Male Adolescents Research Articles

Prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescent outpatient visits. A descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Introduction. The male genital exam is a simple and quick assessment to look for urogenital disease. Data on the prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescents are limited. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescents. Population and methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Adolescence of a public hospital in the City of Buenos Aires. The medical records of male patients aged 9 to 20 years seen between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed; all those with a genital exam were included. Data on age, pubertal stage, orchidometry, and urogenital disease before adolescence and at the time of consultation were recorded. The prevalence was described as percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI). As per estimations, 1167 medical records had to be included to establish the population sample. Results. A total of 2129 medical records were assessed and 1429 were included. No genital exam had been conducted in 686 cases. The median age of the population was 12 years (interquartile range: 11-14 years). Urogenital disease before adolescence was detected in 72 boys (5.7%; 95% CI: 4.5- 7.2). Urogenital disease was found in 272 adolescents (14.8%; 95% CI: 13.1-16.7); the most common conditions were balanopreputial adhesions in 5.3% (95% CI: 4.2-6.6), varicocele in 2.7% (95% CI: 2-3.7), and phimosis in 1.8% (95% CI: 1.2-2.6). Conclusions. A genital exam allowed to detect that 14.8% of adolescent boys had a urogenital disease. The most common conditions were balanopreputial adhesions, varicocele, and phimosis.

Mental Health Care Use among Adolescent Sexual Minority Males Before and During COVID-19.

Adolescent (cisgender) sexual minority males (ASMM) face multiple mental health disparities. Yet surprisingly little is known about use of mental health care among ASMM. The current study examined mental health care use among ASMM, both lifetime use and during the COVID-19 pandemic. ASMM (N=154, ages 14-17 years) enrolled in Spring 2020 for a pilot randomized controlled trial of an online sexual health intervention. Participants were assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Participants reported lifetime (at baseline) and recent (at follow-up) mental health care use. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed at both timepoints. Differences in care use by sociodemographics, healthcare access, and mental health symptoms were established. More than half of participants reported clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms at baseline and at follow-up. Of those youth, fifty-three percent reported lifetime mental health care use, while only 28% reported recent care at follow-up. Being out to an accepting guardian (aOR=4.0, 95% CI: 1.9-8.4), having a primary care physician (aOR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.0-6.7), and having clinically significant symptoms (aOR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.5-6.5) were each independently associated with a greater odds of having received lifetime mental health care. Findings indicate that many ASMM in the sample received mental health care in their lifetimes. However, more participants endorsed clinically significant anxiety/depressive symptoms than received care at both timepoints. This disparity was even more pronounced approximately five months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Research and practice efforts must reduce care barriers and augment facilitators for all ASMM, with particular urgency during COVID-19 and its aftermath.

Prevalence and Determinants of Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents in Thailand: Evidence From 2021 Global School-Based Health Survey.

Adolescent cigarette smoking remains a concern globally, including in Thailand. This research aimed to elucidate the prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among Thai adolescents. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. A cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2021 Thailand Global School-Based Health Survey with 5545 adolescents aged 13-17 with complete information was conducted on their cigarette smoking status. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to discern the determinants of tobacco smoking among adolescents. The overall weighted prevalence of cigarette smoking was 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=9.7%, 13.5%), with adolescent males at 18.2% (95% CI=15.3%, 21.4%) and adolescent females at 5.6% (95% CI=4.2%, 7.4%). The multivariable logistic regression also revealed that males were more likely to be smokers (Adjusted Odd Ratio [AOR]=1.58; 95% CI=1.02, 2.45, P=0.040) compared to females. The presence of smokers in their vicinity significantly increased the odds of smoking (AOR=2.21, 95% CI=1.46, 3.36, P<0.001). Current alcohol use (AOR=3.37, 95% CI=2.21-5.14, P<0.001) and current marijuana use (AOR=4.53, 95% CI=2.06, 9.99, P<0.001) were both significant determinants of smoking. Notably, early initiation of cigarette use (before age 14) was associated with a lower likelihood of current smoking (AOR=0.54, 95% CI=0.33, 0.92, P=0.022). With an overall prevalence of smoking among adolescents at 11.5%, our study highlights a significant public health concern. The positive determinants of the identified tobacco smoking include being male, having smokers in their vicinity, and currently using alcohol, and marijuana, while early initiation of cigarette use before age 14 is identified as an inverse determinant.

Off-label use of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki with early activity in a cohort of patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumor.

11584 Background: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare and aggressive sarcoma occurring predominantly in pediatric, adolescent and young adult biologic males, and is molecularly characterized by the pathognomonic EWSR1-WT1 fusion. Despite aggressive multi-modality therapy outcomes for those with DSRCT remain poor, and more effective therapies are urgently required. Prior pre-clinical data and transcriptomic analyses of DSRCT patients has suggested the relevance of the ERBB2 pathway in this disease, prompting the off-label use of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) in the treatment of patients of DSRCT patient with relapsed and refractory disease. Methods: Patients with relapsed/refractory DSRCT received T-DXd 5.4 mg/kg intravenously in 21-day cycles. Whole body PET and CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis were used for monitoring. Response was correlated with HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) status and transcriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing (RNAseq) when available. Results: Seven patients received the agent, and at the time of submission 3 patients had at least one follow up imaging test after receiving between 6 and 9 cycles of T-DXd. Treatment was overall well tolerated with the only grade 3 toxicity of transaminitis (in patients with known liver metastases), which self-resolved. All other toxicities including constipation, nausea, and fatigue were grade 2 or less. All 3 patients have experienced clinical benefit including one patient with a RECIST 1.1 partial response and two patients with stable disease. Additionally, favorable responses were noted by PET imaging. Four additional patients with relapsed/refractory DSRCT have initiated off-label treatment with T-DXd and are pending imaging responses. 7/7 and 4/7 patients have available IHC and ERBB2 RNA expression data available respectively. All ERBB2 RNA expression data is elevated when compared with the median across all evaluated pediatric tumors in our institutional series. Conclusions: The use of anti-HER2 therapy in a limited and unselected group of heavily pre-treated DSRCT patients is demonstrating an early signal of activity with minimal toxicity and suggests that formal assessment as monotherapy or in other relevant combinations in clinical trials is warranted. Further correlation with IHC and RNAseq expression data may help optimize correlatives and/or generate biomarkers for future clinical trials.

The association between delinquent peer affiliation and disruptive behavior interacts with functional brain correlates of reward sensitivity: a biosocial interaction study in adolescent delinquents.

Affiliating with delinquent peers may stimulate the development of antisocial behavior, especially for adolescents who are sensitive to social rewards. The current study examines whether the association between delinquent peer affiliation (DPA) and disruptive behavior interacts with functional brain correlates of reward sensitivity in early onset male adolescents delinquents. Childhood arrestees (n = 126, mean age = 17.7 [s.d. 1.6]) completed a DPA questionnaire, and participated in an fMRI study in which reward sensitivity was operationalized through responsiveness of the ventral striatum (VS), amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the monetary incentive delay paradigm (reward anticipation and outcome). Symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) were assessed through structured psychiatric interviews (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children) with adolescents. DPA had a main effect on DBD symptoms. Adolescents with high VS reward responses showed a stronger significant positive association between DPA and DBD symptoms compared to low VS responders. No evidence for an interaction effect was found for the amygdala and mPFC. Post-hoc analyses revealed the positive association between DPA and DBD was only present in males, with a diminishing effect as age increased. We found evidence for a biosocial interaction between DPA and reward sensitivity of the VS in relation to DBD symptom severity. This study provides the first evidence of an interaction effect between a brain mechanism and an environmental factor in relation to DBD symptoms, implying that susceptibility to influences of delinquent peers may intertwine with individual biological differences.

Temporal trends in inpatient care use for adult mental disorders in Czechia: a nationwide register-based study from 1994 to 2015

PurposeTo describe temporal trends in inpatient care use for adult mental disorders in Czechia from 1994 until 2015.MethodsData from the nationwide register of inpatient care use and yearly census data were used to calculate (a) yearly admissions rates, (b) median length of stay, and (c) standardized inpatient-years for adult mental disorders (ICD-10 codes F0-F6] or G30). Segmented regressions were used to analyze age- and sex-specific temporal trends.ResultsAdmission rates were increasing in adults (average annual percent change = 0.51; 95% confidence interval = 0.16 to 0.86 for females and 1.01; 0.63 to 1.40 for males) and adolescents and emerging adults (3.27; 2.57 to 3.97 for females and 2.98; 2.08 to 3.88 for males), whereas in seniors, the trend was stable (1.22; -0.31 to 2.73 for females and 1.35; -0.30 to 2.98 for males). The median length of stay for studied mental disorders decreased across all age and sex strata except for a stable trend in male adolescents and emerging adults (-0.96; -2.02 to 0.10). Standardized inpatient-years were decreasing in adults of both sexes (-0.85; -1.42 to -0.28 for females and -0.87; -1.19 to -0.56 for males), increasing in female adolescents and emerging adults (0.95; 0.42 to 1.47), and stable in the remaining strata.ConclusionPsychiatric hospital admissions were increasing or stable coupled with considerable reductions in median length of stay, suggesting that inpatient episodes for adult mental disorders have become more frequent and shorter over time. The overall psychiatric inpatient care use was decreasing or stable in adults and seniors, potentially implying a gradual shift away from hospital-based care.

Beliefs About Cannabis Use Among Male and Female Andalusian Adolescents.

Objectives: This study assessed potential differences between girls and boys in the prevalence rates of cannabis use, sociodemographic factors, and beliefs about cannabis use. Methods: 1,896 Andalusian adolescents aged 14-18 participated in an online survey based on the I-Change model. The survey assessed their beliefs about cannabis use, including attitudes, social influences, self-efficacy, action planning, and intention to use. Multivariate analyses of variance were then conducted to examine potential gender differences in these beliefs, while controlling for last month's cannabis use. Results: Significantly more boys used cannabis in the last month, had boyfriends/girlfriends, and had more pocket money compared to girls. Additionally, girls - in comparison to boys - were more convinced of the disadvantages of cannabis use, but were also more convinced of some of the advantages (such as freedom from boredom, and medicinal use), reported having less favorable social norms for cannabis use, had more female best friends using cannabis, and felt pressure to use cannabis from their female peers. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for cannabis prevention programs to consider gender differences in beliefs about cannabis use. Programs should not only address general risk factors for cannabis use but also evaluate if their interventions effectively target beliefs that are particularly important for girls and boys.

Time trends and disparities of obesity and related national policies and programs in Nepal: a systematic review

ObjectiveOverweight and obesity prevalence has increased in low-income countries. This study systematically reviewed the obesity trend, disparities, and prevention and control efforts in Nepal. MethodsWe searched PubMed and Google Scholar for articles and reports published between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2022. Additional information on National policies and programs related to obesity prevention was retrieved from governmental websites and consultation with relevant experts. Overweight and obesity were defined using the World Health Organization body mass index cut points. Thirty-two studies and reports were included. ResultsOverall, overweight and obesity rates increased in all groups in Nepal although nationally representative data remained limited. The combined overweight and obesity (OW/OB) and obesity rates in women aged 15‒49 years increased from 8.5% to 22.2% and from 0.9% to 5.1% between 2006 and 2016, respectively. OW/OB and obesity rates in men were 17.1% and 2.5% based on data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey. OW/OB rate in under-five children increased from 0.6% to 2.8% between 2006 and 2016. Obesity rates for school-age (5‒9 years) boys and girls in 2016 were 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively, and were 1.1% and 1.4% for male and female adolescents aged 10‒19 years, respectively. OW/OB prevalence was much higher among women, residents in urban areas and central provinces, and in higher socioeconomic status groups. Projected prevalence of OW/OB and obesity for 2030 in adults aged 15‒49 was 44.7% and 8.3%, respectively, while it was 2.2% for OW/OB in preschool children. Policies and direct interventions that specifically focused on obesity prevention and control are limited. ConclusionsOW/OB prevalence in Nepal has increased during the past 1.8 decades, disproportionately affecting population groups. Existing interventions mostly focused on undernutrition with some indirect implications for obesity prevention. In the future, Nepal needs to develop population-based programs for obesity prevention.

“It’s like feeling everyone will be looking at you, but in reality, no one cares.” A qualitative visual methods study exploring adolescent males’ relatedness in physical activity.

“It’s like feeling everyone will be looking at you, but in reality, no one cares.” A qualitative visual methods study exploring adolescent males’ relatedness in physical activity.

Assessment of a Second-Order Multi-Problem Factor Model Involving Sexual Partners, Marijuana Use, and Post-Arrest Placement Among Persistent Male Adolescent Delinquents

ABSTRACT Problem-behavior theory suggests problem behaviors (e.g. substance use and delinquency) cluster among adolescents. This study explored a second-order problem behavior model of marijuana use, sexual partners, and post-arrest juvenile justice system placement among male adolescents over three waves. Results confirmed a second-order latent factor of problem behaviors, with male adolescents persistently involved in the juvenile justice system experiencing problems with marijuana use, risky sexual behavior, and increased severity of post-arrest placement. Further, older, Hispanic, African American, and urban persistent male delinquents were more likely to demonstrate continued problem behaviors. We discuss implications for future research and practice.

Effect of low versus high balance training complexity on balance performance in male adolescents

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to determine the effects of low (i.e., balance task only) versus high (i.e., balance task combined with an additional motor task like dribbling a basketball) balance training complexity (6 weeks of training consisting of 2 × 30 min balance exercises per week) on measures of static and dynamic balance in 44 healthy male adolescents (mean age: 13.3 ± 1.6 years).ResultsIrrespective of balance training complexity, significant medium- to large-sized pretest to posttest improvements were detected for static (i.e., One-Legged Stance test, stance time [s], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.008) and dynamic (i.e., 3-m Beam Walking Backward test, steps [n], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.002; Y-Balance-Test-Lower-Quarter, reach distance [cm], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.003) balance performance. Further, in all but one comparison (i.e., stance time with eyes opened on foam ground) no group × test interactions were found. These results imply that balance training is effective to improve static and dynamic measures of balance in healthy male adolescents, but the effectiveness seems unaffected by the applied level of balance training complexity.

Prevalence and contributing factors of intestinal parasitic infections among school children with malnutrition in Hetauda, Nepal: A cross‐sectional study

AbstractBackground and AimsWith existing undernutrition in the developing world, the prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly. Some studies reported an association of intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) with undernutrition while few recent studies reported an inverse association of IPIs with overweight and obesity. This study evaluated the comparative risk and associated factors of IPIs among under (body mass index [BMI] &lt; 18.5), normal (BMI: 18.5–24.9) and overweight (BMI &gt; 24.9) school‐aged adolescents.MethodsA total of 105 fecal samples were collected, with 35 samples from each group. The collected samples were tested for the presence of intestinal parasites via concentration method, and the parasites were identified morphologically.ResultsOverall prevalence of IPIs was 5.71% with 3 protozoa viz Giardia lamblia (2.86%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.90%) and Endolimax nana (0.95%). Univariate and multivariable regression analysis indicated none of the nutritional, socioeconomic status, demographic, lifestyle and behavioral characteristics were significantly associated with the prevalence of overall IPIs. Yet, significant numbers of male reported undernutrition and elevated risk of IPIs in this study population.ConclusionDespite low prevalence of IPIs in this study, risk of IPIs is attributable to individual differences in behavior like “not using soap for hand washing”. Relatively elevated malnutrition with risky hygiene behaviors, male adolescents appeared as risky cluster of school age population.

Perceived parental rejection and gaming disorder among adolescents: the mediating role of subjective stress and depressive symptoms

ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that both stress and depression, as well as parental rejection, are important factors in the development of gaming disorder (GD), but no studies so far have proposed a pathway leading from parental rejection via depression and stress to GD. The study aimed to examine the relationship between GD and perceived parental rejection, stress, and depressive symptoms, and to test the moderating effects of sex on these relationships. Data were collected among 1239 adolescents, with an average age of M = 16.77 (SD = .70), 50.3% of whom were females. 1.9% of adolescents met the criteria for GD (2.4% of boys and 1.4% of girls). Higher perceived parental rejection and higher levels of stress and depression were related to more GD symptoms, among male and female adolescents alike. Perceived parental rejection had no direct effect on GD. Only the indirect effects of parental rejection via depression on GD were significant. Research suggests that adolescents who report higher levels of parental rejection are more susceptible to depression and more likely to use gaming as a coping mechanism.

Early Onset Psychosis in a Pediatric Oncology Setting: A Case Report

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SHZ) are psychiatric disorders commonly identified in individuals in their late adolescence or early adulthood. Comorbidities are common, though a concurrent diagnosis of leukemia, one of the most frequently occurring cancers of adolescence, has not yet been described in such cases. This case study outlines the clinical presentation, course, and treatment response of two 17-year-old male adolescents whose psychotic disorders complicated their leukemia treatment. The first patient was diagnosed with leukemia and subsequently with SCZ while undergoing leukemia treatment. The second patient was diagnosed with SHZ prior to the onset of leukemia. The case study will follow the methodology of Robert E. Stake (Abma & Stake, 2014), as the two cases share a leukemia diagnosis and the reported mental health impact connected with cancer-directed treatment. Early identification and treatment are critical for both psychotic disorders and cancers, often impacting the long-term prognosis. However, when co-occurring, their interplay can present unique challenges to care.

Sex differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk among hospitalized adolescents and young adults with eating disorders

BackgroundRefeeding syndrome is the gravest possible medical complication in malnourished patients undergoing refeeding in the hospital. We previously reported that males with malnutrition secondary to eating disorders required more calories and had longer hospital stays than females; however, sex differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk remain unknown. The objective of this study was to assess differences in electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk among male and female adolescents and young adults with eating disorders hospitalized for medical instability.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 558 patients aged 9–25 years admitted to the University of California, San Francisco Eating Disorders Program for medical instability between May 2012 and August 2020. Serum was drawn per standard of care between 5 and 7 am each morning and electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk were defined as: hypophosphatemia (< 3.0 mg/dL), hypokalemia (< 3.5 mEq/L), and hypomagnesemia (< 1.8 mg/dL). Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk.ResultsParticipants included 86 (15.4%) males and 472 (84.6%) females, mean (SD) age 15.5 (2.8) years. Rates of refeeding hypophosphatemia (3.5%), hypokalemia (8.1%), and hypomagnesemia (11.6%) in males hospitalized with eating disorders were low, with no statistically significant differences from females. Older age was associated with higher odds of refeeding hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia. Lower percent median body mass index and greater weight suppression at admission were associated with higher odds of refeeding hypophosphatemia.ConclusionsRates of electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk were low in males hospitalized for eating disorders and rates did not significantly differ from females. Together with our finding that males have higher caloric requirements and longer hospital length of stay, the finding that electrolyte abnormalities indicating refeeding syndrome risk were not greater in males than females supports future research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of higher calorie and/or faster advancing refeeding protocols for males.

Associations between emotional reactivity to stress and adolescent substance use: Differences by sex and valence.

Although stress is often related to substance use, it remains unclear whether substance use is related to individual differences in how adolescents respond to stress. Therefore the present study examined associations between substance use and daily emotional reactivity to stress within a year across adolescence. Adolescents (N=330; Mage=16.40, SD=0.74 at study entry; n=186 female; n=138 Latine; n=101 European American; n=72 Asian American; n=19 identifying as another ethnicity including African American and Middle Eastern) completed a longitudinal study, including three assessments between the 10th grade and 3-years post-high school. At each assessment, participants reported frequency of alcohol and cannabis use and the number of substances they had ever used. They also completed 15 daily checklists, in which they reported the number of daily arguments and their daily emotion. Multilevel models suggested that more frequent alcohol and cannabis use were related to attenuated positive emotional reactivity to daily stress (i.e., smaller declines in positive emotion on days when they experienced more arguments) for both male and female adolescents. Associations for negative emotional reactivity to stress varied by sex; more frequent alcohol use and use of more substances in one's lifetime were related to greater anxious emotional reactivity to stress among female adolescents, whereas more frequent alcohol and cannabis use and higher lifetime substance use were related to attenuated depressive emotional reactivity to stress among male adolescents. Taken together, substance use was related to emotional reactivity to daily stress within the same year during adolescence, although associations differed by valence and adolescent sex.

Food literacy in Venezuelan adolescents: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Food literacy reflects personal behaviours around healthy eating and is an important skill for individuals to make healthy dietary choices. The present cross-sectional study investigated food literacy and the ability to identify n = 43 foods of plant origin in n = 1322 Venezuelan adolescents aged 15–17 years in the city of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. With only n = 14 correctly identified plant food items (median; IQR: 12), the performance in this sample was alarmingly poor, suggesting that food literacy in Venezuelan adolescents warrants urgent public health attention. Substantial and significant sex-specific differences were found, with an even worse performance in male adolescents. The lacking ability to correctly identify foods of plant origin has national public health implications, and constitutes an important obstacle for national strategies and dietary guidelines, which aim at improving nutrient intake in this particularly vulnerable population group.

Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway.

Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persistent fear, stemming from its dysregulated acquisition and extinction. The primary treatment for these disorders, exposure therapy (ET), relies heavily on fear extinction (FE) principles. Adolescence, a vulnerable period for developing psychiatric disorders, is characterized by neurobiological changes in the fear circuitry, leading to impaired FE and increased susceptibility to relapse following ET. Ketamine, known for relieving anxiety and reducing PTSD symptoms, influences fear-related learning processes and synaptic plasticity across the fear circuitry. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of ketamine (10 mg/kg) on FE in adolescent male C57 BL/6 mice at the behavioral and molecular levels. We analyzed the protein and gene expression of synaptic plasticity markers in the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) and sought to identify neural correlates associated with ketamine's effects on adolescent extinction learning. Ketamine ameliorated FE in the adolescent males, likely affecting the consolidation and/or recall of extinction memory. Ketamine also increased the Akt and mTOR activity and the GluA1 and GluN2A levels in the HPC and upregulated BDNF exon IV mRNA expression in the HPC and PFC of the fear-extinguished mice. Furthermore, ketamine increased the c-Fos expression in specific brain regions, including the ventral HPC (vHPC) and the left infralimbic ventromedial PFC (IL vmPFC). Providing a comprehensive exploration of ketamine's mechanisms in adolescent FE, our study suggests that ketamine's effects on FE in adolescent males are associated with the activation of hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 signaling, with the vHPC and the left IL vmPFC as the proposed neural correlates.

Positive Parenting, Prosocial Behavior, Meaning in Life, and Subjective Well-being in Adolescents: a Parallel and Serial Mediation Analysis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect relationships among positive parenting, meaning in life, prosocial behavior, and subjective well-being using a parallel and serial mediation model. We sought to examine whether meaning in life and prosocial behavior mediate the association between parenting and subjective well-being, and whether prosocial behavior mediates the relationship between this positive parenting and adolescents’ sense of meaning in life. This research involved 408 high school adolescents who were registered in a Turkish high school. The student composition was 30.5% male and 69.5% female, with ages ranging from 13 to 18 years (mean = 15.80, standard deviation = 1.27). Parallel mediation analyses indicated that meaning in life and prosocial behavior mediated the relationship between positive parenting (i.e., strength-based parenting) and adolescent subjective well-being. Furthermore, the serial mediation model revealed that these variables mediated this relationship, and prosocial behavior served as a mediator in the association between parenting and meaning in life. Additional results also suggested that the mediating role of meaning in life and prosocial behavior may differ between female and male adolescents. As a result, the study provides evidence that positive parenting practices are a significant factor in increased subjective well-being and that meaning in life and prosocial behaviors, in turn, enhance parents’ impact on adolescent well-being.

Trends in the nonmedical misuse of benzodiazepines and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents (2016-2021): gender differences and related factors.

The misuse of psychotropic medication has increased during the past decade, especially among adolescents. The aim of our study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of the nonmedical use of benzodiazepines (BDZ) and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents through the lens of sex. In addition, we sought to analyze the temporal evolution of the nonmedical use of these drugs during the period 2016-2021. The temporal evolution of the nonmedical use of these drugs was analyzed based on survey data collected in 2016, 2018 and 2021, which includes the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess the possible effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year at survey was conducted was introduced as a categorical variable. We used data from the Spanish State Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education, which covers drug use among students aged 14-18 years. Using multivariate logistic regression models, we estimated the independent effect of different variables (sociodemographic data, use of other psychoactive substances, risk perception and availability) on the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics. In total, survey data from 95,700 adolescents were included in our analysis. The nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics increased among adolescents during the study period. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) from 2016 to 2018 was 1.11 (95% CI 0.94-1.31) and from 2018 to 2021 the AOR was 1.26 (95% CI 1.08-1.46), using 2016 and 2018, respectively, as reference years. The nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics was more likely in adolescent girls than boys (AOR = 2.11). The nonmedical use of prescription opioids (AOR = 3.44), novel psychoactive substances and other illicit psychoactive drugs (AOR = 4.10) were risk factors for the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics in both sexes. Use of cannabis (AOR = 1.38) was a predictor of nonmedical use in female adolescents only. This study shows that the trend of the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents in Spain increased between 2016 and 2021. Among adolescents aged 14 to 18, the probability of nonmedical use of these psychoactive substances was twice as high for female adolescents as for male adolescents.