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Bazo-Alvarez JC, Bazalar-Palacios J, Quiñones-Negrete MM, Ipanaqué M, Cjuno J, Hoyt LT, Bennett CR, Cohen AK. COVID-19-Related Experiences and Perspectives of Peruvian College Students: A Descriptive Study. Health Educ Behav 2024; 51:367-375. [PMID: 38129987 DOI: 10.1177/10901981231216738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected higher education and higher education students around the world, but few studies of college students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted in Latin America. This study describes the COVID-19-related experiences and perspectives of Peruvian college students. We surveyed 3,427 full-time college students (average age: 23 years) attending a multi-campus Peruvian university in fall 2020. Participants were recruited through the digital platform of the learning management system at their university, email, and social media. We asked participants how they were managing risks related to COVID-19; the continuity of social, educational, and work activities; and the psychological and economic impacts of the pandemic on their lives. Since March 2020, 73.0% of participants reported COVID-19-related symptoms, but only 33.9% were tested for COVID-19. During the national quarantine imposed by the Peruvian government (March 15-June 30, 2020), 64.3% of participants remained in their house. Furthermore, while 44.0% of participants were working in February 2020 (95% CI: [41.7%, 46.4%]), only 23.6% (95% CI: [21.7%, 25.7%]) were working immediately after the pandemic began (i.e., at the end of April 2020). Participants were more stressed about the health and educational implications of COVID-19 for Peruvian society and their families than about themselves. The public health, economic, and educational implications of COVID-19 on college students are continuing to unfold. This study informed Peruvian higher education institutions' continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the progressive return to postpandemic activities, as well as other future pandemics and other crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Bazo-Alvarez
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo, Peru
- Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Miguel Ipanaqué
- Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima, Perú
| | | | | | | | - Alison K Cohen
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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2
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Niu L, Hoyt LT, Shane J, Storch EA. Associations between subjective social status and psychological well-being among college students. J Am Coll Health 2023; 71:2044-2051. [PMID: 34398696 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1954010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Higher subjective social status (SSS) is associated with better mental health among youth; however, few studies have examined youth's perceptions of past (childhood) or future (adulthood) SSS. Methods: Utilizing latent profile analysis, we examined unique profiles of past, present, and future SSS among 401 college students in the United States and tested associations between these profiles and psychological well-being (ie, depressive symptoms, negative affect, positive affect, and flourishing), controlling for family socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Results revealed four profiles: Low SSS (8%), Upward SSS (18%), Moderate SSS (43%), and High SSS (31%). Youth in the High SSS profile had the best psychological well-being, and those in the Low SSS profile had the worst. While the Upward SSS profile was associated with depressive symptoms and negative affect, it was protective in terms of positive affect. Discussion: Findings highlight unique effects of upward SSS mobility.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1954010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Niu
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Jacob Shane
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eric A Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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3
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Quiles TB, Hoyt LT, Dotson MP, Castro EM, May M, Cohen AK. Who has to act? A qualitative exploration of emerging adults' critical consciousness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Community Psychol 2023; 71:136-146. [PMID: 36594881 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and violence against people of Color during 2020 brought troubling racial inequities to the forefront of American discourse. In line with the Critical Consciousness (CC) and Social Justice Youth Development (SJYD) frameworks, emerging adults may have developed their capacity for critical reflection, motivation, and action against systemic inequities. We drew from interviews with 27 emerging adults (ages 18-23) across the US, and used thematic analysis to explore differences in their reflections, motivations to act, and actions based on their racial/ethnic identification. We found nuanced variability in their critical reflections based on self, social, or global awareness and experiences of marginalization. White and Asian emerging adults used vague language or expressed feeling their reflections were insufficient. Black and Latinx emerging adults emphasized the importance of education and raising awareness. Although all emerging adults took action based on a sense of duty, few engaged in critical action; decisions to take in-person action varied based on whether they viewed racism or COVID-19 as a greater threat. Findings demonstrate that emerging adults' experiences of racialization may have related to their CC development. We share implications for community psychologists conducting antiracist research addressing White fragility and dismantling racial hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taina B Quiles
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Miranda P Dotson
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elena Maker Castro
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, School of Education & Information Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Madeline May
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Alison K Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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4
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Chaku N, Curtis CA, Hoyt LT, Zeiders KH, Niu L, Sarsar E, Nair RL. Civic engagement, discrimination, and sleep health among youth of color. J Am Coll Health 2023:1-5. [PMID: 36796083 PMCID: PMC10427728 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2162826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the moderating effect of discrimination experiences on the association between civic engagement and sleep in youth of color. Participants included 125 college students (Mage = 20.41, SD = 1.41, 22.6% cisgender male). Most of the sample (28%) identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin; 26% identified as multi-racial/ethnicity; 23% identified as Asian; 19% identified as Black or African American; and 4% identified as Middle Eastern or North African. Youth self-reported their civic engagement (civic activism and civic efficacy), discriminatory experiences, and sleep duration during the week of the 2016 United States presidential inauguration (T1) and again approximately 100 days later (T2). Civic efficacy was associated with longer sleep duration. In contexts of discrimination, however, more civic activism and efficacy was associated with less sleep duration. In contexts of low discrimination, more civic efficacy was associated with longer sleep duration. Thus, civic engagement within supportive contexts may contribute to positive sleep among youth of color. Working toward dismantling racist systems may be one way to combat the racial/ethnic sleep disparities that underlie long-term health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Chaku
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | - Katharine H. Zeiders
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Li Niu
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY
| | - Evelyn Sarsar
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Rajni L. Nair
- College of Integrative Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
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5
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Brown AM, Zeiders KH, Sarsar ED, Hoyt LT, Nair RL. "When the political becomes personal": evaluation of an elected president, election distress, and college students' psychological well-being. J Am Coll Health 2023:1-11. [PMID: 36595487 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2145896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Although emerging adults' civic engagement is generally associated with positive outcomes, concerns about an elected candidate's leadership ability and the implications of administrative turnover may negatively impact youths' well-being. Using longitudinal data collected during the 2016 election cycle, the current study examined whether negative evaluation of a presidential candidate-who is eventually elected-may be indirectly associated with college students' psychological well-being due to increased election distress.Participants: 286 college-attending emerging adults (Mage= 20, SDage = 1.40) participated in the current study.Methods: Path models linking evaluation of Trump's leadership ability (pre-election) to psychological well-being (approx. 100 days in office) via election distress (presidential inauguration) were computed.Results: Reporting lower confidence in Trump's leadership ability prior to the election was associated with greater election distress 3 months post-election, and in turn, poorer psychological well-being 6 months post-election.Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of centering college students' well-being within a broader sociopolitical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaysia M Brown
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Inequality in America Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katharine H Zeiders
- Norton School of Human Ecology, Department of Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, USA
| | - Evelyn D Sarsar
- Norton School of Human Ecology, Department of Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, USA
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rajni L Nair
- College of Integrative Science and Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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6
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Kornbluh M, Davis AL, Hoyt LT, Simpson SB, Cohen AK, Ballard PJ. Exploring civic behaviors amongst college students in a year of national unrest. J Community Psychol 2022; 50:2950-2972. [PMID: 35102552 PMCID: PMC9545712 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the role of demographics, civic beliefs, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in association with distinct forms of civic participation. College students were recruited across 10 institutions of higher education to complete an online survey. Bivariate, multivariable linear, and logistic regressions were performed. Findings indicated that participants from traditionally marginalized backgrounds were more likely to engage in systemchallenging forms of civic participation and community engagement than those from more privileged backgrounds. Participants who rated high in critical reflection, viewed racism as a key issue, and were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were also more likely to engage in system-challenging forms of civic participation. Participants who endorsed beliefs supporting current systems of power were more likely to report they intended to vote. Results highlight implications for antiracist activism, community engagement, and traditional political civic behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah Kornbluh
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Amanda L. Davis
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Department of PsychologyFordham UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Savannah B. Simpson
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Alison K. Cohen
- School of ManagementUniversity of California San FranciscoLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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7
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Dotson MP, Castro EM, Magid NT, Hoyt LT, Suleiman AB, Cohen AK. "Emotional Distancing": Change and Strain in U.S. Young Adult College Students' Relationships During COVID-19. Emerg Adulthood 2022; 10:546-557. [PMID: 35382514 PMCID: PMC8919111 DOI: 10.1177/21676968211065531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed qualitative data from 707 USA college students aged 18-22 in late April 2020 regarding if and how their relationships had changed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most (69%) participants experienced relationship changes, most of whom (77%) described negative changes: less overall contact, feeling disconnected, and increased tension, some of which was due to conflict over pandemic-related public health precautions. Physical distancing from social contacts also created emotional distancing: it was harder to maintain affective connections via online platforms and within the isolating context of shelter-in-place. Due to emerging adulthood being a sensitive window for social development, the COVID-19 pandemic-induced emotional distancing could have long-term ramifications for this cohort's relationships over the course of their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda P. Dotson
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Miranda P. Dotson, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Elena Maker Castro
- Department of Human Development and Psychology, School of Education and Information Studies, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nina T. Magid
- Department of Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Alison K. Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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8
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Maker Castro E, Dull B, Hoyt LT, Cohen AK. Associations between critical consciousness and well-being in a national sample of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Community Psychol 2022; 50:760-777. [PMID: 34352131 PMCID: PMC8426919 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Critical consciousness (CC) may promote well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a national survey of 707 college students conducted in April 2020, we first validated the Short Critical Consciousness Scale (ShoCCS) among youth groups not often specifically examined in CC measurement (i.e., Asian, immigrant-origin, LGBQ+, and women youth). Next, we examined associations between ShoCCS subscales and validated measures of both anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and hopefulness (The Individual-Differences Measure in Hopefulness). The ShoCCS achieved measurement invariance across racial/ethnic groups and immigrant-origin status, and partial invariance among LGBQ+ and women-identifying youth. We found critical reflection and action associated with anxiety for the full sample, but no evidence of moderation by sociodemographic factors. ShoCCS subscales were differentially associated with hopefulness for Asian youth and LGBQ+ youth. This study contributes to the evolution of CC measurement and extends the field by identifying well-being associations during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Maker Castro
- Division of Human Development and Psychology, Graduate School of Education and Information SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brandon Dull
- Department of PsychologyFordham UniversityNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Department of PsychologyFordham UniversityNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison K. Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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9
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Niu L, Hoyt LT, Pickering S, Nucci-Sack A, Salandy A, Shankar V, Rodriguez EM, Burk RD, Schlecht NF, Diaz A. Neighborhood Profiles and Body Mass Index Trajectory in Female Adolescents and Young Adults. J Adolesc Health 2021; 69:1024-1031. [PMID: 34312066 PMCID: PMC8612950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to identify distinct neighborhood profiles patterned by key structural, physical, and social characteristics and test whether living in different profiles are associated with body mass index trajectories during adolescence in racial/ethnic minority female youth. METHODS Participants were 1,328 sexually active female adolescents and young adults aged 14-23 years, predominately Hispanic and black, enrolled in an human papillomavirus type 4 vaccine (Gardasil) surveillance study at a large adolescent health clinic in New York City between 2007 and 2018. Body mass index was calculated from weight and height every 6 months. A comprehensive set of neighborhood structural, social, and physical characteristics from multiple national and state datasets was linked to each participant based on home address. RESULTS Latent profile analysis revealed five distinct neighborhood profiles in New York City: High Structural/High Social Advantage, Moderate Advantage/Low Crime, Low SES (Socioeconomic Status)/High Activity, Low SES/High Social Advantage, and High Disadvantage. Results from multilevel growth curve analysis revealed that living in Low SES/High Activity neighborhoods was associated with a lower BMI at age 22 (b = -1.32, 95% confidence interval -2.49, -.16), as well as a slower increase in BMI from age 14 to 22 years (b = -.22, 95% confidence interval -.46, .02), compared to the High Disadvantage profile. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that improving neighborhood structural, social, and physical environments may help promote healthy weight and reduce health disparities during adolescence and young adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Niu
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Manhattan, New York; Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York.
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Applied Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
| | - Sarah Pickering
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne Nucci-Sack
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anthony Salandy
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Viswanathan Shankar
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Elisa M. Rodriguez
- Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Robert D. Burk
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA, Departments of Pediatrics, Microbiology & Immunology, and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women’s Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas F. Schlecht
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA, Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Angela Diaz
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Manhattan, NY, USA, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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10
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Pace TWW, Zeiders KH, Cook SH, Sarsar ED, Hoyt LT, Mirin NL, Wood EP, Tatar R, Davidson RJ. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an App-Based Meditation Intervention to Decrease Firefighter Psychological Distress and Burnout: A One-Group Pilot Study (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2021; 6:e34951. [PMID: 35675115 PMCID: PMC9218885 DOI: 10.2196/34951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Firefighters are often exposed to occupational stressors that can result in psychological distress (ie, anxiety and depression) and burnout. These occupational stressors have only intensified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely persist in the postpandemic world. Objective To address occupational stressors confronting firefighters, we pilot tested a novel, cost-effective, smartphone app–based meditation intervention created by Healthy Minds Innovations that focused on mindfulness (awareness) training along with practices designed to cultivate positive relationships (connection), insight into the nature of the self (insight), and a sense of purpose in the context of challenge (purpose) with a sample of professional firefighters from a large metropolitan area in southwestern United States. Methods A total of 35 participants were recruited from a closed online group listserv and completed the self-guided 10-unit meditation app over the course of 10 days, at 1 unit per day. We assessed anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, burnout, and negative affect as well as saliva diurnal cortisol rhythm, an objective indicator of stress-related biology, before and after use of the meditation app. Results This study demonstrated the meditation app was both feasible and acceptable for use by the majority of firefighters. We also found significant reductions in firefighters’ anxiety (P=.01), burnout (P=.05), and negative affect (P=.04), as well as changes in cortisol diurnal rhythm, such as waking cortisol (P=.02), from before to after use of the meditation app. Conclusions Our study findings call for future research to demonstrate the efficacy of this meditation app to reduce psychological distress and burnout in firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaddeus W W Pace
- Division of Biobehavioral Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Katharine H Zeiders
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Stephanie H Cook
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Evelyn D Sarsar
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Nicholas L Mirin
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Erica P Wood
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Raquel Tatar
- Healthy Minds Innovation, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Richard J Davidson
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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11
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Chaku N, Hoyt LT, Barry K. Executive functioning profiles in adolescence: Using person-centered approaches to understand heterogeneity. Cognitive Development 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2021.101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Cohen AK, Hoyt LT, Nichols CR, Yazdani N, Dotson MP. Opportunities to Reduce Young Adult College Students' COVID-19-Related Risk Behaviors: Insights From a National, Longitudinal Cohort. J Adolesc Health 2021; 69:383-389. [PMID: 34294509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study how young adult college students are managing their health behaviors and risks related to spreading COVID-19. METHODS We created a national cohort of full-time college students in late April 2020 (n = 707), and conducted a follow-up survey with participants in July 2020 (n = 543). Participants reported COVID-19-related health risk behaviors and COVID-19 symptoms, and also responded to an open-ended prompt about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their lives. Quantitative data were analyzed in Stata and we conducted content analysis to identify themes in the qualitative data. RESULTS For most health protective behaviors (e.g., frequent handwashing, social distancing), participants were less compliant in summer 2020 than spring 2020, with the exception of face mask use, which increased. In each month of the first half of 2020, only approximately half of participants with any symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 stayed home exclusively while symptomatic (there was no meaningful change from pre-pandemic or over the course of the pandemic). In qualitative data, the participants who had gone to bars or clubs at least twice within a 4-week period this summer reported being bored and/or isolated, stressed, and/or taking pandemic safety measures seriously. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest multiple areas for intervention, including harm reduction and risk management education approaches for the students who are going to bars and clubs, and creating policies and programs to better incentivize young people with symptoms to stay home exclusively while symptomatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York City, New York
| | - Chloe R Nichols
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Neshat Yazdani
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York City, New York
| | - Miranda P Dotson
- Department of Anthropology, American University, Washington, District of Columbia
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13
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Cohen AK, Hoyt LT, Dull B. A Descriptive Study of COVID-19-Related Experiences and Perspectives of a National Sample of College Students in Spring 2020. J Adolesc Health 2020; 67:369-375. [PMID: 32593564 PMCID: PMC7313499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This is one of the first surveys of a USA-wide sample of full-time college students about their COVID-19-related experiences in spring 2020. METHODS We surveyed 725 full-time college students aged 18-22 years recruited via Instagram promotions on April 25-30, 2020. We inquired about their COVID-19-related experiences and perspectives, documented opportunities for transmission, and assessed COVID-19's perceived impacts to date. RESULTS Thirty-five percent of participants experienced any COVID-19-related symptoms from February to April 2020, but less than 5% of them got tested, and only 46% stayed home exclusively while experiencing symptoms. Almost all (95%) had sheltered in place/stayed primarily at home by late April 2020; 53% started sheltering in place before any state had an official stay-at-home order, and more than one-third started sheltering before any metropolitan area had an order. Participants were more stressed about COVID-19's health implications for their family and for American society than for themselves. Participants were open to continuing the restrictions in place in late April 2020 for an extended period of time to reduce pandemic spread. CONCLUSIONS There is substantial opportunity for improved public health responses to COVID-19 among college students, including for testing and contact tracing. In addition, because most participants restricted their behaviors before official stay-at-home orders went into effect, they may continue to restrict movement after stay-at-home orders are lifted, including when colleges reopen for in-person activities, if they decide it is not yet prudent to circulate freely. The public health, economic, and educational implications of COVID-19 are continuing to unfold; future studies must continue to monitor college student experiences and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Cohen
- Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration, School of Management, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, New York
| | - Brandon Dull
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, New York
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Grzanka PR, Zeiders KH, Spengler ES, Hoyt LT, Toomey RB. Do beliefs about sexual orientation predict voting behavior? Results from the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity 2020. [DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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15
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Gaarde J, Hoyt LT, Ozer EJ, Maslowsky J, Deardorff J, Kyauk CK. So Much to Do Before I Sleep: Investigating Adolescent-Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Sleep. Youth Soc 2020; 52:592-617. [PMID: 38283668 PMCID: PMC10817750 DOI: 10.1177/0044118x18756468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Adolescent sleep deprivation is a pressing public health issue in the United States as well as other countries. The contexts of adolescents' lives are changing rapidly, but little is known about the factors that adolescents themselves believe affect their sleep. This study uses a social-ecological framework to investigate multiple levels of perceived influence on sleep patterns of urban adolescents. Data were drawn from interviews and surveys conducted in three California public high schools. Most participants identified homework as their primary barrier to sleep, particularly those engaged in procrastinating, multitasking, or those with extracurricular demands. Results indicate that the home context has important implications for adolescent sleep, including noise, household rules, and perceived parent values. These findings identify important areas for future research and intervention, particularly regarding the roles of parents.
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Zeiders KH, Nair RL, Hoyt LT, Pace TWW, Cruze A. Latino early adolescents’ psychological and physiological responses during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 26:169-175. [DOI: 10.1037/cdp0000301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Hoyt LT, Niu L, Pachucki MC, Chaku N. Timing of puberty in boys and girls: Implications for population health. SSM Popul Health 2020; 10:100549. [PMID: 32099893 PMCID: PMC7030995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Puberty is marked by substantial increases and emerging sex differences in psychological disorders and risky behaviors. However, few studies have examined these effects beyond adolescence, and the previous literature has been dominated by samples of White girls. The current study examines the broadest known set of health sequelae related to traditional pubertal markers and peer-relative pubertal timing in a representative sample of 14,545 U.S. youth from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Maturational timing was assessed by age at menarche for girls and physical development for boys (e.g., facial hair, voice change), and then categorized as early (1 SD below mean), on-time, or late (1 SD above mean) within-sex. Early and late peer-relative timing was assessed by a self-report of looking “much older” or “much younger” than one's peers. We examined psychological (depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior), behavioral (number of sex partners, drug use, physical activity, screen time, sleep hours), and physical health (self-reported health, BMI) outcomes during adolescence and young adulthood in a series of sex-stratified regression analyses using survey weights and a comprehensive set of sociodemographic covariates. Results indicated that, overall, earlier pubertal timing (i.e., maturational timing and peer-relative timing) put both girls and boys at risk during adolescence, while later timing was protective. However, longitudinal models revealed mixed results. For instance, early maturational timing was associated with higher young adult BMI (girls: β = 0.139, p < .01; boys: β = 0.107, p < .01), but later timing for boys was associated with both risky (e.g., more screen time; β = 0.125, p < .05) and health promoting (e.g., more sleep; β = .296, p < .01) behaviors. Analysis of this holistic set of outcomes with sex differences in mind allows for more careful evidence-based recommendations for adolescent health promotion. Early or late puberty predicts health, but there is little longitudinal research. Perceived pubertal development relative to peers also predicts health outcomes. Links between pubertal timing and long-term health were more pervasive for girls. Adolescent psychological symptoms and health behaviors explain long-term links. Results point to the need for high-quality puberty education early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Hoyt
- Applied Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Li Niu
- Applied Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mark C Pachucki
- Sociology & Computational Social Science Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Natasha Chaku
- Applied Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
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Chaku N, Hoyt LT. Developmental Trajectories of Executive Functioning and Puberty in Boys and Girls. J Youth Adolesc 2019; 48:1365-1378. [PMID: 30989473 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-019-01021-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There are substantial changes in executive functioning during adolescence that may correspond with the onset and progression of puberty. The current study examines associations between pubertal development (timing and tempo) and changes in specific executive functioning skills (i.e., attention and self-control) across the transition from childhood to adolescence (ages 9.5-15.5) using data from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (1099 youth; 52% female, 81% White, 83% above the poverty line). The findings indicated that early maturation was associated with faster increases in attention skills over adolescence for both boys and girls. Further, early maturation predicted worse self-control among girls but not boys. This study provides new insights on executive functioning during the transition to adolescence-a period of both vulnerability and opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Chaku
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.
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19
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Deardorff J, Hoyt LT, Carter R, Shirtcliff EA. Next Steps in Puberty Research: Broadening the Lens Toward Understudied Populations. J Res Adolesc 2019; 29:133-154. [PMID: 30869847 PMCID: PMC6827435 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Decades of puberty research have yielded key scientific discoveries. Building on the field's rich history, we highlight four understudied populations: youth of color, boys, sexual minority youth, and gender minority youth. We explore why scientific study has been slow to evolve in these groups and propose paths forward for exciting new work. For ethnically racially diverse youth, we discuss the need to incorporate culture and context. For boys, we highlight methodological issues and challenges of mapping existing conceptual models onto boys. For sexual and gender minority youth, we discuss unique challenges during puberty and suggest ways to better capture their experiences. With an eye toward a new era, we make recommendations for next steps and underscore the importance of transdisciplinary research.
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20
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Hoyt LT, Zeiders KH, Chaku N, Toomey RB, Nair RL. Young adults' psychological and physiological reactions to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 92:162-169. [PMID: 29606376 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Elections present unique opportunities to study how sociopolitical events influence individual processes. The current study examined 286 young adults' mood and diurnal cortisol responses to the 2016 U.S. presidential election in real-time: two days before the election, election night, and two days after the election of Donald Trump, with the goal of understanding whether (and the extent to which) the election influenced young adults' affective and biological states. Utilizing piecewise trajectory analyses, we observed high, and increasing, negative affect leading up to the election across all participants. Young adults who had negative perceptions of Trump's ability to fulfill the role of president and/or were part of a non-dominant social group (i.e., women, ethnic/racial minority young adults) reported increased signs of stress before the election and on election night. After the election, we observed a general "recovery" in self-reported mood; however, diurnal cortisol indicators suggested that there was an increase in biological stress among some groups. Overall, findings underscore the role of macro-level factors in individuals' health and well-being via more proximal attitudes and physiological functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Katharine H Zeiders
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Department of Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Natasha Chaku
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Russell B Toomey
- Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Department of Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rajni L Nair
- College of Integrative Science and Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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21
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Ballard PJ, Hoyt LT, Pachucki MC. Impacts of Adolescent and Young Adult Civic Engagement on Health and Socioeconomic Status in Adulthood. Child Dev 2018; 90:1138-1154. [PMID: 29359473 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The present study examines links between civic engagement (voting, volunteering, and activism) during late adolescence and early adulthood, and socioeconomic status and mental and physical health in adulthood. Using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a propensity score matching approach is used to rigorously estimate how civic engagement is associated with outcomes among 9,471 adolescents and young adults (baseline Mage = 15.9). All forms of civic engagement are positively associated with subsequent income and education level. Volunteering and voting are favorably associated with subsequent mental health and health behaviors, and activism is associated with more health-risk behaviors and not associated with mental health. Civic engagement is not associated with physical health.
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Abstract
Cortisol, the major physiological end product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, is usually associated with stress and negative affect. However, a new body of research highlights the complex, adaptive significance of elevated cortisol within individuals in everyday life. Whereas most studies do not have the power to test the dynamic transactions between cortisol and affect within a person throughout the entire waking day, we employed an intensive study protocol analyzing hourly diary reports of affect in relation to hourly salivary cortisol samples among 24 healthy adults from morning to bedtime, across 2 consecutive weekdays (N = 862 total samples). Utilizing multileveling modeling and focusing on within-person effects, we examined whether momentary increases in cortisol could be mood protective, or energy enhancing, in everyday life, supporting the cortisol boost hypothesis. Results revealed no significant associations between cortisol and current affective state; however, within-person increases in cortisol were significantly associated with subsequent rises in activeness, alertness, and relaxation, and trend-level reductions in stress and nervousness. This study adds to growing evidence that cortisol plays a positive role in regulating affect in everyday life. (PsycINFO Database Record
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23
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Ehrlich KB, Hoyt LT, Sumner JA, McDade TW, Adam EK. Quality of relationships with parents and friends in adolescence predicts metabolic risk in young adulthood. Health Psychol 2015; 34:896-904. [PMID: 25689301 PMCID: PMC4537843 DOI: 10.1037/hea0000213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was designed to examine whether family and peer relationships in adolescence predict the emergence of metabolic risk factors in young adulthood. METHOD Participants from a large, nationally representative cohort study (N = 11,617 for these analyses) reported on their relationship experiences with parents and close friends during adolescence. Fourteen years later, interviewers collected blood samples, as well as anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Blood samples were analyzed for HbA1c. RESULTS Ordered logistic regressions revealed that for females, supportive parent-child relationships and close male friendships in adolescence were associated with reduced odds of having elevated metabolic risk markers in young adulthood. These effects remained significant even after controlling for baseline measures of body mass index (BMI) and health and demographic covariates. The protective effects of close relationships were not significant for males, however. Exploratory analyses with 2-parent families revealed that supportive father-child relationships were especially protective for females. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that, for females, close and supportive relationships with parents and male friends in adolescence may reduce the risk of metabolic dysregulation in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine B. Ehrlich
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholar at University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley
| | - Jennifer A. Sumner
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
| | - Thomas W. McDade
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University
| | - Emma K. Adam
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
- Program on Human Development and Social Policy, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
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24
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Frost A, Hoyt LT, Chung AL, Adam EK. Daily life with depressive symptoms: Gender differences in adolescents' everyday emotional experiences. J Adolesc 2015; 43:132-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Zeiders KH, Hoyt LT, Adam EK. Associations between self-reported discrimination and diurnal cortisol rhythms among young adults: The moderating role of racial-ethnic minority status. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2014; 50:280-8. [PMID: 25262035 PMCID: PMC4254319 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Discrimination is theorized to set in motion a neuroendocrine response, which includes cortisol secretion from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Repeated exposure to perceived discrimination is thought to contribute to alterations in diurnal cortisol rhythms and to have implications for health. Discrimination may have particularly strong effects on racial/ethnic minority individuals, based on histories of past exposure and/or greater perceived implications of discriminatory events. Utilizing an ethnically and racially diverse sample of young adults (N=140; Mage=22.8 years) and a multiple-day naturalistic cortisol protocol, the present study examined associations between self-reported discrimination and diurnal cortisol rhythms, and whether this relation was moderated by racial/ethnic minority status. Results revealed that self-reported discrimination predicted flatter diurnal cortisol slopes for racial/ethnic minority individuals only. These findings align with theory suggesting that discrimination experiences are important among racial/ethnic minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine H. Zeiders
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Center for Health and Community and School of Public Health, University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley, California, 94118
| | - Emma K. Adam
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208
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Hoyt LT, Kushi LH, Leung CW, Nickleach DC, Adler N, Laraia BA, Hiatt RA, Yen IH. Neighborhood influences on girls' obesity risk across the transition to adolescence. Pediatrics 2014; 134:942-9. [PMID: 25311606 PMCID: PMC4533282 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-1286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The neighborhoods in which children live, play, and eat provide an environmental context that may influence obesity risk and ameliorate or exacerbate health disparities. The current study examines whether neighborhood characteristics predict obesity in a prospective cohort of girls. METHODS Participants were 174 girls (aged 8-10 years at baseline), a subset from the Cohort Study of Young Girls' Nutrition, Environment, and Transitions. Trained observers completed street audits within a 0.25-mile radius around each girl's residence. Four scales (food and service retail, recreation, walkability, and physical disorder) were created from 40 observed neighborhood features. BMI was calculated from clinically measured height and weight. Obesity was defined as BMI-for-age ≥ 95%. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations were used to examine neighborhood influences on obesity risk over 4 years of follow-up, controlling for race/ethnicity, pubertal status, and baseline BMI. Fully adjusted models also controlled for household income, parent education, and a census tract measure of neighborhood socioeconomic status. RESULTS A 1-SD increase on the food and service retail scale was associated with a 2.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.42 to 3.61; P < .001) increased odds of being obese. A 1-SD increase in physical disorder was associated with a 2.41 (95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 4.44; P = .005) increased odds of being obese. Other neighborhood scales were not associated with risk for obesity. CONCLUSIONS Neighborhood food and retail environment and physical disorder around a girl's home predict risk for obesity across the transition from late childhood to adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T. Hoyt
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholar, University of California, San Francisco and Berkeley, California
| | | | | | | | - Nancy Adler
- Center for Health and Community,,Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
| | - Barbara A. Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | | | - Irene H. Yen
- Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Adam EK, Hoyt LT, Granger DA. Diurnal alpha amylase patterns in adolescents: associations with puberty and momentary mood states. Biol Psychol 2011; 88:170-3. [PMID: 21840370 PMCID: PMC3183259 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2010] [Revised: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Salivary alpha amylase (sAA) has been proposed as a marker of autonomic nervous system activity. Few studies have examined sAA basal activity and reactivity in naturalistic settings, or developmental changes in sAA. In 50 adolescents, diary-reported moods and sAA levels were gathered across two typical weekdays. As in adults, basal sAA levels were low at waking and increased across the day. More advanced pubertal development was associated with higher waking sAA levels; males had smaller sAA increases across the day. High arousal positive emotions (feeling strong, active, excited) were associated with acute sAA increases; high arousal negative emotions (angry, stressed, nervous, worried) predicted sAA increases among youth with high average levels of these emotions. Findings suggest that basal sAA levels increase with puberty, and that acute sAA increases may reflect levels of emotional arousal, including high arousal positive emotions, rather than being specific to stress or emotions of negative valence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K. Adam
- School of Education and Social Policy and the Cells to Society Center, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2120 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA, work 847-467-2010 fax 847-491-8999,
| | - Lindsay T. Hoyt
- School of Education and Social Policy and the Cells to Society Center, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2120 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA,
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Center for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, The Johns Hopkins University 525 N. Wolfe Street, Room 466, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA,
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McDade TW, Chyu L, Duncan GJ, Hoyt LT, Doane LD, Adam EK. Adolescents' expectations for the future predict health behaviors in early adulthood. Soc Sci Med 2011; 73:391-8. [PMID: 21764487 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 06/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Health-related behaviors in adolescence establish trajectories of risk for obesity and chronic degenerative diseases, and they represent an important pathway through which socio-economic environments shape patterns of morbidity and mortality. Most behaviors that promote health involve making choices that may not pay off until the future, but the factors that predict an individual's investment in future health are not known. In this paper we consider whether expectations for the future in two domains relevant to adolescents in the U.S.-perceived chances of living to middle age and perceived chances of attending college-are associated with an individual's engagement in behaviors that protect health in the long run. We focus on adolescence as an important life stage during which habits formed may shape trajectories of disease risk later in life. We use data from a large, nationally representative sample of American youth (the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health) to predict levels of physical activity, fast food consumption, and cigarette smoking in young adulthood in relation to perceived life chances in adolescence, controlling for baseline health behaviors and a wide range of potentially confounding factors. We found that adolescents who rated their chances of attending college more highly exercised more frequently and smoked fewer cigarettes in young adulthood. Adolescents with higher expectations of living to age 35 smoked fewer cigarettes as young adults. Parental education was a significant predictor of perceived life chances, as well as health behaviors, but for each outcome the effects of perceived life chances were independent of, and often stronger than, parental education. Perceived life chances in adolescence may therefore play an important role in establishing individual trajectories of health, and in contributing to social gradients in population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W McDade
- Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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