Explaining and promoting healthy food choice: A Theory of Planned Behaviour approach

The present research is within the field of social and health psychology studies and focused on explaining and promoting healthy eating behaviours within the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1991). Two studies investigated if the TPB, plus self-identity and controlling for past behaviour, could explain fruit and vegetable intake (Study 1: N = 210; mean age = 22.91; SD = 8.33 ) and red meat consumption (Study 2: N = 405; mean age = 19.58; SD = 2.03). Results found support for the validity of TPB for explaining these behaviours and showed the additional predictive role of self-identity, even when controlling for past behaviour. Furthermore, two randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of SMS interventions for increasing fruit and vegetable intake (Study3: N = 1059; mean age: 15.41; SD = 1.53) and for reducing red meat consumption (Study 4: N = 244; mean age: 19.42; SD: 1.44). Findings showed that daily persuasive messages were an effective strategy for increasing fruit and vegetable intake and reducing red meat consumption in young people

Explaining intention to reduce red and processed meat in the UK and Italy using the theory of planned behaviour, meat-eater identity, and the Transtheoretical model

This study aimed to contribute to the growing literature investigating the psychosocial factors associated with intentions to reduce red and processed meat consumption, given the significant negative impact of meat on public health and in contributing to climate change. A framework combining the Theory of Planned Behaviour with meat-eater identity and the Transtheoretical Model was used to explain intention to reduce red and processed meat consumption across participant samples in the UK and Italy, to identify the factors involved in encouraging behaviour change whilst also considering differences in culinary practices. University students in the UK (n = 320) and Italy (n = 304) completed an online survey including measures from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Transtheoretical Model, as well as a measure of meat-eater identity. The results showed differences in the relative impact of subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and meat-eater identity, on behavioural intention across the different stages of change and across the two countries. On the other hand, attitude remained a stable predictor across the different stages of change and in both countries. The results are discussed in relation to existing literature, with the goal of increasing understanding of how reduced meat consumption might be encouraged across different populations

Assessing the Personality Profile of Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Rorschach Study

Background: The role that psychological factors and personality traits play in the pathogenesis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is currently controversial. Most of the studies on FMS used self-report measures, and to date only a doctoral dissertation was conducted to compare the Rorschach responses of patients with FMS to the normative sample. Aim and Method: By using the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), we compared the scores of 35 women with FMS with those of 35 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). R-PAS is a performance-based task able to provide information on psychological processes occurring in the context outside and beyond the test. Furthermore, we chose RA patients as a contrast group because they both share the same medical picture in terms of pain experiences. Results: Compared to the RA group, the FMS group seemed to experience considerable implicit distress (YTVC’) associated with a sense of helplessness and despair (Y) that interferes with coping and adaptive mechanisms. Moreover, we found that these patients showed a cognitive processing focused mostly on the straightforward components of the environment (SI and Sy), but the interpretation of the environment was more unconventional (FQo%). Finally, we observed that almost half of the FMS group exhibited an excessive worry on the body (An). Conclusions: Our study has two implications for practicing psychologists. First, by using a performance-based test such as the R-PAS, we were able to provide a different clinical picture than self-reports (e.g., we did not find alexithymia features in the FMS protocols) and to identify the problematic features even at different levels of Complexity. Second, the increased levels of implicit stress found in the FMS group require psychological interventions focused on empowering these patients with self-management, active coping strategies when dealing with stressors and pain, so to defy their sense of helplessness

Colistin Resistance Mediated by mcr-1 in ESBL-Producing, Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Infantis in Broiler Chicken Industry, Italy (2016-2017)

Colistin-resistance mediated by mobilisable and plasmid-borne mcr genes has emerged worldwide, threatening the efficacy of colistin, a last resort antibiotic increasingly used for treating human invasive infections by multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In this study, we report the first evidence of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in four multidrug resistant (MDR) out of 324 Salmonella infantis from the Italian antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring (2001–2017) in broilers and broiler meat. Two were also Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL)-producing isolates. Characterization by whole genome sequencing (WGS), located mcr-1.1 on an incX4 plasmid. Phylogenetic analysis of these isolates with selected Italian S. Infantis previously isolated from animals, meat and human clinical cases with unknown epidemiological relationship, demonstrated that ESBL-producing, mcr-1-positive isolates belonged to the emerging pESI-like-positive-ESBL-producing clone described in Italy in 2015

Advertising Innovative Sustainable Fashion: Informational, Transformational, or Sustainability Appeal?

We aimed to understand how to promote innovative technology in the sustainable fashion market. The case study was the advertisement of a feminine bag with a chain coated using a new technology. We invited 550 women to read an Instagram post. In the control condition, the post only described the new technology. In the informational condition, the post emphasized the resistance and durability of the bag. In the transformational condition, the post emphasized the innovativeness and exclusivity of the bag. In the sustainability condition, the post emphasized the low environmental impact of its production. Results showed that the sustainability advertisement was the most persuasive in terms of consumers’ involvement, systematic processing, and intention to buy the bag. In addition, reference to the functional benefits was an effective strategy to promote purchasing intention when consumers were interested in novelty and high quality, and when engaged in shopping for fun and enjoyment

Legumes or Meat? The Effectiveness of Recommendation Messages towards a Plant-Based Diet Depends on People’s Identification with Flexitarians

In the present research, we analyzed how to promote a plant-based diet by involving 428 volunteers in a 2-week mobile app intervention. We compared messages promoting the addition of legumes versus messages promoting the replacement of meat with legumes. Messages were either combined or not combined with dynamic norms (i.e., information that more and more people are enacting the behavior). We compared these messages with a control condition (i.e., no message intervention) and we also analyzed the moderation effect of receivers’ identification with flexitarians (i.e., people who occasionally eat animal products) and attitudes towards them. In the short term, addition messages increased legume consumption more than replacement messages, especially in people with a negative evaluation of flexitarians and low identification with them. In the long term, increased legume consumption was recorded only when addition messages were combined with dynamic norms. As for meat consumption, the replacement messages were more effective in reducing it in the short term than in the long term, especially in people with positive attitudes towards flexitarians. However, replacement messages combined with dynamic norms were more effective in the long term than in the short term. These results advance our comprehension of how to tailor dietary messages

Advertising Innovative Sustainable Fashion: Informational, Transformational, or Sustainability Appeal?

We aimed to understand how to promote innovative technology in the sustainable fashion market. The case study was the advertisement of a feminine bag with a chain coated using a new technology. We invited 550 women to read an Instagram post. In the control condition, the post only described the new technology. In the informational condition, the post emphasized the resistance and durability of the bag. In the transformational condition, the post emphasized the innovativeness and exclusivity of the bag. In the sustainability condition, the post emphasized the low environmental impact of its production. Results showed that the sustainability advertisement was the most persuasive in terms of consumers’ involvement, systematic processing, and intention to buy the bag. In addition, reference to the functional benefits was an effective strategy to promote purchasing intention when consumers were interested in novelty and high quality, and when engaged in shopping for fun and enjoyment

Explaining intention to reduce red and processed meat in the UK and Italy using the theory of planned behaviour, meat-eater identity, and the Transtheoretical model

This study aimed to contribute to the growing literature investigating the psychosocial factors associated with intentions to reduce red and processed meat consumption, given the significant negative impact of meat on public health and in contributing to climate change. A framework combining the Theory of Planned Behaviour with meat-eater identity and the Transtheoretical Model was used to explain intention to reduce red and processed meat consumption across participant samples in the UK and Italy, to identify the factors involved in encouraging behaviour change whilst also considering differences in culinary practices. University students in the UK (n = 320) and Italy (n = 304) completed an online survey including measures from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Transtheoretical Model, as well as a measure of meat-eater identity. The results showed differences in the relative impact of subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and meat-eater identity, on behavioural intention across the different stages of change and across the two countries. On the other hand, attitude remained a stable predictor across the different stages of change and in both countries. The results are discussed in relation to existing literature, with the goal of increasing understanding of how reduced meat consumption might be encouraged across different populations.</p

The Effect of Message Framing in Promoting the Mediterranean Diet: The Moderating Role of Eating Self-Efficacy

Although a Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) provides several psychophysical health benefits, research on how to effectively promote MeDiet adherence is still lacking. In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of a messaging intervention aimed at promoting the adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A total of 435 Italian participants responded to a questionnaire on their eating self-efficacy and adherence to the MeDiet at Time 1. Then, participants were randomly assigned to three different conditions: (a) gain messages focused on the positive outcomes of MeDiet adherence; (b) non-loss messages focused on the avoided negative outcomes associated with MeDiet adherence; (c) no messages (control). After the 2 week intervention, participants answered some questions regarding their perception of threat and distress, evaluation of the messages, and adherence to the MeDiet at Time 2. We also tested whether the messaging intervention influenced participants&rsquo; MeDiet adherence at Time 2. Results confirmed that the messaging intervention enhanced the MeDiet adherence (F(2,432) = 4.61; p = 0.01, &eta;p2 = 0.02), with no difference between exposure to gain or non-loss messages (95% LLCI = &minus;0.32; 95% ULCI = 0.54). We then tested whether message framing effectiveness was influenced by eating self-efficacy, and results showed that gain messages were more persuasive for participants with low eating self-efficacy (effect size = 0.01; p for interaction = 0.03). Discussion suggests that tailoring messages according to receivers&rsquo; psychological characteristics seems to be pivotal to enhance the persuasiveness of messages aimed at promoting the MeDiet adherence