scholarly journals Sociodemographic, Attitudinal, and Behavioral Correlates of Using Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Fitness Websites: An Online Survey (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A Almenara ◽  
Hana Machackova ◽  
David Smahel
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Excessive Exercise ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Individual

BACKGROUND Nutrition, diet, and fitness are among the most searched health topics by internet users. Besides that, health-related internet users are diverse in their motivations and individual characteristics. However, little is known about the individual characteristics associated with the usage of nutrition, weight loss, and fitness websites. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the individual factors associated with the usage of nutrition, weight loss, and fitness websites. METHODS An invitation to an online survey was published on 65 websites and discussion forums. In total, we employed data from 623 participants (aged 13 to 39 years, mean 24.11 [SD 5.26]). The measures included frequency of usage of nutrition, weight loss and fitness websites, excessive exercise, eating disorder symptomatology, internalization of the beauty ideal, weight status, and perceived online social support. Participants’ data were used as predictors in a base linear regression model. RESULTS The final model had an acceptable fit (χ210 =14.1; P=.17; root mean square error of approximation=0.03; comparative fit index=0.99; Tucker-Lewis index=0.99). Positive associations were found between usage of (1) nutrition websites and being female, higher levels of excessive exercise, and perceived online social support; (2) weight loss websites and excessive exercise, internalization, being female, eating disorder symptomatology, and being overweight or obese; and (3) fitness websites and levels of excessive exercise, internalization, and frequency of internet use. CONCLUSIONS The results highlighted the importance of individual differences in the usage of health-related websites.

Treating the binge or the (fat) body? Representations of fatness in a gold standard psychological treatment manual for binge eating disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Brown-Bowers ◽  
Ashley Ward ◽  
Nicole Cormier
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Binge Eating Disorder ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Treatment Manual ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Individual

This article reports the results of a Foucauldian-informed discourse analysis exploring representations of fatness embedded within an empirically based psychological treatment manual for binge eating disorder, a condition characterized by overvaluation of weight and shape. Analyses indicate that the manual prioritizes weight loss with relatively less emphasis placed on treating the diagnostic symptoms and underlying mechanisms of binge eating disorder. We raise critical concerns about these observations and link our findings to mainstream psychology’s adoption of the medical framing of fatness as obesity within the “gold standard” approach to intervention. We recommend that psychology as a discipline abandons the weight loss imperative associated with binge eating disorder and fat bodies. We recommend that practitioners locate the problem of fat shame in society as opposed to the individual person’s body and provide individuals with tools to identify and resist fat stigma and oppression, rather than provide them with tools to reshape their bodies.

Individual difference factors related to anthropomorphic tendency

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 973-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Letheren ◽  
Kerri-Ann L. Kuhn ◽  
Ian Lings ◽  
Nigel K. Ll. Pope
Keyword(s):  
Individual Difference ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Personal Connection ◽  
Experiential Thinking ◽  
Psychology Literature ◽  
The Individual

Purpose This paper aims to addresses an important gap in anthropomorphism research by examining the individual-level factors that correlate with anthropomorphic tendency. Design/methodology/approach The extant psychology, marketing and consumer psychology literature is reviewed, and eight hypotheses devised. Data from 509 online survey respondents are analysed to identify individual characteristics associated with anthropomorphic tendency. Findings The results reveal that anthropomorphic tendency varies by individual and is significantly related to personality, age, relationship status, personal connection to animals and experiential thinking. Research limitations/implications This paper extends on recent research into the individual nature of anthropomorphic tendency, once thought to be a universal trait. Given that this paper is the first of its kind, testing of further traits is merited. It is suggested that future research further examine personality, as well as other elements of individual difference, and test the role of anthropomorphic tendency in the development of processing abilities with age. Practical implications Findings show that anthropomorphic tendency may prove to be a key variable in the segmentation of markets and the design of marketing communications, and that younger, single, more creative, conscientious consumers are an appropriate target for anthropomorphic messages. The importance of personal connection to animals, as well as experiential thinking, is also highlighted. Originality/value Given the importance of anthropomorphic tendency for the processing of messages involving non-human endorsers, as well as the formation of relevant attitudes and behaviours, this paper fulfils an identified need to further understand the characteristics of those high on this tendency.

scholarly journals Food avoidance among patients with headache

2020 ◽  
pp. 51-53
Author(s):  
Stella Boreggio Machado ◽  
Nayara Cavalcanti Ares ◽  
Claudio Scorcine ◽  
Yara Dadalti Fragoso
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Trigger Factor ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Food Avoidance ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Standard Profile

ObjectiveTo assess food and drink avoidance among patients with headache by means of an online survey.MethodsIndividuals with frequent headaches were invited to answer a Google Form questionnaire [https://form.jotformz.com/200233754863656]. The survey included sex, age and characteristics of headache. Dietary habits were assessed as the number of times the individual consumed certain foods, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The participants could state up to three foods that they avoided for fear of headache attacks.Results120 complete forms were received. Alcoholic beverages were the most frequent trigger factor, reported by 26.7% of the patients. 95.5% of the participants did not consume alcohol regularly. Cheese, caffeine and fat were also recognized as potential triggers of headaches. There was no standard profile of dietary triggers and, therefore, everyone has to be personally approached in this subject.ConclusionThe online survey confirmed that individual characteristics of headache were dietary triggers in half the participants. Alcohol was the most frequently mentioned trigger, followed by cheese, fat and caffeine.

Online Social Support Groups/Communities

2022 ◽  
pp. 349-369
Author(s):  
Liza Ngenye ◽  
Kevin Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Online Networks ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Health Related

Numerous studies over the past two decades suggest that people with a variety of health concerns are increasingly turning to online networks for social support. This has led to the rise of online support groups/communities for people facing health concerns. Researchers have found that these groups/communities provide patients, disease survivors, and caregivers a number of advantages and disadvantages in terms of mobilizing social support for their health-related concerns. This chapter will examine these issues in greater detail as well as the theoretical and practical implications of this body of research for patients who use online support communities to help cope with and manage a variety of health issues. It will provide an overview of online social support and health outcomes, discuss key processes and theoretical explanations for the efficacy of online support communities for people facing health concerns, and the limitations of this body of research as well as an agenda for future communication research on health-related online support groups/communities.

Monitoring your weight-loss process online: prior weight-loss experiences, online social support and subsequent weight-loss success (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lun Li ◽  
Qiuju Yin ◽  
Zhijun Yan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Successful Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Loss Success ◽  
Failed Weight Loss ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND Online weight-loss communities (OWCs) have been becoming increasingly popular for weight management, which enable individuals to monitor (i.e. self-monitoring) and discuss (i.e. social interaction) their weight-loss experiences. However, there has been limited understanding of the role of individuals’ prior weight-loss experiences in subsequent weight-loss success, especially in online settings. OBJECTIVE To address the significant literature gap, this study investigates the relationship between prior weight-loss experiences (success or failure), online social support and subsequent weight-loss success in the contexts of OWCs based on self-determination theory. METHODS The data of 1650 users from one popular OWC is collected using a python crawler procedure, including individuals’ characteristics (e.g. gender, age, friends, posts, membership duration) and weight-loss diary information. Two logit regression models are deployed to estimate the effects of prior weight-loss experiences and social support on subsequent weight-loss success, as well as the moderation effect of social support. RESULTS The results reveal that prior successful weight-loss experiences are positively related to subsequent weight-loss success (β=0.376,p<0.01) while the relationship between prior failed weight-loss experiences and subsequent weight-loss success is negative (β=-0.225,p<0.05). Meanwhile, online social support can not only influence positively subsequent weight-loss success directly (β=0.441,p<0.01) but also undermine the negative effect of prior failed weight-loss experiences (β=0.025,p<). Nevertheless, social support has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between prior successful weight-loss experiences and subsequent weight-loss success (β=0.104,p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS This study contributes to literature on prior experiences and online social support in the context of OWCs, and provides valuable insights for OWCs’ designs to improve users’ engagement and their weight-loss success.

scholarly journals Predicting a Pandemic: testing crowd wisdom and expert forecasting amidst the novel COVID-19 outbreak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil O. W. Kirkegaard ◽  
Wael Taji ◽  
Arjen Gerritsen
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Crowd Wisdom ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Events ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Individual

Taking countermeasures to protect against future events requires predicting what the future will be like. In late 2019, a novel coronavirus known as NCov-2019 emerged in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to most countries in the world. Anticipatory responses by civilians facing the crisis have included self-isolation measures, extreme stockpiling of food or medical supplies, and other forms of preparation to meet the expected crisis. However, no consensus exists as to the accuracy of civilian expectations, nor toward the relative value of different informational sources used by citizens to build these expectations (e.g. mainstream news as opposed to an educational background in virology). In the present study, we used an online survey (n = 333 in final sample) to collect individual characteristics and general knowledge regarding viruses and the novel coronavirus, in addition to their forecasts for the various outcomes expected to result from it in the near future. This will allow for the individual correlates of accurate forecasting to be known by 2021, which could prove important for assigning relative weights to forecasts for other events in the future.

scholarly journals Exploring How People Affected by Methamphetamine Exchange Social Support Through Online Interactions on Facebook: Content Analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ellway ◽  
Rachel Reilly ◽  
Amanda Le Couteur ◽  
James Ward
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Network Support ◽  
Methamphetamine Use ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Tangible Support

BACKGROUND Methamphetamine is an illicit and addictive psychostimulant that remains to be a significant cause of economic burden in Australia. Social media is increasingly being used by nongovernment organizations and health services to encourage the growth of social support networks among people with health-related issues. Several studies have investigated the utility of social media in providing social support to groups of people with health-related issues. However, limited research exists that explores how people who have been directly or indirectly affected by methamphetamine use social media for social support. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the types of social support being sought and provided by people affected by methamphetamine when interacting with others on a Facebook page. METHODS A total of 14,777 posts were collected from a Facebook page and transferred into an Excel document for content analysis. The posts were manually coded into categories of social support using an adapted version of Cutrona and Suhr’s Social Support Behavior Code. Posts could be coded into more than one category. Saturation was reached at 2000 posts, which were used to draw inferences. RESULTS Emotional support was the most offered support type, with 42.05% (841/2000) of posts providing this form of support. This is followed by esteem support, which was provided in 40.40% (808/2000) of posts. Overall, 24.20% (484/2000) of posts offered informational support. Network support and tangible support were the least offered support types, with 2.25% (45/2000) and 1.70% (34/2000) of posts offering these types of support, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that online social support groups can be effective in challenging stigma by encouraging people affected by methamphetamine to connect with each other and talk about their struggles. This in turn represents an important step toward successful rehabilitation.

scholarly journals Motivating Online Social Support Provision to Patients with Complex Chronic Diseases: A Technological-Affordance Approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Reactions ◽  
Support Provision ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Technological Affordances

This study examines the topic of motivating social support provision for patients with complex chronic diseases (CCD) from a technological- affordance approach. Utilizing an online survey (N = 281) of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), this study shows that certain technological affordances of computer-mediated technologies could trigger psychological reactions, which then drive social support provision for IBS patients in online health communities. Community building significantly promotes support provision by enhancing one’s sense of community, and so does agency building via improving one’s self-agency. In addition, browsing significantly promotes social support provision as individuals are more likely to be exposed to emotional support-seeking messages when technology allows users to freely move through and obtain information. As a result, they are more inclined to offer support in response. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Online Social Support Groups/Communities

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liza Ngenye ◽  
Kevin Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Online Networks ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Health Related

Numerous studies over the past two decades suggest that people with a variety of health concerns are increasingly turning to online networks for social support. This has led to the rise of online support groups/communities for people facing health concerns. Researchers have found that these groups/communities provide patients, disease survivors, and caregivers a number of advantages and disadvantages in terms of mobilizing social support for their health-related concerns. This chapter will examine these issues in greater detail as well as the theoretical and practical implications of this body of research for patients who use online support communities to help cope with and manage a variety of health issues. It will provide an overview of online social support and health outcomes, discuss key processes and theoretical explanations for the efficacy of online support communities for people facing health concerns, and the limitations of this body of research as well as an agenda for future communication research on health-related online support groups/communities.

scholarly journals Exploring the Effect of Social Support and Empathy on User Engagement in Online Mental Health Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6855
Author(s):  
Yixin Chen ◽  
Yang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
User Behaviors ◽  
Mental Problems ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Health Communities

It is known that social support and empathy are beneficial for mental health. As a result of the widespread development of social media, online social support and empathy could also influence user behaviors during the development of online communities. However, few studies have examined these effects from the perspective of online mental health communities. These communities appear to be a crucial source for mental health related support, but the spread of online empathy in these communities is not well-understood. This study focused on 22 mental health related subreddits, and matched and compared users (1) who received social support with those who did not receive social support, and users (2) who received more empathic social support with those who received less empathic social support. The results showed that social support and empathy are “contagious”. That is, users who received social support at their first post would be more likely to post again and provide support for others; in addition, users who received more empathic support would subsequently express a higher level of empathy to others in the future. Our findings indicate the potential chain reaction of social support and empathy in online mental health communities. Our study also provides insights into how online mental health communities might better assist people to deliver social support that can help others to deal with mental problems.

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