Higher Sickness Severity Predicts Moderately Higher Nervousness for Population
Contents

Variables

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Sickness Severity 404
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Nervousness 1469

Categories

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Symptoms 13336
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Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

Low Confidence
Moderate Effect Size
Positive Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 54.6% average increase in Nervousness following above average Sickness Severity.
Abstract

Abstract

Nervousness was generally 11.5% higher than average after 1.38 out of 5 of Sickness Severity per 7 days.

Aggregated data from 1 study participants suggests with a LOW degree of confidence (p=0.0781, 95% CI 0.281 to 0.641) that Sickness Severity has a moderately positive predictive relationship (R=0.461) with Nervousness.

The highest quartile of Nervousness measurements were observed following an average 1.89 out of 5 Sickness Severity.

The lowest quartile of Nervousness measurements were observed following an average 1.39 out of 5 of Sickness Severity.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Nervousness is typically 5% lower than average over the 7 days following around 1.39 out of 5 Sickness Severity.

Objective

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Sickness Severity and Nervousness. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Sickness Severity values most likely to produce optimal Nervousness values.
Participant Instructions

Participant Instructions

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Sickness Severity here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .


Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Nervousness here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .

Design

Design

This study is based on data donated by 1 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 1 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

Data Analysis

Data Analysis

Sickness Severity Pre-Processing

Sickness Severity measurement values below 1 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. Sickness Severity measurement values above 5 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Sickness Severity so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Nervousness Pre-Processing

Nervousness measurement values below 1 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. Nervousness measurement values above 5 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Nervousness so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Predictive Analytics

It was assumed that 0 seconds would pass before a change in Sickness Severity would produce an observable change in Nervousness.

It was assumed that Sickness Severity could produce an observable change in Nervousness for as much as 7 days after the stimulus event.

Statistical Significance

Statistical Significance

Using a two-tailed t-test with alpha = 0.05, it was determined that the change in Nervousness is statistically significant at 95% confidence interval.

After treatment, a 54.6% increase (0.196 out of 5) from the mean baseline 1.7 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 20%. The observed change was 0.575027 times the standard deviation.

A common rule of thumb considers a change greater than twice the baseline standard deviation on two separate pre-post experiments may be considered significant. This occurrence would have only a 5% likelihood of resulting from random fluctuation (a p-value < 0.05).

Data Sources

Data Sources

Sickness Severity data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Nervousness data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Limitations

Limitations

As with any human experiment, it was impossible to control for all potentially confounding variables. Correlation does not necessarily imply causation. We can never know for sure if one factor is definitely the cause of an outcome. However, lack of correlation definitely implies the lack of a causal relationship. Hence, we can with great confidence rule out non-existent relationships. For instance, if we discover no relationship between mood and an antidepressant this information is just as or even more valuable than the discovery that there is a relationship.

We can also take advantage of several characteristics of time series data from many subjects to infer the likelihood of a causal relationship if we do find a correlational relationship. The criteria for causation are a group of minimal conditions necessary to provide adequate evidence of a causal relationship between an incidence and a possible consequence.

Criteria For Causal Inference

Strength (A.K.A. Effect Size)

A small association does not mean that there is not a causal effect, though the larger the association, the more likely that it is causal. There is a moderately positive (R = 0.461) relationship between Sickness Severity and Nervousness.

Consistency (A.K.A. Reproducibility)

Consistent findings observed by different persons in different places with different samples strengthens the likelihood of an effect. Furthermore, in accordance with the law of large numbers (LLN), the predictive power and accuracy of these results will continually grow over time. 81 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Sickness Severity values, the observed strength of the relationship will decline until it is below the threshold of significance. To it another way, in the case that we do find a spurious correlation, suggesting that banana intake improves mood for instance, one will likely increase their banana intake. Due to the fact that this correlation is spurious, it is unlikely that you will see a continued and persistent corresponding increase in mood. So over time, the spurious correlation will naturally dissipate.

Specificity

Causation is likely if a very specific population at a specific site and disease with no other likely explanation. The more specific an association between a factor and an effect is, the bigger the probability of a causal relationship.

Temporality

The effect has to occur after the cause (and if there is an expected delay between the cause and expected effect, then the effect must occur after that delay). The confidence in a causal relationship is bolstered by the fact that time-precedence was taken into account in all calculations.

Biological Gradient

Greater exposure should generally lead to greater incidence of the effect. However, in some cases, the mere presence of the factor can trigger the effect. In other cases, an inverse proportion is observed: greater exposure leads to lower incidence.

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel.

Based on our responses so far,

0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action for a relationship between Sickness Severity and Nervousness.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Sickness Severity and Nervousness is coincidental.

Coherence

Coherence between epidemiological and laboratory findings increases the likelihood of an effect. It will be very enlightening to aggregate this data with the data from other participants with similar genetic, diseasomic, environmentomic, and demographic profiles.

Experiment

All of human life can be considered a natural experiment. Occasionally, it is possible to appeal to experimental evidence.

Analogy

The effect of similar factors may be considered.

Plausibility

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel. Based on our responses so far, 0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action and 0 feel that any relationship observed between Sickness Severity and Nervousness is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Sickness Severity
Effect Variable Name Nervousness
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.043869949854341
Confidence Level LOW
Confidence Interval 0.1802950786146
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient 0.461
Critical T Value 1.66
Average Sickness Severity Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Nervousness 1.89 out of 5
Average Sickness Severity Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Nervousness 1.39 out of 5
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size moderately positive
Number of Paired Measurements 81
Optimal Pearson Product 0.29623496720026
P Value 0.078084480151483
Statistical Significance 0.505
Strength of Relationship 0.1802950786146
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2021-08-30
Number of Participants 1

Sickness Severity Info

Property Value
Variable Name Sickness Severity
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-10-11
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 2.4905630651626
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.5960055944056 out of 5
Median 2.5153846153846 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 345
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 59
Number of Measurements 409
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 333
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.33265973578892
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 39
UPC 810758020393
Variable Category Symptoms
Variable ID 1444
Variance 0.2952938220339

Nervousness Info

Property Value
Variable Name Nervousness
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-17
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 2.8638736735958
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.5600642008141 out of 5
Median 2.5202400805248 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1330
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 139
Number of Measurements 37235
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 37054
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.52583485945065
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 1830
UPC 357955516323
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1388
Variance 0.60412932231873

Principal Investigator

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Higher Sickness Severity Predicts Moderately Higher Nervousness for Population. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1444-effect-1388-population-study
BibTeX
@misc{sinn_cause_1444_effect_1388_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Higher Sickness Severity Predicts Moderately Higher Nervousness for Population},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1444-effect-1388-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 3, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Higher Sickness Severity Predicts Moderately Higher Nervousness for Population." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1444-effect-1388-population-study.