The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of middle school students’ learning attitudes and risk perception toward COVID-19 on their poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This study limited the sample to middle school students who responded that their academic performance was an A or B grade during the last academic year in 2019. For this study, 268 respondents were selected and logistic regression was employed. Self-motivated studying time and positive attitudes toward online learning predicted consistent academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Middle school students’ preference toward an in-person classroom format was related to poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. A risk perception toward COVID-19 was related to poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It is imperative to provide educational programs which help students develop self-motivated studying habits to maintain their academic performance during COVID-19. Policymakers in schools should consider providing in-person options for students who are more academically successful in such an environment.

Even though boys’ depression has become important, and their smartphone use has increased since COVID-19, little is known about low-income middle and high school boys’ depression in the context of whether they have siblings. Thus, this study investigates the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression as well as the moderating effect of being an only child on the relationship. Participants were limited to middle and high school students whose families were regarded as having a low-income. A total of 129 low-income boys were selected for the final sample. The PROCESS macro 3.4 for Statistical Product and Service Solutions was used to identify the moderating effect. Smartphone addiction was positively related to depression among low-income male students. Being an only child significantly moderated the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression. This study contributes to understanding the importance of examining mental health problems among middle school boys since COVID-19, particularly among low-income boys. It is necessary to provide tailored mental health services for middle school boys in low-income families. Alternative activities and social programs should be provided for adolescent boys who are only children to safely socialize with friends and peers without a smartphone.

Although promoting health behaviors are important for sustaining physical and mental health, little is known about young adult men’s health behaviors or how they vary across race and ethnicity. This study examines the impact of educational attainment on health behaviors across young adult men, and differences in the association across race/ethnicity. This study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Children and Young Adults. The final sample consists of 3,115 non-Hispanic White males, 1,617 African American males, and 1,144 Hispanic males. The average age of the participants was about 27 years old. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Educational attainment was associated with both food intake and preventive health care visits. Those who received a higher education were less likely to eat fast food than those who did not (β = –.37, p < .001) and were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables (β = .77, OR = 2.15, p < .01; β = 6.44, OR = 1.91, p < .10). Higher education was also positively associated with routine eye exams and health check-ups (β = .50, OR = 1.64, p < .01); β = 1.84, OR = 6.29, p < .01). This study identified interaction effects between educational attainment and African Americans for predicting fast food intake (β = .57, p < .05). Education is one way to improve health behaviors and to lessen racial/ethnic disparities in health behaviors. Specifically, promoting health behaviors in education should target African American men to improve their perception toward the importance of healthy food intake.

Middle school students are of particular interest when examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic because they are in a formative period for socioemotional development, and because they are not as mature as adults, making them more vulnerable to the effects of the current pandemic. This study seeks to examine determinants of protective behavior changes since COVID-19 among middle school students. Participants were recruited through an official online flatform used by public schools. The final sample included 328 middle school students in South Korea. A multiple linear regression was conducted to explore what factors influence protective behavior changes since COVID-19. Gender and health status were associated with protective behavior changes since COVID-19. Family satisfaction was positively associated with protective behavior changes. Levels of sanitation since COVID-19 and perceptions regarding the risk of COVID-19 were significantly related to protective behavior changes. This study suggests to consider three factors–individual, family, and environmental—in order to prevent middle school students from contracting and spreading the virus.

Objectives: Previous studies have primarily focused on depression among older adults. Given that middle age links young adulthood to older adulthood and encompasses a variety of changes in roles and status, which influence depression, it is important to understand the changes of depression during this period. Methods: This study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The final sample consisted of 834 individuals, and four points in time were used: 34, 36, 40, and 50 years of age. The Latent Growth Model (LGM) was used to estimate the trajectories of depression. Results: The trajectories of depression present a non-linear change, referring to V-shaped curve. The conditional model shows that there are significant individual differences on initial status. Males were negatively associated with the latent initial level of depression. Individuals who showed higher self-esteem and cognitive ability were negatively associated with the latent initial level of depression. In addition, health insurance was negatively associated with the latent initial levels of depression. Both employment and net worth predicted lower intercepts of depression. Discussion: As the 40s is a bridge between the lowest levels of depression and a gradual increase of depression, service providers should be aware of changes of depression among middle-aged adults and spend more time and resources to encourage those individuals to prepare for changes in depression. Prevention programs for depression and providing more opportunities for employment and education to save money should be more focused on young adults.