Links Between Food Assistance Program Participation and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Food insecurity is a mechanism through which the mental health impacts of systemic social inequities multiply across the lifespan. Federally administered food assistance programs improve food security, but their impact on mental health is less clear. We conducted a systematic review of all studies that reported an association between food assistance participation and mental health (N = 34), and a multilevel meta-analysis among studies that met inclusion criteria and reported sufficient statistical results (n = 21; k = 44).

High School Student and Caregiver Preferred Communication Method Regarding School Meals: A Qualitative Approach.

Background: This study examined student and caregiver preference for school communication and explored the feasibility and acceptability of a digital tool to assist with communication about school meal program between schools and families.

Methods: The study used qualitative methodology through youth focus groups and caregiver semi-structured phone interviews. The study was conducted in 4 high schools in a large, urban city.

Efficacy of behavioral interventions to improve maternal mental health and breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Despite extensive benefits and high intentions, few mothers breastfeed exclusively for the recommended duration. Maternal mental health is an important underlying factor associated with barriers and reduced rates of breastfeeding intent, initiation, and continuation. Given evidence of a bidirectional association between maternal mental health and breastfeeding, it is important to consider both factors when examining the efficacy of interventions to improve these outcomes.

Sleep optimization to improve glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: study protocol for a randomized controlled parallel intervention trial.

Background: Despite improvements in treatment regimens and technology, less than 20% of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) achieve glycemic targets. Sleep is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable target for improving glycemic control. Diabetes distress, poor self-management behaviors, and reduced quality of life have also been linked to sleep variability and insufficient sleep duration.

Graduate student workload: Pandemic challenges and recommendations for accommodations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of graduate student workers within university settings. At a large Midwestern private university, a Psychology Graduate Student Association (PsychGSA) identified that, in response to the pandemic, different levels of accommodations were being provided by faculty to graduate students. The PsychGSA conducted an evaluative survey that captured the experiences of 50 graduate students in the psychology department.

Black American and Latinx Parent/Caregiver Participation in Digital Health Obesity Interventions for Children: A Systematic Review.

Parents/caregivers are consistently described as integral targets given their influential role in supporting and managing behaviors such as diet and physical activity. Identifying effective obesity prevention interventions to enhance and sustain parent participation is needed. Digital obesity prevention interventions are a promising strategy to improve parent/caregiver participation.

A pilot study of a school lunchroom intervention in a predominantly Latinx sample.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of an environmental school lunchroom intervention ('Smarter Lunchrooms') and test initial efficacy within a predominantly Latinx population.

Design: We collected baseline and intervention lunchroom food consumption and waste data in a pre-post, single group design. Meal consumption data was analyzed using Nutrition Data System for Research software to obtain estimates of nutritional content.

Behavioral Economic Approaches to Childhood Obesity Prevention Nutrition Policies: A Social Ecological Perspective.

Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern associated with the development of the leading causes of death. Dietary factors largely contribute to childhood obesity, but prevention interventions targeting these factors have reported relatively small effect sizes. One potential explanation for the ineffectiveness of prevention efforts is lack of theoretical grounding.