Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0993-6115

Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

School of Public Health

Department

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Committee Chair

Alfgeir Kristjansson

Committee Member

Christa Lilly

Committee Member

Geri Dino

Committee Member

Traci Jarrett

Committee Member

Carrie Rishel

Abstract

Abstract 1

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of young people. Mental health disparities among youth are abundant, so understanding how the pandemic may have affected specific sub-groups to develop tailored interventions to mitigate variations in health disparities is essential. Methods: School-based survey data from the Young Mountaineer Health Study (YMHS) was used to create generalized estimating equations models predicting anxiety and depression among early adolescents. The cohort sample included 2,322 students. Waves 1, 2, and 3 were collected ~6 months apart. Independent variables included COVID-19-related emotional impact (scale range: 5-25) and social support. Results: Average age of participants at wave 1 was 11.50 (males = 44.1%). COVID-19-related emotional impact was positively and equally associated with anxiety and depression (IRR=1.02 Pparental=0.98, IRRschool=0.99, Pparental=0.97, IRRschool=0.99, PPConclusions: Findings highlight the importance of social support, both in the homes of students and in schools, and underlines the urgent need for accessible youth-specific interventions to improve coping mechanisms and tools that minimize the harmful health effects of the stress connected to COVID-19 and other stressful life events.

Abstract 2

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted lifestyles and routines for young people, making prioritizing sleep difficult. This created great concern for the sleep hygiene of young people since good sleep is important for healthy youth development. Understanding how the pandemic may have disproportionally affected the sleep of specific sub-groups of youth is essential for developing interventions to alleviate poor sleep and its adverse consequences. Methods: School-based survey data from the Young Mountaineer Health Study (YMHS) was used to create generalized estimating equations models predicting daytime sleepiness and the amount of sleep among early adolescents on weekday and weekend nights. The cohort sample included 2,322 students collected over three waves collected ~6 months apart. The independent variable was COVID-19-related emotional impact (scale range: 5-25). Results: Average age of participants at wave 1 was 11.50 (males = 44.1%). COVID-19-related emotional impact was positively associated with daytime sleepiness (Est.=0.25 Pl=1.05, p < 0.0001) and weekends (OR=1.04, PConclusions: The study recommends targeting proper sleep interventions towards individuals deeply affected by the pandemic and young people from lower-income families. Despite a decrease in the emotional impact of COVID-19 over time, its potential negative effects on sleep persist. Efforts should focus on educating young individuals about the health benefits of proper sleep, with a particular emphasis on integrating this information into the health curriculums of secondary schools in the Appalachian region.

Abstract 3

Background: During the pandemic, adolescents spent significantly more time at home with their families compared to non-pandemic eras. This change could be beneficial as time spent with family has been linked to positive health outcomes; however, given the stress and strains accompanied by COVID-19, research has yet to assess the potential effect that increased family time may have had on youth substance use onset and development during this strenuous period. Methods: School-based survey data from 2,322 students in the Young Mountaineer Health Study (YMHS) was collected during the fall of 2020 (W1), spring of 2021 (W2), and fall of 2021 (W3) and was used to create logistic regression models to identify variables at W1 that related to three types of substance use onset in the sample at W2 and W3. The study’s primary independent variable was COVID-19-related emotional impact (scale range: 5-25). Results: Average age of participants in wave 1 was 11.50 (males = 42.9%). COVID-19-related emotional impact was positively associated with an increase in cigarette (aOR=1.06 P=.008) and e-cigarette use onset (aOR=1.06, P P=.013) and parental social support (aOR=0.93, P=.026) were associated with a decreased initiation of cigarette use, respectively. Conclusions: We found that higher levels of COVID-19-related emotional impact were predictive of increased cigarette and e-cigarette onset but were only marginally related to alcohol use onset. We also identified that increased parental monitoring and parental social support might decrease onset risks for cigarette and alcohol use among early adolescents.

Embargo Reason

Publication Pending

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