Interpersonal and print nutrition communication for a Spanish-dominant Latino population: Secretos de la Buena Vida.

Participants (N=357) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: lay health advisor (promotora) plus tailored print materials, tailored print materials only (tailored), or off-the-shelf print materials (control). The primary outcomes were calories from fat and daily grams of fiber. Secondary outcomes included total energy intake, total and saturated fat intake, and total carbohydrates. Adjusted for baseline values, calories from fat were 29%, 30%, and 30% for the promotora, tailored, and control conditions, respectively, and grams of fiber consumed were 16 g, 17 g, and 16 g. Significant Condition X Time interactions were not observed between baseline and 12-weeks postintervention. The LHA condition achieved significantly lower levels of energy intake, total fat and saturated fat, and total carbohydrates. The relative superiority of the promotora condition may derive from the personal touch achieved in the face-to-face interactions or from the women's use of print materials under the promotora's guidance.     

Double fusion does not occur in Panum's limiting case: evidence from orientation disparity.

When two lines of different orientations are combined in regular stereograms, the orientation of the resulting line is different from those of the monocular lines. In this study we investigate the percept elicited by orientation disparity in Panum's limiting case. A variant of Panum's limiting case was designed to include orientation disparity. The single line in one half-image tilted leftwards. One of the double lines in the other half-image was parallel to the single line, while the other one tilted rightwards with obliquity one third that of the single line. In this stimulus configuration, if the single line in one half-image fuses with both lines in the other half-image at the same time, both of the two lines perceived after fusion should tilt leftwards. If double fusion does not happen, the two lines should tilt leftwards and rightwards respectively. The results of this study are in agreement with the latter prediction, which implies that double fusion does not occur in this variant of Panum's limiting case.     

Smoking cessation: social comparison level predicts success for adult smokers.

The affiliation preferences of 151 adult heavy smokers who joined smoking cessation groups were assessed at the 1st group session and were then used to predict their smoking status 6 and 12 months later. Those who preferred to be in groups with other smokers who were having relatively little trouble quitting were more likely to be successful than were those who preferred others who were having more difficulty quitting. This prospective effect was mediated by psychological distancing from the image of the typical smoker: Preference for others who were doing well was associated with a decrease in perceived similarity to the typical smoker, which, in turn, was associated with successful cessation. Implications of these findings for cessation groups and social comparison theory are discussed.     

Using UV photography to reduce use of tanning booths: a test of cognitive mediation.

Two laboratory studies were conducted in which a new type of intervention was used to reduce ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure from tanning booth use among college students (Time 1 Ns=70 and 134). The intervention uses UV photography to highlight the damage to facial skin caused by previous UV exposure. When the authors controlled for baseline measures of booth use, students in both studies who viewed their UV photographs reported less booth use at a follow-up session 3-4 weeks later than did students not shown a copy of their photograph. Also, in both studies, the decline in use was significantly mediated by a Tanning Cognition Index composed of variables suggested by the prototype-willingness (prototype) model of health risk: tanning attitudes, tanner prototypes, and willingness to engage in risky UV exposure.