TRAILS Study Research Articles

The dual role of friendship and antipathy relations in the marginalization of overweight children in their peer networks: The TRAILS Study.

Weight-based stigma compromises the social networks of overweight children. To date, research on the position of overweight children in their peer network has focused only on friendship relations, and not on negative relationship dimensions. This study examined how overweight was associated with relations of friendship and dislike (antipathies) in the peer group. Exponential random graph models (ERGM) were used to examine friendship and antipathy relations among overweight children and their classmates, using a sub-sample from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (N = 504, M age 11.4). Findings showed that overweight children were less likely to receive friendship nominations, and were more likely to receive dislike nominations. Overweight children were also more likely than their non-overweight peers to nominate classmates that they disliked. Together, the results indicate that positive and negative peer relations are impacted by children’s weight status, and are relevant to addressing the social marginalization of overweight children.

Childhood life events, immune activation and the development of mood and anxiety disorders: the TRAILS study

The experience of childhood life events is associated with higher vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders. One of the pathways suggested to lead to this vulnerability is activation of the immune system. The aim of this study is to find out whether the association between childhood life events and the development of mood and anxiety disorders is predicted by the activation of the immune system. This study was performed in TRAILS, a large prospective population cohort, from which a subgroup was selected (N=1084, 54.3% female, mean age 19.0 (s.d., 0.6)). Childhood life events before age 16 were assessed using questionnaires at age 12, 14, 16 and 19. Immune activation was assessed at age 16 by elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and by levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies against the herpes viruses herpes simplex virus 1, cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus. At age 19, the presence of mood and anxiety disorders was determined using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0. Regression analyses were used to study the association between life events, the inflammatory markers and mental health. We found that childhood life events score was associated with risk of mood disorders (B=0.269, P<0.001) and anxiety disorders (B=0.129, P<0.001). Childhood life events score was marginally associated with elevated hsCRP (B=0.076, P=0.006), but not with the antibody levels. This was especially due to separation trauma (P=0.015) and sexual abuse (P=0.019). Associations lost significance after correcting for lifestyle factors such as body mass index and substance abuse (P=0.042). None of the inflammatory markers were associated with development of anxiety disorders or mood disorders. In conclusion, the life event scores predicted the development of anxiety disorders and mood disorders at age 19. Life event scores were associated with elevated hsCRP, which was partly explained by lifestyle factors. Elevated hsCRP was not associated with the development of psychiatric disorders at age 19.

On shock waves and the role of hyperthermal chemistry in the early diffusion of overdense meteor trains

Studies of meteor trails have until now been limited to relatively simple models, with the trail often being treated as a conducting cylinder, and the head (if considered at all) treated as a ball of ionized gas. In this article, we bring the experience gleaned in other fields to the domain of meteor studies, and adapt this prior knowledge to give a much clearer view of the microscale physics and chemistry involved in meteor-trail formation, with particular emphasis on the first 100 or so milliseconds of the trail formation. We discuss and examine the combined physico-chemical effects of meteor-generated and ablationally amplified cylindrical shock waves which appear in the ambient atmosphere immediately surrounding the meteor train, as well as the associated hyperthermal chemistry on the boundaries of the high temperature postadiabatically expanding meteor train. We demonstrate that the cylindrical shock waves produced by overdense meteors are sufficiently strong to dissociate molecules in the ambient atmosphere when it is heated to temperatures in the vicinity of 6,000 K, which substantially alters the considerations of the chemical processes in and around the meteor train. We demonstrate that some ambient O2, along with O2 that comes from the shock dissociation of O3, survives the passage of the cylindrical shock wave, and these constituents react thermally with meteor metal ions, thereby subsequently removing electrons from the overdense meteor train boundary through fast, temperature independent, dissociative recombination governed by the second Damkohler number. Possible implications for trail diffusion and lifetimes are discussed.

Why Does Frustration Predict Psychopathology? Multiple Prospective Pathways over Adolescence: A Trails Study

Adolescents’ temperamental frustration is a developmental precursor of adult neuroticism and psychopathology. Because the mechanisms that underlie the prospective association between adolescents’ high frustration and psychopathology (internalizing/externalizing) have not been studied extensively, we quantified three pathways: stress generation [mediation via selection/evocation of stressful life events (SLEs)], cross–sectional frustration–psychopathology overlap (‘carry–over’/common causes), and a direct (non–mediated) vulnerability effect of frustration, including moderation of SLE impact. Frustration and psychopathology were assessed at age 16 with the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire and the Youth Self–Report. No gender differences in frustration were observed. At age 19, psychopathology was reassessed by using the Adult Self–Report, while occurrence of endogenous (self–generated) and exogenous (not self–generated) SLEs during the interval (ages 16–19) were ascertained with the Life Stress Interview, an investigator–based contextual–stressfulness rating procedure (N = 957). Half of the prospective effect of frustration on psychopathology was explained by baseline overlap, including effects of ‘carry–over’ and common causes, about 5% reflected stress generation (a ‘vicious’ cycle with the environment adolescents navigate and shape), and 45% reflected unmediated association: a direct vulnerability effect including stress sensitivity or moderation of SLE impact. After adjustment for their overlap, frustration predicted the development of externalizing but not internalizing symptoms. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology

Using Response Surface Analysis to Interpret the Impact of Parent-Offspring Personality Similarity on Adolescent Externalizing Problems.

Personality similarity between parent and offspring has been suggested to play an important role in offspring's development of externalizing problems. Nonetheless, much remains unknown regarding the nature of this association. This study aimed to investigate the effects of parent–offspring similarity at different levels of personality traits, comparing expectations based on evolutionary and goodness‐of‐fit perspectives. Two waves of data from the TRAILS study (N = 1587, 53% girls) were used to study parent–offspring similarity at different levels of personality traits at age 16 predicting externalizing problems at age 19. Polynomial regression analyses and Response Surface Analyses were used to disentangle effects of different levels and combinations of parents and offspring personality similarity. Although several facets of the offspring's personality had an impact on offspring's externalizing problems, few similarity effects were found. Therefore, there is little support for assumptions based on either an evolutionary or a goodness‐of‐fit perspective. Instead, our findings point in the direction that offspring personality, and at similar levels also parent personality might impact the development of externalizing problems during late adolescence. © 2017 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology

EuReCa 2017: Follow up in Republic of Serbia: Six months report

Aims and goals: EuReCa-Serbia 2017 data analysis in comparison with previous EuReCa-Serbia results. Methodology: Prospective study of an observational trail of the European Resuscitation Council registered Clinical Trial NCT02236819 and approved by the US healthcare authorities. The data’s from the Serbian cardiac arrest register has been analyzed in period of 1st of January 2017 until 1st of July 2017, Data’s has been uploaded by lead investigators from each participating center into an online database and application at www.eureca. rs. Collected data’s cover the population of 902.970 citizens in Republic of Serbia. Results: Cardiac arrest occurred in 446 cases (49.5/100.000) during first 6 months of 2017, with 199 male and with 81 females. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is initiated in 280 (31.3/100.000) patients. The etiology of cardiac arrest (CA) in most of the cases had cardiac cause in 204 cases (22.6/100.000). The most frequent location of CA was at home with 210 cases (23.3/100.000). CA has been witnessed in 201 cases (22.3/100.000). In 36 (4/100.000) cases CPR was initiated by the witnesses (CPR 20, CCO 16). In 30 (3.3/100.000) cases CPR was dispatcher assisted. The initial rhythm was shockable in 80 cases (8.8/100.000) ROSC achieved in 63 (7/100.000) patients. Patients with ROSC delivered to hospital were 54 (6/100.000). Conclusion: By monitoring of the incidence, the epidemiology, the process itself and the outcomes of cardiac arrest in the observed period of 2015-2017 i is concluded that there is an increase in the return of spontaneous circulation, which is encouraging. Further monitoring of these parameters is necessary and essential to indicate which factors should be improved to bring the incidence of spontaneous circulation closer to the countries with higher standards.

Attentional Bias for Reward and Punishment in Overweight and Obesity: The TRAILS Study.

More than 80% of obese adolescents will become obese adults, and it is therefore important to enhance insight into characteristics that underlie the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity at a young age. The current study is the first to focus on attentional biases towards rewarding and punishing cues as potentially important factors. Participants were young adolescents (N = 607) who were followed from the age of 13 until the age of 19, and completed a motivational game indexing the attentional bias to general cues of reward and punishment. Additionally, self-reported reward and punishment sensitivity was measured. This study showed that attentional biases to cues that signal reward or punishment and self-reported reward and punishment sensitivity were not related to body mass index or the change in body mass index over six years in adolescents. Thus, attentional bias to cues of reward and cues of punishment, and self-reported reward and punishment sensitivity, do not seem to be crucial factors in the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity in adolescents. Exploratory analyses of the current study suggest that the amount of effort to gain reward and to avoid punishment may play a role in the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity. However, since the effort measure was a construct based on face validity and has not been properly validated, more studies are necessary before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Effects of parenting quality on adolescents' personality resemblance to their parents. The TRAILS study

This study considers the development of resemblance between 741 adolescents and their biological parents, across six NEO-PI-R personality traits known to be important in psychological problems: anger-hostility, impulsiveness, vulnerability, assertiveness, excitement-seeking, and self-discipline. We modelled the association between perceived parental warmth and rejection at age eleven and personality resemblance to parents at about age sixteen. Parenting experienced during early adolescence was related to the degree and direction in which adolescents resembled their parents five years later in life. Rejection, especially from fathers, significantly predicted a smaller resemblance to both the parents. Girls were more strongly affected by parental quality than boys, and there was some indication that adolescents responded in opposite ways to parenting from mothers and fathers. This study is a first step in uncovering the complex interplay between parenting, gender, and the current generation's ability to develop personality traits independent from the previous generation.

Abstracts—Symposia

Background: Executive functioning (EF) has repeatedly been associated with the use and misuse of alcohol and other substances in adolescence. Impairments in executive functions, such as response inhibition and working memory, important for organizing, controlling and planning of behavior have been found to be predictive of problematic and heavy alcohol use in adolescents. How these functions are related to the initiation of alcohol use (and other substances) has less often been studied in early adolescence. Method: Results of two different studies are presented. The first sample included 534 adolescents (69% boys) between 12 and 15 years at baseline. Two measures of EF, response inhibitions and working memory, were assessed at four different waves including a period of two years, and outcomes were linked to the onset of drinking and the onset of binge drinking. In a second study (TRAILS study), 715 adolescents (49% boys) were followed over a period of 5 years (11-16) years. Participants completedmeasures of EF (response inhibition and working memory), effortful control and reward sensitivity. Only substance naive (alcohol and/or cannabis) adolescents were included at baseline to look at the predictive effects of behavioral control (EF + effortful control). Results: The results of the survival analysis in the first study demonstrated that the onset of alcohol use and the onset of binge drinking was predicted by weak EF functioning. That is, adolescents with relatively poor EF, initiated alcohol use and binge drinking at a younger age compared to adolescents with relatively good EF. In the second study, only effortful at age 11 predicted alcohol and cannabis use at age 16, and only for those who weremore reward sensitive. We did not find an effect of EF on cannabis or alcohol use. Discussion: The findings of both studies highlight the important role of EF and behavioral control, in relation to the onset of drinking and cannabis use in young adolescents. These results are important in relation to previous results linking cognitive deficits to alcohol use. It appears that some deficits are present before alcohol or cannabis use is initiated.

Are Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Perceived Stress Related to Functional Somatic Symptoms in Adolescents? The TRAILS Study.

ObjectiveStressors have been related to medically insufficiently explained or functional somatic symptoms (FSS). However, the underlying mechanism of this association is largely unclear. In the current study, we examined whether FSS are associated with different perceived stress and cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) levels during a standardized stressful situation, and whether these associations are symptom-specific.MethodsWe examined 715 adolescents (16.1 years, 51.3% girls) from the Dutch cohort study Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Sample during the Groningen Social Stress Test (GSST). FSS were assessed by the Youth Self-Report, and clustered into a cluster of overtiredness, dizziness and musculoskeletal pain and a cluster of headache and gastrointestinal symptoms. Perceived stress levels (i.e. unpleasantness and arousal) were assessed by the Self-Assessment Manikin, and cardiac ANS activity by assessing heart rate variability (HRV-HF) and pre-ejection period (PEP). Perceived stress and cardiac ANS levels before, during, and after the GSST were studied as well as cardiac ANS reactivity. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations.ResultsPerceived arousal levels during (beta = 0.09, p = 0.04) and after (beta = 0.07, p = 0.047) the GSST, and perceived unpleasantness levels before (beta = 0.07, p = 0.048) and during (beta = 0.12, p = 0.001) the GSST were related to FSS during the past couple of months. The association between perceived stress and FSS was stronger for the FSS cluster of overtiredness, dizziness and musculoskeletal pain than for the cluster of headache and gastrointestinal symptoms. Neither ANS activity levels before, during, and after the GSST, nor maximal HF-HRV and PEP reactivity were related to FSS.ConclusionsThis study suggests that perceived stress levels during social stress are related to FSS, whereas cardiac ANS activity and reactivity are not related to FSS.

Time-to-treatment of mental disorders in a community sample of Dutch adolescents. A TRAILS study.

Timely recognition and treatment of mental disorders with an onset in childhood and adolescence is paramount, as these are characterized by greater severity and longer persistence than disorders with an onset in adulthood. Studies examining time-to-treatment, also referred to as treatment delay, duration of untreated illness or latency to treatment, and defined as the time between disorder onset and initial treatment contact, are sparse and all based on adult samples. The aim of this study was to describe time-to-treatment and its correlates for any health care professional (any care) and secondary mental health care (secondary care), for a broad range of mental disorders, in adolescents. Data from the Dutch community-based cohort study TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS; N = 2230) were used. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was administered to assess DSM-IV disorders, the age of onset, and the age of initial treatment contact with any health care professional in 1584 adolescents of 18-20 years old. In total 43% of the adolescents (n = 675) were diagnosed with a lifetime DSM-IV disorder. The age of initial treatment contact with secondary care was based on administrative records from 321 adolescents without a disorder onset before the age of 10. Descriptive statistics, cumulative lifetime probability plots, and Cox regression analyses were used analyze time-to-treatment. The proportion of adolescents who reported lifetime treatment contact with any care varied from 15% for alcohol dependence to 82% for dysthymia. Regarding secondary care, proportions of lifetime treatment contact were lower for mood disorders and higher for substance dependence. Time-to-treatment for any care varied considerably between and within diagnostic classes. The probability of lifetime treatment contact for mood disorders was above 90%, whereas for other mental disorders this was substantially lower. An earlier age of onset predicted a longer, and the presence of a co-morbid mood disorder predicted a shorter time-to-treatment in general. Disorder severity predicted a shorter time-to-treatment for any care, but not for secondary care. Time-to-treatment for secondary care was shorter for adolescents from low and middle socioeconomic background than for adolescents from a high socioeconomic background. Although the time-to-treatment was shorter for adolescents than for adults, it was still substantial, and the overall patterns were remarkably similar to those found in adults. Efforts to reduce time-to-treatment should therefore be aimed at children and adolescents. Future research should address mechanisms underlying time-to-treatment and its consequences for early-onset disorders in particular.

Extended defect study in Si: EBIC versus LBIC

A comparative study of multicrystalline Si and plastically deformed single crystalline Si by the electron (EBIC) and laser beam induced current (LBIC) methods has been carried out. It is shown that the LBIC contrast of two-dimensional defects in crystals with large diffusion length can be a few times higher than that in the EBIC method. Thus, in recent Si structures the LBIC method allows to reveal grain boundaries with the lower recombination velocity than the EBIC on. The advantages of LBIC for the dislocation trail study in Si and for backside metallization effects in solar cells are demonstrated.

Disparities in Depressive Symptoms Between Heterosexual and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth in a Dutch Cohort: The TRAILS Study.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth experience elevated levels of depressive symptoms compared to heterosexual youth. This study examined how differences in depressive symptoms between heterosexual and LGB youth developed from late childhood to early adulthood. The association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms was estimated from age 11 to 22 using data from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey, a longitudinal Dutch cohort study. Of the 1738 respondents (54.8 % girls) that provided information on sexual orientation, 151 self-identified as LGB. In line with the Minority Stress Framework, it was tested whether self-reported peer victimization and parental rejection mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that LB girls and bisexuals were at increased risk of depressive symptoms already at age 11. The difference increased over time and was related to pubertal development in girls and bisexual individuals. Furthermore, self-reported peer victimization (for both boys and girls), as well as parental rejection (for girls/bisexuals), mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. The authors conclude that already in late childhood, associations between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms are found, partly due to minority stress mechanisms.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10964-015-0403-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Honoring Voices, Inspiring Futures: Young People's Engagement in Open Space Planning

Growing Up Boulder—a child- and youth-friendly city initiative in Boulder, Colorado, USA—engaged 95 children, ages 4–17, in a planning process with the City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department. The goal was to understand current uses of the North Trail Study Area and to identify strategies to improve visitor experiences for the 7,700-acre study area. This report describes specific methods of engagement, outcomes of the engagement, and reflections on the process. Youth perspectives led to concrete changes to the plan and to organizational shifts within OSMP, allowing for greater youth engagement in the future.

Effects of oral iron (ferrous versus ferric) supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in pregnant women with iron deficiency: controlled trial

Background Pregnant women are more prone to oxidative stress. Iron deficiency anemia not only affects hematological parameters but also disturbs body oxidative balance, which impairs pregnancy outcome. Besides, iron therapy may generate harmful oxygen species. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nature of oral iron supplementation (ferrous vs. ferric) in pregnant women with iron deficiency on oxidative stress and its correlation with peripheral systemic inflammatory response markers. Patients and methods A clinical trail study involves study included 30 healthy and 50 anemic pregnant women in their 20th-36th gestational weeks who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. They were randomly distributed to receive either ferrous sulfate or ferric polymaltose complex. Outcome was assessed after 8 weeks of iron supplementation and included hematological parameters, neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio, platelet : lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), iron, and ferritin. Results Anemic pregnant women have increased oxidative stress with high levels of MDA and TAC, both at baseline and following iron supplementation (P Conclusion Iron polymaltose complex was as effective as ferrous sulfate as both were able to correct hematologic parameters in parallel to a decrease in MDA and peripheral inflammatory markers together with an increase in TAC levels to maintain oxidative balance.

Analysis and reproduction of snail trails on silver grid lines in crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules

In recent years, discolored silver grid lines in crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, known as snail trails, have been an enormous concern to the solar industry even they do not appear to compromise the electrical performance of the module. In this study, the chemical and structural origins of the snail trail, especially focusing on the silver grid lines, have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive analysis method was applied. It was proved that Raman spectroscopy is powerful tool for non-destructive failure analysis. It was found that brownish or dark discolored silver fingers are due to the formation of silver acetate as well as its reaction with encapsulant. Silver acetate was synthesized by silver carbonate originated from the reaction of Ag ions and carbon dioxide and acetic acid that originated from the degradation of the encapsulant. In order to verify analysis results, the reproduction of snail trails were performed under lab environment.

Longitudinal patterns and predictors of multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents: The TRAILS study

BackgroundMost studies on multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents have cross-sectionally studied a limited number of health behaviors or determinants. PurposeTo examine the prevalence, longitudinal patterns and predictors of individual and multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents. MethodsEight health risk behaviors (no regular consumption of fruit, vegetables or breakfast, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use) were assessed in a prospective population study (second and third wave). Participants were assessed in three waves between ages 10 and 17 (2001–2008; n=2230). Multiple linear regression was used to assess the influence of gender, self-control, parental health risk behaviors, parental monitoring and socioeconomic factors on the number of health risk behaviors adjusted for preceding multiple health risk behaviors (analysis: 2013–2014). ResultsRates of >5 health risk behaviors were high: 3.6% at age 13.5 and 10.2% at age 16. Smoking at age 13.5 was frequently associated with health risk behaviors at age 16. No regular consumption of fruit, vegetables and breakfast, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and smoking predicted the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors at follow-up. Significant predictors of the development of multiple health risk behaviors were adolescents' levels of self-control, socioeconomic status and maternal smoking. ConclusionsMultiple health risk behaviors are common among adolescents. Individual and social factors predict changes in multiple health risk behaviors, showing that prevention targeting multiple risk behaviors is needed. Special attention should be paid to adolescents with low self-control and families with low socioeconomic status or a mother who smokes.

Religiosity and mental health of pre-adolescents with psychiatric problems and their parents: The TRAILS study

BackgroundThis study investigated the association between the religiosity of parents and pre-adolescents, and pre-adolescents’ psychiatric problems. MethodIn a clinic-referred cohort of 543 pre-adolescents at least once referred to a mental health outpatient clinic mental health problems were assessed using self-reports (Youth Self-Report; YSR), parent reports (Child Behavior Checklist; CBCL), and teacher reports (Teacher's Report Form; TRF) of child behavioral and emotional problems. Paternal, maternal, and pre-adolescent religiosity were assessed by self-report. MANCOVAs were performed for internalizing and externalizing problems as dependent variables, with maternal religiosity, paternal religiosity, pre-adolescent religiosity, parental religious harmony, and gender as independent variables, and socioeconomic status and divorce as covariates. ResultsInternalizing problems. Pre-adolescents of actively religious mothers had more internalizing symptoms than pre-adolescents of nonreligious mothers. Harmony and gender did not significantly affect the association between maternal religiosity and internalizing problems. Externalizing problems. No associations between religiosity of pre-adolescents, religiosity of mothers, religiosity of fathers and/or harmony of parents and externalizing problem behavior have been found. Discussion and conclusionsOverall, associations between mental health and religiosity were modest to absent. Results are discussed in the context of a clinic-referred cohort, the quest phase of internalizing religious beliefs and role modeling of parents.

Early life adversities and adolescent antisocial behavior: The role of cardiac autonomic nervous system reactivity in the TRAILS study

In the current study, the role of pre-ejection period (PEP) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was studied in the association between prior adversities and antisocial behavior in adolescence. PEP and RSA task reactivity and recovery to a public speaking task were assessed in adolescents from a longitudinal population-based study (N=624, Mage=16.14 years, 49.2% boys). Perinatal adversities were unrelated to antisocial behavior, but experiencing more stressful adversities between age 0 and 15 was associated with antisocial behavior at age 16 in boys with blunted PEP reactivity and smaller PEP differences from rest to recovery. Number of adversities between age 0 and 15 was associated with antisocial behavior in boys with blunted and girls with heightened RSA reactivity and larger PEP differences from rest to recovery. The association between prior adversities and antisocial behavior were small in effect size and depended upon sex and PEP and RSA reactivity and recovery.

Bridging community livelihoods and cultural conservation through tourism: Case study of Kabaka heritage trail in Uganda

This paper analyses the promotion of culture-based tourism as a tool for cultural conservation and community livelihoods improvement in Buganda region, Uganda. A pragmatic approach was adopted to explore the existing cultural heritage resources in Buganda and their conservation for tourism as a means for community development. Data were collected using documentary reviews, focus group discussions with key actors in the tourism subsector, and a questionnaire interview. Results indicate that culture-based tourism is positively correlated to cultural conservation and community livelihood. The paper highlights the importance of culture-based tourism and culture conservation on community livelihood in the context of Uganda. The significant results obtained in this case study also show that cultural conservation was a strong predictor of community livelihoods. It is concluded that if culture-based tourism is enhanced and promoted, it has the potential to influence people’s livelihoods through the income generated from tourism activities and employment. This in turn contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage sites and hence sustainability. There is however need to investigate the novel and innovative ways of marketing and promoting cultural tourism in Uganda to enable improvement in people’s livelihood. It is also necessary to devise ways on how to increase community involvement in planning, implementation, and securing benefits of culture-based tourism.