Emerging Adults' Text Message Use and Sleep Characteristics: A Multimethod, Naturalistic Study.

Emerging adults use text messaging as a principal form of social communication, day and night, and this may compromise their sleep. In this study, a hypothetical model was tested linking daytime and nighttime text message use with multiple sleep characteristics. Subjective and objective measures of texting and sleep were utilized to assess 83 college students over a seven-day period during an academic term. Greater number of daily texts, awareness of nighttime cell phone notifications, and compulsion to check nighttime notifications were significantly associated with poorer subjective sleep quality. Awareness of nighttime notifications was significantly associated with higher self-reported global sleep problems and more sleep disruptions. Results suggest potential benefits of targeting nighttime texting habits in health promotion efforts for emerging adults.

Emerging adults' sleep patterns and attentional capture: the pivotal role of consistency.

College students face consistent cognitive demands and often get insufficient and/or irregular sleep. The current study investigated associations of sleep duration and sleep variability with attentional performance. Sleep duration variability was expected to moderate the association between duration and cognitive functioning. College students' (n = 83) natural sleep patterns were recorded via wristband actigraphy across three consecutive nights during an academic term. The association between sleep duration and attentional capture was strongest for those whose sleep was the most consistent across the three nights preceding the attentional task (i.e., low sleep duration variability). For those with low sleep duration variability, less sleep was associated (B = -0.25) with reduced ability to ignore irrelevant cues and redirect attention to target locations. In other words, consistently low sleep duration was associated with compromises in attention. Our results indicate the importance of consistent sleep routines as well as sufficient sleep duration in order to optimize attentional performance in college students.

Co-rumination via cellphone moderates the association of perceived interpersonal stress and psychosocial well-being in emerging adults.

Adolescents' and emerging adults' social interactions increasingly revolve around cellphone use, but little research has investigated the psychological properties of cellphone interactions. The current study explored co-rumination via cellphone; that is, the use of cellphone functions to excessively communicate about problems or negative feelings. Face-to-face co-rumination and co-rumination via cellphone were examined as potential moderators of the association between perceived interpersonal stress and psychosocial well-being (i.e., positive mental health and social burnout) in a sample of 142 college students. Face-to-face co-rumination was not a moderator. However, co-rumination via cellphone was a significant moderator such that higher levels of perceived interpersonal stress were associated with lower levels of well-being only among college students who reported higher levels of co-rumination via cellphone. Co-rumination via cellphone should be further investigated to elucidate its developmental trajectory and mental health correlates.

Psychological factors in adherence to COVID-19 public health restrictions in Italy: A path model testing depressed mood, anxiety, and co-rumination via cellphone.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the success of major non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as quarantine orders, has depended upon robust rates of citizens' adherence to protocols. Thus, it is critical to public health for research to illuminate factors that affect compliance with contagion-mitigating practices. Previous research has examined sociodemographic factors and aspects of psychological distress as correlates of adherence to public health guidelines. The current study expanded this research to investigate the psychosocial process of co-rumination, which has been identified in previous research as a maladaptive type of social interaction that is associated with elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Data were collected from 932 Italian adults during the initial stages of the highly stressful COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. A path model was tested to examine multivariate relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms of psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety), co-rumination via cellphone, and self-reported adherence to COVID-19-related public health restrictions. Results revealed that higher rates of co-rumination via cellphone were associated with lower levels of adherence to public health restrictions. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were differentially related to co-rumination processes and adherence to public health restrictions. Higher levels of depression symptoms were directly associated with poorer adherence to public health restrictions, and this path was mediated through higher levels of co-rumination via cellphone. On the contrary, higher levels of state anxiety were directly associated with greater adherence to public health guidelines. This path was also mediated through co-rumination via cellphone. Higher levels of anxiety were correlated with lower levels of co-rumination, which in turn were correlated with lower levels of adherence. These results suggest fruitful directions for future research examining co-rumination as a maladaptive coping behavior that may be addressed within public health interventions.

Notification alert! Effects of auditory text alerts on attention and heart rate variability across three developmental periods.

In a modern world saturated with cellphone-related stimuli, surprisingly little is known about their psychological effects. A small number of previous studies have found global distracting effects of cellphone rings on cognitive performance in undergraduate students. However, moment-to-moment reactions to cellphone sounds have not been investigated, nor have physiological changes that might accompany the cognitive effects. Developmental variations also remain unexamined. Thus, two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of cellphone notification sounds on cognitive performance (i.e., reaction time and accuracy on math problems) and heart rate variability in three age groups: adolescents (mean age: 15 years); young adults (mean age: 20 years); and mid-life adults (mean age: 48 years). Effects were most pronounced in the adolescent group, whose math problem accuracy and reaction time was compromised in response to notification sounds. These compromises were accompanied by increases in heart rate variability.

Complementary and alternative medication (CAM) use and asthma outcomes in children: an urban perspective.

Asthma is a disease of significant social magnitude that disproportionately affects children from minority and low-income backgrounds. Poor asthma management is one of the leading causes for high morbidity and mortality rates. In addition to conventional medications, many parents use complementary and alternative medication (CAM) to treat their child's asthma symptoms. This study explored the impact of CAM use on asthma control and risks for nonadherence to conventional medications in 66 parents of children with asthma. Positive parental beliefs about CAM were significantly associated with greater risks for nonadherence and poorer asthma control. Future research should assess the specific pathways that may account for these associations among CAM use and asthma outcomes.

Associations among risk factors, individual resources, and indices of school-related asthma morbidity in urban, school-aged children: a pilot study.

This paper presents a conceptual model including examples of risk and resource factors associated with indices of school-related asthma morbidity (eg, missed sleep, participation in activities, school absences) in a group of urban, school-aged children with asthma from ethnic minority backgrounds. Specifically, the current longitudinal study examines relations between a contextual risk factor (ie, family life stressors), an asthma-related risk factor (ie, asthma symptoms), individual resources (ie, attention, children's problem-solving beliefs, and self-esteem), and aspects of asthma morbidity that have been shown to have an impact on children's academic performance. Participants of the study included 31 mother-child dyads from low-income, inner-city neighborhoods. Results of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that after controlling for risk factors (ie, asthma symptoms and family life stressors) at baseline, children's individual characteristics (ie, children's problem-solving beliefs and self-esteem) functioned as resource factors for some indices of asthma-related functioning (school absences, participation in activities, and missed sleep) at follow-up (1 year later). Results suggest that contextual and individual risk and resource factors should be further explored in studies including larger samples of urban children with asthma in order to help guide the development of preventive interventions in school-based and health care settings.

Children's asthma, internalizing problems, and social functioning: an urban perspective.

PROBLEM: Asthma may serve as a risk factor for higher levels of psychosocial problems in urban school-aged children. METHOD: Interview data were collected from 48 children (27 with asthma and 21 without asthma) and their mothers. FINDINGS: Asthma did not function as a risk factor for psychosocial problems in this sample. Children with more symptoms of depression and anxiety experienced poorer social functioning, regardless of their health status. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of examining co-occurring difficulties in psychosocial development among urban children in order to design interventions that minimize the impact of such challenges.

Multidimensional control beliefs, socioeconomic status, and health.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of control beliefs in the relationship between SES and health. METHODS: Two different aspects of perceived control - contingency beliefs (locus of control) and competence beliefs (self-efficacy) - were examined in relation to subjective SES and physical health outcomes (subjective health, functional impairment, chronic health problems, and acute health symptoms) in a diverse sample of undergraduates (N=231). RESULTS: Low self-efficacy was directly associated with poorer health outcomes and mediated the relationship between low SES and health, whereas locus of control did not. CONCLUSIONS: Health behavior interventions targeting generalized competence beliefs may benefit individuals from low SES backgrounds.

Caregiving load and pediatric asthma morbidity: conflict matters.

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses among children in the United States and it disproportionately affects members of minority groups living in low-income and urban environments. In these environments, illness-related stressors are often experienced alongside a variety of family and social stressors, and parents may carry significant additional caregiving responsibilities over and above their child's asthma management. Participants in the current study included 23 girls and 22 boys, all diagnosed with asthma and living in low-income, urban neighborhoods; 85% of participants were members of ethnic minority groups. This study utilized a family systems framework to examine links among parents' caregiving responsibilities, parent-child conflict, and asthma morbidity. Caregiving load refers to the number of children and adults for whom the parent endorsed caregiving responsibilities. Two indicators of asthma morbidity were assessed, including asthma-related restrictions in the family's activities and the child's asthma quality of life. The findings of this study suggested a pivotal role of parent-child conflict in predicting children's and families' asthma-related morbidity. Higher levels of parent-child conflict were directly associated with higher levels of family activity restriction. Interestingly, under conditions of high parent-child conflict, higher caregiving load was associated with lower pediatric quality of life, but under conditions of low parent-child conflict, higher caregiving load was associated with higher quality of life. Implications of these findings for asthma treatment programs are discussed.

The puzzle of problem-solving efficacy: understanding anxiety among urban children coping with asthma-related and life stress.

Children with asthma living in urban environments are at risk for experiencing anxiety by virtue of both social context and health-related stressors. Although the use of active coping strategies is generally associated with more optimal psychosocial functioning, there is evidence that active coping is less helpful in response to uncontrollable or severe stress. Expectations that one can fix a problem that is uncontrollable or insurmountable may create distress. Problem-solving efficacy was examined as a moderator of the association between stress and anxiety among children residing in inner-city neighborhoods. It was hypothesized that children's perceptions of high problem-solving efficacy would exacerbate their vulnerability to stress. Forty-five parent-child dyads were recruited from urban community health centers. Most participants were members of ethnic minority groups. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed main effects of asthma-related stress and life stress on children's anxiety. However, these effects were moderated by problem-solving efficacy. Asthma-related stress and life stress were positively associated with anxiety only for children who had the highest levels of problem-solving efficacy. In other words, positive expectations about the ability to solve problems functioned as a liability for highly stressed children. Implications for psychosocial interventions with at-risk children are discussed.

Family-school connections and internalizing problems among children living with asthma in urban, low-income neighborhoods.

Children with asthma living in urban environments are at risk for experiencing internalizing problems and difficulties at school due to social context and health-related stressors. Parent confidence and participation in the school and children's attitudes about school were explored in association with children's depressed mood and school anxiety. Forty-five parent-child dyads were recruited from urban community health centers. Most participants were members of ethnic minority groups. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of parent confidence in the school were associated with fewer symptoms of school anxiety in children. Children's attitudes toward school moderated the relation between parent participation in the school and children's depressed mood. Specifically, lower levels of parent participation were associated with higher levels of depressed mood only for children with the least positive school attitudes. Although preliminary, these results suggest the importance of attending to family-school connections to optimize the school-related psychological functioning of children living with asthma in urban environments.

Prevalence and correlates of early onset asthma and wheezing in a healthy birth cohort of 2- to 3-year olds.

OBJECTIVE: The combined contribution of neonatal, perinatal, and maternal health, demographic, environmental, and family psychosocial factors to early onset asthma and wheezing in a healthy birth cohort was examined. METHODS: Participants included 1,158 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse parents of 2- and 3-year olds who completed mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Asthma and wheezing prevalence was 8.4 and 8.1%, respectively. Asthma during pregnancy, smoking in the home, and being male increased risk for asthma diagnosis and wheezing whereas social support minimized risk for both. Shorter gestational age, exposure to violence, and maternal anxiety increased risk for wheezing. The negative impact of smoking in the home was greatest for children with shorter gestational ages and mothers with asthma during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings confirm and extend previous work documenting demographic risks and highlight smoking, violent events, and social support in early onset asthma and wheezing. Findings illustrate the need for ecologically based interventions to treat asthma and wheezing in young children.

Identifying risk and resource factors in children with asthma from urban settings: the context-health-development model.

This two-year longitudinal study examined concurrent and across-time associations between characteristics related to context, health, and development (i.e., neighborhood disadvantage, knowledge related to asthma management and asthma management behaviors, and self-competence) and children's asthma-related functioning. Thirty-one 8- to 12-year-old children with asthma and their primary caregivers were interviewed for the baseline of this study, and 29 of these dyads were interviewed for the 1-year follow-up. All participants resided in urban neighborhoods, and most were members of ethnic minority (African American and Hispanic) groups. Cross-sectional support was found for significant inverse relationships between neighborhood disadvantage and children's asthma knowledge. Lower levels of self-competence were consistently cross-sectionally associated with lower levels of asthma knowledge. A combination of higher levels of asthma knowledge, more optimal asthma management strategies, and self-competence was associated with fewer school absences across the study period. These results suggest an interdependence between aspects of children's sociocultural context, health, and developmental characteristics. This multidimensional model provided preliminary support for the risk function of neighborhood disadvantage and the resource functions of asthma knowledge, asthma management, and self-competence for asthma-related functioning among urban children.