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Purpose: This study examines correlates of experiences of hunger among adolescents in the United States (U.S) by the intersectionality of race/ethnicity with sociodemographic characteristics (gender, sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss) with the aim of identifying subgroups most at risk for hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study uses nationally representative data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) collected from January to June 2021. The analytic sample was high school students aged 14–17 with complete data (n= 6023). Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and hunger (1-item measure) among adolescents during the pandemic for the analytic sample and stratified by race/ethnicity. Results: The prevalence of hunger was 24.1% for the analytic sample and was highest among American Indian/Alaskan Native/Other Pacific Islander youth (37.2%), followed by non-Hispanic Black (31.8%) and Hispanic (28.4%) youth, and lowest among Non-Hispanic White youth (18.6%). In the analytic sample, there were significant differences in experiences of hunger by race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss during the pandemic (p< 0.05). When stratified by race/ethnicity, there were differential associations of hunger with sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of differential experiences of hunger during the pandemic among adolescents by sociodemographic factors. Results highlight the need for taking an intersectional approach when examining issues such as hunger. Future policies and programs should be mindful of factors associated with hunger and should prioritize using an equity-informed approach when engaging with multiply-marginalized adolescents.

Background: Differences in symptoms of depression and anxiety by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) among a diverse cohort of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic (Spring 2020-Fall 2021) have not been examined. Method: We analyzed four waves of biannual, panel data from n= 2629 emerging adults (16–25 years old) from the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance study (TATAMS). We conducted a series of mixed effects ordinal logistic regression models to compare the independent and joint effects of race/ethnicity and SES on symptoms of (a) depression and (b) anxiety, adjusting for sex, cohort, and time. Results: Symptoms of depression (aOR range: 1.54 – 2.19; 95% CI: 1.02 – 3.08) and anxiety (aOR range: 1.64 – 2.19; 95% CI: 1.22 – 2.79) were elevated among low SES young adults, across all racial/ethnic groups. Across SES groups, symptoms of depression were lower among non-Hispanic Blacks compared to non-Hispanic Whites (aOR range: 0.33 – 0.41; 95% CI: 0.18 – 0.62) and Hispanics /Latinos (aOR range: 0.33 – 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20 – 0.57); similarly, symptoms of anxiety were lower among non-Hispanic Blacks compared to non-Hispanic Whites (aOR range: 0.44; 95% CI: 25 – 0.77) and Hispanics/Latinos (aOR range: 0.47 – 0.56; 95% CI: 0.29 – 0.83). No significant interaction (joint effect) was observed between SES and race/ethnicity during this period. Conclusion: Low SES was persistently related to poor mental health. Lower odds of symptoms of anxiety and depression among non-Hispanic Black young adults may reflect the ‘mental health paradox’. Overall, mental health policies should prioritize lower SES young adults regardless of race and ethnicity.

Objectives: From 2017 to 2018, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use increased 78% among high school students and 48% among middle school students in the United States. However, few e-cigarette prevention interventions have been evaluated. We determined the feasibility and initial effectiveness of “CATCH My Breath,” an e-cigarette prevention program, among a sample of middle schools in central Texas.Methods: Twelve middle schools in Texas (6 intervention schools and 6 control schools) participated in the CATCH My Breath pilot program during 2016-2017. CATCH My Breath is rooted in social cognitive theory, consists of 4 interactive in-class modules, and is collaboratively administered via classroom and physical education teachers, student–peer leaders, and social messaging (eg, school posters). We collected 3 waves of data: baseline (January 2017), 4-month follow-up (May 2017), and 16-month follow-up (May 2018). Using school as the unit of analysis, we tested a repeated cross-sectional, condition-by-time interaction on e-cigarette ever use, psychosocial determinants of use, and other tobacco use behaviors. Analyses controlled for school-level sociodemographic characteristics (eg, sex, race/ethnicity, and percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch).Results: From baseline to 16-month follow-up, increases in ever e-cigarette use prevalence were significantly lower among intervention schools (2.8%-4.9%) than among control schools (2.7%-8.9%), controlling for covariates (P= .01). Intervention schools also had significantly greater improvements in e-cigarette knowledge (β = 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-1.21; P= .008) and perceived positive outcomes (β = –0.12; 95% CI, –0.23 to –0.02; P= .02) than control schools, controlling for covariates from baseline to 16-month follow-up.Conclusion: Ever e-cigarette use was lower among middle schools that implemented the CATCH My Breath program than among those that did not. Replication of findings among a larger sample of schools, using a group-randomized, longitudinal study design and a longer follow-up period, is needed.

Purpose This study examines the role of perceived parental knowledge on initiation of nicotine and cannabis vaping among youth.Design Longitudinal study from a self-administered online survey. Three waves of data collected in 6-month intervals.Setting 79 public and private schools in Texas.Participants Adolescents who self-reported never using e-cigarette to vape nicotine (n=1907; weighted sample [N] = 304371) or vape cannabis (n=2212; N=351955) at baseline. Participants were in 8th, 10th, and 12thgrade at baseline.Measures Self-reported measures of nicotine and cannabis vaping.Analyses Weighted multivariate logistic regression models examined role of perceived parental knowledge at baseline (Spring 2016) as a predictor of nicotine and cannabis vaping initiation at 6-month (Fall 2016) and 12 month (Spring 2017) follow-up. Covariates were age, sex, race/ethnicity, and other tobacco use.Results Initiation rates were 5.9% for nicotine vaping and 8.6% for cannabis vaping, at 12-month follow-up overall. Higher perceived parental knowledge was associated with lower odds of nicotine vaping initiation at 6 months (adj OR: .69; 95% CI: .50-.93) and 12 months (adj OR: .68; 95% CI: .50-.92). Similarly, higher perceived parental knowledge was associated with lower odds of cannabis vaping initiation at 6 months (adj OR: .58; 95% CI: .38-.87) and 12 months (adj OR: .53; 95% CI: .38-.74).Conclusion E-cigarette prevention efforts directed at adolescents should incorporate parent engagement strategies as a method of increasing actual and perceived parental knowledge of their child’s location, activities and peer groups.