Food consumption patterns are influenced by a number of factors, including social and cultural factors. It is difficult to effect dietary change, and one possible barrier to dietary change is optimistic bias. Research indicates that individuals tend to believe that they are less likely to experience negative events, and more likely to experience positive events than their peers; this phenomenon is known as optimistic bias. It has been argued that optimistic bias may have a negative impact both on self-protective behaviour and on efforts to promote risk-reducing behaviours. The present article reviews the literature investigating optimistic bias specifically in the food domain. The review indicated that many food and nutrition issues are associated with optimistic bias. This has important implications for health-promotion activities in the food domain. The paper also describes key aspects of the methodology used to investigate optimistic bias and details the conditions under which optimistic bias has been demonstrated. The importance of identifying the causes of optimistic bias is discussed, and empirical attempts designed to reduce optimistic bias by countering the causes are reviewed. Finally, directions for future research are suggested.

This study used a mixed methodology with young offenders attending a Youth Offending Service to identify, with regard to mental health problems, perceptions of level of need, experiences of and views on support and perceptions of barriers in accessing services. Between May and September 2008, 44 young offenders completed a questionnaire about their self-reported levels of mental health need, and their behaviour, preferences and evaluation regarding different sources of support and advice for mental health issues. Six young people were interviewed about their experiences and these data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings showed that these vulnerable young people had a high level of mental health need, and were most likely to seek support from people with whom they had a confiding and long-standing relationship (parents and friends). For these young people, low levels of service use were not the result of a lack of provision, but because there were psychological, social, structural and cultural barriers to accessing those services including issues of understanding, stigma and confidentiality.

There are estimated to be 250 000–350 000 children of problem drug users in the UK. The Government's Every Child Matters Programme seeks to ensure that vulnerable children affected by parental drug misuse are enabled to achieve their full potential in life. This article critically reviews recent national and international research examining the impact of parental drug misuse on children; focusing on the extent to which within‐family risk and protective factors are related to parental gender. The article calls for greater research focus on paternal drug‐misusers parenting strategies and makes recommendations.

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