Joanna Mazur

Cel: Celem badania było opracowanie krótkiej, kulturowo dostosowanej skali University Social Climate Quality Scale (USCQS), służącej do pomiaru klimatu społecznego uczelni z perspektywy studentów, oraz ocena jej podstawowych właściwości psychometrycznych. Utworzenie narzędzia miało umożliwić szybki, rzetelny i praktyczny pomiar instytucjonalnych czynników mogących oddziaływać na dobrostan studentów uczelni wyższych w Polsce. Metoda: Badanie pilotażowe przeprowadzono w formie ankiety internetowej (CAWI) wśród 500 studentów, pozyskanych metodą kuli śnieżnej. Ocenie podlegało początkowo 14 pozycji skali, sformułowanych na podstawie przeglądu literatury. W ramach oceny właściwości psychometrycznych skali przeanalizowano rozkłady poszczególnych itemów, spójność wewnętrzną (alfa Cronbacha), korelacje między pozycjami, strukturę czynnikową (PCA) wraz z oceną adekwatności danych (test Bartletta, wskaźnik KMO). Na tej podstawie wyłoniono wersję skróconą skali, obejmującą 7 pozycji, której własności również przetestowano. Wyniki: Wersja 7-pozycyjna charakteryzowała się wysoką rzetelnością (α = 0,90) i bardziej wyrównanymi korelacjami między pozycjami (r = 0,46–0,67) niż wersja 14-pozycyjna. Analiza PCA potwierdziła jednowymiarową strukturę zarówno pełnej, jak i skróconej wersji skali, z jednym dominującym komponentem wyjaśniającym odpowiednio 55,83% i 61,78% wariancji. Statystyki opisowe wskazały na umiarkowane efekty podłogi i sufitu, przy zbliżonym do normalnego rozkładzie wyników sumarycznych. Konkluzja: Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że USCQS w wersji 7-pozycyjnej jest narzędziem krótkim, rzetelnym i trafnym, odpowiednim do stosowania w badaniach populacyjnych w ramach wielowątkowych kwestionariuszy jako narzędzie do pomiaru klimatu społecznego uczelni. Ponadto skala może wspierać identyfikację instytucjonalnych czynników ryzyka rezygnacji ze studiów oraz projektowanie działań interwencyjnych w środowisku akademickim.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a short, culturally adapted version of the University Social Climate Quality Scale (USCQS) to measure the university social climate as perceived by students, and to evaluate its basic psychometric properties. The tool was developed to enable a quick, reliable, and practical assessment of institutional factors that may affect the well-being of college students in Poland. Method: The pilot study was conducted as an online survey (CAWI) among 500 students recruited using the snowball sampling method. Initially, 14 scale items, developed based on a literature review, were evaluated. As part of the assessment of the scale’s psychometric properties, the distributions of individual items, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), correlations between items, and factor structure (PCA) were analysed, along with an assessment of sampling adequacy and sphericity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index and Bartlett’s test, respectively). Based on this, a shortened version of the scale containing 7 items was developed, and its properties were also tested. Results: The 7-item version demonstrated high reliability (α = .90) and more consistent correlations between items (r = .46–.67) than the 14-item version. PCA analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure for both the full and shortened versions of the scale, with a single dominant component explaining 55.83% and 61.78% of the variance, respectively. Descriptive statistics indicated moderate floor and ceiling effects, with a distribution of total scores that was close to normal. Conclusion: The results indicate that the 7-item version of the USCQS is a brief, reliable, and valid tool, suitable for use in population-based studies as part of multi-item questionnaires to measure the social climate of universities. Furthermore, the scale can support the identification of institutional risk factors for dropping out of college and the development of intervention strategies in the academic environment.

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted by families with young children, yet their potential effects on bone development and metabolic regulation during early childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, and adipokine profiles in healthy children aged 5–6 years adhering to lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a well-characterized cohort of 90 healthy normal-weight children consuming either lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating markers of bone formation, resorption, and adipokines were determined using ELISA methods. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between anthropometric variables, bone parameters, and adipokines. Results: No significant differences were observed between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in anthropometric characteristics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD, indicating comparable skeletal status. However, vegetarian children exhibited significantly higher levels of bone turnover markers, including bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) (p = 0.023) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (p = 0.035), and a lower osteocalcin OC/CTX-I ratio (p = 0.027). These findings may suggest a subtle imbalance in bone remodeling dynamics in these children, although their clinical significance remains uncertain. Additionally, higher levels of carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) (p = 0.022) and an increased carboxylated to undercarboxylated OC (Gla-OC/Glu-OC) ratio (p = 0.005) were observed in vegetarian children. Among adipokines, vegetarian children showed lower HMW adiponectin levels (p = 0.05) and a lower HMW/total adiponectin ratio (p = 0.012). Correlation analyses revealed distinct metabolic patterns between groups. In vegetarian children, bone parameters were primarily associated with lean mass, indicating the predominant role of mechanical factors in skeletal development. In contrast, omnivorous children demonstrated a more integrated relationship between bone indices and adipokines. Conclusions: In conclusion, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian balanced diet supports normal bone mass in early childhood, it may be associated with subtle alterations in bone metabolism and its regulatory pathways, including adipokine profiles. These findings highlight the importance of adequate dietary planning and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term effects on bone status.

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted by families with young children, yet their potential effects on bone development and metabolic regulation during early childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, and adipokine profiles in healthy children aged 5–6 years adhering to lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a well-characterized cohort of 90 healthy normal-weight children consuming either lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating markers of bone formation, resorption, and adipokines were determined using ELISA methods. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between anthropometric variables, bone parameters, and adipokines. Results: No significant differences were observed between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in anthropometric characteristics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD, indicating comparable skeletal status. However, vegetarian children exhibited significantly higher levels of bone turnover markers, including bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) (p = 0.023) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (p = 0.035), and a lower osteocalcin OC/CTX-I ratio (p = 0.027), suggesting increased bone remodeling activity with a relative shift toward resorption. Additionally, higher levels of carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) (p = 0.022) and an increased carboxylated to undercarboxylated OC (Gla-OC/Glu-OC) ratio (p = 0.005) were noted, potentially reflecting greater vitamin K availability. Among adipokines, vegetarian children showed lower HMW adiponectin levels (p = 0.05) and HMW/total adiponectin ratio (p = 0.012). Correlation analyses revealed distinct metabolic patterns between groups. In vegetarian children, bone parameters were primarily associated with lean mass, indicating the predominant role of mechanical factors in skeletal development. In contrast, omnivorous children demonstrated a more integrated relationship between bone indices and adipokines. Conclusions: In conclusion, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian balanced diet supports normal bone mass in early childhood, it may be associated with subtle alterations in bone metabolism and its regulatory pathways, including adipokine profile. These findings highlight the importance of adequate dietary planning and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term effects on bone status.

Background/Objectives: Digital media play an important role in the lives of contemporary adolescents. While associated with many benefits, they also pose risks to physical health related to prolonged screen time and non-ergonomic body posture. This study analyzed the frequency of self-reported physical complaints among Polish adolescents in relation to time spent on different screen-based activities. Methods: The study included 9083 students aged 13–17 who completed an online survey in March and April 2024 in schools located in western Poland (approximately 30% of the region’s student population). Physical symptoms selected from the HBSC-SCL instrument were analyzed and supplemented with neck or shoulder pain and eye strain. Results: Longer screen time was associated with more frequent occurrence of all analyzed complaints. A 5-item index ranging from 0 to 20 points was proposed, including headache, neck or shoulder pain, eye strain, dizziness, and problems falling asleep (mean 6.56 ± 5.15). The index showed reliability at the level of α = 0.744 and good model fit according to CFA (RMSEA = 0.025). In a multivariate linear regression model (R² = 0.153), after adjusting for age, gender, place of residence, and family affluence, the variability of this index was most strongly associated with time spent on social media (β = 0.40) and browsing websites (β = 0.30). Gender-specific models were also compared. Conclusions: The results confirm the co-occurrence of physical complaints during adolescence and a significant association between their severity and screen-based activities, particularly engagement in social media.

Background: Condom use effectively prevents sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, and reduces psychological distress associated with concerns about the consequences of sexual activity. Objective: The present study aimed to develop and conduct an initial psychometric evaluation of the Condom Sabotage Victimisation Scale (CSVS-5), a measure designed to capture non-consensual and coercive experiences in which individuals are persuaded or forced to engage in sexual intercourse without condom use. Material and methods: We developed an eight-item preliminary scale based on a literature review of condom use resistance (CUR) tactics. Data were collected in Poland in May 2025 as part of the POLARES project. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Of 1,265 respondents, 767 adults who had been sexually active in the past 12 months met the inclusion criteria. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on a test subsample, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a verification subsample. Results: Analyses supported a single-factor model of the CSVS-5, comprising five items with statistically significant standardised regression weights (p < 0.001; CFA loadings 0.598-0.962). The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.900). The total score ranges from 0 to 15, with higher values indicating greater victimisation. The mean score for the total sample was 0.45 (SD = 1.86), with means of 0.38 (SD = 1.79) for women and 0.61 (SD = 1.99) for men (p = 0.003). Gender differences unfavourable to women were observed among individuals not in a stable relationship. Conclusions: The Condom Sabotage Victimisation Scale (CSVS-5) is a five-item instrument with robust psychometric properties. Its brevity renders it particularly suitable for use in multifaceted observational epidemiological studies, as well as in intervention research focused on STI/HIV prevention and sexual violence.

Obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities and therefore requires a multidisciplinary approach. Particular attention is given to the role of visceral adiposity and its impact on quality of life. Childhood obesity, in particular, is a major global public health challenge with physical, psychological, and social consequences extending into adulthood. Within the framework of personalized medicine, assessing physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) offers valuable insight for defining individualized therapeutic goals. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and HRQoL in children with simple obesity and to highlight the potential value of personalized approaches in pediatric obesity management. Methods: This study included 123 patients aged 8–16 years with simple obesity who were hospitalized at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw. Obesity was diagnosed according to CDC growth charts (OLAF study). Physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT test battery (8 trials), and HRQoL was measured with the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire (10 domains). Results: The overall EUROFIT test performance in the study group was significantly lower compared with population norms (p < 0.001). Similarly, HRQoL scores reported by both children and their parents were significantly below reference values (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Reduced physical fitness is strongly associated with impaired quality of life in children with obesity. Personalized interventions aimed at improving motor performance may represent an effective strategy in the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity.

Objectives: This study analyses screen-use profiles among Polish adolescents and their relationship to body image and weight reduction behavior. The authors aimed to identify different screen-use profiles, determine the prevalence of these profiles in the population, and explore the...

Introduction: This study investigates the association between body weight, self-rated health, and physical attractiveness with sexual life evaluation in Polish healthcare workers.Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and April 2022 among 1,478 healthcare workers from 99 Polish hospitals and specialized clinics. A total of 27.5% of the respondents were physicians. Data were collected using an online and paper-based questionnaire assessing Body Mass Index (BMI), self-rated health, physical attractiveness, stress, sleep, and sexual life evaluation. Statistical analysis included hierarchical linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify direct and indirect relationships.Results: The data indicates that 54.7% of subjects had a body mass index (BMI) indicating excessive weight. Of these, 17.8% had a BMI that indicated obesity. BMI, health assessment, and physical attractiveness significantly influenced sexual life evaluation. Regression models demonstrated that impaired body image and health perception were the strongest predictors of lower sexual life evaluation (R² = 0.365, p<0.001). SEM analysis revealed BMI’s indirect impact on sexual functioning, primarily mediated through attractiveness and health rating (-0.345, -0.238; p<0.001).Conclusions: Our findings highlight the complex links between body weight, self-perception, and sexual functioning. Self-rated health and physical attractiveness emerged as critical mediators, underscoring the need for targeted interventions addressing body image and health perceptions to improve sexual well-being in populations at risk of excess body weight.