The effects of labelling and health identity on subjective health.

OBJECTIVES: Labels are used to describe people every day, and these labels can affect people's subjective health. However, little is known about how existing health identity (i.e., stable identification with being a healthy person) shapes these effects. This study examined the effect of health-related labelling on subjective health, and the potential role of existing health identity in moderating this association. METHODS: Participants (N = 309) first answered questions related to their health identity, namely, the extent to which they identified with being a healthy person. Next, they were presented with a series of scenarios reflecting healthy (n = 154) or unhealthy (n = 155) labels. Participants' subjective health ratings were then measured using a self-report scale ranging from (0) "Worst health among age" to (100) "Best health among age." RESULTS: Beyond chronological age effects, exposure to healthy labels was associated with higher ratings of subjective health. Participants with a greater health identity showed an amplified positive response to being labelled a healthy person. CONCLUSIONS: Social-cognitive processes, both in terms of stable identity and situational labelling, inform subjective health. These perceptions may impact actual health downstream. Our results suggest that health identity and health-related labels may be used in future interventions to bolster objective health outcomes.

Bias in bias recognition: People view others but not themselves as biased by preexisting beliefs and social stigmas.

Biases perpetuate when people think that they are innocent whereas others are guilty of biases. We examined whether people would detect biased thinking and behavior in others but not themselves as influenced by preexisting beliefs (myside bias) and social stigmas (social biases). The results of three large studies showed that, across demographic groups, participants attributed more biases to others than to themselves, and that this self-other asymmetry was particularly salient among those who hold strong beliefs about the existence of biases (Study 1 and Study 2). The self-other asymmetry in bias recognition dissipated when participants made simultaneous predictions about others' and their own thoughts and behaviors (Study 3). People thus exhibit bias in bias recognition, and this metacognitive bias may be remedied when it is highlighted to people that we are all susceptible to biasing influences.

Perspectives of future health in self and others: The moderating role of culture.

People tend to perceive themselves more favourably than others, but the degree to which individuals exhibit this bias may be influenced by cultural upbringing. Korean (n = 271) and American (n = 503) participants were asked to evaluate current and future health expectations for themselves and others. Results showed that American participants rated their own future health more positively than others' future health, whereas Korean participants rated their own and others' future health similarly. Given its role in patient health behaviour, implications for creating context-sensitive interventions for future health expectations are discussed.

Effect of vitamin C on azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis-associated early colon cancer in mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C on inflammation, tumor development, and dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammation-associated early colon cancer mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with AOM [10 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] and given two 7-d cycles of 2% DSS drinking water with a 14 d inter-cycle interval. Vitamin C (60 mg/kg b.w. and 120 mg/kg b.w.) was supplemented by gavage for 5 weeks starting 2 d after the AOM injection. RESULTS: The vitamin C treatment suppressed inflammatory morbidity, as reflected by disease activity index (DAI) in recovery phase and inhibited shortening of the colon, and reduced histological damage. In addition, vitamin C supplementation suppressed mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6, and reduced expression of the proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, compared to observations of AOM/DSS animals. Although the microbial composition did not differ significantly between the groups, administration of vitamin C improved the level of inflammation-related Lactococcus and JQ084893 to control levels. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C treatment provided moderate suppression of inflammation, proliferation, and certain inflammation-related dysbiosis in a murine model of colitis associated-early colon cancer. These findings support that vitamin C supplementation can benefit colonic health. Long-term clinical studies with various doses of vitamin C are warranted.