The effect of mood and pleasant versus unpleasant information feedback on performing a motor skill

The effect of negative, positive, or neutral feedback on a rotary pursuit task as a function of the subject's depressed or elated mood was ascertained. Specifically, the self-schema hypothesis was examined. Ninety female volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 25 years, participated. They were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions based on depressed or elated mood states, elicited by Velten's (1968) mood induction procedure, and feedback. A control group received no feedback and was not subjected to a mood inducing treatment. Baseline measures and changes in mood were determined by the Multiple Adjective Affective Checklist (MAACL). Bogus feedback was offered after all but one of the trials. The subjects' mood changed significantly during the mood-inducing treatment. For motor performance, partial support was lent to self-schema. Elated and depressed subjects performed best under positive and negative feedback, respectively. The effects, however, were temporary.     

Adolescent compliance with dietary guidelines: health and education implications

Through school-sponsored health fairs, 398 adolescents (153 males and 245 females) between the ages of 14 and 18 completed a questionnaire on their compliance with six of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Results indicated that adolescents report highest compliance on "eat a variety of foods" and "eat foods with adequate starch and fiber." Conversely, they indicated low compliance on "reduce sugar intake" and "reduce fat, saturated fat and cholesterol intake." Sex differences were noted on two dietary guidelines. Females reported lower compliance with respect to "maintain desirable body weight." Males, on the other hand, reported lower compliance than females on "reduce salt intake." Given the fact that the dietary guidelines of "reduce fat, saturated fat and cholesterol," "maintain desirable body weight," and "reduce salt intake" are all aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk, the low compliance reported by adolescents may have long-range health implications.