Repeated Cross-sectional Data Research Articles

Estimating the distribution of parameters in differential equations with repeated cross-sectional data.

Differential equations are pivotal in modeling and understanding the dynamics of various systems, as they offer insights into their future states through parameter estimation fitted to time series data. In fields such as economy, politics, and biology, the observation data points in the time series are often independently obtained (i.e., Repeated Cross-Sectional (RCS) data). RCS data showed that traditional methods for parameter estimation in differential equations, such as using mean values of RCS data over time, Gaussian Process-based trajectory generation, and Bayesian-based methods, have limitations in estimating the shape of parameter distributions, leading to a significant loss of data information. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel method called Estimation of Parameter Distribution (EPD) that provides accurate distribution of parameters without loss of data information. EPD operates in three main steps: generating synthetic time trajectories by randomly selecting observed values at each time point, estimating parameters of a differential equation that minimizes the discrepancy between these trajectories and the true solution of the equation, and selecting the parameters depending on the scale of discrepancy. We then evaluated the performance of EPD across several models, including exponential growth, logistic population models, and target cell-limited models with delayed virus production, thereby demonstrating the ability of the proposed method in capturing the shape of parameter distributions. Furthermore, we applied EPD to real-world datasets, capturing various shapes of parameter distributions over a normal distribution. These results address the heterogeneity within systems, marking a substantial progression in accurately modeling systems using RCS data. Therefore, EPD marks a significant advancement in accurately modeling systems with RCS data, realizing a deeper understanding of system dynamics and parameter variability.

The Partially-Matched-Sample Correction in Pseudo Panel Minimum Distance Estimation

Abstract Certain repeated cross-sectional data sets, such as the Current Population Survey (CPS), use special sampling designs by which samples from different times periods are partially-matched. This paper proposes a correction to the optimal weighting matrix in minimum distance (MD) estimation of pseudo panel models to account for such partially-matched samples. This partially-matched-sample correction may be needed if the sample matching rate is nontrivial and, at the same time, there is a fixed effect, a serially correlated idiosyncratic error, or both in the underlying linear panel data model data generating process, all of which lead to a block diagonal structure of the optimal weighting matrix. Using the correction can result in considerable efficiency gains both in finite sample and asymptotically. Furthermore, it is shown that this correction is needed not only for the optimal MD estimator but for any MD estimator to make the inference right. As an illustration, the correction is applied to the classical question of estimating the monetary return to education using the yearly Merged Outgoing Rotation Group (MORG) files from CPS.

Aging Well? Exploring Self-Reported Quality of Life in the Older Austrian Population Based on Repeated Cross-Sectional Data

ABSTRACT Increase in life expectancy around the world puts aging societies with all their challenges on the Global Public Health agenda. In Austria, additional years of life gained are not spent in good health, as healthy life expectancy is far below the European average. Using repeated cross-sectional data from three waves of the Austrian Health Interview Survey (2006, 2014 and 2019), including a total of 10,056 participants aged 65 years and above, this study examined the change in self-reported quality-of-life (QoL) over time and explored associated factors. QoL, estimated by domain scores of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, increased over time but decreased with age in all survey waves. Observed mean scores were significantly higher in males than in females in all QoL domains except the social domain but sex differences disappeared in most domains in the multivariable regression analyses. Instead, factors associated with significantly higher QoL scores included younger age, higher socioeconomic status, living in Western Austria and having no chronic conditions. Statistically significant observed sex differences in QoL in the older-aged Austrian population disappeared when adjusting for income and education. Strategies and measures to increase financial capabilities may have a significant impact on QoL and well-being in this age group.

Exploring organizational aspects that promote health-related preventive behavior: using the example of work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection control measures in Germany, August 2020 to November 2021.

During the communicable coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, organizational infection control measures (oICMs) were introduced in the workplace. The employees' positive attitudes and active participation are relevant for full effectiveness regarding disease prevention. Therefore, we explore changes in employees' attitudes toward oICM at work from August-October 2020 (T0) over January 2021 (T1) to October-November 2021 (T2). We further investigate the role an organization can play in supporting health-related preventive behavior. We considered repeated cross-sectional and longitudinal panel survey data from 5,554 employees of a global supplier of technology and services in Germany. A total of 16 items constitute the attitude scores toward oICM (5-point Likert scale). Via mixed-effect model, aspects associated with employees' attitudes toward oICM were explored. Via 'extreme-group' approach, we compared the 20% of participants with the largest changes into less favorable to the 20% with the largest changes into more favorable attitudes toward oICM over time. The overall positive attitudes toward work-related oICM were more favorable at T1 (mean ± SD: 4.2 ± 0.6, median (IQR): 4.3 (0.8), n = 2,515) compared to T0 (4.1 ± 0.6, 4.1 (0.8), n = 2,417) but less favorable at T2 (3.9 ± 0.7, 4.0 (0.9), n = 2,062). Among others, feeling well-informed about possible work-related risks of infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), perceived psychosocial demands through work environment aspects, and perceived management's commitment to safety and health were associated with long-term positive attitudes toward oICM. Individuals developing more favorable attitudes toward oICM reported feeling well-informed about possible work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection risks and improved COVID-19-specific resilience over time. Individuals developing less favorable attitudes toward oICM reported decreased perceptions of COVID-19-associated risks. oICMs in the workplace were perceived appropriate even after COVID-19 vaccines were widely available although the perceived affective risks about SARS-CoV-2 decreased. Taken together, our findings highlight how organizations can support employees in adopting health-related preventive behavior. Among others, we found that feeling well-informed about possible work-related health risks was positively associated with long-term favorable attitudes toward work-related oICM. We expect that the results contribute to the development of interventions to prepare and adapt to future global public health concerns.

Age, period and cohort effects of heavy episodic drinking by sex/gender and socioeconomic position in Canada, 2000-2021.

Heavy episodic drinking (HED) trends have not been comprehensively examined in Canada. We measured age, period and birth cohort trends in HED in Canada by sex/gender and socioeconomic position. We analyzed repeat cross-sectional data from the 10 provinces in the Canadian Community Health Surveys from 2000 to 2021 using hierarchical cross-classified random effects logistic regression. 1 167 831 respondents aged 12+ . HED was defined as 4+ standard drinks for women or 5+ for men at least monthly in the past 12 months. Socioeconomic position was measured using household income and education. We observed steeper HED decreases in young adult men (aged 18-29) than women (by 14.4% and 8.7%, respectively, from 2015 to 2021) and HED increases in middle adult women (ages 50-64) (by 8.0% from 2000 to 2014). Sex/gender-specific age-period-cohort models revealed strong age and birth cohort effects. In women and men, respectively, HED peaked in young adulthood (18.2% and 33.8%) and decreased with age, and HED was greatest in the 1980-1989 cohort (20.7% and 35.8%) and decreased in the most recent cohort born in 1990-2009 (15.6% and 19.8%), particularly in men. Higher household incomes had greater HED across age, periods and cohorts, while trends varied by education. Compared with lower education groups, people with a bachelor's degree or above had the lowest HED in middle adulthood. People with a bachelor's degree or above had low HED in earlier cohorts, which converged with other education groups in recent cohorts due to a pronounced HED increase, particularly in women. The sex/gender gap in heavy episodic drinking (HED) appears to be converging in Canada: current young adult men are reducing HED, while high-risk cohorts of women are aging into middle adulthood with greater HED. Recent birth cohorts with a bachelor's degree or above experienced pronounced HED increases, which among women suggests greater educational attainment contributes to the converging gender gap in HED.

Dynamics of Intercity Migration Propensity in China: Evidence from an Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

This research conducts a disaggregation of three major temporal interrelations – age, period, and cohort (APC) – to fully grasp variations in intercity migration propensity in China. Using repeated cross-sectional data from the Sixth Population Census in 2010 and the 1% Population Sampling Surveys in 2005 and 2015, we disentangle APC effects on the two-stage migration decision-making process through the Hierarchical APC model. The empirical findings are as follows: the likelihood of migration decreases as individuals age, persisting until their early 60s, after which a slight upward trend is observed. Migrants from the 1940–1985 cohorts exhibit an increasing propensity for migration, which later reverses in subsequent cohorts. However, the average intercity migration propensity does not significantly vary across periods. Furthermore, the decision of where to migrate – whether to move across provincial boundaries – also varies across APC factors. The propensity for interprovincial migration steadily declines with age. The contextual period effects are significant and partially result from the development of foreign-invested enterprises. Individuals born in the 1960s and 1970s are more likely to migrate interprovincially compared to their post-1980s counterparts. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of these results. Our findings shed light on more nuanced mechanisms underlying the dynamics of intercity migration in China, particularly the effects of cohort replacement on migration.

Housing prices, buses and trams in Medellín (Colombia)

This paper aims to establish the impact of two medium-capacity transportation systems (MCTS) on housing prices in Medellín (Colombia): Metroplús, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, and Tranvía, a tramway system. Using repeated cross-sectional data from the Medellín Quality of Life Survey from 2008 to 2018 and difference-in-differences estimators, we find that Metroplús has a negative impact on the growth of rental prices, whereas Tranvía has a positive impact. We do not find any effect on several other outcomes, such as the perception of quality and coverage of the public transportation in the neighborhoods they serve, and the number of private vehicles in the household.

Expanding our understanding of long-term trends in alcohol abstention and consumption in England (2001-19) using two age-period-cohort approaches.

Alcohol consumption has decreased in England in recent decades, while alcohol-specific death rates have remained relatively stable. Age-period-cohort (APC) models offer the potential for understanding these paradoxical trends. This study aimed to use an APC model approach to measure long-term trends in alcohol abstention and consumption in England from 2001 to 2019. The study used grouped and proxy-variable APC models of repeat cross-sectional survey data, set in England (2001-19). Participants were residents in England aged 13 years or over who took part in the Health Survey for England. Outcome variables were alcohol abstention and consumption in units. We created nine age groups (13-15, 16-17, 18-24, 25-34, until 65-74 and 75+, reference 45-54 years), four periods (2001-04, 2005-09, 2010-14 to 2015-19, reference 2005-09) and 18 5-year birth cohorts (1915-19 to 2000-04, reference 1960-64). We proxied age effects (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), period effects (alcohol affordability, internet usage and household alcohol expenditure) and birth cohort effects (prevalence of smoking and prevalence of overweight). The odds of abstaining were considerably larger at young ages, 13-15 years [odds ratio (OR) = 5.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.50-6.43], were lowest during the first period, 2001-04 (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.79-0.86) and had a U-shaped pattern by birth cohort. For units of alcohol, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) increased until age 18-24 years (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.34-1.48) and decreased afterwards, were highest during the first period, 2001-04 (IRR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.05-1.08) and showed an inverted J-shape by birth cohort. Our proxy variable approach revealed that using blood pressure measures, alcohol affordability and prevalence of overweight as proxies resulted in APC effects that differed from our base-case model. However, internet usage, household expenditure on alcohol and smoking prevalence resulted in APC effects similar to our base-case model. The discrepancy between decreasing alcohol consumption and increasing alcohol-related deaths observed in England from 2001 to 2019 may, in part, be explained by the halt in abstention trends since 2010 and a slight consumption decline since 2001.

Use of disposable e-cigarettes among youth who vape in Canada, England and the United States: Repeat cross-sectional surveys, 2017-2023.

To measure changes over time (between 2017 and 2023) in disposable e-cigarette use and popular brands among youth in Canada, England and the United States (US) who vaped. Nine waves of repeat cross-sectional data from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC) Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey. Online surveys conducted in Canada, England and the US between 2017 and 2023. Youth aged 16 to 19 years who had vaped in the past 30 days (n = 19710). Usual type (disposable, cartridge/pod, tank) and brand of e-cigarette used; covariates sex at birth, age, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking status, vaping on ≥20 of the past 30 days. In 2017, the majority of youth who vaped in the past 30 days reported using refillable tank e-cigarettes, whereas disposable e-cigarettes were the least commonly used product type in Canada (10.0%), England (8.6%) and the US (14.4%). Cartridge/pods overtook tank devices in Canada and the US by 2020; however, by 2023, disposables were the leading type of e-cigarette used by youth who vaped in all three countries (Canada = 58.5%; England = 83.2%; US = 67.3%). The shift to disposables occurred among all socio-demographic groups, with few differences by vaping and smoking status. The percentage of youth who vaped that reported 'no usual' brand also decreased substantially from 2017 (29% to 42%) to 2023 (11% to 17%). The rise of disposable e-cigarettes appeared to be driven primarily by individual brands in the US (Puff Bar in 2020/2021, Elf Bar in 2022/2023) and England (Elf Bar in 2022/2023). The e-cigarette market has evolved rapidly with notable shifts in the types of e-cigarettes used by youth who vape in Canada, England and the United States. Although the timing differed across countries, major shifts in device types appear to be driven by individual brands and were often accompanied by increases in vaping prevalence among youth.

A latent class analysis of international change and continuity in adolescent health and wellbeing: A repeat cross-sectional study.

Since the early 2000s, there have been marked trends in adolescent health and wellbeing indicators across Europe, North America and Australia. In particular, there have been substantial declines in youth drinking. We know little about how these trends are underpinned by co-occurring indicators within individuals. This paper aims to analyse change over time in how indicators cluster within individuals and differences in these patterns between five countries with different trends in youth drinking. We analysed four waves of repeat cross-sectional survey data from 15-year-olds in England (n = 5942), Italy (n = 5234), the Netherlands (n = 5408), Hungary (n = 5274), and Finland (n = 7446), which were included in the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) study between 2001/02 and 2013/14. We defined clusters of individuals using multigroup latent class analyses which accounts for change over time. The class indicators included health behaviours, attitudes, wellbeing and relationships. We modelled associations between class membership, sex, and family affluence over time. We identified four classes in all countries: Overall unhealthy, Overall healthy, Moderately healthy and Substance abstainers with behaviour risk indicators. The proportion of adolescents in the Overall unhealthy class declined between 2001/02 and 2013/14 by between 22.8 percentage points (pp) in England and 3.2pp in Italy. The extent to which indicators of health and wellbeing changed as linked clusters differed across countries, but changes in alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use and sexual activity were typically concurrent. Adolescents with low family affluence were more likely to be in the Overall unhealthy class in all years. Improvements in indicators of adolescent health and well-being are due mainly to concurrent declines in drinking, smoking, sexual activity, and cannabis use, but these declines are not consistently associated with improvements in other domains. They have also not led to reductions in inequalities in indicators of health and well-being.

Impact of a nationwide school policy on body mass index in Danish school children: An interrupted time series analysis

ObjectivesA new school policy mandating 45 min physical activity daily during school was introduced in Denmark in 2014. We aimed to evaluate the effect of this policy on BMI in school-aged children. It was hypothesized that the school policy would decrease BMI, especially in the obese fraction of the population (90th percentile BMI). Study designThis register-based study was conducted as a natural experiment. MethodsAnalyses were based on data from The National Child Health Register that contains nationwide data on height and weight from mandatory preventive health examinations completed by school nurses or medical doctors during pre-preparatory classes (0th-3rd grade) and lower secondary education (7th-9th grade). A total of 401,517 children were included in the analyses with annual repeated cross-sectional data covering the period from 2012 to 2018. The effect of the school policy was evaluated using an interrupted time series approach comparing pre- and post-policy slopes in BMI, stratified by sex and age-group. ResultsIn boys, no significant differences were observed in mean BMI slopes from pre-to post-policy in either age-group. In girls, post-policy slopes were significantly higher compared to pre-policy in both age-groups (0th-3rd grade: β:0·034 kg/m2, 95%-CI: (0·024; 0·043), p-value: <0·001; 7th-9th grade: β:0·066 kg/m2, 95%-CI: (0·028; 0·103), p-value: 0·001). No significant differences in slopes were observed in BMI at the 90th percentile from pre-to post-policy for both sexes and across both age-groups. Adjustment for leisure-time physical activity as a potential time-varying confounder did not alter the findings. ConclusionsIn conclusion, we did not detect a significant decrease in BMI levels among school-aged children following the introduction of a nationwide school policy specifying daily physical activity in school. If anything, a small positive change in BMI was observed in girls. More research is needed to understand whether structural changes similar to this requirement are able to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Mindfulness meditation use in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and associations of mindfulness meditation use and also its perceived mental health effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using repeated cross-sectional data from broad online samples weighted to be representative of the adult population in Britain, we estimated the prevalence of mindfulness meditation use and employed logistic regression models to investigate sociodemographic and political associations of mindfulness meditation use and also its perceived mental health effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that 16 percent of adults in Britain had learnt to practice mindfulness in 2021. In covariate-adjusted regression models, having learnt to practice mindfulness was more common among young and middle-aged adults, residents in London, and respondents who voted for the Liberal Democrats. Among mindfulness meditation users who reported having practiced mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic, 60 percent reported that it positively affected their mental health and 24 percent reported that it negatively affected their mental health. Notably, 41 percent of respondents with children under 18 (versus 13 percent of those without minors) reported negative mental health effects. In covariate-adjusted regression models, negative mental health effects from mindfulness practice during the COVID-19 pandemic were not concentrated in any particular groups, except for respondents with children under 18. Mindfulness meditation has become widespread in Britain, but the results in this study suggest that mindfulness meditation use may be concentrated in certain sociodemographic and political groups. The results also suggest that practicing mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic had positive mental health effects for a majority of users, but approximately one-quarter of users reported negative mental health effects. It is therefore important for future research to continue monitoring the prevalence of mindfulness meditation use in society and to investigate under what circumstances, for whom, and in what ways mindfulness-based practices may have negative effects on mental health.

Lower comorbidity scores and severity levels in Veterans Health Administration hospitals: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies found that documentation of comorbidities differed when Veterans received care within versus outside Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Changes to medical center funding, increased attention to performance reporting, and expansion of Clinical Documentation Improvement programs, however, may have caused coding in VHA to change.MethodsUsing repeated cross-sectional data, we compared Elixhauser-van Walraven scores and Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) severity levels for Veterans’ admissions across settings and payers over time, utilizing a linkage of VHA and all-payer discharge data for 2012–2017 in seven US states. To minimize selection bias, we analyzed records for Veterans admitted to both VHA and non-VHA hospitals in the same year. Using generalized linear models, we adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics.ResultsFollowing adjustment, VHA admissions consistently had the lowest predicted mean comorbidity scores (4.44 (95% CI 4.34–4.55)) and lowest probability of using the most severe DRG (22.1% (95% CI 21.4%-22.8%)). In contrast, Medicare-covered admissions had the highest predicted mean comorbidity score (5.71 (95% CI 5.56–5.85)) and highest probability of using the top DRG (35.3% (95% CI 34.2%-36.4%)).ConclusionsMore effective strategies may be needed to improve VHA documentation, and current risk-adjusted comparisons should account for differences in coding intensity.

Positive relationship between bird diversity and human mental health: an analysis of repeated cross-sectional data

An increasing body of research has examined the link between biodiversity of birds and human mental health, but most studies only use cross-sectional data. Few studies have used longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional data to investigate the mental health benefits of bird diversity. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between bird diversity and mental health at the national level using a unique repeated cross-sectional dataset. I used repeated cross-sectional health data from the German National Cohort health study, collected between March, 2014, and September, 2019, and annual bird citizen science data to investigate the effects of bird-diversity exposure on mental health. Mental health was measured using the summary score of the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module 9 (SumPHQ) and the Short Form Health Survey-12 Mental Health Component Scale. As a proxy for bird diversity, I created a unique indicator called reporting-rate richness and combined it with the health data. Reporting-rate richness measures the number of bird species within postcode areas across Germany in probabilities while accounting for variation in survey efforts. Alternative indicators of bird diversity, such as bird-species richness or abundance, were also calculated. Associations between bird diversity and mental health were estimated using linear regression with region and time fixed effects, adjusted for a range of sociodemographic and environmental confounders and spatial autocorrelation. Interaction terms between income levels and reporting-rate richness were also analysed to examine the moderating effect of socioeconomic status. I did the analyses for an unbalanced (n=176 362) and balanced (n=125 423) dataset, with the balanced dataset comprising only regions (postcode areas) in which health data were available for each year. The linear fixed-effects regression analysis indicated a significant negative association between reporting-rate richness and SumPHQ, as observed in both the unbalanced dataset (β -0·02, p=0·017) and the balanced dataset (β -0·03, p=0·0037). Similarly, regression results with both datasets showed a positive relationship between reporting-rate richness and Mental Health Component Scale (MCS; unbalanced β 0·02, p=0·0086; balanced β 0·03, p=0·0018). The moderator analyses revealed a significant influence of socioeconomic status on the relationship between reporting-rate richness and mental health. The robustness of these findings was confirmed through sensitivity analyses. The results suggest that a greater likelihood of having many different bird species in a person's area of residence might positively contribute to mental health, especially for people with lower socioeconomic status. These findings could have implications for biodiversity conservation and health policy decisions, as governments are facing challenges such as global biodiversity loss and growing public mental health problems. None.

A Prospective and Repeat Cross-Sectional Study of Bullying Victimization Among Adolescents From Before COVID-19 to the Two School Years Following the Pandemic Onset

ABSTRACT We examined bullying victimization spanning from before the pandemic to the two school years post COVID-19 onset in adolescents. We used survey data from Canadian secondary school students collected during the 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22 academic years. Generalized Estimating Equations models were used to estimate the population average odds of past 30-day bullying victimization by other students, using both longitudinal (N = 3716) and repeat cross-sectional (N = 23,862; 19,413; 21,897) data. The odds of bullying victimization were lower in 2020–21 and higher in 2021–22 relative to 2019–20. Elevated odds of bullying victimization were found among gender diverse, higher weight, and relatively less affluent students. While remote schooling during the pandemic may have provided a reprieve for some students, bullying appears to have rebounded with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions to exceed pre-pandemic levels. More effective strategies are essential to prevent bullying and improve school contexts for equity denied populations.

Gas cooking indoors and respiratory symptoms in the ECRHS cohort

BackgroundGas cooking is an important source of indoor air pollutants, and there is some limited evidence that it might adversely be associated with respiratory health. Using repeated cross-sectional data from the multi-centre international European Community Respiratory Health Survey, we assessed whether adults using gas cookers have increased risk of respiratory symptoms compared to those using electric cookers and tested whether there was effect modification by a priori selected factors. MethodsData on respiratory symptoms and gas cooking were collected from participants at 26–55 and 38–67 years (median time between examinations 11.4 years) from interviewer-led questionnaires. Repeated associations between gas cooking (versus electric) and respiratory symptoms were estimated using multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, study arm, smoking status, education level, and included random intercepts for participants within study centres. Analyses were repeated using a 3-level variable for type of cooker and gas source. Effect modification by ventilation habits, cooking duration, sex, age atopy, asthma, and study arm were examined. ResultsThe sample included 4337 adults (43.7% males) from 19 centres in 9 countries. Gas cooking increased the risk of “shortness of breath whilst at rest” (OR = 1.38; 95%CI: 1.06–1.79) and “wheeze with breathlessness” (1.32; 1.00–1.74). For several other symptoms, effect estimates were larger in those who used both gas hobs and ovens, had a bottled gas source and cooked for over 60 min per day. Stratifying results by sex and age found stronger associations in females and younger adults. ConclusionThis multi-centre international study, using repeat data, suggested using gas cookers in the home was more strongly associated than electric cookers with certain respiratory symptoms in adults. As gas cooking is common, these results may play an important role in population respiratory health.

Cannabis-related arrests and convictions in Canada: Differences by race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood deprivation

Racialized individuals were disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition in Canada; however, the role of socioeconomic factors and neighborhood deprivation are not well understood. The current study examined race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood deprivation in relation to arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses. Repeat cross-sectional data were analyzed from two waves of the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), a web-based survey conducted in 2019 (n = 12,226) and 2020 (n = 12,815) in Canada among those aged 16 to 65. Respondents were recruited through commercial online panels. Respondents’ postal codes were linked to the INSPQ deprivation index. Multinomial regression models examined the association between race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, neighborhood deprivation, and lifetime arrests or convictions for cannabis offenses. Overall, 4.4% of respondents reported a lifetime arrest or conviction for a cannabis-related offense. Black and Indigenous individuals had more than three times the odds of conviction than White individuals (AOR = 3.90, 95% CI = 2.07–7.35, p = <0.01; AOR = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.78–5.90, p = <0.01, respectively). Differences were still statistically significant after adjusting for cannabis use and socioeconomic factors; however, after adjusting for neighborhood deprivation, only the difference for Black individuals remained. Neighborhood deprivation was associated with cannabis-related convictions: the odds of a conviction among the “most privileged” and “privileged” neighborhoods were approximately half of those in the “most deprived” neighborhoods (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29–0.86, p = 0.01; AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27–0.92, p = 0.03, respectively). Arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses were disproportionately higher among racialized individuals and those living in the most marginalized neighborhoods. Future research should examine whether inequities change following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.

Cigarette Prices and Disparities in Smoking Cessation in the United States.

Achieving cessation in people with established smoking patterns remains a challenge. Increasing cigarette prices has been one of the most successful strategies for lowering smoking rates. The extent to which it has remained effective in encouraging cessation among adults in recent years and how the effectiveness has varied by sociodemographic characteristics is unclear. Using repeated cross-sectional data collected by the Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey, we investigate the relationship between cigarette prices and cessation from 2003 to 2019 in adults at least 25 years old. We examine the associations between price and cessation in the population overall and by sex, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We found mixed support for associations between greater local prices and cessation. Unadjusted models showed that greater local prices were associated with greater odds of cessation, but the associations did not persist after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The associations did not significantly differ by respondent characteristics. Sensitivity analysis using alternative specifications and retail state price as the main predictor showed similar results. Sensitivity analysis with controls for e-cigarette use in the 2014-2019 period showed that greater local price was associated with cessation among adults with less than a high school degree. When stratified by year of data collection, results show that greater local prices were associated with cessation after 2009. Overall, the study adds to the conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of increasing prices on smoking cessation among adults with established smoking patterns. Higher cigarette prices have been one of the most successful tools for lowering smoking prevalence. It remains unclear how effective they have been in recent years in encouraging adults with established smoking patterns to quit. The study's results show that greater local prices were associated with higher odds of cessation, but the association did not persist after sociodemographic adjustment. In a sensitivity analysis, greater local price was associated with cessation among people with less than a high school degree in models controlling for e-cigarette use. We also found evidence that greater local price was associated with cessation after 2009. More comprehensive smoke-free coverage was also associated with greater odds of cessation. The study's results highlight that encouraging cessation among adults with an established smoking pattern remains a challenging policy problem even when cigarette prices rise.

Youth perception of difficulty accessing cannabis following cannabis legalization and during the early and ongoing stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: repeat cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the COMPASS study

BackgroundVery little research has examined how perceptions of cannabis access among underage youth in Canada have changed since cannabis was legalized and since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, this paper examines the effect of the early and ongoing stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period on youth perceptions of cannabis access over time since the onset of the Cannabis Act in 2018 in a large sample of Canadian youth.MethodsUsing data from the COMPASS study (T1:2018/19, T2:2019/20, T3:2020/21), we used both repeat cross-sectional data [T1 (n = 38,890), T2 (n = 24,109), and T3 (n = 22,795)] to examine overall trends in perceptions of cannabis access, and sequential cohort longitudinal data [n = 4,677 students linked from T1 to T3] to examine the differential changes in perceptions of cannabis access among students over time.ResultsIn the cross-sectional sample, the frequency of students reporting that cannabis was easy to access decreased by 26.7% from T1 (51.0%) to T3 (37.4%), although respondents who have used cannabis were more likely to report access was easy. In the longitudinal sample, perceptions of cannabis access being easy increased over time, especially among cannabis users. Perceived ease of access appears to have been slightly impeded during the initial pandemic period but rebounded during the ongoing pandemic period.ConclusionsWhile the prevalence of youth reporting that cannabis is easy to access has declined since legalization and throughout the early and ongoing pandemic periods, a substantial number of underage youth continue to report that cannabis is easy to access. This suggest that there is an ongoing need for continued cannabis control efforts to address this issue.

Trends in adolescent emotional problems in Wales between 2013 and 2019: the contribution of peer relationships.

Epidemiological evidence shows a substantial increase in adolescent emotional problems in many countries, but reasons for this increase remain poorly understood. We tested change in emotional problems in a national sample of young people in Wales in 2013, 2017 and 2019 using identical symptom screens, and examined whether trends were accounted for by changes in youth friendship quality and bullying. The present study of 230,735 11-16-year olds draws on repeat cross-sectional data obtained on three occasions (2013, 2017 and 2019) in national school-based surveys in Wales (conducted by the School Health Research Network). Emotional problems were assessed with a brief validated symptom screen (the SCL-4). There was a significant increase in emotional problem scores between 2013 and 2019 (b[95% CI] = 1.573 [1.380, 1.765]). This increase was observed for all ages and was more pronounced for girls than boys (interaction b [95% CI] = 0.229 [0.004, 0.462]) and for young people from less affluent families (interaction b [95% CI] = -0.564[-0.809, -0.319]). Of the total sample, 14.2% and 5.7% reported frequent face-to-face and cyberbullying respectively. There were modest decreases in friendship quality and increases in rates of bullying between 2013 and 2019, but accounting for these changes did not attenuate estimates of the population-level increase in emotional problems. This study provides evidence of a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales, particularly for young people from less affluent backgrounds. Changes in bullying or friendship quality did not explain this increase.