ABSTRACT
Although research recognizes the influence of charismatic leadership and rhetoric, their practice in differing contexts and the moderating role of narcissism is understudied. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore the effects of crises on the way a narcissistic leader employs charismatic rhetoric, and the way charismatic leadership is viewed by followers as they select leaders during a national crisis. In Study 1, we investigate former President Donald Trump's response to threats to his social power during times of crisis. Content analysis of Trump's speeches revealed that he used less charismatic rhetoric overall and more self-focused rhetoric during crisis periods, an unexpected outcome given existing findings in the literature. In Study 2, we explore followers' responses to Trump's perceived charisma. Three matched waves of data examined responses about perceived charisma, importance placed on the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and leader choice. Findings from Study 2 suggest that crisis influenced perceptions of charisma and voting behavior, with leader narcissism playing a moderating role. Overall, our findings have implications for understanding the role of crisis in charismatic rhetoric and how narcissism and leader charisma influence followers' voting behavior. © The Author(s) 2023.
ABSTRACT
The lockdown restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19 impacted on many areas of daily life including dietary behaviours. A cohort of middle-older age adults (n=17), who had previously provided 3-day food diaries in May 2019 were asked to record their 3 day dietary intake in May 2020 when the UK was under lockdown restrictions. Mean (SD) energy intakes were significantly higher by ~750kilojoules in 2020 (8587kJ (1466.9)) compared to 2019 (7837 kJ (1388.9)). This energy increase is equivalent to ~170kcal;approximately 2 slices of bread. Furthermore, recorded meat/meat products, riboflavin, vitamin B6/B12 and iron intakes were all greater in 2020. No other dietary differences were observed between the two timepoints. This was a small, homogenous but well controlled sample, who exhibited a relatively stable diet during lockdown compared with pre-pandemic intakes 12 months earlier. It can be concluded that there was little evidence of food insecurity in this cohort.
ABSTRACT
The lockdown restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19 impacted on many areas of daily life including dietary behaviours. A cohort of middle-older age adults (n=17), who had previously provided 3-day food diaries in May 2019 were asked to record their 3 day dietary intake in May 2020 when the UK was under lockdown restrictions. Mean (SD) energy intakes were significantly higher by ~750kilojoules in 2020 (8587kJ (1466.9)) compared to 2019 (7837 kJ (1388.9)). This energy increase is equivalent to ~170kcal; approximately 2 slices of bread. Furthermore, recorded meat/meat products, riboflavin, vitamin B6/B12 and iron intakes were all greater in 2020. No other dietary differences were observed between the two timepoints. This was a small, homogenous but well controlled sample, who exhibited a relatively stable diet during lockdown compared with pre-pandemic intakes 12 months earlier. It can be concluded that there was little evidence of food insecurity in this cohort.
ABSTRACT
Sarcopenia is the reduction of muscle mass and strength associated with ageing(1). Resistance exercise alone and in combination with protein is thought to lead to increased muscle protein synthesis and may help combat sarcopenia(2). Resistance exercise is traditionally undertaken in a gym setting, using fixed-machines and free weights, however, this environment can be unappealing to middle-older age adults. Access to gyms was also prohibited during COVID-19 UK lockdowns leading us to explore alternative approaches to delivering nutrition and exercise intervention trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of remote delivery of a homebased resistance exercise and protein intervention. This was a six week, 3-arm parallel intervention trial. Participants aged between 40-65 years were recruited via a social media advertising campaign and randomised to one of 3 treatment arms: i) resistance exercise, ii) resistance exercise and 15 g of protein/day (taken alongside lunch) or iii) resistance exercise and 30 g of protein/day (15 g taken alongside breakfast and 15 g taken alongside lunch.) The home-based resistance exercise intervention was conducted using resistance bands and consisted of 50-minute exercise sessions delivered live via videoconferencing. Participants were asked to participate in two exercise sessions per week. Protein was consumed as a gel supplement (Pro-source Plus) supplied by Nutrinovo (www.nutrinovo.com). Participants were asked to record their engagement and experience in a trial logbook and took part in semi-structured interviews at the end of the intervention period. In-person assessments of muscle strength and function, physical activity and diet were made at baseline and end of the intervention. Thirty-two individuals responded to the recruitment campaign within a three-week timeframe and a final total of eleven volunteers were eligible to participate and gave informed consent (all female, age range 40-61). No participants dropped out of the trial;however, one participant engaged in only 3 out of the 12 exercise classes and the same participant consumed only 14% of the protein supplement supplied. The remaining 10 participants had good compliance with both the exercise and protein intervention, and overall, there was 87% adherence to exercise sessions (2 or more classes a week) and adherence of 68% and 88% to the protein supplement in the 15 g and 30 g protein intervention arms respectively. Acceptability and adherence were in line with the study requirements for most participants. These findings are encouraging and support the feasibility of a remote exercise and protein intervention trial. Qualitative analysis of the semi-structured interviews will provide further information to inform the design of a larger intervention trial.
ABSTRACT
The 2020 U.S. presidential election provided an opportunity to study follower reactions to an incumbent leader (former President Trump) versus a challenger (Joe Biden) during a crisis. Results suggest that follower perceptions of character and charisma influence the likelihood of rejecting a candidate. Perceptions of the bright character trait honesty-humility positively influenced attributed charisma and negatively influenced leader rejection, while the dark triad traits negatively influenced charisma and positively influenced rejection. While traits were found to have indirect effects on rejection through charisma, character and charisma were important for the incumbent while charisma was more important for the challenger. COVID-19 crisis anxiety moderated the negative relationship between charisma and leader rejection for the incumbent – increasing the likelihood of rejection. Implications for research examining character and charisma during a crisis are discussed. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd