Which physical and social environmental factors are most important for adolescents' cycling for transport? An experimental study using manipulated photographs.

BACKGROUND: Ecological models emphasize that cycling for transport is determined by an interplay between individual, physical and social environmental factors. The current study investigated (a) which physical and social environmental factors determine adolescents' preferences towards cycling for transport and (b) which individual, physical and social environmental factors are associated with their intention to actually cycle for transport. METHODS: An online questionnaire consisting of questions on individual and social environmental variables, and 15 choice-based conjoint tasks with manipulated photographs was completed by 882 adolescents (55.3% male; 13.9 ± 1.6 years). Within the choice tasks, participants were asked to indicate which of two situations they would prefer to cycle to a friend's house. The manipulated photographs were all modified versions of one semi-urban street which differed in the following physical micro-environmental attributes (separation of cycle path, evenness of cycle path, speed limit, speed bump, traffic density, amount of vegetation and maintenance). In addition, each photograph was accompanied by two sentences which described varying cycling distances and co-participation in cycling (i.e. cycling alone or with a friend). After each choice task participants were also asked if they would actually cycle in that situation in real life (i.e. intention). Hierarchical Bayes analyses were performed to calculate relative importances and part-worth utilities of environmental attributes. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate which individual, physical and social environmental factors were associated with adolescents' intention to actually cycle for transport. RESULTS: Adolescents' preference to cycle for transport was predominantly determined by separation of cycle path, followed by shorter cycling distance and co-participation in cycling. Higher preferences were observed for a separation between the cycle path and motorized traffic by means of a hedge versus a curb, versus a marked line. Similar findings were observed for intention to cycle. Furthermore, evenness of the cycle path and general maintenance of the street were also of considerable importance among adolescents, but to a lesser extent. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this experimental study justify investment by local governments in well-separated cycling infrastructure, which seemed to be more important than cycling distance and the social environment.

Vaginal micro-environment disorder promotes malignant prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a prospective community cohort study in Shanxi Province, China.

PURPOSE: Emerging evidence suggests that vaginal micro-environment disorder is closely related to the development of cervical lesions. Low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1), as an early stage of cervical lesions, exhibits a high risk of progressing to high-grade lesions or even cervical cancer. However, the effect of vaginal micro-environment on the malignant prognosis of CIN1 remains uncertain. METHODS: A total of 504 patients diagnosed with CIN1 by pathology, who were from the population-based cohorts established in Shanxi Province, China, were enrolled and followed up for 2 years. Micro-environmental factors such as vaginal pH, cleanliness, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ß-glucuronidase (GUSB), leucocyte esterase (LE), and sialidase (SNA) were detected to evaluate their effect on the malignant prognosis of CIN1. RESULTS: Abnormal vaginal pH (HR = 1.472, 95%CI 1.071-2.022), cleanliness (HR = 1.446, 95%CI 1.067-1.960), H2O2 (HR = 1.525, 95%CI 1.155-2.013), GUSB (HR = 1.739, 95%CI 1.235-2.448), LE (HR = 1.434, 95%CI 1.038-1.981), and SNA (HR = 1.411, 95%CI 1.065-1.870) could promote a higher incidence of CIN1 malignant prognosis, and the combined effects of these micro-environmental factors resulted in a nearly twofold increased risk (HR = 2.492, 95%CI 1.773-3.504) compared to any single factor alone, especially under the high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Notably, the cumulative incidence of malignant prognosis for CIN1 gradually increased during the early follow-up period, reaching its peak at approximately 8 months, and then stabilizing. CONCLUSION: Vaginal micro-environment disorder could promote CIN1 malignant prognosis, particularly in HR-HPV-infected women. Taking micro-environmental factors as the breakthrough, our study provides a feasible vision for preventing early stage cervical lesions.

Micro-level Factors Associated with Youth Drug Use Among an Urban at-Risk Youth Sample.

BACKGROUND: Youth drug use has reached global epidemic proportions with unequal distribution among communities with low income, immigrants, or ethnic status. PURPOSE: This study seeks to understand the association between micro-level factors and youth drug use behavior among 2693 low-income, ethnic, and immigrant youths in Pomona, CA, USA. The study uneath's unique evidence and intervention elements necessary to resolve youth drug use in Pomona. METHODS: We used social cognitive theory as a conceptual framework, and performed correlation and multiple linear regression analysis in a cross-sectional design. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results reveal that attitudes, perceptions, and behavior related to friends, participants, family, and adults in the participant's life and ease of access to drugs are associated with youth drug use. Variables related to friends and participants show a relatively stronger association with youth drug use in comparison to variables related to parents and adults in participants' lives. Equally, drug and non-drug antisocial behavior of friends and participants show a stronger association with youth drug use relative to prosocial behavior. Also, when a diverse set of predictor variables are combined together, their association to the outcome variable is stronger than that of a single variable. RECOMMENDATIONS: Future interventions in Pomona should prioritize strategies which target participants and friends over activities targeting parents and adults. Interventions targeting antisocial behavior should be prioritized over prosocial behavior. Program implementers should also develop unique evidence and tools which will help parents influence the drug use behavior of youths in Pomona and similar communities.

[The prevalence of psychosomatic complaints among 8-17-year-old Hungarian children]. / Pszichoszomatikus tünetek elofordulási gyakorisága 8­17 éves magyar gyermekek körében.

INTRODUCTION: Subjective health complaints are common among children as well. Age, gender, health status, etc. can modify the prevalence, intensity, frequency and the dimensions of the psychosomatic complaints. AIM: The main purposes were to analyse the frequency pattern of psychosomatic complaints in children as well as to study the influence of physical status and lifestyle factors on psychosomatic status. METHOD: The subjects of the present analysis represented a random sample of the Hungarian National Growth Study (n = 13 331; 8-17-year-old). The three clusters of the health complaints were somatic, psychological and sleeping disorders. The psychosomatic status of 8-17-year-old children was analysed by dividing them into subgroups of experiencing the subjective health complaints often (weekly or more often), on an average level or rarely. Frequency distributions were examined for each subjective health complaint. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied to reveal the relationship between the frequency pattern of psychosomatic complaints and the hypothesized predictive factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of the psychosomatic complaints increased by age, and girls reported more symptoms than boys. Subjective health status, nutritional status, body image, academic achievement, stature, body mass and socioeconomic status influenced the frequency pattern of psychosomatic complaints in girls, while physical activity, self-esteem, socioeconomic status and subjective health status in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, socioeconomic status and psychosocial status can affect the frequency pattern of the psychosomatic complaints. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(12): 464-472.