Given emerging adulthood is a period of increased independence, it is unclear how much contact emerging adults have with their parents, how this communication occurs, and how frequency of communication differs across sociodemographic characteristics. The main aim of this study was to examine communication patterns and modalities between emerging adults and their parents. Data are from an 8-year longitudinal, population-based study of socio-economically and racially/ethnically diverse adolescents followed into emerging adulthood (n = 1539; mean age = 22.1; 53.1% female). Latent profile analysis results supported a 5-class model, in which classes were characterized by patterns of frequency of communication with parents across different modalities. The most common communication modality included medium levels of engagement (i.e., few times/week), with both parents, and was in-person or via the phone (i.e., calls, text messages, email). Results differed by race/ethnicity. Findings from this exploratory study may be useful for supporting positive communication patterns between emerging adults and their parents and may inform what intervention delivery format (e.g., phone, social media-based, in-person) may be more effective for certain parent/emerging adult subgroups engaging in family-based interventions.

Research addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial well-being and health behavior is accumulating; however, implications for emerging adult populations are underexplored. This ...

To examine the racial, ethnic and cultural differences in postpartum participation of women who participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) during pregnancy by completing a retrospective analysis of observational data on 35,903 women who enrolled in Minnesota WIC during pregnancy, from April 2018 to March 2020. Descriptive analyses were completed using chi-square tests of association to show differences in postpartum WIC participation by maternal demographics and health risk codes of the WIC participants. Binary logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to obtain odds ratios to compare the likelihood of postpartum WIC participation across different races, ethnicities and cultural groups. Asian/Pacific Islander, East African, Hispanic, Hmong, Multigenerational Black, and Other Black pregnant participants were more likely than White participants to return to WIC postpartum (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.87–3.46; AOR 3.35, 95% CI 2.40–4.66; 1.30, 95% CI 1.10–1.54; AOR 6.76, 95% CI 4.39–10.42; AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.11–1.77, AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.26–1.83, respectively). American Indian pregnant participants were less likely than White participants to return to WIC postpartum (AOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54–0.92). These findings can help the Minnesota WIC program, as well as other WIC programs, better understand which cultural groups may need more specific outreach strategies to keep women participating in the program after giving birth. Further research is needed to understand why postpartum women choose to participate, or choose not to participate, in WIC. It is already known that culture, race and ethnicity influence the likelihood of WIC program participation. Research also has shown that WIC participation can have positive impacts on the health of women, infants and children. This research adds depth to previous findings on prenatal WIC participation by describing the differences in postpartum WIC participation by race, ethnicity and cultural group. This research can be used for outreach planning within the WIC program.

Helicopter parenting, a parenting style defined by over-involvement, may lead to poor health outcomes. However, research has primarily focused on children and adolescents from White, high socio-eco...

This paper summarizes the current research on the impact of abstinence-only sex education programs on LGBTQ+ adolescent health in the USA. We also seek to explore the current barriers to implementing comprehensive sex education, as well as discuss the future of LGBTQ+ adolescent health by outlining crucial components of LGBTQ+-inclusive sex education. The US sex education debate is centered on two approaches: abstinence-only and comprehensive. Abstinence-only sex education emphasizes risk reduction through abstaining from sexual behavior and has been found to be ineffective in promoting healthy sexual behavior among adolescents, compared to comprehensive sex education which centers on disseminating inclusive and medically accurate information. Abstinence-only sex education is taught through a heteronormative framework that excludes and devalues the experiences of LGBTQ+ adolescents. LGBTQ+ individuals are at increased risk for negative health outcomes as compared to their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Lack of knowledge regarding safe sexual practices and consent, coupled with the shame and fear-based messaging promoted by abstinence-only sex education, further contributes to the health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ youth. The content and inclusivity of sex education has important implications for the health of LGBTQ+ youth. Abstinence-only sex education further compounds the health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ adolescents by erasing LGBTQ+ representation and leaving out crucial information on diverse, non-heterosexual sex practices. Numerous barriers exist to implementing comprehensive, inclusive sex education including funding, policies, teacher training, and attitudes toward sex and LGBTQ+ individuals. To address these health disparities, we must listen to and amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ youth to promote safe, comprehensive, and LGBTQ+-inclusive content within our sex education system in the USA.

Healthcare professionals may motivate their patients to exercise to lose weight, but it is unknown how weight-focused motivations influence young peoples’ PA trajectories. Purpose To examine if weight-motivated exercise predicts moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from adolescence to adulthood in a population-based sample and if this relationship differs by age and body mass index (BMI). Methods Participants (N = 1,428; 13–18 years at baseline; 48.6% female; 49.0% white) responded to surveys in the 15-year longitudinal study, Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults). Weight-motivated exercise was examined as a predictor of MVPA across the life course at five-year intervals using linear regression generalized estimating equations and adjusting for demographics (age modeled continuously), BMI (modeled continuously), weight-related intentions, and prior MVPA. Results Weight-motivated exercise predicted higher subsequent MVPA at five-year intervals among females (B = .57, 95% CI:0.13, 1.00) but not males (B = .31, 95% CI:-.09, .72). The association differed by BMI in females (p = .02); weight-motivated exercise was associated with higher subsequent MVPA at lower BMI but lower subsequent MVPA at higher BMI. The association also differed by age in males (p = .008), such that older males who reported weight-motivated exercise had higher subsequent MVPA, whereas this association was not present in younger males. Conclusion Weight-motivated exercise may have a deleterious influence on MVPA for females with higher BMI and may have an advantageous influence on older males. Understanding how motivations for exercise may influence PA trajectories can inform PA promotion over the life course by providing more nuanced guidance by age, BMI, and sex.

Adverse experiences, such as childhood abuse and other violence victimization, are associated with problematic eating. However, whether different types of adversity relate to both maladaptive and adaptive eating behaviors is unclear. This study examined the associations of different adverse experiences with maladaptive (i.e., overeating and binge eating) and adaptive (i.e., intuitive eating and mindful eating) eating by gender. Data were derived from the EAT-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) study (N = 1411, aged 18–30 years in 2017–2018). Modified Poisson regressions were used to examine the associations between adverse experiences and the prevalence of maladaptive eating. Linear regressions were used to examine the associations between adverse experiences and adaptive eating scores. Each adverse experience was associated with greater prevalence of maladaptive eating and lower adaptive eating scores. Among women, intimate partner sexual violence was strongly associated with more overeating (PR = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.4–3.1]) and binge eating (PR = 2.4 [95% CI = 1.5–3.9]), and less mindful eating (β = −0.6, [95% CI = −0.8, −0.3]); being attacked, beaten, or mugged was most associated with less intuitive eating (β = −0.5, [95% CI = −0.8, −0.2]). Among men, being attacked, beaten, or mugged was strongly associated with more overeating (PR = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.2–3.5]) and binge eating (PR = 3.2 [95% CI = 1.6–6.5]); intimate partner physical violence was strongly associated with less intuitive eating (β = −0.6, [95% CI = −0.9, −0.2]); childhood emotional abuse was strongly associated with less mindful eating (β = −0.8, [95% CI = −1.0, −0.5]). To improve eating behaviors, adverse life experiences and the potential impact on maladaptive and adaptive eating should be considered.

Background: We investigated the percentage of insufficiently active adolescents who became young adults meeting moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines. We also explored adolescent psychosocial and environmental factors that predicted MVPA guideline adherence in young adulthood. Methods: Participants included N = 1001 adolescents (mean age = 14.1 y) reporting < 7 hours per week of MVPA and followed (8 y later) into young adulthood through Project EAT. We examined mean weekly hours of MVPA, MVPA change between adolescence and young adulthood, and the proportion of participants meeting MVPA guidelines in young adulthood. With sex-stratified logistic regression, we tested 11 adolescent psychosocial and environmental factors predicting meeting MVPA guidelines in young adulthood. Results: Overall, 55% of insufficiently active adolescents became young adults meeting MVPA guidelines. On average, participants reported 3.0 hours per week of MVPA, which improved to 3.8 hours per week in young adulthood. Among female participants, higher MVPA in adolescence and stronger feelings of exercise compulsion predicted greater odds of meeting adult MVPA guidelines (odds ratioMVPA = 1.18; odds ratiocompulsion = 1.13). Among female and male participants, perceived friend support for activity in adolescence predicted greater odds of meeting adult MVPA guidelines (odds ratiofemale = 1.12; odds ratiomale = 1.26). Conclusions: Insufficiently active adolescents can later meet adult guidelines. Interventions that increase perceived friend support for activity may benefit individuals across development.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on food parenting practices used by parents of young children. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) was used to evaluate parents’ use of coercive, indulgent, structured, and autonomy supportive food parenting practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among a diverse racial/ethnic sample (n = 72) of parents of preschool-aged children. The impact of parent and child mood/behavior on use of specific food parenting practices was also evaluated during both time periods. Results revealed that most parents of preschoolers use a variety of food parenting practices, including coercive control, indulgence, structure, and autonomy support practices. The use of structured and autonomy supportive practices, however, decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the types of practices used by parents were contextually associated with the mood of the parent as well as child mood. Parent negative mood during COVID-19 was associated with higher levels of coercive control and indulgence and lower levels of structure, whereas child positive child mood was associated with greater use of autonomy supportive practices. These findings suggest that effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family dynamics around feeding young children include shifts away from theoretically supportive approaches to parenting and highlight the roles of parent and child mood/behavior as potentially important momentary influences on food parenting during this time. Public health practitioners and clinicians working with parents of young children during COVID-19, and in years to come, should consider the potential impact of parental mood and stress, as well as child mood and behaviors. Additional research is needed to better understand how to best help parents maintain supportive feeding practices in the face of challenging situations.

Objectives: This study examines motivations for yoga and identifies unique motivational profiles among a sample of young adult yoga practitioners. This study further determines how young adult yoga...

Background: Primary care is a frequent source of pain treatment and opioid prescribing. The objective of the Prescribing Interventions for Chronic Pain using the Electronic health record (PRINCE) study is to assess the effects of two behavioral economics-informed interventions embedded within the electronic health record (EHR) on guideline-concordant pain treatment and opioid prescribing decisions in primary care settings. Methods: Setting: The setting for this study is 43 primary care clinics in Minnesota. Design: The PRINCE study uses a cluster-randomized 2 × 2 factorial design to test the effects of two interventions. An adaptive design allows for the possibility of secondary randomization to test if interventions can be titrated while maintaining efficacy. Interventions: One intervention alters the "choice architecture" within the EHR to nudge clinicians toward non-opioid treatments for opioid-naïve patients and toward tapering for patients currently receiving a "high risk" opioid. The other intervention integrates the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) directly within the EHR. Outcome: The primary outcome for opioid-naïve patients is whether an opioid is prescribed in a primary care visit without a non-opioid alternative pain treatment. The primary outcome for current opioid-using patients is whether opioid prescriptions were tapered with a documented rationale. Discussion: The PRINCE study will provide real-world evidence on two approaches to improving pain treatment in primary care using the EHR. The adaptive study design strikes a balance between establishing intervention efficacy and testing whether efficacy varies with intervention intensity.

Weight stigma is prevalent among young people and harmful to health. The current study used a health equity lens to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between experiencing weight teasing (a form of weight stigma) with a range of weight-related health behaviors and weight status in an ethnically/racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of young people. We also assessed whether ethnicity/race and adolescent socioeconomic status (SES) operated as effect modifiers in these relationships. Adolescents (n = 1568) were enrolled in EAT 2010–2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) and followed into young adulthood. Weight teasing; screen time; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); sleep duration; breakfast frequency; fruit, vegetable, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), and fast-food intake; and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at baseline (mean age = 14.4&nbsp;years) and eight-year follow-up (mean age = 22.2&nbsp;years). Multivariate linear regression estimated marginal means and 95% confidence intervals. All analyses adjusted for BMI and sociodemographic characteristics. Weight teasing was cross-sectionally associated with longer screen time, shorter sleep duration, and higher BMI during adolescence; and cross-sectionally associated with shorter sleep duration, lower breakfast frequency, higher fast-food intake, higher SSB intake, and higher BMI during young adulthood. In the longitudinal analyses, weight teasing was not associated with health behaviors but did predict higher BMI (teased: 28.2&nbsp;kg/m2, not teased: 26.4&nbsp;kg/m2, p &lt; 0.001). White and higher adolescent SES subgroups had higher MVPA, more frequent breakfast intake, lower fast-food intake, and lower BMI than their respective counterparts. The relationships between weight teasing and health behaviors and weight status were largely consistent across ethnic/racial and adolescent SES subgroups. Findings add to growing evidence that weight-based mistreatment poses a threat to weight-related health and that young people across ethnic/racial and SES subgroups are vulnerable to the negative effects of weight teasing. Limitations include attrition at follow-up and the self-reported nature of many measures. Results suggest a need for increased attention to existing recommendations to reduce weight stigma in young people from diverse ethnic/racial and socioeconomic backgrounds including training for healthcare providers to better equip them to address the harms of weight teasing and foster more compassionate care to promote health-supporting behaviors in young people.

Objective: Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) have long-term, deleterious effects on health and are more prevalent among socially marginalized groups, likely as a result of systemic inequities across social determinants of health (SDoH). This exploratory study aimed to identify subgroups of emerging adults characterized by main and interactive associations between SDoH and two forms of DEB (binge eating, extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors). Method: Participants (n = 1568; age 22.2 ± 2.1 years) from the United States were drawn from the EAT 2010-2018 longitudinal study. Conditional inference tree (CIT) analyses derived main and intersecting SDoH related to DEB across 33 input variables collected during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Results: The binge eating CIT revealed five subgroups (prevalence: 6.3-23.2%) shaped by variables collected during emerging adulthood: appearance-based teasing (p < .001), financial difficulty (p = .003), gender (p < .001), and everyday discrimination (p = .008). The CIT results for extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors derived six subgroups (prevalence: 2.3-45.5%) shaped by weight teasing (p < .001) and gender (p < .001) during emerging adulthood and public assistance (p = .008) and neighborhood safety (p = .007) in adolescence. Discussion: This exploratory study revealed distinct subgroups of emerging adults with varying DEB prevalence, suggesting that variability in DEB prevalence may be partially explained by intersecting SDoH during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Hypothesis-driven research and replication studies are needed to further explore the associations between SDoH and DEB during emerging adulthood. Public Significance Statement: Disordered eating behaviors are common among young people in the United States and have long-term health consequences. This exploratory study identified subgroups of young people, characterized by combinations of social inequities (e.g., financial difficulties, teasing). Results highlight high-risk

Emerging evidence suggests a cross-sectional association between food insecurity (FI) and disordered eating among adults, while evidence among adolescents is limited. Longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the temporality of this relationship and clarify whether the association differs by age. Three waves of prospective data came from 1813 participants in the Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults) cohort study. Data were collected at five-year intervals, with the baseline survey in 1998–1999 (EAT-I; Mage = 14.9 years) and follow-up surveys in 2003–2004 (EAT-II; Mage = 19.5 years) and 2008–2009 (EAT-III; Mage = 24.9 years). Severe FI was assessed as any past-year hunger with one item from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, and a range of disordered eating behaviors were self-reported. Associations adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were examined with generalized estimating equations. Effect modification by age was also tested. Cross-sectionally, severe FI was significantly associated with greater prevalence of all disordered eating behaviors examined, with the strongest associations observed for extreme weight-control behaviors (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–1.95) and binge eating (PR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04–2.12). Longitudinally, severe FI significantly predicted 1.41 (95% CI: 1.05–1.90) times greater prevalence of binge eating five years later after accounting for prior binge eating. Effect modification by age indicated a stronger cross-sectional association between severe FI and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among younger participants. Results support a cross-sectional link between severe FI and disordered eating and provide longitudinal evidence suggesting severe FI is a risk factor for binge eating.

Objective: Digital technology use and muscle-building behaviors reflect a wide range of behaviors with associated health risks. However, links between digital technology use and muscle-building behaviors remain unknown and this study aimed to address this gap. Method: Data were collected from a diverse sample of 1,483 young adults (mean age 22.2 ± 2.0 years) participating in the population-based Eating and Activity over Time 2018 study. Gender-stratified-modified Poisson regression models were used to determine cross-sectional associations between three types of digital technology use (screen time, social media, weight-related self-monitoring apps) and five types of muscle-building behaviors (changing eating, exercise, protein powders/shakes, pre-workout drinks, steroids/growth hormone/creatine/amino acids) in young adulthood, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index. Results: Screen time and social media were either not found to be associated with muscle-building behaviors or in a few instances, associated with less use of these behaviors (e.g., screen time and pre-workout drinks in men). In contrast, the use of weight-related self-monitoring apps was positively associated with all muscle-building behaviors, including steroids/growth hormone/creatine/amino acids in men (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–2.97) and women (PR = 4.43; 95% CI: 1.68–11.68). Discussion: While most recreational screen time may represent sedentary behaviors not related to muscle-building behaviors, weight-related self-monitoring apps are highly associated with more muscle-building behaviors and could be a future target for interventions to discourage the use of steroids and other harmful muscle-building substances.