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Purpose: The purpose of our study was to identify whether different aspects of social media use were associated with substance use among middle- and high school-aged youth. Methods: Participants were recruited from four Northeast U.S. middle schools and invited to complete an online survey in Fall 2019 and Fall 2020. We conducted separate adjusted logistic mixed effects models the substance use outcomes: ever use of alcohol, cannabis, e-cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes, prescription drugs, and multiple substances. Our sample included N = 586 participants (52.7% female, 58% White). Results: Seeing a social media post about drugs/alcohol in the past-12-months was significantly associated with higher odds of ever using alcohol, cannabis, e-cigarettes, and multiple substance use. Total number of social media sites ever used was significantly associated with higher odds of ever using cannabis, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and multiple substances. Checking social media every hour or more was significantly associated with higher odds of ever using alcohol. Higher problematic internet use score was significantly associated with higher odds of ever using cannabis, e-cigarettes, and multiple substances. Online social support seeking score was not associated substance use. Conclusions: Our findings support the need for substance use prevention and social media literacy education and screening to begin early, ideally in elementary school before youth are using social media and substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental monitoring of digital media use evolves throughout childhood and adolescence and become increasingly important when autonomy seeking on social technologies emerges during early adolescence. We investigate a survey cohort of 248 US parents of early adolescents and their parental media monitoring behaviors (i.e., restrictive, active, deference), the family context (i.e., closeness and parent technoference), and perceptions of child's problematic internet use. Using an explanatory mixed methods approach, the results of this study reveal that restrictive parental monitoring of adolescents' digital media use is positively associated with child's problematic internet use. However, active and deference monitoring are not associated with early adolescent problematic internet use and positively associated with family contexts. Familial closeness and technoference are consistent negative and positive correlates, respectively, of perceived problematic use among early adolescents. Qualitative interviews with a subset of 31 parents reveal while most parents report restrictive behaviors, multiple techniques (e.g., active, surveillant, and deference) are also leveraged when navigating their child's online behaviors. Parents tended to converge on the same types and reasons for restrictive monitoring of media, whereas for other approaches the reasons behind their decision-making were quite divergent. The implication of this study is that parental media monitoring behaviors during early adolescence are rapidly evolving and not confined to a singular strategy, often related to prevention of or intervention on their child's online behavior patterns. Understanding the family dynamics and parent involvement of adolescent's digital media use remains critical in prevention of child's problematic behaviors and promotion of positive online behaviors. Highlights: Restrictive media monitoring is positively associated with parental perceptions of early adolescent's problematic internet use. Active and deference monitoring is associated with family characteristics, but not early adolescent's problematic online behaviors. Parental media monitoring strategies are constantly shifting depending on the child, context, and insecurities about effectiveness of their approaches. Family closeness and parental device use are also important indicators of early adolescent online behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines how urban early adolescents in the U.S. talk and think about sexuality and relationships during a photography-based focus groups. The authors analyze conversational narratives that were elicited in a group process while sharing photos of important people, contexts, and situations experienced by the participants. They present the influence of family communication, accidental and intentional Internet usage, peers, and schools.

Given the prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and their psychosocial characteristics, specifically: distress tolerance; resilience; family connectedness; depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms; and COVID-19-related worry. The study utilized data from 805 U.S. young adults (18-30 years) who completed online surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic across two waves (April-August 2020 and September 2020-March 2021). Overall, young adults reported low PTG scores. PTSD symptoms and COVID-19-related worry significantly predicted higher levels of PTG, while their depression symptoms predicted lower levels of PTG. Resilience and family connectedness significantly predicted higher levels of PTG, and distress tolerance significantly predicted lower levels of PTG after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and negative influential factors. Compared to Whites, Asians were less likely to report PTG. In general, young adults have not perceived personal growth from the pandemic; however, young adults with certain psychosocial factors appear to be predisposed to such PTG. This study highlights the importance of exploring and elucidating the potential positive trajectories following the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The U.S. Census shows that the racial-ethnic makeup of over 9 million people (2.9% of the total population) who self-identified as multiracial is extremely diverse. Each multiracial subgroup has unique social and political histories that may lead to distinct societal perceptions, economic situations, and health outcomes. Despite the increasing academic and media interest in multiracial individuals, there are methodological and definitional challenges in studying the population, resulting in conflicting representations in the literature. This content and methods review of articles on multiracial populations provides a comprehensive understanding of which multiracial populations have been included in research and how they have been studied, both to recognize emerging research and to identify gaps for guiding future research on this complex but increasingly visible population. We examine 125 U.S.-based peer-reviewed journal articles published over the past 20 years (1990 to 2009) containing 133 separate studies focused on multiracial individuals, primarily from the fields of psychology, sociology, social work, education, and public health. Findings include (a) descriptive data regarding the sampling strategies, methodologies, and demographic characteristics of studies, including which multiracial subgroups are most studied, gender, age range, region of country, and socioeconomic status; (b) major thematic trends in research topics concerning multiracial populations; and (c) implications and recommendations for future studies.

This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance that adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th- to 12th-grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents' racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblind attitudes. While racial-ethnic groups differed in reported levels of racial-ethnic centrality, few group differences were identified in participants' thematic explanations, with the exception of racial-ethnic and gender differences for Positive Regard and Disengagement. These findings highlight the diversity of meanings that adolescents attribute to their racial-ethnic centrality as well as the many commonalities among adolescents across gender and racial-ethnic groups., (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved.)