Engagement with nature and proinflammatory biology.

BACKGROUND: Prior evidence indicates that contact with nature improves physical health, but data explicitly linking engagement with nature to biological processes are limited. DESIGN: Leveraging survey and biomarker data from 1,244 adults (mean age = 54.50 years, range = 34-84 years) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study, we examined associations between nature engagement, operationalized as the frequency of pleasant nature encounters, and systemic inflammation. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were measured from fasting blood samples. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic, health behavior, and psychological well-being covariates. RESULTS: More frequent positive nature contact was independently associated with lower circulating levels of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to a growing literature on the salubrious health effects of nature by demonstrating how such experiences are instantiated in downstream physiological systems, potentially informing future interventions and public health policies.

Trajectories of affective well-being and survival in middle-aged and older adults.

Affective experiences are key components of subjective well-being with important implications for health. However, little is known about heterogeneous longitudinal affect trajectories and their links to survival. This study identified joint trajectory subgroups based on 18-year changes in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) and examined their differential associations with mortality risk. Participants were 3,250 adults (aged 39-93 years) from the Midlife in the U.S. study assessed over three waves (1995-2013). Parallel growth mixture modeling revealed three subgroups: (a) improving (increasing PA, decreasing NA), (b) deteriorating (decreasing PA, increasing NA), and (c) flourishing (high, stable PA, low, stable NA). Adjusting for baseline demographic and health covariates, Cox proportional-hazard results showed the improving group had the lowest mortality risk (HR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.35, 1.32]) and the deteriorating group had the highest mortality risk (HR = 1.86, 95% CI [1.34, 3.55]), relative to flourishing. These findings highlight the importance of modeling multidimensional trajectories of affective well-being and their heterogeneous links to survival. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations Between Generativity and Social Asymmetry Among Older Adults in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Loneliness and social isolation are major public health concerns among older adults in Japan. Generativity, the concern for and commitment to future generations, may buffer older adults from loneliness. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between generativity and social asymmetry (the discrepancy between social isolation and loneliness) among older adults in Japan. METHODS: Data were from 2 waves (2008 and 2012) of the Midlife in Japan survey, a nationally representative longitudinal study of 645 adults aged 30-79 residing in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Generativity was measured using the 6-item Loyola Generativity Scale. Social asymmetry was computed as the residual score from regressing loneliness onto social isolation. RESULTS: Higher generativity levels were associated with lower social asymmetry scores (B=-0.21, SE=0.04), but generativity change across waves did not predict social asymmetry 4 years later (B=-0.04, SE=0.06). DISCUSSION: Generativity may play a protective role in buffering older adults from the adverse effects of social isolation on loneliness. Promoting generativity among older adults may be a potential intervention strategy to reduce loneliness and improve well-being in aging populations in Japan.

Testing for intersectional measurement invariance with the alignment method: Evaluation of the 8-item patient health questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of the alignment method to evaluate whether surveys function similarly (i.e., have evidence of measurement invariance) across culturally diverse intersectional groups. Intersectionality theory recognizes the interconnected nature of social categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. DATA SOURCES: A total of 30,215 American adult's responses to the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression assessment scale (PHQ-8) from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). STUDY DESIGN: Using the alignment method, we examined the measurement invariance (equivalence) of the PHQ-8 depression assessment scale across 16 intersectional subgroups defined at the intersection of age (under 52, 52 and older), gender (male, female), race (Black, non-Black), and education (no bachelor's degree, bachelor's degree). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Overall, 24% of the factor loadings and 5% of the item intercepts showed evidence of differential functioning across one or more of the intersectional groups. These levels fall beneath the benchmark of 25% suggested for determining measurement invariance with the alignment method. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the alignment study suggest that the PHQ-8 functions similarly across the intersectional groups examined, despite some evidence of different factor loadings and item intercepts in some groups (i.e., noninvariance). By examining measurement invariance through an intersectional lens, researchers can investigate how a person's multiple identities and social positions possibly contribute to their response behavior on an assessment scale.

A quantitative assessment of the frequency and magnitude of heterogeneous treatment effects in studies of the health effects of social policies.

Substantial heterogeneity in effects of social policies on health across subgroups may be common, but has not been systematically characterized. Using a sample of 55 contemporary studies on health effects of social policies, we recorded how often heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) were assessed, for what subgroups (e.g., male, female), and the subgroup-specific effect estimates expressed as Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs). For each study, outcome, and dimension (e.g., gender), we fit a random-effects meta-analysis. We characterized the magnitude of heterogeneity in policy effects using the standard deviation of the subgroup-specific effect estimates (τ). Among the 44% of studies reporting subgroup-specific estimates, policy effects were generally small (<0.1 SMDs) with mixed impacts on health (67% beneficial) and disparities (50% implied narrowing of disparities). Across study-outcome-dimensions, 54% indicated any heterogeneity in effects, and 20% had τ > 0.1 SMDs. For 26% of study-outcome-dimensions, the magnitude of τ indicated that effects of opposite signs were plausible across subgroups. Heterogeneity was more common in policy effects not specified a priori. Our findings suggest social policies commonly have heterogeneous effects on health of different populations; these HTEs may substantially impact disparities. Studies of social policies and health should routinely evaluate HTEs.

Evaluating interpersonal discrimination and depressive symptoms as partial mediators of the effects of education on cognition: Evidence from the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR).

INTRODUCTION: Education is correlated with positive health outcomes, but associations are sometimes weaker among African Americans. The extent to which exposure to discrimination and depressive symptoms attenuates the education-cognition link has not been investigated. METHODS: Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR) participants (n = 764; average age 69 years) completed the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales. We assessed everyday and major lifetime discrimination and depressive symptoms as mediators of education effects on cognition using G-estimation with measurement error corrections. RESULTS: Education was correlated with greater major lifetime and everyday discrimination but lower depressive symptoms. Accounting for discrimination and depressive symptoms slightly reduced the estimated effect of education on cognition. The estimated total effect of graduate education (vs 

A Cautionary Note about Having the Right Mixture Model but Classifying the Wrong People.

Mixture models can be used for explanation or individual prediction and classification. In practice, researchers are often tempted to make the class membership manifest by classifying cases according to their class of maximum posterior probability and using the "observed" class membership directly or as a variable in follow-up analyses to predict distal outcomes. This study revisits the issue of correct class assignment in latent profile analysis by providing an example where the number of classes is known (3-classes), sampling variability is eliminated, and precise estimates of classification indices are provided. This pseudo-population study design assumes the data-generating mechanism is known and provides a "best-case" scenario for evaluating correct class assignment. We use a variety of classification indices and graphical displays to show that correct classification may be poor despite relatively high entropy and overall correct class assignment metrics (e.g., percent correct). Our study serves as a reminder of the risks associated with trying to make latent class memberships manifest.

Five challenges for hope and resilience research.

Twenty years after Snyder's seminar article on hope theory, research on hope has moved in many directions and has spanned multiple spheres of personal life and social life, including psychological adjustment, physical health, lifespan development, and interpersonal relationships. Given its importance for well-being, it is somewhat surprising that a close look at the literature reveals that the question of whether hope is a source of resilience is far from resolved, and key questions remain unanswered. Here, we outline five challenges for future hope and resilience research, including conceptualization, measurement, research design, modeling methods, and multidirectional and multidimensional perspectives on adaptation. Although each of these challenges has received some attention, additional work is needed to build a more cumulative science, thereby contributing important insights into what it means to be well in the face of adversity.

Heterogeneous treatment effects in social policy studies: An assessment of contemporary articles in the health and social sciences.

PURPOSE: Social policies are important determinants of population health but may have varying effects on subgroups of people. Evaluating heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) of social policies is critical to determine how social policies will affect health inequities. Methods for evaluating HTEs are not standardized. Little is known about how often and by what methods HTEs are assessed in social policy and health research. METHODS: A sample of 55 articles from 2019 on the health effects of social policies were evaluated for frequency of reporting HTEs; for what subgroupings HTEs were reported; frequency of a priori specification of intent to assess HTEs; and methods used for assessing HTEs. RESULTS: A total of 24 (44%) studies described some form of HTE assessment, including by age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, and/or geography. Among studies assessing HTEs, 63% specified HTE assessment a priori, and most (71%) used descriptive methods such as stratification; 21% used statistical tests (e.g., interaction terms in a regression); and no studies used data-driven algorithms. CONCLUSIONS: Although understanding HTEs could enhance policy and practice-based efforts to reduce inequities, it is not routine research practice. Increased evaluation of HTEs across relevant subgroups is needed.

Factorial invariance of the Usage Rating Profile for Supporting Students' Behavioral Needs (URP-NEEDS).

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported online in School Psychology on Dec 30 2019 (see record 2019-80953-001). In the fourth paragraph of the "Understanding the Factors That Influence Usage" section and in the "Usage Rating Profile for Supporting Students' Behavioral Needs (URP-NEEDS)" section, the URP-NEEDS was incorrectly reported to have 23 items. This measure consists of 24 items. This item was also missing in the Appendix under the "Understanding" factor: "School personnel understand how goals for social, emotional, and behavioral screening fit with a system of student supports." All versions of this article have been corrected.] Previous research has suggested that multiple factors beyond acceptability alone (e.g., feasibility, external supports) may interact to determine whether consumers will use an intervention or assessment in practice. The Usage Rating Profile for Supporting Students' Behavioral Needs (URP-NEEDS) was developed in order to provide a simultaneous assessment of those factors influencing use of a particular approach to identifying and supporting the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. As the measure was intended for use with a range of school-based stakeholders, a first necessary step involved establishing the measurement invariance of the instrument. Participants in the current study included 1,112 district administrators, 431 building administrators, and 1,355 teachers who were asked to identify the approach used within their school district to identify and support the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students, and then to complete the URP-NEEDS in reference to this identified approach. Results supported the measurement invariance of the URP-NEEDS across stakeholder groups. In addition, measurement invariance was found across self-identified approaches to social, emotional, and behavioral risk identification within the district administrator and teacher groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).