The present study was designed to examine shifting, the phenomenon of altering or modifying one’s self-presentation in different social contexts, as a mediator of the predictive effects of African American women’s acculturation on their perceived race-related stress. To explore this issue, measures of African American acculturation, shifting, and race-related stress were examined within a structural model. The current study quantitatively examined the relationships of these variables among a sample of 366 African American women. Results of a structural equation model indicated full mediation; greater levels of immersion in African American acculturation resulted in greater levels of shifting, which, in turn, generated increased levels of race-related stress. These data extend previous work and expand the literature regarding African American women’s shifting. Implications for clinical work and future research with African American women are also discussed.

The present research developed and validated an instrument to measure shifting or self-altering presentation strategies among Asian American women. A 12-item instrument was developed to measure components of shifting phenomena based in part on literature review, focus group feedback, and an assessment from cultural experts. The initial validation study, using principal axis factor analysis with a promax rotation, was conducted with a national sample of 474 Asian American women. A second independent national sample of 247 Asian American women provided data for a confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicated that the new instrument was composed of the following three factors: White Beauty Conformity, Bicultural Shift, and Asian Language/Culture Avoidance. The evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was provided. Implications for the future research are discussed. Public Significance StatementIn this study, we developed and validated a new instrument, the Asian American Women's Shifting Scale (AsAWSS) that purports to measure shifting or self-altering strategies used by some Asian American women in response to perceived cultural cues. Studying shifting may provide greater understanding of some of the coping mechanisms used by this population.

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Background Few adolescents meet guideline levels of physical activity associated with good health, highlighting the need for intervention. Interventions promoting adolescents’ physical activity should be guided by research applying behavioral theory to identify potentially modifiable correlates and associated processes. We applied an integrated social cognition model to identify theory-based constructs and processes that relate to physical activity intentions in a secondary analysis of two samples of Finnish adolescents using a correlational design. Method Participants in the first sample (n = 455) completed self-report measures of social cognition constructs from theory of planned behavior, habit, self-discipline, and past and current physical activities. Participants in the second sample (n = 3878) completed identical measures plus measures of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors. Participants from the first sample also wore accelerometers for 1 week. Hypothesized model effects were tested using variance-based structural equation modeling in data from the first sample and subsequently confirmed in a pre-registered analysis of data from the second sample. Results Across both samples, habit, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and self-reported past behavior were associated with physical activity intention. Effects of self-reported past physical activity on intention were partially mediated by social cognition constructs. Effects of accelerometer-based physical activity were small by comparison. Effects of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors on intention in the second sample were partially mediated by the social cognition constructs. Conclusion Results corroborate beliefs and habit as consistent correlates of adolescents’ physical activity intentions and provide preliminary evidence that social cognition constructs account for effects of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors on intentions.

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