Negative Outcome Expectancies Research Articles

How to Change Negative Outcome Expectations in Psychotherapy? The Role of the Therapist’s Warmth and Competence

Negative outcome expectations of psychological treatments predict unfavorable treatment outcomes. Therefore, therapists should approach negative outcome expectations and ideally transform them into more positive outcome expectations. In this study, we investigated the therapist’s interpersonal behavior to optimize the modification of negative outcome expectations. After inducing negative expectations in an online experiment, we presented different videos of therapist–patient interactions to violate the induced negative outcome expectations. We kept the expectation-violating information constant and manipulated the therapist’s warmth and competence. Results confirmed a significant influence of the therapist’s warmth and competence on expectation violation, which led to the most positive outcome expectations when the therapist was both warm and competent. In contrast to former correlational analyses, our experimental study confirms the causal role of the therapist’s interpersonal behavior and its impact on changing patients’ negative outcome expectations. On the basis of these findings, more powerful approaches to optimize critical outcome expectations can be developed.

Development and Validation of the Academic Persistence Outcome Expectations Scale

Outcome expectations, an integral theoretical component of social cognitive career theory, remains almost completely unexamined in the domain of academic persistence, or the decision a student makes to remain in college. This study sought to develop a theoretically derived scale to measure outcome expectations. An initial item pool was developed and sent to a sample of college students. A second, confirmatory sample of undergraduate students was collected via an online crowdsourcing platform. Results suggested the presence of a two-factor structure was the most parsimonious solution across both samples. The two factors retained across both samples reflected positive and negative outcome expectations that students perceived about remaining in college for the year. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Using the Health Action Process Approach to predict blood donation intentions and return behavior following a vasovagal reaction for whole blood and plasma donors.

To inform the development of interventions to retain donors following a vasovagal reaction (VVR), the aim of this study is to use the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) to identify predictors of intentions to re-donate and actual return behavior among whole blood (WB) and plasma donors who experienced a VVR. A total of 1136 WB donors (Mage =32.4 ± 12.5 years; 73.4% female) and 1141 plasma donors (Mage =36.5 ± 14.4 years; 73.3% female) completed an online survey after experiencing a VVR. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each donation type. In the first analysis, donation intentions were regressed onto the motivational HAPA constructs and social support. In the second analysis, donor return within 6months was regressed onto social support, intentions, and the volitional HAPA constructs. The motivational and social support variables accounted for 47.2% of the variance in intentions to return in WB donors and 15.7% in plasma donors. For both groups, task self-efficacy, positive and negative outcome expectancies, and social support were significant predictors of intentions to return. Intentions and action planning were significant predictors of donor return in both groups, and recovery self-efficacy was significant for plasma only. The HAPA model can provide guidance to blood collection agencies to design phase-specific and individually-focused interventions to retain WB and plasma donors following a VVR.

The development and validation of a positive and negative outcome expectation scale for re-donation among blood donors

The development and validation of a positive and negative outcome expectation scale for re-donation among blood donors

Pain Catastrophizing Scale Associated With Other Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Plantar Fasciitis and Chronic Ankle Instability Patients.

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a measure of how patients emotionally respond to pain. It is composed of 3 subscales-rumination, magnification, and helplessness-which address intrusive thoughts of pain, expectations of negative outcomes, and inability to cope with pain. Our purpose is to compare baseline PCS scores with other baseline patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with plantar fasciitis (PF) or chronic ankle instability (CAI). We retrospectively reviewed 201 patients who reported at least 1 pretreatment PCS subscore and were diagnosed with PF or CAI between 2015 and 2020 in a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon's clinic. Demographics, comorbidities, treatments, other baseline PROMs (i.e., visual analog scale [VAS], Pain Disability Index [PDI], 12-Item Short Form Survey [SF-12], 8-Item Somatic Symptom Scale [SSS-8]), and postoperative outcomes were recorded. The PCS total score and its subscores significantly correlated with the total score and/or subscores of each PROM. Higher PCS total score significantly correlated with worse VAS (P<.001), SF-12 mental (P=.007), PDI total (P<.001), and SSS-8 (P<.001) scores. Only the PCS magnification subscore was significantly greater among patients who did (n=41) undergo surgery (P=.043). Those who had previously undergone foot and/or ankle surgery had significantly higher PCS rumination (P=.012), magnification (P=.006), helplessness (P=.008), and total (P=.003) scores. Likewise, those with a history of substance abuse also had significantly higher PCS scores (P=.005; P=.003; P=.006; P=.003). The correlations between PCS scores and other baseline PROMs indicate that strong pain catastrophizers with PF or CAI may be at risk for poor treatment outcomes. PCS scores could be used to help with treatment for such high-risk patients.

0464 Patient perspectives on facilitators and barriers to engagement with digital CBT-I

Abstract Introduction Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) is a highly effective self-guided mHealth treatment for insomnia; however, completion and adherence rates are poor, especially among marginalized individuals. The present study explored facilitators and barriers to engagement with dCBT-I. Methods Thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data collected in those who engaged with dCBT-I. A total of 151 written feedback, 34 individual interviews, and 1 focus group of six racial minorities with low socioeconomic status (SES) was used. A combined inductive and deductive approach was utilized, where an initial codebook was developed but emergent codes were also included in the coding process. Consensus between four independent coders were achieved prior to thematic analysis. Results Thematic analysis revealed five themes: digital person to person component, type and extent of information, users’ sense of autonomy, app functionality, and importance of tailored content. Overall, users felt that the dCBT-I content was engaging (e.g., “easily understandable”, “well-paced”), and valued the accessibility of a digital treatment (e.g., “I greatly enjoyed the weekly sessions in the privacy of my own home”). Participants across demographic groups felt that the virtual therapist (i.e., “The Prof”) increased engagement (e.g., “The Prof was entertaining”, “The Prof has a great voice…educated and soothing without condescension”).Barriers to engagement, particularly in those with lower SES, included eHealth literacy (e.g., “I had issues filling out my sleep diary”) and a desire for more human contact (e.g., “I maybe would have liked more communication throughout, maybe just checking in once to see if things were okay”). There was strong consensus among non-completers that additional support would have prevented treatment dropout (e.g., “HELP button or someone you could’ve asked questions”). Others expressed concerns about the lack of tailoring to their specific circumstances (e.g., “this system does not take into consideration ‘physical’ causes of my sleep problems”). Conclusion Although dCBT-I has high accessibility and scalability, those with lower health literacy may experience lower self-efficacy and negative outcome expectancy as barriers to treatment engagement and completion. There is support that enhancing dCBT-I with personalized support and tailored content may improve treatment adherence and completion. Support (If Any) K23HL136188; R01HL159180

The Acquired Preparedness Model of Cannabis Use in Emerging Adulthood: Comparing Within-Person and Between-Person Effects

The acquired preparedness model (APM) posits that high sensitivity to reward biases individuals to learn and maintain positive outcome expectancies, which in turn increase substance use, and that high sensitivity to punishment biases individuals to learn and maintain negative outcome expectancies, decreasing use. Little work has applied the APM to cannabis use, particularly with longitudinal data and methods that separate within- and between-person associations. The current study addressed these gaps. The sample comprised 314 emerging adults (age range: 19.13-21.39 years; 52% female; predominantly non-Hispanic White [76%] or African American [15%]) recruited using random-digit dialing. Data were taken from three annual assessments. Latent curve models with structure residuals were used to distinguish between- and within-person associations. We controlled for bidirectional associations and demographic covariates. At the between-person level, high sensitivity to reward was related to high positive expectancies and high cannabis use. High positive expectancies were associated with high cannabis use. High sensitivity to punishment was related to high negative expectancies and low cannabis use. No within-person associations were supported. These findings suggest a risk profile for emerging adult cannabis use involving high sensitivity to reward and positive expectancies and a protective profile involving high sensitivity to punishment and negative expectancies. However, our findings did not support the notion that the proposed learning processes unfold within individuals across annual assessments. Most notably, the findings emphasize the importance of disaggregating within- and between-person associations using a longitudinal design to better understand pathways to cannabis use in the developmental period of emerging adulthood.

Predicting physical activity in kidney transplant recipients: an application of the Health Action Process Approach model

ABSTRACT Despite numerous physical, psychological, and social benefits of physical activity (PA), few kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) positively participate in PA. It is essential to understand the influencing factors of PA in KTRs. This study aimed to apply the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model to explore the influencing factors of PA in KTRs. This was a prospective study involving 320 participants. Pre-actional self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, risk perception, social support, PA intention, and demographic and clinical data were measured at Time 1. Coping self-efficacy, planning, recovery self-efficacy, and PA behavior were assessed 3 months later. The hypothesized relationships were examined by structural equation modeling. Findings revealed significant direct effects of pre-actional self-efficacy, negative outcome expectancies, positive outcome expectancies, and social support on intention. Planning and recovery self-efficacy were significant predictors of PA. The HAPA model provided a validated and useful framework for predicting the factors influencing PA behavior in KTRs.

Nutrition-related problems, nutritional support practices and barriers to adherence to nutritional guidelines during intensive treatment for acute myeloid leukemia: Patients' and hematology nurses' perspectives and experiences.

The updated guidelines of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) on nutrition in intensively treated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients recommend enteral nutrition (EN) instead of parenteral nutrition (PN) as the first-choice medical nutrition therapy. Despite this, PN remains the preferred route of nutrition administration in daily practice. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the patients' and hematology nurses' experiences and perceptions regarding nutritional problems and nutritional support and the reasons for the low adherence to the ESPEN/EBMT guidelines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 23 patients from various Dutch hospitals who had completed intensive AML treatment. Interviews with 22 patients were audio-recorded and transcribed, one interview was summarized. The transcripts and summary were thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti. From each of the 22 Dutch hospitals providing intensive AML treatment, one hematology nurse participated in a telephone questionnaire survey. The results of this survey are presented in a descriptive way. Nutritional problems were a major source of distress in most participating patients. Nutritional support often led to peace of mind and less concerns, provided that there were no conflicting nutritional support practices among treating hospitals. Patients perceived PN and EN as a life-line and necessary for the prevention of or recovery from physical decline, but they also experienced loss of independence, limited mobility, fear of unwanted body weight gain and problems related to the feeding equipment. Both patients and hematology nurses regarded PN as an easy method of nutrition administration, while EN was often seen as a necessary evil or was even refused by patients, owing to tube-related physical discomfort and EN intolerance. Both patients' and hematology nurses' reluctance to administer EN proved to be barriers to the ESPEN/EBMT nutritional guideline adherence. Among the surveyed hematology nurses, barriers to adherence included personal factors related to their knowledge (lack of awareness) and attitudes (negative outcome expectancy and lack of agreement), guideline-related factors (lack of evidence) and external factors (lack of collaboration). Individualized nutritional support, including EN and PN, may reduce nutrition-related distress in intensively treated AML patients, provided that conflicting nutritional support practices among hospitals are avoided or explained. The barriers to adherence to the ESPEN/EBMT guidelines on EN and PN in this patient group may be reduced by enhancing hematology nurses' awareness and knowledge of the guidelines, incorporating the guidelines into multidisciplinary clinical pathways, improving outcome of EN by proper triage of patients eligible for EN and increasing the level of evidence of the guidelines.

Mechanisms of Perceived Social Norms: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Morality and Outcome Expectations on Prescription Drug Misuse in the Working Population

ABSTRACT While the nonmedical use of prescription drugs to enhance cognitive performance (NMUPD-CE) has received increasing media attention and provoked ethical debates, the social drivers of misusing this health-related drug remain understudied. Therefore, this study examined how descriptive and injunctive norms as social influences affect decisions to engage in NMUPD-CE. We tested competing assumptions about whether moral acceptability and positive and negative outcome expectations mediate or moderate the social norms effects. We used data from a Germany-wide, web-based survey with a sample of adult nonusers who were recruited offline (N= 13,443). We found that 62.09% of the respondents indicated at least some willingness for NMUPD-CE. Positive associations occurred between this willingness and both social norms, high positive and low negative outcome expectations, as well as higher moral acceptability. Moral acceptability and positive outcome expectations partially mediated both social norm effects, while negative outcome expectations only partially mediated injunctive norms. Moreover, positive and negative outcome expectations also moderated both social norm effects. This study provides insights into the understanding of social influence in the context of substance misuse and beyond. It suggests that social norms operate via moral acceptability and outcome expectations, while outcome expectations also lead to differential effects of social norms.

Emotion dysregulation, transdiagnostic vulnerabilities, and e-cigarette expectancies in a young adult sample

ObjectiveUse of e-cigarettes is more common among youth with psychological distress. Negative affect reduction outcome expectancies (beliefs about ability of a product to reduce unpleasant emotional states) and emotional transdiagnostic vulnerabilities (maladaptive responses to emotional states common to multiple forms of emotional psychopathology) are both positively related to tobacco susceptibility and use. However, it is unclear if expectancies mediate the effects between emotional issues and use. MethodCollege students aged 18 to 24 (N = 216; 79.6% female; 36.6% African American) completed an online survey with measures on e-cigarette negative affect reduction outcome expectancies (ENAROE), e-cigarette use, and the following emotional transdiagnostic vulnerabilities (ETV): difficulties in emotion regulation, distress tolerance (DT), positive/negative urgency, and positive/negative affect. ResultsIn individual predictor path analysis models, ENAROE mediated the relationship between ETVs and e-cigarette use. Expectancies (ENAROE) mediated 47.3% of the total relationship between positive urgency and use. Significant effects were found for a comprehensive model, in which negative urgency was related to higher ENAROE (b = 0.47, 95% BCCI [0.04, 0.96]), controlling for all other transdiagnostic vulnerabilities. Higher positive urgency was related to an increased likelihood of current use. ConclusionsThis study provides a novel examination of expectancies as a potential mediator for current e-cigarette use via emotional vulnerabilities. Negative Affect Reduction outcome expectancies mediated the relationship between vulnerabilities and e-cigarette use, indicating that the association between positive urgency and e-cigarette use may be explained partially though emotional expectancies. Thus, expectancies are important targets for prevention and further ETV research.

Theoretical Explanation of Upper Limb Functional Exercise and Its Maintenance in Postoperative Patients With Breast Cancer

Background: Upper limb functional exercise (ULFE) has a positive effect on promoting the rehabilitation of upper limb function. However, little is known, about what drives postoperative patients to engage in and even maintain the advised exercises. This study integrated the health action process approach (HAPA) and the theory of planned behavior theory (TPB) to investigate the psychosocial determinants on the initiation and maintenance of ULFE in breast cancer patients. In addition, this study also tests key hypotheses relating to reasoned and implicit pathways to ULFE and its maintenance among postoperative patients with breast cancer.Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit patients from two breast cancer wards in a provincial hospital in Jiangsu, China. Patients (N = 430) completed self-reported questionnaire about constructs from integrated theories concerning ULFE at an initial time point (T1): task self-efficacy, positive outcome expectations, negative outcome expectations, risk perception, attitude behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and ULFE-in hospital (ULFE-IH). Three months later (T2), patients self-reported: maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning, recovery self-efficacy, and ULFE-maintenance (ULFE-M).Results: The model has a good fit (GoF = 0.48). For behavioral intention of ULFE, subjective norm (β = 0.35) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.61) were positively directly related to behavioral intention. Regarding the initiation of ULFE, perceived behavioral control (β = 0.47) and behavioral intention (β = 0.42) had a direct positive relation to ULFE-IH. In the maintenance of ULFE, action planning (β = 0.30), coping planning (β = 0.21), maintenance self-efficacy (β = 0.32), and recovery self-efficacy (β = 0.09) all had significant positive relation on ULFE-M. In addition, maintenance self-efficacy had a significant positive association on action planning (β = 0.80), coping planning (β = 0.74), and recovery self-efficacy (β = 0.67). Coping planning was significantly predicted by behavioral intention (β = 0.07). Additionally, behavioral intention is a mediator of subjective norm (β = 0.14) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.25) to ULFE-IH. Action planning, coping planning, and recovery self-efficacy are mediators of maintaining self-efficacy to ULFE-M (β = 0.46).Conclusions: This study presents the first attempt to integrate the health behavior model in ULFE in postoperative patients with breast cancer. The study has shown that the HAPA-TPB integrated model has good applicability and effectiveness to explain and predict ULFE initiation and maintenance. Future work can be considered to develop appropriate intervention strategies based on this integrated behavioral theory.

International migrants and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations: Social Media, motivated information management, and vaccination willingness.

ObjectiveThis study examines how those who were born outside the United States and migrated to the country in the past decade used social media and other online sites to deal with uncertainties around the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In particular, we examine how they used digital communication technologies to tap into online resources and social connections both in the United States and their origin country and how various aspects of online information management were associated with their willingness to get vaccinated against the virus.MethodWe conducted an online survey and in-depth interviews with international migrants aged 18–64 years who moved to the United States in 2011 or later and were living in two neighboring states in the US Midwest as of spring 2021. Since this research involves understanding how these international migrants dealt with uncertainties related to coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations, we collected the survey and interview data when each state had a vaccination rate of less than 10% and very limited vaccination eligibility for those aged 64 years and below.ResultsOur results show that international migrants” perceived uncertainty, positive and negative emotions, efficacy, and outcome expectancy affect their information seeking related to the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. In addition, issue salience moderates the effect between information seeking and vaccine willingness.ConclusionThis research provides relevant and timely scholarly and policy implications that help advance research in this area and better support international migrant communities during public health crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

To Teach or Not to Teach: An International Study of Language Teachers’ Experiences of Online Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Schools have been switching to online learning to ensure students’ learning continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a paucity of studies examining language teachers’ motivations and decisions for continuing online teaching in the future. This study aims at investigating the significant factors influencing language teachers’ motivations and decisions on online teaching. Based on the aim of this study, three research questions guided this study: (1) What was language teachers’ experience of online teaching? (2) What motivates language teachers to teach online after the COVID-19 pandemic? (3) What demotivates language teachers to teach online after the COVID-19 pandemic? Eight language teachers coming from six countries and regions, namely, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Russia, and Taiwan, were selected to have two one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The researcher used Social Cognitive Career Theory as a theoretical framework and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as the methodology to examine language teachers’ experiences in-depth. This study found that better time management and a positive learning environment are the reasons for continuing online language teaching, while personal beliefs on education and negative teaching outcome expectations are the reasons for stopping online language teaching. The findings can provide insights for the education institutions, school management and policy-makers to devise appropriate strategies to boost language teachers’ motivations to incorporate online teaching in the post-pandemic era.

The effects of sex and outcome expectancies on perceptions of sexual harassment.

Using an outcome expectancy framework, this research sought to understand sex differences in the underlying beliefs that influence harassment perception. One hundred and ninety-six participants (52% women) read a series of vignettes depicting common examples of digital male-on-female sexual harassment. They were asked to what extent they thought each scenario constituted sexual harassment, and how likely the perpetrator would experience positive and negative outcomes. Consistent with predictions, women were more likely to consider the behaviours as harassment than men were. Both sexes harassment perceptions had significant relationships with their outcome expectancies, but we also found evidence of a sex specific moderation; the link between men's negative outcome expectancies was moderated by their positive ones. The results suggest that perceptions of harassment may have sexually asymmetrical underpinnings. Measuring the interplay between positive and negative outcome expectancies in relation to sexual harassment perception is a novel approach, that may have implications for the development of anti-sexual harassment interventions. Implications for theory and future research directions are discussed.

Levels and factors derived from the Health Action Process Approach of behavioral intentions to take up COVID-19 vaccination: A random population-based study

ObjectivesCOVID-19 vaccination needs a high population coverage to achieve herd immunity. We investigated prevalence of three scenarios of intention of free COVID-19 vaccination involving: 1) 80% effectiveness and rare and mild side effects (Scenario 1), 2) 50% effectiveness and rare and mild side effect RMSE (Scenario 2), and 3) immediate vaccination (Scenario 3), and their associated factors derived from the pre-intentional motivational phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA). MethodsA random population-based telephone survey interviewed 450 Chinese adults in the general population (September 16–30, 2020). The four HAPA constructs included a) risk perception scale, b) overall scale/four subscales of positive outcome expectancy of COVID-19 vaccination, c) overall scale/three subscales of negative outcome expectancy of COVID-19 vaccination, and d) the overall scale/two subscales of self-efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination. ResultsThe prevalence of intention of COVID-19 vaccination under Scenarios 1 to 3 was 38.0%, 11.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for background factors showed that 1) the associations between risk perception and the three scenarios of intention were non-significant; 2) the overall scale/four subscales of positive outcome expectancy were in general positively associated with two scenarios of intention (80% effectiveness and immediate vaccination); 3) the overall scale/three subscales of negative outcome expectancy were in general negatively associated with all three scenarios of intention; 4) the overall scale/two subscales of self-efficacy were only positively associated with the intention that involved 80% effectiveness. When all the four overall scales were entered into an adjusted model, positive and negative outcome expectancy, but not risk perception and self-efficacy, were independently associated with the three scenarios. ConclusionsIn this study population, the prevalence of intention of COVID-19 vaccination was very low and might not result in population protection. Health promotion should modify outcome expectancies to increase intention of COVID-19 vaccination.

Structural equation model of physical activity in Turkish schoolchildren: an application of the integrated behavioural model

ObjectivesChildhood obesity is increasingly prevalent in the developing world including Turkey. This study examined constructs of the integrated behavioural model associated with physical activity in a sample of schoolchildren in...

"You have to vape to make it through": E-cigarette Outcome Expectancies among Youth and Parents.

Objectives: Outcome expectancies are central to explaining health behavior and have been shown to predict tobacco use. Research on outcome expectancies for e-cigarette use among youth is scarce but increasingly important given the growing rates of use, particularly of high-nicotine pod devices and the recent outbreak of e-cigarette related lung disease. Methods: In 2019, we conducted 3 focus groups with middle school youth (N=25), 5 with high school youth (N=38), and 4 with parents (N=27). Youth and parents were not related and groups included both users and non-users. Participants discussed reasons for e-cigarette use and bad and good things that might happen to a person who vapes. Results: Participants described positive and negative psychoactive/sensory, social, and health-related outcome expectancies. Both youth and parents mentioned stress relief and appearing older as positive outcome expectancies, and e-cigarette flavors, acting rebellious, and structural opportunities as other reasons for initiating e-cigarette use. Social consequences and health outcomes were negative outcome expectancies deterring use. Conclusions: Regulations and public communication campaigns can counteract the positive outcome expectancies (flavor regulation, providing stress reduction tips) and capitalize on negative ones (communicating negative health outcomes) to decrease youth e-cigarette use.

Are shame and guilt personality styles associated with different alcohol use-related outcome expectancies?

ABSTRACT Background: Whilst drinking to reduce negative affect (e.g., anxiety and depression) is a commonly reported motivation for consuming alcohol, minimal research has explored associations between shame-proneness and self-reported outcome expectancies from alcohol use. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between guilt, shame and alcohol use-related expectancies in a predominately undergraduate, community sample. Methods: Self-report data was collected for measures of these constructs in addition to overall alcohol use from a sample of 281 individuals, mean age 22.22 years (SD = 7.83). Results: Overall alcohol consumption was associated with both positive and negative alcohol use outcome expectancies. Contrary to hypotheses, shame-prone individuals did not appear to have a particularly strong belief that alcohol is actually effective in reducing tension. However, shame-prone individuals may believe that alcohol helps serve to reduce physiological arousal and other anxiety-related phenomena experienced in social contexts, and possibly also in the lead up to and during intimate encounters. In contrast, guilt-prone individuals expect and believe that they are successfully able to avoid negative emotional experiences after having consumed alcohol. Conclusions: Findings are broadly congruent with research indicating that shame-proneness is associated with general emotion regulation difficulties, while guilt-proneness tends to be unrelated to such problems.

Photobiomodulation: a potential adjunctive obesity intervention a review

Obesity, a largely intractable health condition with incalculable health and financial and social costs and ramifications remains an immense challenge to mitigate effectively. Multiple interventions to offset obesity, while studied and implemented for many years, have generally failed to eliminate this growing global epidemic. Alternately, interventions that can offer hope, especially to those who are physically as well as emotionally challenged, with negative outcome expectations, would appear of high significance. Studied for over 40 years, various forms of light therapy are proving to be of possible adjunctive benefit in efforts to reduce excess weight. This mini review discusses some findings regarding photobiomodulation or light therapy and whether more intense study and evaluation will improve the overall obesity burden and outlook. Extracted from current literature, it is concluded that this is a field of significant promise