Journal of Health Psychology最新文献

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a progressive neurological disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, with symptoms such as fatigue, pain and muscle weakness that can hinder engagement in health-promoting behaviours, including healthy eating. This study explored enablers and barriers to healthy eating among adults with CMT, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the COM-B model. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 women and 5 men (aged 25-73). Data were analysed using framework analysis. Identified barriers included symptom-related fatigue, particularly during periods of high demand (e.g. workdays), limited lifestyle-focused guidance in routine healthcare interactions and physical environmental constraints. Key enablers comprised meal planning, social support from family and online communities, recognition of the mental and physical benefits of healthy eating and access to resources that helped mitigate physical limitations. These findings provide a foundation for developing evidence-based, context-sensitive dietary interventions tailored to the lived experiences of individuals with CMT.

Adverse Childhood experiences (ACEs) have been widely associated with long-term difficulties. However, their impact during the prenatal period remains unexplored, particularly in non-English-speaking populations. This study aims to examine the cumulative and differential effects of ACEs on several psychological and physical health indicators during pregnancy. A total of 306 pregnant women (mean age = 34.69; SD = 3.91) provided retrospective information on ACEs and current information about depressive symptoms, adjustment to pregnancy, physical illness, psychological problems, and therapy attendance. ACE exposure significantly predicted depressive symptoms, maladjustment to pregnancy, psychological problems and therapy attendance. Among specific ACEs, emotional neglect emerged as the strongest predictor of these mental health outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and addressing ACEs in pregnant women. Integrating ACEs-informed approaches into prenatal care and implementing routine prenatal screening could help detect at-risk women and provide support to improve maternal and infant outcomes.

This study investigated relationships of internalized weight stigma (IWS) with acceptance of weight-loss treatment resources and weight-loss treatment preferences. Adults with obesity (N = 157) reported on IWS, weight-loss desire, eating self-efficacy (ESE), and treatment preferences. Participants expressing weight-loss desire were offered weight-loss treatment resources and asked to accept/decline them. Binary logistic regression examined whether IWS was associated with accepting weight-loss treatment resources, and ESE as a moderator. Exploratory analyses tested associations between IWS and treatment preferences. Participants with higher (vs lower) IWS had significantly higher odds of accepting weight-loss treatment resources (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: [1.12-2.05]). ESE did not moderate this relationship. In exploratory analyses, higher IWS was associated with greater interest in psychological intervention for IWS combined with weight-loss treatment. IWS was not associated with most preferences (e.g. group vs individual or in-person vs video sessions) when accounting for weight-loss desire. Further research should clarify how IWS affects treatment acceptance.

Reluctance to disclose new mental or physical health symptoms and seek healthcare can be exacerbated among pilots due to fear of jeopardizing one's aviation career. The current qualitative study focused on undergraduate pilot trainees' beliefs about healthcare and help seeking behaviors. Individual semi-structured virtual interviews were completed with 28 undergraduate pilot trainees to identify barriers to symptom disclosure and health care service utilization. Six thematic barriers to help seeking were identified, including (lack of) health system literacy, fear, delay in seeking care, lack of understanding the FAA aeromedical process, trust, and financial constraints. These findings contribute to understanding healthcare avoidant behavior among aviators early in their training and have implications for industry leaders in considering revisions to health-related communications, education, and services available to pilot trainees and across the aviation industry more broadly.

Colorectal and lung cancers are among the most common and deadly worldwide, often carrying significant stigma-especially when linked to preventable behaviors like drinking and smoking. Alcohol increases colorectal cancer risk, while smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, leading to perceptions of self-infliction that can worsen distress, delay diagnosis, and hinder treatment. This study is the first to compare the acceptability of smoking versus drinking in cancer contexts. Using a factorial design, 132 community members and 126 healthcare professionals evaluated 72 scenarios varying by cancer type, behavior levels, diagnosis stage, post-diagnosis behavior, and activity level. Overall, drinking was viewed as more acceptable than smoking, especially among those physically active or who quit post-diagnosis. Healthcare professionals were slightly more accepting than the general public. Notably, stigma around smoking lessened at advanced cancer stages. Findings suggest the need for stigma-reducing interventions and more compassionate, nonjudgmental care in oncology settings.

Obesity is widespread in the U.S., and off-label use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic for weight loss is rising. This study applies the Health Belief Model to analyze electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on social media related to GLP-1 medications and proposes a conceptual hybrid model for co-creation in social networks. A reflexive thematic analysis of three YouTube videos by patient influencer @TheHangryWoman and 3,748 corresponding comments was conducted, revealing that eWOM intensifies fears around obesity and promotes GLP-1 benefits like appetite suppression, weight loss, and improved body image. Users also share strategies of how to navigate barriers such as cost, side effects, and medication shortages. The findings show how eWOM and algorithms drive awareness and may normalize off-label use, raising concerns about misinformation and public health risks. This research contributes to health behavior theory in digital contexts and highlights the need for critical engagement with unregulated information online.

Open label placebos (OLPs) refer to the non-deceptive administration of inert treatment. This pre-registered study (AsPrediced#139837) explored the role of expectations and tailored health feedback on the OLP effect using an automated online procedure. Healthy participants (N = 293) were randomised to a 10-day course of OLP pills with veridical feedback (OLP-Feedback: N = 92), without feedback (OLP-Standard: N = 105), or to a no-treatment control (NTC: N = 96). Participants were informed the pills were inert but may enhance wellbeing. Wellbeing was assessed at baseline, day-5 and day-10. Feedback was delivered on day-5 and day-10 via interactive graphs and descriptive statistics. OLP-treatment significantly improved wellbeing (negative emotions and sleep quality), while feedback did not significantly enhance this effect. Expectations for improvement were significantly elevated among OLP-treated participants across the 10-day study. However, at the individual level, expectations only mediated OLP outcomes once treatment experience had been acquired. Results reconcile inconsistencies in the literature regarding mechanisms.

The study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between adolescents' body image, social appearance anxiety, and motivation to participate in physical activity. The research was conducted using the correlational method from the field of quantitative research. The study involved 507 volunteer adolescents, aged 15-17, who were attending high school. The study's data collection tools were a demographic information form, the Body Image Scale, the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, and the Motivation Scale for Participation in Physical Activity. The results of the study showed that female adolescents had a more negative body image, that a higher education level among both mothers and fathers led to a lower sensitivity in evaluating their children's bodies, and that the motivation to participate in physical activity and the positive body perceptions of adolescents whose fathers were university graduates were high.

This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of computerized cognitive training (CCT) on cognition, mental health, and quality of life (QoL) in healthy older adults. One hundred thirty community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 71.5 ± 5.3 years, range 60-86; 93% women) chose either an individual home-based CCT program or a group-based CCT program delivered at a university center. Both groups participated in weekly 60-minute sessions for 20 weeks. Validated measures were used to assess cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Naming of Pictures and Their Recall, animal verbal fluency), mental health (Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory), and QoL (Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief). Wilcoxon tests showed small to medium improvements in cognitive and emotional outcomes within each group, with greater cognitive gains in the group-based format (e.g. MoCA total: p = 0.027; MoCA memory domain: p = 0.029; Naming of Pictures and Their Recall: p = 0.023). No significant change was found for QoL. These findings suggest that group-based CCT, which incorporates regular social interaction, may be a promising and scalable approach to promoting cognitive and emotional well-being among older adults in community settings.

This study explored how intuitive eating, caregiver food messages, and a digital cue-based eating intervention relate to body appreciation. Intuitive eating, responding to internal hunger and fullness cues rather than external pressures, was linked to healthier eating patterns and greater body appreciation. Participants (N = 296) completed baseline measures of intuitive eating, body appreciation, and caregiver food messages. A randomized subset (n = 94) received either four weekly 10-12-minutes psychoeducational videos on intuitive eating or comparable wellness content, with follow-ups at 1 and 3 months. Higher intuitive eating and supportive caregiver messages predicted greater body appreciation, while restrictive messages were unrelated. The digital intervention significantly enhanced body appreciation and increased reliance on internal cues, though overall intuitive eating scores did not change. These findings emphasize the long-term influence of early caregiver messages and demonstrate the promise of brief, scalable digital interventions for promoting positive body image.