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This research examines the nature, enactment, and assessment of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) models in the United States and South Korea to highlight lessons and strategies that Kenya can utilize to improve CBC implementation. A scoping review of various databases was conducted to search for peer-reviewed articles documenting empirical evidence on implementing and assessing CBC education models in the USA, South Korea, and Kenya. Two researchers from each country screened, extracted the data, and evaluated the records using a custom quality rating scale following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension checklist for scoping reviews. Evidence from the USA and South Korea indicated that the implementation of CBC resulted in improved problem-solving skills, lifelong learning skills, self-efficacy, and autonomy in learners. There is limited evidence from Kenya on the effect of CBC models on learners' key competencies. Challenges in the three countries include lack of teacher training opportunities, low funding for implementation, inconsistent pedagogical approaches and assessment techniques. The Kenyan government and education stakeholders can address the CBC implementation challenges by using evidence from other studies and countries on teacher training and aligning goals at the school, local authority, regional authority, and national levels.

This qualitative study was conducted with teacher candidates studying in a Masters program at a university on the west coast in the United States. The main goal was to capture if immersion in a foreign culture and the short-term teaching of primary and secondary school students in South Korea had any sustainable impact on the participating teachers' perception of their cultural knowledge, competence, and awareness almost a decade after their immersion experience. The researchers interviewed four teachers who had participated in one of two immersion projects conducted in 2010 and 2011. A questionnaire on teachers' self-efficacy regarding culturally responsive teaching (modified from Chu & Garcia, 2014) was administered prior to the interview giving the participants a tool to reflect on what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher and to self-assess their own cultural competence and teaching practices. Four themes emerged from the interviews, namely, perspective taking ability, relationships, teaching strategies, and cultural knowledge. The findings indicate that international immersion not only offers an effective way for pre-service teachers to receive intercultural training. It also has the potential to create transformative learning experiences by immersing students in cultural contexts unfamiliar to them. The findings from this study will be interesting to teacher educators who consider integrating international immersion projects into their teacher education programs.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the measurement invariance of an adapted assessment of motivations for social withdrawal ("Social Preference Scale--Revised"; SPS-R) across cultural contexts and explore associations with loneliness. Participants were a large sample of university students (N = 4,397; M[subscript age] = 20.08 years, SD = 2.96; 66% females) from 10 countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, and the United States). With this cross-cultural focus, we illustrate the "multiple-group factor analysis alignment method," an approach developed to assess measurement invariance when there are several groups. Results indicated approximate measurement invariance across the 10 country groups. Additional analyses indicated that overall, shyness, avoidance, and unsociability are three related, but distinct factors, with some notable country differences evident (e.g., in China, India, and Turkey). Shyness and avoidance were related positively to loneliness in all countries, but the strength of the association between shyness and loneliness differed in Italy and India relative to the other countries. Results also indicated that unsociability was related positively to loneliness in the United States only. Theoretical and assessment implications are discussed.

Short-term faculty-led study abroad programs have been offered in various institutions across the United States. Despite the many program offerings, students who are interested in the niche marketplace have been experiencing limited program participation. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the use of online communication platforms in delivering a multi-institutional Paralympic study abroad experience among students from nine different universities across the United States and Canada. Specifically, this document intends to guide instructors in implementing a multi-institutional study abroad program. In addition, the paper shares thoughts on the beneficial opportunities study abroad trips can create for students who have a passion in the field of disability sport.

Natural disasters over the past few decades have necessitated mass migration of Haitian immigrants to the United States. Haitians residing in the United States have experienced significant cultural and social challenges. Recent political deportation mandates have increased the systemic challenges that Haitian students and their families are currently facing in the United States. These systemic barriers have fostered an increase in stressors affecting the mental wellness of Haitian students and their families. This article introduces school counselors to the culturally focused, multiphase model of psychotherapy, counseling, human rights, and social justice as a framework to assist Haitian students and their families.

This case study explored the short-term international co-teaching experience of pre-service general education teachers who were paired up with intern special education teachers (N = 8) to provide English language instruction to students in South Korea. Pre-, during-, and post-data were collected to investigate how the participants experienced their co-teaching. The narratives of two participants were chosen for phenomenological analysis, reflecting an overwhelmingly positive and a rather negative co-teaching experience. The key ingredients to a successful partnership were identified as open communication, the willingness to accept both positive and negative feedback, the willingness to learn from or get inspired by someone who may have less teaching experience, mutual respect and trust, compatibility of personal characteristics, and frequent check-ins. The potential threats to a positive relationship were identified as mismatched personalities, incompatible teaching goals, the lack of co-planning, conflicting approaches to lesson planning, unequal roles, infrequent check-ins, and lack of trust and respect. Despite these challenges, the findings indicate that immersing teacher candidates in co-teaching experiences resulted in positive perceptions of co-teaching and increased the participants' skills related to collaborative teaching for all but one candidate. The findings have led to recommendations for the successful set-up of co-teaching experiences.

Objectives: Dimensions of religion and spirituality are associated with better emotional, physical, and cognitive health. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well known. We investigated the relationship between dimensions of religion and spirituality with levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systematic inflammation, in middle-aged and older adults in the United States.Methods: In this descriptive longitudinal study using secondary data, we used proportional odds models of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) to assess the association between religious beliefs and values and religious service attendance with CRP levels from respondents (n = 2,385) aged 50 years and older in the Health and Retirement Study from 2006 to 2014.Results: Middle-aged to older adults who reported higher religious beliefs and values had lower levels of CRP, controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, race, household income, and health, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and body mass index (BMI).Conclusion: Religious beliefs and values are associated with lower CRP levels among middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. This study adds to the understanding of biological processes underlying the relationship between dimensions of religion and spirituality with better cognitive and physical health, potentially through inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organizational readiness for change, defined as the collective preparedness of organization members to enact changes, remains understudied in implementing sepsis survivor transition-in-care protocols. Effective implementation relies on collaboration between hospital and post-acute care informants, including those who are leaders and staff. Therefore, our cross-sectional study compared organizational readiness for change among hospital and post-acute care informants. Methods: We invited informants from 16 hospitals and five affiliated HHC agencies involved in implementing a sepsis survivor transition-in-care protocol to complete a pre-implementation survey, where organizational readiness for change was measured via the Organizational Readiness to Implement Change (ORIC) scale (range 12-60). We also collected their demographic and job area information. Mann-Whitney U-tests and linear regressions, adjusting for leadership status, were used to compare organizational readiness of change between hospital and post-acute care informants. Results: Eighty-four informants, 51 from hospitals and 33 from post-acute care, completed the survey. Hospital and post-acute care informants had a median ORIC score of 52 and 57 respectively. Post-acute care informants had a mean 4.39-unit higher ORIC score compared to hospital informants (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Post-acute care informants had higher organizational readiness of change than hospital informants, potentially attributed to differences in health policies, expertise, organizational structure, and priorities. These findings and potential inferences may inform sepsis survivor transition-in-care protocol implementation. Future research should confirm, expand, and examine underlying factors related to these findings with a larger and more diverse sample. Additional studiesmay assess the predictive validity of ORIC towards implementation success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsIllicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) has emerged as a catalyst of the recent drug epidemic in the United States. To devise more targeted and effective prevention and treatment strategies, it is crucial to understand the demographics of the population who consumes IMF and their health and associated substance use risks. Therefore, this study explores the sociodemographic characteristics, health diagnoses, and drug injection practices of individuals reporting IMF use.Data were derived from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use Health, based on a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized individuals aged 12 and older in the United States. Focusing on 306 adults who reported ever using IMF, we examined their sociodemographic characteristics, health diagnoses, and substance-related behaviors in comparison to adults with a drug use disorder who did not report IMF use, using logistic regression analyses.The majority of U.S. adults reporting IMF use were aged 35–64, male, non-Hispanic White, with a high school education or lower, never married, and had an annual household income below $40,000. Compared to adults with a drug use disorder who did not report IMF use, they were more likely to report heart conditions (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.29–5.54) and Hepatitis B or C (AOR = 8.35, 95% CI = 4.05–17.02). Nearly half of this group had an opioid use disorder (OUD) in the past year, and 65.7% (95% CI = 56.7–74.8) reported a history of injecting drugs.To effectively curb the current drug epidemic, incorporating effective treatment for OUD and harm reduction strategies is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This report describes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) experience in establishing a dedicated mailbox, and in publishing related guidance, to address concerns among interested parties regarding the conduct of clinical trials during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Methods: Six hundred and thirty-four mailbox inquiries were received from March 2020 through February 2022. Qualitative methods were used to provide a structured description of, and identify common themes among, these inquiries. Results: Most inquiries came from U.S.-based interested parties, including sponsors, industry trade associations, academic institutions, hospitals, clinics, research sites, trial participants, and individual persons. Approximately one-fifth of questions were related directly to COVID-19 (e.g., proposals for treatment); other inquiries were related to conduct of routine trial-related activities, and concerns were often focused on maintaining compliance with good clinical practice. In March 2020, FDA published a guidance titled Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; the document was subsequently revised eight times based in part on issues raised in mailbox inquiries. Conclusions: The dedicated mailbox enabled expedited communication among invested parties during the COVID-19 PHE; FDA also provided updates of the aforementioned guidance. These efforts supported the continuance of ongoing trials and the initiation of new trials during the PHE in accordance with good clinical practice guidelines, thereby helping to ensure the safety of trial participants while maintaining the quality of trial data. By soliciting and responding to trial-related inquiries and addressing corresponding needs and concerns, FDA improved transparency and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This exploratory study aims to understand college students' use and perception of social media for health information by comparing college students in the USA and Korea. Method. This study surveyed 342 college students from two state-level universities in the USA and Korea (one from each country) using a convenience sample. Analysis: Independent sample t-tests were performed to observe the statistical difference between the two countries for three measures--the degree of usefulness, trustworthiness and privacy concerns--for each type of social media. The statistical differences across social media in each country were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Results: The American students are not only more active in using social media, but they engage in more social media interaction for health care than Korean students. Also, regardless of country, students with a higher level of confidence in searching online health information and those with greater health concerns or lower perceived health status tend to regard social media as more trustworthy and more useful. Conclusions: This study identified important factors influencing social media use for health information among college students. The findings of this study suggest the potential of social media as a desired health-promotion channel for college students.

There are little data on the relationship between physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and suicidal behavior and identify mediating factors involved in the association among medical students from the United States. Data from the Healthy Minds Study (2007–2023) were used. Physical activity and suicidal behavior (i.e., suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts) were self-reported. Control variables included age, gender, ethnicity/race, relationship status, citizenship, current financial stress, and academic year. Mediating factors were flourishing, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, eating disorder symptoms, binge drinking, smoking, and drug use. There were 6452 medical students included in the study (median [IQR] age 25.0 [3.0] years; 4032 [62.5 %] women). After adjusting for control variables, compared with <1 hour of physical activity per week, the odds of any suicidal behavior were significantly lower for 3–4 hours (OR = 0.57, 95 % CI = 0.41–0.79) and ≥5 hours of physical activity per week (OR = 0.52, 95 % CI = 0.39–0.70). The physical activity-any suicidal behavior relationship was partially explained by decreased depressive symptoms (39.4 %), increased flourishing (27.6 %), and decreased generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (18.7 %). Data are of a cross-sectional nature. There was an inverse association between physical activity and suicidal behavior in medical students from the United States, while several variables were identified as mediating factors (i.e., depressive symptoms, flourishing, and general anxiety disorder symptoms). Further research is needed to corroborate these findings in other settings, while longitudinal data are urgently warranted. • There were 6452 medical students from the US included in the study (2007–2023). • Physical activity and suicidal behavior were self-reported. • The odds of suicidal behavior decreased with increasing physical activity per week. • Several significant mediators of the relationship were identified. • These mediators were depressive symptoms, flourishing, and GAD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research links low marital quality to poor mental and physical health, but the impact of spousal infidelity on long-term chronic health, especially using longitudinal data, is understudied. The present work investigates whether infidelity predicted long-term chronic health, and whether demographic factors and support or strain from friends or family moderated this relationship. Methods: Using longitudinal data from 2579 adults from the United States (1093 males, 1486 females; M age = 57.17, Median age = 56, SD age = 12.26, age range: 33–84 years), we examined associations between partner infidelity and chronic health conditions across two timepoints (T1: 2004–2006, T2: 2013–2014). We analyzed participants' history of partner infidelity at T1 and its relationship with chronic health through mixed models as well as latent variable structural equation modelling. We also examined whether supportive relationships and demographic variables moderated these associations. Results: Controlling for demographic covariates (age, gender, education, ethnicity, employment, marital status, marital satisfaction and income level), infidelity was linked to poorer chronic health in mixed model analyses (p <.001), and this finding was also supported in latent variable analyses that controlled for baseline chronic health (p =.003). Additionally, moderation analyses found that the impact of infidelity on chronic health was larger among low-income individuals and ethnic minorities. Conclusion: Partner infidelity has lasting detrimental associations with chronic health that are not mitigated by positive relationships. The research highlights the potential long-term health implications of partner infidelity and suggests the need for interventions to mitigate such negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both transactional and common etiological models have been proposed as explanations of why externalizing behavior problems (EBP) and internalizing behavior problems (IBP) co‐occur in children. Yet little research has empirically evaluated these competing theoretical explanations. We examined whether EBP and IBP are transactionally related at the within‐child level while also identifying antecedents commonly associated with between‐child differences in underlying stability of both EBP and IBP across elementary school. Methods: We analyzed a nationally representative and longitudinal sample of US schoolchildren (N = 7,326; 51% male) using random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel modeling (RI‐CLPM). We used teacher ratings of EBP and IBP as annually assessed from the spring of kindergarten (Mage = 6.12 years) through the spring of 5th grade (Mage = 11.09 years). Early childhood antecedents included child internal (i.e. inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and language/literacy) and external factors (i.e. parental warmth, harsh parenting, parenting stress, and maternal depressive symptoms). Results: We found little evidence for within‐child, transactional relations between EBP and IBP. Both types of behavior problems instead were substantially associated at the between‐child level. Inhibitory control was the strongest common antecedent that explained this longitudinal overlap. Cognitive flexibility, working memory, language/literacy skills, and maternal depression contributed specifically to the stability of IBP. Measures of parenting were specific to the stability of EBP. Conclusions: Common etiological factors rather than transactional relations better explain the co‐occurrence of EBP and IBP during elementary school. Inhibitory control is a promising target of early intervention efforts for schoolchildren at risk of displaying both EBP and IBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Bridge employment and encore careers are 2 prevalent retirement pathways that have different goals and outcomes. Yet, "changing jobs in later life" is the shared prequel that blurs the distinction between them in empirical studies. This study proposes a set of criteria—voluntariness of career transition and the duration of work in the posttransition job—to distinguish various retirement pathways and investigates the predictors that distinguish the workers' choice of these pathways. Methods I conducted multinomial logistic regression to examine the predictors that distinguish between bridge employment, encore career, and direct workforce exit using the longitudinal sample of respondents with full-time career jobs in the Health and Retirement Study 1992–2020 (HRS, N = 2,038). To examine the predictors that distinguish between bridge employment and encore careers, I conducted logistic regression on the subsample of respondents who chose either bridge employment or encore careers (n = 927). Results The results show that the accumulated human capital from career jobs, physical and mental health conditions before leaving career jobs, and self-identified retirement status when transitioning to new jobs distinguish the workers' choices of taking on different retirement pathways. Discussion Maintaining the labor force participation of older workers is an important human resource agenda for policymakers. This study suggests that increasing the number of quality jobs for older workers would promote bridge employment and encore careers by raising the benefits of making career transitions as well as improving older workers' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the way of life in the United States, which may be linked to self-injurious behaviors. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Fall 2020 Cohort of the Healthy Minds Survey, a non-probability sample of students enrolled at one of 28 universities across the United States. Participants completed an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic (September–December, 2020). Nearly a quarter of the sample (n = 6999) reported engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), 12.41% (n = 3819) reported suicidal ideation, 4.98% (n = 1531) reported making a suicide plan, and 1.09% (n = 334) reported a suicide attempt over the past 12 months. When accounting for all COVID-19 factors in the same model, COVID-19 related concern, COVID-19 related discrimination, financial distress, and infection were significantly associated with NSSI, suicidal ideation, and suicide plan; caregiving was significantly associated with lower odds of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. None of the factors were associated with suicide attempt. This study showed that various COVID-19 factors were related to SIB. Interventions may consider multiple dimensions of COVID-19 and their specific impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To test the associations between local employment opportunities for the Black workforce and drug mortality among Black Americans, while examining the potential moderating effects of fentanyl seizure rates. Methods. We derived data from the National Center for Health Statistics' restricted-access Multiple Cause of Death file, linked with county-level job counts, drug supply, and other characteristics from the US Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After examining the characteristics of counties by the magnitudes of increases in drug mortality from 2010‒2013 to 2018–2021, we conducted a first-differenced regression analysis to test the associations between the job-to-Black workforce ratio and age-adjusted drug mortality rates among Black Americans in US counties and test the moderating effects of state-level fentanyl seizure rates. Results. One more job per 100 Black workers was associated with 0.29 fewer drug overdose deaths per 100 000 Black Americans in the county. This negative association was stronger in the counties of the states with higher increases in fentanyl seizure rates. Conclusions. Increasing employment opportunities can be an important strategy for preventing Black Americans' drug mortality, especially among those living in areas with higher increases in fentanyl seizure rates. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(7):729–732. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307646) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While professional development has been emphasised in many countries, few comparative studies have examined the degree of teachers' participation in professional development and its effect on teachers. Using the TIMSS 2007 data, this study analyses to what extent teachers participated in professional development in 50 TIMSS countries and examines the relationship among high-quality teachers' professional development, teachers' beliefs, attitudes and job satisfaction. The study found that the extent to which teachers have participated in professional developmental activities was surprisingly low. In particular, teachers in 47 countries have rarely participated in active learning. The study also found that high-quality teacher professional development was significantly associated with greater job satisfaction, higher expectations for student performance and more positive attitudes in teachers concerning their implementing the school's curriculum. Policy implications for professional development are discussed.

Background: In the United States, Black men are at highest risk for being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer. Given this disparity, we examined relevant data to establish clinical prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening guidelines for Black men in the United States. Methods: A comprehensive literature search identified 1848 unique publications for screening. Of those screened, 287 studies were selected for full-text review, and 264 were considered relevant and form the basis for these guidelines. The numbers were reported according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Results: Three randomized controlled trials provided Level 1 evidence that regular PSA screening of men 50 to 74 years of age of average risk reduced metastasis and prostate cancer death at 16 to 22 years of follow-up. The best available evidence specifically for Black men comes from observational and modeling studies that consider age to obtain a baseline PSA, frequency of testing, and age when screening should end. Cohort studies suggest that discussions about baseline PSA testing between Black men and their clinicians should begin in the early 40s, and data from modeling studies indicate prostate cancer develops 3 to 9 years earlier in Black men compared with non-Black men. Lowering the age for baseline PSA testing to 40 to 45 years of age from 50 to 55 years of age, followed by regular screening until 70 years of age (informed by PSA values and health factors), could reduce prostate cancer mortality in Black men (approximately 30% relative risk reduction) without substantially increasing overdiagnosis. Conclusions: These guidelines recommend that Black men should obtain information about PSA screening for prostate cancer. Among Black men who elect screening, baseline PSA testing should occur between ages 40 and 45. Depending on PSA value and health status, annual screening should be strongly considered. (Supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the 2023 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match, there were 554 unfilled emergency medicine (EM) positions before the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). We sought to describe features of EM programs that participated in the match and the association between select program characteristics and unfilled positions. Methods: The primary outcome measures included the proportion of positions filled in relation to state and population density, hospital ownership type, and physician employment model. Secondary outcome measures included comparing program-specific attributes between filled and unfilled programs, including original accreditation type, year of original accreditation, the total number of approved training positions, length of training, urban-rural designation, hospital size by number of beds, resident-to-bed ratio, and the percentage of disproportionate share patients seen. Results: The NRMP Match had 276 unique participating EM programs with 554 unfilled positions. Six states offered 52% of the total NRMP positions available. Five states were associated with two-thirds of the unfilled positions. Public hospitals had a statistically significant higher match rate (88%) when compared to non-profit and for-profit hospitals, which had match rates of 80% and 75%, respectively (P < 0.001). Programs with faculty employed by a health systemhad the highestmatch rate of 87%, followed by clinician partnerships at 79% and private equity groups at 68% (P < 0.001 overall and between all subgroups). Conclusion: The 2023 match in EM saw increased rates in the number of residency positions and programs that did not fill before the SOAP. Public hospitals had higher match rates than for-profit or nonprofit hospitals. Residency programs that employed academic faculty through the hospital or health system were associated with higher match rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dental examination and stabilization are performed prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation to decrease infection risk during neutropenia. Burden of dental disease and treatment need is not well characterized in this population. Objectives: This report describes the dental status of a cohort of patients within the Chronic Graft‐versus‐Host Disease Consortium and treatment rendered prior to transplant. Methods: The cohort included 486 subjects (Fred Hutchinson: n = 245; Dana‐Farber: n = 241). Both centers have institutional‐based dental clearance programs. Data were retrospectively abstracted from medical records by calibrated oral health specialists. Results: The median age at transplant was 55.9 years, 62.1% were male, and 88% were white. Thirteen patients were edentulous (2.7%). The mean teeth among dentate patients before clearance was 26.0 (SD, 4.6). Dental findings included untreated caries (31.2%), restorations (91.6%), endodontically treated teeth (48.1%), and dental implants (5.7%). Pretransplant procedures during clearance included endodontic therapy (3.6%; mean = 0.1 teeth), restorations (25.1%; mean = 0.7), dental prophylaxis (59.2%), scaling/root planing (5.1%), and extraction (13.2%; mean = 0.3). The mean teeth after clearance was 25.6 (SD, 5.0). Conclusions: Retrospective analysis of pre‐AlloHCT dental data in subjects at two large transplant centers identified low levels of dental need. Findings suggest high access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotic experiences have been framed as a marker of mental and physical health status; however, more research is needed to confirm these associations in university populations. We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Survey (Fall Semester Cohort 2020), which is a non-probability sample of students attending one of 28 universities in the United States, who completed an online survey (September 2020–December 2020). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between several mental and physical health conditions and psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, sexual orientation race/ethnicity, and international student status. In terms of mental health, all conditions were associated with greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences. Having at least one mental health condition was associated with 2.18 times greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences (aOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.96–2.42). In terms of physical health, having at least one physical health condition was associated with 1.37 times greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.22–1.53), but only four conditions were associated with greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences, which were: asthma, gastrointestinal disease, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic disease. The counts of mental and physical health conditions were associated with greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences in a dose-dependent fashion. Psychotic experiences appear to be an indicator for mental health problems and some physical health problems. More research is needed to determine whether assessing for psychotic experiences broadly can help identify at-risk individuals in university settings who may benefit from targeted preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated racism experienced by Asian Americans, especially women and older individuals. Little is known about how discriminatory experiences during the pandemic have influenced health behaviors among Asian Americans. Between 10/2021 and 6/2022, we surveyed 193 Asian American women in the San Francisco area. Participants were asked to report types of discrimination they experienced since March 2020. We explored bivariable associations of discrimination and changes in health behaviors and healthcare utilization. Most women were Chinese American (75%) and over 45-years-old (87%). The top three discriminatory experiences reported were being treated with less respect (60%), being treated unfairly at restaurants/stores (49%), and people acting as if they are better (47%). Chinese American women (vs. non-Chinese Asian American women) reported higher frequencies of being threatened/harassed (40% vs. 22%). Women who reported any discriminatory experience (vs. none) were more likely to report less physical exercise (42.7% vs. 26.3%) and canceling/rescheduling medical appointments (65.0% vs. 45.1%). Our findings begin to elucidate Asian American women's experiences of discrimination since the pandemic and provide evidence of the harmful impacts of anti-Asian racism on health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health coaching could be an innovative approach to develop student coaches' cultural competence (CC) among future health professionals. The current mix-method study design explored the impact of an 8-week peer health coaching intervention among college students on CC, from both student health coaches (i.e., students majored in health sciences who completed health coaching training and acted as health coach) and student clients' perspective. Nine student coaches and 24 student clients participated in the study. The quantitative analysis showed an increase in the clients' perceived level of coaches' CC between the pre- and posttest. The qualitative analysis revealed three themes, including varying levels of awareness, respectful and culturally responsive coaching, and cultural connection. Implications and recommendations for educators and researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The association between religiosity and secular mental health utilization is unclear. Evidence suggests that religious and spiritual leaders (R/S leaders) may be more trusted than secular mental health therapists (SMHTs) and are often the first point of contact for individuals with mental health problems who identify as religious. Methods: Generalized equation estimate (GEE) analyses were used to examine the association between religiosity and mental health seeking behaviours in 2,107 participants using t Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) data collected between 1995 and 2014. Results: The final model indicated that after adjusting for covariates, higher levels of baseline religious identification and baseline spirituality (assessed in 1995) predicted an increase in visits to R/S leaders from 1995 to 2014 by a factor of 1.08 (95% CI=1.01–1.16) and 1.89 (95% CI=1.56–2.28), respectively. Higher levels of baseline religious identification reduced SMHTs visits by a factor of 0.94 (95% CI=0.90–0.98), whereas higher levels of baseline spirituality increased SMHTs visits by a factor of 1.13 (95% CI=1.00–1.27) during the same timeframe. Conclusion: Higher levels of spirituality and religious identification increased the frequency over time of seeking mental health support from R/S leaders relative to SMHTs. Individuals with mental illness may seek support from religious resources, mental health professionals, or both, underscoring the importance of collaboration between R/S leaders and SMHTs. Mental health training for R/S leaders and collaboration with SMHTs may help alleviate mental health burden, especially among those who highly value their religious and spiritual beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the generation gap in American consumers' green perceptions and purchase intentions across four generations (Gen Z, Y, X, and Baby Boomers) from the perspectives of consumer socialization and social intelligence. Analyzing a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States (N = 19,450), the survey results revealed that the American consumer's green norms and beliefs varied by generation. A series of multiple regression analyses showed that each generation had similar but idiosyncratic beliefs in purchasing products from green companies. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In online environments (i.e., product review sites in our case), consumers are increasingly interacting and socializing with many "strangers" (i.e., online crowds) as well as sharing personal and product information. Drawing from social norms theory, we examine how the multiple aspects of online crowds affect their self-disclosure behaviors as they provide online reviews and investigate the extent to which prior experience moderates this relationship. Our analysis of data from a leading apparel rental site in the United States uncovers that individuals are inclined to conform to the self-disclosure behaviors of a crowd and divulge more personal information as self-disclosure variance within the group increases. Conversely, individuals are more likely to conceal personal information as a review page becomes crowded. The findings reveal that a reviewer's prior experience of writing a review on the website weakens conformity behavior and reduces the effects of crowdedness. The prior experience also positively interacts with self-disclosure variance in a crowd. Based on these results, we present theoretical implications to literature on social norms and privacy, prior experience, and online reviews. This study also has managerial implications for firms interested in content generation by online reviewers and in review systems where user-generated content is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the global pressure that has led to an increased emphasis on international comparisons of student achievement since the 1980s, multiple federal reforms aimed at producing greater consistency in curricula have been initiated in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a national curriculum and whether it has the potential to improve the quality of physical education. Twenty-eight national leaders in physical education teacher education participated in formal and informal interviews. The themes that emerged indicated a uniform curriculum would not be readily realized or successfully implemented in the US due to the polyphonic governance structure and anti-federal sentiment, and widespread convictions among the educational community about an idiosyncratic curriculum approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, sport consumers have been deprived of many of their usual fitness activities due to social distancing measures. Individuals accordingly vary in perceptions, emotions, and behaviours regarding the COVID-19 situation. Thus, this study examined the interrelationships among the perception of COVID-19, boredom, nostalgia, and compensatory behaviours of sport consumers. Data were collected from 608 sport consumers in the United States and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results showed that the perception of COVID-19 positively affected boredom and nostalgia. Boredom produced positive effects on nostalgia, browsing, and impulse buying behaviour with regard to fitness products. Nostalgia was positively associated with browsing, which was positively related to impulse buying behaviour. The present study revealed sport consumers' compensatory responses to the distinctive emotions elicited by the perception of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotic experiences are associated with depression and anxiety, but emerging research suggests that psychotic experiences are also associated with impairment within psychopathology. We analyzed a subsample from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021; N = 91,435) and used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between psychotic experiences and impairment resulting from depression and anxiety, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Around one-in-five students with depression or anxiety impairment reported 12-month psychotic experiences. Psychotic experiences were associated with greater odds of depression impairment and anxiety impairment, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity. Odds ratios varied depending on the type of psychotic experience and the outcomes. Psychotic experiences are associated with greater odds of impairment resulting from depression and anxiety. In clinical practice, psychotic experiences may serve as a useful marker of assessing impairment resulting from psychopathology. • Among people who reported impairment from depression symptoms, around one-in-five had 12-month psychotic experiences. • A similar pattern was evident for impairment from anxiety symptoms. • Psychotic experiences were associated with nearly three times greater odds of depression impairment and anxiety impairment. • Odds ratios varied depending on the type of psychotic experience and the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various forms of interpersonal abuse (e.g., physical, emotional, sexual) and cannabis use across the lifespan have both been known to increase odds of psychotic experiences; however, there have been few studies examining their separate and joint effects in the United States. Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021) and used multivariable logistic regression and interaction contrast ratios to assess separate and joint effects of interpersonal abuse (past 12 months) and cannabis use (past 30 days) on psychotic experiences (past 12 months). Results: Students who only used cannabis had significantly greater odds of psychotic experiences (aOR: 1.70; 95% CI 1.58–1.82), as well as those who only experienced interpersonal abuse (aOR: 2.40; 95% CI 2.25–2.56). However, those who reported both cannabis use and interpersonal abuse had the greatest odds, exceeding the sum of these individual effects (the combined effect aOR: 3.46; 95% CI 3.19–3.76). Conclusions: Recent interpersonal abuse and recent cannabis use both separately and jointly increase odds of having recent psychotic experiences. Future research should continue to examine the potential interactive and additive impact of multiple known exposures to better inform primary and secondary prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have presented the concept of the obesity paradox, suggesting that individuals with obesity have a lower risk of death than those without obesity. This paradox may arise because body mass index (BMI) alone is insufficient to understand body composition accurately. This study investigated the relationship between fat and muscle mass and the risk of mortality in individuals with overweight/obesity. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2006 and 2011 to 2018, which were linked to mortality information obtained from the National Death Index. Multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate mortality risk. Subgroup analysis was conducted using propensity score-matched (PSM) data for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Results: This study included 16,555 participants who were overweight/obese (BMI>25 kg/m2). An increase in appendicular skeletal muscle mass index was associated with a lower mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.856; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.802-0.915). This finding was consistent with the subgroup analysis of the PSM data. Contrastingly, a high fat mass index was associated with an increased risk of mortality. Sarcopenic overweight/obesity was significantly associated with high mortality compared to obesity without sarcopenia (HR: 1.612, 95%CI: 1.328-1.957). This elevated risk was significant in both age- and sex-based subgroups. This finding was consistent with the subgroup analysis using PSM data. Conclusion: In contrast to the obesity paradox, a simple increase in BMI does not protect against mortality. Instead, low body fat and high muscle mass reduce mortality risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gravity model of human mobility has successfully described the deterrence of travels with distance in urban mobility patterns. While a broad spectrum of deterrence was found across different cities, yet it is not empirically clear if movement patterns in a single city could also have a spectrum of distance exponents denoting a varying deterrence depending on the origin and destination regions in the city. By analyzing the travel data in the twelve most populated cities of the United States of America, we empirically find that the distance exponent governing the deterrence of travels significantly varies within a city depending on the traffic volumes of the origin and destination regions. Despite the diverse traffic landscape of the cities analyzed, a common pattern is observed for the distance exponents; the exponent value tends to be higher between regions with larger traffic volumes, while it tends to be lower between regions with smaller traffic volumes. This indicates that our method indeed reveals the hidden diversity of gravity laws that would be overlooked otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethno-racial differences in psychosis risk are documented; however, there is less research on whether these differences extend to sub-threshold psychotic experiences, and whether there is significant variation within ethno-racial categories. We analyzed data from the National Latino and Asian American Survey (NLAAS) and the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between race/ethnicity and lifetime psychotic experiences among Latino, Asian, and Black adults in the general population, adjusting for gender, age, nativity, education level, income level, employment status, and everyday discrimination. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Hispanics had greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences when compared with Mexicans, though differences diminished when adjusting for covariates. Filipino and other Asians had greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences when compared with Chinese, though again, differences diminished when adjusting for covariates. Among Black Americans, there were no significant ethnic subgroup differences. Ethno-racial differences extend across the psychosis continuum. There are nuanced health profiles across and within ethno-racial categories. Differences may be attributable to differences in experiences living in the US, underscoring the need for community-specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption is frequently invoked as a universal social good—an uncomplicated win for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents alike—that obviates the need for abortion. As antiabortionists weaponize adoption to attack reproductive rights, psychologists must recognize adoption as a key reproductive justice issue with significant, lifelong physical and psychological impacts, especially on adopted people and birth parents. Recognizing critical adoption studies as an application of a reproductive justice framework, we argue that psychologists must understand how adoption is both sustained by and reinforces structural inequality and global reproductive injustice. In a post- Roe reality, clinicians and researchers must critically examine adoption histories and myths in order to address the needs of the adoption triad. As an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians in psychology; medicine; genetic counseling; and women's, gender, sexuality, and Asian American studies, we examine adoption's ties to settler colonialism, racism, classism, and imperialism and interrogate harmful dominant narratives about adoption. We then summarize clinical considerations for working with members of the adoption triad, future directions for research on adoption, and recommendations for both clinicians and researchers to advance adoption competence in the face of current attacks on reproductive rights in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) allocation criteria changed in 2018 to accommodate the increased prevalence of ventricular assist device use as a bridge to heart transplant, which consequently prioritized sicker patients. We aimed to assess the impact of this new allocation policy on the length of stay following heart transplantation. Secondary outcomes include other risk factors for prolonged hospitalization and its effect on mortality and postoperative complications. Methods: The UNOS Registry was queried to identify patients who underwent isolated heart transplants in the United States between 2001 and 2023. Patients were divided into quartiles according to their respective length of stay. Results: A total of 57 020 patients were included, 15 357 of which were allocated with the new system. The median hospital length of stay was 15 days (mean 22.7 days). Length of stay was longer in the new allocation era (25 ± 30 vs. 22 ± 27 days, p <.001). The longer length of stay was associated with increased 5‐year mortality in the new allocation system (aHR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.20; p‐value: <.001). Conclusion: Longer hospital stays and associated observed increased risk for mortality in the era after the allocation criteria change reflect the rationale of this shift which was to prioritize heart transplants for sicker patients. Further studies are needed to track the progress of surgical and perioperative management of these studies over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current standard for management of hearing loss in the United States involves the use of a hearing aid. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of a hearing aid may be less effective in the context of dementia, though national data on use and cessation are not described. Method: This longitudinal analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study followed participants who self-reported hearing aid use to estimate risk of hearing aid cessation over 9 years. We examine whether hearing aid cessation differs by dementia status using generalized estimating equations logistic regression accounting for loss to follow-up. Supplemental analyses were undertaken to examine the contribution of caregiving and environmental factors on hearing aid cessation. Results: Of 1,310 older adults who reported hearing loss (25% 80-84 years, 51% women, 74% White), 22% with dementia and 57% baseline hearing aid use. Dementia increased likelihood of ceasing hearing aid use during the first year after adoption (OR = 2.07, 95% CI [1.33, 3.23], p interaction = .11). In later years, older adults with either a previous or recent diagnosis of dementia had a 95% higher odds of hearing aid cessation (OR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.31, 2.90]), a decrease in odds with respect to the first year after adoption, when compared to participants without dementia, after adjusting for demographic, health, and economic factors. Economic and social factors that may influence care demands (more caregivers, income-to-poverty ratio, and additional insurance) increased likelihood for cessation for those with dementia. Conclusions: Older adults with (vs. without) dementia are more likely to cease hearing aid use over time, most notably during the first year after adoption. Strategies to support hearing ability, such as self-management or care partner education, may improve communication for those living with co-occurring hearing loss and dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast student, teacher, and school factors that are associated with student mathematics achievement in South Korea and the United States. Using the data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011, this study examines factors that are linked to teachers who deliver quality instruction with high self-efficacy in both countries. We also investigate the association between teachers with high-quality instruction and high self-efficacy and 8th graders' mathematics achievement. It was found that teachers' perceived academic emphasis was commonly associated with teachers who claimed to provide high-quality mathematics instruction with high self-efficacy. However, the two countries' results differed in the association between teachers' opportunities to learn in professional development programs and high-quality instruction with high self-efficacy. Implications from this study suggest that the quality and training of teachers and students' gender gap in achievement are significant issues.

Background. Flea-borne typhus (FBT), an uncommon illness in the United States, typically presents as a high continuous fever with commonly associated symptoms including headache, myalgias, and rashes on the trunk and extremities. Patients infected with FBT may also present with atypical symptoms. As such, the combination of its relatively low incidence in the United States coupled with its variability in associated symptoms poses a diagnostic challenge for clinicians; early empiric treatment with doxycycline is warranted prior to a definitive diagnosis to reduce the risk of damage to vital organs. Case Report. This case describes a 54-year-old male who presented to an emergency room in Houston, Texas, with one week of constant right upper quadrant abdominal pain and fevers up to 40°C. The patient was initially diagnosed with Grade III severe acute cholangitis after abdominal ultrasound revealed gallbladder sludge and wall thickening without ductal dilatation, but a subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was unremarkable. Following intermittent fevers and worsening anemia, the patient was started on oral doxycycline for atypical infection, and an infectious disease workup subsequently returned a positive titer for Rickettsia typhi. He experienced rapid symptomatic and clinical improvement, and the patient was discharged home with a final diagnosis of flea-borne typhus. Conclusion. Albeit uncommon, the presentation of this patient's symptoms and final diagnosis of flea-borne typhus demonstrates the importance of (1) keeping atypical infections such as FBT in the differential diagnosis and (2) beginning empiric treatment to prevent damage to vital organs if suspicion of FBT is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and cultural barriers have led to limited access to and use of mental health services among immigrants in the United States (U.S.). This study provided a systematic review of factors associated with help-seeking attitudes, intentions, and behaviors among immigrants who are living in the U.S. This systematic review was performed using Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Global Health, and Web of Science. Qualitative and quantitative studies examining mental help-seeking among immigrants in the U.S. were included. 954 records were identified through a search of databases. After removing duplicates and screening by title and abstract, a total of 104 articles were eligible for full-text review and a total of 19 studies were included. Immigrants are more reluctant to seek help from professional mental health services due to barriers such as stigma, cultural beliefs, lack of English language proficiency, and lack of trust in health care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]