AbstractThis introduction to the special issue outlines key ways that behavioral medicine researchers can accelerate their science. The authors highlight the 2020 Society of Behavioral Medicine's annual meeting plenary sessions, that fit this theme.

A visioning initiative among members of SBM has identified new areas of investigations, such as behavioral medicine’s need to address climate change, gun violence and science communication. These areas emerged along-side traditional areas of behavioral medicine such as decreasing health inequity and integrating behavioral medicine into health care systems.

Behavioral medicine scientists, practitioners, and educators can engage in evidence-based science communication strategies to amplify the science and combat misinformation. Such efforts are critical to protect public health during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote overall well-being.

Abstract BackgroundAccelerating advances in health behavior change requires releasing the brake, as well as applying the throttle. This paper discusses six challenges or “brakes” that have slowed progress. Purpose/Methods/ResultsWe engage with six issues that limit investigators’ ability to delineate and test the strategy–target and target–behavior relations that underlie effective interventions according

Abstract BackgroundScreening for distress and referral for the provision of psychosocial care is currently the preferred approach to the management of distress in patients with cancer. To date, this approach has shown a limited effect on the reduction of distress. Recent commentaries have argued that the implementation of distress screening should be improved. On the other hand, the underlying assumption

Abstract BackgroundArtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the process of scientific research. AI, coupled with availability of large datasets and increasing computational power, is accelerating progress in areas such as genetics, climate change and astronomy [NeurIPS 2019 Workshop Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning, Vancouver, Canada; Hausen R, Robertson BE. Morpheus: A deep learning

Rapidly advancing solutions requires our community to continuously re-examine successes of yesterday to inspire new approaches for today while collaboratively envisioning what’s needed for tomorrow.

Abstract BackgroundAfrican Americans have the highest rates of hypertension-related disease of any ethnic group in the USA. Importantly, racism and discrimination have been linked to these higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Discrimination is deleterious not only to those that are the recipients of this unfair treatment but also to the partners and family members of those affected as well to those

Abstract BackgroundDigital technologies provide a platform for accelerating science and broadening impact in behavioral medicine. PurposeThe objective of this invited keynote presentation or paper is to offer a blueprint for navigating the rapidly changing waters of digital health. MethodsA strategic literature review on digital health technologies in behavioral medicine was combined with a review

AbstractOver the past 20 years, tobacco prevention and cessation efforts have evolved to keep pace with the changing tobacco product landscape and the widespread adoption of digital technologies. In 2019, Truth Initiative was awarded the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Jessie Gruman Award for Health Engagement in recognition of the major role it has played on both fronts since its inception in 1999

Psychological distress can influence cancer mortality through socioeconomic disadvantage, health-risk behaviors, or reduced access to care. These disadvantages can result in higher risks of cancer occurrence, a delayed cancer diagnosis, hamper adherence to treatment, and provoke inflammatory responses leading to cancer. Previous studies have linked psychological distress to cancer mortality. However

Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances disproportionately affect midlife women. While there may be a bidirectional association, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms are longitudinally associated with subsequent sleep. Sleep is typically considered unidimensional, despite emerging evidence that multidimensional sleep health provides novel information on the sleep–health link.

Fatigue is a prominent quality of life concern among recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).

Abstract BackgroundWorldwide, there are more than 13.3 million orphans and vulnerable children affected by Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (HIV OVC), defined as individuals below the age of 18 who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS or have been made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS; they are at risk for negative psychosocial and cognitive outcomes

Abstract BackgroundExperiences of discrimination are a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular disease. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research examining associations between discrimination and urinary catecholamines. This is surprising given the likely mediating role of sympathetic nervous system dysregulation in the association between psychosocial stress and cardiovascular morbidity

Abstract BackgroundPersonality traits, coping styles, and health-related behaviors show associations with various aspects of health. However, integrative life-course investigations of pathways by which these factors might affect later cumulative physiological health risk remain sparse. PurposeTo investigate prospective associations of personality traits via coping styles and health-related behaviors

Abstract BackgroundIn 2015, Collins and Varmus articulated a vision for precision medicine emphasizing molecular characterization of illness to identify actionable biomarkers to support individualized treatment. Researchers have argued for a broader conceptualization, precision health. Precision health is an ambitious conceptualization of health, which includes dynamic linkages between research and

Abstract BackgroundWeight stigma impairs health. Few studies have disentangled the associations of experienced versus internalized stigma with weight-related outcomes. PurposeTo examine weight and health variables associated with weight stigma experiences and internalization in the largest-to-date sample of adults in weight management. MethodsWW (formerly Weight Watchers) members (N = 18,769, 94.6%

Abstract BackgroundLittle is known about life-course factors that explain why some individuals continue smoking despite having smoking-related diseases. PurposeWe examined (a) the extent to which early-life adversities are associated with the risk of recalcitrant smoking, (b) psychosocial factors that mediate the association, and (c) gender differences in the associations. MethodsData were from 4,932

Abstract BackgroundDespite clear evidence that peers are crucial for youth development, research on the role of peers for youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is scarce. PurposeThe present study identified trajectory classes of perceived peer functioning in youth with T1D, based on peer support and extreme peer orientation (EPO). Further, classes were compared with respect to their trajectories of depressive

Sleep is an important, restorative behavior for health, yet many adults report troubled sleep. The existence of a support network may be beneficial for sleep quality, including as a buffer for stressful events, yet few studies have examined these relationships longitudinally.

Sexual minority populations in the United States have persistently higher rates of cigarette use than heterosexuals, partially driven by exposure to minority stressors (e.g., discrimination and victimization). Little is known about cigarette use across cohorts of sexual minority adults who came of age in distinctly different sociopolitical environments.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an emerging pandemic with heightened concerns for people with compromised immune systems, including people living with HIV.

Social distancing is a key behavior to minimize COVID-19 infections. Identification of potentially modifiable determinants of social distancing behavior may provide essential evidence to inform social distancing behavioral interventions.

Weight stigma is common for people with obesity and harmful to health. Links between obesity and complications from COVID−19 have been identified, but it is unknown whether weight stigma poses adverse health implications during this pandemic.

Overuse of unnecessary services, screening tests, and treatments is an ongoing problem for national health care systems. Overuse is at least partly driven by patient demand.

Abstract BackgroundBehavioral interventions typically include multiple behavior change techniques (BCTs). The theory informing the selection of BCTs for an intervention may be stated explicitly or remain unreported, thus impeding the identification of links between theory and behavior change outcomes. PurposeThis study aimed to identify groups of BCTs commonly occurring together in behavior change

National and international guidelines recommend advance care planning (ACP) for patients with heart failure. But clinicians seem hesitant to engage with ACP.

Concurrent general psychopathology (GP) and eating disorder psychopathology (EDP) are commonly reported among youth with overweight/obesity and may impact weight change.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-related anal cancer. Although a safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent HPV infection, HPV vaccine uptake among young MSM remains low.

Sleep is an important aspect of child development and health. Disparities in childhood sleep have been observed as early as infancy, but little is known about the factors contributing to them.

Understanding determinants of metabolic risk has become a national priority given the increasingly high prevalence rate of this condition among U.S. adults.

Pain and substance use are frequently comorbid and have been shown to exert bidirectional effects. Self-medication of pain and distress via substance use is common and can be understood via negative reinforcement, ultimately strengthening the pathway between pain to substance use over time. As such, a testable model of the potentially modifiable candidate mechanisms that underlie the pain to substance

In August 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a set of 13 new graphic warnings for cigarette packaging and advertisements.

Conflicting research emphasizes depression, diabetes distress, or well-being in relation to diabetes self-care and risk for poor health outcomes.

Mediation analysis is an important tool for understanding the processes through which interventions affect health outcomes over time. Typically the temporal intervals between X, M, and Y are fixed by design, and little focus is given to the temporal dynamics of the processes.

Loneliness, the subjective experience of social isolation, represents one of the largest risk factors for physical illness and early death in humans. However, the mechanisms by which loneliness leads to adverse health outcomes are not well understood.

Racial discrimination has been associated with biological dysfunction among ethnic minorities. The extent to which regular physical activity (PA) may buffer this association is unknown.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer behavioral guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Cleaning (e.g., cleaning surfaces, washing and sanitizing hands) and containing (e.g., covering coughs, keeping distance from others, especially sick people) behaviors are recommended.

Research suggests that loneliness and social isolation (SI) are serious public health concerns. However, our knowledge of the associations of loneliness and SI with specific chronic diseases is limited.

Disturbed sleep is prevalent in older adulthood and particularly among women. Greater psychological well-being (PWB) is associated with better sleep, but intraindividual variability in PWB has not been examined.

Stress is a dynamic construct that predicts a range of health behaviors and conditions, including binge eating and excess weight. Thus far, there have been limited and inconsistent findings regarding stress responses in binge-eating disorder (BED) and insufficient consideration of temporal patterns of stress responses across the weight spectrum.

Prior research has debated whether reflective pondering is a more constructive form of rumination than brooding, which is generally considered maladaptive. This study sought to investigate whether reflective pondering predicts depressive symptoms and whether reflective pondering is adaptive under certain conditions. We predicted that the effectiveness of reflective pondering could depend on concurrent

Behavioral medicine is showing growing theoretical and applied interest in multiple health-risk behaviors. Compared to engaging in a single health-risk behavior, multiple health-risk behaviors are linked to increased morbidity and mortality. A contextual determinant of multiple risk behaviors may be living with a smoker.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy experience a range of aversive symptoms. These symptoms vary across individuals and at least some of this variation can be predicted by psychological factors, such as distress. However, while psychological distress predicts some of the symptoms, it is limited in important ways.

The global COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to stem its transmission highlights the essential role of behavioral medicine in contemporary healthcare. As a result, the Annals of Behavioral Medicine instituted a COVID-19 rapid review process in mid-April to bring new knowledge to publication. This editorial describes the first two papers accepted through this mechanism and issues a broader call to recognize

The Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO) supports and facilitates research addressing substance abuse, violence/trauma, and HIV/AIDS among diverse and underserved Latinx populations. CLaRO runs a pilot awards program for early-stage investigators conducting Latinx health disparities research. This pilot awards program was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating innovative

Social distancing—when people limit close contact with others outside their household—is a primary intervention available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of social distancing is unlikely to change until effective treatments or vaccines become widely available. However, relatively little is known about how best to promote social distancing. Applying knowledge from social and behavioral

Disturbed sleep can be a cause and a consequence of elevated stress. Yet intensive longitudinal studies have revealed that sleep assessed via diaries and actigraphy is inconsistently associated with daily stress.

Promoting adolescent physical activity is crucial as this marks a time when physical activity rates decline.

Sexual minority men (SMM) and transgender women (TW) are more likely to smoke cigarettes than heterosexual and cisgender peers, which may exacerbate existing disparities in mental and psychosocial health and substance use.

Although pain-related avoidance is mainly intended to reduce the accompanying anticipatory fear, avoidance behavior may paradoxically increase fear when a previous avoidance response is no longer available, suggesting that there is a bidirectional relationship between pain-related fear and avoidance.

Several studies have proposed that coping strategies are a key predictor of sleep problems. Furthermore, some authors have suggested that depressive symptoms, a factor that is related to both coping strategies and sleep, may play a critical role in this relationship. However, this preliminary research has shown mixed results.

Family and friends have both helpful and harmful effects on adults’ diabetes self-management. Family-focused Add-on to Motivate Self-care (FAMS) is a mobile phone-delivered intervention designed to improve family/friend involvement, self-efficacy, and self-care via monthly phone coaching, texts tailored to goals, and the option to invite a support person to receive texts.

African American women participate in less physical activity (PA), have higher rates of chronic disease, and report higher perceived stress relative to other race and sex demographic groups.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Although the development of MetS is attributed to known lifestyle factors, perceived discrimination may also contribute to MetS development and severity.

Stress in pregnancy predicts adverse birth outcomes. Stressors occurring prior to conception may also pose risk for the mother and child. The few published studies on preconception stress test a single stress measure and examine only linear associations with birth outcomes.

Evidence shows that clinician-delivered brief opportunistic interventions are effective in obesity, and guidelines promote their use. However, there is no evidence on how clinicians should do this, and guidelines are not based on clinical evidence.

Erratum to: Ann. Behav. Med.

Withholding cancer-related concerns from one’s partner (protective buffering) and feeling that one’s partner is inaccessible or unresponsive to such disclosure (social constraints) are two interpersonal interaction patterns that separately have been linked to poorer adjustment to cancer.