Social Media and Mental Health Among Early Adolescents in Sweden: A Longitudinal Study With 2-Year Follow-Up (KUPOL Study)

PurposeThe aim of this study is to assess the longitudinal associations between the frequency of social media use and symptoms of mental ill-health among Swedish adolescents.MethodsData came from KUPOL, a Swedish school-based longitudinal cohort accrued in 101 participating schools in 8 regions of Sweden. The study sample consisted of 3,501 adolescents in grade 8 (14–15 years, 51.5%, n = 1,765 girls) followed for 2 consecutive years. Daily social media use was measured as weighted average of self-reported use in weekdays and weekend days. Mental health was measured with the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model was applied to distinguish between-person from within-person associations between social media use and symptoms of mental ill-health.ResultsMedian SDQ score at baseline was 9 (interquartile range [IQR] 6–14). Median social media use was 1.7 hours at baseline (interquartile range .6–3.0) and increased over the 3-year period. Adolescents with more social media use also reported higher SDQ scores, B (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 2.40 (2.03–2.77). On a within-person level, no cross-lagged associations were found between changes in social media use and subsequent changes in symptoms of mental ill-health after 1 year, B (95% CI) = .02 (?.12 to .16) or vice versa B (95% CI) = .00 (?.02 to .02). Weak cross-sectional associations were found between changes in social media use and concurrent changes in symptoms of mental ill-health, B (95% CI) = .24 (.00–.48).ConclusionsAdolescents with higher use of social media report more symptoms of mental health problems, but there is no evidence for a longitudinal association between increased use and mental health problems. This suggests that social media may be rather an indicator than a risk factor for symptoms of mental ill-health.     

Spread of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 8-ST63 Multidrug-Resistant Recombinant Clone,Spain

Since 2004, a total of 131 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae multidrug-resistant invasive serotype 8 have been detected in Spain. These isolates showed resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were obtained from adult patients and shared a common genotype (sequence type [ST]63; penicillin-binding protein 1a [pbp1a], pbp2b, and pbp2x gene profiles; ermB and tetM genes; and a ParC-S79F change). Sixty-eight isolates that required a ciprofloxacin MIC ≥16 μg/mL had additional gyrA gene changes. Serotype 8-ST63 pbp2x sequences were identical with those of antimicrobial drug–susceptible serotype 8-ST53 isolates. Serotype 8-ST63 pbp2b sequences were identical with those of the multidrug-resistant Sweden 15A-ST63 clone. Recombination between the capsular locus and flanking regions of an ST53 isolate (donor) and an ST63 pneumococcus (recipient) generated the novel 15A-ST63 clone. One recombination point was upstream of pbp2x and another was within pbp1a. A serotype 8-ST63 clone was identified as a cause of invasive disease in Spain.     

Differences in adherence and motivation to HIV therapy—two independent assessments in 1998 and 2002

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the level of adherence and motivation in two independent cross-sectional samples of HIV-infected patients conducted in 1998 and 2002, and to investigate the relationship between adherence and motivation.Method Consecutive HIV-infected patients on treatment at a Swedish clinic were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. In 1998, 60 patients participated and in 2002, 53 participated. In 2002, the 9-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) was added to the questionnaire set.Main outcome measure Self-reported adherence and motivation.Results In 1998, 28.1% of the respondents were considered adherent, while the corresponding proportion was 57.4% in 2002 (P = 0.002). The mean summary score for MMAS was 10.7 in 2002 (13 = perfect adherence). The proportion considered motivated were 22.4% in the 1998 survey and 41.3% in 2002 (P = 0.038). Of the respondents considered motivated in the 2002 survey, 46.7% scored the maximum summary score on the MMAS, while 8.7% of the non-motivated respondents did so (P = 0.016).Conclusion The respondents in 2002 were more adherent and motivated than the respondents in 1998 and a relationship between motivation and adherence was found. The difference in adherence and motivation might be due to a new treatment model at the clinic.     

Mobility limitations 1974-1991: period changes explaining improvement in the population

The proportion of people with mobility limitations (difficulties with running, walking and stairs) decreased between 1968 and 1991 in the Swedish population aged 18-75. The distribution of predictors of late life morbidity, e.g., social class, health behaviour and childhood conditions, also changed during this period. This study explored whether the changes in these predictors over time were related to the decrease in the proportion of the population with mobility limitations. In two nationally representative interview samples (n=4468) from 1974 and 1991 of persons aged 45-71 the odds for limitations were cross-sectionally compared in ordered logistic regression models. In addition, predictors for the mobility outcome in 1974 were collected from an earlier 1968 survey and predictors for the 1991 outcome were collected from 1981. In 1974 the odds for limitations in the population was 50% higher than in 1991. Had the population composition regarding social class and housewives in 1991 been identical to 1974, the odds for limitations would have been similar in 1974 and 1991. Period improvement in social classes with poorer mobility also contributed to the overall period improvement. Health behaviours were examined as possible mediating factors. The increase of physically active people between 1968 and 1974 was related to the period improvement in mobility between 1974 and 1991. Smoking showed an increased association with mobility limitations during the period, indicating that mobility improvement would have been greater if everyone had been a non-smoker. Results indicate how sensitive disability rates may be for cohort or period effects.     

Investments in social capital--implications of social interactions for the production of health

This paper develops a theoretical model of the family as producer of health- and social capital. There are both direct and indirect returns on the production and accumulation of health- and social capital. Direct returns (the consumption motives) result since health and social capital both enhance individual welfare per se. Indirect returns (the investment motives) result since health capital increases the amount of productive time, and social capital improves the efficiency of the production technology used for producing health capital. The main prediction of the theoretical model is that the amount of social capital is positively related to the level of health; individuals with high levels of social capital are healthier than individuals with lower levels of social capital, ceteris paribus. An empirical model is estimated, using a set of individual panel data from three different time periods in Sweden. We find that social capital is positively related to the level of health capital, which supports the theoretical model. Further, we find that the level of social capital (1) declines with age, (2) is lower for those married or cohabiting, and (3) is lower for men than for women.     

When to wash walls in ward rooms?

Surface contamination with Staphylococcus aureus on walls and floors of occupied rooms in an orthopaedic ward, an infectious disease unit, and a burns unit were studied. It was found that walls and floors in the burns unit carried large numbers of bacteria, 10–100 times higher than those in the other units. This may indicate a requirement for routine disinfection of walls and floors in the burns unit but not usually in other wards.     

Incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease in Stockholm County, 1975–1988

An epidemiological study with the aim of establishing the incidence of hydatidiform mole, persistent trophoblastic disease and choriocarcinoma in Stockholm County was performed. Based on the regional cancer registry and hospital registers, the incidence for 1975–1988 was calculated for the number of deliveries as well as the total number of pregnancies. Of the molar pregnancies, 6% were treated with chemotherapy because of invasive mole or choriocarcinoma. Non-molar choriocarcinoma occurred in 1/33,717 deliveries. Difficulties in assessing the incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease are discussed.     

Gender,marital status and ethnicity. A Swedish retrospective study of criminality,morbidity and mortality among victims of non‐fatal firearm injuries

Objective. To study gender and ethnic aspects in a population consisting of patients treated for non‐fatal firearm injuries at public hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden, during a period of 21 years.

Design. Retrospective study. Ethnicity was defined as being a foreign‐born individual or a native Swede. The morbidity and criminality data were analysed with unconditional logistic regression and the mortality data were analysed by a proportional hazard model.

Results. Females and foreign‐born persons were more often victims of attempted murder than males or native Swedes. Attempted suicide was more common among native Swedes. Male patients, single persons and Finnish immigrants treated for a firearm injury all showed an increased risk of being registered for criminality or committing a violent crime. There was no difference between native Swedes and foreign‐born persons concerning the number of hospitalisations during the follow‐up period. Living alone and being of male gender were associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation. Firearm victims, independently of ethnicity, had an increased mortality rate compared to a Swedish population; the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) for males was almost 3 and for females almost 8 compared to the SMR of 1 for the whole Swedish population.

Conclusion. Firearm victims constitute a population at risk from social, psychological as well as from medical points of view. The present study shows an association between gender, ethnicity, criminality, and morbidity among firearm victims underlining the importance of ethnic‐ and gender‐specific violence prevention strategies.