Waterpipe tobacco use in college and non-college young adults in the US Running head: Non-college hookah smoking

Background. Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS or “hookah”) is common among adolescents and college students in the United States. However, there has not yet been a large-scale, nationally-representative study independently examining WTS among young adults who are not in college. Objective. This study sought to examine associations between attitudes, normative beliefs, certain socio-demographic factors and current WTS among young adults not in college and compare them to young adults in college. Methods. A total of 3131 US adults ages 18 to 30 completed an online survey about WTS behavior, attitudes, normative beliefs, and relevant socio-demographic factors. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent associations between these variables and current WTS stratified by student status. Results. Ever WTS was reported by 29% of young adults not in college and by 35% of those in college, and current use rates were 3% and 7%, respectively. Multivariable models demonstrated that positive attitudes and perceived peer acceptability of WTS were significantly associated with increased current WTS for both young adults not in college (AOR=2.72; 95% CI, 2.00-3.71 and AOR=2.02; 95% CI, 1.50-2.71, respectively) and young adults in college (AOR=3.37; 95% CI, 2.48-4.58 and AOR=2.05; 95% CI, 1.49-2.83, respectively). The magnitude of these associations was not significantly different when comparing individuals in college and not in college. Conclusions. Among young adults, WTS is common in non-college-based populations as well as in college-based populations. Therefore, prevention programming should extend to all young adults, not only to those in college

Social media use, personality characteristics, and social isolation among young adults in the United States

Although increased social media use (SMU) has been linearly associated with increased real-life social isolation (SI), it is unknown whether these associations differ by personality characteristics. With a nationally-representative sample of 1,768 U.S. young adults aged 19–32, we assessed SI using a 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale, and personality using the 10-item Big Five Inventory. Using ordered logistic regression, we evaluated multivariable associations between SMU, personality characteristics, and SI. Extraversion and agreeableness were associated with lower odds of SI, while neuroticism was associated with higher odds. A significant interaction term demonstrated that the association between SMU and SI differed by conscientiousness. Among those with low conscientiousness, compared with the lowest quartile of SMU, those in the highest quartile had more than three times the odds (AOR=3.20, 95% CI=1.99, 5.15) for increased SI, but there was no significant association among the high conscientiousness group. Interaction terms between SMU and the other four personality characteristics were not significant. Conscientious individuals may approach social media in a way that helps maintain good face-to-face social interactions, reducing perceived SI

It’s not all about autism: The emerging landscape of anti-vaccination sentiment on Facebook

Background: Due in part to declining vaccination rates, in 2018 over 20 states reported at least one case of measles, and over 40,000 cases have been confirmed in Europe. Anti-vaccine posts on social media may be facilitating anti-vaccination behaviour. This study aimed to systematically characterize (1) individuals known to publicly post anti-vaccination content on Facebook, (2) the information they convey, and (3) the spread of this content. Methods: Our data set consisted of 197 individuals who posted anti-vaccination comments in response to a message promoting vaccination. We systematically analysed publicly-available content using quantitative coding, descriptive analysis, social network analysis, and an in-depth qualitative assessment. The final codebook consisted of 26 codes; Cohen’s κ ranged 0.71-1.0 after double-coding. Results: The majority (89%) of individuals identified as female. Among 136 individuals who divulged their location, 36 states and 8 other countries were represented. In a 2-mode network of individuals and topics, modularity analysis revealed 4 distinct sub-groups labelled as “trust,” “alternatives,” “safety,” and “conspiracy.” For example, a comment representative of “conspiracy” is that poliovirus does not exist and that pesticides caused clinical symptoms of polio. An example from the “alternatives” sub-group is that eating yogurt cures human papillomavirus. Deeper qualitative analysis of all 197 individuals’ profiles found that these individuals also tended to post material against other health-related practices such as water fluoridation and circumcision. Conclusions: Social media outlets may facilitate anti-vaccination connections and organization by facilitating the diffusion of centuries old arguments and techniques. Arguments against vaccination are diverse but remain consistent within sub-groups of individuals. It would be valuable for health professionals to leverage social networks to deliver more effective, targeted messages to different constituencies

The Association between Social Media Use and Eating Concerns among US Young Adults

Background. Although the etiology of eating concerns is multi-factorial, exposure to media messages is considered to be a contributor. While traditional media, such as television and magazines, have been examined extensively in relation to risk for eating concerns, the influence of social media has received relatively less attention. Objective. To examine the association between social media use and eating concerns in a large, nationally representative sample of young adults. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Participants/setting. Participants were 1765 young adults ages 19-32, who were randomly selected from a national probability-based online non-volunteer panel. Outcome measures. An eating concerns scale was adapted from two validated measures: the SCOFF Questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP). Social media use was assessed using both volume (time per day) and frequency (visits per week). Statistical analyses. To examine associations between eating concerns and social media use, ordered logistic regression was used, controlling for all covariates. Results. Compared to those in the lowest quartile, participants in the highest quartiles of time per day and visits per week had significantly greater odds of having eating concerns (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.50 - 3.17 and AOR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.72 - 3.78, respectively). There were significant overall linear associations between the social media use variables and eating concerns (P < 0.001). Conclusions. The results from this study indicate a strong and consistent association between social media use and eating concerns in a nationally-representative sample of young adults ages 19 to 32. This association was apparent whether social media use was measured using time per day or visits per week. Further research should assess the temporality of these associations. It would also be useful to examine more closely the influence of specific characteristics of social media use—including content-related and contextual features

Ecological implications of a flower size/number trade-off in tropical forest trees

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Waterpipe (narghile) smoking among medical and non-medical university students in Turkey

Objectives. This investigation was performed in order to determine the prevalence rate of waterpipe smoking in students of Erciyes University and the effects of some socio-demographic factors

The mediating role of self/everyday creativity and depression on the relationship between creative personality traits and problematic social media use among emerging adults

Personality is one of the important contributory factors in the development of problematic technology use. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the direct and indirect associations of creative personality traits with problematic social media use via self/everyday creativity, depression, and loneliness. A total of 460 Turkish emerging adults aged between 18 and 26 years (61% female) were surveyed. Findings indicated that (i) task-orientedness was indirectly associated with problematic social media use via self/everyday creativity, (ii) self-confidence was directly and indirectly associated with problematic social media use via self/everyday creativity and depression, (iii) risk-taking was indirectly associated with problematic social media use via depression, and (iv) self/everyday creativity and depression were directly associated with problematic social media use. The present study is the first to suggest that creative personality traits (i.e., task-orientedness, self-confidence, and risk-taking) and self/everyday creativity are associated with problematic social media use and that these factors should be taken into account when considering the etiology of problematic social media use

“F*ck it! Let’s get to drinking – poison our livers!”: a thematic analysis of alcohol content in contemporary YouTube music videos

Purpose: To describe the portrayal of alcohol content in popular YouTube music videos. Methods: We used inductive thematic analysis to explore the lyrics and visual imagery in 49 UK Top 40 songs and music videos previously found to contain alcohol content, and watched by many British adolescents aged between 11-18 years, and to examine if branded content contravened alcohol industry advertising codes of practice. Results: The analysis generated three themes. First, alcohol content was associated with sexualised imagery or lyrics and the objectification of women. Second, alcohol was associated with image, lifestyle and sociability. Finally, some videos showed alcohol overtly encouraging excessive drinking and drunkenness, including those containing branding, with no negative consequences to the drinker. Conclusion: Our results suggest that YouTube music videos promote positive associations with alcohol use. Further, several alcohol companies adopt marketing strategies in the video medium that are entirely inconsistent with their own or others agreed advertising codes of practice. We conclude that, as a harm reduction measure, policies should change to prevent adolescent exposure to the positive promotion of alcohol and alcohol branding in music videos

The associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health among adolescents:A systematic review

Background: With technological developments and modernised sedentary lifestyles has come an increase in diseases associated with inactivity such as obesity and other non-communicable diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that time spent sedentary may also interact with mental health. This systematic review examined the associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health problems among adolescents. Methods: This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and applied a quality assessment tool for quantitative studies to identity best available evidence. Following stringent search strategy of the databases; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Global Health, Health Source: Nursing and Academic Edition, MEDLINE, PsychARTICLES and PsycINFO, we identified 32 articles eligible for review. Results: All studies reported leisure screen time among adolescents, and two thirds of identified studies examined depressive symptomatology. Other mental health measures were; anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, suicide ideation, loneliness, stress, and psychological distress. Strong consistent evidence was found for the relationship between both depressive symptomatology and psychological distress, and time spent using screens for leisure. Moderate evidence supported the relationship between low self-esteem and screen use. Poorer mental health status was found among adolescents using screen time more than 2-3 h per day, and gender differences exist. Essential information was missing for quality of evidence including heterogeneity in mental health and screen time-based measures, and self-report data collection methods. Conclusions: The findings are of particular significance given the global public health concern of lifestyle-attributed diseases and the possibility for novel approaches to mental health. Future research should examine the psychological impact of reducing time spent using screens for leisure among adolescents, whilst accounting for possible confounding factors such as physical activity and dietary behaviours. It is critical that the reciprocal relationship between lifestyle behaviours and mental health is represented in both the psychiatric and public health forum