Does higher perceived neighborhood social cohesion in adolescence lead to better health and well-being 10-12 years later? We evaluated this question using data from a large, prospective, and nationally representative sample of US adolescents (Add Health; N = 10,963), and an outcome-wide approach. Across 38 outcomes, perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with some: mental health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, perceived stress), psychological well-being outcomes (i.e., happiness, optimism), social outcomes (i.e., loneliness, romantic relationship quality, satisfaction with parenting), and civic/prosocial outcomes (i.e., volunteering). However, it was not associated with health behaviors nor physical health outcomes. These results were maintained after robust control for a wide range of potential confounders.

BACKGROUND: TikTok (ByteDance) experienced a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for people to interact with others, share experiences and thoughts related to the pandemic, and cope with ongoing mental health challenges. However, few studies have explored how youth use TikTok to learn about mental health.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand how youth used TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn about mental health and mental health support.
METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 youths (aged 12-24 years) living in British Columbia, Canada, who had accessed TikTok for mental health information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using an inductive, data-driven approach.
RESULTS: A total of 3 overarching themes were identified describing youth\'s experiences. The first theme centered on how TikTok gave youth easy access to mental health information and support, which was particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic to curb the effects of social isolation and the additional challenges of accessing mental health services. The second theme described how the platform provided youth with connection, as it gave youth a safe space to talk about mental health and allowed them to feel seen by others going through similar experiences. This helped normalize and destigmatize conversations about mental health and brought awareness to various mental health conditions. Finally, the last theme focused on how this information led to action, such as trying different coping strategies, discussing mental health with peers and family, accessing mental health services, and advocating for themselves during medical appointments. Across the 3 themes, youth expressed having to be mindful of bias and misinformation, highlighting the barriers to identifying and reporting misinformation and providing individualized advice on the platform.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that TikTok can be a useful tool to increase mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage youth to learn and address their mental health challenges while providing a source of peer connection and support. Simultaneously, TikTok can adversely impact mental health through repetitive exposure to mentally distressing content and misleading diagnosis and treatment information. Regulations against harmful content are needed to mitigate these risks and make TikTok safer for youth. Efforts should also be made to increase media and health literacy among youth so that they can better assess the information they consume online.

UNASSIGNED: To examine use and frequency patterns across e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and little cigars, cigars, and cigarillos (LCCs) over time and determine whether patterns differ by race and ethnicity.
UNASSIGNED: Data was obtained from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort of youth and young adults between September 2020 and June 2022. Latent class and transition analyses were used to classify participants (N = 4448) into subgroups, based on frequency of tobacco product use in the past 30 days, and to estimate the probability of use pattern transitions by race and ethnicity, adjusted for the effects of gender, financial situation, parental education, household tobacco use, and sensation seeking.
UNASSIGNED: Four latent classes were identified: former/noncurrent users, predominantly frequent to daily (FTD) e-cigarette users, predominantly FTD e-cigarette and LCC users, and predominantly FTD cigarette with polytobacco users. Use trajectories differed by race and ethnicity. A lower proportion of those who identified as non-Hispanic Black (60.0%) remained e-cigarette and LCC users, relative to those who identified as non-Hispanic White (86.0%), Hispanic or Latino (86.0%), and another race and ethnicity (79.0%). A lower proportion of those who identified as Hispanic or Latino (54.0%) and another race and ethnicity (59.9%) remained cigarette with polytobacco users, relative to those who identified as non-Hispanic White (76.0%) and non-Hispanic Black (72.0%). A greater proportion of non-Hispanic Black respondents transitioned from e-cigarette and LCC user to former/noncurrent user (40.0%) and polytobacco user to e-cigarette and LCC user (11.0%), relative to other racial/ethnic groups.
UNASSIGNED: More research is needed to determine why tobacco use trajectories differ by race and ethnicity. Such research will be important in informing comprehensive approaches that promote evidence-based prevention policies and programs.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the psychometric quality of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale - Revised (PMHSS-R), by examining its factorial structure among young adults in Ireland and Argentina.
METHODS: A total of 429 participants aged between 18 and 25 years old were recruited (n = 187 Ireland, n = 242 Argentina). The PMHSS-R was completed by Irish participants and was translated, pilot-studied, and subsequently completed by Argentinian participants.
RESULTS: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated optimal factor loadings for an eight-item solution and acceptable internal consistency for both scale dimensions in the Argentinian sample. Satisfactory levels of partial scalar invariance were achieved between countries, indicating that the scale measures mental health stigma consistently across cultures.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the PMHSS-R as a cross-culturally valid and reliable psychometric instrument to evaluate interventions targeting stigma. In conclusion, the PMHSS-R can be used in cross-cultural research to compare levels of mental health stigma and investigate the interplay between stigma and other psychologically relevant constructs between different countries and cultural contexts.

Purpose: The AYA Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool was developed to assess adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients\' distress during cancer treatment. The on-treatment distress screening tool has been validated with AYAs and includes a 10-point distress thermometer (DT) and a 53-item problem checklist (PCL). However, previous studies have not solely examined AYA cancer distress within a children\'s hospital. Therefore, our project aimed to explore AYA distress in a pediatric cancer setting. Methods: AYA-aged participants (aged ≥15) were given the distress screener initially within 1 month of diagnosis and every 2, 4, or 6 months, depending on their previous distress score. Chi-square, independent t-tests, and binary logistic regressions were conducted for data analysis. Results: Between January 2021 and July 2022, we completed 123 screenings in 68 AYAs (age 15-30) on treatment. Average DT score was 2.96 with 30% of participants endorsing distress levels of 5 and above. There were statistically significant differences by sex as females endorsed higher levels of distress compared with males. Adolescents (<18) endorsed statistically significant higher frequency of emotional PCL items in comparison with young adults (≥18). There were no differences by race or diagnosis. Conclusions: Our team gained awareness of specific areas of concerns for AYAs, allowing for more targeted interventions for distressed participants. Certain demographic variables may put participants at risk for increased distress. As a result of the project, a protocol has been developed to follow up with participants if they report a certain distress score (5 or above) and/or endorse critical items.

BACKGROUND: Developing cancer in young adulthood is a non-normative life event and associated with adverse physical, social and psychological consequences. High psychological distress is common in AYA cancer patients including anxiety, depression or fear of recurrence. At the same time, it is well known that AYA often report unmet needs for support, particularly in terms of informational exchange and emotional support from peers in order to benefit from shared experiences and enhance self-efficacy. Especially in the AYA group, interactions with other same-aged cancer patients may represent an essential resource in terms of coping with the disease, as family members and friends are often overwhelmed and struggling with helplessness. Currently, there is a lack of professional support services using peer support (e.g. psycho-oncological support, aftercare consultations, social legal counselling) or evaluated peer support interventions in Germany. Our aim is to assess the effectiveness of the Peer2Me intervention for AYAs, in which acute patients (mentees) are accompanied by an AYA survivor (mentor) over a period of three months.
METHODS: A prospective Comprehensive Cohort Design with repeated measures will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of Peer2Me for AYA. A sample of 180 patients in active cancer treatment aged 18 to 39 years will be enrolled and randomized to the intervention or control condition (a single AYA-specific consultation). Following mentor training, mentees and mentors are matched by diagnosis, age, and gender. The primary outcome is self-efficacy; secondary outcomes include measures of anxiety, depression, health literacy, life satisfaction and social support life. Outcomes will be measured at baseline before the intervention (t1), immediately after completion of the three-month intervention (t2) and three months after completion the intervention (t3). For the final analyses, we will use an intention-to-treat approach (ITT) and compare patients in the assigned treatment groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Peer2Me might be an important addition to existing professional psychosocial support services for young cancer patients. At the end of the study, a psycho-oncological intervention for young cancer patients undergoing acute treatment should be available, from which both mentors and mentees could benefit. The long-term continuity of Peer2Me should be ensured through collaboration with different partners.
BACKGROUND: The study was retrospectively registered on February 4, 2022 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05336318).

BACKGROUND: Young adults engage in behaviors that place them at risk for skin cancer. Dissemination of digital health promotion interventions via social media is a potentially promising strategy to modify skin cancer risk behaviors by increasing UV radiation (UVR) protection and skin cancer examinations.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare 3 digital interventions designed to modify UVR exposure, sun protection, and skin cancer detection behaviors among young adults at moderate to high risk of skin cancer.
METHODS: This study was a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial of 2 active interventions, a digital skin cancer risk reduction intervention (UV4.me [basic]) compared with an enhanced version (UV4.me2 [enhanced]), and an electronic pamphlet (e-pamphlet). Intervention effects were assessed over the course of a year among 1369 US young adults recruited primarily via Facebook and Instagram. Enhancements to encourage intervention engagement and behavior change included more comprehensive goal-setting activities, ongoing proactive messaging related to previously established mediators (eg, self-efficacy) of UVR exposure and protection, embedded incentives for module completion, and ongoing news and video updates. Primary outcome effects assessed via linear regression were UVR exposure and sun protection and protection habits. Secondary outcome effects assessed via logistic regression were skin self-exams, physician skin exams, sunscreen use, indoor tanning, and sunburn.
RESULTS: The active interventions increased sun protection (basic: P=.02; enhanced: P<.001) and habitual sun protection (basic: P=.04; enhanced P=.01) compared with the e-pamphlet. The enhanced intervention increased sun protection more than the basic one. Each active intervention increased sunscreen use at the 3-month follow-up (basic: P=.03; enhanced: P=.01) and skin self-exam at 1 year (basic: P=.04; enhanced: P=.004), compared with the e-pamphlet. Other intervention effects and differences between the Basic and Enhanced Intervention effects were nonsignificant.
CONCLUSIONS: The active interventions were effective in improving several skin cancer risk and skin cancer prevention behaviors. Compared with the basic intervention, the enhanced intervention added to the improvement in sun protection but not other behaviors. Future analyses will explore intervention engagement (eg, proportion of content reviewed).
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03313492; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03313492.

OBJECTIVE: Reward processing and regulation of emotions are thought to impact the development of addictive behaviors. In this study, we aimed to determine whether neural responses during reward anticipation, threat appraisal, emotion reactivity, and cognitive reappraisal predicted the transition from low-level to hazardous alcohol use over a 12-month period.
METHODS: Seventy-eight individuals aged 18-22 with low-level alcohol use [i.e. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score <7] at baseline were enrolled. They completed reward-based and emotion regulation tasks during magnetic resonance imaging to examine reward anticipation, emotional reactivity, cognitive reappraisal, and threat anticipation (in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, superior frontal gyrus, and insula, respectively). Participants completed self-report measures at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up time points to determine if they transitioned to hazardous use (as defined by AUDIT scores ≥8).
RESULTS: Of the 57 participants who completed follow-up, 14 (24.6%) transitioned to hazardous alcohol use. Higher baseline AUDIT scores were associated with greater odds of transitioning to hazardous use (odds ratio = 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.66, P = .005). Brain activation to reward, threat, and emotion regulation was not associated with alcohol use. Of the neural variables, the amygdala response to negative imagery was numerically larger in young adults who transitioned to hazardous use (g = 0.31), but this effect was not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Baseline drinking levels were significantly associated with the transition to hazardous alcohol use. Studies with larger samples and longer follow-up should test whether the amygdala response to negative emotional imagery can be used to indicate a future transition to hazardous alcohol use.

UNASSIGNED: Fear and anxiety related to dental and healthcare procedures are common among young adults and can negatively impact dental and healthcare consumership, resulting in poor health outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine young adults\' experiences of fear related to dental and healthcare procedures and the potential relationships between the two forms of fear experiences and demographic factors.
UNASSIGNED: Young adults (252) were recruited from a large public university and completed a survey about their dental and healthcare fear/anxiety as well as their confidence in healthcare professionals. Descriptive and correlational analyses were completed to describe the experiences of young adults and the relationships between variables.
UNASSIGNED: Ten types of fear/anxiety were identified related to healthcare procedures, with the most common being needles and pain. Nine fears/anxieties were identified for dental visits, of which pain and sensory experiences other than pain were most common. Female participants were significantly more likely to report fear/anxiety related to dental procedures, and there was a statistically significant relationship between fear/anxiety related to healthcare procedures and that related to dental procedures. There was also a significant negative relationship found between confidence in healthcare providers and fear/anxiety related to healthcare procedures.
UNASSIGNED: Young adults experience fear/anxiety related to healthcare and dentist visits, and this fear/anxiety can impact their confidence in healthcare providers, such as primary physicians. The findings of the current study suggest primary care providers should be aware of potential fears/anxieties and offer patients appropriate supports.

HIV prevention in adolescents and young adults (AYA) requires a multi-pronged strategy encompassing behavioral, biologic, and structural approaches. This article reviews the epidemiology of HIV infection in the United States and its pathogenesis and transmission. Prevention approaches are discussed in more detail, with an emphasis on how each approach is relevant to AYA populations. Information is summarized in a resource table with links to references and in-depth discussions of the topics reviewed in this article.