134 research outputs found
Future Directions in the Study of Health Behavior among Older Adults
The study of health behaviors and fostering health-behavior change is an
important endeavor even in old age. The aim of this viewpoint article is
threefold. First, we use a broad perspective for the definition of health
behaviors to capture all relevant aspects of health-behavior change in older
adults. Particularly, we suggest a distinction between proximal (e.g.,
physical activity) and distal health behaviors (e.g., social participation).
Second, we recommend a stronger orientation towards processes in order to
study health behaviors and the design of health-behavior change interventions.
Third, we review the advantages of a developmental perspective in health
psychology. Future directions in the study of health behavior among older
adults are discussed
Examining the relationship between daily changes in support and smoking around a self-set quit date
This study was funded by the Swiss National Foundation (100014_124516). We would like to thank all students who helped with data collection.Peer reviewedPostprin
Krieg, Kamera, Kunst - Krisenberichterstattung im Kunstmuseum
Werden Pressebilder aus dem Krieg im Kunstmuseum gezeigt, führt die Neukontextualisierung zu einer Wahrnehmungsänderung. Verantwortlich ist hierfür das Doppelpotenzial der Fotografie: sie kann zum einen als Dokument, gleichzeitig als Kunstwerk wahrgenommen werden. Die Lesbarkeit ist von der topologischen Differenz von Nachrichtenmedium und Kunstmuseum abhängig, denn diese Bildorte werden durch Praktiken und Diskurse mit und über Bilder geformt oder auch erst geschaffen
a cross-over longitudinal design
Background Frequent handwashing can prevent infections, but non-compliance to
hand hygiene is pervasive. Few theory- and evidence-based interventions to
improve regular handwashing are available. Therefore, two intervention
modules, a motivational and a self-regulatory one, were designed and
evaluated. Methods In a longitudinal study, 205 young adults, aged 18 to 26
years, were randomized into two intervention groups. The Mot-SelfR group
received first a motivational intervention (Mot; risk perception and outcome
expectancies) followed by a self-regulatory intervention (SelfR; perceived
self-efficacy and planning) 17 days later. The SelfR-Mot group received the
same two intervention modules in the opposite order. Follow-up data were
assessed 17 and 34 days after the baseline. Results Both intervention
sequences led to an increase in handwashing frequency, intention, self-
efficacy, and planning. Also, overall gains were found for the self-regulatory
module (increased planning and self-efficacy levels) and the motivational
module (intention). Within groups, the self-regulatory module appeared to be
more effective than the motivational module, independent of sequence.
Conclusions Self-regulatory interventions can help individuals to exhibit more
handwashing. Sequencing may be important as a motivation module (Mot) first
helps to set the goal and a self-regulatory module (SelfR) then helps to
translate this goal into actual behavior, but further research is needed to
evaluate mechanisms
How Do People Experience and Respond to Social Control From Their Partner? Three Daily Diary Studies
Positive and negative forms of social control are commonly used to regulate another person's health-related behaviors, especially in couples. Social control efforts have been shown to result in desirable, but also undesirable effects on different outcomes. Little is known for which outcomes, when, and under which contextual conditions these different effects unfold in people's everyday lives. Using the dual-effects model of health-related social control, we predicted that same-day and previous-day positive social control would result in desirable effects on target behavior, and same-day positive control on affect. Same-day and previous-day negative control was assumed to result in undesirable effects on reactant responses (i.e., doing the opposite of what the partner wanted and hiding the unhealthy behavior), and same-day negative control on affect. Further, we explored whether it makes a difference if one or both partners intend to change their health behavior. Three daily diary studies addressed these questions for smoking (Studies 1 and 2), and physical activity (Study 3). Receiving more positive control related to more desirable target behavior, and feeling better; more negative control was associated with more reactant responses and feeling worse. Social control unfolded its effects within 1 day, but hardly across days, indicating that control and its reactions to it are fast-acting processes in daily life. The pattern of results were the same for couples with one and both partners intending to change their behavior. Further, results replicated when using partner-reported provided control. Based on these results, social control cannot be unanimously recommended as a behavior change strategy in couples. Future studies should follow up on dyadic and temporal dynamics of social control in couples' everyday lives in different contexts
Support- and meaning-focused coping as key factors for maintaining adult quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about both consequences and helpful strategies to maintain quality of life (QoL) have become increasingly important. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of coping factors during the COVID-19 pandemic, their associations with QoL and the moderating role of certain sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: Analyses were based on cross-sectional self-reports from German adult participants (N = 2,137, 18–84 years, 52.1% female) of the CORONA HEALTH APP Study from July 2020 to July 2021. Multivariate regression analyses were used to predict (a) coping factors assessed with the Brief COPE and (b) QoL assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF while taking measurement time, central sociodemographic, and health characteristics into account.
Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, German adults mostly pursued problem- and meaning-focused coping factors and showed a relatively good QoL [Mean values (M) from 57.2 to 73.6, standard deviations (SD) = 16.3−22.6], except for the social domain (M = 57.2, SD = 22.6), and with a decreasing trend over time (β from −0.06 to −0.11, ps < 0.01). Whereas, escape-avoidance coping was negatively related to all QoL domains (β = −0.35, p < 0.001 for psychological, β = −0.22, p < 0.001 for physical, β = −0.13, p = 0.045 for social, β = −0.49, p < 0.001 for environmental QoL), support- and meaning-focused coping showed positive associations with various QoL domains (β from 0.19 to 0.45, ps < 0.01). The results also suggested differences in the pursuit of coping factors as well as in the strength of associations with QoL by sociodemographic characteristics. Escape-avoidance-focused coping was negatively associated with QoL levels in older and less educated adults (simple slopes differed at ps < 0.001), in particular.
Conclusions: The results demonstrated what types of coping may be helpful to avoid QoL deterioration (i.e., support- and meaning-focused coping) and provide implications for future universal or targeted health promotion (i.e., older or less educated adults who lack social or instrumental support) and preparedness in the face of unknown challenging societal situations similar to that of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional trends of enhanced use of escape-avoidance-focused coping and QoL deterioration point toward a need for increased attention from public health and policy
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