Assessing anti-fat bias in preschoolers: a comparison of a computer generated line-drawn figure array and photographic figure array

This study examined differences in preschoolers' ratings of anti-fat bias and identification of current body size depending on the realism of the figure array used: computer generated line-drawn or photographic. Children reported strong anti-fat bias with both arrays. However, less extreme bias was elicited with the photographic figure array. In addition, children were inaccurate reporters of their current body size when both figure arrays were used. However, children were consistent in their selection of figures that were thinner than their actual body size. Children's consistent selection of thinner figures as representative of their current body size may be an additional indicator of anti-fat bias. Overall, these results suggest that some of the anti-fat bias observed in preschoolers is attributable to less realistic figure arrays. Therefore, photographic figure arrays are proposed as a better measurement tool in the assessment of anti-fat bias in preschoolers.     

Crossing the Threshold: Men's Incomes,Attitudes Toward the Provider Role,and Marriage Timing

The later marriages of recent cohorts have been attributed, in part, to men's declining real wages and women's preferences for high-earning mates. This study was designed to investigate the influence of men's gender role attitudes and income on their entrance into marriage. Data come from the longitudinal High School and Beyond survey. The results show that if men anticipated being the primary economic provider in their marriages, their incomes predicted their likelihood of marriage. Income had little effect on marriage for men who expected to share the provider role. The findings indicate that the relationship between men's income and marriage is influenced by their gender role attitudes.     

Walking Down the Sunny Side of the Street: Three Studies Developing a Spiritually Nuanced Measure of Optimism

Across a series of studies, an effort was made to operationalize optimism in a spiritually nuanced fashion. In the first study, it was proposed and tested that spiritual optimism might consist of two factors: “here and now” and “end of story” optimism. However, a second study suggested that spiritual optimism had more of a unitary quality. The second study also suggested that the construct of spiritual optimism was separate from the construct of hope. The third study confirmed the unitary nature of the spiritual optimism measure and provided evidence for the construct validity of the measure. Spiritual optimism was directly related to a general measure of coping and a measure of religious coping. The relationships between spiritual optimism and different types of religious coping appeared stronger than between spiritual optimism and the more general measures of coping.     

Step-down approach to behavioural weight loss treatment: a pilot of a randomised clinical trial

Background: In a stepped-down approach, patients begin with a more intensive treatment and are stepped down to a less intensive treatment based on achieving treatment goals. This study compared a standard behavioural weight loss programme (BWLP) to a stepped-down approach to treatment.

Methods: Fifty-two overweight/obese adults (Age: M?=?47?years, SD?=?13.5; female?=?67%) participated in an 18-week BWLP. Half of them were randomly assigned to be stepped down from weekly group meetings based on completion of weight loss goals (3%) every 6?weeks, while the other half remained in their groups regardless of weight loss.

Results: There was a significant difference favouring the BWLP in the proportion of participants who met or exceeded their 3% weight loss goal during the first six weeks. While not statistically significant by the end of treatment, the BWLP participants lost nearly 3% more body weight than stepped-down participants (SC?=?4.9% vs. BWLP?=?7.8%; p?=?.10). Greater self-monitoring was associated with increased likelihood of stepped-care eligibility and higher percent weight loss at the end of treatment (p?<?.01).

Conclusion: There was little evidence to support the efficacy of the stepped-down approach for behavioural weight loss treatment employed in this investigation.