While humor has been extensively studied in commercial marketing, there is less known about how humor functions in the context of a public health campaign. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring the use of humor in public health messaging through (1) a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, (2) a content analysis of public-health related print ads from the Ad Council, and (3) an experiment testing the role of humor styles in the effectiveness of humorous anti-binge drinking messages. The systematic review and meta-analysis assembled all the currently known research on humor in public health messaging. Overall, the success of humor depended on many factors, including the health topic and characteristics of the audience, and humor was found to not differ drastically from other appeal types in its influence on key persuasion outcomes. The meta-analytic component of this review found that humor had a positive impact on ad liking and behavior and a negative impact on perceived self-efficacy and intention, with only self-efficacy demonstrating a statistically significant difference between the appeal types. In the content analysis, Ad Council ads spanning 70 years of public health messaging were evaluated in order to understand the utilization of important communication elements in health communication campaigns. A sample of print ads was assembled, and ads were coded for theoretical constructs, ecological level, emotional appeal, and the presence of humor. The sample included a variety of campaign topics, ranging from drunk driving to polio vaccination to child abuse. Overall, campaigns were found to most often lack response efficacy information, and the presence of specific behavioral suggestions regarding the health issue decreased over time in favor of contact information. Most campaigns targeted the individual level, with few targeting organizational, policy or other systems-level changes necessary to facilitate most (if not all) public health behaviors. The experiment examined the role of matching ad humor styles to individual humor styles in humorous anti-binge drinking ads aimed at college students. Those with detrimental humor styles were found to perceive messages matched to their humor style as more humorous than messages not matched to their humor style. Perceived humor was found to be negatively associated with message rejection and positively associated with likelihood of sharing the message. This study re-affirms the importance of ensuring humor campaigns are actually perceived as humorous by the audience. Overall, this dissertation suggests that humor should be used in well-tested public health campaigns in order to realize its potential benefits for affecting health behaviors.

Binge eating is a harmful, maladaptive behavior associated with comorbid psychopathology. Theory posits that increases in maladaptive, transdiagnostic emotions following binge eating in individuals with BN may predict the experience of comorbid symptoms. The current study served as a laboratory test of the first part of this theory: whether state increases in maladaptive emotions occur following engagement in binge eating behavior in women with BN compared with healthy controls. Women (n = 51) were recruited from the community if they met DSM-5 criteria for BN or OSFED BN (of low frequency) (n = 21) or were free of lifetime disordered eating and current psychopathology (n = 30). Participants completed questionnaires assessing eating disorder symptoms (preoccupation with weight and shape, urge to vomit), state shame, and state negative affect before and after consuming a test meal in which they were instructed to binge. Women with BN endorsed significantly greater preoccupation with weight and shape and urge to vomit following test meal consumption compared with controls. Women with BN reported significant increases in state shame, but not state negative affect, following test meal consumption, compared with controls. Results are consistent with a model indicating binge eating precipitates increases in state shame among women with BN. Given shame’s status as a transdiagnostic risk factor, future work should clarify whether state shame following binge eating predicts increases in comorbid symptoms.

The primary aim of the present study was to determine whether impairment on neuropsychological measures of decision making predicts increased alcohol use among college students. It was hypothesized that poorer performance on measures of decision making would predict linear increase on indicators of alcohol consumption across the first year of college. An additional aim was to assess whether established risk factors for college student drinking would moderate the association between decision making abilities and increased alcohol consumption, with the expectation that decision making would be more strongly associated with escalation in alcohol use for participants that are male, have a family history of alcohol abuse, report a longer history of pre-college alcohol use, hold more positive alcohol expectancies, and are more impulsive. Aims were pursued in a relatively homogeneous sample of first year college students (N = 136), using a prospective, longitudinal design in which decision making and drinking were assessed at three time-points during the first year of college. Participants additionally provided sociodemographic information and completed self-report impulsivity and alcohol expectancy questionnaires at each assessment. Results showed that drinking and associated negative consequences increased over time during the participants first year in college. However, there was generally little support for the hypotheses that poor decision making abilities are a risk factor for increased alcohol consumption, and that the association is moderated by established risk factors for drinking. Results suggest the need to consider whether drinking is indeed indicative of impaired decision making and underscore the importance of including other factors, especially perceived benefits and influence of social pressure, in models of decision making striving to predict drinking among college students.

Recent research indicates that 2% to 4% of the population meet diagnostic criteria for the newly proposed binge eating disorder, and that it is much more common (30%) among the treatment-seeking obese. Although recognized as a significant problem, binge eating disorder is l1l not well understood, and there is debate about whether binge eating disorder is a distinct disorder. It has been argued that binge eating disorder is simply a variant or milder form of bulimia nervosa and not a separate and distinct disorder. Researchers have begun to study this population in greater depth in order to assess the characteristics of individuals with binge eating disorder, the similarities and differences between individuals with binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and obese individuals who do not engage in binge eating, and the effectiveness of various treatments for binge eating disorder. Previous reviews of the literature (using non-meta-analytic strategies) have examined these areas and have yielded inconsistent conclusions. Therefore, a more comprehensive, current, and empirical integration of the data was conducted. In total, 297 studies of individuals with binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and/or obese individuals who do not engage in binge eating were collected, coded, and statistically analyzed across studies (by calculating standardized mean difference effect sizes). The key characteristics of individuals with binge eating disorder were assessed, diagnostic groups were systematically compared, and treatment outcomes (from 19 studies) were evaluated. The results indicated that individuals with binge eating disorder have a number of differences from both bulimia nervosa and obese non binge eating individuals. However, the extent of these differences was not great, and there was a general trend for binge eating disorder individuals to fall between the two groups on most measures of disturbed eating and psychopathology. These findings tend to support the continuum/variant conceptualization of binge eating disorder rather than that of a distinct disorder. In addition, data from primary research studies on the treatment of binge eating disorder indicated that, overall, psychosocial interventions were helpful in decreasing binge eating and psychopathological symptoms, but were less effective at reducing weight. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed, as are suggestions for future research.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-105).

Tidiga vuxenlivet präglas av oprövade miljöer och situationer. Detta ställer höga krav på individens perception, anpassningsförmåga och attityd. En intensiv miljö flertalet unga vuxna kommer i kontakt med för första gången är krogen. Positiv attityd till riskfyllda beteenden där kan i förlängningen resultera i negativa hälsoeffekter. Syftet med denna enkätstudie var i huvudsak att undersöka unga vuxnas attityd till Verbal aggression, Rekreationellt berusningsdrickande, Riskfyllt sex, Fysisk aggression, Ekonomiskt riskfylld modekonsumtion, Ekonomiskt riskfylld festkonsumtion, Rekreationellt drogbruk och Riskfyllt spelande om pengar. Resultatet av de 256 personer som deltog visade genom variansanalys att män hade signifikant mer positiv attityd än kvinnor till fem av åtta riskbeteenden och att största skillnaden då kön, etnicitet och studieval analyserades i kombination förelåg mellan ickesvenska män och kvinnor på studieförberedande program. Klusteranalys visade på förekomst av högriskgrupp där män var i majoritet. Eventuella preventiva insatser bör i huvudsak lämpligen riktas mot unga vuxna män.

The current dissertation is comprised of two studies that examined the relationship between group dynamics, attachment anxiety, and post-treatment outcomes in a sample of women (N = 102) with binge eating disorder (BED) who received Group Psychodynamic Interpersonal Psychotherapy. The first study explored the relationship between the development of group cohesion, the individuals’ level of attachment anxiety, and frequency of binge eating, symptoms of depression, and self-esteem at post-treatment. The second study explored the relationship between the interpersonal learning, individuals’ level of attachment anxiety, and outcomes. Interpersonal learning was conceptualized as the convergence between multiple perspectives of group cohesion: one’s own and the group’s perception of one’s cohesion to the group. Parallel measures of individual self-rated cohesion (CQ-I) and mean group-rated cohesion (CQ-G) were developed based on the original Cohesion Questionnaire (CQ; Piper et al., 1983) for this study. Participants were assigned to homogeneous groups composed of either high or low attachment anxiety to assess the impact of pre-treatment attachment anxiety. Findings indicated significant growth in cohesion over time, and a significant convergence in multiple ratings of cohesion. These processes did not differ significantly based on level of attachment anxiety. Growth in cohesion was related to greater reductions in binge eating for those high in attachment anxiety, while the convergence in ratings of cohesion (i.e., interpersonal learning) was related to improvements in self-esteem for individuals in both attachment anxiety conditions. The findings support the importance of group interventions for BED that are sensitive to individuals’ attachment anxiety, and that emphasize cohesiveness, and interpersonal learning to improve outcomes.

Background/aims: Extensive studies have found an association between parent - adolescent relationships and adolescents' alcohol use. However, only a few studies have been carried out in Sweden. Also, few studies have focused on 17-19 year olds or binge drinking. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is an association between perceived parent - youth relationship and binge drinking among 17-19 year olds in Stockholm, Sweden. Theory: Social Development Model is a risk-focused prevention strategy which emphasizes the importance of social units, such as the family. SDM suggests that bonding occurs between the unit members through socialization processes which later acts as an informal control preventing adolescents from risk behaviors, such as binge drinking. Method:Quantitative Method with secondary data from the "Stockholm survey" that includes the entire selected population of 17-19 year old students in Stockholm. Results: The main results show that there is an association between certain aspects of the perceived parent - youth relationship and adolescent binge drinking. These aspects are; perceived parental monitoring (parents' influence on their child's free time) and perceived alcohol-specific rules. However, there is no association between perceived support and trust in the parent - adolescent relationship and adolescent binge drinking.

Research has documented that Episodic Heavy Drinking (EHD), defined as consuming four or more and five or more alcoholic drinks per drinking episode among females and males, respectively, is a prevalent risk behavior among undergraduate college students throughout the United States. Moreover, studies have shown that EHD is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among college students as unintentional injuries, sexual assaults, and unsafe sexual behaviors among this population have been linked to this risk behavior. Illicit substance use, although often portrayed as a separate risk behavior, is also associated with EHD. Nationally, the most frequently used illicit substance among college students is marijuana. Research suggests that college students who engage in EHD are several times more likely to be current marijuana users or to have used marijuana during their lifetime. Furthermore, EHD has been identified as a predictor of marijuana use and other substances, illicit or otherwise. With regard to this particular investigation, three specific risk behaviors among undergraduate students at Western Kentucky University (WKU) were the primary foci: 1) the prevalence of alcohol use and episodic heavy drinking (EHD), 2) the prevalence of illicit substance use, particularly marijuana use, and 3) concomitant EHD and marijuana use. In addition, WKU students' personal characteristics and certain behaviors were examined to determine their association with alcohol and marijuana use. This study was a secondary analysis of data gathered through the Western Kentucky Student Health Assessment (WKU-SHA 2002)administered during the fall semester of 2002. The WKU-SHA 2002 utilized the American College Health Association's (ACHA) National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey instrument to investigate overall health status and health risk behaviors of WKU undergraduate students. It used a cross- ectional, random cluster sampling of 100, 200, 300 and 400 level undergraduate classes held on WKU's main campus. Results of this investigation were similar to findings reported in current literature. Seventy-three percent of respondents reported consuming alcohol during the last 30 days. Fortysix percent reported engaging in episodic heavy drinking the last time they "partied" and approximately 20% reported using marijuana during the last 30 days. Episodic heavy drinkers were more likely to report 30-day marijuana use than students who did not engage in EHD. Significant associations were reported between risk behaviors and respondents' characteristics. It is anticipated that the information provided through this investigation may be particularly useful to the planning of future health programs and services designed to address EHD and marijuana use among WKU undergraduate college students.

Animal models of bingeing have typically used stress to induce bingeing. A recent model, limited-access to high-fat diet (HFD), has shown that caloric restriction and stress were not required to induce bingeing in rats. This study replicated this model in mice, explored the fat content within the model, and investigated locomotor activation associated with binge-eating. Adult mice were maintained on a restricted feeding (RF) schedule of 2 h/d of access to chow or ad lib access to chow, and then provided limited access to 45% HFD or 84% HFD for 30 min 3 d/ week for 6 total snack sessions. Circadian activity was monitored for RF animals offered 84% HFD, and after 6 snack sessions were complete, allowed continuous access to the 45% HFD or the 84% HFD for two weeks to explore rebound feeding. Bingeing, defined by increasing intakes across days, was reported for mice offered 45% HFD regardless of deprivation state (RF or ad lib), while mice offered 84% HFD only exhibited bingeing when they were restricted. Comparison of male and female mice maintained RF, offered 45% HFD snack, showed that females had higher intake (kcals/g-bw) while ad lib fed mice exhibited no sex differences. Circadian recordings for female RF mice offered 84% HFD showed shifts in activity from the first hour of dark cycle to the hour preceding the snack and supported that offering the HFD produced alterations in food-associated arousal. During rebound, female RF mice given 84% HFD showed the highest intakes in week 1, and then exhibited a marked decline in week 2. The week 1 intake for RF animals were to regain lost body weight and that homeostatic-like intake in week 2 allowed normal body weight maintenance. Results of this investigation support human data that females are more susceptible to binge-type eating disorder, shows that limited access to palatable foods for females under caloric restriction induces changes in circadian activity, and reveals that using mice in this model requires more investigation to optimize binge-behavior. Diet comparisons also suggest that homeostatic and reward mechanisms may have an additive effect on bingeing.