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Objective: Hand washing and sleep hygiene are two important health behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to identify the motivational and volitional antecedents of college students' hand washing and sleep hygiene behaviors based on an integrated model of behavior that combined social-cognition constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Health Action Process Approach (HAPA). Methods: Using a prospective design, college students (N = 1106) completed a survey assessing the motivational constructs of action self-efficacy, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and behaviors of hand washing and sleep hygiene at Time 1. Demographic variables were also collected. One month later, at Time 2, college students (N = 524) self-reported on their volitional factors of maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning, and behaviors of hand washing and sleep hygiene. A further 2 months later, at Time 3, college students (N = 297) were asked to self-report on their hand washing and sleep hygiene behaviors over the past month. Findings: Data were analyzed using variance-based structural equation modelling. Results showed significant direct effects of attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on intentions; significant direct effects of action self-efficacy on maintenance self-efficacy; and significant direct effects of maintenance self-efficacy on action planning and coping planning. Significant direct effects of intention on action planning (sleep hygiene only), and significant direct effects of intention, maintenance self-efficacy (hand washing only), action and coping planning on behavior were also observed. Action planning also moderated the intention-behavior relationship, but only for hand washing. There were also significant total indirect effects of action self-efficacy on behavior mediated by maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, and coping planning for both behaviors, and significant total indirect effects of subjective norm and perceived behavioral control on behavior mediated by intention for sleep hygiene. When past behavior was included in the integrated model predicting all the psychological variables and behavior, all of the structural relations were attenuated. Discussion: Current findings indicate that college students' hand washing and sleep hygiene behaviors are a function of both motivational and volitional factors. Findings also indicate that the TPB and HAPA pathways might differ for the two health behaviors. Implications of the current findings for future health interventions aimed at improving college students' hand washing and sleep hygiene are discussed.

OBJECTIVE:Consumption of excess added sugar in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributes to a wide range of health concerns in adolescents. Identification of modifiable determinants of SSB consumption based on behavioral theory may inform development of interventions aimed at reducing SSB consumption. The aim of the current study was to test the efficacy of an extended version of the Health Action Process Approach to predict adolescent SSB consumption. METHODS:Using a prospective design, adolescent students (N = 450) self-reported their outcome expectancies, perceived behavioral control, intentions, habit, action, maintenance, and recovery self-efficacy, action and coping planning, perceived affordability, and past behavior with respect to SSB consumption. One month later, participants self-reported their SSB consumption. RESULTS:A structural equation model revealed significant direct effects of action self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and perceived behavioral control on intentions to reduce SSB consumption. Significant direct effects of action self-efficacy on maintenance self-efficacy, and maintenance self-efficacy on recovery self-efficacy, were also identified. There were significant direct effects of intentions and maintenance self-efficacy on action and coping planning. Only intentions and perceived affordability had significant direct effects on SSB consumption. There were also indirect effects of outcome expectancy and perceived behavioral control on SSB consumption mediated by intentions. Inclusion of past behavior attenuated model effects, with past behavior the only remaining predictor of SSB consumption. CONCLUSIONS:Findings indicate that adolescent SSB consumption is predicted by intentions and perceived affordability, but effects were extinguished by the inclusion of past behavior. The pervasive effects of past behavior point to the importance of identifying potential mediators of past behavior in future research, and that interventions targeting non-conscious rather than intentional processes may be most effective in reducing SSB consumption.

Block solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR) with two different compositions and ratios was designed and synthesized by living anionic polymerization with styrene and butadiene as monomers, n-butyllithium as initiator, 2,2-bis(tetrahydrofuran)propane as modifier, and cyclohexane as solvent. The microstructure, chemical composition and molecular weight and its distribution of the block SSBR were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and gel permeation chromatographer, and the mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties of the block SSBR vulcanizate were analyzed by rubber tension machine and dynamic mechanical analyse respectively. The results showed that the molecular structure of the block SSBR met the desired molecular structure. The vulcanizate had good mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties. The higher the mass ratio of the soft block to the hard block of the block SSBR, the wider the damping temperature range. As the soft block had lower bound styrene content, the damping temperature range of the block SSBR was more widened. When mass fraction of bound styrene of the two blocks of block SSBR was 15% and 50%, and the mass ratio was 7/3, the efficient damping temperature range exceeded 53 ℃ with loss factor of not less than 0.3.

BackgroundThis study examined the effectiveness of a theoretical framework that integrates self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the use of facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza among Hong Kong older adults.MethodsData were collected at two time points in the winter in Hong Kong, during which influenza is most prevalent. At Time 1, older adults (N = 141) completed self-report measures of SDT (perceived autonomy support from senior center staff, autonomous motivation for influenza prevention) and TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention for influenza prevention) constructs with respect to facemask used to prevent infection. Two weeks later, at Time 2, participants' acceptance of a facemask to prevent influenza in the presence of an experimenter with flu-like symptoms was recorded.ResultsPath analysis found that perceived autonomy support of senior center staff was positively and significantly linked to autonomous motivation for facemask use, which, in turn, was positively related to intentions to wear facemasks through the mediation of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. However, the effect of intention on facemask use was not significant.ConclusionsResults generally support the proposed framework and the findings of previous studies with respect to intention, but the non-significant intention-behavior relationship may warrant future research to examine the reasons for older adults not to wear facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza despite having positive intentions to do so.

BackgroundPeople 65 years or older are at greater risk of serious complications from the seasonal influenza compared with young. To promote elderly people's behavioral compliance toward influenza prevention, the aim of the current project is to develop, implement, and evaluate a theory-based low-administration-cost intervention building on a leading psychological theory, the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA).MethodsThe target group is Hong Kong Chinese elderly people aged 65 or older who rarely or never adopt any preventive actions. This project will be conducted in three phases over 24 months. In phase 1, intervention program will be developed building on the HAPA theoretical framework which comprises both the initiation and maintenance of influenza prevention behaviors. In phase 2, intervention will be implemented and evaluated using a randomized controlled trial, including: (a) behavior initiation only, (b) behavior initiation + behavior maintenance, and (c) control group. Both the initiation and maintenance components will comprise weekly-delivered telephone-based individual intervention sessions in 3 months. In phase 3, outcome evaluation of behavioral and psychological variables and process evaluation will be conducted. The effectiveness of the intervention will be analyzed using a series of linear mixed models on each behavioral and psychological outcome variable. Structural equation modelling will be used to test the hypothesized theoretical sequence in the HAPA model.DiscussionThe proposed project is expected to design theory-based intervention materials to promote the influenza prevention behaviors in Hong Kong elderly people and provide information on its effectiveness and the potential changing mechanism of behavior initiation and maintenance.Trial registrationThis randomized controlled trial was funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Food and Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ref: 16151222) and was registered on 13/10/2017 at CCRB Clinical Trials Registry of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Partner Registry of a WHO Primary Registry (Ref: CUHK_CCRB00567 ).

Promoting health behavior change presents an important challenge to theory and research in the field of health psychology. In this paper, we introduce a context-driven approach, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model which is built on Relational Frame Theory. The ACT-based intervention aims to promote individuals' new health behavior patterns through the improvement of the key construct of psychological flexibility, which is defined as the ability to contact the present moment more fully with acceptance and mindfulness as a conscious human being. Building on the psychological flexibility model, implemented through the six core ACT processes, individuals improve maintenance of long term health behavior change through committed acts in service of chosen values while acknowledging and accepting the existence of contrary thoughts, rules, and emotions as part of themselves but not determinant of their behaviors. Taking advantage of this context-driven approach of health behavior change, we recommend researchers and practitioners to design their health behavior change intervention programs based on ACT.

A series of polystyrene macromonomers were synthesized by living anionic polymerization technique using styrene as monomer and p-vinylbenzyl chloride as capping agent.The star-branched styrene-butadiene-styrene (S-g-SBS) copolymer with ordered polystyrene as side chains was designed and synthesized using butadiene and polystyrene macromonomer as monomers and divinyl benzene as coupling agent.The chemical constitution and microstructure of polystyrene macromonomers and S-g-SBS were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, gel permeation chromatographer and differential scanning calorimeter, and the rheological properties of S-g-SBS were analyzed by rotational rheometer.The results showed that polystyrene macromonomers with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained.The content of 1,2-structure of polybutadiene in S-g-SBS could be regulated between 30% and 70%, and the lower the content of 1,2-structure, the lower the melt viscosity.For the similar molecular structural parameter, the melt viscosity of S-g-SBS was obviously lower than that of linear SBS.

BackgroundThis study examined the effectiveness of a theoretical framework that integrates self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the use of facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza among Hong Kong older adults.MethodsData were collected at two time points in the winter in Hong Kong, during which influenza is most prevalent. At Time 1, older adults (N = 141) completed self-report measures of SDT (perceived autonomy support from senior center staff, autonomous motivation for influenza prevention) and TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention for influenza prevention) constructs with respect to facemask used to prevent infection. Two weeks later, at Time 2, participants' acceptance of a facemask to prevent influenza in the presence of an experimenter with flu-like symptoms was recorded.ResultsPath analysis found that perceived autonomy support of senior center staff was positively and significantly linked to autonomous motivation for facemask use, which, in turn, was positively related to intentions to wear facemasks through the mediation of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. However, the effect of intention on facemask use was not significant.ConclusionsResults generally support the proposed framework and the findings of previous studies with respect to intention, but the non-significant intention-behavior relationship may warrant future research to examine the reasons for older adults not to wear facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza despite having positive intentions to do so.

Promoting health behavior change presents an important challenge to theory and research in the field of health psychology. In this paper, we introduce a context-driven approach, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model which is built on Relational Frame Theory. The ACT-based intervention aims to promote individuals' new health behavior patterns through the improvement of the key construct of psychological flexibility, which is defined as the ability to contact the present moment more fully with acceptance and mindfulness as a conscious human being. Building on the psychological flexibility model, implemented through the six core ACT processes, individuals improve maintenance of long term health behavior change through committed acts in service of chosen values while acknowledging and accepting the existence of contrary thoughts, rules, and emotions as part of themselves but not determinant of their behaviors. Taking advantage of this context-driven approach of health behavior change, we recommend researchers and practitioners to design their health behavior change intervention programs based on ACT.

This longitudinal study applied the integrated model of self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explain COVID-19 preventive behaviours among parents of young children in the United States. The study adopted a two-wave longitudinal study design. Parents (N = 681) completed self-report questionnaires related to measures of SDT and the TPB constructs and behavioural adherence at baseline and after one month. We used standardised residual change scores to test the structural relationships of the integrated model. The parameter estimates of the model (CFI >.96, TLI >.86, RMSEA =.05, SRMR =.03) fit acceptably well to the data. Psychological need support was positively and significantly linked to autonomous and controlled motivation and amotivation. Autonomous motivation was positively and significantly correlated with TPB factors, and intention. Intention was a significant and positive predictor of behavioural adherence. The integrated model of SDT and the TPB appeared to be applicable to the explanation of COVID-19 prevention among the U.S. parents. Longitudinal data showed that a psychological need supportive social environment was related to favourable motivation, social cognition beliefs, intention and behavioural adherence to the preventive behaviours of parents protecting their young children from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of JAK2 / STAT3 / SOCS1 signaling pathway in electroacupuncture of different acupoints on acute colitis rats. Methods: 36 SPF SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 6 rats in each group. The rat model of acute colitis was prepared by enema with glacial acetic acid solution. After the model was established, electroacupuncture was given to each acupoint group, with density wave, frequency 2Hz-50 Hz, intensity 2 mA, muscle tremor as the degree 20 min/time, 1 time/day, for 3 consecutive days. Observe the general condition of rats ; the pathological changes of colonic mucosa in rats were observed by HE method. The contents of serum interleukin-4 ( IL-4 ) and interleukin-8 ( IL-8 ) were detected by ELISA. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of JAK2, STAT3, SOCS1 protein and mRNA in rat colon tissue. Results: In contrast to the normal group, the overall condition of the model group was worse, the colonic mucosa was severely damaged, even necrotic, and the ulcer surface was obvious. The content of IL-4 in serum was obviously reduced, and the content of IL-8 was obviously go up ( P < 0.01 ). The protein content of JAK2, STAT3 and the expression of JAK2, STAT3 mRNA in colon tissue of rats were obviously go up, while the protein content of SOCS1 and the expression of SOCS1 mRNA were obviously reduced ( P < 0.01 ). In contrast to the model group, the general condition of rats in each acupoint group was significantly improved, the damage and necrosis of colonic mucosa and ulcer surface were obviously alleviated, the content of IL-4 in serum was obviously go up, and the content of IL-8 was significantly decreased ( P < 0.01 ). The protein content of JAK2, STAT3 and the expression of JAK2, STAT3 mRNA in colon tissue of rats were obviously reduced, while the protein content of SOCS1 and the expression of SOCS1 mRNA were obviously go up ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). Comparison of different acupoint groups, the colonic mucosal injury in the Zusanli group was significantly reduced, the content of serum IL-4 was significantly increased, and the content of IL-8 was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). The protein content and mRNA expression of JAK2 and STAT3 in colon tissue were significantly down-regulated, while the protein content and mRNA expression of SOCS1 were significantly go up ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at each acupoint can improve the damage of colonic mucosa and reduce the inflammatory response. The therapeutic effect of Zusanli (ST36) is better than that of Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25) and Shangjuxu (ST37). The mechanism may be related to the regulation of JAK2 / STAT3 / SOCS1 signaling pathway related proteins and inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing research interest in the concept and measurement of mental toughness. This study examined the psychometric properties of the 8-item Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI) in two Chinese samples: 503 youth athletes and 513 university students. The unidimensional model of the MTI was confirmed and measurement invariance between males and females was supported in both samples. As expected, mental toughness was positively associated with the three basic psychological needs and effort in the athlete sample, and with life satisfaction in the student sample. Excellent internal consistency reliability was found in both samples, and good test-rest reliability was also demonstrated in the student sample. Collectively, these findings provide further psychometric evidence for the MTI and support the utility of the scale in China., Author(s): Chunxiao Li [sup.1] , Chun-Qing Zhang [sup.2] , Liancheng Zhang [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0004 1799 6254, grid.419993.f, The Education University of Hong Kong, , Hong Kong SAR, [...]