Hormonal Contraceptive Side Effects and Nonhormonal Alternatives on TikTok: A Content Analysis.

The use of hormonal contraceptives is decreasing in the United States alongside a growing interest in nonhormonal contraceptive options. Social media messaging may be contributing to this trend. TikTok thus offers a novel opportunity to understand how people share information about risks and alternatives for pregnancy prevention. To describe the availability and content of information about hormonal contraceptive side effects and nonhormonal contraceptive options on TikTok, we conducted a content analysis of 100 videos using the hashtags #birthcontrolsideeffects and #nonhormonalcontraception. We found that these videos were popular and often framed hormonal contraceptives and patient-provider interactions negatively, with users frequently discussing discontinuation of hormonal contraception and no plans for uptake of another contraceptive. When uptake of a new contraceptive method is mentioned, creators typically mention a fertility awareness-based method, which requires specialized knowledge to use safely and effectively. The risks and side effects of hormonal options were often overemphasized compared with the possible risks and side effects of nonhormonal options. This framing may suggest opportunities for providers and health educators to reassess how they counsel about contraceptive options. We conclude with recommendations for future research on TikTok and consider the policy implications of these findings.

An Elicitation Study to Understand Young Adults' Beliefs About Seeking Health Information From Social Media Influencers.

Social media influencers increasingly make health recommendations on social media. Research on influencer health messaging is mixed in that some studies show it can result in misleading or harmful health information, and others demonstrate it can lead to beneficial behavioral outcomes. However, there is little research on young adults' beliefs about following health guidance from influencers. Guided by the reasoned action approach, this study examined young adults' attitudes, normative beliefs, and control in seeking health information from social media influencers using focus groups (n = 31). Results suggest that young adults obtain health information from influencers and perceive them as a source of health education. Several barriers to getting health information from influencers were mentioned, including sponsorship, lack of credibility, and perceived normative pressure to critically analyze influencer content from peers and family. Practical and theoretical implications for future research are discussed.

A Content Analysis of Social Media influencers' "What I Eat in a day" Vlogs on YouTube.

Food diaries on social media, known as "what I eat in a day" (WIEIAD) content, are increasingly popular across a variety of platforms, and can potentially affect audiences' attitudes and behaviors regarding diet. WIEIAD content is frequently posted by social media influencers (SMI), who have powerful and persuasive effects on their audiences. Using expectancy-value and social norms as theoretical frameworks, this study examines characteristics of SMIs and the way they talk about diet. A mixed-methods content analysis of YouTube vlogs (n = 83) posted from October 2015 to October 2016, and October 2021 to October 2022 was conducted on SMIs who post WIEIAD vlogs. Results suggested that influencers may want to embrace body positivity, but their WIEIAD day content contains weight normative messaging. Furthermore, influencers send messages about what health should look like and assign social identities to specific diets. Aside from sponsorship, influencers use other persuasive strategies to grow large followers, such as listing positive expectancies of their diets. Future research should examine the effects of WIEIAD content on diet-related attitudes and behaviors.

What Do Social Media Influencers Say About Birth Control? A Content Analysis of YouTube Vlogs About Birth Control.

Youth get their sexual health information from social media, often from social media influencers (SMIs) or microcelebrities with large followings. Previous research suggests that SMIs have powerful persuasive effects on attitudes and behaviors. Thus, it is important to examine the ways in which sexual health information, such as birth control, is conveyed by SMIs. Using framing theory as a theoretical framework, this study examines characteristics of SMIs and their shared experiences pertaining to birth control. A content analysis of YouTube vlogs (n = 50) posted from December 2019-2021 was conducted on SMIs who talk about their experiences using hormonal and non-hormonal birth control. SMI status was determined based on the number of people subscribed to the YouTube channels. Results suggest that SMI YouTube videos are primarily about the discontinuation of hormonal birth control and may provide inaccurate sexual health information. Reasons for discontinuation of hormonal birth control provided by the SMIs are discussed. Future research should explore the effects of influencer sexual health messaging on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Support marshaling strategies among college students with anxiety and depression.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify ways in which college students use support-seeking strategies to improve mental health-related goals. Participants: Participants included college students from a Mid-Atlantic university who identified as having experienced anxiety or depression in their lifetime. Method: Using a support marshaling framework and thematic analysis, this paper analyzed qualitative responses (n = 330) that detailed individuals' experiences with network members when trying to gain support or avoid barriers surrounding their mental health. Results: This analysis revealed new support marshaling strategies specific to a mental health context. Participants frequently employed indirect avoidance strategies (e.g., decreased interaction time; 12.66%) and direct approach strategies (e.g., soliciting mental health support; 43.33%). Conclusions: College students equally experience opposition and support when trying to achieve mental health-related goals. Future research might consider which network members express support and opposition, and how these newly identified strategies apply in support marshaling contexts outside mental health.

Living in the Borderlands: A story about Liminality and Identity in Mental Healthcare.

This short narrative details a defining moment during my mental healthcare experience and borderline personality (BPD) diagnosis. Through the lens of liminality, I detail my experience of both resisting and valuing mental healthcare including my diagnoses, treatment processes, and patient-provider relationships. Consequently, this narrative underscores my experience living as both clinically abnormal and hesitation to live as normal. Above all, my experiences highlight the role of communication in mental health care, and the way it shaped my personal identity.

Perceptions of Sports and Energy Drinks: Factors Associated with Adolescent Beliefs.

PURPOSE: To understand what factors are associated with adolescents' perceived healthfulness of sports drinks (SD) and of energy drinks (ED), with a focus on health risk, athletics, and media-related variables. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Online. SUBJECTS: U.S. adolescents ages 14-18 years (n = 501) recruited from a combination of non-probability and probability-based panels. MEASURES: Outcome variables were perceived healthfulness of SDs and of EDs. Independent variables included adolescents' health background (oral health, diabetes risk, self-reported weight); behaviors (SD and ED consumption, athletic identity, sports participation, physical activity), and media items (media literacy, exposure to advertisements on TV, YouTube, social media). RESULTS: Regression results indicated that adolescents' increased perception that SDs are healthy was significantly associated (P<.05 level) with casual sports participation (b=.56, se=.27), athletic identification (b=.28, se= .11), exposure to SD advertisements on social media (b=.55, s =.25), and higher consumption (b=.28, se= .13). For adolescents' perceptions of EDs, significantly related correlates included athletic identification (b=.26, se=10), having an increased risk of diabetes (b= -.79, s =.26), poorer oral health (b=.33, se=.16), and consumption (b=.76, s =.16); increased media literacy was associated with more accurate perceptions (b=-.35, se=.14). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents' hold different perceptions about the healthfulness of sports and energy drink, and their beliefs about each drink are related to different types of factors that may have implications for public health interventions. Cross-sectional survey design and adolescent self-reports are limitations.

Family Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Applying the Family Caregiver Communication Typology to Parent Caregivers.

Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience greater stress and caregiver burden than parents of children with other disabilities. To cope with the stress of long-term caregiving, they rely on professionals for support and guidance. However, parents continue to report unmet communication and support needs. To inform tailored communication for parents of a child with ASD, this study used the existing Family Caregiver Communication Typology framework which identifies four caregiver communication types (manager, carrier, partner, and lone) and their unique communication and support needs. In-depth, structured interviews were conducted with parents (n = 22) and ASD professionals (n = 28) to explore communication characteristics of ASD parent caregivers. A thematic analysis revealed communication behaviors among four ASD parent caregiver types, further validating the typology. Future research is needed to develop targeted interventions for improving family-centered care based on ASD parent caregiver types.

Mental Health and COVID-19: Implications for the Future of Telehealth.

This article uses mental health trends during the COVID-19 pandemic to question how we can leverage current technologies such as telehealth to provide better mental health care. Based on this compilation of literature, an increase in suicide rates, suicidal ideation, and mental health disorders is possible as a result of the impact of COVID-19. By increasing the use of telehealth and investigating best practices for its use, the outcome is 3-fold. We can provide preventative measures after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, more effective care to patients during future pandemics and global crises, and reduce mental health care disparities by reaching rural Americans.