Salient Beliefs Associated with Unsanctioned Adult Cannabis Use in an Evolving Socio-Political Environment.

Background: The changing cannabis legal climate in the United States has been associated with increased prevalence of use, more favorable general attitudes, and cultural norms toward its use among young adults. The purpose of this study was to conceptualize salient beliefs governing illicit cannabis use within a state where medical use is legal and adult use remains illegal. Methods: Following an initial qualitative pilot, a prospective study (baseline and a 30-day follow-up) that utilized an electronic survey design was conducted. Students at a large US university (N = 514) completed a baseline assessment of cannabis use and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs, and 169 completed the follow-up assessing actual behavior. Results: Roughly 60% reported illicit cannabis use. Attitude and subjective norms accounted for 57% of the variation in intention for cannabis use in the next 30 days, while intention and perceived behavioral control (PBC) explained 51% of the variation in prospective use. The majority of salient beliefs identified exhibited moderate to strong correlations with intention and behavior among the larger sample. Close friends and partners were identified as important referents, outcome expectations of relaxation, improved social functioning, and more enjoyment, as well as environmental factors, such as proximity to use, safe utilization location, and continued illegality of adult use exhibited strong associations to intention and behavior. Conclusions: The practical utility of the salient belief measures identified herein presents a useful foundation for interventions aimed at reducing illicit cannabis utilization among young adults.

A Latent Profile Analysis of Young Adult Lifestyle Behaviors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify lifestyle profiles of young adult males and females based on their alcohol, diet, and exercise behaviors and then link these profiles with health. Method: We used the nationally representative 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS; N = 17,286; 47% female; Mage = 23.22; SD = 3.16; 65% white) to examine profiles of alcohol use, daily fruit and vegetable intake, fried potato intake, and exercise per week using latent profile analysis. Participants also reported the days their general, physical, and mental health were poor and BMI. Results: Five distinct profiles for both males and females were identified: Healthy Eaters/Exercisers, Moderates, Unhealthy Eaters, Medium Drinkers, and Heavy Drinkers. Heavy Drinkers and Unhealthy Eaters reported the most days of poor mental and physical health. Conclusions: Heavy drinkers and unhealthy eaters had the highest number of days of poor health, which also places them at risk for a host of health adversities throughout adulthood. Examining motivations behind young adults' patterns of consumption and activity is an important future direction to identify mechanisms for healthy lifestyle promotion during the transition to adulthood.

Using Latent Class Growth Modeling to Examine Longitudinal Patterns of Body Mass Index Change from Adolescence to Adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Few studies use longitudinal designs to assess patterns of body mass index (BMI) change from adolescence to adulthood or incorporate severe obesity as a unique subgroup. OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns of BMI trajectories from adolescence to adulthood and identify demographic characteristics associated with each BMI trajectory pattern. DESIGN: Height, weight, and demographic characteristics were drawn from Waves I to V of the nationally representative school-based sample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) conducted from 1994 to 2018 (data collection is ongoing). PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Participants included 3,315 (55.5% female) subjects responding to in-home interviews across all five Waves of Add Health. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI at each wave modeled over time. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Latent class growth modeling and logistic regression analysis using population sample weights. RESULTS: Five classes of weight patterns best fit the sample. Twenty-nine percent of the sample had an always healthy BMI (class 1) and 34.9% changed from healthy weight to overweight (class 2). Moving from healthy weight to obese comprised 21.8% of the sample (class 3). BMI patterns increasing from overweight to obese (class 4) and from obese to severely obese (class 5) comprised 7.6% and 7.1% of the sample, respectively. Weight change was similar for males and females with some racial or ethnic minority participants more likely to be severely obese in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Results emphasize the importance of tracking weight longitudinally and point to a nationally representative trend of increasing BMI during the transition to adulthood. There was no substantive decreasing trend identified in the sample. Findings highlight the need for effective early and ongoing intervention and prevention strategies and can aid in identification of vulnerable youth who are at the highest risk for moving to problematic weight categories.

"Good Guys Don't Rape": Greek and Non-Greek College Student Perpetrator Rape Myths.

The current study examined sexual assault perpetrator rape myths among college students, and in particular Greek students. Fraternity men are overrepresented among sexual assault perpetrators, while sorority women are at increased risk for victimization of sexual assault. The current study examined Greek-affiliated and non-Greek-affiliated perceptions of perpetrator rape myths among 892 college students; 58% of the sample was Greek-affiliated. Men and Greek-affiliated students reported higher agreement on stereotypes than women and non-Greek-affiliated students regarding perpetrator rape myths. Specifically, fraternity men reported higher stereotypical perceptions compared to all women and non-affiliated men, while there was no difference between sorority and non-affiliated women.

Associations Among Excess Weight Status and Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug Use in a Large National Sample of Early Adolescent Youth.

Adolescent substance use and overweight/obesity each are public health priorities, with unique prevalences based on race/ethnicity. Whether these biobehavioral risks are linked in today's youth is unknown, leaving critical gaps in prevention science. Utilizing a national epidemiological sample of 10th grade students (N = 19,678; M age = 16.09 years; 69.5 % White, 14.5 % Black, 16.0 % Hispanic; 2008-2009 Monitoring the Future), we examined adolescent substance use behaviors (current use, grade of first use, polysubstance use) for adolescents of overweight (OV), obese (OB), or severely obese (SO) status compared to adolescents of healthy weight (HW) for each race/ethnicity group. We also examined how engagement in smoking behaviors (current, early grade at first use) was linked to other substance use behaviors for youth of varying degrees of excess weight. Relative to HW youth, White youth of excess weight, particularly SO, had higher odds of early (< grade 9) substance use and use of some illicit substances (inhalants, cocaine, amphetamines) within the past year. Among White early smokers, OB and SO had higher odds of other substance use, whereas White OB and SO recent smokers had lower odds of other substance use. Few significant findings based on weight status were identified for Black or Hispanic youth. These findings suggest adolescent health risk behaviors co-occur uniquely for White youth, in particular those who are SO and by early adolescence. Understanding the downstream public health consequences and how risk pathways of excess weight, tobacco, and other substance use may uniquely unfold for each race/ethnicity group is imperative.

Weight-related correlates of psychological dysregulation in adolescent and young adult (AYA) females with severe obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Severe obesity is the fastest growing pediatric subgroup of excess weight levels. Psychological dysregulation (i.e., impairments in regulating cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral processes) has been associated with obesity and poorer weight loss outcomes. The present study explored associations of dysregulation with weight-related variables among adolescent and young adult (AYA) females with severe obesity. METHODS: Fifty-four AYA females with severe obesity (MBMI = 48.71 kg/m(2); Mage = 18.29, R = 15-21 years; 59.3% White) completed self-report measures of psychological dysregulation and weight-related constructs including meal patterns, problematic eating behaviors, and body and weight dissatisfaction, as non-surgical comparison participants in a multi-site study of adolescent bariatric surgery outcomes. Pearson and bivariate correlations were conducted and stratified by age group to analyze associations between dysregulation subscales (affective, behavioral, cognitive) and weight-related variables. RESULTS: Breakfast was the most frequently skipped meal (consumed 3-4 times/week). Eating out was common (4-5 times/week) and mostly occurred at fast-food restaurants. Evening hyperphagia (61.11%) and eating in the absence of hunger (37.04%) were commonly endorsed, while unplanned eating (29.63%), a sense of loss of control over eating (22.22%), eating beyond satiety (22.22%), night eating (12.96%), and binge eating (11.11%) were less common. Almost half of the sample endorsed extreme weight dissatisfaction. Dysregulation was associated with most weight-related attitudes and behaviors of interest in young adults but select patterns emerged for adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of psychological dysregulation are associated with greater BMI, problematic eating patterns and behaviors, and body dissatisfaction in AYA females with severe obesity. These findings have implications for developing novel intervention strategies for severe obesity in AYAs that may have a multidimensional impact on functioning (e.g., psychosocial health, weight loss behaviors).

Youth Whose Weight Exceeds Healthy Guidelines Are High-Risk Targets for Tobacco Prevention Messaging and Close Monitoring of Cigarette Use.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are long-standing tobacco prevention targets, given that smoking patterns typically originate before adulthood. Pediatric overweight/obesity remains at epidemic levels. Links between these two biobehavioral risks are not well understood, yet of keen public health and pediatric care relevance. The aims of the present study were to examine smoking behaviors and attitudes of overweight (OV), obese (OB), and severely obese (SO) adolescents, compared to healthy weight (HW), utilizing the nationally representative sample, Monitoring the Future. METHODS: Smoking behavior prevalence (ever, current, or age of initiation), perceived risk of harm, disapproval of others smoking, and peer smoking were determined for a pooled 2008-2009 sample of 19,678 10th graders (Mage=16.09±0.47 years) by CDC-defined BMI percentile-based categories within race/ethnic group (69.5% white, 14.5% African American, and 16.0% Hispanic). Logistic regression examined the impact of excess weight status on smoking behaviors and attitudes relative to HW. RESULTS: Relative to HW of same race/ethnicity, white or African American OV, OB, and SO had higher odds of recent smoking, with the highest prevalence among SO. For white youth, excess weight increased odds of ever smoking, early daily smoking (before grade 9), perceiving low risk of harm, and not disapproving of others smoking. Findings varied for African American or Hispanic youth. CONCLUSIONS: As we move toward fostering a tobacco-free generation, youth whose weight exceeds healthy guidelines are high-risk targets for tobacco prevention messaging and close monitoring of cigarette use, particularly those who are severely obese as well as white youth of excess weight, starting before adolescence.

Child Maltreatment and the Adolescent Patient With Severe Obesity: Implications for Clinical Care.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize prevalence and correlates of child maltreatment (CM) in a clinical sample of adolescents with severe obesity. METHOD: Multicenter baseline data from 139 adolescents undergoing weight loss surgery (Mage = 16.9; 79.9% female, 66.2% White; Mbody mass index [BMI] = 51.5 kg/m(2)) and 83 nonsurgical comparisons (Mage = 16.1; 81.9% female, 54.2% White; MBMI = 46.9 kg/m(2)) documented self-reported CM (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and associations with psychopathology, quality of life, self-esteem and body image, high-risk behaviors, and family dysfunction. RESULTS: CM prevalence (females: 29%; males: 12%) was similar to national adolescent base rates. Emotional abuse was most prevalent. One in 10 females reported sexual abuse. For females, CM rates were higher in comparisons, yet correlates were similar for both cohorts: greater psychopathology, substance use, and family dysfunction, and lower quality of life. CONCLUSION: While a minority of adolescents with severe obesity reported a CM history, they carry greater psychosocial burden into the clinical setting.

Participating in sport and music activities in adolescence: the role of activity participation and motivational beliefs during elementary school.

This investigation examined the precursors of adolescents' participation in sport and music activities in the United States by testing a developmental model across 7 years. Data were drawn from youth questionnaires in the Childhood and Beyond Study (92% European American; N = 594). Findings suggest that patterns of participation across a 3-year period in elementary school predict adolescents' participation through their motivational beliefs. Specifically, children who participated in an activity, children who participated consistently across multiple years, and children who were highly active had higher adolescent motivational beliefs 4 years later than their peers. These motivational beliefs, in turn, positively predicted adolescents' participation 1 year later. Cross-domain analyses suggest that children typically maintain their orientation toward sports and music (e.g., high music-low sport orientation, not oriented toward either domain) as they age. These findings highlight the consistency in children's leisure pursuits and interests from childhood through adolescence.

Relationships among sociodemographic markers, behavioral risk, and sexually transmitted infections in U. S. female Marine Corps recruits.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sociodemographic factors and constructs derived from the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills (IMB) model on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and a composite STI risk score in female Marine Corps recruits. METHODS: Data were collected in 1999 to 2000 through self-administered questionnaires and laboratory-confirmed tests of STIs. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with sexual risk and STIs. RESULTS: Recruits with the highest STI risk scores were younger, single, had high STI knowledge, less positive condom attitudes, perceptions of higher STI risk, perceived that sex is more likely and enjoyable under the influence of alcohol, and were heavy alcohol and drug users before recruit training entry. Recruits diagnosed with STIs had higher STI risk scores, had last sexual partners who were non-Caucasian, and resided in rural locations before recruit training entry. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of young women entering the Marine Corps present with STIs and/or recent sexual behavior that put them at risk for acquiring STIs despite high group means for prevention skills. Deficiencies in STI/human immunodeficiency virus knowledge and motivation to reduce risk (denoted by negative attitudes toward condom use and acceptance of the connection between sex and substance use) are possible targets for intervention.

The mediational role of adolescents' friends in relations between activity breadth and adjustment.

This investigation addresses the mediational role of friends' characteristics between adolescents' activity breadth (i.e., variety in activity participation) and their later adjustment. Data were drawn from 2 longitudinal studies: the Childhood and Beyond (CAB; N = 925) study and the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study (MADICS; N = 1,338). Adolescents at Time 2 in each study (8th, 9th, and 11th graders in CAB and 8th graders in MADICS) reported on the breadth of their participation across 5 activity settings: sports, religious, volunteering, community, and school. Friends' characteristics and adolescent adjustment were reported by adolescents at Times 1 and 3. Friends' positive characteristics significantly mediated relations between activity breadth and adolescent depressive affect, self-worth, alcohol use, and problem behavior in both studies. Friends' negative characteristics significantly mediated these relations in CAB, but not in MADICS.