Shift-and-persist strategies as a potential protective factor against symptoms of psychological distress among young adults in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: Residents of Puerto Rico are disproportionately exposed to social and environmental stressors (e.g., Hurricane María and the 2020 sequence of tremors) known to be associated with psychological distress. Shift-and-persist (SP), or the ability to adapt the self to stressors while preserving focus on the future, has been linked with lower psychological distress, but no study has evaluated this in Puerto Rico. This study examined the association between SP and psychological distress (including that from natural disasters) in a sample of young adults in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Data from the Puerto Rico-OUTLOOK study (18-29 y) were used. Participants (n = 1497) completed assessments between September 2020 and September 2022. SP was measured with the Chen scale and categorized into quartiles (SPQ1-SPQ4). Psychological distress included symptoms of depression (CESD-10), anxiety (STAI-10), post-traumatic stress disorder (Civilian Abbreviated Scale PTSD checklist), and ataque de nervios (an idiom of distress used by Latinx groups). Outcomes were dichotomized according to clinical cutoffs when available, otherwise used sample-based cutoffs. Two additional items assessed the perceived mental health impact of Hurricane María and the 2020 sequence of tremors (categorized as no/little impact vs. some/a lot). Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: The most commonly reported psychological distress outcome was PTSD (77%). In adjusted models, compared to SP Q1, persons in SP Q2-Q4 were less likely to have elevated symptoms of depression (PR Q2 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.72-0.85; PR Q3 = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.58-0.73; and PR Q4 = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.35-0.48), PTSD (PR Q2 = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.87-0.98; PR Q3 = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.80-0.93; and PR Q4 = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.70-0.83), anxiety (PR Q2 = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.31-0.48; PR Q3 = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.20-0.37; and PR Q4 = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.17) and experiences of ataque de nervios (PR Q2 = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76-0.94; PR Q3 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70-0.90; and PR Q4 = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.60-0.78). Compared to persons in SP Q1, persons in SP Q3-Q4 were less likely to report adverse mental health impacts from Hurricane María (PR Q3 = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55-0.79; and PR Q4 = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.44-0.65) and the 2020 sequence of tremors (PR Q3 = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98; and PR Q4 = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94). CONCLUSION: SP was associated with lower psychological distress. Studies are needed to confirm our findings and evaluate potential mechanisms of action.

Association Between Optimism and Negative Emotional Eating in Caribbean Latinx Adults in the Northeast US.

BACKGROUND: Negative emotional eating (EE) is associated with unfavorable behavioral and health outcomes. Understanding its association with positive factors, such as optimism, may shed light into novel interventions. We examined the association between optimism and negative EE in US Caribbean Latinx adults, a population disproportionately exposed to adversity. METHOD: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Latino Health and Well-being Study (21-84 years; n = 579). Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test-Revised version. EE was measured with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R18-V2. Adjusted Poisson models with robust error variance estimated prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS: The proportion of individuals reporting high EE was greater in the low (39.0%) and moderate (36.8%) optimism groups than that in the high optimism group (24.8%; p = 0.011). Individuals with high optimism (vs. low) were less likely to report high EE over no EE (PR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.53-0.88). CONCLUSION: High optimism was negatively associated with high EE. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and test interventions promoting optimism for preventing negative EE in US Caribbean Latinx adults.

Dysfunctional Eating Behaviors and Dietary Intake in Puerto Rico.

Dysfunctional eating behaviors (DEB: emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE) and cognitive restraint (CR)) are prevalent in U.S. Latinos and may influence diet. However, this has not been studied in Puerto Rico (PR). This study documents DEB in PR, and explores associations with diet. Cross-sectional study of adults (n = 92) in Ponce, PR. DEB were measured with the TFEQ-R18-V2. The Block Fat and Fruits and Vegetables Screener measured dietary intake. Analysis included adjusted proportions, means and linear regressions. 76%, 88%, and 87% of participants experienced EE, UE and CR, respectively. EE was associated with calories from fats (ß = 1.95, 95% CI 0.40, 3.51) and saturated fats (ß = 3.26, 95% CI 0.67, 5.85), and CR with fruits and vegetables (ß = 0.69, 95% CI 0.20, 1.19). A large percentage of the sample experienced DEB. EE and CR were associated with dietary intake. Studies are needed to understand associations between DEB, diet and health in PR.

Association of the Intestinal Microbiota and Obesity.

Obesity is a condition mainly caused by an alteration in energy intake, shifting towards positive energy balance, which can be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The human gut is heavily populated with microbial organisms. Recent evidence suggests that obesity is influenced by specific bacterial phyla present in the human gut that have increased energy harvesting capabilities. The main objective of this review is to identify the microbial taxa that are related to obesity and weight loss. In this review, we also discuss the differences between the phylum ratio of the gut microbiota population of obese individuals and that of individuals who have healthy weight. It has been shown that obese individuals have a higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes than healthy weight individuals. The few studies to date have shown that weight-loss treatment may change microbial population of the gut, as there is a decrease in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Treating imbalances of the gut microbiota may offer new possibilities for treating obesity.