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'Open Science' advocates for open access to scientific research, as well as sharing data, analysis plans and code in order to enable replication of results. However, these requirements typically fail to account for methodological differences between quantitative and qualitative research, and serious ethical problems are raised by the suggestion that full qualitative datasets can or should be published alongside qualitative research papers. Aside from important ethical concerns, the idea of sharing qualitative data in order to enable replication is conceptually at odds with the underpinnings on most qualitative methodologies, which highlight the importance of the unique interpretative function of the researcher. The question of whether secondary analysis of qualitative data is acceptable is key, and in this commentary we argue that there are good conceptual, ethical and economic reasons to consider how funders, researchers and publishers can make better use of existing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research helps to clarify the relation between pandemic fatigue (PF) and vaccination intentions (VI). Theoretically, two patterns seem plausible. First, as with any other health protective measure, PF might reduce the motivation to get vaccinated. Second, PF might increase the motivation to get vaccinated because vaccination reduces the number of (other) health protective measure needed. We tested these two opposing predictions and further explored the moderating role of trust in pandemic-relevant institutions on the link between PF and VI in two large-scale survey studies from Denmark and Germany (collected between 2020 and 2021; total N > 22,000). Data was analyzed using multiple regression models. Analyses reveal a negative link between PF and VI that is less pronounced for people high in trust. Results remain stable when accounting for covariates and quadratic trends. Thus, trust might buffer the negative relation between PF and VI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 we published MetaBLIND, a large meta-epidemiological study on the impact of masking on effect estimates in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). While masking is an established methodological practice in RCTs it is not clear to what extent results of non-masked RCTs are biased. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of an impact of masking on effect estimates, on average. Michiel Tack commented on the MetaBLIND study, and here we respond. The issues he raised were examples of standard themes when interpreting meta-epidemiological studies, which we have discussed at some length elsewhere, and did not warrant change of our conclusion. We maintain that the MetaBLIND results do not provide a sufficient basis for recommending abandoning masking as a methodological safeguard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether body appreciation mediates the relationships between anti-fat microaggression experiences and perceived physical and mental health. Using a cross-sectional survey design, our study included 384 adult cisgender women in the United States. We found that anti-fat microaggression experiences had a negative association with body appreciation, and perceived physical and mental health. Body appreciation had a positive relationship to perceived physical and mental health. Our study further suggests that body appreciation is an important modifiable factor that mediates the relationships between anti-fat microaggression experiences and perceived mental and physical health. Implications for practice and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a paper published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Adamson et al. (2020) interpret data as showing that cognitive behavioural therapy leads to improvement in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue. Their research is undermined by several methodological limitations, including: (a) sampling ambiguity; (b) weak measurement; (c) survivor bias; (d) missing data and (e) lack of a control group. Unacknowledged sample attrition renders statements in the published Abstract misleading with regard to points of fact. That the paper was approved by peer reviewers and editors illustrates how non-rigorous editorial processes contribute to systematic publication bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living donor kidney transplant is the ideal treatment option for end-stage renal disease; however, the decision to pursue living donor kidney transplant is complex and challenging. Measurement invariance of living donor kidney transplant Decisional Balance and Self-Efficacy across gender (male/female), race (Black/White), and education level (no college/college or higher) were examined using a sequential approach. Full strict invariance was found for Decisional Balance and Self-Efficacy for gender and partial strict invariance was found for Decisional Balance and Self-Efficacy across race and education level. This information will inform tailored feedback based on these constructs in future intervention studies targeting behavior change among specific demographic subgroups.

Latent profile analysis identified health locus of control profiles among 436 Hispanic Americans who completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales. Results revealed four profiles: Internally Oriented-Weak, -Moderate, -Strong, and Externally Oriented. The profile groups were compared on sociocultural and demographic characteristics, health beliefs and behaviors, and physical and mental health outcomes. The Internally Oriented-Strong group had less cancer fatalism, religiosity, and equity health attributions, and more alcohol consumption than the other three groups; the Externally Oriented group had stronger equity health attributions and less alcohol consumption. Deriving multidimensional health locus of control profiles through latent profile analysis allows examination of the relationships of health locus of control subtypes to health variables.

This study utilized a latent profile analysis approach to examine the relationship between mindfulness profiles and self-reported mental and physical health, as well as salivary cortisol levels in a sample of 85 undergraduate students. Consistent with theory, the Judgmentally Observing (high monitoring, low acceptance) reported poorer mental health and exhibited flatter diurnal cortisol slopes than the Unobservant Accepting (low monitoring, high acceptance) and Average Mindfulness profiles. No differences in self-reported physical health, cortisol response to awakening, or diurnal mean cortisol were observed among the profiles. Future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current cross-sectional studies was to investigate the association of interoceptive dimensions with irritable bowel syndrome-related functional gastrointestinal symptoms using a multimethod approach. Two studies were conducted in Hungarian volunteers. Study 1 involved questionnaires regarding interoceptive sensibility. In Study 2, an experimental task was additionally used for the measurement of interoceptive accuracy. Reporters of high functional gastrointestinal symptoms were characterised by an increased perception of different somatic sensations together with a reduced trust in bodily signals. Our results support the hypothesis that there are interactions between interoceptive dimensions in the production of functional somatic symptoms. A data accessibility statement is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between self-compassion, or treating oneself with kindness and acceptance, using the Self-Compassion Scale, and health-promoting behaviors, using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, among a community sample. Canonical correlation results indicate self-compassion and health-promoting behaviors share 76 percent of the variance within the data set. The positive components of self-compassion are strongly positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors, and the negative components of self-compassion are strongly negatively correlated with health-promoting behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression results indicate self-kindness and mindfulness are significant predictors of health-promoting behaviors after controlling for demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods study used an online cross-sectional survey to explore perspectives of 533 adult Australian women living with endometriosis pain, and their relationship with biopsychosocial factors. Four themes were constructed: The primary theme, ‘Stigma and change’ reflected women’s experience of dismissal, and the wish to reverse the narrative of pain as normal. Some women emphasised self-education and self-advocacy to affect change, reflecting the theme ‘self-empowerment’. Participants described the ‘debilitating impact’ of endometriosis and the enduring difficulty of ‘inadequate healthcare’, reflecting themes three and four. Analysis indicated type of social support may impact perceived outcomes for endometriosis. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated too few significant relationships between biopsychosocial factors and themes to indicate meaningful patterns without risk of common method variance. Future research should explore the influence of social support and interventions which develop participant autonomy and practitioner competence and knowledge, using disease-specific measures over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods study used an online cross-sectional survey to explore perspectives of 533 adult Australian women living with endometriosis pain, and their relationship with biopsychosocial factors. Four themes were constructed: The primary theme, 'Stigma and change' reflected women's experience of dismissal, and the wish to reverse the narrative of pain as normal. Some women emphasised self-education and self-advocacy to affect change, reflecting the theme 'self-empowerment'. Participants described the 'debilitating impact' of endometriosis and the enduring difficulty of 'inadequate healthcare', reflecting themes three and four. Analysis indicated type of social support may impact perceived outcomes for endometriosis. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated too few significant relationships between biopsychosocial factors and themes to indicate meaningful patterns without risk of common method variance. Future research should explore the influence of social support and interventions which develop participant autonomy and practitioner competence and knowledge, using disease-specific measures over time., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

In social sciences, researchers rely on subjective perceptions of obesity measures to examine the determinants of obesity and the likely effects of obesity on health outcomes. However, subjective perception tends to produce estimation biases. In this study, we investigated the misreporting behavior of individuals regarding obesity using waist-to-height ratio as an objective measurement of obesity. Using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2008–2011, we showed that false-reporting behavior was significantly associated with socio-economic status. Furthermore, we presented that subjective perception of obesity yielded misleading estimates in both the determinants and the consequences of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential associations between systemic inflammation and social support received by a sample of 120 older adults were examined here. Inflammatory markers, cognitive function, social support and psychosocial wellbeing were evaluated. A structural equation modelling approach was used to analyse the data. The model was a good fit χ 108 2 = 256 . 13 , p < 0.001; comparative fit index = 0.973; Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.962; root mean square error of approximation = 0.021; standardised root mean-square residual = 0.074). Chemokine levels were associated with increased age (β = 0.276), receipt of less social support from friends (β = −0.256) and body mass index (β = −0.256). Results are discussed in relation to social signal transduction theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Univariate and multivariate relationships between perfectionistic self-presentation and reactions to impairment and disability following spinal cord injury were examined. A total of 144 adults with spinal cord injury (M = 48.18 years old, SD = 15.96) completed self-report measures. Analyses revealed that, after controlling for time since injury and gender, perfectionistic self-presentation predicted six of eight reactions, shock, depression and internalised anger particularly strongly. In addition, at multivariate level, perfectionistic self-presentation was positively related to non-adaptive reactions and negatively related to adaptive reactions. The findings suggest that perfectionistic self-presentation may contribute to poorer psychosocial adaptation to spinal cord injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain-related cognitive biases have been demonstrated in chronic pain patients, yet despite theoretical predictions are rarely investigated in combination. Combined cognitive biases were explored in individuals with chronic headache (n = 17) and pain-free controls (n = 20). Participants completed spatial cueing (attentional bias), sentence generation (interpretation bias) and free recall tasks (memory bias), with ambiguous sensory-pain, disability and neutral words. Individuals with chronic headache, relative to controls, showed significantly greater interpretation and memory biases favouring ambiguous sensory-pain words and interpretation bias favouring ambiguous disability words. No attentional bias was found. Further research is needed exploring the temporal pattern of cognitive biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is a public health concern for adolescent boys. This study examined bullying based on being labeled gay/bisexual and steroid use among US adolescent boys, including sexual orientation disparities. Data from 2660 boys from the 2015 Youth Behavior Risk Survey were used. Among heterosexual boys, steroid use was higher among those who reported being bullied due to being labeled gay or bisexual. No such relationship existed among non-heterosexual boys. The results speak to the need to address issues of masculinity in clinical work with boys and young men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between cyberbullying and friendship dynamics on adolescent body dissatisfaction was examined. Data from the Irish contribution to the international cross-sectional 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study were used. Results showed that girls were three times more likely than boys to report that their body is too fat, and adolescents who were cyberbullied were almost twice as likely as adolescents who were not cyberbullied to consider themselves too fat. Stronger friendship dynamics were associated with decreased levels of body dissatisfaction, and friendship dynamics were found to partially mediate the relationship between cyberbullying and body dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most evaluations of cognitive behavioural therapy to treat people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis rely exclusively on subjective self-report outcomes to evaluate whether treatment is effective. Few studies have used measures appropriate to assessing whether cognitive behavioural therapy changes in more objective measures. A review of studies incorporating objective measures suggests that there is a lack of evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy produces any improvement in a patient’s physical capabilities or other objective measures such as return to work. Future studies of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis should include some objective assessments as primary outcomes. If this is to include activity monitors, we first need a sound baseline dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research validates a computerized dietary selection task (Food-Linked Virtual Response or FLVR) for use in studies of food consumption. In two studies, FLVR task responses were compared with measures of health consciousness, mood, body mass index, personality, cognitive restraint toward food, and actual food selections from a buffet table. The FLVR task was associated with variables which typically predict healthy decision-making and was unrelated to mood or body mass index. Furthermore, the FLVR task predicted participants’ unhealthy selections from the buffet, but not overall amount of food. The FLVR task is an inexpensive, valid, and easily administered option for assessing momentary dietary decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation explored the association between anxiety sensitivity and attentional bias for threatening information in children and adolescents (N = 40). Participants completed a pictorial version of the visual-probe task, featuring pain-related, health-threat and general-threat images presented for 500 and 1250 ms. Regression analyses revealed significant associations between anxiety sensitivity and attentional bias towards pain-related images presented for 500 ms and between state anxiety and attentional bias towards general-threat images presented for 1250 ms. These results suggest that in children and adolescents, anxiety sensitivity is associated with attentional bias for negative information of personal relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to see whether qualitative analysis improved quantitative measurement of illness perception after heart transplant. Two methods of evaluating illness representations were compared: one quantitative (administration of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised) and one qualitative (phenomenological reduction). The qualitative analysis provided greater insight into the idiosyncratic and dynamic nature of the concept of illness representations. Adjustments to the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised are suggested to improve the evaluation of illness perception in terms of dispersion of scores, emotional impact, coping strategies and treatment, and social support, and ultimately to enhance interventions designed to promote treatment compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the psychometric properties of a Polish translation of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. A total of 276 patients with chronic conditions (58.7% women) completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The internal consistency of the Polish Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire measured with Cronbach’s alpha was satisfactory (α = 0.74). Structural validity was demonstrated by significant inter-correlations between the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire components. Discriminant validity was supported by the fact that the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire enables patients with various conditions to be differentiated. Significant correlations were found between Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and depression and anxiety levels. The Polish Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire thus evaluated is a reliable and valid tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk perception studies have focused on personal risks; yet many decisions are taken for others. Some studies have suggested that parents are especially sensitive to risks to their children. We compared 245 parents’ willingness to vaccinate their child versus themselves in nine hypothetical scenarios relating to influenza strains. Scenarios varied according to non-vaccination risk (low, medium and high) and ‘risk target’ (oneself, one’s child or, as a comparator, one’s elderly parent). Participants were more willing to vaccinate their child (61% acceptance) than themselves (54%) or their parent (56%). Parents may be more risk-sensitive when deciding for their child than for themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of outcome studies showed that kidney transplantation is associated with improvements in health-related quality of life relative to the pre-transplant period, but comparisons with the general population produced mixed results. This study aimed to compare 30 successful (>1 year) kidney transplantation recipients with 30 matched-pair healthy controls on psychosocial well-being. Independent of gender, age and time since transplantation, transplanted patients equalled healthy people in the intrapersonal domains but scored worse in the interpersonal domains of psychosocial well-being. Identifying aspects of life that remain impaired after kidney transplantation may assist the development of interventions targeted at improving patients’ adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used Rasch analysis to examine the psychometric validity of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised to assess beliefs about diabetes in 470 participants with Type 2 diabetes and 71 participants with Type I diabetes. All Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised scales had psychometric issues, which included poorly utilised response categories, poor scale precision and multidimensionality. Following reengineering, only four of the eight scales (Consequences, Illness coherence, Timeline cyclical and Emotional representations) were psychometrically adequate according to the Rasch model. The diabetes-specific version of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised provides suboptimal assessment of beliefs held by patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the mental health of cardiac patients with diabetes and whether symptoms varied by gender and/or age. Screening for depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms was conducted on 1003 patients with cardiovascular disease. Correspondence analysis was utilized to identify clinical core profiles. Results suggested that cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes, particularly males, experience high rates of depression, suicide ideation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Clinical implications of these findings include targeted mental health screening options as well as offering a closer look at the specific concerns of cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative and quantitative studies were conducted to explore the effect of front-of-pack nutrition labels on the perceived healthfulness of food products. Consumers were found to hold beliefs about colours and their fit to product categories that influence the assessment process. Consumers associate certain colours with product healthfulness. Yellow, blue, green and red were found to be evocative of health. Heather, pink and celadon suggested an artificial thus unhealthful product. The impact of labels on healthfulness assessment was observed only in the unhealthful category. The findings show the complexity of psychological processes in the perception of food healthfulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated ‘healthy’ participants’ perceptions of types 1 and 2 diabetes using mixed methods. A total of 38 participants were asked about their perceptions of both types of diabetes using video-based vignettes of four cases. Participants answered standardised questionnaires while thinking aloud and could expand during semi-structured interview sections. Four themes were identified: knowledge of diabetes, power to influence diabetes, limitations of responsibility or blame for diabetes and feelings about individuals with diabetes. Perceived controllability of causes and perceptions of illness management informs understanding of stigma and risk and emphasises the importance of comparing perceptions of both types of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We hypothesized that parents’ emotional intelligence associates with their children’s type I diabetes outcomes. Eighty-one parents, the main caregivers of their diabetic children, filled out two measures of emotional intelligence and a demographic questionnaire. Three indicators of diabetes management were collected from the patients’ files: hemoglobin A1c, mean blood tests per day, and mean blood glucose levels. Emotional intelligence associated with all glycemic management indices, though differences were found between the two measures. Of the demographic factors, income level showed some association with the outcome measures. The results are discussed in light of existing theories and models. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined adults’ self-reported understanding and formatting preferences of medical statistics, confidence in self-care and ability to obtain health advice or information, and perceptions of patient–health-care provider communication measured through dual survey modes (random digital dial and mail). Even while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, significant differences in regard to adults’ responses to survey variables emerged as a function of survey mode. While the analyses do not allow us to pinpoint the underlying causes of the differences observed, they do suggest that mode of administration should be carefully adjusted for and considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This is a longitudinal randomized controlled study investigating the efficacy of a communication and stress management skills training programme on medical residents’ self-efficacy to communicate and to manage stress in interviews, stress to communicate in interviews, and burnout. Ninety-six medical residents participated. Results showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy and decrease in stress to communicate. No changes were noted in burnout. Results of this training may encourage its compulsory organization in the medical curriculum. Further research is required to examine whether a programme associating person-directed and organization-directed interventions could have an impact on residents’ burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The perceived stress scale (PSS-10) reliability and validity were evaluated in Brazilian adults. A two-stage translation procedure was employed to achieve a Portuguese version. Participants were 793 Brazilian university teachers. The exploratory factor analysis showed two factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.0 (56.8% of variance). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.83 (Factor 1), 0.77 (Factor 2) and 0.87 (Total Score). The test-retest reliability scores were 0.83 (Factor 1), 0.68 (Factor 2) and 0.86 (Total Score). PSS-10 and perceived health correlations ranged from -0.22 to -0.35. The PSS-10 showed an adequate reliability and validity supporting its use in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential associations between systemic inflammation and social support received by a sample of 120 older adults were examined here. Inflammatory markers, cognitive function, social support and psychosocial wellbeing were evaluated. A structural equation modelling approach was used to analyse the data. The model was a good fit χ 108 2 = 256 . 13 , p < 0.001; comparative fit index = 0.973; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.962; root mean square error of approximation = 0.021; standardised root mean-square residual = 0.074). Chemokine levels were associated with increased age ( β = 0.276), receipt of less social support from friends ( β = -0.256) and body mass index ( β = -0.256). Results are discussed in relation to social signal transduction theory.

The aim of this study was to examine the mental health of cardiac patients with diabetes and whether symptoms varied by gender and/or age. Screening for depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms was conducted on 1003 patients with cardiovascular disease. Correspondence analysis was utilized to identify clinical core profiles. Results suggested that cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes, particularly males, experience high rates of depression, suicide ideation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Clinical implications of these findings include targeted mental health screening options as well as offering a closer look at the specific concerns of cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

The reliability of an item designed to measure health belief is often confounded with response consistency at the person level. The study applied contemporary measurement methods to an inventory of common sense beliefs about diabetes and used a sample of N = 563 adults with diabetes to test the hypothesis that individuals whose beliefs are congruent with a biomedical model are more consistent in their responses. Item-level analysis revealed that the domains of Causes and Medical Management were the least reliable. Person-level analysis showed that respondents who held views congruent with the biomedical model were more consistent than people who did not., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

We investigated the cognitive and emotional reactions resulting from a human papillomavirus-related illness threat (i.e. testing positive for human papillomavirus) and the potential behavioral implications resulting from these psychosocial processes among men (N = 536). Structural equation modeling was used to explore a theoretical model explaining human papillomavirus vaccine intentions. The model fit the data well and explained 16 percent of the variance in vaccine intentions. Negative emotional response mediated the path between illness threat and vaccine intentions. Threat of genital warts was a salient concern and was positively associated with negative emotional response and subsequent vaccine intentions. Implications for vaccine promotion are discussed., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

The influence of threat expectancy upon attentional biases for pain-related information and pain thresholds was explored in healthy participants. Participants were randomized to receive either threatening (n = 32) or nonthreatening (n = 31) information regarding an upcoming computerized task assessing cold and heat pain thresholds. Participants receiving threatening information were more worried about the pain task and, relative to those receiving nonthreatening information, showed attentional bias toward sensory-pain words. No between-group differences were found in terms of cold and heat pain thresholds. These results show that the type of information participants receive can influence their attentional processes and emotional concerns.