A multidimensional appraisal of early menstrual pain experience.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic dysmenorrhea is a global problem, affecting more than 40% of menstruating persons. Cross-sectional studies have implicated psychosocial, biological, and sensory factors in dysmenorrhea but the mechanisms are not fully understood. Only a few prospective longitudinal studies have evaluated such factors in relation to the emergence and course of dysmenorrhea at menarche. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the initial menstruation experience and to evaluate the association of premenarchal psychosocial and sensory factors with the intensity of dysmenorrhea during the period in the fourth month. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study of adolescents who completed premenarchal assessments and postmenarchal daily menstrual diaries for their first (n=149) and fourth month periods (n=114). They were recruited shortly before menarche and completed baseline assessments, including psychosocial questionnaires and experimental pain sensitivity (pressure testing, bladder provocation), and their parents completed related pain questionnaires. The relation between the hypothesized premenarchal factors and month 4 dysmenorrhea intensity was evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests for low (<3 on a 0-10 scale) vs higher (≥3) menstrual pain groups based on maximal pain ratings recorded in a daily diary. RESULTS: Low levels of dysmenorrhea characterized the first (median, 1; interquartile range, 0-2) and fourth month periods (1; 0-3). Maximal pain ratings increased from the first to the fourth period (3; 1-5 vs 4; 1-6; P=.007). The distribution of dysmenorrhea was multimodal at month 4 with 31.6% of the participants having low levels of maximal pain (1; 0-1) and 68.4% having higher levels (5; 4-6; Hartigan's dip test P<.001). The baseline demographic, psychosocial, and parental pain characteristics were not associated with the development of worse dysmenorrhea. The baseline experimental pain sensitivity, based on pressure pain thresholds, did not differ between the low (15.7 N; 12.5-22.3) and higher (15.0 N; 10.9-21.4]) level dysmenorrhea groups. Baseline bladder pain at first urge also did not differ (low, 6; 0-20 vs higher, 7; 0-19). CONCLUSION: By their fourth month period, two-thirds of adolescents fell into the higher group for maximal dysmenorrhea, half reported some related impairments in physical activity, and one-seventh reported some related school absence. Premenarchal factors (experimental pain sensitivity, psychosocial profile, parental pain experience) linked to chronic pain emergence in the adult literature did not predict dysmenorrhea intensity, suggesting the dominant factor at menarche may be peripheral afferent activation. Further research is needed to understand the evolution of psychosocial and sensory mechanisms in the development and course of dysmenorrhea.

A developmental perspective on sleep consistency: Preschool age through emerging adulthood.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Beyond sleep duration, the regularity of sleep patterns (e.g., sleep consistency), including variability in sleep timing (e.g., bedtime, wake time) and duration, is a critical marker of sleep health. Sleep consistency is captured using a variety of methods within the literature (e.g., sleep intraindividual variability, social jetlag), but most of the research focuses on adolescents. METHODS: Drawing on a developmental perspective, this narrative review highlights how normative changes at the individual (e.g., biological, cognitive, and social) and contextual (e.g., home, school, sociocultural) levels may contribute to inconsistent sleep patterns across development. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This review emphasizes how inconsistent sleep may increase across pivotal transitions throughout development (e.g., elimination of naps, puberty, summertime, entering college). Finally, recommendations for measuring sleep consistency and areas to address in future research are discussed.

Generalized sensory sensitivity is associated with comorbid pain symptoms: a replication study in women with dysmenorrhea.

ABSTRACT: Dysmenorrhea is characterized by high rates of transition to chronic pain. In a previous study using structural equation modeling, we demonstrated that several symptom domains associated with the emerging concept of nociplastic pain can be described using 2 symptom groups: generalized sensory sensitivity (GSS; composed of widespread pain, interceptive sensitivity, and environmental sensitivity) and SPACE (composed of unrefreshing sleep, pain, affective disturbances, cognitive issues, and reduced energy). Here, we perform a secondary cross-sectional analysis examining the same symptoms groups in a cohort of patients with dysmenorrhea without a diagnosis of chronic pain. Our purpose is to determine if the same symptom patterns are apparent and if they are associated with the presence and severity of comorbid pain. Participants were 201 women with dysmenorrhea. We replicated the hypothesized 2-factor structure in this cohort (comparative fit index = 0.971 and root mean square error of approximation =0.055; 90% CI: 0.000-0.097). Generalized sensory sensitivity was associated with the severity of bladder, bowel, and overall pain in multivariable models including SPACE, patient age, and BMI (all ß > 0.32, all P < 0.05). Sleep, pain, affective disturbances, cognitive issues, and reduced energy were associated with menstrual pain during nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, whereas GSS was associated with the same in the absence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (both P < 0.05). This 2-factor model of symptoms seems to be replicable and valid in a cohort of women at risk for developing chronic pain conditions. These symptom groups are promising potential markers of future pain chronification and may point to patients in need of earlier or more aggressive intervention.

Sleep, Affect, and Emotion Reactivity in First-Year College Students: A Daily Diary Study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is an important factor in well-being, especially during the transition to college when academic and social commitments increase. Identifying factors that contribute to poor sleep (including short duration and increased variability in duration) can support development of interventions. Affect and emotion reactivity are factors that could contribute to sleep, and have not been studied in relation to sleep variables among first-year college students during their adjustment to the college environment. This adjustment might be difficult for some students, and therefore elicit affect fluctuations that contribute to poor sleep. Alternatively, sleep could contribute to daily affect. The present daily diary study examined bidirectional relations between daily sleep and affect, as well as between emotion reactivity and sleep (duration and variability) and affect (daily and overall variability) in first-year college students. METHOD: First-year college students (n = 244; 86.1% female) completed a baseline survey including measures of emotion reactivity and anxiety and depressive symptoms, followed by 7 days of a once-per-day diary, reporting on their affect and sleep duration. RESULTS: On days when individuals reported increased sleep duration, they also tended to experience greater positive affect the following day (p = .01). Those who experienced high levels of emotion reactivity also experienced more negative affect (p < .001) and negative affect variability (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Emotion reactivity might identify college students who experience more negative affect and are possibly at risk to develop mental health disorders. The importance of sleep health should continue to be emphasized to students as they transition to college.

Daily relations between nap occurrence, duration, and timing and nocturnal sleep patterns in college students.

OBJECTIVE/DESIGN: Sleep patterns change during college, and students may nap to compensate for lost sleep. Despite the increased prevalence of napping among students, few studies have investigated daily relations between napping and nocturnal sleep, as well as how timing of naps and nocturnal sleep might influence one another. The present study used daily diaries to capture the occurrence, timing, and duration of napping and relation to nocturnal sleep. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Daily diary data, collected for 4-7 days, from 654 college students from a mid-sized midwestern university (81.5% female). MEASUREMENT: Participants reported nightly sleep durations, bedtimes, and wake times as well as nap durations and nap start times. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling (MLM) and multi-level logistic regressions revealed bidirectional relations between nocturnal sleep and napping. Regarding nocturnal sleep and its relation to next day napping, nocturnal sleep (including shorter duration and later bedtime) was associated with increased odds of napping and longer napping the following day. Shorter sleep duration was also associated with taking an earlier nap, while later bedtime was associated with a later nap the following day. Regarding napping and its association with same-night nocturnal sleep, taking a nap was associated with longer sleep duration that night, however, later nap start times and longer nap durations were associated with later bedtimes that night. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide evidence for bidirectional associations between napping and nocturnal sleep. Future studies are needed to explore how naps could be optimized to promote nocturnal sleep among college students, as well as for whom naps might be most beneficial.

Delicious and difficult to resist?: Inhibitory control differs in young women after exposure to food and non-food commercials.

Unhealthy food marketing, a ubiquitous food stimulus, may impact response inhibition, making it more difficult to maintain healthy eating behaviors. Individuals with disordered eating may be particularly susceptible to altered inhibition responses to food stimuli, making them more vulnerable to unhealthy food marketing, which could perpetuate their disordered eating behaviors. The present study examined response inhibition following exposure to food commercials in young women who reported either high levels of disordered eating (HEC) or low/no disordered eating (LEC) (N = 27; age: M = 19.28, SD = 1.01) by measuring event related potentials (ERPs) during a stop-signal task embedded with food stimuli. Results indicated that participants had significantly higher accuracy on stop trials displaying unhealthy food stimuli than trials displaying healthy food stimuli after viewing non-food commercials but displayed no difference after viewing food commercials. LEC individuals displayed a smaller N200/P300 amplitude in response to food stimuli on the stop-signal task after watching food commercials as compared to non-food commercials, but this difference did not exist for HEC individuals. Results indicate that unhealthy food commercials may impact behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition evoked by food stimuli in young women, and individuals with disordered eating might actually be less responsive to food marketing than those without disordered eating.

An ecological model of weight gain among school-age children.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood obesity rates remain historically high in the United States. One way to conceptualize the many factors that contribute to obesity is through the use of an ecological model. There is a particular need to adapt and test this type of comprehensive model among vulnerable racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. METHOD: Using a large sample of U.S. youth (n = 8,225) drawn from the ECLS-K:2011, this project applied an ecological model of childhood obesity from kindergarten to second grade, including factors such as child physical activity, child screen time, child bedtime, family physical activity, family food insecurity, family meals, and neighborhood safety. The contributions of each of these factors across racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and income-to-needs groups were examined concurrently and longitudinally. RESULTS: Among the full sample, the largest standardized effect on weight was for income-to-needs ratio. Moving from above to below 200% of the poverty line resulted in an increase of .12 standard deviations in BMIz. Multigroup analyses indicated that there was only a significant difference in model fit based on race/ethnicity. Among Latino youth, income-to-needs ratio was a significant negative predictor of kindergarten BMIz; however, this effect was not significant among Black/African American youth. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, income-to-needs ratio emerged as the strongest link to obesity among the early elementary school years; this was particularly present among Latino youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Green schoolyard renovations in low-income urban neighborhoods: Benefits to students, schools, and the surrounding community.

Green schoolyards may buffer against the effects of urbanization through increasing access to nature and its benefits. The present study was a community-academic partnership that examined the effects of green schoolyard renovations on utilization, physical activity (PA), and social interactions as well as perceptions of safety, neighborhood climate, and social cohesion among those living in low-income, urban neighborhoods. Utilizing behavioral mapping techniques and multi-informant surveys (i.e., caregivers, teachers, and community members), changes from pre- to postrenovation were assessed at two low-income, urban schools. Behavioral mapping results demonstrated increases in utilization and prosocial interactions among youth from pre- to postrenovation. Levels of moderate-to-vigorous PA also increased from pre- to postrenovation at one school. Survey data from community stakeholders revealed improvements in the perception of schoolyard safety and school-community relationships as well as reductions in bullying postrenovation. Green schoolyards may offer a safe space for children and adults to engage in social, outdoor activities, particularly in low-income, urban neighborhoods.

Life Interrupted: Family Routines Buffer Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Adoption of certain behavioral and social routines that organize and structure the home environment may help families navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current cross-sectional study aimed to assess family routines prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associations with individual and family well-being. Using a national sample, 300 caregivers of children ages 6-18 were surveyed using Amazon Mechanical Turk platform during the first three months of COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Caregivers reported on family demographics, COVID-19-related stress, engagement in family routines (prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic), stress mindset, self-efficacy, and family resiliency. Overall, families reported engaging in fewer routines during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prior to the pandemic. COVID-19-related stress was highest in low-income families, families of healthcare workers, and among caregivers who had experienced the COVID-19 virus. Moreover, COVID-19-related stress was negatively related to self-efficacy, positively related to an enhancing stress mindset, and negatively related to family resilience. Engagement in family routines buffered relations between COVID-19-related stress and family resilience, such that COVID-19-related stress was not associated with lower family resilience among families that engaged in high levels of family routines. Results suggest that family routines were challenging to maintain in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, but were associated with better individual and family well-being during this period of acute health, economic, and social stress.

Children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on weekdays versus weekend days: a multi-country analysis.

PURPOSE: The Structured Days Hypothesis (SDH) posits that children's behaviors associated with obesity - such as physical activity - are more favorable on days that contain more 'structure' (i.e., a pre-planned, segmented, and adult-supervised environment) such as school weekdays, compared to days with less structure, such as weekend days. The purpose of this study was to compare children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels on weekdays versus weekend days using a large, multi-country, accelerometer-measured physical activity dataset. METHODS: Data were received from the International Children's Accelerometer Database (ICAD) July 2019. The ICAD inclusion criteria for a valid day of wear, only non-intervention data (e.g., baseline intervention data), children with at least 1 weekday and 1 weekend day, and ICAD studies with data collected exclusively during school months, were included for analyses. Mixed effects models accounting for the nested nature of the data (i.e., days within children) assessed MVPA minutes per day (min/day MVPA) differences between weekdays and weekend days by region/country, adjusted for age, sex, and total wear time. Separate meta-analytical models explored differences by age and country/region for sex and child weight-status. RESULTS/FINDINGS: Valid data from 15 studies representing 5794 children (61% female, 10.7 ± 2.1 yrs., 24% with overweight/obesity) and 35,263 days of valid accelerometer data from 5 distinct countries/regions were used. Boys and girls accumulated 12.6 min/day (95% CI: 9.0, 16.2) and 9.4 min/day (95% CI: 7.2, 11.6) more MVPA on weekdays versus weekend days, respectively. Children from mainland Europe had the largest differences (17.1 min/day more MVPA on weekdays versus weekend days, 95% CI: 15.3, 19.0) compared to the other countries/regions. Children who were classified as overweight/obese or normal weight/underweight accumulated 9.5 min/day (95% CI: 6.9, 12.2) and 10.9 min/day (95% CI: 8.3, 13.5) of additional MVPA on weekdays versus weekend days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Children from multiple countries/regions accumulated significantly more MVPA on weekdays versus weekend days during school months. This finding aligns with the SDH and warrants future intervention studies to prioritize less-structured days, such as weekend days, and to consider providing opportunities for all children to access additional opportunities to be active.

Variability of Sleep and Relations to Body Weight Among First-Year College Students.

BACKGROUND: Existing research suggests that greater sleep variability may increase risk for weight gain. College often marks a transition to a less consistent daily schedule, which may adversely impact sleep routines and further increase risk for weight gain. The current study is among the first to explore relations between nighttime sleep variability and daytime sleep (napping) and body weight among first-year college students. METHODS: Using daily diary methods, first-year college students (N = 307; 84.7% female) self-reported their sleep for seven days. Several indices were created to capture sleep variability for reported bedtime, wake time, and sleep duration, including weekday versus weekend differences (WvW), day to day differences (D2D), and overall standard deviation (SD). Napping was also assessed. Based on body mass index (BMI), individuals were categorized as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese. RESULTS: Across indices, students' sleep varied over an hour on average across the week. Hierarchical regressions revealed that greater differences in wake time D2D, wake time SD, and sleep duration WvW were all associated with higher BMI, after accounting for gender, depressive symptoms, and sleep duration. Longer napping was also associated with higher BMI, using the same covariates. Finally, greater sleep variability was reported by overweight and obese than healthy weight individuals. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that sleep variability, particularly wake times and napping may be important modifiable sleep behaviors to investigate in future studies. More longitudinal research is needed to explore relations between multiple facets of sleep variability and weight gain, including possible mechanisms.

School as a Protective Setting for Excess Weight Gain and Child Obesity: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The structure provided by school settings even with no specific obesity-intervention may prevent weight gain. This meta-analytic study considered this premise by examining weight outcomes from control groups in published randomized controlled trials of school-year obesity-related interventions conducted in-school and out-of-school. METHODS: A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases were systematically searched and resulted in 1976 unique citations, with 14 retained for analysis. Analyses examined the change in weight outcomes among control group participants. RESULTS: For studies (N = 6) reporting body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2 ) the overall standardized mean difference (SMD) from pre- to post-intervention was 0.085 (raw units 0.278 kg/m2 ); for studies (N = 9) reporting zBMI, the SMD was 0.022 (0.020 z-scores), for studies (N = 2) reporting waist circumference (cm), the SMD was 0.149 (1.609 cm); for studies (N = 2) reporting BMI percentile, the SMD was 0.064 (0.985 percentiles); and for studies (N = 1) reporting percent body fat, the SMD was 0.031 (0.30 percentage). CONCLUSIONS: Children assigned to control conditions (as part of school-based obesity-related interventions) experience, on average, minimal changes in weight outcomes during the school year. Therefore, routine practices of schools may protect against unhealthy weight gains.

Binge eating, but not dietary restraint, moderates the association between unhealthy food marketing exposure and sugary food consumption.

Restrained eaters, those who exercise dietary restraint and often experience dietary lapses, may be particularly susceptible to food marketing. Findings are mixed as to whether restrained eaters consume more food after exposure to unhealthy food marketing, and little is known about whether food marketing may have more impact on those who exercise successful dietary restraint as compared with those who experience dietary lapses, such as binge eating. In the current study, participants were 38 young women, ages 18-22 years old. Both dietary restraint and binge eating were measured by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Participants viewed both unhealthy food commercials and non-food commercials two separate times in the laboratory, and ad libitum candy intake was subsequently measured. Results indicated that participants who endorsed binge eating ate significantly more candy than those who did not endorse binge eating after they viewed unhealthy food commercials F (1, 35) = 20.49, p < .001, η2 = 0.37, but not after viewing non-food commercials. No significant differences in candy eaten emerged when comparing those who endorsed dietary restraint as compared to those who did not, regardless of commercial type. Findings demonstrate the importance of specific operational definitions of restrained eating to consider the differences between those who report binge eating, and those who do not. They also suggest that individuals who engage in binge eating may be particularly susceptible to overeating in response to unhealthy food marketing, marking a possible area for intervention.

Examining childhood obesity through the lens of developmental psychopathology: Framing the issues to guide best practices in research and intervention.

Rates of childhood overweight and obesity among youth in the United States remain historically high and can persist into adulthood, resulting in increased health care expenditures, comorbidities, and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how principles drawn from developmental psychopathology (DP) can be applied to enhance current conceptualizations of obesity risk during childhood and beyond. DP is a theoretical perspective that has reshaped the landscape of childhood mental health by using principles of developmental science to model complex processes leading to maladaptation or dysfunction with biological, psychological, and contextual roots. This article focuses on 2 broad interrelated DP tenets: (a) examination of developmental pathways considered both normative and nonnormative as well as processes of individual variation and the nature of developmental change and (b) articulation of complex transactional and transformational processes over time that incorporate both biobehavioral and social-contextual factors embedded in multilevel models. By illustrating how these DP tenets can expand on current childhood obesity knowledge, this article offers a novel perspective that closely aligns central developmental processes with childhood obesity risk and may enrich conceptual models and spark new directions for childhood obesity research, leading ultimately to more effective intervention and prevention efforts necessary to slow or, ideally, reverse, the obesity epidemic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Family entropy: understanding the organization of the family home environment and impact on child health behaviors and weight.

Child obesity is a major public health issue with a high disease burden. Although numerous contributing factors have been identified, the family home environment is a central context of influence that requires deeper understanding. The level of organization in the family home environment may influence obesity and obesogenic behaviors, but the literature has suffered from the lack of a strong overarching construct and model to guide this area of research. Family entropy is a conceptual framework that fills this gap by representing the level of organization across the home environment. The current study empirically assesses family entropy using factor analysis in a longitudinal sample of 968 children measured yearly from Grades 3 to 6 as part of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Mixed modeling using MPLUS examined the influence of family entropy on child weight both directly and indirectly through weight-related health behaviors (i.e., sleep and physical activity), and considered the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES). Results suggest that family entropy is comprised of distinct elements of household organization and disorganization, which are moderately related. Household disorganization may be particularly detrimental to child sleeping behavior both concurrently and over time in families of both high and low SES. The study concludes with recommendations for advancing understanding of the home environment by using nuanced measurement strategies, and incorporating support for household organization within child obesity prevention and intervention efforts.

Chronic Stress and Food Insecurity: Examining Key Environmental Family Factors Related to Body Mass Index Among Low-Income Mexican-Origin Youth.

Low-income children of Mexican immigrants are at high risk for obesity. Drawing on a sample of 104 Mexican American children (Mage = 8.39 years; 61% female), this longitudinal study considered relations between food insecurity and chronic stress (ie, parent report and hair cortisol measurement) on body mass index (BMI) and examined whether stress moderated associations between food insecurity and BMI. Analyses revealed that undocumented status was associated with food insecurity and chronic stress but not when accounting for poverty. Food insecurity was only associated with higher BMI for children with the highest hair cortisol. Results suggest that chronic stress may impact body weight among food-insecure children.

Executive function and dietary intake in youth: A systematic review of the literature.

Despite increasing evidence that childhood obesity may be related to impairments in executive function, the evidence supporting the relation between executive function (EF) and dietary intake, a key factor linked to obesity, is mixed. Although research from the obesity literature often interprets EF as a factor that may influence dietary intake, there is also evidence that dietary intake may influence EF. Drawing on a developmental perspective, this systematic review examines the literature on the link between executive function (i.e., inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) and dietary intake in youth through the inclusion of cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies aimed at altering either dietary intake or EF as a way to influence the other. In total, 5650 studies were screened for eligibility. Twenty-six studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results indicated that the relation between executive function and dietary intake is equivocal. Although there is some support for a cross-sectional relation between executive function and dietary intake, the lack of longitudinal studies makes it difficult to make conclusions about directionality. Findings from intervention studies do not support the effectiveness of short-term manipulations on dietary intake to change subsequent EF, and few intervention studies exist that explicitly aim to "train" EF to change subsequent dietary intake. Furthermore, the wide variety of measures used to assess EF and dietary intake, and the lack of consideration of the role that weight status may play in the relation between EF and dietary intake, make overall interpretation of the literature more difficult. In sum, there is a need for more prospective research examining a variety of ages, domains of EF, and weight statuses, taking into account developmental factors.

Green Schoolyards in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods: Natural Spaces for Positive Youth Development Outcomes.

Children from low-income families are increasingly growing up in urban areas with limited access to nature. In these environments, strategies that promote access to natural outdoor spaces, such as green schoolyards, may enhance positive youth development outcomes by promoting physical activity (PA) and prosocial behavior, as well as increasing perceptions of safety. The current study examines children's PA and social interactions, as well as caregiver and teacher perceptions of safety, injuries, teasing/bullying, and gang activity on three newly renovated green schoolyards in low-income urban neighborhoods. A multi-method strategy, including behavioral mapping and caregiver- and teacher-reported surveys, was utilized at three time points to examine positive youth development outcomes and maintenance of effects over time. Analyses revealed that children evidenced a range of PA on the green schoolyards and demonstrated significant decreases in sedentary activity over time. The majority of children were engaged in social interactions with peers on the green schoolyards when observed. Less than 3% of interactions were negative and follow-up analyses found significant increases in positive interactions on the green schoolyards up to 24 months post-renovation. Caregivers and teachers reported increased perceptions of safety, fewer injuries, less teasing/bullying, and less gang-related activity on the renovated green schoolyards in comparison to the pre-renovation schoolyards, and these effects were maintained up to 32 months post-renovation. Overall, the study suggests that green schoolyards may promote positive development outcomes among youth living in urban, low-income neighborhoods by providing natural and safe spaces for PA and prosocial behavior.

Organized Activity Involvement among Urban Youth: Understanding Family- and Neighborhood- Level Characteristics as Predictors of Involvement.

Research examining factors that predict youth's involvement in organized activities is very limited, despite associations with positive outcomes. Using data from 1043 youth (49% female; 46.4% Hispanic, 35.4% African American, 14.0% Caucasian, and 4.2% other) from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, this study examined how characteristics of parents (supervision, warmth) and neighborhoods (perceived neighborhood safety and collective efficacy) predict patterns of adolescents' involvement in organized activities concurrently (i.e., intensity) and longitudinally (i.e., type and breadth). Parental supervision predicted adolescents' participation in organized activities across multiple waves. Neighborhood violence was positively associated with concurrent participation in organized activities after controlling for socioeconomic status (SES), whereas higher neighborhood collective efficacy predicted greater breadth in organized activity participation across time. These findings have important implications regarding how to attract and sustain organized activity participation for low-income, urban youth.

Parent Perceptions of Child Weight Status in Mexican-Origin Immigrant Families: An Investigation of Acculturation, Stress, and Coping Factors.

Parents often underestimate their child's weight status, particularly when the child is overweight or obese. This study examined acculturation, stress, coping, and involuntary responses to stress and their relation to estimation of child's weight status among Mexican-origin immigrant families. Eighty-six families provided data on child's height and weight, caregiver's perception of their child's weight status, and caregiver's responses to acculturation, stress, and coping scales. Parents underestimated their child's weight status, particularly when the child was overweight or obese. Although acculturation and stress were not associated with accuracy, parents' responses to stress were linked to parent perceptions. Parents who reported more frequent use of involuntary engagement (e.g., rumination, physiological arousal) were more accurate. Future research, as well as healthcare providers, should consider how parents manage and respond to stress in order to fully understand the factors that explain weight perceptions among Mexican-origin immigrant parents.