Individual Psychosocial Factors Research Articles

DECIPHERING THE DRIVERS OF PERSISTENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN INDIA: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

Persistent criminal behavior remains a significant societal concern in India, with its multifaceted nature posing challenges for law enforcement and policymakers. This comprehensive study aims to unravel the underlying factors contributing to such behavior, offering insights into the complex interplay of social, economic, and psychological variables. Drawing upon extensive research and empirical evidence, this study examines various determinants, including socio-economic disparities, cultural influences, family dynamics, and individual psychosocial factors. By exploring the interconnectedness of these variables, we strive to provide a nuanced understanding of the drivers behind persistent criminal conduct in India. Additionally, this study discusses implications for crime prevention strategies and intervention programs tailored to address the root causes of criminal behavior.

Evaluation of a Pilot Program to Prevent the Misuse of Prescribed Opioids Among Health Care Workers: Repeated Measures Survey Study.

Overprescription of opioids has led to increased misuse of opioids, resulting in higher rates of overdose. The workplace can play a vital role in an individual's intentions to misuse prescription opioids with injured workers being prescribed opioids, at a rate 3 times the national average. For example, health care workers are at risk for injuries, opioid dispensing, and diversion. Intervening within a context that may contribute to risks for opioid misuse while targeting individual psychosocial factors may be a useful complement to interventions at policy and prescribing levels. This pilot study assessed the effects of a mobile-friendly opioid misuse intervention prototype tailored for health care workers using the preparation phase of a multiphase optimization strategy design. A total of 33 health care practitioners participated in the pilot intervention, which included 10 brief web-based lessons aimed at impacting psychosocial measures that underlie opioid misuse. The lesson topics included: addiction beliefs, addiction control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and recommendations, beliefs about patient-provider relationships and communication, control in communicating with providers, beliefs about self-monitoring pain and side effects, control in self-monitoring pain and side effects, diversion and disposal beliefs, diversion and disposal control, and a conclusion lesson. Using a treatment-only design, pretest and posttest surveys were collected. A general linear repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess mean differences from pretest to posttest. Descriptive statistics were used to assess participant feedback about the intervention. After completing the intervention, participants showed significant mean changes with increases in knowledge of opioids (+0.459; P<.001), less favorable attitudes toward opioids (-1.081; P=.001), more positive beliefs about communication with providers (+0.205; P=.01), more positive beliefs about pain management control (+0.969; P<.001), and increased intentions to avoid opioid use (+0.212; P=.03). Of the 33 practitioners who completed the program, most felt positive about the information presented, and almost 70% (23/33) agreed or strongly agreed that other workers in the industry should complete a program like this. While attempts to address the opioid crisis have been made through public health policies and prescribing initiatives, opioid misuse continues to rise. Certain industries place workers at greater risk for injury and opioid dispensing, making interventions that target workers in these industries of particular importance. Results from this pilot study show positive impacts on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about communicating with providers and pain management control, as well as intentions to avoid opioid misuse. However, the dropout rate and small sample size are severe limitations, and the results lack generalizability. Results will be used to inform program revisions and future optimization trials, with the intention of providing insight for future intervention development and evaluation of mobile-friendly eHealth interventions for employees.

Joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation

It is hypothesized that air pollution and stress impact the central nervous system through neuroinflammatory pathways Despite this, the association between prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on inflammatory markers in infancy has been underexplored in epidemiology studies. This study investigates the individual and joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). We analyzed data from the South African Drakenstein Child Health Study (N = 225). Indoor air pollution and psychosocial factor measurements were taken in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Circulating inflammatory markers (IL-1β, Il-6, and TNF-α) were measured in serum in the infants at 6 weeks postnatal. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between individual exposures and inflammatory markers. To investigate joint effects of environmental and psychosocial factors, Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were used to create exposure profile clusters. These clusters were added to linear regression models to investigate the associations between exposure profiles and inflammatory markers. All models were adjusted for maternal age, maternal HIV status, and ancestry to control for confounding. Most indoor air pollutants were positively associated with inflammatory markers, particularly benzene and TNF-α in single pollutant models. No consistent patterns were found for psychosocial factors in single-exposure linear regression models. In joint effects analyses, the SOM profile with high indoor air pollution, low SES, and high maternal depressive symptoms were associated with higher inflammation. Indoor air pollutants were consistently associated with increased inflammation in both individual and joint effects models, particularly in combination with low SES and maternal depressive symptoms. The trend for individual psychosocial factors was not as clear, with mainly null associations. As we have observed pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, future research should investigate joint effects of these exposures on inflammation and their health effects.

Associations between psychosocial work environment factors and first-time and recurrent treatment for depression: a prospective cohort study of 24,226 employees.

Adverse factors in the psychosocial work environment are associated with the onset of depression among those without a personal history of depression. However, the evidence is sparse regarding whether adverse work factors can also play a role in depression recurrence. This study aimed to prospectively examine whether factors in the psychosocial work environment are associated with first-time and recurrent treatment for depression. The study included 24,226 participants from the Danish Well-being in Hospital Employees study. We measured ten individual psychosocial work factors and three theoretical constructs (effort-reward imbalance, job strain and workplace social capital). We ascertained treatment for depression through registrations of hospital contacts for depression (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems version 10 [ICD-10]: F32 and F33) and redeemed prescriptions of antidepressant medication (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC]: N06A) in Danish national registries. We estimated the associations between work factors and treatment for depression for up to 2 years after baseline among those without (first-time treatment) and with (recurrent treatment) a personal history of treatment for depression before baseline. We excluded participants registered with treatment within 6 months before baseline. In supplementary analyses, we extended this washout period to up to 2 years. We applied logistic regression analyses with adjustment for confounding. Among 21,156 (87%) participants without a history of treatment for depression, 350 (1.7%) had first-time treatment during follow-up. Among the 3070 (13%) participants with treatment history, 353 (11%) had recurrent treatment during follow-up. Those with a history of depression generally reported a more adverse work environment than those without such a history. Baseline exposure to bullying (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.30-2.32), and to some extent also low influence on work schedule (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.97-1.66) and job strain (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.97-1.57), was associated with first-time treatment for depression during follow-up. Baseline exposure to bullying (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.04-1.88), lack of collaboration (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03-1.67) and low job control (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.00-1.62) were associated with recurrent treatment for depression during follow-up. However, most work factors were not associated with treatment for depression. Using a 2-year washout period resulted in similar or stronger associations. Depression constitutes a substantial morbidity burden in the working-age population. Specific adverse working conditions were associated with first-time and recurrent treatment for depression and improving these may contribute to reducing the onset and recurrence of depression.

Psychosocial factors of insomnia in depression: a network approach

BackgroundInsomnia symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are common and deleterious. Childhood trauma, personality traits, interpersonal distress, and social support contribute to insomnia, but how they interact to affect insomnia remains uncertain.MethodsA total of 791 patients with MDD completed the Insomnia Severity Index, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Interpersonal Relationship Comprehensive Diagnostic Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale-17. This study utilized network analyses to identify the central symptoms of insomnia and their associations with psychosocial factors.ResultsWorrying about sleep was identified as the central symptom in the insomnia network, insomnia and associated personality network, insomnia and associated interpersonal disturbance network, insomnia and associated childhood trauma network, insomnia and associated social support network, and the integrated network of insomnia symptoms and associated psychosocial factors. In the networks of insomnia symptoms and individual psychosocial factors, most psychosocial factors (other than childhood trauma) were directly or indirectly related to insomnia symptoms; however, neuroticism was the only factor directly associated with insomnia symptoms before and after controlling for covariates. In the final integrated network of insomnia symptoms and psychosocial factors, neuroticism was a bridge node and mediated the relationships of social support and interpersonal disturbances with insomnia symptoms, which is clearly presented in the shortest pathways.ConclusionsWorrying about sleep and neuroticism were prominent in the integrated network of insomnia symptoms and associated psychosocial factors, and the edge between them connected psychosocial factors and insomnia symptoms in MDD patients.

A dynamic perspective on depressive symptoms during the first year postpartum.

The current study used novel methodology to characterize intraindividual variability in the experience of dynamic, within-person changes in postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms across the first year postpartum and evaluated maternal and infant characteristics as predictors of between-person differences in intraindividual variability in PPD symptoms over time. With a sample of 322 low-income Mexican-origin mothers (Mage = 27.79; SD = 6.48), PPD symptoms were assessed at 11 time points from 3 weeks to 1 year postpartum (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale; Cox & Holden, 2003). A prenatal cumulative risk index was calculated from individual psychosocial risk factors. Infant temperamental negativity was assessed via a maternal report at the infant age of 6 weeks (Infant Behavior Questionnaire; Putnam et al., 2014). Multilevel location scale analyses in a dynamic structural equation modeling (Asparouhov et al., 2018) framework were conducted. Covariates included prenatal depressive symptoms. On average, within-mother change in depressive symptoms at one time point was found to carry over to the next time point. Nonnull within-mother volatility in PPD symptoms reflected substantial ebbs and flows in PPD symptoms over the first year postpartum. Results of the between-level model demonstrated that mothers differed in their equilibriums, carryover, and volatility of their PPD symptoms. Mothers with more negative infants and those with higher prenatal cumulative risk exhibited higher equilibriums of PPD symptoms and more volatility in symptoms but did not differ in their carryover of PPD symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Poster Symposium: How Well do Western Methods Used to Assess Atypical Aging in Western Countries Generalize to Sub-Saharan African Countries?

Summary Abstract:Risk factors associated with development of neurodegenerative disease has been well-studied in Western and European populations. However, there has been considerably less research in the assessment of such risk factors in developing countries, notably sub-Saharan Africa. There is a paucity of data at the micro level (e.g. neuroimaging and biomarker data) and macro level (e.g. cognitive assessment and psychosocial/environmental risk factors) for development of neurodegenerative conditions in these populations.This symposium examines Western methods of assessment of risk factors and cognitive profiles of older adults at risk for neurodegenerative disorder to determine if they are relevant to sub-Saharan African populations, specifically older Congolese adults. This symposium utilizes an older adult sample that has been comprehensively assessed both at the cellular level (via blood biomarkers and neuroimaging typically used for assessment of dementia in Western populations), to the individual functional level (via cognitive assessment), to finally, psychosocial and environmental risk factors for dementia seen at a community level. First, Dr. Ikanga will present on the association between performance on the African Neuropsychological Battery (ANB) with biomarkers specific to Alzhemer's disease and more general vascular risk factors for cognitive decline. Second, Dr. Hickle will present on structural neuroimaging data of mesial temporal lobe atrophy in comparison with performance on the ANB. Dr. Reyes will then discuss the utility of a cognitive screener developed for use in Sub-Saharan Africa on older adults from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with specific emphasis on educational corrections. Finally, Dr. De Wit will discuss health and psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms as well as the relation between depressive symptoms and neuropsychological functioning in Congolese older adults, to determine if neurocognitive profiles are similar in Sub-Saharan Africa relative to Western populations. This "micro to macro" approach is unique in providing a comprehensive overview of risks associated with dementia in Congolese adults. This is the first study of its kind to utilize a multi-method approach for older adults at risk for dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa, and results suggest that some approaches are more valid in this population than others. Future areas of research will be discussed, as well as feasibility and validity of Western approaches in assessment of dementia to non-Western populations.

Exploring exposure to multiple psychosocial work factors: prospective associations with depression and sickness absence.

Most studies on the psychosocial working environment have focused on evaluating the isolated effect of individual psychosocial work factors or looked at effects through a lens of theories such as job strain or effort-reward imbalance. However, to fathom the intricate nature of workers' experience of occupational strain, there is a need to investigate the combined and cumulative effects of multiple exposures to psychosocial work factors on workers' health. In this prospective cohort study, we created an additive index (range 0-4) on number of baseline exposures to quantitative demands, emotional demands, role conflicts, and workplace bullying. Via logistic regression and Cox regression, we estimated the association between the additive index of psychosocial work factors and depressive disorder and long-term sickness absence (LTSA). We assessed the onset of depressive disorder using the Major Depression Inventory at 6-month follow-up and the onset of LTSA using a national register during 12-month follow-up. For onset of depressive disorder, high exposure to any one [odds ratio (OR) 2.98], two (OR 3.14), three (OR 6.44) and all four (OR 9.62) adverse psychosocial work factors predicted a statistically significant increased risk. For onset of LTSA, high exposure to any one [hazard ratio (HR) 1.13], two (HR 1.67), three (HR 2.31) and all four (HR 4.04) psychosocial work factors predicted an increased risk. The two latter associations were statistically significant. Trend tests indicated an exposure-response relationship for both outcomes. Workers reporting exposure to multiple adverse psychosocial work factors had a higher risk of developing depressive disorder and LTSA.

Period pain presenteeism: investigating associations of working while experiencing dysmenorrhea

Although menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) is common and can have detrimental effects on work and social functioning, little is known about how people manage it in their professional life. Existing evidence indicates that people with dysmenorrhea often engage in presenteeism, meaning they work despite experiencing symptoms and report perceptions of social stigma around menstruation. In this study, we investigated individual health-related factors, psychosocial factors, and work factors associated with period pain presenteeism in a cross-sectional survey study including N = 668 employed people with experiences of dysmenorrhea. Our results show that symptom severity, disclosure of menstrual pain to the leader, and remote work are directly associated with period pain presenteeism. We further found that the presence of medical diagnosis moderates the association between symptom severity and presenteeism. Disclosure to the leader was associated with leader gender, leader-member exchange (LMX), and the absence of a medical diagnosis, indicating a potential mediating effect. We did not, however, find the perceptions of public beliefs regarding the concealment of menstruation to be related to presenteeism or disclosure. Our findings have important implications for research on menstrual health and occupational health management practice.

The association between COVID-19 preventive strategies, virtual reality exercise, use of fitness apps, physical, and psychological health: testing a structural equation moderation model.

Directly or indirectly, individual psychosocial characteristics, motivation, and health consciousness factors help to maintain physical and psychological health through maintaining physical activity. In the current study, we investigated how fitness apps moderate the links among COVID-19 preventive strategies, virtual reality exercise, physical health, and psychological health in Chinese society. A nationwide online survey across China was conducted under a snowball sampling design from February to June 2022. A total of 3,000 questionnaires were distributed across China via online platforms. A total of 2,795 complete detailed replies were included in the final analysis. Structural equation modeling techniques were employed to analyze the collected data through Smart-PLS 3.0. It has been statically proved that all the scales used in this inquiry to determine the mean scores, standard deviation, excess kurtosis, and skewness values were reliable and produced satisfactory results. The overall results (H1: β = 0.385, t = 15.699, p = 0.000; H2: β = 0.159, t = 7.405, p = 0.000; H3: β = 0.122, t = 5.435, p = 0.000; H4: β = 0.143, t = 6.493, p = 0.000; H5: β = 0.157, t = 6.444, p = 0.000; H6: β = 0.184, t = 9.071, p = 0.000; H7: β = 0.192, t = 9.319, p = 0.000; H8: β = 0.235, t = 11.899, p = 0.000; H9: β = -0.114, t = 4.872, p = 0.000; H10: β = 0.042, t = 2.872, p = 0.004; H11: β = 0.041, t = 2.699, p = 0.007) supported our hypothetical model and explained that using fitness apps and virtual reality exercise benefits physical and psychological health. The fitness app's primary purpose during and after the pandemic is to motivate users to keep up with their regular at-home workouts. Exercise and active living are helpful in the prevention of risk factors associated with physical inactivity.

Multiple types of distress are prospectively associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Few modifiable risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer have been identified. We and other investigators have found that individual psychosocial factors related to distress are associated with higher risk of ovarian cancer. The present study examined whether co-occurring distress-related factors are associated with ovarian cancer risk. Five distress-related factors were measured repeatedly over 21 years of follow-up: depression, anxiety, social isolation, widowhood, and, in a subset or women, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cox proportional hazards models estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ovarian cancer for a time-updated count of distress-related factors, in age-adjusted models, then further adjusted for ovarian cancer risk factors and behavior-related health risk factors. Across 1,193,927 person-years of follow-up, 526 incident ovarian cancers occurred. Women with ≥3 versus no distress-related psychosocial factors demonstrated increased ovarian cancer risk (HRage-adjusted = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.16, 2.52). No significant difference in ovarian cancer risk was observed in women with one or two versus no distress-related psychosocial factors. In the subsample with PTSD assessed, ≥3 versus no distress-related psychosocial factors was associated with twofold greater ovarian cancer risk (HRage-adjusted = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.01, 4.29). Further analysis suggested that women at highest ovarian cancer risk had PTSD co-occurring with any other distress-related factor (HR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.20, 4.01). Adjusting for cancer risk factors and health behaviors minimally impacted risk estimates. Presence of multiple indicators of distress was associated with risk of ovarian cancer. When including PTSD as an indicator of distress, the association was strengthened.

Using the theory of planned behavior to identify key beliefs underlying flood‐related adaptive behaviors in the province of Québec, Canada

AbstractGiven that flooding episodes are occurring at a greater rate due to climate change, individuals must adopt certain adaptation behaviors to prevent or mitigate the anticipated or negative impact of such events. However, few studies have assessed if and how households and individuals have actually taken action in this regard. Because some individual beliefs can be linked to facilitating factors and barriers to action, a better understanding of the adoption of adaptive behaviors requires a combined analysis of individual psychosocial factors. The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the reasons underlying the adoption of behaviors related to structural adaptation to flooding by people living in or near flood‐prone areas in the Province of Québec (Canada). Results of a series of structural equation modeling showed that behavioral, normative and control beliefs were all significant predictors of the respondents' intention to adopt structural flood protective behaviors, with normative beliefs being the strongest. By identifying the best psychosocial predictors of the adoption of such behaviors, the results of this study provide valuable insights regarding the most effective factors to be used in public health messages to promote the adoption of behaviors related to structural adaptation to flooding.

Мікросоціальні (сімейні) фактори ризику та протекції у виникненні синдрому подразненого кишечника в дітей

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a stress-sensitive gastrointestinal disorder, which occurs as a result of the complex interaction of individual physiological, psychological and psychosocial factors. A tendency of IBS to cluster in families is caused not only by genetic predisposition but also by epigenetic mechanisms of psychosocial transmission of somatic symptoms from parents to children. Purpose - to determine the role of certain microsocial risk factors in the development of IBS in children. Materials and methods. The study involved 54 patients aged 6 to 12 years old with a diagnosis of IBS established in accordance with the Rome IV criteria, as well as 50 practically healthy children from the control group. For a detailed study of perinatal and microsocial risk factors and prevention of IBS, the developmental histories of children were analyzed and the «family history» method was used (descriptive and phenomenological collection of life history from the patient’s parents). Data were processed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed with GraphPad (Prism 5.0). Results. Perinatal risk factors that can lead to the development of IBS in children are birth from the first in order of delivery, caesarean section, breastfeeding for less than 3 months. There is also a correlation between an increased risk of IBS in children and the presence of psychosomatic disorders in infants and young children, a tendency to somatization in the mother; the frequency of visits to doctors by the child and mother more than 6 times a year; authoritarian parenting style by the mother and hyperprotective parenting style by the father; frequent overeating and food intolerances. On the contrary, birth from a multigravid woman, absence of psychosomatic disorders of infants and toddlers, parental emotional warmth and democratic parenting may be protective of the development of IBS in children. Conclusions. A number of microsocial factors have been identified that are associated with an increased risk of IBS. Awareness of those factors and consequently their correction may be important for the prevention of IBS in children. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Associations between psychosocial factors and work ability in a Tunisian electricity and gas company

IntroductionWork ability can be influenced by numerous factors, particularly psychosocial ones. These latter can be individual psychosocial factors but also psychosocial factors at the workplace.ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore psychosocial determinants of work ability among workers in a Tunisian electricity and gas company.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among 83 male workers in a Tunisian electricity and gas company. We used a self-administered questionnaire that included socio-demographic profile, psychosocial factors assessment through the Job content questionnaire (JCQ) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software. We used the student’s test to compare means between two groups.ResultsThe mean WAI score among workers in the studied electricity and gas company was 8.96 (SD=1.37). At the time of the survey, one person out of 3 among the participants suffered from a psychological distress (37.3% with a GHQ-12 score ≥ 3). These Workers had a weaker work ability compared to those with not (p=0.033). We found also that having low social support and passive jobs were associated with low work ability (p=0.003 and p=0.005 respectively).ConclusionsMost personal and occupational psychosocial factors had significant associations with WAI in the studied company. Thus, enhancing the psychosocial environment in the workplace can promote work ability in such occupations.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The role of discrimination and adverse childhood experiences in disordered eating

BackgroundIn clinical research, there has been a call to move beyond individual psychosocial factors towards identifying cultural and social factors that inform mental health. Similar calls have been made in the eating disorders (ED) field underscoring the need to understand larger sociocultural influences on EDs. Discrimination is a social stressor that may influence mental health in similar ways to traumatic or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Given the high rates of EDs and discrimination among marginalized groups, it is vital to understand the role of discrimination and ACEs as predictors of ED symptoms in these populations. The aim of this study is to examine how perceived discrimination predicts ED pathology when statistically adjusting for gender, race, and ACEs.MethodsThe diverse study sample consisted of 331 undergraduate students from a longitudinal cohort study (ages 18–24; 66% female; 35% White/non-Hispanic). Participants completed measures of everyday discrimination, ACEs, and ED pathology.ResultsFollowing adjustment for multiple statistical comparisons, the frequency of daily discrimination predicted all ED symptoms above and beyond history of ACEs. In follow-up analyses, number of reasons for discrimination predicted cognitive restraint and purging. Differences in ED symptomatology were found based on the reason for discrimination, gender, and race. Specifically, those who experienced weight discrimination endorsed higher scores on all ED symptoms, and those experiencing gender discrimination endorsed higher body dissatisfaction, cognitive restraint, and restriction. People of color endorsed higher restriction, while female participants endorsed higher scores on all ED symptom with the exception of cognitive restraint.ConclusionDiscrimination is a salient risk factor for ED symptoms even when accounting for individuals’ history of ACEs. Future research should utilize an intersectional approach to examine how perceived discrimination affects ED pathology over time. (Word count: 234).

PATHWAYS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD OBESOGENIC ENVIRONMENT DURING COVID-19: IMPACTS AND WAY FORWARD

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, obesity is already a pandemic illness on its own. It has been a public health priority in developing countries especially Malaysia where the obesity rate in the country is one of the highest in South East Asia. Early studies have concurred that the presence of COVID-19 makes anatomising the obesity pandemic even more urgent as impaired metabolic health increase complications and mortality in COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 induced movement restriction orders and related policies by the Malaysia government are believed to have altered the country’s food and physical activity environments. The paper expanded the original Neighbourhood Environment, Health Behaviours and BMI (NEHB-BMI Model) where the pathways of neighbourhood obesogenic environment that reflects COVID-19 induced changes to the constructs from the perspective of Malaysia is presented. Through the discussion, three key variables were added to the model: 1) government environment; 2) establishment/business environment; and 3) individual psychosocial factors. Exploring the impacts of COVID-19 to the obesogenic environment constructs paves way to gauging insights by allowing associations between the presented variables to be tested in future studies, especially in the South East Asian region where such studies are very limited.

Longitudinal transitions in tobacco use in youth and young adults: A latent transition analysis of the population assessment of tobacco and health study from Wave 1 to 5

BackgroundTobacco use by youth and young adults can lead to significant long-term health problems. We aim to understand transitions in tobacco use patterns among these groups and the factors that affect transition patterns. MethodsUsing the five waves of data from the nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (2013–2019), we conducted latent class analysis and latent transition analysis to understand tobacco use classes and the longitudinal transitions between classes. We also adjusted for covariates, including demographics, individual behaviors, household environment, and psychosocial factors, to capture their effects on class transition probabilities. ResultsThree tobacco use behaviors were identified: non-current user (C1), moderate e-cigarette user (C2), and poly-tobacco user (C3). At baseline (Wave 1), 94.4% of participants were classified as C1, 3.2% as C2, and 2.4% as C3, and the distribution shifted towards C2 and C3 over time. Progression to the next class represented the most common transitions (14.1% C2 to C3, 10.7% C1 to C2), while the direct progression from C1 to C3 was rare (0.6%). Being male, White, adult, living in smoking-allowed households, past-year alcohol use, drug use, internalizing problems, and social media follower of tobacco brands were associated with a faster progression to poly-tobacco use. ConclusionsThe transition patterns implied that e-cigarette use might be an intermediate progression from non-current use into poly-tobacco use. Individual behaviors, household environment, and psychosocial factors are associated with elevated risks of progression. The findings may inform tobacco prevention and cessation policies among youth and young adults.

The role of self-regulation strategies in physical activity behavior change: results from an exercise prescription program at a Federally Qualified Health Center

ABSTRACT Physical activity (PA) improves quality of life and prevents chronic disease, yet many adults are inactive. Planning with health care providers in the form of exercise “prescriptions“ may increase PA, but the role of individual psychosocial factors within exercise prescription programs is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the role of self-regulation strategies (e.g., goal setting, self-monitoring, reinforcements) in PA behavior change within the context of an exercise prescription program. Patients at a large, Federally Qualified Health Center with an on-site exercise facility (ie, ”Wellness Center”) referral were eligible to exercise with a personal fitness advisor. Self-reported PA and use of 15 self-regulation strategies were measured via survey at two time points and merged with electronic health records and attendance data. Patients (n = 151) were, on average, 50.3 ± 13.3 years and mostly female (76.8%). Almost one-third (30.5%) were Hispanic/Latino, 48.3% were non-Hispanic Black, and 20.5% were non-Hispanic white. Participants completed 10.7 ± 12.0 in-person exercise sessions with a fitness advisor. Between baseline and follow-up, the self-regulation strategies that had the largest change in frequency over time were keeping track of PA (p < 0.001), thinking about surroundings (p < 0.001), rewarding yourself for PA (p < 0.001), making PA more enjoyable (p < 0.001), setting goals (p < 0.001), and trying different kinds of PA (p < 0.001). Among exercise prescription program participants, the total self-regulation strategies score was significantly associated with physical activity at follow-up (p = 0.04). Leveraging self-regulatory skill-building activities within the context of exercise prescription programs in clinical settings may provide a personalized and multicomponent approach to PA promotion. Self-regulation strategy training for fitness advisors and/or health care providers has great potential for supporting long-term health behaviors like PA for managing chronic disease among underserved patients.

An Observational Study of Anticipatory Coping Behavior of Women for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia for Breast Cancer Treatment.

BackgroundIt is necessary to explore patients' expectations of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, anticipate reactions to alopecia, and how women intend to prepare for an altered body appearance. Studies regarding women's critical aspects of anticipatory coping behavior (anticipate reactions to alopecia and how women intend to prepare for a modified body appearance) towards hair loss and factors influencing it are sparse, especially from India. This study helped identify the factors influencing the anticipatory coping behavior toward chemotherapy-induced alopecia.MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional analytic study carried out for three months, including all breast cancer patients admitted for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Anticipatory coping behavior before and during each chemotherapy cycle period (minimum one cycle) was assessed using the World Health Organization scale. Study patients received two sets of questionnaires. The first question is asked before the start of chemotherapy, and the second is requested at least four weeks after completing the first chemotherapy. The first question included baseline demographic data, disease details, and awareness about hair loss. The second question had hair loss pattern, severity of cancer-induced alopecia, and rated the degree of alopecia in a visual analog scale score. Individual psychosocial and social factors associated with the anticipatory coping behavior were documented using a self-administered questionnaire.ResultsA total of 40 patients were included in the study. All of the participants reported anticipating hair loss. Five percent of the patients came to terms with the inevitability of hair loss. Around 22.5% of them became ready, 67.5% of the patients took control and 52.5% of the patients felt shame in front of society due to a lack of anticipatory behavior. About 47.5% of the participants felt that not being willing to wear a wig is a reason for deficient anticipatory coping behavior.ConclusionThe study patients' main reasons for lack of anticipatory coping behavior were shame in society, insecure thoughts about the future, and unwillingness to live with a wig. It should be advised to such patients that losing hair is not a health problem (though it is an emotional issue), and clinicians can encourage them to use hats. Further multi-institutional prospective studies are required to assess the poor motivation of health care professionals to achieve target anticipatory coping behavior.

Development and validation of a prediction model for depression in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome: A study protocol.

IntroductionThe high prevalence and severity of depression in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a critical health threat that must be taken seriously. The identification of high-risk groups for depression in adolescents with PCOS is essential to preventing its development and improving its prognosis. At present, the routine screening of depression in adolescents with PCOS is mainly performed using scales, and there is no early identification method for high-risk groups of PCOS depression in adolescents. It is necessary to use a warning model to identify high-risk groups for depression with PCOS in adolescents.Methods and analysisModel development and validation will be conducted using a retrospective study. The study will involve normal adolescent girls as the control group and adolescent PCOS patients as the experimental group. We will collect not only general factors such as individual susceptibility factors, biological factors, and psychosocial environmental factors of depression in adolescence, but will also examine the pathological factors, illness perception factors, diagnosis and treatment factors, and symptom-related factors of PCOS, as well as the outcome of depression. LASSO will be used to fit a multivariate warning model of depression risk. Data collected between January 2022 and August 2022 will be used to develop and validate the model internally, and data collected between September 2022 and December 2022 will be used for external validation. We will use the C-statistic to measure the model's discrimination, the calibration plot to measure the model's risk prediction ability for depression, and the nomogram to visualize the model.DiscussionThe ability to calculate the absolute risk of depression outcomes in adolescents with PCOS would enable early and accurate predictions of depression risk among adolescents with PCOS, and provide the basis for the formulation of depression prevention and control strategies, which have important theoretical and practical implications.Trial registration number[ChiCTR2100050123]; Pre-results.