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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.

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 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.