How Do Anger and Impulsivity Impact Fast-Food Consumption in Transitional Age Youth?

Introduction: Consumption of fast food has been linked to psychiatric distress, violent behaviors, and impulsivity in adolescents. The relationship between eating fast food, anger, and impulsivity has not been widely investigated. The National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence community-based cohort consists of 831 youth, half at elevated risk factors for substance use disorders during adolescence, followed annually. Methods: Impulsivity using Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, and Sensation Seeking Impulsive Behavior scale from annual assessments was examined in relation to self-reported fast-food consumption frequency and mobile application questions of anger. This study tested the hypotheses that youth anger may be predicted by fast-food consumption frequency and impulsivity using multiple regression, in addition to whether adolescent fast-food consumption frequency may be predicted by anger and impulsivity. Results: Among youth, higher anger levels and impulsivity predicted greater frequency of fast-food consumption, and greater fast-food consumption frequency and impulsivity predicted higher anger levels. Conclusions: This study's longitudinal findings are consistent with those of other studies that have found fast-food consumption and anger associated with impulsivity and also reveal a bidirectional link between anger and fast-food consumption. These results may point attention to food selection considerations for those at risk of anger and poorer psychiatric outcomes.

R2DRV: study protocol for longitudinal assessment of driving after mild TBI in young drivers.

BACKGROUND: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and traffic-related injuries are two major public health problems disproportionately affecting young people. Young drivers, whose driving skills are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to impaired driving due to brain injuries. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on how mTBI impacts driving and when it is safe to return to drive after an mTBI. This paper describes the protocol of the study, R2DRV, Longitudinal Assessment of Driving After Mild TBI in Young Drivers, which examines the trajectory of simulated driving performance and self-reported driving behaviors from acutely post-injury to symptom resolution among young drivers with mTBI compared to matched healthy drivers. Additionally, this study investigates the associations of acute post-injury neurocognitive function and cognitive load with driving among young drivers with and without mTBI. METHODS: A total of 200 young drivers (ages 16 to 24) are enrolled from two study sites, including 100 (50 per site) with a physician-confirmed isolated mTBI, along with 100 (50 per site) healthy drivers without a history of TBI matched 1:1 for age, sex, driving experience, and athlete status. The study assesses primary driving outcomes using two approaches: (1) high-fidelity driving simulators to evaluate driving performance across four experimental study conditions at multiple time points (within 96 h of injury and weekly until symptom resolution or 8 weeks post-injury); (2) daily self-report surveys on real-world driving behaviors completed by all participants. DISCUSSION: This study will fill critical knowledge gaps by longitudinally assessing driving performance and behaviors in young drivers with mTBI, as compared to matched healthy drivers, from acutely post-injury to symptom resolution. The research strategy enables evaluating how increased cognitive load may exacerbate the effects of mTBI on driving, and how post-mTBI neurocognitive deficits may impact the driving ability of young drivers. Findings will be shared through scientific conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and media outreach to care providers and the public.

Concurrent and long-term effects of early pubertal timing on alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use from adolescence to adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: Early pubertal timing is a risk factor for substance use during adolescence. Fewer studies investigated whether early pubertal timing continues to predict substance use in late adolescence and adulthood, suggesting that long-term effects of pubertal timing vary across substances and by biological sex. Finally, existing studies on pubertal timing and substance use in adulthood involved predominantly White samples. Thus, this longitudinal study examined the concurrent and long-term effects of pubertal timing on alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use together with sex differences in predominantly Black youth from the United States. METHOD: The sample included 603 youth (52% male, 80% Black) who were interviewed in early adolescence (mean age: 13.2), late adolescence (mean age: 17.6), and young adulthood (mean age: 27.7). During early adolescence, youth self-reported their physical maturation based on Tanner scores, which were adjusted for age and used as indicators of pubertal timing. Youth self-reported their substance use at each time point. RESULTS: Early pubertal timing was associated with higher odds of alcohol use during early adolescence but did not predict alcohol use during late adolescence or adulthood. While early pubertal timing did not predict cigarette use at any time point, early pubertal timing predicted greater odds for cannabis use during early adolescence and higher rates of cannabis use in adulthood. Moreover, early pubertal timing predicted greater risk for couse of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis in adulthood. No effects differed by sex. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that links between pubertal timing and substance use vary across substances and developmental periods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Interpersonal school violence and mother-child communication about violence in relation to empathy in early adolescence.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to interpersonal violence at school has been linked with lower empathy, but less is known about factors that may moderate this relationship. Positive parent-child communication has been associated with higher empathy during adolescence and children of parents that communicate their disapproval of violent behavior respond more peacefully in situations involving violence. Mother-child communication about violence may therefore reduce the risk of desensitization to violent behavior and promote empathy in youth that are frequently exposed to violence. Thus, this study examines whether mother-child communication about violence mitigates the association between exposure to interpersonal school violence and adolescents' empathy. METHODS: This study addressed this question using a diverse sample of early adolescents from the Southeastern United States in 2003 (N = 642; mean age 11.3 years; 52% male; 76% Black, 22% non-Hispanic White). Adolescents reported on how often they witness or experience interpersonal violence at school and how often they communicate with their mother about violence and how to avoid it. Adolescents also self-reported on their level of empathy. RESULTS: Results from a hierarchical regression model showed that exposure to interpersonal school violence and lower mother-child communication about violence were uniquely associated with lower empathy, but communication about violence did not moderate the link between interpersonal school violence exposure and empathy. There were no sex differences in these relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to the hypothesis, youth who experience and witness interpersonal violence at school show lower empathy independent of whether youth communicate with their mother about violence and responding to violent situations.

Associations between dietary habits, socio-demographics and gut microbial composition in adolescents.

The relationship between dietary habits and microbiota composition during adolescence has not been well examined. This is a crucial knowledge gap to fill considering that diet-microbiota interactions influence neurodevelopment, immune system maturation and metabolic regulation. This study examined the associations between diet and the gut microbiota in a school-based sample of 136 adolescents (Mage = 12·1 years; age range 11-13 years; 48 % female; 47 % Black, 38 % non-Hispanic White, 15 % Hispanic or other minorities) from urban, suburban and rural areas in the Southeast USA. Adolescents completed the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants and provided stool samples for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Parents reported their child and family socio-demographic characteristics. The associations between diet and socio-demographics with gut microbiota diversity and abundance were analysed using multivariable regression models. Child race and ethnicity, sex, socio-economic status and geographic locale contributed to variation within microbiota composition (ß-diversity). Greater consumption of processed meat was associated with a lower microbial α-diversity after adjusting for socio-demographic variables. Multi-adjusted models showed that frequent consumption of nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods (e.g. sugar-sweetened beverages, fried foods, sweets) was negatively associated with abundances of genera in the family Lachnospiraceae (Anaerostipes, Fusicatenibacter and Roseburia), which are thought to play a beneficial role in host health through their production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These results provide new insights into the complex relationships among socio-demographic factors, diet and gut microbiota during adolescence. Adolescence may represent a critical window of opportunity to promote healthy eating practices that shape a homoeostatic gut microbiota with life-long benefits.

Neighborhood Disadvantage and Parenting in Early Adolescence Predict Epigenetic Aging and Mortality Risk in Adulthood.

Youth who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods experience poorer health later in life, but little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying these effects and socioenvironmental factors that may protect youth from the biological embedding of neighborhood adversity. This study tests whether supportive and consistent parenting buffers associations between neighborhood disadvantage in early adolescence and epigenetic aging in adulthood. A community sample from Birmingham, Alabama, USA (N = 343; 57% female; 81% Black, 19% White) was assessed in early adolescence (T1; ages 11 and 13) and adulthood (T2; age 27). At T1, neighborhood poverty was derived from census data and neighborhood disorder was reported by caregivers. Both youth and parents reported on parental discipline and nurturance. At T2, methylation of salivary DNA was used to derive a mortality risk index and Hannum, Horvath, PhenoAge, and GrimAge epigenetic age estimators. Regression analyses revealed that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with accelerated epigenetic aging and/or mortality risk only when combined with high levels of harsh and inconsistent discipline and low child-reported parental nurturance. These findings identify epigenetic aging and mortality risk as relevant mechanisms through which neighborhood adversity experienced in adolescence may affect later health; they also point to the importance of supportive and consistent parenting for reducing the biological embedding of neighborhood adversity in early adolescence.

A phenomenological exploration of the mental health experiences of young women with diminished ovarian reserve.

Infertility is a reproductive disease affecting one in six individuals that renders an individual unable to conceive. One cause of infertility is diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), which reduces the quantity and/or quality of a female's oocyte pool. Although typically indicating normal ovarian aging during the late 30s and early 40s, DOR can also impact younger women, increasing their risk for psychological distress from an unexpected diagnosis of infertility. A phenomenological approach examined the mental health experiences and perceptions of infertility-related mental health care of young women with DOR. Women diagnosed with DOR by age 35 in the United States who experienced emotional distress during infertility were recruited from infertility-specific social media and via snowball sampling. Participants completed a demographic survey and semi-structured individual interview that was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Ten women ages 27-41 completed the study. On average, participants were 30 years of age at the time of DOR diagnosis (age range 25-35), primarily Caucasian (90%), and married (90%). Two main themes were found: (1) Young women with DOR feel like a "forgotten community" coping with an invisible disease; and (2) Not all fertility clinics are created equal. Participants perceived their diagnosis as devastating and hopeless and urged others to find a provider with ample experience treating patients with DOR. This study helped to understand how young women with DOR perceive their mental health and identified a significant need for advancing towards more holistic infertility healthcare that encompasses both physical and mental health.

Disclosure of Exposure to Violence in Urban Adolescents.

Research has documented high rates of exposure to violence in urban African American adolescents together with their negative effects on psychosocial adjustment. Coping with violence exposure may be facilitated by disclosure of these experiences to others, but little is known about the extent to which youth disclose their various experiences with violence. This study examined the prevalence of disclosure of violence experienced as a witness or victim in different contexts or locations to parents, friends, siblings, teachers, counselors, and relatives. Urban African American adolescents from Southeastern U.S. were interviewed at three time points (N = 81; average ages 13.3, 16.1, and 17.8). Across the three time points, 90% to 91% witnessed violence and 64% to 81% were victimized in the last year. Of these youth, 40% to 53% disclosed experiences of witnessing violence and 29% to 52% disclosed experiences of victimization. The results showed that disclosure of violence most often involved parents and friends, with fewer youth disclosing to teachers and counselors. Disclosure of violence victimization increased from early to late adolescence. Experiences of dating violence victimization were less likely to be disclosed by adolescents, especially among males. These findings support the need for more research on adolescents' disclosure of violence exposure and its links to adjustment, with implications for interventions aimed at improving coping in youth exposed to violence.

Behind the Wheel: Unraveling the Impact of Experience Over Age Over the First 18 Months of Licensure.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined how driving attention develops with age and driving. METHODS: In this observational longitudinal study, 190 adolescents (53% female, 73% Black) were enrolled across four groups: 16- and 18-year olds with and without driving experience. They underwent driving simulation with eye-tracking technology seven times over 18 months. By using a combination of factorial and longitudinal designs, the study examined the individual and combined effects of age and driving experience on driving attention over time. RESULTS: Licensed participants had higher odds of glancing at safety-critical events initially (OR = 15.01, 95% CI: 1.36-165.53), but these odds decreased at higher driving speeds (b = -0.17, p<.01). Average glance length decreased over time (b = -0.26, p=.01), but less so in licensed participants (b=0.14, p=.01). Several visual behaviors were influenced by environmental and driving factors. CONCLUSIONS: Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are burdensome and costly to society. This study focused on the role of inattention in MVCs, particularly during the risky period of adolescence. Findings indicated that driving experience, as determined by licensure, had a considerable impact on visual behavior in both the short term (within two weeks of obtaining a license) and over the first 18 months of independent driving. Overall, these findings suggest that licensed adolescents are more likely to identify potential hazards on the road and navigate safely. To ensure effective guidance, pediatric psychologists and other professionals should consider the unique circumstances, needs, and concerns of individual patients.

Hippocampal and amygdala volumes vary with residential proximity to toxicants at Birmingham, Alabama's 35th Avenue Superfund site.

Exposure to environmental toxicants have serious implications for the general health and well-being of children, particularly during pivotal neurodevelopmental stages. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program has identified several areas (Superfund sites) across the United States with high levels of environmental toxicants, which affect the health of many residents in nearby communities. Exposure to these environmental toxicants has been linked to changes in the structure and function of the brain. However, limited research has investigated the relationship between the proximity of childhood homes to a Superfund site and the development of subcortical structures like the hippocampus and amygdala. The present study investigated the hippocampal and amygdala volumes of young adults in relation to the proximity of their childhood homes to Birmingham, Alabama's 35th Avenue Superfund site. Forty participants who either lived within or adjacent to the Superfund site (Proximal group; n = 20) or who lived elsewhere in the greater Birmingham metropolitan area (Distal group; n = 20) were included in this study. Both groups were matched on age, sex, race, and years of education. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to compare the gray matter volume of the hippocampus and amygdala between groups. Differences in bilateral hippocampal and left amygdala volumes were observed. Specifically, hippocampal and amygdala volumes were greater in the Proximal than Distal group. These findings suggest that the proximity of children's homes to environmental toxicants may impact the development of the hippocampus and amygdala. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effects of Pubertal Timing on Academic Performance in Adolescence and Career Success in Adulthood: Evidence from a 16-year Longitudinal Study.

Previous research showed inconsistent effects of pubertal timing on adolescent academic performance and adult career success. Moreover, the relative importance of biological vs. perceived pubertal timing has not been examined. This study examined effects of biological and perceived pubertal timing on academic performance throughout adolescence and career success in adulthood together with sex differences in an understudied population of pre-dominantly Black youth from lower income families. The sample included 704 youth (52% male, 76% Black, 22% White) interviewed at four time points (Mean ages: 11.8, 13.2, 17.6, and 27.7 years). The results from a mediation path model showed that among males, perceived off-time pubertal timing uniquely predicted lower concurrent academic performance as well as lower objective career success in adulthood; this effect was mediated by lower academic performance throughout adolescence. Additionally, results from bivariate correlation analyses showed associations between early biological pubertal timing and lower concurrent academic performance in males and early perceived pubertal timing and lower concurrent academic performance among females. These findings contribute to the understanding of more nuanced links between pubertal timing, academic performance and subsequent career success in an understudied population of pre-dominantly Black youth from lower income families.

Associations of Household Food Insecurity With Academic Outcomes in Early Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is characterized by limited access to adequate food due to a lack of money or resources (eg, lack of transportation to obtain food). School aged children who are experiencing food insecurity are at greater risk for poor academic outcomes, but previous studies have not examined the effects of food insecurity on specific academic outcomes over time. METHOD: This study examined food insecurity as a risk factor for subsequent academic skills, enablers, and achievement. As part of a larger longitudinal study, middle school students (N = 112; meanage = 12.14, SD = 0.41; 50% female; 68% black/African American, 14% white, 13% Hispanic or Latino, 5% other) reported on food insecurity at baseline, while teachers reported on students' academic skills and enablers at both baseline and 12 months later at 1 year follow up. Math and English/Language Arts grades were obtained from the schools at each wave. FINDINGS: Food insecurity predicted lower academic skills over time but was unrelated to academic enablers and grades. IMPLICATIONS: Considering a whole school, whole community, whole child (WSCC) framework, this study will also discuss the important role schools and communities have in reducing food insecurity in middle school students. CONCLUSIONS: These results support negative long-term effects of food insecurity on academic skills in early adolescents.

Stress-induced Changes in Autonomic Reactivity Vary with Adolescent Violence Exposure and Resting-state Functional Connectivity.

Exposure to violence during childhood can lead to functional changes in brain regions that are important for emotion expression and regulation, which may increase susceptibility to internalizing disorders in adulthood. Specifically, childhood violence exposure can disrupt the functional connectivity among brain regions that include the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and amygdala. Together, these regions are important for modulating autonomic responses to stress. However, it is unclear to what extent changes in brain connectivity relate to autonomic stress reactivity and how the relationship between brain connectivity and autonomic responses to stress varies with childhood violence exposure. Thus, the present study examined whether stress-induced changes in autonomic responses (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance level (SCL)) varied with amygdala-, hippocampus-, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)-whole brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) as a function of violence exposure. Two hundred and ninety-seven participants completed two resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans prior to (pre-stress) and after (post-stress) a psychosocial stress task. Heart rate and SCL were recorded during each scan. Post-stress heart rate varied negatively with post-stress amygdala-inferior parietal lobule rsFC and positively with post-stress hippocampus-anterior cingulate cortex rsFC among those exposed to high, but not low, levels of violence. Results from the present study suggest that post-stress fronto-limbic and parieto-limbic rsFC modulates heart rate and may underlie differences in the stress response among those exposed to high levels of violence.

A review of the psychometric properties and implications for the use of the fertility quality of life tool.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and synthesize the reported psychometric properties of the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) instrument and describe its implications for use in practice and research in men and women with infertility. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify all articles using the FertiQoL tool. PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from September 2006 through May 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported psychometric data on the original FertiQoL tool using a sample population of individuals with infertility. Sample size, country of origin, and psychometric data were documented for each study. RESULTS: The initial search revealed 153 articles that had utilized the FertiQoL. Following abstract, title, and full-text screenings, 53 articles reported psychometric data and met criteria for inclusion. The FertiQoL is a sound measurement with satisfactory reliability and validity. Studies indicated adequate reliability in the overall scale ([Formula: see text]), as well as the core Emotional, Mind/Body, Social, and Relational scales ([Formula: see text]) and two optional Tolerability and Environment fertility treatment subscales ([Formula: see text]). Although the Relational subscale exhibited slightly lower reliability in several studies, the internal consistency for the measurement as a whole was satisfactory. Results also indicate adequate: 1) face and content validity with extensive professional and patient feedback during development; 2) convergent validity with general quality of life, depression, and anxiety measurements; and 3) structural validity using both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. CONCLUSION: The FertiQoL tool is the most commonly used instrument to measure the impact of fertility issues on quality of life in men and women with infertility. Understanding the impact of infertility on quality of life provides valuable insight into the areas of infertility-related care that need to be prioritized, such as mental health or relational stressors. While the instrument has been used in different patient populations with infertility and available in multiple translations, it is necessary to understand the updated psychometric properties and the implications for its use. This review shows that the FertiQoL is reliable and valid for cross-cultural use among individuals with various etiologies of infertility.

Early Life Stress, Coping, and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Social Stress.

OBJECTIVE: Early life stress (ELS) occurring during childhood and adolescence is an established risk factor for later cardiovascular disease and dysregulated reactivity to acute social stress. This study examined whether ELS associations with baseline cardiovascular functioning, cardiovascular stress reactivity and recovery, and emotional stress reactivity vary across levels of emotion-oriented, task-oriented, and avoidant coping styles. METHODS: The sample included 1027 adolescents and young adults (mean age = 19.29 years; 50% female; 64% Black, 34% non-Hispanic White) who reported on their ELS exposure and coping styles. Participants completed a standardized acute social stress test (the Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]), with heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) measured before, during, and after the TSST. Self-reports of negative emotions during the TSST indexed emotional stress reactivity. RESULTS: Multiple regression models adjusting for demographic factors and body mass index showed that ELS was associated with lower HR stress reactivity, avoidant coping was related to lower systolic BP and diastolic BP during stress and lower systolic BP during recovery, and higher emotion-oriented coping and lower task-oriented coping predicted greater emotional stress reactivity. A consistent pattern emerged where emotion-oriented coping amplified the associations between ELS and maladaptive stress responses (blunted cardiovascular stress reactivity and recovery; enhanced emotional stress reactivity), whereas lower levels of emotion-oriented coping were associated with resilient profiles among those who experienced ELS (lower resting HR, lower emotional stress reactivity, average HR and BP stress reactivity and recovery). However, low levels of emotion-oriented coping also conferred a risk of higher BP during recovery for those with high levels of ELS. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low to moderate levels of emotion-oriented coping promote optimal cardiovascular and emotional reactivity to acute stress among individuals exposed to ELS.

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with vascular changes in adolescents that are risk factors for future cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and indicators of future CVD risk in adulthood, such as greater vascular stiffness. The impact of ACEs in adolescence is unclear, and understanding how ACEs relate to blood pressure (BP) and vascular function during early life is key for the development of prevention strategies to reduce CVD risk. We hypothesized that exposure to ACEs would be associated with changes in central hemodynamics such as increased vascular stiffness and higher BP during adolescence. METHODS: This pilot study enrolled 86 adolescents recruited from the Children's of Alabama. A validated ACE questionnaire was employed, and ACEs were modeled both as a continuous variable and a categorical variable (ACE ≥ 1 vs. ACE = 0). The primary outcomes used are considered to be indicators of future cardio-renal disease risk: aortic augmentation index normalized to 75 bpm (Alx75, a surrogate for vascular stiffness), carotid-femoral PWV (m/s), and ambulatory BP patterns. RESULTS: Adolescents with ACE ≥ 1 had significantly higher Alx75 (ACE: 5.2% ± 2.2 compared to no ACE: - 1.4% ± 3.0; p = 0.043). PWV only reflected this trend when adjustments were made for the body mass index. Adolescents with ACEs showed no differences in ambulatory BP patterns during the 24-h, wake, or sleep periods compared to adolescents with no ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs were associated with higher AIx75 in adolescence, which is a risk factor for future CVD. Adolescence could present an opportunity for early detections/interventions to mitigate adverse cardiovascular outcomes in adulthood. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Epigenetic age acceleration correlates with BMI in young adults.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer, and other age-related disorders. Among older adults, obesity is also related to epigenetic age, typically measured with DNA methylation (DNAm). Because less is known about obesity and epigenetic aging earlier in the lifespan, this study examined the relationship between obesity and DNAm in young adulthood and whether these relationships vary by sex. METHODS: A cross-sectional community sample of 290 healthy young adults (mean age 27.39 years, 60% female; 80% African American, 18% White) had their BMI and waist circumference measured. Four epigenetic age estimators were derived from salivary DNA: Hannum DNAm, Horvath DNAm, Phenoage DNAm, and GrimAge DNAm. Sociodemographic covariates included age, sex, race, parental education, and income-to-needs ratio. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, higher BMI and waist were associated with higher DNAm PhenoAge in both sexes, with a stronger effect on BMI in males (ß = 0.35, p < .001) compared to females (ß = 0.13, p = .002). Higher waist, but not BMI, was associated with higher Horvath DNA methylation age. Both BMI and waist circumference were associated with higher Hannum DNAm age in men but not in women. Neither BMI nor waist circumference were related to GrimAge. DISCUSSION: This study extends prior research by linking obesity with accelerated epigenetic aging in young adulthood, replicating the associations across two measures of obesity and four indices of salivary epigenetic aging. The results add to evidence that higher BMI accelerates aging early in the lifespan.

Daily adherence to nicotine replacement therapy in low-income smokers: The role of gender, negative mood, motivation, and self-efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Low-income smokers may benefit from interventions promoting nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), particularly for women, as women have worse smoking cessation outcomes than men. Little is known about factors that affect daily NRT adherence, such as negative mood, motivation, and self-efficacy, and whether gender moderates these associations. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing a novel, in session sampling of short-acting combination NRT intervention (In Vivo) to standard care smoking cessation behavioral counseling was performed. Low-income smokers (n = 62; Mage = 47.4; 42 % female; 61 % non-White) completed daily surveys using the Insight™ mHealth platform for 55 consecutive days. Three types of NRT adherence were examined: dose amount of short-acting NRT, nicotine patch wear time, and combination NRT (cNRT) (combined nicotine patch and short-acting NRT). RESULTS: Generalized multilevel models report same-day negative mood was associated with greater likelihood of nicotine patch adherence in men, but unrelated to women's nicotine patch adherence. Same-day negative mood was associated with greater likelihood of cNRT adherence in men, but less likelihood in women. The relationship between same-day motivation and use of short-acting NRT varied by gender, but simple slope analyses revealed that motivation was unrelated to short-acting NRT use within either group. Same-day self-efficacy was related to an increased likelihood of nicotine patch adherence and cNRT adherence in women but unrelated to men's adherence of either type. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should focus on gender differences in low-income smokers' same-day negative mood, motivation, and self-efficacy processes on NRT adherence during smoking cessation interventions.

Sex-related differences in violence exposure, neural reactivity to threat, and mental health.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and amygdala play an important role in emotional health. However, adverse life events (e.g., violence exposure) affect the function of these brain regions, which may lead to disorders such as depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety disproportionately affect women compared to men, and this disparity may reflect sex differences in the neural processes that underlie emotion expression and regulation. The present study investigated sex differences in the relationship between violence exposure and the neural processes that underlie emotion regulation. In the present study, 200 participants completed a Pavlovian fear conditioning procedure in which cued and non-cued threats (i.e., unconditioned stimuli) were presented during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Violence exposure was previously assessed at four separate time points when participants were 11-19 years of age. Significant threat type (cued versus non-cued) × sex and sex × violence exposure interactions were observed. Specifically, women and men differed in amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus reactivity to cued versus non-cued threat. Further, dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) and inferior parietal lobule (IPL) reactivity to threat varied positively with violence exposure among women, but not men. Similarly, threat-elicited skin conductance responses varied positively with violence exposure among women. Finally, women reported greater depression and anxiety symptoms than men. These findings suggest that sex differences in threat-related brain and psychophysiological activity may have implications for mental health.

The Distinct Roles of Biological and Perceived Pubertal Timing in Delinquency and Depressive Symptoms from Adolescence to Adulthood.

Pubertal timing is a robust predictor of externalizing and internalizing problems in adolescence, but controversies remain whether only early or off-time (both early and late) pubertal timing is associated with negative developmental outcomes and whether effects differ across perceptions of pubertal timing and actual biological pubertal timing. Additionally, less is known about the longevity of pubertal timing effects and mediators of effects that persist through adolescence and into adulthood. This longitudinal study investigated the effects of early and off-time pubertal timing, in form of perceived pubertal timing relative to peers and reported biological pubertal timing relative to age, on delinquency and depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood between 2003 and 2022. Peer deviance and school connectedness were examined as mediators of any persisting effects. The sample included 704 youth (52% male, 76% African American, 22% Non-Hispanic White) who were assessed at four time points from early adolescence (Mean ages: 11.8, 13.2) to late adolescence (Mean age: 17.6) and young adulthood (Mean age: 27.7). Perceived off-time pubertal timing in males and early biological pubertal timing in both males and females were risk factors for persistent delinquency into young adulthood, but neither form of pubertal timing was associated with depressive symptoms. None of the effects were mediated by peer deviance or school connectedness. These findings advance the understanding of more nuanced effects of pubertal timing on adjustment problems in diverse youth as they develop from early adolescence to adulthood.