Health Behavior Characteristics Research Articles

Social and Religious Networks with Respect to the Health Behaviors of African American Women: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic mixed studies review was to examine how social networks influence physical activity and dietary patterns among African American women. We searched PUBMED, CINAHL, JSTOR, SocioIndex, Medline, Cochrane Library, sportDISCUS, and PsycINFO to review articles published between Jan 1, 2007, and July 1, 2021. Only 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in the US. Social support received from family members, friends, and churches was found to positively influence physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. An inconsistent relationship was found between social network size, health behavior characteristics of social networks, and physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. Future research should incorporate structural and functional social network strategies to promote physical activity and healthy eating behaviors effectively and sustainably among African American women.

Modeling the relationship between maternal health and infant behavioral characteristics based on machine learning.

This study investigates the impact of maternal health on infant development by developing a mathematical model that delineates the relationship between maternal health indicators and infant behavioral characteristics and sleep quality. The main contributions of this study are as follows: (1) The use of Spearman's correlation coefficient to conduct correlation analysis and explore the main factors that influence infant behavioral characteristics based on maternal indicators. (2) The development of a combined model using machine learning techniques, including random forest (RF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) to establish the relationship between maternal health (physical and psychological health) and infant behavioral characteristics. The model is trained and validated by the real data respectively. (3) The use of the Fuzzy C-means (FCM) dynamic clustering model to classify infant sleep quality. An RF regression model is constructed to predict infant sleep quality using maternal indicators. This study is significant in gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between maternal health indicators and infant development, and provides a basis for future intervention measures.

Nomogram prediction for periodontitis in Chinese pregnant women with different sociodemographic and oral health behavior characteristics: a community-based study

BackgroundPeriodontitis is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, indicating periodontal health as an important health concern for pregnant women. Herein, this study identified risk indicators for periodontitis and developed a nomogram for predicting the risk of periodontitis in pregnancy by analyzing periodontitis and associated factors in pregnant women.Materials and methodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted by including 438 pregnant women at 10–36 gestational weeks from Langfang, China. Pregnant women were examined for periodontal status, and their demographic, socioeconomic, and oral health behavior data were collected. Potential influencing factors of periodontitis were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A nomogram was developed, followed by the assessment of its validation and discriminatory abilities.ResultsThe prevalence of periodontitis was 59.8% in pregnant women. Periodontitis-associated variables in pregnant women were gestational age, non-first pregnancy, daily tooth brushing frequency of ≤ 1 before pregnancy, and annual frequency of periodontal treatment < 1 (including no periodontal treatment). The risk of periodontitis was positively associated with gestational age (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17–1.39, p < 0.001). Pregnancy history showed a strong positive association (OR = 6.57, 95% CI = 1.22–35.43, p = 0.03). Daily tooth brushing frequency before pregnancy was also positively associated with periodontitis (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.03–2.79, p = 0.05). Additionally, the annual frequency of periodontal treatment exhibited a positive association, with higher odds observed for those with less frequent treatment (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.25–4.14, p = 0.05; OR = 7.37, 95% CI = 3.04–22.06, p < 0.001). These four factors were used to develop a nomogram for predicting periodontitis in pregnant women. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.855 and 0.831 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively, reflecting the superior prediction accuracy of the nomogram. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis demonstrated the good performance and net benefit of the nomogram.ConclusionRisk factors for periodontitis in pregnant Chinese women include gestational age, non-first pregnancy, lower frequency of daily tooth brushing before pregnancy, and lower frequency of periodontal treatment. An easy-to-use nomogram with acceptable accuracy can allow for the prediction of periodontitis risk in pregnant Chinese women.Clinical relevanceWith the assistance of this nomogram, clinicians can evaluate the risk of periodontitis in pregnancy, thereby offering more tailored oral health education to women of reproductive age.

Exploring individual, social and environmental factors related to physical activity: a network analysis

ObjectivesInsufficient physical activity (PA) has long been a global health issue, and a number of studies have explored correlates of PA to identify the mechanisms underlying inactive lifestyles. In the...

Sexual orientation, gender identity and virologic failure among people with HIV: a cohort study in all of US research program

BackgroundSexual and gender minorities (SGMs) are at higher risk of HIV incidence compared to their heterosexual cisgender counterparts. Despite the high HIV disease burden among SGMs, there was limited data on whether they are at higher risk of virologic failure, which may lead to potential disease progression and increased transmission risk. The All of Us (AoU) Research Program, a national community-engaged program aiming to improve health and facilitate health equity in the United States by partnering with one million participants, provides a promising resource for identifying a diverse and large volunteer TGD cohort. Leveraging various data sources available through AoU, the current study aims to explore the association between sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and longitudinal virologic failure among adult people with HIV (PWH) in the US.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used integrated electronic health records (EHR) and self-reported survey data from the All of Us (AoU) controlled tier data, version 7, which includes participants enrolled in the AoU research program from May 31, 2017, to July 1, 2022. Based on participants’ sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex assigned at birth, their SOGI were categorized into six groups, including cisgender heterosexual women, cisgender heterosexual men, cisgender sexual minority women, cisgender sexual minority men, gender minority people assigned female at birth of any sexual orientation, and gender minority people assigned male at birth of any sexual orientation. Yearly virologic failure was defined yearly after one’s first viral load testing, and individuals with at least one viral load test > 50 copies/mL during a year were defined as having virologic failure at that year. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to explore the association between SOGI and longitudinal virologic failure while adjusting for potential confounders, including age, race, ethnicity, education attainment, income, and insurance type.ResultsA total of 1,546 eligible PWH were extracted from the AoU database, among whom 1,196 (77.36%) had at least one viral failure and 773 (50.00%) belonged to SGMs. Compared to cisgender heterosexual women, cisgender sexual minority women (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.05–3.27) were at higher risk of HIV virologic failure. Additionally, PWH who were Black vs. White (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.52–3.04) and whose insurance type was Medicaid vs. Private insurance (aOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.33–3.21) were more likely to experience virologic failure.ConclusionsMaintaining frequent viral load monitoring among sexual minority women with HIV is warranted because it allows early detection of virologic failure, which could provide opportunities for interventions to strengthen treatment adherence and prevent HIV transmission. To understand the specific needs of subgroups of SGMs, future research needs to examine the mechanisms for SOGI-based disparities in virologic failure and the combined effects of multi-level psychosocial and health behavior characteristics.

Characteristics of Transition-Age Youth Engaging in Suicidal Behavior

PurposeSuicide rates are markedly high among children with foster care involvement. Transition-age youth (TAY) who age-out of the foster care system are at particularly high risk. MethodsAnalyzing data from the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (n=727), this paper explores the descriptive characteristics of TAY who engage in suicidal behavior with the goals of better identifying, understanding, and supporting those at risk. We report rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt at four interview waves (ages 17, 19, 21, 23) and examine differences in rates by sociodemographic characteristics, past maltreatment, and behavioral health disorders. ResultsAt age 17, 42% of California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study participants had thought of committing suicide and 24% had attempted suicide. Across ages, sexual minority youth reported significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation and behavior than their heterosexual peers. We also found that youth with (1) maltreatment experiences (both before and during foster care); (2) major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder; and (3) alcohol/substance abuse disorders were significantly more likely than their peers without these characteristics/diagnoses to engage in suicidal behavior at certain ages. Youth with comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders were consistently at elevated risk. DiscussionRoutine screening for suicidal behavior among TAY is important for child welfare service providers to consider. Youth at risk may benefit from more consistent assessment, mental health care, and targeted mental health intervention. Future research is needed to shed light on mechanisms linking certain sociodemographic, experiential, and behavioral health characteristics with suicidal behavior in TAY.

‘Old, weak, and confused’: A pilot study on perceptions of older adults and anxiety about aging among Kinh adults in rural Vietnam

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore Kinh Vietnamese adults’ perception of older adults, and examine their anxiety about ageing and its associated factors. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit rural community members who aged from 18 to 59 by the time of the study and self-identified with Kinh ethnicity, the major ethnicity in Vietnam. A total of 322 eligible participants completed face-to-face, semi-structured interviews conducted by research assistants. The survey consisted of both close-ended questions and open-ended questions to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative results from open-ended questions show that ‘older adults’ were perceived and described with overwhelmingly negative characteristics regarding their appearance (wrinkles, gray hair), physical and cognitive health conditions (weak, frail, confused), capacity (incapable of working), and personality and behavioral characteristics (being difficult and irritable). The quantitative findings show that contact with older adults, correct understanding of qualified age of older adults, and worry about getting dementia and caring for someone with dementia in the future were significantly associated with anxiety about aging. Stereotype and prejudice about older adults, as well as anxiety about aging are critical issues among Vietnamese adults. These results have their implications for educational programs and media campaigns to address ageist stereotypes and aging anxiety in community.

습관적 약물 사용 경험이 있는 청소년의 범불안장애 영향요인

Objectives This study aimed to identify the influencing factors of generalized anxiety disorder in Korean adolescents with habitual substance use and provide the basis for developing nursing intervention programs for the prevention and management of generalized anxiety disorder. Methods This study is a secondary analysis study that utilizes raw data from the 2020-2021 Youth Health Behavior Survey. The study population consists of 800 adolescents with a history of habitual substance use out of a total sample of 109,796 from the 2020-2021 (16th and 17th) Youth Health Behavior Survey raw data. Complex sample analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics 26 for statistical analysis. The Chi-square test (Rao-Scott x2 test) was employed to verify significant differences in generalized anxiety disorder among adolescents with a history of habitual substance use according to general characteristics, mental health characteristics, and health behavior characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the influencing factors of generalized anxiety disorder among adolescents with a history of habitual substance use. Results The results of this study identified gender, loneliness, depression, stress, suicidal ideation, and subjective health as influential factors for generalized anxiety disorder among adolescents with a history of habitual substance use. Conclusions The significance of this study lies in identifying the influential factors for generalized anxiety disorder among Korean adolescents with a history of habitual substance use. Based on the results of this study, it is imperative to establish educational strategies aimed at preventing habitual substance use among Korean adolescents. Furthermore, there is a need to develop nursing intervention programs aimed at preventing and managing the occurrence of generalized anxiety disorder among adolescents with a history of habitual substance use

Factors Influencing Health-related Quality of Life in Adult Women

Objectives: The present study investigates the association between the health-related quality of life of Korean adult women and their socio-demographics, health behavior, and psychological characteristics. Methods: The analysis was carried out using the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (KNHNES) in the second year (2020), and the subjects consisted of 2,181 adult women between the ages of 19-64. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed, employing three models to identify factors related to health-related quality of life as the dependent variable. In Model 1, socio-demographic characteristics were considered. While Model 2 includes both socio-demographics and health behavior characteristics. In Model 3, psychological characteristics as well as socio-demographic and health behavior characteristics were considered. Results: The health-related quality of life of adult women in late adulthood, post-menopause, low household income, and poor subjective health status were found to be low in the analysis of socio-demographic characteristics. For the health behavior characteristics, the health-related quality of life showed significant differences with respect to smoking, drinking, sleeping, and physical activity but these variables were not identified as the affecting factors. For the psychological characteristics, depression and perceived stress were found to be factors lowering the health-related quality of life. Conclusions: To enhance the health-related quality of life of adult women, prevention and proper management of depression and stress for those with poor health behavior are needed with special care and support for post-menopause women with low household income and poor subjective health status.

Predicting Intervention Use in Youth with Rare Variants in Autism-Associated Genes.

Specialized multidisciplinary supports are important for long-term outcomes for autistic youth. Although family and child factors predict service utilization in autism, little is known with respect to youth with rare, autism-associated genetic variants, who frequently have increased psychiatric, developmental, and behavioral needs. We investigate the impact of family factors on service utilization to determine whether caregiver (autistic features, education, income) and child (autistic features, sex, age, IQ, co-occurring conditions) factors predicted service type (e.g., speech, occupational, behavioral) and intensity (hours/year) among children with autism-associated variants (N = 125), some of whom also had a confirmed ASD diagnosis. Analyses revealed variability in the types of services used across a range of child demographic, behavioral, and mental health characteristics. Speech therapy was the most received service (87.2%). Importantly, behavior therapy was the least received service and post-hoc analyses revealed that use of this therapy was uniquely predicted by ASD diagnosis. However, once children received a particular service, there was largely comparable intensity of services, independent of caregiver and child factors. Findings suggest that demographic and clinical factors impact families' ability to obtain services, with less impact on the intensity of services received. The low receipt of therapies that specifically address core support needs in autism (i.e., behavior therapy) indicates more research is needed on the availability of these services for youth with autism-associated variants, particularly for those who do not meet criteria for an ASD diagnosis but do demonstrate elevated and impactful child autistic features as compared to the general population.

The mediating effect of health behaviors on the association between job strain and mental health outcome: a national survey of police officers.

Police officers often face emotionally challenging interpersonal situations and numerous studies have demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation. A study revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional demands among police officers and emotional dissonance, as well as burnout. Health-promoting behaviors can contribute to better overall health outcomes and reduce the risk of developing health problems, but there is limited research evaluating the association of job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes in police officers. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain associated with mental health mediated by health behaviors in Taiwanese police officers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in Oct 2016. A total of 41,871 police officers (response rate was 79.7%) participated questionnaire that consisted of demographic information, job characteristics, health behaviors, and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short-Form Health Survey. Independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) were conducted to assess the differences in mean MCS scores across various demographics, health behavior, and job characteristics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes. MCS scores were associated with job characteristics and health behaviors among police officers except for gender. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis indicated that police officers with high job demands and high job strain index exhibited poor MCS scores. Job strain was significantly associated with MCS mediated by health behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity) in Taiwanese police officers. Since regular physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption might alleviate the effects of job strain on mental health status, it is recommended that institutional policies be established to promote health-enhancing behaviors among police officers.

Multidisciplinary study of the health and nutritional status of persons living in households at risk of poverty with children in Germany (MEGA_kids): Study design and methods.

Background: In Germany, the nutritional situation of adults and children living in households at risk of poverty has been insufficiently studied so far. Aim: The aim of the mixed-methods study MEGA_kids is to gain a deeper understanding of the nutritional situation including socioeconomic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors and health characteristics among persons living in families at risk of poverty. Method: MEGA_kids is a mixed-methods cross-sectional study consisting of four modules combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The first module (A) applies self-administered questionnaires to assess the individual's diet, household food insecurity, and several other factors among adults and children of 500 households. Cash receipts are used to assess household's food expenses. For the second module (B), a semistructured interview guide is used to identify factors influencing food security and nutritional quality from the perspective of a subsample of module A (n = 20). The third module (C) applies the participatory World Café technique to explore experiences and generate ideas for tailored support measures for a healthy diet from the perspective of 40 parents participating in module A. Finally, the fourth module (D) investigates the knowledge and usage of existing nutrition-related preventive measures among 200 parents at risk of poverty by using an online questionnaire. Conclusion: By providing a comprehensive picture of nutritional aspects of families living at risk of poverty, MEGA_kids will guide officials to target and prioritize public health nutrition measures, inform policy makers to implement and improve healthy policies and, finally, identify research gaps to be prioritized.

Abstract 6128: Association between neighborhood disinvestment and all-cause survival moderated by epigenetic age among women with breast cancer

Abstract Background: DNA methylation is hypothesized to mediate relationships between chronic social disadvantage and cancer outcomes. We investigated whether epigenetic age acceleration mediates the association between modifiable neighborhood disinvestment and survival within a cohort of women with breast cancer. Methods: Individual-level data were from the Women’s Circle of Health Follow-up Study, a breast cancer cohort comprising women self-identifying as African American or Black, diagnosed 2013-2019 in New Jersey residents. Demographic, socioeconomic, health behavior, and dietary characteristics were self-reported. Peripheral blood samples from 312 participants collected 18-24 months after diagnosis were profiled for DNA methylation using Illumina’s MethylationEPIC array. After pre-processing, pace of biological aging was estimated using DunedinPACE. Neighborhood disinvestment was assessed using a previously validated virtual audit of 6 disinvestment indicators - garbage, graffiti, dumpsters, poor building conditions, poor yard conditions, abandoned buildings - in 14,671 Google Streetview streetscapes. Accelerated failure time models of all-cause mortality as functions of neighborhood disinvestment and pace of biologic aging were fit to estimate survival time ratios (TR), adjusted for stage at diagnosis and neighborhood socioeconomic composition using causal mediation analyses. End of follow-up was August 13, 2023. Results: There were 46 all-cause deaths through follow-up (median=6.9 years), and 5-year overall survival probability was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.93). Minimum, median, and maximum pace of biologic aging was 0.87, 1.26, and 1.72 indicating accelerated aging (&amp;gt; 1.0) among most participants. There was no evidence for mediation of the neighborhood disinvestment - survival effect by pace of biologic aging (indirect effect p-value=0.33). There was evidence of an interaction between pace of biologic aging and neighborhood disinvestment in the adjusted model: survival time decreased 37% (95% CI: 4% - 59%, p=0.03) per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in neighborhood disinvestment at pace of biologic aging values 1 SD below the average (&amp;lt; 1.13). There was no evidence of such association at pace of biologic aging values 1 SD above the average (p=0.86). Conclusion: Greater neighborhood disinvestment may be associated with shorter survival following a breast cancer diagnosis among those with slower than average epigenetic age acceleration, due to the cumulative nature of neighborhood disinvestment as a chronic indicator of social disadvantage. Citation Format: Jesse J. Plascak, Kellie Archer, Adana A. Llanos, Stephen J. Mooney, Cathleen Y. Xing, Andrew G. Rundle, Helmut Zarbl, B Qin, Nur Zeinomar, Mario Schootman, Song Yao, Christine Ambrosone, Karen Pawlish, Kitaw Demissie, Elisa V. Bandera, Chi-Chen Hong. Association between neighborhood disinvestment and all-cause survival moderated by epigenetic age among women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6128.

Loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular disease among nonveteran and veteran women

We examined the prospective associations of social isolation and loneliness with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) among aging nonveteran and veteran women, and effect modification by veteran status. Participants with no history of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), or coronary heart failure from the Women’s Health Initiative Extension Study II self-reported social isolation, loneliness, health behaviors, health status, and veteran status. CVD and CVD subevents were physician adjudicated. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the Interquartile Range (IQR) in social isolation (IQR = 1) and loneliness (IQR=.33) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for sociodemographic, health behavior, and health status characteristics. Veteran status was tested as an effect modifier. Among 52,442 women (Mean age = 79 ± 6.1; veterans n = 1023; 89.2% non-Hispanic White), 3579 major CVD events occurred over an average 5.8 follow-up years. Compared to nonveterans, veteran women reported higher levels of social isolation (p < .01) and loneliness (p < .01). The CVD HR was 1.07 (95% CI, 1.04–1.10) for the IQR in social isolation and 1.03 (95% CI, 1.10–1.06) for the IQR in loneliness. The HR for the IQR in both social isolation and loneliness was 1.10 (95% CI, 1.05–1.15). Social isolation was associated with CHD (HR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03–1.21). The CHD HR for the IQR in social isolation was 1.12 (95% CI, 1.03–1.21). Associations did not differ by veteran status (all p-interactions > 0.08). Findings suggest that the adverse associations of social isolation and loneliness with CVD are similar among veteran and nonveteran women.

학업을 중단한 한국 청소년의 건강상태와 건강행위 특성

The purpose of this study is to identify the health status and health behavior characteristics of Korean adolescents who have dropped out of school in order to maintain and improve their health. Using data from the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021), a total of 1,097 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old, excluding those attending elementary school and 2/3-year college or higher, are eligible in terms of education level. Among these, 53 people who responded that they did not continue their studies after graduation or dropped out were subject to discontinuation of studies. Complex sample logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify characteristics associated with dropping out of school. As a result,, adolescents who dropped out of school were more likely to have not received necessary medical services in the past year compared to adolescents who continued their education (OR: 6.77, 95% CI: 1.84-24.93, p = .004). Additionally, they were more likely to have consumed alcohol in the past year (OR: 3.02; 95% CI: 1.00-9.08, p = .050) and to engage in physical activity less than three times a week (OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.44- 9.89, p = .007). These research results mean that the health status and health behavior of adolescents who have dropped out of school are more vulnerable, and it is recommended that they receive necessary medical services and provide education and prevention and management programs to prevent drinking and promote physical activity. It indicates that it is required.

NEIGHBORHOOD SEGREGATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OLDER CHINESE IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN GREATER CHICAGO

Abstract Neighborhoods profoundly influence health of older adults, with those living in more affluent neighborhoods tending to be happier and healthier. However, which neighborhoods to live, is shaped by pull and push factors, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities that disproportionally live in segregated neighborhoods characterized by social and economic deprivation. Residential segregation, however, is not well-examined among older Asian Americans. This study aimed to close this gap by investigating neighborhood, sociodemographic, and health behavior characteristics among older Chinese immigrants living in segregated neighborhoods. Data were drawn from 3,097 participants from Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE). Residential segregation was operationalized using Index of Concentrations at the Extremes (ICE), and the tertiles of ICE scores were used to categorize neighborhoods into four groups, ranging from neighborhoods extremely segregated toward Chinese speakers to segregated toward English-only speakers. Results showed that, compared to neighborhoods segregated toward English-only speakers, neighborhoods extremely segregated toward Chinese speakers had lower neighborhood socioeconomic status and cohesion but higher neighborhood disorder. Also, participants in neighborhoods segregated toward Chinese speakers were more likely to be unmarried but less likely to live alone, receive less education, and live in the U.S. longer. These participants also reported lower acculturation and racial discrimination, were more likely to smoke, and had lower adoption of preventive health practices than those living in neighborhoods segregated with English-only speakers. Findings highlight challenges and opportunities among older Chinese immigrants living in segregated neighborhoods and provide insights into existing mixed findings on health impacts of residential segregation among this understudied population.

Psychosocial and health behavioural characteristics of longitudinal physical activity patterns: a cohort study from adolescence to young adulthood

BackgroundThe decline in physical activity (PA) during adolescence is well-established. However, while some subgroups of adolescents follow the general pattern of decreased activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. The correlates and determinants of different PA patterns may vary, offering valuable information for targeted health promotion. This study aimed to examine how psychosocial factors, health behaviours, and PA domains are associated with longitudinal PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood.MethodsThis prospective study encompassed 254 participants measured at mean ages 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (activity maintainers, inactivity maintainers, decreasers from moderate to low PA, decreasers from high to moderate PA, increasers) via a data-driven method, K-Means for longitudinal data. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between health behaviours, psychosocial factors, PA domains, and different PA patterns.ResultsA lack of sports club participation characterised inactivity maintainers throughout adolescence. Difficulties in communicating with one’s father at age 15 were associated with higher odds of belonging to inactivity maintainers and to decreasers from moderate to low PA. Lower fruit and vegetable consumption at age 19 was also related to increased odds of belonging to the groups of inactivity maintainers and decreasers from moderate to low PA. Smoking at age 19 was associated with being a decreaser from moderate to low PA.ConclusionsDiverse factors characterise longitudinal PA patterns over the transition to young adulthood. Sports club participation contributes to maintained PA. Moreover, a father-adolescent relationship that supports open communication may be one determinant for sustained PA during adolescence. A healthier diet and non-smoking as a young adult are associated with more favourable PA development.

Geographical inequality in health: results from a population-based health survey

Abstract Background The greatest public health concern is social inequality in health, which also includes a geographic dimension. Residents of less resourceful areas are often disproportionately exposed to health risks, and the negative health effects of both low social position and unhealthy surroundings can exacerbate each other. This study aims to explore the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics of local areas, health behavior and mental health. Methods The study used self-reported data from the ‘How are you? 2021’ health survey conducted in the Central Denmark Region (N = 33,925), and parish-level data from Statistics Denmark. Latent Profile Analysis was used to group parishes into five socio-geographic groups based on social composition, where deprived areas were characterized by low income, high unemployment, and low education. Health behavior and mental health were compared across socio-geographic groups using linear regression, contrasts and linear hypothesis tests. Results Citizens in less resourceful areas exhibit higher prevalence rates of daily smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and obesity, alongside higher levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms, as compared to citizens in more affluent areas. However, a higher proportion of individuals in affluent areas exceeded the Danish Health Authority's low-risk recommendations for alcohol consumption. Conclusions The health outcomes of citizens living in less resourceful areas are inferior to those of citizens in more affluent areas. Residents in less resourceful areas exhibit poorer health outcomes across health behaviors and mental health. Based on the study's findings, implementing health promotion initiatives at the local level and addressing the underlying social inequality through structural efforts are necessary. This could potentially help to reduce the disparities in health outcomes in citizens in less resourceful areas compared to those in more affluent areas. Key messages • Health outcomes of citizens in less resourceful areas are inferior to those living in affluent areas. • Local health promotion initiatives and structural efforts addressing social inequality is needed.

Prevalence and correlates of knife-related victimization: Insights from the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample

Few studies have explored the incidence and general trends in knife-related victimizations in the United States (US), especially in settings where preventive interventions can potentially be initiated such as emergency departments (EDs). The goal of the present investigation was to provide an empirical portrait of the psychosocial and behavioral health characteristics of patients assaulted by sharp objects, particularly knives, as revealed in EDs in the US, as less research has focused on knife victimization in the US than internationally. This study uses data from the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), which is part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project distributed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Findings revealed that demographically males (especially those aged 18–25), those in poverty, and members of racially minoritized groups were more likely to be present with knife-related assault. Key factors increasing the odds of knife-related victimization treated in EDs were homelessness, legal involvement, and substance use, particularly alcohol and stimulant use disorder. Somewhat surprisingly, mental health diagnosis was not associated with increased knife-related victimization. Although EDs are critical to treating knife-related victimization, they are also potentially key points to launch prevention for high-risk individuals to reduce subsequent violence stemming from escalation of interpersonal disputes.

Cannabis use and sleep disturbances among White, Black, and Latino adults in the United States: A cross-sectional study of National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (2001-2003) data

ObjectiveResearch investigating cannabis use and sleep health is limited, and results are mixed. Few studies were nationally representative with racially-ethnically diverse samples or assessed potential modifiers. Our objective was to investigate cross-sectional associations between reported cannabis use and sleep disturbances by potential modifiers among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic/Latino men and women in the United States. MethodsWe used nationally representative National Comorbidity Survey-Replication data collected from 2001 to 2003 among 3929 adults. Poisson regression with robust variance estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals of patterns of sleep disturbances identified through latent class analysis. Models adjusted for sociodemographic, health behavior, and clinical characteristics were stratified by race-ethnicity and by race-ethnicity along with sex/gender, and age, separately. ResultsOver half of adults reported cannabis use (52%-ever/lifetime vs 48%-never). We identified two latent classes: multiple sleep disturbances with daytime sleepiness and no sleep disturbances with some daytime sleepiness. Prevalence of multiple sleep disturbances with daytime sleepiness was higher among participants reporting lifetime cannabis use (23% vs 20%). Associations did not vary by race-ethnicity or sex/gender. Lifetime vs never cannabis use was marginally associated with a higher prevalence of multiple sleep disturbances with daytime sleepiness only among adults aged 25-29years (PR=1.09 [95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.18]; eg, PRage 40+ years=1.00 [0.97-1.03], pinteraction=0.03). ConclusionsAssociations between cannabis use and sleep may vary by age. Replication with more recent data and prospective studies that investigate intersectional identities among diverse populations with objective assessments are warranted.