African Americans (AA) have historically been targeted by the tobacco industry and have the highest rates of current cigar use among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Yet, there is limited evidence on other factors influencing cigar use. Amongst a sample of 78 AA current cigar (any type) smokers, log-linear regression models examined correlates of cigar demand obtained from a validated behavioral economic purchase task. Mean intensity, or cigar demand when free, was 6.68 cigars (standard deviation [SD]: 8.17), while mean breakpoint, or the highest price a participant was willing to pay, was $4.62 (SD: 3.88). Mean maximum daily expenditure, Omax was $15.20 (SD: 25.73) and Pmax, the price at Omax was $5.25 (SD: 3.95). Participants aged 21 to 30 years compared to those aged 18 to 20 years, those with higher levels of dependence, and females compared to males, had a significantly higher intensity. Participants with cannabis use above the sample median in the last 30 days (4+ days) had significantly higher intensity and Omax than those below the median. Further, participants with a high school education or more had a significantly lower intensity, breakpoint, and Omax than those with less than high school education. Individuals with income below the federal poverty line (FPL) also had a significantly lower breakpoint and Omax than those above. Finally, tobacco harm perceptions were inversely associated with Pmax. Stricter policies on cigar products, such as higher taxes and product-specific harm messaging, may have an immediate and sustained impact on health disparities related to cigar use. Public Significance StatementAfrican Americans (AA) use cigars at nearly twice the rate of Non-Hispanic (NH) Whites and the national average. Cigar products have been the target of fewer regulations than those imposed on cigarettes, creating the need to better understand abuse liability for cigars to inform more effective and equitable cigar policies. Findings suggest that educational attainment, income, age, sex, cannabis use, dependence, and perceived harm from tobacco product use are associated with cigar demand as measured by a validated behavioral economic task.

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Objectives: The goals of this study were to examine the associations between nativity and pregnancy-related weight and to assess the associations between maternal duration of residence and age at arrival in the United States on pregnancy-related weight among immigrants. Methods: Using logistic regression and data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, we assessed differences in preconception weight and gestational weight gain between US-born and immigrant women (N = 7000). We then analyzed differences in both outcomes by duration of residence among immigrants (n = 1850) and examined whether the identified relationships varied by age at arrival in the United States. Results: Compared to US-born mothers, immigrants were less likely to be classified as obese prior to pregnancy (odds ratio 0.435, 95% confidence interval, 0.321–0.590) or experience excessive gestational weight gain (odds ratio 0.757, 95% confidence interval, 0.614–0.978). Among the immigrant sub-sample, living in the United States for 10–15 years (odds ratio 2.737, 95% confidence interval, 1.459–5.134) or 16+ years was positively associated with both preconception obesity (odds ratio 2.918, 95% confidence interval, 1.322–6.439) and excessive gestational weight gain (odds ratio 1.683, 95% confidence interval, 1.012–2.797, 16+ years only). There was some evidence that the duration of residence was positively associated with preconception obesity, but only among women who had moved to the United States at age 18 years and older. Conclusion: In sum, while immigrants are less likely than US-born mothers to experience preconception obesity or excessive gestational weight gain, these outcomes vary among the former group by duration of US residence.

A large body of literature has shown that unrealistic absolute optimism plays an important role in the medical decisions. Yet, previous studies have largely overlooked how it might impact peoples’ willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to treat themselves and, importantly, for their child. In this online study with N = 355 participants were asked to rate how likely that both they and their child will experience the risks associated with several different medical procedures and, thereafter, their WTP and willingness to treat both themselves and their child. Participants generally exhibited unrealistic absolute pessimism, rating the likelihood of getting the side effect for themselves and for their child higher than the midpoint of the range of probabilities provided. Furthermore, participants who exhibited unrealistic absolute pessimism were more likely to agree to treatment, whereas those who showed unrealistic absolute optimism were less likely to agree to treatment and had a lower WTP for treatment. Our data reveal that unrealistic absolute pessimism, rather than unrealistic absolute optimism, might be associated with greater intention to undergo treatment and WTP for medical treatments.

INTRODUCTION: There are significant racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of postpartum depression. Prior research suggests that the relationships between weight status and depression may vary by race/ethnicity among the general population. However, few studies have investigated whether race/ethnicity moderates the relationships between pregnancy-related weight and postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS). This study examines the relationships between pregnancy-related weight and maternal PPDS overall and by race/ethnicity. METHODS: This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (N≈6950). Ordinary least squares and logistic regression were used to examine whether pregnancy-related weight, including preconception obesity and gestational weight gain, were associated with PPDS. Stratified analyses were used to assess whether these relationships varied by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Preconception obesity was associated with higher levels of postpartum depressive symptoms (β=1.208, 95% CI 0.995–1.467). In contrast, gestational weight gain adequacy was not associated with PPDS. Among non-Hispanic (NH) whites, preconception obesity was positively associated with PPDS (β=1.016, 95% CI 0.448–1.584). In contrast, among Hispanics, preconception overweight was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms (β=-0.887, 95% CI -1.580 to -0.195). There were no statistically significant relationships between pregnancy-related weight and PPDS among NH black or Asian women. However, both NH blacks and Asians were significantly more likely to report PPDS compared to NH whites. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-related weight is associated with higher levels of PPDS, but only among NH white women. Addressing preconception weight could help to reduce overall levels of PPDS but doing so might not mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in postpartum mental health.