Outlook | Newsletter of the Society of Behavioral Medicine

Newest Articles from Annals of Behavioral Medicine and Translational Behavioral Medicine

SBM's two journals, Annals of Behavioral Medicine and Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, Research (TBM), continuously publish articles online, many of which become available before issues are printed.

SBM members who have paid their 2014 membership dues are able to access the full text of all Annals and TBM articles via the SBM website by following the steps below.

Go to the Members Only section of the SBM website: https://www.sbm.org/membership/members
Log in with your username and password
Click on the Journals link (listed fourth in the list of Member Benefits)
Click on the title of the journal which you would like to electronically access

To check if you are a current member of SBM, or if you are having trouble accessing the journals online, please contact the national office at info@sbm.org or 414-918-3156.

The three most recently published Annals and TBM articles online are listed below.

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Lapse Occurrences in Dieters
Authors: Heather C. McKee, PhD, Nikos Ntoumanis, PhD, Ian M. Taylor, PhD
Abstract:
Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the factors related to dietary lapse occurrence in a community sample of dieters.
Methods: An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methodology, via mobile phone-based diaries, was employed to record dietary lapse occurrences in a group of dieters (N = 80; M age =41.21 ± 15.60 years; M BMI = 30.78 ± 7.26) over 7 days.
Results: Analyses indicated that lapses were positively associated with the strength of dietary temptation, presence of others, coping responses, and the environment (exposure to food cues) in which the dieters were in; lapses were more likely to occur in the evening and were negatively associated with the use of coping mechanisms. Additionally, lapse occurrence was found to mediate the relationships among the above predictors of lapse and the self-efficacy to resist future dietary temptations.
Conclusions: Results provide an insight into the occurrence of lapses in dieters and have implications for interventions focusing on weight loss maintenance and relapse prevention.

Diabetes Burden and Diabetes Distress: the Buffering Effect of Social Support
Authors: Rachel N. Baek, MS, Molly L. Tanenbaum, MA, Jeffrey S. Gonzalez PhD
Abstract:
Background: Few studies have examined protective factors for diabetes distress.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the moderating role of social support in the relationship between the burden of diabetes and diabetes distress.
Methods: Adults with type 2 diabetes (N = 119; 29 % Latino, 61 % Black, 25 % White) completed validated measures of diabetes distress and social support. Multiple linear regression evaluated the moderating role of social support in the relationship between diabetes burden, indicated by prescription of insulin and presence of complications, and distress.
Results: Greater support satisfaction was significantly associated with lower distress after controlling for burden. Support satisfaction and number of supports significantly moderated the relationship between diabetes burden and distress. Post hoc probing revealed a consistent pattern: Insulin was significantly associated with more diabetes distress at low levels of support but was not at high levels of support.
Conclusion: Findings support the stress-buffering hypothesis and suggest that social support may protect against diabetes distress.

Evidence That Self-Affirmation Improves Phosphate Control in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Vari Wileman, MSc, Ken Farrington, MD, FRCP, Joseph Chilcot, PhD, Sam Norton, PhD, David M. Wellsted, PhD, et al.
Abstract:
Background: Hemodialysis patients are at risk of serious health complications, yet treatment non-adherence remains high.
Purpose: Warnings about health risks associated with non-adherence may trigger defensive reactions. We studied whether an intervention based on self-affirmation theory (Steele 1988) reduced patients' resistance to health-risk information and improved adherence.
Methods: One hundred twelve patients either self-affirmed or completed a matched control task before reading about the risks associated with a lack of phosphate control. Serum phosphate was collected from baseline up to 12 months.
Results: Self-affirmed patients had significantly reduced serum phosphate levels at 1 and 12 months. However, contrary to the predictions derived from self-affirmation theory, self-affirmed participants and controls did not differ in their evaluation of the health-risk information, behavioural intention or self-efficacy.
Conclusions: A low-cost, high-reach health intervention based on self-affirmation theory was shown to reduce serum phosphate over a 12 month period. Further work is required to identify mediators of the observed effects.

Translational Behavioral Medicine

Game playbooks: tools to guide multidisciplinary teams in developing videogame-based behavior change interventions
Authors: Lindsay R Duncan, PhD, Kimberly D Hieftje, PhD, Sabrina Culyba, MET, Lynn E Fiellin, MD
Abstract:
As mobile technologies and videogaming platforms are becoming increasingly prevalent in the realm of health and healthcare, so are the opportunities to use these resources to conduct behavioral interventions. The creation and empirical testing of game style interventions, however, is challenged by the requisite collaboration of multidisciplinary teams, including researchers and game developers who have different cultures, terminologies, and standards of evidence. Thus, traditional intervention development tools such as logic models and intervention manuals may need to be augmented by creating what we have termed "Game Playbooks" which are intervention guidebooks that are created by, understood by, and acceptable to all members of the multidisciplinary game development team. The purpose of this paper is to describe the importance and content of a Game Playbook created to aide in the development of a videogame intervention designed specifically for health behavior change in young teens as well as the process for creating such a tool. We draw on the experience of our research and game design team to describe the critical components of the Game Playbook and the necessity of creating such a tool.

The EARLY trials: a consortium of studies targeting weight control in young adults
Authors: Leslie A Lytle, PhD, MS, Laura P Svetkey, MD, MHS, Kevin Patrick, MD, MS, Steven H Belle, PhD, MSHyg, I Diana Fernandez, MD, MPH, PhD, et al.
Abstract:
Young adulthood has been identified as a high-risk period for the development of obesity but few interventions have been tested in this population. One way to escalate our learning about effective interventions is to test a number of interventions simultaneously as a consortium of research trials. This paper describes the Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle intervention (EARLY) trials. Seven research sites were funded to conduct intervention trials, agreeing to test similar primary outcomes and cooperating to use a set of common measurement tools. The EARLY consortium was able to work cooperatively using an executive committee, a steering committee, workgroups and subcommittees to help direct the common work and implement a set of common protocol and measurement tools for seven independent but coordinated weight-related intervention trials. Using a consortium of studies to help young adults reach or maintain a healthy weight will result in increased efficiency and speed in understanding the most effective intervention strategies.

Dulce Mothers: an intervention to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular risk in Latinas after gestational diabetes
Authors: Athena Philis-Tsimikas MD, Addie L. Fortmann PhD, Sapna Dharkar-Surber MPH, Johanna A. Euyoque MA, Monica Ruiz MA, et al.
Abstract:
Latina women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Few primary prevention programs are designed for low socioeconomic status, Spanish-speaking populations. We examined the effectiveness of a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) translation in low-income Latinas with a history of GDM. Eighty-four Latinas, 18-45 years old with GDM in the past 3 years, underwent an 8-week peer-educator-led group intervention, with tailoring for Latino culture and recent motherhood. Lifestyle changes and diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed at study baseline, month 3 and month 6. Participants showed significant improvements in lipids, blood pressure, physical activity, dietary fat intake, and fatalistic and cultural diabetes beliefs (p < 0.05). Formative evaluation provides preliminary evidence of program acceptability. A peer-led, culturally appropriate DPP translation was effective in improving lifestyle changes and some indicators of cardiovascular and diabetes risk in Latinas with GDM.


Winter 2014	Return to Outlook Main page »
Newest Articles from Annals of Behavioral Medicine and Translational Behavioral Medicine SBM's two journals, Annals of Behavioral Medicine and Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, Research (TBM), continuously publish articles online, many of which become available before issues are printed. SBM members who have paid their 2014 membership dues are able to access the full text of all Annals and TBM articles via the SBM website by following the steps below. Go to the Members Only section of the SBM website: https://www.sbm.org/membership/members Log in with your username and password Click on the Journals link (listed fourth in the list of Member Benefits) Click on the title of the journal which you would like to electronically access To check if you are a current member of SBM, or if you are having trouble accessing the journals online, please contact the national office at info@sbm.org or 414-918-3156. The three most recently published Annals and TBM articles online are listed below. Annals of Behavioral Medicine An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Lapse Occurrences in Dieters Authors: Heather C. McKee, PhD, Nikos Ntoumanis, PhD, Ian M. Taylor, PhD Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the factors related to dietary lapse occurrence in a community sample of dieters. Methods: An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methodology, via mobile phone-based diaries, was employed to record dietary lapse occurrences in a group of dieters (N = 80; M age =41.21 ± 15.60 years; M BMI = 30.78 ± 7.26) over 7 days. Results: Analyses indicated that lapses were positively associated with the strength of dietary temptation, presence of others, coping responses, and the environment (exposure to food cues) in which the dieters were in; lapses were more likely to occur in the evening and were negatively associated with the use of coping mechanisms. Additionally, lapse occurrence was found to mediate the relationships among the above predictors of lapse and the self-efficacy to resist future dietary temptations. Conclusions: Results provide an insight into the occurrence of lapses in dieters and have implications for interventions focusing on weight loss maintenance and relapse prevention. Diabetes Burden and Diabetes Distress: the Buffering Effect of Social Support Authors: Rachel N. Baek, MS, Molly L. Tanenbaum, MA, Jeffrey S. Gonzalez PhD Abstract: Background: Few studies have examined protective factors for diabetes distress. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the moderating role of social support in the relationship between the burden of diabetes and diabetes distress. Methods: Adults with type 2 diabetes (N = 119; 29 % Latino, 61 % Black, 25 % White) completed validated measures of diabetes distress and social support. Multiple linear regression evaluated the moderating role of social support in the relationship between diabetes burden, indicated by prescription of insulin and presence of complications, and distress. Results: Greater support satisfaction was significantly associated with lower distress after controlling for burden. Support satisfaction and number of supports significantly moderated the relationship between diabetes burden and distress. Post hoc probing revealed a consistent pattern: Insulin was significantly associated with more diabetes distress at low levels of support but was not at high levels of support. Conclusion: Findings support the stress-buffering hypothesis and suggest that social support may protect against diabetes distress. Evidence That Self-Affirmation Improves Phosphate Control in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Authors: Vari Wileman, MSc, Ken Farrington, MD, FRCP, Joseph Chilcot, PhD, Sam Norton, PhD, David M. Wellsted, PhD, et al. Abstract: Background: Hemodialysis patients are at risk of serious health complications, yet treatment non-adherence remains high. Purpose: Warnings about health risks associated with non-adherence may trigger defensive reactions. We studied whether an intervention based on self-affirmation theory (Steele 1988) reduced patients' resistance to health-risk information and improved adherence. Methods: One hundred twelve patients either self-affirmed or completed a matched control task before reading about the risks associated with a lack of phosphate control. Serum phosphate was collected from baseline up to 12 months. Results: Self-affirmed patients had significantly reduced serum phosphate levels at 1 and 12 months. However, contrary to the predictions derived from self-affirmation theory, self-affirmed participants and controls did not differ in their evaluation of the health-risk information, behavioural intention or self-efficacy. Conclusions: A low-cost, high-reach health intervention based on self-affirmation theory was shown to reduce serum phosphate over a 12 month period. Further work is required to identify mediators of the observed effects. Translational Behavioral Medicine Game playbooks: tools to guide multidisciplinary teams in developing videogame-based behavior change interventions Authors: Lindsay R Duncan, PhD, Kimberly D Hieftje, PhD, Sabrina Culyba, MET, Lynn E Fiellin, MD Abstract: As mobile technologies and videogaming platforms are becoming increasingly prevalent in the realm of health and healthcare, so are the opportunities to use these resources to conduct behavioral interventions. The creation and empirical testing of game style interventions, however, is challenged by the requisite collaboration of multidisciplinary teams, including researchers and game developers who have different cultures, terminologies, and standards of evidence. Thus, traditional intervention development tools such as logic models and intervention manuals may need to be augmented by creating what we have termed "Game Playbooks" which are intervention guidebooks that are created by, understood by, and acceptable to all members of the multidisciplinary game development team. The purpose of this paper is to describe the importance and content of a Game Playbook created to aide in the development of a videogame intervention designed specifically for health behavior change in young teens as well as the process for creating such a tool. We draw on the experience of our research and game design team to describe the critical components of the Game Playbook and the necessity of creating such a tool. The EARLY trials: a consortium of studies targeting weight control in young adults Authors: Leslie A Lytle, PhD, MS, Laura P Svetkey, MD, MHS, Kevin Patrick, MD, MS, Steven H Belle, PhD, MSHyg, I Diana Fernandez, MD, MPH, PhD, et al. Abstract: Young adulthood has been identified as a high-risk period for the development of obesity but few interventions have been tested in this population. One way to escalate our learning about effective interventions is to test a number of interventions simultaneously as a consortium of research trials. This paper describes the Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle intervention (EARLY) trials. Seven research sites were funded to conduct intervention trials, agreeing to test similar primary outcomes and cooperating to use a set of common measurement tools. The EARLY consortium was able to work cooperatively using an executive committee, a steering committee, workgroups and subcommittees to help direct the common work and implement a set of common protocol and measurement tools for seven independent but coordinated weight-related intervention trials. Using a consortium of studies to help young adults reach or maintain a healthy weight will result in increased efficiency and speed in understanding the most effective intervention strategies. Dulce Mothers: an intervention to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular risk in Latinas after gestational diabetes Authors: Athena Philis-Tsimikas MD, Addie L. Fortmann PhD, Sapna Dharkar-Surber MPH, Johanna A. Euyoque MA, Monica Ruiz MA, et al. Abstract: Latina women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Few primary prevention programs are designed for low socioeconomic status, Spanish-speaking populations. We examined the effectiveness of a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) translation in low-income Latinas with a history of GDM. Eighty-four Latinas, 18-45 years old with GDM in the past 3 years, underwent an 8-week peer-educator-led group intervention, with tailoring for Latino culture and recent motherhood. Lifestyle changes and diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed at study baseline, month 3 and month 6. Participants showed significant improvements in lipids, blood pressure, physical activity, dietary fat intake, and fatalistic and cultural diabetes beliefs (p < 0.05). Formative evaluation provides preliminary evidence of program acceptability. A peer-led, culturally appropriate DPP translation was effective in improving lifestyle changes and some indicators of cardiovascular and diabetes risk in Latinas with GDM.