Sociodemographic factors and social media use in 9-year-old children:the Generation R Study

Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the associations between sociodemographic factors and instant messaging and social network site exposure among 9-year-old children. Methods Data of 4568 children from the Generation R study, a population-based cohort study performed in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, were analyzed. Instant messaging exposure was defined as using online chat applications such as MSN, chat boxes, WhatsApp, and Ping. Social network site exposure was defined as using Hyves or Facebook. A series of multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for covariates. Results Children of low educated mothers had a higher odds ratio (OR) for instant messaging (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.86) and social network site exposure (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.66) than their counterparts. Being a child from a single-parent family was associated with instant messaging (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.88) and social network site exposure (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.78) more often than their counterparts. Children of low educated fathers (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.95) or from families with financial difficulties (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.59) were associated with a higher OR of social network site exposure than their counterparts. Conclusion The findings suggest that several indicators of lower social position are associated with higher social network site and instant messaging exposure among 9-year-old children. More research is needed in younger children to understand the determinants and impact of social media use

Social Media Use and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adolescents:Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Using social media is a time-consuming activity of children and adolescents. Health authorities have warned that excessive use of social media can negatively affect adolescent social, physical, and psychological health. However, scientific findings regarding associations between time spent on social media and adolescent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are not consistent. Adolescents typically use multiple social media platforms. Whether the use of multiple social media platforms impacts adolescent health is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social media use, including the number of social media platforms used and time spent on social media, and adolescent HRQoL. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 3397 children (mean age 13.5, SD 0.4 years) from the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. Children reported the number of social media platforms used and time spent on social media during weekdays and weekends separately. Children’s HRQoL was self-reported with the EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire–youth version. Data on social media use and HRQoL were collected from 2015 to 2019. Multiple logistic and linear regressions were applied. RESULTS: In this study, 72.6% (2466/3397) of the children used 3 or more social media platforms, and 37.7% (1234/3276) and 58.3% (1911/3277) of the children used social media at least 2 hours per day during weekdays and weekends, respectively. Children using more social media platforms (7 or more platforms) had a higher odds of reporting having some or a lot of problems on “having pain or discomfort” (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.99) and “feeling worried, sad or unhappy” (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.52 to 2.60) dimensions and reported lower self-rated health (β –3.81, 95% CI –5.54 to –2.09) compared with children who used 0 to 2 social media platforms. Both on weekdays and weekends, children spent more time on social media were more likely to report having some or a lot of problems on “doing usual activities,” “having pain or discomfort,” “feeling worried, sad or unhappy,” and report lower self-rated health (all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that using more social media platforms and spending more time on social media were significantly related to lower HRQoL. We recommend future research to study the pathway between social media use and HRQoL among adolescents

Levels of Physical Activity at Age 10 Years and Brain Morphology Changes from Ages 10 to 14 Years

Importance: Physical activity may promote healthy brain development in children, but previous research was predominantly cross-sectional and included small samples, providing limited knowledge. Objective:To investigate the longitudinal associations of physical activity with brain morphology changes. Design, Setting, and Participants: A 4-year longitudinal population-based cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, embedded in Generation R, a cohort from fetal life onward. From the women enrolled during pregnancy, children who had repeated measures of brain structure at ages 10 (range 8 to 12) years and 14 (range 13 to 15) years were included. Data were collected from March 2013 to November 2015 (baseline) and from October 2016 to January 2020 (follow-up). Data were analyzed from April to December 2022. Exposure: At age 10 years, both the child and their primary caregiver reported the child's levels of physical activity with regard to sport participation, outdoor play, and total physical activity. Primary analyses were based on an average multi-informant report. Main outcomes and measures: Brain morphology was quantified by magnetic resonance imaging. Hypothesized regions of interest were the bilateral amygdala and hippocampal volumes. Global brain measures were studied to test the specificity of the hypothesis. Results: Data were available for 1088 children (566 girls [52%]; 693 [64%] Dutch). Their mean (SD) age at baseline was 10.1 (0.6) years. For amygdala volume change, positive associations with multi-informant reports of total physical activity (β = 2.6; 95% CI, 0.3-4.9) were found. Total physical activity was associated with hippocampal volume increases only when reported by the child (β = 3.1; 95% CI, 0.4-5.8). No robust associations with global brain measures were found. Conclusions and relevance: In this cohort study of 1088 children, more physical activity at 10 years was consistently associated with an increase in amygdala volume in children aged 10 to 14 years. Physical activity and increases in hippocampal volume were found using child reports of physical activity only. These findings suggest physical activity in late childhood was prospectively associated with volumetric changes in specific subcortical structures, but not to global brain development, from late childhood to early adolescence. These findings may inform the design of future public health interventions to best facilitate neurodevelopment with physical activity..</p

Functional polymorphisms of the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster are associated with dyslipidemia in a sex-specific pattern

Background Dyslipidemia contributes to the risk of many diseases, including stroke, cardiovascular disease and metabolic-related diseases. Previous studies have indicated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with different levels of serum lipid. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster gene polymorphisms and dyslipidemia in the total sample population and stratified by genders in a northeast Chinese population. Methods A total of 3,850 participants from Jilin Province, China, were enrolled in our study, and their serum lipid levels were measured. Six functional SNPs (APOA1 rs5072, APOC3 rs5128, APOA4 rs5104, APOA5 rs651821, ZPR1 rs2075294 and BUD13 rs10488698) were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and MALDI-TOF-MS. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship of APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster gene polymorphisms with dyslipidemia. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses were performed with the SNPStats program and Haploview software. Results All SNPs conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Logistic regression analysis revealed that rs5072, rs5128 and rs651821 were associated with hypertriglyceridemia, rs5104 and rs651821 were associated with low-HDL cholesterolemia in overall group. rs651821 was associated with hypertriglyceridemia and low-HDL cholesterolemia in both the male and female group. However, among females, rs5072 was observed to be associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Haplotype analysis showed that haplotypes TGCCGC and CAGCGC were associated with dyslipidemia in the overall, male and female groups. Conclusion SNPs in the APOA1/C3/A4/A5-ZPR1-BUD13 gene cluster were associated with dyslipidemia. Furthermore, the association of APOA1 rs5072 in this gene cluster with dyslipidemia differed between genders; thus, additional studies are needed to confirm this conclusion, and the mechanisms underlying these results warrant further exploration

Translation of Traditional Chinese Crafts Culture in the New Media Environment: A Case Study of Subtitle Translation in Li Ziqi's YouTube Short Videos

Nowadays, the subjects of external communication are increasingly diversified, and China's new media forms of external communication are rich and varied. In contrast to the authoritative narrative style and tone of official media, short videos have emerged as an important medium for international communication in the new era. With characteristics such as fragmented content, entertainment value, popularity, and colloquial language, they have achieved significant dissemination effects on global social media platforms like YouTube. Therefore, more and more unofficial self-media figures are attempting to share unique Chinese stories and culture through short videos on YouTube, and Li Ziqi is one of them. Li Ziqi has amassed 17.6 million subscribers on YouTube, with a total of 128 videos published and over 2.9 billion views at the time of data collection (2023.07.02). Her short videos showcase her leisurely daily life in natural landscapes, diverse culinary culture, and traditional Chinese crafts culture, among other aspects of traditional culture. At present, Li Ziqi's "Traditional Crafts" series has become one of the important platforms for the external dissemination of Chinese traditional craft culture. This study takes the translation of the subtitles in four short videos from Li Ziqi's "Traditional Crafts" series on the YouTube platform as the research object. From the perspective of the new media environment, it analyzes the external communication of traditional Chinese craft culture in the new era and provides a summary of reflections

Change in neighborhood socioeconomic status and childhood weight status and body composition from birth to adolescence

Background: We aim to assess the associations between the change in neighborhood socioeconomic score (SES) between birth and 6 years and childhood weight status and body composition from 6 to 13 years.Methods: Data for 3909 children from the Generation R Study, a prospective population-based cohort in the Netherlands were analyzed. The change in neighborhood SES between birth and 6 years was defined as static-high, static-middle, static-low, upward, and downward mobility. Child body mass index (BMI), overweight and obesity (OWOB), fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI) were measured at age 6, 10, and 13 years. The associations were explored using generalized estimating equations. The effect modification by child sex was examined. Results: In total, 19.5% and 18.1% of children were allocated to the upward mobility and downward mobility neighborhood SES group. The associations between the change in neighborhood SES and child weight status and body composition were moderated by child sex (p &lt; 0.05). Compared to girls in the static-high group, girls in the static-low group had relatively higher BMI-SDS (β, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24, 0.09–0.40) and higher risk of OWOB (RR, 95% CI: 1.98, 1.35–2.91), together with higher FMI-SDS (β, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.14–0.41) and LMI-SDS (β, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.03–0.33). The associations in boys were not significant. Conclusions: An increased BMI and fat mass, and higher risk of OWOB from 6 to 13 years were evident in girls living in a low-SES neighborhood or moving downward from a high- to a low-SES neighborhood. Support for children and families from low-SES neighborhoods is warranted.</p

Caries Preventive Interventions and Oral Health Inequalities: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent but preventable diseases among children worldwide and especially affects children with a lower socioeconomic status or ethnic minority background. It is important that all groups of children are reached by preventive interventions to reduce oral health inequalities. So far, it is unknown whether children from different social and ethnic groups benefit equally from potentially effective oral health interventions. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify European public health interventions that report their effect on dental caries across different social groups. Methods: Four databases were searched for studies evaluating the effect of oral health interventions on dental caries among children from 0 to 12 y, and studies were included when results were presented by children of different social groups separately. Results: A total of 14 studies were included, representing 4 different countries: 3 randomized and 11 nonrandomized studies. Most studies were performed at schools. Six studies showed results indicative of a reduction in oral health inequalities, 4 studies showed results that potentially widen oral health inequalities, and 5 studies showed results that were indicative of no impact on oral health inequalities. Interventions that contain early approaches, with a high frequency, approaching multiple levels of influence, and including at least the broader organizational or public policy level, may have the potential to reduce oral health inequalities among children from birth to young adolescence. Conclusion: We recommend researchers to perform high-quality intervention studies and to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health intervention always in different socioeconomic or ethnic groups separately, to better understand their contribution toward oral health (in)equalities. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This review offers insight in the differential effects that oral health interventions might have across different social groups. Its results can be used to develop interventions that might reduce oral health inequalities among children. Also, we recommend future researchers to always evaluate the effects of any preventive oral health measure in different social groups separately

Association between Two Resistin Gene Polymorphisms and Metabolic Syndrome in Jilin, Northeast China: A Case-Control Study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant health care problem worldwide and is characterized by increased fasting glucose and obesity. Resistin is a protein hormone produced both by adipocytes and immunocompetent cells, including those residing in adipose tissue, and is believed to modulate glucose tolerance and insulin action. This study examined the association of resistin gene polymorphisms, rs1862513 and rs3745368, and related haplotypes with the development of metabolic syndrome in a Han Chinese population. This case-control study was performed on 3792 subjects, including 1771 MetS cases and 2021 healthy controls from the Jilin province of China. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between gene polymorphism and MetS. Our results showed that there were no significant associations between MetS and the genotype distributions in four kinds of inheritance models, allele frequencies, and related haplotypes of resistin gene polymorphisms rs1862513 and rs3745368 (all p values > 0.05). Based on our study findings, we concluded that mutations in resistin genes are not associated with the presence of MetS in a Han Chinese population from Jilin province in China

Factors Associated With Early Elementary Child Health-Related Quality of Life: The Generation R Study

Aim: To identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among early elementary age children (5–6 years) from a general population sample. Methods: We analyzed data of 4,202 children from the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. Children's physical and psychosocial HRQOL were measured using the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 28 (CHQ-PF28). Associations between socio-demographic characteristics (child age, sex, ethnic background, family situation, parental educational level, parental employment status, and net household income), health-related lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and screen time), health conditions (number of chronic conditions, emotional and behavioral problems, and family functioning) and children's physical and psychosocial HRQOL were assessed using multivariate regression analyses. Results: Mean child age was 6.0 years (SD: 0.43); 63.6% had a majority (Dutch) ethnic background. Children with a non-western ethnic background, and children of unemployed mothers had a lower physical HRQOL (all p < 0.05). Older children, boys, and children from single-parent or low educated families had a lower psychosocial HRQOL (all p < 0.05). Children from a low income household family, children having chronic conditions or emotional and behavioral problems, or from families with relatively high “pathological family functioning” reported both lower physical and psychosocial HRQOL (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Indicators of adverse socioeconomic and family circumstances and indicators of child health problems were associated with lower HRQOL. Public health initiatives to improve HRQOL of children should prioritize children from a low socioeconomic status or with less favorable health conditions from early age onwards

Associations between health indicators and sleep duration of American adults:NHANES 2011-16

Background: This study aimed to investigate associations between health indicators and sleep duration in the general population. Methods: This cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-reported sleep duration was classified into short sleep (&lt;7 h/day), regular sleep (7-8 h/day) and long sleep duration (&gt;8 h/day). Health indicators included lifestyle indicators (smoking, alcohol use and physical inactivity), general health indicators (waist circumference and self-reported health condition) and chronic conditions [overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, chronic low back pain (CLBP) and oral health problems]. A series of multinomial logistic regression analysis were performed, controlling for confounders (age, sex, marital status, ethnic background, education level and poverty-to-income ratio). Results: Data of 12 835 participants were analyzed. The mean (SD) age of participants was 50.0 (±17.4) years, and 50.6% were women. After adjusting for all health indicators, current smoking (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.17-1.61), a poor (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.23-1.88) health condition, CLBP (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.16-1.69) and oral health problems (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.10-1.49) were associated with short sleep duration. No independent association with long sleep duration was observed in this study. Conclusions: The results confirm that lifestyle indicators (current smoking and physical inactivity), general health indicators (self-reported health condition) and presence of some chronic conditions (CLBP and oral health problems) are associated with short sleep duration. The results did not confirm that any health indicator was associated with long sleep duration.</p