Identification and characterization of screen use trajectories from late childhood to adolescence in a US-population based cohort study.

Screen use is a known risk factor for adverse physical and mental health outcomes during childhood and adolescence. Moreover, racial/ethnic disparity in screen use persists among adolescents. However, limited studies have characterized the population sharing similar longitudinal patterns of screen use from childhood to adolescence. This study will identify and characterize the subgroups of adolescents sharing similar trajectories of screen use from childhood to adolescence. Study participants of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (2016-2021) in the U.S with non-missing responses on self-reported screen use at each year of the study were included in the analysis. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify the optimal number of subgroups of adolescents with similar trajectories. Subsequently, socio-demographic characteristics, familial background, and perceived racism and discrimination during childhood was assessed for each subgroup population. Perceived discrimination was measured using the Perceived Discrimination Scale. There were two major subgroups of individuals sharing similar trajectories of screen use: Drastically Increasing group (N = 1333); Gradually Increasing group (N = 10336). Higher proportions of the Drastically Increasing group were racial/ethnic minorities (70%) as compared to the Gradually Increasing group (45%). Moreover, the Drastically Increasing group had higher proportions of individuals reporting perceived racism and discrimination during childhood.

Higher blood pressure and weight observed among early adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in the lifestyle behaviors of adolescents; however, there is a paucity of data on objective changes in health indicators of adolescents such as blood pressure, hypertension, and weight. The aim of this study is to quantify differences in blood pressure and weight before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among a demographically diverse national sample of early adolescents. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 2018 to 2020, corresponding to the second follow-up year (Year 2) of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Among 4,065 early adolescents (mean age 12.00, 49.4% female, 55.5% white), 3.4% vs 6.4% of adolescents had hypertension pre-pandemic vs during the pandemic (p < 0.001). The pandemic was associated with a 4.65 percentile (95% CI 2.65, 6.66) higher diastolic blood pressure, and a 1.68 kg (95% CI 0.51, 2.85) higher weight when adjusting for covariates. The pandemic was associated with a 1.97 higher odds of hypertension (95% CI 1.33, 2.92) compared to pre-pandemic when adjusting for covariates. Future studies should explore mechanisms and longitudinal trends in blood pressure among adolescents as they return to pre-pandemic lifestyle behaviors.

Bedtime screen use behaviors and sleep outcomes: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine associations between bedtime screen time behaviors and sleep outcomes in a national study of early adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 10,280 early adolescents aged 10-14 (48.8% female) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Year 2, 2018-2020). Regression analyses examined the association between self-reported bedtime screen use and self- and caregiver-reported sleep measures, including sleep disturbance symptoms, controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, household income, parent education, depression, data collection period (pre- vs. during COVID-19 pandemic), and study site. RESULTS: Overall, 16% of adolescents had at least some trouble falling or staying asleep in the past 2 weeks and 28% had overall sleep disturbance, based on caregiver reports. Adolescents who had a television or an Internet-connected electronic device in the bedroom had a greater risk of having trouble falling or staying asleep (adjusted risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44) and overall sleep disturbance (adjusted risk ratio 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.25). Adolescents who left their phone ringer activated overnight had more trouble falling/staying asleep and greater overall sleep disturbance compared to those who turned off their cell phones at bedtime. Streaming movies, playing video games, listening to music, talking/texting on the phone, and using social media or chat rooms were all associated with trouble falling/staying asleep and sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Several bedtime screen use behaviors are associated with sleep disturbances in early adolescents. The study's findings can inform guidance for specific bedtime screen behaviors among early adolescents.

Sexual Orientation Disparities in Early Adolescent Sleep: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual minority status (e.g., gay or bisexual) and sleep problems in a demographically diverse, national sample of U.S. early adolescents. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Year 2, 2018-2020) to estimate associations between sexual orientation and sleep problems or disturbance, adjusting for confounders and testing potential mediators (depressive problems, stress problems, family conflict, and parental monitoring). Results: In a sample of 8563 adolescents 10- to 14-years-old, 4.4% identified as sexual minority individuals. Sexual minority status was associated with self-reported trouble falling or staying asleep (risk ratio [RR] = 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-2.68) and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.75). The association between sexual minority status and trouble falling or staying asleep was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, more family conflict, and less parental monitoring, whereas the association between sexual minority status and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, higher stress, and greater family conflict. Conclusions: Our results indicate that sexual minority status may be linked to sleep disturbance in early adolescence. Depressive problems, stress, family conflict, and less parental monitoring partially mediate disparities in sleep health for sexual minority youth. Future research could test interventions to promote family and caregiver acceptance and mental health support for sexual minority youth to improve their sleep and other health outcomes.

Associations between sexual orientation and early adolescent screen use: findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the association between sexual orientation and screen use (screen time and problematic screen use) in a demographically diverse national sample of early adolescents in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from year 2 of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 10,339, 2018-2020, ages 10-14 years). Multiple linear regression analyses estimated the association between sexual orientation and recreational screen time, as well as problematic use of video games, social media, and mobile phones. RESULTS: In a sample of 10,339 adolescents (48.7% female, 46.0% racial/ethnic minority), sexual minority (compared to heterosexual) identification was associated with 3.72 (95% CI 2.96-4.47) more hours of daily recreational screen time, specifically more time on television, YouTube videos, video games, texting, social media, video chat, and browsing the internet. Possible sexual minority identification (responding "maybe" to the sexual minority question) was associated with 1.58 (95% CI 0.92-2.24) more hours of screen time compared to heterosexual identification. Sexual minority and possible sexual minority identification were associated with higher problematic social media, video games, and mobile phone use. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual minority adolescents spend a disproportionate amount of time engaging in screen-based activities, which can lead to problematic screen use.

Cyberbullying and Sleep Disturbance Among Early Adolescents in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between cyberbullying (victimization and perpetration) and sleep disturbance among a demographically diverse sample of 10-14-year-old early adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (Year 2, 2018-2020) of early adolescents (10-14 years) in the US. Modified Poisson regression analyses examined the association between cyberbullying and self-reported and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance measures. RESULTS: In a sample of 9,443 adolescents (mean age 12.0 years, 47.9% female, 47.8% white), 5.1% reported cyberbullying victimization, and 0.5% reported cyberbullying perpetration in the past 12 months. Cyberbullying victimization in the past 12 months was associated with adolescent-reported trouble falling/staying asleep (risk ratio [RR] 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57, 2.21) and caregiver-reported overall sleep disturbance of the adolescent (RR: 1.16 95% CI 1.00, 1.33), in models adjusting for sociodemographic factors and screen time. Cyberbullying perpetration in the past 12 months was associated with trouble falling/staying asleep (RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.21, 3.15) and caregiver-reported overall sleep disturbance of the adolescent (RR: 1.49, 95% CI 1.00, 2.22). CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying victimization and perpetration are associated with sleep disturbance in early adolescence. Digital media education and counseling for adolescents, parents, teachers, and clinicians could focus on guidance to prevent cyberbullying and support healthy sleep behavior for early adolescents.

Fetal and neonatal outcomes of diabetic pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether the incidences of adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes in infants of mothers with preexisting types 1 and 2 diabetes 1) differ from infants of nondiabetic mothers in Nova Scotia (NS); and 2) have changed between 1988 and 2002. METHODS: Population-based cohort study using the NS Atlee Perinatal Database, a well-validated source of standardized clinical information. RESULTS: A total of 516 infants of diabetic mothers and 150,589 infants of nondiabetic mothers from singleton pregnancies were studied. Infants of diabetic mothers had significantly higher rates of perinatal mortality (17.4/1,000 compared with 5.9/1,000, relative risk [RR] 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-5.84), major congenital anomaly (9.1% compared with 3.1%, RR 2.97, 95% CI 2.25-3.90), and large for gestational age birth (LGA, more than 90th percentile weight for gestational age) (45.2% compared with 12.6%, RR 3.59, 95% CI 3.26-3.95) than infants of nondiabetic mothers. In infants of diabetic mothers, there was no improvement in perinatal mortality (23.4/1,000 in 1988-1995 compared with 11.5/1000 in 1996-2002, P = .340), incidence of LGA (48.0% in 1988-1995 compared with 42.3% in 1996-2002, P = .237), or rate of major congenital anomaly (8.2% in 1988-1995 compared with 10.0% in 1996-2002, P = .560). Diabetes remained an independent risk factor for LGA infants and major congenital anomaly after adjusting for possible confounders. CONCLUSION: Rates of adverse neonatal outcomes are 3-9 times greater in infants of diabetic mothers compared with those of nondiabetic mothers. There were no significant improvements in rates of perinatal mortality, congenital anomaly, or LGA birth in infants of diabetic mothers in 1996-2002 compared with 1988-95.