"Journal of Health Psychology: An Interdisciplinary, International Journal"

de Lourdes, Marta; Pinto-Bastos, Ana; Machado, Paulo PP; Conceição, Eva

doi: 10.1177/1359105320986889pmid: 33406896

This study explored the associations between individuals presenting different problematic eating behaviors (Objective/Subjective binge-eating—OBE/SBE—and Compulsive/Non-compulsive grazing—C_Grazing/NC_Grazing) and eating disorder related symptoms. About 163 pre- and 131 post-bariatric patients were assessed. Assessment included: Face-to-face clinical interview to assess binge-eating and grazing episodes, and self-report measures to assess eating disorder symptomatology, psychological distress, and negative urgency. OBE and NC_Grazing were the problematic eating behaviors most and least associated with psychopathology, respectively. OBE and C_Grazing uniquely accounted for the significant variance in the most disordered eating variables. Our findings emphasize the need for the conceptualization of grazing behavior in the spectrum of disordered eating.

Singer, Jonathan; Shrout, M. Rosie; Papa, Anthony

doi: 10.1177/1359105321995945pmid: 33579165

This study examined changes in Pre-Loss Grief (PLG) among individuals whose family member has a life limiting illness and how baseline psychosocial factors predicted PLG. This two-wave study recruited family members of advanced cancer (N = 100) and dementia (N = 38) patients. A subsample completed 1-month follow-up (Cancer = 33; Dementia = 28). Higher caregiver burden and female participants predicted greater PLG at follow-up, accounting for baseline PLG. Family members of dementia patients (10.5%) were significantly more likely than family members of cancer patients (2.1%) to be in the “severe PLG” group. Findings demonstrate psychosocial factors related to PLG, informing interventions aimed at reducing PLG.

Shi, Yueqi; Wang, Shaoyi; Yu, Shunying; Lin, Guan Ning; Song, Weichen

doi: 10.1177/1359105321999697pmid: 33673741

To examine whether psychological traits (PT) had causal effects on Mouth Ulcers (MU), we applied two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to genetics association summary statistics of eleven PT and MU. After the adjustment of outlier variants, genetic correlations and multiple testing, well-being (WB) spectrum PT like life satisfactory (odds ratio [OR] = 0.638 per one standard deviation increment of PT score) had protective effects on MU. Reverse WB traits like neuroticism (OR = 1.60) increased the risk of MU. The lack of well-being characteristics may increase the risk of MU, which highlighted the value of preventive oral care for people who have a reverse mental condition.

Cipollina, Rebecca; Sanchez, Diana T

doi: 10.1177/1359105321995984pmid: 33678046

The present work experimentally examines how identity cues that signal minority inclusion contribute to sexual minorities’ (SM) healthcare visit expectations. We find that minority representation cues reduced SM’s (N = 188) expectations of a healthcare provider’s bias and increased perceived provider cultural competency which was, in turn, associated with lower anticipated identity-based devaluation and greater sexual orientation disclosure comfort. Providers’ diversity-valuing statements had mixed effects highlighting the importance of more concrete indicators of inclusion in this context. This work suggests that a lack of identity safety cues in healthcare settings may contribute to disparate health outcomes for sexual minority populations.

Tippett, Anna

doi: 10.1177/1359105321999711pmid: 33685265

In March 2020, fertility clinics across the UK began cancelling all assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) stopping all ART treatment from going ahead beyond the 15th April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article examines the coping mechanisms adopted by fertility patients during this time, focussing on the emotional support received from online fertility forums and fertility clinics during the indeterminate wait for treatment to resume. The study draws upon an online survey which assessed the mental health and wellbeing of 124 female fertility patients whose ART treatment was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The findings indicate a potential for improved communication between fertility clinics and patients in order to reduce psychological stress and isolation during the postponement of ART treatment, alongside better utilisation of online platforms as mechanisms for support. This article adds to the growing body of knowledge concerned with the implications of denying reproductive rights to the infertility community during a global pandemic. It also contributes to sociological discussions on the support mechanisms available to those navigating infertility and the wider social management of uncertainty.

Rathbone, Joanne A; Cruwys, Tegan; Jetten, Jolanda

doi: 10.1177/1359105321999705pmid: 33719629

This project investigated how alternative non-stigmatising public health messages influence people’s health behaviours and well-being, relative to traditional stigmatising weight-loss messages. We conducted three experimental studies (total N = 1281) that compared traditional weight-loss messages to weight-neutral messages (Study 1), weight-inclusive messages (Study 2) and size acceptance messages (Study 3). Results revealed that public health messages have differential effects on health behaviours and well-being, depending on the audience’s BMI or perceived weight. However, campaigns that challenge weight stigma and promote body positivity have positive effects on some psychological indicators of health and well-being for people of all body sizes.

Kaptein, Ad A

doi: 10.1177/1359105321999107pmid: 33706566

Novels represent a corpus of data that offers innovative opportunities for research and theory in health psychology. This article discusses how adding ‘health humanities’ to health psychology opens up a potentially rich domain for research and clinical application. The concept of ‘health humanities’ is discussed and put into a context of related fields. The concepts of ‘illness perceptions’ and ‘models of patient–health care provider interaction’ are used as illustrations. Applications are given, focusing on patients and their caregivers, health care providers and society at large (bibliotherapy and expressive writing). Suggestions for further development of the area are included.

Chen, Zhiqin; Zhu, Minfan; Zheng, Likangjin; Xie, Xiaofei

doi: 10.1177/1359105321999093pmid: 33752460

This study found that personal wisdom was correlated positively with Chinese older adults’ quality of life regardless of their place of residence (rural vs urban). Both self-esteem and depression were found to account directly for the relation between personal wisdom and quality of life among the urban, but not the rural residents. The findings overall highlighted the importance of considering personal wisdom as a beneficial psychological resource that helps older adults maintain a high quality of life in old age. Further, the rural-urban difference indicates the need for future personal wisdom studies on low-income and less educated older populations.

Umeh, Kanayo

doi: 10.1177/13591053211001419pmid: 33765898

The relationship between multimorbidity and self-rated health is well established. This study examined self-rated health in relation to multimorbidity, glycaemia and body weight specifically in adults with type 2 diabetes. Bootstrapped hierarchical logistic regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse survey data from 280 adults with type 2 diabetes. The odds of ‘fair/bad/very bad’ self-rated health increased 10-fold in patients with three (OR = 10.11 (3.36–30.40)) and four conditions (OR = 10.58 (2.9–38.25)), irrespective of glycaemic control (p < 0.001). The relationship between multimorbidity and perceived health was more pronounced in male patients. SEM generated a model with good fit, χ2 (CMIN) = 5.10, df = 3, p = 0.164, χ2 (CMIN)/df = 1.70, RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.95 and NFI = 0.94; self-rated health mediated relations between multimorbidity and BMI. Overall, this study highlights the potential of self-rated health to mediate relationships between multimorbidity and BMI, but not glycaemic control, in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Robinson, Michael D; Irvin, Roberta L; Persich, Michelle R

doi: 10.1177/13591053211001412pmid: 33765849

Taking care of one’s health can require trading current feelings for longer-term considerations of health and well-being. The present research (total N = 366) sought to assess ego operations of this type in terms of the extent to which the self would be capable of responding to health-challenging situations in ways deemed to be effective. Ego effective individuals engaged in a greater frequency of health-protective behaviors as well as a lesser frequency of risky behaviors, both with respect to a peer protocol (Study 1) and a daily life protocol (Study 2). Findings are informative concerning multiple self-regulation perspectives on health.