Wrap it up : a comparison of the Health Belief Model and the theory of planned behavior

This study attempts to experimentally manipulate core constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in order to increase condom use behavior. A direct comparison of the two models to determine the theory that best explains condom use behavior change will also be attempted. University of New Mexico psychology students (N = 280) completed measures on perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, condom use self-efficacy, attitudes toward condoms, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Next, they completed one of three randomly assigned computer-based interventions. 218 (77.8%) completed a behavioral assessment one month later. The TPB was best at explaining risky sexual behavior at baseline; it explained 30.6% of the variance while the HBM only explained 1.5% of the variance. The interventions were able to manipulate every predictor but perceived barriers. Mediational analyses of the HBM revealed that intervention type had an effect on perceived susceptibility, benefits, barriers, and condom use self-efficacy, but none of these mediators predicted risky sexual behavior at follow-up. TPB mediators attitudes toward condom use and subjective norms were influenced by intervention type. Subjective norms and perceived behavioral control predicted intentions, but intentions did not predict behavior at follow-up. This study supports the assertion that theory-based interventions are more effective at changing proposed mediators of behavior; however, it was not successful at eliciting behavior change. In sum, current behavior theories should be rigorously examined and modified if need be to create more comprehensive theories of behavior change

What Are the `Active Ingredients' of Change in the Theory of Planned Behavior? Evaluating the Relative Effectiveness of Attitudes, Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control/Self-Efficacy

Health interventions only have small to moderate effects on behavior change. The lack of a solid understanding of how the key theoretical constructs interact to motivate behavior change may be partly to blame. The current study examines the utility of each of the hypothesized determinants of behavior in the TPB (i.e., attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC)/self-efficacy, and intentions) and explores the optimal combination of these constructs in an intervention to increase condom use intentions and behavior among college students. 287 participants were randomly assigned to one of seven computer-based interventions. 70 (24.4%) completed behavioral follow-up assessments three-months later. Simple effect analyses revealed that targeting one construct (e.g., norms) had diffuse effects on other constructs in the TPB (i.e., attitudes and intentions). Mediational analyses revealed that theory-based interventions were better at changing intentions than the control condition. Changes in attitudes toward condom use were related to changes in intentions. Finally, as predicted by the TPB, intentions predicted risky sexual behavior at follow-up. Theory-based interventions were superior to the control, but which combination of constructs is most effective at creating behavior change remains to be established

The impact of changing attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy on health-related intentions and behavior: a meta-analysis

Objective: Several health behavior theories converge on the hypothesis that attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy are important determinants of intentions and behavior. Yet inferences regarding the relation between these cognitions and intention or behavior rest largely on correlational data that preclude causal inferences. To determine whether changing attitudes, norms, or self-efficacy leads to changes in intentions and behavior, investigators need to randomly assign participants to a treatment that significantly increases the respective cognition relative to a control condition, and test for differences in subsequent intentions or behavior. The present review analyzed findings from 204 experimental tests that met these criteria. Methods: Studies were located using computerized searches and informal sources and meta-analyzed using STATA Version 11. Results: Experimentally induced changes in attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy all led to medium-sized changes in intention (d+ = .48, .49, and .51, respectively), and engendered small to medium-sized changes in behavior (attitudes-d+ = .38; norms-d+ = .36; self-efficacy-d+ = .47). These effect sizes generally were not qualified by the moderator variables examined (e.g., study quality, theoretical basis of the intervention, methodological characteristics, features of the targeted behavior), although effects were larger for interventions designed to increase (vs. decrease) behavioral performance. Conclusion: The present review lends novel, experimental support for key predictions from health behavior theories, and demonstrates that interventions that modify attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy are effective in promoting health behavior change

Preferences in Information Processing, Marginalized Identity, and Non-Monogamy: Understanding Factors in Suicide-Related Behavior among Members of the Alternative Sexuality Community

Suicide-related behavior (SRB) is a mental health disparity experienced by the alternative sexuality community. We assessed mental health, relationship orientation, marginalized identities (i.e., sexual orientation minority, gender minority, racial minority, ethnic minority, and lower education), and preferences in information processing (PIP) as factors differentiating lifetime SRB groups. An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2018. Members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF; n = 334) took part. Bivariate analyses identified the following SRB risk factors: female and transgender/gender non-binary identity, sexual orientation minority identity, lower education, suicide attempt/death exposure, Need for Affect (NFA) Avoidance, depression, and anxiety. Monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor. Multi-nomial regression revealed the following: (1) monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor for suicidal ideation and attempt; (2) lower education was a risk factor for suicide attempt; (3) anxiety was a risk factor for suicide attempt; and (4) depression was a risk factor for suicidal ideation. A two-way interaction showed that elevated NFA Approach buffered the negative impacts of depression. Relationship orientation, several marginalized identities (i.e., based on gender, sexual orientation, and educational level), and PIP all contributed uniquely to SRB. Further study is necessary to understand the role of relationship orientation with suicide. Health education and suicide prevention efforts with NCSF should be tailored to account for marginalized identity, mental health, and NFA factors

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery

“Making Peace” with Bodies and Sexual Selves: Changes during COVID-19 among Adults in the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the physical and mental health of many and has necessitated widespread societal shifts, including changes to work and family activities. These changes have impacted individuals’ identity, including their sexual self-image and body image, yet research on perceptions of these changes is missing. This study reports on quantitative and qualitative data from an electronic survey with adults in the United States (N = 326) to examine these perceptions. Body appreciation did not significantly differ between demographic groups. Themes emerging from the qualitative results included changes in general self-image (becoming more restricted or disempowered), changes in sexual self-image (deepening, becoming more sexy/sexual, or less sexy/sexual), and changes in body image (positive, negative, and neutral). Our findings point to positive, negative, and neutral effects on sexual self-image and body image, implying that nuanced approaches are needed to understand how identity has transformed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

sj-docx-1-jiv-10.1177_08862605231213381 – Supplemental material for Queering the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory: An Examination of the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory Perpetration Scale’s Measurement Invariance Across Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jiv-10.1177_08862605231213381 for Queering the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory: An Examination of the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory Perpetration Scale’s Measurement Invariance Across Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth by Iris F. McMillan, Erika Montanaro, Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling and Annelise Mennicke in Journal of Interpersonal Violence</p

sj-docx-2-jiv-10.1177_08862605231213381 – Supplemental material for Queering the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory: An Examination of the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory Perpetration Scale’s Measurement Invariance Across Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-jiv-10.1177_08862605231213381 for Queering the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory: An Examination of the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory Perpetration Scale’s Measurement Invariance Across Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth by Iris F. McMillan, Erika Montanaro, Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling and Annelise Mennicke in Journal of Interpersonal Violence</p