Reducing anti-fat bias toward the self and others: a randomized controlled trial.

Despite strong evidence linking anti-fat bias directed toward others with markers of self-directed anti-fat bias, there is a dearth of theory-based research examining the cognitive pathways underlying this relationship, and existing bias-reduction intervention efforts have thus far been conducted with exclusive focus on one domain or the other. Cognitive dissonance (CD)-based interventions have been identified as viable for reducing anti-fat bias directed toward the self and others. However, no study has yet examined whether the effects of these domain-specific interventions (e.g., anti-fat bias towards the self) extend to anti-fat bias in the non-targeted domain (e.g., anti-fat bias towards others). The present study aimed to address these gaps in the literature by comparing effects of brief CD-based interventions targeting anti-fat bias directed toward either the self or others on measures of anti-fat bias. Participants (N = 197, female-identifying undergraduates) were randomized to a writing activity prompting cognitive dissonance about either self-directed or other-directed anti-fat bias, or a bias-consistent control condition. Results indicated that participants in the CD intervention conditions showed significantly greater reductions in both explicit self- and other-directed anti-fat biases than those in the control condition, but results did not significantly differ across CD conditions. This supports the potential utility of interventions simultaneously targeting anti-fat bias in both domains and provides insight into the cognitive pathways underlying these related forms of bias.

Cognitive dissonance (CD)-based interventions have been shown to reduce anti-fat bias directed toward the self and others separately; however, no study has yet examined whether the effects of these domain-specific interventions extend to anti-fat bias in the non-targeted domain. This study aimed to address these gaps in the literature by comparing effects of brief CD-based writing task interventions targeting anti-fat bias directed toward either the self or others on a host of anti-fat bias measures. Results indicated that participants in both CD intervention conditions showed significantly greater reductions in both explicit self- and other-directed anti-fat biases than those in the control condition, which supports a potential utility of hybrid interventions simultaneously targeting anti-fat bias in both domains and provides insight into the cognitive pathways underlying these related forms of bias.

Repetitive element transcript accumulation is associated with inflammaging in humans.

Chronic, low-grade inflammation increases with aging, contributing to functional declines and diseases that reduce healthspan. Growing evidence suggests that transcripts from repetitive elements (RE) in the genome contribute to this "inflammaging" by stimulating innate immune activation, but evidence of RE-associated inflammation with aging in humans is limited. Here, we present transcriptomic and clinical data showing that RE transcript levels are positively related to gene expression of innate immune sensors, and to serum interleukin 6 (a marker of systemic inflammation), in a large group of middle-aged and older adults. We also: (1) use transcriptomics and whole-genome bisulfite (methylation) sequencing to show that many RE may be hypomethylated with aging, and that aerobic exercise, a healthspan-extending intervention, reduces RE transcript levels and increases RE methylation in older adults; and (2) extend our findings in a secondary dataset demonstrating age-related changes in RE chromatin accessibility. Collectively, our data support the idea that age-related RE transcript accumulation may play a role in inflammaging in humans, and that RE dysregulation with aging may be due in part to upstream epigenetic changes.

Investigating the Relationship Between Cannabis Expectancies and Anxiety, Depression, and Pain Responses After Acute Flower and Edible Cannabis Use.

Objective: Cannabis has been touted for a host of pharmacological and therapeutic effects and users commonly report reduced symptoms of physical and mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. While there is existing empirical evidence supporting these effects of cannabis use, little is known about the extent to which these effects result from pharmacological versus expectancy factors. We evaluated the associations between participants' cannabis expectancies and their acute self-reported reactions after using legal market forms of cannabis with varying levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in three domains: anxiety, depression, and pain. Methods: Fifty-five flower and 101 edible cannabis users were randomly assigned and asked to purchase at a local dispensary one of three products containing varying levels of CBD and THC. Participants completed a baseline assessment where they reported expectancies about general health effects of cannabis use and an experimental mobile laboratory assessment where they administered their assigned products. Edible users also reported their domain-specific expectancies about cannabis use in improving anxiety, depression, and pain. Following administration, participants completed acute indicators of anxiety, depression, and pain operationalized through subjective acute tension, elation, and a single-item measure of pain. Results: Among flower users, more positive expectancies for cannabis to improve general health were correlated with greater reductions in tension at acute post-use. This finding was replicated among edible users. Unlike flower users, more positive expectancies for cannabis to improve general health were also correlated with greater increases in elation and greater reductions in pain among edible users. More positive expectancies for cannabis to improve depression and pain were also correlated with greater increases in elation and greater reductions in pain, respectively, among edible users. Conclusions: Cannabis users' expectancies significantly impacted some of the acute subjective effects of legal market cannabis products. Among both flower and edible users, consistent, significant expectancy effects were found. Results were consistent with prior findings and demonstrate the need to measure and control pre-existing expectancies in future research that involves cannabis administration. Clinical trial registration number: NCT03522103.

Acute and Extended Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol in Cannabis Flower: A Quasi-Experimental ad libitum Use Study.

Objective: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have varying pharmacological actions with differential effects on acute and extended affective states, incuding anxiety. We aimed to study these effects on anxiety in legal market forms of cannabis. Method: This study makes use of a nonequivalent control group quasiexperimental design. Forty-two participants with anxiety symptions who were not using cannabis were compared to 258 participants with anxiety symptoms who used cannabis flower (∼3-4 times per week). Participants who used cannabis were randomly assigned to one of three legal market cannabis conditions; THC-dominant (24% THC, <1% CBD), THC+CBD (12% THC, 12% CBD), or CBD-dominant (<1% THC, 24% CBD). Changes in anxiety symptoms over 4-weeks were measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Acute changes in subjective mood immediately after cannabis use were measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Elation, Tension, and Paranoia subscales and the Addiction Research Center Inventory intoxication scale. Results: While all participants reported anxiety reductions over the 4-week study on the PGIC (F=30.65, p<0.001) and DASS anxiety measures (F=115.88, p<0.001), ad libitum CBD-dominant cannabis use was associated with lower scores on the DASS anxiety subscale compared to THC-dominant use when accounting for frequency of use (difference=-1.03, SE=0.45, p=0.02). Similarly, acute CBD-dominant cannabis use was associated with lower scores on the POMS tension and paranoia subscales (POMS tension: CBD-dominant vs. THC-dominant: difference=-0.41 SE=0.1, p<0.001; CBD-dominant vs. THC+CBD: difference=-0.28, SE=0.07, p=0.04; POMS paranoia: CBD-dominant vs. THC-dominant: difference=-0.49, SE=0.1, p<0.001; CBD-dominant vs. THC+CBD: difference=-0.33, SE=0.09, p=0.01). Participants in all cannabis conditions experienced acute changes in positive mood and subjective drug effects. Conclusions: This study provides novel information on the impacts of legal market cannabis with varying ratios of THC to CBD in indviduals with anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that THC did not increase anxiety and that CBD-dominant forms of cannabis were associated with acute tension reduction that may translate to longer-term reductions in anxiety symptoms. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03491384.

Mindfulness mechanisms in alcohol use: Comparing top-down and bottom-up processes.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared two mechanisms by which mindfulness may reduce hazardous drinking: effortful control and craving, "top-down" and "bottom-up" processes, respectively. These relationships were compared in a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) versus relapse prevention (RP) treatments to explore if they differed based on more explicit versus subtle mindfulness training. METHOD: A total of 182 individuals (48.4% female; 21-60 years old) who reported drinking > 14/21 drinks/week (for females/males, respectively) in the past 3 months but who wished to quit/reduce their drinking were recruited from Denver and Boulder, CO, United States. Participants were randomly assigned to either 8 weeks of MBRP or RP treatment and completed assessments at baseline, halfway through treatment, and at the end of treatment. The Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form, Alcohol Urge Questionnaire, and Effortful Control Scale completed halfway through treatment assessed the predictor, dispositional mindfulness, and mediators, craving and effortful control, respectively. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Task was completed after treatment and measured hazardous drinking. Cross-group path analyses were conducted including both mediators/treatments in the same model. RESULTS: Comparing models with and without equality constraints across treatments, no paths significantly differed based on a chi-square test of difference, χ²(5) = 5.11, p = .40, and only the indirect effect of craving was significant (B = -1.01, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest mindfulness may be associated with hazardous drinking reductions through craving but not effortful control and this indirect relationship works similarly across treatments engendering mindfulness explicitly and implicitly. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Acute Effects of Ad Libitum Use of Commercially Available Cannabis Products on the Subjective Experience of Aerobic Exercise: A Crossover Study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the acute effects of legal-market cannabis on regular cannabis users' subjective responses to exercise in a controlled laboratory environment. BACKGROUND: Given the stereotype that cannabis is associated with extreme sedentary behavior, there are concerns that cannabis legalization may exacerbate the US physical inactivity epidemic. However, despite these concerns, recent years have seen considerable public interest in the use of cannabis concurrently with exercise (e.g., running). METHODS: The present study compared participants' experiences of exercise without cannabis to their experiences of exercise after acute ad libitum use of one of two commercially available cannabis flower products: a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-dominant or a cannabidiol-dominant product. Participants (N = 42) were regular cannabis users between the ages of 21 and 39 years (mean = 30.81 years, standard deviation = 4.72 years). RESULTS: Although participants reported a more positive affect (p < 0.001), enjoyment (p < 0.001), and runner's high symptoms (p < 0.001) during their cannabis (vs non-cannabis) exercise appointment, they also reported more exertion (p = 0.04). Pain levels were very low and did not differ between appointments (p = 0.45). Effects appeared to depend, in part, on cannabinoid content; there was a larger difference in enjoyment (p = 0.02), and a smaller difference in exertion (p = 0.02), between the cannabis and non-cannabis exercise appointments among participants in the cannabidiol (vs Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) condition. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the acute effects of commercially available cannabis on subjective responses to exercise in a laboratory environment. Our findings suggest that, among regular cannabis users who use cannabis in combination with exercise, cannabis use prior to exercise may lead to increases in both positive and negative aspects of the subjective exercise experience. Research using diverse samples, exercise modalities, and methodologies (e.g., placebo-controlled trials) is needed to establish the generalizability of these findings.

Effects of historical inequity and institutional power on cannabis research: Moving toward equity and inclusion.

Given historical inequities in cannabis laws and policies, there is an obligation on the part of researchers and policy makers to actively work toward improving equity in cannabis research at a time when the field is rapidly expanding. We wish to propose a way forward for cannabis research that acknowledges this history of discrimination and misuse of institutional power and embraces equity and inclusion. This article provides a brief perspective on historical drug policy, recent legalization trends that have disproportionately benefitted some groups over others, and the repercussions of those trends for the cannabis research enterprise. In addition, it proposes five key actions in both policy and research domains that are necessary to move the field of cannabis research, and perhaps biomedical research in substance use more broadly, forward in a productive and inclusionary way. Specifically, recommendations focus on equity-focused legislation and policy, supporting the entry and retention of scientists of color into the field, engaging in more ethical research practices, and practicing intentionally inclusive recruitment of participants will help to move the field of cannabis research forward. These efforts will ensure that scientific gains are shared equitably moving forward.

A daily diary investigation of cannabis use and its diet and exercise correlates.

Background: The increasing availability of legal-market cannabis products has raised many questions about potential harms and benefits of increased use. In particular, concerns have been raised about the possible negative impact of cannabis use on behavioral determinants of obesity and chronic disease, including diet and exercise. However, previous research is mixed and has largely relied on cross-sectional survey data and coarse measurements of cannabis use, underscoring the need for more rigorous research designs. Purpose: The present study utilized longitudinal daily diary data to assess whether exercise and diet patterns differed between cannabis users and non-users and, within cannabis users, whether legal-market cannabis use, diet, and exercise covaried within individuals across time and based on cannabinoid content. Methods: A sample of 98 participants (77 cannabis users, 21 non-users) completed a baseline appointment and a 30-day daily diary study assessing their daily cannabis use, diet, and exercise. Cannabis users were quasi-randomly assigned to use either a THC-dominant flower product (n = 36) or a CBD-containing flower product (n = 41) ad libitum over the course of the daily diary study. Participants were between the ages of 21 and 41 (M = 29.28) and were majority male (61.2%). Results: At baseline, there were no differences in BMI or exercise behavior between users and non-users. Likelihood of exercising and exercise minutes per day over the 30-day period also did not differ between users and non-users, nor did these outcomes differ on cannabis use vs. non-use days among cannabis using participants. In contrast, there was some evidence for a relationship between cannabis use and dietary measures. At baseline, non-users scored higher on the Healthy Eating Index than users. Daily data also indicated that users consumed marginally more salty snacks and fast food per day relative to non-users, and users consumed more fruits/vegetables and marginally more salty snacks on cannabis use days vs. non-use days. Interestingly, among users, no associations were dependent on the cannabinoid content of their assigned product. Conclusion: Findings suggest little association between cannabis use and exercise but underscore the need for further research on how cannabis use may impact dietary patterns. Future research should examine the impact of cannabis on non-behavioral pathways to obesity and chronic disease (e.g., metabolism).

Adolescent: provider connectedness and STI risk reduction following a brief alcohol intervention: findings from a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Given the frequent co-occurrence between alcohol use and sexual behavior among adolescents, alcohol interventions may play a role in helping prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this age group. Psychotherapy "common factors" are one potential active ingredient in intervention efficacy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a critical common factor, adolescent: provider connectedness, on STI risk reduction at 3 months post-intervention. Methods: Community-based youth (N = 168) were randomized to two 60-min individual sessions of either motivational interviewing (MI) or brief adolescent mindfulness (BAM). Logistic regressions predicted post-intervention positive STI from adolescent: provider connectedness, intervention condition, and their interaction. Path analytic models tested post-intervention hazardous drinking as a mediator of the association between adolescent: provider connectedness and reduction in STI risk at 3-month follow-up. Results: Stronger adolescent: provider connectedness reduced risk of STI at 3 months post-intervention, with no differences by treatment condition. A mediational relationship between adolescent: provider connectedness and STI risk via hazardous drinking was not observed. Conclusion: Psychotherapeutic common factors, including adolescent: provider connectedness, may be important in mitigating adolescent health risk in behavioral interventions, above and beyond intervention condition and beyond the target behavior of the intervention.

Running High: Cannabis Users' Subjective Experience of Exercise During Legal Market Cannabis Use Versus No Use in a Naturalistic Setting.

Background: The use of cannabis with various forms of exercise (e.g., running) has received increased media attention in recent years, contradicting the popular stereotype that cannabis is associated with sedentary behavior. Although cross-sectional evidence suggests a positive association between cannabis use and exercise engagement, to date, the acute effects of cannabis on exercise remain unclear. Methods: The present within-subjects crossover study compared participants' experiences of running after ad libitum use of legal market cannabis (cannabis run) to running without cannabis (non-cannabis run) in a real-world setting. Participants (n=49) were cannabis users between the ages of 21 and 49 years (mean=30.82, standard deviation [SD]=6.21). The majority of participants were male (61.5%) and non-Hispanic White (81.6%). Results: Participants (n=49) ran an average of 3.88 miles (SD=2.28) during their cannabis and non-cannabis runs. Although participants ran an average of 31 seconds/mile slower during their cannabis run, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.12). Participants reported experiencing (1) less negative affect (p=0.03), (2) greater feelings of positive affect (p<0.001), tranquility (p=0.004), enjoyment (p=0.004), and dissociation (p=0.001), and (3) more runner's high symptoms (p<0.001) during their cannabis (vs. non-cannabis) runs. Participants also reported lower pain levels after their cannabis (vs. non-cannabis) run (p=0.03). Perceived exertion did not differ between runs (p=0.33). Cannabis form, cannabinoid content, and feelings of "high" were largely unrelated to participants' experience of exercise while under the influence of cannabis. Conclusions: Results suggest that acute cannabis use may be associated with a more positive exercise experience among regular cannabis users. Research using varied methodologies, a range of exercise modalities, and diverse populations is needed to establish the long-term harms and benefits associated with this behavior, as well as the generalizability of these findings to other populations and settings.

Gay community involvement and the sexual health behaviours of sexual minority men: a systematic review and directions for future research.

Considerable research has examined how involvement in gay-affiliated communities is associated with sexual health behaviours in sexual minority men (i.e., gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men), yet findings in this domain are often contradictory and inconclusive. This systematic review aimed to (a) synthesise the related empirical literature, and (b) identify potential factors driving inconsistent findings. Peer-reviewed publications were included if they contained quantitative data and at least one measure of the statistical association between gay community involvement and sexual health behaviour. The search strategy was implemented in six databases and returned 6,409 articles, of which 86 met the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity in how gay community involvement was assessed across studies. Although gay community involvement was consistently associated with greater engagement in protective behaviours across studies, the association between gay community involvement and risk behaviours appeared to depend on how gay community involvement was conceptualised and measured (e.g., nightlife involvement vs. political activism). Findings emphasise a need for studies that employ validated measures that reflect the multidimensional nature of gay community involvement, as well as research designs better suited to address the causal effects of community involvement on HIV/STI transmission and prevention.

Novel whole blood transcriptome signatures of changes in maximal aerobic capacity in response to endurance exercise training in healthy women.

Maximal aerobic exercise capacity [maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max)] is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality. Aerobic exercise training can increase V̇o2max, but inter-individual variability is marked and unexplained physiologically. The mechanisms underlying this variability have major clinical implications for extending human healthspan. Here, we report a novel transcriptome signature related to ΔV̇o2max with exercise training detected in whole blood RNA. We used RNA-Seq to characterize transcriptomic signatures of ΔV̇o2max in healthy women who completed a 16-wk randomized controlled trial comparing supervised, higher versus lower aerobic exercise training volume and intensity (4 training groups, fully crossed). We found significant baseline gene expression differences in subjects who responded to aerobic exercise training with robust versus little/no ΔV̇o2max, and differentially expressed genes/transcripts were mostly related to inflammatory signaling and mitochondrial function/protein translation. Baseline gene expression signatures associated with robust versus little/no ΔV̇o2max were also modulated by exercise training in a dose-dependent manner, and they predicted ΔV̇o2max in this and a separate dataset. Collectively, our data demonstrate the potential utility of using whole blood transcriptomics to study the biology of inter-individual variability in responsiveness to the same exercise training stimulus.

Long-Term RCT outcomes for adolescent alcohol and cannabis use within a predominantly Hispanic sample.

Because adolescents are unlikely to seek, receive, or complete treatment for alcohol and/or cannabis misuse, it is important to enhance the lasting impact of clinical contacts when they do occur. Adolescents (N = 506; 72.5% Hispanic) were randomized to motivational interviewing (MI) versus alcohol and cannabis education (ACE). Latent growth models estimated change over time. Significant reductions in alcohol use were observed, with slightly greater reductions by 12-month follow-up for MI. Both interventions significantly reduced cannabis use, with no treatment group differences. When outcomes were examined comparing Hispanic to non-Hispanic participants, there were no significant differences in intervention efficacy by group. MI's inherently client-centered and culturally adaptive approach may contribute to its equitable degree of behavior change for youth across race/ethnic backgrounds.

Cannabis use among cancer survivors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-2021.

We estimated the prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use, evaluated reasons for use, and identified individual-level factors associated with cannabis use among cancer survivors before (2019) and during (2020 and 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer survivors, aged 18 years and older, were identified from the 2019 (n = 8185), 2020 (n = 11 084), and 2021 (n = 12 248) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use among survivors held steady through the pandemic (8.7%, 7.4%, and 8.4% in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively). Of those who used cannabis, 48.7% used it for medical reasons in 2019, 54.5% in 2020, and 43.5% in 2021. Survivors were more likely to report past 30-day cannabis use if they were younger, male, current or former tobacco smokers, and binge alcohol consumers and if they experienced poor mental health in the past 30-days. Our study identified subpopulations of cancer survivors that need to be targeted for evidence-informed discussions about cannabis use.

Cannabis Involvement and Demand in Frequent Concentrate Users Versus Predominantly Flower Users.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabis concentrate products contain more of the intoxicating cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol, than flower products and, thus, may produce greater harm. Indeed, concentrate use is associated with greater cannabis dependence and problems (e.g., anxiety) than flower use. Given this, continued examination of concentrate versus flower use differences on associations with various cannabis measures may be useful. These measures include behavioral economic demand for cannabis (i.e., its subjective reinforcing value), use frequency, and dependence. METHOD: In the present study of 480 cannabis users, those who were frequent concentrate users (n = 176) were compared with predominantly flower users (n = 304) regarding the relationship of two latent drug demand metrics assessed by the Marijuana Purchase Task to cannabis use frequency (i.e., days of cannabis use) and cannabis dependence (i.e., Marijuana Dependence Scale scores). RESULTS: Two previously observed latent factors emerged, based on confirmatory factor analysis: amplitude, reflecting maximum consumption, and persistence, reflecting cost insensitivity. Group comparisons showed that amplitude was greater among the concentrate versus flower group, but no difference was found for persistence. Further, using structural path invariance testing, the factors were differentially associated with cannabis use frequency across groups. Amplitude was positively associated with frequency for both groups, whereas persistence was negatively associated with frequency for the flower group. Neither factor was associated with dependence for either group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings continue to indicate that the demand metrics, although distinct, can be parsimoniously condensed into two factors. In addition, method of administration (i.e., concentrate vs. flower use) may affect how demand for cannabis relates to frequency of use. Associations were notably stronger with frequency relative to dependence.

Comparing the Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Versus Relapse Prevention for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the efficacy of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) with relapse prevention (RP) on reducing alcohol consumption. Secondary, exploratory aims assessed moderation of treatment effects by sex and cannabis use. METHOD: A total of 182 individuals (48.4% female; 21-60 years old) who reported drinking more than 14/21 drinks/week (for women and men, respectively) in the past 3 months but who wished to quit/reduce their drinking were recruited from Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Individuals were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of individual-based MBRP or RP treatment. Participants completed substance use assessments at baseline, halfway through and at the end of treatment, and 20 and 32 weeks after treatment. Primary outcomes were Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-consumption questions (AUDIT-C) scores, heavy drinking days (HDD), and drinks per drinking day (DDD). RESULTS: Across treatments, drinking decreased over time (ps < .001), with a significant time-by-treatment interaction found for HDD (F = 3.50, p < .01). HDD initially decreased in both treatments but remained stable or increased after treatment for MBRP and RP participants, respectively. At follow-up, MBRP participants had significantly less HDD than RP participants. Sex did not moderate treatment effects (ps > .17), whereas cannabis use moderated treatment effects on DDD and HDD (F = 4.89, p < .001, and F = 4.30, p < .005, respectively). High cannabis use frequency was associated with continued posttreatment decreases in HDD/DDD for MBRP participants but increased HDD for RP participants. At low cannabis use frequency levels, HDD/DDD remained stable after treatment across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Drinking decreases were comparable across treatments, but HDD improvements diminished for RP participants after treatment. In addition, cannabis use moderated treatment efficacy for HDD/DDD.

Cooking Interventions for Improving Diet Quality Among Black Americans: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-Hispanic Black Americans experience the highest, and most rapidly increasing, rates of obesity. Despite evidence that this is at least somewhat related to poor diet quality, we have yet to identify effective interventions for improving diet quality long-term. Restrictive diets can be ineffective and often harmful. In contrast, there is a well-established connection between home cooking and lower body mass index, better diet quality, and improved health. PURPOSE: The present study applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the effect of an intervention delivering cooking instruction, rather than nutrition information, on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors pertaining to diet quality and cooking among Black adults in the USA. METHODS: An online sample of Black Americans (N = 147), ages 18-76 (M = 30.69, SD = 10.42) were recruited via Prolific and randomized to view either a cooking tutorial video or a "standard of care" control webpage followed by either an implementation intentions (II) writing activity or a "freestyle" control writing activity. Cognitions and behavior related to healthy eating and cooking were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-week follow-up. RESULTS: Results of mixed-effects modeling indicated that participants randomized to the video condition reported significantly greater post-intervention intentions to cook (p < .001), which positively correlated with cooking behavior over the subsequent week (p < .01). There was no effect of the II intervention on subsequent-week behavior (ps > .413). Importantly, 75% (n = 105) indicated experiencing food insecurity at the time of data collection. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight a promising pathway for improving nutrition and diet-related health outcomes among Black Americans while highlighting that any intervention must account for food insecurity in this population.

Non-Hispanic Black Americans experience the highest, and most rapidly increasing, rates of obesity and diseases attributed at least in part to poor diet quality. In contrast to restrictive diets, which can be ineffective and often harmful, there is a well-established connection between home cooking and lower body mass index, better diet quality, and improved health. The present study examined the effect of an intervention delivering cooking instruction, rather than nutrition information, on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors pertaining to diet quality and cooking among Black adults in the USA. An online sample of Black Americans (N = 147) was randomized to view either a cooking tutorial video or a "standard of care" control webpage followed by either an implementation intentions writing activity or a "freestyle" control writing activity. Participants in the video condition reported significantly greater post-intervention intentions to cook, which positively correlated with cooking behavior over the subsequent week. There was no observed effect of the writing activity on behavior. Importantly, 75% (n = 105) indicated experiencing food insecurity at the time of data collection. These results highlight a promising pathway for improving nutrition and diet-related health outcomes among Black Americans while highlighting that any intervention must account for food insecurity in this population.

The Impact of Ingroup and Outgroup Exclusion on HIV-Risk Cognitions in Sexual Minority Men.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority men (SMM) face disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS. Emerging evidence indicates that minority stress (e.g., discrimination) and stress from within the gay community itself (e.g., exclusion) may contribute to sexual orientation disparities in HIV prevalence and risk. PURPOSE: This study investigated the impact of sexual orientation discrimination and exclusion by the gay community on SMM's intentions to engage in HIV-risk behavior. METHODS: We conducted an experiment in which we employed an exclusion manipulation to induce (a) perceived discrimination from the outgroup and (b) perceived exclusion by the ingroup in a community sample of 194 SMM. Participants completed a baseline assessment of previous discrimination, exposure to gay community stress, and HIV-risk behavior. Two days later, participants completed an experiment in which they were randomized to one of four conditions in the game Cyberball: (a) exclusion by straight men, (b) inclusion by straight men, (c) exclusion by gay men, or (d) inclusion by gay men. Risky sex intentions were then assessed. RESULTS: Discrimination and gay community stress were positively associated with HIV-risk behaviors at baseline. Participants who were excluded (vs. included) by straight men in the experimental task reported more risky sex intentions. This effect was mediated by decreases in state self-esteem. Risky sex intentions did not differ between participants who were included versus excluded by gay men. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first experimental evidence that discrimination is associated with sexual risk taking in SMM, and elucidates a potential psychological mechanism through which this effect operates.