Despite high rates of mental health concerns among youth, they are unlikely to receive mental health care, with mental health stigma acting as a barrier. The present study explores youth perceptions of the influences of stigma and what should be done to address it, drawing on a large (n = 705) mixed methods dataset of youth aged 14 to 24 from the…

Personal networks undergo changes in structure and composition throughout the life span, adapting to developmental transitions and changing circumstances in a dynamic way. This study examines stability and change in social convoys from childhood to adulthood and variation in trajectories of convoy characteristics by gender and race. Multilevel…

Despite widespread availability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and recommendations for routine use, awareness and uptake of HPV vaccination are not universal. We assessed self-reported history of HPV vaccination in a sample of low-income men and women recruited from the community using respondent-driven sampling as part of the National HIV…

Anti-racist efforts require talking with children about race. The present work tested the predictors of U.S. adults' (N = 441; 52% female; 32% BIPOC participants; M[subscript age] = 35 years) conversations about race with children across two timepoints in 2019. Approximately 60% of adult participants talked to their children (3-12 years) about…

Health literacy is an amenable factor that can improve screening uptake. However, associations between the multidimensional health literacy domains and cervical cancer screening nonadherence are not known and should be considered to improve screening rates. The current quantitative study assessed the associations of multiple health literacy…

This polling brief describes the observations and views about guns and school safety among school parents, teachers, and the general public. The brief highlights their perspectives about what steps can be taken to ensure children across America have safe schools and classrooms for their learning. This poll was conducted between June 15-June 21,…

Prior research in non-U.S. samples has found a complex nonlinear relationship between loneliness and age. This research has shown that established predictors of loneliness--poor health, being unmarried, living alone, and having infrequent social interactions--help to explain age differences in loneliness. However, while some variables were found…

This volume presents new 2021 findings from the U.S. national Monitoring the Future follow-up (panel) study concerning substance use among the nation's college students and adults from ages 19 through 60. We report 2021 prevalence estimates on numerous illicit and licit substances, examine how substance use differs across this age span, and show…

Factors that affect physical activity (PA) behavior change are well established. Behavioral intention is a strong psychological predictor of behavior; however, there is less research on the factors that affect the "intention" to increase PA participation specifically, especially among adults in mid and later life who are inactive. Using…

Using all Arkansas correctional releases from 2005-2016 of adults who at intake lacked high school diplomas or GEDs, the authors examined how correctional education and its moderating factors affect recidivism (N = 32,174) and post-release employment (N = 40,667). Completion of GED and vocational programs were associated with financially viable…

Background: The role of physical activity (PA) in mitigating fall risk among adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear. Purpose: We examined the associations of CVD-PA phenotypes with falls. Methods: Adults [greater than or equal to] 45 years (n = 295,282; N = 130,103,093) from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System who…

Using data from the first national probability sample of Black, White, and Latinx sexual minority people in the United States, we examined whether and how sexual identity development timing and pacing differs across demographic subgroups at the intersections of cohort, sex, sexual identity, and race/ethnicity. Among a sample of 1,491 participants…

COVID-19 has affected consumers' wellness-related behavior and lifestyle choices. Online survey respondents were asked about changes in their health and wellness perceptions and behaviors--overall wellbeing, diet, physical activity, and sleep--due to the pandemic. Age was related to changes in all four wellness areas, with older respondents…

This issue of "DataPoints" shows the percent of adults by selected demographics who support or oppose free tuition at public colleges and universities. The data demonstrate that nearly three-fourths of American adults support free college tuition for those who qualify for it.

Although mental health concerns are common among children and adolescents, youth-serving adults often feel underprepared in responding to these challenges. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training program designed to teach adults how to assist youths experiencing mental health or addiction challenges. This pilot program evaluation study…