Articles

<b>Background</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) provides insights into large-scale brain network organization associated with cognitive control, emotion regulation, and attentional processes. The ventral attention network (VAN) is a key salience-driven network that supports attentional re-orienting to behaviorally relevant stimuli. However, little is known about how VAN resting state functional connectivity varies by demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors during early adolescence. <b>Objective</b><b>:</b><b> </b>To examine associations between VAN rsfMRI connectivity and multiple demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Data came from the baseline and early follow-up waves of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The analytic sample included youth with high-quality baseline rsfMRI data and complete socioeconomic and psychosocial measures. The primary outcome was mean resting-state functional connectivity within the VAN across subcortical and cortical regions of interest (ROIs). Bivariate correlations were computed between VAN connectivity and demographic (age, sex, puberty, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic (income, parental education, marital status, neighborhood income), psychosocial (trauma, discrimination, financial difficulty), trait (impulsivity), and behavioral variables (body mass index, depression, suicide, prodromal symptoms, and substance use). Unadjusted bivariate correlations and adjusted logistic regressions were used for data analysis. <b>Results</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity showed small but significant correlations with multiple contextual factors. Higher household income, parental education, and neighborhood affluence were associated with greater connectivity, whereas Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were related to lower connectivity. Youth reporting higher discrimination and financial difficulty exhibited weaker VAN connectivity. Greater VAN connectivity was negatively associated with impulsive reward-driven trait (drive), prodromal symptoms, BMI, and marijuana and alcohol use. Associations between VAN connectivity and suicide, depression, marijuana use, and alcohol use remained significant in age and sex adjusted models. <b>C</b><b>onclusions</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity reflects subtle neural correlates of socioeconomic and psychosocial context in early adolescence. Our results underscore the importance of integrating structural and contextual factors in interpreting brain-behavior associations across diverse populations. These findings are suggestive of stable socioeconomic and psychosocial correlates of network efficiency.

Background:</b> Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among adolescents is a growing public health concern, particularly in low-income and Black communities. However, little is known about how social determinants of health shape e-cigarette perceptions in this population. <b>Aims:</b> This study examined social determinants associated with perceptions of e-cigarette safety among Baltimore high school students. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional survey (CEASE Youth: School Survey) was conducted with 604 Baltimore high school students aged 14–20. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing perceptions of e-cigarette safety, as well as parental education, race/ethnicity, parental employment, household composition, and community tobacco use. <b>Results:</b> Higher parental education was associated with lower perceived e-cigarette safety among students. Students in higher grades also reported lower perceived e-cigarette safety. In contrast, male students—particularly those in upper grades—were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as safe. Race/ethnicity, household composition, parental employment, and community tobacco exposure were not associated with perceived e-cigarette safety. <b>Conclusion:</b> Higher parental education, female gender, and being in higher grades were associated with perceiving e-cigarettes as unsafe. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address vaping perceptions among youth in urban settings.

<b>Background:</b> Parental education is a key determinant of academic performance, yet its protective effects may differ by race and ethnicity. The concept of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) highlights the weaker association between socioeconomic resources and outcomes for marginalized populations, including Black and Latino youth. <b>Objective:</b><b> </b>To investigate whether the positive association between parental education and school performance (letter grades) is weaker for Black and Latino youth compared to non-Latino White youth. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>Data were drawn from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) 2023 study. The sample included Black, Latino, and non-Latino White youth. The outcome was a nine-level continuous measure of academic performance based on self-reported letter grades, with higher scores indicating better performance. Multivariate regression models tested interactions between parental education and race/ethnicity in predicting grades, adjusting for confounders such as family income, gender, and school characteristics. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>A total number of<b> </b>7584 12<SUP>th</SUP> graders entered the study.<b> </b>Parental education was positively associated with school performance across all groups, but the magnitude of this association was significantly smaller for Black and Latino youth compared to non-Latino White youth. Even after controlling for socioeconomic and contextual factors, the racial and ethnic differences in the strength of this association persisted. <b>Conclusions:</b><b> </b>Our findings provide evidence of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) in the academic domain, with Black and Latino youth experiencing weaker benefits of parental education on school performance. These disparities suggest that structural barriers and systemic inequities undermine the translation of parental educational attainment into academic success for marginalized groups. Policy interventions must address these structural barriers to promote equity in educational outcomes.

<b>Objective: </b>This study explores the relationship between neighborhood stress and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescents, while also examining whether this association differs between Black and White adolescents. <b>Methods:</b> Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were analyzed using linear regression models to examine the association between neighborhood stress (defined as a composite score based on three items measuring perceived safety and neighborhood fear) and BMI in adolescents, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables. We tested models both with and without interaction terms to assess whether race moderated the association. Stratified analyses were conducted to further explore potential differences between Black and White adolescents. <b>Results:</b> A positive association was observed between neighborhood stress and BMI across the overall sample. However, this association was weaker for Black adolescents compared to White adolescents, even after adjusting for potential confounders. <b>Conclusions:</b> The contribution of neighborhood stress to higher BMI in adolescents may vary by race. Our findings suggest that while neighborhood stress is associated with increased BMI, Black adolescents appear to be less affected by these stressors than their White peers. This weaker association could be due to the normalization of stress in environments where it is pervasive (what is common becomes normal) or the presence of other significant risk factors affecting BMI in Black youth, such as poverty, limited food access, food culture, and food deserts. Future research should explore processes of habituation, inoculation, or even sensitization to stress among Black populations, who are often exposed to a wide range of stressors throughout the life course.

Background. </b>Although youth from high socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds are generally protected against tobacco use, this protection is weaker for racialized and marginalized families, particularly Black youth. While Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) of household income on tobacco use have been documented for Black youth, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not well understood. <b>Objective. </b>This study investigates whether school poverty and associated peer deviance and delinquent behaviors explain the disproportionately higher tobacco use among Black youth from high-income backgrounds, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. <b>Methods. </b>We conducted a longitudinal analysis of Black youth from high-income families within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. A total of 8,777 youth was included in our analysis. We examined the associations between household income and tobacco use, with school poverty and associated peer deviance and delinquent behaviors as mediators. Race was considered as a moderator. <b>Results. </b>Compared to their high-income White counterparts,<b> </b>Black youth from high-income backgrounds were more likely to live in areas with higher school poverty, which exposed them to increased levels of peer deviance and delinquent behaviors compared to their White counterparts. These exposures, in turn, were associated with higher rates of tobacco use among Black youth. Thus, higher school poverty, along with the related peer deviance and delinquent behaviors, contributed to the elevated tobacco use observed among Black adolescents from high-income backgrounds. <b>Conclusion. </b>The study suggests that residing in areas with school poverty, peer deviance, and youth delinquency may explain Minorities' Diminished Returns, which are defined as the weaker protective effects of socioeconomic status on tobacco use among Black youth. Interventions aiming to prevent tobacco use need to include structural components addressing these broader social determinants of health.

Background:</b> Early life socioeconomic conditions and race/ethnicity are critical determinants of long-term health and behavioral outcomes. Epigenetic changes, particularly those measured by the GrimAge biomarker, may mediate the impact of these early adversities on later life outcomes. This study investigates the relationships between race/ethnicity, poverty at birth, epigenetic aging at age 15, and subsequent self-rated health, school discipline, depression, and school dropout at age 22. We explored sex differences in these paths. <b>Methods:</b> Data were drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), which included 733 youth with comprehensive follow-up data up to age 22. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the pathways from race/ethnicity and poverty at birth to epigenetic aging (GrimAge) at age 15, and subsequently to self-rated health and school discipline at age 22. The model controlled for potential confounders including sex, family structure, and parental education. <b>Results:</b> Race/ethnicity and poverty at birth were significantly associated with higher GrimAge scores at age 15 (p < 0.05). Higher GrimAge scores were predictive of poorer self-rated health (β = -0.08, p < 0.05) and increased instances of school discipline (β = 0.13, p < 0.01) at age 22. The indirect effects of race/ethnicity and poverty at birth on self-rated health and school discipline through GrimAge were also significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that epigenetic aging partially mediates these relationships. Sex differences were also observed. Poverty at birth predicted faster epigenetic aging at age 15 for males not females. We also observed that faster epigenetic aging at age 15 was predictive of school discipline of male not female participants at age 22. In contrast, faster epigenetic aging at age 15 was predictive of self-rated health (SRH) of female not male participants at age 22. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides evidence that with some sex differences, race/ethnicity and poverty at birth contribute to accelerated epigenetic aging (GrimAge) by age 15, which in turn predicts poorer self-rated health and increased school discipline issues by age 22. These findings emphasize the importance of early interventions targeting social determinants to mitigate long-term health and behavioral disparities. Addressing these early life conditions is crucial for improving health equity and outcomes in young adulthood.

<b>Background: </b>Early initiation of tobacco use among adolescents is a significant public health concern. While there is extensive research on overall tobacco use, much of it focuses on initiation in late adolescence, uses cross-sectional designs, and lacks specific exploration of electronic versus conventional cigarette use. This study aims to investigate social determinants influencing the early initiation of electronic and conventional cigarette use among U.S. adolescents. <b>Methods: </b>We utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which follows a cohort of tobacco-naïve children from age nine through age 16. The social determinants examined included household income, parental education, financial difficulties, racial/ethnic minority status, family structure, neighborhood income, and gender minority status. Structural equation models were employed to assess associations between these determinants and early initiation of electronic and conventional cigarette use. <b>Results: </b>Male gender was associated with a higher likelihood of conventional cigarette use, while the risk of early initiation of electronic cigarette use was similar across genders. White adolescents were at a higher risk of conventional cigarette use; however, the risk for electronic cigarette use was comparable across White and non-White groups. Financial difficulties were linked to an increased likelihood of early initiation of conventional cigarette use but not electronic cigarette use. Higher household income was associated with a reduced risk of initiating conventional cigarettes but did not significantly impact electronic cigarette use. Adolescents from married families were less likely to initiate electronic cigarette use. No significant effects were found for parental education or neighborhood income on the initiation of either type of cigarette use. Age did not significantly affect the initiation of either cigarette type, and gender minority status was marginally associated with early initiation of conventional cigarette use.<b> </b><b>Conclusions: </b>The social patterning of electronic cigarette use differs from that of conventional cigarette use, suggesting that distinct tobacco products do not pose a uniform risk across all adolescents. This study underscores the importance of tailored prevention efforts that address the unique challenges associated with early initiation of electronic and conventional cigarette use among adolescents. The differential risk factors identified suggest targeted prevention strategies for conventional cigarette use, focusing on financial difficulties, household income, and gender-specific interventions. In contrast, prevention efforts for electronic cigarette use may require broader, more inclusive approaches that address all adolescents, regardless of their background. Comprehensive universal screening for electronic cigarette use and targeted screening for conventional cigarette use among adolescents are recommended.

Background: </b>Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence health behaviors, including tobacco use among youth. Adversities such as perceived discrimination, perceived neighborhood stress, life trauma, and financial strain are stressors that may mediate the relationship between various SDOH and youth tobacco use. This study aims to investigate whether multidimensional adversities mediate the effects of SDOH on tobacco use among youth. <b>Methods:</b> Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study were used to test our hypotheses. The sample included a diverse cohort of youth aged 9-10 years old followed until they were 15-16 years old. We examined the effects of baseline parental education, household income, neighborhood income, and family structure on subsequent youth tobacco use. Structural equation models were used to test if adversities (perceived discrimination, life trauma, financial strain) operate as potential mediators. <b>Results:</b> All ABCD participants were eligible for our analysis, regardless of race, ethnicity, or SDOHs (n = 11,878). The findings indicated that the effects of parental education, household income, neighborhood income, and family structure on youth tobacco use were partially mediated by adversities. Higher levels of parental education and household income were associated with lower tobacco use, and this relationship was weakened when accounting for adversities. Similarly, stable family structures and higher neighborhood income were linked to reduced tobacco use, with adversities playing a mediating role. <b>Conclusions:</b> Multidimensional adversities partially mediate the relationship between SDOH at baseline and subsequent youth tobacco use. Interventions aimed at reducing youth tobacco use should address both the social determinants and multiple adversities experienced by adolescents. Policies to improve the educational and economic situations of families, enhance neighborhood environments, and support stable family structures all reduce youth tobacco use, with lower exposure to adversities explaining this effect.

<b>Background:</b> Socioeconomic status (SES) is traditionally viewed as a protective factor against impulsivity and subsequent tobacco use in youth. The prevailing model suggests that higher SES is associated with lower impulsivity, which in turn reduces the likelihood of future tobacco use. However, this pathway may not hold uniformly across racial groups due to differences in impulsivity and the phenomenon of Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs), where the protective effects of SES, such as educational attainment, tend to be weaker or even reversed for Black youth compared to their White counterparts. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aims to examine the racial heterogeneity in the pathway from childhood SES to impulsivity and subsequent tobacco use initiation during adolescence, focusing on differences between Black and White youth. <b>Methods:</b> Data were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which includes a diverse sample of youth aged 9 to 16 years. The analysis examined the relationship between baseline family SES (age 9), impulsivity (age 9), and subsequent tobacco use (ages 9 to 16). Impulsivity was measured using the Urgency, Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), Sensation Seeking, and Positive Urgency Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed, with analyses stratified by race to explore potential differences in these associations. <b>Results:</b> Overall, 6,161 non-Latino White and 1,775 non-Latino Black adolescents entered our analysis. In the full sample, higher family SES was linked to lower childhood impulsivity and, consequently, less tobacco uses in adolescence. However, racial differences emerged upon stratification. Among White youth, higher SES was associated with lower impulsivity, leading to reduced tobacco use, consistent with the expected model. In contrast, among Black youth, higher SES was not associated with lower impulsivity, thereby disrupting the protective effect of SES on tobacco use through this pathway. These findings suggest that racial heterogeneity exists in the SES-impulsivity-tobacco use pathway, aligning with the MDRs framework, which highlights how structural factors may weaken the protective effects of high SES among Black youth. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the importance of considering racial heterogeneity in the relationships between SES, impulsivity, and tobacco use. The observed disparities suggest a need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by Black youth, who may not experience the same protective benefits of high SES as their White peers. These results carry significant implications for public health strategies aimed at reducing tobacco use in racially diverse populations.

<b>Background:</b><b> </b>Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events, a trend expected to continue. This poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. While previous research has largely concentrated on the physical health impacts of extreme heat, less attention has been given to behavioral outcomes, such as delinquency. <b>Objectives:</b><b> </b>This study investigates the association between extreme heat exposure and delinquency among children, utilizing data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. It also explores the potential mediating roles of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES; measured by median home value), puberty, peer deviance, and financial difficulties. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>Data from the national ABCD study were analyzed to assess the relationship between extreme heat exposure (exposure) and delinquency (outcome). Covariates included race/ethnicity, sex, and age. Mediators examined were neighborhood SES, puberty, peer deviance, and financial difficulties. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>Overall,<b> </b>11,878 children entered our analysis. The analysis revealed a significant association between extreme heat exposure and higher levels of delinquency among children. Children more exposed to extreme heat were more likely to be Black, reside in lower SES neighborhoods, experience greater financial difficulties, and have more advanced puberty status. The group facing the highest heat exposure was also economically disadvantaged. <b>Conclusions:</b><b> </b>The findings suggest that children already disadvantaged by socio-economic factors are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, leading to increased delinquency. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to protect these vulnerable populations and address the mediators of extreme heat exposure. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and evaluate the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies to address these disparities.

<b>Background:</b> Recent research has identified structural racism—systemic policies and practices that perpetuate racial inequalities—as a significant social determinant of population health. Studies utilizing data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study have shown an association between higher levels of state-level structural racism and increased tobacco use among youth in the United States. However, there has been limited exploration of the psychosocial mediators of this relationship, particularly in the context of youth aged 10-16 years. <b>Objective: </b>This study aimed to assess the roles of socioeconomic status (SES), tobacco susceptibility, and perceived discrimination as potential mediators in the relationship between state-level structural racism and youth tobacco initiation rates. <b>Methods:</b> We analyzed data from the ABCD study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of 11,698 youth followed from ages 9/10 to 15/16. These data were combined with state-level indicators of structural racism. We employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the mediators of the association between structural racism and self-reported initiation of tobacco use, while controlling for individual and state-level covariates. <b>Results:</b> Our findings indicate that higher levels of structural racism were associated with increased rates of tobacco initiation among youth. This relationship was partially mediated by lower SES, but not by perceived discrimination or tobacco susceptibility. <b>Conclusion:</b> The association between structural racism and youth tobacco initiation appears to be influenced in part by the lower SES prevalent in states with higher levels of racism. These results highlight the need for addressing both racism and SES inequalities as key strategies for reducing tobacco disparities among youth.

</b><b> </b>Epigenetic studies, which can reflect biological aging, have shown that measuring DNA methylation (DNAm) levels provides new insights into the biological effects of social environment and socioeconomic position (SEP). This study explores how race, family structure, and SEP (income to poverty ratio) at birth influence youth epigenetic aging at age 15. Data were obtained from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) cohort, with GrimAge used as a measure of DNAm levels and epigenetic aging. Our analysis included 854 racially and ethnically diverse participants followed from birth to age 15. Structural equation modeling (SEM) examined the relationships among race, SEP at birth, and epigenetic aging at age 15, controlling for sex, ethnicity, and family structure at birth. Findings indicate that race was associated with lower SEP at birth and faster epigenetic aging. Specifically, income to poverty ratio at birth partially mediated the effects of race on accelerated aging by age 15. The effect of income to poverty ratio at birth on DNAm was observed in male but not female youth at age 15. Thus, SEP partially mediated the effect of race on epigenetic aging in male but not female youth. These results suggest that income to poverty ratio at birth partially mediates the effects of race on biological aging into adolescence. These findings highlight the long-term biological impact of early-life poverty in explaining racial disparities in epigenetic aging and underscore the importance of addressing economic inequalities to mitigate these disparities. Policymakers should focus on poverty prevention in Black communities to prevent accelerated biological aging and associated health risks later in life. Interventions aimed at eliminating poverty and addressing racial inequities could have significant long-term benefits for public health. Future research should explore additional factors contributing to epigenetic aging and investigate potential interventions to slow down the aging process. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations and to identify effective strategies for mitigating the impact of SEP and racial disparities on biological aging.

<b>Background:</b> The phenomenon of "empty nest youth" is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, capturing the attention of society at large. However, few studies have been conducted in recent years on this group, especially focusing on their family and mental health. As such, this study investigates the correlation between family health and well-being among "empty nest youth," as well as the function of social support and loneliness in this relationship. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to August 2022 across 32 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China, utilizing a multi-stage sampling technique. And we screened individuals who were unmarried, living alone, and between 22-44 years old, resulting in a valid sample size of 908 cases; multiple regression analysis, mediation effect testing, and moderation effect testing are used to examine research hypotheses. <b>Results:</b> The regression analysis results show that family health not only has a direct impact on well-being (<i>β</i> = 0.36, <i>p</i> < 0.001) but also indirectly affects well-being through social support [<i>β</i> = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.19 0.28]. Additionally, the loneliness moderates the predictive impact of not only family health on social support (<i>β</i> = -0.13, <i>p</i> < 0.001) but also social support on well-being (<i>β</i> = -0.06, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the significance of directing policymakers and healthcare professionals towards the "empty nest youth's" familial and social support systems. It underscores the need for the development of policies aimed at addressing their emotional and material requirements by leveraging these familial and social networks. This approach ultimately contributes to the enhancement of their overall psychological well-being, promoting a more coherent and logical pathway for intervention and support.