http://hdl.handle.net/1893/122 Electronic copies of Psychology journal articles. 2026-10-19T01:48:26Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38393 Title: Menstrual health literacy- A crucial yet unclear concept Author(s): Ní Chéileachair, Fodhla; Durand, Hannah; Caes, Line Abstract: Menstrual health literacy (or menstrual literacy) is widely argued to contribute to menstrual health outcomes and self-management of symptoms. From menarche to menopause, facets of health literacy are considered insufficient, leaving many individuals without key knowledge and skills to manage their health in the context of widespread menstrual stigma. Despite a high frequency of studies calling for global improvements to menstrual health literacy rates, there is no consensus on what this term “means” in research or practice. This commentary outlines key differences across current definitions of menstrual health literacy, with reference to an existing framework of health literacy, and raises questions on how best to structure a universal definition to meet needs from menarche and beyond. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38389 Title: A four component model for the social perception of first names. Author(s): Lee, Anthony; Lis, Odette; Panagiotakou, Sofia Abstract: First (given) names are subject to stereotypes and can be a source of bias when making many important decisions. However, previous research on name bias is fragmented and informed by disjointed theories. Here, we investigate the underlying structure of name biases to provide a unifying theory of the social perception of names. Across two samples collected in separate European countries (UK and Germany; N = 1083 and 972 respectively), male and female names were rated on multiple social traits, with mean trait ratings for each name then being entered into a Principal Components Analysis. In both samples, and for both male and female names, the same four component structure was found: these included components corresponding with valence/competence, dominance/warmth, youth/attractiveness, and familiarity. We propose that this four component model could provide an overarching theoretical framework that could help unite research on name bias and generate new testable hypotheses. 2026-07-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38383 Title: A participatory study of information and presentation priorities for a digital interface for bowel self-management Author(s): Taylor, Andrea; Iyawa, Gloria; Maltinsky, Wendy; Henton, Sally; Lake, Dylan; Medina-Lombardero, Sara; Casson, Alex; Crichton, Michael Abstract: Background Difficulty controlling or emptying the bowel is a common issue with devastating physical and mental health impacts. Digital technologies supporting bowel self-management remain limited. We are exploring a system combining an implanted sensor with a digital interface to support bowel self-management. This paper reports on the digital interface. Objectives To identify the information most valuable to adults living with bowel problems and the best ways to present it on the digital interface, informed by lived experience; secondarily, to gather their views on the sensor and implantation methods. Methods A participatory design approach was employed. Thirteen adults with IBD/IBS attended design sessions; five more with IBD/IBS and eight with other bowel problems attended evaluation sessions. Participants were primarily UK-based, female, and White. Design sessions explored interface priorities and lived experiences; evaluation sessions assessed usability and utility. Views on the sensor were gathered across both phases. Data were analysed using qualitative methods. Results Five themes were identified: balancing discretion, clarity, and stigma in presentation; balancing benefit and burden; encouraging engagement without exacerbating anxiety; supporting the move from data to information to knowledge; and supporting clinical communication and confidence. Ninety-two percent of participants were positive towards sensor implantation. Conclusions This study addresses a gap in the literature on digital interfaces for bowel self-management in combination with implantable sensors. It highlights faecal incontinence as a key patient concern, identifies priorities for information and presentation, and informs future sensor development. The work may have some limited applicability to other implantable/wearable sensors with digital interfaces. 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38379 Title: Cross-cultural variation in eye contact comfort Author(s): Sorokowska, Agnieszka; Rokosz, Marta; Kowal, Marta; Misiak, Michał; Malecki, Wojciech P; Sorokowski, Piotr; Roberts, Craig Abstract: Eye contact is one of fundamental components of nonverbal communication, yet affective evaluations of direct gaze are complex and highly context-dependent. Cultural background appears to play a crucial role in shaping the interpretation and social function of gaze behaviors, likely leading to significant cross-cultural variation in preferences for eye contact. However, cross-cultural empirical research on eye contact comfort remains limited. The present study addresses this gap using a large and diverse sample of 10,387 participants (aged 18–73) from 51 study sites, who reported their comfort with direct eye contact when interacting with strangers, acquaintances, and close others. In line with expectations, individuals report feeling most comfortable making eye contact with close others, followed by acquaintances, and finally strangers. Beyond geosocial factors such as socioeconomic status, Human Development Index, and climate, our analyses identify collectivism and gender equality as important predictors of eye contact comfort. These findings suggest that cultural variation in gaze behavior is more multifaceted than commonly assumed and cannot be reduced to simple regional dichotomies. Although the present study is exploratory and based on self-reported assessments of eye contact comfort, it provides one of the first large-scale cross-cultural examinations of this construct and generates novel, testable hypotheses regarding the cultural and socioecological foundations of gaze behavior. Overall, the findings highlight the need to consider both individual-level and contextual variables when examining nonverbal communication across societies and provides a unique, large-scale dataset documenting global variation in eye contact comfort. 2026-09-23T00:00:00Z