ABSTRACT
Attrition is a significant problem in worksite weight loss interventions, and differences in participants' motivational levels have been hypothesized to account for this high attrition rate. The present study examined characteristics of participants who completed a worksite weight loss program compared to those who dropped out, using a step-wise discriminant function analysis. The results indicate that a combination of motivational characteristics, expectations, and change in weight just prior to treatment significantly discriminated drop-outs from completers. The results of this investigation are discussed with respect to implications for developing cost-effective worksite treatment protocols and directions for future research.
Subject(s)
Obesity/therapy , Occupational Health Services , Patient Dropouts/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Motivation , Social SupportABSTRACT
The construct validity of smoking urge was examined through investigation of the effects of an environmental smoking cue manipulation on subjective smoking urge ratings and on the physiological, behavioral and cognitive responses hypothesized to relate to smoking urges. Forty-eight moderate cigarette smokers served as participants. All participants underwent an exposure to smoking cues condition and a nonexposure condition. Order of conditions was counterbalanced across participants. Results indicated that measures of physiological response, cognitions, and behavior vary with urge to smoke. Higher physiological indices and closer association between specific cognitive measures and smoking urges occurred under the cue exposure manipulation. Results were interpreted as preliminary data supporting the construct validity of smoking urge.
