Diverging trends in US male-female condom use by STI risk factors: a nationally representative study.

OBJECTIVE: Condom use behaviours are proximal to recent STI increases in the USA, yet it remains unclear whether the use of condoms has changed over time among unmarried, non-cohabiting young men who have sex with women (MSW) and how this variability is influenced by STI risk factors. METHODS: To examine condom use over time among MSW aged 15-29, we used three cross-sectional surveys from the 2002, 2006-2010 and 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth. We estimated weighted percentages, adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess changes in condom use, stratified by whether MSW reported any STI risk factors in the past 12 months (ie, perceived partner non-monogamy, male-to-male sex, sex in exchange for money or drugs, sex partner who injects illicit drugs, or an HIV-positive sex partner). RESULTS: We observed a divergence in trends in condom use at last sex between men aged 15 -29 with STI risk factors in the past 12 months and those without such history. We saw significant declines in condom use from 2002 to 2011-2017 among men with STI risk factors (APR=0.80, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.95), specifically among those aged 15-19 (APR=0.73, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.94) or non-Hispanic white (APR=0.71, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.93). In contrast, trends in condom use among men with no STI factors remained stable or increased. Across all time periods, the most prevalent STI risk factor reported was perception of a non-monogamous female partner (23.0%-26.9%). Post-hoc analyses examined whether condom use trends changed once this variable was removed from analyses, but no different patterns were observed. CONCLUSIONS: While STIs have been increasing, men aged 15-29 with STI risk factors reported a decline in condom use. Rising STI rates may be sensitive to behavioural shifts in condom use among young MSW with STI risk factors.

Sexual History Taking in Clinical Settings: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore gaps between Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's clinical guidelines for obtaining a sexual history and regular clinical practice. We examine how patient, provider, and setting characteristics may influence the likelihood of obtaining comprehensive sexual histories and examine patient outcomes linked to sexual history taking. METHODS: We performed a narrative review to identify studies that examined clinical practice and sexual history taking via 8 databases. A 2-level inclusion protocol was followed, wherein the abstract and full text of the article were reviewed, respectively. Data were abstracted using a standardized tool developed for this study. RESULTS: The search yielded 2700 unique studies, of which 2193 were excluded in level 1, and 497 were excluded in level 2, leaving 10 studies for data abstraction. None of the studies reported comprehensive sexual history taking, and 8 studies reported differences in how providers obtain a sexual history when patient and provider demographics are considered. Three studies found a positive link between providers who discuss sexual history and provider sexually transmitted disease testing. CONCLUSIONS: When sexual histories are obtained, they are not comprehensive, and providers may discuss sexual history differentially based on patients' demographic characteristics. Providers who discuss patients' sexual history may be more likely to also provide sexual health preventive care.

Parent, partner and individual contexts of very early first sex experiences among young men and their links to subsequent reproductive health outcomes.

Research indicates that upwards to 30% of US urban Black male adolescents report first sex younger than age 13; however, there is limited literature on the sexual and reproductive health outcomes and contexts of these early first sex experiences. This exploratory study described sexual and reproductive health histories and explored personal, partner and parent contextual factors associated with first sex experiences occurring at 13 years or younger among a sample of US urban young men aged 15-24. Participants were assessed on their demographics and sexual health histories and a subset of young men were assessed on the contextual factors related to their first sex experience. Pearson chi-squared tests examined factors associated with early first sex and Fisher's exact tests examined associated contextual factors. First sex at 13 years or younger was reported by 29% of young men. A higher proportion of young men who had first sex at 13 or younger than those who had sex onset at 14 or older reported having got someone pregnant, having a "much older" first partner, and relationship satisfaction with their mother (16%) and father (12%). Study findings highlight the need to better understand urban young men's early first sex experiences, including the support needed to promote their healthy sexual development.

Trends in factors indicating increased risk for STI among key subpopulations in the United States, 2002-2015.

OBJECTIVES: Within the context of rising rates of reportable STIs in the USA, we used national survey data to examine temporal trends in high-risk factors that indicate need for STI/HIV preventive services among key subpopulations with disproportionate STI rates. METHODS: We used data from the 2002 (n=12 571), 2006-2010 (n=22 682) and 2011-2015 (n=20 621) National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). NSFG is a national probability survey of 15-44 year olds living in US households. We examined STI risk factors among sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) and Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, 15-19 year old, 20-24 year old, and 25-29 year old women who have sex with men (WSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW). Risk behaviours included: received money or drugs for sex, gave money or drugs for sex, partner who injected drugs, partner who has HIV, non-monogamous partner (WSM, MSW only) and male partner who had sex with other men (WSM only). Endorsement of any of these behaviours was recoded into a composite variable focusing on factors indicating increased STI risk (yes/no). We used chi-squares and logistic regression (calculating predicted marginals to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs)) to examine STI risk factors over time among the key subpopulations. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2011-2015, reported STI risk factors did not change or declined over time among key subpopulations in the USA. In adjusted analyses comparing 2002 to 2011-2015, we identified significant declines among WSM: Hispanics (aPR=0.84 (0.68-1.04), non-Hispanic blacks (aPR=0.69 (0.58-0.82), adolescents (aPR=0.71 (0.55-0.91) and 25-29 year olds (aPR=0.76 (0.58-0.98); among MSW: Hispanics (aPR=0.53 (0.40-0.70), non-Hispanic blacks (aPR=0.74 (0.59-0.94) and adolescents (aPR=0.63 (0.49-0.82); and among MSM (aPR=0.53 (0.34-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: While reported STIs have increased, STI risk factors among key subpopulations were stable or declined. Condom use related to these risk factors, sexual mixing patterns and STI testing should be examined.

Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Disease-Related Health Services Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States, 2011 to 2017.

From a nationally representative survey, 2011 to 2017, we found that 80.7% of sexually active men who have sex with men were insured and 82.0% had a usual place for care, but only 39.8% received sexual risk assessment and 45.8% received sexually transmitted disease screening, of whom 58.0% received extragenital sexually transmitted disease screening.

Social and behavioural research prospects for sexually transmissible infection prevention in the era of advances in biomedical approaches.

In the past two decades, major advances in biomedical intervention approaches to prevent HIV and many sexually transmissible infections (STIs) have shown great promise. However, challenges to prevention remain in the area of achieving population-level impact for biomedical prevention approaches. In this paper we address what social and behavioural research approaches can contribute beyond well-known behaviour change and counselling interventions. We organise work into five areas. Adherence and disinhibition research is primarily into individual-level constructs pertaining to maximising intervention effectiveness. Coverage research represents a population-level construct germane to maximising efficient prioritisation for prevention. Research covering social determinants, a second population-level construct, contributes to both prioritisation and effectiveness. Finally, disparities and social inequities need to be incorporated into prevention, given the pervasive and persistent disparities found in rates of HIV and STIs and in their antecedents.

Sexually transmissible infection testing among pregnant women in the US, 2011-15.

Introduction Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are increasing in the US. Pregnant women and infants are susceptible to serious STI-related sequelae; however, some STIs can be cured during pregnancy with appropriate, timely screening. METHODS: We used data from the 2011-15 National Survey of Family Growth to examine STI testing (in the past 12 months) among women who were pregnant in the past 12 months (n = 1155). In bivariate and multivariable analyses, we examined associations between demographics, health care access and two outcome variables, namely receipt of a chlamydia test and receipt of other STI tests. RESULTS: Among women who were pregnant in the past 12 months, 48% reported receiving a chlamydia test and 54% reported that they received an STI test other than chlamydia in the past 12 months. In adjusted analyses, non-Hispanic Black women were more likely to receive a chlamydia test (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.86-4.26) and other STI tests (aOR 2.43; 95% CI 1.58-3.74) than non-Hispanic White women. Women living in a metropolitan statistical area but not the principal city were less likely to report chlamydia (aOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.44-0.86) and other STI (aOR 0.57; 95% CI 0.40-0.81) testing than women living in a principal city. Women born outside the US were significantly less likely to have received a chlamydia test (aOR 0.35; 95% CI 0.19-0.64) or other STI test (aOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.20-0.58), whereas those who had received prenatal care were more likely to receive a chlamydia test (aOR 2.10; 95% CI 1.35-3.28) or another STI test (aOR 2.32; 95% CI 1.54-3.49). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that interventions are needed to increase adherence to recommended STI screenings during pregnancy.

Evaluation of an Adapted Project Connect Community-based Intervention Among Professionals Serving Young Minority Men.

BACKGROUND: To address sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of young minority urban males, we developed and evaluated Project Connect Baltimore (Connect), which was adapted from a program with demonstrated effectiveness among young females. The objectives were to determine (1) the feasibility of Connect as adapted for young minority men, (2) whether the program increased SRH knowledge and resource sharing of youth-serving professionals (YSPs) working with young men, and (3) whether the program improved awareness and use of resources for young minority men in Baltimore City, an urban environment with high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. METHODS: Connect developed a clinic referral guide for male youth-friendly resources for SRH. The YSPs working with partners and organizations serving young minority men were trained to use Connect materials and pretraining, immediate, and 3-month posttraining surveys were conducted to evaluate program effects. A before-after evaluation study was conducted among young men attending five urban Connect clinics where sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus rates are high, recruiting young men in repeated cross-sectional surveys from April 2014 to September 2017. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-five YSPs were trained to use Connect materials, including a website, an article-based pocket guide, and were given information regarding SRH for young men. These professionals demonstrated increased knowledge about SRH for young men at immediate posttest (60.6% to 86.7%, P < 0.05), and reported more sharing of websites for SRH (23% to 62%, P < 0.05) from pretraining to 3-month posttraining. 169 young minority men were surveyed and reported increased awareness of Connect over 3 and a half years (4% to 11%, P = 0.015), although few young men reported using the website to visit clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Project Connect Baltimore increased knowledge of SRH needs among youth-serving professionals and sharing of SRH resources by these professionals with young men. This program also demonstrated increases in awareness of SRH resources among young minority urban men.

Heterosexual Anal and Oral Sex in Adolescents and Adults in the United States, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND: Heterosexual anal and oral sex are related to the acquisition and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). As common reportable STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) in the United States are increasing, it is important to understand recent oral and anal sexual behaviors. METHODS: We examined the prevalence and correlates of heterosexual anal and oral sex, associated condom use, and having multiple partners among men and women aged 15 to 44 years. RESULTS: Approximately one third of women and men had ever engaged in anal sex, including 11% of adolescents (15-19 years). Most women and men had ever received or given oral sex (at >75%). Six percent and 7% of women and men, respectively, used a condom at last oral sex compared with 20% and 30% who used a condom at last anal sex. Having multiple sex partners in the past year was most common among adolescents, never or formerly married persons, and those who had a nonmonogamous partner. Less than 10% reported multiple anal sex partners in the past year. A substantial minority had multiple oral or anal sex partners; black women and men had the highest reports of oral sex partners by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Anal and oral sex are common sexual practices. Given the low rates of condom use during these behaviors, it is important that recommendations for sexual risk assessments are followed. Tailored messaging regarding risk for STD and human immunodeficiency virus acquisition during oral and anal sex may benefit adolescents, singles, and divorced individuals. Future discussions regarding the benefits of extragenital STD testing for heterosexuals may be useful.

Variability in Condom Use Trends by Sexual Risk Behaviors: Findings from the 2003-2015 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine variability in condom use trends by sexual risk behavior among US high school students. METHODS: Data were from the 2003-2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted biennially among a nationally representative sample of students in grades 9 to 12. We used logistic regression to examine variability in trends of condom use during last sexual intercourse among female and male students by 4 sexual risk behaviors: drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse, first sexual intercourse before age 13 years, 4 or more sex partners during their life, and 2 or more sex partners during the past 3 months. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2015, significant declines in self-reported condom use were observed among black female (63.6% in 2003 to 46.7% in 2015) and white male students (69.0% in 2003 to 58.1% in 2015). Among female students, declines in self-reported condom use were significant only among those who drank or use drugs before last sexual intercourse, had 4 or more sex partners during their life, or had 2 or more sex partners during the past 3 months. There was a significant interaction between trends in condom use and first sexual intercourse before age 13 years, suggesting more pronounced declines among female students who initiated first sexual intercourse before age 13 years compared with their female peers. Trends did not vary by sexual risk behavior for male students. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that declines in self-reported condom use have occurred among female students at greater risk for acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.

Preparing for the Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Self-Test.

New technology may soon allow individuals to test themselves for chlamydia and gonorrhea. These new self-tests might help increase screening, but they will also bring new issues for treatment, prevention, and surveillance. Providers will need to decide how to respond to patients who present after a positive screening test and how to approach partner testing and treatment. Research will be needed to identify approaches to increase screening using these tests. Laboratory-based surveillance will not capture infections if testing does not involve a laboratory, so new surveillance techniques will be needed. Self-tests are new tools that will soon be available. We should be prepared to use them.

Sexual Risk Behavior Differences Among Sexual Minority High School Students - United States, 2015 and 2017.

Sexual minority youths (i.e., those identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or another nonheterosexual identity or reporting same-sex attraction or sexual partners) are at higher risk than youths who are not sexual minority youth (nonsexual minority youth) for negative health behaviors and outcomes, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), pregnancy (1),* and related sexual risk behaviors (2). Less is known about sexual risk behavior differences between sexual minority youth subgroups. This is the first analysis of subgroup differences among sexual minority youths using nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data. CDC analyzed pooled data from the 2015 and 2017 cycles of the national YRBS, a cross-sectional, school-based survey assessing health behaviors among U.S. students in grades 9-12. Analyses examined differences in eight sexual risk behaviors between subgroups of sexual minority youths and nonsexual minority youths, as well as within sexual minority youths. Logistic regression models controlling for race/ethnicity and grade found that bisexual females and "not sure" males reported higher prevalences for many behaviors than did heterosexual students. For behavior-based subgroups, the largest number of differences were seen between students who had sexual contact with both sexes compared with students with only opposite-sex sexual contact. Findings highlight subgroup differences within sexual minority youths that could inform interventions to promote healthy behavior.

Improving STD service delivery: Would American patients and providers use self-tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia?

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhea (GC) are the most frequently reported notifiable diseases in the United States and costs for diagnosis and treatment of these two infections are approximately $700 million per year. A proposed new method for screening for these two infections is self-tests; similar to at-home pregnancy and HIV tests which do not include sending collected specimens to a laboratory for diagnosis. However, no such self-tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To determine the acceptability of such a test, we used three surveys, conducted in 2017, including the American Men's Internet Survey, the SummerStyles survey, and the DocStyles survey to ask potential users about their interest in this type of test and how they might use it. Among our sampled population of men who have sex with men, 79.5% said they would prefer to take this type of test at home and 73.9% said they would be willing to pay at least $20 for the test. Among young adults (18-29 years), 54.1% indicated that they would like to take this test at home and 64.5% were willing to pay more than $10 for such a test. Among sampled physicians, 85.1% were "likely" or "very likely" to use an FDA-approved STD self-test in their office to screen for CT or GC. Self-tests for STDs are on our horizon and we need to be prepared to integrate these tests into our healthcare systems.

Assessment of sexual health services at US colleges and universities, 2001 and 2014.

Background Approximately 19million students attend post-secondary institutions in the US. With rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at unprecedented highs, the college and university setting can provide the opportunity to engage young adults in their sexual health and deliver recommended services. The purpose of this study was to compare the provision of sexual health services at US college and university health centres across studies conducted in 2001 and 2014. METHODS: We compared data from nationally representative surveys administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001, n=736 schools; 2014, n=482 schools), assessing the provision of services, including STI diagnosis and treatment, contraception, STI education, condom distribution and availability of health insurance. RESULTS: Compared with 2001, statistically significant increases were observed in 2014, including in the provision of contraceptive services (56.1% vs 65.0%), HIV testing (81.5% vs 92.3%) and gonorrhoea testing (90.7% vs 95.8%). Significant decreases were found in the number of schools offering health plans (65.5% vs 49.4%) and specific modes of offering STI education, such as health fairs (82.3% vs 69.9%) and orientation presentations (46.5% vs 29.8%; all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From 2001 to 2014, there have been some improvements in sexual health services at colleges and universities, but there are areas that require additional access to services. Schools may consider regular assessments of service provision in order to further promote sexual health services on college campuses.

Changes in the Distribution of Sex Partners in the United States: 2002 to 2011-2013.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current analysis is to examine subgroup differences in the distribution of opposite-sex sex partners in the United States across an approximate 10-year period to identify patterns that may inform sexually transmitted infection research and prevention. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2002 and 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth, a US probability-based household survey focusing on sexual and reproductive health. The measures included in this analysis were lifetime opposite-sex sex partners and opposite-sex sex partners in the past year. Analyses were conducted separately for men and women. All analyses were conducted in R and R-studio with the "survey" package, focusing on medians, the 80th, and 95th quartile. RESULTS: In 2002, there were significant differences between men and women in median number of lifetime sex partners with men reporting more lifetime partners. However, in the 2011-2013 data, these differences are no longer significant. Still, the findings suggest that the top 20% and top 5% of men are reporting significantly more lifetime partners than their female counterparts. In comparison, partners in the past year remain relatively unchanged for both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there were important changes in the distribution of sex partners between 2002 and 2011-2013 that have implications for sexually transmitted infection prevention. Median lifetime partners are no longer different for women and men: however, the distribution of lifetime partners among men is becoming even more skewed.

Confidentiality Issues and Use of Sexually Transmitted Disease Services Among Sexually Experienced Persons Aged 15-25 Years - United States, 2013-2015.

National-level data are limited regarding confidentiality-related issues and the use of sexually transmitted disease (STD) services for adolescents and young adults. Changes in the U.S. health care system have permitted dependent children to remain on a parent's health insurance plan until the child's 26th birthday and required coverage of certain preventive services, including some STD services, without cost sharing for most plans (1,2). Although these provisions likely facilitate access to the health care system, adolescents and young adults might not seek care or might delay seeking care for certain services because of concerns about confidentiality, including fears that their parents might find out (3,4). Therefore, it is important to examine STD services and confidentiality-related issues among persons aged 15-25 years in the United States. CDC analyzed data from the 2013-2015 National Survey of Family Growth and found that 12.7% of sexually experienced youths (adolescents aged 15-17 years and those young adults aged 18-25 years who were on a parent's insurance plan) would not seek sexual and reproductive health care because of concerns that their parents might find out. Particularly concerned were persons aged 15-17 years (22.6%). Females with confidentiality concerns regarding seeking sexual and reproductive health care reported a lower prevalence of receipt of chlamydia screening (17.1%) than did females who did not cite such concerns (38.7%). More adolescents aged 15-17 years who spent time alone with a health care provider (without a parent in the room) reported receipt of a sexual risk assessment (71.1%) and, among females, chlamydia testing (34.0%), than did those who did not spend time alone (36.6% and 14.9%, respectively). The results indicated that confidentiality-related issues were associated with less reported use of some STD services, especially for younger persons and females. Spending time alone with a provider (i.e., without a parent present) during a health care visit has been associated previously with higher reported delivery of sexual health services (5) and has been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (6). Public health efforts related to confidentiality of STD services might be helpful to increase the use of recommended services among some youths.

Cultural orientations, parental beliefs and practices, and latino adolescents' autonomy and independence.

Despite the salience of behavioral autonomy and independence to parent-child interactions during middle adolescence, little is known about parenting processes pertinent to youth autonomy development for Latino families. Among a diverse sample of 684 Latino-origin parent-adolescent dyads in Houston, Texas, this study examines how parents' cultural orientations are associated directly and indirectly, through parental beliefs, with parenting practices giving youth behavioral autonomy and independence. Informed by social domain theory, the study's parenting constructs pertain to youth behaviors in an "ambiguously personal" domain-activities that adolescents believe are up to youth to decide, but which parents might argue require parents' supervision, knowledge, and/or decision-making. Results for latent profile analyses of parents' cultural identity across various facets of acculturation indicate considerable cultural heterogeneity among Latino parents. Although 43% of parents have a Latino cultural orientation, others represent Spanish-speaking/bicultural (21%), bilingual/bicultural (15%), English-speaking/bicultural (15%), or US (6%) cultural orientations. Structural equation modeling results indicate that bilingual/bicultural, English-speaking/bicultural, and US-oriented parents report less emphasis on the legitimacy of parental authority and younger age expectations for youth to engage in independent behaviors than do Latino-oriented parents. Parental beliefs endorsing youth's behavioral independence and autonomy, in turn, are associated with less stringent parental rules (parental report), less parental supervision (parental and youth report), and more youth autonomy in decision-making (parental and youth report). Evidence thus supports the idea that the diverse cultural orientations of Latino parents in the US may result in considerable variations in parenting processes pertinent to Latino adolescents' development.

Parental and peer factors associated with body image discrepancy among fifth-grade boys and girls.

Many young adolescents are dissatisfied with their body due to a discrepancy between their ideal and actual body size, which can lead to weight cycling, eating disorders, depression, and obesity. The current study examined the associations of parental and peer factors with fifth-graders' body image discrepancy, physical self-worth as a mediator between parental and peer factors and body image discrepancy, and how these associations vary by child's sex. Body image discrepancy was defined as the difference between young adolescents' self-perceived body size and the size they believe a person their age should be. Data for this study came from Healthy Passages, which surveyed 5,147 fifth graders (51 % females; 34 % African American, 35 % Latino, 24 % White, and 6 % other) and their primary caregivers from the United States. Path analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls. The findings for boys suggest father nurturance and getting along with peers are related negatively to body image discrepancy; however, for girls, fear of negative evaluation by peers is related positively to body image discrepancy. For both boys and girls, getting along with peers and fear of negative evaluation by peers are related directly to physical self-worth. In addition, mother nurturance is related positively to physical self-worth for girls, and father nurturance is related positively to physical self-worth for boys. In turn, physical self-worth, for both boys and girls, is related negatively to body image discrepancy. The findings highlight the potential of parental and peer factors to reduce fifth graders' body image discrepancy.

Associations Between Verbal and Physical Abuse in the Home and Mental Health Indicators Among Heterosexual and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning High School Students in the US-Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, 2021.

PURPOSE: A number of factors may contribute to disparities in mental health and suicidality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) students, including parental abuse. METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey included a nationally representative sample of US high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current analyses examined experiences of verbal and physical abuse in the home with mental health and suicidality among LGBQ students compared to heterosexual students. RESULTS: The relationship between abuse and mental health and suicidality was significant for all students; however, LGBQ students experienced substantially more abuse and had significantly poorer mental health and greater suicidality than heterosexual students. DISCUSSION: Experiencing verbal or physical abuse in the home is strongly associated with poor mental health and suicidality among youth, regardless of sexual identity; however, among LGBQ students who experienced abuse, the prevalence of poor mental health and suicidality reached crisis levels.

Children's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cohort study in the United States.

PURPOSE: Examine children's mental health symptoms, including changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The COVID Experiences Surveys, designed to be representative of the U.S. household population, were administered online to parents of children aged 5-12 years (wave 1 (W1), October-November 2020, n = 1561; wave 2 (W2), March-May 2021, n = 1287). We modeled changes in children's symptoms of anxiety, depression, and psychological stress and examined associations between demographic characteristics, COVID-19 related experiences, and protective factors with symptoms across both waves using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Based on parent-report, children's symptoms of anxiety and depression decreased from W1 to W2 (Δ t-score anxiety = -1.8 [95% confidence intervals (CI): -2.5, -1.0]; Δ t-score depression = -1.0 [CI: -1.7, -0.3]). Psychological stress remained consistent. Across waves, older children and children with an emotional, mental, developmental, behavioral, physical, or medical condition were more likely to have specific poor mental health symptoms. Poor mental health symptoms were more likely among children with several contextual stressors (e.g., economic stress, parental emotional strain) and less likely among children with protective factors (e.g., daily routines, neighborhood cohesion). CONCLUSIONS: Establishing programs that support mental health, improving access to mental health services, and fostering collaborations to advance children's mental health is important.