Higher Knee Swelling Predicts Slightly Lower Overall Mood for Population
Contents
Mike Sinn
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Mike Sinn

Variables

A
Knee Swelling 598
A
Overall Mood 7137

Categories

A
Symptoms 13336
A
Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

High Confidence
Very Weak Effect Size
Negative Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 12.9% average decrease in Overall Mood following above average Knee Swelling.
Abstract

Abstract

Overall Mood was generally 0% higher than average after an average of 1 out of 5 of Knee Swelling over the previous 24 hours.

Aggregated data from 1 study participants suggests with a HIGH degree of confidence (p=0.249, 95% CI -0.223 to -0.042) that Knee Swelling has a weakly negative predictive relationship (R=-0.132) with Overall Mood.

The highest quartile of Overall Mood measurements were observed following an average 1.2 out of 5 Knee Swelling.

The lowest quartile of Overall Mood measurements were observed following an average 1.5 out of 5 of Knee Swelling.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Overall Mood is typically 1% lower than average over the 24 hours following around 1.5 out of 5 Knee Swelling.

Objective

Objective

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

Participant Instructions

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Knee Swelling 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

Knee Swelling Pre-Processing

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

It was assumed that Knee Swelling 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 not statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. This suggests that the Knee Swelling value does not have a significant influence on the Overall Mood value.

After treatment, a 12.9% decrease (-0.0531 out of 5) from the mean baseline 2.84 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 12.1%. The observed change was 0.154392 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

Knee Swelling 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 negative (R = -0.1324) relationship between Knee Swelling 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. 583 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Knee Swelling 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 Knee Swelling and Overall Mood.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Knee Swelling 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 Knee Swelling and Overall Mood is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Knee Swelling
Effect Variable Name Overall Mood
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.10776210839237
Confidence Level HIGH
Confidence Interval 0.090218199565721
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient -0.1324
Critical T Value 1.646
Average Knee Swelling Over Previous 24 hours Before ABOVE Average Overall Mood 1.2 out of 5
Average Knee Swelling Over Previous 24 hours Before BELOW Average Overall Mood 1.5 out of 5
Duration of Action 24 hours
Effect Size weakly negative
Number of Paired Measurements 583
Optimal Pearson Product 0.047847163030092
P Value 0.24940726229517
Statistical Significance 0.7913
Strength of Relationship 0.090218199565721
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2021-08-30
Number of Participants 1

Knee Swelling Info

Property Value
Variable Name Knee Swelling
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2022-11-18
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 5.41178186665
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.4223 out of 5
Median 2.25 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 471
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 127
Number of Measurements 1092
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 1092
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.80243722246957
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 2
Variable Category Symptoms
Variable ID 6046380
Variance 0.65299338903991

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 Knee Swelling Predicts Slightly Lower Overall Mood for Population. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-6046380-effect-1398-population-study
BibTeX
@misc{sinn_cause_6046380_effect_1398_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Higher Knee Swelling Predicts Slightly Lower Overall Mood for Population},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-6046380-effect-1398-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 3, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Higher Knee Swelling Predicts Slightly Lower Overall Mood for Population." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-6046380-effect-1398-population-study.