Thai, H., Davis, C. G., Stewart, N., Gunnell, K. E., & Goldfield, G. S. (2021). The effects of reducing social media use on body esteem among transitional-aged youth. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 40, 481-507.
Introduction. Social media use (SMU) and body image concerns are highly prevalent in youth. Although several studies have shown that high SMU is cross-sectionally associated with lower body esteem, experimental evidence is lacking. This pilot study experimentally evaluated the effects of reducing SMU on body esteem among transitional aged youth (TAY) with emotional distress. Methods. Thirty-eight undergraduate students presenting with elevated symptoms of anxiety/depression were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 16), where SMU was restricted to 60 minutes/day, or to the control group (n = 22), where SMU was not restricted. SMU was monitored via screen-time trackers in participants’ smartphone submitted daily during baseline (1-week) and intervention (3-week) periods. Baseline and post-intervention measurements were taken to assess appearance and weight esteem as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression as secondary outcomes. Results. A significant group × time interaction emerged indicating that the intervention participants showed a significantly greater increase in appearance esteem over the 4 weeks compared to controls. There was no significant between-group difference on change in weight esteem. A significant group × time interaction emerge on anxiety indicating that intervention participants showed a significantly greater improvement in anxiety over the study period compared to controls. There was no significant between-group difference on change in depressive symptoms. Discussion. Reducing SMU may be a feasible and effective method of improving appearance esteem and reducing anxiety in a high-risk population of TAY with emotional distress; however, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm findings.
Hollingshead, S., Wohl, M. J. A., & Davis, C. G. (2021). On being loyal to a casino: The interactive influence of tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology on attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 10, 675-682.
Background and Aims. Casino loyalty programs are marketing strategies designed to foster attitudinal (i.e., identification and satisfaction) and behavioral (i.e., spending) loyalty among gamblers by offering rewards to members. Casino loyalty programs use a tier-based structure to segment members who spend more money into higher tiers, where they receive better rewards (compared to lower tiered members). Tier-based structures may encourage increased expenditure among patrons, especially among players living with a gambling disorder. The current work aimed to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. Methods Study 1 used a cross-sectional design to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict self-reported loyalty among a sample of American casino loyalty program members (N = 396). In Study 2, archival player account data from Canadian casino loyalty program members (N = 649) were analyzed to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict objective measures of behavioral loyalty. Results The greatest effect of tier status on attitudinal and behavioral loyalty was observed among non-problem gamblers in the highest tiers. Tier status, however, did not influence loyalty among members high in disordered gambling symptomatology. Discussion Results suggest that once gambling has become problematic, loyalty programs may not influence player attitudes and behaviors. Non-problem gamblers may be particularly susceptible to the tiered structure of the programs. Conclusion Non-problem gamblers may benefit from casino loyalty programs in the short-term but longitudinal research is needed to understand the long-term influence of membership.
Davis, C. G., & Brazeau, H. (2021). Factors promoting greater preoccupation with a secret. British Journal of Social Psychology, 60, 1419-1435.
The secrets that are most taxing to one’s health and well‐being are those that are the most preoccupying to the secret‐keeper. However, it is currently unclear what makes a secret preoccupying. We conducted a four‐wave longitudinal study to assess four factors that should contribute to one’s degree of preoccupation with a secret kept from one’s spouse/romantic partner: perceived cost of revealing the secret, frequency of cues, fear of discovery, and individual differences in self‐concealment. Multilevel modelling of data from an online sample of 143 adults (51% women, 49% men; Mage = 39.9, SD = 9.3) keeping a secret from their spouse/partner indicated that all four factors independently and positively predict greater preoccupation with a secret. Further, the first three factors also significantly predicted how preoccupied one would be with one’s secret two weeks later, taking into account how preoccupied one was with the secret at present. We conclude that the characteristics of the secret, as well as the secret‐keeper, can contribute to how preoccupying a secret is to an individual.
Davis, C. G., Brazeau, H., Xie, E. B., McKee, K. (2021). Secrets, psychological health, and the fear of discovery. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 47, 781-795.
Keeping secrets from one’s partner has been associated with lower well-being and relationship satisfaction. Previous research has suggested that individual differences in self-concealment account for these effects. However, we propose that the fear of discovery (FoD)—defined as the fear that one’s secret may be revealed by means other than deliberate disclosure—predicts the extent to which secrets affect well-being beyond the effects attributable to individual differences. Both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey (combined N = 471; 54.4% female; Mage = 39.5) of adults in romantic relationships confirmed that FoD predicted greater preoccupation with the secret, more negative affect, and less relationship satisfaction and commitment beyond that of self-concealment. Multilevel modeling in Study 2 indicated that changes in FoD predicted changes in preoccupation over time. The data are consistent with the notion that FoD promotes greater preoccupation, greater negative affect, and lower levels of relationship well-being.
Valois, D. D., Davis, C. G., Buchholz, A., Obeid, N., Henderson, K., Flament, M., & Goldfield, G. S. (2019). Effects of weight teasing and gender on body esteem in youth: A longitudinal analysis from the REAL study. Body Image, 29, 65-73.
Weight teasing is associated with body dissatisfaction, but no study has examined the differential impact of the teasing source’s gender. This study examined whether the longitudinal relationship between weight teasing (by peers), weight-related comments (by parents) and body esteem differed by the teasing sources’ gender, and whether these relationships were moderated by victims’ weight status and demographic factors. A school-based sample (N = 1197 at Time 1; 60% female) of adolescents completed surveys over approximately 2 years (Time 1-Time 3). Multilevel modeling showed that teasing from a male peer had a stronger, negative association with appearance esteem for female victims than males. Although weight teasing was more prevalent among youth with overweight/obesity, teasing from female peers had a stronger negative association with weight esteem for adolescents of average weight. Results suggest the weight teasing sources’ gender may differentially impact the victims’ body esteem, and highlights the need to consider these factors in weight teasing prevention strategies.
Brazeau, H. & Davis, C. G. (2018). Hope and psychological health and well-being following spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 63, 258-266.
Objective: Several studies of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have indicated that high levels of hope are linked with better adjustment, but none has assessed the extent to which hope predicts change in adjustment over time. This study examines the effect of hope assessed within the first months post-SCI onset on changes in several indicators of well-being just prior to release from institutional care and again 13 months post-SCI. Method: Structured interviews were conducted with 67 adults (54 men, 13 women; Mage = 44.7 years, SD = 17.2) with SCI on average 2.6 months (Time 1), 5 months (Time 2; n = 60), and 13 months post-SCI (Time 3; n = 53) using validated instruments to assess dispositional hope, depressive symptoms, subjective well-being, self-esteem, reintegration, and pain. Results: Regression analyses revealed that, of the five indicators of well-being, hope at Time 1 only significantly predicted increases in subjective well-being at Time 2. However, hope predicted increased well-being on 4 of 5 indicators at Time 3. Hope was not significantly associated with changes in self-esteem at either follow-up assessment. Conclusion: People with high levels of hope appear to be better able to adjust to the challenges faced once they leave the rehabilitation center. Psycho-educational interventions that promote agency and pathway thinking may lead to better longer-term adjustment. Impact and Implications High levels of hope soon after sustaining spinal cord injury (SCI) predict significant improvements in various measures of well-being at 13 months post-SCI (but little evidence of improvement at 5-months post-SCI), relative to those with low levels of hope. Interventions that promote hope based on pathway and agency thinking may accelerate psychological adjustment after sustaining SCI.
Wohl, M. J. A., & Davis, C. G. (2017). Finding some straw in the ‘Industry-State gambling complex’ argument: Commentary on Delfabbro & King. International Gambling Studies, 17, 335-339.
The article focuses attention on the presupposition that gambling is ‘class-exploitation’ – an argument that positions players as passive pawns in a capitalist conspiracy. It disagrees with this frame and presents theory and research from psychology that suggests relative deprivation has more explanatory power than (absolute) social deprivation to predict gambling problems. It also inserts Canada into the discussion about the possible existence of an Industry–State Gambling Complex. In Canada, governments are the owner and operator of (most) gambling venues. This overlapping relationship means that the gambling industry is answerable to the public. The article contends that in such a context, as well as in any functioning democracy, government must balance its function to facilitate economic growth with social responsibility. Academic research from many disciplines can help governments find this balance.
Wohl, M. J. A., Davis, C. G., & Hollingshead, S. J. (2017). How much have you won or lost? Personalized behavioral feedback about gambling expenditures regulates play. Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 437-445.
In the current research, we tested the utility of a responsible gambling tool that provides players with personalized behavioral feedback about their play. We hypothesized that when the player’s estimated monetary loss is less than their actual monetary loss, subsequent expenditures will be reduced. To this end, players (N = 649) enrolled in a casino-based loyalty program were asked how much they have won or lost over a three-month period whilst using their loyalty card. They were then provided with their player-account data. Results indicated that players who under-estimated their losses (i.e., those who lost more money than they thought at Time 1) did not perceive that they had reduced their play in the 3-month follow-up period. However, data on actual play indicated that they significantly reduced the amount they wagered as well as the amount they lost during the follow-up period. Given that informed decision-making is the raison d’etre of responsible gambling tools, these results suggest that providing players with accurate information about how much they spend gambling can moderate gambling expenditures.
Valois, D. D., Novoa, D. C., & Davis, C. G. (2016). Since you’ve been gone: Coping with a relationship breakup. Journal of Interpersonal Relations, Intergroup Relations and Identity, 9, 10-21.
Continuing bonds (CBs) are cognitive and behavioral attempts to maintain a bond with the lost loved one. They are common in bereavement and are believed to reflect the attachment system’s response to loss. Extending the notion of CBs to the context of breakup of a romantic relationship, this cross-sectional study of 103 undergraduates who experienced a breakup in the past six months (87 women and 16 men) indicated that expressions of internalized CBs (such as wondering what he/she would think of something) were associated with greater grief and more symptoms of depression after taking into account attachment anxiety and avoidance. Externalized CBs (such as feeling his/her presence) were uniquely associated with greater grief, but not depressive symptoms. These findings parallel those in the bereavement literature, and suggest that CBs may be indicative of intense grief. As neither internalized nor externalized CBs were associated significantly with life satisfaction, there is no indication that CBs interfere with one’s ability to function in daily life.