This research set out to determine factors associated with text bullying. It examined the relationship between personality traits and the level of hostility expressed by students in reaction to sample text messages. One hundred and ninety eight girls aged 13 and 14 in Canada and New Zealand volunteered to complete a questionnaire consisting of four personality measures - the impulsivity subscale of the PRF-E, cynical distrust scale (revised), needs for power scale (revised), and the rejection sensitivity scale (adult, short). The survey also rated their proposed likely response to eight sample text messages that covered four themes and to two levels of intensity. Results using Pearson’s r correlation of .01 demonstrated a significant relationship between hostility and impulsivity. There was no significant difference in either the results of the personality measures or their level of hostility between the results of the Canadian and New Zealand participants. How these findings contribute to the current theoretical knowledge of adolescent bullying and the practical application of these findings for schools are also discussed.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Mobile telephones are impacting societies around the world and text messaging, short type-written messages sent via mobile phones, has also garnered international research efforts. Research demonstrates that text messages are being used primarily to commence, advance, maintain or otherwise impact interpersonal relationships. The present study probes relational benefits of text messaging within familial and fraternal contexts. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the research question: How does text messaging impact feelings of “connectedness” (IJsselsteijn, van Baren & van Lanen, 2003, p. 928) within “strong-tie” (Howard, et. al., 2006), dyadic relationships? Findings from nineteen respondent interviews show that texting becomes a channel through which dialectical tensions in relationships are played out. Respondents use texting to both assert autonomy and to maintain connectedness with relational partners. Several participants noted that financial issues were an important consideration but nevertheless subscribed to texting services. Users also perceived texting as more constant and more private than mobile voice interaction. Romantic pairs vis-à-vis non-romantic dyads perceived the benefits of text messages differently.

Type 2 diabetes is a life-threatening condition, and it is rapidly growing in the world. If patients receive adequate education and support, they can manage their diabetes-related tasks effectively and reduce the severe complications of this disease. However, traditional self-management education and practices were not very effective in stimulating behaviour change and addressing patients’ diversified needs and expectations. Mobile text messaging is a promising method for type 2 diabetes self-management as it can provide continuous and customized support to these patients. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the optimal approach to designing and delivering mobile text messages. Hence, this dissertation aimed to define effective message strategies for mobile text messaging interventions targeting type 2 diabetes self-management. This manuscript-based dissertation consists of three complementary studies. The first manuscript includes a systematic review and a meta-analysis of tailored mobile text messaging interventions on type 2 diabetes self-management. It examines the tailoring strategies, message content, and structure and identifies the moderators of effectiveness in these interventions. The second manuscript includes a systematic review and a meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence on patients’ experiences and perspectives of mobile text messaging studies. The third manuscript consists of a prospective qualitative study to explore the text messaging design and delivery preferences of patients. In the first and second studies, the comprehensive search strategy included major electronic databases, key journal searches, and hand searches of the reference lists of related systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Cochrane Collaboration's guidelines and recommended tools were used for data extraction, risk of bias and critical appraisal assessments, data analysis and reporting. Within a social marketing framework, the third study included semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis of the main findings. In the first manuscript, 13 eligible trials were included for the systematic review and 11 eligible trials were further analyzed in the meta-analysis. This study concluded that tailored mobile text messaging interventions could improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The subgroup analyses revealed the importance of some moderators such as message delivery, message direction, message frequency, and using multi-modalities. In the second manuscript, the systematic review included 14 eligible studies, and the thematic synthesis included 13 eligible studies. Patients emphasized the importance of tailored text message design and delivery. They felt “supported” by using text messaging and improved their communication with family/friends and care providers. Mobile text messaging increased patients’ self-awareness, knowledge and control of diabetes. The third study explored that mobile text messages could be more effective if they are gain-framed and written in a standard format. Patients favoured the text messages that included simple and direct tone and provided statistical evidence. The findings demonstrated patients’ needs and expectations for advanced tailoring strategies in both message content and delivery. Together, the manuscripts fill a significant gap and inform research and practice for the development of more effective message strategies that could lead to reducing the spread of type 2 diabetes worldwide. / Graduate / 2022-05-12

Background and Objectives: HIV in a major public health problem in many countries of the world. Recent advances in care for people living with HIV such as the use of antiretroviral medication have reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV infection. However, many people receiving antiretroviral therapy do not take it as prescribed and still experience sub-optimal health outcomes. Mobile phone text messaging is emerging as an important tool in health care, and HIV in particular. Our objectives were to explore the determining factors for adherence to antiretroviral therapy, test text messaging as an adherence enhancement tool, develop a framework for community ownership of a text messaging program and describe strategies for transfer of evidence in HIV to other conditions. Methods: This research is primarily based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and employs a variety of methodologies, including a systematic review, two cross- sectional surveys, a randomized controlled trial, an individual patient data meta-analysis, a mixed methods study and a systematic review of systematic reviews. Results and Conclusions: Two-way weekly text messaging is an effective strategy in improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy and enhancing provider-client communication. People living with HIV in Yaoundé, Cameroon like receiving text messages, and are willing to own and run a text messaging program. Text messaging interventions may be transferred to other conditions by integrating services or by copying what works in HIV. Further research on potential harms, cost effectiveness and text messaging for other chronic conditions is warranted. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

An online survey exploring the patterns of adult text-message use was completed by 150 traditional college age young adults ages 18-24 and 171 adults ages 25-68. Because youth traditionally are among the first group to adopt new communication technologies, much research has been conducted among the adolescent and young adult population regarding the prevalence and importance of text-messaging; however, a research deficit exists regarding adult textmessage use. Data gathered from this survey were categorized and analyzed for emergent content regarding the use of text-messaging, what roll texting plays in adult's communication patterns, the sociological impact of text-messaging on survey respondents, and to examine the prevalence of this technology in adults' lives.

No description available.

M. Tech. Language Practice / Mobile technology has advanced to a point whereby mobile phones are no longer devices anyone can live without. Text messaging has become so popular that now there are more text messages sent by mobile phones than calls made on mobile phones. This study set out to investigate the possible effects of text messaging language on the written school work (learners' ability to properly compose and formulate) of grade 11 English first additional language learners (EFAL) at a public high school in Soshanguve, Pretoria. To this end, the two objectives of the study were to: identify if there were any instances or uses of text messaging in the written school work of grade 11 English first additional language learners at a public school in Pretoria; and establish the possible effects (positive or negative) of text messaging on grade 11 English first additional language learners' written school work.

To date, hundreds of millions of mini-QWERTY keyboard equipped devices (miniaturized versions of a full desktop keyboard) have been sold. Accordingly, a large percentage of text messages originate from fixed-key, mini-QWERTY keyboard enabled mobile phones. Over a series of three longitudinal studies I quantify how quickly and accurately individuals can input text on mini-QWERTY keyboards. I evaluate performance in ideal laboratory conditions as well as in a variety of mobile contexts. My first study establishes baseline performance measures; my second study investigates the impact of limited visibility on text input performance; and my third study investigates the impact of mobility (sitting, standing, and walking) on text input performance. After approximately five hours of practice, participants achieved expertise typing almost 60 words per minute at almost 95% accuracy. Upon completion of these studies, I examine the types of errors that people make when typing on mini-QWERTY keyboards. Having discovered a common pattern in errors, I develop and refine an algorithm to automatically detect and correct errors in mini-QWERTY keyboard enabled text input. I both validate the algorithm through the analysis of pre-recorded typing data and then empirically evaluate the impacts of automatic error correction on live mini-QWERTY keyboard text input. Validating the algorithm over various datasets, I demonstrate the potential to correct approximately 25% of the total errors and correct up to 3% of the total keystrokes. Evaluating automatic error detection and correction on live typing results in successfully correcting 61% of the targeted errors committed by participants while increasing typing rates by almost two words per minute without introducing noticeable distraction.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-05-25 / Objetivo: Avaliar se o envio automático de mensagens de celular do tipo SMS aumenta a adesão ao tratamento com drogas antiretrovirais. Métodos: O sistema web HIVAS foi projetado segundo os preceitos do modelo cascata de engenharia de software. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos: Experimento 1, um ensaio clínico controlado e aleatorizado com mulheres que vivem com HIV/AIDS para avaliar o efeito das SMS na adesão ao tratamento antiretroviral; Experimento 2, um estudo transversal com os dados extraídos de dois prontuários eletrônicos de 4 clínicas médicas paulistanas para avaliar o efeito das SMS na ausência a consultas agendadas. No Experimento 1 a adesão do grupo de participantes alocados para receber SMS, denominado intervenção (n=8), e do grupo de participantes alocados para não receber SMS, denominado controle (n=13) foi medida durante 4 meses pelos métodos de auto-relato de adesão, contagem de pílulas e monitoramento micro-eletrônico (MEMS). No Experimento 2 foram comparadas a incidência de ausência a consultas quando houve envio de lembrete SMS, denominado intervenção (n=7.890), com a incidência de ausências a consultas quando não houve envio de lembrete, denominado controle (n=21.124). Resultados: O sistema web HIVAS foi desenvolvido em 7 meses, entre 2008 e 2009, de acordo com o planejado. No Experimento 1, considerando o período completo de quatro meses, a quantidade e o percentual de participantes dos grupos controle e intervenção que conseguiram manter adesão ao tratamento antiretroviral superior a 95%, foram respectivamente: 11 (84,62%) e 8 (100,00%) para o método de adesão auto-relatada; 5 (38,46%) e 4 (50,00%) para o método da contagem de pílulas; e 6 (46,15%) e 6 (75,00%) para o monitoramento micro-eletrônico. No Experimento 2, em média o percentual de ausência a consultas agendadas que não tiveram envio prévio de SMS foi de 25,57%, enquanto que o percentual de ausência a consultas que tiveram envio de lembrete SMS foi de 19,42%. Conclusão: As mensagens SMS demonstraram potencial em colaborar na adesão do paciente ao tratamento. As mulheres brasileiras que vivem com HIV/AIDS que receberam as SMS relataram que as mensagens são lembretes, incentivos, um olhar preocupado, um carinho de uma clínica de saúde para com elas, uma população ainda marginalizada. Além disso, foi observada uma redução estatisticamente significante na ausência a consultas devido às mensagens SMS. O desenvolvimento do HIVAS foi a etapa conduzida com menor dificuldade no projeto, reforçando a viabilidade da incorporação de SMS para auxiliar na prática clínica. Palavras-chave: Adesão, cooperação do paciente, falta a consultas, HIV, síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida, telefone celular, mensagem de texto, SMS. / Objective: To assess if SMS automatic sending increases the adherence antiretroviral drug-based treatment regimens. Methods: The web system HIVAS was projected according to software engineering cascade model. It was conducted two experiments: Experiment 1, a randomized controlled trial with woman living with HIV/AIDS to assess the effects of SMS on adherence to antiretroviral therapy; Experiment 2, a transversal study with data extracted from two electronic health recorders of 4 outpatient clinics to assess the effects of SMS on non-attendance rates. On Experiment 1 adherence of participants allocated to receive SMS, called intervention (n=8), and to not receive SMS, labeled control (n=13), was measured during 4 months by self-reported adherence, pill counting, and microelectronic monitoring (MEMS). On Experiment 2, the incidence of non-attendance when a SMS reminder was sent to the appointment, labeled intervention (n=7,890), was compared to the incidence of non-attendance when no SMS reminder was sent, labeled control (n=21,124). Results: The HIV Alert System (HIVAS) was developed over 7 months during 2008 and 2009. On Experiment 1, during the 4-month study period, the number and percentage of participants from both control and intervention groups that achieved adherence levels to antiretroviral therapy exceeding 95%, were respectively: 11 (84.62%) and 8 (100.00%) to self-reported adherence method; 5 (38.46%) and 4 (50.00%) to pill counting method; and 6 (46.15%) and 6 (75.00%) to micro-electronic monitoring. On Experiment 2, the average non-attendance rate to appointments without previous SMS was 25.57%, while average non-attendance rate to appointments with previous SMS was 19.42%. Conclusion: SMS messaging has demonstrated potential in helping patient adherence to therapy. Brazilian women living with HIV/AIDS who received SMS stated that the messages were reminders, incentives and signs of affection by the health clinic for their, a marginalized population. Beside this, it was observed a statistically significant reduction on the incidence of non-attendance due to SMS messages. The development of HIVAS was the less difficulty phase in the project, emphasizing the feasibility of SMS incorporation to help clinical practice. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Using a modified still-face procedure the present study explores 3-6-month-old infants' behavioral and physiological responses to mothers' screen distractions during mother-infant interactions. In the modified phone still-face procedure the neutral face of the traditional still face procedure was replaced with mothers' texting on their mobile phones. Infants' cortisol stress responses to mothers' device use were assessed through the collection of 3 infant saliva samples. Infants' behavioral responses including facial expressions, vocalizations, gaze and self-comforting behaviors were also explored. All mother-infant interactions were videoed recorded and coded for analysis. Thirty-four mother-infant dyads participated, average ages for mothers was 29 years and 4.4 months for infants. As predicted, infants demonstrated the changes in affect associated with the still-face effect, with significant differences in positive and negative affect during the play phases and the phone still face phase. As a whole, infants did not respond with increased cortisol responses, however, when individual differences were explored 47% responded with increased stress during mothers' phone distractions. Mother's frequency and attitudes towards device use were also assessed but were unrelated to infant responses. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.