PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH

Effects of worry postponement on daily worry and sleep: a randomised controlled trial
McCarrick D, Prestwich A, Ferguson E and O'Connor DB
Previous studies have shown that perseverative, worrisome thoughts are prospectively related to poor sleep outcomes and that worry postponement interventions may be effective in reducing worry. However, their effectiveness for improving sleep outcomes is unknown and they have not been tested over a period longer than 7 days. The current study investigated the effects of a worry postponement intervention, alongside a worry postponement + planning intervention (augmented condition) against active and non-active control conditions on daily worry and sleep outcomes.
Preferences and responses for physical activity partnerships among women in midlife with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease: a digital, mixed methods approach
Satish A, Baga K, Lapitan E, Lassiter JM, Lobo AF and Arigo D
Women in midlife (ages 40-65) experience significant risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including declining physical activity (PA). Lack of social support is a key barrier, but PA partnerships show promise for increasing PA. Little is known about women's preferences for PA partnerships or how preferences are linked to women's broader conceptions of PA. In this study, we used a mixed methods design to evaluate beliefs about PA and preferences for PA partnerships among women in midlife with ≥1 CVD risk factor. Participants ( = 27, =53.3, =32.6 kg/m) used a proprietary web application for 7 days to view hypothetical PA partners and completed a 1-hour qualitative interview. Thematic analysis indicated that some women in midlife hold specific perceptions about PA that inform a desire to feel validated and understood. Their definitions of PA and the role of caregiving are critical to PA and partner preferences; they prefer to partner with women at similar starting levels of PA, though they are open to a range of partners who can foster motivation and growth. Findings show that PA partnerships may be desirable to women in midlife with elevated CVD risk and point to critical next steps for optimising partner-based PA promotion for women.
Lifestyle change for daily life with immersive virtual reality: a systematic scoping review of interventions for people with chronic- or life-threatening somatic conditions
Rosen K, Austin J and Bode C
Lifestyle change is essential for managing chronic- or life-threatening somatic conditions. Virtual reality offers opportunities for designing immersive and engaging lifestyle interventions that enable patients to translate behavioural changes into daily living. This review maps the state-of-the-art to provide directions for future research and intervention development.
Dispositional optimism and pessimism in relation to physical activity and fitness in adulthood - a 15-year follow-up study
Karhu J, Veijola J, Leinonen AM, Niemelä M, Tammelin TH and Hintsanen M
Dispositional optimism and pessimism have been linked to physical activity (PA) in adulthood, but longitudinal associations and relationships with physical fitness (PF) remain underexplored. We investigated whether optimism and pessimism are a) longitudinally associated with self-reported leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), b) cross-sectionally associated with device-measured PA and c) cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with clinically measured PF. Additionally, potential bidirectional associations were explored.
Predicting clusters of physical activity based on individual characteristics: an event-based ecological momentary assessment study
Braun M, Crombez G, Debeer D and De Paepe AL
Objective: Planning can help bridge the physical activity intention behaviour gap, but creating plans has proven burdensome for individuals. Personalised plan recommendations can alleviate this burden and improve plan quality. This study aimed to identify clusters of physical activities and predict these clusters based on static and dynamic person variables to identify relevant variables for personalising recommendations. Design: In a 14-day ecological momentary (EMA) assessment study, 52 participants completed surveys on static (e.g. gender, SES) and dynamic (e.g. mood) personal characteristics at baseline, each morning, and each time they were active for at least 5 min. Clusters of physical activities were identified based on activity (e.g. intensity) and context (e.g. location) characteristics. Clusters, activity domain, and location were predicted using both a conditional random forest algorithm approach and a multilevel multinomial regression approach. Results: A five-cluster solution was identified, with clusters being 'active transport activities', 'work-related activities', 'household activities', 'organised sport activities', and 'in the city activities'. We predicted up to 65% of clusters, exceeding baseline comparison. Predictions were largely based on static characteristics, most notably sociodemographic information. Conclusions: Our findings imply that personalised recommendations do not require daily assessment-though there is a risk of stereotyping. Future work should integrate passively collected data and evaluate different way of creating recommendations.
Social inequality, health behaviour determinants and health behaviour: a systematic review
Hilz LK, Jones C, Conner M, Jürgens D, Pedrós Barnils N and Schüz B
Health inequalities are partly due to social differences in health behaviours, but we know little about the underlying mechanisms. Health behaviour theories, summarised e.g. in the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) may outline such mechanisms. Two pathways have been theorised: Behavioural determinants mediate social differences in behaviour, and social differences in the determinants-behaviour relationship (moderation). Here, we summarise the literature on both pathways.
Young women's somatic symptoms are more strongly predicted by psychosocial rather than physiological factors: longitudinal findings in a population-representative Australian sample
Myles AB, Jones MP, Beath AP, Loxton D and Ejova A
Somatic symptoms - persistent medically unexplained physical complaints - present a challenge for the healthcare system, partly because patients often resist psychological explanations and treatments. To inform patient-practitioner interactions, we provide country-specific population-representative longitudinal data on the relative contributions of physiological and psychosocial factors - individually, as specific targets for treatment, and as 'physiological' and 'psychosocial' variable clusters representing broad targets for treatment.
Effectiveness of physical activity intervention for depression, anxiety and comorbid symptoms during the perinatal period among Chinese primiparas
He L, Soh KL, Chen A, Ji X, Dong X and Chen J
To examine the effectiveness of a physical activity (PA) programme incorporating partner support and enjoyment in preventing perinatal depression, anxiety, and comorbid anxiety and depression (CAD) among Chinese primiparas.
Mindfulness contributing to physical activity engagement: evidence from a follow-up study
Gan Y, Zhao Z, Chen Z and Mao ZX
Physical activity (PA) is beneficial to both physical and mental health, and mindfulness has gained attention due to its potential to promote PA behaviours. However, the underlying processes linking trait mindfulness and PA remain less explored. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between trait mindfulness and self-reported PA, and to examine whether mindfulness in PA, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise commitment play a mediating role in this relationship.
Targeting emotion in the perinatal period: a systematic review of emotion-focused and emotion regulation-based interventions
Kaya Yıldırım İ and Dirik G
This systematic review aims to examine psychological interventions that target emotion regulation and broader emotional processes in the perinatal period, to bring together existing evidence, and to provide a comprehensive perspective on how these interventions address women's emotional challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum year.
Parental distress following pediatric burn injuries: a systematic review of 33 years of research
Santos M, Ferraz A and Pereira MG
Burns are a common cause of unintentional injuries in childhood and a significant global public health issue. Parents of paediatric burn patients are a vulnerable group for psychological distress.
Can cultural facemasks enhance public health communication? Testing a theory-grounded messaging approach
Perach R, Kostyuk E, Husbands D and Bondaronek P
Supporting the uptake of protective health measures is key to the management of new and existing health threats. We present and test a novel theory-grounded messaging approach that combines death reminders with exposure to an NHS prime located on the facemask of the spokesperson.
Trait self-compassion, daily stress and eating behaviours: a daily diary study
Liu J, Conner M and O'Connor DB
Self-compassion is associated with reduced stress and health-promoting behaviours through enabling a positive attitude towards the self in times of difficulty. However, limited research has investigated the role of self-compassion in understanding the relationship between daily stress and eating styles. This study examined whether trait self-compassion was associated with daily eating behaviours and eating styles. It also tested moderation and mediation models that linked trait self-compassion, daily stress and daily eating. A sample of 146 individuals completed a measure of trait self-compassion at baseline and then a 7-day daily diary. At baseline, self-compassion was found to be associated with uncontrolled, restrained, emotional, and intuitive eating styles. Multilevel modelling found that daily hassles were positively associated with total snacking (unhealthy and healthy) behaviours. Trait self-compassion was associated with less daily hassles. However, self-compassion was not associated with between-meal snack consumption and did not moderate daily stress-snacking relationships. Multilevel mediation analyses revealed no indirect effects of self-compassion on between-meal snacking, daily hassles or uplifts. Future research ought to replicate the current findings and explore fluctuations in self-compassion at a daily level. Greater understanding of a state-trait approach to self-compassion is warranted for the associations with daily stress and eating behaviours.
From repetition to habit: how variability in daily physical activity relates to physical activity habits
Wen J, Liu Y, Cao R, Qi W and Miao M
Repetition of physical activity (PA) contributes to the formation of PA habit. However, daily repetitions of PA of varied intensities might differ in their impact on PA habits. This study investigated the effect of daily variability in PA on various facets of PA habits: lack of intention (LOI), lack of control (LOC) and efficiency of PA.
Facilitators and barriers to care among individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta
Guo S, Gedeon FC, Wiese AD, Qian JH, Morales JM, Shepherd WS, Colombo GM, Ayers KB, Cho H, Rork WC, Kostick-Quenet KM, Nguyen D, Schneider SC, , Robinson ME, Murali CN, Lee B, Sutton VR and Storch EA
Limited research has examined facilitators and barriers that affect patient care in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The present study seeks to identify (1) facilitators and (2) barriers to care as reported by medical providers and caregivers of individuals with OI, and (3) common themes between both stakeholder groups.
Associations between interoceptive awareness and leisure time physical activity intensity, engagement, and duration
Osherow EK, Gnall KE and Park CL
Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) is important for physical and mental well-being, although many U.S. adults fail to meet daily physical activity guidelines. This two-part project examined associations between four dimensions of interoceptive awareness (IA) (i.e., Trusting, Body Listening, Self-Regulation, Not-Worrying) and daily engagement in and duration of LTPA.
How multiple motives facilitate decisions to exercise in contexts with tempting alternatives: evidence from two scenario studies
Furman CR, Volz SC, Mann T and Rothman AJ
Both affectively-charged and reflective motivation may be necessary to sustain recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines, especially in contexts with tempting alternatives. However, our understanding of how different sources of motivation facilitate PA across contexts is limited. This paper presents a novel value-based model that specifies how affectively-charged and reflective motivation interact to support PA decisions based on available alternatives at a given decision point.
The bidirectional association between body dysmorphic symptoms, body image inflexibility, and appearance-related safety behaviors in young Chinese women
Huang X and Yan Y
Previous studies and theories have shown a bidirectional association between body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms, body image inflexibility, and appearance-related safety behaviors. Most previous studies are cross-sectional studies, lacking longitudinal studies. We aimed to explore the roles of body image inflexibility and appearance-related safety behaviors in BDD symptoms through a longitudinal study.
How habitual is everyday life? An ecological momentary assessment study
Rebar AL, Vincent G, Kovac Le Cornu K and Gardner B
Establishing to what extent everyday behaviors are habitual will help intervention developers understand whether and which specific behaviors can become habitual or may require habit disruption to enable adoption of desired behaviors. Previous estimates of the prevalence of habit in everyday life have not distinguished between habitual instigation, whereby habit triggers action selection of a target action, and habitual execution, whereby habit facilitates smooth performance of action.
A participatory-action research exploration of parent and clinician experiences of type-1 diabetes diagnosis
Shaw D, Connolly J and Piggin L
To systemically explore parent and clinician experiences of type-1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis at a large UK hospital. To use those experiences to collaboratively create an action plan to improve support for parents and clinicians.
Eating post-pleasure: a phenomenological exploration of loss, disgust and dislocation in the sensory worlds of individuals with persistent chemosensory dysfunction following COVID-19
Lövestam E, Sandvik P, Lindberg F and Neuman N
This study investigates the subjective experiences of individuals with persistent chemosensory dysfunction following COVID-19 illness. By exploring the perceptual and emotional dimensions of their altered sensory worlds, and using a realist phenomenological approach, the study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges these individuals face.