Chilean Adolescents Research Articles

Adolescent Lifestyle Profile-Revised 2: validity and reliability among adolescents in Chile

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were twofold. First, to provide evidence of the validity and reliability of the Adolescent Lifestyle Profile-Revised 2 (ALP-R2) among adolescents in Chile; and second, to examine the relationship between the health-promoting behaviors measured by this scale and several demographic variables. MethodsCross-sectional survey. Students attending grades 9 through 12 from schools representing low-, middle-, and high-income families were included. All schools were in the city of San Felipe, Chile. Students completed the ALP-R2, a fourty-four-item scale aiming to assess health-promoting behaviors. To evaluate validity and reliability, confirmatory factor analysis and omega coefficient calculation were conducted, respectively. ResultsThe sample size was 572 students (82.5% of the eligible population). More males (56.6%) than females (43.4%) participated in the study, and the mean age was 16.4 (SD, 1.3) years. The ALP-R2 had adequate adjustment indicators in the confirmatory factor analysis, which means that the data supports the original theoretical model (seven subscales). The highest internal consistency was obtained for the total scale (Ω=0.87); and (among the subscales), physical activity (Ω=0.85) and spiritual health (Ω=0.78) had the highest reliability. ConclusionsThe ALP-R2 appears to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess health-promoting behaviors among adolescents attending secondary schools.

Factors related to an increase of cannabis use among adolescents in Chile: National school based surveys between 2003 and 2017

BackgroundCannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide. In Chile, the prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents is the highest in the Americas. Our aim was to identify prevalence trends of cannabis use and associated factors in adolescents. MethodsWe performed multivariate logistic regression analyses of 416,417 cross-sectional school-based surveys of adolescents from 8th to 12th grade conducted between 2003 and 2017 in Chile. Cannabis use was the dependent variable. Age, gender, socio-economic variables, and factors on the individual, school and family level were assessed as independent variables. ResultsThe prevalence of cannabis use in the past year increased from 13.6% in 2003 to 31.3% in 2017 in a linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 27.6; R2 = 0.79; p < 0.01). The strongest association with cannabis use was seen for having friends who regularly use cannabis, and low perceived risk of cannabis use. Between 2003 and 2017, the strength of association between the variable having friends who regularly use cannabis and cannabis use decreased from OR = 6.2 to OR = 2.9, in a significant linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 60.5; R2 = 0.89; p < 0.01); whereas the OR for low parental rejection of cannabis use with cannabis use increased in a linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 22.8; R2 = 0.75, p < 0.01) from OR = 1.2 to OR = 2.1. ConclusionsIncreasing cannabis use of adolescents in Chile requires adjustments of prevention strategies. Prevalence factors identified here constitute potential targets for interventions.

Mechanisms linking childhood weight status to metabolic risk in adolescence.

Obesity is a risk factor for insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic disease. To examine potential metabolic pathways linking childhood weight status to adolescent IR and metabolic risk. Participants were 600 low- to middle-income Chilean adolescents from a cohort studied since infancy as part of an iron deficiency anemia preventive trial and follow-up study. We examined body mass index z-score at 10 y (BMIz-10y) and blood pressure, total fat, and fasting glucose, adiponectin to leptin ratio (A:L), ghrelin, and HOMA-IR at 16 y. A total count for metabolic risk factors (MRF) was calculated using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. We used path analysis to estimate pathways and model indirect effects from BMIz-10y, controlling for child age and sex and maternal body mass index (BMI). Participants were 54% male; mean BMIz-10y of 0.53 (SD = 1.02); mean MRF of 1.3 (SD = 0.9); mean HOMA-IR of 1.8 (SD = 1.3). Path analysis showed that BMIz-10y directly and indirectly related to increased MRF via A:L and HOMA-IR. Ghrelin was not in the metabolic pathway from BMIz-10y to MRF but was related to MRF via HOMA-IR. These results elucidate metabolic pathways involving child weight status, IR and metabolic risk in adolescents. Childhood BMI was an indirect risk factor for adolescent cardiometabolic risk via several pathways that involved BMI, appetite hormones, markers of inflammation, and insulin resistance during adolescence. Findings illustrate the adverse effect that childhood obesity has on adolescent health outcomes, which sets precedence for health outcomes over the life course.

Prevalence of OSA in chilean children and adolescents based on subscale of pediatric sleep questionnaire

Prevalence of OSA in chilean children and adolescents based on subscale of pediatric sleep questionnaire

External skeletal robustness and adiposity in adolescents of low socioeconomic status: A cross-sectional analysis of body composition.

External skeletal robustness has been decreasing in children, potentially due to a lack of physical activity and the increased prevalence of obesity. However, whether socioeconomic status (SES) influences external skeletal robustness in adolescents has not yet been examined. A cross-sectional study was performed to examine 370 Chilean adolescents (16.15 ± 1.01 years old) recruited from distinct educational establishments. Body fat percentage (BF%) was evaluated using Ellis' equations for Hispanic children. Obesity was defined as ≥25 BF% in males and ≥ 30 BF% in females. External skeletal robustness was obtained by measuring the humerus biepicondylar width and height (Frame-Index). SES was obtained through the ESOMAR survey. Females exhibited significantly greater BF% and lower Frame-Index values than males (P < .001). Obese adolescents (by BF%) had greater Frame-Index values than non-obese adolescents (P < .001). Females of medium-high SES had significantly lower BF% and Frame-Index values than females of medium and medium-low SES. BF% had a positive correlation with Frame-Index values in all SES groups studied, except in males of medium-high SES. As SES decreased, the correlation increased in both sexes, but overall, the correlation was greater in females than males. The results of this investigation suggest that obesity increases external skeletal robustness in adolescents. Additionally, lower SES corresponded to higher BF% and Frame-Index values. Therefore, modern conditions that influence the prevalence of obesity in adolescence could be affecting bone health in adolescents, primarily in females of medium-low SES.

Cardiometabolic health in adolescence and its association with educational outcomes

AimTo explore the association of selected cardiometabolic biomarkers and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with educational outcomes in adolescents from Chile.MethodsOf 678 participants, 632 (52% males) met criteria for the study. At...

Physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and psychological predictors in Chilean adolescents: Differences by gender

The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and psychological predictors of physical activity among male and female Chilean adolescents. A total of 70 male and 56 female Chilean adolescents (aged 13.00 ± 1.00 years old) were assessed for physical fitness (body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness), habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior (GT3X accelerometer) and psychological predictors of physical activity (motivation toward exercise, barriers toward exercise and intention to be physically active) (cross-sectional design). The Mann-Whitney U test results showed that male adolescents had statistically significant more favorable levels of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, self-determined motivation toward exercise, barriers toward exercise and intention to be physically active than women (p ≤ .05). The different programs conducive to creating healthy habits among young people should keep in mind the differences between male and female adolescents.

Infant iron deficiency, iron supplementation, and psychosocial stress as predictors of neurocognitive development in Chilean adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the unique and joint contributions of iron deficiency, iron supplementation, and psychosocial stress in infancy and stress in adolescence to neurocognitive functioning in adolescence. Methods: The current study (N = 796; M age = 14.4y) involved a prospective cohort of low- and middle-socioeconomic status adolescents in Santiago, Chile. As infants, they had participated in an iron supplementation trial. Infant iron status was assessed at 12–18 months, and mothers answered questions about family psychosocial stress at 6–12 months and in adolescence (maternal depressive symptoms, home support for child development, stressful life events, father absence, socioeconomic status, and parental education). Neurocognitive functioning was assessed in adolescence using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, Stockings of Cambridge, Trail Making Test, Purdue Pegboard Test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results: Greater psychosocial stress in infancy predicted less risk-taking, poorer planning abilities and fluid cognition, and slower processing speed in adolescence. Iron deficiency anemia in infancy predicted less risk-taking. Greater adolescent psychosocial stress predicted difficulties in set-shifting. There were no interactions between infant psychosocial stress and iron deficiency predicting adolescent neurocognitive functioning. Conclusion: These results suggest that interventions to reduce infant psychosocial stress may be more likely to prevent multiple neurocognitive deficits in adolescence than interventions to reduce infant iron deficiency.

Influence of air pollution exposure on adolescents' objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Although regular physical activity is recommended for health, highly contaminated air exposure acts to the detriment of the benefits produced in individuals. The purpose of the present study was to compare the accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior during the whole day, in-school time, out-of-school time, and school breaks between highly contaminated air days and non-highly contaminated air days in Chilean adolescents. Nineteen adolescents from Santiago of Chile were assessed by a GT3X accelerometer. The vertical axis and steps per minute for the whole day, and both of these variables together with the percentage of time of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity level in the out-of-school time period were higher in highly contaminated air days than in non-highly contaminated air days (p < 0.05; with effect sizes from r = 0.36 to r = 0.46). Results for sedentary behavior were similar in both conditions for every period of time analyzed. These results allow us to conclude the lack of awareness of the participants in this research regarding the health repercussions in relation to the physical activity performed during air pollution exposure. Some strategies in order to improve the Chilean adolescents' physical activity and sedentary behavior are suggested and discussed.

Emotional intelligence profiles and self-concept in Chilean adolescents

Generally, the emotional intelligence is related to a better individual adjustment and a greater self-concept, however, there are few researches that analyze how their different components of emotional intelligence influence this relationship. The objective of this study is identify different profiles in emotional intelligence based on their dimensions (Attention, Clarity, and Repair). Significant differences in self-concept domains among the previously identified profiles are also analyzed. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) and the Self-Description Questionnaire-II-Short (SDQ-II-S) were administered to 1255 Chilean students. Four emotional intelligence profiles were identified using latent class analysis: a group of adolescents with a low emotional intelligence profile, a group with high scores in Emotional Attention and low scores in Emotional Repair, a group with predominance of low Emotional Attention and high Emotional Repair and, finally, a group of adolescents with high emotional intelligence. Results also revealed significant statistical differences among the profiles in most self-concept domains. Groups with high general emotional intelligence and low emotional attention and high scores in emotional repair obtained higher scores in the self-concept domains than the other groups. The results of this study contribute to knowledge of emotional intelligence and could be relevant in designing programs on emotional reasoning abilities and self-concept of secondary education students.

Autolesiones no suicidas y su relación con el estilo de apego en una muestra no clínica de adolescentes chilenos

Objective: to establish the relationship between the presence of non-suicidal self-harm with the type of attachment in a sample of Chilean adolescents.&nbsp; Method: A questionnaire was used to evaluate non-suicidals self-harm (American Psychiatric Association, 2014); and two questionnaires to measure attachment style (Gonzalez &amp; Mendez, 2006; Morán, Lecannelier, &amp; Rodríguez, 2014). A non-experimental, transversal and analytical study was carried out, was used Chi square&nbsp; for comparisons between the attachment style between those who self-harm and those who do not.&nbsp; Results: 186 adolescents, with ages between 14 and 18 years old (M = 15.8, SD = 1.1), 57% correspond to women. 11% (22) of the subjects reported self-harm, 77.3% corresponded to women.&nbsp; In subjects reporting with self-harm, 80.9% had an insecure type of attachment (4.8% avoidance attachment, 33.3% ambivalent attachment, and 42.8% disorganized attachment). 95.4% have medium to high scores on subscale signs of anger and anguish towards the figure of attachment.&nbsp; Conclusions: Insecure and disorganized attachment styles are a factor of vulnerability that predisposes subjects to emotional deregulation.&nbsp; Adolescents who report self-harm they tend to have less secure attachments, in contrast to those who do not self-harm (Hallab &amp; Covic, 2010).

Perceptions of Safety, Satisfaction with Neighborhood and Life Satisfaction Among Chilean Adolescents

The perception of safety and neighborhood satisfaction are related to children and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Most previous studies have examined these variables separately. However, studies are yet to determine the direct or indirect simultaneous interactions among these variables, limiting our understanding of the mechanism (s) that underline adolescents’ life satisfaction. We tested a mediation model using a structural equational modeling in a sample of 808 Chileans adolescents (42.2% female; mean age: 12.5). Our results demonstrate a direct effect of perceptions of safety at home and in the community upon life satisfaction. Similarly, we found an indirect effect through neighborhood satisfaction on adolescents’ life satisfaction. Our results highlight a relationship between safety and life satisfaction, incorporating neighborhood satisfaction among adolescents. Therefore, we suggest safety prevention programs should include community components, such as neighborhood satisfaction, given its relationship with life satisfaction during adolescence.

Comparing a Body Image Assessment Scale with Anthropometric Measures in Chilean Adolescents

Comparing a Body Image Assessment Scale with Anthropometric Measures in Chilean Adolescents

Beliefs, perceptions and experiences in sexuality of Chilean adolescents with HIV acquired by vertical transmission

Since the incorporation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) HIV has become a chronic condition, improving survival and allowing children with the virus to come in better conditions to adolescence, where they are faced with a series of changes, among them, to sexual awakening. To explore the main beliefs, perceptions and experiences in sexuality of a group of adolescents with HIV infection acquired through vertical transmission. A qualitative research was carried out with exploratory and descriptive scope. Semi-structured interviews were applied to 28 adolescents, under control in hospitals in Santiago and Valparaíso, with HIV infection. The analysis was carried out according to the Grounded Theory. There was a lack of sexual education and a vision that focuses on risks, such as sexually transmissible infections or teenage pregnancy. There are fears about the possibility of rejection by others and of transmitting the virus to the couple or the children and they are invaded by feelings of shame and anger. It is important to train health professionals who work with this group, because they are identified as a reliable source of information and education.

Abstract P323: Youth Characteristics Related to Participation in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity

Introduction: Accelerometer-measured physical activity is considered the ‘gold standard’ of physical activity (PA) measurement. However, previous studies have found that adults in accelerometer studies are more likely to be male, healthier and employed. Little is known about the correlates of participation among youth. We assessed characteristics associated with participation in accelerometer-measured PA among a cohort of healthy Chilean adolescents. Methods: Participants were 670 youth from an ongoing observational study who have been studied since infancy. The adolescent follow-up included measurement of PA with a hip-accelerometer worn for ≥10 hrs/day for ≥5 days or ≥3000 min over a 4-day period. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate socioeconomic, lifestyle, and cardiometabolic factors associated with providing sufficient accelerometry data (“Completers”), insufficient data (“Incompleters”), and not participating (“Non-participants”) in adolescence. Results: The study sample was 47% female and 17 years of age. About 33% (n=223) were Completers, 10% (n=68) were Incompleters, and 57% (n=379) were Non-participants. Completers reported lower neighborhood crime, 50% less cigarette and alcohol use, had healthier diets, healthier cholesterol, and mothers with higher IQs compared to the other two groups (all p&lt;0.05). Incompleters did not significantly differ from Non-participants. Conclusions: Participants providing complete accelerometer data were not representative of the full sample; they had healthier behaviors and perceived less neighborhood crime. There may be additional unmeasured variables, such as attitudes towards the wearable device, that contributed to participation. Selective participation in studies using accelerometry inhibits generalizability and threatens internal validity when analyzing PA as a predictor of cardiometabolic outcomes. More effort is needed in the design of studies to reduce incomplete and refused participation in accelerometry.

Patterns of Civic and Political Commitment in Early Adolescence

Interest in understanding how civic engagement emerges has been fueled by worries about the decline of youth participation in conventional political activities. Acknowledging the developmental nature of civic engagement, this study analyzes involvement in civic activities during early adolescence. We used latent class analysis to identify patterns of participation in a representative sample of Chilean adolescents. A four-class model was highlighted by two contrasting classes: an involved class, with high probabilities of participation, and an uninvolved class, with low probabilities of participation. A third class— volunteers—mostly participates in organizations involved in community service, religious or social causes. This type of participation conforms to the preservation of the status quo, in contrast to a more political or activist form of participation that challenges it. Classes were partially invariant by gender and socioeconomic status. Females were more prevalent in the involved class, and males in the uninvolved class. Adolescents’ interest in politics, discussion of political issues, citizenship self-efficacy, and school involvement were associated with higher odds of belonging to the involved class.

62. Health-Related Quality of Life of Eating Disorders In Chilean Adolescents

62. Health-Related Quality of Life of Eating Disorders In Chilean Adolescents

Within and between-day differences in adolescents’ objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior

A decline in adolescents’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the increase in their sedentary behavior (SB) have been registered all over the world. In order to increase the MVPA and reduce the SB of adolescents, their day has been analyzed by segments of time, verifying the contribution of each to the daily recommendation of 60 minutes/day. Previous studies have been centered only in physical activity markers, but the SB variables were not compared nor the segments of the school-recess with the out-of-school period or with the weekend. This study aimed to examine the intra- and inter-days differences in the objectively measured levels of PA and SB in adolescents. A sample of 156 Chilean school students (87 boys and 69 girls; M age=13.41; SD=.67 years) participated in the present study. Participants’ PA and SB were objectively measured by a GT3X accelerometer. Overall results showed that only 14% and 9% of Chilean adolescents achieved the daily recommendation of 60 minutes of MVPA on weekdays and the weekend, respectively. School recess was found the best moment for developing MVPA, followed by out-of-school time, and ending with weekend days presenting the worst scenario. Regarding the SB, Chilean adolescents were involved in SB 69.39% of the time on weekdays, and over 70% during the weekend. Different strategies are discussed in order to increase the MVPA and to decrease SB in each segment of a day.

Pensamiento nacionalista-territorializado y percepción de "des-ubicamiento" del inmigrante: el camino hostil de las construcciones de identidades chilenas en la convivencia escolar

This investigation seeks to understand how Chilean adolescents, who who interact with immigrant peers, express their national identity. Considering contexts of inequality and social exclusion of immigrants and locals, this article analyzes the constructions of national identities, regarding both its current relevancy and historical interaction with the migration phenomenon. Through qualitative research techniques, applied between 2016 and 2017in six schools in the municipalities of Santiago and Quinta Normal, it was possible to identify a set of discourses employed by Chilean adolescents about their national identity, which are exclusionary and hold the -immigrant "other” in low esteem. These discourses highlight a nationalist-territorialized mode of thinking, which upon constructing notions about subjects of legitimate rights, do not recognize their immigrant peers, who are perceived by native Chileans as bearers of everyday borders that place them in a de-territorialized and indebted position.

Comparative study of adolescents with and without ADHD

Introduction. Although an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and personality disorders has been observed in adult population, no descriptions in Chilean adolescents have been reported. Objective. To explore personality profiles in Chilean adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD. Method. Non-experimental, comparative design, convenience sample with 61 adolescent patients (13-19 years old) diagnosed with ADHD who completed the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) questionnaire. Results compared parameters for the Chilean adolescent population and patients in the study. Attending psychiatrists completed a medical history file (comorbidities, pharmacological treatment and factors associated with mental health). Multivariate statistics, cluster analyses, and means comparison analyses were performed. This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Chile. Results. The personality profile of female adolescent patients with ADHD resembles that of the general female population, while the profile of the male patients is similar to that of the patient’s parameter group. Cluster analysis identified two personality sub-profiles: 25% of the subjects belonged to cluster 1, which was characterized by higher scores for different personality traits, expressed concerns, and clinical syndromes, compared with subjects from cluster 2. There were no differences regarding gender, ADHD clinical presentation, use of medication, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), type of school, grade retention, or, applicable only to the female group, comorbidities in belonging to cluster 1. Only the presence of comorbidity in male subjects was associated with cluster 1 membership. Discussion and conclusion. Adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD differed significantly in some personality traits when compared to Chilean parameters for the MACI. Of the adolescents studied, 25% have maladaptive personality characteristics.