Habilidades sociais: fator de proteção contra transtornos alimentares em adolescentes

Socialization, and its modulation by sex, on the development and recovery of activity-based anorexia in rats

The activity-based anorexia (ABA) animal model has been used in the laboratory to study the role of excessive physical activity in the manifestation of anorexia nervosa (AN) in humans. Factors of social context are crucial in human health and the emergence of many psychological disorders, which have also been observed in studies using different mammal species that, like human beings, set their lives in groups. In the present study, the animals' social condition was manipulated to observe the effect of socialization in ABA development, and the possible different influence of the variable sex on the phenomenon. Eighty Wistar Han rats were distributed into four male and four female groups with 10 subjects each, manipulating social conditions (group housing or social isolation) and physical activity (access or not to a running wheel). Throughout the procedure, all groups had food restricted to 1 h/day during the light period. Furthermore, ABA experimental groups with access to the running wheel had two periods of access to the wheel of 2 h each, one before and the other after the food period. In this experiment, socialized rats were less vulnerable to weight loss during the procedure, although there were no differences between the ABA groups. Moreover, social enrichment was shown to be an enabling variable of the animals' recovery after their withdrawal from the procedure, with this effect being more pronounced in females. The results in this study suggest the need to further in the analysis of the role of socialization in the development of ABA.

Bullying as a Risk Factor for Eating Disorder Behaviors Among Students: Secondary Analysis for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to examine whether being a victim of bullying predicted body dissatisfaction and eating disorder behavior (EDB). In this study, we performed secondary analysis from a cluster randomized controlled trial among 5208 eight grade students from 73 public schools in three Brazilian cities. Data were collected in 2019 through an anonymous self-report questionnaire on bullying, body dissatisfaction, and EDB. We used factor analysis, multivariate linear regression, and multinomial logistic regression to verify whether being a victim of bullying during the baseline results in body dissatisfaction and EDB at the nine months follow-up for the control and intervention groups. Our results showed that being female (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.22-1.63) is a risk factor for dissatisfaction by overweight. Bullying was not a predictor of body dissatisfaction; however, being a victim of bullying (β 0.40, 95% CI 0.35-0.46) is a predictor of having more EDB, independent of the exposure to the program. Therefore, bullying deserves attention in the school environment.

Reconsidering the role of interpersonal stress in eating pathology: Sensitivity to rejection might be more important than actual experiences of peer stress

Rejection sensitivity (i.e., the tendency to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to real or perceived rejection) is theorized to play a role in the onset and maintenance of disordered eating. Although rejection sensitivity has repeatedly been associated with eating pathology in clinical and community samples, the pathways through which this psychological trait influences eating pathology have been not fully established. The current study investigated peer-related stress, which can be influenced by rejection sensitivity and is associated with eating pathology, as a mechanism linking these constructs. In two samples of women - 189 first-year undergraduate students and 77 community women with binge eating - we examined whether rejection sensitivity was indirectly associated with binge eating and weight/shape concerns via ostracism and peer victimization, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Our hypotheses were not supported: there were no indirect associations between rejection sensitivity and eating pathology via interpersonal stress in either sample. However, we did find that rejection sensitivity was directly associated with weight/shape concerns in both samples and with binge eating in the clinical sample in cross-sectional (but not longitudinal) analyses. Our findings suggest that the association between rejection sensitivity and disordered eating is not dependent on actual experiences of interpersonal stress. That is, simply anticipating or perceiving rejection may be sufficient to play a role in eating pathology. As such, interventions targeting rejection sensitivity may be helpful in the treatment of eating pathology.

Use of Technologies in the Therapy of Social Cognition Deficits in Neurological and Mental Diseases: A Systematic Review

Objective: This article systematically reviews the effects of technology-based (TB) treatments on impaired social cognition (SC) in neurological and mental disorders. Methods: Strictly adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was carried out in PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science (last search: April 22, 2021) to identify studies that, implementing a control group design, evaluated TB treatments targeting deficits in emotion recognition, Theory of Mind (ToM) and social behavior in adult patients with nondevelopmental and nonprogressive neurological or mental disorders. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro Scale, certainty assessment followed the GRADE approach. Results: Sixteen studies involving 857 patients, all focusing on psychotic disorders, were retrieved. The most pronounced effects were observed concerning emotion recognition with all studies revealing overall improvements. Regarding ToM and social behavior, results were mixed. However, the number of studies including outcome measures for these domains, is significantly lower compared to the domain of emotion recognition, limiting the validity of the results. Risk of bias and certainty assessment revealed further limitations of evidence. Conclusion: TB treatment achieves positive effects especially with regard to emotion recognition impairments, at least for patients with schizophrenia. Future research should expand the evaluation of TB training of other SC domains, ought to be carried out in more diverse patient populations, rely on different devices, and include follow-up measurements.

A systematic review of the effects of gut microbiota depletion on social and anxiety-related behaviours in adult rodents: Implications for translational research

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is associated with several behaviours, including those relevant to anxiety or sociability in rodents, however, no conceptual framework has yet been available. Summary of the effects of antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota depletion on anxiety and sociability is essential to both inform further preclinical investigations and to guide translational research into human studies. The main objective is to examine the role of gut microbiota depletion on anxiety and sociability in rodents, and to consider how the findings can be translated to inform the design of research in humans. We reviewed 13 research articles, indicating significant changes in gut microbiota composition and diversity have been found in animals treated with a mix or a single antibiotic. Nonetheless, there is no consensus regarding the impact of gut microbiota depletion on anxiety-like or social behaviour. Gut microbiota depletion may be a useful strategy to examine the role of gut microbes in anxiety and sociability, but the lack of data from rigorous animal investigations precludes any definitive interpretations for a translational impact on human health.

Influence of anti-obesity strategies on brain function in health and review: A review

The aim of this review was to investigate in the literature the application of strategies such as low carbohydrate diet (LCD), ketogenic diet (KD) and intermittent fasting (IF) and their effects on the CNS. We performed a narrative review of the literature. The search was specifically carried out in PubMed, selecting articles in English, which had the following keywords: obesity, central nervous system, low carb diet, ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, using the narrative review methodology. The studies found show that the benefits of the LCD, KD and IF strategies, at the CNS level, have a strong influence on the mechanisms of hunger and satiety, as well as on the reduction of food reward and show improvement in memory and mood influenced by the interventions.

Bulimia, corpo e cultura

O estudo avaliou a produção científica em periódicos brasileiros das Ciências da Saúde em relação à bulimia e ao corpo sob a ótica das Ciências Humanas. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura, na qual se acessou a base eletrônica da Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) para a coleta de dados. Os termos “transtornos alimentares and corpo”, “transtornos do comportamento alimentar and corpo”, “bulimia and corpo” foram utilizados na busca dos artigos, que incluiu na amostra estudos publicados entre 2013 e 2017, disponíveis na íntegra e publicados em periódicos brasileiros. A amostra consistiu em 19 artigos os quais foram lidos na íntegra. Os resultados demonstraram que a produção científica sobre bulimia e corpo, embora interdisciplinar, possui enlace com as Ciências Naturais. Nesse sentido, conclui-se que há um limite na compreensão do fenômeno sob a ótica da cultura no campo das Ciências da Saúde, e que, um avanço no debate com as Ciências Humanas gerará potencial de abrir novos caminhos interpretativos.

Práticas Educativas Parentais e Problemas Emocionais/Comportamentais em Adolescentes com Altas Habilidades/Superdotação Intelectivas

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a associação entre práticas educativas parentais e problemas emocionais de comportamento em adolescentes com altas habilidades/superdotação (AH/SD). Buscou-se também verificar o poder preditivo das variáveis sociodemográficas e das práticas educativas parentais percebidas em relação aos problemas emocionais e de comportamento, além de investigar diferenças entre os sexos. Trata-se de um estudo de delineamento observacional e explicativo, com corte transversal, do qual participaram 14 adolescentes com AH/SD intelectiva, aferidos pela Escala de Inteligência Wechsler Abreviada (WASI), sendo 10 meninos (71,4%) e quatro meninas (28,6%) com idade entre 12 e 16 anos (M = 13,2; DP = 1,4). Todos responderam ao Questionário de Dados Sociodemográficos, às Escalas de Práticas Parentais e ao Inventário de Comportamentos Autorreferidos para jovens de 11 a 18 anos. Os resultados indicaram predominância de práticas educativas maternas, como cobrança de responsabilidade, apoio emocional e incentivo à autonomia. Os meninos apresentaram mais indicadores de problemas internalizantes e total de problemas, superando em cerca de 30% a média das meninas. O total de problemas identificados foi explicado em 17,4% pelo menor incentivo à autonomia por parte da mãe. Por outro lado, os indicadores de aspectos positivos foram explicados em 24,9% pela menor presença de controle punitivo, também da mãe. Os dados apontam para uma maior incidência de indicadores de problemas emocionais e de comportamento em meninos com AH/SD e sua associação com características da família, especialmente as práticas educativas maternas, sugerindo a importância de atentar-se para tais questões.

A influência da mídia nos transtornos alimentares e na autoimagem em adolescentes

A anorexia e a bulimia nervosa são transtornos alimentares (TAs) de etiologia complexa e multifatorial. Adolescentes são a população mais acometida por estes transtornos, apresentando casos sérios e com alta morbidade. Com a globalização e a mudança do padrão estético vigente, vem se preconizando uma imagem corporal magra e longilínea. Para se sentirem pertencentes ao meio social e perceber uma autoimagem positiva, optam pela mudança de seu comportamento alimentar de forma drástica. Este artigo propõe uma revisão narrativa da literatura, buscando discutir questões ligadas à mídia, ao padrão estético vigente e como estes podem influenciar no desenvolvimento de TAs nas adolescentes. Verificou-se que redes sociais e comunidades na internet podem influenciar o surgimento ou agravar os TAs. Intervenções baseadas na terapia cognitivo-comportamental demonstraram alta eficácia. Observa-se a importância do trabalho multidisciplinar no tratamento desta população, com intervenções coesas e assertivas, bem como o papel fundamental da família. Mostram-se necessárias mais pesquisas empíricas que pautem o desenvolvimento de técnicas de intervenção baseadas em evidências. Estimula-se ainda a reflexão sobre como a meios de comunicação podem influenciar positivamente na desmistificação do padrão estético vigente, bem como para importância de incentivar o pensamento crítico das adolescentes acerca do que observam propagados na mídia.

Validation of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test in a healthy Spanish sample and women with anorexia nervosa

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to build a Spanish version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) including limited time of response and an integrated glossary, and to test its validity.

METHODS

A total of 433 university students (121 men and 350 women) and 38 anorexic women completed the RMET and other related measures of empathy and alexithymia. The results of the Parallel Analysis suggested a unidimensional structure for 19 items, which was verified through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

RESULTS

Similarly to other research, this factor had a low reliability (α = .56, ρ = .59); however, regarding validity, the total score of the instrument showed positive correlations with empathy and negatives with alexithymia. Furthermore, healthy females were superior to males in RMET, and to anorexic women; but no significant differences appeared between healthy men and the anorexic group.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the validity of the test and permits a relatively short and inexpensive means of administration in large samples of adults. Besides, it suggests the necessity of assessing and treating the theory of mind in anorexic women.

Relação entre imagem corporal, atitudes para transtornos alimentares e estado nutricional em universitárias da área da saúde

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a relação entre a insatisfação da imagem corporal, atitudes para transtornos alimentares e o estado nutricional em universitárias da área da saúde. Métodos Estudo descritivo, transversal e quantitativo com 225 universitárias matriculadas em oito cursos da área da saúde. Para obtenção dos dados, utilizaram-se três instrumentos autoaplicáveis: o Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), o Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) e um questionário construído pelas pesquisadoras contendo os dados autorreferidos de altura, peso atual e peso desejado, curso e idade. O estado nutricional foi estabelecido segundo o cálculo do índice de massa corporal. Para análise dos dados, aplicou-se o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson, adotando-se o nível de significância de 5%. Resultados A média de idade foi de 22,65 anos e a de IMC, de 23,05 kg/m2, estando a maioria das universitárias em eutrofia (69,8%). Quanto ao peso desejado, 74,7% gostariam de pesar menos; dessas, 64,9% eram eutróficas. Conforme o BSQ, 51,1% das universitárias tiveram algum grau de insatisfação corporal, e a prevalência de atitudes indicativas de transtornos alimentares, de acordo com o EAT-26, foi de 21,8%. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre: IMC e BSQ (p < 0,001); IMC e EAT-26 (p < 0,005); BSQ e EAT-26 (p < 0,001). Ao relacionar a insatisfação da imagem corporal e atitudes de risco para transtornos alimentares, percebeu-se que 87,75% das universitárias com EAT positivo também apresentaram algum grau de insatisfação corporal. Conclusão Evidenciou-se a existência de relação entre a insatisfação com a imagem corporal, atitudes de risco para transtornos alimentares e estado nutricional de universitárias da área da saúde.

Intergeracionalidade das Habilidades Sociais entre Pais e Filhos Adolescentes

RESUMO Pesquisas sobre genitores e filhos têm apontado resultados no sentido da transmissão intergeracional de comportamentos. Considerando que as habilidades sociais são vistas como um fator de proteção para adolescentes, o presente estudo teve por objetivo identificar a possível transmissão do repertório de habilidades sociais de pais e mães para filhos adolescentes. Uma amostra de 142 adolescentes e seus genitores foi avaliada por meio dos inventários IHS-Del-Prette e IHSA-Del-Prette, procedendo-se às análises estatísticas. Os resultados encontrados sugeriram a transmissão de assertividade, empatia, abordagem afetiva e desenvoltura social, a depender do sexo dos genitores e dos filhos, assim como da idade dos adolescentes. Foram discutidas a importância do repertório elaborado de habilidades sociais nos genitores e as implicações dos resultados encontrados.