Abby Braden

Bio: Abby Braden is an academic researcher from Bowling Green State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Emotional eating & Overweight. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 35 publications receiving 644 citations. Previous affiliations of Abby Braden include University of California, San Diego & Case Western Reserve University.

Understanding suicide risk: identification of high-risk groups during high-risk times.

Abstract: Background The assessment of suicide risk is a complex task for mental health professionals. Certain demographic groups are associated with completed suicide including males, divorced adults, and Caucasians. However, demographic variables alone provide a crude assessment of suicide risk. Psychiatric diagnosis and recent life events may improve the identification of high risk individuals.

Internet pornography use and sexual motivation: a systematic review and integration

Abstract: Pornography use is a common activity in the developed world. This work consolidates research about pornography use into an organizational structure that is relevant to sexual motivation more broadl...

Emotional eating is associated with weight loss success among adults enrolled in a weight loss program

Abstract: To examine associations between decreased emotional eating and weight loss success; and whether participation in a behavioral weight loss intervention was associated with a greater reduction in emotional eating over time compared to usual care. Secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial conducted at two university medical centers with 227 overweight adults with diabetes. Logistic and standard regression analyses examined associations between emotional eating change and weight loss success (i.e., weight loss of ≥7 % of body weight and decrease in BMI). After 6 months of intervention, decreased emotional eating was associated with greater odds of weight loss success (p = .05). The odds of weight loss success for subjects with decreased emotional eating at 12 months were 1.70 times higher than for subjects with increased emotional eating. No differences in change in emotional eating were found between subjects in the behavioral weight loss intervention and usual care. Strategies to reduce emotional eating may be useful to promote greater weight loss among overweight adults with diabetes.

Regression Diagnostics: Identifying Influential Data and Sources of Collinearity

Abstract: 1. Introduction and Overview. 2. Detecting Influential Observations and Outliers. 3. Detecting and Assessing Collinearity. 4. Applications and Remedies. 5. Research Issues and Directions for Extensions. Bibliography. Author Index. Subject Index.

The interpersonal theory of suicide: A systematic review and meta-analysis of a decade of cross-national research.

Abstract: Over the past decade, the interpersonal theory of suicide has contributed to substantial advances in the scientific and clinical understanding of suicide and related conditions. The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that suicidal desire emerges when individuals experience intractable feelings of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness and near-lethal or lethal suicidal behavior occurs in the presence of suicidal desire and capability for suicide. A growing number of studies have tested these posited pathways in various samples; however, these findings have yet to be evaluated meta-analytically. This paper aimed to (a) conduct a systematic review of the unpublished and published, peer-reviewed literature examining the relationship between interpersonal theory constructs and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, (b) conduct meta-analyses testing the interpersonal theory hypotheses, and (c) evaluate the influence of various moderators on these relationships. Four electronic bibliographic databases were searched through the end of March, 2016: PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Hypothesis-driven meta-analyses using random effects models were conducted using 122 distinct unpublished and published samples. Findings supported the interpersonal theory: the interaction between thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness was significantly associated with suicidal ideation; and the interaction between thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for suicide was significantly related to a greater number of prior suicide attempts. However, effect sizes for these interactions were modest. Alternative configurations of theory variables were similarly useful for predicting suicide risk as theory-consistent pathways. We conclude with limitations and recommendations for the interpersonal theory as a framework for understanding the suicidal spectrum. (PsycINFO Database Record

Diet, physical activity and behavioural interventions for the treatment of overweight or obese children from the age of 6 to 11 years

Abstract: Background: Child and adolescent overweight and obesity has increased globally, and can be associated with significant short- and longterm health consequences This is an update of a Cochrane Review published first in 2003, and updated previously in 2009 However, the update has now been split into six reviews addressing different childhood obesity treatments at different ages Objectives: To assess the effects of diet, physical activity and behavioural interventions (behaviour-changing interventions) for the treatment of overweight or obese children aged 6 to 11 years Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS as well as trial registers ClinicalTrialsgov and RsdI1401 Diet, physical activity and behavioural interventions for the treatment of overweight or obese children from th 2 / 499 ICTRP Search Portal We checked references of studies and systematic reviews We did not apply any language restrictions The date of the last search was July 2016 for all databases Selection criteria: We selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of diet, physical activity, and behavioural interventions (behaviour-changing interventions) for treating overweight or obese children aged 6 to 11 years, with a minimum of six months' follow-up We excluded interventions that specifically dealt with the treatment of eating disorders or type 2 diabetes, or included participants with a secondary or syndromic cause of obesity Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened references, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and evaluated the quality of the evidence using the GRADE instrument We contacted study authors for additional information We carried out metaanalyses according to the statistical guidelines in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Main results: We included 70 RCTs with a total of 8461 participants randomised to either the intervention or control groups The number of participants per trial ranged from 16 to 686 Fifty-five trials compared a behaviour-changing intervention with no treatment/usual care control and 15 evaluated the effectiveness of adding an additional component to a behaviour-changing intervention Sixty-four trials were parallel RCTs, and four were cluster RCTs Sixty-four trials were multicomponent, two were diet only and four were physical activity only interventions Ten trials had more than two arms The overall quality of the evidence was low or very low and 62 trials had a high risk of bias for at least one criterion Total duration of trials ranged from six months to three years The median age of participants was 10 years old and the median BMI z score was 22 Primary analyses demonstrated that behaviour-changing interventions compared to no treatment/usual care control at longest follow-up reduced BMI, BMI z score and weight Mean difference (MD) in BMI was -053 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI) -082 to -024); P < 000001; 24 trials; 2785 participants; low-quality evidence MD in BMI z score was -006 units (95% CI -010 to -002); P = 0001; 37 trials; 4019 participants; low-quality evidence and MD in weight was -145 kg (95% CI -188 to -102); P < 000001; 17 trials; 1774 participants; low-quality evidence Thirty-one trials reported on serious adverse events, with 29 trials reporting zero occurrences RR 057 (95% CI 017 to 193); P = 037; 4/2105 participants in the behaviour-changing intervention groups compared with 7/1991 participants in the comparator groups) Few trials reported health-related quality of life or behaviour change outcomes, and none of the analyses demonstrated a substantial difference in these outcomes between intervention and control In two trials reporting on minutes per day of TV viewing, a small reduction of 66 minutes per day (95% CI -1288 to -031), P = 004; 2 trials; 55 participants) was found in favour of the intervention No trials reported on all-cause mortality, morbidity or socioeconomic effects, and few trials reported on participant views; none of which could be meta-analysed As the meta-analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity, we conducted subgroup analyses to examine the impact of type of comparator, type of intervention, risk of attrition bias, setting, duration of post-intervention follow-up period, parental involvement and baseline BMI z score No subgroup effects were shown for any of the subgroups on any of the outcomes Some data indicated that a reduction in BMI immediately post-intervention was no longer evident at follow-up at less than six months, which has to be investigated in further trials Authors' conclusions: Multi-component behaviour-changing interventions that incorporate diet, physical activity and behaviour change may be beneficial in achieving small, short-term reductions in BMI, BMI z score and weight in children aged 6 to 11 years The evidence suggests a very low occurrence of adverse events The quality of the evidence was low or very low The heterogeneity observed across all outcomes was not explained by subgrouping Further research is required of behaviourchanging interventions in lower income countries and in children from different ethnic groups; also on the impact of behaviour-changing interventions on health-related quality of life and comorbidities The sustainability of reduction in BMI/BMI z score and weight is a key consideration and there is a need for longer-term follow-up and further research on the most appropriate forms of post-intervention maintenance in order to ensure intervention benefits are sustained over the longer term

Age and Sex

Abstract: Throughout life, women’s sexuality is more dependent on the existence and nature of a relationship with a partner than is that of men. The evidence that this is the case in adolescence, early adulthood, and middle and old age will be discussed in relation to these life stages. It may explain or result from the greater importance psychological (as opposed to biological) factors have on women’s sexuality as compared to men’s. Despite the overwhelming importance given in the United States to environmental as compared to biological variables in determining human behavior (McConaghy, 1987b), some of its theorists have considered the differences between the behavior of men and women to be genetically determined by the form of sexual activity selected in the evolution of human beings to enable the survival of their species (Knoth, Boyd, & Singer, 1988).