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Food reward sensitivity predicts overconsumption of high-fat snack food
Abstracts / Personality and Individual Differences 60 (2014) S3–S23
nizing this, genetic variance in IQ independent of SES was greater with higher parental SES in the 11-year-old cohort. This was not true, however, in the 17-year-old cohort. In both cohorts, people of higher IQ were more likely to have ‘married down’ for IQ than people of lower IQ were to have ‘married up’. This assortative mating pattern would create greater genetic diversity for IQ in people of higher IQ than in people of lower IQ. As IQ is associated with SES, the pattern could be one reason for the observation of greater genetic variance in IQ independent of SES with greater parental SES in several samples. If so, it could block upward social mobility among those already in lower-SES groups. I discuss possible involved mechanisms and social implications. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.353
Sources of variance in attitudes toward social inequality C. Kandler, E. Bell, C. Shikishima, S. Yamagata, R. Riemann Bielefeld University, Germany Social inequality is a social phenomenon which varies across cultures. However, it does not only depend on social and cultural influences (e.g., public ideological opinion), but also on basic individual attitudes and values that promote socio-political decisions and behaviour. Behaviour genetic studies across several nations have found that individual differences in core ideological attitudes toward social and economic equality versus hierarchy (e.g., rejecting versus accepting inequality or social dominance orientation) are to some degree genetically influenced and linked to specific personality traits (e.g., openness and agreeableness), albeit the effect size and correlations may vary among cultures. In addition, these studies have highlighted the significance of important social interaction partners (e.g., spouses) and social networks for opinion formation. Thus, attitudes toward inequality are shaped by both top-down (acquisition of opinions through exposure to social environments and culture) and bottom-up effects (underlying genetic basis that influence the individual receptiveness to specific opinions). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.354
Reward sensitivity predicts a range of risky health behaviours in non-clinical samples M.J. White, S.H. Fay Queensland University of Technology, Australia Reward sensitivity, a trait reflecting hypervigilance and approach behaviour towards rewarding cues in the environment, has been shown to be a risk factor for several health behaviours, though the precise contexts and mechanisms underlying this risk remain to be determined. This symposium will provide a snapshot of research investigating the influence of reward sensitivity traits in a range of health behaviours and context manipulations. The first study manipulates the presence of a food cue to examine the influence of general and food reward sensitivity on subsequent snack food consumption. The second presentation reports on an independent study that examined the effect of induced acute stress on the relationship between reward sensitivity and snack food consumption. The third presentation reports effects of reward sensitivity on binge drinkers’ attentional bias towards alcohol cues. The final study examines the extent to which reward sensitivity influences processing and acceptance of road safety messages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.355
S13
Food reward sensitivity predicts overconsumption of high-fat snack food S.H. Fay, M.J. White, G.S. Finlayson, N.A. King Queensland University of Technology, Australia Overconsumption of snack foods has been linked to rising rates of obesity, with our ‘obesogenic’ environment and its abundance of palatable, high-calorie foods and associated cues especially implicated. However, it is clear that some individuals are particularly susceptible to overconsumption and weight gain. It was hypothesised that individuals sensitive to the rewarding properties of palatable foods, and associated stimuli, would show elevated consumption. Snack food intake was measured in 50 adults (mean age 34.5 years, BMI 23.9 kg/m2, 56% female) in a repeated measures design, both with and without a ‘food cue’. Trait (BIS/BAS scales), behavioural (computerised CARROT) and food reward were assessed. Sensitivity to food reward, but not generalised reward, was positively associated with snack food intake. This relationship was not affected by the presence of a food cue. Findings are discussed in the context of implications for weight management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.356
Interactive effects of acute stress and impulsivity in predicting consumption of high-fat sweet food J.A. Carroll, M.J. White Queensland University of Technology, Australia Psychosocial stress and impulsivity, encompassing reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness, have separately been implicated in motivating approach behaviour to palatable food, thus representing risk factors for overeating and obesity. This study examined the combined and potential interactive effects of these traits and induced acute stress on laboratory snack food consumption. In small groups, participants (N = 108) completed a series of self-report and behavioural measures of impulsivity (reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness) prior to exposure to a 5-min stress or relaxation induction. They were then presented a portion of high fat sweet food and completed a foil taste test and a distractor task to allow for consumption beyond experimental requirements. Differential effects were observed for the dimensions of impulsivity, with only rash impulsiveness significantly interacting with induced stress to influence consumption. Unexpected findings for reward sensitivity are discussed in the context of the group testing environment. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.357
Reward sensitivity predicts attentional bias towards alcoholrelated cues in young binge drinkers M.J. White, L.C. Cunningham, R. Pearce, S. Newnam School of Psychology & Counselling, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Individual differences in reward sensitivity have been associated with self-reported drinking behaviour in young adults. The current study explored a potential mechanism underlying this association by examining the influence of reward sensitivity (BAS scores from the BIS/BAS scales) on attentional bias towards alcohol-related cues in 80 young adult binge-drinkers. The combined and interactive influence of punishment sensitivity (rFFFS scores) was also examined. Participants (17–25 years, 58% female) completed the AUDIT and BIS/BAS scales and a computerised dot-probe paradigm assessing attentional bias. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that
nizing this, genetic variance in IQ independent of SES was greater with higher parental SES in the 11-year-old cohort. This was not true, however, in the 17-year-old cohort. In both cohorts, people of higher IQ were more likely to have ‘married down’ for IQ than people of lower IQ were to have ‘married up’. This assortative mating pattern would create greater genetic diversity for IQ in people of higher IQ than in people of lower IQ. As IQ is associated with SES, the pattern could be one reason for the observation of greater genetic variance in IQ independent of SES with greater parental SES in several samples. If so, it could block upward social mobility among those already in lower-SES groups. I discuss possible involved mechanisms and social implications. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.353
Sources of variance in attitudes toward social inequality C. Kandler, E. Bell, C. Shikishima, S. Yamagata, R. Riemann Bielefeld University, Germany Social inequality is a social phenomenon which varies across cultures. However, it does not only depend on social and cultural influences (e.g., public ideological opinion), but also on basic individual attitudes and values that promote socio-political decisions and behaviour. Behaviour genetic studies across several nations have found that individual differences in core ideological attitudes toward social and economic equality versus hierarchy (e.g., rejecting versus accepting inequality or social dominance orientation) are to some degree genetically influenced and linked to specific personality traits (e.g., openness and agreeableness), albeit the effect size and correlations may vary among cultures. In addition, these studies have highlighted the significance of important social interaction partners (e.g., spouses) and social networks for opinion formation. Thus, attitudes toward inequality are shaped by both top-down (acquisition of opinions through exposure to social environments and culture) and bottom-up effects (underlying genetic basis that influence the individual receptiveness to specific opinions). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.354
Reward sensitivity predicts a range of risky health behaviours in non-clinical samples M.J. White, S.H. Fay Queensland University of Technology, Australia Reward sensitivity, a trait reflecting hypervigilance and approach behaviour towards rewarding cues in the environment, has been shown to be a risk factor for several health behaviours, though the precise contexts and mechanisms underlying this risk remain to be determined. This symposium will provide a snapshot of research investigating the influence of reward sensitivity traits in a range of health behaviours and context manipulations. The first study manipulates the presence of a food cue to examine the influence of general and food reward sensitivity on subsequent snack food consumption. The second presentation reports on an independent study that examined the effect of induced acute stress on the relationship between reward sensitivity and snack food consumption. The third presentation reports effects of reward sensitivity on binge drinkers’ attentional bias towards alcohol cues. The final study examines the extent to which reward sensitivity influences processing and acceptance of road safety messages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.355
S13
Food reward sensitivity predicts overconsumption of high-fat snack food S.H. Fay, M.J. White, G.S. Finlayson, N.A. King Queensland University of Technology, Australia Overconsumption of snack foods has been linked to rising rates of obesity, with our ‘obesogenic’ environment and its abundance of palatable, high-calorie foods and associated cues especially implicated. However, it is clear that some individuals are particularly susceptible to overconsumption and weight gain. It was hypothesised that individuals sensitive to the rewarding properties of palatable foods, and associated stimuli, would show elevated consumption. Snack food intake was measured in 50 adults (mean age 34.5 years, BMI 23.9 kg/m2, 56% female) in a repeated measures design, both with and without a ‘food cue’. Trait (BIS/BAS scales), behavioural (computerised CARROT) and food reward were assessed. Sensitivity to food reward, but not generalised reward, was positively associated with snack food intake. This relationship was not affected by the presence of a food cue. Findings are discussed in the context of implications for weight management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.356
Interactive effects of acute stress and impulsivity in predicting consumption of high-fat sweet food J.A. Carroll, M.J. White Queensland University of Technology, Australia Psychosocial stress and impulsivity, encompassing reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness, have separately been implicated in motivating approach behaviour to palatable food, thus representing risk factors for overeating and obesity. This study examined the combined and potential interactive effects of these traits and induced acute stress on laboratory snack food consumption. In small groups, participants (N = 108) completed a series of self-report and behavioural measures of impulsivity (reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness) prior to exposure to a 5-min stress or relaxation induction. They were then presented a portion of high fat sweet food and completed a foil taste test and a distractor task to allow for consumption beyond experimental requirements. Differential effects were observed for the dimensions of impulsivity, with only rash impulsiveness significantly interacting with induced stress to influence consumption. Unexpected findings for reward sensitivity are discussed in the context of the group testing environment. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.357
Reward sensitivity predicts attentional bias towards alcoholrelated cues in young binge drinkers M.J. White, L.C. Cunningham, R. Pearce, S. Newnam School of Psychology & Counselling, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Individual differences in reward sensitivity have been associated with self-reported drinking behaviour in young adults. The current study explored a potential mechanism underlying this association by examining the influence of reward sensitivity (BAS scores from the BIS/BAS scales) on attentional bias towards alcohol-related cues in 80 young adult binge-drinkers. The combined and interactive influence of punishment sensitivity (rFFFS scores) was also examined. Participants (17–25 years, 58% female) completed the AUDIT and BIS/BAS scales and a computerised dot-probe paradigm assessing attentional bias. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that