Non-stigmatising alternatives to anti-obesity public health messages: Consequences for health behaviour and well-being

The Effect of Parent-Targeted Obesity Messaging on Parental Weight Talk Intention: A Randomized Controlled Experiment

It is unknown if parent-targeted health messages about childhood obesity affect parental weight communication with children (e.g., encouraging a child to diet). This randomized, controlled, online experiment assessed the effects of exposure to different message frames on parental intentions to 1) engage in weight communication with their child and, 2) follow the health advice in the message. A diverse sample of U.S. parents (N = 452) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) a mock news article emphasizing childhood obesity (weight-framed message) with health behavior advice for parents; 2) an article with identical health behavior advice for parents, but framed within the context of improving children's school performance (school-framed message); and 3) a no-treatment control group. Following message exposure, parents completed online surveys assessing their intention to engage in weight communication and the recommended health behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between experimental condition and the outcome variables. Parents in the weight-frame condition were significantly more likely to report intention to engage in weight communication with their child than parents in the control group, while there was no difference between the school-frame condition and the control group. Parents in both message conditions were equally likely to report intention to adopt the health advice, but parental weight-based self-stigma moderated the relationships. Parent-targeted health advice that features childhood obesity may encourage parents to engage in weight communication with their children. Our findings can inform the development of health messages targeting parents about children's weight-related health.

Discrimination and social identity processes predict impairment and dysfunction among heavy drinkers

BACKGROUND

Previous research has linked discrimination to poorer health. Yet health risk behaviours such as heavy alcohol consumption are often targeted with stigmatising public health campaigns. The current study sought to establish the link between experiencing discrimination and health outcomes among heavy drinkers, with a focus on exploring the multiple social identity processes that might underpin this relationship.

METHODS

A survey was conducted with 282 people who self-reported consuming alcohol above recommended guidelines. We measured discrimination experienced as a drinker, components of social identification as a drinker (centrality, satisfaction, solidarity, homogeneity, and self-stereotyping), and two health outcomes: psychological distress and severity of alcohol use disorder symptomatology.

RESULTS

Discrimination was a moderate-large predictor of psychological distress and alcohol use disorder symptoms. Three social identity constructs were implicated in the link between discrimination and ill-health: identity centrality and homogeneity positively mediated this relationship while identity satisfaction was a negative mediator. The model explained a large proportion of the variance (39-47%) in health outcomes.

DISCUSSION

Results are interpreted with an emphasis on the need to avoid stigmatising messaging and to prioritise social identity processes to prevent and treat substance use disorders. We further highlight the need for social identity researchers to consider the multidimensional nature of social identities, especially in the context of stigmatised groups.

A Comprehensive Examination of the Nature, Frequency, and Context of Parental Weight Communication: Perspectives of Parents and Adolescents

Research suggests that many parents make comments about their child's weight, which is associated with negative adolescent health outcomes. Gaps in this literature include an underrepresentation of fathers, limited knowledge regarding positive versus negative parental weight comments and differences across race/ethnicity, and adolescent preferences for parental weight communication. The present study addressed these research gaps through a comprehensive investigation of two diverse samples of U.S. parents (n = 1936) and adolescents (n = 2032), who completed questionnaires about their experiences and perspectives of parental weight communication. Positive weight comments from parents were more frequent than negative comments, though both were commonly reported across sex, race/ethnicity, and weight status. In general, boys, fathers, Latino/a parents and adolescents, and adolescents with a high BMI and/or engaged in weight management reported more frequent parental weight-talk. Parent-adolescent weight communication occurred both in-person and digitally, and across daily life contexts. Although the majority of parents communicated positive messages of body diversity and respect, 44% and 63% of adolescents said they never want their mothers and fathers, respectively, to talk about their weight. Adolescents were offered circumstances that would increase their comfort level in having these conversations. Findings have implications for health professionals working with families to promote supportive health communication at home.