Higher Back Acne Predicts Slightly Higher Overall Mood for Population
Contents
Mike Sinn
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Mike Sinn

Variables

A
Back Acne 416
A
Overall Mood 7137

Categories

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Symptoms 13336
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Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

High Confidence
Very Weak Effect Size
Positive Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 5.7% average increase in Overall Mood following above average Back Acne.
Abstract

Abstract

Overall Mood was generally 2% higher than average after an average of 3 out of 5 of Back Acne over the previous 24 hours.

Aggregated data from 1 study participants suggests with a HIGH degree of confidence (p=0.001, 95% CI 0.088 to 0.178) that Back Acne has a weakly positive predictive relationship (R=0.133) with Overall Mood.

The highest quartile of Overall Mood measurements were observed following an average 2.24 out of 5 Back Acne.

The lowest quartile of Overall Mood measurements were observed following an average 1.94 out of 5 of Back Acne.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Overall Mood is typically 0% lower than average over the 24 hours following around 1.94 out of 5 Back Acne.

Objective

Objective

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

Participant Instructions

Manual Recording Option

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


Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Overall Mood 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

Back Acne Pre-Processing

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

Overall Mood Pre-Processing

Overall Mood measurement values below 1 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. Overall Mood measurement values above 5 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Overall Mood 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 Back Acne would produce an observable change in Overall Mood.

It was assumed that Back Acne could produce an observable change in Overall Mood for as much as 24 hours 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 Overall Mood is statistically significant at 95% confidence interval.

After treatment, a 5.7% increase (0.115 out of 5) from the mean baseline 2.75 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 15%. The observed change was 0.28 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

Back Acne 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.

Overall Mood 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 weakly positive (R = 0.1326) relationship between Back Acne and Overall Mood.

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. 795 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Back Acne 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,

1 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action for a relationship between Back Acne and Overall Mood.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Back Acne and Overall Mood 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, 1 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action and 0 feel that any relationship observed between Back Acne and Overall Mood is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Back Acne
Effect Variable Name Overall Mood
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.1077811398129
Confidence Level HIGH
Confidence Interval 0.04492884744086
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient 0.1326
Critical T Value 1.646
Average Back Acne Over Previous 24 hours Before ABOVE Average Overall Mood 2.24 out of 5
Average Back Acne Over Previous 24 hours Before BELOW Average Overall Mood 1.94 out of 5
Duration of Action 24 hours
Effect Size weakly positive
Number of Paired Measurements 795
Optimal Pearson Product 0.04400777083857
P Value 0.001
Statistical Significance 0.9988
Strength of Relationship 0.04492884744086
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2021-08-30
Number of Participants 1

Back Acne Info

Property Value
Variable Name Back Acne
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2021-06-23
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 3.2856042953419
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.5812 out of 5
Median 2.5 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 365
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 51
Number of Measurements 835
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 835
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.89184999962469
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 2
UPC 765857177199
Variable Category Symptoms
Variable ID 3360381
Variance 0.79556168207534

Overall Mood Info

Property Value
Variable Name Overall Mood
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-12
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 3.3832907631011
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 3.1202433341482 out of 5
Median 3.1415600073553 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 6425
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 712
Number of Measurements 617070
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 561596
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.38176118810538
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 9142
UPC 767674073845
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1398
Variance 0.30220747449488

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Higher Back Acne Predicts Slightly Higher Overall Mood for Population. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-3360381-effect-1398-population-study
BibTeX
@misc{sinn_cause_3360381_effect_1398_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Higher Back Acne Predicts Slightly Higher Overall Mood for Population},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-3360381-effect-1398-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 3, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Higher Back Acne Predicts Slightly Higher Overall Mood for Population." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-3360381-effect-1398-population-study.