Search Results (337)

Background/Objectives: Research regarding the relationship between insomnia symptoms and self-regulated eating behaviors in Hispanic populations is limited, particularly that pertaining to emerging adulthood (18–25 years old) and the potential role of cultural factors. The present study explored the association between insomnia symptoms and self-regulated eating behaviors in a Hispanic emerging adult sample, as well as the role of acculturative stress. Methods: Participants who identified as Hispanic between the ages of 18–25 years old and were English-speaking completed an online survey assessing insomnia symptoms, self-regulated eating behavior, and acculturative stress. Results: In a multiple regression analysis, insomnia symptoms emerged as a significant predictor of self-regulated eating behavior such that Hispanic individuals with increased insomnia symptoms were more likely to report low self-regulated eating behavior. Furthermore, it was found that acculturative stress partially mediated the association between insomnia symptoms and self-regulated eating behavior. Conclusions: Insomnia symptoms are a risk for problematic eating behaviors in Hispanic emerging adults. Identifying other early risk factors, including culturally unique risks like acculturative stress, may be important for the development of tailored early intervention efforts to reduce problematic eating patterns. Full article

We examined the associations between individual differences in intensive longitudinal data-derived affective dynamics (i.e., positive and negative affect variability and inertia and positive affect–negative affect bipolarity) and concurrent stress, drinking levels, and affect-regulation drinking motives across three time points spanning early adulthood. This allowed us to evaluate the stability of the affective dynamics and whether their associations with alcohol outcomes varied across this critical developmental period. Moderate-to-heavy college drinkers (N = 1139, 51% women) reported on their affective states, stress, drinking levels, and drinking motives daily for 30 days using a web-based daily diary in three assessment waves: during college and at two post-college waves, approximately 5 and 10 years after the initial assessment. Findings indicated moderate stability of the affect dynamic indicators, except for inertia. Negative affect variability showed the strongest positive association with mean daily stress. Individuals who demonstrated stronger affect bipolarity had lower drinking levels and higher enhancement motivation. None of the other dynamic indicators were consistently related to the drinking outcomes in the predicted direction after controlling for mean affect levels, and we found little evidence for changes in these effects across time. Our results add to the inconsistent literature regarding the associations between affective dynamics and alcohol-related outcomes. Full article

Objectives: This systematic literature review aimed to identify studies assessing the clinical efficacy and real-world effectiveness of current and emerging treatments for Fabry disease. Methods: Searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases, as well as relevant congress proceedings, were conducted to identify publications reporting on studies in patients of any age, sex, race, or ethnicity who received any approved or experimental treatment for Fabry disease, published before 17 June 2024. Results: Of 1881 publications screened, 234 reported data on renal, cardiac, cerebrovascular, and disease severity outcomes from 225 studies. The majority of reported studies were observational in nature (n = 150; 67%) and involved only adults (n = 172; 74%). Study designs and patient populations were highly heterogeneous, and cross-study conclusions about the effectiveness of different therapies could not be made. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa or agalsidase beta stabilized renal function and cardiac structure in patients with Fabry disease. Early initiation of ERT in childhood or young adulthood was associated with better renal and cardiac outcomes than treatment initiation at a later age. The small number of comparator studies of agalsidase alfa and agalsidase beta suggested similar efficacy. Patients treated with migalastat and pegunigalsidase alfa also maintained stable renal function and cardiac structure. Conclusions: Overall, current treatments slow the progression of renal and cardiac decline in patients with Fabry disease. Large cohort studies with long-term follow-up and baseline stratification based on clinical phenotype are needed to address evidence gaps and provide clinicians with robust data to inform treatment decisions. Full article

The white snook (Centropomus viridis) is an emerging aquaculture species with high market acceptance, exhibiting catadromous and protandric hermaphroditic characteristics in adulthood. This study aimed to preliminarily characterize certain hematological and biochemical parameters, as well as blood cell morphology, for identifying possible variations between sexes maintained under aquaculture recirculating system (RAS) conditions. The white snook broodstock was anesthetized with clove oil, and biometric values, as well as sex classification, were measured. Then, blood samples were collected from 14 females (7132 ± 1610 g) and 20 males (2200 ± 0.963 g) via caudal vessel puncture to analyze selected hematological parameters, blood biochemistry, and cellular morphology. Fulton’s condition factor (K) showed no differences between sexes, indicating a healthy fish status. Females showed significantly higher serum cholesterol, glucose, and triglyceride levels than males. Also, hematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were elevated in females. No sex-related differences were observed in red or white cell counts or in blood cell dimensions. Morphological characterization identified erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and three types of leukocytes: lymphocytes (small and large lymphocytes), neutrophils, and monocytes, with no eosinophils or basophils detected in either sex. These findings provide fundamental reference values for the hematological and biochemical profiles of C. viridis broodstock in captivity and highlight sex-specific differences relevant for reproductive and health monitoring. However, it should be considered that the sample size used to establish reference ranges for the species is small, so it is recommended to implement a monitoring plan for this and other broodstocks of this emerging species. Full article

Background/Objectives: Imposed sleep restriction leads to increased feelings of appetite and hedonic eating behaviors (or food rewards). No study to date has assessed home-based measures of sleep with appetite and food rewards exclusively in Black emerging adults (ages 18–28 years), despite higher risks of short sleep and obesity in this population. We examined associations between 6-month changes in sleep with changes in appetite and food reward in Black emerging adults. Methods: Fifteen Black emerging adults (12 females; age, 21 ± 2.5 years; body mass index, 25.7 ± 4.5 kg/m²; body fat, 25.8 ± 11.9%) completed two identical 7-day measurement bursts at baseline and 6 months. Sleep (duration, efficiency, and architecture) was captured via 7 days of actigraphy and 2 nights of in-home polysomnography. During a laboratory visit, participants completed appetite measures (desire to eat, hunger, fullness, and prospective food consumption) via visual analog scales before and for 3 h following standard breakfast intake. The food reward for the fat and sweet categories of food was measured before lunch with the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire. Results: Fasting fullness scores decreased from baseline to 6 months (−8.9 mm, p < 0.01) despite increases in body weight (2.6 kg, p < 0.01) and waist circumference (2.4 cm, p = 0.03). Increases in actigraph-measured sleep duration were associated with decreases in fasting desire to eat (r = −0.58, p = 0.04). Increases in actigraph-measured sleep efficiency were also associated with decreases in explicit liking for sweet foods (r = −0.60, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that improvements in sleep duration and sleep efficiency may lead to decreased feelings of appetite and food reward in Black emerging adults. Full article

Historical cross-sectional approaches examining cognitive aging consistently reveal a pattern of steady decline on nonverbal problem-solving, speeded tasks, and maintenance on verbal tasks. However, as measures developed and broadened the factor structure to align with Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory, and age ranges were extended from 75 to 90 years, a more nuanced approach to cognitive aging emerged. The present study, using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (WAIS-5), examined the cognitive aging process through a cross-sectional approach. WAIS-5 normative sample data (aligned with the 2022 U.S. census) were obtained from the test publisher. The sample included adult participants aged 20–24 through 85–90 (n = 1660), which were mapped into 11 age groups. Using post-stratification weighting to control for educational attainment, cognitive decline was observed throughout aging; verbal skills were maintained longer than other abilities, while processing speed declined steadily and rapidly from young adulthood to old age. Working memory was vulnerable to the aging process but demonstrated slower patterns of decline than the other vulnerable abilities. Fluid reasoning and visual spatial skills (although aligning with separate CHC broad abilities theoretically) were strikingly similar in their pattern of decline across a person’s lifespan. Results are highly consistent with the large body of cross-sectional research conducted during the previous generation by Salthouse and his colleagues, as well as other teams of researchers. Full article

The presence of hope significantly influences how youth interpret possibilities and commit to future-oriented action. This qualitative study investigates how fifteen Black emerging adults, ages eighteen to twenty-five, living in a major United States urban city on the East Coast, describe their aspirations, goal-setting strategies, and responses to personal and structural challenges. Participants were categorized as connected or disconnected based on their engagement in school, work, or training programs. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis of interviews, the research identified key differences in agency, emotional orientation, and access to guidance between the two groups. Connected participants often described clear, structured goals supported by networks of mentorship and opportunity. Disconnected participants expressed meaningful hope, yet described fewer supports and greater uncertainty in achieving their goals. These findings highlight how consistent exposure to guidance and structured environments strengthens future orientation and internal motivation. These results deepen our understanding of how young people experience hope across diverse contexts and show that mentorship, intentional goal setting, and greater access to opportunity play a vital role in sustaining hopeful thinking during the transition to adulthood. Full article

Emerging adulthood is a critical phase for emotional development and mental health. Psychological well-being has been associated with using emotion regulation strategies as well as high self-esteem and high optimism. The objective of this study was to examine the mediating role of self-esteem and optimism in the relationship between emotion regulation and psychological well-being in the context of the challenges associated with emerging adulthood. The study was conducted with the participation of 771 university students (M = 20.38, SD = 2.01, 73.3% female), who completed questionnaires, including the Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWBS), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-18), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and the Optimism Questionnaire (COP). The results indicate a positive correlation between the adaptive strategies of emotion regulation and the dimensions of psychological well-being, as well as a positive correlation with self-esteem and optimism. A mediation model was tested with an adequate model fit, examining both direct and indirect effects. The model identifies planning, positive reappraisal, and catastrophizing as the most significant emotion regulation strategies, while also emphasizing the importance of some dimensions of well-being, such as self-acceptance, mastery of the environment, and life purpose. Furthermore, the findings illustrate the role of self-esteem and optimism as mediators in these relationships. The study concludes with an analysis of the theoretical and practical implications of the findings in the context of the difficulties associated with emerging adulthood where individuals define their identity, goals and purposes in life and their personality becomes more consistent. Full article

Late-preterm (34^0/7–36^6/7 weeks) and early-term (37^0/7–38^6/7 weeks) newborns were, up until recently, erroneously categorized as low-risk and were conflated with full-term (39^0/7–40^6/7 weeks) deliveries. However, emerging evidence refuted this notion and demonstrated that late-preterm and, to a lesser extent, early-term newborns have a significantly higher risk of experiencing various neonatal morbidities, including respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, pneumonia, jaundice, hypoglycemia, and breastfeeding difficulties, compared to their full-term counterparts—reflecting their relative physiologic and developmental immaturity. Recent evidence also unravels the lingering adverse effects of late-preterm and early-term delivery up until mid-adulthood, with the increased susceptibility of these newborns to neurodevelopmental delays, behavioral and neuropsychiatric problems, and adult chronic diseases. Moreover, apart from increased neonatal and infant mortality rates, these newborns continue to encounter a heightened risk of mortality even up to mid-adulthood. As the full spectrum of the complications these newborns face is gradually being unveiled, this review presents and discusses the current knowledge base, identifies gaps in the literature, and highlights future research implications. Full article

This study uses a nationally representative longitudinal dataset in the US to examine the long-term association of volunteering for environmental, recycling, and conservation groups with a person’s (a) willingness to continue to volunteer later in life and (b) several measures of their mental and physical well-being including perceived social status, optimism, psychological stress, suicidal thoughts and attempts, depressive symptoms and general self-reported physical health. By using Add Health data, we match responses to an environmental volunteerism question in Wave III (2002) with subjective well-being responses in Wave V (2016–2018) to examine the long-term association between these variables. After excluding missing responses, the analysis sample consists of 9800 individuals. After using linear survey regression analyses and several techniques based on propensity scores (stratification, weighting, matching) two key results emerged: first, being involved in environmental groups and organizations early in life showed a significant positive association with more hours spent on volunteering or community service work later in life; and second, people who volunteer in early adulthood are more optimistic, more sociable, have a higher perceived social status, display less stress and depressive symptoms. Full article

This article explores the impact of internalized oppression on young women of colour in Norway, focusing on how it unfolds across individual life trajectories. Drawing on a qualitative methodology, the study is based on narrative in-depth interviews with thirteen participants aged 18 to 35. The findings reveal that internalized oppression, particularly related to physical appearance, emerges early in life and is often reinforced through social interactions such as bullying, exclusion, and racialized commentary. These experiences frequently convey implicit preferences for whiteness, leading to marginalization and insecurity during adolescence. In response, several participants engaged in practices of assimilation, altering their physical appearance in attempts to embody features aligned with dominant white norms. In adulthood, many of these women have developed a critical awareness of internalized oppression and are engaged in processes of decolonizing their self-perceptions through solidarity with other women of colour. Nevertheless, they continue to grapple with lingering internalized biases. This study highlights the need for further research into the life narratives and everyday experiences of racialized individuals to better understand how they navigate, resist, and unlearn internalized oppression—while also considering the gendered dimension of how such oppression works. Full article

Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is common following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The yearly incidence rate in the Western world has been reported to be around 300 per 100,000 habitants, but no publications have examined yearly incidence across a period that includes the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective, epidemiological study was conducted in Iceland involving data from the University Hospital and the healthcare centers for the Capital Region for all individuals who visited the emergency department during 2010–2024 due to TAs, with a diagnosis indicating whiplash injury. The yearly incidence rate was calculated and presented per 100,000 person-years and analyzed by age, sex, months, and weekdays. The overall incidence of whiplash injuries was 267 per 100,000 person-years, greater for females than males (p < 0.001) with a significant effect of age (p < 0.001), the greatest rate being seen in young adulthood. A significant effect of time was seen across the study period (p < 0.001) due to a sharp decline between 2016 and 2020, followed by a continued low yearly incidence rate, with the smallest one seen in 2024 (78 per 100,000). Despite an increase in MVCs worldwide, the incidence of whiplash injuries following MVCs has declined significantly over the past decade. This trend may reflect shifts in injury patterns, healthcare-seeking behavior, or reporting practices. Full article

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme environmental phenomena mandate further actions to protect the most vulnerable groups, especially children. Traditionally, children have been excluded from conversations about disasters; however, this exclusion is reductive and perpetuates false ideas about children’s capacity to engage with safety information and materially manifest sustainable practices in their life. Such a reality is also impractical because early exposure through learning opportunities can yield engagement in sustainable development in adulthood. This research sought to improve understanding about children’s capacity to engage in DRR information. This study reviewed posters created by 7-year-old children at a primary school in the UK. These were produced as part of prior climate change workshops and included an illustration of a flood safety kit with items children would choose to have with them if there was an emergency (e.g., flooding event). Items included were counted and tallied to identify trends. The results demonstrated the capacity of children in this age group to select practically useful items for their safety in flooding emergencies. Based on findings, this study advocates for greater inclusion of children within disaster preparedness activities and the production of more tailored DRR learning opportunities to engage children within their school environment. Full article

Youth exposed to early-life adversity (ELA) are at greater risk for poorer physical and mental health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Although the biological mechanisms underlying these associations remain elusive, DNA methylation (DNAm) has emerged as a potential pathway. DNAm-based measures of epigenetic age have been associated with ELA, indicating accelerated aging. According to the stress sensitization hypothesis, prenatal adversity may further heighten sensitivity to subsequent stressors in childhood and adolescence. This study examined the associations between ELA and six epigenetic aging measures, considering both the timing of adversity and the participant’s sex. Data were drawn from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, with two cumulative indices of ELA derived from prospectively collected data: the Perinatal Adversity and the Child and Adolescent Adversity indices. Higher Perinatal Adversity scores were associated with accelerated DunedinPACE scores. No significant associations were found between ELA and the other epigenetic clocks, nor did we find support for the stress sensitization hypothesis—though a sex-specific trend emerged among girls. The findings suggest that DunedinPACE may be more sensitive to variations in ELA than other clocks. Future research should systematically investigate sex-dimorphic associations between ELA and epigenetic aging, with particular attention to the impact of perinatal adversity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mental disorders that emerge during adolescence frequently extend into adulthood, predicting poor academic and employment outcomes and heavy societal burdens. Novel efforts to improve youth mental health have transitioned from clinical recovery, typically focused on a cure, to a strength-based approach to wellbeing in supporting youth within mental health services. Mental health scholars have appealed for interventions to adopt an ecological system of care approach that integrates the principal caregivers in a young person’s life. Despite preliminary literature indicating the importance of caregivers, little research has focused on the caregiver’s role in supporting personal recovery in youth. Methods: This study sought to understand the role of caregivers in youth recovery by employing a qualitative design to inductively analyze the narratives from nine semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Additionally, deductive analysis explored the core five underpinnings of personal recovery connectedness, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment (CHIME). Results: A thematic analysis of the literature identified five themes: providing unconditional love and positive regard; encouraging connection with peers; co-creating a sense of purpose, meaning, and hope; supporting assertiveness and advocacy; and promoting strength and opportunity for mastery aligning with the CHIME framework. The findings will allow health services to understand caregivers’ roles better, thus providing information to guide recovery-oriented and family-centered care. Full article