Despite the deleterious effects feelings of loneliness can have on mental and physical health, factors that may mitigate feelings of loneliness are understudied in youth with autism spectrum...Show moreDespite the deleterious effects feelings of loneliness can have on mental and physical health, factors that may mitigate feelings of loneliness are understudied in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study focused on the role of friendships in feelings of loneliness in autistic students and their allistic peers. We aimed to examine the extent to which autistic and allistic students differ in the number of perceived, received, and reciprocal friendships, how these three types of friendships are related to feelings of loneliness in school, and how autistic and allistic (without ASD) students differ in this relation. Forty-one autistic students (92,7% male, M age = 10.17, SD = 1.0) were compared with 44 allistic students (43,2% male, M age = 11.14, SD = 1.0), both from special education schools. Participants completed the Children’s Loneliness Scale and provided names of their best friends (up to five names). Results indicated that autistic students did not have fewer perceived, received, and reciprocated friendships than their allistic peers, and did not differ in feelings of loneliness with their allistic peers. Also, the number of received and reciprocal friendships did not contribute to feelings of loneliness, but having more perceived friendships was associated with less feelings of loneliness, to the same extent in the two groups. In conclusion, the findings showed that autistic students can form friendships that fulfill their social needs when in a suitable environment, and the perception of having friends could be the most important for both groups to feel a sense of connectedness in school. Thus, for regular schools, it may be helpful to learn from special education schools to facilitate the best environment for all students to form and maintain friendships.Show less
While amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive...Show moreWhile amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive symptoms by several years in these conditions. However, it is uncertain if the ability to learn sequences of movements is also impaired in this population. Therefore, this study investigated whether aMCI and AD affect motor sequence learning abilities, and how such abilities are related to AD biomarkers. The sample included 33 individuals with aMCI, 28 with AD, and 52 healthy controls (HCs). All groups completed a motor task consisting of performing a sequence of button presses, alternated with random blocks. Reaction time, coefficient of variation, and learning rates were obtained from the task. Participants also completed a series of cognitive tests to assess memory, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, language, and attention. Additionally, the following biomarkers for AD were assessed: amyloid beta via PET imaging, hippocampal volume via structural MRI, and number of e4 alleles via APOE genotyping. ANOVAs showed that AD participants had longer and more variable reaction times, followed by aMCI individuals, and with HCs having the shorter and more consistent reaction times. No significant differences in sequence learning rate were observed between groups. Exploratory analyses revealed that aMCI/AD had significantly slower initial learning rate than HCs. Linear regressions showed associations of slower reaction times with smaller hippocampal volume, and of higher coefficients with higher amyloid deposition. Poisson regressions revealed no significant correlations between motor sequence learning and APOEe4 allele count. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) results indicated that combining cognitive test with motor measures improves the prediction of AD biomarkers. Overall, AD and aMCI individuals showed impairments in general motor performance but relatively preserved motor sequence learning abilities, with some deficits in initial rate of learning. Moreover, statistical model comparison suggested that adding motor sequence learning measures to neuropsychological assessment tools enhanced the prediction of AD biomarkers. As such, future studies should explore the value of integrating motor sequence learning measures in the assessment and tracking of AD/aMCI.Show less
People in debt often avoid contacting their creditors, a behaviour likely driven by feelings of shame. In the Netherlands, around one million households face significant debt, leading to stress and...Show morePeople in debt often avoid contacting their creditors, a behaviour likely driven by feelings of shame. In the Netherlands, around one million households face significant debt, leading to stress and shame, which exacerbates financial problems by hindering communication with creditors. This study investigates the impact of building shame resilience on reducing avoidance behaviours among debtors. Enhancing shame resilience means increasing individuals' sense of control over their situation and reducing feelings of being trapped. These factors can empower debtors to confront their financial problems rather than avoid them. Thus, an experiment involving 308 participants with financial distress evaluated the effectiveness of different versions of the same creditor letter. These messages were adjusted to either increase a sense of control, reduce feelings of being trapped, or serve as a baseline with no specific emotional content. The study hypothesised that these adjustments would lead to greater willingness to contact creditors and that gender might moderate the impact. Results showed that messages enhancing control or reducing feelings of being trapped significantly increased participants' willingness to engage with creditors. Although the hypothesis regarding gender moderation was not supported overall, women responded more positively to messages reducing feelings of being trapped. These findings suggest that supportive communication strategies addressing emotional barriers like shame can facilitate better debt management. The study's implications for policy and creditor practices emphasise prioritising psychological well-being to enhance financial stability.Show less
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive...Show moreParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive decline are prevelant in up to 80% of PD patients. Multi-system degeneration and neurotransmitter decifiences are likely the cause. One of the systems implicated in PD-related cognitive decline is the cholinergic system but it remains unclear to what extent the system is affected and how it links to different disease stages. This retrospective cohort study explores the integrity of the cholinergic system in PD through the measurement of alpha reactivity using electroencephalography (EEG). EEG data from 191 participants, including 46 early-stage PD patients, 17 late-stage PD patients, and 128 healthy controls was analyzed. Alpha reactivity, measured as the difference in alpha power between eyes closed and eyes open conditions, was assessed via EEG. Cognition was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). Results revealed significantly reduced alpha reactivity in PD patients compared to healthy controls. ANCOVA analyses demonstrated reductions in alpha reactivity in both early-stage and late-stage PD groups when compared to healthy controls. However, no significant reduction in alpha reactivity was found between early and late-stage PD patients. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence of a reduction in alpha reactivity in PD patients, which could indicate a cholinergic dysfunction in PD, irrespective of disease stage. This study also highlights the potential utility of alpha reactivity as a biomarker for assessing disease severity.Show less
Research implies that stroke rehabilitation might benefit from music as an add-on in physical therapy. Nevertheless, it is still not widely used and researched. This research aims to examine if...Show moreResearch implies that stroke rehabilitation might benefit from music as an add-on in physical therapy. Nevertheless, it is still not widely used and researched. This research aims to examine if sonification, translating movement into sound, or rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) of movement, using background music, shows a greater learning process while playing the Pizzicato game. As both have shown to be a profitable add-on, the current research question is, “Which auditory-motor training method is most suitable for stroke rehabilitation?”. Here, we predict that sonification will show a greater learning increase over RAS, while a combination of the two exceeds all the conditions. 75 participants were randomly assigned over four conditions to play the Pizzicato game. The results arising from a 1x4 ANOVA show a lack of overall significant effects, even though significant effects are seen in sonification, and RAS compared to no sound. Concluding sonification and RAS can possibly enhance motor learning performance, while a combination of the auditory stimuli could result in a cognitive overload. Sonification or RAS could cautiously be implemented in stroke rehabilitation only if it is to increase enjoyability in rehabilitation.Show less
Education serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of...Show moreEducation serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of brain drain, characterized by the migration of skilled individuals to foreign shores, poses a considerable challenge to these nations. This study employs linear regression analysis to delve into the impact of educational assistance on emigration rates, with a particular focus on the dynamics of brain drain. Drawing from diverse theoretical frameworks, including Schumpeter's theory and insights gleaned from entrepreneurship studies, this research formulates hypotheses to elucidate the relationship between educational development and emigration. It undertakes a comprehensive examination of perspectives surrounding brain drain and delineates the role of education in nurturing sustainable development, with the overarching goal of unraveling the intricate interplay between education and emigration. This research contributes to the discourse on development by offering evidence-based insights into the complications of education assistance affecting brain drain. By understanding the nexus between education and emigration, policymakers can formulate targeted strategies to harness youth talent and drive economic progress in low-middle-income countries, without driving them abroad.Show less
This thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed...Show moreThis thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed examination of historical contexts, it highlights how linguistic identity can fuel secessionist movements and evaluates the extent to which linguistic discrimination can justify claims for independence. By analysing legal doctrines and international treaties, the study assesses the applicability of remedial secession as a response to linguistic subjugation. The findings suggest that while language plays a pivotal role in shaping national identity, the legitimacy of secession based on linguistic grounds remains contentious. The research underscores the importance of ensuring that internal self-determination is properly implemented and the need of protecting linguistic rights within existing state structures, offering insights into the evolving nature of self-determination in the global legal landscape.Show less
The actual numbers of international climate-related migration are not as large as expected, considering the rapid increase in the uninhabitability of these places in the Global South. This...Show moreThe actual numbers of international climate-related migration are not as large as expected, considering the rapid increase in the uninhabitability of these places in the Global South. This discrepancy may partly stem from the complex and multifaceted nature of migration, with the climate factors influencing economic opportunity and conflict, making it difficult to differentiate between people that migrate for climate reasons and people that migrate for other reasons, such as economic opportunities. However, it more likely arises from people being trapped within their increasingly uninhabitable homes, because they do not have the capacity to move or willingness to leave their home. Therefore, policymakers and researchers should redirect their attention to immobility, as the ‘trapped populations’ are an urgent and underexposed problem. This thesis will examine the term 'trapped populations,' by using conceptions of Zickgraf (2019, 2023) and De Shalit (2011) and clarifying the complexities inherent in their immobility. I will argue for ‘the right to stay’ as the most protective right for the interests of the trapped populations, as it respects the importance of a home in a person their life.Show less
Since 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people....Show moreSince 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the agenda of these political parties and the European migration crisis. Based on qualitative research, a content analysis was used to study the differences between left-wing, right-wing and centre-parties and how the European migration crisis has impacted these points of view. The analysis shows that political parties with different ideologies about migration react differently to the crisis. The European migration crisis has little to no effect on the agenda of left-wing parties and right-wing parties, but a major effect on the agendas of centre-parties.Show less
This thesis looks into the effects of horizontal inequalities on civilian victimisation during civil wars. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, it gave an extensive overview of...Show moreThis thesis looks into the effects of horizontal inequalities on civilian victimisation during civil wars. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, it gave an extensive overview of relevant research from numerous fields, which were subsequently combined into one overarching theoretical framework. Secondly, a preliminary empirical analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression (OLS) models to test the resulting expectations - that horizontal inequalities (economic and political) are likely positively related to civilian victimisation during civil wars. The analysis came back with mixed results, and at best limited and indirect support for the expected positive link between horizontal inequality and civilian victimisation.Show less
