Adolescent Depression Research Articles

Physiological Mechanisms of The Relationship Between Memory, Attention, and Arousal in Children Diagnosed with Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder with an early onset and lifelong duration that impairs social interaction and communication, with the condition being repeatedly diagnosed. To gain scientific knowledge about autism, one must observe these patients, perform a series of investigations and examinations, and finally obtain a general title. The first stage of getting to know children diagnosed with autism is one of the most important conditions for studying their psychology and inner world. Therefore, studying the psychology of children diagnosed with autism is also considered a responsible task for psychologists. The article presents the results of assessing the level of anxiety, stress, depression, attention and memory indicators in children with autism, which is an actual problem in recent times, in different age groups. The studies were conducted at two different locations: the Special Support, Special Training and Rehabilitation Centre (Tatvan district of Bitlis, Turkey) and the Psychological Centre Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Development Centre “PRIM” (Baku, Azerbaijan). Conducting studies in two different regions will reveal whether there is a difference between patients diagnosed with autism. The study examined children diagnosed with autism aged 6-12 years of both sexes (44 in Turkey; 51 in Azerbaijan). The results obtained in the study were compared with normal test limits. Psychological testing was conducted on an individual basis, and for the comprehensive study, the same child was tested repeatedly, with a certain frequency and with special attention. Although more boys than girls were included in the confirmed cases, since the aim was not to study gender differences, care was taken to obtain generalisable results. The attempt to clarify a complex topic such as stress in a broad topic such as autism characterises a very complex situation. Therefore, we have endeavoured to obtain more accurate results through the use of comprehensive tests. The main objective of the research work is to obtain certain results by using comprehensive psychological research methods in determining the level of stress and anxiety in children diagnosed with autism and to study the main characteristics of autism by comparing them with psychological indicators considered within the normal range. The results of studies conducted in Turkey and Azerbaijan showed the presence of low levels of attention and memory processes, behavioural disorders, aggressive and depressive behaviour in all age groups against the background of increased arousal. Children diagnosed with autism exhibit similar symptoms regardless of their geographical location, indicating that this disease has common characteristics regardless of national, racial, religious, and regional peculiarities.

Investigating Functional Connectivity in Adolescent Depression and Suicide Attempt during Neurofeedback Sessions: A Multivariate Random Covariance Model Approach

Background A recent neurofeedback functional magnetic resonance imaging (NF, fMRI) study on depressed vs. healthy adolescents elicited differential functional connectivity (FC) amongst brain regions of interest (ROIs). Previous results employed univariate methods and included only two seed areas of FC (amygdala and hippocampus). In this study, we propose a new multivariate analysis for whole-network FC estimation. Methods Primary analyses concerned a pre-identified network of 17 salient ROIs reflecting key regions in self-processing and emotion regulation. A random covariance model (RCM) was applied to jointly estimate participant- and group-specific connectivity, where FC was measured by partial correlation conditioned on or adjusted for rest-of-network connectivity patterns. Secondary analyses concerned participant-specific network association with mental functioning changes and the AAL3 whole-brain atlas. Results New findings suggested that depressed adolescents with a suicide attempt expressed significantly higher positive FC between the left temporal gyrus and the left amygdala during NF, compared to negative FC in non-attempting depressed youth, while healthy controls displayed negative FC between the insula, inferior frontal gyrus to inferior parietal lobe connection, compared to mild negative connectivity in depressed adolescents. Previous cross-hemispheric findings in depressed vs. healthy adolescents were corroborated. Conclusion A multivariate RCM uncovered key ROI-pairwise connections differentiating FC patterns between depressed youth vs. healthy controls and among depressed youth, with and without a suicide attempt. Findings were strengthened by enhanced inference vs. univariate methods, and corroboration of previous NF secondary analyses demonstrated future utility for participant-specific study in association with clinical outcomes and/or whole-brain analyses with larger sample sizes.

Perceived parental rearing styles and depression in Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of self-compassion.

Adolescence is a period characterized by rapid biological and psychological change, and adolescents have a heightened risk of depression. Parental rearing is an important influencing factor for depression in adolescence. However, the mechanism of influence needs further exploration. A total of 1839 adolescents were recruited from a junior and a senior high school in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. They were requested to completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21(DASS-21). Adolescents recalled their mothers as being more caring and controlling than their fathers. Parental care (maternal care, paternal care) and parental encouragement of autonomy (maternal encouragement of autonomy, paternal encouragement of autonomy) were both negative predictors of depression, while parental control (maternal control, paternal control) was positive predictor of depression. Self-compassion mediated all relationships between parental rearing styles (parental care, parental encouragement of autonomy, and parental control) and depression but played different mediating roles (complete or incomplete mediating role) in different relationships. Self-compassion plays a mediator role in all relationships between perceived parental rearing styles (parental care, parental encouragement of autonomy, and parental control) and depression. Adolescents who grown up with less parental care, less parental encouragement of autonomy, and high parental control deserve special attention. Educators and clinicians could help those adolescents reduce the occurrence of depression by increasing their level of self-compassion.

The efficacy of mobile applications for reducing depression in adolescents and young adults: A meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Mobile applications for mental health have the potential to aid people with mental health disorders, especially depression, by providing them with tools and coping mechanisms. Adolescents and young adults, being at risk of depressive symptoms and leading mobile users, are among the main targets of using mobile applications to alleviate symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mobile application-based psychological interventions in reducing depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults compared to those not exposed to the intervention. We conducted a meta-analysis focusing on mobile applications for reducing depressive symptoms. We searched two databases: MEDLINE and EMBASE and included randomized controlled trials conducted in English among participants aged 18-35 years old who were assessed for depressive symptoms using a validated screening measure and used mobile applications-based psychological interventions. Two of six independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and bias assessment. A pooled mean standardized difference (Cohen's d) and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using I2 statistics and forest plot. Egger's test was used for assessing publication bias. After screening 740 references, we identified 12 trials with 1869 participants, with a mean age of participants ranging from 14.70 to 25.1 years. The interventions ranged from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mobile apps to interactive story-telling apps and apps delivering a mix of CBT, interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents, and dialectical behavior therapy elements. Control groups included information-only, waitlist, no intervention, and treatment as usual. Seven studies used Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess the severity of depressive symptoms, while the other five used different scales. There was no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.325). The mobile applications reduced depression score by 0.08 units of standardized difference more than the control, with a 95% CI of -0.19 to 0.03 (p = 0.294, I2 = 15.4%) using standardized mean difference (SMD) as the effect estimate. In a sensitivity analysis including only studies that used PHQ-9, we found a similar trend, SMD -0.72 (95%CI -1.48 to 0.03). However, both findings were not significant. Current evidence is insufficient to support mobile applications to relieve depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults. Further trials with larger sample size are needed to confirm our findings of a positive trend. With emerging technologies and the high exposure of apps in this population, mobile applications for depression hold promise for the future of treatment and awareness of mental health disorders in this population.

Treatment "non-responders": the experience of short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy among depressed adolescents, their parents and therapists.

Short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (STPP) is an evidence-based treatment for adolescents with depression, but like all treatment approaches, not all patients benefit from it. Previous investigations of the process of STPP have mostly focused on successful cases, and only a few studies have included the perspectives of young people, their parents, and therapists in the understanding of treatment non-response. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with young people who were considered "non-responders" to STPP, as well as with their parents and therapists. These cases were analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. The data analysis revealed three themes: (1) Therapy as a safe space; (2) Can short-term psychotherapy ever be enough?; and (3) Therapists making links and connections that did not make sense to the young people. This study's findings indicate that "poor outcome" psychotherapy does not necessarily equate to a "poor experience" of psychotherapy, with different stakeholders appreciating the treatment setting as a "safe space." However, they also suggest that some felt that a relatively short-term treatment could not lead to substantial change and that young people in STPP might have a more negative view of their outcomes compared to their parents and therapists. Finally, the findings indicate that some interventions made by clinicians in STPP feel wrong or do not make sense to young people, potentially affecting the therapy process.

Variations in the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression by age at first occurrence of ACEs

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to be associated with depression. However, the extent to which such association varies by age at the first occurrence of ACEs remains unexplored. The objectives of this study are: (1) To describe the association between ACEs and depression among university students in China, and; (2) to assess the extent to which the mentioned association varied by age at first ACE.MethodsWe conducted a self-administered survey among university students in southern China and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsWe found significant associations between ACEs and depression prevalence, particularly when comparing students with three or more ACEs vs. students with no ACEs (62% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.99, 6.12). Stratified analyses showed that the association was particularly strong among students who first experienced ACEs at age 0–6 years (66% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 4.05; 95% CI = 1.90, 8.59), but was non-significant among those who first experienced ACEs at age 13–18 years (31% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 0.99; 95 CI = 0.24, 4.08).ConclusionThe strength of the associations between ACEs and depression varied by the age at first ACE. However, the cross-sectional study design, potential information bias, and lack of generalizability should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

The Impact of the Internet on Adolescents’ Mental Health

Studies have found that the age of adolescent first exposure to the Internet is getting younger and younger, and the bad information on the Internet may have a negative impact on their mental health. Communication of Network community in online social media may cause extreme emotions among teenagers, especially under online anonymity, teenagers may show extreme emotions different from those in reality, which may lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. According to the research, the author pointed out that Internet addiction is positively associated with depression in adolescents, and Internet addicts may disperse their depressive emotions through the Internet, but this behavior may aggravate the degree of depression. Moreover, the negative emotional atmosphere and social comparison on the Internet may lead to low self-esteem and anxiety among adolescents. Excessive use of Internet technology for recreational activities may adversely affect the educational development of adolescents, leading to decreased academic performance and depression tendencies. This paper explores in depth the effects of the Internet on adolescent mental health, especially the effects of Internet addiction, online social networking, cyberbullying and online use on sleep. And how to guide teenagers to use the Internet correctly and protect their mental health has become an urgent social problem to be solved.

An Examination of Mental Health Rates in Children During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey 2019-2020.

The study objective was to examine the mental health of children during a time period that included the COVID-19 Lockdown. The sample included a cross-section of children aged 2 to 17 years (2019; n = 4, 194; 2020; n = 5,172), from the National Health Interview Survey. In multivariate models, survey years 2020 and 2019 were compared for significant changes in anxiety, depression, and social behaviors in children after adjustment for sociodemographic variables. Bivariate analysis also examined sociodemographic characteristics, health care utilization by anxiety, depression, and social behaviors, and examined differences in anxiety and depression from 2019 to 2020. In multivariate models, there was an increased risk of anxiety ((AOR = 1.3(1.0, 1.6)), depression ((AOR = 1.2 (1.0, 1.4)) and difficult social behaviors (AOR = 1.2 (1.0, 1.4) in children from 2019 to 2020. Girls were at increased risk compared to boys for anxiety and depression ((anxiety; AOR = 1.4 (1.2, 1.8), depression; AOR = 1.2 (1.0, 1.3)), however, girls were at decreased risk compared to boys for uncontrolled social behaviors (AOR = 0.51 (0.43, 0.61)). White children were at increased risk for anxiety and depression compared to all other race and ethnic groups. High rates of anxiety, depression and difficult social behaviors that preexisted the Covid-19 Lock Down, continued or increased during the Lockdown. Effective public health interventions could prevent further declines in mental health, and a potential trajectory into adulthood of poor physical and mental health.

Candidate SNPs associated with anxiety and depression in children and adolescents in the USH1C gene

Introduction: Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents are growing concerns globally, with significant rates of diagnosis across diverse populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 7.1% of children aged 3 to 17 years in the United States have been diagnosed with anxiety, and 3.2% with depression. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between SNPs in the USH1C gene and predisposition to anxiety and depression in children and adolescents from specific populations.Methods: Genotypes from the 1000 Genomes Project were used to evaluate SNPs in Southeast Asian and European populations. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis was performed using VcfTools and the biological effects of the SNPs were assessed using the Variant Effect Predictor (VEP).Results: Two SNPs, rs4757538 and rs16934376, were identified, which showed strong LD with SNP rs79878474 in South Asian populations (r² > 0.7), suggesting their possible association with anxiety and depression. Allele frequencies varied significantly between populations. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis showed significant imbalance at the global level, but not within individual populationsConclusions: The analyzed SNPs might be related to predisposition to anxiety and depression in specific populations. These findings underline the importance of considering genetic diversity in future studies and developing personalized interventions to address these disorders in children and adolescents

The correlation of inflammation, tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, and suicide risk in adolescent depression.

Accumulating evidence suggests a role for the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway (TKP) in the psychopathology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Abnormal inflammatory profile and production of TKP neurotoxic metabolites appear more pronounced in MDD with suicidality. Progress in understanding the neurobiology of MDD in adolescents lags significantly behind that in adults due to limited empirical evidence. Aims of this study was to investigate the association between inflammation, TKP, and suicidality in adolescent depression. Seventy-three adolescents with MDD were assessed for serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tryptophan (TRP), kynurenine (KYN), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), and kynurenine acid (KA). Correlations between cytokines and TKP measures were examined. Patients were divided into high- (n = 42) and non-high-suicide-risk groups (n = 31), and serum levels of cytokines and TKP metabolites were compared. Significant negative correlations were found between TRP and IL-8 (r = - 0.27, P < 0.05) and IL-10 (r = - 0.23, P < 0.05), while a significant positive correlation was observed between 3-HK and IL-8 (r = 0.39, P < 0.01) in depressed adolescents. The KYN/TPR (index of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, IDO) was positively correlated with IL-1β (r = 0.34), IL-6 (r = 0.32), IL-10 (r = 0.38) and TNF-α (r = 0.35) levels (P < 0.01); and 3-HK/KYN (index of kynurenine3-monooxidase, KMO) was positively correlated with IL-8 level (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). Depressed adolescents at high suicide risk exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-1β (Z = 2.726, P < 0.05), IL-10 (Z = 2.444, P < 0.05), and TNF-α (Z = 2.167, P < 0.05) and lower levels of 3-HK (Z = 2.126, P < 0.05) compared to their non-high suicide risk counterparts. Our findings indicated that serum inflammatory cytokines were robustly associated with IDO and KMO activity, along with significantly decreased serum level of TRP, increased level of 3-HK, and higher suicide risk in adolescent depression.

Adolescent anxiety and depression: perspectives of network analysis and longitudinal network analysis

BackgroundAnxiety and depression often co-occur, exhibiting high comorbidity, with their trends evolving over time. However, the specific pathways through which comorbid symptoms of anxiety and depression evolve and interact remain unclear. To investigate these questions, this study employed Network Analysis (NA) and Longitudinal Network Analysis (LNA) to explore the central symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as the temporal evolution of these central symptoms.MethodsThe study focused on 606 high school students who were not in their final year in Shandong of China, with assessments conducted from March to September 2022. The bootnet package in R was used for establishing NA and LNA models, as well as for conducting accuracy analysis and node stability analysis.ResultsThe results of the NA indicated that adolescent highly susceptible to anxiety and depression. And uncontrollable worry was a common central symptom, while irritability emerged as a central bridging symptom across all three NAs. The LNA results revealed that suicidal ideation and worthlessness were key central symptoms in the LNA. Furthermore, worthlessness played a pivotal role in the developmental pathway of “suicidal ideation → worthlessness → anxiety and uncontrollable worry.” A reduction in suicidal ideation was associated with decreased severity in other symptoms.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that adolescent anxiety and depression are in a state of vulnerability, and that irritability, worthlessness, and suicidal ideation are potential targets for interventions to address adolescent anxiety and depression.

How do emotional intelligence, resilience, and parental employment affect anxiety and depression levels among Sudanese adolescents?

BackgroundAdolescents are often sensitive to emotions and vulnerable to psychiatric issues, including suicidal tendencies. Emotional intelligence is believed to play a significant role in resilience, which acts as a protective factor for mental well-being. The study investigated the level of emotional intelligence, resilience, depression, and anxiety in Sudanese adolescents and the relationship between these factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among four high schools and included a total of 392 adolescents who completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of the 30-item trait; Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire- short form (TEQ-SF), Brief Resilience Scale-6 (BRS-6) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).ResultsEmotional intelligence levels were moderate to high (M = 131.53 ± SD 22.16). While resilience levels were low to normal (M = 3.20 ± SD 0.51). Levels of anxiety were present in 89% of students while levels of depression were present in 78% of students and both were positively correlated (r = 0.540). Emotional intelligence and resilience were positively correlated (r = 0.272, p < 0.0005). Also, Resilience was positively correlated with levels of anxiety (r = 0.105) and the latter had a significant negative association with academic performance (r = − 0.102). Parents' status significantly contributed to predicting resilience levels (p-value = 0.011), with an unstandardized beta coefficient of 0.368. The mothers’ unemployment (r = − 0.100) and the father’s employment (r = 0.105) were significantly linked to lower anxiety levels.ConclusionThe high prevalence of anxiety and depression levels among Sudanese adolescents is influenced by parental separation and employment. Improving students' mental health is crucial as it is linked to enhancing their academic performance. This underscores the importance of addressing mental well-being alongside educational outcomes.

The development of depression and social anxiety symptoms in adolescents and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and desire for peer contact.

Adolescence is a dynamic developmental phase in which contact with peers is crucial for socio-emotional development and wellbeing. Depression and social anxiety show patterns of high onset during this period, and more for girls than boys. Here we examine this development among Dutch adolescents, as well as how desire for more peer contact as a result of social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this increase. We used a longitudinal three-wave design to examine 406 typically developing Dutch adolescents across two consecutive cohorts; Cohort 1: 2016-2019 (N = 138, 53.6% girls, age at T0 M = 13.00, SD = 0.42), Cohort 2: 2017-2020 (N = 268, 63.1% girls, age at T0 M = 13.05, SD = 0.39), final wave during spring 2020 during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure depression and social anxiety symptoms, desire for change in the amount of peer contact during lockdowns, and emotion regulation. Parallel process dual latent growth models and autoregressive cross-lagged models were used to test the hypotheses. Results showed that symptoms of both depression and social anxiety increase during adolescence. Gender analysis reveal a higher initial level and increase in depression symptoms for girls, while levels for boys decreased. Adolescents exposed to the pandemic showed a steeper increase in depression but not in social anxiety. Desire for more peer contact was related to an increase in depression and social anxiety, though only in girls. No evidence was found for moderation of emotion regulation skills concerning COVID evoked emotions on the association between desire for peer contact and anxiety and depression symptom development. Symptoms of social anxiety increased during adolescence in boys and girls. Symptoms of depression increased for girls, but decreased for boys. The increase in depression was greater in a cohort who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. For girls, a desire for more peer contact was associated with an increase of depression and social anxiety symptoms in times of social restrictions.

The association between perinatal depressive symptoms and child neurodevelopment

BackgroundPerinatal depression has been suggested to adversely impact child neurodevelopment. However, the complexity of the early childhood environment challenges conclusive findings. ObjectiveTo evaluate whether there is an association between perinatal depressive symptoms and child intelligence quotient (IQ) at 5 years of age. Study DesignSecondary analysis of an ancillary study to a multicenter randomized trial of thyroxine therapy for pregnant individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism. Dyads of infants and birthing parent, with completed Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) screens during pregnancy and postpartum and child neurodevelopment testing completed at five years of age (n=209) were included. CES-D screening was performed at 11–20 weeks, 34–38 weeks, and one-year postpartum. Depressive symptoms were categorized as antenatal (i.e., a positive screen at any point during pregnancy) or postpartum. The primary outcome was child IQ score < 85 at 5 years of age using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence III (WPPSI-III) Full Scale test. Secondary outcomes included other assessments of childhood neurodevelopment. Bivariable analyses and multivariable logistic regressions were utilized. ResultsOf the 209 birthing people included, 72 (34%) screened positive for depression during pregnancy and 32 (15%) screened positive one year postpartum. Children born to individuals with a positive antenatal depression screen had a higher odds of IQ < 85 at 5 years of age compared with children born to individuals with a CES-D < 16 (35% vs. 18%, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7). Similar findings were seen for children born to individuals with a positive postpartum depression screen (47% vs. 21%, OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5–7.3). These associations did not persist in multivariable analyses that controlled for social determinants of health and clinical characteristics (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] 1.4, 95% CI 0.7–3.1; aOR 2.1, 95% CI 0.9–5.1, for antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, respectively). Similar findings were observed for other adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. ConclusionsHaving a positive perinatal depression screen was not associated with child cognitive outcomes after controlling for covariates including social determinants of health.

Sleep Disturbance and Subsequent Suicidal Behaviors in Preadolescence

Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, who demonstrate high rates of sleep disturbance. Poor sleep appears to confer risk for suicide, but longitudinal investigation of suicidal behaviors remains rare, particularly in the transition from childhood to early adolescence. To evaluate sleep disturbances in preadolescent children (aged 9 and 10 years) in association with longitudinal risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts at the 2-year follow-up. This cohort study used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study between June 2016 and January 2021. This dataset included children aged 9 or 10 years at baseline and their parents or caregivers who were recruited at 21 sites across the US. Data were analyzed July 2023 to June 2024. The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, a 26-item parent-reported inventory, was administered at baseline, generating a total score and 6 subscales. Central covariates included the Child Behavior Checklist Anxiety and Depression subscale and demographic variables. The computerized Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-COMP) assessed parent- and youth-reported suicidal behaviors and outcomes (none; passive, active nonspecific, and active specific suicidal ideation; and suicide attempt) at the 2-year follow-up. Sleep disturbance was further grouped by symptom severity (minimal, moderate, elevated, high, and severe). Of the 10 136 youths who reported no baseline suicidal ideation or behavior, 8807 youths (mean [SD] age, 9.9 [0.6] years; 4507 males [51.2%]; 197 Asian individuals [2.2%], 1273 Black individuals [14.5%], and 5775 White individuals [65.6%]) completed the K-SADS-COMP assessment at the 2-year follow-up and were included in the analysis. At the follow-up, 8044 participants (91.3%) had no suicidal behavior, 317 (3.6%) had passive suicidal ideation, 258 (2.9%) had active nonspecific suicidal ideation, 130 (1.5%) had active specific suicidal ideation, and 58 (0.7%) had a first-time suicide attempt. Baseline sleep disturbance was associated with increased incidence risk for suicidal behavior at age 12 years (odds ratio, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.44-4.98; P = .002), adjusting for covariates. Individual subscales or items demonstrating associations with risk included disorders of excessive somnolence and frequency of nightmares. Results of this longitudinal cohort study revealed that disturbed sleep at age 10 years was associated with risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the next 2 years. The findings highlight the potential importance of sleep as a visible risk factor and intervention target in the prevention of youth suicide.

Risky online behavior in relation to social support, depression, and anxiety in Czech adolescents

This study examines how risky online behaviors among Czech adolescents relate to social support, depression, and anxiety. The behaviors investigated include sending videos to strangers, receiving explicit content, sharing nude photos, encountering monetary offers for meetings, and exposure to blackmail. A nationwide sample of 1095 adolescents aged 15–19 participated in a paper-pencil survey. The research utilized the Scale of Online Risky Behavior (SORB), the Social Support Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CASSS-CZ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) for data collection. Findings indicate the prevalence of risky online behavior: 10.8% of participants reported sending videos, 34.5% received explicit content, 11.3% shared nude photos, 9.2% encountered monetary offers for meetings, and 12.3% experienced online blackmail, with higher rates observed in females. Anxiety and depression were consistently linked to an increased likelihood of engaging in all types of risky online behavior. Parental support was negatively associated with the likelihood of sending a video of oneself to a stranger and receiving video with inappropriate sexual content, while support from friends showed no significant relationship with any risky behavior. Further research is needed to understand factors influencing risky online behavior.

Suicide Risk among Chinese Left-Behind Adolescents: Developmental Trajectories and Multi-Contextual Predictors.

Suicide is prevalent among left-behind youth, a group that has yet to be thoroughly explored in terms of the developmental dynamics of their suicide risk and associated factors. This study adopted a person-centered approach to investigate the developmental trajectories of suicide risk among Chinese left-behind adolescents, along with multi-dimensional predictors. A total of 774 left-behind adolescents (Mage = 13.60, 50.1% female) completed three surveys over a year, with six-month intervals. Result of Latent Class Growth Modeling identified three subgroups with distinct developmental trajectories: High Risk-Escalating (7.6% of participants started at the highest levels with a worsening trend), Risk-Holding (21.6% maintained a stable but risk level starting above the critical threshold), and Low Risk-Diminishing (70.8% started low and continued to decrease). Gender (being a female), increased levels of childhood maltreatment, psychological pain, and depression were risk factors for High Risk-Escalating and/or Risk-Holding trajectories, while increased sense of control and regulatory emotional self-efficacy played protective roles. The findings underscore the malignant developmental patterns of suicide risk among left-behind adolescents. The predictive factors play a crucial role in distinguishing and improving these developmental trajectories.

Group metacognitive therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety and depression: A preliminary trial and test of proposed mechanisms

Preliminary research supports the feasibility of metacognitive therapy (MCT) in children with generalized anxiety, but the effectiveness of MCT in treating children with other anxiety and depressive disorders largely remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects associated with MCT in targeting symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents and to investigate mechanisms proposed by the metacognitive model. Ninety-seven participants aged 10–17 years (M = 12.9 ± 1.9, 82.5 % females) with anxiety and depressive disorders received eight sessions of group MCT. Participants were diagnostically assessed at pre- and post-treatment and completed symptom and process measures before, during, and after treatment, and again at three- and six-month follow-up. Multilevel models were conducted to investigate treatment-related and mediation effects. Results showed large reductions in total symptoms following treatment (d = 1.28). These reductions were associated with, and temporally preceded by changes in cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS), metacognitive beliefs, and self-reported attention control, but not objective attention control. Treatment gains were maintained at six-month follow-up (d = 1.18). Our results indicate that MCT may be a promising treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety and depression and provide preliminary evidence of changes in CAS, metacognition, and perceived attention control as potential drivers of treatment effects.

Adolescent predictors of substance use in young adulthood among individuals with childhood-onset chronic pain: Afollow-up study.

Adolescent chronic pain is a substantial public health problem, and pain symptoms often persist into adulthood. Young adults with chronic pain are at elevated risk for more frequent tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use, and cross-sectional research highlights the importance of psychosocial vulnerability factors. Limited research has examined how adolescent predictors, including mental health symptoms, pain, sleep and family functioning, impact later, young adult substance use. A prospective cohort of 229 young adults (77.3% female; Mage = 21.0, SD = 1.6) with childhood-onset chronic pain completed measurements in adolescence and a follow-up assessment in young adulthood of past 3-month substance use frequency. Adolescent sleep quality and male sex were associated with more frequent tobacco use; adolescent depression was associated with more frequent alcohol use, and adolescent pain severity was associated with less frequent, and male sex was associated with more frequent cannabis use. Adolescent predictors of young adult substance use among youth with childhood-onset chronic pain represent important factors that may inform assessment, prevention and treatment of substance use in this population. Identifying and testing psychological interventions that target these vulnerability factors may reduce overall substance use risk in young adulthood. This prospective observational study of young adults with childhood-onset chronic pain identified adolescent depression and sleep quality as vulnerability factors associated with substance use. Given the increasing risk for substance use during adolescence and young adulthood, these findings highlight the potential importance of early intervention to reduce substance use among young adults with childhood-onset chronic pain.

Pubertal timing in adolescence and adulthood: Relations among contemporaneous and retrospective measures.

Pubertal development has short- and long-term effects on psychological adjustment. Many studies of long-term effects rely on retrospective measurement of pubertal timing, but such measures often reflect different aspects of puberty than those assessed in adolescence, raising questions about the utility and interpretation of retrospective reports. The present study leveraged longitudinal data collected in adolescence and established adulthood to determine: (1) the correspondence between pubertal timing indexed from logistic growth curves of self-reported physical development assessed contemporaneously across adolescence and pubertal timing indexed relative to peers assessed retrospectively in adulthood; (2) the associations between the two pubertal timing measures and psychological adjustment; and (3) potential recall biases. Participants were 748 individuals (50.1% female; 91.6% White) from two longitudinal studies who reported on their pubertal development annually from Grades 3-9, psychological adjustment (age at sexual initiation, substance use, depression) in late adolescence, and retrospective pubertal timing in established adulthood (Mage = 32.76; SD = 4.43). Results indicate moderate-to-high convergence between retrospective and contemporaneous indices. Most participants, especially women, had the same pubertal timing classification (i.e., early, on time, or late), but early-maturing adolescents often recalled on-time development as adults. Retrospective and contemporaneous indices were associated with psychological adjustment in similar ways, with some attenuation in the retrospective measure, especially for men. There was little evidence of recall bias due to age at retrospective assessment or time since puberty. Findings generally support the use of retrospective pubertal timing measures, with the recognition that some relations with adjustment may be weakened. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).