Youth Ages Research Articles

Photo- and Phonosensitivity in Pediatric Headache: Assessing the Clinical Utility of Avoidance Behavior Scales

Abstract Date Presented 03/22/24 To improve clinical utilization, this study further examined the psychometric properties of two newly developed and validated measures of photo- and phonosensitivity-related avoidance behaviors in youth ages 8-18 with chronic headache. Primary Author and Speaker: Megan Silvia Contributing Authors: Allison Smith

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of intangible cultural heritage among youth in Sichuan, China: a cross-sectional study

PurposeThe preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) relies heavily on the interest and commitment of younger generations. In Sichuan, China, youths serve as a conduit and steward to the inheritance passed down from previous generations. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) studies have been advantageous in providing insights into a community’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards safeguarding heritage. This study investigates the KAP of Sichuan youth regarding ICH.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a quantitative methodology, utilizing a survey questionnaire on the KAP dimensions. The study involved 384 youths between the ages of 15 and 24 across 21 cities in Sichuan, China. Statistical analyses were conducted using both descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsThe results of the study showed that Sichuan youths had a high level of knowledge of ICH and a high level of positive attitudes towards ICH but scored in the moderate range for ICH practices. There were significant differences in the knowledge of ICH among youths of different ages and education levels. In addition, there was a strong correlation between knowledge and attitudes, a strong correlation between knowledge and practices and a moderate correlation between attitudes and practices.Originality/valueThis study is the first to investigate the KAP of ICH among youth in Sichuan, China. The findings of this study suggest that several areas—such as ICH categorization (knowledge), approaches to safeguarding ICH (knowledge), levels of satisfaction with ICH safeguarding effectiveness (attitudes), ICH product purchasing (practices) and membership to clubs or associations aimed at safeguarding ICH (practices)—need to be further strengthened. Reinforcement in these areas will encourage positive behaviors and perspectives among the younger generation and facilitate in the management of ICH by institutions or organizations.

Examining the influence of cigar and cannabis co-marketing on packaging perceptions: An experiment with a sample of US youth

SignificanceCigars are sometimes marketed with cannabis references because they are often used for smoking blunts (i.e., cannabis rolled in cigar paper with or without tobacco). However, little research exists on the impact of cannabis co-marketing on cigar perceptions. MethodsParticipants included 506 US youth (ages 15–20) recruited April-June 2023 through Qualtrics who reported ever using little cigars or cigarillos (LCCs), past 30-day use of LCCs, or susceptibility to using LCCs. We then conducted a between-subjects experiment, randomizing youth to view one of two cigarillo packages: 1) a package with cannabis co-marketing (i.e., the package included a cannabis-related flavor descriptor and the word “blunt” appeared in the brand name and product label) or 2) a package with no cannabis co-marketing. We assessed the effects of the packaging on perceptions of product ingredients, addictiveness and harm perceptions, product appeal, susceptibility to using the product shown, and purchase intentions. ResultsPackages with cannabis co-marketing were perceived as more likely to contain cannabis (OR: 5.56, 95 % CI: 3.73, 8.27) and less likely to contain tobacco (OR: 0.42, 95 % CI: 0.25, 0.70) or nicotine (OR: 0.57, 95 % CI: 0.40, 0.82). Cannabis co-marketing also led to higher susceptibility to using the product shown (B: 0.21, p = 0.02). We did not find evidence that cannabis co-marketing changed harm perceptions or purchase intentions. ConclusionsAmong a sample of US youth, cannabis co-marketing on cigar packages may change perceptions of product ingredients and increase susceptibility to using such products, which could lead to the initiation of cigars and cannabis.

The Association of Stigma, School, and Family Factors with Patterns of Substance Use Among LGBTQ Youth.

Polysubstance use is associated with myriad short- and long-term health outcomes. Although prior research has documented differences in polysubstance use between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other sexual and gender minoritized (LGBTQ +) youth and their heterosexual/cisgender counterparts, as well as between subgroups of LGBTQ + youth, it is unknown how personal, family, and school factors are associated with substance use patterns among LGBTQ + youth. Using a large, national sample of 9646 LGBTQ + youth ages 13-17, we used latent class analysis to examine patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use and to determine whether personal, family, and school factors predict class membership. We identified five classes of substance use: polysubstance use, polysubstance experimentation, dual alcohol and cannabis, alcohol, and no use. Greater depression and LGBTQ + victimization, and an ability to be oneself at school, were associated with greater odds of membership in the polysubstance use class, while higher levels of family connection and having a Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at school were associated with lower odds of membership in the polysubstance use class. Our analysis also revealed sociodemographic differences in class membership. These findings highlight potential mechanisms for intervention to reduce polysubstance use among LGBTQ + youth.

Support Needs & Priorities of Individuals Transitioning From Foster Care to Independent Living

Abstract Date Presented 03/21/24 The results of this American Occupational Therapy Foundation–funded community-engaged research project define how OT can fill the gaps for youth aging out of foster care and support transition teams, thereby advocating for OT’s role and unique contributions with this at-risk population. Primary Author and Speaker: Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth Additional Authors and Speakers: Samantha Maloney Contributing Authors: Heather J. Williamson, Anthony Thornton

Book Review: Anna Gjika, When Rape Goes Viral: Youth and Sexual Assault in the Digital Age.

In "When Rape Goes Viral: Youth and Sexual Assault in the Digital Age" Anna Gjika delves into the complex interplay between digital technology and the criminal justice system's handling of sexual violence, particularly among adolescents. The digital age has transformed many aspects of society, including how sexual violence is perpetrated, recorded, and prosecuted. This transformation raises critical questions about the adequacy of existing legal frameworks and the need for systemic reform to address the nuances of digital abuse effectively. Gjika’s work is pivotal as it uncovers the dual roles of digital platforms—both as tools for empowerment and instruments of victimization. The author uses a range of case studies to illustrate how digital media can both aid in bringing justice to victims and exacerbate their victimization through cyberbullying and unconsented sharing of intimate images. This scholarly analysis seeks to unpack the contributions of Gjika's work to the field of criminal justice, specifically in the context of digital harm, the inadequacies of existing legal frameworks, and the influence of gender dynamics, race, and circumstances surrounding sexual assault incidents.

Navigating and negotiating “outness” among 2S/LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness

There are important implications associated with coming and being out for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, and other sexual and gender minority (2S/LGBTQ+) people. “Outness” is indeed imbued with risks, particularly in contexts of visibility and structural precarity. This community-based study used photovoice methods, including data from 61 semi-structured interviews with 32 2S/LGBTQ+ youth (ages 17-29), to examine how they navigate and negotiate outness in connection with homelessness. Our reflexive thematic analysis was guided by theoretical perspectives related to gender and queer performativity, hegemonic masculinities, and strategic outness. We developed four themes: (i) being out in/of harm’s way, (ii) norming outness, (iii) concealing outness, and (iv) masc-ing up. Across these thematic findings, we characterize the stakes of coming out and being outed with respect to trajectories and experiences of homelessness for 2S/LGBTQ+ youth. Moreover, we examine youths’ dynamics of managing outness to broker access to services and housing and mitigate anti-2S/LGBTQ+ and gender-based discrimination and violence risks. Findings detail how youth negotiate the tensions between what they perceive and experience as possible with respect to outness in the context of homelessness and pursuing belonging, safety, material security, and housing. Recognizing these efforts while addressing long-standing inequities in homelessness for 2S/LGBTQ+ youth is a necessary pursuit.

Youth and young adult knowledge of and access to opioid harm reduction policies and interventions in North Carolina

IntroductionFrom 2019–2021, overdose deaths among youth and young adults ages 10–19 years of age residing in the United States increased by 109 %. We sought to examine the extent to which youth and young adults who have experience with substance use are aware of the harm reduction policies and interventions, including the statewide Good Samaritan Law (GSL), naloxone, and fentanyl test strips, and have access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips. MethodsFrom December 2022 to February 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of individuals ages 12–25 years who resided in North Carolina (NC) (N=15,000). We assessed awareness of and access to harm reduction policies and interventions among participants who reported ever using heroin/fentanyl, diverted prescription medication, cocaine, methamphetamine, and hallucinogens (n=539). Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with awareness of and access to these policies and interventions. ResultsWe found that 81.5 % of the sample of youth and young adults who reported ever use of substances were aware of NC’s GSL, 80.0 % were aware of naloxone, 43.0 % perceived they had access to naloxone, 74.4 % were aware of fentanyl test strips, and 21.9 % perceived they had access to fentanyl test strips. There were individual and community-level characteristics associated with awareness of and perceived access to these harm reduction policies and interventions. ConclusionsEfforts are needed to improve access to harm reduction interventions among youth and young adults as they are experiencing an increased risk of dying from opioid-involved overdoses.

Cyberbullying and Bullying Reports Among Youth in a Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit: Insights From Youth and Parent Intake Surveys.

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have examined the extent to which cyberbullying and offline bullying are factors related to youth admissions to behavioral health inpatient units. However, considering the rising use of technology and prevalence of youth bullying, intake procedures require adaptation to account for modern-day psychological pressures facing youth. AIMS: Our aims were to pilot and analyze results from a novel intake form, assessing offline bullying and cyberbullying, in a youth inpatient behavioral health facility. METHODS: Upon admission at an inpatient behavioral health facility in the Midwestern United States, 622 youth (ages 10 and older) and their parent/guardian completed intake forms including questions about their experience of bullying, cyberbullying, and feelings of safety in different environments, and feelings about whether bullying contributed to their inpatient admission. RESULTS: Overall, 21.50% (134/622) of youth self-reported being a cybervictim, 6.10% (38/622) reported being an offline bully victim, and 8.04% (50/622) reported mixed bullying. Bullied youth felt significantly less safe in all environments than non-bullied youth, and bullied youth who felt unsafe were more likely to attribute their hospitalization to bullying. Troublingly, only about one-third of parents were aware of cyberbullying. CONCLUSION: Using traditional standards of care that do not address offline bullying/cyberbullying, mental health care workers may be missing critical factors that contribute to youth inpatient hospitalization for mental health issues. Behavioral health units should consider adapting intake forms to include offline bullying/cyberbullying questions and developing programming for parents and adults to address issues of online and offline safety.

The long-term consequences of school suspension and expulsion on depressive symptoms

Exposure to exclusionary discipline has been tied to several deleterious outcomes in adulthood, including contact with the criminal legal system. While this work provides interesting insight into the long-term consequences tied to this form of school punishment, few have attempted to consider whether and how, exclusionary discipline practices, in particular, school suspension and expulsion shape mental health patterning over the life course. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we contribute to this body of literature by examining whether exposure to school suspension or expulsion shapes depressive symptom trajectories from adolescence to adulthood. Results from our mixed-effects linear growth curve models demonstrate both forms of exclusionary discipline play a significant role in depressive symptom trajectories. We find suspended and expelled youth exhibit significantly higher depressive symptoms in adolescence when compared to their counterparts with no history of suspension or expulsion. Results also show age variation in depressive symptom trajectories by history of exposure to exclusionary discipline. Specifically, results show the depressive symptoms gap between disciplined and non-disciplined youth slightly dissipates as youth age into early adulthood, but as individuals begin to transition out of this stage of the life course, the gap in depressive symptoms widens substantially. Results carry implications for how punitive disciplinary practices in schools shape mental health from adolescence to adulthood.

Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce: Pediatric Psychologists Training Master’s Level Students in Integrated Healthcare

ABSTRACT As mental and behavioral health needs continue to rise, additional providers are needed to expand the behavioral health workforce. Integrated behavioral health services result in increased access, reduced stigma, and improved quality of patient care. Psychologists are in a unique position to provide training to future mental health professionals in integrated settings, across multiple levels of training, and particularly to future master’s level providers, which make up the majority of the mental health workforce. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workplace Education and Training (BHWET) Program aims to increase the behavioral health workforce in order to improve access to services. A priority is placed on care for children, adolescents, and transitional aged youth who are at risk for behavioral health disorders and highlights team-based approaches to care in integrated settings. An overview is provided of a HRSA BHWET funded training program implemented with master’s level students. Students completed clinical field placements in one of several integrated care settings and were provided specialized training in the areas of evidence-based treatments, integrated healthcare, and quality improvement. The overarching purpose of the Integrated Behavioral Services Training and Education Program (I-STEP) was to improve access to behavioral health services for underserved children and their families by expanding the behavioral health workforce. This was achieved through training master’s level counseling students to provide evidence-based services in integrated healthcare settings. I-STEP program goals, challenges, outcomes, and lessons learned are presented.

Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: Implications for Nurse Practitioners

The foster care system in the United States was designed to provide a safe and temporary environment for children without parents available to care for them because of death, disability, substance use, incarceration, or when they are deemed to be unsafe in their biological home. Over 368,000 children resided in the foster care system in the US in 2021, 110,230 of whom were between 13 and 20 years of age. The focus of this discussion is the roughly 23,000 youth who age out of the foster care system annually and are left without a permanent home and implications for nurse practitioners.

Updates in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric antiphospholipid syndrome.

This review offers an overview of the most important recent articles on pediatric APS. Non-thrombotic extra criteria manifestations were prevalent in pediatric APS. Pregnancy morbidity has been described as the first manifestation of APS at youth age, impairing gestational outcomes. The 2023 APS criteria were developed for adult APS patients, and there is still a lack of pediatric-specific APS criteria. Catastrophic APS was more commonly reported as the initial manifestation of pediatric APS than in adults. Regarding treatment, direct oral anticoagulants have been recently approval for pediatric patients with venous thrombosis. New approaches have been proposed for severe cases, for arterial thrombosis, and rituximab for refractory cases. Recurrences typically occurred early and were associated with older age at diagnosis. Current studies highlighted the multifaceted nature of pediatric APS. Further large prospective multicenter studies evaluating new medications capable of reducing recurrence risk and improving prognosis in this population will be required.

Frontoparietal and salience network synchronizations during nonsymbolic magnitude processing predict brain age and mathematical performance in youth.

The development and refinement of functional brain circuits crucial to human cognition is a continuous process that spans from childhood to adulthood. Research increasingly focuses on mapping these evolving configurations, with the aim to identify markers for functional impairments and atypical development. Among human cognitive systems, nonsymbolic magnitude representations serve as a foundational building block for future success in mathematical learning and achievement for individuals. Using task-based frontoparietal (FPN) and salience network (SN) features during nonsymbolic magnitude processing alongside machine learning algorithms, we developed a framework to construct brain age prediction models for participants aged 7-30. Our study revealed differential developmental profiles in the synchronization within and between FPN and SN networks. Specifically, we observed a linear increase in FPN connectivity, concomitant with a decline in SN connectivity across the age span. A nonlinear U-shaped trajectory in the connectivity between the FPN and SN was discerned, revealing reduced FPN-SN synchronization among adolescents compared to both pediatric and adult cohorts. Leveraging the Gradient Boosting machine learning algorithm and nested fivefold stratified cross-validation with independent training datasets, we demonstrated that functional connectivity measures of the FPN and SN nodes predict chronological age, with a correlation coefficient of .727 and a mean absolute error of 2.944 between actual and predicted ages. Notably, connectivity within the FPN emerged as the most contributing feature for age prediction. Critically, a more matured brain age estimate is associated with better arithmetic performance. Our findings shed light on the intricate developmental changes occurring in the neural networks supporting magnitude representations. We emphasize brain age estimation as a potent tool for understanding cognitive development and its relationship to mathematical abilities across the critical developmental period of youth. PRACTITIONER POINTS: This study investigated the prolonged changes in the brain's architecture across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, with a focus on task-state frontoparietal and salience networks. Distinct developmental pathways were identified: frontoparietal synchronization strengthens consistently throughout development, while salience network connectivity diminishes with age. Furthermore, adolescents show a unique dip in connectivity between these networks. Leveraging advanced machine learning methods, we accurately predicted individuals' ages based on these brain circuits, with a more mature estimated brain age correlating with better math skills.

“Imagine Growing Up Thinking the US is the Best Opportunity”: Immigrant Origin Youth of Color Supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement on Twitter

Immigrant origin youth are among the largest growing population in the United States of America (U.S.), and are important political agents for social change. This study examines how these youth engage in interracial solidarity, particularly in digital spaces. This study used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the Twitter posts of 36 immigrant origin youth (ages 18–23; 62.5% women) from African/Afro-Latine, Latine, and Asian origins. We examined their posts about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and racial justice for Black Americans in 2020. We found that immigrant origin youths’ identities as racial-ethnic minorities informed their support of BLM. Further, we found racial differences in digital action such that African-origin youth focused on celebrating Blackness and calling in peers of all races, while non-African origin youth strategically amplified the work of U.S.-origin Black Americans and called in allyship in their racial-ethnic communities. Lastly, we found that African-origin youth viewed their positionality within the BLM movement differently compared to their U.S.-born Black peers due to their different relationship to chattel slavery and anti-Blackness. This study suggests that scholars and practitioners can support immigrant origin youths’ sociopolitical development by incorporating an intersectional analysis of inequities to promote collective identification and mass mobilization.

Bullying Victimization is Associated with Heightened Rates of Anxiety and Depression Among Autistic and ADHD Youth: National Survey of Children's Health 2016-2020.

Autistic youth and youth with ADHD have heightened rates of bullying victimization, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of this research is to use nationally representative US data to 1) estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among bullied neurodivergent youth and 2) investigate whether the association between bullying victimization and anxiety or depression is significantly greater among autistic youth and youth with ADHD. For this research, we used five years of data (2016-2020) from the nationally representative National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), youth ages 12-17years (n = 71,973). Data were analyzed with R and the R survey package to estimate average marginal percentages, risk differences, and additive interactions as recommended by STROBE guidelines. The study identified heightened anxiety and depression among bullied autistic or ADHD youth. Results also showed that the increase in the rate of anxiety or depression associated with bullying victimization was significantly greater among autistic youth and youth with ADHD relative to non-autistic non-ADHD youth; interactions were significant among both male and female youth. Autistic youth, youth with ADHD, and youth with co-occurring autism and ADHD are particularly vulnerable to bullying victimization and associated depression and anxiety. Future research is needed to understand why the association between bullying victimization and depression/anxiety is significantly greater among autistic and non-autistic ADHD youth. Recommendations include exploring school-wide anti-stigma initiatives to stop the reciprocal bullying-anxiety/depression cycle, routine bullying and mental health screening of autistic and ADHD youth, and clinical management of bullied autistic and ADHD youth with anxiety or depression.

Risk, Opportunities and Interventions of Youth in the Digital Age

While the digital age brings many opportunities for users, it also brings many risks, especially for teenagers. Media platforms collect personal information from users to anticipate their preferences and personalise the most relevant and interesting content. For teenagers, this increases the risk of being exposed to strangers, unhealthy content, hate speech, and false information. For this reason, parental moderation is indispensable, but the reality of parental moderation is difficult. Nevertheless, parents still need to find solutions to protect their children as much as possible.

“Newsers”: News Repertoires and News Perceptions Among Israeli Youth in the Digital Age

ABSTRACT This study examines Israeli youth’s news consumption habits and perceptions in a fragmented multi-media landscape intertwined in conflictual society. Using Q methodology and in-depth interviews with participants aged 15–18, the research uncovers four distinct cross-media repertoires of news consumers (“newsers”) varying by frequency, content, and platform. Our findings underscore that in the digital era, the definition of “news” has evolved, encompassing not only traditional media but also personal stories and social media updates on current affairs, including everyday life events. Building on existing literature, this research offers insights into the lives of young individuals navigating a rapidly evolving media terrain in a society marked by persistent conflict. The study sheds light on the emerging generation poised to influence Israeli democracy. Understanding their nuanced perception of news can inform content creation strategies to connect with and activate them. Our findings hold broader theoretical, methodological and practical implications for fostering civic engagement and promoting constructive action not only within Israel but also in other nations grappling with political unrest. By leveraging these insights, policymakers, media professionals, and educators can work toward cultivating a more informed and participatory citizenry, thus contributing to the advancement of democracy and social cohesion on a global scale.

Promoting good trouble: Latinx youth-driven change strategies for civic engagement and activism

Civic engagement can help adolescents recognize, evaluate, and act to challenge injustice, oppression, and institutionalized racism. However, systemic oppression that silences minoritized youth voice and activism can thwart civic engagement, disrupting positive youth development pathways. Building from a larger community-based participatory research study using qualitative, youth-led focus group methods, we prioritize youth voice to explore change strategies Latinx youth ages 14–18 in Houston and Denver identify as beneficial to challenging barriers to civic engagement and supporting their civic empowerment. Analyses yielded specific Latinx youth-identified strategies and foundational principles responding directly to barriers and oppressive systems within distinct ecological contexts in youth’s lives. Findings inform tailored efforts to support Latinx youth in pursuing civic action and challenging oppressive systems.

Officer gunpoint during police stops: Repercussions for youth mental health and perceived safety.

Youth-police contact is increasingly acknowledged as a stressor and a racialized adverse childhood experience that can undermine youths' mental health. The present study investigates a particularly distressing feature of youths' direct and witnessed in-person police stops-officer gunpoint (i.e., officers drawing of firearms and pointing them at youth, their peers, or other community members). We examine patterns of youths' officer gunpoint exposure and associations with youth mental health and safety perceptions. Data come from the Survey of Police-Adolescent Contact Experiences (SPACE), a cross-sectional survey of a community-based sample of Black youth ages 12-21 in Baltimore City, Maryland (n = 335), administered from August 2022 to July 2023. Findings indicate that ~33% of youth reporting in-person police stops had been exposed to officer gunpoint during stops. Officer gunpoint was significantly and positively associated with being male, unemployed, having an incarcerated parent, living in a neighborhood with greater disorder, and having been directly stopped by police, in addition to youth delinquency and impulsivity. Net of covariates, experiencing officer gunpoint was associated with a significantly higher rate of youth emotional distress during stops. Significant associations between officer gunpoint and youths' current police violence stress, police avoidance, and diminished safety perceptions also emerged and were largely explained by youths' heightened emotional distress at the time of police stops. Trauma-informed approaches are needed to mitigate the mental health harms of youth experiencing officer gunpoint.