patient's pain and understand the sociocultural, cognitive, and affective factors contributing to a patient's overall pain experience. Many scales have attempted to create an all-encompassing pain assessment but remain incomplete in their assessment of pain and the contributing aspects of pain.

Objective: To present the Global Pain Scale (GPS) as an alternative to current pain assessments and evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the GPS.

Pathological video game use among youths: a two-year longitudinal study.

Objectives: We aimed to measure the prevalence and length of the problem of pathological video gaming or Internet use, to identify risk and protective factors, to determine whether pathological gaming is a primary or secondary problem, and to identify outcomes for individuals who become or stop being pathological gamers.

Methods: A 2-year, longitudinal, panel study was performed with a general elementary and secondary school population in Singapore, including 3034 children in grades 3 (N = 743), 4 (N = 711), 7 (N = 916), and 8 (N = 664). Several hypothesized risk and protective factors for developing or overcoming pathological gaming were measured, including weekly amount of game play, impulsivity, social competence, depression, social phobia, anxiety, and school performance.

Pathological video-gaming among Singaporean youth.

Introduction: Increase in internet use and video-gaming contributes to public concern on pathological or obsessive play of video games among children and adolescents worldwide. Nevertheless, little is known about the prevalence of pathological symptoms in video-gaming among Singaporean youth and the psychometric properties of instruments measuring pathological symptoms in video-gaming.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2998 children and adolescents from 6 primary and 6 secondary schools in Singapore responded to a comprehensive survey questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, video-gaming habits, school performance, somatic symptoms, various psychological traits, social functioning and pathological symptoms of video-gaming.

Television and video game exposure and the development of attention problems.

Objectives: Television viewing has been associated with greater subsequent attention problems in children. Few studies have examined the possibility of a similar association between video games and attention problems, and none of these has used a longitudinal design.

Methods: A sample of 1323 middle childhood participants were assessed during a 13-month period by parent- and child-reported television and video game exposure as well as teacher-reported attention problems.

New asthma drugs: small molecule inhaled corticosteroids.

Small-particle inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) metered-dose inhalers were recently developed to treat asthma as part of the CFC to HFA propellant switch mandated by the Montreal Protocol. Two such ICS, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and ciclesonide (CIC), are available in the United States and are formulated in HFA solutions. A major advantage of small-particle ICS is that they have improved total lung deposition and consequently, effective asthma control is achieved at lower daily doses than the large-particle ICS.

Influence of socio-economic status on habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior in 8- to 11-year old children.

Background: While socio-economic status has been shown to be an important determinant of health and physical activity in adults, results for children and adolescents are less consistent. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine whether physical activity and sedentary behavior differs in children by socio-economic status (SES) independent of body mass index.

Methods: Data were from two cohorts including 271 children (117 males; 154 females) in study 1 and 131 children in study 2 (63 males; 68 females).

Selling ideas, attitudes, and behaviors.

Advertisers are adept at changing our attitudes and purchasing behaviors, but we rarely notice the effects. This plenary talk at the eighth annual Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Forum, November 2009, focused on the psychology of advertising and how advertising is designed to work outside of our conscious awareness. Several psychological "tricks" are used to influence us, with the goal being to get us to change our behaviors but to think that it was our idea all along.

Effect of therapeutic doses of mometasone furoate on cortisol levels in children with mild asthma.

Corticosteroids are the foundation of pharmacologic treatment for children with asthma. However, high-dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment can cause hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression. We investigated the effect of three doses of mometasone furoate administered via dry-powder inhaler (MF-DPI) on the HPA axis in children.

Sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by ragweed pollen.

Background: Specific allergen immunotherapy is most often delivered subcutaneously, but sublingual immunotherapy may confer greater benefit in terms of tolerability and safety, accessibility, and improved antigen delivery.

Objective: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to identify a safe and effective maintenance dose range of sublingual standardized glycerinated short ragweed pollen extract in adults with ragweed-induced rhinoconjunctivitis.

Methods: In May 2006, a total of 115 patients with ragweed-induced rhinoconjunctivitis were randomly allocated to placebo (n = 40), medium-dose extract (4.