Detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)

This article describes a scale measuring dispositional optimism, defined in terms of generalized outcome expectancies. Two preliminary studies assessed the scale's psychometric properties and its relationships with several other instruments. The scale was then used in a longitudinal study of symptom reporting among a group of undergraduates. Specifically, respondents were asked to complete three questionnaires 4 weeks before the end of a semester. Included in the questionnaire battery was the measure of optimism, a measure of private self-consciousness, and a 39-item physical symptom checklist. Subjects completed the same set of questionnaires again on the last day of class. Consistent with predictions, subjects who initially reported being highly optimistic were subsequently less likely to report being bothered by symptoms (even after correcting for initial symptom-report levels) than were subjects who initially reported being less optimistic. This effect tended to be stronger among persons high in private self-consciousness than among those lower in private self-consciousness. Discussion centers on other health related applications of the optimism scale, and the relationships between our theoretical orientation and several related theories.

Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.

The question of how affect arises and what affect indicates is examined from a feedback-based view-point on self-regulation. Using the analogy of action control as the attempt to diminish distance to a goal, a second feedback system is postulated that senses and regulates the rate at which the action-guiding system is functioning

Origins and Functions of Positive and Negative Affect: A Control-Process View.

Control theory provides a model of self-regulati on that we believe is useful in the analysis of human behavior. As an illustration of the breadth of its applicability, we present the basic construct of control theory—the discrepancy-reducing feedback loop—and discuss certain of its implications for theory in three separate areas of human psychology. In personality-s ocial, clinical, and health psychology, the construct proves to fit well with known phenomena and with the theories most recently developed to account for the phenomena. Moreover, in each case control theory appears to make a distinct and unique contribution to the state of the area. We conclude by noting the integrative potential that is suggested by these illustrations and by noting some issues that should receive attention in future work. Cybernetic or control theory is a general approach to the understanding of self-regulating systems. Its central ideas have been around for a long time (see, for example, Cannon's 1929, 1932, discussion of homeostatic physiological mechanisms), but its birth as a distinct body of thought is usually traced to the publication of Wiener's (1948) book, Cybernetics: Control and communication in the animal and the machine. Since then, control theory (in various forms) has had a major impact on areas of work as diverse as engineering (e.g., Dransfield, 1968; Ogata, 1970), applied mathematics (e.g.,

Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality–social, clinical, and health psychology.

This article proposes that binge eating is motivated by a desire to escape from self-awareness. Binge eaters suffer from high standards and expectations, especially an acute sensitivity to the difficult (perceived) demands of others. When they fall short of these standards, they develop an aversive pattern of high self-awareness, characterized by unflattering views of self and concern over how they are perceived by others. These aversive self-perceptions are accompanied by emotional distress, which often includes anxiety and depression. To escape from this unpleasant state, binge eaters attempt the cognitive response of narrowing attention to the immediate stimulus environment and avoiding broadly meaningful thought. This narrowing of attention disengages normal inhibitions against eating and fosters an uncritical acceptance of irrational beliefs and thoughts. The escape model is capable of integrating much of the available evidence about binge eating.

http://psych415.class.uic.edu/Readings/Heatherton,%20Binge%20&%20escape,%20PsyBull,%201991.pdf

Binge eating as escape from self-awareness.

A group of obese people who had not sought treatment, an obese group who had sought treatment in a professional, hospital-based program, and normal-weight controls (N = 547) were compared in regard to level of psychopathology, binge eating, and negative emotional eating. Because the groups differed significantly on several demographic variables, 3 demographically matched groups were created and compared (n = 177, 59 per group). In the matched subgroups, obese people who had sought treatment reported greater psychopathology and more binge eating than did those who had not sought treatment or did normal-weight controls. Both obese groups (including those who had not sought treatment) endorsed more symptoms of distress, negative emotional eating, overeating, difficulty resisting temptation, and less exercise than did normal-weight controls.

Obese people who seek treatment have different characteristics than those who do not seek treatment

Self-monitoring may be necessary for successful weight control

Objective: This study attempted to replicate that of Baker and Kirschenbaum by providing a descriptive analysis of the relationship between self-monitoring and weight control.



Procedures: Fifty-nine women and men in long-term cognitive-behavioral treatment for obesity participated over an 8-week period. Percentages of participants who self-monitored consistently and the relationship between the variability in self-monitoring and weight change were examined.



Results: As in the previous study, a substantial minority of the participants in this research (26.3%) self-monitored all foods eaten on less than half of the days evaluated. The assertion of Baker and Kirschenbaum that self-monitoring is most appropriately viewed as both a state and a trait was supported by finding that the most consistent self-monitors lost more weight than the least consistent self-monitors; however, regardless of overall self-monitoring consistency, participants lost much more weight during their two most consistent weeks compared with their two least consistent weeks. Again, as in the previous study, only the more consistent quartile of self-monitors lost a substantial amount during the course of this study.



Discussion: The results of both studies taken together suggests that a reasonable target for consistency for self-monitoring within the context of a professional cognitive-behavioral treatment program may be self-monitoring all foods eaten on at least 75% of the days. If participants generally self-monitor on less than half of the days during participation in such programs, they may be very unlikely to succeed at weight loss both during the program and afterward.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1998.tb00340.x

Further Support for Consistent Self-Monitoring as a Vital Component of Successful Weight Control

This study examined the efficacy of augmenting standard weekly cognitive-behavioral treatment for obesity with a self-monitoring intervention during the high risk holiday season. Fifty-seven participants in a long-term cognitive-behavioral treatment program were randomly assigned to self-monitoring intervention or comparison groups. During 2 holiday weeks (Christmas-New Years), the intervention group's treatment was supplemented with additional phone calls and daily mailings, all focused on self-monitoring. As hypothesized, the intervention group self-monitored more consistently and managed their weight better than the comparison group during the holidays. However, both groups struggled with weight management throughout the holidays. These findings support the critical role of self-monitoring in weight control and demonstrate the benefits of a low-cost intervention for assisting weight controllers during the holidays.

/pdf/how-can-obese-weight-controllers-minimize-weight-gain-during-5d6p605u22.pdf

Daniel S. Kirschenbaum

Papers

Obese people who seek treatment have different characteristics than those who do not seek treatment

Self-monitoring may be necessary for successful weight control

Further Support for Consistent Self-Monitoring as a Vital Component of Successful Weight Control

How can obese weight controllers minimize weight gain during the high risk holiday season? By self-monitoring very consistently.

Effects of parental involvement in behavioral weight loss therapy for preadolescents