Shifting behavioral intervention research to virtual methods: Challenges and solutions in practice, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Behavioral medicine researchers have rapidly adapted study procedures and interventions to telehealth modalities during the pandemic. We rely heavily on telehealth research methods to avoid study delays and mitigate risk to chronically ill patients our studies aim to support. We implemented methods to virtually recruit, enroll, and retain patients and their families on clinical trials, and virtually deliver study interventions. These adaptations are likely to become permanent amid ongoing virus variants and surges in cases. However, little has been written about how remote methods apply in practice. This paper documents these processes to maximize efficiency across our research studies and systems and highlights the strengths and challenges of transitioning our research protocols to telehealth. We outline solutions to using remote methods across the entire span of the research process, including study recruitment, data collection, and intervention delivery. We offer insight into the implications of these transitions on research staff and interventionists. In providing a transparent review of the advantages and challenges of implementing remote methods, we encourage discourse around remote methods implementation, share the lessons we learned, and inform the design of future trials. Further research is needed to review the clinical feasibility and acceptability of these procedures.

Influence of Provider Gender on Mental Health Stigma.

This study examined gender differences in mental health providers' stigma toward people with mental illness. As part of a larger professional education needs assessment at a VA healthcare system, 77 mental health providers of various disciplines completed a self-report measure of stigma towards people with various mental health diagnoses. Results indicated that male mental health providers hold significantly more stigmatizing views toward people with schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is consistent with provider gender differences found in other areas of study and theories of stigma and masculinity. These results can be used to build on stigma reduction interventions. Future research should continue to examine the underlying reasons for gender differences among providers.

Father-daughter relationship dynamics & daughters' body image, eating patterns, and empowerment: An exploratory study.

Research indicates the role of parents in women's body dissatisfaction and maladaptive eating patterns. Fathers, in particular, have unique roles in determining daughters' protection against these health risks. Additionally, self-esteem, feminist values, and psychological empowerment are linked with body dissatisfaction and maladaptive eating patterns among women. This study examined the contributions of these psychological factors, family relational factors, and the role of fathers in empowering their daughters. Seventy-seven young adult women from intact families were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and a university campus and completed self-report surveys. Participants were between the ages of 18 and 38 and primarily White. Results indicate that women with higher self-esteem and psychological empowerment endorsed greater body satisfaction. Women with higher self-esteem and endorsement of feminist values also reported significantly fewer maladaptive eating patterns. Greater family conflict was related to more maladaptive eating patterns. Analyses indicated increased body dissatisfaction and increased eating disorder risk decreased the odds of women reporting agency and fatherly supportive resources in their father-daughter communication narratives. Narrative data analysis revealed that fathers play a crucial role in promoting daughter's empowerment, egalitarian gender-role socialization, and healthy psychological wellbeing. Implications for research and clinical community-based treatment and prevention strategies are discussed.