scholarly journals Understanding the Underestimation of Self-report Weight: The Roles of Narcissism and Accountability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menna Price ◽  
Erica Hepper ◽  
Laura L. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Obesity Research ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Improved Accuracy ◽  
Weight Data

Background/objectives: Obesity research frequently makes use of self-reported height and weight to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), but this is often unreliable. This study investigated motivational characteristics – narcissism and social desirability - that influence the accuracy of self-reported weight and how they interact with accountability (telling participants that their weight will be verified). Subjects/Methods: In a two-way between-subjects design (accountable vs not accountable) with motivational moderators (narcissism and social desirability), participants (N=80) were randomly allocated to accountable (told that their weight would be verified in a follow-up lab session) or not-accountable (no information given) conditions. In Session 1, participants self-reported motivational (social desirability and narcissism) and anthropometric (height and weight) measures online. In Session 2 (24 hours later), objective measures of height and weight were taken in the lab. Results: There was a significant interaction between condition and maladaptive narcissism level. Being told that weight would be later verified improved accuracy of self-reported weight, but only for those low in maladaptive narcissism. Conclusions: Accountability improves the accuracy of self-report weight data, but not for individuals high in narcissism. These findings provide crucial information for researchers collecting and interpreting self-report weight data.

scholarly journals P123: Measuring health-related outcomes: is social desirability bias an issue we should be exploring while conducting emergency department research?

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S119-S120
Author(s):  
C. Villa-Roel ◽  
B. Borgundvaag ◽  
S.R. Majumdar ◽  
R. Leigh ◽  
M. Bhutani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Acute Asthma ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Opinion Leader ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Desirability Bias ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results

Introduction: Social desirability bias is a systematic error in self-report measures resulting from the desire of respondents to avoid embarrassment and project a favourable image of themselves to others. This bias may decrease the accuracy of self-reported health outcomes collected in health research compromise the validity of research findings. This study compared outcomes obtained by patient self-report vs. the same outcomes after undergoing verification and external adjudication, in trial involving patients with acute asthma. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of outcome data obtained in a randomized controlled trial conducted in 6 Canadian emergency departments (ED). Adult patients were allocated to receive usual care (UC), opinion leader [OL] guidance to their primary care provider (PCP), or OL guidance+nurse case-management [OL+CM] for patients (NCT01079000). Asthma relapses and PCP follow-up visits were blindly assessed through patient self-report 30 and 90 days after their ED presentation for acute asthma. Each reported event was verified through the provincial electronic medical record, the ED Information Systems, and by calling the PCPs’ offices. Two study investigators, blinded to the study interventions, independently reviewed and adjudicated the verified outcomes. Disagreements were resolved by consensus prior to un-blinding. Results: Overall, 367 patients were enrolled; more were female (64%) and the median age was 28 years. Overall, patient follow-up was obtained in 85% of cases. The proportion of asthma relapses occurring within the first 90 days were lower when considering patient self-report than when considering the adjudicated outcomes (17%[39/227] vs. 19%[70/367]). The proportion of PCP follow-up visits occurring within the first 30 days were higher when considering patient self-report than when considering the adjudicated outcomes (47%[139/290] vs. 40%[146/367]). The pattern was similar, regardless of the arm of the study (UC vs. OL vs. OL+CM arms); outcome disagreement did not influence the direction of magnitude of the treatment effect. Conclusion: Social desirability bias could have influenced the outcomes obtained by patient self-report in this ED-based study. The direction of the bias was the same for both outcomes; however, the variation did not change the study results. This bias may play a role in studies with smaller sample sizes.

Research Participation Experiences of Informants of Suicide and Control Cases

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. C. Wong ◽  
Wincy S. C. Chan ◽  
Philip S. L. Beh ◽  
Fiona W. S. Yau ◽  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
The People ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Background: Ethical issues have been raised about using the psychological autopsy approach in the study of suicide. The impact on informants of control cases who participated in case-control psychological autopsy studies has not been investigated. Aims: (1) To investigate whether informants of suicide cases recruited by two approaches (coroners’ court and public mortuaries) respond differently to the initial contact by the research team. (2) To explore the reactions, reasons for participation, and comments of both the informants of suicide and control cases to psychological autopsy interviews. (3) To investigate the impact of the interviews on informants of suicide cases about a month after the interviews. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was used for the informants of both suicide and control cases. Telephone follow-up interviews were conducted with the informants of suicide cases. Results: The majority of the informants of suicide cases, regardless of the initial route of contact, as well as the control cases were positive about being approached to take part in the study. A minority of informants of suicide and control cases found the experience of talking about their family member to be more upsetting than expected. The telephone follow-up interviews showed that none of the informants of suicide cases reported being distressed by the psychological autopsy interviews. Limitations: The acceptance rate for our original psychological autopsy study was modest. Conclusions: The findings of this study are useful for future participants and researchers in measuring the potential benefits and risks of participating in similar sensitive research. Psychological autopsy interviews may be utilized as an active engagement approach to reach out to the people bereaved by suicide, especially in places where the postvention work is underdeveloped.

Multicultural Competency: Social Desirability and Self-Report Measures

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin K. Shepler ◽  
Derek M. Zuhlke ◽  
Simone D. Foster ◽  
Sheena Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Multicultural Competency ◽  
Self Report

Profiles of Psychosocial and Clinical Functioning in Adolescence and Risk for Later Depression

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M Olino ◽  
Daniel Klein ◽  
John Seeley
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Predictive Utility ◽  
Regression Methods ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Depression

Background: Most studies examining predictors of onset of depression focus on variable centered regression methods that focus on effects of multiple predictors. In contrast, person-centered approaches develop profiles of factors and these profiles can be examined as predictors of onset. Here, we developed profiles of adolescent psychosocial and clinical functioning among adolescents without a history of major depression. Methods: Data come from a subsample of participants from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project who completed self-report measures of functioning in adolescence and completed diagnostic and self-report measures at follow-up assessments up to approximately 15 years after baseline. Results: We identified four profiles of psychosocial and clinical functioning: Thriving; Average Functioning; Externalizing Vulnerability and Family Stress; and Internalizing Vulnerability at the baseline assessment of participants without a history of depression at the initial assessment in mid- adolescence. Classes differed in the likelihood of onset and course of depressive disorders, experience of later anxiety and substance use disorders, and psychosocial functioning in adulthood. Moreover, the predictive utility of these classes was maintained when controlling for multiple other established risk factors for depressive disorders. Conclusions: This work highlights the utility of examining multiple factors simultaneously to understand risk for depression.

scholarly journals Design of a prospective follow-up study on early parenthood and smoking behaviour during pregnancy in Finnish primary healthcare

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110224
Author(s):  
Mikael O. Ekblad ◽  
Hanna P. Wallin ◽  
Marjukka Pajulo ◽  
Päivi E. Korhonen
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Study Population

Aims: The primary aim of the study is to explore different factors affecting parents’ smoking behaviour, and especially how smoking may be connected with individual differences in the psychological process of becoming a parent. In the current paper, we present the study design together with basic information on the study population. Methods: The Central Satakunta Maternity and Child Health Clinic (KESALATU) Study is an ongoing prospective follow-up study in primary healthcare of the Satakunta region of southwest Finland. Families were recruited during their first maternity clinic visit between 1 September 2016 and 31 December 2019, and participation will continue until the child is 1.5 years of age. The study combines different sources and types of data: e.g. routine data obtained from primary healthcare clinic records, specific parental self-report data and data from a new exhaled carbon monoxide meter indicating maternal smoking. The data are collected using frequently repeated assessments both during pregnancy and postnatally. The methods cover the following areas of interest: family background factors (including smoking and alcohol use), self-reported parental–foetal/infant attachment and mentalization, self-reported stress, depression and quality of life. Results: 589 pregnant women and their partners were asked to participate in the study during the collection time period. The final study population consisted of 248 (42.1%) pregnant women and 160 (27.1%) partners. Conclusions: The new methods and study design have the potential to increase our understanding about the link between early parenting psychology, prenatal psychosocial risk factors and parental health behaviour.

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Strategies to Prompt Attendance for a Pap Smear

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Bowman ◽  
Rob Sanson-Fisher ◽  
Catherine Boyle ◽  
Stephanie Pope ◽  
Sally Redman
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Screening Attendance ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective – To assess the comparative efficacy, by randomised controlled trial, of three interventions designed to encourage “at risk” women to have a Pap smear: an educational pamphlet; letters inviting attendance at a women's health clinic; and letters from physicians. Methods – Subjects at risk for cervical cancer who had not been adequately screened were identified by a random community survey and randomly allocated to one of the intervention groups or a control group. Six months after intervention implementation, a follow up survey assessed subsequent screening attendance. Self report was validated by comparison with a national screening data base. Results – A significantly greater proportion of women (36.9%) within the group receiving a physician letter reported screening at follow up than in any other group (P =0.012). The variables most strongly predicting screening attendance were: age, perceived frequency of screening required, use of oral contraceptives, and allocation to receive the physician letter intervention. Conclusions – The relative efficacy of the GP letter in prompting screening attendance shows that this strategy is worthy of further investigation. There remains a need to examine the barriers to screening for older women, and to develop tailored strategies for this population.

scholarly journals Preliminary Evidence of Children’s Weight Gain From 5 Months of Home Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 155982762110066
Author(s):  
Keith Brazendale ◽  
Jeanette Garcia ◽  
Ethan T. Hunt ◽  
Michael Blankenship ◽  
Daniel Eisenstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Status ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Weight Data ◽  
Overweight Or Obesity

Purpose. Preventive measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)—such as home quarantine, closure of schools/programs—are necessary, yet the impact of these restrictions on children’s weight status is unknown. The purpose of this case report was to investigate changes in children’s body mass index (BMI) and zBMI during COVID-19 quarantine. Methods. Children had their heights and weights recorded early March 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and 5 months later (early August 2020). Paired sample t tests examined changes in BMI and zBMI from baseline to follow-up. Results. Twenty-nine children (62% female; mean age 9.3 years; 27.5% with overweight or obesity) provided height and weight data at both time points. There was a significant difference in pre-COVID-19 BMI (mean [M] = 20.1, standard deviation [SD] = 6.0) and follow-up BMI (M = 20.7, SD = 6.4); t(57) = −3.8, P < .001, and pre-COVID-19 zBMI (M = 0.8, SD = 0.9) and follow-up zBMI (M = 0.9, SD = 0.9); t(57) = -3.1, P = .003. Five of the 29 children moved from normal weight to overweight (n = 4) or obese (n = 1) during 5 months of quarantine. Conclusions. Preliminary evidence shows most children increased their BMI and zBMI values from pre-COVID-19 assessment to the follow-up assessment, 5 months later. These initial findings identify potential incidental negative health consequences of children as a result of COVID-19 preventative measures such as home quarantine.

scholarly journals Comparing Patient and Endoscopist Perceptions of the Colonoscopy Indication

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 656-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maida J Sewitch ◽  
Dara Stein ◽  
Lawrence Joseph ◽  
Alain Bitton ◽  
Robert J Hilsden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kappa Statistic ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Routine Screening ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Screening Colonoscopy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Patient Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Determining whether a colonoscopy is performed for screening or nonscreening purposes can facilitate clinical practice and research. However, there is no simple method to determine the colonoscopy indication using patient medical files or health administrative databases.OBJECTIVE: To determine patient-endoscopist agreement on the colonoscopy indication.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among staff endoscopists and their patients at seven university-affiliated hospitals in Montreal, Quebec. The study participants were 50 to 75 years of age, they were able to understand English or French, and were about to undergo colonoscopy. Self- (endoscopist) and interviewer-administered (patient) questionnaires ascertained information that permitted classification of the colonoscopy indication. Patient colonoscopy indication was defined as the following: perceived screening (routine screening, family history, age); perceived nonscreening (follow-up); medical history that implied nonscreening; and a combination of the three preceding indications. Agreement between patient and endoscopist indications was measured using concordance and Kappa statistic.RESULTS: In total, 702 patients and 38 endoscopists participated. The three most common reasons for undergoing colonoscopy were routine screening/regular check-up (33.8%), follow-up to a previous problem (30.2%) and other problem (24.6%). Concordance (range 0.79 to 0.85) and Kappa (range 0.58 to 0.70) were highest for perceived nonscreening colonoscopy. Recent large bowel symptoms accounted for 120 occurrences of disagreement in which the patient perceived a nonscreening colonoscopy while the endoscopist perceived a screening colonoscopy.CONCLUSIONS: Patient self-report may be an acceptable means for rapidly assessing whether a colonoscopy is performed for screening or nonscreening purposes. Delivery of patient-centred care may help patients and endoscopists reach a shared understanding of the reason for colonoscopy.

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