Empirically derived profiles of neurocognitive functioning in youth and young adults with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVE: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder associated with neurocognitive deficits. In contrast to variable-centered approaches, no known research has utilized person-centered strategies to identify multidimensional patterns of neurocognitive functioning of an individual with SCD. The purpose of the present study was to create empirically derived profiles and identify predictors of neurocognitive functioning subgroups among youth and young adults with SCD. METHODS: Individuals with SCD (N = 393, mean age 14.05 years, age range 8-24, 50.4% female/49.6% male) completed neurocognitive assessments. Latent profile analysis derived subgroups/classes of neurocognitive functioning and determined relations with demographic and medical variables. RESULTS: Three latent classes emerged: average functioning (n = 102, 27%), low average functioning (n = 225, 60%), and exceptionally low functioning (n = 46, 12%). Older age was associated with membership in the low average and exceptionally low functioning groups (relative to the average group). Being prescribed hydroxyurea was associated with membership in the average functioning group (relative to the low average group) and absence of hydroxyurea use was associated with membership in the exceptionally low group (relative to the low average group). Lower social vulnerability was associated with membership in the average functioning group compared to the low average and exceptionally low groups. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians can help reduce disparities in cognitive development for individuals with SCD by promoting early treatment with hydroxyurea and implementing methods to reduce social vulnerabilities that can interfere with access to evidence-based care.

Behavioral economic and wellness-based approaches for reducing alcohol use and consequences among diverse non-student emerging adults: study protocol for Project BLUE, a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Emerging adults (EAs) who are not 4-year college students nor graduates are at elevated risk for lifetime alcohol use disorder, comorbid drug use, and mental health symptoms, compared to college graduates. There is a need for tailored brief alcohol intervention (BAI) approaches to reduce alcohol risk and to facilitate healthy development in this high-risk population. Most BAIs include a single session focused on discussing risks associated with drinking and correcting normative beliefs about drinking rates. EAs may benefit from additional elements that enhance general wellness. The substance-free activity session (SFAS) aims to clarify life goals and values and increase goal-directed activities that provide alternatives to alcohol use, and the relaxation training (RT) session teaches relaxation and stress reduction skills. METHODS: The present study is a randomized 3-group (BAI + SFAS vs. RT + SFAS vs. education control) trial with 525 EAs (175 per group; estimated 50% women and 50% African American) who report recent risky drinking and who are not students or graduates of 4-year colleges. Participants will have the option of completing the intervention sessions in person or via a secure video teleconference. Levels of drinking and alcohol-related problems will be evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. The primary hypothesis is that both BAI + SFAS and RT + SFAS participants will report significantly greater reductions in alcohol use and problems relative to education control participants, with no differences in outcomes between the two active treatment conditions. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will inform alcohol prevention efforts for high-risk community dwelling emerging adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04776278.

Behavioral Economic and Wellness-based Approaches for Reducing Alcohol Use and Consequences Among Diverse Non-Student Emerging Adults: Study Protocol for Project BLUE, a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Emerging adults (EAs) who are not 4-year college students nor graduates are at elevated risk for lifetime alcohol use disorder, comorbid drug use, and mental health symptoms, compared to college graduates. There is a need for tailored brief alcohol intervention (BAI) approaches to reduce alcohol risk and to facilitate healthy development in this high-risk population. Most BAIs include a single session focused on discussing risks associated with drinking and correcting normative beliefs about drinking rates. EAs may benefit from additional elements that enhance general wellness. The Substance-Free Activity Session (SFAS) aims to clarify life goals and values and increase goal-directed activities that provide alternatives to alcohol use, and the Relaxation Training (RT) session teaches relaxation and stress reduction skills. Methods: The present study is a randomized 3-group (BAI+SFAS vs. RT+SFAS vs. education control) trial with 525 EAs (175 per group; estimated 50% women & 50% African American) who report recent risky drinking and who are not students or graduates of 4-year colleges. Participants will have the option of completing the intervention sessions in person or via a secure video teleconference. Levels of drinking and alcohol-related problems will be evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12-months post-intervention. The primary hypothesis is that both BAI+SFAS and RT+SFAS participants will report significantly greater reductions in alcohol use and problems relative to education control participants, with no differences in outcomes between the two active treatment conditions. Discussion: The results of this study will inform alcohol prevention efforts for high-risk community dwelling emerging adults. ClinicalTrialsgov Identifier: NCT04776278.

Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy to enhance graduate student psychological flexibility: Treatment development and preliminary implementation evaluation.

Objective: Graduate student mental health is a growing concern and the need for interventions is well-documented. This manuscript outlines an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group treatment for graduate students intended to promote psychological flexibility through the cultivation of six processes: contact with the present moment (mindfulness), freely chosen life direction (values), distance from thoughts (defusion), nonjudgmental acknowledgement of one's internal experiences (acceptance), meta-awareness of one's own experiences (self-as-context), and ongoing patterns of behavior in the service of values (committed action). Participants: The treatment was delivered to graduate students across academic disciplines with variable psychological concerns over several semesters. Method: Graduate students completed measures of preliminary acceptability. Results: Clients perceived the intervention positively and believed they benefited from participating. Conclusion: Treatment evaluation information support the social validity and acceptability of the treatment and justify future studies assessing treatment efficacy and effectiveness.

Smoking across adolescence and adulthood with cardiovascular risk among American Indian peoples.

OBJECTIVE: American Indian peoples (AIs) have high smoking rates and cardiovascular risk factor burden. The present study aimed to (a) investigate latent smoking classes across adolescence and adulthood, (b) investigate adolescent predictors of smoking classes, and (c) assess how smoking class is related to adult cardiovascular risk in a sample of AIs. METHOD: A sample of AIs (N = 338) from the National Adolescent to Adult Health Study self-reported on smoking across four assessment waves (W1: 7th-12th grade; W2: 8th-12th grade; W3: ages 18-26; W4: ages 24-32). The socioecological framework for addressing tobacco-related disparities was used to identify potential adolescent (W1) risk and resource factors. C-reactive protein, blood pressure, and lipids were collected at W4. Growth mixture modeling and regressions were used. RESULTS: Six smoking classes were identified: light smoking (36%), nonsmoking (23%), escalating, adult daily smoking (13%), chronic heavy smoking (12%), escalating, young adult daily smoking (9%), and reducing smoking (7%). Risk factors for being in the chronic heavy smoking class included peer smoking and older age at W1. Compared with the chronic heavy smoking class, AIs in the reducing smoking class lived in in more impoverished neighborhoods during adolescence. Relative to several classes with less smoking, being in the chronic heavy smoking class was associated with higher C-reactive protein and less favorable lipid levels. W1 social support was a resource factor for adult diastolic blood pressure and some lipids. CONCLUSIONS: Socioecologically informed tobacco interventions have the potential to reduce smoking and cardiovascular risk among AIs, and bolstering social support may be important. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Brief assessment of diabetes-specific psychological flexibility in racially and income diverse youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes-specific psychological flexibility (the ability to engage in valued behaviors, be open to internal experiences, with present-moment awareness, while living with diabetes) is associated with HbA1c and health-related quality of life in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Having brief diabetes-specific psychological flexibility assessments that perform equivalently across diverse individuals is important for research and clinical work addressing health disparities. The present study aimed to create 9-and 3-item short forms (DAASito-9 and -3) of the Diabetes Acceptance and Action Scale (DAAS-22), and evaluate their validity, reliability, and measurement invariance (MI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Youth with T1D (n = 179, Mage  = 14.64, 50% female, 56% Black/African American) completed self-report measures at an endocrinology clinic visit. HbA1c was extracted from medical records. One-half of the sample was used to develop the DAASitos with the highest reliability, McDonald's 𝜔 ≥ 0.75, and convergent validity (r ≥ 0.90 to DASS-22). Confirmatory factor analyses evaluated structural validity. MI was assessed across demographic (race, gender, grade, household income) and disease characteristic (illness duration, HbA1c) groups. Correlations with measures of psychological flexibility assessed additional convergent validity, and latent mean differences across groups were evaluated after confirming MI. RESULTS: MI was supported. The DAASito-9 and -3 were correlated in expected directions with other psychological flexibility measures, HbA1c, and health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the DAASito-9 and -3 support their use in research and clinical care of diverse youth with T1D. Significant differences in psychological flexibility across race, income, and glycemic health warrant further research and clinical intervention.

Implementing Prevention Plus with Underserved Families in an Integrated Primary Care Setting.

Background: This proof-of-concept trial examined a 6-month Prevention Plus (PP) intervention implemented in a federally qualified health center on child standardized BMI (ZBMI), using a planned clinical effect threshold of -0.16 ZBMI. The relationship between food security status and PP delivered with caregiver goals (PP+) and without caregiver goals (PP-) on energy balance behaviors (i.e., fruits and vegetables, physical activity) and child ZBMI was explored. Methods: Seventy-three, underserved children, 4-10 years of age with a BMI ≥85th percentile, were randomized to one of two interventions, PP+ and PP-, both providing 2.5 hours of contact time, implemented in five clinics by behavioral health consultants (BHCs). Outcomes were child anthropometrics (included 9-month follow-up), implementation data collected from electronic health records, and caregiver and BHC evaluations. Results: Children were 57.5% female and 78.1% Hispanic, with 32.9% from food-insecure households and 58.9% from households with an annual income of less than $20,000. Child ZBMI significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at 6 and 9 months (-0.08 ± 0.24 and -0.12 ± 0.43), with only PP+ reaching the clinical threshold at 9 months (PP+: -0.20 ± 0.42 vs. PP-: -0.05 ± 0.42). Sixty-four percent of families attended ≥50% of the sessions, and BHCs delivered 78.5% ± 23.5% of components at attended sessions. Caregivers were satisfied with the intervention and BHCs found the intervention helpful/useful. No relationship with food insecurity status and outcomes was found. Conclusions: PP+ when delivered by a primary care provider to underserved families showed promise for producing a clinically meaningful effect. Families and providers felt the intervention was a viable treatment option.

Health-related quality of life, obesity, fragmented sleep, fatigue, and psychosocial problems among youth with craniopharyngioma.

OBJECTIVE: Youth with craniopharyngioma experience weight gain, fragmented sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), fatigue, and psychosocial problems that negatively impact their overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Greater hypothalamic tumor involvement (HI) may be associated with higher rates or severity of these impairments; however, the direct and indirect impact of HI on the physical and psychosocial consequences associated with pediatric craniopharyngioma remain unclear. The purpose of the current study was to examine relations between HI, body mass index (BMI), fragmented sleep, EDS, fatigue, psychosocial problems, and HRQoL among youth with craniopharyngioma. METHODS: Eighty-four youth with craniopharyngioma (Mage  = 10.27 ± 4.3 years, 53.6% female, 64.3% White) were assessed with actigraphy, nocturnal polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency tests prior to proton therapy, when indicated. Caregivers completed measures of fatigue, psychosocial functioning, and HRQoL. RESULTS: Hypothalamic tumor involvement was associated with greater BMI (Est. = 2.97, p = 0.003) and daytime sleepiness (Est. = 2.53, p = 0.01). Greater fatigue predicted more psychosocial problems (Est. = 0.29, p < 0.001) and lower HRQoL (Est. = 0.23, p = 0.001). Psychosocial problems also predicted lower HRQoL (Est. = -0.34, p = 0.004). Fragmented sleep (Est. = 0.03, p = 0.04) and fatigue (Est. = 0.10, p = 0.02) indirectly predicted lower HRQoL through psychosocial problems. CONCLUSIONS: Youth with craniopharyngioma with greater HI may benefit from weight reduction interventions and management of excessive sleepiness. Patients should be prospectively monitored for sleep problems, fatigue, and psychosocial problems, as these patients may benefit from interventions targeting fatigue and psychosocial health to improve HRQoL.

Developmental Trajectories of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms.

Children who experience obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) may be at risk for developing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The current study aimed to investigate developmental trajectories of OCS, as well as possible predictors, within a community-based sample of children. Children (N = 1147) from the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) were assessed for OCS, via the Child Behavioral Checklist - Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (OCS-8), eight times between Pre-Kindergarten (54 months; Pre-K) and High School (15 years of age; HS.) Participants were recruited within the United States and included only maternal caregivers. Preliminary analyses indicated that approximately 3% of the sample was above the diagnostic cutoff score on the OCS-8 at the High School time-point. Latent growth models tested symptom trajectories. Findings demonstrated three groups of OCS trajectories. Most children fell within a low symptomatology group (the No Peak group) with low OCS across all time points. Two additional OCS trajectories were also demonstrated: Pre-K Peak (high to low OCS across time) and HS Peak (low to high OCS across time). Both higher attention problems and greater depression/anxiety symptoms at the Pre-K time point predicted children's membership in the Pre-K Peak or HS Peak groups compared to the No Peak group. Membership within the HS Peak group predicted a high likelihood of children's OCS being above previously established cutoff scores for an OCD diagnosis at age 15 years. Membership within either the Pre-K Peak or No Peak groups predicted a low likelihood. This study provides new evidence for the existence of different developmental trajectories for youth with OCS. From a clinical perspective, these results may have important implications when considering the identification and early intervention of childhood OCS and OCD within the community.

Examining Risk Factors of Health-Related Quality of Life Impairments Among Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic, costly, and burdensome disease that is typically diagnosed during adolescence. Despite the use of effective treatments, rates of relapse and intestinal inflammation remain high and put patients at risk for long term physical and psychosocial health complications. Given the costs associated with IBD, it is critical to examine potential risk factors of poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients for the enhancement and further development of interventions. As such, the aim of the current study was to examine how sociodemographic and disease characteristics, psychosocial problems, and adherence behaviors impact HRQoL among a sample of youth with IBD. 107 adolescents with IBD and their caregiver completed self- and parent-report measures as part of a psychosocial screening service. Medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding diagnosis, insurance, medication use, illness severity, and disease activity. Results revealed lower HRQoL scores among adolescents with more psychosocial problems (Est. = -3.08; p < .001), greater disease severity (Est. = -.40; p = .001), and those who identified as Black (Est. = -.38; p < .05). Greater disease severity (Est. = .13 p = .004), use of nonpublic insurance (Est. = .32 p = .004), and fewer psychosocial problems (Est. = -.13 p = .04) were associated with greater adherence behaviors. These findings suggest that implementing individually tailored, evidence-based psychological interventions focused on coping with psychosocial problems and symptoms may be important in enhancing adherence behaviors and HRQoL among adolescents with IBD.

Targeting self-criticism in the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The Benefits and Barriers Model proposes both benefits and barriers associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and that a negative association with the self plays a key role in the initial selection of and acute motivation for NSSI. The current investigation builds upon previous findings by assessing the added benefit of targeting self-criticism in the treatment of NSSI. METHODS: Sample included 40 participants (30 females; Mage  = 14.92) enrolled in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents within a partial hospitalization program. All study participants received dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents, and those randomized to the experimental condition received an additional brief cognitive intervention developed to decrease self-criticism. RESULTS: There was no evidence of an indirect effect of targeting self-criticism upon NSSI at post-treatment via post-treatment self-criticism (b = -0.98, p = .543); however, there was evidence of a significant interaction between treatment condition and self-criticism at pretreatment in the prediction of NSSI at post-treatment (b = 0.33, p = .030). Analyses of simple slopes indicated the conditional direct effect of targeting self-criticism varied as a function of patient's level of self-criticism at the onset of treatment, such that individuals -1 SD below the mean (b = -5.76, p = .037) and at average pretreatment levels of self-criticism (b = -4.09, p = .042), but not + 1 SD above the mean (b = -2.42, p = .056), experienced fewer incidents of NSSI at post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation support the added benefit of targeting self-criticism in the treatment of NSSI for adolescents.

Predictors of HbA1c Trajectories in Predominantly Black Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Following the Journal of Pediatric Psychology's special edition on health disparities, calling for Phase 2 research exploring mechanisms of racial groups in health disparities, this study aims to explore social information processing predictors of longitudinal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) trajectories in a racially diverse group of adolescents. The social information processing model of glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) posits that adolescents who make negative attributions about reactions of friends are likely to find adherence difficult in social situations, have increased stress, and have suboptimal glycemic control. METHODS: One hundred eighty-four youth with T1D completed self-report measures and HbA1c at three time points within 1 year was extracted from medical records. Growth mixture modeling empirically derived classes of HbA1c trajectories and explored predictive relationships of social information processing variables, demographics, and diabetes characteristics. RESULTS: Three classes emerged: High Decelerating, Mid-High Accelerating, and Near-Optimal Accelerating. Black/African American participants were highly likely to be in the High and Mid-High groups. Higher anticipated adherence difficulties in social situations predicted increased odds of being in the Mid-High versus Near-Optimal HbA1c group. Increased diabetes stress predicted increased odds of being in the High versus Near-Optimal and Mid-High groups. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing research on mechanisms behind this health disparity is necessary with more representation from varied racial and ethnic groups. Equal access to diabetes technology and psychosocial treatments are recommended and implications for clinical intervention development are discussed.

Development and initial validation of the diabetes family conflict scale (revised)-short form in a racially and income diverse sample.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to develop a short form of the revised diabetes family conflict scale (DFCS) in a racially and income diverse sample while retaining strong psychometric properties. METHODS: One seventy nine youth with type 1 diabetes (ages 12-18 years) and caregivers completed the DFCS-Revised as well as assessments of adherence, psychosocial functioning, and diabetes-related stress. Hemoglobin A1c was also obtained. The sample was split at random into a development sample and validation sample. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses in the validation sample supported the use of a six-item short form (DFCS-SF) either as a total score (6-items) or a direct (3-item) and indirect (3-item) score. Variations of the DFCS-SF (three items of the 6-item short form) also had acceptable model fit. The short-form questionnaires had acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity (6-item: Cronbach's a = 0.865, full scale DFCS r = 0.954; 3-item: Cronbach's a = 0.757, full scale DFCS r = 0.912). The DFCS-SF showed measurement invariance across both youth and caregiver respondents. Greater report of the DFCS-SF by both youth and caregivers was significantly associated with higher HbA1c, more diabetes-related stress, and more psychosocial concerns. CONCLUSIONS: The DFCS-SF developed in the present study shows psychometric integrity in a diverse population of youth and can be utilized by providers to rapidly assess and potentially implement interventions to reduce diabetes family conflict, a psychosocial concern which is associated with elevated HbA1c, non-optimal adherence, diabetes-related stress, and psychological distress.

Toward the Development of a Culturally Humble Intervention to Improve Glycemic Control and Quality of Life among Adolescents with Type-1 Diabetes and Their Families.

Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) is a prevalent and costly disorder associated with substantial morbidity that differentially impacts low-income and/or minority adolescents and their families. The primary study objective was to develop a guiding model to inform culturally humble interventions for Mid-southern youth with T1D presenting with multiple correlates of suboptimal glycemic control and their families. In order to develop a clinic specific guiding model, conceptualizations of health, the need/type of intervention thought to be most helpful, the optimal structure, and strategies to improve the cultural/regional fit was ascertained from (A) youth with T1D (n = 13) and caregivers (n = 11) via qualitative interviews and, (B) pediatric endocrinologists and nurse practitioners (n = 6), and (C) nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, and social workers (n = 9) via focus groups. Qualitative themes were synthesized to guide the treatment development model whereby Quality of Life and Glycemic Control would be directly enhanced by interventions to promote Coping, Support, Education, and Improved Psychosocial Functioning and indirectly through improved Adherence and T1D Autonomy delivered in a culturally humble way that affirms youths' T1D identify. These finding suggest that existing evidence-based treatments may provide a great fit for low-income, and/or minority youth with T1D and their families living in the mid-south, provided these interventions are delivered in culturally humble manner.

Statistically derived patterns of behavioral economic risk among heavy-drinking college students: A latent profile analysis.

High levels of 3 behavioral economic indices (delay discounting, alcohol demand, and proportionate substance-related reinforcement) are consistently associated with greater alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems. However, it is unclear whether and how these variables jointly increase the risk for alcohol-related outcomes among college students who engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED; 4/5+ drinks for women/men, respectively). The current study used a person-centered approach to identify similar patterns of behavioral economic domains among heavy-drinking college students and investigate the relationship between these empirically derived classes and alcohol-related outcomes. A sample of 393 college students (60.8% female, 78.9% White/Caucasian) reporting at least 2 heavy drinking episodes in the previous month completed measures of alcohol use and problems, demographics, delay discounting, and alcohol reward value (alcohol demand and proportionate substance-related reinforcement). Latent profile analyses revealed that a 3-class solution provided the best fit to the data: a low reward value, high discounting (LRHD) class (n = 53), a moderate reward value, low discounting (MRLD) class (n = 214), and a high reward value, high discounting (HRHD) class (n = 126). Members of the HRHD class reported significantly greater alcohol consumption, past-month HED episodes, alcohol-related problems, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder than those in the MRLD and LRHD classes. The results suggest that there are 3 constellations of behavioral economic processes and that, consistent with the reinforcer pathology model, students who overvalue alcohol-related reward and discount the future more steeply are at the greatest risk for alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Empirically Derived Profiles of Health-Related Quality of Life in Youth and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Determining how the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is impacted by living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) can inform psychosocial interventions. The purpose of the present study is to determine if demographic and treatment variables predict membership into empirically derived subgroups of HRQOL among youth and young adults with SCD. METHODS: Three hundred and seven youth and young adults with SCD (mean 17.63 years ± 3.74 years, 50.5% female) completed the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM Sickle Cell Disease Module. Latent profile analysis examined subgroups/classes of HRQOL and relationships with demographic and treatment variables. RESULTS: Three distinct classes emerged: High HRQOL (34% of the sample), Moderate HRQOL (44% of the sample), and Low HRQOL (22% of the sample). Being female was associated with increased odds of being in the moderate or low groups. Living with more severe SCD (genotypes HbSS and HbSß0 thalassemia) was associated with increased odds of being in the Low HRQOL group. Treatment with chronic red blood cell transfusion therapy was associated with increased odds of being in the High HRQOL group. Older age predicted a small increase in the odds of being in the Low versus High HRQOL group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study adds to the literature on HRQOL in SCD by exploring person-centered, empirically derived groups of HRQOL. Identification of demographic and treatment factors that predict membership into those groups within a large sample assists in tailoring needed psychosocial interventions for youth with SCD.

Longitudinal smoking patterns and adult cardiometabolic risk among African Americans.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand mechanisms influencing health in African Americans (AAs), the aims of this study were (a) to identify longitudinal cigarette smoking classes among AAs across adolescence and into young adulthood; (b) to identify risk factors for smoking and how cardiometabolic health in adulthood differs by smoking class; and (c) to investigate whether smoking mediates the relation between adolescent risk factors and adult cardiometabolic health. METHOD: This study used 4 waves of nationally representative data, restricted to an AA subsample (N = 2,009). Participants self-reported on multilevel risk factors in adolescence and smoking across adolescence and young adulthood; cardiometabolic risk was assessed in adulthood. Growth mixture modeling and structural equation modeling were conducted. RESULTS: Five classes emerged: nonsmoker; early onset, heavier smoking; later onset; early onset, light smoking; and maturing out or declining smoking. Predictors of class membership included living with individuals who smoke, having friends who smoke, and limited access to medical care. The early onset, light smoking class had the greatest cardiometabolic risk. Smoking class mediated the relation between living with people who smoke in adolescence and adult cardiometabolic risk. CONCLUSIONS: Nuanced smoking patterns among AAs were identified, and 23% fell into classes characterized by an early onset and persistent smoking trajectory. The early onset, light smoking class had the greatest cardiometabolic risk in adulthood. The results suggest unique protective factors may be present for youth who remain nonsmokers even when their family smokes. Results have implications for health promotion and tobacco prevention efforts among AA families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Measuring psychological flexibility in youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reliability and validity of the acceptance and action diabetes questionnaire (AADQ) and the diabetes acceptance and action scale for children and adolescents (DAAS), measures of diabetes-specific psychological flexibility. METHODS: One hundred and eight-one youth with type 1 diabetes completed the AADQ, DAAS, and measures of mindfulness, cognitive fusion, and health-related quality of life. HbA1c was extracted from medical records. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to cull items and evaluate the factor structures of the AADQ and DAAS. Bivariate correlations were conducted between all measures to explore content validity. RESULTS: CFAs supported a one-factor structure of the AADQ (for youth and parent report) and a second-order DAAS solution with a total score indicated by avoidance, values impairment, and avoidance subscales. All scales and subscales displayed strong internal consistency (α = .86-.95). The AADQ and DAAS evidence good content validity based on associations with other measures. CONCLUSIONS: The AADQ and DAAS are reliable, valid measures of diabetes-specific psychological flexibility.

Rationale and protocol for translating basic habituation research into family-based childhood obesity treatment: Families becoming healthy together study.

This publication describes the rationale and protocol, including design, aims, intervention, and measures, of Families Becoming Healthy Together, a randomized clinical trial examining the effect of a limited RED (non-nutrient-dense, energy-dense) food variety prescription delivered within an 18-month family-based behavioral obesity treatment (FBT) on body mass index (BMI) and habituation rate to RED foods. One hundred fifty-six children (ages: 8-12 y; BMI: ≥ 85th percentile-for-age) and a caregiver (BMI: ≥ 25 kg/m2), both with overweight or obesity, will be randomized to one of two, interventions: FBT or FBT + Variety. All participants will receive 29 sessions of FBT and be prescribed the Traffic Light Diet (1000-1500 kcal/day, ≤ 2 RED food servings/day), and a physical activity goal (≥ 60 min/day [child] or 150 min/week [adult] of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)). FBT + Variety will also identify two RED foods, a dinner entrée and snack food, and develop meal plans that reduce variety of RED foods by regularly consuming these foods and limiting consumption of other RED foods. Measures of anthropometrics, dietary intake, habituation of salivary response to food cues, and physical activity will be assessed at 0, 6, 12, and 18-months. This study translates a line of basic behavioral research examining how dietary variety influences habituation into a dietary prescription that will be tested within an efficacy trial. It is hypothesized that a novel, limited dietary variety prescription within FBT should promote a faster food habituation rate, reducing energy intake and amplifying long-term weight loss in children.

Psychometric Properties of the Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: To report the updated psychometric properties of a child feeding questionnaire and to report the psychometric properties of a screening tool developed from this questionnaire. A secondary objective was to consider if items from a behavior checklist embedded within the Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire may be useful in making referrals for feeding problems. STUDY DESIGN: Caregivers of children younger than the age of 4 years with pediatric feeding disorders (as defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, criteria) were recruited from 2 outpatient clinics. A comparison group with no feeding problems was recruited during well child checks from community clinics. Caregivers completed a demographic questionnaire and a child feeding questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses identified questionnaire items that differentiated groups. Remaining items were summed and area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity values were calculated to describe the resulting screening tool. ORs of behaviors from the embedded behavior checklist were calculated to determine whether specific behaviors could be useful for referrals. RESULTS: Responses of 989 caregivers (pediatric feeding disorders, n = 331; no feeding problems, n = 650) were obtained. Six questions of the child feeding questionnaire differentiated groups accounting for 60% of variance. Sensitivity (73%) and specificity (93%) were greater when any 2 or more of these 6 items was endorsed. Three items of the embedded feeding behaviors checklist show promise for referrals to specific provider disciplines. CONCLUSIONS: A pediatric feeding disorders screening tool consisting of 6 questions from a child feeding questionnaire is psychometrically sound. Use of this tool may expedite referrals for treatment. Further study of the embedded behavior checklist may be useful for clinical referrals.