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In this project, we examine the effect of a brief Self-Determination Theory based video intervention on perceived need support and health behavior change in an online social-support health behavior intervention.

Communication of food-related online content (posting, sharing, liking, commenting etc.) has grown to be a vital part of social networking sites (SNS). Nevertheless, research in this field is lacking a sound base, especially concerning motivational causes. This study aims at determining motives as well as predictors for food-related online communication. We propose a study, that (1) applies uses and gratification (U&G) theory to identify relevant motivational variables, and (2) analyses predictors for communication of food-related content that contains two relevant aspects of well-being, namely social relations and healthiness.

High meat consumption has negative effects on our environment, human health, and animal welfare. Information on these consequences of meat consumption are readily available, yet they are often underestimated in the general population. Meat eaters have been shown to avoid information on negative consequences of meat consumption. The conscious individual or collective choice not to seek or use information has been labeled "deliberate ignorance". In this study we (1) investigate if deliberate ignorance forms a barrier for information-interventions that aim to change attitudes and intentions towards a meat-reduced diet. (2) We study the role of meat-related cognitive dissonance as (a) a motive for and (b) a consequence of (not) showing deliberate ignorance in meat eaters. (3) We investigate how deliberate ignorance of meat eaters can be reduced. Therefore, we test the effectiveness of two potential interventions (self-affirmation; contemplation) and their combination against deliberate ignorance in meat eaters.

This project investigates the association of mental health problems and the consumption of soda in a representative sample of german children and adolescents. In a cross-lagged panel analysis cross-sectional and longitudinal associations are examined. It is hypothesized, that there exists a positive association and that the relationship is reciprocal.

To understand the harmful effect of perceived discrimination on mental health (e.g., Pascoe & Richman, 2009), it is important to provide an overview of not only correlational but also causal evidence. However, most systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigated only the correlational relationship between perceived discrimination and mental health. The most recent meta-analysis known to us, which investigated experimental effects, is Meta-analysis 2 by Schmitt et al. (2014). Schmitt et al. (2014) conducted the literature search using only two databases (PsycINFO, Sociofile), including studies up to the year 2012 in their evaluation, and calculated the effects using (from today's perspective) dated statistical methods. Furthermore, Schmitt et al. (2014) did not investigate a number of possible moderators such as age, ethnicity, or coping strategies due to a lack of primary studies and their search strategy. To fill these gaps, this meta-analysis of experimental studies will update and extend the work of Schmitt et al. (2014) by searching a higher number of relevant databases, including more experimental studies up to the year 2020, and testing additional potential factors moderating the effect of perceived discrimination on mental health. The investigation of possible moderators could identify protective and risk factors regarding the effects of perceived discrimination on mental health that are not yet sufficiently understood. Furthermore, building on this knowledge, approaches for interventions to reduce harmful effects of discrimination could be developed. With a focus on the experimental manipulation of discrimination, this meta-analysis provides a detailed overview of experimental methods to advance future experimental discrimination research. It also aims at identifying discrimination research fields with strong experimental focus, as well as those fields that to date do not use or rarely use experimental designs to study the effect of perceived discrimination. Based on this systemic evaluation, we would like to make suggestions on how manipulation designs could be modified and successfully applied to future research areas with few experimental studies.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the consumer nutrition environment on orders from a kids’ menu in a German restaurant

In this project we are researching the influence of online social networking sites on eating behavior.

Eating is a profoundly social activity. Yet, psychological research has traditionally conceptualized eating as an individual behavior and often ignored social influences in theories predicting behavior or behavior change. The goal of this scoping review is to assess to what extent and which social influences on eating are considered in theories of behavior change that pertain to and have been applied to eating behavior. We plan to systematically identify and synthesize current psychological theories of behavior (change) that have been applied in the context of eating (not eating disorders). Based on the identified theories we want to (a) describe the factors theorized to predict eating, (b) identify how many theories applied in the context of eating have considered social factors, (c) describe the specific social factors theorized, and (d) investigate the roles of social factors, if any, in the theories. Our goal is to identify potential blind spots of sociality in behavior (change) theories that have been applied to the behavior of eating and, if possible, suggest how those spots can be remedied in future theory development and empirical studies. The detailed scoping review protocol can be found in the attached document (see uploaded document in "Study Design" section).

Childhood maltreatment, defined as abuse or neglect (emotional, physical or sexual), affects many people in Germany and worldwide (Witt et al., 2017; World Health Organization, 2020a). Its strong, various, and long-lasting negative effects on physical and mental health are well-documented (National Research Council, 2014). The identification of health behaviors that might reduce this association is crucial. Therefore, the planned web-based cross-sectional study examines physical activity in everyday life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet as moderators. The methodology comprises the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire assessing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as well as emotional and physical neglect, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Mediterranean diet Adherence Screener. Adult psychological distress as the outcome variable is assessed dimensionally with the Brief Symptom Inventory.

In an online study with a randomized control 2x2 design (self-efficacy; contemplation) we will test the effect of a self-efficacy intervention, a contemplation intervention, and a combined self-efficacy and contemplation intervention on the reduction of deliberate ignorance in the context of meat consumption.

Migration is a significant social determinant of health and well-being for individuals with their own migration experience (first generation) and further generations (Castañeda et al., 2015). Migration itself is not a risk factor; it can both negatively and positively impact health and well-being. On the one hand, migration may lead to health disparities because adverse conditions surrounding the migration process can increase vulnerability (e.g., Perreira & Pedroza, 2019; Rousseau & Frounfelker, 2019). Post-migration stressors, so-called acculturative stressors, such as exposure to social discrimination, have adverse effects on well-being and integration. On the other hand, despite the wide range of migration-related stressors and challenges, there is strong empirical evidence for positive health and well-being patterns in populations with a migration background, the so-called immigrant or healthy migrant paradox (Cobb et al., 2019). An important question for research thus is why some populations or individuals with a migration background seem resilient to migration-related stressors while others do not. It is assumed that specific psychological or behavioral capabilities promote resilience directly or indirectly by reducing or even neutralizing the impact of adverse experiences on well-being (Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005). In current literature, variables like familism (e.g., Mood et al., 2017) or positive selection effects (e.g., Feliciano, 2020) were used to explain the immigrant paradox. So far, no explanation for the immigrant paradox can fully account for it (Castañeda et al., 2015; Cobb et al., 2019; Marks et al., 2014). To explain the immigrant paradox and prevent health disparities, our study focuses on leisure-time physical activity as a resilience factor in the face of acculturative stressors for well-being and integration outcomes on a daily level. Daily acculturative stressors have significant adverse effects on health, well-being, and integration (e.g., Cheadle et al., 2020; Jochman et al., 2019; Torres & Ong, 2010). First empirical evidence emphasizes the relevance of investigating acculturative stressors at the daily level, which differ from chronic strains usually examined in current acculturation research (Ong et al., 2009). Also, research on resilience factors is scarce, especially regarding daily behavioral capabilities. Importantly, addressing daily behaviors by prevention and intervention programs seems to be a promising way to promote resilience against acculturative stress actively. To the authors' knowledge, no study to date examines behavioral resources and their interplay with experienced acculturative stress at the daily level. Leisure-time physical activity shows a positive association with various measures of adaptive acculturation and integration (Gerber et al., 2012). Physical activity, in general, buffers stress and enhances well-being (systematic review by Mücke et al., 2018). Physical activity in leisure time additionally promotes socialization, multicultural interaction, and personal growth (Morela et al., 2016). Following resilience theory (Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005), we propose leisure-time physical activity as a compensatory (direct positive effect on well-being and integration) and protective resilience factor (indirect as a moderator reducing the adverse effect of acculturative stressors on well-being and integration). While significant in multiple U.S. studies (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2013), European studies on acculturation and leisure-time physical activity, while scarce, show mixed findings and suggest complex underlying mechanisms (e.g., Hosper et al., 2007, 2008). Leisure-time physical activity occurs at the daily micro level, making it especially appropriate for investigating mechanisms relevant to well-being and integration. Next to the behavioral dimension of physical activity, the social and psychological dimensions of leisure-time physical activity will be explored as potential resilience factors for well-being and integration.

Panel study with questions for adolescents and adults (in the age group of parents of adolescence) on motivation for and decisions about sustainable family meals