American journal of preventive medicine
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The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity has increased in recent decades, but values differ significantly among countries. Owing to the improvement of living standards, a higher frequency of leisure-time physical activity is expected in Western countries such as Spain, but there is a lack of research involving large, representative samples during a prolonged temporal frame to confirm this tendency. ⋯ This study shows an increase in regular leisure-time physical activity among the adult Spanish population during the period from 1987 to 2017. Younger participants consistently presented higher prevalence levels than older participants.
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This multiyear, cross-sectional study explores the changes over time in how U.S. middle- and high-school students perceive the harm and addiction risk of E-cigarettes. ⋯ The perceptions of both harm and addictiveness of E-cigarettes have increased over time, independent of current use. Perceptions vary on the basis of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and current use. Efforts should be made to further educate adolescents about E-cigarettes and to regulate their sale and advertisement. Efforts to reduce the uptake of combustible cigarettes among adolescents have been successful and should be duplicated for E-cigarettes.
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Social isolation among older adults is associated with poor health and premature mortality, but its impact on physical functioning is not fully understood. Previous studies have typically relied on community samples, cross-sectional data, and suboptimal prospective designs. This study generates more robust evidence by investigating the longitudinal associations between social isolation and physical functioning in a large panel of older adults. ⋯ This study confirms that social isolation is associated with deficits in physical functioning among older adults in the U.S. using more robust data and methods than earlier studies. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating strategies to reduce social isolation in policies aimed at promoting successful aging.
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Kratom is a plant with partial opioid agonist effects, and its use has become popular to ameliorate symptoms of opioid withdrawal. However, use has been linked to thousands of poisonings, although most have involved use of other drugs. Little is known regarding prevalence and correlates of use in the general U.S. ⋯ Kratom use is particularly prevalent among those with prescription opioid use disorder, but it is also prevalent among people who use other drugs. Research is needed to determine reasons for use and potential dangers associated with adding kratom to drug repertoires.
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Having a higher purpose in life has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, little research has examined whether the purpose-health association persists across different levels of SES. This study assesses whether the association between higher purpose in life and lower mortality is similar across the levels of SES. ⋯ The highest level of purpose appeared protective against all-cause mortality regardless of the levels of SES. By contrast, when levels of purpose were more modest, people with lower SES may benefit less health-wise from having a purpose.