Browsing by Author "Donkin L"

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    Behavioral Posology: A Novel Paradigm for Modeling the Healthy Limits of Behaviors
    (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2023-09-01) Henry N; Pedersen M; Williams M; Donkin L
    One of the challenges faced by behavioral scientists is the lack of modeling methodologies for accurately determining when a behavior becomes problematic. The authors propose “behavioral posology” as a novel modeling paradigm for quantifying the healthy limits of behaviors through the concept of behavioral dose. As an example of this paradigm, a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model of a hypothetical digital behavior is presented, based on opponent process theory. The generic model can be adapted to simulate Solomon and Corbit's model of affective dynamics from 1974, and the model predicts features of addiction such as hedonic allostasis, withdrawal, and apparent tolerance. A behavioral frequency response analysis (BFRA) of the model demonstrates how behavior repetition may result in a hormetic dose–response relationship that depends on the frequency of the behavior. The model can be experimentally validated using Ecological Momentary Assessment, allowing researchers to hypothesize, model, and test causal mechanisms for behavioral addictions. The potential for behavioral posology to be applied as a clinical support tool in psychological medicine is discussed, as this modeling framework may help to detect and limit behaviors being performed too frequently based on factors such as the person's moral beliefs.
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    Inequities in adolescent sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand: Cross-sectional survey findings.
    (Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of National Sleep Foundation, 2024-06-22) Muller D; Signal TL; Shanthakumar M; Fleming T; Clark TC; Crengle S; Donkin L; Paine S-J
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate ethnic inequities in, and social determinants of, adolescent sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS: Analysis of self-report data from a cross-sectional survey of secondary school students (12- to 18-year-olds). Analyses included weighted prevalence estimates of good and poor sleep health stratified by ethnicity, and multivariable logistic regression models concurrently adjusted for ethnicity, school year, gender, rurality, neighborhood deprivation, school decile, housing deprivation, sleeping elsewhere due to lack of adequate housing, unsafe environment, and racism. RESULTS: Inequities in social determinants of health were evident for Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand; n = 1528) and minoritized (Pacific n = 1204; Asian n = 1927; Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African [MELAA] n = 210; and 'Other' ethnicity n = 225) adolescents. A greater proportion of Māori, Pacific, Asian, MELAA, and 'Other' adolescents had short sleep, compared to European (n = 3070). Māori, Pacific, Asian, and MELAA adolescents were more likely to report late bedtimes (after midnight), and Māori, Pacific, and 'Other' adolescents were more likely to report early waketimes (5 AM-6 AM or earlier), on school days. Rurality, neighborhood deprivation, school-level deprivation, housing deprivation, sleeping elsewhere due to inadequate housing, unsafe environments, and racism partially, but not fully, explained associations between ethnicity and short sleep, late bedtimes, and early waketimes. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic inequities exist in adolescent sleep health in Aotearoa New Zealand. Socio-political actions are needed to address racism and colonialism as root causes of ethnic inequities in adolescent sleep, to ensure all young people are afforded the basic human right of good sleep health and associated mental and physical well-being.
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    mHealth Technologies for Managing Problematic Pornography Use: Content Analysis.
    (JMIR Publications, 2022-10-13) Henry N; Donkin L; Williams M; Pedersen M
    Background: Several mobile apps are currently available that purportedly help with managing pornography addiction. However, the utility of these apps is unclear, given the lack of literature on the effectiveness of mobile health solutions for problematic pornography use. Little is also known about the content, structure, and features of these apps. Objective: This study aims to characterize the purpose, content, and popularity of mobile apps that claim to manage pornography addiction. Methods: The phrase “pornography addiction” was entered as a search term in the app stores of the two major mobile phone platforms (Android and iOS). App features were categorized according to a coding scheme that contained 16 categories. Apps were included in the analysis if they were described as helpful for reducing pornography use, and data were extracted from the store descriptions of the apps. Metrics such as number of user ratings, mean rating score, and number of installations were analyzed on a per-feature basis. Results: In total, 170 apps from both app stores met the inclusion criteria. The five most common and popular features, both in terms of number of apps with each feature and minimum possible number of installations, were the ability to track the time since last relapse (apps with feature=72/170, 42.4%; minimum possible number of installations=6,388,000), tutorials and coaching (apps with feature=63/170, 37.1%; minimum possible number of installations=9,286,505), access to accountability partners or communities (apps with feature=51/170, 30%; minimum possible number of installations=5,544,500), content blocking or content monitoring (apps with feature=46/170, 27.1%; minimum possible number of installations=17,883,000), and a reward system for progress (apps with feature=34/170, 20%; minimum possible number of installations=4,425,300). Of these features, content-blocking apps had the highest minimum possible number of installations. Content blocking was also the most detected feature combination in a combinatorial analysis (with 28 apps having only this feature), but it also had the lowest mean consumer satisfaction rating (4.04) and second-lowest median rating (4.00) out of 5 stars. None of the apps reviewed contained references to literature that provided direct evidence for the app’s efficacy or safety. Conclusions: There are several apps with the potential to provide low- or zero-cost real-time interventions for people struggling to manage problematic pornography use. Popular app features include blockers of pornographic content, behavior monitoring, and tutorials that instruct users how to eliminate pornography use. However, there is currently no empirical evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of these apps. Further research is required to be able to provide recommendations about which apps (and app features) are safe for public consumption.