Journal of Health Psychology最新文献

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.

Individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease experience significant psychological distress due to disease progression and treatment. This study explored the predictive roles of resilience, social support, coping strategies, and illness threat perception on depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. A cross-sectional design was used with 106 Spanish participants aged 38-88 (M = 68.64, SD = 10.55). Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, the Brief COPE, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Analyses involved Pearson correlations, hierarchical regressions, and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Regressions identified social support, coping, and illness perception as key predictors. Qualitative Comparative Analysis showed that low resilience, low support, and high threat perception combinations were linked to greater distress, while the inverse predicted better outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of targeting resilience, support networks, and threat appraisal in interventions for advanced kidney disease.

Living alone with type 2 diabetes poses unique challenges that may compromise self-management. This mixed-method study examined glycemic outcomes, emotional well-being, and self-care difficulties among 72 adults with type 2 diabetes in a primary care setting in Indonesia. Quantitative measures included glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, and self-reported anxiety, loneliness, fatigue, and sleep quality, while structured surveys and open-ended questions assessed self-care challenges. Results showed high rates of loneliness (69.4%), anxiety (69.4%), fatigue (66.7%), and poor sleep quality (63.9%), each significantly associated with suboptimal glycemic control (p < 0.05). Practical barriers included difficulties with meal planning, low motivation for physical activity, inconsistent medication adherence, and irregular glucose monitoring. Qualitative responses emphasized emotional distress, lack of support, and feelings of isolation as major obstacles. Findings highlight the need for multidisciplinary, socially oriented interventions to address both psychosocial and practical barriers in this vulnerable population.

Burnout syndrome arises as a response to chronic occupational stress, resulting in dysfunctions that detrimentally affect the health of medical professionals. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of burnout among physicians using Maslach Burnout Inventory. Among 319 participants, 32.3% experienced severe burnout. Furthermore, we detected a strong negative correlation between emotional exhaustion and age (r = -0.248; p < 0.001), years worked (r = -0.252; p < 0.001), and self-perceived quality of life (QoL; r = -0.574; p < 0.001); a strong negative correlation between depersonalization and age (r = -0.301; p < 0.001), years worked (r = -0.323; p < 0.001), and self-perceived QoL (r = -0.342; p < 0.001); and a strong positive correlation between personal accomplishment and self-perceived QoL (r = 0.450; p < 0.001). Early detection of burnout is crucial to implement preventive strategies that prioritize staff well-being and quality of patient care.

Psychological stress experienced by hospital inpatients has been shown to be associated with poorer post-hospital outcomes. The current study aimed to test for associations between hospital-related stress and post-hospital outcomes, and explore whether these associations varied by stressor type, demographic, and other patient factors. A nationally representative sample of 660 recent UK inpatients completed the Hospital Stress Questionnaire and four post-hospital outcome measures. Increased in-hospital stress was observed amongst patients that were younger, female, from an ethnic minority, had a longer hospital stay, or an unplanned admission. In-hospital stress was associated with all four post-hospital outcome measures. The associations were stronger for subjective than objective outcomes, and strongest with stressors related to health anxiety and negative effects of treatment. This study provides further evidence that in-hospital stress is associated with poorer post-hospital outcomes. Future interventions ought to focus on reducing in-hospital stress to improve patients' experiences of healthcare and recovery.

Emerging adults may look for sexual healthcare services less frequently than other age groups. This study constructed the Seeking Sexual Healthcare Services Scale to assess behaviors toward seeking sexual healthcare services among emerging adults. In Study 1 (n = 350), 24 items were developed, and an exploratory factor analysis revealed a 17-item 4-factor model. In Study 2 (n = 280), two experts in sex-related research reviewed the identified factors and provided feedback on the results from Study 1. Subsequently, 23 items were tested and an exploratory factor analysis revealed a 20-item 4-factor structure, where factors were identified as Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Importance, Perceived Barriers, Perceived Trust and Support, and Stigma. These factors demonstrated adequate internal reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. This scale may be a reliable and valid tool to assess access to sexual healthcare services and may facilitate continued research efforts to improve access to sexual healthcare services.

Amputation has become a defining injury of the genocide in Gaza, leaving thousands of civilians with permanent disabilities and shattered lives. This study explores the physical, social, and psychological impacts of conflict-related limb loss in Gaza. Thirty male amputees in Rafah's displaced camps were interviewed between January and March 2025. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: Initial shock and pain; medical neglect; hunger and malnutrition; displacement and mobility barriers; loss of economic and social roles; and psychological trauma. Participants described how limited access to medical care, prosthetics, and proper nutrition, worsened by repeated displacement, exacerbated physical complications, and disrupted personal identity. Despite adversity, accounts of peer support and community solidarity highlighted resilience. The study calls for integrated rehabilitation programs that address not only physical recovery but also psychosocial support, economic reintegration, and the restoration of dignity and belonging among amputees in Gaza.