Descriptive Norms and Prototypes Predict COVID-19 Prevention Cognitions and Behaviors in the United States: Applying the Prototype Willingness Model to Pandemic Mitigation

Background Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, prevention behavior adoption occurred in a rapidly changing context. In contrast to expectancy-value theories, the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) is well-suited for investigating novel and socially informed behaviors. Purpose We explored whether PWM social cognitions predicted coronavirus prevention behaviors. Method A representative sample of United States adults (N = 738; Mage = 46.8; 51.8% women; 78% white; April 2020) who had not had COVID-19 reported PWM predictor variables (perceived vulnerability, prevention descriptive norms, prototypes engaging in prevention behavior, and prevention behavioral intentions). Two weeks later, participants reported their prevention behaviors (handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, etc.) and future public health behavioral willingness (contact tracing, temperature checks, etc.). Results Controlling for putative demographic, past behavior, and coronavirus-contextual (e.g., local infection rates) covariates, mediation models indicated that higher norms and favorable prototypes were associated with greater prevention behavioral intentions, which in turn predicted increased prevention behavior, F(18, 705) = 92.20, p \u3c .001, R2 = .70. Higher norms and favorable prototypes associated both directly and indirectly (through greater prevention behavioral intention) with greater willingness to engage in emerging public health behaviors, F(15, 715) = 21.49, p \u3c .001, R2 = .31. Conclusions Greater descriptive norms and favorable prototypes for prevention behavior predicted: (a) future prevention behaviors through increases in behavioral intentions and (b) willingness to participate in emerging public health behaviors. These results held across demographic groups, political affiliation, and severity of regional outbreaks. Public health efforts to curb pandemics should highlight normative prevention participation and enhance positive prototypes

Stress, coping, resilience, and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic: A representative survey study of US adults

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency resulting in widespread death and substantial disruption to daily life. Previous research has shown that novel disease outbreaks are associated with high stress levels and sleep impairments that lead to neuropsychiatric consequences. Therefore, it is vital to study both stress and protective factors such as coping and resilience that may hinder or help sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, as gender disparities exist in sleep quality, it is important to understand the relationship between pandemic-related stress, coping strategies, resilience, and sleep in bothgenders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Our study examined how gender, stress, coping, and resilience were associated with sleep cross-sectionally during the COVID-19 pandemic in a representative sample of US adults (N = 393). Results: Consistent with many recent studies, we found that worsened sleep quality in women compared to men persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, pandemic-related stress was not significantly associated with sleep quality, but pandemic-related coping was associated with sleep independent of robust controls and trait resilience. Conclusions: Greater primary control engagement coping was associated with better sleep quality, while involuntary engagement coping was associated with poor sleep quality. Future research should extend the findings with actigraphy and explore ways to enhance beneficial coping and sleep health during pandemics

The interplay between cognitive and affective risks in predicting COVID-19 precautions: a longitudinal representative study of Americans

Objective Cognitive risk figures prominently in models predicting health behaviors, but affective risk is also important. We examined the interplay between cognitive risk (personal likelihood of COVID-19 infection or death) and affective risk (worry about COVID-19) in predicting COVID-19 precautionary behaviors. We also examined how outbreak severity bias (overestimation of the severity of COVID-19 in one’s community) predicted these outcomes. Design In a representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 738; Mage = 46.8; 52% women; 78% white), participants who had not had COVID-19 took two online surveys two weeks apart in April 2020. Main outcome measures We assessed cognitive risk, affective risk, and outbreak severity bias at baseline and at follow-up two precaution variables: prevention behaviors (e.g. social distancing) and behavioral willingness (e.g. vaccinations). Results Overall, affective risk better predicted precautions than cognitive risk. Moreover, overestimating the severity of the outbreak predicted more affective risk (but not cognitive risk) and in turn more precautions. Additional analyses showed that when affective risk was lower (as opposed to higher) greater cognitive risk and outbreak severity bias both predicted more precautions. Conclusion These findings illustrate the importance of affective risk and outbreak severity bias in understanding COVID-19 precautionary behavior

The Next Frontier for Men\u27s Contraceptive Choice: College Men\u27s Willingness to Pursue Male Hormonal Contraception

Unplanned pregnancy is a concern for emerging adult men, but their contraceptive options are limited. With male hormonal contraception clinical trials in progress, it is important to investigate men’s attitudes toward alternative contraception. Many social factors, such as masculine norms, may hinder their interest. This study used the prototype–willingness model to investigate college men’s willingness to pursue hormonal contraception. Male college students (N = 160; Mage = 19.37, SD = 1.33; 61.9% White) read a description of male contraception clinical trials and filled out a questionnaire assessing prototype–willingness and masculinity constructs. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that men perceiving greater male contraceptive use and more favorable prototypes of a typical user had higher odds of having high willingness compared with no willingness (norms: odds ratio [OR] = 29.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] [5.79, 153.18]; prototypes: OR = 3.93, 95% CI [1.96, 7.87]). Men rating higher avoidance of femininity had lower odds of having high willingness compared with no willingness (OR = .60, 95% CI [.40, .92]). Perceived risk of unplanned pregnancy failed to associate with willingness to use contraception, suggesting the importance of men’s social cognitions (norms and favorable images) and identity (masculinity) when promoting male hormonal contraception. Men’s avoidance of femininity may hinder their willingness, but promotion of male norms and favorable male users may enhance clinical trial recruitment and eventual public health campaigns to expand men’s contraceptive options. Future studies should examine diverse college and noncollege samples to determine the generalizability of these results to the broader emerging adult male population

The Next Frontier for Men\u27s Contraceptive Choice: College Men\u27s Willingness to Pursue Male Hormonal Contraception

Unplanned pregnancy is a concern for emerging adult men, but their contraceptive options are limited. With male hormonal contraception clinical trials in progress, it is important to investigate men’s attitudes toward alternative contraception. Many social factors, such as masculine norms, may hinder their interest. This study used the prototype–willingness model to investigate college men’s willingness to pursue hormonal contraception. Male college students (N = 160; Mage = 19.37, SD = 1.33; 61.9% White) read a description of male contraception clinical trials and filled out a questionnaire assessing prototype–willingness and masculinity constructs. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that men perceiving greater male contraceptive use and more favorable prototypes of a typical user had higher odds of having high willingness compared with no willingness (norms: odds ratio [OR] = 29.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] [5.79, 153.18]; prototypes: OR = 3.93, 95% CI [1.96, 7.87]). Men rating higher avoidance of femininity had lower odds of having high willingness compared with no willingness (OR = .60, 95% CI [.40, .92]). Perceived risk of unplanned pregnancy failed to associate with willingness to use contraception, suggesting the importance of men’s social cognitions (norms and favorable images) and identity (masculinity) when promoting male hormonal contraception. Men’s avoidance of femininity may hinder their willingness, but promotion of male norms and favorable male users may enhance clinical trial recruitment and eventual public health campaigns to expand men’s contraceptive options. Future studies should examine diverse college and noncollege samples to determine the generalizability of these results to the broader emerging adult male population

The Double Burden of Racial Discrimination in Daily-Life Moments: Increases in Negative Emotions and Depletion of Psychosocial Resources Among Emerging Adult African Americans

Objective: Racial discrimination is a common experience for African Americans, but no research has examined how discrimination reported in daily-life moments influences concurrent negative emotions and psychosocial resources. Method: Emerging adult African Americans (N = 54) reported hourly on momentary racial discrimination, negative emotions, and psychosocial resources across two days. Results: Controlling for past discrimination and trait emotion, momentary racial discrimination was associated with greater negative emotions and lower psychosocial resources (ps \u3c .05). The relationship between momentary racial discrimination and negative emotions was stronger among individuals residing in areas with fewer African Americans (simple slope p \u3c .0001). The relationship between momentary racial discrimination and psychosocial resources was stronger among individuals reporting greater past discrimination (simple slope p \u3c .0001). Vicarious discrimination (exposure to discrimination experienced by another person) was associated with higher negative emotions, p \u3c .01, but not with psychosocial resources. Conclusion: These results are the first to demonstrate that personal and vicarious racial discrimination are associated with negative emotions and lower coping resources in daily-life moments and that contextual factors modify these associations. Results refine our understanding of the immediate sequelae of discrimination in daily life and point to possible targets for ecological momentary interventions

SLEEP, PRAY, AND STATUS: RELIGIOSITY AS A MODERATOR IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE SOCIAL STATUS AND SLEEP IN AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract 2101 SLEEP, PRAY, AND STATUS: RELIGIOSITY AS A MODERATOR IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE SOCIAL STATUS AND SLEEP IN AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS Elissa Kim, HS, Elizabeth A. Brown, HS, Alison Kwan, HS, Amara Craig, HS, Nataria T. Joseph, PhD, Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, Laurel M. Peterson, PhD, Psychology, Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr, PA Background: With growing importance being placed on biopsychosocial health, researchers have raised awareness about the role that subjective social status (SSS) plays in sleep. This is particularly important when examining African Americans given that they are at higher risk for experiencing poor sleep quality. However, religiosity has shown to impart lasting health benefits and behaviors that may be protective for sleep health. For example, the theory of religious coping proposes that religious behaviors can lead to adaptive stress responses that protect biopsychosocial health from the stressors of perceived low social status. Interactions between SSS and religiosity in predicting sleep quality are understudied. Objective: We aimed to examine whether SSS is associated with sleep quality and whether religiosity measured at global and momentary levels moderates this association in African American young adults. Methods: A sample of 129 healthy African American young adults completed 2 or 4 days of hourly ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys and a baseline survey. SSS was measured using the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status, sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and religious behaviors were measured using recommended items from the Fetzer Institute (2003). A subsample of participants also wore an ActiGraph watch to assess objective sleep quality. Results: Lower SSS with respect to ones’ community (but not with respect to the United States population) was associated with worse sleep quality, b = -.28, p = .032, η2 = .04. Further, there was a significant interaction between SSS (with respect to the US population) and religiosity, p = .049, η2 = .06. Specifically, among those exhibiting higher SSS with respect to the US population, religious behaviors were protective, i.e., associated with better sleep quality. Results regarding momentary level religious behaviors and objective sleep will be presented. Conclusions: Results extend previous literature and suggest refinements to the theory of religious coping given that religiosity was shown to have a stronger positive effect on sleep quality among African Americans who reported having a higher perceived social status. Future research should continue to explore these factors at the momentary level to illuminate mechanisms by which these interactions unfold. LINK TO ABSTRACT: https://apps.psychosomatic.org/abstracts/previewAbstract.cfm?absid=82986&print=true&hideprint=true[10/3/2

The Relationship Between Cumulative Unfair Treatment and Intima Media Thickness and Adventitial Diameter: The Moderating Role of Race in The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Objective: Unfair treatment may have a detrimental effect on cardiovascular health. However, little research on chronic health outcomes employs cumulative measures of unfair treatment. We tested whether cumulative unfair treatment was associated with greater subclinical cardiovascular disease in a diverse sample of African American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Hispanic women. We also examined whether this relationship varied by race. Method: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal study of midlife women. Cumulative unfair treatment was calculated as the average of unfair treatment assessed over 10 years at 6 time points. Subclinical cardiovascular disease, specifically carotid intima media thickness and adventitial diameter, was assessed via carotid ultrasound conducted at study year 12 in 1056 women. We tested whether cumulative unfair treatment was related to subclinical cardiovascular disease via linear regression, controlling for demographic factors including socioeconomic status and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The relation between unfair treatment and subclinical cardiovascular disease significantly varied by race (ps \u3c .05), with unfair treatment related to higher intima media thickness (B = .03, SE = .01, p = .009) and adventitial diameter (B = .02, SE = .009, p = .013) among Caucasian women only. No significant relations between unfair treatment and subclinical cardiovascular disease outcomes were observed for African American, Hispanic, and Chinese women. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that cumulative unfair treatment is related to worse subclinical cardiovascular disease among Caucasian women. These findings add to the growing literature showing that Caucasian women’s experience of unfair treatment may have detrimental health implications

The Relationship Between Cumulative Unfair Treatment and Intima Media Thickness and Adventitial Diameter: The Moderating Role of Race in The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Objective: Unfair treatment may have a detrimental effect on cardiovascular health. However, little research on chronic health outcomes employs cumulative measures of unfair treatment. We tested whether cumulative unfair treatment was associated with greater subclinical cardiovascular disease in a diverse sample of African American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Hispanic women. We also examined whether this relationship varied by race. Method: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal study of midlife women. Cumulative unfair treatment was calculated as the average of unfair treatment assessed over 10 years at 6 time points. Subclinical cardiovascular disease, specifically carotid intima media thickness and adventitial diameter, was assessed via carotid ultrasound conducted at study year 12 in 1056 women. We tested whether cumulative unfair treatment was related to subclinical cardiovascular disease via linear regression, controlling for demographic factors including socioeconomic status and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The relation between unfair treatment and subclinical cardiovascular disease significantly varied by race (ps \u3c .05), with unfair treatment related to higher intima media thickness (B = .03, SE = .01, p = .009) and adventitial diameter (B = .02, SE = .009, p = .013) among Caucasian women only. No significant relations between unfair treatment and subclinical cardiovascular disease outcomes were observed for African American, Hispanic, and Chinese women. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that cumulative unfair treatment is related to worse subclinical cardiovascular disease among Caucasian women. These findings add to the growing literature showing that Caucasian women’s experience of unfair treatment may have detrimental health implications

Maternal Prenatal Cortisol Programs the Infant Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis

One of the key proposed agents of fetal programming is exposure to maternal glucocorticoids. Experimental animal studies provide evidence that prenatal exposure to elevated maternal glucocorticoids has consequences for hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in the offspring. There are very few direct tests of maternal glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, during human pregnancy and associations with infant cortisol reactivity. The current study examined the link between maternal prenatal cortisol trajectories and infant cortisol reactivity to the pain of inoculation in a sample of 152 mother-infant (47.4% girls) pairs. The results from the current study provide insight into fetal programming of the infant HPA axis, demonstrating that elevated prenatal maternal cortisol is associated with a larger infant cortisol response to challenge at both 6 and 12 months of age