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Background: Psychological (meaning in life, science attitude, internal locus of control, religiosity), and social factors (social support, cohesion) can counteract stressor-related distress. We investigated these factors' links with peri-pandemic distress (depression, anxiety, intrusions) and whether they weakened the impact of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared prior East and West Germans on predictors and distress to investigate if their different backgrounds created lasting differences. Methods: A population-representative German sample aged 45 to 70 (N = 380) in terms of age, sex, and school education completed online questionnaires in May–July 2020 and June–July 2021. We examined the predictive relations with correlation, forward inclusion regression, and moderation analyses. Results: Social support predicted lower distress, also prospectively. Meaning in life predicted lower distress cross-sectionally. Religiosity predicted greater distress. Life meaning and social support partly weakened the link between being affected by the pandemic and distress, religiosity and science attitude strengthened this link. The only significant East/West difference was in religiosity, which was higher in the West. Conclusion: Social resources appeared particularly important in adjusting to the pandemic. The identified predictors may inform interventions. East and West Germans' similarity might indicate that their post-war separation did not create lasting differences in the investigated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article enriches the understanding of trust in news at a time when mass and interpersonal communication have merged in the digital sphere. We propose disentangling individual-level patterns of trust allocation (i.e., trust figurations) across journalistic media, social media, and peers to reflect the multiplicity among modern news audiences. A latent class analysis of a representative survey among German young adults revealed four figurations: traditionalists, indifferentials, optimists, and cynics. Political characteristics and education corresponded with substantial heterogeneity in individuals' trust in news sources, their inclination to differentiate between sources, and the ways of integrating trust in journalistic and non-journalistic sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuous-time multi-state history is semi-Markovian, if an intensity to migrate from one state into a second, depends on the duration in the first state. Such duration can be formalised as marker, entering the intensity process of the transition counts. We derive the intensity process, prove its predictability and the martingale property of the residual to the integrated intensity. In particular, we verify the usual conditions for the respective filtration. As a consequence, according to Nielsen and Linton (1995), a kernel estimator of the transition intensity, including the duration dependence, converges point-wise at a slow rate, compared to the fast rate of the Markovian kernel estimator, i.e. when ignoring duration dependence. By using the inequality of the two rates, we follow Gozalo (1993) and show that the (properly penalised) maximal difference of the two kernel estimators on a random grid of points is asymptotically $ \chi ^2_1 $ χ 1 2 -distributed. As compared to the $ \chi ^2 $ χ 2 goodness-of-fit test on a fixed grid, with less power, the estimator of the variance needs to be shown to converge uniformly. The data example is a sample of 130,000 German women, observed over a period of 10 years, and we model the intensity to die with dementia, potentially dependent on the disease duration. As usual, the models under the null and the alternative hypothesis need to be enlarged to allow for independent right-censoring. We find a significant effect of dementia duration, nearly independent of the bandwidth. A Monte Carlo simulation confirms level and high power of the test with the penalised maximal difference, under the conditions of our application. It also reminds that hyperparameter selection is sensitive to the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To identify the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Germany and to evaluate if antidiabetic treatment patterns varied by comorbidity status. Materials and Methods: Patients with T2D (aged ≥18 years) were identified during the study period (2014–2020) from medical claims of 4.5 million publicly insured German residents and divided into different cohorts based on CVD and/or obesity diagnosis. Annual prevalence and incidence were estimated for each study year, while characteristics and treatments were assessed in 2020. Data were extrapolated to the German population by age and sex. Results: The prevalence of T2D in 2020 was 11.4%. Among patients with T2D, 53.0% had CVD, 39.3% had obesity, and 20.9% had CVD and obesity. Since 2014, CVD increased by 1.4%, obesity by 4.5%, and CVD with obesity by 2.7% in patients with T2D. The incidence of T2D in 2020 was 1.0% (42.9% had CVD, 37.9% had obesity, and 15.8% had CVD and obesity). Among the prevalent T2D population in 2020, 4.9% received glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs), 9.7% received sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and 13.0% received GLP‐1 RAs and/or SGLT2 inhibitors. Of those with CVD, 12.9% received GLP‐1 RAs and/or SGLT2 inhibitors (without CVD, 13.2%). Of those with obesity, 19.4% received GLP‐1RAs and/or SGLT2 inhibitors (without obesity, 9.0%). Conclusions: In this retrospective claims database study, more than two thirds of patients with T2D also had CVD, obesity, or both CVD and obesity. GLP‐1 RA and SGLT2 inhibitor use remained low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation research fighting for public attention and counteracting science-skeptical views raise the need for insights into why individuals are motivated to engage with scientific knowledge. Guided by the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model (PRISM), additionally considering mistrust in science and innovativeness, the study aimed to explain individuals' intention to seek information about medical innovations. Findings of an online survey among German residents (N = 5,322) supported the utility of the extended PRISM to predict seeking intent. Most of the postulates of the PRISM were supported; mistrust served as a barrier to engagement with scientific knowledge, whereas innovativeness was of minor relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brodalumab, a human monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), is approved in the US and EU for treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Although brodalumab has demonstrated efficacy and safety vs placebo in clinical trials of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), real-world evidence is needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness and safety of brodalumab in routine care. This interim analysis of the German Psoriasis Registry PsoBest examined patient profiles, treatment outcomes, and drug survival of first-time use of brodalumab for 12months in adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis (with and without PsA) (data cutoff: June 30, 2021). Clinician and patient-reported outcomes of the total cohort (n=227; PsA, n=38) indicated a rapid response to brodalumab treatment within the first 3months, which was maintained up to 12months. The overall one-year drug survival rate was 76.2%, the mean time to discontinuation was 8.3months. Reasons for discontinuation were mainly loss/lack of effectiveness, followed by adverse events, contraindication and skin clearance. In sum, brodalumab demonstrated rapid and sustained effectiveness and was well-tolerated over 12months in German patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis and PsA in a real-world setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While research on the determinants of conspiracy beliefs has been growing, there is still limited attention given to the broader consequences of conspiracy theories. This study examines the effects of conspiratorial framing on outgroup evaluations in the context of societal crises. Using an experimental design and a large representative sample of the German population, we exposed participants to conspiratorial framings of health, economic, and security crisis scenarios. The findings reveal that exposure to conspiratorial framing of crises leads to significantly more negative attitudes towards outgroups compared to control conditions. The impact is most pronounced in the security crisis treatment condition, particularly in war scenarios. Additionally, our study demonstrates the important role of political ideology, as individuals with left- as well as right-wing ideologies displayed more negative attitudes towards outgroups when exposed to conspiratorial framings of crises. These findings contribute to the literature by providing experimental evidence of the detrimental effects of conspiracy narratives on intergroup attitudes during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is one of the most common types of injury in football (soccer). Normative baseline data of performance tests for Return to Play (RTP) decision are still lacking. Purpose The primary aim of this study was to generate baseline values for uninjured elite youth football players for a multifactorial RTP assessment and compare with previously published data. A secondary aim was to investigate the use of the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) as a method to determine whether an athlete passes a performance test or not. Study Design Observational Cohort study Methods Baseline data of performance tests (Y-Balance [YBT-LQ], Heel Rise [HRT]; Singe Leg Squat [SLST]; Single Leg Drop Jump [SLDJ]; Side Hop [SHT]; Figure of 8 Hop [F-8]; Modified Agility T-Test [MAT]) were assessed in 20 elite youth football players, aged 16-21 years. Additionally, the traditional LSI (dividing the result of the non-dominant leg by the result of the dominant leg and multiplying by 100) and directionally corrected LSI (the worst value is divided by the better value and multiplied by 100) were calculated. The test values were compared to previously reported study results. LSI and side-to-side comparisons between dominant and non-dominant leg sides were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Results Male elite youth football players achieved better results in the dynamic performance tests (SHT, F-8, and MAT) compared to reference values of the cohorts previously described in the literature: YBT-LQ total score (cm) dominant (dom) 99.3±8.3, non-dominant (ND) 99.5±10.4; HRT (average number) dom. 27.1±5.4, ND 25.2±5.1); SLDJ height (cm) dom 15±5, ND 15±5 and contact time (sec) dom 0.29±0.08, ND 0.29±0.07, Reactive Strength Index (RSI) dom 0.52±0.12, ND 0.50±0.13); SHT (sec) dom 7.12±0.73, ND 7.39±0.93; F-8 (sec) dom 10.52±1.02, ND 10.37±1.04; and MAT (sec) 5.82±0.22. Directionally corrected LSI differed significantly from the traditional calculated LSI (p<0.05). Conclusion The findings of this study highlight the need to determine specific baseline data for RTP testing in male elite youth football players after LAS. The traditional LSI should not be used as a "stand alone method" for determining RTP. LSI calculations should consider the direction of asymmetry to determine passing a performance test or not. Level of evidence 3b [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a chronic neurocutaneous disease known to profoundly affect quality of life (QoL). We have performed an analysis of disease severity, mental and physical QoL and compare the different subclasses among patients with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective analysis of 89 NF1 patients between January 2016 and March 2018. Data sourced from local records including demographic information, employment status, education level, and marital status. All patients completed 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and additionally the numerical pain rating scale (NPS). Patients were stratified based on severity of NF1, visibility and disease severity. Results: Among 89 patients, severity was classified as grade 4 was identified in 42 (47.2%), moderate in 17 (19.1%), mild in 23 (25.8%) and minimal in 7 (7.9%) cases. According to visibility scale, severe grade 3 was found in 28 (31.5%), moderate grade 2 in 26 (29.2%) and mild grade in 35 (39.3%) cases. SF-36 data, except for pain, showed significantly lower values, if compared to the standard German population (P < 0.001, physical component summary P = 0.045). Sex, marital status and education level did not significantly influence results. Employment was significantly associated with better mental and physical status (P = 0.028 and P = 0.01 respectively) and age >40 was linked to lower physical (P = 0.027) but not mental component scores (P = 0.362). The numerical pain rating scale indicated pain levels of 7–10 in 9 cases (10,1%), 5–6 in 10 patients (11.2%), 1–4 in 26 patients (29.2%) and no pain in 44 cases (49.4%). Physical component scores significantly differed across different NPS grades (P < 0.001) but not in mental component scores (P = 0.06). Finally, no significant differences were found in mental component scores across severity or visibility grades. Conclusion: Severity and visibility grades of patients with NF1 may not necessarily result in poor mental health. Symptomatic treatment should be considered even for severely disabled patients as they may have comparable QoL to less severely affected patients with NF1. Employment was linked to better quality of life outcomes in our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following implementation of a national prevention program against iodine deficiency-related disorders in 1993 in Germany, the prevalence of thyroid disorders declined, but aggregated drug dispensation data suggested a recent increase in thyroid hormone use. We aimed to systematically investigate trends in the use of thyroid diagnostic and treatment measures between 2008 and 2019 in Germany. Using the GePaRD database (claims data from ~ 20% of the German population), we determined the annual age-specific and age-standardized prevalence of the use of thyroid diagnostics (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement, thyroid ultrasound, scintiscan, biopsy) and treatment (medication, surgery, radioiodine therapy) from 2008 to 2019 stratified by sex. Between 2008 and 2019, the age-standardized prevalence of TSH measurement increased by 44% in males (from 165 to 238 per 1,000 persons) and by 31% in females (from 134 to 176 per 1,000). The prevalence of thyroid ultrasound use showed no clear time trend, while there was a decrease in the prevalence of scintiscan use (males/females: decrease by 42/43%) and biopsy (males/females: decrease by 42/34%). The prevalence of levothyroxine use increased by ~ 31% both in males (from 36 to 47 per 1,000) and females (from 134 to 175 per 1,000), while the prevalence of thionamide use, iodine use, thyroidectomy, and radioiodine therapy decreased. Our study suggests a continued decline in the prevalence of clinically significant thyroid disorders between 2008 and 2019. The substantial increase in the prevalence of TSH measurement and levothyroxine use during this time period might indicate overuse of diagnostics and overtreatment, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether respondents pay adequate attention to a questionnaire has long been of concern to survey researchers. In this study, we measure respondents' attention with an instruction manipulation check. We investigate which respondents read question texts of experimentally varied lengths and which become inattentive in a probability-based online panel of the German population. We find that respondent attention is closely linked to text length. Individual response speed is strongly correlated with respondent attention, but a fixed cutoff time is unsuitable as a standalone attention indicator. Differing levels of attention are also associated with respondents' age, gender, education, panel experience, and the device used to complete the survey. Removal of inattentive respondents is thus likely to result in a biased remaining sample. Instead, questions should be curtailed to encourage respondents of different backgrounds and abilities to read them attentively and provide optimized answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acne is the most frequent chronic inflammatory skin condition in adolescence but occurs also in later age. Our study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, geographical distribution, comorbidity and healthcare of acne juvenilis (AJ) and acne tarda (AT). Methods: Statutory health insurance (SHI) data from 2016 to 2020 were analysed. Prevalence rates, including geographical distribution, comorbidities and drug use by specialists group, were measured. Results: In 2020, the prevalence of acne among adults was 1.50% (AT > 25 years) and among adolescents was 3.88% (AT ≤ 25 years). The highest prevalence (13.02%) was observed at the age of 17 years. Sex differences were higher in AT (73.80% in women) than in AJ (64.55% in women). Compared with non-affected persons, individuals with acne – in particular with AT – showed significantly higher rates of skin-related comorbidities, including folliculitis (rate ratio (RR) 8.89), pyoderma (RR 7.27) and rosacea (RR 5.53), and non-skin-related comorbidities, such as ovarian dysfunction (RR 2.36), rhinitis allergica (RR 1.84) and Crohn's disease (RR 1.79). Preferred systemic therapeutics prescribed were anti-infectives in AT (46.86%) and retinoids in AJ (52.35%). In the majority of cases, dermatologists were involved in the treatment of acne (AT 65.77%; AJ 76.27%). The most commonly prescribed topical agents were adapalene with benzoyl peroxide (AT 87.72%; AJ 85.75%), while systemic isotretinoin (AT 81.20%; AJ 90.06%) was also a frequently used drug. General practitioners were more likely to prescribe anti-infectives, especially topical antibiotics such as chlortetracycline (AT 52.38%; AJ 44.44%) and systemic antibiotics, especially tetracycline (AT 58.33%; AJ 67.50%). Conclusion: Acne affects a relevant proportion of the German population not only in adolescence, and management of this inflammatory skin disease does not naturally follow medical guidelines or specialist recommendations. These findings emphasise the importance of specialised care and comprehensive therapeutic management that should also consider the exploration of comorbidities. Plain Language Summary: We performed an analysis on the frequencies of illness and concomitant diseases of acne in Germany based on health insurance data. Furthermore, the treatment of acne in regard to drug choices and prescribers was characterised. In 2020, about 2 million people in Germany had acne. The mean age was 31 years, and women were more often affected (68.58%). The highest proportion of acne was observed at the age of 17 years (13.02%). Overall, adolescent acne (younger than 25 years) was more frequent than adult acne (older than 25 years). People with acne, especially with adult acne, had higher rates of concomitant diseases (compared with non-affected persons, both related to the skin and beyond). About a third of people with acne were not treated by a dermatologist, and the majority of these patients were not treated according to guidelines. In conclusion, acne and related concomitant diseases affect a relevant proportion of adolescents and adults in Germany. The high prevalence of adult acne suggests a special focus also on this age group, including exploration of hormonal and psychological disorders. Early and effective treatment, adapted to the severity of the acne, can prevent complications such as scarring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will greatly impact the lives of individuals with visual impairments, but how they differ in expectations compared to sighted individuals is not clear. The present research reports results based on survey responses from 114 visually impaired participants and 117 panel recruited participants without visual impairments, from Germany. Their attitudes towards autonomous vehicles and their expectations for consequences of wide-spread adoption of CAVs are assessed. Results indicate significantly more positive CAV attitudes in participants with visual impairments compared to those without visual impairments. Mediation analyses indicate that visually impaired individuals' more positive CAV attitudes (compared to sighted individuals') are largely explained by higher hopes for independence, and more optimistic expectations regarding safety and sustainability. Policy makers should ensure accessibility without sacrificing goals for higher safety and lower ecological impact to make CAVs an acceptable inclusive mobility solution. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Autonomous vehicles can significantly enhance the independence of individuals with visual impairments by providing a reliable and convenient mode of transportation. Autonomous vehicles could offer advanced wayfinding capabilities, including indoor navigation in complex environments, which can be particularly beneficial for people with visual impairments. Comprehensive training programs should be available to help individuals with visual impairments become familiar with autonomous vehicle technology, ensuring they can use it effectively and confidently. Regular feedback from individuals with visual impairments should be sought during the design and development phases to ensure that their specific needs and preferences are taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exam on assembly law and police law deals with the topic of the Palestine demonstrations. Two German citizens with Palestinian roots, A and B, demonstrate for Palestine. There is a confiscation of an Israel-critical banner and a dispersal of the assembly in front of a synagogue. A's lawsuit against the confiscation of the banner is rejected due to its legality. The dispersal of the assembly and the detention of B are deemed lawful. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Study Aim: Data from the AWARE study (A Worldwide Antihistamine‐Refractory chronic urticaria patient Evaluation) illustrate a substantial disease burden in German patients with H1‐antihistamine (‐H1‐AH)‐refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Detrimental effects on patients' quality of life, poor disease control and impairment in the ability to work and perform other daily activities are reported. Based on these findings, this study aims to quantify the epidemiological and socio‐economic burden of H1‐AH‐refractory CSU in Germany. Methods: To determine the epidemiological burden of H1‐AH‐refractory CSU, the age‐ and gender‐specific prevalence of CSU and the proportion of H1‐AH‐refractory patients in Germany anonymized data from the InGef research database have been used. In a second step, the socio‐economic burden in terms of lost numbers of hours in paid and unpaid work was calculated by extrapolating the age‐ and gender‐specific work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) observed in AWARE to the H1‐AH‐refractory CSU population in Germany. Finally, productivity losses in paid and unpaid work were monetized using the human capital and the friction cost approach respectively. Moreover, socio‐economic burden was calculated depending on symptom control of the patients (measured by urticaria control test [UCT]). Results: In Germany, over 203,000 patients (20 years or older) had H1‐AH‐refractory CSU in 2018. The avoided lost paid and unpaid work hours attributable to H1‐AH‐refractory CSU summed up to over 100 million. Overall, the socio‐economic burden of H1‐AH‐refractory CSU in monetary terms was evaluated at € 2.2 billion and the majority of this was due to unpaid work loss. Patients with poor disease control, as indicated by UCT score < 12, were more likely to suffer from high impairment than patients with controlled disease, resulting in a higher socio‐economic burden. Conclusions: The results of our analyses picture the substantial socio‐economic burden of H1‐AH‐refractory CSU and therefore the tremendous impact it has on daily lives of individuals and society overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Influenza-associated excess mortality and morbidity is commonly estimated using statistical methods. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) uses the relative mortality distribution method (RMDM) to estimate influenza-associated excess mortality without reporting age-specific values. In order to better differentiate the distribution of the disease burden, a distinction by age is of high relevance. Therefore, we aimed to revise the existing excess mortality model and provide age-specific excess mortality estimates over multiple seasons. We also used the model to determine influenza-associated excess hospitalizations, since the RKI excess hospitalization model is currently based on another approach (i.e., combination of excess physician visits and hospitalized proportion). Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis based on secondary data of the German population from 1996–2018. We adapted the RKI's method of estimating influenza-associated excess mortality with the RMDM and also applied this approach to excess hospitalizations. We calculated the number of excess deaths/hospitalizations using weekly and age-specific data. Results: Data available in Germany are suitable for addressing the restrictions of the RKI's mortality model. In total, we estimated 175,858 (176,482 with age stratification) influenza-associated excess all cause deaths between 1995–1996 and 2017–2018 ranging from 0 (17 with age stratification) in 2005–2006 to 25,599 (25,527 with age stratification) in 2017–2018. Total influenza-associated excess deaths were comparable to RKI's estimates in most seasons. Most excess deaths/hospitalizations occurred in patients aged ≥ 60 years (95.42%/57.49%) followed by those aged 35–59 years (3,80%/24,98%). Compared with our model, the RKI hospitalization model implies a substantial underestimation of excess hospitalizations (828,090 vs. 374,200 over all seasons). Conclusion: This is the first study that provides age-specific estimates of influenza-associated excess mortality in Germany. The results clearly show that the main burden of influenza is in the elderly, for whom prevention and control measures should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations in interoception have been linked to psychopathology. Recent findings suggest that both the attention to and the accuracy of, interoceptive perceptions may be oppositely related to subclinical symptomatology. Thus, providing well-validated tools that tap into these interoceptive processes is crucial for understanding the relation between interoceptive processing and subclinical psychopathology. In the current study (N = 642), we aimed to (1) validate the German version of the Interoceptive Attention Scale (IATS; Gabriele et al., 2022), and (2) test the differential association of self-reported interoceptive attention and accuracy with subclinical symptomatology, including alexithymia, depressive, and anxious symptomatology. We observed that a one-factor solution is a well-fitting model for the IATS. Further, the IATS showed good internal consistency, convergent, and divergent validity, but poor test-retest reliability. Self-reported interoceptive attention and accuracy were unrelated to each other. However, IATS scores were positively related to all measures of psychopathology (except depressive symptomatology), whereas self-reported interoceptive accuracy scores showed negative or nonsignificant relations with these. Our data suggest that the IATS is a good instrument to measure self-report interoceptive attention in the German population. Further, we highlight the need to distinguish between constructs of interoception to better understand the relation between interoception and psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free movement of people is a fundamental principle of the European Union (EU) that has led to an increase in EU‐internal migration. This study investigates the impact of increased immigration to Germany resulting from the 2004 and 2007 eastern enlargement of the EU on concerns about immigration within the German population. By merging 20 years of annual migration statistics with panel data on individual attitudes and exploiting exogenous variation in the gradual enlargement of the free movement policy, we examine the causal effects of EU‐internal migration on immigration concerns. Our findings suggest that the influx of immigrants from new member states did not have a clear average effect on concerns about immigration, but increased concerns among German natives with materialist‐survival values. The study provides insights into the societal division caused by opposition to immigration as part of the European integration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines black-market food activities in the German-occupied territory of the General Government during World War II. Unlike in other areas of occupied Poland (e.g. in areas incorporated into the Reich), in the General Government, and especially in Warsaw, the black market became a specialist discipline, often practiced professionally. The article argues that this professionalized black market thrived in large part due to the corruption of German authorities and their powerlessness to enforce the harsh system of rules and prohibitions around illegal food trade. An analysis of Polish and German archival materials, ego-documents, as well as both the official and underground press shows that this corruption and inability to control characterized the entire supply chain of black-market food, from production in the countryside, transfer to cities, and distribution and consumption in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown that input in more than one language influences children's phonemic development. In this study, we examined the neural processes supporting perception of Voice Onset Time (VOT) in bilingual Italian-German children and their monolingual German peers. While German contrasts short-lag and long-lag, Italian contrasts short-lag and voicing lead. We examined whether bilinguals' phonetic/phonological systems for the two languages develop independently or whether they influence each other, and what role language input plays in the formation of phonetic/phonological categories. Forty five-year-old children (16 monolingual German, 24 bilingual Italian-German) were tested in an oddball design expected to elicit a neural Mismatch Response (MMR). The stimuli were bilabial stop VOT contrasts with the short-lag stop, common to both languages, as the standard. Four deviant VOTs were selected: 92 ms and 36 ms lag for German; 112 ms and 36 ms voicing lead for Italian. Bilingual children's language background was assessed using a caregiver questionnaire. Italian-German bilingual 5-year-old children and German monolingual controls showed similar MMRs to German long-lag and Italian voicing lead VOT, except for the 36 ms long-lag deviant; this acoustically difficult distinction did not elicit a robust negative MMR in the bilingual children. The lack of a difference between the bilinguals and monolinguals for voicing lead suggests that the amount of input in Italian for the bilinguals was not sufficient to lead to an advantage compared to the monolingual German children. Alternatively, the finding could indicate that voicing lead is easier to discriminate than voicing lag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the representation of Germany and the Germans in the pages of the Melbourne Punch (1855–1925). Grounding its imagery in contemporary racial stereotyping of Germans, Melbourne Punch commented in muted terms on German immigration and the events of 1870–71 but reacted with alarm at the sudden arrival of the Kaiserreich as an expanding imperial power in the Asia-Pacific in 1884–85. The consolidation of this presence in the 1890s, combined with the simultaneous threat posed to Australia’s security via Germany’s challenge to the Royal Navy, raised antagonism to extremes (more so than in comparable British publications like the London Punch). The fear of Prussian military culture threatening Australia’s liberal-British society was expressed palpably in ordinary weekly numbers, as well as in dedicated special issues of 1898 and 1909, which featured Germanophobic invasion stories, anticipating – but never approaching – the hatred towards the ‘Hun’ during the Great War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the harrowing use of sexual violence as a tool in the ethnic cleansing of Germans in post‐World War II Czechoslovakia. By examining the grim realities of internment camps, prisons, and border regions, it reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse aimed primarily at German women by Czech men. This violence was not isolated but integral to the broader project of national cleansing, laying bare the patriarchal foundations of Czechoslovak society. State policies, including the differential treatment of mixed marriages, reinforced a male‐dominated ethos. By stripping Germans of their citizenship and legal protections, Czech authorities fostered a climate of impunity, allowing a wave of sexual violence to persist through the ‘German transfers’. The article sheds light on this dark chapter, exposing how rape was used to reaffirm Czech men's dominance in the nation's postwar rebirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Considering the uncertainty that accompanies political reforms, this study examines the determinants of universal basic income (UBI) acceptance among a representative sample of 593 German citizens using innovation resistance theory. The study aimed to determine whether passive innovation resistance (PIR) negatively influences UBI acceptance and to investigate how active evaluation of pro‐ and con‐arguments, potentially leading to active innovation resistance (AIR), affects this relationship. The results indicate that both PIR and AIR reduce UBI acceptance. Social influence and individual advantages appear to be the primary drivers of UBI support, while counter‐arguments have a relatively minor impact. AIR is mainly influenced by individual economic effects, universality and social justice, whereas unconditionality has a negligible effect. The study also reveals moderation effects of age and political orientation (liberal vs. conservative) and provides practical insights along with suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGrievers recall memories from both the life of the deceased and the dying days, but differences in recall across these memory types are not well-characterized. In this study, 100 bereaved German adults described up to ten important memories of a deceased close other (M = 7.86). Memories from the dying days were classified into: final memories, health transition events, last time events, and temporal markers. Among those who provided at least one dying days memory (73%), these memories were reported to be recalled privately and shared socially more often than memories from the deceased’s life. Memories from the dying days were rated as less emotionally positive than those from the life, and contextual factors from the loss shaped memory recall frequency and emotional valence. Results underscore the need for appropriate end-of-life care to lay a foundation for adaptive remembering and suggest the relevance of dying days memories in therapeutic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong migration of former East German residents to the western part of Germany opens a unique way to study the impact of migration modifying gender-related attitudes towards division of labor. While in West Germany more traditional gender attitudes have been prevailing for decades, the East pursued more progressive attitudes regarding the home and labor domain. However, attitudes of East-to-West migrants are mostly unknown. Thus, this article aims at providing a first analysis regarding differing attitudes between domestic migrants and non-movers. Data from the German General Social Surveys (GGSS/ALLBUS) from 1992, 2004, and 2016, including 2428, 2099, and 1486 participants, respectively, were used. Group differences between permanent residents from West Germany (West–West) and from East Germany (East–East) as well as East-to-West migrants were estimated. Pooled regressions were conducted to predict the attitudes towards female employment. East–West migrants' respective attitudes differed from both of the other groups. However, they were more similar to the more traditional West–West group than the more progressive East–East group. Furthermore, East–West migrants who had lived longer in the West exhibited more traditional attitudes than those who had lived there <10 years. Further, the diversity of East-to-West migrants was acknowledged by observing the year of migration (before 1961, 1961–1989, after 1989) which showed that those who migrated before the erection of the Berlin Wall were more traditional. The finding that East–West migrants' attitudes were more similar to their place of residence, while the duration of residence was positively associated with the traditional attitude towards female employment prevalent in the West, gives impetus to further research attitudes of domestic migrants. Future research should test whether a selection effect or assimilation cause East–West migrants' attitudes to resemble their society of residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of Poland and Eastern Europe in shaping early post-colonial Nigeria from 1958 to 1970. It discusses the limited existing scholarship on this topic and the differing perspectives on Poland's involvement in the region. The article also explores the neglected aspect of shipping and its impact on newly independent African states. It further delves into the involvement of the Soviet Union and Poland in Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War, highlighting their support for different factions. The article emphasizes Poland's growing economic relations with Nigeria during the Cold War and its success in securing contracts and providing shipping services. It also discusses the challenges faced from British opposition and the British government's concern over the increasing Eastern European presence in Nigeria. Despite political differences, Poland was able to expand its presence in Nigeria and foster economic growth. The article concludes that Poland's engagement in Africa had a significant impact on the Cold War events in the region. [Extracted from the article]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked protests around the globe. Most of Europe had – luckily – not seen violent conflict of this scale on their doorstep for more than 30 years. For Germany, the period was even longer. Being confronted with news about the war drove thousands of German citizens to the streets. In passionate protests, they made various demands of their government. Herein, we investigate the links between Germans' emotions and their readiness to engage in such protests. Drawing on collective action research, we predicted that anger and sympathy would correlate positively with Germans' protest readiness. Given the context and public debate, we predicted that fear should also correlate with protest readiness. Two surveys (total N = 905) conducted with residents of Germany – one day after the invasion and at its first anniversary – supported our hypotheses. We consistently found that the more sympathy and anger respondents experienced, the greater their readiness to protest. Fear explained variance beyond sympathy and anger in two cases and in an information‐seeking measure of protest readiness: Greater fear correlated with a higher interest in demonstrations advocating peace negotiations and a lower interest in demonstrations calling for solidarity with Ukraine. These findings underscore the links between sympathy, anger, fear, and the readiness to protest in response to the contemporary crisis that is the war in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionCompared to the number of performance validity measures, the range of available symptom validity measures is limited. The Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI) is a recently developed freestanding symptom validity test with promising psychometric characteristics for use on non-criminal forensic and a range of clinical populations. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of the SRSI for symptom validity testing in the clinical evaluation of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).This analogue study compared 76 German patients diagnosed with ADHD (age range 19–63 years) with typically developing individuals from the Netherlands/Germany who were assigned to either a control group (N = 58; age range 18–73 years) or a simulation group (N = 46; age range 18–57 years). All participants completed the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) with its two embedded validity indicators Infrequency Index (CII) and ADHD Credibility Index (ACI), the SRSI, and the Digit Span (to derive the Reliable Digit Span).Specificity in controls was perfect for the CAARS, but reached only about 90% for the SRSI. In contrast, sensitivity in experimental simulators ranged from 24% to 65% for the CAARS, but reached high rates of 69% to 82% for the SRSI. In the sample of patients with ADHD, the failure rate ranged from 8% to 34% (CAARS), and 33% to 47% (SRSI). Further, we found limited classification agreement between the validity measures.The divergent results on the different validity indicators reflects the ongoing discussion on poor construct unity and clarity, and calls for more research addressing the heterogeneous construct. The utility of the SRSI to reliably distinguish between valid and invalid symptom report in the clinical evaluation of adult ADHD has to be investigated by more refined studies including both symptom and performance validity indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with low reading skills are less frequently engaged in reading activities and therefore the likelihood of improving their reading skills decreases. Digital game‐based interventions have emerged as a promising tool for promoting reading development in children, particularly those with reading difficulties. As syllable‐based reading interventions are likely to increase word reading skills in low‐skilled readers, we developed a new reading intervention application that emphasizes syllable segmentation and integrates proven elements of digital game‐based learning. The intervention aimed to promote phonological recoding and consolidating orthographic representation of syllables. Objectives: The present study investigated the effects of the newly developed syllable‐based reading intervention application on general word recognition skills, phonological recoding processes, orthographic decoding processes and text‐level reading comprehension skills in German second graders. Methods: In a quasi‐experimental design, children with low word recognition skills were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 66) or a wait‐list group (n = 66). General word recognition skills, phonological recoding processes, orthographic decoding processes and text‐level reading comprehension were measured with standardized German reading tests before and after the treatment group received the digital reading intervention for 20 sessions. Results: Results indicated that the children in the treatment group showed significant improvement in general word recognition and in phonological recoding processes compared to equally low‐skilled untreated children in the wait‐list group. Orthographic decoding processes improved only in children with less severe impairments, whereas no significant improvements were found in text‐level reading comprehension. Take Aways: The digital reading intervention is a promising approach for supporting word reading in low‐skilled reading second graders and can serve as an effective intervention tool for this target group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated whether speakers adapt their breathing and speech (fundamental frequency [fo]) to a prerecorded confederate who is sitting or moving under different levels of physical effort and who is either speaking or not. Following Paccalin and Jeannerod (2000), we would expect breathing rate to change in the direction of the confederate's, even if the participant is physically inactive. This might in turn affect their speech acoustics. Method: We recorded the speech and respiration of 22 native German speakers. They produced solo and synchronous read speech in interaction with a confederate who appeared on a prerecorded video. There were three withinsubject experimental conditions: the confederate (a) sitting, (b) biking with light effort, or (c) biking with heavier effort. Results: During speech, the confederate's inhalation amplitude and fo increased with physical effort, as expected. Her breath cycle duration changed differently, probably because of read speech constraints. Overall, the only adaptation the participants showed was higher fo with increase in the confederate's physical effort during synchronous, but not solo, speech. Additionally, they produced shallower inhalations when observing the confederate biking in silence, as compared to the condition without movement. Crucially, the participants' acoustic and breathing data showed large interindividual variability. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that, in this paradigm, convergence only took place on fo during synchronous speech and that this phonetic adaptation happened independently from any speech breathing adaptation. It also suggests that participants may adapt their quiet breathing while watching a person performing physical exercise but that the mechanism is more complex than that explained previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that stereotypes are not only applied to social groups but also to the physical spaces that social groups inhabit. We present three experiments investigating space‐focused stereotype content and valence regarding immigrant and non‐immigrant neighbourhoods. In Study 1a (N = 198), a pre‐registered online experiment, we observed that participants associate more negative characteristics with immigrant neighbourhoods than with middle‐class neighbourhoods. Whereas they imagined immigrant neighbourhoods as crime‐ridden, dirty and dangerous, they imagined middle‐class neighbourhoods to be quiet, clean and safe. Furthermore, whereas stereotype valence regarding immigrant neighbourhoods was negative, stereotype valence regarding middle‐class neighbourhoods was positive, suggesting large effects. These results were replicated in Study 1b (N = 274), examining stereotypes of immigrant versus majority‐German neighbourhoods. In Study 2 (N = 209), a pre‐registered online experiment, we observed that space‐focused stereotypes were more negative when cultural stereotypes rather than personal beliefs were assessed. Exploratory analyses revealed that, compared with majority‐German neighbourhoods, participants imagined immigrant neighbourhoods to be lower in socioeconomic status and also reported feeling less psychologically connected to these neighbourhoods, regardless of whether space‐focused stereotypes were personally endorsed or not. Lastly, a mega‐analysis across studies suggested that effects of stereotypes of immigrant in comparison to non‐immigrant places were very large (ds = 1.70). Together, the present findings indicate that mere differences in descriptions of places with reference to their demographic composition are sufficient to elicit large differences in associated stereotype content and valence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We developed the 26-item Ethnic–Racial Discrimination Stress Inventory (ERDSI) to assess ethnic–racial discrimination stress in Mexican-origin adults in the United States and Turkish-origin adults in Germany, two groups with similar sociocultural characteristics and immigration experiences. Method: We developed 73 items measuring firsthand, intragroup, and vicarious discrimination, and internalization and expectations of discrimination experiences. If participants reported experiencing a given situation, they were asked to rate its stressfulness. U.S.-based Mexican-origin adults (N = 222) and German-based Turkish-origin adults (N = 105) completed an online survey of these items, measures of related constructs, and sociodemographic measures. Results: Study 1: We eliminated items based on interitem correlations and exploratory factor analyses in the U.S.-based Mexican sample. The exploratory factor analyses yielded four reliable and valid factors (F1: Vicarious Discrimination Stress, seven items; F2: Internalization of Discrimination Stress, seven items; F3: Intragroup Discrimination Stress, seven items; and F4: Firsthand Discrimination Stress, five items). The ERDSI factors predicted well-being measures, even after adjusting for control variables. Study 2: The three ERDSI factors (F1, F2, F4, not F3) that applied to the German-based Turkish sample demonstrated reliability and validity. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated metric invariance for F2 and partial scalar invariance for F1, F3, and F4. Conclusions: The ERDSI can be used to assess ethnic–racial discrimination stress in future studies with U.S.-based Mexican-origin adults and German-based Turkish-origin adults. Public Significance Statement: People of Mexican origin in the United States and people of Turkish origin in Germany often report that they experience ethnic–racial discrimination and that this causes stress (i.e., "ethnic–racial discrimination stress"). We developed the Ethnic–Racial Discrimination Stress Inventory to assess discrimination stresses associated with firsthand experiences (i.e., carried out by someone from another ethnic–racial group), intragroup experiences (i.e., carried out by someone of one's own ethnic–racial group), vicarious experiences (i.e., someone from one's own ethnic–racial group experiencing discrimination), and internalization of these experiences (i.e., self-stereotyping) in the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of right-wing alternative news sources has moved to the center of scholarly attention recently. Such sources cater to news consumers characterized by extreme political views and mistrust toward mainstream news. However, research into the predictors of alternative news consumption is still scarce. We approach this gap by combining online tracking and survey data from 2,009 German panel participants. We find conspiratorial thinking and pro-Russian stance to be predictors of alternative news consumption, both in absolute and in relative terms. Our analysis thus contributes to a more nuanced understanding of alternative news consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Spiral of Silence theory, we posit that people perceive opinion climates on three different levels: the opinion climate (1) in society, (2) among their friends, and (3) in a specific situation. Based on a three-wave panel survey with two embedded experiments (N = 1,286), we analyze whether these perceived opinion climates influence the participation in online political discussions. Results show that perceptions of the opinion climate in society and among friends do not have an effect. Instead, the perceived situational climate of opinion matters: Individuals in balanced or congruent opinion environments engage more often than those in incongruent environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reflective clinical reasoning (CR) is believed to play a crucial role in achieving an efficient therapy process, supported by evidence-based approaches that improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CR process of German manual therapists (MTs) using the CR skills of Dutch MTs as a reference. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the CR process and diagnostic ability of German MTs. Dutch MTs served as the reference standard due to their experience with direct access. The CR skills were assessed using the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI), a questionnaire measuring diagnostic competence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to compare the groups. Subgroup analyses were performed to analyze the influence of work experience (in years) and the level of education on CR. Results: 396 manual therapists (229 German and 167 Dutch) completed the DTI. Dutch MTs revealed higher DTI sum-scores compared to German MTs (p <.001; Cohen´s d =.41). Subgroup analyses regarding professional education revealed no significant differences in DTI sum-scores within German MTs and between both groups. In the subgroup analyses regarding professional experience, differences of moderate effect size were reached between German and Dutch novice MTs (in favor of Dutch novice MTs; p =.001; Cohen´s d =.62), and between German novice MTs and experienced German MTs (in favor of experienced German MTs; p <.001; Cohen´s d =.6). Conclusion: The results suggest that academically educated German and Dutch MTs as well as experienced German and Dutch MTs are similar in terms of their hypothetical-deductive CR skills. In turn, German novice MTs seem to use hypothetical-deductive processing to a lesser extent compared to Dutch novice MTs and experienced German MTs, which in turn may support the hypothesis that the level of professional experience and education has a significant impact on the development of hypothetical-deductive CR skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is a pressing public mental health issue. So far, there has been a paucity of investigations focused on the individual differences modulating this subjective feeling in the face of difficult circumstances, e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the present study aimed to investigate the role of mentalization ; given that the construct comprises reflection abilities that might be particularly relevant to the pandemic's interpersonal challenges. A survey representative of the German population was conducted from May to June 2020 (N = 2503). We examined mentalization, operationalized as reflective functioning (RF) and measured using the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), both as a protective factor against loneliness on its own and as a moderator of the association of social isolation with loneliness. Of the overall sample, 822 (32.8 %) individuals reported social isolation. Worse RF was moderately associated with higher levels of loneliness (r = 0.433, p <.001). A linear regression model (controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and general personality pathology) confirmed this positive association, but also indicated an interaction effect of RF and social isolation in the statistical prediction of loneliness. Stratified models showed that RF was a comparatively weaker statistical predictor of loneliness among the socially isolated. This representative population study expanded our knowledge about the factors shaping loneliness in the population. RF emerged as a potentially modifiable protective influence. Further research needs to clarify the mechanisms through which it mitigates loneliness. The cross-sectional design does not give insight into the temporal association of RF and loneliness. • Joint investigation of personality and demographic risk factors for loneliness • Individuals with better reflective functioning (RF) abilities felt less lonely. • RF appears to guard against loneliness even in the case of social isolation. • Individual differences hold potential to explain the vulnerability to loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Margarethe 'Meta' Wedekind was one of the 'Universitätsmamsellen', a group of eighteenth–century German women who had access to a privileged academic education. In addition to numerous translations, in 1784 Wedekind published the epistolary novel Maria: Eine Geschichte in Briefen. What is striking about this text is that both its 'author' and 'editor' remain anonymous. This article argues that Meta Wedekind resorts to two main strategies to publish the novel: the so-called 'Herausgeberfiktion', and anonymity. Furthermore, this type of publication was likely inspired by Sophie La Roche's famous novel Geschichte des Fräuleins von Sternheim (1771). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With the release of ChatGPT, text-generating AI became accessible to the general public virtually overnight, and automated text generation (ATG) became the focus of public debate. Previously, however, little attention had been paid to this area of AI, resulting in a gap in the research on people's attitudes and perceptions of this technology. Therefore, two representative surveys among the German population were conducted before (March 2022) and after (July 2023) the release of ChatGPT to investigate people's attitudes, concepts, and knowledge on ATG in detail. This data descriptor depicts the structure of the two datasets, the measures collected, and potential analysis approaches beyond the existing research paper. Other researchers are encouraged to take up these data sets and explore them further as suggested or as they deem appropriate. Dataset:  https://osf.io/sn75h/. Dataset License: CC-BY Attribution 4.0 International. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary supplements (DS) are very popular with the general population, physically active people and professional athletes are often taken without professional advice. Adverse effects on consumer health are increasingly being reported and there are concerns about overdoses of certain nutrients. There are initial indications that some groups of people have a higher affinity to DS than others. It appears that the type of sport and possibly gym membership could have an influence on consumer behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to identify high consumer groups of DS among the general population in Germany. › Methods: The consumption of DS was assessed using an online questionnaire including information about physical activity, gym membership and the consumption and intake doses of DS. Completed questionnaires were returned by 244 participants (m=153, f=91; 30.7±10.4 years SD). The answer options were valued, and subjects were categorized in low, average and high consumers (indicating overdosing). A configural frequency analysis was performed using the independent variables gender, gym membership, consumption. The configurations were tested with an exact binomial test and the p-value was corrected according to Bonferroni (0.05/12=0.0042). › Results: Three significant configurations were found (p=0.0042). The configuration, 'male-gym member-average consumption' as well as 'male-gym member-high consumption' were significantly overrepresented. Male gym members with low consumption behaviour were significantly underrepresented. › Conclusion: This analysis suggests that male gym users in the German population have a higher risk of excessive DS consumption than other subgroups. Awareness campaigns regarding the risk of intake and overconsumption of DS can be targeted to high-risk groups. Due to the small sample size and the different types of fitness gyms, further studies are needed to make clearer statements and identify more precise risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper chronicles the life of Karl von Krempler, a war criminal who was a Yugoslav “Volksdeutscher”. The emphasis is on the period of the Second World War, when he attained high positions within the structure of SS and police in the occupied Serbia. Besides his pre-war, war and post-war career, the attention is devoted to the analysis of Krempler’s intriguing personality. The paper is prepared on the basis of the archival documentation preserved at: the Archives of Yugoslavia, The State Archives of Serbia, Historical Archives of Belgrade, the Military Archives, Historical Archives “Ras” in Novi Pazar, Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Political Archive of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and Federal Archives in Berlin.

Adolescents support Eurosceptic and far‐right movements more and more. Since adolescents' years are a formative period for political orientations, it is important to promote a shared sense of belonging together among Europeans to counteract these tendencies. This could be achieved by fostering a European identity, however, only if its content is civically defined. We examined adolescents' understandings of being European, and how they relate to intolerance, EU support, and other predictors. Our sample included 1206 German adolescents (51% female, Age: M = 14.4, SD = .6, 27% ethnic minority adolescents). European identity was assessed via open answers and five closed questions. We conducted latent class analysis to identify identity classes. Three classes emerged: a living‐based (47%), a culture & value‐based (27%), and an ancestry‐based class (26%). Classes did not differ regarding EU support, but regarding intolerance (highest: ancestry‐based, lowest: culture & value‐based). Our results indicate that German adolescents differed in their understanding of being European and that it is important to consider how youth define Europeanness to understand European identity's effect on their views. Furthermore, our study argues for assessing identity openly to capture nuances of identity content adequately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Striving towards perfection is an important concept of study, given its heterogenous associations with both positive and negative outcomes. To address this matter, recent work has emphasized the need to differentiate between striving towards perfection (perfectionism) and excellence (excellencism). However, the applicability of this differentiation in adolescence remains largely unexplored, despite this life phase being particularly sensitive for the development of perfectionism. To better understand striving towards perfection in adolescence, we examined the psychometric properties of the German Scale of Perfectionism and Excellencism (SCOPE) and evaluated the nomological net with the Big Five and self‐esteem in 788 German adolescents (Mage = 15.49 years; 50% female). The results underscored the distinctiveness of the different strivings in adolescents but pointed to mixed evidence regarding convergent and discriminant validities. Notably, striving towards perfection was related to lower levels of openness and self‐esteem but higher levels of neuroticism, whereas striving towards excellence was related to higher levels of every trait except neuroticism. Finally, most results remained consistent across genders and school types. We discuss how the differentiation between perfectionism and excellencism deepens our understanding of adolescents' perfectionistic strivings and how it might inform future research across different psychological fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study is the first in Albania on dental fear and dental anxiety and also in the field of psychosocial medicine. The purpose of this study was to find out whether there are differences in dental anxiety using the Dental Anxiety Scale, their level of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 and the evaluation of oral health among Albanian and German patients. Methods: This study was conducted in the period from December 2019 to July 2020, a sample of N = 263 patients (133 Germans, 130 Albanians) using the Dental Anxiety Scale questionnaires to determine anxiety before dental treatment and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 to evaluate psychological distress. Moreover, the patients answered questions regarding their oral health and dental care. In Germany, there were four refusals to entrance in the study due to various reasons, in contrast to Albania, where there were no refusals at all For the purposes of this study, data on both populations aged 14 years and older were used. Results: The questionnaires results were calculated for all participants. The current subjective health status of Albanian patients was assessed to be significantly worse than that of German patients (p < 0,000). Germans were more susceptible to signs of Anxiety (p < 0,000), Depression and Somatization and scored higher on the Dental Anxiety Scale and the Global Severity Index (p < 0,000) than Albanian patients. Additionally Albanian patients scored significantly lower on the preventive care index (p < 0,000). Despite an elevated DAS anxiety level, German patients reported going to the dentist more frequently than Albanian patients. Conclusion: The results showed that between both populations differences in dental anxiety, psychological distress and oral health exists. Patients from Germany report more psychological distress and described more dental anxiety compared to Albanian patients. Albanian patients reported not utilization on oral health care.The implementation of educational programs and preventive measures, would contribute to raising awareness about the importance of oral health and increased use of dental services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how gender and age interact in shaping beliefs about fair pay through a factorial survey experiment conducted with German employees. Respondents evaluated hypothetical worker descriptions varying in age, gender, and earnings. While no gender gap in fair earnings was found for the youngest hypothetical workers, a significant gap favoring men emerged with increasing age. This suggests that male workers receive a higher age premium on fair earnings than female workers. The findings highlight the need to understand how gender interacts with other characteristics to legitimize workplace inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Validated and internationally standardised measurement instruments are a prerequisite for ensuring that physical activity during pregnancy is comparable and for deriving physical activity recommendations. In Germany, there has been no adapted version of the internationally used Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) until now. This study's aim centred around translating the original English version into German (PPAQ-G) and determining its reliability as well as validity in a German population. Methods: The PPAQ was translated into German using the forward-backwards technique. Its reliability and validity were tested. Thirty-four correctly completed questionnaires were analysed. The test–retest reliability was presented using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman correlation coefficient. Validity was tested by using accelerometer (n = 23) and determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: In the transcultural adjustment, two questions were amended to describe intensity more precisely, and two other questions were adapted to reflect the units of measurement used in Germany. The ICC indicated a reliability of r = 0.79 for total activity (without sitting), and the intensity subcategories ranged from r = 0.70 (moderate-intensity activities) to r = 0.90 (sitting). Although, validity assessment showed no significant correlation for sedentary, moderate or vigorous intensity, there were significant correlations for total activity (light and above; r = 0.49; p < 0.05) and for light activity (r = 0.65; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The PPAQ-G showed good reliability for use on pregnant German women and a moderately accurate measurement of physical activity. It can be used nationally for epidemiological studies, and it also enables international comparisons of physical activity during pregnancy. Trial registration: DRKS00023426; Registration date 20 May 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deliberate ignorance is the willful choice not to know the answer to a question of personal relevance. The question of whether a man is the biological father of his child is a sensitive issue in many cultures and can lead to litigation, divorce, and disinheritance. Thanks to DNA tests, men are easily able to resolve the uncertainty. Psychological theories that picture humans as informavores who are averse to ambiguity suggest men would do a DNA test, as does evolutionary theory, which considers investing in raising a rival's offspring a mistake. We conducted two representative studies using computer-based face-to-face interviews in Germany (n = 969) and Spain (n = 1,002) to investigate whether men actually want to know and how women would react to this desire. As a base line, Germans (Spanish) estimated that 10% (20%) of fathers mistakenly believe that they are the biological father of their child. Nevertheless, in both countries, only 4% of fathers reported that they had performed a DNA paternity test, while 96% said they had not. In contrast, among men without children, 38% (33%) of Germans (Spanish) stated they would do a DNA test if they had children, mostly without telling their partners. Spanish women with children would more often disapprove of a paternity test or threaten their husbands with divorce (25%) than would German women (13%). We find that a simple test of risk aversion, measured also by the purchase of non-mandatory insurances, is correlated with not wanting to know. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of Trump and his enduring popularity in the USA before the elections are difficult for many Germans to understand. The deep-rooted misunderstandings between the USA and Germany become clear through the different perspectives on Trump and his success. Trump's popularity among many American voters highlights the differences in mentalities and worldviews between the USA and Germany. Despite the controversial views, the race remains exciting and unpredictable until the end. [Extracted from the article]