Belief that Progress has Been Made in Curing Cancer Varies by Perception of Social Media Health Mis- and Disinformation, Education, Frequency of Social Media Use, and Healthcare System Trust: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the relationship between perceptions of health mis/disinformation on social media and belief that progress has been made in curing cancer. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional, retrospective data collected from 4246 adult social media users in the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6). The outcome variable was the belief in whether progress has been made in curing cancer. The primary predictor variable was the perception of health mis/disinformation on social media, categorized as 'Substantial' and '< Substantial'. We also examined whether the relationship varied by health care system trust, frequency of social media use, and education. The analysis controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. RESULTS: Perception of substantial social media health mis- and disinformation was associated with a lower likelihood of believing progress has been made in curing cancer (odds ratios = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94). Persons who perceived substantial social media health mis-and disinformation and had low trust in the health care system were less likely to believe progress has been made in curing cancer: 36% (95% CI: 28-45%). Persons who perceived substantial social media health mis-and disinformation and used social media less than daily were less likely to believe progress has been made in curing cancer: 44% (95% CI: 36-52%). Persons without a college degree who perceived substantial social media health mis-and disinformation were less likely to agree that progress has been made in curing cancer: 44% (95% CI: 39-50%). CONCLUSION: Exposure to misinformation on social media may be associated with negative attitudes about advances in curing cancer, particularly among social media users with low trust in the health care system trust, less frequent social media users, or those without a college degree.

Combustible cigarette smokers versus dual combustible and electronic users: Evaluation of differences in anxiety, depression, and transdiagnostic constructs among Latinx adults.

Research on dual combustible and electronic nicotine use among Latinx persons is needed to better understand patterns of use because this group is an established tobacco disparities population. Negative emotional symptoms and related processes (e.g., reactive transdiagnostic vulnerabilities) have been among the most prominent factors linked to the onset, maintenance, and relapse of smoking. As such, the current study sought to compare levels of mental health symptoms among combustible users compared to dual combustible and electronic users among Latinx persons who smoke. The current sample consisted of 297 adult Latinx daily cigarette smokers (Mage = 35.90 years; SD = 8.87; age range 18-61; 36.4% female), of which 92 reported current dual use of an e-cigarette (Mage = 33.34 years; SD = 7.75; age range 19-60; 28.3% female). Differences in anxiety, depression, anxiety sensitivity, emotion dysregulation, and distress tolerance were examined, and we hypothesized that dual users would showcase higher mental health problems. Results indicated that adult Latinx dual users evidenced greater levels of anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, anxiety sensitivity, and lower levels of distress tolerance compared to combustible users. The current study sheds light on the clinical importance of affective differences among dual versus combustible Latinx smokers.

Association of electronic-cigarette, number of cigarettes, and marijuana use with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among men and women: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with an increased risk of HPV infection. However, the use of e-cigarettes and marijuana, number of cigarettes, and serum cotinine concentrations in relation with HPV (6, 11, 16, 18) and high-risk HPV (16 or 18) infections in underserved and understudied populations remain poorly understood. METHODS: Data included 687 males and 664 females among whom 489 were White, 375 were Black and 342 were Hispanics from the NHANES 2013-2016 with HPV and high-risk HPV infections. Smoking history included current and past smokers, number of cigarettes, use of e-cigarettes, marijuana, and serum cotinine levels. Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. RESULTS: High-risk HPV infection was associated with current smoking history plus ≥ 20 cigarettes/day (OR=1.92, 95 % CI=1.09, 3.37) in the overall population. E-cigarettes use (5 days) was positively associated with high-risk HPV infection (OR=2.43, 95 % CI=1.13, 5.22) in the overall population, with similar findings with e-cigarette (past 30 days) among women and Whites. CONCLUSION: High number of cigarettes, e-cigarette usage and marijuana were associated with HPV and high-risk HPV infections in the overall population. Most of these associations remained significant when stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Increasing use of e-cigarettes and marijuana in these population warrants further investigation for the prevention of HPV infection and related cancers.

Cancer fatalism, social media informational awareness, and education.

OBJECTIVE: Understand if cancer fatalism among adult social media users in the United States is linked to social media informational awareness and if the relationship varies by education level. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 3,948) were analyzed using multivariable linear probability models. The study population was defined as social media users active within the past year. The outcome variable was cancer fatalism and the predictor variables were social media informational awareness and education level. RESULTS: Participants with low social media informational awareness were 9% (95% CI = 3, 15), 6% (95% CI = 1, 11), and 21% (95% CI = 14, 27) percentage points more likely to agree that it seems like everything causes cancer, you cannot lower your chances of getting cancer, and there are too many cancer prevention recommendations to follow, respectively. Participants with a college degree or higher level of education and who reported high social media informational awareness were the least likely to agree that everything causes cancer (60%; 95% CI = 54, 66), you cannot lower your chances of getting cancer (14%; 95% CI = 10, 19), and there are too many cancer prevention recommendations to follow (52%; 95% CI = 46, 59). CONCLUSION: Social media informational awareness was associated with lower levels of cancer fatalism among adult social media users. College graduates with high social media informational awareness were the least likely to report cancer fatalism.

A confirmatory factor analysis of a revised motives for playing drinking games (MPDG-33) scale among university students in the United States.

AIM: Participating in a drinking game (DG) is common practice among university students and can increase students' risk for heavy drinking. Given the theoretical link between motivations to drink and alcohol use, careful consideration should be given to students' motivations to play DGs. In this study, we examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of a revised version of the motives for playing drinking games (MPDG) scale, the MPDG-33. METHODS: University students (n = 3345, Mage = 19.77 years, SDage = 1.53; 68.8% = women; 59.6% = White) from 12 U.S. universities completed a confidential online self-report survey that included the MPDG-33 and questions regarding their frequency of DG participation and typical drink consumption while playing DGs. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the 7-factor model fit the data adequately, and all items had statistically significant factor loadings on their predicted factor. All subscales had adequate to excellent internal consistency and were positively correlated with the frequency of DG participation and the typical number of drinks consumed while playing DGs (though the correlations were small). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the MPDG-33 can be reliably used in research and clinical settings to assess U.S. university students' motives for playing DGs.

Online xenophobia and mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia: The interplay with "in-person" discrimination.

Emerging research provides insights into migration-related cultural stress experiences and mental health among Venezuelan migrants; however, prior studies have not considered the critical distinction between online xenophobia and in-person discrimination. To address this gap, we assess the psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Perceived Online Racism Scale (PORS) with Venezuelan migrant youth and examine the interplay between online xenophobia, in-person discrimination, and mental health. Survey data were collected from Venezuelan migrant youth (N = 319; ages 13-17, 49.5% female) in Colombia in April-July 2023. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the PORS, and multiple regression was conducted to examine key associations. The CFA showed excellent model fit: χ²(7) = 13.498, p = .061; comparative fit index = .989; Tucker-Lewis index = .977; root-mean-square error of approximation = .055; standardized root-mean-square residual = .026. Controlling for demographic factors, online xenophobia was associated with depressive symptoms (ß = .253, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = .200, p = .001). The online xenophobia-mental health association weakened when controlling for in-person discrimination but remained nevertheless significant (depression: ß = .181, p = .002, anxiety: ß = .135, p = .026). Interaction effects (Online × In-Person) revealed a pattern in which greater exposure to online xenophobia was associated with greater distress, but only at relatively low levels of in-person discrimination. Findings provide new insights regarding (a) the properties of an increasingly relevant measure of cultural stress, (b) how online xenophobia relates to mental health, and (c) the interplay of online and in-person cultural stressors vis-à-vis mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Co-action and changes in alcohol use during a smoking cessation attempt.

AIMS: Three smoking cessation studies (CARE, Break Free, Por Nuestra Salud [PNS]) were used to measure changes in average alcohol consumption, binge drinking and alcohol-related problems during a smoking cessation attempt and to explore co-action with smoking abstinence. DESIGN: CARE and PNS were longitudinal cohort cessation studies; Break Free was a two-arm randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Texas, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were current smokers who were recruited from the community and received smoking cessation interventions. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation counseling. CARE included 424 smokers (1/3 White, 1/3 African American and 1/3 Latino); Break Free included 399 African American smokers; PNS included 199 Spanish-speaking Mexican-American smokers. MEASUREMENTS: Weekly alcohol consumption was collected multiple times pre and post-quit, and binge drinking and alcohol-related problems were collected at baseline and 26 weeks post-quit. Analyses included only those who indicated current alcohol use. FINDINGS: Average alcohol consumption decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 17.09, P < 0.001), Break Free (F = 12.08, P < 0.001) and PNS (F = 10.21, P < 0.001). Binge drinking decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 3.94, P = 0.04) and Break Free (F = 10.41, P < 0.001) but not PNS. Alcohol-related problems decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (Chi-sq = 6.41, P = 0.010) and Break Free (Chi sq = 14.44, P = 0.001), but not PNS. CONCLUSIONS: Among current drinkers, alcohol use/problems appear to decrease during a smoking cessation attempt and remain low through 26 weeks after the quit attempt. Little evidence was found for co-action, with smoking abstainers and relapsers showing similar change in alcohol use/problems.

Evaluating the indirect roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the relations between negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress and cigarette smoking among Hispanic adults who smoke.

There has been increased recognition that Hispanic/Latinx (hereinafter Hispanic) persons are a tobacco disparities group in the United States. Although some past work has found greater exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with indices of smoking among Hispanic persons, research has not explored the degree of negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress in terms of smoking processes. The present cross-sectional study served to evaluate the indirect effects of depressive and anxiety symptoms in terms of relations between racial/ethnic stress reactivity and cigarette dependence, severity of problems when trying to quit, and perceived barriers for quitting among Hispanic persons who smoke in the United States. Participants included 329 Hispanic adults who smoked cigarettes daily (Mage = 35.5 years; SD = 8.67; 37.4% female). Results indicated that depressive symptoms exerted a statistically significant indirect effect in the association between negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress and cigarette dependence and severity of problems when trying to quit, whereas anxiety symptoms maintained an indirect effect for perceived barriers for smoking cessation. The current findings help characterize the intricacies by which negative emotional reactivity to racial/ethnic stress is related to smoking behavior and beliefs among Hispanic persons who smoke. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluating Alcohol Use Severity in Terms of Cigarette Smoking-Related Processes and Anxiety/Depression Among Adult Latinx Smokers.

OBJECTIVE: Although empirical work focused on smoking-drinking comorbidity among Latinx persons is growing, no work has explored the relation between alcohol use severity in terms of co-occurring smoking processes and mental health. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to explore the prevalence and role of alcohol use severity in relation to clinically significant tobacco and mental health problems among English-speaking Latinx adults who smoke cigarettes. METHODS: Participants included 338 English-speaking Latinx adults who smoked cigarettes daily (Mage = 35.5 years; SD = 8.65; age range 18-61; 37.3% female). RESULTS: Results indicated that approximately 68% of male and 61% of female smokers scored above established clinical cutoffs for hazardous and harmful alcohol use and possible alcohol dependence. Moreover, alcohol use severity was associated with increased risk for cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting, and more problematic symptoms when trying to quit. Alcohol use severity was also related to more severe anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the current findings suggest that intervening to reduce alcohol use severity may be important to improving smoking cessation and mental health among Latinx persons who smoke.

Posttraumatic stress and probable post traumatic stress disorder as it relates to smoking behavior and beliefs among trauma exposed hispanic persons who smoke.

There has been little scientific effort to evaluate the associations between cigarette smoking and cessation-related constructs and exposure to traumatic events, posttraumatic stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Hispanic persons who smoke in the United States (US). Such trauma-related factors may pose unique difficulties for Hispanic persons who smoke and possess a desire to quit. As such, the present investigation sought to fill this gap in the literature and examine posttraumatic stress and probable PTSD in terms of their relations with several clinically significant smoking constructs among trauma-exposed Hispanic persons who smoke from the United States. Participants included 228 Spanish-speaking Hispanic persons who endorsed prior traumatic event exposure and smoked combustible cigarettes daily (58.3% female, Mage= 32.1 years, SD = 9.65). Results indicated that posttraumatic stress symptoms were related to increased cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for smoking cessation, and more severe problems when trying to quit with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate in adjusted models. Additionally, Hispanic persons who smoke with probable PTSD compared to those without probable PTSD showcased a statistically effect for perceived barriers for cessation (p < .008) and a severity of problems when trying to quit (p < .001). No effect was evident for cigarette dependence after alpha correction. Overall, the present study offers novel empirical evidence related to the role of posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTSD among Hispanic persons who smoke in the US. Such findings highlight the need to expand this line of research to better understand the role of posttraumatic stress and PTSD among Hispanic persons who smoke which can inform smoking cessation treatments for Hispanic persons who smoke experiencing trauma-related symptomology.

Ethnic discrimination, acculturative stress, and sexual risk among Latinx emerging adults: Examining moderation effects of familism support and ethnic identity.

OBJECTIVES: Ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress play an important role in sexual risk behaviors for Latinx emerging adults, who are at disproportionate risk for sexually transmitted infections. Factors such as familism support and ethnic identity may be protective, yet research is limited. This study is guided by a culturally adapted stress and coping framework to examine associations of ethnic discrimination and acculturative stress with sexual risk behaviors (i.e., multiple sex partners, alcohol or drug use before sex, and condomless sex with a primary or casual partner), and examine the moderating roles of familism support and ethnic identity among Latinx emerging adults. METHOD: Participants were recruited from Arizona and Florida and were primarily female (51.3%) with a mean age of 21.48 years (SD = 2.06). Using cross-sectional data from 158 sexually active Latinx emerging adults, this study employed multiple logistic regression and moderation analyses. RESULTS: Higher levels of ethnic discrimination and pressure to acculturate were associated with fewer sex partners, and higher levels of pressure against acculturation were associated with increased condomless sex with a casual partner. The moderation effect of higher levels of familism support on pressure to acculturate was associated with fewer sex partners, and the moderation effect of higher levels of ethnic identity on pressure against acculturation was associated with decreased condomless sex with casual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Examining the results within a culturally informed theoretical framework supports that protective factors may help mitigate sexual risk factors among Latinx emerging adults experiencing acculturative stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Anxiety sensitivity reduction-smoking cessation intervention among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use: A secondary analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use among individuals who smoke is prevalent in the general population and related to adverse health effects, including higher levels of interoceptive perturbation (i.e., a disturbance in internal experiences). An important aspect of smoking cessation among individuals who co-use cannabis is to address behavioral associations between physiological sensations and habitual behaviors via integrated treatments focused on reducing reactivity to internal perturbations such as anxiety sensitivity (i.e., the belief that such symptoms produce personal harm). METHODS: The current study involved a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of an integrated anxiety sensitivity-smoking cessation intervention compared to standard smoking cessation. The current study sought to extend findings from the initial trial to examine if the integrated intervention produced better smoking cessation outcomes than standard care among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use. Participants were 149 adults who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use (41.6 % female; Mage = 30.89, SD = 13.1). RESULTS: Results indicated that the anxiety sensitivity intervention produced statistically significant differences in distal (long-term) smoking abstinence at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up assessments but not proximal (short-term; quit-week to 2-weeks) smoking abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the potential of an integrated anxiety sensitivity smoking cessation intervention to yield better long-term smoking abstinence rates than standard cessation treatment among individuals who engage in dual cigarette and cannabis use is clinically significant.

A qualitative community health assessment of HIV prevention awareness in a semi-rural Latinx seasonal farm working community in South Florida.

This article explores HIV awareness and prevention in a Latinx seasonal farmworker community of south Miami-Dade County in the USA. The study took place as part of a larger community assessment that aimed to determine community needs and resources related to substance abuse, violence and HIV in the Latinx seasonal farmworker communities of south Miami-Dade County, with a particular focus on fathers' and their male sons' relationships. The study collected data on HIV knowledge and prevention, healthcare-seeking behaviours, cultural norms, and communication barriers about HIV prevention between fathers and sons. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with community leaders, two focus groups with social and health services providers, and four focus groups involving fathers and their adolescent sons. A deductive approach to data analysis was undertaken. Five major themes were identified: (1) HIVrelated knowledge and perception; (2) HIV prevention strategies; (3) barriers and needs for tailored preventive health and care services in the community; (4) stress over sex-related communication; and (5) the dominance of traditional masculine gender norms in the household and the community.

Differences in smoking behavior and beliefs about abstinence among Latinx individuals with and without depression who smoke cigarettes.

There is a well-established relation between depression and smoking in the general population. However, past work focused on Latinx persons who smoke in relation to depressed affect has yielded inconsistent findings. The present investigation aimed to build on past research and evaluate differences among English-speaking Latinx adults who smoke combustible cigarettes with and without probable depression in terms of cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting, severity of problems when quitting, and smoking abstinence expectancies. The current sample included 338 adult Latinx daily cigarette smokers (Mage = 35.53 years; SD = 8.65; age range 18-61; 37.3% female) that were recruited nationally throughout the US. Results indicated that among Latinx persons who smoke, those with probable depression (compared to those without) demonstrated higher levels of cigarette dependence, more severe problems when trying to quit, greater perceived barriers for quitting, and increased negative abstinence expectancies after adjusting for sociodemographic and concurrent substance use variables. Future work could build from this research to elucidate the role of depression in the maintenance and relapse of smoking among the Latinx population.

Effects of Pictorial Health Warning Labels on Intention to Quit Waterpipe in Lebanon: A Mediation Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pictorial health warning labels on waterpipe tobacco packages represent a better strategy for communicating the health risks associated with waterpipe use and promoting quit intention than text-only. However, the mechanism by which these warnings lead to higher intentions to quit remains unknown. This study explores how pictorial warnings vs. text-only induce higher quit intention among a sample of young adult waterpipe smokers in Lebanon. METHODS: An online randomized cross-over experimental study was conducted in August 2021 among 276 young adult waterpipe smokers who were exposed to two conditions: pictorial health warning label and text-only warning on waterpipe tobacco packages in random order. After each image, participants completed post-exposure assessments of health communication outcomes (e.g., attention and negative affect). Using serial and parallel mediation analysis, we examined the role of attention, negative affect, cognitive elaboration, and perceived harm in mediating the relationship between exposure to HWLs and intention to quit. RESULTS: Using serial mediation, exposure to pictorial warnings vs. text-only was found to affect intention to quit through the following pathways: attention and negative affect, which accounted for 17.28% of the total effect, and through negative affect and cognitive elaboration, which accounted for 21.53% of the total effect. Results of parallel mediation showed that the indirect effect pathways via negative affect [ß= 0.063; (95% bootstrap CI=0.004, 0.149)] and cognitive elaboration [0.047; (0.001, 0.114)] were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The findings call on designing and implementing attention-grabbing, emotionally evocative, and cognitively persuasive pictorial warnings in Lebanon and other countries to curb waterpipe tobacco smoking. IMPLICATIONS: This is among the first experimental studies looking at multiple mediators underlying the effect of exposure to pictorial health warning labels on intention to quit in a sample of current waterpipe smokers in Lebanon. The findings showed that using attention-grabbing, emotionally evocative, and persuasive pictures with a clear textual warning is crucial to maximizing the impact of implementing waterpipe health warning labels regulations in Lebanon and other countries to curb waterpipe tobacco smoking.

Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Recent Latino/a Immigrants: The Moderating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Dispositional Mindfulness.

Their initial years in the U.S. can be stressful for recent Latino/a immigrants (RLIs). This study examines the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms and the moderating effect of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness. Cross-sectional data from an ongoing longitudinal study of RLIs was used. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to examine simple main effects of the predictor variables on depressive symptoms. The study also tested the moderating effects of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness on the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Greater perceived stress and cognitive reappraisal were associated with greater depressive symptoms. Lower levels of appraisal and higher levels of non-reactivity mindfulness strengthened the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Findings can inform the development of culturally tailored interventions that account for distinct aspects of emotion regulation and dispositional mindfulness associated with managing stress and decreasing depressive symptoms among RLIs.

Ethnic Discrimination and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of Self-esteem and Resilience.

Exposure to ethnic discrimination has been conceptualized as a sociocultural stressor that is associated with lower self-rated health. However, this association remains understudied among Hispanics and less is known about constructs that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on self-rated health. Accordingly, this study aimed to (a) examine the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25), and (b) examine the extent to which self-esteem and resilience may moderate this association. A convenience sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona (n=99) and Florida (n=101) was recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. Results indicate that higher ethnic discrimination was associated with lower self-rated health. Moderation analyses indicated that self-esteem functioned as a moderator that weakened the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health; however, resilience did not function similarly as a moderator. This study adds to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanics and highlights that psychological factors, such as enhancing self-esteem, may help buffer the adverse effects of ethnic discrimination on health outcomes.

Effect of maternal hypertensive disorder on their children's neurocognitive functioning in mediated via low birthweight and BMI not by brain cortical thickness.

The aim of the study was to examine the association between prenatal exposure to maternal Hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDP) on brain structure and neurocognitive functioning (NCF) in singleton children aged between 9 and 10 years using the baseline wave of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The ABCD Study® interviewed each child (and their parents), measured NCF, and performed neuroimaging. Exposure to maternal high blood pressure (HBP) and preeclampsia or eclampsia (PE/EL) were extracted from the developmental history questionnaire. Differences in cortical thickness (CTh) and five cognitive abilities (two executive functions, working and episodic memory, processing speed, and two language abilities) between exposed and unexposed children were examined using generalized linear models. The mediating effects of CTh, birthweight, and BMI on the relationship between maternal HDP on NCF were also examined. A total of 584-children exposed to HBP, 387-children exposed to PE/EL, and 5,877 unexposed children were included in the analysis. Neither CTh nor NCF differed between the exposed and unexposed children with or without adjusting for the confounders including the child's age, sex, race, education, and birth histories. The whole-brain CTh did not mediate the relationships between HDP and NCF. However, the relationship between HDP and most of the NCF was mediated by the child's birthweight and BMI. Exposure to maternal HDP can affect their offspring's later-life cognitive abilities via low birthweight and BMI during childhood. Prospective longitudinal studies, following up from infancy, are needed to further delineate the association of HDP on children's cognitive abilities.

Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support.

Little is known about the impact of sociocultural stressors such as acculturative stress on self-rated health among Hispanics. We aimed to examine (a) associations between acculturative stress and self-rated health, and (b) the moderating effects of the community of settlement (i.e., Maricopa County, AZ and Miami-Dade County, FL) and social support on the association between acculturative stress and self-rated health. A hierarchical multiple regression model and moderation analyses were conducted using a cross-sectional sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona and Florida. Findings indicate that higher levels of pressure to acculturate are associated with lower levels of self-rated health. Community of settlement functioned as a moderator whereby pressure to acculturate was only associated with lower levels of self-rated health in Maricopa County. Lastly, a three-way interaction indicated that emotional social support mitigated the association between pressure to acculturate and self-rated health in Maricopa County. This study highlights the importance of accounting for community of settlement when examining associations between acculturative stress and health-related outcomes. A finding that may have implications for interventions is that social support may help to counteract the effects of acculturative stress.