164 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
Energy Expenditure Due to Physical Activity Is Not Increased to Achieve Intended Weight Loss
Reduced physical activity and almost unlimited availability of food are major
contributors to the development of obesity. With the decline of strenuous
work, energy expenditure due to spontaneous physical activity has attracted
increasing attention. Our aim was to assess changes in energy expenditure,
physical activity patterns and nutritional habits in obese subjects aiming at
self-directed weight loss. Methods: Energy expenditure and physical activity
patterns were measured with a portable armband device. Nutritional habits were
assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Data on weight
development, energy expenditure, physical activity patterns and nutritional
habits were obtained for 105 patients over a six-month period from an initial
cohort of 160 outpatients aiming at weight loss. Mean weight loss was −1.5 ±
7.0 kg (p = 0.028). Patients with weight maintenance (n = 75), with
substantial weight loss (>5% body weight, n = 20) and with substantial weight
gain (>5% body weight, n = 10) did not differ in regard to changes of body
weight adjusted energy expenditure components (total energy expenditure: −0.2
kcal/kg/day; non-exercise activity thermogenesis: −0.3 kcal/kg/day; exercise-
related activity thermogenesis (EAT): −0.2 kcal/kg/day) or patterns of
physical activity (duration of EAT: −2 min/day; steps/day: −156; metabolic
equivalent unchanged) measured objectively with a portable armband device.
Self-reported consumption frequency of unfavorable food decreased
significantly (p = 0.019) over the six-month period. Conclusions: An increase
in energy expenditure or changes of physical activity patterns (objectively
assessed with a portable armband device) are not employed by obese subjects to
achieve self-directed weight loss. However, modified nutritional habits could
be detected with the use of a food frequency questionnaire
Cultivation and Enabling Effects of Social Support and Self-Efficacy in Parent–Child Dyads
Background
There are two alternative mechanisms, elucidating the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and social support when explaining health outcomes: self-efficacy beliefs may operate as the establisher of social support (the cultivation model) or social support may enable the formation of self-efficacy beliefs (the enabling model).
Purpose
In line with the cultivation hypothesis, it was tested if self-efficacy (measured in parents and children) would indirectly predict parental and child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), via the mediator, social support (parent-provided, child-received). In line with the enabling hypothesis, it was tested if social support would predict MVPA indirectly, via the mediator, self-efficacy.
Methods
A total of 879 parent–child dyads (1758 individuals; 52.4% girls, aged 5–11 years old, 83.2% mothers) provided self-reports at the baseline (T1) and the 7- to 8-month follow-up (T2). Body weight and height were measured objectively. Manifest path analyses were performed, controlling for the baseline levels of the mediator and dependent variables.
Results
A similar number of significant simple indirect effects was found for the cultivation and the enabling model. Across the models, the indirect effects followed similar patterns: (a) within-individual indirect effects in children; (b) across-individual indirect effects, with the independent variable measured in children and the mediator/dependent variables measured in parents (e.g., child self-efficacy predicted parental support provision and, indirectly, parental MVPA); (c) across-individual indirect effects, accounting for self-efficacy and MVPA measured in children, combined with parental reports of social support.
Conclusions
The findings provide support for both cultivation and enabling models in the context of MVPA among parent–child dyads
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
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