Background
This study investigates the association between self‐esteem assessed either in adolescence or in adulthood with adult academic and psychosocial outcomes.
Method
One hundred and thirty‐one ...junior high school students were selected based on their experience of academic difficulty or success, and both groups were selected equally from regular or low‐performing schools. Ten years later, 100 of these individuals participated in a follow‐up assessment of academic, socioprofessional, and health‐related outcomes. Logistic and linear regression models were performed to estimate the association of self‐esteem (measured by the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale) at baseline and at follow‐up, as well as change in self‐esteem categories (high vs. low) on all outcomes.
Results
Fifty‐four percent of adolescents were consistently high in self‐esteem over the 10‐year period, 17% experienced an improvement, 21% a decrease, and 8% stayed at a low level. Outcomes at follow‐up were more consistently associated with young adult self‐esteem than adolescent self‐esteem. Self‐esteem was associated with several outcomes (i.e., personal goals, life satisfaction, alcohol, and health outcomes) and its effects were different depending on the period considered and categories of self‐esteem change.
Conclusions
The self‐esteem difficulties which are common in adolescence raise concerns about their potential impact on important outcomes later in life. However, self‐esteem difficulties in young adulthood were more associated with negative outcomes at this phase of life (whether low self‐esteem persisted into adulthood, or emerged only during adulthood). Relative to outcomes in young adulthood, the period of greatest interest for improving well‐being may be concentrated in the years immediately surrounding the studied outcomes.
Key Practitioner Message
Self‐esteem change from adolescent to adulthood is associated with a large diversity of outcomes. Less is known concerning the extent to which adolescent self‐esteem may independently determine outcomes in young adulthood as compared to more temporally proximal self‐esteem levels.
Only self‐esteem difficulties in young adulthood were associated with negative outcomes at this phase of life (whether they persisted from adolescence into adulthood, or emerged for the first time during adulthood).
Targeting self‐esteem difficulties that are temporally proximal to the period of interest may improve mental health and well‐being.
A growing body of research suggests that sexual minority men (SMM) experience greater body image concerns including body shame, body surveillance, drive for muscularity and drive for thinness than ...heterosexual men. However, little is known regarding the potential factors that can buffer these relationships. The aim of the present study was to examine the role that both self-compassion and relationship status may play in decreasing the strength of the relationship between sexual minority status and body image concerns. A sample of n = 106 SMM and n = 145 heterosexual men completed an online survey assessing body image concerns, self-compassion, and relationship status. Findings revealed that SMM reported higher levels of body image concerns (on all measures, except drive for muscularity) as compared to heterosexual men. Self-compassion moderated the link between sexual orientation and drive for muscularity: in men with higher levels of self-compassion, sexual orientation was no longer associated with drive for muscularity. But, among men with less self-compassion, SMM reported higher drive for muscularity than heterosexual men. Moreover, relationship status moderated the relationship between sexual orientation and body shame and drive for thinness, such that, among SMM only, being in a relationship was associated with lower levels of these concerns.
•SMM reported higher levels of body image concerns as compared to heterosexual men.•Higher self-compassion was associated with lower drive for muscularity among SMM.•SMM engaged in a relationship have lower body shame and drive for thinness.
Background
Environmental factors, such as nutrition, influence brain physiology and health throughout the life course. While research has focused on the extremes of the age spectrum, less is known ...about early adulthood, yet a critical period for the consolidation of brain maturation and the building of adult behaviors. Nutrition may impact late maturational changes in the post‐adolescent brain and contribute to the degree of brain reserve that minimizes the risk to develop dementia. We took advantage of a large sample of young adults to evaluate the association of dietary behavior with brain structure characteristics.
Method
This cross‐sectional study included 1721 university students (18‐35 years‐old) from the French i‐Share cohort, who underwent brain MRI. A 12‐item online Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to evaluate consumption in major food groups and to determine dietary patterns from Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Multivariable‐adjusted linear regressions were used to estimate the association of PCA scores with brain structure (cortical thickness and surface area, grey matter and white matter volumes, diffusion parameters).
Result
The first PCA component (explained variance, 17%) contrasted a healthy diet (higher fruit and vegetable intakes) to a poor diet (higher fast food, sugary drink and snack consumptions). In models adjusted for total intracranial volume, age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol and tobacco consumptions, a higher PCA score (reflecting healthier diet) was associated with lower total gray matter volume (β for 1 point score = –0.17 95%CI, –0.31; –0.03 cm3), in various brain areas (Figure). Healthy diet was also associated with lower global white matter volume (β = –0.18 –0.32; –0.03 cm3). No association was found with diffusion tensor imaging, and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging metrics in the white matter.
Conclusion
In this large sample of young adults, healthier diet was associated with lower brain volumes, independent of multiple potential confounders. Gray matter volume loss during post‐adolescence is a marker of brain maturation; thus, environmental factors emphasizing this loss may benefit maturation. Our results raise the hypothesis that a healthy diet may favor and a poor diet may hamper brain maturation; an assumption which deserves further investigation in other populations.
While studies have demonstrated the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on lifelong health, less is known about the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use. Thus, the ...objective of the study was to examine the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use among college students.
French college students between 18 and 30 years enrolled in a university cohort study were eligible for inclusion. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted for each drug.
Among the sample (n = 1,157), 30.6% had no ACE exposure, 29.6%, 19.2%, and 20.7% had 1, 2 and ≥ 3 ACEs, respectively. Students with ACEs had a higher likelihood of using illegal drugs (p = 0.0067). After controlling for potential confounders, having ≥ 3 ACEs increased the risk of lifetime use of multiple drugs (aOR:10.9; 95% CI: 4.6-26.0), stimulants (aOR: 3.6; 95% CI:1.7-7.7), hallucinogens (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), cannabis (aOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 2.7-8.0), and risky illegal drugs (e.g., higher lifetime frequency drug use) (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.8). Estimates for illegal drug use were highest with parental substance use (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI; 1.5-4.4), sexual abuse (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI; 1.4-3.8), and divorce (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.7).
ACEs increase the risk for lifetime illegal drug use and risky drug use in a dose-respondent fashion. These findings suggest that university students with higher levels of ACEs may benefit from additional support and services from clinical practitioners and university administrators.
To perform a critical review of studies examining the relation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use (SU) among university students.
Observational studies reporting SU of ...university students for whom ACEs were assessed were identified using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO & ERIC and Web of Science from January 1998 to September of 2021. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42021277882.
Of 450 articles screened, 16 met inclusion criteria, including 53,433 university students with and without ACEs exposure from 17 countries. University students reporting ACEs had an increased risk of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription-medication, and illicit drug consumption compared to students not reporting ACEs. Having four or more ACEs heightened likelihood of SU. A dose-response relationship between ACEs and SU was reported for each substance. The relationship between ACE type and SU is presented.
University students with higher levels of ACEs have increased probability of SU. The relationship between ACEs and substance type varies, with ACEs having the greatest association with tobacco and illicit drug use. Findings underline that university students may benefit from ACE screening to help identify those at higher risk of SU and engage them in preventive or therapeutic strategies.
The association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and suicidal ideation has been the focus of recent research interest among youths and young adults. However, the role perceived ...stress plays in this association is unclear. We investigated whether perceived stress accounts for the association between ADHD and subsequent suicidal ideation among French students enrolled in the i-Share cohort. The associations between ADHD symptoms, perceived stress at baseline, and suicidal ideation during follow-up were investigated using logistic regression models, and Structural Equation Modeling was used to estimate the indirect effect via perceived stress. In total 4333 participants (median age: 20.3 years; interquartile range: 18.7-21.8) were included in the main analyses. ADHD was associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.15 95% Confidence Interval: 1.04-1.26). Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between ADHD and suicidal ideation (proportion explained 49%). Our study suggests that ADHD and perceived stress represent mental health targets for suicide prevention programs.
Abstract
Background
The spread of disinformation and institutions distrust increases individuals difficulty to adhere to public health recommendations. How citizens can critically appraise health ...information is a major public health matter and a need to favor health democracy. In this field, to both enhance curiosity and critical thinking, young people represent a population with specific needs for innovative approaches.
Objectives
To provide 15-24y people a space for experimentation and discussion on public health concepts, a multidisciplinary experts team created the “Dilemma” scientific animation that uses a playful approach. Trained young facilitators guide participants through four games (on proportions, risk/protective factors, scientific estimation, benefit/risk ratio). We assessed the program using mixed method (self-questionnaires; focus groups) to answer the following questions: can the approach generate curiosity and participation among young people? Is it effective in improving health literacy and confidence in control over one's own well-being?
Results
Dilemma was launched in a French region in Nov 2022 targeting high-school students; preliminary results are presented for 67 participants from a Bordeaux technical high school (extended results are awaiting). Of these, 76% were satisfied, 82% felt they improved their critical thinking skills and 79% their curiosity. Facilitators’ fun and friendly nature was an important aspect in participants’ satisfaction. However, they reported difficulties in remembering the messages behind the games and asked for more calm and shorter texts. No effect was found on health literacy or internal locus of control.
Conclusions
Dilemma shown promising results on how science animations on public health could interest young people. It should develop more games and closer collaboration with school teachers to improve its effectiveness. Fun aspects and peer support needs to be considered for future actions.
Key messages
• The scientific public health animation Dilemma shows promising results in increasing curiosity and critical thinking of the youth.
• Using playful scenarios could contribute to favor health democracy.
Background Due to their impact on premature mortality and long-term disabilities, a better understanding of health risk behavior (HRB) determinants among college students is crucial in order to build ...the most appropriate prevention tools. Although self-esteem appears to be a relevant candidate, a clear picture summarizing its multiple links with HRB is lacking to guide clinicians and researchers. This study aims to provide a systematic review of the associations between health risk behavior and self-esteem among college students. Methods This search was performed in several databases on 02/02/17. Study eligibility criteria were original articles in peer-reviewed journals, in English; observational quantitative studies; among college students; and investigated the association between self-esteem and HRB. The PRISMA statements were complied with. Results One hundred fifteen articles were included: 46 on substance use, 35 on sexual behavior, 11 on nutritional habits, 27 on physical activity, and 5 on other HRB. Most studies reported an association between higher self-esteem and healthier behavior. For alcohol consumption and number of sexual partners, both negative and positive associations have been reported. Directionality was investigated in a few studies suggesting potential bidirectional effects. Conclusions This review points out the need for consensus for the definition of self-esteem and HRB. There was high heterogeneity in (1) the measurement of self-esteem either in the concept measured (global vs. domain) or in the way to implement validated tools; and (2) the definition of HRB. Self-esteem seems to be a relevant target to intervene on HRB, especially alcohol abuse and physical activity.
Background. Cannabis use in university students is associated with academic achievement failure and health issues. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between attention deficit ...hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year among students according to previous cannabis use.Methods. Students in France were recruited from February 2013 to July 2020 in the i-Share cohort. 4,270 participants were included (2,135 who never used cannabis at inclusion and 2,135 who did). The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to assess ADHD symptoms at inclusion. Cannabis use frequency was evaluated 1 year after inclusion. Multinomial regressions were conducted to assess the association between inclusion ADHD symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year.Results. Increase in ASRS scores was linked with a greater probability to use cannabis after 1 year and to have a higher cannabis use frequency (once a year-once a month adjusted odds ratio OR: 1.24 (1.15-1.34), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.43 (1.27-1.61)). Among participants who never used cannabis at inclusion, this association disappeared (once a year-once a month adjusted OR: 1.15 (0.95-1.39), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.16 (0.67-2)) but remained in participants who ever used cannabis at inclusion (once a year-once a month adjusted OR: 1.17 (1.06-1.29), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.35 (1.18-1.55)). onclusions. High levels of ADHD symptoms in students could lead to continued cannabis use rather than new initiations.
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