Magdalena Liberacka-Dwojak

Background: Digital technologies increasingly impact daily life. Digital wellbeing is emerging as a multidimensional construct encompassing emotional regulation, autonomy, social connection, and respectful online interactions. Objective: This study aimed to validate the English version of the 13-item Digital Wellbeing Questionnaire (DWBQ) in young adults. Methods: Data were collected via quota sampling on Prolific, an online crowdsourcing platform. The final sample comprised 1,853 young adults (US n = 933, UK n = 920), including 892 women, 871 men, and 90 non-binary participants., aged 18–25. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance testing (across gender and country), reliability analysis, and convergent validity assessments (with the Digital Flourishing Scale and the Digital Stress Scale) were conducted. Results: CFA confirmed the four-factor structure (emotional resilience, agency, social connection, and communion), with good model fit (CFI = .969, TLI = .959, RMSEA = .058, SRMR = .038). The DWBQ showed strong internal reliability (α ≥ .80) and measurement invariance across both gender and country. Convergent validity was supported by positive correlations with digital flourishing and negative associations with digital stress. Sociodemographic factors and smartphone use patterns were significantly associated with DWBQ subscales, with gender and relationship status particularly influencing agency and emotional resilience Conclusions: The English version of the 13-item DWBQ is a valid and reliable measure of digital wellbeing among young adults in the US and UK. It offers a concise tool for research, educational, and clinical use.

Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Gaming Disorder (GD) have emerged as significant public health concerns, with studies highlighting their association with substance use. Research on IGD/GD faces challenges due to heterogeneous definitions and measurement tools. While the introduction of DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria for these behaviors improved research consistency, substance use patterns in individuals with IGD/GD, when defined strictly by these criteria, remain unexplored. Importantly, a comprehensive review of substance use patterns among individuals with IGD/GD based on DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria has never been conducted. Objective: This scoping review aims to map existing literature on substance use in individuals with IGD/GD, focusing on patterns, underlying mechanisms, and moderating factors influencing this relationship. Methods: The review adhered to the JBI manual for scoping reviews and PRISMA-ScR standards. A literature search was conducted in August 2025, in seven bibliographic databases, supplemented by citation tracking strategies. Inclusion criteria encompassed empirical studies published post-2013, using scales published after 2013, based on DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria for IGD/GD, and focusing on substance use. Results: A total of 36 studies out of 5,561 identified, predominantly cross-sectional, were included. Findings indicated a high co-occurrence of IGD/GD and substance use, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Shared risk factors such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and maladaptive coping strategies were identified. Alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, and cannabis emerged as the most commonly used substances, with variations across cultural contexts. Limited longitudinal data underscored the need for research on the progression and interaction of IGD/GD and substance use over time. Conclusion: The findings revealed that individuals with IGD/GD frequently engage in substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and stimulants such as amphetamines. This review highlights critical mechanisms linking IGD/GD and substance use, emphasizing the role of behavioral reinforcement and emotional dysregulation. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs and protective factors to inform tailored prevention and intervention strategies. Systematic screening for substance use is warranted among individuals with IGD/GD.

Background: Digital well-being encourages balanced mobile use. The Perceived Digital Well-Being in Adolescence Scale measures this in adolescents but has been validated only in Slovenia, raising questions about its relevance for other age groups and cultural contexts. Objective: This study had three primary objectives: (1) confirm the 3-factor structure of an English version of the Perceived Digital Well-Being in Adolescence Scale, renamed the Perceived Digital Well-Being Scale (PDWS), in samples of young adults from the United States and the United Kingdom; (2) examine the associations between PDWS dimensions and participants’ sociodemographic characteristics; and (3) explore the relationships between PDWS scores and patterns of smartphone use. Methods: A total of 1854 young adults from the United States and the United Kingdom (ages 18‐25 years; mean 22.4, SD 2.1; 892, 48.1% female, 872, 47.0% male, 90, 4.9% nonbinary) participated in an online survey including the PDWS, digital flourishing, and digital stress measures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations, t tests, chi-squared tests, and moderation-mediation analysis. Results: Smartphone screen time and smartphone time for nonessential activities were statistically higher in the US sample than in the UK sample (mean 6.95 vs mean 6.13; t ₁₈₅₂ =4.97; P <.001; d =0.27 and mean 3.62 vs mean 3.29; t ₁₈₅₂ =5.57; P <.001; d =0.25, respectively). The digital well-being total score was statistically higher among US participants when compared with the UK counterparts (mean 3.49 vs mean 3.38; t ₁₈₅₂ =3.33; P <.001; d =0.15). Male participants were significantly more represented among the group with higher PDWB scores ( χ ² ₁₃₆ =478.45; P <.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the adequacy of the 3-factor model (emotional, social, and cognitive), indicating strong model fit (critical indices ≥0.90). Evidence of convergent validity was established through significant associations between PDWS scores and measures of digital flourishing and digital stress (most correlation coefficients being significant at P <.001). Measurement invariance testing confirmed the scale’s equivalence across US and UK samples ( χ ² ₂₄₆ change=17.90; P =.21); however, strict invariance across gender (male vs female) was not supported ( χ ² ₂₄₆ change=200.91; P <.001). Gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education level significantly influenced PDWS scores. Gender and socioeconomic status also moderated the relationship between smartphone use or screen time and PDWS scores ( b =0.048; P =.03 and b =0.020; P =.03, respectively), indicating that these factors affect how smartphone usage relates to psychological distress or well-being in different demographic groups. Conclusions: The PDWS showed good psychometric properties in the US and UK samples. The scale offers a promising tool for identifying individuals at risk of adverse outcomes associated with digital connectivity.

Growing interest in non-invasive methods, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), to enhance cognitive functioning in healthy individuals has led to numerous studies. tDCS is a commonly used non-invasive brain stimulation method, and previous research has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving cognitive functions. This study aimed to evaluate whether anodal stimulation of the area F3 and cathodal stimulation of the area Fp2 improves visuospatial attention and block span in young adults when compared to a placebo.The study included 60 participants in early adulthood, with no history of neurological or psychiatric diseases, divided into two groups matched for age and sex. •Group A: 30 participants (18 women, 12 men; aged 21-35 years) underwent 10 sessions of neurostimulation (30 min, 2mA). •Group B: 30 participants (18 women, 12 men; aged 21-35 years) underwent 10 sessions of sham neurostimulation (30 min, 0.5mA). In this procedure after 20 seconds the current is turned off, and no further electrical stimulation is delivered. Visuospatial attention and block span were assessed using the Corsi computerized block test, in which the participant repeated a sequence of blocks displayed on a screen. Assessments were conducted at once before and after the neurostimulation cycle.Analysis revealed that in Group A, there was a significant positive correlation between initial scores and post-stimulation scores. There was a moderate correlation for total visuospatial attention scores and a strong correlation for block span scores in the computerized Corsi block test. In Group B, no significant differences were found between the first and second assessments for both total scores and block span scores. Therefore, the effectiveness of the proposed tDCS protocol in improving visuospatial attention and block span was observed in Group A, but not in Group B, which had undergone sham stimulation.Anodal stimulation of the left DLPFC and cathodal stimulation of the right supraorbital region significantly enhance visuospatial attention and block span in healthy young adults, particularly those with lower baseline abilities, compared to a placebo. Individual responses most likely vary due to anatomical and morphological differences affecting electric field distribution. The underlying mechanism remains unclear, and future research should focus on inter-individual differences to improve the efficiency and reproducibility of tDCS.

The increasing aging of the global population requires strategies that address age-related cognitive decline. This study investigated the impact of neurofeedback (NF) training on cognitive performance in healthy older adults, those with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and those with mild dementia (MD). Participants engaged in bi-weekly NeuroPlay training over 4 weeks, targeting theta/alpha brainwave frequencies. The results revealed intriguing distinctions: ACE-III scores significantly improved in the MCI (p < 0.001) and MD (p =0.004) groups, signifying robust enhancements in attention, memory, and language. MCI participants displayed notable gains in digit span tests (p =0.014) and participants’ Continuous Performance Task results indicated fewer errors (p =0.003). Meanwhile, reaction times in the Simple Reaction Time task increased (p =0.047) for healthy participants. These findings underscore NF's potential to enhance cognitive functions, particularly in attention-related tasks, suggesting its efficacy as an intervention tool for age-related cognitive decline.

Background: This study aimed to analyse the attitudes of medical students, Polish and classical philology students and trainee doctors towards the legalisation and practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide, to explore their beliefs about palliative care and to identify the cognitive, behavioural and emotional factors influencing these attitudes. Methods: An anonymous 22-question survey was sent by email to 670 participants, who comprised students of medicine, students of Polish and classical philology and trainee physicians. Results: Out of the 670 people invited to the survey, 313 (46.72%) responded; 215 (68.69%) and 112 (35.80%) participants supported the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, respectively. No differences were found between the respondent groups studied. The respondents’ attitudes were influenced by religion, place of residence and professed values in the doctor–patient relationship. Among the medical students and trainee doctors surveyed, the declared willingness to perform euthanasia was lower, with 90 (43.7%) people, than the support for its legalisation, with 135 (65.5%) people. Significantly higher support for palliative care was expressed by fifth- and sixth-year medical students and trainee doctors, with 88 respondents (89.89%), less support was expressed by first- and fourth-year medical students, with 74 respondents (68.5%), and the lowest support was observed among Polish and classical philology students, with 63 respondents (58.9%). Conclusions: The legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide was supported by more than two-thirds and one-third of all the respondents, respectively, with the majority of medical students and trainee doctors surveyed expressing uncertainty or lack of readiness towards their practice. More than 70% of all the respondents showed a positive opinion towards palliative care, with the lowest support being among Polish and classical philology students.

Purpose: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease manifested by fatigue and weakness of the skeletal muscles. Recent research has indicated that MG patients perform significantly worse than healthy controls in cognitive domains such as attention, verbal fluency, visual learning, and memory. This study aimed to investigate the diurnal fluctuations in cognitive performance in patients with myasthenia gravis in relation to selected clinical and socioeconomic parameters of the disease course, along with the role of chronotype and depression. Methods: The participants were recruited from a neurology outpatient clinic. Patients' cognitive functions were assessed twice: in the morning and the evening of the same day. Neuropsychological diagnosis included attention, memory, executive, verbal, and visuospatial abilities. Mood was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire was used to examine chronotype. Results: The analyses performed showed no significant differences between subjects and within subjects, apart from semantic fluency. Patients receiving antidepressant treatment obtained better results on attention and working memory tasks. Conclusions: The data obtained show that diurnal neuropsychological performance in MG patients is associated with depression. Routine assessment and treatment of mood disorders could significantly improve cognitive functioning in myasthenia gravis patients.

Introduction: Online dating is a common phenomenon. The manageability and access of the application allows people to quickly reach many potential partners, which can increase risky sexual behaviors. The Problematic Tinder Use Scale (PTUS) was developed and validated in a Polish population by analyzing the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the responses given by Polish-speaking participants. Methods: Two samples of adult Tinder users were recruited online. The first study aimed to perform the reliability coefficient Cronbach’s, interrater analysis, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analysis. The second sample was recruited to investigate the factor structure by combining it with the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire (SSBQ). The sociodemographic data, such as hours of use and number of dates, were also investigated. Results: The Polish participants’ responses to the PTUS (sample 1: N = 271, sample 2: N = 162) revealed the one-factor structure of the tool. The reliability of the measurement was α = 0.80. The construct validity was confirmed. The results showed a significant, negative, and weak correlation between the PTUS and SSBQ scores and their subscales: risky sexual behaviors (r = −0.18), condom use (r = −0.22), and avoidance of body fluids (r = −0.17). Moreover, the number of partners met in the real world had a statistically significant, moderate relationship with the PTUS scores. Conclusions: The PTUS measurement is valid and reliable for the Polish population. The findings highlight the need for harm prevention strategies related to potentially addictive Tinder use, as well as the possible risky sexual behaviors associated with dating app use.