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Evidence supports the use of graphic warnings to educate the public about the health harms of smoking and suggests warnings eliciting negative emotional responses may be more effective. This study aimed to replicate a preliminary theory-based model whereby perceived new knowledge promotes discouragement from smoking through its impact on worry about smoking with a different sample and using a new set of cigarette graphic warnings. We explored if the pattern extended to encouragement to use e-cigarettes, and if age and user group moderated the indirect effects of these models. Exclusive smokers, dual/e-cigarette users and nonusers (N = 412) evaluated graphic cigarette warnings on perceived new knowledge and worry about health harms of smoking, discouragement to smoke, and encouragement to use e-cigarettes. Perceived new knowledge was both directly and indirectly associated with discouragement to smoke through worry about health harms of smoking, and did not vary as a function of age or user group. In contrast, perceived new knowledge was not directly or indirectly associated with encouragement to use e-cigarettes, and this pattern largely did not vary as a function of age or user group. Graphic cigarette warnings that enhance knowledge may discourage smoking both directly and indirectly through worry elicited by them, and may have less impact on encouraging e-cigarette use. These findings replicate prior work and generalize to different user groups and new warnings planned for implementation in the U.S., Author(s): Renee E. Magnan [sup.1] , Anna V. Song [sup.2] [sup.3] , Linda D. Cameron [sup.2] [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.502359.8, 0000 0000 8936 4310, Department of Psychology, Washington State [...]

Background: Limited research considers the quantity and potency of cannabis products along with social context on the subjective effects of real-world cannabis use. Aims: This study examined the subjective effects of acute use as a function of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) doses and social context during cannabis use episodes. Method: Ninety-six participants (43.75% male, M age = 35.73) reporting weekly cannabis use completed a baseline self-report battery assessing cannabis use. Then, THC and CBD potency and quantity of the cannabis product, social context, and subjective experience were assessed through self-initiated surveys after cannabis use episodes during a 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Results: Greater feeling high and liking were significantly associated with a higher THC dose than one's average (b = 0.03, p < 0.001; b = 0.02, p < 0.001) and social use (b = 0.38, p < 0.001; b = 0.20, p = 0.01). A higher CBD dose than one's average (b = 0.01, p = 0.04) was significantly associated with greater liking. A significant interaction effect of THC dose and social context (b = 0.01, p = 0.02) was observed such that solitary use had a negative association between THC dose and disliking (b = −0.01, p = 0.04), and social use had a null association (b = 0.003, p = 0.25). Individuals with greater cannabis problems reported lower liking (b = −0.18, p = 0.03) and higher disliking (b = 0.08, p = 0.02), but not feeling high, on average, across the EMA protocol. Conclusion: Social context plays an important role in the subjective experience of cannabis use. Interventions targeting cannabis problems could highlight the evidence that individuals with greater cannabis problems might experience less liking but more disliking in general across use episodes to effectively challenge expectancies/motives of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented health threat for which behavior is critical to prevent spread and personal factors could contribute to decisions for protective action. The purpose of this study was to describe associations of COVID-19 related behaviors capturing a snapshot in time during the height of the first wave of the pandemic. We tested perceptions of likelihood and severity of infection, worry, and their associations with behavior. We further explored relationships by demographic characteristics, and tested main and interactive relationships between these characteristics and beliefs and protective behaviors. Using an online cross-sectional survey, U.S. adults (N = 795) reported their perceptions of likelihood and severity of, and worry about, contracting COVID-19 for self and others, and engagement in protective behaviors. In bivariate tests, all cognitive and affective beliefs were positively associated with hygiene behaviors, but only worry and personal and others' severity were associated with greater likelihood of social distancing. Controlling for other beliefs and demographic factors, perceived personal severity remained associated with social distancing, and worry with hygiene behaviors. How people think and feel about risk could have implications for communicating information about this novel health threat and motivating action to mitigate its spread., Author(s): Renee E. Magnan [sup.1] , Laurel P. Gibson [sup.2] , Angela D. Bryan [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.502359.8, 0000 0000 8936 4310, Department of Psychology, Washington State University Vancouver, [...]

Abstract Background The purpose of this research was to replicate a successful intervention to increase physical activity in a different region of the country, and explore genetic and physiological moderators of intervention efficacy drawn from a transdisciplinary theoretical framework. Method A randomized controlled trial comparing a print-based physical activity intervention (COSTRIDE) to a print-based health and wellness contact control (HW) intervention was conducted. Sedentary participants (n = 219) completed assessments at baseline and follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following the initiation of the intervention. Results Participants in both conditions significantly increased exercise behavior in the first six months, and then leveled off or decreased physical activity in the second six months of the study. Those in the COSTRIDE intervention increased significantly more than those in the HW intervention, and were better able to maintain their exercise behavior. Genetic factors (BDNF, rs6265; FTO, rs8044769), but not selected physiological (body temperature, blood lactate, systolic blood pressure, plasma norepinephrine, and heart rate) or subjective (perceived pain, affect) responses to physical activity, moderated response to the intervention. Conclusions There are underlying genetic factors that influence response to behavioral intervention, and a better understanding of these factors has the potential to influence the development, targeting and tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase physical activity. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT01091857.

Strong health messages may result in reactance, increasing unhealthy behaviors. Reactance is purported to be derived of both cognitive and affective factors. The current study investigated the extent to which these cognitive and affective reactance components accounted for the link between message exposure on intentions and behavior. Emerging adults who never attended college (N = 244) completed an online study assessing anger and negative cognitions towards high or low threat anti-binge drinking messages. Intentions to drink and binge drink in the next week and drinking behaviors 1 week later were assessed. High threat messages elicited more anger and negative cognitions than low threat messages. High threat messages had a significant total indirect effect on intentions but had no effect on drinking behaviors. These outcomes suggest that while immediate cognitive and affect reactance has an effect on intentions, it may not influence longer-term decision making and may not outweigh benefits of strong messages., Author(s): Bethany R. Shorey-Fennell [sup.1] , Renee E. Magnan [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0000 8936 4310, grid.502359.8, Department of Psychology, Washington State University Vancouver, , 14204 NE Salmon [...]

Objectives: Self‐affirmation approaches for health behaviour demonstrate consistent small to medium effects on message acceptance, health intentions and behaviour change. There are several forms of self‐affirmation (e.g., values affirmations, implementation intentions), but few empirical comparisons to guide selection in empirical work. Further, there has been little emphasis on the putative mechanisms of self‐affirmation driving behaviour change. The current investigation compared a control and four self‐affirmation approaches: values, social, implementation intention, and perspective taking. Methods: Participants were recruited through CloudResearch (N = 666) and reported baseline sun exposure and protection behaviour at Time 1. One week later (Time 2), returning participants (N = 535) were randomly assigned to condition, viewed a message conveying risks of sun exposure, and reported sun exposure and protection intentions for the next week. Follow‐up one week later (Time 3; N = 449) assessed past week sun exposure (i.e., number of days spent outside during peak hours), sun protection behaviour (e.g., sunscreen use), future sun exposure and protection intentions and engagement with resources conveying further health information (i.e., viewing infographics, following links to websites with more information). The association of putative mechanisms with self‐affirmation conditions and health outcomes was also examined. Results: Unexpectedly, there were few differences between self‐affirmation conditions and the control on intentions, information seeking, or behaviour at follow‐up. At follow‐up, perspective circle participants reported fewer days spent outside, spent longer viewing infographics, and, along with social values participants, followed more weblinks seeking information than control participants. The putative mechanisms were unrelated to health outcomes. Conclusions: The current investigation was a first step in comparing novel online self‐affirmation approaches and had largely null findings. Results suggest that the perspective circle performed best at promoting information seeking and, to some extent, behaviour change. Suggestions for future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transdisciplinary approach incorporating biological, psychological, behavioral, and genetic factors was taken to better identify proposed moderators of the effectiveness of an intervention to increase physical activity. This paper illustrates how theory-based individual difference variables can be integrated into a complex randomized controlled trial. The transdisciplinary framework guiding the selection of moderators, the COSTRIDE intervention study and sample, and the relationships among baseline variables are provided. Participants were non-active individuals randomly assigned to either the STRIDE exercise or health-and-wellness contact control condition. Structural equation modeling was utilized to demonstrate that relationships among baseline variables confirm hypothesized relationships in the transdisciplinary framework. Preliminary data from COSTRIDE suggest that interventions among sedentary individuals may be more effective if a broader range of factors influencing physical activity are considered. Keywords Exercise * Intervention study * Transdisciplinary * Physiology * Mood, Background Although the importance of physical activity is well known, many individuals remain sedentary (Pleis et al., 2009). Physical inactivity increases the risk of numerous deleterious physical and mental health [...]

Background: In August 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a set of 13 new graphic warnings for cigarette packaging and advertisements.Purpose: We evaluated these warnings relative to text-only equivalents for their ability to educate the public regarding harms of smoking and influence outcomes associated with quitting.Methods: In an experimental within-subjects design, U.S. adult nonsmokers, smokers, and dual smoker/electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users (N = 412) recruited from an online internet platform evaluated the newly proposed graphic warnings and corresponding text-only warnings on understandability, perceived new knowledge, worry elicited about the content of the warning, discouragement from smoking, and encouragement to use e-cigarettes.Results: Graphic warnings were generally rated as providing better understanding, more new knowledge, eliciting more worry about harms of smoking, and providing more discouragement from smoking relative to text-only warnings.Conclusions: The newly proposed graphic warnings could influence important responses to warnings associated with motivation to reduce smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), an assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, is regularly used as the primary outcome in exercise interventions. Many criteria have been suggested for validating such tests--most commonly, a plateau in oxygen consumption. The current study investigated the proportion of inactive individuals who reached a plateau in oxygen uptake and who achieved a valid test as assessed by secondary criteria (RERmax ≥ 1.1; RPEmax ≥ 18; age predicted HRmax ±10bpm), and the correlates of a successful plateau or achievement of secondary criteria during a VO2max session. Methods: Participants (n = 240) were inactive individuals who completed VO2max assessments using an incremental treadmill test. We explored physical, behavioral, and motivational factors as predictors of meeting criteria for meeting a valid test. Results: Approximately 59% of the sample achieved plateau using absolute (increase of VO2 of 150ml O2 or less) and 37% achieved plateau using relative (increase of VO2 of 1.5ml/kg O2 or less) criteria. Being male, having a higher BMI, a greater waist-to-hip ratio, and increased self-efficacy were associated with lower odds of achieving an absolute plateau, whereas none of these factors predicted odds of achieving relative plateau. Conclusion: Findings raise questions about the validity of commonly used criteria with less active populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]