ABSTRACTS EXERCISE

1. Piano with a twist: A pilot study exploring the preliminary effects of a piano therapy
program for children with autism spectrum disorder

Dănciulescu, T., & Zaharia, A. (2023). Piano with a twist: A pilot study exploring the preliminary effects
of a piano therapy program for children with autism spectrum disorder. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 82,
101987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2022.101987

Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show frequent maladaptive behaviors and
difficulties in social communication and motor function. Various studies suggest that music-
based interventions might help overcome these challenges. Yet, their findings are not
conclusive, particularly regarding piano music. The current pilot study aims to present a new
music-based intervention – the Piano Therapy program – and to explore its effects on social
communication, motor function, self-care, and adaptive behavior skills in children with ASD.
The program uses techniques derived from Applied Behavioral Analysis and active and
receptive musical methods structured around a single instrument (i.e., piano). Sixty children
with ASD were quasi-randomly assigned either to the Piano Therapy group or the control
group. In the experimental group, the 4-month program was administered individually, twice
a week. Using the Psychoeducational Profile - Third Edition (PEP-3) reports, the examiner
and the caregivers assessed participants’ skills pre- and post-intervention. The findings
indicate that the children enrolled in the Piano Therapy program show significant
improvements in all the developmental areas assessed with PEP-3, compared to the control
group. Although further research is required, these preliminary results have clinical
implications for practitioners and bring new evidence about the beneficial effects of a piano-
based intervention in individuals with ASD.

Questions
1. What gap in the research is being filled by this study? Complete the sentence:
Previous studies _________________________________________________________
2. What is ASD? ___________________________________________________________
3. Who were the subjects of this study? _________________________________________
4. How many groups were there in the study? __________________
5. Which of the subjects’ skills did the study focus on? ___________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. How did the researchers measure the results? ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. What were the results of the study? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. Who are the results relevant for? ___________________________________________
2. The sweet life: The effect of mindful chocolate consumption on mood
Meier, B. P., Noll, S. W., & Molokwu, O. J. (2017). The sweet life: the effect of mindful chocolate
consumption on mood. Appetite, 108, 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.018Get rights
and content

Abstract
Chocolate consumption is anecdotally associated with an increase in happiness, but little
experimental work has examined this effect. We combined a food type manipulation
(chocolate vs. crackers) with a mindfulness manipulation (mindful consumption vs. non-
mindful consumption) and examined the impact on positive mood. Participants (N = 258)
were randomly assigned to eat a small portion (75 calories) of chocolate or a control food
(crackers) in a mindful or non-mindful way. Participants who were instructed to mindfully eat
chocolate had a greater increase in positive mood compared to participants who were
instructed to eat chocolate non-mindfully or crackers either mindfully or non-mindfully.
Additional analyses revealed that self-reported liking of the food partially mediated this
effect. Chocolate appears to increase positive mood, but particularly when it is eaten
mindfully.

Questions
1. What is the main focus of this study? Complete the sentence:
The study focuses on the association between __________________________ and
_________________________.
2. What motivated the researchers to do this study? Complete the sentence:
There is a lack of __________________________________ (2 WORDS) on this topic.
3. a. How many groups of participants were there all together? ______________
b. What was the task for the control groups? __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. a. Did the results of this study generally support the widespread belief about chocolate
consumption?
YES / NO
b. Which additional factor affected the results? _________________________________
3. Children's Mental Health During the First Two Years of the COVID-19
Pandemic: Burden, Risk Factors and Posttraumatic Growth - A Mixed-Methods
Parents' Perspective

Wenter, A., Schickl, M., Sevecke, K., Juen, B., & Exenberger, S. (2022). Children’s Mental health
during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: burden, risk factors and posttraumatic growth–a
mixed-methods parents’ perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying containment measures such as physical
distancing and school closures led to major changes in children's everyday lives. By means
of a mixed-methods study, the "Tyrolean COVID-19 Children's Study" investigated the
effects of the pandemic on factors influencing mental health and health-related quality of life
of North Tyrolean (Austria) and South Tyrolean (Italy) children aged 3-13 years. Parents
(N = 2,691) filled out online questionnaires (951 preschool children: 3-6 years; 1,740
schoolchildren: 7-13 years) at four measurement time points (March 2020, December 2020,
June 2021, December 2021). For both age groups, children's mental health outcomes
(internalizing problems, posttraumatic stress symptoms) were worse in December 2021 (t4)
than children's mental health outcomes in March 2020 (t1). With regard to aggressive
behavior, this difference was only found among schoolchildren. Thematic analysis of an
open ended, written question revealed the following positive changes in children during the
Corona crisis: (1) the importance of intra- and extra-familial relationships, (2) new
competences and experiences, (3) values and virtues, (4) use of time, and (5) family
strength. Using multilevel modelling, threat experience, economic disruption, and perceived
posttraumatic growth were shown to be the strongest predictors of all outcomes.
Additionally, male gender was shown to be a predictor of aggressive behavior. In terms of
age, schoolchildren showed more internalizing problems, aggressive behavior, and threat
experience than preschool children. With regard to time, parents in December 2021 reported
more threat experience in older children and less perceived posttraumatic growth in both
older and younger children, than parents at the beginning of the pandemic. Targeted support
for vulnerable children may prevent longer-term development of psychopathologies and
contribute to society's psychosocial resilience in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover,
sustainable promotion of children's posttraumatic growth can also contribute to children's
mental health and could even offer a chance to turn the crisis into an opportunity.

Keywords: COVID-19; children; mental health; posttraumatic growth; psychiatric symptoms;

quality of life; risk factors; threat experience.

1. What was the purpose of the research? Complete the following sentence.

The aim of the research was to understand what impact COVID-19 had on children's
______________________________ (2 words) and
___________________________________________ (5 words).

2. A. Who were the subjects in the study? ________________

B. How big was the sample? __________________
3. Which research tool was used to gather the data? __________________ (1 word).
4. What were the results of the study?
Choose THREE correct answers.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (-)
a. children's mental health deteriorated
b. all children became more aggressive
c. children exhibited positive qualities
d. relationships among family members improved
e. preschool children showed more threat experience
f. parents reported more financial disruption
5. According to the authors' conclusion, targeted support for children and promotion of
posttraumatic growth could turn the crisis into an opportunity. What may be THREE
additional results of targeted support?
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________________________
Abstract 4:

Instagram Use and Its Effect on Well-Being and Self-

Esteem

Abstract
Over the last ten years, social media has become an integral
facet of modern society. In particular, image-based social
networking sites such as Instagram have become increasingly
popular among adolescents and young adults. However,
despite this proliferation of use, the literature remains divided
regarding the potential impacts of social media, particularly in
regards to image-based platforms. The present study sought to
analyze the relationship between social media usage patterns
and its subsequent effects on user self-esteem and well-being.
However, the study’s results show that, despite the existing
literature, intensity of Instagram use serves as a mediating
variable in this relationship. The study’s results show that it is
intensity of use, not usage patterns, that determine user
outcomes. Finally, the results show that users who engage with
Instagram more intensely exhibit higher levels of self-esteem
and well-being than users who do not use the application
intensely.

1. What is the gap in research? Fill in the sentence:

There is disagreement about ____________________________
____________________________________________________
2. What is the purpose of this study?
____________________________________________________
3. According to the results, what one factor determines user outcomes?
______________________________ (2-4 words)
4. According to the last sentence of the abstract, there is a
positive/negative correlation between the intensity of Instagram use
and self-esteem. Write the correct answer. ______________