Introduction

1. Using New Media to Foster Mindfulness in the Treatment of Obesity Neesha MathurDepartment of Communication Studies, IUPUI Results The expected results are that the group that receives both mindfulness and self-efficacy manipulation will show the greatest increase in self-efficacy. The group that receives the mindfulness manipulation will show the next most improvement in self-efficacy. The group that receives the self-affirmation manipulation will show less than the mindfulness-only group. Finally, the group with no manipulation will show the least change. A graphical representation would look like the following: • Conclusions • The importance of this work is two-fold: • Begins to establish a link between mindfulness and self-efficacy in order to help those using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory access more tools to increase the efficacy of their interventions. • Begins to employ the use of new media in order to help foster behavior and habit change. • Ultimately, the goal is to help create interventions that can foster behavior change with low-cost, less intrusive methods. • Introduction • The purpose of this research is to increase self-efficacy in overweight and obese participants through the use of mindfulness and self-affirmation techniques. In particular, this research employs new media in the form of text messaging to provide timely cues for mindfulness and self affirmation exercises. Underlying this effort is the idea that the brain is capable of being changed1 and that focused attention can foster that transformation. • The goals are to: • Help participants reduce their overweight or obesity through no to low-cost efforts • Ascertain the affect of self-affirmations vs. mindfulness • Note the effects of new media use in fostering change • Mindfulness is the focused awareness of the present moment and surroundings; enacted without judgment and which allows thoughts and feelings to arise, be acknowledged, and let go in order to be present-moment centered.2 • The use of text messaging is an important component of the study because it provides the basis for practice of the techniques without costly and poorly-attended follow-up workshops. Naturally, participants can choose to ignore or not complete texted assignments. These individuals may be identifiable as those with external locus of control based on follow-up survey measures. This type of data will allow statistical analysis that will help predict individuals who might be more likely to benefit from one type of intervention over another. • Statistical analyses that will be conducted on this data include: • 2 (mindfulness) X 2 (self-affirmation) ANOVAs will be employed to examine differences among the groups on self-efficacy and weight loss. • We will further examine the effects of gender, social support, and locus of control as moderators of this effect • These findings will help determine whether it is useful to offer different kinds of interventions for different participants in future research and activities. • Regression analysis will be conducted in order to test the mediating role of self-efficacy in weight loss. These regressions will use the 3Baron & Kenny methodology, in addition we will use the 4Preacher & Hayes procedures to evaluate the mediated relationships. Literature cited 1Pascual-Leone, A., Amedi, A., Fregni, F., & Merabet, L. B. (2005). The plastic human brain cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 28, 377-401. 2Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 44-56. 3Baron, R. & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182. 4Preacher, K. & Hayes, A. (2004). SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers, 36, 717-731. Figure 2. Represents the breakdown of experimental groups. Each group will have approximately 20 participants, randomly selected. • Materials and methods • Participants (~N=60) will be recruited from a summer camp series intended for overweight and obese children and their parents. Parents are the focus of this intervention. They will be taught mindful eating and mindfulness techniques in a 3-hour seminar. They will complete survey measures on Day 1 and on a follow-up visit on Day 60, where they will receive additional mindfulness training and resources. • Scales used: • Mindfulness Scale • Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale • Self-Efficacy Scale • Additional Data Collected: • Height/Weight • Social support • Locus of control Acknowledgments I thank Dr. Nancy Rhodes for her tireless revisions and expert advice on the direction and focus of this research. I acknowledge the Department of Communication Studies at IUPUI for their commitment to fostering scholarship that transcends the concentration and encourages cross-field scholarship. For further information Please contact nrmathur@iupui.edu for more information on this and related areas of research. Phone: 1-317-441-4316 Self-Affirmation and mindfulness techniques both have the potential to change brain-chemistry, but they have never been tested against each other before. This research will provide evidence for the use of one or both as a tool in helping to foster healthy behavior, in this case, as it relates to obesity and overweight.