General Psychological Construct Research Articles

Body image flexibility and its correlates: A meta-analysis

Body image flexibility refers to the ability to openly experience thoughts or feelings about the body without acting on them or trying to change them. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that body image flexibility is connected to numerous adaptive processes, and that it is sensitive to change during psychological interventions. However, a quantitative synthesis of empirical research on body image flexibility is lacking. We conducted the first meta-analysis on body image flexibility and its correlates. Sixty-two studies were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on 19 psychological correlates, divided into three clusters: eating and body image disturbances, positive body-related and general psychological constructs, and general psychopathology. Meta-analyses showed inverse correlations between body image flexibility and each construct within the eating and body image disturbances cluster (rs= −.45 to −.67), and the general psychopathology cluster (rs= −.37 to −.58). Body image flexibility was positively associated with each positive psychology construct (rs = .23 – .58). Men reported higher levels of body image flexibility than women (d = 0.32). Psychological interventions were more effective than control groups at enhancing body image flexibility in randomized controlled trials (d = 0.42). Findings confirm that body image flexibility is consistently connected to indices of mental health, and that it can be enhanced during psychological interventions.

Human time perspective and its structural associations with voxel-based morphometry and gyrification

Time perspective refers to humans’ concept of integrating and evaluating temporal position and evaluation of memories, emotions, and experiences. We tested the hypothesis that different aspects of time perspective, as assessed with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) are related to variation of brain structure in non-clinical subjects. Analysing data from n = 177 psychiatrically healthy subjects using voxel-based morphometry with the CAT12 software package, we identified several significant (p < 0.05 FWE, cluster-level corrected) associations. The factors past negative, reflecting a negative attitude towards past events and present fatalistic, measuring a hopeless and fatalistic attitude towards future life, were both negatively associated with grey matter volumes of the anterior insula. The ZTPI factor future was negatively associated with precuneus grey matter. There was no association of ZTPI scores with gyrification using an absolute mean curvature method, a marker of early brain development. These findings provide a link between a general psychological construct of time perspective and brain structural variations in key areas related to time keeping (anterior insula) and the default mode network (precuneus), both of which overlap with variation in behavioral aspects and psychopathology.

Predictors of retention in a randomised trial of smoking cessation in low-socioeconomic status Australian smokers

Background and aimsLittle is known about the factors associated with retention in smoking cessation trials, especially for low-socioeconomic status (low-SES) smokers. This study examined the factors associated with retention of low-SES smokers in the Australian Financial Interventions for Smoking Cessation Among Low-Income Smokers (FISCALS) trial. DesignA two-group parallel block randomised open-label trial with allocation concealment. SettingAustralia. The study was conducted primarily by telephone-based interviews with nicotine replacement therapy delivered via mail. Participants1047 low-SES smokers interested in quitting smoking were randomised. MeasurementsParticipants completed computer assisted telephone interviews (CATIs) at baseline, 2-month and 8-month follow-up. Smoking-related, substance use, mental or physical health, general psychological constructs, sociodemographic and recruitment sources association with retention at 8-month follow-up were examined using binary logistic regression. Findings946 participants (90%) completed the 2-month follow-up interview and 880 participants (84%) completed the 8-month follow-up interview. Retention at 8-months was associated with higher motivation to quit (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.27 p<0.01), more recent quit attempts (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.40 p<0.05), increasing age (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.07 p<0.01), and higher level of education (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.45, 3.46 p<0.01). Lower retention at 8-months occurred for those participants recruited from posters placed in Department of Human Service Centrelink Offices (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.89, p<0.05) compared to participants recruited from Quitline services. No significant differences in retention were found for participants recruited via newspaper advertisements or word of mouth compared to Quitline services. No significant associations were found between health-related or behavioural factors and retention. ConclusionsIn the context of high overall retention rates from disadvantaged smokers in a randomised trial, retention was greater in those smokers with higher motivation to quit, more recent quit attempts, increased age, higher level of education and for those recruited through Quitline or newspaper advertisements.

Self‐Determination: A Family Affair

Due to the advocacy of families during the 20th century, children and youth with disabilities gained access to a free, appropriate education. Although people with disabilities have made significant strides in the past quarter century, in the United States and across the world, people with significant disabilities continue to experience disproportionate levels of unemployment, have few options other than to live with their families, and experience a diminished quality of life. To address this, the educational system has focused on supports and services to ensure that young people with disabilities transition from school to adulthood more successfully. Within these efforts, the promotion of self‐determination for secondary students with disabilities has become best practice, and there exist evidence‐based methods, materials, and strategies to achieve this outcome. This article discusses the importance of self‐determination for youth with disabilities to achieve successful lives and the important role that families play in that process.

A Multivariate Analysis of the Self-Determination of Adolescents

Self-determination is a general psychological construct within the organizing structure of theories of human agentic behavior. People who are self-determined act volitionally to serve as the causal agent in their lives. To provide a fuller understanding of the self-determination of adolescents, this study collected data on self-determination, quality of life, self-efficacy, and assertiveness for more than 1,400 Italian adolescents. We conducted a series of Multivariate Analyses of Variance to examine the relationships among, differences between, and associations with self-determination, including any differences as a function of age and gender as well as differences in quality of life, self-efficacy, and assertiveness as a function of level of selfdetermination. We also examined which quality of life factors were associated with enhanced self-determination and self-efficacy. Findings support the importance of self-determination to quality of life and enhanced self-efficacy.

Factors influencing public acceptance of innovative food technologies and products

Factors that influence public acceptance of innovative technologies and products in the food area were determined. Results suggest that perceived benefit, perceived risks and perceived naturalness are important factors for the acceptance of new food technologies. Lay people may not only have difficulties in assessing risks associated with novel food technologies, but the benefits of such technologies may also not be obvious. Trust, therefore, is important for the acceptance of new food technologies. Finally, the impact of general psychological constructs, such as food neophobia and others, on the acceptance of new foods is discussed.

Dutch translation of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire: Factor structure, reliability and validity

Background The Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-III) is a 30-item self-report instrument measuring fear of a variety of pain-related stimuli. Aim The present study was undertaken to develop a Dutch version of the FPQ-III, to assess the instrument’s psychometric qualities, to examine the suggested factor structure, and to relate the FPQ-III to other general psychological constructs in order to assess its construct validity. Method The questionnaire was translated following the forward–backward method. The final version was filled out by ( n = 274) psychology freshmen. A random half of the subjects was re-tested after five weeks. Results Satisfactory psychometric qualities were obtained (average α = 0.90 and test–retest reliability = 0.71). Factor analysis supported the three-factor structure and also the results concerning divergent and convergent validity show strong similarity with the results from other studies. Conclusions The Dutch translation of the FPQ-III appears to be a valid equivalent of the original English version and does represent a unique construct.

Psychological effects of weight cycling in obese persons: a review and research agenda.

This review summarizes studies on the psychological effects of weight cycling (i.e., weight loss and regain) in obese persons and proposes an agenda for future research on this topic. Among general psychological constructs, the current literature suggests that weight cycling is not associated with depression, other psychopathology, or depressogenic cognitive styles. Weight cycling is associated with decreased perceptions of health and well-being, although the clinical significance of this relationship is uncertain. Among weight- and eating-related constructs, weight cycling does not appear to be related to restraint, hunger, or personality traits associated with eating disorders. Weight cycling, however, does appear to be associated with clinically significant reductions in eating self-efficacy and weak but consistent increases in binge eating severity. Definitive conclusions about the presence or absence of the psychological consequences of weight cycling are premature, given the small number of studies, as well as a variety of methodological and interpretive concerns. A new generation of research is necessary to determine the extent and nature of the psychological sequelae of weight cycling.