The global prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise from 50 to 152 million cases by 2050 due to the limited availability of therapeutic and preventive strategies and ageing populations...Show moreThe global prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise from 50 to 152 million cases by 2050 due to the limited availability of therapeutic and preventive strategies and ageing populations. Although digital tools can address the growing gap between healthcare supply and demand, their implementation is difficult, and personal factors can influence individuals’ intention to use such tools. Thus, this study explores the relationship between various personal factors, as self-reported by healthy individuals (N = 507) who are part of a brain research registry, and their intention to use and promote using digital tools in the context of brain health and dementia. According to the hypothesis formulated for the research, higher financial scarcity, lower educational attainment, and lower employment status predict lower intention to use and promote digital tools for brain health. The study examined four distinct digital tools: (1) MijnBreincoach (a prevention tool), (2) cCog (a diagnostic tool), (3) ADappt (a patient- orchestrated care tool), and Neurokeys (a prediction tool). It was found that Neurokeys exhibited the highest score for intention to use but the lowest score for intention to promote. In addition, medium and high educational attainment predicted higher behavioral intention to use MijnBreincoach, while the most beneficial (i.e., most secure, stable, and safe) employment status predicted higher intention to promote MijnBreincoach and cCog. In conclusion, it is important to recognize differences in intention to use and promote different types of digital tools across potential users and the influence of personal characteristics on the intention to use and promote digital tools for brain health. During the development of a digital tool, it is recommended to consider which target audience would derive the greatest benefit from it and tailor it accordingly.Show less
This current study investigated the relationship between level of pain, expectancies, and avoidance in individuals with chronic low back pain. Research showed that individually expectancies and...Show moreThis current study investigated the relationship between level of pain, expectancies, and avoidance in individuals with chronic low back pain. Research showed that individually expectancies and avoidance behaviour influence pain experience. However, there seems to be little research into the combined influence. Seeing that research also showed that pinpointing a cause for the chronic low back pain is difficult, this study aimed to give insight into interacting factors that influence chronic low back pain. To gather data participants (N=18) filled in a questionnaire five times a day for two weeks. This provided insight into their levels of pain in the morning and the evening, if they expected to experience pain and if they were more likely to avoid movements, they expected to be painful. These statements were answered with answering scales, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 6 (extremely), given how likely that statement was for the participant. A mediation analysis inspecting possible relations between the level of pain and expectancies, the level of pain and avoidance, and the level of pain, expectancies and avoidance yielded no significant relations. Therefore, it could not be concluded that avoidance and/or expectancy are influencing the level of pain in the evening when compared to the level of pain in the morning. There were two significant findings, the impact of level of pain in the morning on expectancies and the impact of expectancies on avoidance. These findings are in line with what was found in existing literature and give incitement for further research on this topic. Another incitement for further research is the small sample used in this current study. The implication for the scientific field therefore is to perform this study on a bigger sample. Another consideration for further research would be to try and use a more diverse sample in both age and gender, this to make a more representative sample to draw conclusions for the general population. This could also lead to more substantial implications for the clinical field since this study did not have significant results.Show less
Itch is a somatosensory stimulus and could potentially alter performance of daily activities. Since itch stimuli will signal potential danger, one might want to protect oneself from potential harm...Show moreItch is a somatosensory stimulus and could potentially alter performance of daily activities. Since itch stimuli will signal potential danger, one might want to protect oneself from potential harm by adapting ones behaviour. Pleading itch stimuli demands ones attention, which can be called the attentional bias (AB). Adapting ones behaviour might influence the effectiveness of treatment, due to not paying attention to the treatment. So far, an AB has been found in healthy individuals, but evidence is mixed. In addition, it is unclear if an AB is present in patients who experience chronic itch. Therefore, this study investigated attentional bias towards itch related visual stimuli in participants who suffer from chronic itch (N=34) compared to healthy controls (N=36). Attentional bias was measured in an online study with two attention tasks, the dot-probe paradigm and the spatial-cuing paradigm using itch-related pictures. During the dot-probe task, patients with chronic itch showed the presence of an AB. Yet, the results acquired from the spatial-cuing task showed the presence of an AB in every participant in disregard of the group they were in. This is not in line with previous research. However, previous research only investigated healthy individuals. Furthermore, all participants reacted faster on invalid trials once an itch cue was presented. One might interpret this as having an attentional avoidance of threat. Yet, also healthy participants seemed to react faster, which perhaps indicates that the itch cue is an overall negative cue regardless of having a past with itch. The discrepancy between the two attention tasks is remarkable, and could perhaps be ascribed to the different processing skills the two tasks ask from the participant. Therefore, future research should focus on the different components of attentional processing. This could eventually optimize current treatment/intervention options.Show less
Limited literature exists on the mental health of older (55+) transgender individuals who have been using long term gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT). Based on studies that found heightened...Show moreLimited literature exists on the mental health of older (55+) transgender individuals who have been using long term gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT). Based on studies that found heightened levels of mental health challenges in the transgender population of all ages and the general older population, this study aimed to compare levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness of older transgender women and men who have been using GHT for at least 10 years, to their cisgender peers. Secondly, this study aimed to investigate the potential impact of various social, self-belief and health (risk) factors on the difference in mental health between the groups. This was a cross-sectional study. Mental health outcomes of 73 transgender women and 39 transgender men (age 56-84) receiving long-term GHT (10-47 years) were compared to 219 cisgender men and 219 cisgender women from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) matched on age and level of education. Linear regression analyses per group on the different mental health outcome measures were performed. Clusters of (risk)factors (i.e. social, self-belief and physical health) were (independently) added to the model. Consistent with expectations, transgender women exhibited significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness compared to both cisgender women and men. Similarly, transgender men displayed significantly higher levels of these mental health challenges compared to cisgender men. Compared to cisgender women, transgender men only showed significantly higher levels of loneliness. For transgender women, clusters of social, self-belief and health factors separately were identified as risk factors compared to cisgender men and all factors together as risk factors compared to both cisgender groups. For transgender men, self-belief factors and all factors together were identified as protective factors when compared to cisgender women and health factors and all factors together as risk factors compared to cisgender men. More (clinical) awareness of the mental health challenges of older transgender people is warranted in order to provide more effective (mental health) care. Further in-depth research on the risk and protective factors of influence on mental health challenges, including the influence of discrimination, minority stressors and social support, is recommended.Show less
Het geluid of beeld van iemand die zich krabt, kan jeuk oproepen bij de observator. Dit fenomeen noemen we besmettelijke jeuk. In andere besmettelijke gedragingen (zoals gapen) komt de rol van...Show moreHet geluid of beeld van iemand die zich krabt, kan jeuk oproepen bij de observator. Dit fenomeen noemen we besmettelijke jeuk. In andere besmettelijke gedragingen (zoals gapen) komt de rol van empathie naar voren. Er is nog niet veel onderzoek gedaan naar de mogelijke invloed van empathie op besmettelijke jeuk. Neurologische studies vinden activatie van hersengebieden tijdens besmettelijke jeuk, welke geassocieerd worden met affectiviteit. Eén eerder onderzoek toont aan dat er geen associatie is tussen empathie en besmettelijke jeuk. In deze scriptie wordt met een regressieanalyse getoetst of mensen met hogere mate van empathie meer jeuk ervaren na het zien van iemand met een huidaandoening, dan mensen met lagere mate van empathie. In het onderzoek werd de participanten een audiovisuele stimulus getoond, waarna een zelfrapportage van intensiteit van opgeroepen jeuk werd ingevuld. Empathie is berekend met de totaalscore van een vragenlijst. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat empathie geen significante voorspeller is van de mate van intensiteit van opgeroepen jeuk bij het zien van een huidaandoening. Echter bevat dit onderzoek wat limitaties zoals de relatief lage gemiddelde empathiescore van de steekproef. Mogelijk biedt verder onderzoek naar de eventuele invloed van empathie op besmettelijke jeuk bij bekenden, en de eventuele invloed van aparte dimensies van empathie, ruimte voor nieuwe inzichten.Show less
In dit onderzoek is de relatie onderzocht tussen het empathisch vermogen en de neiging om te krabben wanneer je iemand hoort praten over jeuk. Er is bewijs gevonden dat het empathisch vermogen is...Show moreIn dit onderzoek is de relatie onderzocht tussen het empathisch vermogen en de neiging om te krabben wanneer je iemand hoort praten over jeuk. Er is bewijs gevonden dat het empathisch vermogen is gerelateerd aan gedragsmatige besmetting. Besmettelijke jeuk is een vorm van gedragsmatige besmetting. Voor de relatie tussen empathie en besmettelijke jeuk is nog geen eenduidig bewijs en moet deze relatie duidelijker in kaart worden gebracht. Het verwachte resultaat was een grotere neiging om te krabben bij een hoger empathisch vermogen. Aan de hand van verschillende video’s is er onderzocht hoeveel neiging om te krabben er werd geïndiceerd. In dit onderzoek werd een video gebruikt waarin een actrice zichtbaar een huidaandoening had en vertelde over haar jeuk. Er zijn verschillende vragenlijsten over voorspellende variabelen ingevuld door de participanten, waaronder de vragenlijst over empathie. De regressieanalyse was niet significant (R2 = .173; F (1,28) = .866; p = .360). In dit onderzoek was er dus geen relatie te vinden tussen het empathisch vermogen en de neiging om te krabben als je iemand hoort praten over jeuk. Dit zou mogelijk kunnen komen doordat besmettelijke jeuk eerder een vorm is van gedragsmatige besmetting en niet van emotionele besmetting. Ook zou empathie eerder een link kunnen hebben met pijn dan met jeuk. Toekomstig onderzoek kan zich richten op de vraag of empathie een grotere rol speelt bij het zien van andermans pijn in vergelijking met het zien van andermans jeuk.Show less
The selective attention towards specific emotional concerns, such as itch- related stimuli, is referred to as attentional bias (AB). The relationship between AB and itch has been scarcely...Show moreThe selective attention towards specific emotional concerns, such as itch- related stimuli, is referred to as attentional bias (AB). The relationship between AB and itch has been scarcely researched, with contradictory findings among healthy individuals. While some studies report no attentional bias for itch in this population, others establish a relationship. In individuals experiencing chronic itch, findings are more harmonious and indicate a relationship between attentional bias and itch. The influence of negative affect on attention towards itch, regarding itch-related symptoms, remains unclear in the scientific field. In light of these gaps, this study aimed to investigate AB towards itch in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) or psoriasis compared to a healthy control group. We also explored the potential influence of catastrophizing thoughts about itch and the degree of experienced itch on AB towards itch. We conducted an online study, utilising a pictorial dot-probe task to measure attentional bias in a total of 70 participants: half were patients suffering from AD or psoriasis, and the other half were healthy controls. Various measures were employed, including a dot-probe task, a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to report the current level of itch, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale Adjusted for Itch (PCS-I). In line with the initial hypothesis, the study did reveal the presence of a significant AB towards itch in the patient group, but an absence of one in the control group. Additionally, we found that a higher degree of catastrophizing thoughts about itch and experienced itch did not predict AB towards itch in either group, which contradicted the initial hypothesis. Implications of this study suggest the need for further exploration into the influence of beliefs, expectancies, and stigmatisation on AB towards itch in patients suffering from AD or psoriasis. Moreover, in addition to physiological treatment, mindfulness cognitive therapy could be effective to target AB in individuals suffering from chronic itch. In conclusion, although the study did not yield all the anticipated results, it contributes valuable information to future research on the topic.Show less
Itch is an unpleasant somatic sensation which acts as a danger signal for threatening stimuli on the skin. Attentional bias is the tendency to prioritize the processing of specific types of stimuli...Show moreItch is an unpleasant somatic sensation which acts as a danger signal for threatening stimuli on the skin. Attentional bias is the tendency to prioritize the processing of specific types of stimuli over others. The mind prioritizes threat-related stimuli over neutral stimuli, therefore an attentional bias towards itch is expected. Neuroticism is an individual characteristic that might influence attentional bias towards itch and could be defined as emotional instability, resulting in the tendency to ruminate, experience negative emotions and fear. Previous studies found mixed results regarding both the presence of attentional bias towards itch, and the relation between neuroticism and attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants. Therefore, the first aim was to examine the presence of attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals. The second aim was to identify the relationship between neuroticism and attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals. The design of this study is a secondary analysis and used the data from seven earlier studies. The 577 included participants were all healthy individuals between 18 and 35 years old. In order to examine the presence of attentional bias towards itch, the dot-probe task with neutral vs. itch-related words and/or pictures was used. Furthermore, the neuroticism subscale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire revised short scale (EPQ-RSS) was used to measure neuroticism. A multilevel analysis showed no attentional bias towards itch-related stimuli in healthy participants, t(4.941)=-1.252, p=0.266. Furthermore, the effect of neuroticism scores was not significant, indicating that higher neuroticism scores were not associated with more attentional bias towards itch, t(382.636)=-0.825, p=0.410. The inclusion of healthy participants only, the low neuroticism scores and the absence of itch-related goals in the current study could be a reason for not finding an attentional bias towards itch and the relation with neuroticism. However, given the fact that this study is a secondary analysis with a large sample size, it also has to be considered that there simply is no attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants. This study could be used as a guideline for future research, in order to further investigate the relationship between neuroticism and attentional bias towards itch.Show less
Itch is an unpleasant sensation serving as a protection against bodily harm. Attentional bias is the tendency to prioritize the processing of certain information over other information. Attentional...Show moreItch is an unpleasant sensation serving as a protection against bodily harm. Attentional bias is the tendency to prioritize the processing of certain information over other information. Attentional bias towards itch is shown, when there is a preference to allocate attention towards itch-related information. Earlier studies which investigated attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants have shown mixed results. This could possibly be explained by individual characteristics, especially catastrophizing about itch is promising, because in the closely related field of pain this seems to be the case. Catastrophizing is an overstated negative interpretation of an experience. Research investigating the relationship between attentional bias towards itch and catastrophizing about itch in healthy participants is limited. Firstly, this study aimed to identify if there was an attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify if there was a positive relationship between catastrophizing about itch and attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants. This study was a secondary analysis, which included seven studies and 577 healthy participants between 18 and 35 years. The studies used the dot-probe task with itch-related words and images to measure attentional bias. Five of the studies used the Pain Catastrophizing Scale adjusted for itch (PCS-I) to measure catastrophizing about itch. The statistical method which was used was a multilevel analysis. The results demonstrated that healthy participants did not show an attentional bias towards itch, t(4.942) = -1.252, p = .266. Furthermore, the results did not provide evidence for a positive relationship between catastrophizing about itch and attentional bias towards itch in healthy participants, t(471.705) = -.540, p = .589. That there was no relation found between attentional bias and itch could be because of the healthy sample. This study probably did not find a positive association between catastrophizing about itch and attentional bias towards itch, because there were only low scores on catastrophizing about itch. Possible implications for future studies are that both participants with high and low scores on catastrophizing about itch should be included and that other methods to measure attentional bias towards itch should be used, like the eye-tracking method.Show less
Itch is an unpleasant sensation that induces scratching and is often accompanied by psychological distress. Chronic itch, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis (eczema), has a lifetime prevalence...Show moreItch is an unpleasant sensation that induces scratching and is often accompanied by psychological distress. Chronic itch, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis (eczema), has a lifetime prevalence of 22% and often carries a marked psychological burden. Catastrophising of itch symptoms can inhibit coping, increase scratching and lower mood, which maintains scratching and creates a vicious cycle. The relationship between sex, gender and chronic itch is not well understood. More broadly, sex and gender differences often go overlooked – this is called the gender data gap. Therefore, the first research question was, to what extent does catastrophising affect the quality of life of patients with chronic itch? The second research question was, to what extent is there a difference in how catastrophising affects the quality of life of men and women with chronic itch? 27 patients with chronic itch (psoriasis or atopic dermatitis) filled in the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) adjusted for itch and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) online. Contrary to expectations, a simple linear regression analysis showed that catastrophising was not a significant predictor of quality of life. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis showed that catastrophising does not affect the quality of life of men and women differently. Importantly, the results are limited by low sample size, lack of control variables and the use of convenience sampling. Further research into the relationship between itch catastrophising, quality of life and gender could greatly impact the lives of patients with chronic itch.Show less
The more the daily functioning of an individual is disturbed, the lower their life satisfaction is expected to be. This paper focused on the question whether higher depression scores predict lower...Show moreThe more the daily functioning of an individual is disturbed, the lower their life satisfaction is expected to be. This paper focused on the question whether higher depression scores predict lower Quality-of-Life (QoL) for patients with chronic itch. Previous research has found a connection between depression and intensity of itch, thus decreasing quality of life. It was expected to find supporting evidence that a higher score on the depression scale would indicate lower quality of life for participants with chronic itch. This online study was conducted remotely, and consisted of five questionnaires and two reaction time tasks. Afterwards, the data for depression (DASS-21) and quality of life (QoL) for the chronic itch group was analyzed. Contrary to expectations, the hypothesis of higher depression predicting lower quality of life, was rejected. Coping strategies, stigma and level of etiology could have impacted the result. This study had several limitations, including lack of participants due to time-frame of data collection, and strict eligibility criteria. Due to limited research on chronic itch, it is still an unsolved mystery where it originates, and what causes and influences its symptoms. Future research should focus on the importance between psychosocial well-being and chronic itch, within more general populations and thus different levels of etiology. Lastly, it is necessary to conduct further investigation in order to find reasons behind the symptoms, solutions for them, and increase overall life quality for patients with chronic itch, despite being clinically or sub clinically depressed.Show less
Billions of people worldwide are affected by skin diseases. Two of the most common skin diseases are atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, which are both illnesses affected by itch. Itch is often seen...Show moreBillions of people worldwide are affected by skin diseases. Two of the most common skin diseases are atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, which are both illnesses affected by itch. Itch is often seen as the most bothersome characteristic since there is no oral anti-itch medication. Itch is also negatively affected by psychological characteristics such as anxiety and catastrophizing. As itch is similar to pain, it was hypothesised that anxiety would increase catastrophizing about itch in patients with chronic itch, the same as it does in patients with chronic pain. To test this hypothesis, 11 patients with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis were recruited. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale were completed. Data was analysed using simple linear regression. There was no effect of anxiety on catastrophizing within the participants, which means that catastrophizing was not predicted by anxiety. This could be due to an unwillingness to participate from patients with more itch, or the need for another moderator influencing anxiety and/or catastrophizing.Show less
Itch is a common unpleasant sensation that comes with the urge to scratch. Itch draws our attention and can be adaptive to humans in order to alert individuals to potential threats. At the same...Show moreItch is a common unpleasant sensation that comes with the urge to scratch. Itch draws our attention and can be adaptive to humans in order to alert individuals to potential threats. At the same time, itch can impair daily functioning and strongly disrupt an individual’s quality of life when it becomes chronic. Even though itch is a prevalent symptom, research investigating an attentional bias towards itch, the tendency to pay attention towards itch-related stimuli over other stimuli, is scarce. Findings in this field are mixed and the divergent results might be explained by individual characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of individual characteristics; namely neuroticism, catastrophizing and anxiety, on attentional bias towards itch by conducting a secondary analysis. Results from seven similar studies examining an attentional bias towards itch and individual characteristics were analyzed using a multilevel modeling analysis. All these studies used the dot-probe task to measure an attentional bias towards itch-related information (words or pictures). Additionally, several self-report questionnaires were administered, which were related to the individual characteristics. A total of 577 healthy participants were included. Results did not indicate an attentional bias towards itch-related words or pictures. Also, the individual characteristics, neuroticism, catastrophizing and anxiety, did not influence one’s attentional bias towards itch. This secondary analysis was a first step in combining findings on attentional bias towards itch and exploring its relationship with individual characteristics. Further research is warranted to optimize attentional bias measures and conduct more studies that focus on the influence of individual characteristics and attentional bias towards itch.Show less
Existing literature indicates that attention, specifically attentional bias, may play an important role in the experience of itch. Attentional bias (AB) is the inclination to prioritize the...Show moreExisting literature indicates that attention, specifically attentional bias, may play an important role in the experience of itch. Attentional bias (AB) is the inclination to prioritize the processing of certain types of stimuli over others. Several studies have indicated an AB towards itch related information, however the evidence remains equivocal. As it has been found that an attentional focus on the location of itch aggravates symptoms, patients with chronic itch may benefit from learning to disengage their attention away from itch. Therefore, it has recently been studied whether AB and itch sensitivity can be altered by means of Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) training. The only ABM-training for itch that has been studied so far was found to be ineffective at changing AB and itch sensitivity. This training was delivered consciously, yet there are indications that preconscious processes can affect itch, which may signify that a preconscious ABM-training might be more effective. This study therefore examined the effect of a preconscious ABM-training on AB towards itch and itch sensitivity in healthy participants. It was hypothesized that AB towards itch and itch sensitivity would decrease in those who received the preconscious ABM-training. This study comprises a 2 (pre- and post-training) x 2 (ABM-training and control-training) within-between-subjects design. Final study data consisted of 73 participants. AB was measured with a pictorial dot-probe task for itch (20 ms), and itch sensitivity was measured with 0 - 10 ratings after cowhage itch induction. A mixed between-within subjects ANOVA was used to test both hypotheses with a Bonferroni-adjusted alpha level of .025. Contrary to expectations, the preconscious ABM-training did not alter AB towards itch (p = 0.518) nor itch sensitivity (p = 0.036). Equivocal findings in the effectiveness of ABM-trainings signify a further need for study. Future studies may benefit from optimizing ABM- training methodology. When preconscious ABM-training for itch would eventually be proven successful, future studies should focus on patients with chronic itch. These patients are generally motivated to reduce their attention and sensitivity to itch and have a higher susceptibility to visual itch cues than healthy participants, which may both positively influence results.Show less
Itch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might...Show moreItch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might be the case for chronic itch. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify the existence of an AB. It was expected that people with chronic itch would have an AB towards itch related visual stimuli and that a higher level of psychological distress could predict a higher level of AB. Finally, it was expected that a higher level of AB would be associated with a more severe impact on quality of life. A sample of five patients with chronic itch, as a result of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, participated in the study. To test the presence of an AB towards itch related visual stimuli, a dot-probe test was performed. Furthermore, the level of psychological distress and quality of life were measured using the DASS-21 and the DLQI, respectively. A paired-samples t-test, multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. The results do not indicate the presence of an AB toward visual itch related stimuli in a population with chronic itch. Furthermore, psychological distress was not a significant predictor for the level of AB. Finally, no significant association was found between the level of AB and quality of life. Future research should examine different stadia of the attentional process towards itch related stimuli. This would help guide the development of interventions for patients with chronic itch.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
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Background: Loneliness is widely experienced by the population and is related to several negative health effects. These effects may be partly due to enhanced activation of the stress response,...Show moreBackground: Loneliness is widely experienced by the population and is related to several negative health effects. These effects may be partly due to enhanced activation of the stress response, despite the lack of frequently occurring stressors in loneliness that are commonly believed to explain stress responses. However, according to a new stress theory (GUTS), the stress response is a default response, which is only turned off when safety cues are present. In loneliness the primary source of social safety is missing, which might explain an increased stress response, which can be measured by looking at the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Purpose: Testing, using meta-analysis, the positive effect of loneliness on the CAR and whether this is moderated by age or duration of loneliness. Methods: Eligible studies were sought using a keyword profile in Web of Science. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to study the relationship between loneliness and the CAR, meta-regression analyses were performed to study the effect of possible moderators. Results: Six studies (n = 1,396) were included in the meta-analysis. No significant positive relationship between loneliness and the CAR was found. Also, no moderating effect of age on the relationship was found. The moderating effect of duration of loneliness could not be studied due to missing information. The results suggested a negative relationship between loneliness and the CAR. Conclusion: Although the hypotheses were not confirmed, several important implications for future research are given, such as the need to incorporate duration of loneliness and conformation to general guidelines in assessing the CAR. Further research is needed to draw definite conclusions about the relation between loneliness and the CAR and about what it means for the GUTS.Show less
