Latest news with #TheUniversityofQueensland
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Doctor says wearing masks at airports is now 'essential'
Doctor says wearing masks at airports is now 'essential' Dr Rupa Parmar has advised holidaymakers to use masks when travelling People should be wearing masks on planes, an expert says A medical director says wearing masks when you travel abroad is now 'essential' and has urged holidaymakers to use medical grade filtering masks at the airport and on planes. Dr Rupa Parmar was speaking as two new Covid variants surge - with spikes in countries including Spain and the USA. The infectious new variants are also now dominant in countries including India and Australia, with reports they could be easier to catch than previous strains and cause unique symptoms - such as a very sore 'razor blade' throat and hoarseness or a scratchy voice. Dr Parmar, GP and Medical Director of Midland Health, said: "Wearing a mask in the airport and on the plane is a reliable way to avoid falling ill before starting your holiday. On a plane, you're surrounded by germs for a long time, so a medical-grade mask with high filtration levels is essential." Paul Griffin, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at The University of Queensland, said: "Measures to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and focusing on air quality and ventilation, are worth remembering to protect against Covid and other viral infections." Dr Rupa said there are other ways you can maximise your chances of staying healthy when using planes and airports. She said: "Window seats away from the bathroom are the best for minimising the risk of illness because they're away from high-traffic areas and the aisle. You can also slightly aim the overhead vent towards your face, creating a barrier between you and the germs. Article continues below "Wash your hands regularly with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds. If there are limited accessible handwashing facilities, don't forget to use hand sanitiser. It's also a good idea to pack an antibacterial surface spray, so you can wipe down anywhere you're going to eat or sit." Dr Rupa also advises boosting your health before you head on holiday. She said: "Increase your intake or take supplements of vitamins D and C one to two weeks before your travel day to boost your immune system and fight off illness. Probiotics are also recommended to help your gut health and prevent common gastrointestinal issues, like bloating, while flying." And there is advice for when you are abroad. Dr Rupa said: "Although you may want to make the most of your trip by fully packing your itinerary, having moments for rest and recuperation are crucial, and getting good sleep boosts your body's defences against illness. Once you're back home, give yourself a day or two to recover from the journey to minimise your chances of sickness. Article continues below "Drink at least three litres of water daily while travelling. If you're unsure if tap water is safe to drink, stick to bottled water. Adding electrolytes to your drink can also help combat dehydration, as they include various minerals your body needs. "Travelling with your own medicine is useful, so you're always prepared. It can also save you money and means you don't have to take time out of your holiday to find a pharmacy. Just make sure you follow specific airline and security guidelines." Dr. Rupa Parmar added: 'Nobody wants to be ill on or after their holiday. Remember, prevention is the best way to minimise your chances of a trip ruined by illness. By focusing on hygiene, rest, and hydration, your chances of getting sick will be much lower, leading to peace of mind and a much more enjoyable getaway.'
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First Post
22-06-2025
- General
- First Post
Americans swear more frequently than Australians & Brits online. Here's why
A new study has revealed that Americans tend to swear more online than Brits and Australians. The researchers, who analysed more than 1.7 billion words of online language across 20 English-speaking regions, argued that the 'individualistic culture' in the US is one of the main reasons why Americans tend to swear more read more Martin Schweinberger, The University of Queensland and Kate Burridge, Monash University Our brains swear for good reasons: to vent, cope, boost our grit and feel closer to those around us. Swear words can act as social glue and play meaningful roles in how people communicate, connect and express themselves – both in person, and online. In our new research published in Lingua, we analysed more than 1.7 billion words of online language across 20 English-speaking regions. We identified 597 different swear word forms – from standard words, to creative spellings like '4rseholes', to acronyms like 'wtf'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The findings challenge a familiar stereotype. Australians – often thought of as prolific swearers – are actually outdone by Americans and Brits, both in how often they swear, and in how many users swear online. How much does the world swear? Our study focused on publicly available web data (such as news articles, organisational websites, government or institutional publications, and blogs – but excluding social media and private messaging). We found vulgar words made up 0.036 per cent of all words in the dataset from the United States, followed by 0.025 per cent in the British data and 0.022 per cent in the Australian data. Although vulgar language is relatively rare in terms of overall word frequency, it was used by a significant number of individuals. Between 12 per cent and 13.3 per cent of Americans, around 10 per cent of Brits, and 9.4 per cent of Australians used at least one vulgar word in their data. Overall, the most frequent vulgar word was 'f**k' – with all its variants, it amounted to a stunning 201 different forms. We focused on online language that didn't include social media, because large-scale comparisons need robust, purpose-built datasets. In our case, we used the Global Web-Based English (GloWbE) corpus, which was specifically designed to compare how English is used across different regions online. So how much were our findings influenced by the online data we used? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Telling results come from research happening at the same time as ours. One study analysed the use of 'f**k' in social networks on X, examining how network size and strength influence swearing in the UK, US and Australia. It used data from 5,660 networks with more than 435,000 users and 7.8 billion words and found what we did. Americans use 'f**k' most frequently, while Australians use it the least, but with the most creative spelling variations (some comfort for anyone feeling let down by our online swearing stats). How swearing varies across cultures Americans hold relatively conservative attitudes toward public morality, and their high swearing rates are surprising. The cultural contradiction may reflect the country's strong individualistic culture. Americans often value personal expression – especially in private or anonymous settings like the internet. Meanwhile, public displays of swearing are often frowned upon in the US. This is partly due to the lingering influence of religious norms, which frame swearing – particularly religious-based profanity – as a violation of moral decency. Significantly, the only religious-based swear word in our dataset, 'damn', was used most frequently by Americans. Research suggests swearing is more acceptable in Australian public discourse. Certainly, Australia's public airing of swear words often takes visitors by surprise. The long-running road safety slogan 'If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot' is striking – such language is rare in official messaging elsewhere. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Americans often value personal expression – especially in private or anonymous settings like the internet. Meanwhile, public displays of swearing are often frowned upon in the US. Image for Representation. Reuters Australians may be comfortable swearing in person, but our findings indicate they dial it back online – surprising for a nation so fond of its vernacular. In terms of preferences for specific forms of vulgarity, Americans showed a strong preference for variations of 'a**(hole)', the Irish favoured 'feck', the British preferred 'c**t', and Pakistanis leaned toward 'b***(hole)'. The only statistically significant aversion we found was among Americans, who tended to avoid the word 'bloody' (folk wisdom claims the word is blasphemous). Who swears the most? People from countries where English is the dominant language – such as the US, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland – tend to swear more frequently and with more lexical variety than people in regions where English is less dominant like India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Ghana or the Philippines. This pattern holds for both frequency and creativity in swearing. But Singapore ranked fourth in terms of frequency of swearing in our study, just behind Australia and ahead of New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. English in Singapore is increasingly seen not as a second language, but as a native language, and as a tool for identity, belonging and creativity. Young Singaporeans use social swearing to push back against authority, especially given the government's strict rules on public language. People from countries where English is the dominant language tend to swear more frequently and with more lexical variety than people in regions where English is less dominant. Image for Representation. Pixabay One possible reason we saw less swearing among non-native English speakers is that it is rarely taught. Despite its frequency and social utility, swearing – alongside humour and informal speech – is often left out of language education. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why swearing sticks Cultural, social and technological shifts are reshaping linguistic norms, blurring the already blurry lines between informal and formal, private and public language. Just consider the Aussie contributions to the July Oxford English Dictionary updates: expressions like 'to strain the potatoes' (to urinate), 'no wuckers' and 'no wucking furries' (from 'no f**ing worries'). Swearing and vulgarity aren't just crass or abusive. While they can be used harmfully, research consistently shows they serve important communicative functions – colourful language builds rapport, expresses humour and emotion, signals solidarity and eases tension. It's clear that swearing isn't just a bad habit that can be easily kicked, like nail-biting or smoking indoors. Besides, history shows that telling people not to swear is one of the best ways to keep swearing alive and well. Martin Schweinberger, Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, The University of Queensland and Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Increased screen time linked to aggression, anxiety, low self-esteem in kids, study finds
A major international study looking at nearly 300,000 children has revealed a two-way link between the amount of time kids spend on screens and their emotional and social well-being. Children who spent more time using devices like TVs, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles were at a higher risk of developing problems like aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem later in life, the study found. The connection also works in reverse: Children who were already struggling with social or emotional challenges tended to spend more time on all types of screens. Time spent on gaming consoles was particularly linked to a greater chance of developing issues, according to the study, published Monday in the academic journal Psychological Bulletin. Excessive screen time during infancy may be linked to lower cognitive skills later in childhood "Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it's safe to make some assumptions," Dr. Michael Noetel, one of the study's authors and associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia, told ABC News. "The most games that were included were console games, computer games and mobile games." When asked if violent games, such games that involved shooting, led to more behavioral issues, Noetel said that was not necessarily the case. "Some studies broke the games down by whether they were violent, but our interpretation was that most parents knew to limit the amount of violent content to give kids under 10," he said. "Instead, [the] key finding was that gaming in general -- regardless of the specific type -- showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps." The study is one of the largest of its kind, analyzing 117 long-term studies conducted between 1972 and 2024. By focusing on children aged 10 and under and tracking them over time, the researchers could more clearly determine cause and effect. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children between the ages of 2 and 5 to limit recreational screen time to one hour per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends. Children who exceed recommended screen time guidelines were more prone to socioemotional issues compared to those who stayed within the recommended limits, according to the study. "More than 40% of kids [ages] 8 to 12 are using screens for more than four hours per day," Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News chief medical correspondent, said about the study's findings Tuesday on "Good Morning America." "You add to that the fact that we are seeing rising rates of mental health disorders in kids, and half of these disorders start before the age of 14 -- you can understand why we need to understand the effects of screens on our kids." 48-hour screen-time experiment: What happens when kids have no limits So, what's the key takeaway for parents? The goal isn't to eliminate screens entirely, the study authors said. When children engage in moderate amounts of screen time, especially for educational purposes, there is a lower risk for social or emotional problems in the future. Children should learn not to use a screen as their sole outlet to manage their emotions and should be encouraged to interact with friends and family to develop resilience and emotional skills. The most important thing is to ensure that screen time doesn't interfere with essentials like a full night's sleep and regular physical activity, the study added. "We've all been guilty of it, but it's OK to say no and to set limits and boundaries, and do it in a noncontrolling way as a parent, if you can," said Narula, who was not involved with the study. Dr. Brendan Huang serves as the chief resident physician in adult neurology at Northwell Health and is also a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Increased screen time linked to aggression, anxiety, low self-esteem in kids, study finds originally appeared on
Arab Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
More screen time, more trouble: Research finds emotional risks for children
LONDON, June 11: A major international study involving nearly 300,000 children has found a two-way relationship between screen time and children's emotional and social well-being. According to the study, children who spend more time using devices such as televisions, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral issues, including aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Researchers also found the reverse to be true: children already experiencing emotional or social challenges were more likely to spend increased time on screens. The findings were published Monday in the Psychological Bulletin, an academic journal. Time spent on gaming consoles, in particular, was more strongly associated with these issues than other forms of screen use. "Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it's safe to make some assumptions," said Dr. Michael Noetel, associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland in Australia and one of the study's authors. He noted that the games analyzed included console, computer, and mobile games. When asked about violent games specifically, Noetel clarified that the study did not find a direct link between violent content and behavioral problems. "Some studies broke the games down by whether they were violent, but our interpretation was that most parents knew to limit the amount of violent content to give kids under 10," he explained. "Instead, the key finding was that gaming in general — regardless of the specific type — showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps." The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, analyzed 117 long-term studies conducted between 1972 and 2024. It focused on children aged 10 and under, following them over time to help identify potential cause-and-effect relationships. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children aged 2 to 5 should be limited to one hour of recreational screen time per weekday and no more than three hours on weekends. The study found that children who exceeded these guidelines were more likely to develop socioemotional difficulties. "More than 40% of kids aged 8 to 12 are using screens for more than four hours per day," said Dr. Tara Narula, chief medical correspondent for ABC News, during an appearance on "Good Morning America." "When you add the rising rates of mental health disorders in kids — half of which begin before age 14 — it becomes clear why understanding the effects of screen time is crucial." Despite the concerning findings, researchers stressed that the goal for parents should not be to eliminate screen use entirely. Moderate, educational screen use was associated with a lower risk of future emotional or social problems. Instead, the study encouraged parents to help children avoid using screens as their sole emotional outlet. Encouraging social interaction with family and peers, ensuring sufficient sleep, and promoting physical activity were also highlighted as essential. "We've all been guilty of it, but it's OK to say no and to set limits and boundaries — and to do so in a noncontrolling way as a parent, if you can," Narula added.
10-06-2025
- Health
Increased screen time linked to aggression, anxiety, low self-esteem in kids, study finds
A major international study looking at nearly 300,000 children has revealed a two-way link between the amount of time kids spend on screens and their emotional and social well-being. Children who spent more time using devices like TVs, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles were at a higher risk of developing problems like aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem later in life, the study found. The connection also works in reverse: Children who were already struggling with social or emotional challenges tended to spend more time on all types of screens. Time spent on gaming consoles was particularly linked to a greater chance of developing issues, according to the study, published Monday in the academic journal Psychological Bulletin. "Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it's safe to make some assumptions," Dr. Michael Noetel, one of the study's authors and associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia, told ABC News. "The most games that were included were console games, computer games and mobile games." When asked if violent games, such games that involved shooting, led to more behavioral issues, Noetel said that was not necessarily the case. "Some studies broke the games down by whether they were violent, but our interpretation was that most parents knew to limit the amount of violent content to give kids under 10," he said. "Instead, [the] key finding was that gaming in general -- regardless of the specific type -- showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps." The study is one of the largest of its kind, analyzing 117 long-term studies conducted between 1972 and 2024. By focusing on children aged 10 and under and tracking them over time, the researchers could more clearly determine cause and effect. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children between the ages of 2 and 5 to limit recreational screen time to one hour per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends. Children who exceed recommended screen time guidelines were more prone to socioemotional issues compared to those who stayed within the recommended limits, according to the study. "More than 40% of kids [ages] 8 to 12 are using screens for more than four hours per day," Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News chief medical correspondent, said about the study's findings Tuesday on " Good Morning America." "You add to that the fact that we are seeing rising rates of mental health disorders in kids, and half of these disorders start before the age of 14 -- you can understand why we need to understand the effects of screens on our kids." So, what's the key takeaway for parents? The goal isn't to eliminate screens entirely, the study authors said. When children engage in moderate amounts of screen time, especially for educational purposes, there is a lower risk for social or emotional problems in the future. Children should learn not to use a screen as their sole outlet to manage their emotions and should be encouraged to interact with friends and family to develop resilience and emotional skills. The most important thing is to ensure that screen time doesn't interfere with essentials like a full night's sleep and regular physical activity, the study added. "We've all been guilty of it, but it's OK to say no and to set limits and boundaries, and do it in a noncontrolling way as a parent, if you can," said Narula, who was not involved with the study.
