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Background Adolescence is a critical period for vaping onset. The purpose of this article was to examine the effect of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period on youth vaping. Methods We used 3-year linked data from the COMPASS study, including 7585 Canadian (Quebec, Ontario) adolescents from which 1949 completed all three survey waves (pre-COVID-19 [2018, 2019] and online [2020] during the early pandemic period [May–July 2020]) and provided vaping data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and difference-in-difference (DD) models were used to estimate pre-COVID-19 to initial COVID-19 pandemic period change (2019–2020) in vaping (monthly, weekly, daily) compared with 2018–2019 change to adjust for age-related effects. Models were adjusted for age of entry into the cohort and sociodemographic characteristics. Results In the SEM and DD models, the proportion of youth who were monthly and weekly vaping increased from 2018 to 2019 but decreased from 2019 to 2020; daily vaping increased across all waves. However, for all vaping outcomes modeled, the expected increases from the pre-COVID-19 wave (2019) to the initial COVID-19 period wave (2020) were lesser relative to the changes seen across the 2018 to 2019 waves. Conclusion The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period appear to be associated with a reduction in the proportion of youth who were monthly and weekly vapers in our adjusted longitudinal models. While daily vaping increased over this same period of time, the magnitude of the increase in our adjusted longitudinal models appears attenuated by the early stages of the pandemic. Implications This large prospective study of youth that included pre-pandemic data is unique in that we were able to identify that the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with a reduction in the proportion of youth who were monthly and weekly vapers in our adjusted longitudinal models. Conversely, the proportion of youth who were daily vaping increased over this same period of time, but the magnitude of the increase appears smaller than expected during the early stages of the pandemic in our adjusted longitudinal models. This study provides novel robust evidence that the patterns of vaping most aligned with onset and progression (i.e., monthly and weekly use) appear attenuated during the initial pandemic period.

IntroductionAlthough many studies have examined the associations between growth problems in infancy and age at school entry, grade repetition, school dropout and schooling level in developing country, no synthesis of the evidence has been conducted. We aim to review evidence of the effects of stunting, or height-for-age, on schooling level and schooling trajectories, defined as the combination of school entry age, grade repetition, and school dropouts.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of studies (last update March 20, 2021) estimating that estimate the association between stunting, or height-for-age, and at least one component of the school trajectory, or schooling level, using five databases (PubMed, Embase, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Web of Science and PsycINFO). Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Pooled effects were calculated using the generic inverse variance weighting random effect model. The studies’ risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies.ResultsWe screened 3944 records by titles and abstracts and retained 16 for inclusion in the qualitative and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that an increase in height-for-age leads to an increase in early enrollment [OR: 1.34 (95% CI: 1.07; 1.67)], a reduction in late enrollment [OR: 0.63 (95% CI: 0.51; 0.78)], an increase in schooling level [MD: 0.24 (95% CI: 0.14; 0.34)], and a reduction of school overage [OR: 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70; 0.90)]. The odds of grade repetition increased by 59% (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.18; 2.14) for stunted children compared to those with no stunting.ConclusionsThis review suggests that stunting in childhood might lead to a delay in school enrollment, grade repetition, school dropout, and low schooling levels in developing countries. Future research should evaluate the effect of stunting on academic trajectories in the same population and explore the potential modification effect of socioeconomic status. The current findings suggest that policy makers need to work more to prevent stunting and to include health issues in educational policies.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020198346

Purpose The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health is a global concern; however, most research is cross-sectional or started after the pandemic response began and thus unable to evaluate within-individual change. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of the initial COVID-19 response on adolescent mental health and ill-health as a natural experiment. Methods We used 3-year linked data from the COMPASS study, including 7,653 Canadian (Quebec, Ontario) adolescents from which 2,099 completed surveys in all three waves (pre-COVID-19 [2018 and 2019] and online [May–July 2020], 2–3 months into the pandemic). A structural equation modeling approach to fixed effects and a difference-in-differences design were used to estimate pre-COVID-19–to–early lockdown change in mental health (psychosocial well-being [flourishing—reverse scored]) and ill-health (depression and anxiety symptoms), compared with 2018-to-2019 change. Models were adjusted for self-selection, age of entry into the cohort, and sociodemographics. Results Depression, anxiety, and reverse-flourishing scores increased across all waves; however, the mental health changes from the pre-COVID-19 wave (2019) to 2020 were not greater relative to the changes seen across the 2018-to-2019 waves. Conclusions Our results do not support a detrimental effect of the initial stages of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on adolescent mental health. The deterioration in mental health in the early COVID-19 response was less than the decline found over a prepandemic period. Further prospective research is needed to explore the impact of the prolonged pandemic and related measures on adolescents and inequitable effects in population subgroups.

BackgroundGiven the high rates of cannabis use among Canadian youth and that adolescence is a critical period for cannabis use trajectories, the purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period on youth cannabis use in the context of a natural experiment.We used 3-year linked data from the COMPASS study, including 7653 Canadian (Quebec, Ontario) adolescents from which 1937 completed all 3 survey waves (pre-COVID-19 [2018, 2019] and online [2020] during the early pandemic period [May–July 2020]). Structural equation modeling (SEM) and double difference (DD) models were used to estimate pre-COVID-19 to initial COVID-19 pandemic period change (2019–2020) in cannabis use (monthly, weekly, daily) compared to 2018 to 2019 change to adjust for age-related effects. Models were adjusted for age of entry into the cohort and sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsIn the SEM and DD models, monthly, weekly, and daily cannabis use increased across all waves; however, the expected increases from the pre-COVID-19 wave (2019) to the initial COVID-19 period wave (2020) were lesser relative to the changes seen across the 2018 to 2019 waves. The cross-sectional data from May to July 2020 identified that the majority of youth who use cannabis did not report increased cannabis use due to COVID-19 or using cannabis to cope with COVID-19.ConclusionDuring the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic period, there does not appear to be a detrimental effect on youth cannabis use, when adjusted for age-related changes. Further prospective research is needed to explore the impact of the ongoing pandemic response on youth cannabis use onset and progression.