Browsing by Author "von Ranson, Kristin M."

Now showing 1 - 20 of 20
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    Addiction Substitution and Concurrent Recovery in Gambling Disorder: Evidence from Multiple Studies
    (2020-08) Kim, Andrew Hyounsoo; Hodgins, David Carson; McGrath, Daniel S.; von Ranson, Kristin M.; Mudry, Tanya E.; Ledgerwood, David M.
    The dissertation aimed to increase our understanding of addiction substitution and concurrent recovery in gambling disorder. In Study 1, a systematic review was conducted to identify empirical studies on addiction substitution. A total of 79 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the studies that provided statistical results, relatively few studies (18.18%) found support for addiction substitution. The majority of studies (50.91%) found support for a concurrent model of recovery. Addiction substitution was associated with worse treatment outcomes and increased risk of relapse. Males, younger age, greater substance use severity, and the presence of mental health disorders were associated with addiction substitution. In Study 2, a mixed-method study was conducted with 185 people who were recovered from gambling disorder and engaged in addiction substitution, concurrent recovery, or neither (i.e., controls). Semi-structured interviews were used to assess the processes (e.g., reasons, emotional state, helpfulness) associated with engaging in addiction substitution and concurrent recovery. Participants also completed a survey assessing their demographic, gambling, and psychological characteristics. The most frequently reported reason for increasing another addictive behavior was as a substitute coping mechanism, whereas a connection between the addictions (i.e., simultaneous use) was most commonly reported as the reason for engaging in concurrent recovery. Addiction substitution was associated with greater underlying psychological vulnerabilities. In Study 3, co-occurring patterns of problem gambling and addiction severity as well as their predictors were examined in a secondary analysis of a 5-year prospective longitudinal study of gambling and problem gambling (N= 4,121 participants). Predictors included demographics, mental health disorders, personality, stress, life satisfaction, happiness and social support. Six co-occurring patterns were identified. The largest co-occurring pattern was characterized by concurrent recovery. Several co-occurring patterns were characterized by moderate to severe problem gambling and addiction severity that remained stable over time. No co-occurring pattern represented addiction substitution. The presence of mental health disorders, stress, and life satisfaction significantly predicted the different co-occurring patterns. Taken together, the results suggest that individuals are more likely to engage in concurrent recovery compared to addiction substitution. However, addiction substitution is associated with greater severity of problems and worse treatment outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Adding motivational interviewing to behavioural weight loss treatment: a randomized controlled trial
    (2012) Moss, Erin L.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Obesity prevalence rates continue to rise in North America, which suggests that creating successful intervention should be forefront on the research agenda. It has been proposed that motivational interviewing (MI) may be an effective means by which to improve efficacy of current behavioural weight loss treatment. Given that MI addresses ambivalence and enhances motivation towards change it may enable individuals to commit and persist with the necessary health-related behavioural changes required for successful weight loss. The aim of this study was to assess whether incorporating MI into a behavioural weight loss program (BWLP) resulted in improvement on weight loss outcomes and related secondary outcomes (i.e., physical activity, dietary habits, blood pressure, and disordered eating) relative to an attention control group. One hundred and thirty-five (105 females, 30 males) overweight and obese participants (mean BMI = 33.58 kg/m2) were randomized to receive a 12-week BWLP plus two MI sessions, or the same BWLP pus two attention control sessions (93% retention rate). The MI or control session occurred at the beginning of the BWLP and just prior to completion of the BWLP program. Participants were assessed at baseline, end of the BWLP, I-month post BWLP, and 6-months post BWLP. Results showed that participants in both groups significantly decreased their weight and improved on indicators of physical activity, diet, and disordered eating (p < .05). However, changes in weight and related outcomes did not differ between the two study groups. Future research is needed to carefully examine the construct of motivation in weight loss studies and determine methodological factors that are most associated with improved MI outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practices and Their Influence on Beliefs about Contingency Management: A Survey of Addiction Treatment Providers Across Canada
    (2019-09-13) Cowie, Megan Elizabeth; Hodgins, David Carson; Brache, Kristina; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based treatment for addictive disorders that is often underused in clinical practice. The attitudes and beliefs of frontline staff are frequently reported as barriers to the uptake and use of evidence-based treatments, including CM. Understanding these barriers are an important step in implementation and could impact an intervention’s efficacy. Thus, we investigated the influence of attitudes toward evidence-based practices (EBP) on beliefs about CM. Our sample included 74 (19.58% response rate) substance use disorder treatment providers from 33 programs across six Canadian provinces. Most providers were not familiar with CM and reported largely neutral attitudes toward CM. However, providers also endorsed a desire for additional training in CM. In our multilevel modelling (MLM) analysis, we found that providers who believed that clinical experience was more important than EBPs reported more general barriers toward CM and fewer positive beliefs about CM. Providers with more openness and greater overall positive attitudes toward the adoption of EBPs were more likely to endorse positive beliefs about CM. Certain demographic characteristics were also associated with beliefs about CM. Providers in recovery from a substance use disorder reported greater barriers to adopting CM. In addition, those with higher levels of education held more positive beliefs about CM. Our findings provide evidence to support the consideration of provider-level characteristics in the implementation of EBPs in Canadian settings. Further, our results highlight the importance of integrating psychoeducation and training into implementation efforts to support the success of CM interventions in Canadian clinical settings.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Canadian Senate Report on Obesity: Focusing on Individual Behaviours versus Social Determinants of Health May Promote Weight Stigma
    (Hindawi, 2018-07-02) Alberga, Angela S.; McLaren, Lindsay; Russell-Mayhew, Shelly; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Very little attention has been given to unintended consequences of government reporting on obesity. This paper argues that the 2016 Senate report, “Obesity in Canada: A Whole-Of-Society Approach,” exemplifies the systemic public health issue of weight stigma. The purpose of this viewpoint is to critique the approach taken in the Report, by illustrating that it (1) takes a weight centric approach to health, (2) does not acknowledge important limitations of the definition and measurement of obesity, (3) reifies obesity as a categorical phenomenon that must be prevented, and (4) uses aggressive framing and disrespectful terminology. The Report perpetuates a focus on the individual, thereby failing to recognize the role that governments can play in reducing weight stigma and addressing social determinants of health. If steps are taken to avoid propagating weight stigma, future reports could more constructively address health promotion, equity, and social determinants of health in their policies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Canadian Senate Report on Obesity: Focusing on Individual Behaviours versus Social Determinants of Health May Promote Weight Stigma
    (2018-07-02) Alberga, Angela S.; McLaren, Lindsay; Russell-Mayhew, Shelly; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Very little attention has been given to unintended consequences of government reporting on obesity. This paper argues that the 2016 Senate report, “Obesity in Canada: A Whole-Of-Society Approach,” exemplifies the systemic public health issue of weight stigma. The purpose of this viewpoint is to critique the approach taken in the Report, by illustrating that it (1) takes a weight-centric approach to health, (2) does not acknowledge important limitations of the definition and measurement of obesity, (3) reifies obesity as a categorical phenomenon that must be prevented, and (4) uses aggressive framing and disrespectful terminology. The Report perpetuates a focus on the individual, thereby failing to recognize the role that governments can play in reducing weight stigma and addressing social determinants of health. If steps are taken to avoid propagating weight stigma, future reports could more constructively address health promotion, equity, and social determinants of health in their policies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Dissonance-Based Eating Disorder Preventive Intervention and Attentional Biases in Body-Dissatisfied University Women: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
    (2020-01-29) Tobin, Leah Nicole; von Ranson, Kristin M.; Konnert, Candace A.; Sears, Christopher R.
    Body dissatisfaction is associated with maladaptive attentional biases theorized to contribute to the development of eating disorders. The Body Project is a cognitive dissonance-based preventive intervention that reduces body dissatisfaction and other eating disorder risk factors. It is unknown whether Body Project participation reduces attentional biases associated with body dissatisfaction. This question is important given attempts to reduce such maladaptive attentional biases have been largely unsuccessful in past research. Additionally, research has yet to examine Body Project participation’s effects on body appreciation in university women, an at-risk demographic, which is important because research has shown body appreciation to protect women from negative effects of media exposure. We evaluated the efficacy of Body Project participation in reducing attentional biases and self-reported outcomes, including body appreciation, via a cluster randomized controlled trial. A sample of 168 body-dissatisfied university women were randomized to: Body Project, Media Psychoeducation (active control), or Waitlist control condition. An additional 64 body-satisfied university women completed assessments only to examine whether a subset of the current sample replicated past attentional bias findings. Outcome data were collected at Baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Attention was assessed via eye-tracking and additional outcomes via questionnaires. Results showed that, as hypothesized, Body Project participation reduced attention to images of “thin” models compared to Waitlist, but not for weight-related words. It also led to improved body appreciation compared to Waitlist, and replicated self-report outcomes in the literature, although effects were not seen at 1-month follow-up. Together, results indicate Body Project participation’s effects extend to cognitive processes suggesting an avenue to reduce maladaptive attentional biases, and that Body Project participation’s effects on body appreciation extend to university women. The Media Psychoeducation condition performed similarly on several outcomes as the Body Project condition, including some attentional biases, suggesting media literacy programs may be a viable alternative to reduce several eating disorder risk factors. Future studies should examine whether effects on attention are sustained at follow up, and components analyses are needed to determine the program’s active ingredients for various outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Effect of Alcohol Cue Exposure on Gambling-Related Attentional Biases and Cravings among Poker Players who Drink
    (2019-08-29) Ritchie, Emma Victoria; McGrath, Daniel S.; Hodgins, David Carson; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Alcohol is one of the most common substances used in conjunction with gambling, but the impact it has on gambling cravings and behaviours is poorly understood. The present study sought to determine whether exposure to an alcohol cue increased gambling cravings and preferential attention to gambling images in an eye-tracking task. Male poker players (n = 59) and non-gamblers (n = 59) were randomly assigned to an alcohol or neutral cue condition. All participants completed the same eye-tracking task, which featured pairs of gambling, alcohol, and neutral images. Alcohol and gambling cravings were measured before and after cue expose and after the eye-tracking task. Contrary to hypotheses, gamblers in the alcohol cue condition did not experience an increase in gambling cravings compared to gamblers in the neutral cue condition. Additionally, there were no differences in the way that gambling images were viewed by gamblers based on condition. However, participants in the alcohol cue condition preferentially attended to alcohol images more than participants in the neutral cue condition. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Effects of the HEARTY exercise randomized controlled trial on eating behaviors in adolescents with obesity
    (World Obesity and The Obesity Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2022-06-06) Alberga, Angela S.; Edache, Iyoma Y.; Sigal, Ronald J.; von Ranson, Kristin M.; Russell-Mayhew, Shelly; Kenny, Glen P.; Doucette, Steve; Prud'homme, Denis; Hadjiyannakis, Stasia; Cameron, Jameason D.; Goldfield, Gary S.
    Background There are well-recognized benefits of behavioral interventions that include exercise for children and adolescents with obesity. However, such behavioral weight management programs may precipitate unintended consequences. It is unclear if different exercise modalities impact eating behaviors differently in youth with obesity. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise training on eating attitudes and behaviors (uncontrolled eating, restrained eating, emotional eating, external eating and food craving) among adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods N = 304 (70% female) adolescents with overweight and obesity participated in the 6-month Healthy Eating Aerobic and Resistance Training in Youth (HEARTY) randomized controlled trial. All participants were inactive post-pubertal adolescents (15.6 ± 1.4 years) with a mean BMI = 34.6 ± 4.5 kg/m2. The Food Craving Inventory (food cravings), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (restrained eating, emotional eating, external eating), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (uncontrolled eating) were used to assess eating attitudes and behaviors. Results All exercise groups showed within-group decreases in external eating and food cravings. Participants randomized to the Combined training group and were more adherent showed the greatest improvements in eating behaviors and cravings. Conclusions A 6-month exercise intervention produced improvements in disordered eating behaviors and food cravings, but effects may be gender and modality-specific. Findings highlight the need to tailor exercise intervention to participant characteristics for the promotion of healthier eating and weight management outcomes in youth with obesity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    An Examination of the Association Between Attention and Memory Processing in Depression Vulnerability
    (2020-09-11) Fernandez, Amanda Kathleen; Sears, Christopher R.; Dobson, Keith S.; McGrath, Daniel S.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Cognitive theories of depression propose that biases in information processing domains contribute to a vulnerability to depression. Most research has studied information processing in isolation, which has limited the understanding of how cognitive biases are associated and, most importantly, restricted the ability to adequately understand their potential collective influence on depression vulnerability. The present study used an eye-tracking task to measure attention to valenced words and incidental recognition memory paradigm to examine memory for the same valenced words in order to: 1) examine state and trait attention and memory biases in a cross-sectional sample of previously-depressed (N = 60), currently-depressed (N = 36), and never-depressed women (N = 51); 2) determine if attention biases during encoding moderate memory biases; and 3) determine if mood state impacts how attention biases moderate encoding, and subsequently memory biases. Findings support the importance of positive information processing as a potential vulnerability and resilience factor. Never-depressed women evidenced positive attention and memory biases that were also observed to cohere; however, while in a sad mood their recognition of positive words decreased and no coherence between attention and memory was observed. Blunted attention and memory for positive words was observed among the currently-depressed women, which was consistent with an anhedonic presentation. Coherence between attention and memory for positive processing was observed among the currently-depressed women. Previously-depressed women were observed to have a positive attention bias and negative memory bias; however, following the sad MI, the previously-depressed women evidenced blunted attention to positive words and a reduction in recognition of negative words. No coherence between attention and memory was observed within the previously-depressed women. Moreover, no coherence was observed for negative attention and memory biases across groups and mood conditions. The current results suggest the relationship between attention and memory are more complex than a direct linear relationship, especially during times where emotion regulation processes are likely to be activated. Theoretical implications for cognitive models of depression, study limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Gender differences in the information processing body shape stimuli
    (2004) Baxter, Amy E.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Objective: The present study examined gender differences in the information processing of body shape stimuli. Method: Male and female undergraduate students (N= 128) were administered a Visual Probe Detection Task (VPDT) containing adjectives related to the three categories of body build (i.e., fat, thin, and muscular). Following the completion of the attention task, participants were administered an Incidental Recall Task (IRT) in which they were asked to recall as many words as possible, distinguishing between words that they had guessed and words that they were certain they had seen in the VPDT. Results: Despite the fact that self-report data indicated men and women differ with regard to body image concerns, gender differences were not found in cognitive processing of body shape words. Discussion: Vitousek and Hollon's (1990) cognitive theory may not be applicable in the context of describing body dissatisfaction among non-clinical populations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Negative Emotionality, Negative Urgency, and Eating Disorder Psychopathology: Mediation in Women with and Without Binge Eating
    (2019-08-27) Magel, Chantelle Alice; von Ranson, Kristin M.; Dobson, Keith S.; Sears, Christopher R.; Lee, Kibeom
    Although negative emotionality (NE) and negative urgency (NU) are risk factors for binge eating, it is unknown how these traits may interact to increase risk for clinical levels of binge eating. We examined a model of cross-sectional associations among levels of NE, NU, and eating disorder psychopathology (i.e., eating, shape, and weight concerns, and restraint) in a community sample of 68 women with binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa and 75 control women with no eating disorder history. Participants completed semi-structured diagnostic interviews and self-report questionnaires measuring NE, NU, eating disorder psychopathology, and anxiety and depression symptoms. After controlling for anxiety and depression symptoms and body mass index, women with binge eating reported higher levels of negative urgency and eating disorder psychopathology than control women with no history of eating disorders, whereas there was no difference in levels of negative emotionality between the two groups. There was an indirect effect of negative emotionality on eating disorder psychopathology via negative urgency. Group membership did not moderate this association. Our findings support a model in which a tendency toward negative emotionality, coupled with a tendency to engage in rash action when experiencing negative emotions, is associated with eating disorder psychopathology in women with and without eating disorders characterized by binge eating.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    A Prospective Proof-of-Concept Study Evaluating the Influence of Patient Education on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Cardiac Rehabilitation Attendance among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
    (2019-08-23) Williamson, Tamara Marie; Campbell, Tavis S.; Rouleau, Codie R.; King-Shier, Kathryn M.; Doyle-Baker, Patricia K.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
    Patient education (PE), delivered during cardiac rehabilitation (CR), aims to promote CR exercise attendance by imparting knowledge about coronary artery disease (CAD; medication, risk factors, etc.) and enhancing CR-related attitudes. This study evaluated the impact of PE on motivational treatment targets (CAD knowledge, CR attitudes), and CR exercise attendance. Adults (18+) with CAD referred to CR were recruited prior to attending PE. CAD knowledge and CR attitudes (perceived necessity/suitability, exercise concerns, barriers) were assessed pre/post-PE, and at 12-week follow-up. CR exercise attendance was obtained by chart review. Seventy-one patients (87% male) participated. CAD knowledge and perceived CR necessity improved pre- to post-PE; gains persisted at 12-weeks. Greater knowledge gains did not predict larger improvements in CR attitudes or increased exercise attendance. Whereas CR-based PE may be useful for improving CAD-related knowledge and perceived need for CR, more formative work is needed to determine whether PE can promote CR exercise attendance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The effect of thin-ideal internalization on cognitive processing
    (2003) Cassin, Stephanie E.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Weight bias: A call to action
    (Springer Nature, 2016-11-07) Alberga, Angela S.; Russell-Mayhew, Shelly; von Ranson, Kristin M.; McLaren, Lindsay
    Weight-related issues (including excess weight, disordered eating and body concerns) are often considered as comprising distinct domains of ‘obesity’ and ‘eating disorders’. In this commentary we argue that the concept of weight bias is an important variable when considering wellbeing across the spectrum of weight-related issues. We make the following six points in support of this argument: i) weight bias is common and has adverse health consequences, ii) shaming individuals for their body weight does not motivate positive behaviour change, iii) internalized weight bias is particularly problematic, iv) public health interventions, if not carefully thought out, can perpetuate weight bias, v) weight bias is a manifestation of social inequity, and vi) action on weight bias requires an upstream, population-level approach. To achieve sustainable reductions in weight bias at a population level, substantive modifications and collaborative efforts in multiple settings must be initiated. We provide several examples of population-level interventions to reduce weight bias.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access