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Morton SCM, Everhart R, Dautovich N, Chukmaitov A. Perceived discrimination and mental health outcomes in college students: the mediating effect of preventive health behaviors and social support. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023:1-10. [PMID: 38010405 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2286462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To examine the role of social support and health behaviors in the association between discrimination and mental health (e.g., anxiety/depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation) among college students experiencing various forms of discrimination. Participants: Data were collected from 709 college students (42.8% White; 72.2% female) at a large urban university in Fall 2017. Methods: Students completed an online survey assessing perceived discrimination, anxiety/depressive symptoms, suicidal behavior, health behaviors, and social support. Moderation and parallel mediation analyses were conducted in PROCESS SPSS. Results: Results indicated that preventive health behaviors and social support partially mediated associations between discrimination and mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to increase awareness regarding engaging in preventive health behaviors on college campuses. For students experiencing discrimination, prevention, and social support might be key factors in improving mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C M Morton
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Robin Everhart
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Natalie Dautovich
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Askar Chukmaitov
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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2
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Gerend MA, Zetrenne S, Sutin AR, Naar S, Maner JK. Weight Discrimination and Health Risk Behavior in Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Minority Adults. Ann Behav Med 2023; 57:571-581. [PMID: 37061832 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with obesity face significant discrimination due to their weight. Exposure to such discrimination is associated with poor health outcomes. Little is known about pathways that explain that association, and even less is known about those pathways in racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities. Health risk behaviors may serve as one such pathway. PURPOSE We examined associations between weight discrimination and health risk behaviors and assessed whether associations are moderated by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. METHODS Quota sampling was used to oversample Black (36%), Latino (36%), and sexual minority (29%) adults (n = 2,632) who completed an online survey. Using regression analysis, health risk behaviors (maladaptive eating behaviors, physical inactivity, sitting, smoking, alcohol use, and sleep disturbance) were predicted from previous experience with weight discrimination while controlling for demographic characteristics, BMI, and depressive symptoms. Additional analyses tested for interactions between weight discrimination and key demographic variables (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual minority status). RESULTS Weight discrimination was associated with greater emotional eating, binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, cigarette smoking, problematic alcohol use, and sleep disturbance. Gender moderated the association between weight discrimination and binge eating, alcohol use, and physical activity, with stronger effects observed in men than women. Exploratory analyses provided limited evidence for differential effects of weight discrimination across specific combinations of intersecting identities. CONCLUSIONS Weight discrimination was associated with engagement in unhealthy behaviors and relationships were largely similar across diverse demographic groups. Health risk behaviors may represent a key pathway through which weight discrimination harms health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Gerend
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Angelina R Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Sylvie Naar
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Jon K Maner
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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Guan M, Dong TS, Subramanyam V, Guo Y, Bhatt RR, Vaughan A, Barry RL, Gupta A. Improved psychosocial measures associated with physical activity may be explained by alterations in brain-gut microbiome signatures. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10332. [PMID: 37365200 PMCID: PMC10293244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37009-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity contributes to physical comorbidities and mental health consequences. We explored whether physical activity could influence more than metabolic regulation and result in psychological benefits through the brain-gut microbiome (BGM) system in a population with high BMI. Fecal samples were obtained for 16 s rRNA profiling and fecal metabolomics, along with psychological and physical activity questionnaires. Whole brain resting-state functional MRI was acquired, and brain connectivity metrics were calculated. Higher physical activity was significantly associated with increased connectivity in inhibitory appetite control brain regions, while lower physical activity was associated with increased emotional regulation network connections. Higher physical activity was also associated with microbiome and metabolite signatures protective towards mental health and metabolic derangements. The greater resilience and coping, and lower levels of food addiction seen with higher physical activity, may be explained by BGM system differences. These novel findings provide an emphasis on the psychological and resilience benefits of physical activity, beyond metabolic regulation and these influences seem to be related to BGM interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tien S Dong
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Los Angeles, USA
- Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vishvak Subramanyam
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yiming Guo
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Ravi R Bhatt
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine at USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Allison Vaughan
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Los Angeles, USA
- Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Robert L Barry
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arpana Gupta
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Los Angeles, USA.
- Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, USA.
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Los Angeles, USA.
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Levy M, Forouhar V, Edache IY, Alberga AS. Predictors of support for anti-weight discrimination policies among Canadian adults. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1060794. [PMID: 37139379 PMCID: PMC10149811 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1060794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Weight discrimination of individuals with overweight or obesity is associated with adverse mental and physical health. Weight discrimination is prevalent in many sectors such as within workplaces, where individuals with overweight and obesity are denied the same opportunities as individuals with lower weight status, regardless of performance or experience. The purpose of this study was to understand the Canadian public's support or opposition of anti-weight discrimination policies and predictors of support. It was hypothesized that Canadians will show support of anti-weight discrimination policies to some extent. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on a previous cross-sectional sample of Canadian adults (N = 923, 50.76% women, 74.4% White) who responded to an online survey assessing weight bias and support of twelve anti-weight discrimination policies related to societal policies (e.g., implementing laws preventing weight discrimination) and employment-related policies (e.g., making it illegal to not hire someone due to their weight). Participants completed the Causes of Obesity Questionnaire (COB), the Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire (AFA) and the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M). Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine predictors of policy support. Results Support for policies ranged from 31.3% to 76.9%, with employment anti-discrimination policies obtaining greater support than societal policies. Identifying as White and a woman, being over the age of 45 and having a higher BMI were associated with an increased likelihood of supporting anti-weight discrimination policies. There were no differences between the level of support associated with attributing obesity to behavioral or non-behavioral causes. Explicit weight bias was associated with a reduced likelihood of supporting 8/12 policies. Weight Bias Internalization was associated with an increased likelihood of supporting all societal policies but none of the employment policies. Conclusions Support for anti-weight discrimination policies exists among Canadian adults, and explicit weight bias is associated with a lower likelihood of supporting these policies. These results highlight the need for education on the prevalence and perils of weight discrimination which may urge policy makers to consider weight bias as a form of discrimination that must be addressed. More research on potential implementation of anti-weight discrimination policies in Canada is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Levy
- Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vida Forouhar
- Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Iyoma Y. Edache
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Angela S. Alberga
- Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Angela S. Alberga
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Attribution for everyday discrimination typologies and mortality risk among older black adults: Evidence from the health and retirement study? Soc Sci Med 2023; 316:115166. [PMID: 36450613 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study assessed how attributions of everyday discrimination typologies relate to all-cause mortality risk among older Black adults. METHODS This study utilized data from a subsample of older Black adults from the 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Attributions for everyday discrimination (i.e., ancestry, age, gender, race, physical appearance, physical disability, sexual orientation, weight, and other factors) were based on self-reports, while their vital statuses were obtained from the National Death Index and reports from key informants (spanning 2006-2019). We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of older Black adults based on their attributions to everyday discrimination. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze time to death as a function of LCA group membership and other covariates. RESULTS Based on fit statistics, we selected a four-class model that places respondents into one of the following classes: Class One (7%) attributed everyday discrimination to age, race, and physical disability; Class Two (72%) attributed everyday discrimination to few/no sources, Class Three (19%) attributed everyday discrimination to race and national origin; and Class Four (2%) attributed everyday discrimination to almost every reason. After adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, multisystem physiological dysregulation, and socioeconomic characteristics, we found that the relative risk of death remained higher for the respondents in Class One (Hazard Ratio [H.R.]: 1.80, 95% Confidence Interval [C.I.]: (1.09-2.98) and Class Four (H.R.: 3.92, 95% C.I.: 1.62-9.49) compared to respondents in Class Two. CONCLUSIONS Our findings illustrate the utility of using attribution for everyday discrimination typologies in research on the psychosocial dimensions of mortality risk among older Black adults. Future research should assess the mechanisms that undergird the link between everyday discrimination classes and all-cause mortality risk among older Black adults.
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BMI as a moderator of the relationship between stigmatizing attitudes and smoking: An exploratory study. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2022.2082333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Gaesser GA, Angadi SS. Obesity treatment: Weight loss versus increasing fitness and physical activity for reducing health risks. iScience 2021; 24:102995. [PMID: 34755078 PMCID: PMC8560549 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We propose a weight-neutral strategy for obesity treatment on the following grounds: (1) the mortality risk associated with obesity is largely attenuated or eliminated by moderate-to-high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or physical activity (PA), (2) most cardiometabolic risk markers associated with obesity can be improved with exercise training independent of weight loss and by a magnitude similar to that observed with weight-loss programs, (3) weight loss, even if intentional, is not consistently associated with lower mortality risk, (4) increases in CRF or PA are consistently associated with greater reductions in mortality risk than is intentional weight loss, and (5) weight cycling is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes including increased mortality. Adherence to PA may improve if health care professionals consider PA and CRF as essential vital signs and consistently emphasize to their patients the myriad benefits of PA and CRF in the absence of weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn A. Gaesser
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Siddhartha S. Angadi
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
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"What can her body do?" Reducing weight stigma by appreciating another person's body functionality. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251507. [PMID: 33989320 PMCID: PMC8121301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Weight stigma is prevalent across multiple life domains, and negatively affects both psychological and physical health. Yet, research into weight stigma reduction techniques is limited, and rarely results in reduced antipathy toward higher-weight individuals. The current pre-registered study investigated a novel weight stigma reduction intervention. We tested whether a writing exercise focusing on body functionality (i.e., everything the body can do, rather than how it looks) of another person leads to reductions in weight stigma. METHOD Participants were 98 women (Mage = 23.17, Range = 16-63) who viewed a photograph of a higher-weight woman, "Anne," and were randomised to complete a writing exercise either describing what "Anne's" body could do (experimental group) or describing her home (active control group). Facets of weight stigma were assessed at pretest and posttest. RESULTS At posttest, the experimental group evidenced higher fat acceptance and social closeness to "Anne" compared with the active control group. However, no group differences were found in attribution complexity, responsibility, and likeability of "Anne". CONCLUSIONS A brief body functionality intervention effectively reduced some, but not all, facets of weight stigma in women. This study provides evidence that functionality-focused interventions may hold promise as a means to reduce weight stigma.
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Cobb RJ, Thorpe RJ, Norris KC. Everyday Discrimination and Kidney Function Among Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:517-521. [PMID: 31838487 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With advancing age, there is an increase in the time of and number of experiences with psychosocial stressors that may lead to the initiation and/or progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our study tests whether one type of experience, everyday discrimination, predicts kidney function among middle and older adults. METHODS The data were from 10 973 respondents (ages 52-100) in the 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing biennial nationally representative survey of older adults in the United States. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) derives from the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Our indicator of everyday discrimination is drawn from self-reports from respondents. Ordinary Least Squared regression (OLS) models with robust standard errors are applied to test hypotheses regarding the link between everyday discrimination and kidney function. RESULTS Everyday discrimination was associated with poorer kidney function among respondents in our study. Respondents with higher everyday discrimination scores had lower eGFR after adjusting for demographic characteristics (B = -1.35, p < .05), and while attenuated, remained significant (B = -0.79, p < .05) after further adjustments for clinical, health behavior, and socioeconomic covariates. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests everyday discrimination is independently associated with lower eGFR. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in predicting insufficiency in kidney function among middle-aged and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryon J Cobb
- School of Social Work,The University of Texas at Arlington, TX
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Baltimore, MD
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Sutin AR, Robinson E, Daly M, Gerend MA, Stephan Y, Luchetti M, Aschwanden D, Strickhouser JE, Lee JH, Sesker AA, Terracciano A. BMI, Weight Discrimination, and Psychological, Behavioral, and Interpersonal Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2020; 28:1590-1594. [PMID: 32445496 PMCID: PMC7283667 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine whether BMI and weight discrimination are associated with psychological, behavioral, and interpersonal responses to the coronavirus pandemic. METHODS Using a prospective design, participants (N = 2,094) were first assessed in early February 2020 before the coronavirus crisis in the United States and again in mid-March 2020 during the President's "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines. Weight, height, and weight discrimination were assessed in the February survey. Psychological, behavioral, and interpersonal responses to the coronavirus were assessed in the March survey. RESULTS Prepandemic experiences with weight discrimination were associated with greater concerns about the virus, engaging in more preventive behaviors, less trust in people and institutions to manage the outbreak, and greater perceived declines in connection to one's community. BMI tended to be unrelated to these responses. CONCLUSIONS Despite the risks of complications of coronavirus disease associated with obesity, individuals with higher BMI were neither more concerned about the virus nor taking more behavioral precautions than individuals in other weight categories. Weight discrimination, in contrast, may heighten vigilance to threat, which may have contributed to both positive (greater concern, more precautionary behavior) and negative (less trust, declines community connection) responses to the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R. Sutin
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Eric Robinson
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Michael Daly
- Department of PsychologyMaynooth UniversityCo. KildareIreland
| | - Mary A. Gerend
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | | | - Martina Luchetti
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Damaris Aschwanden
- Department of GeriatricsFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeUSA
| | - Jason E. Strickhouser
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Ji Hyun Lee
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Amanda A. Sesker
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social MedicineFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Antonio Terracciano
- Department of GeriatricsFlorida State University College of MedicineTallahasseeUSA
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Robinson E, Daly M, Terracciano A. Body-related discrimination and dieting and substance use behaviors in adolescence. Appetite 2020; 151:104689. [PMID: 32247897 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Unfair treatment on the basis of a physical characteristic, such as body weight, is associated with unhealthy dieting behaviors in adolescence and adulthood and has also been implicated in substance use. Peer victimization is likewise associated with these health-risk behaviors. It is unclear, however, whether body discrimination is associated with these behaviors independent of peer victimization. The present research uses data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to test the relation between body discrimination and dieting and substance use behaviors in adolescence and test whether the associations are independent of peer victimization, as well as depressive symptoms which are associated with both forms of victimization and health-risk behaviors. Participants (N = 2955) reported on body discrimination, dieting behaviors, and substance use at ages 14-15. Participants who experienced body discrimination were more likely to report fear of gaining weight, losing control over eating, going without eating, using medicine or vomiting to control their weight, engaging in restrained eating, and exercising to control their weight. They also had tried nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana. The associations with eating and alcohol use were independent of peer victimization, whereas the associations with smoking and marijuana were reduced when peer victimization was included in the model. All associations were also independent of depressive symptoms. Overall, the findings suggest that body discrimination is associated with harmful health behaviors at least as early as age 14.
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Gerend MA, Robinson E, Daly M, Terracciano A. Perceived weight discrimination and performance in five domains of cognitive function. J Psychosom Res 2020; 131:109793. [PMID: 31439334 PMCID: PMC7002199 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individuals who perceive unfair treatment because of their body weight have been found to be at increased risk of poor health outcomes, including risk of dementia. The present research examines the relation between weight discrimination and performance in five cognitive domains (episodic memory, speed-attention, visuospatial ability, language, numeric reasoning) and whether the associations extend to other common attributions for discrimination (age, gender, race). METHOD Participants (n = 2593) were from the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) sub-study of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). HCAP participants completed a battery of cognitive tasks that measured the five focal cognitive domains. Participants reported on their perceived experiences with discrimination at the previous regular HRS assessment. RESULTS In models that accounted for demographic covariates and BMI, weight discrimination (reported by 6% of participants) was associated with a two-fold increased risk of poor performance on tasks of episodic memory, speed-attention, visuospatial ability, and numeric reasoning. Body mass index was largely unrelated to performance in the five cognitive domains. The other attributions for discrimination were generally unrelated to cognition, but there were sex- and race-specific associations for gender and race discrimination, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The present study identified attribution- and domain-specific associations between discrimination and cognitive performance in older adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R. Sutin
- Florida State University College of Medicine,Corresponding author at: Angelina R. Sutin, Ph.D., Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee.
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Borinsky S, Gaughan JP, Feldman-Winter L. Perceived overweight/obesity, low resilience, and body size dissatisfaction among adolescents. Obes Res Clin Pract 2019; 13:448-452. [PMID: 31474380 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The obesity epidemic has been compounded by the stress of weight stigmatization. Resilience helps adolescents achieve positive outcomes during times of stress. This study aimed to determine relationships between overweight/obesity, perceived overweight/obesity, body size dissatisfaction (BSD), and/or resilience using a novel assessment tool among adolescents, and to determine if a modifiable factor such as resilience holds potential for treatments for BSD. METHODS Adolescents, ages 13-21, were recruited from clinics at an academic medical center. Weight, height, demographic characteristics, BSD, and resilience were assessed via questionnaires and health records. A model of predictive variables for BSD was tested, and an adjusted analysis was performed using logistic regression. RESULTS Eighty-five adolescents participated: 48% overweight/obese, 32% BSD, and 53% low resilience (LR). There was no association between actual and perceived overweight/obesity and LR (P=0.386 and P=0.123, respectively). Perceived overweight/obesity was five times (AOR 5.3; 95% CI=1.6-14.5; P=0.004) and LR was six times (AOR 6.4; 95% CI=1.9-22.4; P=0.003) more likely to be associated with BSD. The strongest sub-component of LR associated with BSD, was low confidence (OR 4.7; 95% CI=1.4-15.2; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS LR and perceived overweight/obesity are independently associated with BSD. This finding is important because resilience can be improved, thus highlighting a need for future studies involving resilience building interventions to decrease BSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Borinsky
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, United States
| | - John P Gaughan
- Cooper Research Institute, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ 08103, United States
| | - Lori Feldman-Winter
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, United States; Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, United States.
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Sutin AR, Robinson E, Daly M, Terracciano A. Perceived Body Discrimination and Intentional Self-Harm and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescence. Child Obes 2018; 14:528-536. [PMID: 30226995 PMCID: PMC6249665 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2018.0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examines whether discrimination based on the body is associated with intentional self-harm and suicidal behavior in adolescence. METHODS Participants were from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (N = 2948; 48% female). Discrimination and items on self-harm and suicidal behavior were measured in the Wave 6 assessment, when study participants were 14-15 years old. BMI, depressive symptoms, peer victimization, and weight self-perception were also assessed. RESULTS Discrimination was associated with increased risk of thoughts of self-harm (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.88-3.10), hurting the self on purpose (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.67-3.08), considering suicide (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.59-2.96), having a suicide plan (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.81-2.47), attempting suicide (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.30-2.96), controlling for sociodemographic factors, BMI, and depressive symptoms. These associations generally held adjusting for peer victimization or weight self-perception. CONCLUSIONS Weight discrimination has been associated consistently with poor outcomes in adulthood. The present research indicates these associations extend to adolescence and an extremely consequential outcome: the social experience of weight increases risk of intentional self-harm and suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina R. Sutin
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL.,Address correspondence to: Angelina R. Sutin, PhD, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Eric Robinson
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Daly
- Behavioural Science Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom.,UCD Geary Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
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