Looking at the dark and bright sides of identity formation: New insights from adolescents and emerging adults in Japan

The aim of the present study was to gain new insights into the dark and bright sides of identity formation with a sample of 1851 Japanese adolescents and emerging adults, applying a three-dimensional model of identity formation (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment). By means of cluster analysis, we identified five statuses that strongly resembled statues extracted in prior research with Western youth: achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, diffusion, and searching moratorium. We found that each status reported a distinct profile in terms of personality and psychosocial problems. Importantly, we found that the searching moratorium status was adaptive in adolescence but not in emerging adulthood. These results suggest that the five statuses are replicable in Japanese adolescents and emerging adults, and that the searching moratorium status presents a combination of the bright and dark sides whose prevalence varies with age. Clinical implications for identity research and intervention programs are discussed.     

Contextual Influences on the Drinking of Male Latino Immigrant Day Laborers

This study explored self-reported alcohol use of Mexican and Central American men who had recently migrated to the United States to work. Ethnographic observation took place at a day laborer hiring site in 2006–2007 and qualitative interviewing involved 120 men with divergent drinking patterns. Short interviews were conducted informally on the street, and interviews lasting 1–2 hours addressed day laborers’ perspective about how life conditions shape where drinking takes place and how much alcohol gets consumed. Resulting situations, such as roommates bringing alcohol home for extended nights of drinking, and specific strategies used to avoid excess alcohol use are addressed.     

Public Awareness and Mask Usage during the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Survey by China CDC New Media

An online survey conducted March 18–19, 2020 on the official China CDC WeChat account platform was used to evaluate the effect of public education about masks usage during the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Chinese nationals older than 18 were eligible for the survey. The survey collected 5,761 questionnaires from the 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of mainland China. 99.7% and 97.2% of the respondents answered correctly that respiratory droplets and direct contact were the main transmission routes. 73.3% of the respondents considered COVID-19 to be ‘serious’ or ‘very serious’. When going to the hospital, 96.9% (2,885/2,976 had gone to a hospital) used a mask during the COVID-19 epidemic, while 41.1% (2,367/5,761) did not use a mask before the epidemic. Among the respondents that used public transportation and went shopping, 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively, wore masks. Among respondents who returned to work, 75.5% wore a mask at the workplace, while 86.3% of those who have not returned to work will choose to use masks when they return to the workplace. The Chinese public is highly likely to use a mask during COVID-19 epidemic, and the mask usage changed greatly since the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, public education has played an important role during the COVID-19 epidemic.     

2018年台州市玉环市流动人口艾滋病相关认知和危险行为现状调查[* 基金项目：浙江省自然科学基金项目(LY19H260001)；台州市科技计划项目(1801KY45)。 ①复旦大学公共卫生学院 上海200032 ②台州市疾病预防控制中心 浙江 台州 318000 #通讯作者 ]

目的 了解台州市玉环市流动人口艾滋病相关认知和危险行为的现状，为开展有效的艾滋病健康教育和干预提供参考依据。方法 采用问卷调查的方法，2018年6—8月对台州市玉环市流动人口开展人口学特征、行为学特征和艾滋病相关认知等方面的调查。结果 共招募403人。未发现HIV抗体、梅毒阳性者；发现1例HCV阳性者，检出率为0.2%。最近一年暗娼占3.3%，临时性伴发生过性行为占1.9%，且42.9%从未使用安全套。艾滋病知识知晓率为62.3%。多因素logistic回归分析显示，高中及以上文化程度者艾滋病知识知晓率高。结论 台州市玉环市流动人口艾滋病知识知晓率较低，存在一定比例的暗娼和临时性行为等高危行为，应加大宣传教育力度。已婚或同居者在艾滋病知识应用上存在欠缺，使用安全套意识不强，应开展行为干预活动，实现“知信行”的统一，以有效地防治艾滋病的流行。     

Peer-relationship patterns and their association with types of child abuse and adolescent risk behaviors among youth at-risk of maltreatment

IntroductionThis study investigates underlying patterns of peer relationships using diverse concepts (i.e., peer dynamics, peer popularity, and deviant peer affiliation). It also examines whether the patterns of peer relationships differ by type of child abuse, as well as the association between peer relationships and adolescent risk behaviors.MethodsThis study included a sample of 659 youth (328 boys, 331 girls) at-risk of maltreatment, primarily low-income and living in the U.S. Peer dynamics were assessed using five separate components (self-report). Peer popularity was measured using teacher's estimation of child's peer status. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed using a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Each type of abuse was assessed at age 12 using a self-report method. Self-reported adolescent sexual risk behaviors and substance use were assessed at age 16.ResultsLatent class analysis identified 4 distinct patterns: 1) Friendly, with prosocial peer groups (10.2%); 2) Socially ignored, with prosocial peer groups (55.2%); 3) Severely antisocial peer groups (6.8%); and 4) Moderately antisocial peer groups (27.8%). Among all types of child abuse, emotionally abused youth were more likely to be involved in severely antisocial peer groups. Additionally, youth in the severely antisocial peer groups were more likely to exhibit adolescent risk behaviors.ConclusionsThese findings argue clearly for the need to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by peer relationships, and of the effect of emotional abuse on the likelihood of membership in severely antisocial peer groups.     

Association of current employment status with oral health‐related behaviors: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 Survey

The aim of this study was to compare the oral health‐related behaviors of unemployed people with those of employed people and to assess whether they differ according to the length of unemployment. This study is part of the Health 2000 Survey in Finland. The cross‐sectional data were based on interviews and questionnaires. The present study comprised dentate participants, 30–63 yr of age (n = 4,670). Current employment status (employed vs. unemployed) and length of current unemployment (≤1, >1–2, >2–5, and >5 yr) were used as exposures. Binary logistic regression models were fitted separately for the oral health‐related behaviors, and latent class analysis (LCA) was used to form behavioral clusters. Current unemployment and being unemployed for longer than 5 yr were inversely associated with regular use of dental services. Current unemployment indicated non‐regular dental attendance, infrequent use of xylitol, daily smoking, and risky use of alcohol. Findings from the LCA supported the assumption that unemployed people could be considered as a risk group for poor oral health‐related behaviors.     

Identification and characterization of a novel protective antigen,Sec_205 of Streptococcus equi ssp. Zooepidemicus

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is an important pathogen of swine streptococcal diseases and can infect a wide range of animals as well as human beings. The absence of effective vaccine confounds the control of SEZ infection. Sec_205, a novel protein identified in the previous study, was inducibly over-expressed in Escherichia coli in the present study. The purified recombinant protein could elicit a significant humoral antibody response and provide efficient protection against lethal challenge of SEZ C55138 in mouse model. The protection against SEZ infection was mediated by specific antibodies to Sec_205 to some extent and was identified by the passive protection assay. The Sec_205 was an in vivo-induced antigen confirmed by the real-time PCR and could adhere to the Hep-2 cells by the inhibition assay. These suggest that Sec_205 may play a vital role in pathogenicity and serve as a new vaccine candidate against SEZ infection.