Search

Background: Adequate sun safety during childhood is crucial for decreasing skin cancer risk in later life. Although parents are an essential target group in applying sun protection measures for their children, insight into the determinants associated with their sun protection behaviors is limited. Aims: This study aims to identify the most relevant determinants in predicting multiple parental sun protection intentions and behaviors in different sun exposure situations. Method: A longitudinal survey study with two measurements was conducted among Dutch parents (N = 670) of children (4-12 years old). Twenty-seven sociocognitive determinants were examined in terms of relevance regarding four parental sun protection behaviors in different sun exposure situations. The Confidence Interval-Based Estimation of Relevance approach was used to visualize room for improvement (sample means) on all determinants and their association strengths (correlations) with sun protection intentions and behaviors. Results: Behavior-specific rather than generic determinants were most relevant in explaining all sun protection behaviors. Of these determinants, attitude, self-efficacy and action planning, and especially parental feelings of difficulty in performing sun protection behaviors, were most relevant. Altogether, the explained variance of all sociocognitive determinants was highest for shade-seeking behavior (R[superscript 2] = 0.41 and 0.43) and lowest for supportive behavior (R[superscript 2] = 0.19 and 0.29) in both planned and incidental sun exposure situations, respectively. Discussion: This study provides detailed insight into relevant sociocognitive determinants of parental sun protection behaviors in various sun exposure situations and directions for composing parental skin cancer prevention interventions. Conclusions: Future composition of sun safety interventions should emphasize on enhancing parental feelings of self-efficacy, especially for shade-seeking and clothing behaviors.

Background: Evidence-based research has shown that using eHealth interventions effectively reduces risk behaviors such as alcohol consumption, a public health problem worldwide. However, despite its benefits, there has been a poor intention to adopt such innovations, and limited resources exist to understand factors influencing the uptake decision to use school-based eHealth alcohol prevention programs. This study aims to identify the factors that influence the adoption of a computer-tailored eHealth alcohol prevention program among school personnel in Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional study employing an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design was carried out. First, interviews were conducted with ten Spanish school counselors to assess factors influencing the adoption of the school-based eHealth program by exploring participants' awareness and salient beliefs concerning attitudes, social influences, and self-efficacy. Second, an online quantitative questionnaire was developed based on the qualitative research findings. Third, the new questionnaire was administered to Spanish school personnel (N = 100), including the school management team, school counselors, and teachers. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory and the Integrated Change Model frameworks were used as theoretical bases for understanding the adoption process. Results: School personnel with a strong intention to adopt the program (intenders) perceived significantly more advantages and positive innovation attributes, than those participants with a weaker intention to adopt (non-intenders). Intenders perceived a higher personal relevance and responsibility towards using the program, more self-efficacy (e.g., ability to understand, manage time and incorporate the program) and positive social influences from their colleagues, as well as greater willingness in preparing action plans, such as monitor students' alcohol consumption and discussing the program with coworkers, than the non-intenders group. Advantages and social support were found to explain a significant portion of the variance in the adoption intention. Conclusions: This study suggests that health intervention researchers should develop strategies to enhance educators' pro-innovation attitudes, personal relevance and responsibility, and perceived ease of use towards adopting an eHealth program. Furthermore, our results highlight that fostering school personnel's acceptance of the intervention and planning goal-oriented actions are crucial elements in optimizing adoption promotion of eHealth programs in school settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness (i.e., relating to one's internal and external awareness with non-evaluative attitudes) is increasingly applied as a determinant and strategy to change dietary and physical activity behaviours in the general adult population. However, current applications of mindfulness lack methodological standardisation, thereby limiting its comparison. The aim of this study was to examine currently applied conceptual definitions of mindfulness regarding their elements, their measurement, and the consistency between the defined elements and their measurement. Using scoping review methodology, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed literature. Definitions were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Consistency between defined elements and measurement was scored on an index. Across 57 records, less than half defined mindfulness as specific to a disposition, state, or action. One third described mindfulness as an attentional process without attitudinal elements. An additional 30% mentioned non-judgment as the singular attitudinal element underlying mindfulness. Empirical articles (n = 45) predominantly assessed dispositional mindfulness as a single score and frequently lacked measurement of defined attitudinal elements or measured elements that were not defined. To advance the systematic investigation of mindfulness, we present a conceptual model describing the measurement selection based on explicitly defined attentional and attitudinal mindfulness elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study assessed potential differences between girls and boys in the prevalence rates of cannabis use, sociodemographic factors, and beliefs about cannabis use. Methods: 1,896 Andalusian adolescents aged 14-18 participated in an online survey based on the I-Change model. The survey assessed their beliefs about cannabis use, including attitudes, social influences, self-efficacy, action planning, and intention to use. Multivariate analyses of variance were then conducted to examine potential gender differences in these beliefs, while controlling for last month's cannabis use. Results: Significantly more boys used cannabis in the lastmonth, had boyfriends/girlfriends, and had more pocket money compared to girls. Additionally, girls - in comparison to boys - were more convinced of the disadvantages of cannabis use, but were also more convinced of some of the advantages (such as freedom from boredom, and medicinal use), reported having less favorable social norms for cannabis use, had more female best friends using cannabis, and felt pressure to use cannabis from their female peers. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for cannabis prevention programs to consider gender differences in beliefs about cannabis use. Programs should not only address general risk factors for cannabis use but also evaluate if their interventions effectively target beliefs that are particularly important for girls and boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High cognitive activity possibly reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Aims: To investigate associations between an individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities (need for cognition, NFC) and structural brain damage and cognitive functioning in the Dutch general population with and without existing cognitive impairment. Method: Cross-sectional data were used from the population-based cohort of the Maastricht Study. NFC was measured using the Need For Cognition Scale. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: verbal memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning and attention. Values 1.5 s.d. below the mean were defined as cognitive impairment. Standardised volumes of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and presence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) were derived from 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were used adjusted for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. Results: Participants (n = 4209; mean age 59.06 years, s.d. = 8.58; 50.1% women) with higher NFC scores had higher overall cognition scores (B = 0.21, 95% CI 0.17–0.26, P < 0.001) and lower odds for CSVD (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60–0.91, P = 0.005) and cognitive impairment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.76, P < 0.001) after adjustment for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. The association between NFC score and cognitive functioning was similar for individuals with and without prevalent cognitive impairment. We found no significant association between NFC and WMH or CSF volumes. Conclusions: A high need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive functioning and less presence of CSVD and cognitive impairment. This suggests that, in middle-aged individuals, motivation to engage in cognitively stimulating activities may be an opportunity to improve brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addiction problems impact not only the persons with these problems but also family members. This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on stress, strain on health, study experiences, coping strategies, and access to support of students with relatives with addiction problems. Thirty students, aged 18–30 years, from a University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands participated in a three‐year qualitative longitudinal interview study. One round of individual semi‐structured interviews was conducted before the COVID‐19 pandemic, and three during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Directed Content Analysis was applied, using the Stress‐Strain‐Information‐Coping‐Support‐model. Four major themes were identified: (1) Increase in stress and strain; (2) Decrease in stress and strain; (3) Coping strategies, and (4) Access to social, professional, and educational support. Before the pandemic, most participants had health problems, especially mental health problems, including problems with their own substance use. Some had study delay. Analysis revealed that during the pandemic, most participants experienced an increase in these problems. This appeared to be related to their living situation: An increase in violence and relapse of relatives increased stress, especially for those living with their relatives. The coping strategies 'standing up' or 'putting up', and a decrease in support—social, professional, and educational—also contributed to stress. A few participants experienced less health problems and study problems. This was related to diminishing addiction problems of relatives, less social pressure, available help, and the coping strategy 'withdrawing'. Withdrawing was much easier for participants who did not live with their relatives with addiction problems. It is recommended to keep schools and universities open during pandemics, offering a safe haven for students at risk in the home situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]