Loneliness Among Older Indian Workers: Findings From the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India.

The number of adults aged 60 years and over who work is growing. However, there has been relatively limited research assessing the determinants of wellbeing in this cohort. Given the known relationship between loneliness and socioeconomic disadvantage, the present analysis assessed the role of working conditions and food security on loneliness among employed Indians aged 60 years and over (N = 9035), using data from wave 1 of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. Just over 11% of participants reported being lonely most or all of the time. Food insecurity and work that involved exposure to unpleasant conditions was associated with increased loneliness, while work requiring more mental effort was associated with lower loneliness. Policies that ensure skills training to support job transitions for older adults working in unpleasant conditions, and greater food security in later life are important to ensure wellbeing in this group.

Benefits of Frequent HIV Testing in the THRIVE Demonstration Project: United States, 2015-2020.

Objectives. To describe HIV testing among clients in the Targeted Highly Effective Interventions to Reverse the HIV Epidemic (THRIVE) demonstration project and evaluate testing frequency. Methods. We identified factors associated with an average testing frequency of 180 days or less compared with more than 180 days using adjusted Poisson regression models. We performed the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to compare time to diagnosis by testing frequency. Results. Among 5710 clients with 2 or more tests and no preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prescription, 42.4% were tested frequently. Black/African American clients were 21% less likely and Hispanic/Latino clients were 18% less likely to be tested frequently than were White clients. Among 71 Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women with HIV diagnoses, those with frequent testing had a median time to diagnosis of 137 days, with a diagnostic testing yield of 1.5% compared with those tested less frequently, with 559 days and 0.8% yield. Conclusions. HIV testing at least every 6 months resulted in earlier HIV diagnosis and was efficient. Persons in communities with high rates of HIV who are not on PrEP can benefit from frequent testing, and collaborative community approaches may help reduce disparities. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(9):1019-1027. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307341).

Deciphering the effect of maternal postpartum antibiotic prophylaxis on the infant gut microbiome: a whole metagenomic analysis.

Aim: To analyze the impact of postpartum antibiotic (Ab) prophylaxis on the infant gut microbiome. Materials & methods: Whole metagenomic analysis was performed on breast milk and infant fecal samples collected from mother-infant pairs who belonged to two groups: an Ab group comprising mothers who had received a single course of Abs in the immediate postpartum period and a non-Ab group comprising mothers who had not received Abs. Results: The characteristic presence of Citrobacter werkmanii, an emerging multidrug-resistant uropathogen, and a higher relative abundance of genes encoding resistance to specific Abs were noted in samples from the Ab group compared with those from the non-Ab group. Conclusion: Policies regarding prophylactic Ab prescription across government and private health sectors in the postpartum period need to be strengthened.

We studied the impact of antibiotics (Abs) that were taken by mothers as a preventive measure in the immediate postdelivery period on the bacterial diversity of the infant gut. All mother­infant pairs who participated in the study had undergone 'low-risk', normal delivery and practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Stool samples of the infants and breast milk samples of the corresponding mothers were collected for analysis of the pattern of microbial composition. On analysis, it was found that stool samples of the infants in the Ab group comprised opportunistic pathogens and harbored genes encoding resistance to specific Abs. There was a relatively higher abundance of beneficial bacteria in infant stool samples of the non-Ab group. This study highlights the need to reconsider the existing practice of taking Abs as a preventive measure after normal delivery to maintain health and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance in this particular region.

Loneliness in Older Indian Dyads.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness has been recognised as a major public health concern in older adults in developed nations, with little focus on low- and middle-income countries such as India. While the protective nature of social relationships on loneliness has been explored in the context of marriage, typically these benefits are examined in individual spouses rather than within the marital dyad. METHODS: A sample of 398 opposite-sex married Indian couples (mean age 54.8 years) was obtained from the pilot wave of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) conducted in 2010. These cross-sectional data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, with one's own and one's partner's cognitive function, functional limitations, depressive symptoms, employment status and contact with friends included as predictors of loneliness. RESULTS: There were no gender differences in the pattern of associations. Depression was positively associated with loneliness with actor and partner effects being significant. One's partner being employed was associated with less loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The sample showed low levels of depression, loneliness, and reduced functionality; however, depression still predicted one's own and one's partner's loneliness. Future work using longitudinal data could examine the role of employment in loneliness, particularly within the context of gender roles.

A review of caregiver distress in epilepsy in India: Current issues and future directions for research.

India is home to a large number of individuals with epilepsy, with many of these patients having high care needs. Owing to limited infrastructural support and prevalent cultural attitudes, most of these individuals are cared for by their families. Such informal caregiving is often associated with poor physical and psychological outcomes, but the state of caregivers of people with epilepsy in India remains largely ignored. This review summarizes currently available research on distress among caregivers for people with epilepsy in India. A review of 20 studies published till July 2020 revealed significant burden in this population. Caregiving was reported to negatively impact one's physical and mental health, overall family functioning, and financial status. A range of seizure-related variables were found to be associated with greater perceived burden, with the impact of patient characteristics and psychosocial factors on burden being relatively unexplored. Much of the research identified was characterized by methodological limitations such as small sample sizes, exclusion of patients with comorbidities, and a failure to distinguish between carers of adult and pediatric populations, thus overshadowing the specific needs of each group. There is a need for larger, well-designed studies that focus on culture-specific psychological and social factors in the Indian context of caregiving for people with epilepsy.

Insights into Peptide Mediated Antibiofilm Treatment in Chronic Wound: A Bench to Bedside Approach.

Chronic wound biofilm infections are a threat to the population with respect to morbidity and mortality. The presence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens in chronic wound renders the action of antibiotics and antibiofilm agents difficult. Therefore an alternative therapy is essential for reducing bacterial biofilm burden. In this scenario, the peptide-based antibiofilm therapy for chronic wound biofilm management seeks more attention. A synthetic peptide with a broad range of antibiofilm activity against preformed and established biofilms, having the ability to kill multispecies bacteria within biofilms and possessing combinatorial activity with other antimicrobial agents, provides significant insights. In this review, we portray the possibilities and difficulties of peptide-mediated treatment in chronic wounds biofilm management and how it can be clinically translated into a product.

Evaluating the effect of change in the built environment on mental health and subjective well-being: a natural experiment.

BACKGROUND: Neighbourhood characteristics may affect mental health and well-being, but longitudinal evidence is limited. We examined the effect of relocating to East Village (the former London 2012 Olympic Athletes' Village), repurposed to encourage healthy active living, on mental health and well-being. METHODS: 1278 adults seeking different housing tenures in East village were recruited and examined during 2013-2015. 877 (69%) were followed-up after 2  years; 50% had moved to East Village. Analysis examined change in objective measures of the built environment, neighbourhood perceptions (scored from low to high; quality -12 to 12, safety -10 to 10 units), self-reported mental health (depression and anxiety) and well-being (life satisfaction, life being worthwhile and happiness) among East Village participants compared with controls who did not move to East Village. Follow-up measures were regressed on baseline for each outcome with group status as a binary variable, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, housing tenure and household clustering (random effect). RESULTS: Participants who moved to East Village lived closer to their nearest park (528 m, 95% CI 482 to 575 m), in more walkable areas, and had better access to public transport, compared with controls. Living in East Village was associated with marked improvements in neighbourhood perceptions (quality 5.0, 95% CI 4.5 to 5.4 units; safety 3.4, 95% CI 2.9 to 3.9 units), but there was no overall effect on mental health and well-being outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite large improvements in the built environment, there was no evidence that moving to East Village improved mental health and well-being. Changes in the built environment alone are insufficient to improve mental health and well-being.

The effect of moving to East Village, the former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes' Village, on mode of travel (ENABLE London study, a natural experiment).

BACKGROUND: Interventions to encourage active modes of travel (walking, cycling) may improve physical activity levels, but longitudinal evidence is limited and major change in the built environment / travel infrastructure may be needed. East Village (the former London 2012 Olympic Games Athletes Village) has been repurposed on active design principles with improved walkability, open space and public transport and restrictions on residential car parking. We examined the effect of moving to East Village on adult travel patterns. METHODS: One thousand two hundred seventy-eight adults (16+ years) seeking to move into social, intermediate, and market-rent East Village accommodation were recruited in 2013-2015, and followed up after 2 years. Individual objective measures of physical activity using accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+) and geographic location using GPS travel recorders (QStarz) were time-matched and a validated algorithm assigned four travel modes (walking, cycling, motorised vehicle, train). We examined change in time spent in different travel modes, using multilevel linear regresssion models adjusting for sex, age group, ethnicity, housing group (fixed effects) and household (random effect), comparing those who had moved to East Village at follow-up with those who did not. RESULTS: Of 877 adults (69%) followed-up, 578 (66%) provided valid accelerometry and GPS data for at least 1 day (≥540 min) at both time points; half had moved to East Village. Despite no overall effects on physical activity levels, sizeable improvements in walkability and access to public transport in East Village resulted in decreased daily vehicle travel (8.3 mins, 95%CI 2.5,14.0), particularly in the intermediate housing group (9.6 mins, 95%CI 2.2,16.9), and increased underground travel (3.9 mins, 95%CI 1.2,6.5), more so in the market-rent group (11.5 mins, 95%CI 4.4,18.6). However, there were no effects on time spent walking or cycling. CONCLUSION: Designing walkable neighbourhoods near high quality public transport and restrictions on car usage, may offer a community-wide strategy shift to sustainable transport modes by increasing public transport use, and reducing motor vehicle travel.

A newly recognized multiple malformation syndrome with caudal regression associated with a biallelic c.402G>A variant in TBX4.

The T-box4 (TBX4) gene (OMIM *601719) belongs to the T-box family of transcription regulators that share a conserved homology domain and are expressed at specific sites during various stages of embryonic development. Tbx4 has been found to be a crucial transcriptional regulator in embryonic hindlimb development in animal models. Monoallelic variants in the TBX4 gene are reported to be associated with skeletal defects of the pelvis and lower limbs. We report here a fetus with a novel multiple malformation syndrome associated with sacrococcygeal agenesis, bilateral lower limb aplasia, hypoplastic left heart, bilateral lung hypoplasia, hydroureteronephrosis, and nonimmune fetal hydrops, found to have a homozygous nonsense variant in the TBX4 gene. We propose that biallelic variants in the TBX4 gene are associated with a severe syndromic phenotype of sacrococcygeal agenesis and lower limb reduction defects.

Critical insights into antibiotic resistance transferability in probiotic Lactobacillus.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, with respect to metabolism, immune function, and nutrition. Any perturbation of these beneficial microbes leads to gut dysbiosis, which triggers the development of various disorders in the gastrointestinal system. Probiotics play a key role in resolving the dysbiosis posed by external factors such as antibiotics, other substances, or interventions. Supplementing probiotics with antibiotics is favorable in reducing the harmful effects of antibiotics on gut flora. These microbes also possess specific intrinsic drug resistance mechanisms that aid their survival in the internal environment. According to US Food and Drug Administration reports, species belonging to Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera are the most common probiotics consumed by humans through commercial products. However, various studies have reported the tendency of microbes to acquire specific drug resistance, in recent years, through various mechanisms. The reports on transferable resistance among probiotics are of major concern, of which minimal information is available to date. The aim of this review was to describe the pros and cons of drug resistance among these beneficial microorganisms with emphasis on the recommended selection criteria for specific probiotics, devoid of transferable drug resistance genes, suitable for human consumption.

Loneliness and sleep in older adults.

PURPOSE: The present analysis aims to examine if loneliness is associated with sleep problems and duration over a 4-year period in a sample of older adults aged 50 years and over. METHODS: Data on loneliness, sleep duration, sleep problems and covariates were obtained from 5698 participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing at baseline (wave 4) and follow up (wave 6). RESULTS: Following adjustment for covariates, baseline loneliness was associated with an increase in the odds of reporting short sleep, and more sleep problems at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep may represent an important mechanism through which loneliness affects health.

The effect of moving to East Village, the former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes' Village, on physical activity and adiposity (ENABLE London): a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The built environment can affect health behaviours, but longitudinal evidence is limited. We aimed to examine the effect of moving into East Village, the former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes' Village that was repurposed on active design principles, on adult physical activity and adiposity. METHODS: In this cohort study, we recruited adults seeking new accommodation in East Village and compared physical activity and built environment measures with these data in control participants who had not moved to East Village. At baseline and after 2 years, we objectively measured physical activity with accelerometry and adiposity with body-mass index and bioimpedance, and we assessed objective measures of and participants' perceptions of change in their built environment. We examined the change in physical activity and adiposity between the East Village and control groups, after adjusting for sex, age group, ethnicity, housing tenure, and household (as a random effect). FINDINGS: We recruited participants for baseline assessment between Jan 24, 2013, and Jan 7, 2016, and we followed up the cohort after 2 years, between Feb 24, 2015, and Oct 24, 2017. At baseline, 1819 households (one adult per household) consented to initial contact by the study team. 1278 adults (16 years and older) from 1006 (55%) households participated at baseline; of these participants, 877 (69%) adults from 710 (71%) households were assessed after 2 years, of whom 441 (50%) participants from 343 (48%) households had moved to East Village. We found no effect associated with moving to East Village on daily steps, the time spent doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (either in total or in 10-min bouts or more), daily sedentary time, body-mass index, or fat mass percentage between participants who had moved to East Village and those in the control group, despite sizeable improvements in walkability and neighbourhood perceptions of crime and quality among the East Village group relative to their original neighbourhood at baseline. INTERPRETATION: Despite large improvements in neighbourhood perceptions and walkability, we found no clear evidence that moving to East Village was associated with increased physical activity. Improving the built environment on its own might be insufficient to increase physical activity. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research and National Prevention Research Initiative.

Housing, neighbourhood and sociodemographic associations with adult levels of physical activity and adiposity: baseline findings from the ENABLE London study.

OBJECTIVES: The neighbourhood environment is increasingly shown to be an important correlate of health. We assessed associations between housing tenure, neighbourhood perceptions, sociodemographic factors and levels of physical activity (PA) and adiposity among adults seeking housing in East Village (formerly London 2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games Athletes' Village). SETTING: Cross-sectional analysis of adults seeking social, intermediate and market-rent housing in East Village. PARTICIPANTS: 1278 participants took part in the study (58% female). Complete data on adiposity (body mass index (BMI) and fat mass %) were available for 1240 participants (97%); of these, a subset of 1107 participants (89%) met the inclusion criteria for analyses of accelerometer-based measurements of PA. We examined associations between housing sector sought, neighbourhood perceptions (covariates) and PA and adiposity (dependent variables) adjusted for household clustering, sex, age group, ethnic group and limiting long-standing illness. RESULTS: Participants seeking social housing had the fewest daily steps (8304, 95% CI 7959 to 8648) and highest BMI (26.0 kg/m2, 95% CI 25.5kg/m2 to 26.5 kg/m2) compared with those seeking intermediate (daily steps 9417, 95% CI 9106 to 9731; BMI 24.8 kg/m2, 95% CI 24.4 kg/m2 to 25.2 kg/m2) or market-rent housing (daily steps 9313, 95% CI 8858 to 9768; BMI 24.6 kg/m2, 95% CI 24.0 kg/m2 to 25.2 kg/m2). Those seeking social housing had lower levels of PA (by 19%-42%) at weekends versus weekdays, compared with other housing groups. Positive perceptions of neighbourhood quality were associated with higher steps and lower BMI, with differences between social and intermediate groups reduced by ~10% following adjustment, equivalent to a reduction of 111 for steps and 0.5 kg/m2 for BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The social housing group undertook less PA than other housing sectors, with weekend PA offering the greatest scope for increasing PA and tackling adiposity in this group. Perceptions of neighbourhood quality were associated with PA and adiposity and reduced differences in steps and BMI between housing sectors. Interventions to encourage PA at weekends and improve neighbourhood quality, especially among the most disadvantaged, may provide scope to reduce inequalities in health behaviour.

Comparisons of depression, anxiety, well-being, and perceptions of the built environment amongst adults seeking social, intermediate and market-rent accommodation in the former London Olympic Athletes' Village.

The Examining Neighbourhood Activities in Built Living Environments in London (ENABLE London) study provides a unique opportunity to examine differences in mental health and well-being amongst adults seeking social, intermediate (affordable rent), and market-rent housing in a purpose built neighbourhood (East Village, the former London 2012 Olympic Athletes' Village), specifically designed to encourage positive health behaviours. Multi-level logistic regression models examined baseline differences in levels of depression, anxiety and well-being across the housing groups. Compared with the intermediate group, those seeking social housing were more likely to be depressed, anxious and had poorer well-being after adjustment for demographic and health status variables. Further adjustments for neighbourhood perceptions suggest that compared with the intermediate group, perceived neighbourhood characteristics may be an important determinant of depression amongst those seeking social housing, and lower levels of happiness the previous day amongst those seeking market-rent housing. These findings add to the extensive literature on inequalities in health, and provide a strong basis for future longitudinal work that will examine change in depression, anxiety and well-being after moving into East Village, where those seeking social housing potentially have the most to gain.

Objectively Measured Daily Physical Activity and Postural Changes as Related to Positive and Negative Affect Using Ambulatory Monitoring Assessments.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether objectively measured daily physical activity and posture of sitting, standing, and sit-to-stand transitions are associated with daily assessments of affect. METHODS: Participants (N = 51, 49% female) wore ActivPal accelerometers for 24 h/d for seven consecutive days. Time spent sitting, standing, and being physically active and sit-to-stand transitions were derived for each day. Participants also completed a mood inventory each evening. Multilevel models examined within- and between-person associations of daily physical activity with positive and negative affect, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, education, and sleep duration. RESULTS: Within-person associations showed that a 1-hour increase in daily physical activity was associated with a decrease in negative affect over the same day (B = -0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.21 to -0.01). Between-person associations indicated a borderline significant association between higher average daily physical activity levels and higher positive affect (B = 1.85, 95% CI = -0.25 to 3.94). There were no between- or within-person associations between sitting, standing, and sit-to-stand transitions with affect. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting physical activity may be a potential intervention strategy to acutely suppress negative affective states.

Effect of major school playground reconstruction on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: Camden active spaces.

BACKGROUND: The physical school environment is a promising setting to increase children's physical activity although robust evidence is sparse. We examined the effects of major playground reconstruction on physical activity and sedentary time in primary schools using a quasi-experimental design (comparison group pre-test/post-test design). METHODS: Five experimental and two control schools from deprived areas of inner city London were recruited at baseline. Main outcome was physical activity and sedentary time measured from objective monitoring (Actigraph accelerometer) at one year follow up. Pupils' impressions of the new playground were qualitatively assessed post construction. RESULTS: A total of 347 pupils (mean age = 8 years, 55% boys; 36% Caucasian) were recruited into the study at baseline; 303 provided valid baseline Actigraph data. Of those, 231 (76%) completed follow-up (n = 169 intervention; n = 62 control) and 77.4% of the sample recorded at least 4 days of Actigraph wear. In mixed models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, ratio activity or sedentary/wear time at baseline, wear time at follow up, and school, no differences were observed in total moderate - vigorous activity (B = -1.4, 95% CI, -7.1, 4.2 min/d), light activity (B = 4.1, 95% CI, -17.9, 26.1), or sedentary time (B = -3.8, 95% CI, -29.2, 21.6 min/d) between groups. There were significant age interactions for sedentary (p = 0.002) and light intensity physical activity (p = 0.008). We observed significant reductions in total sedentary (-28.0, 95% CI, -1.9, -54.1 min/d, p = 0.037) and increases in total light intensity activity (24.6, 95% CI, 0.3, 48.9 min/d, p = 0.047) for children aged under 9 yrs. old in the intervention. CONCLUSION: Major playground reconstruction had limited effects on physical activity, but reduced sedentary time was observed in younger children. Qualitative data suggested that the children enjoyed the new playgrounds and experienced a perceived positive change in well-being and social interactions.

Perceived discrimination: Associations with physical and cognitive function in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Perceived discrimination has been associated with poor physical and psychological health. There is limited research examining perceived discrimination in older adults, and its effects on health in later life. The aim of this study is to extend research in this area by examining longitudinal associations between reported everyday discrimination and physical and cognitive function in older adults. METHOD: The present study uses a national sample of 4,886 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years and older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Perceived discrimination was assessed at baseline by asking participants about the frequency with which they experienced 5 everyday discriminatory situations. Cognitive functioning, comprising tests of recall and a test of verbal fluency, and physical functioning, comprising a timed walk test, were measured identically at baseline and follow-up. Multiple regression analyses were performed, adjusting for sociodemographic and health status variables. RESULTS: At baseline, 39.3% of participants reported being discriminated against at least a few times a year. After adjusting for demographic variables, health status, and depression, baseline discrimination was associated with poorer recall (B = -0.26, 95% CI [-0.44, -0.08]) and slower gait speed (B = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.03, -0.004]) at follow-up. Discrimination was not associated with poorer verbal fluency (B = -0.12, 95% CI [-0.45, 0.22]) at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of discrimination is common among older adults and is associated with poorer physical and cognitive functioning. Addressing issues around discrimination in older adults may contribute to maintaining functioning in later life. (PsycINFO Database Record

Informal caregiving transitions, subjective well-being and depressed mood: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively investigate the impact of transitions in informal caregiving on emotional well-being over two years in a large population study of older people. METHODS: Information on provision of unpaid care in 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 was available for 6571 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Three well-being domains were also assessed on each occasion: life satisfaction (measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale); quality of life (assessed with the CASP-19 scale); and depression symptoms (measured using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Multivariable analyses of the impact on well-being of two-year caregiving transitions (caregiving entry and caregiving exit, or continued caring) were conducted separately for spousal/child carers and carers of other family/non-relatives. RESULTS: Compared to non-caregiving, entry into spousal/child caregiving was associated with decline in quality of life (B = -1.60, p < .01) whereas entry into caregiving involving other kin relations increased life satisfaction (B = 1.02, p < .01) and lowered depression symptoms (B = -0.26, p < .05). Contrary to expectations, caregiving exit was related to increased depression in both spousal/child (B = 0.44, p < .01) and non-spousal/child (B = 0.25, p < .05) carers. Continued spousal/child caregiving was also related to decline in quality of life (B = -1.24, p < .05). Other associations were suggestive but non-significant. CONCLUSION: The emotional impact of different caregiving transitions in later life differs across kin relationships; notably, spousal and child carers' well-being was consistently compromised at every stage of their caregiving career over the two-year study period.

Social isolation and loneliness: Prospective associations with functional status in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: The present analysis aimed to examine the associations of isolation and loneliness, individually as well as simultaneously, with 2 measures of functional status (gait speed and difficulties in activities of daily living) in older adults over a 6-year period using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and to assess if these associations differ by SES. METHOD: Loneliness was measured using the short form of the Revised UCLA scale, and an index of social isolation was computed incorporating marital status; frequency of contact with friends, family, and children; and participation in social activities. Measures of functional status were assessed identically at baseline and 6 years later for 3070 participants (mean age 69 years). Wealth was used as an indicator of SES. RESULTS: In fully and mutually adjusted models, social isolation and loneliness were found to be associated with a decrease in gait speed at follow-up, with stronger effects among more disadvantaged individuals. Loneliness was associated with an increase in difficulties with activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation and loneliness were adversely associated with different aspects of functional status. Interventions to reduce isolation and loneliness may be particularly beneficial for individuals in disadvantaged groups. (PsycINFO Database Record

Association of after school sedentary behaviour in adolescence with mental wellbeing in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: Sedentary behaviour is associated with poorer mental health in adolescence but no studies have followed participants into mid-life. We investigated the association between after-school sedentary behaviours (screen time and homework) in adolescence with mental wellbeing in adulthood when participants were aged 42. METHODS: Participants (n=2038, 59.2% female) were drawn from The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). At age 16 respondents were asked separate questions about how long they spent in three types of screen based activities (TV, video films, computer games) and homework 'after school yesterday'. Mental well-being and psychological distress were assessed at the age 42 sweep in 2012 using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and Malaise Inventory, respectively. RESULTS: After adjustment for all covariates, participants reporting more than 3h of after school screen time as an adolescent had -1.74 (95% CI, -2.65, -0.83) points on the WEMWBS compared with adults reporting less than 1h screen time as an adolescent. Participants that reported high screen time both at age 16 (≥3h/d) and age 42 (≥3h/d TV viewing) demonstrated even lower scores (-2.91; -4.12, -1.69). Homework was unrelated to wellbeing after adjustment for covariates. The longitudinal association between adolescent screen time and adult psychological distress was attenuated to the null after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Screen time in adolescence was inversely associated with mental wellbeing in adulthood.