The role and trainability of executive function in the context of healthy eating

Minimising intake of dietary fats and consuming appropriate amounts of fruit and vegetables reduce the risk of numerous negative health consequences. Self-regulation, and the processes underlying this capacity, namely executive functions, have been proposed to influence the adoption and maintenance of such healthy eating behaviours. In this thesis, a multi-method approach was taken to establish which facets of executive function were involved in healthy eating behaviour and whether these could be modified to improve eating behaviour. The results of a series of focus groups and a prospective study revealed that inhibitory control was specifically involved in fat intake, while updating ability was involved in fruit and vegetable consumption. A meta-analysis of current inhibitory control training studies revealed the need to assess change in eating behaviour using ecologically valid measures of eating behaviour, and to assess the mechanisms by which inhibitory control training influence eating behaviour. Results of an intervention based on these findings revealed that behaviour-specific stop-signal training led to a reduction in body mass index, which was mediated by changes in vulnerability to depletion. However, training did not result in a reduction in fat intake or an increase in inhibitory control capacity. The intervention was replicated to assess the reliability and longevity of the effects and to address methodological limitations. Results revealed that both behaviour-specific and general inhibitory control training improved inhibitory control capacity and decreased vulnerability to depletion; however, these improvements did not result in behaviour change, nor did they persist over time. While it appears that inhibitory control training alone may not be a suitable technique to change everyday eating behaviour, this technique may be efficacious for short-term improvement in self-regulatory outcomes, or when combined with other behaviour change techniques

İstanbul, Haliçten bir görünüş

Taha Toros Arşivi, Dosya No: 102-Camiler XIX. yüzyıl-Aslı Topkapı Sarayı Müzesindeİstanbul Kalkınma Ajansı (TR10/14/YEN/0033) İstanbul Development Agency (TR10/14/YEN/0033

Boğaziçi ile Rumelihisarı'nın görünüşü (19 uncu asır başları)

Taha Toros Arşivi, Dosya No: 120-Köşkler, Konaklar, Kasırlar, Yalılarİstanbul Kalkınma Ajansı (TR10/14/YEN/0033) İstanbul Development Agency (TR10/14/YEN/0033

Üsküdar sahillerinden bir görünüş (19 uncu asır başları)

Taha Toros Arşivi, Dosya No: 63-Salacak-Üsküdarİstanbul Kalkınma Ajansı (TR10/14/YEN/0033) İstanbul Development Agency (TR10/14/YEN/0033

Maintaining healthy eating behaviour: experiences and perceptions of young adults

Purpose – The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, particularly in young adults who recently have been shown to experience more weight gain than other demographics. Research has focused on factors leading to this weight gain, implicating the abundance of unhealthy foods in the direct environment, yet limited research has examined why some individuals are able to successfully regulate their eating behaviour in this “food-rich environment”. The aim of this research was to explore the perceptions and experiences of successful healthy eaters in order to determine factors that distinguish this group from unhealthy eaters. Design/methodology/approach – Thirty-five healthy weight young adults, who considered themselves to be healthy eaters, participated in seven semi-structured focus groups. Key questions examined how these individuals regulated their eating behaviour and their perceptions regarding such self-control processes. Findings – Thematic analysis revealed that individuals who are successful at maintaining healthy eating behaviour perceive the same barriers as non-successful individuals, yet are able to employ self-control techniques to overcome these barriers. Additionally, continually exerting self-control appeared to facilitate the formation of healthy eating habits. Research limitations/implications – Future research may benefit from attempting to modify self-control ability and develop healthy habits. Originality/value – While factors leading to obesity and the cognitions of those who are overweight have been extensively examined, limited research has focused on those who are able to regulate their eating behaviour. Additionally, limited qualitative research has examined implicit theories of self-control in an eating context

Closing the intention-behaviour gap for sunscreen use and sun protection behaviours

Objective: Two studies were conducted with the aim of closing the intention– behaviour gap for sunscreen use and sun protection behaviours by examining the influence of self-regulatory capacity on the prediction of sunscreen use (Study 1) and self-regulatory capacity and habit on sun protection behaviours (Study 2). Design: Studies were conducted online. Participants completed questionnaires and cognitive measures and then reported behaviour one week later. Main Outcome Measures: Questionnaires measuring intention and cognitive tasks measuring self-regulatory capacity were administered to 209 university students. One week later, participants reported behaviour. In Study 2, questionnaires measuring intentions, and habit and cognitive tasks measuring selfregulatory capacity were administered to 178 university students who reported behaviour one week later. Results: Intention accounted for 7.1% of variance in sunscreen use, no measures of self-regulation accounted for variance in behaviour or moderated the intention–behaviour gap (Study 1). Intention, self-regulatory capacity and habit accounted for 56.1% of variance in sun protection behaviours (Study 2). Intention, self-regulatory ability and habit predicted behaviour, while habit moderated the intention–behaviour gap. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at increasing sun protection behaviours should take into account level of intention, self-regulatory capacity and habit. Individuals may benefit from habit formation strategies and self-regulation training

Does inhibitory control training improve health behaviour? A meta-analysis

Objectives: Inhibitory control training has been hypothesised as a technique that will improve an individual's ability to overrule impulsive reactions in order to regulate behaviour consistent with long-term goals. Methods: A meta-analysis of 19 studies of inhibitory control training and health behaviours was conducted to determine the effect of inhibitory control training on reducing harmful behaviours. Theoretically driven moderation analyses were also conducted to determine whether extraneous variables account for heterogeneity in the effect; in order to facilitate the development of effective intervention strategies. Moderators included type of training task, behaviour targeted, measurement of behaviour and training duration. Results: A small but homogeneous effect of training on behaviour was found, d+ = 0.378, CI95 = [0.258, 0.498]. Moderation analyses revealed that the training paradigm adopted, and measurement type influenced the size of the effect such that larger effects were found for studies that employed go/no-go (GNG) training paradigms rather than stop-signal task paradigms, and objective outcome measures that were administered immediately yielded the largest and most consistent effects on behaviour. Conclusions: Results suggest that GNG inhibitory control training paradigms can influence health behaviour, but perhaps only in the short-term. Future research is required to systematically examine the influence of training duration, and the longevity of the training effect. Determining these factors could provide the basis for cost-effective and efficacious health-promoting interventions

Building habit strength: A pilot intervention designed to improve food-safety behavior

The purpose of this study was to firstly design an intervention to decrease cross-contamination in the home by the development of the habitual behavior of microwaving the dishcloth/sponge and secondly to determine if this behavior could be maintained over time. Participants were randomly assigned to either a high-frequency or low-frequency reminder habit building condition or a control condition. Results indicated that for both habit building conditions, food-safety behavior significantly increased compared to the control group and these changes were maintained at follow-up. Additionally, improvement in behavior was mediated by anincrease in habit strength. The major conclusion of this study is that providing a cue to action and reminders builds food-safety habits that result in changes in food-safety behaviors. This has major implications for other food-safety interventions

The role of executive function in bridging the intention-behaviour gap for binge-drinking in university students

Background: Alcohol consumption contributes to a significant proportion of disease and the high prevalence amongst young adults is a worldwide health concern. Purpose: To determine which aspects of executive function (EF) distinguish binge-drinkers from non binge-drinkers and to establish the role of EF in predicting behaviour. Methods: Self-report questionnaires, four tests of self-regulation and a behaviour measure were administered to 153 students. Results: The Theory of Planned Behaviour model was significant in predicting both intentions and behaviour. Although binge-drinkers and non binge-drinkers were found to differ on three of the four measures of EF,none predicted additional variance in behaviour. Planning ability and inhibition control moderated the relationship between intention and behaviour such that for individuals who intended to binge-drink, those with high planning ability or high inhibitory control were more likely to avoid doing so.Conclusions: Interventions targeting binge-drinking behaviour should aim to develop planning skills and inhibitory control

Self-report and behavioural approaches to the measurement of self-control: Are we assessing the same construct?

The capacity for self-control has been consistently linked to successful execution of health behaviour. However, a lack of consensus remains in the conceptualisation and measurement of the construct. Notably, self-report measures relate to behavioural measures of self-control only weakly or not at all. The aim of the current research was to examine the relationship between self-report and behavioural measures of self-control to determine whether these differentially relate to health behaviour. Participants (N = 146) completed questionnaire and behavioural measures of self-control, and reported their physical activity. A direct effect of self-reported self-control on physical activity was observed, qualified by an interaction between self-reported self-control and behavioural measures, whereby greater self-reported self-control was associated with greater engagement in physical activity among those who performed poorly on the stop-signal task and those who performed well on the Stroop task. These results appear to indicate that the combination of trait self-control and behavioural factors leads to facilitative or debilitative effects on behaviour. Self-report and behavioural measures of self-control do not appear to assess the same elements of self-control and should not be used interchangeably. It is suggested that these measurement modes reflect a difference between trait self-control and specific self-control processes