The effect of a web-based psychoeducation on emotional functioning, eating behaviors, and body image among premenopausal women with excess body weight

Digital body image interventions for adult women: A meta-analytic review

Although many women experience body dissatisfaction, treatment options that prevent the onset of more serious conditions are limited in accessibility. As such, digital interventions may be an appropriate alternative resource to address restricted treatment options. This study provides statistical syntheses of the evidence for digital body image interventions for non-clinical adult women. A systematic literature search identified 19 studies (N = 2424) that tested the effect of a digital body image intervention compared to a control condition. Study results were synthesised using random effects models, and small to medium statistically significant effect sizes indicated that digital interventions were beneficial in increasing overall global satisfaction (g = 0.43) and reducing cognitive body dissatisfaction (g = 0.36). These meta-analytic findings provide evidence for the efficacy of digital body image interventions for non-clinical adult women. Intervention type was not found to be a statistically significant moderator, which may suggest that a range of intervention types can produce similar reductions in body dissatisfaction. Overall, digital body image interventions may be a feasible option to alleviate body dissatisfaction, particularly for women who may be unable to access conventional treatment.

"Online, the counselor can't see me cry": a systematic literature review on emotion and computer-mediated care

Introduction

Computer-mediated care is becoming increasingly popular, but little research has been done on it and its effects on emotion-related outcomes. This systematic literature review aims to create an overview that addresses the research question: "Is there a relationship between computer-mediated care and emotional expression, perception, and emotional and (long-term) emotion outcomes?"

Method

This systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used five eligibility criteria, namely, (1) participants: adults seeking support; (2) intervention: eHealth; (3) diagnostic criteria: transdiagnostic concept of difficulty identifying, expressing, and/or regulating emotions (e.g., alexithymia); (4) comparator: either face-to-face care or no comparator; and (5) study design: quantitative studies or qualitative studies. Quality was assessed using the QualSyst tool.

Results

The analysis includes 25 research papers. Self-paced interventions appear to have a positive effect on emotion regulation. Videoconferencing interventions improved emotion regulation from before to after treatment but worsened emotion regulation compared with face-to-face treatment.

Discussion

The lack of variation in the modalities studied and the emotion measurements used make it difficult to draw responsible conclusions. Future research should examine how different modalities affect the real-time communication of emotions and how non-verbal cues influence this.

The Experience of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Body Image among Patients with Breast Cancer-A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The objective was to decrease patient menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbance, and body image using a nonpharmacological therapy for cultivating key healthy lifestyle habits in patients with breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The participants were 26 women with breast cancer who had recently received structured mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training in a clinical trial. Focus groups and interviews were conducted, during which the participants were asked semistructured, open-ended questions regarding the experiences of MBSR.

RESULTS

The participants indicated that MBSR helped them to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats, and improve sleep quality and be more at ease with the external aspect of their body. On the other hand, during MBSR intervention in a group manner, the participants felt more psychological support and an outlet for sharing negative emotional experiences.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the short-term benefits associated with group-based MBSR for women with breast cancer. In addition, our research identified the difficulties of intervention measures and coping methods. The study described the benefits of MBSR for patients with breast cancer. The findings of this study will help nursing staff identify the main coping menopausal symptoms and control negative mental health.

Weight-loss interventions for improving emotional eating among adults with high body mass index: A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of weight‐loss interventions on emotional eating among adults with high body mass index (BMI).

Methods

A systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression were performed on randomized controlled trials published from inception until 19 March 2021.

Results

Thirty‐one studies were included, representing 1203 participants with mean ages ranging from 21.8 to 57.3 years old and BMI 27.2–43.5 kg/m². We found small‐to‐medium interventional effects on emotional eating (n = 18; Hedges' g = 0.22; p = 0.01, I² = 61.7%), uncontrolled eating (n = 16; Hedges' g = 0.46; p < 0.001, I² = 71.6%) and cognitive restraint (n = 18; Hedges' g = 0.42; p < 0.001, I² = 75.8%). Small‐to‐medium interventional effects were only found for emotional eating (n = 8; Hedges' g = 0.45; p = 0.02, I² = 74.3%) 3‐month post‐intervention, and on BMI (n = 4; Hedges' g = 0.43; p < 0.05, I² = 33.4%) and weight (n = 6; Hedges' g = 0.36; p < 0.01, I² < 10.4%) 12‐month post‐intervention. Age, male proportion, baseline BMI, attrition rate and intervention length were not significant moderators of the heterogeneity between studies.

Conclusion

Interventions improved emotional eating and weight loss along a year‐long trajectory.

Weight‐loss interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), diet and exercise, and mindfulness are effective in improving emotional eating, uncontrolled eating/external eating and cognitive restraint/restrained eating.

Purely mindfulness‐based interventions showed a higher interventional effect size over a combination of CBT and mindfulness, CBT and diet and/or exercise.

Small‐to‐medium interventional effect size on body mass index and weight was only observed 12‐month post‐intervention.

Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales—The Relationship of the Concepts with Healthy and Unhealthy Food Intake (a Cross-Sectional Study)

Intuitive (IE) and mindful (ME) eating share internally focused eating, yet previous studies have shown that these concepts are not strongly correlated, which suggests that they might be differently related to food intake. The study aimed to adapt the original Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales to the Polish language, to test their psychometric parameters and, further, to examine associations of IE and ME with an intake of selected food groups, i.e., healthy foods (fresh and processed vegetables, fresh fruit) and unhealthy foods (sweets, salty snacks). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in a group of 1000 Polish adults (500 women and 500 men) aged 18–65 (mean age = 41.3 ± 13.6 years). The factor structure was assessed with exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling (SEM). Measurement invariance across gender was assessed with multiple-group analysis. Internal consistency and discriminant validity of the two scales was tested. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between IES-2 and MES subscales with food intake. A 4-factor, 16-item structure was confirmed for IES-2, while EFA and CFA revealed a 3-factor, 17-item structure of MES. Both scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and discriminant validity. Full metric and partial scalar invariance were found for IES-2, while MES proved partial invariances. “Awareness” (MES) and “Body–Food Choice Congruence” (IES-2) positively correlated with intake of healthy foods and negatively with the intake of unhealthy ones. “Eating For Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons” (IES-2) and “Act with awareness” (MES) favored lower intake of unhealthy foods, whereas “Unconditional Permission to Eat” and “Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues” (IES-2) showed an inverse relationship. A greater score in “Acceptance” (MES) was conducive to lower intake of all foods except sweets. The results confirmed that adapted versions of the IES-2 and MES are valid and reliable measures to assess IE and ME among Polish adults. Different IE and ME domains may similarly explain intake of healthy and unhealthy foods, yet within a single eating style, individual domains might have the opposite effect. Future studies should confirm our findings with the inclusion of mediating factors, such as other eating styles, childhood experiences, dieting, etc.

An Assessment of the Knowledge and Practices of Adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, Concerning Routine Medical Checkups

PURPOSE

This study aims to measure the knowledge and practices of adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia concerning routine medical checkups.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design that targeted adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The data was collected via self-administered questionnaires, with participants being approached in online settings. The questionnaires measured participant demographics, knowledge, and practice of routine medical checkups as well as their response to the Know Your Numbers campaign services initiative from the Saudi Ministry of Health. A chi-square test was used to detect statistically significant differences between the levels of knowledge and practice according to the measured demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 516 persons participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 25 years; 54.7% were female. The median level of knowledge was 3 (out of 9), varying between 0 and 9. The recruited sample exhibited average knowledge of parameters used to classify levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, and blood lipids, but low knowledge regarding the recommended age to begin screening for several chronic diseases. Factors associated with levels of knowledge were gender, age, education level, and employment (p value < 0.05). However, a history of chronic disease was the only factor associated with the practice of routine medical checkups (p value 0.023). Finally, less than 5% of this sample reported their participation in the Know Your Numbers campaign.

CONCLUSION

Attending routine medical checkups is uncommon and only motivated by the existence of a diagnosed medical condition. Furthermore, this study found low utilization of the Know Your Numbers campaign services. This suggests a need for greater emphasis on increasing awareness of routine medical checkups among adults in the Jazan region.