Beyond femininity or masculinity: gender typologies and healthy eating in early adulthood.

PURPOSE: In the field of health sciences gender is often confused with biological sex (male/female) or reduced to a dichotomous classification (masculinity/femininity). The concepts of sex and gender interact with each other, but they are not equivalent. According to Sandra Bem four gender typologies can be established (androgynous, masculine, feminine and undifferentiated). A relationship has been shown to exist between gender and health. Yet, there is little evidence as to the relationship between gender typologies and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The aim of this research is to evaluate the association between Bem's gender typologies and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. METHODS: Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and Bem's gender typologies were the main variables. Sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), body mass index (BMI) and obesity were analyzed as covariates. RESULTS: Multilevel multivariate analysis showed that androgynous typology was associated with increased adherence to Mediterranean diet (ß = 0.46 (SE 0.21), p = 0.033), adjusting by covariates, in a university population in Spain. Moreover, this was not the case with masculinity or femininity typologies. CONCLUSION: Thus, the results of this study suggest (1) that androgynous typology is not only associated with better mental health but also with healthy/healthier lifestyles, and (2) the complexity of the relationship between sex-gender and health would advise researchers avoid dichotomies such as male/female or masculinity/femininity.

Personality and gender prototypes for predicting health: a multilevel and cluster analysis.

Prior studies have identified that mentally healthy people tend to share common characteristics and common ways of coping with stressful life events; they show similar patterns of behavior and more flexible and adaptive social roles. The objectives of the study are to assess the influence of personality factors on gender roles and mental health, to identify personality patterns along with gender roles, and to assess the influence of the patterns identified on mental health. Data collection from a sample of 795 university students was carried out during 2019. Multilevel analyses tested the associations between gender (BSRI) and personality (TIPI) and between personality and health -mental health (GHQ12) and wellbeing (MHC-SF). Cluster analysis explored tendencies of gender and personality, and each cluster showed different health patterns. Individuals with high scores in extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience, and very high agreeableness score, as well as high femininity and masculinity scores, presented a decreased psychological morbidity (ß= -3.62, 0.57 (SE), p<0.001) and an increased well-being (ß=7.68, 1.15 (SE), p<0.001). The most relevant indicators of mental health were identified in androgynous individuals, those individuals with high scores in masculinity and femininity, as well as high scores in extraversion, openness to experience, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

The role of duty, gender and intergenerational care in grandmothers' parenting of grandchildren: a phenomenological qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe grandmothers' experiences of taking care of their grandchildren in terms of their care-giving tasks, motivations and emotions. METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. Purposive sampling was used, based on the relevance of the research question. Seventeen participants were included, women ≥ 65 years old, grandmothers who care for their grandchildren at least 10 h per week and who attended the Nursing units of the Primary Care Health Centers (Madrid Public Health Service). Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was carried out from the perspective of hermeneutic phenomenology. For the analysis, the Excel program was used to organize and share the coding process. Also, we followed COREQ guidelines. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: (a) Care out of obligation, where participants feel an obligation to help their children by caring for grandchildren, regardless of their number, and prefer to do so voluntarily; (b) Care out of responsibility, where grandmothers see their role as a responsibility that includes saving costs by caring for grandchildren and facilitating their children's work life balance; (c) Care as a social duty, reflecting a moral commitment inherited from their mothers to help future generations; and (d) Construction of care from a gender perspective, where grandmothers, as women, primarily assume the care and upbringing of grandchildren. DISCUSSION: Our results contribute to increase knowledge about childcare provided by grandmothers to their grandchildren. Grandmothers become fundamental pillars of families by helping their children balance family and work. Behind this care there is a strong sense of obligation, duty and generational responsibility. Grandmothers' help presents differences in the distribution of tasks and care by sex. Identifying factors that motivate grandmothers to care for their grandchildren helps nurses to perform higher quality comprehensive care.

Exploring new tendencies of gender and health in university students.

In light of the impact of gender roles on health, the aims of the present study are (1) to assess the associations between femininity/masculinity and gender typologies, and health indicators (mental health, wellbeing, and self-perceived health) and (2) to identify patterns of gender roles and health indicators, thus exploring new tendencies in gender and health in Spanish university students in the framework of the androgyny model. The sample was made up of 795 university students from Madrid and Toledo. Data collection was completed during 2019. Measures of self-rated health, mental health (GHQ12), and wellbeing (MHC-SF) were considered as health indicators, while the Bem Sex Roles Inventory (BSRI) was used to measure gender roles. Multilevel analysis was employed to value associations between masculinity and femininity and gender typologies with self-rated health, mental health, and wellbeing. Furthermore, cluster analysis was used to explore general tendencies in gender roles and health, while also considering biological sex composition. The best predictor of mental health was found to be masculinity, rather than femininity. Cluster analysis showed a dominance of androgyny and undifferentiated typologies with proportionally similar biological sex composition. Results confirmed the androgyny model, highlighting the role of androgyny and masculinity as protective factors of mental health. Cluster analysis suggested less gender-typed individuals and more flexible ways of adapting to gender roles in university students. Health systems, governments, and public institutions must take these results into account when designing health prevention and intervention policies. Social agents, educators, and the media must also collaborate in the achievement of equalitarian gender roles, which could result in a minimization of gender-related health differences.

A cross-sectional association of physical fitness with positive and negative affect in children and adolescents: the up & down study.

BACKGROUND: Affect and physical fitness play an important role in psychological and physical health; however, the association between those variables in youth remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of physical fitness on positive and negative affect in Spanish children and adolescents. METHOD: Healthy young Spanish people (n = 1,490) were recruited for the present study: 542 children (n = 272 girls; mean age 9.6 years) and 948 adolescents (n = 454 girls; mean age 14.1 years) with complete baseline data on health-related fitness tests (20 m shuttle run test, 4 × 10 m test, muscular fitness index, and physical fitness index), and positive and negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). RESULTS: Higher performance on physical fitness components was associated with positive affect (ß = -0.176-0.118, all P < 0.05). There was no association between all physical fitness components and negative affect (ß = -0.100-0.15, all P > 0.05). There were differences on positive affect between the lowest and the highest quartile of the physical fitness index in boys (P = 0.037, Cohen's d 0.60) and girls (P = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.69), and between the lowest and the highest quartile of muscular fitness index in girls (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting physical activity during the school years, including strength exercises to increase muscular fitness, could improve positive affect levels and thus psychological health.

Diet quality and well-being in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study.

The present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down's syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down's syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (ß=0·41, se 0·10, P<0·001; ß=0·46, se 0·10, P<0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (ß=0·16, se 0·05, P=0·006; ß=0·20, se 0·05, P<0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (ß=0·20, se 0·08, P=0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (ß=-0·15, se 0·07, P=0·047; ß=-0·16, se 0·06, P=0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (ß=0·30, se 0·06, P<0·001) and in primary school boys (ß=0·20, se 0·09, P=0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis.

Adherence to initial exclusive breastfeeding among Chinese born and native Spanish mothers.

BACKGROUND: Benefits of breastfeeding on the health of children, mothers and society are well known. However, breastfeeding rates vary according to the population examined. Chinese-born women migrated to high-income countries have shown low breastfeeding rates. Nevertheless, studies comparing breastfeeding rates of Chinese-born immigrants and natives are scarce. The aims of this study were therefore: 1) to compare the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge after giving birth between Chinese-born women resident in Spain and native Spanish women, 2) to assess the influence of the biological, socioeconomic, work-related and cultural factors on exclusive breastfeeding in women of Chinese origin. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study with between group comparisons. This study included 73 postpartum women (33 Chinese-born and 40 native Spanish women). The association between exclusive breastfeeding and the country of origin was assessed by binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Native Spanish women showed a greater prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (80%) compared to Chinese born immigrant women (36.4%) (adjusted for socioeconomic status, parental level of education, age, cesareans and birth weight) (OR = 0.21; 95% CI 0.05-0.91; p = 0.037). However, in other models that considered both work and cultural influences, no differences were observed. DISCUSSION: The classic biological and socioeconomic variables (educational and socioeconomic levels) do not seem to explain the lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding among Chinese immigrant women. This paradigm of inequity appears to be based on both the work conditions as well as cultural characteristics of Chinese born women in Spain, such as their overall attitude towards breastfeeding.

The relationship between conformity to male and female gender norms and depression during pregnancy.

To analyze whether there is an association between conformity to male and female gender norms and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score as an indicator of depression during pregnancy, a cross-sectional study was made to a sample of 200 pregnant women being seen at any of the public primary care centers in Segovia (Spain) for the prenatal care. A score of 13 points or higher on the Spanish version of the EPDS is considered to be an indicator of antenatal depression. The Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory (CFNI-84) and the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-94) were used to determine the degree of conformity to gender norms. Descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as multivariate analysis, were carried out. Logistic regression analysis showed the Nice in Relationships Subscale score to be associated with a decreased risk of depression (OR = 0.88; 95%CI 0.79-0.98; p = 0.029). In addition, the CMNI total score, as well as the Self-Reliance subscale, were associated with an increased risk of depression (OR = 1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.07; p = 0.022; OR = 1.30; 95%CI 1.08-1.55; p = 0.004, respectively). An association between conformity to male gender norms and nonconformity to some female gender norms in pregnant women and a score on the EPDS indicating depression during pregnancy was found. Particularly, an increase in the CMNI total score was associated to increased risk of suffering depression in the pregnant women studied.

A longitudinal perspective of eating disorder risk in immigrant and Spanish native adolescents: The longitudinal up & down study.

OBJECTIVES: Previous research has postulated immigrant status as a relevant factor influencing eating disorder (ED) risk in adolescents. The present study assesses differences by sex in ED risk between Spanish native and immigrant adolescent populations residing in Spain and analyzes longitudinal differences in ED risk between immigrant and native adolescents over 2-year follow-up. METHOD: The study sample was 981 adolescents aged 11-19 years at baseline. ED risk was evaluated using the Spanish version of the SCOFF Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to value associations between country of origin and ED risk prevalence by sex, as well as changes in ED risk at 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Immigrant adolescent girls and boys presented greater ED risk than their Spanish counterparts. Prospective analyses showed that immigrant boys presented greater likelihood of acquiring ED risk over 2 years compared to Spanish adolescent boys. CONCLUSION: Immigrant adolescent populations, particularly boys, seem to be vulnerable to ED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Impact of the first interprofessional education undergraduate program in Spain.

In 2015, the Universidad Europea de Madrid started the first interprofessional education program in Spain. Nursing students undergo different interprofessional education activities in all four academic years, covering various aspects of the following competencies: interprofessional communication, role clarification (definition, interaction and defense), and authority models and decision making. In second year, they integrate these activities with students from psychology, pharmacy and medicine. We assessed the self-perception of second year nursing students with an adapted and validated IPEC (Interprofessional Education Collaborative) questionnaire, in four different transversal moments of the academic year 2015-16. Differences in mean values were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and post-hoc Mann-Whitney tests with Bonferroni corrections in case of statistical significance. Results showed that this IPE program improves the self-perception second year students have about their competence in interprofessional communication, especially in the dimensions of oral expression, active listening, communication tools and interprofessional conflict resolution.

The effect of stereotypes and prejudices regarding gender roles on the relation between nurses and "Muslim fathers" in health institutions within the Community of Madrid (Spain).

Modern Western societies are characterized by a considerable cultural and ethnic diversity whereby different groups and minorities live side by side. However, not all people are viewed in the same light by the autochthonous population. This is particularly true in the case of Muslim immigrants, who are often prone to negative stereotyping and prejudice. This has become increasingly apparent since the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and the subsequent attacks in various Western countries. This study seeks to analyze the relation between female nurses and those labeled by nurses as "Muslim fathers," as part of a research project on the care of immigrant children in Madrid (Spain). The findings promote reflection on the effects of nurses' stereotypes and prejudices regarding the gender roles of "Muslim fathers" and the relations between these groups. These prejudices can lead to situations of cultural imposition and/or discrimination. Self-reflection regarding stereotypes and prejudices is necessary in order to provide culturally competent care. The anthropobiological approach by Marie Françoise Collière may be useful for extending this type of care universally, not only to immigrant groups, as everyone, including nurses, patients, and family members, belong to part of a specific sociocultural context.

Anxiety and Worries among Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multilevel Analysis.

Background. Several studies have identified pregnant women as a vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic. The perinatal period has been identified as a stage of great risk for the mental health of pregnant women, due to a large increase in mental pathologies during this period. In this context, the objective of the present study was to assess the associations between socioeconomic and demographic factors, health concerns and health information management, and anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant Spanish women. Method. The sample of this cross-sectional study was comprised of 353 pregnant women, aged 18 or older and residing in Spain. Data collection was carried out from 1 June to 30 September 2020. Participants were recruited from Quirónsalud University Hospital of Madrid. Multilevel regression models were built to value the associations between demographic factors, health concerns and health information management, and anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women. Results. Reduced working hours and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic were related to increased anxiety levels, as was the level of concern about COVID-19 symptoms, potential complications, contagion and consequences for the baby. Worries caused by restrictive measures adopted against COVID-19 and resulting isolation, delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding were also associated with increased anxiety levels. Being a separated or divorced woman and being informed to a greater extent by a midwife were related to lower anxiety levels. An increase in the degree of information obtained about COVID-19 symptoms, complications, contagion and consequences for the baby, restrictive measures and isolation adopted against COVID-19, delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding, were also related to decreased anxiety levels. Conclusions. The most vulnerable future mothers in terms of anxiety levels are those with reduced working hours and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those with a higher level of concern and who had access to a lesser degree of information about COVID-19 (symptoms and complications, contagion and consequences on the baby, restrictive measures and isolation, delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding), as well as pregnant women who have obtained information about COVID-19 during pregnancy from TV.

Associations of Dietary Intake on Biological Markers of Inflammation in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: In children and adolescents, chronic low-grade inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of co- and multi-morbid conditions to mental health disorders. Diet quality is a potential mechanism of action that can exacerbate or ameliorate low-grade inflammation; however, the exact way dietary intake can regulate the immune response in children and adolescents is still to be fully understood. METHODS: Studies that measured dietary intake (patterns of diet, indices, food groups, nutrients) and any inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents aged 2 to19 years and published until November 2020 were included in this systematic review, and were selected in line with PRISMA guidelines through the following databases: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Global Health, Medline COMPLETE and Web of Science-Core Collection. A total of 53 articles were identified. RESULTS: Results show that adequate adherence to healthful dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet, or food groups such as vegetables and fruit, or macro/micro nutrients such as fibre or vitamin C and E, are associated with decreased levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, mainly c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), whereas adherence to a Western dietary pattern, as well as intake of food groups such as added sugars, macro-nutrients such as saturated fatty acids or ultra-processed foods, is associated with higher levels of the same pro-inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review examining dietary intake and biological markers of inflammation in both children and adolescents. A good quality diet, high in vegetable and fruit intake, wholegrains, fibre and healthy fats ameliorates low-grade inflammation, and therefore represents a promising therapeutic approach, as well as an important element for disease prevention in both children and adolescents.

Lateral Kangaroo Care in Hemodynamic Stability of Extremely Preterm Infants: Protocol Study for a Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial CANGULAT.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the efficacy of the modified kangaroo care lateral position on the thermal stability of preterm neonates versus conventional kangaroo care prone position. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A non-inferiority randomized parallel clinical trial. Kangaroo care will be performed in a lateral position for the experimental group and in a prone position for the control group preterm. The study will take place at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a University Hospital. The participants will be extremely premature infants (under 28 weeks of gestational age) along the first five days of life, hemodynamically stable, with mother or father willing to do kangaroo care and give their written consent to participate in the study. The sample size calculated was 35 participants in each group. When the premature infant is hemodynamically stable and one of the parents stays in the NICU, the patient will be randomized into two groups: an experimental group or a control group. The primary outcome is premature infant axillary temperature. Neonatal pain level and intraventricular hemorrhage are secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: There is no scientific evidence on modified kangaroo care lateral position. Furthermore, there is little evidence of increased intraventricular hemorrhage association with the lateral head position necessary in conventional or prone kangaroo care in extremely premature newborns. Kangaroo care is a priority intervention in neonatal units increasing the time of use more and more, making postural changes necessary to optimize comfort and minimize risks with kangaroo care lateral position as an alternative to conventional prone position kangaroo care. Meanwhile, it is essential to ensure that the conventional kangaroo care prone position, which requires the head to lay sideways, is a safe position in terms of preventing intraventricular hemorrhage in the first five days of life of children under 28 weeks of gestational age. Trial registration at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03990116.

Accuracy and Repeatability of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters Measured with an Inertial Measurement Unit.

In recent years, interest in finding alternatives for the evaluation of mobility has increased. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) stand out for their portability, size, and low price. The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy and repeatability of a commercially available IMU under controlled conditions in healthy subjects. A total of 36 subjects, including 17 males and 19 females were analyzed with a Wiva Science IMU in a corridor test while walking for 10 m and in a threadmill at 1.6 km/h, 2.4 km/h, 3.2 km/h, 4 km/h, and 4.8 km/h for one minute. We found no difference when we compared the variables at 4 km/h and 4.8 km/h. However, we found greater differences and errors at 1.6 km/h, 2.4 km/h and 3.2 km/h, and the latter one (1.6 km/h) generated more error. The main conclusion is that the Wiva Science IMU is reliable at high speeds but loses reliability at low speeds.

A longitudinal gender perspective of well-being and health in spanish youth: the UP&DOWN study.

Previous studies have observed a link between gender and well-being and health in young populations. The purpose of this research was twofold: (1) to analyse the cross-sectional relationship between gender status with well-being indicators and self-perceived health in adolescents at baseline and at 2-year follow-up and (2) to evaluate the prospective associations between gender at baseline and well-being indicators/self-perceived health assessed at 2-year follow-up. Well-being was measured using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire (as a measure of health-related quality of life (HR-QoL)), the Children's Hope Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Health status of the adolescents was assessed using self-perceived health. Multilevel mixed-effects linear/logistic regression models were carried out to assess the associations between gender status and well-being and health of a sample of 1590 Spanish adolescents. Adolescent girls were shown to have lower HR-QoL scores and higher negative affect scores, and had a higher risk of reporting poor health than boys, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Adolescent girls seem to be more vulnerable to poorer well-being and self-reported health than boys. When looking at hedonic and eudemonic well-being separately, longitudinal differential evolution of boys and girls seems to indicate greater deterioration of hedonic well-being among girls as compared to boys. Overall, gender may have a relevant impact on mental and physical health during adolescence.

Psychosocial Correlates of Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19: The Spanish Case.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit almost all countries around the globe, seriously affecting the welfare of populations. Spain is especially hard-hit. In this context, the purpose of the present study is to analyze social, demographic, and economic correlates of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the population residing in Spain. METHOD: The sample of this cross-sectional study was comprised of 801 participants aged 18 or older and residing in Spain. Data collection was carried out during March and April 2020. Data of mental health (GHQ12) and well-being (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) indicators, and those of a wide number of social, demographic, and economic variables were recorded. Linear regression models were built to value associations between mental health and social, demographic, and economic indicators. RESULTS: Mental health morbidity was higher in women, younger people, individuals with medium studies, people with fewer children, singles, students, and unemployed individuals. Positive affect was higher among women, people with a high level of studies, those not co-living with dependent seniors, the self-employed, the employed, and those working outside home. Negative affect was negatively associated with age and number of children and was higher among women, people with basic studies, singles, individuals co-living with dependent seniors, homemakers, and students. CONCLUSION: The most vulnerable populations were found to be women, younger people, people with basic or medium studies, students and individuals with no remunerated activities, single populations, and those co-living with dependent seniors as well as those with a reduced number of children.

The Investigation of Gender Differences in Subjective Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents: The UP&DOWN Study.

OBJECTIVE: Based on a three-factor model of subjective wellbeing (evaluative, hedonic and eudemonic), the purpose of this study was to analyze gender differences in children and adolescents through three different subjective wellbeing indicators. METHOD: The sample comprised 1.407 children and adolescents from Cadiz and Madrid (Spain), in the framework of the UP&DOWN study. Life satisfaction was measured with the subjective happiness scale, positive and negative affect were measured with the positive and negative affect schedule, and purpose in life was assessed with the children's hope scale. RESULTS: Linear regression models indicate the existence of significant gender differences only in adolescents, with higher scores among girls in positive affect (p = 0.016) and negative affect (p < 0.001) but with lower scores in purpose in life (p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the role of gender as an important factor in explaining differences in subjective wellbeing. Additionally, results indicate that gender differences in subjective wellbeing are observed in adolescents, but not in children, suggesting that the gender gap in subjective wellbeing begins at the age of 12. Mental health practitioners should pay attention to these findings in order to implement screening methods and interventions focused on these needs.

Understanding the Meaning of Conformity to Feminine Norms in Lifestyle Habits and Health: A Cluster Analysis.

Background: Gender roles impact different spheres of life and lead women to behavioral patterns and lifestyle habits associated with femininity, generating important differences between men and women in health. The present study analyzed relationships between conformity to the feminine norms and different lifestyle indicators: Educational level, marital status, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, sleeping hours, social support, and physical activity. Additionally, cluster analysis was developed in order to identify different patterns of gender role conformity. Methods: The sample was made up of 347 women age 18-70 from Spain. Data collection was conducted during 2014. Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses produced odds ratios showing that women with lower feminine role conformity were more likely to use tobacco and alcohol, but less likely to share their lives with someone. Cluster analysis found four different profiles of gender role conformity related to different patterns of alcohol consumption and marital status. Conclusions: Conformity to feminine norms was associated with basic affective conditions such as sharing life with others and with alcohol and tobacco consumption, but not with physical activity, social support, and sleep duration. Whereas tobacco and alcohol use have important health implications, public health systems should pay attention to gender-related variables in order to design and implement specific prevention programs.

Social correlates of sedentary behavior in young people: The UP&DOWN study.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to analyze the associations of youths' sedentary behavior (SB) with parents' and siblings' SB and physical activity (PA), as well as the associations of youths' coparticipation with parents, siblings, and friends in PA and SB with youths' SB. Methods: The sample consisted of 1543 youths (12.02 ± 2.51 years; 788 boys) enrolled in the baseline cohort of the UP&DOWN study. SB was assessed by accelerometry and questionnaire. Participants reported the time spent by their parents and siblings watching television, playing videogames, surfing the Internet, sitting/resting, and doing PA. Further, participants reported coparticipation with parents, siblings, and friends in these activities. Linear mixed models, including school and city as random effects, were performed. Results: Parents' television time was positively associated with youths' screen-based SB. Coparticipation with friends in playing videogames (in boys) and in surfing the Internet (in girls) showed a positive association with screen-based SB and a negative association with educational-based SB. Moreover, coparticipation with siblings and friends in PA was inversely associated with accelerometer-based SB in boys and girls. Conclusion: Our results emphasize the important role of social modeling in the development of sedentary lifestyles in youths. Interventions aimed at reducing health risk behaviors in youths could be more effective if they are oriented from a social perspective that involves their families and networks of their closest friends.