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Kakoschke N, Cox DN, Ryan J, Gwilt I, Davis A, Jansons P, de Courten B, Brinkworth G. Disrupting future discounting: a commentary on an underutilised psychological approach for improving adherence to diet and physical activity interventions. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:1088-1093. [PMID: 36786324 PMCID: PMC10346014 DOI: 10.1017/s136898002200252x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as CVD and type 2 diabetes mellitus are major contributors to the burden of disease. NCD are largely driven by modifiable lifestyle factors including poor diet and insufficient physical activity, and consequently, prevention is a public health priority. Although diet and physical activity levels can be improved via lifestyle interventions, long-term adherence to such interventions remains low, which limits their effectiveness. Thus, it is critical to identify the underlying mechanisms that challenge uptake and adherence to such interventions. The current commentary discusses an important, but underexplored, psychological driver of poor adherence to lifestyle interventions, namely, future discounting, which describes the tendency to prefer smaller, short-term rewards over larger, long-term rewards. For example, in the nutrition domain, future discounting refers to valuing the immediate reward of excessive intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor, discretionary foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat, and insufficient intake of low-energy, nutrient-dense, whole foods such as vegetables. Prominent theoretical models propose that excessive future discounting is a major contributor to the development of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Furthermore, a vast body of evidence suggests that future discounting plays a key role in risk of NCD. Thus, the evidence to date supports the idea that future discounting is an important multi-behaviour target for supporting lifestyle behaviour change; however, this approach has been largely neglected in preventive health efforts. Furthermore, this commentary discusses promising techniques (e.g. Episodic Future Thinking) for disrupting future discounting to promote improved adherence to lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing NCD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Kakoschke
- Human Health, CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, SAHMRI, North Terrace, Adelaide5000, Australia
| | - David N Cox
- Human Health, CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, SAHMRI, North Terrace, Adelaide5000, Australia
| | - Jillian Ryan
- Human Health, CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, SAHMRI, North Terrace, Adelaide5000, Australia
- BVA BDRC, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian Gwilt
- UniSA Creative, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Aaron Davis
- UniSA Creative, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Paul Jansons
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Grant Brinkworth
- Human Health, CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, SAHMRI, North Terrace, Adelaide5000, Australia
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Athamneh LN, King MJ, Craft WH, Freitas-Lemos R, Tomlinson DC, Yeh YH, Bickel WK. The Associations between Remission Status, Discounting Rates, and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders. Subst Use Misuse 2023; 58:275-282. [PMID: 36622296 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2161312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background: Recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) requires sustained and purposeful support to maintain long-term remission. Methods: This study investigated the association between assessment of recovery capital, household chaos, delay discounting (DD) and probability discounting (PD), and remission status among individuals in recovery from SUD. Data from 281 participants from the International Quit & Recovery Registry (IQRR), an ongoing online registry that aims to study the recovery process, were included in the analysis. Results: Lower DD rates and higher recovery capital were found among those in remission compared to those not in remission after controlling for demographics. In contrast, the association of household chaos and PD with remission status were insignificant. Overall, DD accounted for 20% of the total effect between the recovery capital and the remission status. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of recovery as a multidimensional process, supports DD as a behavioral marker of addiction, and suggests areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqa N Athamneh
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Michele J King
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - William H Craft
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Roberta Freitas-Lemos
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Devin C Tomlinson
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Yu-Hua Yeh
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | - Warren K Bickel
- Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.,Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
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Brown JM, Stein JS. Putting prospection into practice: Methodological considerations in the use of episodic future thinking to reduce delay discounting and maladaptive health behaviors. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1020171. [PMID: 36408004 PMCID: PMC9669959 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, episodic future thinking (EFT) has emerged as a promising behavioral intervention to reduce delay discounting or maladaptive health behaviors; however, considerable methodological heterogeneity in methods for eliciting engagement in EFT has been observed in prior research. In this narrative review, we briefly describe methods for generating EFT cues, the content of EFT cues, common control conditions for experiments utilizing EFT, and considerations for cue delivery and implementation. Where possible, we make suggestions for current best practices in each category while identifying gaps in knowledge and potential areas of future research. Finally, we conclude by using the NIH Stage model to better frame the current state of the literature on EFT and propose gaps to be addressed if EFT is to be both an efficacious and effective behavioral intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah Michael Brown
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Scott Stein
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Ye JY, Ding QY, Cui JF, Liu Z, Jia LX, Qin XJ, Xu H, Wang Y. A meta-analysis of the effects of episodic future thinking on delay discounting. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2021; 75:1876-1891. [PMID: 34841982 DOI: 10.1177/17470218211066282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Delay discounting (DD) refers to the phenomenon in which the subjective value of future rewards is reduced over time. There are individual differences in the DD rate, and increased discounting has been observed in those with various psychiatric disorders. Episodic future thinking (EFT) is the act of vividly imagining events that may happen in the future. Studies have shown that EFT could reduce DD, although inconsistent results have been reported. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the efficacy with which EFT reduces DD and to identify potential moderators. Forty-seven studies (including 63 contrasts) were included in the final analysis. EFT was found to significantly reduce DD (Hedges' g = 0.52). Moderator analysis showed that positive EFT (g = 0.64) was more effective in reducing DD than EFT with the valence not specifically mentioned (g = 0.28) and EFT with neutral or negative valence (g = -0.03). In addition, several factors related to the control task and DD task were related to the efficacy of EFT to reduce DD. These findings have implications for using EFT to reduce DD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Yan Ye
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Yu Ding
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Fang Cui
- Research Center for Information and Statistics, National Institute of Education Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Xia Jia
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Qin
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Xu
- Teachers' College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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