Substance Use Among Middle School Adolescents: Association with Family Members' and Peers' Substance Use and the Mediating Role of School and Mental Difficulties.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the associations of substance (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drugs) use of adolescents with that of their family members (father, mother, step-parent, brothers/sisters, and grandparents) and peers, and the mediating role of school and mental difficulties (SMDs) which remained insufficiently addressed. METHODS: This cross-sectional population-based study included 1,559 middle-school adolescents in France (mean age = 13.5 ± 1.3, 778 boys, 781 girls). They completed a questionnaire including socioeconomic features (nationality, family structure and parents' education, occupation, and income), substance use, cumulative number of substance use of family members (father, mother, step-parent, brothers/sisters, and grandparents) and peers (noted familySUcn and peerSUcn), SMDs (grade repetition, suffered physical/verbal violence, sexual abuse, lack of family/peer support, depressive symptoms, suicide attempt, and age at onset). Data were analyzed using logistic regression models and Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: Most adolescents had familySUcn 1-2, 3-5, and ≥ 6 (39.1%, 23.0%, and 4.5%, respectively) and peerSUcn 1-2 and ≥ 3 (36.1% and 13.0%, respectively). Strong dose-effect associations were found between all substance use and familySUcn and peerSUcn (odds ratio adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic features reaching 13.44 and 9.90, respectively, most with p < .001). SMDs explained more the associations of all substance use with familySUcn than with peerSUcn (contributions reaching 69% and 34%, respectively). The proportion of subjects without each substance use decreased with age more quickly among the adolescents with higher familySUcn or peerSUcn. CONCLUSIONS: Early prevention reducing familySUcn, peerSUcn and SMDs among adolescents and their families may reduce efficiently initiation and regular use of substances during adolescents' life course.

Many adolescents had a high cumulative number of family members' and peers' substance (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or other illicit drugs) use (familySUcn and peerSUcn)Strong dose­effect links of substance use with familySUcn and peerSUcn (odds ratio up to 13)School and mental difficulties explained up to 69% of the link of substance use with familySUcn and up to 34% of that of substance use with peerSUcnThe proportion of subjects without each substance use decreased with age more quickly among the adolescents with higher familySUcn/peerSUcn than among the othersOur results may help implementing prevention to reduce substance use.

Untreated Allergy Among Middle School Students: Associations with Socioeconomic Adversities and Academic, Behavior, and Health Difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Many adolescents with allergy do not receive physician treatment (allergyuntreated). We explored its association with socioeconomic adversities and academic-behavior-health difficulties, which remain unaddressed. METHODS: This cross-sectional school-based-population study compared the above factors of middle-school adolescents with allergyuntreated and those with treated allergy (allergytreated) (mean age = 13.5 ± 1.2) from north-eastern France. Participants completed a questionnaire collecting socioeconomic adversities (nonintact family, low parents' education, insufficient family income, poor social support, suffered verbal/physical violence, and sexual abuse), low academic performance, excessive screen time, substance use, sleep difficulty, poor physical health, depressive symptoms, suicide attempt, poor quality of life, and allergytreated/allergyuntreated. RESULTS: Logistic regression models showed that allergyuntreated was associated with all the factors considered (sex-age-class-level-adjusted odds ratio (saclOR) reaching 3.94, p < .001) and the risk score (number of main criteria: suffered sexual abuse, excessive screen time, poor quality of life, cannabis use, low parents' education, and poor social support): saclOR 4.75, 9.23, 15.64, and 31.73 (p < .001) for risk scores 1, 2, 3, and ≥4, versus risk score = 0 (pseudo-R2 = 11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic adversities and academic-behavior-health difficulties may be used to detect adolescents with allergyuntreated for care.

Associations between excessive screen time and school and out-of-school injuries among adolescents: A population-based study.

Most adolescents spend excessive screen time (with television viewing, computer/console gaming, discussion forums/chatting online, internet surfing, doing homework, and electronic mails) which may impact the occurring of various types of school and out-of-school injuries. We assessed their associations and potential confounding factors among 1559 middle-school students from north-eastern France (mean age=13.5 ± 1.3). Participants completed a questionnaire including socioeconomic features, daily screen time for various screen-based activities (coded 1=<2, 2 = 2-4, 3=≥5 h; daily-total-screen time level (TDST) was defined as their sum, categorized into <7/7-11/≥12), various injury types during the school-year, behavior and health difficulties (BHDs; alcohol/tobacco/cannabis/other illicit drugs use, suffered physical/verbal violence, sexual abuse, poor family-peer support, sleep difficulty, depressive symptoms, suicide attempt, and time at onset). Most subjects had TDST≥7 (82.3 %). There were dose-effect associations of TDST with school-physical/sports training, school-free-time, out-of-school-sports, and single/repeated injuries (sex-age-adjusted odds ratio reaching 4.45). BHDs explained up to 39 % of these associations. The frequency of subjects without various BHDs decreased with age since age 10 more quickly among the participants with both TDST≥7 and injury than among the others. Our findings may inform health care providers, parents, schools, and public policy that reducing elevated screen time is efficient to prevent injuries and BHDs among adolescents.

Reducing musculoskeletal disorders in iron ore mine operators: A fuzzy-based intervention approach.

BACKGROUND: This study focuses on evaluating the exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) and association of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) with various risk factors among dumper operators in the mining industry. Despite the issue's significance, prior research has been limited. OBJECTIVE: The study introduces a novel fuzzy-based approach for identifying, selecting, and prioritizing safety measures to mitigate MSD risks. METHODS: Data collection comprised face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scoring for posture assessment, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire for assessment of MSD prevalence. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyse the contributing risk factors to MSDs and WBV exposure. These risk factors formed the basis for a practical approach to select appropriate safety measures based on fuzzy based aggregation method of expert's judgment aimed at mitigating the risk of MSDs. RESULTS: The results revealed that the risk factors such as poor work posture, WBV exposure and poor seat design were significantly associated with neck (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 4.81), upper limb and shoulder (aOR = 3.28), upper back (aOR = 5.09), and lower back pain (aOR = 3.67) at p < 0.05. Using these factors to formulate safety measures to reduce MSD risk, the minimization of sharp turns and abrupt changes in elevation in designing the haul roads, scheduled maintenance practices, and ergonomic seat design were found as important safety measures in this study. CONCLUSION: Our unique methodological approach in occupational health research could be highly beneficial for tailoring safety measures at the unit level with minimal effort.

Associations of Postural Activities and Knowledge for Voice with Breathing Issues and Voice-Physical-Disorders Among Lyric Singers.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this research was to study the associations of postural activities and knowledge of the voice of opera singers, recognized in the literature for the specificity of their posture. Additionally, the link between vocal pathologies and body pains on one hand, and posture control on the other hand was investigated. METHODS: A questionnaire including 90 questions was distributed to singers in France and overseas during 6 months. Ninety-eight opera singers participated in the survey. Data were analyzed using Excel and Stata software. RESULTS: The results showed that the singers who paid more attention to posture, postural work while singing, had knowledge of anatomy and postural role in singing voice, healthy lifestyle, and good body habits, had less vocal discomfort and pathologies, a better vocal preservation, and used more costo-abdominal breathing. On the other hand, knowledge of postural role and postural work was linked with pain and vocal fatigue. Furthermore, a preventive need was revealed concerning the providing of knowledge and skills to singers, but also to singing teachers, speech therapists, and stage workers. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that benefits were found in the voice quality of opera singers with anatomical and postural knowledge and who work on posture as part of their vocal work compared to others. Postural work and knowledge increase attention to body pain and vocal fatigue. These results can inform health care providers, opera singers, and their teachers and performers of the benefits of posture on operatic voice quality. Accordingly, this study sparks new ideas for postural work and therapy in lyric voice.

Prevalence of impairments, disabilities, handicaps and quality of life in the general population: a review of recednt literature

Objective: To determine the prevalence rates of morbidity in the general population through bibliographic research. Methods: Articles relating to impairment, disability, handicap, quality of life and their prevalence in the general population, published between January 1990 and March 1998, were selected on the MEDLINE database. Findings: The 20 articles retained out of 433 used 41 different indicators. Indicators of impairment, disability, handicap and low quality of life showed prevalence rates of 0.1-92 cent, 3.6-66 cent, 0.6-56 cent and 1.8-26 cent respectively, depending on age and the accuracy of indicators. The heterogeneity of the conceptual framework and characteristics of the studied populations impede reliable international comparison. Conclusion: Further standardization of indicators is indicators is therefore required. The revision of the Internation Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps may make it possible to resolvesome of the difficulties encountered