The proposed study will design and evaluate a computerized-delivered single-session anxiety sensitivity reduction program (i.e., Anxiety Sensitivity Training; AST). The AST will be designed to achieve three primary aims: (1) provide psycho-educational information on AS and its consequences, (2) present psycho-educational information on the relationship between AS and obesity-related health behavior correlates, and (3) offer concrete, evidence-based strategies to facilitate motivation to change their obesity-related lifestyle behaviors.
The primary goal of the research study is to investigate the efficacy of a brief, computer-delivered transdiagnostic intervention that addresses anxiety sensitivity to reduce emotional eating, eating expectancies, food cravings, binge eating, perceived barriers to engage in physical activity, anxiety/depressive symptoms, severity of daily fatigue and increase perceived benefits to engage in physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, willingness to use adaptive coping strategies, and perceived physical health functioning. To address this aim, the investigator's will implement a randomized controlled trial that will employ a longitudinal experimental design and involve five stages: (a) online pre-screener; (b) baseline survey consisting of a pre-intervention assessment (eligibility) and random assignment to a one-session computer-delivered intervention (Active versus Control); (c) 1-week follow-up survey; (d) 2-week follow-up survey; (e) 1-month follow-up survey.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
131
Computerized Single-Session Anxiety Sensitivity Reduction Program
Computerized Single-Session Health Information Control
Anxiety and Health Research Lab, Substance Use Treatment Clinic, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3
The Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 is an 18-item measured that will be used to assess sensitivity to, and fear of, the potential negative consequences of anxiety-related symptoms and sensations. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (Very Little) to 4 (Very Much). Scores will be calculated by summing all items (possible range = 0 -72), with lower scores indicating a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline,1-week, 2-week and 1-month follow-up
Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire
The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire will be used to assess emotional eating. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). For the current study, the emotional eating subscale (13 items) will be used as a measure of emotional eating. The 13 items of the subscale are summed and divided by 13 to create a mean score with a range from 1-5. Lower scores on this measure indicate better outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline,1-week, 2-week and 1-month follow-up
Eating Expectancy Inventory
The Eating Expectancy Inventory will be used to measure cognitive expectancies of eating. The Eating Expectancy Inventory subscale facet: eating helps manage negative affect will be used in the current study. Respondents will be asked to rate on a 7-point Likert scale the degree to which they 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree) to each item. Responses are summed for each subscale. Lower scores on the 18-item eating helps manage negative affect subscale (possible range = 18 - 126) indicate better outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline,1-week, 2-week and 1-month follow-up
Exercise Self-Efficacy
Exercise self-efficacy will be assessed with a 5-item self-report assessment of one's confidence about their ability to engage in physical activity. Items are rated on a 9-point Likert-type scale that ranges from 0 (not at all confident) to 8 (extremely confident). A total score will be created by summing the 5-items with higher scores indicating a better outcome (possible range 0 - 40).
Time frame: Baseline,1-week, 2-week and 1-month follow-up
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