It is often assumed that emotional eating occurs when an individual is unable to utilise emotion regulation (ER) to cope with stress. In this stress exposure study, we explored whether manipulating participants’ ER strategies (rumination or self-compassion) influenced their stress-related affect and food consumption. Fifty-three adolescents (Mage = 14.72) were included; half of the participants were instructed to use rumination as their ER strategy, and half were instructed to use self-compassion. We could not demonstrate that the ER strategies differently affected stress-related affect. However, we did find that increased Happiness following ER self-compassion predicted reduced High-Fat Sweet food consumption, whereas increased Happiness following ER rumination instead led to greater High-Fat Sweet food consumption. In participants who ruminated, food consumption reduced feelings of Frustration, but not Boredom or Happiness. Post-hoc exploration revealed that only ER self-compassion, not ER rumination, normalised levels of stress-related affect. The results highlight the need for more research into the complex relationship between ER strategies, affect states, and food types in their effect on emotional eating.

Experimental studies applying cognitive bias modification of attention (CBM-A) and interpretation (CBM-I) to reduce aggression have examined the effect of modifying each cognitive bias in isolation. In order to maximise the potential impact on both biases and symptom reduction, we examined whether a combined bias training procedure targeting both attention and interpretation biases (CBM-AI) in combination would be more effective than targeting interpretation bias (CBM-I) alone. University students (17–35 years) were randomly assigned to either a single session of CBM-AI training (n = 40), CBM-I training (n = 40), or a control condition (n = 40). Contrary to our expectations, participants showed an increase in adaptive attention and pro-social interpretation bias in all training conditions. Additionally, in none of the conditions, we found a significant change on self-reported or behavioural aggression. These findings suggest: (1) that the combined training did not have added effect over single interpretation bias training, (2) that training interpretation bias may lead to changes in attention bias, (3) that elements of the control condition unexpectedly, but interestingly, also affected attention and interpretation biases, and (4) single-session CBM procedures do not produce robust effects on self-report or behavioural measures of aggression in unselected samples.

Emotion regulation is a known predictor for psychopathology and a target for treatment. A growing body of literature has examined the role of beliefs about emotions (BEs) in the emotion regulation process, yet the relationship between the two has yet to be systematically evaluated. A systematic review was conducted across five databases and 22 studies that assessed the relationship between BEs and emotion regulation were identified. The findings generally revealed a positive relationship between beliefs about the controllability and goodness of emotions and emotion regulation. There was strong evidence that beliefs about controllability were consistently associated with ‘active’ emotion regulatory strategies. This outcome has important implications for targeting change in therapy. However, further investigation is needed to establish consistent patterns regarding beliefs about the goodness of emotion and emotion regulation using longitudinal designs.

Objective: To provide a quantitative assessment of the literature examining the cross-sectional association between loneliness and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Method: A total of 44 studies from 35 articles (n = 27, 214; mean age 13.63 years; 51% female) met inclusion criteria. Results: A medium, positive correlation between loneliness and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents was found (r = .48). Age and gender did not moderate the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Loneliness may be a particular risk factor for depression. These results have implications for COVID-19 disease containment measures.

There is increasing support for the efficacy of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural interventions for anxiety and depression. However, little is known about the applicability of transdiagnostic behavioural interventions for children younger than 12 years old. This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and potential efficacy of Streamlined Transdiagnostic Intervention for Anxiety and Depression (STREAM) for children with anxiety and/or depressive disorders using a randomised controlled design with a wait-list control (WLC) condition and blind-assessments. Of the 22 potential participants, 16 Japanese children (M = 9.81; SD = 0.75; range 9–12 years) with principal anxiety or depressive disorder were eligible and enrolled. Then, the participants were randomly assigned to the STREAM or WLC condition. The dropout rates were 0% for both the conditions at post-assessment. Mixed model analyses showed that, although there were no significant interactions at post-assessment between both the conditions, both anxiety and depressive disorders significantly improved at 3 months compared with pre-assessment for the combined condition (the STREAM and WLC conditions). Therefore, this study demonstrated the feasibility of the STREAM in the Japanese clinical setting and potentially supported its efficacy for children with anxiety and depressive disorders at the follow-up assessment.

Food addiction (FA) appears among bariatric weight loss surgery candidates who struggle to control the intake of hyperpalatable/refined foods have high rates of psychopathology and related health problems. Despite this, prevalence rates of FA in the bariatric sector are reported as low or variable. We investigated the prevalence of FA and the applicability of conventionally used metrics for 166 pre-surgery candidates from a weight management centre (USA) and a major metropolitan hospital (Australia). Self-report measures assessed FA (Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS)), body mass index (BMI), disordered eating, addictive personality, psychopathology, and diet. Consistent with prior research, standard YFAS scoring, requiring the endorsement of a distress/impairment (D/I) criterion (FA + D/I), yielded a FA prevalence rate of 12.7%, compared to 37.3% when D/I was omitted (FA − D/I). We compared profiles for those with FA using each scoring method against those ‘without’, who did not meet a minimum of three YFAS symptoms (non-FA ≤ 2). Both methods differentiated those with and without FA on addictive traits, disordered eating and hyperpalatable food consumption. Only FA + D/I differentiated markers of psychological distress or impairment, including depression, anxiety and quality of life. Results indicate a need for further FA research in bariatric settings.

This study aims to determine the effects of the Parents Plus Children's Programme (PPCP) on children's symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and on family functionality and parenting stress. The children in the study were aged 6–11 years, and they had been diagnosed with ADHD and had residual symptoms despite effective dosage and timing of their medication. Forty-six couples, who with their children met the eligibility criteria, were enrolled and randomly allocated to the PPCP or the control group. The intervention involved a 9-week, 2 h a week, parenting group exercise. Those in the PPCP group improved significantly more over time on Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised, Family Assessment Device, and Parent Stress Index than those in the control condition. The trial is the first clinical study involving the parents of children with ADHD that addresses residual symptoms and functional impairments that remain despite the administration of the maximum effective dose of pharmacological treatment.

Effective and consistent engagement in personal hygiene practices is important for preventing the acquisition and transmission of communicable diseases in childhood. This study aimed to investigate trends in adherence to recommended hygiene practices and identify factors contributing to difficulties in establishing good hygiene habits with young children (0–4 years) in Australia. A self-selected community sample of parents (N = 426) completed an online survey assessing children's adherence to recommended hygiene practices and barriers and enablers of establishing good personal hygiene habits. Parents reported interest in receiving information/tips on children's personal hygiene (yes/no) and nominated topics of interest. Less than half of children in any age group consistently (always/almost always) covered coughs and sneezes, washed hands after toileting, or washed hands before meals or when dirty. Children's non-compliance (i.e. resistance, refusal) was the most commonly reported barrier to establishing good personal hygiene habits, while children's compliance (i.e. cooperative behaviour, following or complying with caregivers’ instructions) was the most commonly cited enabler. Despite low levels of adherence, less than half (41.2%) of parents wanted information/tips on children's hygiene. Results suggest a disconnect between parents’ knowledge about recommended hygiene practices and actual behaviour. Development and testing of approaches to behaviour change that incorporate evidence-based strategies to manage children's resistance and support parents to encourage the development of healthy hygiene habits is warranted.

Appetitive traits are associated with weight and could be managed using behavioural strategies. Personalised approaches to weight loss could use a person's appetitive trait profile to tailor weight management advice. This study aimed to explore participants’ experiences of a brief Appetitive Trait Tailored Intervention (ATTI) based on participants’ Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ) scores. The ATTI was developed using strategies from modified Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and behaviour change techniques. Acceptability testing of the ATTI was carried out with participants (body mass index ≥25) who completed the AEBQ online and were sent their appetitive trait profile and corresponding weight loss tips via e-mail. Participants were asked to follow the tips for 8 weeks and following the tips, perceived helpfulness, barriers, and initial and final body weight. Qualitative interviews explored their experiences. Thirty-seven participants provided feedback and reported the majority of the tips to be helpful. Thirty-two participants (92.5% female) provided their final weight; 10 reported weight loss ≥5% of initial weight. Qualitative interviews (n = 21) revealed that tailoring was seen as novel and participants felt that the ATTI increased their self-awareness and encouraged behavioural changes. The low intensity of the ATTI limited engagement for some. The ATTI is an acceptable, novel approach to weight management.

The move to online learning during COVID-19 deprived first-year students of friendships and other sources of social support that could buffer against stress during their transition to university. These effects may have been worse for international students than domestic students as many were subjected to travel restrictions or quarantine in addition to the usual stressors. This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on social connectedness and mental health of first-year students enrolled in a metropolitan university in Australia. The study involved 1239 students (30.4% international) and used a 3 (cohorts: 2019, 2020, 2021) × 2 (enrolment status: domestic and international) between-group design. Results showed that both loneliness and university belonging were significantly worse during the first year of COVID-19 compared to the year before or after. Contrary to expectation, domestic students were lonelier than international students across all cohorts. Multiple-group memberships did not change. As predicted, loneliness was moderately to highly correlated with the number of stressors, psychological distress, and (lower) well-being, whereas university belonging and multiple-group memberships were related to positive mental health outcomes. These findings highlight the need for initiatives that promote student connectedness and mental health as the university sector recovers from COVID-19.

Background: Post-event processing (PEP) is an important maintenance factor of social anxiety disorder (SAD). This study examined psychometric properties of the Positive Beliefs about Post-Event Processing Questionnaire (PB-PEPQ; Fisak & Hammond, 2013), which measures metacognitive beliefs about PEP. Method: Participants receiving treatment for SAD (n = 71) and other anxiety and related disorders (n = 266) completed self-report questionnaires at several timepoints. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the PB-PEPQ's proposed unidimensional model. Subsequent exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure consisting of engaging in PEP to (1) review negative events (Negative scale), (2) review positive events (Positive scale), and (3) better understand one's social anxiety (Understand scale). Within the SAD subsample, PB-PEPQ scales demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.83–0.85) and test–retest reliability (r = 0.65–0.78). Convergent and criterion validity of the PB-PEPQ Negative scale were supported. PB-PEPQ scale scores were significantly higher within the SAD group, as compared with the other groups (generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder), supporting the scales’ discriminative validity. Conclusion: Findings support the reliability and validity of the PB-PEPQ in a clinical sample and reveal the measure's multifactorial structure.

The COVID-19 pandemic struck Spain severely from the beginning. Prevention via information that fosters knowledge, reasonable concern, control, and personal care is the most effective means to slow down the pandemic. In this intervention field study, first, we assessed actual knowledge, concern, control, and care about the COVID-19 in 111 Spanish university teachers and students. Subsequently, we randomly assigned them to two groups. One group (n = 53) received uncertain information about prevention measures, whereas the other group (n = 58) received certain information. Analysis of covariance, using baseline measures as covariates, revealed that the group receiving the certain information reported an immediately increased perceived control and personal care about the pandemic. These findings suggest that measures that are known to be effective in COVID-19 prevention, if communicated with certainty (i.e., solid evidence), could influence people's attitudes, possibly through the schematic organisation of new information.

Loneliness is an increasingly ubiquitous topic in academic, policy, and healthcare domains. This work typically focuses on its negative physical and mental health consequences, generally employing a singular cognitive definition of loneliness. In doing so, one central aspect of our social world has been neglected in loneliness research and policy: touch. Touch is a fundamental human behaviour and a powerful form of communication which plays a role in physical and psychological wellbeing. This narrative review outlines a conceptual basis upon which to consider the relationship between loneliness and social touch and reviews the available research examining this connection. There are strong indications that these social phenomena can interact in a variety of ways and this review argues that elements of presence, absence, and type of touch may impact upon loneliness experiences. Additionally, this review considers the challenges inherent to researching touch and loneliness, reflecting on their sensitive and subjective nature. The increasing relevance of the touch–loneliness connection is described in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations are given for research, policy, and practice. This review proposes that touch should be a key topic for investigation in loneliness research and outlines the potentially invaluable role of touch in understanding loneliness.

Research from specialised hospital feeding programmes in the United States has shown effectiveness of a variety of treatments for packing (not swallowing food or liquid in the mouth) to increase swallowing and consumption. One potential component used in clinical practice has not been evaluated in the literature to our knowledge. This component is move-on and involves moving on to the next bite presentation rather than waiting for swallowing (i.e., clean mouth). A 5-year-old female with autism spectrum disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder participated in a home setting in Australia. We used a withdrawal/reversal single-case experimental design for a move-on component added to a treatment package. With move-on added, latency to clean mouth decreased and consumption increased to 100%. After the treatment evaluation, additional procedures (interspersal, redistribution) were needed in full plate and portion meals. Food variety was increased to 116 regular texture foods across all food groups. All (100%) of admission goals were met. Parents were trained to high procedural integrity, and the protocol was generalised to the community. Gains maintained to 1-month follow-up.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in adverse psychological outcomes for many around the globe. Less is known however regarding dispositional traits that may protect against negative psychological outcomes. This study examined the prospective association between COVID-19 stressors and psychological symptoms, and whether self-compassion (referring to a dispositional tendency of relating to oneself kindly) would moderate this association. A convenience sample of 212 university students and working adults (60.4% female; Mage = 20.92 years) based in Singapore completed measures assessing COVID-19 stressors (perceived COVID-19 health risk, economic impact, and impact on daily life), psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms), and self-compassion 2 months apart. Results indicated that perceived COVID-19 health risk at baseline predicted anxiety symptoms 2 months later, above and beyond baseline anxiety symptoms. Self-compassion moderated the association between perceived COVID-19 health risk and depressive symptoms, and the relationship between perceived impact on daily life and anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of self-compassion in alleviating psychological symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loneliness and isolation worsen health and wellbeing have been exacerbated by COVID-19, and represent a significant concern for supporting older adults. Music listening has effects that could be particularly supportive during periods of isolation. The aim of this study is to examine older adults’ music listening behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore music's social and emotional impact in this context. Semi-structured interviews enhanced with music-elicitation were carried out remotely between May and June 2021. Participants were self-selected, community-dwelling older adults residing in Northern Ireland (N = 14; 6 males; 60–83 years). Most were living with their spouse or family, all were of White ethnicity and had varying levels of education. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two main themes were identified: (1) Music as an emotional resource and (2) Music as a social surrogate. Older adults had a preference for using music to induce positive feelings, and used music for negative affect regulation and consolation. Music acted as a social surrogate providing company, and reminders of social relationships and experiences. Music listening was a valued behaviour during COVID-19. Findings have implications for how music listening might be used as an accessible, low-resource tool for supporting isolated older adults.

Loneliness, a negative emotion stemming from the perception of unmet social needs, is a major public health concern. Current interventions often target social domains but produce small effects and are not as effective as established emotion regulation (ER)-based interventions for general psychological distress (i.e., depression/anxiety). Given that loneliness and distress are types of negative affect, we aimed to compare them within an ER framework by examining the amount of variance ER strategies accounted for in loneliness versus distress, and comparing the ER strategy profiles characterising them. Participants (N = 582, Mage = 22.31, 77.66% female) completed self-report measures of loneliness, distress, and use of 12 cognitive (e.g., cognitive reappraisal) or behavioural (e.g., expressive suppression) ER strategies. Regression analyses revealed that ER explained comparable variance in these constructs. Latent profile analysis identified seven profiles differing in ER patterns, with no distinct loneliness or distress profile identified. Rather, similar patterns of ER characterised these two constructs, involving the greater use of generally maladaptive strategies and the lesser use of generally adaptive strategies. However, loneliness was additionally characterised by less use of strategies involving social connection/expression. Overall, our study supports the utility of ER for understanding loneliness. Established ER-based frameworks/interventions for distress may have transdiagnostic utility in targeting loneliness.

Research has demonstrated that life transitions lead to heightened experiences of loneliness, in part because they engender isolation. We tested whether the degree of isolation during a transition influences loneliness, and if this is due to their effects on social identity processes. Employing an experimental paradigm, Study 1 (N = 213) found that when the transition involved isolation from new networks, in this case studying at university online as opposed to in person, it led to more loneliness, and this was mediated through reduced social identification and continuity of group memberships. Study 2 (N = 215) replicated these effects using a different experimental paradigm in which the transition involved isolation from old group memberships, namely moving to a new neighbourhood from interstate. Study 3 (N = 2346) employed a quasi-experimental repeated-measures design to assess the impact of a highly isolating life transition on loneliness–COVID lockdown. Australians in prolonged lockdown experienced increases in loneliness and this was mediated through (lack of) continuity of group memberships. Overall, these results suggest that isolation needs to be considered when assessing the impact of life transitions on loneliness. Moreover, the mediation results indicate that isolating transitions may be responsible for loneliness because these make it difficult to maintain crucial group memberships and form a sense of identification with relevant new groups.