Adverse Childhood Experiences and Electronic Cigarette Use among U.S. Young Adults.

(1) Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are potentially traumatic childhood events, have been associated with increased tobacco product use. Less is known about electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use during young adulthood. This study explored the associations between ACEs and current e-cigarette use among U.S. young adults. (2) Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data including 2537 young adults aged 18-24 years. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted. (3) Results: Of the participants, 19.2% currently used e-cigarettes, and 22.1% reported 1 ACE, 13.0% reported 2 ACEs, 10.7% reported 3 ACEs, and 30.6% reported ≥4 ACEs. Unadjusted results indicated that participants who experienced 1 ACE (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-3.07), 2 ACEs (OR = 2.18, 95%CI = 1.24-3.83), 3 ACEs (OR = 2.63, 95%CI = 1.41-4.90), and ≥4 ACEs (OR = 3.69, 95%CI = 2.23-6.09) were at increased odds of reporting current e-cigarette use than participants who experienced 0 ACEs. Adjusted results indicated that participants who experienced 3 ACEs were at 2.20 times higher odds (95%CI = 1.15-4.23) and participants who experienced ≥4 ACEs were at 2.73 times higher odds (95%CI = 1.58-4.71) of reporting current e-cigarette use than participants who experienced 0 ACEs. (4) Conclusions: Young adults exposed to ACEs are at risk of using e-cigarettes.

Scoping review: multiple stakeholders and child asthma management interventions.

OBJECTIVE: This study reviewed research to identify interventions aimed at improving asthma management among children by educating parents and other professionals. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were utilized. STUDY SELECTIONS: Three databases were searched for child asthma management interventions published between 2012-2022 in English. Search terms included children, asthma, intervention(s), community pediatrics, coaches, schools, and stakeholders. Inclusion criteria were being an experimental study focused on children with asthma (birth-18 years), including stakeholder involvement, education, and a community focus. The search yielded 153 articles; nine were reviewed. RESULTS: In general, stakeholders developed programs that resulted in improvements in asthma symptoms, knowledge of asthma management, perceptions of health care, and decreased emergency health care visits. Successful interventions involved education about asthma management, providing medications, and partnerships with school staff, healthcare teams, and community members. Effective coordination and communication contributed to successful program implementation. Using technology for asthma management education was effective in tracking access to care and facilitated the delivery of medications. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that interventions were effective in improving child asthma management. Stakeholder partnerships were critical to the effectiveness of interventions. Marketing the intervention and encouraging communication with parents also fostered success. Being able to assess the home environment and staying in contact with parents were barriers to these interventions. Conducting randomized controlled trials using the interventions found effective in these studies to assess change in symptoms and emergency care visits over time would yield important information about their long-term success and cost for implementation.

Associations of household tobacco smoking status with childhood temperament among U.S. preschool-aged children.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between household tobacco smoking status and temperament among U.S. 3-5-year-olds. METHODS: A secondary analysis of 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health data (N = 11,100) was conducted. Temperament dimensions of effortful control (characterized by attention focusing), negative affectivity (characterized by anger and soothability), and surgency (characterized by activity level and shyness) were assessed. Weighted ordinal regression models were conducted while adjusting for child and family covariates. RESULTS: Approximately 13 % of children lived with smokers. Compared to children who did not live with smokers, children living with smokers displayed behaviors of poorer effortful control and were more likely to be easily distracted (AOR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.24-2.04) and less likely to keep working on tasks until finished (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.44-0.71). Children living with smokers displayed behaviors of greater negative affectivity and were at increased odds of being angry or anxious when transitioning between activities (AOR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.13-1.98) and losing their temper when things did not go their way (AOR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.20-1.96), and were at decreased odds of calming down quickly when excited (AOR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.42-0.70). Children living with smokers displayed behaviors of poorer surgency and were less likely to play well with others (AOR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.45-0.76) and sit still compared to same-aged children (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.44-0.71). LIMITATIONS: The NSCH uses a cross-sectional survey design; longitudinal associations and objective measures could not be assessed. However, the NSCH is nationally representative and results are generalizable to U.S. 3-5-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest household tobacco smoking influences temperament in early childhood. Results signify the need to promote household tobacco cessation.

Effects of Anonymity versus Examinee Name on a Measure of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents.

There is evidence in the literature that anonymity when investigating individual variables could increase the objectivity of the measurement of some psychosocial constructs. However, there is a significant gap in the literature on the theoretical and methodological usefulness of simultaneously assessing the same measurement instrument across two groups, with one group remaining anonymous and a second group revealing identities using names. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the psychometric characteristics of a measure of depressive symptoms in two groups of adolescents as a consequence of identification or anonymity at the time of answering the measuring instrument. The participants were 189 adolescents from Metropolitan Lima; classrooms were randomly assigned to the identified group (n = 89; application requesting to write one's own name) or to the anonymous group (n = 100; application under usual conditions), who responded to the Childhood Depression Inventory, short version (CDI-S). Univariate characteristics (mean, dispersion, distribution), dimensionality, reliability, and measurement invariance were analyzed. Specific results in each of the statistical and psychometric aspects evaluated indicated strong psychometric similarity. The practical and ethical implications of the present results for professional and research activity are discussed.

A University and Community-Based Partnership: After-School Mentoring Activities to Support Positive Mental Health for Children Who Are Refugees.

The objective of this study was to examine mentors' perceptions of a pilot service-learning program designed to provide activities to promote the self-esteem and positive development of elementary school-age children who were refugees. Activities were designed to promote self-esteem, self-confidence, social skills development, and problem-solving. College students completed reflection journals to record their perceptions of mentoring and what the children were learning and experiencing. The results indicated that mentors believed the children were learning ideas to improve their self-esteem and social development. Mentors' impressions were corroborated by reports about the program from staff who worked with the children daily. Involving parents in programming, may have extended the reach of program efforts. Some children may have benefited from evaluations to determine if counseling would benefit them, given the trauma history they and their family members were potentially facing. This was a pilot program implementation study, and a limitation is that data from youth and parents about mental health outcomes were lacking. In the future, assessing perceptions of children, involving their caregivers in programming, and then assessing their caregivers' perceptions of the impact of the program on children's self-esteem and social and emotional functioning will provide critical information about program success and information for program development.

A New Story on the Multidimensionality of the MSPSS: Validity of the Internal Structure through Bifactor ESEM.

The internal structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in adolescents has been evaluated with some factorial analysis methodologies but not with bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and possibly the inconsistency in the internal structure was dependent on these approaches. The objective of the study was to update evidence regarding its internal structure of MSPSS, by means of a detailed examination of its multidimensionality The participants were 460 adolescents from an educational institution in the Callao region, Lima, Peru. The structure was modeled using unidimensional, three-factor and bifactor models with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and ESEM approaches. The models showed good levels of fit, with the exception of the unidimensional model; however, the multidimensionality indicators supported the superiority of the bifactor ESEM. In contrast, the general factor was not strong enough, and the interfactorial correlations were substantially lower. It is concluded that the MSPSS can be interpreted by independent but moderately correlated factors, and there is possible systematic variance that potentially prevented the identification of a general factor.

Needs assessment: knowledge of self-management of asthma for children with co-morbid physical and intellectual disabilities: brief report.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this study was to conduct a needs assessment to ascertain professionals' and parents' knowledge of and perceptions about education for self-management of asthma for children with physical and intellectual disabilities (IDs). Another goal was to understand needs for education of children with IDs about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus) and other infectious diseases. METHODS: Surveys, presented in the RedCap system, were administered online. Respondents (n = 498) were recruited through sites and listservs for children with disabilities and individuals with asthma. Respondents answered eight questions about knowledge and education for self-management of asthma for children with physical disabilities and IDs. Respondents answered four questions pertaining to management of coronavirus for children with IDs. RESULTS: Respondents' indicated that it would be easier to educate youth with mild or moderate versus severe levels of disabilities. Children with IDs may not receive the education they need to manage their asthma. When comparing those in different occupations, teachers reported lower knowledge for educating children with IDs about asthma management and coronavirus. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors and nurses can develop programs for children with physical disabilities and IDs. Programming for youth with severe impairments is needed and perhaps developmentally appropriate programming for youth with IDs will improve education of youth and, concomitantly improve their self-management of asthma and potentially quality of life. Educating teachers is critical specifically about asthma triggers, how to involve youth in self-care, and how to educate children with IDs about coronavirus.Abbreviations:U.S.: United States;IDs: intellectual disabilities.

Predictors of family resilience, emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns and emergency room visits for children with asthma.

INTRODUCTION: The current study fills a gap in the literature by examining relations among physical health and resilience factors, family functioning, emergency visits, and mental health problems for youth with asthma. The study purpose was to assess associations among four predictors-asthma severity, body mass index (BMI), having an adult mentor, and ability to make and keep friends-and 3 three outcomes-family resilience, emotional, behavioral and developmental concerns, and emergency room (ER) visits among youth with asthma. METHOD: The sample included 2,589 youth with asthma between 10 and 17 years old from the 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health. Multivariable logistic regressions examined associations between asthma severity, BMI, having an adult mentor, ability to make and keep friends and two outcomes: family resilience, and emotional behavioral and developmental concerns. A multinomial logistic regression examined the relationship between predictor variables and number of ER visits. RESULTS: Findings indicated having a mentor, being able to make/keep friends, and being underweight, average, or overweight compared to being obese were related to having family resilience. Making/keeping friends was a protective factor for emotional behavioral and developmental concerns. Having a mentor was related to higher levels of emotional behavioral and developmental concerns than not having a mentor. Youth who had mentors and friendship skills were less likely to have ER visits than youth with no mentors and difficulty with friendships. Youth with mild asthma severity and who were not obese had lower levels of ER visits than those with moderate/severe asthma or obesity. DISCUSSION: Child level protective factors were related to higher levels of family resilience and fewer ER visits for children with asthma. Further research to identify risk and protective factors is needed to develop interventions for youth with asthma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Temperament among U.S. Children 0-5 Years Old.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and temperament among children 0-5 years old overall and within age groups: 0-2 and 3-5 years. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2017-2018 NSCH (N = 14,345). TSE status was defined as whether children lived with a smoker who: does not smoke inside the home (no home TSE) or smokes inside the home (home TSE). We conducted logistic regression analyses while controlling for covariates. RESULTS: Overall, 12.5% of children lived with a smoker with no home TSE and 1.1% had home TSE. Children with home TSE were at increased odds to not always: be affectionate and tender (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.18-2.58), show interest and curiosity (aOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.23-2.68), and smile and laugh (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.13-2.77) than those with no TSE. Among 0- to 2-year-olds, those with home TSE were more likely to not always be affectionate and tender (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.04-3.74). Among 3- to 5-year-olds, those who lived with a smoker with no home TSE were more likely to not always: bounce back quickly (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.05-1.40) and smile and laugh (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03-1.54), and those with home TSE were more likely to not always: show interest and curiosity (aOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.40-3.59) and smile and laugh (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.43-4.11). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoke-exposed children were at increased odds of not always demonstrating positive early childhood temperament behaviors, with 3- to 5-year-olds having more pronounced odds.

Family resilience and health among adolescents with asthma only, anxiety only, and comorbid asthma and anxiety.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to examine the relationships between current asthma and anxiety and family resilience and overall health status in US adolescents. METHODS: Data were from parents of adolescents (12-17 years) who completed the 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Examined variables included: current asthma and anxiety diagnoses, family resilience, child health status, number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), family poverty, parent education, and child demographic factors. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: Findings indicated that compared to adolescents with high resilience scores, adolescents with anxiety only and comorbid asthma and anxiety were more likely to have moderate or low family resilience scores than adolescents with no asthma or anxiety. Compared with adolescents with an excellent/very good health status, youth with asthma only, anxiety only, and asthma and anxiety had higher odds of having good or fair/poor health status than adolescents with no asthma or anxiety. Among those with current diagnoses, adolescents with asthma only were less likely to have moderate and low resilience scores than adolescents with asthma and anxiety. Adolescents with asthma only and anxiety only were also at reduced odds to have good or fair/poor health status than those with comorbid diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that anxiety is linked to family resilience of adolescents with and without comorbid asthma. Experiencing a higher number of ACEs was a risk factor for lower family resilience scores and health status. Future research should consider the impact of other mental health problems and family resilience and health status.

Predictors of Quality of Life among Parents of Children with Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Quality of life (QOL) is a key aspect of the health care process for children with chronic diseases and their families. Although clinical evidence regarding the impact of chronic disease on children exists, few studies have evaluated the effects of the interaction between sociodemographic and psychosocial factors on the family caregiver's QOL, indicating a significant gap in the research literature. The present study aimed to identify the predictors of the QOL of parents of children with chronic diseases. Three parental sociodemographic predictors (age, schooling, and family income) and four psychosocial predictors (family functioning, social support, depression, and resilience) were examined. In this cross-sectional study, 416 parents of children with chronic diseases who were hospitalized at a National Institute of Health in Mexico City were interviewed. The participants completed a sociodemographic variables questionnaire (Q-SV) designed for research on family caregivers of children with chronic disease. The predicted variable was assessed through the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire. The four psychosocial predictors were assessed through the Family Functioning Scale, Social Support Networks Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Measurement Scale of Resilience. The regression model explained 42% of the variance in parents' QOL. The predictors with positive weights included age, schooling, monthly family income, family functioning, social support networks, and parental resilience. The predictors with negative weights included depression. These findings suggest that strong social relationships, a positive family environment, family cohesion, personal resilience, low levels of depression, and a family income twice the minimum wage are variables associated with better parental QOL.

Validity and Reliability of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for Family Caregivers of Children with Cancer.

Currently, information about the psychometric properties of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in family caregivers of children with cancer is not available; thus, there is no empirical evidence of its validity and reliability to support its use in this population in Mexico or in other countries. This study examined the psychometric properties of the BAI in family caregivers of children with cancer and pursued four objectives: to determine the factor structure of the BAI, estimate its internal consistency reliability, describe the distribution of BAI scores and the level of anxiety in the sample and test its concurrent validity in relation to depression and resilience. This cross-sectional study was carried out with convenience sampling. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the BAI, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Measurement Scale of Resilience were administered to an incidental sample of 445 family caregivers of children with cancer hospitalized at the National Institute of Health in Mexico City. Confirmatory factor analysis using the maximum likelihood method was performed to determine the factor structure and exploratory factor analysis using axis factorization with oblique rotation was conducted. The two-, three- and four-factor models originally proposed for the BAI did not hold. The exploratory factor analysis showed a model of two correlated factors (physiological and emotional symptoms). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a lack of discriminant validity between these two factors and supported a single-factor model. The internal consistency of the scale reduced to 11 items (BAI-11) was good (alpha = 0.89). The distribution of BAI-11 scores was skewed to the left. High levels of symptoms of anxiety were present in 49.4% of caregivers. The scale was positively correlated with depression and negatively correlated with resilience. These findings suggest that a reduced single-factor version of the BAI is valid for Mexican family caregivers of children with cancer.

Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 Months in a National Sample of US Children.

PURPOSE: To explore predictors of breastfeeding behavior and seek to replicate prior findings using a recent nationally representative United States (US) sample, which has not been done previously. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis using the National Survey of Children's Health 2011 to 2012. SETTING: Households in the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands. PARTICIPANTS: Caregivers with a child between 6 months and 6 years of age (n = 26 552). MEASURES: Caregiver-reported child breastfeeding behavior, child birth weight, child/maternal/family demographics, maternal physical and mental health, and household tobacco exposure. ANALYSIS: A multinomial logistic regression explored whether child, maternal, and family characteristics predicted exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months or breastfeeding for a suboptimal duration. RESULTS: Approximately 79% and 17% of the sample-initiated breastfeeding and exclusively breastfed for 6 months, respectively. Child ethnicity/race, maternal education, household tobacco exposure, family composition, and family income predicted odds of both exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and breastfeeding for a suboptimal duration or not exclusively. Normal or high child birth weight and better maternal physical health predicted greater odds of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. CONCLUSION: Rates of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months remain low in the United States. Single-parent and step-families, lower income families, non-Hispanic black children, children with exposure to tobacco, and children of mothers with lower education are at greatest risk.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Health-Care Utilization Among Children in the United States.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess patterns of health-care utilization among children who potentially had tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) compared to those who were not exposed. DESIGN: A secondary data analysis of the 2011 to 2012 National Survey on Children's Health was performed. SETTING: Households nationwide were selected. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 95 677 children aged 0 to 17 years. MEASURES: Sociodemographic characteristics, TSE status, and health-care visits were measured. ANALYSIS: Multivariable logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: A total of 24.1% of children lived with smokers. Approximately 5% had home TSE. Participants who lived with a smoker were significantly more likely to have had a medical care visit (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-1.22) and were more likely to seek sick care or health advice at an emergency department (OR = 1.23, CI = 1.23-1.24) but were less likely to have had a dental care visit (OR = 0.82, CI = 0.82-0.83) than those who did not live with a smoker. Similar findings were found among participants who had home TSE. CONCLUSION: TSE is a risk factor for increased use of pediatric medical care. Based on the high number of children who potentially had TSE and received sick care or health advice at an emergency emergency department, this setting may be a venue to deliver health messages to caregivers.

College Students' Perceptions of Worry and Parent Beliefs: Associations with Behaviors to Prevent Sun Exposure.

More research is needed to understand how attitudes impact behaviors that afford sun protection. The current study examined the impact of students' perceptions of parental beliefs about sun exposure and its influence on their practiced sun protection behaviors and worry about sun exposure. Participants were college students (N = 462) at a large Midwestern university. They completed a survey to examine their perceptions of risks and messages about sun exposure and sun exposure behaviors. Results indicated that gender and students' perceptions of parental beliefs about sun exposure were related to sun protection behaviors and their own worry over sun exposure. Specifically, males showed lower levels of sun protection behaviors, with the exception of wearing a hat with a brim, and lower levels of worry about sun exposure compared to females. Roughly a third of our sample had a family history of skin cancer, and this variable was related to worry about sun exposure and parental beliefs. Prevention messages and interventions to reduce sun risk for college students should address risks of sun exposure as well as educating young adults about the importance of wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and hats to improve sun protection.

Introduction to the Special Issue: Interventions to Improve Children's Social and Emotional Functioning at School.

Identification of evidence-based practices for promotion of social and emotional functioning of children at school is important for their academic and social development. This introduction reviews information from this special issue focusing on evidence-based research to improve the social and emotional functioning of children in their classrooms and schools. An emphasis on reduction of negative behaviors and promotion of positive, prosocial behaviors is presented in manuscripts for this special issue. The articles in this issue may be grouped in terms of the tiered system or School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Framework into articles at the Tier I, II, and III levels. Tier I interventions support positive behaviors and reduce problem behaviors for all children in a classroom or school, as a type of primary prevention. In terms of secondary prevention, Tier II interventions are selected interventions that address problem behaviors of students at risk for poor functioning, who do not respond to Tier I interventions. Finally, Tier III interventions are used for those students with behavioral and emotional issues who do not respond to Tier II interventions, and students in this group are indicated for intervention at a tertiary care level. In summary, this special issue presents evidence-based knowledge from research at all three intervention levels that aim to promote children's social and emotional development in the school setting.

Predictors of flourishing for adolescents with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine well-being or flourishing of adolescents with asthma as well as factors influencing flourishing for these adolescents. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data collected for the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health was conducted. Flourishing of adolescents with and without asthma was compared. Parent coping and anger, child sex and age and child flourishing were examined for adolescents with asthma. RESULTS: Youth with asthma had lower flourishing than those without this disease. Positive parent coping was related to flourishing, while parent anger negatively influenced flourishing of adolescents with asthma. Interaction terms were significant, indicating that the aforementioned variables interacted with adolescent age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Study results point to a complex relationship between parent- and adolescent-level factors and adolescent well-being. Further research is needed to examine relations among flourishing and health outcomes in youth with asthma.

School Experiences Associated With Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Youth.

BACKGROUND: The primary purpose of this study was to determine if recent alcohol use and binge drinking was associated with school experiences among Hispanic youth. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The NSDUH was administered to Hispanic youth (N = 3457) in the privacy of their own homes. The school experience score was dichotomized into negative and positive school experiences. RESULTS: A total of 13.8% of Hispanic youth reported recent alcohol use, and 8.0% reported that they had engaged in binge drinking. Hispanic youth who reported having negative school experiences were at increased odds for reporting recent alcohol use and binge drinking compared to counterparts with positive school experiences. Specifically, Hispanic students who were at highest risk for reporting recent alcohol use and binge drinking were in the age group 14 to 15 years, and the age group 16 to 17 years who reported having negative school experiences. CONCLUSIONS: These findings on school experiences should be considered when developing and implementing school-based prevention programs targeting Hispanic youth.

An evaluation of a juvenile idiopathic arthritis retreat for families.

BACKGROUND: The current study evaluated the support and education families with a child who has Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) received during a weekend family retreat. METHODS: Thirty-one parents completed surveys at the end of the retreat session. Survey questions examined parent's perceptions of the family retreat experience including what they learned and how beneficial it was to their family. RESULTS: Results indicated that the family retreat was beneficial to both the children with JIA and their siblings. Children with JIA had the opportunity to see that other children have this disease as well. At the family retreat, siblings were provided the chance to see that children with JIA are capable of many accomplishments. In addition, the family retreat provided opportunities to learn from other families and offered families reduced isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The family retreat was successful in delivering education and support to families, which might not otherwise be obtained via a clinical setting. Parents learned how to support their child with JIA, develop their child's pain management skills, and remain positive as a family. Future research should assess if the education and support family retreats provide have long-term improvement to managing and coping with JIA.