Characteristics of built food environments associated with alternative protein food choices: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review contributes to the understanding of the characteristics of built food environments that may be associated with choices of alternative protein foods (APF). Using the built food environment typology proposed by Downs et al., we investigated various environmental structures (e.g., supermarkets, other retailers, farmers' markets, restaurants, schools, and online vendors) and the characteristics that may facilitate or hinder consumers' choices. For example, facilitators and barriers may refer to the physical characteristics of environmental structures, food presentation practices, the organizational strategies or policies operating in the setting, or the actions that retailers or consumers engage in while selling, serving, choosing, trying, or purchasing APF in these environmental structures. METHODS: A systematic review (PROSPERO database preregistration; no. CRD42023388700) was conducted by searching 13 databases for peer-reviewed journals focusing on the fields of economics and business, agriculture, medical sciences, and social sciences. Data searches, coding, and quality evaluations were conducted by at least 2 researchers. A total of 31 papers (36 original studies) were included. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Joanna Briggs Institute quality evaluation tool, with 24 publications presenting low risk of bias. RESULTS: The findings indicate that perceived and actual availability facilitate consumers' APF choices across a built food environment. Several barriers/facilitators were associated with APF choices in specific types of built food environments: the way food is presented in produce sections (supermarkets), consumer habits in terms of green and specialty shopping (grocery stores), and mismatches among retailer actions in regard to making APF available in one type of food environment structure (e-commerce) and consumers' preferences for APF being available in other food environment structures (supermarkets, grocery stores). The effect of a barrier/facilitator may depend on the APF type; for example, social norms regarding masculinity were a barrier affecting plant-based APF choices in restaurants, but these norms were not a barrier affecting the choice of insect-based APF in restaurants. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing barriers/facilitators identified in this review will help in developing environment-matching interventions that aim to make alternative proteins mainstream. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO database registration: #CRD42023388700.

The Dyadic Interplay Between Relationship Satisfaction, Perceived Positive and Negative Social Control, and a Reduction of Sedentary Behavior Time.

BACKGROUND: Both the close relationship processes and health model and the dyadic health influence model posit that beliefs about the relationship (e.g., relationship satisfaction) and influence strategies (e.g., social control) serve as mediators of health behavior change. The evidence for such mediation is limited. PURPOSE: This study investigated two competing hypotheses that arise from these models: (1) perceived use of positive and negative social control (attempts to influence the partner's behaviors) predict sedentary behavior (SB) indirectly, via relationship satisfaction; or (2) relationship satisfaction predicts SB indirectly, via positive and negative social control. METHODS: Data from 320 dyads (target persons and their partners, aged 18-90 years), were analyzed using mediation models. SB time was measured with GT3X-BT accelerometers at Time 1 (T1; baseline) and Time 3 (T3; 8 months following baseline). Relationship satisfaction and social control were assessed at T1 and Time 2 (T2; 2 months following baseline). RESULTS: Higher T1 relationship satisfaction among target persons predicted target persons' reporting of higher T2 negative control from partners, which in turn predicted lower T3 SB time among target persons. Lower T1 relationship satisfaction among partners predicted target persons' reporting of higher T2 perceived negative control from partners, which predicted lower T3 SB time among target persons. On average, both members of the dyad reported moderate-to-high relationship satisfaction and low-to-moderate negative control. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to very low levels of negative control, its low-to-moderate levels may be related to beneficial behavioral effects (lower SB time) among target persons reporting moderate-to-high relationship satisfaction.

From a mother's point of view: Psycho-social predictors of maternal monitoring strategy and adolescents' electronic media use.

INTRODUCTION: As early adolescents have limited capacities for self-regulating electronic media use (EMU), parental monitoring is needed. However, research has shown that parents do not exert much monitoring over their children's EMU. A theory-based approach may help to identify key predictors of parental monitoring and its effects on adolescents' EMU. Applying the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), this study examined maternal psycho-social predictors of maternal monitoring of EMU and, subsequently, children's EMU. METHODS: In Switzerland, 105 mother-adolescent dyads participated in an observational study with two time points (baseline, T1, and follow-up, T2) two weeks apart. Mothers (Mage = 43.83 years, SD = 4.45) reported on their HAPA variables and their children's EMU. Adolescents (Mage = 12.13 years, SD = 0.99; 60 girls and 45 boys) also reported their EMU. RESULTS: Maternal outcome expectancies (T1) for less EMU were positively related (ß = 0.25) with their intention to monitor EMU (T1). Further, intention was positively associated (ß = 0.45) with planning to monitor EMU (T1) which in turn predicted marginally (ß = 0.18) maternal monitoring (T2). No significant associations were found between maternal monitoring (T2) and adolescents' EMU (T2) reported by mothers and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to hypotheses derived from the HAPA, findings demonstrate that not all the HAPA variables are linked to maternal monitoring of adolescents' EMU. More research is thus needed to identify antecedents and consequences of different strategies of maternal monitoring.

Why are you eating, mom? Maternal emotional, restrained, and external eating explaining children's eating styles.

This study investigated if three maternal eating styles (emotional eating style, external eating style, and restrained eating style) predict respective eating styles in children. In particular, we tested if these associations are different in mother-daughter dyads, compared to mother-son dyads. Data were collected twice, at the baseline (Time 1; T1) and at the 10-month follow-up (Time 2; T2), with N = 822 mother-child dyads participating at T1. Children (55% girls, 5-12 years old, M = 8.21, SD = 1.40) were interviewed; mothers (aged 23-59 years old, M = 35.93, SD = 5.24) completed the questionnaire assessing their eating styles. Participants' weight and height were measured objectively. Path analysis, accounting for dyadic interdependency and autocorrelations, was applied. In mother-daughter dyads, maternal emotional eating (T1) predicted daughters' emotional eating (T2) whereas maternal restrained eating (T1) predicted daughters' restrained eating (T2). There were no effects of external eating in mother-daughter dyads. A different pattern of associations was found for mother-son dyads, with maternal emotional eating (T1) and external eating (T1) predicting sons' emotional eating (T2) and external eating (T2), respectively. There was no effect of maternal restrained eating in mother-son dyads. Maternal eating styles explain child's eating styles with distinct effects depending on child's sex. Educating mothers about the effects of their own eating styles on daughters' and sons' eating styles might be useful to promote adequate responses to hunger and satiety signals.

Effects of physical activity planning interventions on reducing sedentary behavior in parent-child dyads: A randomized controlled trial.

Effects of parent-child dyad interventions on behavior remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial investigated if, compared with a control condition, three types of physical activity (PA) planning interventions (individual "I-for-me," dyadic "we-for-me," and collaborative "we-for-us") would reduce sedentary behavior (SB) time in parents and their children. The study involved 247 dyads comprising parents (aged 29-66) and their children (aged 9-15), randomized into one of the three types of PA planning-intervention arms or the control condition. Mixed models were applied to analyze data from a preregistered trial (NCT02713438) with the outcome of accelerometer-measured SB time, assessed at 1-week and 36-week follow-ups. Although children's SB remained unaffected by the planning interventions, a small reduction of SB time was found among parents in the collaborative (p = .048) and individual (p = .042) planning conditions. The effects were observed at the 1-week follow-up only. While short-term reductions in parents' SB were achieved, these were not sustained long-term. PA planning interventions delivered to parent-child dyads did not substantially reduce children's SB, which may be due to young people's needs of increased independence from their parents.

Individual, dyadic, collaborative planning, physical activity, and nutrition: A randomized controlled trial in parent-child dyads.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of individual, dyadic, and collaborative planning on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; primary outcome) and energy-dense food intake (secondary outcome) in dyads of parents and their 9-15-year-old children. Individual planning reflects an "I-for-me" planning of one person's behavior. Collaborative ("we-for-us") planning refers to joint planning of both dyad members' behavior, whereas dyadic ("we-for-me") planning involves joint planning of only the target person's behavior. METHOD: N = 247 dyads participated in a randomized controlled trial with individual, dyadic, or collaborative physical activity (PA) planning and control conditions (education about PA, sedentary behavior, nutrition, energy intake-expenditure balance). MVPA was measured with ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers at baseline, 1-week, and 36-week follow-ups. Energy-dense food intake was self-reported at baseline, 9-week, and 36-week follow-ups. Linear mixed models were fit for parents and children separately. RESULTS: At the 36-week follow-up, children in the dyadic "we-for-me" planning condition decreased their MVPA compared to the control condition. At the same time, children in the dyadic planning condition also decreased energy-dense food intake at the 36-week follow-up. No effects were found among children in individual and collaborative PA planning conditions. Parents in any experimental conditions decreased energy-dense food intake. CONCLUSIONS: Children's decrease in MVPA in dyadic PA planning condition was offset by a reduction of energy intake, which may represent a compensatory mechanism. The limited effectiveness of the dyadic "we-for-me" interventions in parent-child dyads may result from young people's needs for individuation and their reactance to parental support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Physical activity planning interventions, body fat and energy-dense food intake in dyads: ripple, spillover, or compensatory effects?

OBJECTIVES: It is unclear if planning to change one behavior may prompt changes in other health behaviors or health outcomes. This study tested if physical activity (PA) planning interventions may result in (i) a body fat reduction in target persons and their dyadic partners (a ripple effect), (ii) a decrease in energy-dense food intake (a spillover effect), or an increase in energy-dense food intake (a compensatory effect). METHOD: N = 320 adult-adult dyads were assigned to an individual ('I-for-me'), dyadic ('we-for-me'), or collaborative ('we-for-us') PA planning intervention or a control condition. Body fat and energy-dense food intake were measured at baseline and at the 36-week follow-up. RESULTS: No Time x Condition effects were found for target persons' body fat. There was a reduction in body fat among partners participating in any PA planning intervention, compared to the control condition. Across conditions, target persons and partners reduced energy-dense food intake over time. The reduction was smaller among target persons assigned to the individual PA planning condition compared to the control condition. CONCLUSIONS: PA planning interventions delivered to dyads may result in a ripple effect involving body fat reduction among partners. Among target persons, the individual PA planning may activate compensatory changes in energy-dense food intake.

What policies are there and what policies are missing? A Photovoice study of adolescents' perspectives on obesity-prevention policies in their local environment.

The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents' critical awareness of whether obesity prevention policies targeting physical activity (PA) and nutrition were operating in their local community. Participants were 41 adolescents (aged 16-18, 90% women) recruited from three communities in Poland. Prior to this study, they were involved in obesity-prevention participatory initiatives (conducted within the CO-CREATE project), where obesity-related public policy limitations were analyzed in a youth-led discussion. A Photovoice exercise was designed to capture obesity-related public policies that were either present or absent in young people's local environments. The photographs (N = 213) were coded and mapped according to the policy themes they illustrated, using the MOVING and NOURISHING frameworks. The public policies represented in the photographs are most frequently related to: healthy retail or food service environments; food advertising or promotion; structures and surroundings that promote PA; and infrastructure and opportunities that support public or active transport. Adolescents are critically aware of the presence and lack of specific public policies operating in their local environment, particularly policies affecting structural aspects of food and PA environments. Policy-oriented photovoice exercises may prompt critical awareness among adolescents and empower them to contribute to obesity prevention policy processes.

Dyadic reciprocal associations between self-efficacy and planning predict sedentary behaviour.

OBJECTIVES: There are two alternative hypotheses regarding bidirectional associations between self-efficacy and planning in predicting health behaviour change: self-efficacy may establish planning (cultivation hypothesis) or planning may enable the formation of self-efficacy (enabling hypothesis). This study investigates the order in which these two social cognitions are linked in adult-adult dyads in the context of sedentary behaviours (SB). DESIGN: A longitudinal study with 4 measurement points, spanning 8 months. METHODS: A total of 320 dyads (age: 18-90 years) were enrolled. Dyads included a focus person (who received the recommendation to reduce SB and intended to change their SB), and their partners, who were willing to support the focus persons and intended to reduce their own SB as well. Data were collected at Time 1 (T1), Time 2 (1 week later, T2), Time 3 (T3, 2 months after T1) and Time 4 (T4, 8 months after T1). SB was measured with accelerometers at (T1 and T4). Mediation models with individual and dyadic reciprocal effects were tested with path analyses. RESULTS: Only one indirect effect was found: A higher level of partners' SB reduction-specific self-efficacy at T2 was related to the focus person's more frequent planning to reduce SB at T3, which, in turn, predicted lower SB time among partners at T4. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide partial support for the cultivation model (self-efficacy prompting planning) and for dyadic reciprocal associations in the context of SB time reduction among adult dyads.

Physical Activity, Positive and Negative Symptoms of Psychosis, and General Psychopathology among People with Psychotic Disorders: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Existing reviews provided evidence for the associations between higher physical activity (PA) and lower negative symptoms of psychosis among people with schizophrenia. This meta-analysis goes beyond existing syntheses and investigates associations between PA, positive and negative symptoms of psychosis, as well as symptoms of general psychopathology (referring mostly to cognitive functioning) among people with schizophrenia, but also other psychotic disorders. The moderating roles of the type of diagnosis and the type of exercise intervention were explored. METHODS: The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018118236). Six electronic databases were searched; n = 27 experimental and observational studies were included, and psychotic symptoms-related data were recorded in one direction (higher values indicate better mental health and lower symptomatology). RESULTS: Higher levels of PA (or participating in PA interventions) were associated with better mental health, that is, lower levels of positive symptoms (all studies: r = 0.170; experimental studies: SMD = 0.677), negative symptoms (all studies: r = 0.214; experimental studies: SMD = 0.838), and general psychopathology (all studies: r = 0.451; experimental studies: SMD = 1.511). The type of diagnosis (schizophrenia vs. other psychotic disorders) did not moderate these associations. CONCLUSIONS: We found a consistent pattern of associations between higher levels of PA and lower positive, negative, and general psychopathology symptoms in people with schizophrenia and those with other psychotic disorders.