The numerous negative health impacts of COVID-19, which include expected changes to psychiatric illness and physical activity (PA), are disproportionately distributed in the United States. Mental illnesses and physical inactivity are prevalent among U.S. college students. This study examined whether there was a change in minutes of PA and depression scores after a stay-at-home order and examined predictors of these changes. An online survey was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students attending a large, diverse university via an electronic newsletter. The survey requested information about demographic and academic data, cardiorespiratory fitness, and depression symptoms. Paired t-tests and logistic regression were employed. Our sample (n = 194) was predominantly female (73%), young (mean age of 25), not a sexual minority (82%), and had a mean 3.4 GPA. Students reported worse depression scores (p < 0.01) and fewer minutes of PA (p = 0.01) after the stay-at-home order. There was a small but significant (p = 0.04) correlation between changes in total minutes of PA and depression scores. Senior (p = 0.05) and Hispanic (p = 0.03) students were less likely to report worsening depression scores than freshmen and white students, respectively. Asian students were significantly more likely than white students to report decreased PA. This study suggests that COVID-19 and its consequences may be contributing to reduced PA and greater depression symptoms in college students and that sub-groups have been affected differently. Targeted interventions to promote PA and support mental health may bolster the ability for resilience of college students.

This study evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) survival on environmental surfaces: glass, wood, vinyl, plastic, and cloth. Effects of relative humidity (RH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were examined. Surfaces were inoculated with 10 ⁷ –10 ⁸ colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml)of MRSA with and without 1% BSA and incubated at 35°C at 45%–55% and 16% RH. Surfaces were sampled, and each collected sample was re-suspended in phosphate buffer, spread plated, and incubated at 35°C for 24 hrs; resulting colonies were enumerated. Samples were collected immediately on drying, and at 3 hrs, 24 hrs, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 5 days. Results demonstrated that MRSA survived the longest on plastic and vinyl and for the least amount of time on wood ( p < 0.001). BSA enabled MRSA to survive for significantly longer duration ( p < 0.001). The number of CFU/ml was significantly lesser on surfaces stored in 45%–55% RH versus 16% RH. This study demonstrates that viable MRSA bacteria can remain on surfaces for days, which may impact the public health of occupants in workplace and residential settings.

Background: Chronic school absenteeism is prevalent among high school students in the United States. Its impacts on academic success and health are cause for concern. One specific area of concern is its relationship to youth substance use; chronic absenteeism is associated with using alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other drugs. Despite important findings, absent from the literature is a recent and systematic synthesis of related research. Objective: We aimed to examine the literature to provide a better understanding of the relationship between chronic school absenteeism and the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs among U.S. high school students. Methods: We conducted an integrative review of existing peer-reviewed literature using key terms in five databases from the education and health sectors. We included English-language, quantitative and qualitative studies published between 1992 and October 2017 and focused on U.S. students in grades 9 through 12 and between ages 13 and 21. We extracted data and study quality measures for included studies. Results: After screening 3,130 articles using titles and abstracts and reviewing 99 full-text articles, 37 met inclusion criteria. Most were cross-sectional, used local-level data, widely varied in sampling, were of limited generalizability, and simultaneously considered school absenteeism and the use of multiple substances. Due to methodological issues, the relationship between chronic absenteeism and substance use is difficult to fully understand. Conclusions: We confirm the connection between school absenteeism and substance use among U.S. youth, highlight a limited understanding of how and why this relationship manifests, and call for absenteeism research that uses longitudinal methods, national data, and clearly articulated methodologies and self-appraised limitations.

Objective: Understanding the factors associated with senior food insecurity is key to understanding senior-specific needs to develop targeted interventions and ultimately lower the prevalence and the incidence of food insecurity. We aimed to systematically review published literature and summarise the associated factors of food insecurity in older adults in the USA.Design: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, EconLit and JSTOR databases for peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2005 and September 2019 that assessed food security or its associated factors for US adults aged 60 years and older. After a two-step screening process, twenty articles were retained and included in the review.Setting: NAParticipants: NAResults: The majority of studies were cross-sectional (70 %), consisted of data from one state (60 %), and had large sample sizes. Food-insecure individuals were more likely to be younger, less educated, Black or African American, female, a current smoker, low income, and self-report fair/poor health, have chronic conditions, and utilise government assistance programmes. Food insecurity was associated with medication non-adherence, poor mental health outcomes and limitations in physical functioning. Results were mixed for overweight/obesity status. There was no discernable pattern related to the consistency of findings by the assessed quality of the included studies.Conclusions: Food insecurity is a prevalent and pervasive issue for older adults. The numerous correlates identified suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing food and nutrition safety net and medication assistance programmes are warranted, and upstream, systemic-level interventions may be best suited to deal with the correlates of food insecurity.