Adolescents In Norway Research Articles

Peer groups and victimisation among native and immigrant adolescents in Norway

Despite the rapid increase in immigration all over Europe and concerns expressed for the adjustment of immigrant children and young people, studies on peer victimisation among them are scarce. By combining the predictions of the acculturative stress model with the social–ecological perspective of peer victimisation, this study compared different forms of peer victimisation in native Norwegian and immigrant young people, and explored whether depressive symptoms and the ethnic composition of peer groups in multicultural classes were related to levels of victimisation. Victimisation and depressive symptoms were investigated with self-assessments. Social cognitive mapping was used to identify peer groups in classes. The sample comprised 97 native adolescents and 59 immigrant adolescents attending 10 grade 8, 9 and 10 classes in a multicultural urban Norwegian secondary school. In line with the predictions of the acculturative stress model, young immigrants reported higher global victimisation compared with native Norwegians. However, they did not differ regarding depressive symptoms. In total, 42 peer groups were identified; 26 were ethnically mixed. Taking into account the base rate of ethnically mixed peer groups in the sample, the number of victims was not related to their ethnic composition. Moreover, gender and immigrant status did not moderate the associations between depressive symptoms and victimisation. The study highlights the importance of investigating the ethnic composition of peer groups to understand better the dynamics of victimisation in multicultural classes.

Increase in psychotropic drug use between 2006 and 2010 among adolescents in Norway: a nationwide prescription database study

BackgroundThe purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of psychotropic (hypnotic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic) drug use among adolescents aged 15–16 years during the period 2006–2010 according to gender and subcategories of psychotropics, and to study psychotropic drug use over the period 2007–2010 among incident users in 2007.MethodsThis was a one-year prevalence and follow-up study based on information retrieved from the nationwide Norwegian prescription database for the period 2006–2010. The study population consisted of adolescents aged 15–16 years who had filled at least one prescription for a psychotropic drug in the study period. The main outcome measures were filling of hypnotic, antidepressant, and/or anxiolytic drug prescriptions.ResultsOverall use of psychotropic drugs increased from 13.9 to 21.5 per 1000 among boys and from 19.7 to 24.7 per 1000 among girls during the 2006– 2010 period. Hypnotic drugs, and melatonin in particular, accounted for most of the increase. For melatonin, the annual median amount dispensed was 180 defined daily doses through the period until 2010, at which time it decreased to 90 defined daily doses. In total, 16.4% of all incident psychotropic drug users in 2007 were still having prescriptions dispensed in 2010.ConclusionThis study shows an increase in hypnotic drugs dispensed for adolescents in Norway, mainly attributable to the increasing use of melatonin. The amount of melatonin dispensed indicates more than sporadic use over longer periods, despite melatonin only being licensed in Norway for use in insomnia for individuals aged 55 years or older.

Health and Wellness among Adolescents

As in the United States, are concerned with student wellness, and schools have programs and curricula that address various health issues. However, based on my work as a Fulbright roving scholar in Norwegian ungdomsskoler (lower secondary schools) from August 2010 to June 2011, students in Norway seem much healthier than American students. My impression is supported by health-related data. Young adolescents in Norway exhibit low incidences of alcohol use, sexually transmitted diseases, and eating disorders. terms of mental health, Norwegian youth are generally happier and more satisfied with life than their counterparts in other European countries (Hansen & Wold, 2007). During my time in Norway, I visited 43 schools primarily serving students in Virtuegrades 8 through 10, with seven visits to barneskole (primary school) classes spanning grades one through seven. The most visible health-related differences I observed between young adolescents in Norway and the United States involved healthy eating, weight-related issues (e.g., obese and overweight students), and physical activity. the United States, messages about healthy eating are often contradicted by unhealthy or poorly balanced meals offered in the cafeteria, by vending machines that ensure corporate purveyors of nutritionally bankrupt snack foods a captive market (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011), and by scheduling practices that don't consider the student's well-being. Norwegian students were shocked to see my 14-year-old niece's class schedule that required her to go six hours without a meal. She ate breakfast at 6:30 a.m., an hour before school started and was assigned to the last lunch period at 12:30 p.m. She had no breaks, other than five minutes passing time that barely allowed her to get from one end of the large school campus to the other, and the school had no provisions for snacks. Many Norwegian students considered this schedule inhumane, and I quickly came to share their perspective. Students in Norway were very aware of Americans' poor eating habits. A student in Hammerfest asked me, In the do you eat dessert after lunch? I quickly replied, Of course, we do. My mind raced back to the lunchroom at my school in Franklin, N.J., where everyone had dessert--either the chocolate cake or pudding that came with the school lunch or a Twinkie or Big Wheel cupcake from home. Of course, we eat dessert after lunch in the U.S., I affirmed. Don't you? The response was a resounding, No! After my visit to Hammerfest, I asked hundreds of Norwegian students about their dessert eating habits, and they consistently told me that most children get dessert once a week or maybe a few times a month. My discussions about foods with students often turned to waffles. Norwegian waffles are, in my opinion, the best in the world. These dense, eggy, mildly sweet waffles are cooked in an eight-inch diameter iron that presses them into four interconnected hearts, and they're typically served with jam and creme fraiche (a kind of sour cream) or brunost (brown cheese). Most have a waffle iron at home, or they buy fresh waffles at kiosks, convenience stores, bakeries, and cafes. Sometimes, during my travels, the hotel would have a self-service waffle iron so patrons could prepare an after-work snack, but I never saw a waffle or waffle iron at the breakfast buffet. As many students told me, Norwegians do not eat waffles for breakfast. Waffles are a treat. enjoy their waffles and many other sweet foods, but there appears to be a common understanding that such items are treats to be enjoyed occasionally and not dietary staples. Unlike U.S. schools, Norwegian schools don't have cafeterias that offer hot meals. Most schools I visited had a canteen where students could buy a few items--often yogurt, juice, iced tea, and toasted bread--but nearly every student and teacher brings a lunch from home. …

Response rates and selection problems, with emphasis on mental health variables and DNA sampling, in large population-based, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of adolescents in Norway.

BackgroundSelection bias is a threat to the internal validity of epidemiological studies. In light of a growing number of studies which aim to provide DNA, as well as a considerable number of invitees who declined to participate, we discuss response rates, predictors of lost to follow-up and failure to provide DNA, and the presence of possible selection bias, based on five samples of adolescents.MethodsWe included nearly 7,000 adolescents from two longitudinal studies of 18/19 year olds with two corresponding cross-sectional baseline studies at age 15/16 (10th graders), and one cross-sectional study of 13th graders (18/19 years old). DNA was sampled from the cheek mucosa of 18/19 year olds. Predictors of lost to follow-up and failure to provide DNA were studied by Poisson regression. Selection bias in the follow-up at age 18/19 was estimated through investigation of prevalence ratios (PRs) between selected exposures (physical activity, smoking) and outcome variables (general health, mental distress, externalizing problems) measured at baseline.ResultsOut of 5,750 who participated at age 15/16, we lost 42% at follow-up at age 18/19. The percentage of participants who gave their consent to DNA provision was as high as the percentage that consented to a linkage of data with other health registers and surveys, approximately 90%. Significant predictors of lost to follow-up and failure to provide DNA samples in the present genetic epidemiological study were: male gender; non-western ethnicity; postal survey compared with school-based; low educational plans; low education and income of father; low perceived family economy; unmarried parents; poor self-reported health; externalized symptoms and smoking, with some differences in subgroups of ethnicity and gender. The association measures (PRs) were quite similar among participants and all invitees, with some minor discrepancies in subgroups of non-western boys and girls.ConclusionsLost to follow-up had marginal impact on the estimated prevalence ratios. It is not likely that the invitation to provide DNA influenced the response rates of 18/19 year olds. Non-western ethnicity, male gender and characteristics related to a low social class and general and mental health problems measured at baseline are associated with lost to follow-up and failure to provide DNA.

Bullying and affiliation: A study of peer groups in native and immigrant adolescents in Norway

This study (1) investigated the extent to which native Norwegian and immigrant girls and boys bully others and (2) examined peer groups to find out with whom pupils affiliate with when bullying others. Furthermore, the study explored whether immigrant boys, more than native Norwegian boys, were carrying out bullying together with others. To identify bullies, self-assessments, nominations by co-bullies and nominations by victims were used. Social cognitive mapping (SCM) was used to identify peer groups. Peer groups were classified according to number of bullies and non-bullies in the group. The sample comprised 97 native Norwegian adolescents (55 girls, 42 boys) and 59 immigrant adolescents (34 girls, 25 boys) attending grades 8, 9 and 10. Configural frequency analyses showed that immigrant boys were less often identified as non-bullies but more often identified as bullies than expected by chance. On the contrary, immigrant girls were more often identified as non-bullies but less often identified as bullies than expected by chance. In addition, immigrant boys were overrepresented in bullying groups and immigrant girls were overrepresented in zero bullying groups. Furthermore, more immigrant boys than one would expect were bullying together with others, and more Norwegian girls that one would expect were bullying alone. Implications for bullying prevention programmes in schools are discussed.

Becoming more Like Friends

AbstractMediated interaction plays a significant role in the social life of adolescents in Norway. The purpose of the present article is to examine the qualities of mediated interaction and the integration of mediated and immediate social spheres, suggesting that the ability to juggle between online and offline social spheres has become a characteristic element of social competence in network societies. More specifically, the analysis looks at the use of personal media for maintaining and developing existing social relationships and for extending social networks. Qualitative interviews with 20 Norwegian adolescents constitute the empirical base. The analysis explains how interaction takes on mundane forms, confirming the value of social relationships between in-person meetings. Moreover, it is argued that mediated communication differs from face-to-face communication, not by being less meaningful, but by enabling other forms of disclosing practices. Mediated forms of communication, hence, have an influence on the character of social ties and networks.

Bullying and Victimization Among Native and Immigrant Adolescents in Norway

This study compares levels of bullying others, victimization, and aggressiveness in native Norwegian and immigrant adolescents living in Norway and shows how bullying is related to proactive and reactive aggressiveness. The sample consists of 2,938 native Norwegians (1,521 girls, 1,417 boys) and 189 immigrant adolescents (97 girls, 92 boys) in school grades 8, 9, and 10. Data were collected via self-assessments. Structural equation models were conducted separately for girls and boys in both groups. The levels of victimization, reactive and proactive aggressiveness were the same for both native Norwegians and immigrant adolescents but there was a significant difference in the levels of bullying others. Compared with the native Norwegians, immigrant adolescents were found to be at higher risk of bullying others. Structural models revealed significantly stronger relations between affiliation-related proactive aggressiveness and bullying others in immigrant boys compared with the other groups. This indicates that the wish for affiliation is an important mechanism of bullying others in immigrant boys. We also suggest further research and the practical importance of the findings for prevention of targeting immigrant adolescents.

The use of lithium, valproate or lamotrigine for psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents in Norway 2004–2007 — A prescription database study

Background There is an increasing awareness of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Our study aimed to explore how common the use of lithium, valproate and lamotrigine in psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents in Norway and to describe concomitant use of other psychotropic drugs. Methods The Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) captures all prescriptions given to individuals in ambulatory care. We investigated prescriptions for lithium, and for valproate and lamotrigine given for psychiatric conditions to children and adolescents under the age of 18 years from 2004 till 2007. We also studied other prescriptions for psychotropic drugs given to the same patients during the period. A comparison was made with the users of ADHD medication. Results The number below 18 years treated with lithium, valproate or lamotrigine rose from 323 (0.03%) in 2004 till 454 (0.04%) in 2007. Lamotrigine increased most rapidly and lithium was most infrequently used. The users of the three drugs had often also tried antidepressants (14–42%) and atypical antipsychotics (21–51%), but true concomitant use was rarer (7–20% and 16–43% respectively). The users of ADHD medication had a much lower use of other psychotropic drugs, but quite a few users of lithium, valproate and lamotrigine had tried ADHD medication (20–26%) and even used these drugs concomitantly (15–21%). Limitations NorPD does not include diagnoses, and we do not know if the drugs dispensed were actually used. Conclusion Overall there has been a slight increase in the use of lamotrigine in Norway during the last four years, most likely prescribed as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorders. Still the use among the under 14-year-olds is rare in Norway.

Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: a response from the UK

The article by Groholt et al.1 is valuable for its insights into the cultural and socio-economic differences that affect whether adolescents are overweight or obese, and these differences are important public health issues. However, as medical students who represent a relatively similar age group to the participants in the study, we question the accuracy of the self-reporting. Reflecting on our experiences in the UK, we consider that many 15–16 year olds will not be able to reliably categorize their family's economic situation. We also question whether a teenager's future educational plans at this age are an accurate proxy for socio-economic status, and whether social desirability bias may act to some degree when filling in the questionnaire. The use of self-reported height and weight is often unavoidable; however, evidence exists describing the underestimation of weight and overestimation of height by adolescents, particularly girls.2–4 With this in mind, it would be relevant to know whether the questionnaires were filled out alone and privately, or publicly with friends/colleagues in a classroom. The lack of association between physical activity, overweight and obese status seems evidence in itself of possible inaccuracies in self-reporting. We wonder if the term ‘activity’ is too diffuse and if further clarification of its appropriate use may have led to a different result. Furthermore, we suggest an assessment of mental health status among the participants could have added an extra-dimension to the results and subsequent conclusions, especially as evidence exists showing an association between body weight, psychological well-being and future aspirations.5 We appreciate our relative lack of knowledge of Norwegian adolescent cultures compared with the authors'. However, the issues we have described might assist the public health initiatives in Norway and possibly facilitate the application of the results to other countries.

Response to: Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: a response from the UK

Response to: Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: a response from the UK

Prevalence and correlates of gambling among 16 to 19‐year‐old adolescents in Norway

There is evidence that young people are at high risk of developing gambling disorders. The prevalence and correlates of gambling among youth therefore merit closer study. During spring 2004, a sample of 1,351 boys and girls (aged 16-19 years) from 151 high-school classes (clusters) participated in an internet survey about gambling. The response rate was 69.8%. The instruments used in the survey were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Massachusetts Adolescent Gambling Screen, in addition to questions about demography. Controlling for the design effect, the estimated prevalence rate was 2.5% for pathological gambling and 1.9% for problem gambling. In all, 7.3% of the boys and 0.6% of the girls fulfilled the criteria for pathological or problem gambling. The results of item analysis of the DSM-IV subscale of MAGS provide support for differential item functioning between boys and girls. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender (male: OR = 9.09), depression (OR = 9.23), alcohol abuse (OR = 3.62), and dissociation (OR = 1.96) were related to problem and pathological gambling. These results support the view that gambling disorders are best understood as part of an addictive behavior spectrum (Jacobs, 2000).

Seasonal variation in objectively assessed physical activity among children and adolescents in Norway: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundThe literature on seasonality in children and youth's physical activity participation is inconsistent. The aims of this study were to: 1) compare physical activity across seasons and describe activity patterns within seasons, and 2) to determine compliance with current physical activity recommendations across seasons among 9- and 15-year-olds living in a climatically diverse country.MethodsParticipants were 2,299 9- and 15-year-olds from all regions in Norway. Physical activity was assessed using the Actigraph accelerometer for 4 consecutive days. Physical activity data were collected during winter, spring and fall. General linear models were used to study the associations between physical activity and season.ResultsNine-year-old children had significantly higher mean physical activity levels in spring than in winter and fall. In the two latter seasons, physical activity levels were especially low after school hours and on weekends. Logistic regression models demonstrated that 9-year-olds had 3.3 times (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.08, 5.18) higher odds of meeting recommended levels of physical activity in spring than in winter. No associations were found between mean physical activity level and season among the 15-year-olds. However, the adolescents also had higher odds (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.32) of meeting the physical activity recommendations in spring than in winter.ConclusionIn a large population-based sample, we observed substantial seasonal differences in physical activity among 9-year-olds, and the activity pattern varied across the seasons. The results emphasize the need to take season into account when developing physical activity interventions for children. Season appears to have less influence on adolescent's physical activity; interventions for increasing physical activity in this group could therefore be implemented throughout the year.

Acculturation and Identity in Adolescents in Norway

This survey is inspired by the International Comparative Study of Ethnocultural Youth (ICSEY), a comprehensive study which has looked at acculturation and cultural identity in adolescents from immigrant families across 13 countries. In the present survey 16 immigrant youths from two different ethnic minority groups in Norway – Somali and Albanian – were interviewed to find out more about their acculturation attitudes and experiences and their cultural identities. Eight Norwegian teenagers were also questioned. As regards acculturation, the Somali and Albanian adolescents were interviewed about how they prefer to live in the Norwegian society, i.e. to what extent they wish to retain their ethnic culture and to what extent they prefer to become involved with the larger society. In addition, they were questioned about their social contacts with peers, language proficiency and use, values as regards family relationships, as well as their perceived notion of discrimination. The Norwegian adolescents, on the other hand, were questioned on their attitudes towards cultural maintenance and intercultural contact, their social contacts with peers and their family relationship values. As to the question of cultural identity, the focus has been on to what extent the respondents identify with their ethnic group and with the larger society. The survey shows that the respondents generally favour an integration profile, and the non-Norwegian adolescents on average display a somewhat stronger ethnic identity than a Norwegian identity.

Depressive Symptoms Among Native and Immigrant Adolescents in Norway: The Role of Gender and Urbanization

The study investigates depressive symptoms among 3,431 adolescents aged 13–15 years. The sample comprises both native Norwegian and immigrant adolescents living in Norway. The main finding of the study is that the level of depressive symptoms is significantly higher among the immigrant adolescents than their Norwegian counterparts. When analysed separately for boys and girls, the difference is still significant for boys. Generally depressive symptoms are significantly higher among girls than among boys. Depressive symptoms, especially in boys, may also be related to the degree of urbanization of the area they live in. In cities, there is a significant difference between native Norwegian and immigrant boys, with immigrant boys having a higher level of depressive symptoms than native Norwegians. The implications for future research about immigrant adolescents and their psychosocial adjustment are discussed.

Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Norway: cultural and socio-economic differences

The aim of this study was to investigate overweight and obesity among a representative population of 15,966 Norwegian 15-16 year olds and the associations with different socio-economic and cultural risk factors. Self-reported data were obtained from school-based surveys in six counties during 2000-04. Overweight and obesity were calculated using Cole's index. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.8% and 2.4%, respectively, higher among boys. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark (the northernmost counties) were 70-90% more likely to be overweight and obese compared with adolescents in Oslo (the capital and southernmost county) (OR for overweight in Finnmark = 1.7, CI = 1.3, 2.3). Lower educational plans and poor family economy were both significantly associated with overweight and obesity. So was physical inactivity (OR = 1.2, CI = 1.1, 1.3 and OR = 1.6, CI = 1.2, 2.1, respectively). Eating breakfast was positively associated with not being overweight/obese. Overweight and obesity is associated with socio-economic factors and with factors related to food habits and nutrition, suggesting important areas for prevention.

Use of anti-asthmatic medications as a proxy for prevalence of asthma in children and adolescents in Norway:a nationwide prescription database analysis

The validity of using self-reported or parental reported asthma symptoms and/or doctor-diagnosed asthma in the estimation of asthma prevalence among children has been questioned. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dispensed anti-asthmatic medications as a proxy of asthma among children and adolescents aged 0-19 years in Norway. Prescription data on subjects aged 0-19 years receiving at least one prescription for an anti-asthmatic during 2004 were retrieved from the nationwide Norwegian Prescription Database. Overall, 108,719 (9.1% of the Norwegian population aged 0-19 years) individuals received at least one prescription for medication(s) for obstructive airway diseases. The application of criteria that restricted the study population to those receiving inhaled anti-asthmatic medications and those receiving medications reimbursed by the Norwegian health care system for asthma resulted in the identification of 64,458 (5.4%) individuals (4.6% of girls and 6.2% of boys). The prevalence varied by age, with a maximum in both genders at about 2 years of age (7.0% of girls and 10.1% of boys) and a minimum in girls at about 10 years of age (3.3%) and in boys at about 19 years of age (3.5%). Anti-asthmatic inhalants were more frequently prescribed among boys than among girls during the first 15 years of life. Of the children treated, 75% received inhaled glucocorticoids (ICS) in combination with beta2-agonists, of whom 38% received a fixed combination in one inhaler. In 2004, about 1 in 20 Norwegians aged 0-19 years were in need of medical treatment for asthma for at least 3 months, reflecting ongoing and clinically important asthma. A rather high proportion of children received fixed combinations of ICS and long-acting beta2-agonists, which may indicate moderate to severe asthma.

Adolescent smoking and exposure to tobacco marketing under a tobacco advertising ban: findings from 2 Norwegian national samples.

We examined the extent to which adolescents in Norway have been exposed to tobacco marketing despite an existing ban, and whether exposure is related to their current smoking or expectations they will smoke in the future. Questionnaires were administered to nationally representative systematic samples of Norwegian youths aged 13 to 15 years in 1990 (n = 4282) and 1995 (n = 4065). About half in each cohort reported exposure to marketing. Youths reporting exposure were significantly more likely to be current smokers and to expect to be smokers at 20 years of age, after control for important social influence predictors. Adolescents' current smoking and future smoking expectations are linked to marketing exposure even in limited settings, suggesting the need for comprehensive controls to eliminate the function of marketing in promoting adolescent smoking.

Multisystemic Treatment of Antisocial Adolescents in Norway: Replication of Clinical Outcomes Outside of the US.

MST is an intensive home- and community-based intervention for youths with serious antisocial behaviour and other serious clinical problems, which has been effective at reducing out-of-home placements and producing favourable long-term clinical outcomes in the US. The aims of the study were to determine the degree to which these outcomes would be replicated in Norway for youths with serious behaviour problems and to conduct a randomised trial of MST by an independent team of investigators. Participants were 100 seriously antisocial youths in Norway who were randomly assigned to Multisystemic Therapy (MST) or usual Child Welfare Services (CS) treatment conditions. Data were gathered from youths, parents, and teachers pre- and post-treatment. MST was more effective than CS at reducing youth internalising and externalising behaviours and out-of-home placements, as well as increasing youth social competence and family satisfaction with treatment. This is the first study of MST outside of the US and one of the first not conducted by the developers of MST. The findings replicate those obtained by MST's developers and demonstrate the generalisability of short-term MST effects beyond the US.

Factors associated with waiting time for access to mental health services for children and adolescents in Norway

The present study addresses the question of equality of access, as it relates to waiting time for specialised mental health treatment for children and adolescents. The aim was to investigate whether demographic, clinical factors and service‐related factors were associated with waiting time. Data was based on a documentation system in which all Norwegian children and adolescents receiving specialised mental health services were recorded. The analysis was based on a sample of 6497 children, who were referred for, and received, outpatient treatment in 2001, and for whom there was a complete data‐set on dates for referral and first appointment at the clinic. The following factors were included for analysis: age at referral, gender, reason for referral and referring agent, place of residence, as well two aspects related to the clinic providing services (i.e. mean number of consultations provided per patient per year, and mean number of consultations done by one therapist per year). Analysis of variance, Student's t‐tests and logistic regression analysis were applied. Children aged 6‐12 years, and children with externalised behaviour disorders were statistically significantly more likely to wait longer for services as compared with children in the other age groups, and with other disorders. Furthermore, children referred from the school sector waited statistically significantly longer for treatment than those referred from other agencies. Results also suggest that the waiting time varies with how available resources and treatment capacity of the outpatient clinic is utilised. Waiting time for services is an important indicator of the accessibility of services, and should be included in evaluations of national mental health reforms. This study suggests unevenness in access to services, which is related both to clinical‐demographical characteristics as well as to service‐related aspects of individual clinics. Efforts should be made to break down barriers to care that are related to unequal access to mental health treatment for children and adolescents.

Socioeconomic patterning of smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and overweight status among adolescents in Norway and the United States

Increased efforts are needed to promote adolescent health in all areas investigated in this study. Differences both in prevalence and socioeconomic patterning between Norway and the United States indicate that the major challenges differ between the two countries. The results also emphasize the need to undertake joint efforts to use measurements that make national data sets comparable across countries.