Family matters: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of family-oriented interventions for children with acquired brain injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a leading cause of disability among children. An increasing number of programs have emerged to involve family members as an integral component of post-ABI rehabilitation. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of such programs among children with ABI. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, search among six databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL) was conducted, followed by abstract/full-text screening and data extraction. Hedge's g was computed for effect sizes. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane guidelines. Meta-regression analyses were conducted on six moderators. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies (reported in 37 articles) were included in the qualitative analysis. Meta-analysis of 20 studies showed a positive small-to-medium effect of family-oriented interventions on child and parental outcomes but not on family functioning. Study design moderated the effect sizes of parent outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study synthesized the latest empirical evidence of family-oriented rehabilitation programs for pediatric ABI across interventional strategies, study designs, and outcomes. The findings suggested an overall beneficial impact of such programs on both the pediatric patients and their caregivers.

The kids are not alright: A preliminary report of Post-COVID syndrome in university students.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and features of protracted COVID-19 symptoms in non-hospitalized university students who experienced mild-to-moderate acute illness. PARTICIPANTS: COVID-19 positive participants with symptoms ≥ 28 days (N = 22), herein referred to as post-COVID syndrome, were compared to those who fully recovered (N = 21) and those never diagnosed with the disease (N = 58). METHODS: Students completed online study to earn research credit for class. RESULTS: 51% of COVID-19 positive participants were classified with post-COVID syndrome. During acute illness, those with post-COVID syndrome experienced more chest pain, fatigue, fever, olfactory impairment, headaches, and diarrhea compared to fully recovered participants. They also reported more current exercise intolerance, dyspnea, chest pain, olfactory impairment, lymphadenopathy, gustatory impairment, and appetite loss than students who never contracted COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Our results contradict the perception that this yet to be defined post-COVID syndrome predominantly affects middle-aged adults. Student health centers should closely monitor those who contract COVID-19 for lingering effects.

Social jet lag and eating styles in young adults.

Social jet lag refers to circadian misalignment that occurs when people shift their sleep schedules from weekdays to weekends. Social jet lag is linked with numerous negative health outcomes, with emerging research connecting social jet lag to increased consumption of unhealthy foods. Existing research has not yet examined the associations between social jet lag and eating styles (e.g., emotional eating). Emotional eating and loss of control over eating are problematic eating styles which may lead to overeating and weight gain. Conversely, intuitive eating is associated with positive health outcomes such as lower risk of obesity. The present study examined social jet lag and eating styles in a young adult sample, as emerging adulthood is an important developmental time period for establishing healthy sleep and eating habits. Results of the current study indicated that in a sample of 372 American undergraduate participants, social jet lag significantly predicted lower intuitive eating (ß = -.129, p = .012) and greater emotional eating (ß = .12, p = .022) when controlling for age, sex, and chronotype. It was marginally predictive of loss of control over eating (ß = .102, p = .050). Sleep quantity on weekdays (not weekends) also significantly predicted intuitive eating (p = .017) and loss of control over eating (p = .044), and sleep quality significantly predicted intuitive eating (p < .001), emotional eating (p < .001), and loss of control over eating (p < .001). These findings extend our understanding of the relationship between social jet lag and eating styles in college students. Addressing social jet lag in this population is an important consideration for their cardiometabolic health and for reducing weight fluctuations.

Executive Function Mediates the Relationship Between Conscious Discipline Fidelity and Kindergarten Readiness.

Conscious Discipline is a classroom management program that targets relationship building and socio-emotional learning to improve students' academic performance, as well as executive function (EF) and social skills. Past studies evaluating the effectiveness of this program, however, are limited and have yielded mixed results. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between preschool teachers' Conscious Discipline fidelity and students' kindergarten readiness and social skill development. This study included 873 preschool-aged students from 146 classrooms that used the Conscious Discipline program. We found that Conscious Discipline fidelity was significantly associated with students' EF skill gains, which in turn predicted outcomes on students' overall kindergarten readiness scores as well as their scores on evaluations of their language and literacy, math, social foundations, and physical development specifically. Results suggest that EF skill development mediates the relationship between preschool teachers' Conscious Discipline fidelity and students' kindergarten readiness scores.

The Kids Are Not Alright: A Preliminary Report of Post-COVID Syndrome in University Students.

Background: Post-COVID syndrome is increasingly recognized by the medical community but has not been studied exclusively in young adults. This preliminary report investigates the prevalence and features of protracted symptoms in non-hospitalized university students who experienced mild-to-moderate acute illness. Methods: 148 students completed an online study to earn research credit for class. Data from COVID-19 positive participants with symptoms ≥28 days (N=22) were compared to those who fully recovered (N=21) and those not diagnosed with COVID-19 (N=58). Results: 51% of participants who contracted COVID-19 (N=43) experienced symptoms ≥28 days and were classified as having post-COVID syndrome; all but one (96%) were female. During acute illness the post-COVID group, compared to those who fully recovered, experienced significantly more chest pain (64% vs 14%; P=.002), fatigue (86% vs 48%; P=.009), fever (82% vs 48%; P=.02), olfactory impairment (82% vs 52%; P=.04), headaches (32% vs 5%; P<.05), and diarrhea (32% vs 5%; P<.05). Compared to those not diagnosed with COVID-19, the post-COVID syndrome group more frequently experienced exercise intolerance (43% vs. 0%; P<.001), dyspnea (43% vs. 0%; P<.001), chest pain (31% vs 7%; P=.002), olfactory impairment (19% vs 0%; P=.004), lymphadenopathy (19% vs 0%; P=.004), gustatory impairment (14% vs 0%; P=.02), and appetite loss (36% vs 14%; P=.02). Interpretation: Our results contradict the perception that this "yet to be defined" post-COVID syndrome predominantly affects middle-aged adults and suggest that exercise intolerance, dyspnea, chest pain, chemosensory impairment, lymphadenopathy, rhinitis, and appetite loss may differentiate post-COVID syndrome from general symptoms of pandemic, age, and academic related stress. These findings are also consistent with previous reports that females are more vulnerable to this post viral syndrome. Large-scale population-based studies are essential to discerning the magnitude and characterization of post-COVID syndrome in young adults as well as more diverse populations.