Habit Index Research Articles

Evaluation of Serum C-reactive Protein Levels in Patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Control Group: A Comparative Study

Abstract Introduction: Potentially malignant disorders are highly prevalent in India. Therefore, early identification and prevention of these lesions may reduce the incidence and increase the prognosis of oral cancer patients. In the present study, we tried to assess the correlation between the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients who had been diagnosed with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and compared it with normal individuals. We also tried to correlate CRP levels in different stages of diseases. Materials and Methods: This comparative study consisted of 60 patients/subjects coming to the outpatient department of oral medicine and radiology, who were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. They were further divided into two equal groups. Group 1 comprised OSMF patients, and Group 2 comprised the control group. Detailed case history was taken along with habit history, and the habit index was calculated. Blood was collected from each patient for blood reports. After the histological examination, patients were categorised into different stages of the disease. The Spinreact CRP-turbinates kit (SPINREACT) was utilised to measure serum CRP quantitatively. Data collected were entered into an Excel sheet, and a Chi-square and ANOVA test were used for analysis. A significance threshold of P < 0.05 was set for all tests, meaning that a P value below this threshold indicates statistical significance. Results: OSMF was most common in males and younger to middle age groups. In patients with OSMF, serum CRP levels were elevated; however, this increase was not statistically significant when compared to the control group. There is no discernible change present in OSMF according to stages. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the OSMF had higher levels of CRP than the healthy subjects, indicating that CRP is a biomarker that can be used to gauge the severity of a disease. It is yet unknown if elevated CRP levels represent a risk factor for the development of cancer or if they are raised before the biological genesis of cancer. Therefore, to evaluate pre- and post-treatment serum CRP levels and determine the disease’s status, more research with larger sample sizes is required.

Adherence to 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and Habit Strength in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Low 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) adherence (< 95%) is associated with increased relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Stronger habit has been associated with higher adherence. We examined the relationship of 6-MP adherence to habit strength and health-related quality of life in pediatric ALL. A single-center, cross-sectional study of 52 participants: 11 patients (mean age 16 ± 4) and 41 parents/caregivers (age 37 ± 5). Participants completed Visual Analogue Scale (VASdose), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Medication Adherence Scale, and the Self-Regulated Habit Index (SRHI). Twelve semi-structured participant interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. 81% (42/52) of participants reported high 6-MP adherence (VASdose ≥ 95%): patients 91% (10/11), parents 78% (32/41). No significant correlation was found between adherence and habit strength. Reported adherence facilitators included reminders, care team communications, personalized tools, administration experience, self-efficacy, and social support. Conversely, financial burden, scheduling conflicts, and medication access were cited as barriers. One-fifth of participants reported low 6-MP adherence, with habit strength not associated with adherence. Variability of 6-MP routines may prohibit automaticity. While 6-MP adherence may not correlate with habit strength, interventions promoting and strengthening habit formation may overcome barriers to 6-MP adherence and improve outcomes.

Evaluation of Environmental and Neighborhood Satisfaction Across the Socio-demographic Gradients Using in-situ and Geospatial Data

Residential satisfaction assessment has exponentially grown over the past decades, yet scant attention has focused on inferring geospatial methods to statistical tools based on residential satisfaction questionnaire data. This has resulted in urban planning strategies neglecting environmental structures to improve residents’ overall wellbeing as geospatial data allows for objective characterization of these physical, environmental characteristics rather than relying on subjective estimates of the residential determinants. We hypothesized that the heterogeneity in residents' perceptions pertaining to their environmental and neighborhood satisfaction is largely informed by differences in their socio-economic and demographic factors. Structured questionnaires were administered in housing estates found in Budapest, Hungary and analyzed using residential satisfaction indices, multiple linear regression. NDVI was calculated using the Sentinel 2 data and employed to assess the environmental quality in each district. Regression results found education level, gender, ethnic group, and tenureship to be the socio-demographics variables that significantly affect overall residential satisfaction. The habitability index was developed comprising of the neighborhood and environmental components with the majority of the variables in both components contributing above 70% across all the study areas, except Újpalota. Results further showed that the use of geospatial data provides an objective mechanism for estimating residents’ environmental satisfaction. Hence, this study has shown the importance and advantages of integrating several fields to produce comprehensive solutions to the problems at hand. Specifically, the integration of geospatial tools with residential satisfaction questionnaires allows for innovative and practical solutions that urban planning decision-makers can utilize to identify, predict and mitigate residential dissatisfaction.

Time to Form a Habit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Behaviour Habit Formation and Its Determinants.

Background: Healthy lifestyles depend on forming crucial habits through the process of habit formation, emphasising the need to establish positive habits and break negative ones for lasting behaviour changes. This systematic review aims to explore the time required for developing health-related habits. Methods: Six databases (Scopus, PsychINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline and PubMed) were searched to identify experimental intervention studies assessing self-report habit or automaticity questionnaires (e.g., the self-report habit index (SRHI) or the self-report behavioural automaticity index (SRBAI)), or the duration to reach automaticity in health-related behaviours. Habit formation determinants were also evaluated. Meta-analysis was performed to assess the change in the SRHI or SRBAI habit scores between pre- and post-intervention, and the study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: A total of 20 studies involving 2601 participants (mean age range: 21.5-73.5 years) were included. Most studies had a high risk of bias rating (n = 11). Health behaviours included physical activity (n = 8), drinking water (n = 2), vitamin consumption (n = 1), flossing (n = 3), healthy diet (n = 8), microwaving a dishcloth (for foodborne disease reduction, n = 2) and sedentary behaviour reduction (n = 1). Four studies reported the median or mean times to reach habit formation, ranging from 59-66 days (median) and 106-154 days (means), with substantial individual variability (4-335 days). The meta-analysis showed significant improvements in habit scores pre- to post-intervention across different habits (standardised mean difference: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.88). Frequency, timing, type of habit, individual choice, affective judgements, behavioural regulation and preparatory habits significantly influence habit strength, with morning practices and self-selected habits generally exhibiting greater strength. Conclusions: Emerging evidence on health-related habit formation indicates that while habits can start forming within about two months, the time required varies significantly across individuals. A limitation of this meta-analysis is the relatively small number of studies included, with flossing and diet having the most evidence among the behaviours examined. Despite this, improvements in habit strength post-intervention are evident across various behaviours, suggesting that targeted interventions can be effective. Future research should aim to expand the evidence base with well-designed studies to better understand and enhance the process of establishing beneficial health habits.

Subjective Assessment of Rdoc-Related Constructs in Addiction and Compulsive Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) and disorders due to addictive behavior (DABs) are prevalent conditions that share common neurobiological and behavioral characteristics. This scoping review aims to identify and map the range of subjective assessment tools (e.g., interviews and self-report instruments) for assessing Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) and related constructs underlying DABs and OCRDs, such as impaired response inhibition, habit formation, and compulsivity. A scoping review was performed following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR). The search was conducted in Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases. No constraints of data or document type were adopted. The search yielded 615 instruments, of which 79 were deemed transdiagnostic and capable of assessing at least one of the target constructs. Noteworthy tools included are the Cambridge-Chicago Compulsivity Trait Scale, the Self-report Habit Index, the Reward Probability Index, the Threat-Related Reassurance-Seeking Scale, and the recent Positive Valence Systems Scale. Despite the growing body of literature on OCRDs and DABs as new diagnostic chapters and the number of tools with the potential to assess their transdiagnostic constructs clinically, most instruments were designed to capture dimensions or psychopathology not directly (or primarily) related to OCRDs, DABs and the concepts of impaired response inhibition, habit formation, and compulsivity in the context of these conditions. Further studies exploring the correlation between subjective assessments, corresponding behavior paradigms, and neuroimaging data would be of great value in the translation of RDoC constructs and domains into clinical settings.

The Correlation between Hygiene Habit and Body Mass Index of Healthy People

We investigated to find out the BMI of healthy people and the relation to their health environmental habits. We surveyed walking travelers’ participants who had hiking experiences in South Korea. We also analyzed the BMI classification by hand hygiene habits, shoe washing and garbage disposal maintaining for distribution BMI features. The survey was conducted through an online questionnaire. The subjects included 569 adult participants, males and females aged 20 years and older. Box plot visualization and cross-tab test were used for analysis. The results revealed that almost 48.5% of all participants handwash before meals. Statistically, it showed a significant relationship between normal calcified BMI and washing hands before eating (p-val : 0.001) and before eating snacks (p-val : 0.000). The distribution of participants who were in BMI classification of overweight (BMI 24.9~29.9) in a group that had habits of washing hands before meals when traveling showed 10% lower. The lower the number of cleaning frequencies, increasing the higher BMI. However, the impact on shoe care (washing) and waste care was negligible. The result shows that good habits in the environment, especially hand hygiene, influence the BMI. This indicates that certainty about health and some health environmental habits also affect health.

Can-and should-automaticity be self-reported using a single item? A secondary analysis of 16 datasets.

Understanding the influence of habit on health behaviour, or the formation or disruption of health habits over time, requires reliable and valid measures of automaticity. The most used measure, the Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index (SRBAI; derived from the Self-Report Habit Index [SRHI]), comprises four items, which may be impractical in some research contexts. Responding to demand from fellow researchers, this study sought to identify whether and which single items from the SRBAI adequately detect hypothesised effects of automaticity, via secondary analysis of 16 datasets, incorporating 16,838 participants and seven different behaviours. We assessed construct validity through correlations between each item and the full SRBAI (and where possible, the SRHI) and predictive validity by examining correlations with behaviour. All four single-item measures independently met construct and predictive validity criteria. We recognise compelling conceptual and methodological arguments regarding why people should not attempt to assess automaticity via a single, self-report item. However, where circumstances require brief measures, three SRBAI items each offer a credible and practical one-item measure that can substitute for the SRBAI or SRHI. We recommend one item in particular-'Behaviour X is something I do automatically'-because it tended to most closely replicate the effects of the four-item SRBAI.

Breakfast Habits and Body Mass Index in Adolescents From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Breakfast Habits and Body Mass Index in Adolescents From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Psychometric evaluation of the Self-Report Habit Index for assessing habitual e-cigarette use behavior in high school adolescents

BackgroundE-cigarettes are the most-used nicotine product among adolescents, but limited psychometrically-sound, e-cigarette-relevant measures exist for adolescents. We examined psychometric properties of the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) for assessing adolescents’ habitual e-cigarette use. MethodsDuring Fall 2022, 4855 students from eight Connecticut high schools completed an anonymous survey. The analytic sample comprised 491 students who reported past-month e-cigarette use and completed the SRHI (Age M=15.94, SD=1.24 years, 56 % female, 37.1 % Hispanic, 57.6 % White). We examined the SRHI’s latent factor structure; internal reliability; measurement invariance and between-groups differences (e.g., nicotine vs. nicotine-free vaping); and associations with total e-cigarette flavors used in the past month, past-30-day vaping frequency, and e-cigarette dependence. ResultsThe SRHI’s 6-item, 1-factor structure was confirmed. Internal reliability was excellent. The SRHI was scalar invariant for all subgroups tested. Nicotine (vs. nicotine-free) and daily (vs. non-daily) e-cigarette use were associated with greater habitual e-cigarette use behavior. In adjusted models, habitual e-cigarette use was associated with using more e-cigarette flavors, vaping more frequently, and greater e-cigarette dependence. Habitual e-cigarette use incrementally accounted for variance in past-month flavors used and vaping frequency beyond dependence. ConclusionsThe SRHI evidenced solid psychometric properties for assessing habitual e-cigarette use behavior among high school students. Relationships between habitual use and frequency of use, e-cigarette flavors, and dependence might be expected as these constructs are associated with the three characterizing features of habitual behaviors: frequent repetition, cue-driven elicitation, and automaticity. Future prospective research can clarify the temporal ordering of habitual e-cigarette use and dependence in adolescents.

The Impact of Dietary Habits on Sleep Deprivation and Glucose Control in School-Aged Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Diet plays a crucial role in managing type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Background/Objectives:This study aimed to determine the impact of nutritional habits on sleep deprivation and glucose control in school-aged children with T1DM. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, nutritional habits and sleep deprivation were assessed in 100 school-aged children with T1DM, aged 7-13 years. The Dietary Habits Index and the Sleep Deprivation Scale for Children and Adolescents were used to evaluate nutritional habits and the level of sleep deprivation. Patients' sociodemographic and nutritional variables were collected through researcher-composed questionnaires. HbA1c levels over the past 6 months were obtained from the patient data system. Results: The study found a moderately strong positive correlation between the Dietary Habits Index score and HbA1c (p < 0.001), with 28% of the variation in HbA1c explained by changes in the Dietary Habits Index score. However, no correlation was found between the Dietary Habits Index score and the level of sleep deprivation. Conclusions: The nutritional habits of school-aged children with T1DM may affect glucose control and sleep deprivation. Therefore, it is important to educate children with T1DM on making healthy food choices to manage their condition effectively.

Patient demographic characteristics and risk factors associated with sun protection behaviours in specialist melanoma clinics.

We investigated the association between sun protection behaviours and demographic and melanoma risk characteristics of patients attending Australian melanoma specialist clinics. This may assist in targeting and tailoring melanoma prevention patient education for people at high-risk and specific population subgroups. A cross-sectional analysis of questionnaire data collected from participants attending the dermatology clinics at two major melanoma centres in Sydney, Australia between February 2021 and September 2023. The primary outcome was Sun Protection Habits (SPH) index (a summary score measured as habitual past month use of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, a shirt with sleeves that covers the shoulders, limiting midday sun exposure and seeking shade, using a Likert scale). The primary analysis considered the SPH index and its component items scored as continuous. Data from 883 people were analysed. Factors associated with less frequent sun protection behaviours overall included male gender, no personal history of melanoma, lower perceived risk, lower calculated 10-year risk of developing melanoma, and no private health insurance. People aged >61 years reported lower use of sunscreen but higher use of hats and sleeved-shirts compared with people in the younger age group. There was no difference in overall sun protection behaviours according to family history of melanoma, country of birth or by lifetime melanoma risk among people without a personal history of melanoma. These findings highlight the potential for targeting high-risk individuals with less frequent use of sun protection for patient education, public health messaging and ultimately improving sun protection behaviours.

Change in eating habits after 2 years of pandemic restrictions among adolescents living in a city in northern Italy: results of the COALESCENT Observational Study (Change amOng ItAlian adoLESCENTs)

BackgroundLockdown measures during the recent pandemic, due to the novel COVID-19, affected several other aspects of lifestyle, but little is known about their long-term impact, especially among adolescents. Our study...

Snacking motivations and behaviour in Australian adults: The role of personality traits

Snacking, namely, consuming food and beverages in-between main meals, especially snacks with a high fat, salt and/or sugar content, is a major contributor to excessive energy intake and long-term weight gain(1). There are many potential drivers of snacking behaviours, including physiological (e.g., hunger) as well as social, psychological, and emotional reasons(2). Individual differences, such as personality traits, have been linked to unhealthy snacking. Nevertheless, it is important to examine the potential explanatory pathways, such as motivations for snacking and habit strength, that may explain this relationship between personality and snacking. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between personality traits, habit strength, motivations for snacking, and snacking behaviour, including choice and consumption. Participants were n = 230 Australian adults (female: n = 164; 71.3%) aged 18-77 years old (M = 34 years, SD = 13.4) who completed an online survey. The survey included assessments of personality traits (The Big Five Inventory 2), habit strength (the Self-Report Habit Index), motivations for snacking (The Eating Motivation Survey), momentary snack food choice (Snack Preference Task), and habitual snack food consumption (Snack Frequency Questionnaire). Overall, the most frequently selected motivations for snacking were ‘liking’, ‘convenience’, and ‘habit’. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between motivations for snacking and snacking behaviour. We found that health motivation for snacking was negatively correlated with momentary choice (r = -.042, p &lt;.01) and habitual consumption (r = -.033, p &lt;.01) of unhealthy snack foods and beverages. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether habit strength and the Big Five personality traits predicted both motivations for snacking and snacking behaviours after controlling for demographic variables. For health motivations for snacking, habit strength (beta = −0.15, p = .025), openness (beta = 0.50, p = .003, and conscientiousness (beta = 0.58, p = .001) were significant predictors. For momentary choice of unhealthy snacks, health motivation (beta = −4.35, p = .004), pleasure (beta = 3.53, p = .029), and visual appeal (beta = 5.29, p &lt;.001) were significant predictors. For habitual consumption of unhealthy snacks, health motivation (beta = −5.39, p = .001), habit strength (beta = 2.89, p = .045) and neuroticism (beta = 5.16, p = .045) were significant predictors. These findings indicate that health motivation for snacking predicts both momentary snack preference and habitual snack food consumption. Moreover, personality traits may be linked with habitual unhealthy snacking behaviour via their association with specific motivations for snacking. Overall, these findings suggest that health promotion messages focusing on health motivation may be important for increasing healthier momentary and habitual snack choices to improve dietary intake and support weight management.

Implementing eHealth-based behaviour change support within a nutrition intervention trial improves adherence to study-related behaviours in healthy young adults

Nutrition intervention trials play a key role in informing clinical and dietary guidelines. Within these trials, we need participants to change their behaviours; however, researchers seldom systematically consider how to support participants with these changes, contributing to poor adherence. Here we evaluate how using a behaviour change framework to develop support within a dietary intervention impacts young adults’ adherence to required trial behaviours. In the Protein Diet Satisfaction (PREDITION) trial, 80 young adults were randomised to a flexitarian or vegetarian diet for 10-weeks to investigate the psychological and cardiometabolic effects of moderate lean red meat consumption as part of a balanced diet(1). To understand these outcomes, it was key that participants within the trial (i) ate a healthy, basal vegetarian diet (excluding meat, poultry, and fish not provided by research team) and (ii) reported their dietary intake daily on a smartphone application (required to evaluate intervention compliance). To enhance adherence to these behaviours the Nine Principles framework was used to develop behaviour change support (BCS)(2). Key components of the BCS included access to a dietitian-led Facebook group, text reminders, and food delivery. Effectiveness was measured using the following analyses of the 78 participants who completed the study: pre-post change in targeted dietary habits over time using a subscore of the Healthy Diet Habits Index, adherence score to reporting over 10-weeks, Facebook group engagement, and impact evaluation. Analysis included linear imputation modelling, t-tests, and chi-square analysis. The total Healthy Diet Habits Index subscore out of 16 significantly increased from baseline to week 10 (10.6 ± 2.6 to 11.2 ± 2.6, p = 0.011), demonstrating maintenance of a healthy diet. Overall adherence to reporting was high across the 10 weeks, with the total population mean reporting score 90.4 ± 14.6 out of a possible 100. This strengthens study validity, allowing us to confidently report if participants complied with study requirements of consuming the intervention protein (red meat or plant-based meat alternatives) on top of a basal vegetarian diet. Although relatively low active Facebook engagement was observed (on average &lt;1 ‘react’ per post), most participants agreed the text messages and Facebook groups supported them to adhere to recording (63%) and eating healthily (60%), respectively. This is the first study to provide an example of how a framework can be used to systematically develop, implement, and assess BCS within a nutrition trial. This appears to be a promising way to enhance adherence to study-related behaviours, including the burdensome task of reporting dietary intake. We believe this has great potential to improve research validity and decrease resource waste, not only for the PREDITION trial but in future dietary intervention trials.

Gamification of Behavior Change: Mathematical Principle and Proof-of-Concept Study.

Many people want to build good habits to become healthier, live longer, or become happier but struggle to change their behavior. Gamification can make behavior change easier by awarding points for the desired behavior and deducting points for its omission. In this study, we introduced a principled mathematical method for determining how many points should be awarded or deducted for the enactment or omission of the desired behavior, depending on when and how often the person has succeeded versus failed to enact it in the past. We called this approach optimized gamification of behavior change. As a proof of concept, we designed a chatbot that applies our optimized gamification method to help people build healthy water-drinking habits. We evaluated the effectiveness of this gamified intervention in a 40-day field experiment with 1 experimental group (n=43) that used the chatbot with optimized gamification and 2 active control groups for which the chatbot's optimized gamification feature was disabled. For the first control group (n=48), all other features were available, including verbal feedback. The second control group (n=51) received no feedback or reminders. We measured the strength of all participants' water-drinking habits before, during, and after the intervention using the Self-Report Habit Index and by asking participants on how many days of the previous week they enacted the desired habit. In addition, all participants provided daily reports on whether they enacted their water-drinking intention that day. A Poisson regression analysis revealed that, during the intervention, users who received feedback based on optimized gamification enacted the desired behavior more often (mean 14.71, SD 6.57 times) than the active (mean 11.64, SD 6.38 times; P<.001; incidence rate ratio=0.80, 95% CI 0.71-0.91) or passive (mean 11.64, SD 5.43 times; P=.001; incidence rate ratio=0.78, 95% CI 0.69-0.89) control groups. The Self-Report Habit Index score significantly increased in all conditions (P<.001 in all cases) but did not differ between the experimental and control conditions (P>.11 in all cases). After the intervention, the experimental group performed the desired behavior as often as the 2 control groups (P≥.17 in all cases). Our findings suggest that optimized gamification can be used to make digital behavior change interventions more effective. Open Science Framework (OSF) H7JN8; https://osf.io/h7jn8.

Sedentary Behaviors and Eating Habits in Active and Inactive Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Population from Southern Italy.

The aim of this study was to analyze sedentary behaviors and dietary habits assumed by individuals regularly practicing exercise in a gym, sports athletes and inactive individuals. The Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire and the Healthy Dietary Habits Index were administered online to evaluate the time spent in sedentary activities during the week and the habits of food consumption among adult individuals from the Campania region, in the south of Italy. Of the 411 participants, 25% were inactive, 34% were gym practitioners and 41% practiced different sport disciplines. Significant differences were found for sedentary habits adopted during the week and diets between athletes and inactive participants. However, no significant differences were observed for sedentary activities on the weekend and some sedentary behaviors such as video gaming or working/studying during the week. With regard to diet, athletes showed healthier food choices, such as fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings of this study underline the need for enhancing the awareness of the local population regarding the detrimental effects of unhealthy dietary behaviors and sedentary time, especially but not exclusively among inactive individuals.

Assessment of lifestyle changes related to quarantine among Saudi population during the early COVID-19 pandemic: pre- and post-analysis

BackgroundThe escalating emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted human life due to the ever-increasing morbidity, containment measures, and the associated emotional distress. This study examined the influence of COVID-19-related measures on the lifestyle behaviors of adults living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).MethodsThe study recruited 638 participants through convenience sampling in Jeddah and Taif cities, Saudi Arabia. Demographic characteristics and COVID-19-related information were collected through an anonymous self-reported electronic questionnaire. Lifestyle behaviors were assessed before and during the quarantine using the Healthy Dietary Habits Index (HDHI)-A and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF).ResultsThe study revealed significant changes in the dietary pattern: a reduction in fish intake and increased consumption of French fries and candies. Vegetables and fruit intake increased significantly. Sedentary time > 6 h per day increased from 36.7% pre to 60.8% during the pandemic. Healthy dietary index score and physical activity MET-minutes/week values were respectively 3.5% and 37.9% significantly higher before compared to the full quarantine period.ConclusionThe pandemic detrimentally influenced eating habits and physical activity levels that led to weight gain, and hence higher vulnerability to COVID-19 infection and negative outcomes. This analysis provides public health agencies with data to tailor nutrition interventions that mitigate the observed adverse lifestyle behaviors.

Technology and Meditation: Exploring the Challenges and Benefits of a Physical Device to Support Meditation Routine

Existing studies of technology supporting meditation habit formation mainly focus on mobile applications which support users via reminders. A potentially more effective source of motivation could be contextual cues provided by meaningful objects in meaningful locations. This longitudinal mixed-methods 8-week study explored the effectiveness of such an object, Prana, in supporting forming meditation habits among seven novice meditators. First, the Meditation Intentions Questionnaire-24 and the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory-Revised were administered. The self-report habit index (SrHI) was administered before and after the study. Prana recorded meditation session times, while daily diaries captured subjective experiences. At the end of the study, the system usability scale, the ten-item personality inventory, and the brief self-control scale were completed, followed by individual semi-structured interviews. We expected to find an increase in meditation frequency and temporal consistency, but the results failed to confirm this. Participants meditated for between 16% and 84% of the study. The frequency decreased with time for four, decreased with subsequent increase for two, and remained stable for one of them. Daily meditation experiences were positive, and the perceived difficulty to start meditating was low. No relevant correlation was found between the perceived difficulty in starting to meditate and meditation experience overall; the latter was only weakly associated with the likelihood of meditating the next day. While meditation became more habitual for six participants, positive scores on SrHI were rare. Despite the inconclusive results, this study provides valuable insights into challenges and benefits of using a meditation device, as well as potential methodological difficulties in studying habit formation with physical devices.

Chronotype, Eating Habits, and Body Mass Index in First-Year Undergraduate Medical Program Students

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the correlation between chronotype and body mass index (BMI) in medical students, mediated by energy intake, and to explore eating habits. There were 46 participants who completed Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Chrononutrition-Profile Questionnaire in the Indonesia version and a 3 days of 24-hour food record. Participants’ weight and height were measured by microtoise and digital body weight scale. Additionally, univariate and correlation analyses were conducted to identify the correlation of the variables. The study found no significant difference in the correlation between chronotype preference and BMI, chronotype preference and energy intake, and BMI and energy intake. Medical students had a habit of eating breakfast, even skipping breakfast, having dinner later, consuming the highest energy at lunchtime, and consuming high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods at night. The study revealed no significant correlation between chronotype, eating habits, and BMI. However, the eveningness medical students have bad eating habits.

Beslenme Ve Diyetetik Bölümü Öğrencilerinde Uyku Kalitesi, Fiziksel Aktivite, Diyet Kalitesi, Gece Yeme Alışkanlığı Ve Beden Kütle İndeksi İlişkisinin Değerlendirilmesine Yönelik Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Amaç: Üniversite öğrencileri arasında fiziksel inaktivite ve uyku kalitesi yetersizliği sık görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, üniversite öğrencilerinin fiziksel aktivite ve uyku kalitelerinin değerlendirilmesi ile diyet kalitesi ve gece yeme sendromu ile ilişkilerinin tespit edilmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Metot: Çalışma, Beslenme ve Diyetetik Bölümünde öğrenim gören yaş ortalaması 20.9±1.9 olan 100 öğrencinin katılımı ile yapılmıştır. Öğrencilere toplam 28 soru içeren anket uygulanmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan bireylerin boy uzunluğu ve vücut ağırlığı değerleri kullanılarak, beden kütle indeksi değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Ankette, “Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi-Kısa Form”, “Besin Tüketim Sıklığı Anketi”, “Besin Tüketim Kaydı”, “Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi, Gece Yeme Anketi” ve “Diyet Kalite İndeksi-Uluslararası” yer almıştır. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin % 69.0’unun minimal aktif olduğu, % 49.0’unun uyku kalitesinin kötü olduğu, % 6.0’sında gece yeme sendromu olduğu, % 55.0’inin diyet kalitesinin kötü olduğu görülmüştür. Enerji içeceği, kola, gazoz vb. ve meyve tüketim sıklığının uyku kalitesini azaltabildiği belirlenmiştir. Enerji içeceği, kola, gazoz vb., hazır meyve suyu, sütlü tatlılar, hamur işi tatlılar, margarin, cips ve patates kızartması tüketim sıklıkları ile gece yeme sendromu arasında pozitif yönlü korelasyon olduğu saptanmıştır. Uyku kalitesi ile fiziksel aktivite ve gece yeme arasında zıt yönlü ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Gece yeme ile beden kütle indeksi arasında pozitif yönlü ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Besin tüketim sıklığı, fiziksel aktivite ve gece yemenin uyku kalitesini % 57,4 oranında etkilediği belirlenmiştir. Diyet kalitesi ile uyku kalitesi arasında ilişki bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Üniversite öğrencileri arasında yaygınlık gösteren uyku kalitesizliğinin ortadan kaldırılması için uyku kalitesini azaltan besinlerin tüketiminden kaçınılması ve fiziksel aktivitenin makul düzeylerde artırılması önem taşımaktadır.