Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

27 May 2024

UP Diliman

The classical guitarist’s plucking techniques can be accurately classified using multimedia signal processing

In classical guitar performances, various plucking gestures can be employed to evoke different tonal qualities in the produced sound. To...

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22 May 2024

UP Diliman

Both parental and peer attachments are important to a student’s life at university but they play different roles

This research explores a vital aspect of a student’s life during their first year at university. It examines how the...

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16 May 2024

UP Diliman

Philippine museums use Filipino and English more often, putting aside minority and marginalized languages

The study looks at how Filipino, English, and multilingual signs are displayed in select Philippine museums. It analyzes not only...

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15 May 2024

UP Manila

Digital health initiatives helped transgender Filipinos access sexual and reproductive healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic

Stringent lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and the systemic exclusion of transgender (trans) experiences and narratives in sexual and reproductive...

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10 May 2024

UP Cebu

A combination of uncertainty and alliance-building may be the Philippines’ best approach to the South China Sea disputes

The research delves into the complexities of the South China Sea issues, proposing a fresh approach for countries like the...

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02 May 2024

UP Diliman

Mussels cultivated in Manila Bay are contaminated with feces from sewage, agricultural, and diffuse sources

Manila Bay, a multipurpose body of water located around Metro Manila, Philippines, is continuously degrading because of pollution. Reports have...

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30 Apr 2024

UP Visayas

The framework of being (agi) and becoming (kaagian) from Western Visayan poetry enriches our understanding of “queerness” without western/Eurocentric theorizing

This paper analyzes poetry written by self-identified Agi (Panayanon indigenous gay identity) using the concept of power called gahum as...

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29 Apr 2024

UP Cebu

People with lower levels of education are more likely to trust in the television as an institution

This study is significant as it aims to provide empirical evidence on the celebrity culture, i.e. the pervasive fascination of...

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26 Apr 2024

UP Diliman

Oyster shell and rice husk can be turned into low-cost building materials with antimicrobial properties

The development of green and low-cost functional building materials is increasingly becoming one of the primary goals in the construction...

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11 Apr 2024

UP Diliman

A multimedia-based intervention has the potential to improve social learning and adaptive skills of students with autism spectrum disorder

An evaluation was conducted to examine the potential effectiveness of a multimedia-based intervention, with the participation of 30 Filipino public...

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05 Apr 2024

UP Diliman

Research highlights the functions of bacteria that dissolve phosphate and make phosphorus, which can improve crop yields, available in soil

Bioavailable phosphorus (P) is critical for improving crop yields to meet the raising food demand driven by an increasing human...

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02 Apr 2024

UP Diliman

Philippine presidents have used different strategies in their Labor Day speeches to appeal to audiences

How do Philippine presidents frame their messages about labor and migration, especially during Labor Day? Studying this research domain is...

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Research

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s top consumers of beauty products. There have been few studies on the psychological aspects of skin-lightening product (SLP) consumption in the Philippines. Hence, we investigated the association between knowledge of, perception towards, and frequency of use of SLPs and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) levels among Filipino emerging adults. Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional online survey collected data from Filipino emerging adults (18 to 29 years old) residing in the Philippines. Associations between knowledge, perception, and use of SLPs and psychological distress levels were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson log-link function, adjusted for confounding factors. Effect estimates were expressed as adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). We recruited 3,127 participants (67% female; Mage =20.91, SD =2.97). High perceived benefit of SLP use is associated with increased depression levels (aPR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.07–1.37). In addition, a high frequency of SLP use is related to decreased depression levels (20–24%) and increased anxiety levels (11–18%). Lastly, once-a-week use of SLP is linked with reduced stress levels among the participants by 35% (aPR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49–0.86). We conclude that perceptions and frequency of SLP use are suggested to be associated with psychological distress levels among Filipino emerging adults.

Authors: Zypher Jude G. Regencia ( Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila | Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila), Jean-Philippe Gouin (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Concordia University), Mary Ann J. Ladia (Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila | Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila), Jaime C. Montoya (Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila), Margaret Gamalo (Global Product Development-I&I Statistics, Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pfizer Innovative Health) and Emmanuel S. Baja (Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila | Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila)

Read the full paper: https://jphe.amegroups.org/article/view/9809