Differential media effects on male body satisfaction and mood

Objective Previous research has shown that idealised images of men in the media have the capacity to trigger body dissatisfaction in male viewers. However, little is known about these effects across diverse media types. This study compared the effects of different media on men's body satisfaction and mood within a social comparison theory framework. Method Young adult men (N = 110) were randomly assigned to view images of scenery or idealised depictions of males across four media conditions including television commercials, music video clips, still images where the model was posed, or still images where the model was active. Men completed pre‐ and post‐test measures of state body satisfaction and mood, and a post‐test measure of social comparison. Results Men who viewed television commercials reported a significant drop in body satisfaction and greater social comparison. No effects were found across the other media types. Conclusion Our findings suggest that televised depictions may be particularly detrimental to men's body image, which may be due to increased social comparison processes

Knowledge of Alzheimer's disease amongst patients, carers, and non-carer adults: Misconceptions, knowledge gaps, and correct beliefs

Background: There is limited previous research that has examined level of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) knowledge and misconceptions using a structured questionnaire across a range of samples. To address this gap the current study investigated knowledge, knowledge gaps and misconceptions about AD in a sample of non-carers, caregivers, and individual's with Alzheimer's Disease. Method: A modified version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge (ADK) test was administered to 13 carers, 20 non-carer older adults, and 10 people with AD. Two sets of analyses were undertaken, first to identify group differences in the amount of knowledge reported by each group and second, to determine the nature of peoples' understanding of AD. Results: Overall level of knowledge in the three groups was quite poor. Whilst carers had significantly greater AD knowledge than non-carers or patients, carers correctly answered approximately 50% of items only. Relative to non-carers and AD patients, carers demonstrated a higher number of commonly held correct beliefs than participants in the other two groups, who held relatively few correct beliefs. All three groups had some misconceptions about AD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that education programs targeting the elderly community in general and AD patients specifically may be needed, but also that carer knowledge of AD could be further improved. Future educational interventions could be tailored to address the knowledge needs of each of the groups identified in this study. In particular, the need to address misconceptions and knowledge gaps shared by more than one group should be a priority

Psychological factors associated with the use of weight management behaviours in young adults

We modified the Weight Control Behaviours scale to explore unhealthy/healthy behaviours to increase, decrease or maintain weight in young adults (N = 1082) and associations with body mass index, depression and body image. Females reported more use of all strategies except those which increase body size or exercising to exhaustion. Although the sample reported more use of healthy weight management strategies, the use of dangerous ones warrants attention by healthcare professionals. Feelings of fatness was an important predictor of weight management behaviours. Public health campaigns should focus on the harmfulness of unhealthy weight management practices as well as the importance of healthy ones

The effects of priming in a cued dot-probe task on appearance-related attentional biases in women

The <i>dot-probe task</i> (DPT) is a reaction time measure of attentional bias. Research using this task has found inconsistent patterns of appearance-related attentional biases in women. This study examined the effects of a novel priming variation of the DPT, which incorporated additional cues into each trial of the task, on measurement of such biases. The study also examined associations between these biases and body image, a component of eating disorder symptomatology. A convenience sample of women from the general community (N=103) completed body image measures online and attended a laboratory session to complete one of four DPTs: \ud \ud <i><b>(1)</b> an appearance-cued DPT containing images of thin-ideal models between each trial;</i> \ud \ud <i><b>(2)</b> neutral-cued DPT containing images of forests;</i> \ud \ud <i><b>(3)</b> time-delayed DPT controlling for time in place of an image, or;</i> \ud \ud <i><b>(4)</b> typical DPT containing only word stimuli.</i> \ud \ud Women who completed the appearance-cued DPT demonstrated a stronger attentional bias for positive, but not negative, appearance words than women who completed the other DPT versions. Furthermore, for the appearance-cued and time-delayed DPTs, this bias correlated with poorer body image across several indicators (appearance evaluation, body dissatisfaction, self-evaluative salience of appearance, and state body satisfaction). Although it was unexpected that no attentional bias for negative-appearance words was found, the attentional bias for positive-appearance words may suggest that effects were driven by the ego-threat of positive-appearance words. Further research is warranted to determine whether such biases contribute to and maintain body image disturbance and disordered eating

Developing a stroke intervention program : what do people at risk of stroke want?

Objective: There is currently little research examining what individuals who are at risk of a stroke want from an invention program. In order to increase the usefulness of such programs, qualitative research methods were used explore invention design issues such as factors affecting accessibility of programs and preferred health information sources. Method: Thirty people, each with at least one stroke risk factor, participated in one of eight focus groups. Results: Broad support was indicated for our proposed intervention. Participants’ perceived the value and likely success of such a program enhanced if it: (a) was integrated with, and supported by, other respected health services; (b) included social components (particularly important to women); (c) produced long term benefits; and, (d) included information that was personally relevant and practical in terms of implementing change. Three reasons emerged for continuing stroke education campaigns as a component of intervention programs; these were: (a) a lack of awareness among some participants of gaps in their stroke knowledge; (b) participants' explicit requests for specific rather than general information; and (c) the apparent failure of some participants to self-identify as at risk. Conclusion: This study yielded a number of important design considerations that should be taken into account when developing stroke intervention programs. Practical Implications: We discuss ways of maximising the personal relevance of stroke prevention information along theoretically important dimensions, and consumers' recommendations for the design and delivery of stroke intervention programs