Healthy Behavior as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: This study examines the indirect relationship between optimism and life satisfaction via healthy behavior among health sciences students. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study involved 349 health sciences students, including 58% of women, ranging in age between 19 and 30 years (M = 22.15, SD = 1.83). Self-report questionnaires were used to measure dispositional optimism (the Life Orientation Test-Revised, LOT-R), life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS), and health behaviors (Health Behavior Inventory, HBI), with four subscales: healthy diet (HD), preventive behavior (PB), positive mental attitudes (PMA), and healthy practices (HP). In addition, a single mediation model (with the total HBI as mediator) was compared with a parallel mediation model (with four subscales of the HBI). Gender was controlled as a confounding variable. RESULTS: Women scored higher in the total HBI (p < 0.01), HD (p < 0.001) and PB (p < 0.01) than men, while men scored slightly higher in dispositional optimism (p < 0.01). General health behavior (total HBI) completely mediates the relationship between dispositional optimism and life satisfaction, R 2 = 0.32. In the parallel model, only PMA was determined as a mediator of the association between dispositional optimism and satisfaction with life, R 2 = 0.36. The single mediation model showed perfect fit (X2/df = 0.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.00, CFI = 1.00, IFI = 1.00, NFI = 1.00), better than the parallel mediation model (X2/df = 2.353, p = 0.095, RMSEA = 0.062, SRMR = 0.020, CFI = 0.995, IFI = 995, NFI = 991). CONCLUSION: The interplay mechanism between personal resources and behavioral health-related habits may explain 32% of life satisfaction variance. The intervention focused on increasing optimistic expectancies and health behaviors should be implemented in universities to increase students' well-being and prevent depression.

The Mediating Role of Orthorexia in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Fear of COVID-19 among University Students in Poland.

Previous research showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the wellbeing and lifestyle of populations worldwide, including eating and physical activity (PA) patterns. The present study aims to examine the mediating effect of orthorexia on the relationship between PA and fear of COVID-19. A sample of 473 university students from Poland of a mean age of 22 years (M = 22.04, SD = 2.90, 47% of women) participated in the cross-sectional online survey study. Continuous variables were measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17), while categorical variables divided participants into the physically active and inactive group regarding WHO criteria (150 min per week). Weak gender differences were found. Active people showed lower fear of COVID-19 and higher orthorexia scores than those inactive. Orthorexia was found as a suppressor variable, which increases the negative predictive value of PA on fear of COVID-19. The model of cooperative suppression explained 7% of FCV-19S. The mechanism of mediation showed that health-related behavior could help reduce fear of COVID-19, but caution is necessary for people with addictive behavior tendencies. Universities should support university students by offering programs focused on increasing healthy lifestyles and improving wellbeing.

Validation and Polish Adaptation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST): Comparison of Dichotomous and Continuous Likert-Type Response Scales.

PURPOSE: Although research on orthorexia nervosa (ON) has developed in recent years, there exists a continuous need to develop valid tools to assess ON risk, according to strict diagnostic criteria. The present study aims to conduct Polish adaptation and validation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST), through a comparison of dichotomous and continuous Likert response scales. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 472 people with mean age of 27 years (ranging between 18 and 78 years, M = 26.88, SD = 10.40). The survey included demographic questions and measures of orthorexia (the ABOST and ORTO-15), eating disorders (EAT-26), body mass index (BMI), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCI-R), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9). The following statistical tests were performed to explore the psychometric properties of the ABOST: descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation, Cronbach's α reliability, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: The ABOST using a five-point Likert scale for responses demonstrated good psychometric properties. The CFA goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the one-factor solution. Positive correlations were found between the ABOST and the ORTO-15, EAT-26, OCI-R, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. Women scored higher in the ABOST than men, while BMI was unrelated to the ABOST. CONCLUSION: The ABOST using the Likert scale provides a reliable and valid instrument to assess ON risk, as indicated by the face, structural, and convergent validity results. However, more research in various countries is needed, in order to verify the results of this study.

Development and Validation of the Test of Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17).

This study aims to develop and validate a new self-report questionnaire to measure orthorexia nervosa (ON). Based on a current review of the scientific literature and interviews with people at risk of orthorexia, 40 items were selected to test orthorexia nervosa (TON-40). A total sample of 767 individuals (M = 26.49, SD = 9.66, 56.98% women) participated in the study. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and composite construct analysis (CCA) were performed to find an appropriate model of sufficient reliability and validity and stable construction. Convergent validation was performed regarding the correlation of the TON-17 with another measure of ON (ORTO-15), eating disorders (the EAT-26 and DEAS), healthy behavior (the HBI), quality of life (the Brief WHOQOL), physical health (the GRSH), anxiety (the GAD-7), depression (the PHQ-9), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (the OCI-R). Gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and the medical reasons for a restrictive diet were also examined. As a result of the structural analyses, the number of items was reduced from 40 to 17. The best fit indices of the TON-17 were found for the hierarchical bi-factor model, with three lower-order factors (Control of food quality, Fixation of health and healthy diet, and Disorder symptoms) and one general higher-order factor (Orthorexia). According to the 95th percentile method of estimation, the prevalence of ON was 5.5% for the TON-17 total score. The TON-17 scale and subscales showed good psychometric properties, stability, reliability, and construct validity. The TON-17 indicated a positive relationship with the ORTO-15, EAT-26, DEAS, HBI, OCI-R, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. TON-17 can be considered as a useful tool for assessing the risk of ON.