Developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children. A longitudinal study

Although several studies have addressed developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence of internalizing/externalizing problems, limited attention has been given to underweight children. Two groups were recruited for this study from a community sample: underweight (Ug, N = 80, 50% female) and normal weight (NWg, N = 80, 50% female) to examine the developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children from the age two years, and their risk of eating disorder at early adolescence. The study was organized over four waves, each of three years. Pediatricians measured BMI, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Eating Disorders Inventory-Referral Form (EDI-3-RF). Our results showed that children in the two groups recorded different BMI trajectories over time. In NWg, male and female subjects started from a higher BMI at T1 than their peers. In Ug, internalizing and externalizing problems in males and females remained higher than their peers at all points of assessment. Males and females in Ug scored higher than those in NWg on EDI-3-RF total score. Our results indicate a need for effective physical and psychological assessment of underweight children in community samples to prevent psychological difficulties and eating disorders in adolescenc

40 years of research on eating disorders in domain-specific journals: Bibliometrics, network analysis, and topic modeling

Previous studies have used a query-based approach to search and gather scientific literature. Instead, the current study focused on domain-specific journals in the field of eating disorders. A total of 8651 documents (since 1981 to 2020), from which 7899 had an abstract, were retrieved from: International Journal of Eating Disorders (n = 4185, 48.38%), Eating and Weight Disorders (n = 1540, 17.80%), European Eating Disorders Review (n = 1461, 16.88%), Eating Disorders (n = 1072, 12.39%), and Journal of Eating Disorders (n = 393, 4.54%). To analyze these data, diverse methodologies were employed: bibliometrics (to identify top cited documents), network analysis (to identify the most representative scholars and collaboration networks), and topic modeling (to retrieve major topics using text mining, natural language processing, and machine learning algorithms). The results showed that the most cited documents were related to instruments used for the screening and evaluation of eating disorders, followed by review articles related to the epidemiology, course and outcome of eating disorders. Network analysis identified well-known scholars in the field, as well as their collaboration networks. Finally, topic modeling identified 10 major topics whereas a time series analysis of these topics identified relevant historical shifts. This study discusses the results in terms of future opportunities in the field of eating disorders.Revisión por pare

Contemporary perspective on addictive behaviors: underpinning mechanisms, assessment, and treatment

This special issue gathered contributions from authors in the scientifc community working on addictive behaviors. In particular, authors were solicited to relate about underpinning mechanisms, assessment protocols, and intervention programs that are currently proposed for substance abuse, Internet addiction, and other forms of problematic conducts in pediatric populations, adolescence, and adulthood. Most of the papers used a biopsychosocial model for the onset and maintaining of addictive behaviors and their comorbidities with other psychopathologies. Although the intent was accept contributions focused on all forms of addictive behaviors, this special issue is composed of four papers concerning problematic use of the web and two articles focusing on substance use. Of note, all papers addressed the developmental phases of childhood and adolescence

A study on online intervention for early childhood eating disorders during COVID-19

Eating disorders are among the most common clinical manifestations in children, and they are frequently connected with maternal psychopathological risk, internalizing/externalizing problems in children, and poor quality of mother–child feeding exchanges. During the COVID-19 lockdown, in person assessment and intervention were impeded due to the indications of maintaining interpersonal distancing and by limits to travel. Therefore, web-based methods were adopted to meet patients’ needs. In this study N = 278 participants completed the SCL-90/R and the CBCL to examine the psychopathological symptoms of mothers and children (age of the children = 24 months); moreover, the dyads were video-recorded during feeding and followed an online video-feedback based intervention. Maternal emotional state, interactive conflict, food refusal in children, and dyadic affective state all improved considerably, as did offspring internalizing/externalizing problems and mothers’ depression, anxiety, and obsession–compulsion symptoms. This study showed that video-feedback web-based intervention might be employed successfully to yield considerable beneficial effects. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Trajectories of aggressive and depressive symptoms in male and female overweight children. Do they share a common path or do they follow different routes?

The prevalence of childhood overweight is a major social and public health issue, and primary assessment should focus on early and middle childhood, because weight gain in these phases constitutes a strong predictor of subsequent negative outcomes. Studies on community samples have shown that growth curves may follow linear or non-linear trajectories from early to middle childhood, and can differ based on sex. Overweight children may exhibit a combination of physiological and psychosocial issues, and several studies have demonstrated an association between overweight and internalizing/externalizing behavior. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of longitudinal studies on depressive and aggressive symptoms in children with high BMI. This study adopted a growth curve modeling over three phases to: (1) describe BMI trajectories in two groups of children aged 2–8 (overweight and normal weight) from a community sample; (2) describe the developmental trajectories of children’s aggressive and depressive symptoms from 2 to 8 years of age. Results indicate higher BMI in 2-year-old girls, with males catching up with them by age 8. While overweight females’ BMIs were consistently high, males’ increased at 5 and 8 years. The mean scores for aggressive symptoms at T1 (2 years of age) were the same in all subjects, but a significant deviation occurred from T1 to T2 in both samples, in divergent directions. With regards to children’s depressive symptoms, the two groups had different starting points, with normal weight children scoring lower than overweight youths. Overweight females showed lower depressive scores than overweight males at T1, but they surpassed boys before T2, and showed more maladaptive symptoms at T3. This study solicits professionals working in pediatric settings to consider overweight children’s psychopathological risk, and to be aware that even when children’s BMI does not increase from 2 to 8 years, their psychopathological symptoms may grow in intensit

Inteligência emocional em estudantes de comunicação: estudo comparativo sob o modelo de educação por competências

The aim of this study was to compare the levels of emotional intelligence (EI) of students based on the expected achievement level in competencies. Participants were 313 students (M = 20.20 years old, SD = 2.41; 61% women) of communication sciences from a private university in Lima (Perú) which uses the Competency Based Education Model. The EI was measured with the Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). The level in achievement of competencies groups students in: “lower level” (participants from the first three academic semesters, 45.7% of the total) and “higher level” (semesters four to tenth). There were found gender differences in EI, and thus comparative analyses were done separately by gender. Among men, there were no differences between groups in EI (lower level vs. higher level). By contrast, women from the lower level scored higher than women from the higher-level group in: others’ emotional appraisal, use of emotion, and EI total score. It is suggested to incorporate the EI competence within the teaching model of this academic institution, as well as to do longitudinal studies.El objetivo del presente estudio fue comparar los niveles de inteligencia emocional (IE) de estudiantes según el nivel de logro esperado de competencias. Participaron 313 estudiantes (M = 20.20 años, D.E. = 2.41; 61% mujeres) de ciencias de la comunicación de una universidad privada de Lima (Perú) que utiliza el Modelo de Educación por Competencias. La IE se midió con la Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). El nivel de logro de competencias agrupa a los estudiantes en: “logro inicial” (participantes de los primeros tres semestres académicos, 45.7% del total) y “logro superior” (cuarto a décimo semestre). Se encontró diferencias de género en IE, por lo que los análisis comparativos se realizaron separados por género. En los hombres no se encontró diferencias de IE entre grupos (logro inicial y logro superior). Por el contrario, las mujeres de logro inicial puntuaron más alto que el grupo de mujeres de logro superior en: evaluación emocional de los demás, uso de emociones y en el puntaje total de IE. Se sugiere la necesidad de incorporar la competencia de IE dentro del modelo educativo de esta institución académica, así como realizar estudios longitudinales.O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar os níveis de inteligência emocional (IE) de estudantes, com base no nível de domínio esperado de competências. Participaram 313 estudantes (M = 20.20 anos, D.E. = 2.41; 61% mulheres) de ciências da comunicação de uma universidade privada de Lima (Peru) que utiliza o Modelo de Educação por Competências. A IE foi medida com a Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). O nível de domínio de competências agrupa os estudantes em: “domínio inicial” (participantes dos três primeiros semestres acadêmicos, 45.7% do total) e “domínio superior” (quarto ao décimo semestre). Existem diferenças de gênero em IE, por isso as análises comparativas se realizaram por separado segundo o gênero. Nos homens não se encontraram diferenças de IE entre grupos (domínio inicial e domínio superior). Pelo contrário, as mulheres que mostraram domínio inicial tiveram uma pontuação mais alta que o grupo de mulheres com domínio superior em: avaliação emocional dos demais, uso de emoções e em pontuação total de IE. Recomenda-se a necessidade de incorporar a competência de IE dentro do modelo educativo desta instituição acadêmica, assim como realizar estudos longitudinais

Self-perceived weight status, dieting, and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among Spanish male adolescents

Introduction: Self-perceived weight status among adolescents has been associated with weight-control behaviors. However, this relationship varies across weight status. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of self-perceived weight status on dieting and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among Spanish male adolescents, across weight status. Method: Participants were 597 Spanish male adolescents (M = 13.94 years old, SD = 0.60). Body weight and height were measured in situ. Self-perceived weight status, dieting, and unhealthy weight-control behaviors were evaluated. Results: The adolescents were inaccurate on estimating their weight status. Those who were overweight or obese, or who perceived themselves to be so, were more likely to report dieting and unhealthy weight-control behaviors. Discussion: There is a need to promote healthier eating behaviors among adolescents, and to take into account the fact that self-perceived weight status may hinder the adoption of such behaviorsIntroducción: El estatus de peso percibido se ha asociado a conductas de control del peso en adolescentes. Esta relación varía de acuerdo al estatus de peso corporal. Objetivos: Explorar el efecto del estatus de peso percibido sobre la práctica de dieta y conductas no saludables de control del peso en adolescentes varones españoles, considerando su estatus de peso. Método: Participaron 597 adolescentes (M = 13,94 años, DS = 0,60). Se registró in situ la talla y peso corporal. Se evaluó el peso percibido, la práctica de dieta y conductas no saludables de control del peso. Resultados: Los adolescentes fueron inexactos al estimar su estatus de peso. Aquellos con sobrepeso, obesidad o los que se percibían como tales, fueron los que más informaron hacer dieta y conductas no saludables de control del peso. Discusión: Es necesario promover conductas alimentarias saludables entre los adolescentes y considerar que el estatus de peso percibido puede limitar la adopción de estos comportamientos

Sociodemographic, Attitudinal, and Behavioral Correlates of Using Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Fitness Websites : An Online Survey

Background: Nutrition, diet, and fitness are among the most searched health topics by internet users. Besides that, health-related internet users are diverse in their motivations and individual characteristics. However, little is known about the individual characteristics associated with the usage of nutrition, weight loss, and fitness websites. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the individual factors associated with the usage of nutrition, weight loss, and fitness websites. Methods: An invitation to an online survey was published on 65 websites and discussion forums. In total, we employed data from 623 participants (aged 13 to 39 years, mean 24.11 [SD 5.26]). The measures included frequency of usage of nutrition, weight loss and fitness websites, excessive exercise, eating disorder symptomatology, internalization of the beauty ideal, weight status, and perceived online social support. Participants’ data were used as predictors in a base linear regression model. Results: The final model had an acceptable fit (X210 =14.1; P=.17; root mean square error of approximation=0.03; comparative fit index=0.99; Tucker-Lewis index=0.99). Positive associations were found between usage of (1) nutrition websites and being female, higher levels of excessive exercise, and perceived online social support; (2) weight loss websites and excessive exercise, internalization, being female, eating disorder symptomatology, and being overweight or obese; and (3) fitness websites and levels of excessive exercise, internalization, and frequency of internet use. Conclusions: The results highlighted the importance of individual differences in the usage of health-related websites

Trust in government and its associations with health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Previous studies suggested that public trust in government is vital for implementations of social policies that rely on public's behavioural responses. This study examined associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours. Data from an international survey with representative samples (N=23,733) of 23 countries were analysed. Specification curve analysis showed that higher trust in government was significantly associated with higher adoption of health and prosocial behaviours in all reasonable specifications of multilevel linear models (median standardised β=0.173 and 0.244, P<0.001). We further used structural equation modelling to explore potential determinants of trust in government regarding pandemic control. Governments perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β=0.358, 0.230, 0.055, and 0.250, P<0.01). These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19

Predictors of adherence to public health behaviors for fighting COVID-19 derived from longitudinal data

The present paper examines longitudinally how subjective perceptions about COVID-19, one's community, and the government predict adherence to public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus. Using an international survey (N = 3040), we test how infection risk perception, trust in the governmental response and communications about COVID-19, conspiracy beliefs, social norms on distancing, tightness of culture, and community punishment predict various containment-related attitudes and behavior. Autoregressive analyses indicate that, at the personal level, personal hygiene behavior was predicted by personal infection risk perception. At social level, social distancing behaviors such as abstaining from face-to-face contact were predicted by perceived social norms. Support for behavioral mandates was predicted by confidence in the government and cultural tightness, whereas support for anti-lockdown protests was predicted by (lower) perceived clarity of communication about the virus. Results are discussed in light of policy implications and creating effective interventions