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Background: Understanding the relationship of social network use and addictive behaviors with adolescent psychosocial health is crucial in today's digital age. Aim: To verify the associations between social network use, messaging applications, and the addictive behaviors to social network with psychosocial health in Spanish adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed with 632 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years from the Region of Murcia, Spain. The assessment of social network use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok) involved evaluating the frequency of use of each social network individually using a single-item scale with five response options. WhatsApp use (i.e., a messaging application) was evaluated in the same manner. The Short Social Networks Addiction Scale-6 Symptoms was employed to assess potential addictive behaviors to social network use. The psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Generalized linear regression models were conducted, and predictive probabilities of having psychosocial health problems were calculated. Results: The predicted probability of presenting psychosocial health problems in the medium users and high users of social networks was 19.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.0 to 27.7), and 16.2% (95% CI 10.2 to 24.6) higher compared to low users, respectively. High usage of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook was associated with increased probabilities of psychosocial health problems, with Facebook showing the highest probabilities, at 31.3% (95% CI 14.8 to 54.2) for medium users and 51.9% (95% CI 26.5 to 76.3) for high users. Additionally, adolescents with addictive behaviors to social network use had from 19.0 to 25.2% probabilities of experiencing psychosocial health problems. Finally, the highest probabilities of having psychosocial health problems were identified in adolescents with high addictive behaviors when using social networks (28.9%; 95% CI 19.3 to 40.8%) and the lowest in those with low addictive behaviors (6.8%; 95% CI 3.3 to 13.6%). Conclusion: Adolescents who use social networks more frequently and exhibit more addictive behaviors related to their use are more likely to experience psychosocial health problems compared to those who do not. Facebook showed the strongest association, followed by Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Our data also revealed that adolescents exhibit various signs of addictive behaviors to social network use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high potential of mHealth-related educational interventions to reach large segments of the population, implementation and adoption of such interventions may be challenging. The objective of this study was to gather knowledge on the feasibility of a future cancer prevention education intervention based on the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC), using a population-based mHealth implementation strategy. A type-2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study was conducted in a sample of the Spanish general population to assess adoption, fidelity, appropriateness, and acceptability of an intervention to disseminate cancer prevention messages, and willingness to consult further digital information. Participation rates, sociodemographic data, mHealth use patterns and implementation outcomes were calculated. Receiving cancer prevention messages through mHealth is acceptable, appropriate (frequency, timing, understandability and perceived usefulness) and feasible. mHealth users reported high access to the Internet through different devices, high ability and confidence to browse a website, and high willingness to receive cancer prevention messages in the phone, despite low participation rates in comparison to the initial positive response rates. Although adoption of the intervention was high, post-intervention fidelity was seriously hampered by the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which may have affected recall bias. In the context of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to increase knowledge about cancer prevention across the European Union, this study contributes to inform the design of future interventions using mHealth at large scale, to ensure a broad coverage and adoption of cancer prevention messages as those promoted by the ECAC. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, NCT05992792. Registered 15 August 2023 - Retrospectively registered https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05992792?cond=Cancer&term=NCT05992792&rank=1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breadcrumbing, defined as the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages to lure a sexual/romantic partner without expending much effort, has gained attention in popular culture and the media due to its relevance to contemporary dating dynamics. However, there is lack of evidence of the association between attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing This study aims to uncover the potential relationship between breadcrumbing engagement and attachment insecurity among Indian and Spanish young adults. Methods: Data were collected through an anonymous online survey answered by 334 adults in India and by 348 adults in Spain aged between 18 and 40 years old. A linear regression model in both countries was run to examine breadcrumbing engagement and its relationship with the set of sociodemographic variables included in the study (participants' age and sex, sexual orientation, relationship status and educational level) and the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxious and avoidant). Results: The results showed that insecure attachment, both anxious and avoidant, were associated with engaging in breadcrumbing in both the countries. However, there was a stronger association between anxious attachment and breadcrumbing in India compared to Spain, where the association was stronger between avoidant attachment and breadcrumbing. Conclusions: Findings from this study offer insight into an under-studied practice in the context of interpersonal relationships (i.e., breadcrumbing behaviour) and show the importance of attachment theoretical framework to hypothesize and analyse expectations regarding strategies to negotiate intimate relationships and the breadcrumbing experience particularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mobile phone-based SMS text message reminders have the potential to improve colorectal cancer screening participation rates., Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness and acceptability of adding targeted SMS text message reminders to the standard procedure for those who picked up but did not return their screening kit at the pharmacy within 14 days in a colorectal cancer screening program in Catalonia, Spain., Methods: We performed a randomized control trial among individuals who picked up a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit for colorectal cancer screening at the pharmacy but did not return it within 14 days. The intervention group (n=4563) received an SMS text message reminder on the 14th day of kit pick up and the control group (n=4806) received no reminder. A 30-day reminder letter was sent to both groups if necessary. The main primary outcome was the FIT completion rate within 30, 60, and 126 days from FIT kit pick up (intention-to-treat analysis). A telephone survey assessed the acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention. The cost-effectiveness of adding an SMS text message reminder to FIT completion was also performed., Results: The intervention group had higher FIT completion rates than the control group at 30 (64.2% vs 53.7%; P<.001), 60 (78.6% vs 72.0%; P<.001), and 126 (82.6% vs 77.7%; P<.001) days. Participation rates were higher in the intervention arm independent of sex, age, socioeconomic level, and previous screening behavior. A total of 339 (89.2%) interviewees considered it important and useful to receive SMS text message reminders for FIT completion and 355 (93.4%) preferred SMS text messages to postal letters. We observed a reduction of US $2.4 per participant gained in the intervention arm for invitation costs compared to the control arm., Conclusions: Adding an SMS text message reminder to the standard procedure significantly increased FIT kit return rates and was a cost-effective strategy. SMS text messages also proved to be an acceptable and appropriate communication channel for cancer screening programs., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04343950; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04343950., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.1371/journal.pone.0245806., (©Nuria Vives, Noemie Travier, Albert Farre, Gemma Binefa, Carmen Vidal, Maria Jose Pérez Lacasta, Gemma Ibáñez-Sanz, Ena Pery Niño de Guzmán, Jon Aritz Panera, Montse Garcia, M-TICS Research Group. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 31.07.2024.)

People around the world spend hours of their daily lives using smartphones; therefore, it is important to conduct cross-cultural research on the effects of smartphone use on health and well-being as culture influences values, motivations and communication patterns. The purpose of this study was to explore 5 popular uses of the smartphone – messaging, browsing the Internet, posting social content, reading social content, and playing games – how they relate to anxiety and depression scores, and how they vary depending on the country of the participants: Spain, the United States, and Colombia. In all three countries the ranking of most popular uses was the same: (1) Messaging, (2) Reading social content, and (3) Browsing the Internet. In the USA, game playing contributed to anxiety scores whereas reading social content was a protective factor; regarding depression scores, text messaging was a contributing factor. In Spain, browsing the Internet contributed to anxiety scores; regarding depression scores, messaging was a contributing factor and posting social content was a protective factor. In Colombia, no specific use influenced anxiety scores; regarding depression scores, only game playing was a protective factor. Our results showed that in all the countries, problematic smartphone use contributed to anxiety scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language and Gender: The Importance of Including a Gender Perspective in the Language of the Constitutional Reform in Spain Language is a reflection of culture, and at the same time it helps to build that culture. In the same way, it can be used to transform it. Language serves for describing a culture, to show what we see, but at the same time, it strengthens the relationships of power that exist on the basis of male power. In this way, we can use language to build other kinds of relationships based on equality. The Spanish Constitution is written in the masculine. Although it is based on equality, masculine language shows that the power relations lean towards men, and this hides women's participation. When a text or a legal message uses structures or words that hide or discriminate against one gender, it can be said that linguistic sexism exists, and this violates the principle of equality. This is a reflection about what is happening in our society because language describes cultural values. This exclusion of women in the constitutional text is in itself a denial of them as subjects of rights and as citizens. This is not only a denial of the part of power that corresponds to them, but also the consolidation of a collective story of female subordination. Therefore this article aims to focus on the need to carry out a revision of the Spanish Constitution in female and inclusive language that, in parallel to the recognition and guarantee of parity democracy, makes women visible as autonomous subjects. In addition, it also breaks with the male universality of the language and the monopoly of male language to define the sources of the law, as well as rights, powers, institutions, values and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile phones can produce detailed and personalized data to help diagnose, treat, prevent or rehabilitate women who are victims of gender violence. We sent automatic text messages, based on cognitive-behavioural therapy, to female victims of gender violence to assess the feasibility of the medium for mental health intervention. During the 28-day intervention period, each woman received four automatic text messages every day on a pre-established schedule. We evaluated symptoms of depression using the Personal Health Questionnaire-9. The Personal Health Questionnaire-9 decreased from an average of 14.8 at the beginning of the intervention, to 6.1 at the end of the text messaging period. All of the women reported that they liked receiving the messages, they found them useful and they felt that the messages had improved their health. Text messages are acceptable to women users who are recipients of public health and social services. Future research should focus more on the evaluation of the results and on how the specific content and aspects of text messaging improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this research was to analyse how the use of instant messaging services impacts the Spanish university context and what positive and negative consequences it generates on students' behaviour. In order to do this, we worked on the most popular application in the territory in question, WhatsApp, and its use by university students. Methodology: The research developed has used the quantitative technique (survey to a sample n = 332) to determine the use that is given to conventional text messages, as well as other options for instant messaging (such as voice or images). Likewise, some impacts on the academic environment were analysed, such as the possible stress it generates on human behaviour. Results and conclusions: The main conclusions of the study include the convenience and free nature of WhatsApp that drive its use in the educational environment. It can be seen that the majority of students use this type of instant messaging applications also for issues related to university affairs -besides their personal lives-. In addition, it has been found that a very high percentage of the groups analysed are members of a study-related chat group or is included in conversation groups on academic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this investigation is dual. Firstly, we validated the Spanish version of the Sexting Attitudes Scale of Weisskirch and Delevi (2011) in adolescents, and secondly, we evaluated sexting attitudes and behaviors in a sample of Spanish adolescents. The sample was made up of 1284 students of Secondary Education, of whom 51.2% are girls and 48.8% are boys, mean age 15.55 years ( SD = 1.6). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) guarantee the validity of the scale, with adequate fit indexes and reliability. Likewise, the results of the study confirm that boys, adolescents aged over 15, and those who live in urban areas express significantly more positive attitudes towards sexting, whereas girls show more perception of the risk associated with sending and/or receiving sexts. Boys also send and forward more sexting content than girls. In the latter part of the article, we present the practical implications these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of the use of a cognitive behavioral therapeutic intervention tool to improve the mental, physical, and social health of a group of long-term unemployed women in Spain. Method: We sent automated text messages (SMS) to the mobile phones of long-term unemployed women selected at random from public social services. During a 28-day intervention period, women received four daily automated text messages on her mobile phone on a predetermined hourly schedule. We measured depression symptoms at the start and end of the intervention and we analyzed qualitative data to determine the acceptability of a remote SMS program. Results: Depression symptoms using the Personal Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), went from an average of 13.8 at baseline to 4.9 at the end of 28 days (p = 0.89). One hundred percent of the women reported that they liked receiving the text messages and most found them helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There are a lot of services that can be accessed using a mobile phone by sending a premium short message (SMS premium). This article describes how the technology behind these contents and multimedia services works. The legislation about these services in Spain is currently being reviewed; the information about costs and basic functionality can be changed with the start up of the new law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses older and newer formats of television in the 21st century. The article analyzes the changes in news reporting throughout the years in both Spain and Latin America, stating that it has often followed the current modernization trends taking place in society and that it has, perhaps, been affected negatively by the advent of the Internet. The article continues on to discuss programs that blend several genres of programming. With such transformations, television has become a much more interactive media as viewers can now participate in programing via several methods of communication, including SMS or by sending e-mails.

The article discusses the spread of political campaigns and agendas throughout the Internet. New technology has quickly become a large part of campaigns as it effectively transmits videos and various messages via blogs and SMS messages to mobile phones. Furthermore, so-called leaders have emerged from within virtual communities that have increased their influence over society in general. One example of the wide-spread influence new technologies have is when, in March of 2004, a bomb exploded on a train in Madrid, killing 191 passengers. After the attack, blogs, online forums, and mobile messages were spread throughout the country, effectively calling for the termination of José María Aznar's term as president.

Mobile phones have the potential to foster political mobilisation. Like the Internet, mobile phones facilitate communication and rapid access to information. Compared to the Internet, however, mobile phone diffusion has reached a larger proportion of the population in most countries, and thus the impact of this new medium is conceivably greater. The Spanish general election of 2004 occurred in the wake of an unprecedented terrorist attack, but its outcome reflects the potential that mobile phones have to provide the user with independent information and bring about voter mobilisation. The impression – whether true or not – that the government was withholding information about the attack outraged a small number of voters who, empowered with mobile phones, sent text messages (known as SMS), resulting in unprecedented flash demonstrations on election day eve. Traditional media outlets contributed further to a growing chorus of citizens who felt misled. Those who tend not to vote, young voters and new voters, were galvanised to go to the polls, and they disproportionately favoured the opposition party. While it is too early to determine the political effects of mobile phone diffusion, the events in Spain suggest that mobile technology may come to play an important role in political participation and democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor adherence to inhaled medication in asthma patients is of great concern. It is one of the main reasons for inadequate asthma control. Objective: The goal of the research was to determine if motivational messages using short message service (SMS, or text) improved adherence to inhaled medication in patients with asthma. Methods: A prospective multicenter randomized parallel-group clinical trial was conducted in 10 asthma clinics in Spain. Adherence was assessed with electronic monitors (Smartinhaler, Adherium Ltd) connected to inhalers. Patients in the SMS group received psychologist-developed motivational messages every 3 days for 6 months. Results: There were 53 patients in the SMS group and 88 patients in the control group. After 6 months, mean electronic adherence was 70% (SD 17%) in the intervention group and 69% (SD 17%) in the control group (P =.82). Significant differences between the study groups in morning and evening adherence to inhaled therapy, asthma control, exhaled nitric oxide levels, or improvement of lung functions were not observed. Conclusions: Motivational messages were not useful to improve adherence to inhaled asthma medication compared with usual care. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(2):e12218 doi:10.2196/12218 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various experimental studies on psychosocial therapy have been carried out through text messages with groups of people suffering from depression, anxiety, alcoholism, addictions, etc., but without distinguishing between men and women or highly vulnerable groups such as immigrants. We present an exploratory study of a mobile communication system which intends to improve the mental, physical and social health of a group of vulnerable immigrant women in Spain (n = 71), distinguishing between an intervention group and a non-equivalent control group. We sent automatic text messages (SMS) to the mobile phones of an intervention group formed by immigrant women who used the social services (n = 44). During a 26-day intervention period, the women received 4 daily automatic text messages on their phones, at a predetermined time. We measured mood and depression symptoms at the beginning and end of the intervention, and analysed the qualitative data to determine the acceptance level of a remote message program. The mood and depression symptoms were measured with the personal health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and were significantly better in the intervention group; they evolved from an initial 9.4 (DS = 6.4, range 1–25) to a 5.0 score at the end of the message period (DS = 4.8); with a significant difference (t (44) = 2.01, p = 7.80). Most women stated that the messages had improved their mood (86.3%), which made them feel more connected to their social environment (65.9%) and that they would like to continue receiving more messages (86.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an increased risk of premature death in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of increased mortality rates in these patients, and tobacco consumption remains the most preventable risk factor involved. Developing new tools to motivate patients towards cessation of smoking is a high priority. Information on the motivational value of giving the lung age and prevention opportunities is unknown in this high-risk population.Methods/design: This article describes in detail a protocol developed to evaluate an intensive motivational tool, based on the individual risks of pulmonary damage and prevention opportunities. It is designed as a randomized, 12-month, follow-up, multicenter study. A minimum of 204 smokers will be included, aged 40 years and older, all of whom are patients diagnosed with either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (BD). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be evaluated using spirometry, and the diagnosis will then be validated by a pneumologist and the lung age estimated. Based on this value, a motivational message about prevention will be issued for the intervention group, which will be reinforced by individualized text messages over a period of 3 months. The efficacy of the method and the pulmonary damage variables will be evaluated: smoking cessation at the end of follow-up will be confirmed by cooximetry, and the COPD diagnosis and the severity of the staging for disease will be assessed.Discussion: In the context of community care, screening and early detection of lung damage could potentially be used, together with mobile technology, in order to produce a prevention message, which may provide patients with SMI with a better chance of quitting smoking.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03583203 . Registered on 11 July 2018. Trial status: recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a very incapacitating mental diseases. A lack of pharmacological adherence drives to an increased relapse and hospitalizations incidence. Strategies focused on improving adherence could benefit patients and improve their quality of life (QoL). Objectives: To assess improvements on QoL by increasing treatment adherence. Methods: This was a national, multicentre, open-label randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a Short Message Service (SMS) system on improving adherence in schizophrenic patients. Patients in the SMS group received reminders via mobile phone about their medication during the first 3 months after inclusion. Controls were not sent any reminder and received standard care. Adherence was assessed by mean of the 4-item Morisky-Green test (Medication Adherence Questionnaire, MAQ) and attitude towards medication was assessed by the 10-Item Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) at baseline and 3 and 6 months after the inclusion. QoL was assessed by the EuroQol (EQ-5D) questionnaire at the same visits. Results: Based on Intention To Treat (ITT) population, 100 (39.4%) patients comprised the SMS Group, whereas 154 (60.6%) patients were controls. There were not statistically significant differences on demographic characteristics between both groups. More patients improved their adherence (MAQ) in SMS group compared to the control group [44.0% vs. 28.6% (p=0.012)]. No significant differences were found regarding attitude towards medication (DAI-10), however improvements in DAI-10 were associated with improvements in EQ-5D [82.5% vs. 64.9% (p=0.029)]. Conclusions: SMS reminders improved adherence to treatment and improved patients’ outcomes with a positive impact on QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]