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Exploring the prospective relationships between weight bias internalization, psychological distress, and food addiction symptoms in Chinese adolescents

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:00:00 +0000

The Chinese version of the Functionality Appreciation Scale: Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender and age

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Background

Functionality appreciation, as an important aspect of positive image, is associated with fewer body image disturbances, fewer disordered eating behaviors, and improved psychological well-being. However, it has been under-researched in Asian countries. The current work aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) among four Chinese samples of different ages, and further examine measurement invariance and differences of the FAS across gender and age groups.

Methods

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were conducted to examine the factorial structure of the FAS among four Chinese samples of different ages, including middle school adolescents (n = 894, M_age = 12.17 years), high school adolescents (n = 1347, M_age = 15.07 years), young adults (n = 473, M_age = 21.95 years), and older adults (n = 313, M_age = 67.90 years). The measurement invariance of the FAS across gender and age was examined. Internal consistency reliability and construct validity were evaluated.

Results

The FAS had a unidimensional structure and was invariant across gender and age groups. The FAS presented sound psychometric properties in all age groups by gender, with good internal consistency reliability [e.g., high Cronbach’s α values (.91 ~ .97)] and good construct validity (e.g., significant associations with body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating). Moreover, group comparisons showed minimal gender differences in functionality appreciation. However, significant age differences were found in functionality appreciation, with older ages generally associated with higher functionality appreciation.

Conclusion

Overall, findings suggest that the FAS is a sound instrument to be used in the Chinese context. Furthermore, functionality appreciation was found to be higher in older adults than adolescents or young adults, suggesting the potential important role of aging in functionality appreciation.

Exploring the longitudinal association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation in Chinese adolescents: A four-wave, random intercept cross-lagged panel model

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Although ample research evidence exists regarding the negative association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation, the longitudinal association between these two constructs remains unclear, especially for adolescents. Thus, this study investigated the longitudinal association between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation and potential gender differences in the relationship in Chinese adolescents using four-wave longitudinal data. A sample of 2566 adolescents (54.10% girls) were included. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was conducted separately for boys and girls after controlling for baseline age and BMI z-scores. Results at the within-person level showed that for boys, body dissatisfaction at each wave negatively predicted body appreciation at the following wave; and body appreciation at Wave 2 and Wave 3 negatively predicted body dissatisfaction at Wave 3 and Wave 4. For girls, at the within-person level, body dissatisfaction at Wave 1 and Wave 2 negatively predicted body appreciation at Wave 2 and Wave 3, respectively; and body appreciation at Wave 3 negatively predicted body dissatisfaction at Wave 4. However, no gender differences in the RI-CLPM were found between boys and girls. The current findings enrich positive and negative body image research by providing evidence for the reciprocal relationships between body dissatisfaction and body appreciation in Chinese adolescents.

Associations among retrospective parenting styles, retrospective food parenting, and current eating behaviors in Chinese adults

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Associations among retrospective parenting styles, retrospective food parenting, and current eating behaviors in Chinese adults

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The current study explored the relationships between retrospective parenting styles and food parenting in childhood (≤ 12 years old) and Chinese adults’ current maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors. We recruited 501 Chinese adults (50.30% men, aged 19–46 years). A set of questionnaires were used to measure retrospective parenting styles (i.e., emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection), food parenting (i.e., parental concern, monitoring, pressure to eat, and restriction), and current maladaptive (i.e., disordered eating) and adaptive (i.e., intuitive eating) eating behaviors. Correlation and mediation analyses were employed to analyze these data. Results revealed that retrospective parenting styles and food parenting were significantly related to current maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors in both Chinese men and women. Mediation analyses showed that higher retrospective parental warmth was related to higher retrospective parental concern which, in turn, was related to higher current disordered eating in men (indirect effect = 0.14, 95% CI 0.08, 0.24). Furthermore, higher retrospective parental overprotection was related to higher retrospective parental pressure to eat which, in turn, was related to higher current disordered eating in men (indirect effect = 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.14). For women, higher retrospective parental warmth was associated with higher retrospective parental concern which, in turn, was associated with lower current intuitive eating in women (indirect effect = −0.04, 95% CI = −0.10, −0.01). Furthermore, higher retrospective parental overprotection was associated with higher retrospective parental concern which, in turn, was associated with lower current intuitive eating in women (indirect effect = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.08, −0.004). The findings indicate the importance of including childhood parenting styles and food parenting in future research and intervention of adults’ current maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors.

Validation of the muscularity-oriented eating test in adult women in China

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: Research on muscularity-oriented disordered eating has grown in recent years. However, the bulk of this research has focused on men and Western populations. Limited research is available in non-Western populations of women (e.g., China) which is likely due to the lack of valid instruments in these populations. Thus, the current study aimed to describe the validity and reliability of the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) in Chinese women.

Method: Two online surveys (survey one: n = 599, M_age = 29.49, SD = 7.36; survey two: n = 201, M_age = 28.42, SD = 7.76) were conducted to explore the psychometric properties of the MOET in Chinese women. In survey one, the factor structure of the MOET was examined via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA). Internal consistency reliability and convergent and incremental validity of the MOET were also assessed. In survey two, test–retest reliability across a 2-week interval was examined.

Results: EFA and CFA provided support for the unidimensional factor structure of the MOET in Chinese adult women. The MOET presented good internal consistency and test–retest reliability and convergent validity via large, positive associations with theoretically related constructs (e.g., thinness-oriented disordered eating, drive for muscularity, and psychosocial impairment). Finally, muscularity-oriented disordered eating described unique variance in psychosocial impairment, providing support for the incremental validity of the MOET.

Discussion: The sound psychometric structure of the MOET was supported in Chinese women. Continued research is needed to describe muscularity-oriented disordered eating in Chinese women to contribute to this significant gap in the literature.

Relationships Between Weight Bias Internalization and Biopsychosocial Health Outcomes: A Prospective Study in Chinese Adolescents

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: An extensive literature has documented the deleterious effects of weight bias internalization (WBI) on biopsychosocial health outcomes. Still, this research is largely confined to the Western context. Furthermore, few studies have explored associations between WBI and biopsychosocial health outcomes, including in non-Western adolescent populations.

Method: The present study explored the longitudinal relationships between WBI and body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment related to eating disorder features, and psychological and physical well-being in a sample (N = 1549; aged 11-18 years at baseline) of Chinese adolescents. Relationships between study variables were examined between two waves of data measurement (Time 1, baseline, and Time 2, 6-month). Crosslagged and multivariate models were used to explore prospective relationships between WBI and biopsychosocial correlates.

Results: Bidirectional relationships were observed between WBI and biopsychosocial correlates in Chinese adolescents. Adjusting for covariates and other predictor variables, higher body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress at Time 1 predicted higher WBI at Time 2. Furthermore, higher WBI at Time 1 predicted higher body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, psychosocial impairment, and psychological distress at Time 2.

Discussion: WBI and psychosocial correlates were interrelated across time in Chinese adolescents. Improving WBI might be promising in the prevention of eating and body image disturbances and diminished psychosocial well-being. Similarly, reducing eating and body image disturbances and improving psychosocial well-being might be useful prevention targets in reducing WBI in Chinese adolescents.

Assessing Hedonic Hunger Among Chinese Adults Using the Power of Food Scale: Psychometric properties and cross-cultural invariance and differences between China and the US

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hedonic hunger refers to food consumption for pleasure without biological energy deficits. The Power of Food Scale (PFS) is a well-developed self-report instrument assessing hedonic hunger. The present study aimed to translate and validate the PFS into simplified Chinese (C-PFS) and examine its psychometric properties among Chinese adults. A total of 773 participants (51.1 % men, M age = 24.98 years, SD = 6.10) were recruited in the present study from college and community populations. Consistent with the previous studies, confirmatory factor analysis showed that the C-PFS had three factors: food present, food available, and food tasted. In addition, a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92 and an ICC of 0.86 suggested that the C-PFS has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In terms of convergent validity, the scores of C-PFS correlated significantly with disordered eating symptomatology and loss of control over eating. Measurement invariance tests showed that the C-PFS was invariant across gender and sample source groups in the Chinese sample. In addition, a U.S. sample of 490 college students (26.6 % men, M age = 21.41 years, SD = 5.45) was used to test the measurement invariance across countries, and results suggested a partial invariance across college students from China and those from the U.S. In conclusion, the C-PFS can be a useful tool for measuring hedonic hunger among adults in China, and there may be cultural differences in the measurement of the PFS in college students across China and the U.S.

Examining appearance pressures, thinness and muscularity internalizations, and social comparisons as correlates of drive for muscularity and thinness-oriented disordered eating in Chinese heterosexual men and women: Testing an integrated model

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Given existing empirical support for the tripartite influence and social comparison models to explain variance in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating across diverse populations in the Western context, research is needed to describe these models in non-Western populations. The present study tested an integrated model inclusive of appearance pressures, thinness and muscularity internalizations, and social comparisons in relation to drive for muscularity and thinness-oriented disordered eating in heterosexual Chinese adult men (n = 510) and women (n = 473). Separated by gender, two integrated models had good fit statistics per structural equation modeling. In men and women, higher appearance pressures were uniquely related to higher drive for muscularity and thinness-oriented disordered eating. In men and women, higher thinness and muscularity internalizations were uniquely related to higher thinness-oriented disordered eating and drive for muscularity, respectively. In men and women, higher upward body image comparisons were uniquely related to higher drive for muscularity, and in men only, higher downward body image comparisons were uniquely related to higher thinness-oriented disordered eating. The present findings, which extend theories of eating pathology, may aid in improving treatment efforts for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in heterosexual Chinese adult men and women.

The Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale: Development and initial validation in Chinese adult men

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The present study developed the Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale (MBIS), a measure of muscularity bias internalization, which assesses the extent to which an individual endorses muscularity-based stereotypes and engages in negative self-evaluations due to muscularity. In Study 1, a pool of candidate items was developed. By using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M_age = 29.98 years, SD = 7.81), 14 items from the item pool were retained. The 14-item MBIS contained three factors. In Study 2, the second sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M_age = 29.50 years, SD = 7.50) was used to confirm the factor structure of the MBIS, as well as to examine its reliability and validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) further confirmed the three-factor structure of the MBIS with a good model fit. The MBIS showed high internal consistency reliability and high two-week test-retest reliability. The MBIS also showed good construct validity with measures of drive for muscularity, muscularity-oriented disordered eating, and muscle dysmorphia symptoms. The newly developed MBIS may help understand the role of muscularity bias internalization in the development and maintenance of muscularity-oriented body image and muscularity-oriented disordered eating.

Exploring the bidirectional relationships between night eating, loss of control eating, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents: A four-wave cross-lagged study

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: This study examined the bidirectional relationships between sleep quality, loss of control (LOC) eating, and night eating among Chinese adolescents using longitudinal data over an 18-month study period.

Method: Four-waves of data measurement (Times 1-4), at 6-month intervals, were conducted with 2566 adolescents aged 11 ~ 17 years at baseline. A set of questionaries were used to assess night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality at each wave of data collection. Cross-lagged models were applied to analyze the bidirectional relationships among night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality.

Results: Results indicated that higher night eating scores consistently predicted poorer sleep quality and higher LOC eating scores at Time 1, 2, and 3. Furthermore, poorer sleep quality predicted higher night eating scores at Time 1 and Time 3, and higher LOC eating scores predicted higher night eating scores at Time 1 to Time 2.

Discussion: These findings highlight that night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality were interrelated across time among Chinese adolescents. Improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating might be promising in the prevention of night eating in adolescents. Similarly, reducing night eating might be promising in improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating in adolescents.

Relationships between retrospective parental feeding practices and Chinese young adults’ current appetitive traits, weight status, and satisfaction with food-related life

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Accumulating evidence suggests that parental feeding practices during childhood are related to adults’ eating behaviors and weight status, but research exploring these relationships were limited and largely conducted in Western contexts. However, China, a country holds the largest world population, has distinct patterns of eating habits and food culture from Western countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine relationships between retrospective parental feeding practices (e.g., concern, monitoring, pressure to eat, and restriction) and current body mass index (BMI) and satisfaction with food-related life in a sample of 476 Chinese young adults (195 men) with a mean age of 19.78 (SD = 1.23) years. We also examined whether appetitive traits mediated these associations. Retrospective parental feeding practices were significantly related with participants’ current BMI (concern: r = .26, p < .001; pressure to eat: r = -.15, p < .001) and satisfaction with food-related life (concern: r = .15, p < .001; monitoring: r = .12, p = .009; pressure to eat: r = .13, p = .006; restriction: r = .16, p < .001). Relationships were partially mediated by young adults’ current appetitive traits (e.g., enjoyment of food, emotional overeating, satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating). These findings suggest that retrospective parental feeding practices are important correlates of young adults’ current weight status and satisfaction with foodrelated life, and that appetitive traits partially explain these relationships in the Chinese context.

The Effect of Music on Food Intake: A Meta-Analysis

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Click here for details.

It was my master’s thesis, which was also the draft of the journal article The Relationship between Music and Food Intake: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The abstract was submitted to the conference in May, 2021, and was accepted in December, 2021. The journal article was published in July, 2021.

Exploring the links from perceived childhood parenting and childhood parent-child relation to Chinese adults’ current psychological distress: Impacts of family-of-origin?

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: This research aims to explore the links from perceived childhood parenting and childhood parent-child relation to Chinese adults’ current psychological distress.

Methods: A sample of 501 Chinese adults (age of 18 ~ 45 years, with 252 men) were recruited from the internet by using Credamo, a reliable online survey platform. A set of questionnaires assessing perceived childhood parenting (i.e., warmth, rejection, and overprotection), childhood parent-child relation, and current psychological distress were used. Correlation and regression analyses were carried out. “Childhood parenting and parent-child relation” were measured by asking participants to recall their childhood experiences (≤12 years old).

Results: Results of correlation analyses showed that childhood warmth was significantly and negatively associated with current psychological distress (women: r = -.32, p < .001; men: r = -.29, p < .001). Childhood rejection was significantly and positively correlated with current psychological distress (women: r = .39, p < .001; men: r = .46, p < .001). However, childhood overprotection was significantly and positively correlated with psychological distress in Chinese men (r = .16, p = .011). Moreover, childhood parent-child relation was significantly and negatively correlated with current psychological distress (women: r = -.22, p < .001; men: r = -.36, p < .001). Finally, with multiple regression analyses by controlling for all covariates (e.g., gender and age), rejection was the only significant and positive predictor of psychological distress (β = 0.37, p < .001), and the whole model could explain 26.8% of the total variance of current psychological distress.

Conclusions: These findings suggest the interactions (e.g., parents’ rejection) between parents and children in adults’ childhood may have an important impact on adults’ current mental health, highlighting the potential existence of “impacts of family-of-origin”.

Perceived childhood parenting styles, childhood feeding practices, and current maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors among Chinese adolescents and adults

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: The current study aimed to explore the relationships among Perceived childhood parenting styles, childhood feeding practices, and current maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors in Chinese adolescents and adults.

Methods: We recruited 499 adolescents (58.5% girls, aged 16 to 18 years) in Tianjin with paper-and-pencil questionnaires, and 501 adults (49.7% women, aged 18 to 45 years) by Credamo, a reliable online survey platform. A set of questionnaires assessing perceived childhood parenting (i.e., emotional warmth, rejection, and overprotection), childhood feeding practices (i.e., concern, monitoring, pressure to eat, and restriction), and maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors were used. Specifically, perceived childhood parenting styles and childhood feeding practices were measured by participants’ recall of their interactions with their parents in childhood (≤12 years old). Correlation and mediation analyses were carried out.

Results: Results revealed that compared to intuitive eating as an adaptive eating, disordered eating as maladaptive eating was more significantly related to childhood feeding practice in Chinese adults and adolescents, and disordered eating was more significantly related to childhood feeding practices in Chinese adult women, adult men, and girls. In Chinese adult men, the relationship between emotional warmth and disordered eating was fully mediated by concern with a total indirect effect of .14 (95%CI .08, 0.24; p < .001); and the relationship between overprotection and disordered eating was fully mediated by pressure to eat with a total indirect effect of .06 (95%CI .01, 0.14; p = .054). In Tianjin boys, the relationship between warmth and disordered eating was fully mediated by concern with a total indirect effect of .08 (95% CI .02, .18; p = .045). However, none of the childhood feeding practices showed mediating effects between perceived childhood parenting and eating behaviors in Chinese adult women and girls.

Conclusions: Perceived childhood parenting styles and childhood feeding practices are more related to adolescents’ and adults’ current maladaptive than adaptive eating behaviors. Parents’ feeding practices might be a mediator between childhood parenting styles and current disordered eating behaviors, especially in males.

The Chinese Version of the Goal Content for Weight Maintenance Scale (GCWMS) among Young Adults: Psychometric Properties and Its Associations with Weight Status and Disordered Eating

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: This current work aims to translate the Goal Content for Weight Maintenance Scale into the Chinese version (C-GCWMS) and examine its psychometric properties among Chinese young adults.

Methods: The data were collected from a university in Hunan Province. The number of valid samples is 1065 (78.8% are females) and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure of C-GCWMS. Reliabilities of subscales from the C-GCWMS were examined. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed by Pearson correlation analyses between the subscales of C-GCWMS and other theoretically related/unrelated measures.

Results: The four-dimensional structure of C-GCWMS was stable and was invariant across genders. The internal consistency reliabilities of four subscales were proved to be adequate according to Cronbach’s α (0.82-0.88), and the construct validity was overall good. In males, challenge (r = 0.157, p = 0.019) and social recognition (r = 0.167, p = 0.012) was significantly and positively correlated to BMI, while in females, health management, challenge, social recognition, and image showed significant and positive correlations with both BMI (r = 0.109, p = 0.028; r = 0.109, p = 0.002; r = 0.108, p = 0.002; r = 0.180, p < 0.001) and disordered eating behaviors (r = 0.109, p = 0.011; r = 0.236, p < 0.001; r = 0.290, p < 0.001; r = 0.247, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The C-GCWMS was psychometrically adequate for the sample of Chinese students. As disordered eating and BMI were significantly and positively correlated with goal content for weight management, goal content for weight management can be important contributors to individuals’ weight status and disordered eating behaviors. However, the roles of goal content for weight management in weight status and disordered eating behaviors should be confirmed in future experimental and/or longitudinal studies.

The Relationship between Music and Food Intake: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Food intake has been shown to be related to several environmental factors including the presence of music. However, previous findings of the relationship between music and food intake are inconsistent. In the present study, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively review the extent to which music is associated with food intake as well as to investigate potential moderators that might have contributed to the heterogeneity of the existing findings. Literature was searched on four databases (i.e., PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) and Google Scholar. Nine articles published from 1989 to 2020 met our inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was carried out via a three-level random-effects model. The overall effect size (i.e., Hedges’ g) was 0.19 (95% Confidence Interval: −0.003, 0.386; SE = 0.10, t = 1.99, p = 0.054), indicating a marginally significant but small effect size. Body Mass Index (F(1, 21) = 5.11, p = 0.035) was found to significantly contribute to the heterogeneity of effect sizes, with larger positive effects of music on food intake for individuals with higher BMI. However, music-related features did not significantly moderate the relationship between music and food intake. More experimental studies are needed to update the current meta-analysis and get a better understanding of this topic.