Social and Religious Networks with Respect to the Health Behaviors of African American Women: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic mixed studies review was to examine how social networks influence physical activity and dietary patterns among African American women. We searched PUBMED, CINAHL, JSTOR, SocioIndex, Medline, Cochrane Library, sportDISCUS, and PsycINFO to review articles published between Jan 1, 2007, and July 1, 2021. Only 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in the US. Social support received from family members, friends, and churches was found to positively influence physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. An inconsistent relationship was found between social network size, health behavior characteristics of social networks, and physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. Future research should incorporate structural and functional social network strategies to promote physical activity and healthy eating behaviors effectively and sustainably among African American women.

Friends, neighbors, country, and respect: Status ladders and health behaviors in the United States.

Efforts to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health have expanded beyond traditional indicators of education, income, occupation, and wealth to individuals' own reports of where they stand. This more contemporary approach has enjoyed considerable success, in that self-reported SES standing, often measured on a ladder representing the entire U.S. socioeconomic hierarchy, is associated strongly with health even when traditional SES indicators are controlled. However, disparities in self-rated health across ladder measures typically are not assessed with regard to health behavior disparities. Here, we draw on two US national probability samples assessing diverse ladder reference groups, as well as a new ladder asking people to report how much respect, honor, or esteem they receive from other people. Respect or honor offers a distinct potential to measure social influence across circles of recognition. We find that U.S.-based ladder status is related to smoking currently or ever and to days of exercise. While friend, neighbor, and respect-based ladders do not relate to health behaviors net of U.S. ladder standing, they show relationships to ever smoking and physical activity, and self-rated health, in their own right. Physical activity accounts for 12-18% of self-rated health disparities by friend, neighbor, or country ladder status. Smoking and drinking do not robustly contribute to ladder-based disparities in self-rated health. Contrasting what is typically found for traditional SES measures, physical activity merits further research, as does the receipt of respect or honor. That status ladder health disparities go largely unexplained by behaviors suggests the potential roles of non-behavioral pathways including inflammation, hopelessness, or classism.

The mediating role of behavioral risk factors in the pathway between childhood disadvantage and adult psychological distress in a Finnish employee cohort.

Childhood disadvantage is associated with increased adult psychological distress, but the role of behavioral risk factors in the pathway remains unclear. We examined whether behavioral risk factors mediate the effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress. We used the Helsinki Health Study data of employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, aged 19-39 (mean age 32.0) years at baseline (2017). We included women (n = 2397) and men (n = 586) who responded to both baseline and follow-up (2022) surveys. At baseline, eight types of childhood disadvantage were asked retrospectively, and six adult behavioral risk factors were included. Psychological distress was measured by the DASS-21 at follow-up. We conducted mediation analyses using generalized structural equation modeling. Among women, we found indirect path effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress through behavioral risk factors (symptoms of depression: ß = 0.68, 95% CI 0.20-1.17; anxiety: ß = 0.54, 95% CI 0.13-0.95; and stress: ß = 0.69, 95% CI 0.20-1.09). Among men, childhood disadvantage contributed only directly to adult depressive (ß = 0.71, 95% CI 0.16-1.26) and stress (ß = 0.61, 95% CI 0.10-1.13) symptoms. Our findings suggest that behavioral risk factors can mediate some of the adverse effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress among women.

Disparities in healthcare-seeking behaviors and associated costs between Venezuelan migrants and Colombians residing in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Colombia, which hosts over 3 million of the Venezuelan diaspora, is lauded for its progressive approach to social integration, including providing migrants access to its universal health coverage system. However, barriers to healthcare persist for both migrant and host populations, with poorly understood disparities in healthcare-seeking behaviors and associated costs. This is the first study to link healthcare-seeking behaviors with costs for Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, encompassing costs of missing work or usual activities due to healthcare events. METHODS: We use self-reported survey data from Venezuelan migrants and Colombians living in Colombia (September-November 2020) to compare healthcare-seeking behaviors and cost variables by nationality using two-sampled t-tests or Chi-square tests (X2). The International Classification of Diseases was used to compare reported household illnesses for both populations. Average health service direct costs were estimated using the Colombian Government's Suficiencia database and self-reported out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for laboratory and pharmacy services. Indirect costs were calculated by multiplying self-reported days of missed work or usual activities with estimated income levels, derived by matching characteristics using the Gran Enquesta Integrada de Hogares database. We calculate economic burdens for both populations, combining self-reported healthcare-seeking behaviors and estimated healthcare service unit costs across six healthcare-seeking behavior categories. RESULTS: Despite similar disease profiles, Venezuelan migrants are 21.3% more likely to forego formal care than Colombians, with 746.3% more Venezuelans reporting lack of health insurance as their primary reason. Venezuelan women and uninsured report the greatest difficulties in accessing health services, with accessing medications becoming more difficult for Venezuelan women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Colombians cost the health system more per treated illness event (US$40) than Venezuelans (US$26) in our sample, over a thirty-day period. Venezuelans incur higher costs for emergency department visits (123.5% more) and laboratory/ pharmacy OOP payments (24.7% more). CONCLUSIONS: While Colombians and Venezuelans share similar disease burdens, significant differences exist in access, cost, and health-seeking behaviors. Increasing Venezuelan health insurance enrollment and tackling accessibility barriers are crucial for ensuring healthcare equity and effectively integrating the migrant population. Findings suggest that improving migrant access to primary healthcare would produce savings in Colombian healthcare expenditures.

Examining Health Behaviors as Mechanisms Linking Earlier Pubertal Timing with Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in Late Adolescence.

Earlier pubertal timing is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This three-wave longitudinal study examined negative health behaviors, specifically substance use, short sleep duration, and poor diet quality in middle adolescence, as mediators of links between earlier phenotypic and perceived pubertal timing measured in early adolescence and epigenetic aging on three epigenetic clocks in late adolescence (GrimAge, DunedinPACE, and PhenoAge). Phenotypic pubertal timing measured physical pubertal maturation relative to chronological age, whereas perceived pubertal timing was based on adolescents' subjective interpretation of their pubertal timing relative to their peers. Participants included 1213 youth (51% female, 49% male; 62% Black, 34% White) who participated during early adolescence (mean age = 13.10 years), middle adolescence (mean age = 16.1 years) and late adolescence (mean age = 19.7 years). Results from a mediation model revealed a mediation effect of earlier phenotypic pubertal timing on accelerated GrimAge in late adolescence through higher substance use during middle adolescence. There was also a direct effect of earlier phenotypic pubertal timing on accelerated DunedinPACE in males. Sleep duration and diet quality did not emerge as mediators but shorter sleep duration predicted accelerated GrimAge in females. These findings suggest that higher substance use presents a mechanism through which earlier maturing youth experience faster epigenetic aging that puts them at risk for poorer health across the lifespan.

Social support and health behaviors of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a moderated mediation model of loneliness and economic income.

BACKGROUND: The literature shows that social support is an important factor influencing health behaviors. This study aimed to explore the relationships and intrinsic pathways of social support, loneliness, economic income, and health behaviors among older adults during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to provide a theoretical basis for the implementation of health behaviors interventions for older adults. METHODS: A cluster-random-sampling survey was adopted within two towns in Dongguan, China. Demographic characteristics, social support, loneliness, economic income and health behaviors were measured. The Social Support Appraisals scale (SS-A), the ULS-8 Loneliness Scale, and the Self-rated abilities for health practice scale (SRAHPS) were used to measure social support, loneliness, and health behaviors in older adults, respectively. A moderated mediation model was built to examine the relationships among social support, loneliness, economic income, and health behaviors using the SPSS PROCESS 4.0 macro. We conducted bootstrapping of regression estimates with 5000 samples and a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: 621 older adults completed the questionnaire. Most of the participants were female, accounting for 75.0%, and the average age was 81.11 years (SD = 8.11). The median (interquartile range) of the participants' average monthly economic income was 800 (500-1000)RMB. The results of the mediation analysis showed that loneliness partly mediated the relationship between social support and health behaviors (B = 0.024, 95%CI: 0.007, 0.042), with the mediating effect accounting for 4.56% of the total effect. The moderation mediation analysis revealed a positive moderating role of economic income in the relationship between social support and loneliness (B = 0.114, 95%CI: 0.054, 0.174). Specifically, the relationship between social support and loneliness was found to be weaker for older adults with a high economic income compared to those with a lower economic income. CONCLUSION: The provision of enhanced social support and the alleviation of loneliness among older adults during an epidemic can facilitate the development of healthy behaviours, particularly among those who are economically disadvantaged.

Exploring the Mechanisms that Allow Incompatible Beliefs to Coexist in the Cognitive System.

Despite assumptions that people strive for consistency between their beliefs, endorsement of mutually incompatible ones is not rare - a tendency we have previously labelled doublethink, by borrowing from Orwell. In an attempt to understand the nature of doublethink and the underlying mechanism that enables incompatible beliefs to coexist, we conducted two preregistered studies (total N = 691). To do so, in Study 1, we first explored how doublethink relates to (1) thinking styles (rational/intuitive, actively open-minded thinking, and need for cognitive closure), (2) a set of irrational beliefs (magical health, conspiratorial, superstitious, and paranormal beliefs) and (3) its predictiveness for questionable health practices (non-adherence to medical recommendations and use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine). We then additionally expanded the set of health behaviors in Study 2, and related doublethink to trust in two epistemic authorities - science and the wisdom of the common man. Finally, in both studies, we explored whether those prone to inconsistent beliefs are also more likely to simultaneously rely on conventional and alternative medicine, despite their apparent incompatibility. While doublethink was positively related to need for cognitive closure and different irrational beliefs that easily incorporate contradictions, as well as negatively to actively open-minded thinking, we did not find it to be predictive of the use of non-evidence-based medicine nor of its simultaneous use with official medicine. It seems that this novel construct can be best understood as a feature of the cognitive system that allows incompatible claims to enter it. However, once beliefs are within the system, they are compartmentalized, without any cross-referencing between them. This is further reflected in non-evidence-based beliefs persisting within the belief system, irrespective of their content.

A prospective study of health-related lifestyle changes among police cadets.

The objectives of this prospective study were to explore the health-related lifestyle of police cadets and assess changes in their health behaviors following entry into the police force. To do so, 190 police cadets completed an online questionnaire assessing their physical activity level, sedentary behaviors, diet quality, sleep hygiene, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and stress level. One year following their graduation from the police training program, participants were invited to, once again, complete the questionnaire. Our results suggest that police cadets generally display healthy lifestyles, with very few cadets being physically inactive, smokers, reporting insufficient sleep duration, and displaying obesity. Nevertheless, paired-sample comparisons highlighted significant decreases in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, sleep duration, and sleep quality at the follow-up. Likewise, significant increases in fast-food consumption and BMI were observed.

Exploring the complex relationships between health behaviors, health outcomes, social vulnerability, regional cultures, and oral health.

OBJECTIVES: Health and social factors show large heterogeneity across regional cultural geographies and influence oral health as well. The purpose of this study is to confirm associations between county-level general health, behaviors, social factors, and oral health indicators and to further analyze the patterns of distribution of oral health indicators across dominant regional cultures in the United States (US) as defined by the American Nations model. METHODS: We calculated a Lifestyle Health Index (LHI) from the 2023 PLACES database using county-level, age-adjusted health data and merged it with (a) 2020 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) database, (b) dominant regional cultures from Nationhood Lab's American Nations model, (c) dentist visits and teeth lost data from the 2023 PLACES database, and (d) access to dentistry data from the County Health Rankings database. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between the LHI (and sub scores), SVI (and sub scores), and dental variables showed strong associations. ANOVA post-hoc test results revealed significant differences for dental visits and teeth lost for LHI, SVI and access to dentists. Prevalence of dental visits and teeth lost showed clear heterogeneity across regional cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health is strongly linked to lifestyle health factors, social vulnerability, access to dentistry, and cultural norms and belief systems. Within the US, significant heterogeneity exists in the distribution of oral health indicators across dominant regional cultural geographies. Oral health communications and policy solutions focused on health-related behaviors (e.g., tobacco, diet), disease-specific considerations (e.g., diabetes), and the social environment (e.g., poverty, housing) should be tailored to regional cultures rather than a single US-based culture to improve dental care and oral health outcomes.

Association between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and health checkup participation: A population-based longitudinal study in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that background sociodemographic factors are associated with health checkup participation. However, little is known about the psychological determinants of health checkup participation in longitudinal studies. This study explored the psychological determinants of health checkup participation based on a longitudinal study in South Korea. METHODS: Data were retrieved from a nationwide, longitudinal panel study in South Korea, which included community-dwelling general adults, conducted from 2005 to 2022. Established scales for assessing life satisfaction and self-esteem were employed, and life satisfaction and self-esteem levels were categorized into four groups based on quartile values (lowest, low, high, and highest). Respondents reported whether they had undergone a health checkup in the past year. Fixed effects logistic regressions were fitted to determine within-individual associations between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and health checkup participation (n = 15,771; 171,943 observations). Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest life satisfaction, the highest life satisfaction is associated with increased odds of health checkup participation (OR: 1.17, 95 % CI: 1.13-1.23). Compared to the lowest self-esteem level, the highest self-esteem level was positively associated with health checkup participation (OR, 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.10-1.18). The odds of participating in health checkups were also positively associated with age, income, and educational level. CONCLUSION: Although the effect sizes were modest, high life satisfaction and self-esteem were associated with an increased likelihood of participating in health checkups.

Relationship between life's essential 8 and the risk of gestational diabetes among us adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of gestational diabetes among US adults. METHOD: We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2007-2018 data to perform this study. LE8 scores comprised 4 health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep duration) and 4 health factors (BMI, non-high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Then, LE8 were categorized into low CVH (0 to 49 scores), moderated CVH (50 to 79 scores), and high CVH (80 to 100 scores). Weighted multivariate Logistic regression analysis model were used to estimate the relationship between LE8 and gestational diabetes. RESULT: A total of 3,189 participants were included, and the portion of gestational diabetes was 15.33%, 11.46%, 7.71% in low CVH, moderate CVH, and high CVH, respectively. Adjustment for covariates, we found that high CVH (OR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.29-0.83, p = 0.01) was associated with decreased of gestational diabetes, not moderate CVH (OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.50-1.20, p = 0.25). This inverse associations were dose-response dependent (p-nonlinear = 0.982). This inverse associations were significant in subgroup. Significant interaction between CVH and family diabetes with the risk of gestational diabetes was found (P for interaction = 0.04). High CVH (OR: 0.357, 95%CI: 0.176-0.724, p = 0.005) could significantly decrease the risk of gestational diabetes in the population with family diabetes. The results were generally robust in sensitivity analyses after excluding of ASCVD participants. CONCLUSION: The high CVH could decrease the risk of gestational diabetes, especially in the population of family diabetes.

Childhood Sexual Trauma, Substance Use, and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Older Adults Living With HIV: A Mediational Analysis.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is linked to substance use and lower antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. However, studies examining the mediational role of substance use between CSA and ART adherence are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the potential mediational role of substance use between CSA and ART adherence among older adults living with HIV (OALH) (n = 91). Mediation analyses assessed the direct and indirect relationships between CSA, substance use, and ART adherence. Statistically significant differences existed in substance use by gender (male vs. female: 12.3 vs. 9.97) and ART adherence by race (Black vs. White: 98.2% vs. 99.6%) and employment. CSA was associated with ART adherence (ß = -3.27, p < .001) and substance use (ß = 2.14, p = .035), but substance use was not associated with ART adherence, and did not mediate the pathway between CSA and ART adherence in the adjusted model. Trauma-informed interventions may lower substance use among OALH with CSA.

Social networks as facilitators and barriers to behavior change among U.S. South Asian adult participants of a culturally adapted, group lifestyle intervention.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to characterize how social networks influence cardiovascular health behaviors among U.S. South Asian adults in a culturally adapted, group lifestyle intervention. METHODS: A purposive sample of participants (n = 24) from the South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) randomized trial's intervention arm participated in semi-structured process evaluation interviews. Specific open-ended questions were used to probe participants' behavior changes, personal social networks, and social support for behavior change. The team transcribed interviews and identified themes using inductive and deductive coding, based on a theoretical model of social influence. RESULTS: Among 24 participants (67 % female, mean age 50.5 years, 88 % foreign-born, 50 % with limited English proficiency), three themes emerged: 1) SAHELI participants and their family members provided bidirectional social support for behavior change; 2) intervention participants provided social support to one another; and 3) participants faced resistance to change from some community members. CONCLUSIONS: Behavior changes initiated during SAHELI diffused to participants' close family members. Several social network influences varied by participant gender, English language proficiency, and network member type. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Health professionals should ask patients about how their social networks facilitate or hinder behavior changes. Gender and cultural factors may modify how social networks influence behavior change.

Ecological Momentary Assessment of Alcohol Marketing Exposure, Alcohol Use, and Purchases Among University Students: Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationships between alcohol marketing exposure, alcohol use, and purchase have been widely studied. However, prospective studies examining the causal relationships in real-world settings using mobile health tools are limited. OBJECTIVE: We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine both the within-person- and between-person-level effects of alcohol marketing exposure on any alcohol use, amount of alcohol use, any alcohol purchase, and frequency of alcohol purchase among university students. METHODS: From January to June 2020, we conducted a prospective cohort study via EMA among university students in Hong Kong who reported current drinking. Over 14 consecutive days, each participant completed 5 fixed-interval, signal-contingent EMAs daily via a smartphone app. Each EMA asked about the number and types of alcohol marketing exposures, the amount and types of alcohol used, and whether any alcohol was purchased, all within the past 3 hours. We used 2-part models, including multilevel logistic regressions and multilevel gamma regressions, to examine if the number of alcohol marketing exposure was associated with subsequent alcohol use and alcohol purchase. RESULTS: A total of 49 students participated, with 33% (16/49) being male. The mean age was 22.6 (SD 2.6) years. They completed 2360 EMAs (completion rate: 2360/3430, 68.8%). Participants reported exposure to alcohol marketing in 5.9% (140/2360), alcohol use in 6.1% (145/2360), and alcohol purchase in 2.4% (56/2360) of all the EMAs. At the between-person level, exposure to more alcohol marketing predicted a higher likelihood of alcohol use (adjusted odd ratio [AOR]=3.51, 95% CI 1.29-9.54) and a higher likelihood of alcohol purchase (AOR=4.59, 95% CI 1.46-14.49) the following day. Exposure to more alcohol marketing did not increase the amount of alcohol use or frequency of alcohol purchases the following day in participants who used or purchased alcohol. At the within-person level, exposure to more alcohol marketing was not associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol use, amount of alcohol use, higher likelihood of alcohol purchase, or frequency of alcohol purchases the following day (all Ps>.05). Each additional exposure to alcohol marketing within 1 week predicted an increase of 0.85 alcoholic drinks consumed in the following week (adjusted B=0.85, 95% CI 0.09-1.61). On days of reporting alcohol use, the 3 measures for alcohol marketing receptivity were not associated with more alcohol use or purchase (all Ps>.05). CONCLUSIONS: By using EMA, we provided the first evidence for the effect of alcohol marketing exposure on initiating alcohol use and purchase in current-drinking university students. Our findings provide evidence of the regulation of alcohol marketing for the reduction of alcohol use and purchase among young adults.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Age-Varying Association Between Adherence to 8-5-2-1-0 Guidelines in Adolescents with High BMI.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between adherence to sleep, dietary, screen time, and physical activity (PA) (8-5-2-1-0) guidelines and risk of high body mass index (BMI ≥ 85 percentile) among U.S. adolescents and to assess for racial inequities and age-varying effects in these associations. METHODS: Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey were used to conduct multivariable logistic regression models and moderation analysis by race/ethnicity and age using time-varying varying effect models (TVEM) and estimate associations of interest. RESULTS: Of the 13,518 adolescents aged ≥ 14 years, only 0.5% met all guidelines. Adolescents adhering to sleep guidelines had a 21% reduction in their odds of having a high BMI (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.93). Those adhering to PA guidelines had a 34% reduction in their odds of having a high BMI (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.56-0.79), and those adhering to screen time guidelines had a 17% reduction in their odds of having a high BMI (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.95). TVEM showed associations between adherence to sleep and screen time guidelines with high BMI fluctuate and are at specific ages. TVEM revealed substantial racial/ethnic differences in the age-varying association between adherence to 8-5-2-1-0 guidelines and high BMI throughout adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between adherence to sleep and screen time guidelines and high BMI fluctuate with age, highlighting the need for nuanced interventions targeting 24-h movement guidelines (sleep, PA, and screen time) across adolescence, particularly given racial/ethnic disparities.

The Indirect Effects of Health Information Seeking on Health Lifestyle: Health Literacy Matters.

To unpack the process of how health information seeking influences health behaviors, we examined the mediating roles of interpersonal discussion and online information sharing in the associations between health information seeking and healthy lifestyle behaviors and the moderating role of health literacy in the associations among health information seeking, interpersonal discussion, online information sharing, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Data from a large-scale, representative survey (N = 916) revealed that interpersonal discussion and online information sharing mediated the associations between health information seeking and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The associations between health information seeking and interpersonal discussion and between health information seeking and online information sharing were stronger for individuals with high health literacy than those with low health literacy. Findings advance the understanding of the influence of health information seeking and provide practical guidance for promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The Effect of the Mamanet Cachibol League on Psychosomatic Symptoms, Healthy Eating, and Social Support Among Arab Women: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: The Mamanet Cachibol League (MCL), a community-based model developed in Israel, promotes physical activity and amateur team sports among women. Women in the Arab society have traditionally played few sports, especially team sports. AIMS: The study aimed to assess the differences in health indicators and well-being, including psychosomatic symptoms, self-reported health, healthy eating habits, and social support, by comparing Arab women MCL participants and nonparticipants and examines benefits and motivations of community-based team sports for participants. METHODS: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach included a cross-sectional study with intervention and control groups of Israeli Arab women aged 25-59 years. Two-way analyses of covariance and multiple regression models evaluated demographics, well-being, healthy eating, and social support. Quality in-depth interviews with 30 MCL participants further explained the quantitative findings. RESULTS: MCL participants reported higher self-assessed health (P < .001) and decreased psychosomatic symptoms (P < .001) than nonparticipants. Healthier eating and well-being were also linked to MCL participation. The women sense of belonging improved social interactions, personal and professional happiness, and group dedication. MCL attendees felt empowered because the group advocated equality and valued women. Women said their involvement helped their families. CONCLUSIONS: Findings on the MCL community-based model suggest that team sports may serve as an effective tool for promoting health and well-being of Arab women and foster positive community relationships. The sense of belonging and personal empowerment derived from being part of a sports team may also contribute to positive mental health outcomes.

Evaluation of adolescents' cardiovascular health behaviors and health literacy levels in Turkey.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the relationship between cardiovascular health behaviors and health literacy levels of adolescents. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 1228 students from two secondary schools in Turkey. The study data were collected in 2020. The data were collected via the Cardiovascular Health Behavior Scale and the The Health Literacy Scale. RESULTS: Cardiovascular Health Behavior Scale for Children mean score was 56.07 ± 10.80. The Health Literacy Scale total mean score of the students was 30.93 ± 5.31. The mean scores of the Cardiovascular Health Behavior Scale for those who were 14 years old, female, studying in the 8th grade, whose parents were primary school graduates, and presence of a person who has had a heart attack in the family were found to be statistically significantly higher. The average health literacy score of students who were female, high income, and who had parents with a baccalaureate or graduate degree was found to be statistically significantly higher. The Cardiovascular Health Behavior Scale and The Health Literacy Scale showed a weak negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular health behaviors and health literacy of adolescents were found to be moderate. In order to improve adolescents' health literacy and help them develop good cardiovascular health habits from an early age, interventions should be planned and overseen in collaboration. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Adolescent health promotion requires that nurses assess adolescents' cardiovascular health behaviors and health literacy levels. To achieve the objectives of enhanced cardiovascular health behaviors and better health literacy, parent cooperation is also required.

Long working hours and preventive oral health behaviors: a nationwide study in Korea (2007-2021).

BACKGROUND: This study explored the association between working hours and preventive oral health behaviors. METHODS: In total, 48,599 workers (22,992 females) were included from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2021). Weekly working hours were self-reported. The following three preventive oral health behaviors were set as outcomes: participation in annual dental check-ups; adherence to the recommended toothbrushing frequency (≥twice a day); and use of interdental cleaning devices. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using logistic regression. RESULTS: In male workers, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h/week and each outcome was 0.84 (0.77-0.92) for dental check-ups, 0.82 (0.72-0.94) for toothbrushing ≥twice a day, and 0.83 (0.76-0.92) for utilization of interdental cleaning device when compared to 35-40 h/week. In female workers, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h/week and each outcome was 0.79 (0.70-0.89) for dental check-ups, 0.88 (0.70-1.11) for toothbrushing ≥twice a day, and 0.80 (0.71-0.90) for utilization of interdental cleaning device when compared to 35-40 h/week. Additionally, low socio-economic status, such as low educational attainment, low income level, and blue-collar occupations, were major risk factors associated with non-adherence to preventive oral health behaviors in both male and female workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that individuals who work long hours are more likely to exhibit undesirable oral health behaviors.

Do Children's Health Behaviors Buffer the Impact of Cumulative Environmental Stress on Emerging Cardiometabolic Risk?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found that exposure to childhood environmental stress is associated with cardiometabolic risk. However, it is not known whether individual health behaviors disrupt this relationship. This study prospectively evaluated the relationship between cumulative environmental stress in a low-income sample and cardiometabolic risk in middle childhood and examined whether child health behaviors attenuated this relationship. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a cohort of children (n=338; 57% Hispanic children; 25% Black children), environmental stressors (family and neighborhood factors representing disadvantage/deprivation) and child health behaviors (accelerometry measured physical activity; parent-reported screen time and diet recalls) were measured over 5 time points beginning when children were aged 2 to 4 years and ending when they were aged 7 to 11 years. Children's cardiometabolic risk factors (body mass index, blood pressure, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein) were measured at 7 to 11 years. Emerging cardiometabolic risk was defined as having ≥1 elevations that exceeded clinical thresholds. In adjusted path analyses, greater cumulative environmental stress was associated with higher likelihood of emerging cardiometabolic risk in middle childhood (P<0.001). Higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity and fewer sedentary minutes attenuated the positive relationship between stress and cardiometabolic risk (P<0.05). Children with >2 hours of average daily screen time had a higher likelihood of elevated cardiometabolic risk (P<0.01), but screen time did not moderate the stress-cardiometabolic risk relationship. Dietary intake was not related to cardiometabolic risk. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that promote moderate to vigorous physical activity and limit sedentary behavior may have particular importance for the cardiometabolic health of children exposed to high levels of cumulative environmental stress.