Adolescent Behavior Research Articles

Adolescent risk behaviours are associated with educational attainment in early adulthood: results from the Raine Study cohort

BackgroundHigher educational attainment is important for economic wellbeing and associated with better health and longevity. Previous research focused on intelligence, socioeconomic status and mental health or individual risk behaviours as predictors of educational attainment, but the role of multiple domains of adolescent risk behaviours is less clear. This study examined the association between multiple domains of risk behaviour in adolescence and educational attainment by 22 years-of-age.MethodsYoung people (Generation 2, Gen2) and their parents (Generation 1, Gen1) participating in the Raine Study completed questionnaires at years 1, 5, 8, 10 (Gen1 only), 14, 17 (both) and 22 (Gen2 only). The Raine Study is an ongoing longitudinal study initiated in Perth, Western Australia, between 1989 and 1991. The 1,102 Gen2 participants who responded to questions about highest educational attainment were included in this study. The association between Gen2 self-reported risk behaviours (including age at commencement of drinking alcohol, smoking, sexual intercourse and drug use) and educational attainment (defined as self-reported years of completed high school: ≤10, 11, 12 or tertiary education (> 12)) at year 22, after adjusting for mother’s age and combined parental education level, participant sex, and family income, educational performance and adolescent mental health, was explored using ordinal regression models and presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsOrdinal models suggested that never smoking or starting older than 18 compared with smoking before age 15 (OR 2.02, 95%CI: 1.28–2.14); first drinking alcohol between 15 and 17 years compared with younger than 15 (OR 1.52, 95%CI: 1.08–2.14); and, first sexual intercourse aged ≥ 18 years compared with under 15 (OR 1.67, 95%CI: 1.08–2.57) were associated with higher levels of educational attainment at 22-year follow-up. Additionally, lower (“better”) behavioural scores increased the odds of higher levels of attainment.ConclusionsAbsence of health risk behaviours at a younger age or later commencement was associated with higher educational attainment. Evidence-based interventions that address the societal influences underpinning risk behaviours in adolescents may support longer school retention.

Analisis Kesalahan Berbahasa Teks Berita Dalam Website "Detiknews" Edisi Februari 2024 Sebagai Kalayakan Bahan Ajar Membaca Kritis Siswa Kelas X SMA Terhadap Perilaku Sosial Remaja

The development of the times is accompanied by progress in various fields of life, such as science, technology, and economics. Progress is also felt in the scientific field of journalism. One of the terms in the field of journalism that is commonly known by the general public is print mass media, such as newspapers. Today's newspapers are not only printed on paper, but many newspapers have created their own blogs or pages so that news can be read online. The aim of this research is to analyze language errors based on the classification of linguistic categories, namely syntax, which includes the areas of spelling and sentence effectiveness. The data source is several news stories published on the detikNews website in the February 2024 edition. The data was then analyzed using the listening method and note-taking techniques. The results of the research showed that there were 52 errors in the use of spelling and punctuation, which were described as follows: a) there were 11 errors in writing foreign words; b) there were 8 errors in writing numbers; c) there were 13 errors in writing capital letters; d) there were 15 errors in the use of punctuation marks; e) there were 5 errors in writing pronouns. Apart from that, there were 44 errors in the use of ineffective sentences, which are described as follows: a) there were 14 errors in choosing diction; b) there are 10 sentences with no subject or predicate; c) there are 9 sentences with overlapping words; d) there are 11 long-winded sentences. It is hoped that the results of the analysis in this article will increase understanding and deeper knowledge regarding linguistics, namely syntax, including the areas of spelling and word choice and their use, knowledge about the types, as well as providing suitable teaching materials for class X high school students for them to carry out assessments and considerations. about adolescent social behavior critically.

Who has the greatest influence on adolescent gaming disorder: parents, teachers, or peers? An interpersonal relationships network model of gaming disorder.

Gaming disorder (GD) in adolescents is associated with impaired interpersonal relationships, including those with parents, teachers and peers. However, the interpersonal relationships most strongly associated with GD-related maladaptive behaviors are not well established. This study aimed to investigate the associations between these three types of relationships and the manifestation of GD in adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, 1920 Chinese adolescents participated in a survey that assessed interpersonal relationships (parent-child, teacher-student, and peer relationships) and demographic variables (e.g., gender, grade, duration of gaming), and 1414 participants were ultimately included. A network analysis approach was utilized to evaluate the key network metrics of edge weight and node centrality. The findings revealed that peer fear and inferiority (r = 0.12) and teacher-student conflict were most strongly correlated with GD, followed by parent-child conflict (r = 0.09). Peer fear and inferiority exhibited the highest strength centrality (0.84), followed by teacher-student conflict (0.83) and parent-child conflict (0.35). Moreover, the duration of gaming was significantly and positively correlated with GD (r = 0.19). The present study underscores the significant role of conflict and rejection within interpersonal relationships, particularly among peers, in the manifestation of GD-related behaviors in Chinese adolescents.

EXPRESS: Curbing Adolescents’ Risky ‘Drinking’ Behavior with Authenticity

Adolescents’ risky drinking behavior continues to be a public policy concern and insights into effective messages and behaviors that resonate with adolescents is needed. Evidence points to the potential of tapping into adolescents’ need for authenticity. Drawing on authenticity literature and implementing a mixed methods approach using family group interviews, followed by a 1x3 between-subject experiment with adolescents, this research conceptualizes a novel authentic engagement framework for reducing adolescent risky behavior. The findings identify and test that messages about drinking need to acknowledge positive aspects while warning of the negative consequences (i.e. mixed messages) across three dimensions - social, hedonic and safety. Alongside mixed messages, parents need to be honest about past experiences and align their behavior by acting as positive role models. Importantly, adolescents need an environment which enables them to experiment while having clear boundaries. Together this translates into openness and authenticity; critical for trust and the ability for adolescents to be true to themselves. The research has implications for parents and policy makers/marketers engaging with adolescents authentically about risky behavior, by providing information on message type and behaviors for effective training/educational programs and responsible drinking campaigns. The framework can be transferred to other contexts involving risky behavior.

8256 Early Life Stress and Pubertal Predictors of Youth Substance Use Initiation: Does Sex Moderate the Relationship Between ELS, Puberty, and Substance Use Initiation?

Abstract Disclosure: A. Donovan: None. S. Assari: None. M. Shaheen: None. C. Grella: None. L. Richter: None. T.C. Friedman: None. Background: Early life stress (ELS) is a construct composed of children’s experiences of abuse, neglect, and conflict. Approximately 20% of adolescents in the United States have experienced ELS at some point, and these experiences influence adolescent and adult health behavior outcomes. Adults with a history of ELS display higher rates of substance use disorders (SUD) and report earlier initiation of substance use. Additionally, ELS has been associated with early puberty, which in turn is linked to earlier substance use initiation. Our study examines the roles of pubertal status, sex hormones (estradiol, testosterone, and DHEA) and ELS as predictors of the initiation of substance use among a nationally representative sample of male and female adolescents in NIDA’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) database. Methods: Baseline measures from the ABCD database release 5.0 were used to generate an ELS score (0-60), puberty assessed via parental report on the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS, 1-4), and sex hormones (estradiol, testosterone, and DHEA) were analyzed via salivary samples. The relationship between these scores and time to first use of alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana was determined via survival analysis utilizing a cox regression. Age was tested as a covariate in the interaction of ELS and time to first use of alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana. Data were analyzed overall and for biological boys and girls separately (N=11,866, 52%M 48%F. ages 9-11 at baseline). Results: We observed additive effects of PDS score, estradiol measure, age, and ELS on time to first use of any substance (alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana) and found age (Exp β= 1.029, p<0.001) and ELS (Exp β= 1.017, p<0.05) to be significant predictors of time to first use. After separating by sex, ELS was no longer a significant predictor for males (Exp β= 1.014, p=0.054), but remained a predictor for females (Exp β= 1.019, p<0.05) indicating the overall effect was driven by females. Additionally, salivary estradiol was a significant predictor of first use for females (Exp β= 1.208, p<0.05), while salivary DHEA and testosterone were not predictors for males or females. Conclusions: Our results indicate sex does moderate the relationship between ELS and substance use initiation within our population, with females showing increased risk of initiation with increases in estradiol. Further findings from our study will help to describe sex differences among the factors that increase the risk of substance use initiation among ELS-exposed youth and explore how these vary by substance. ABCD provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore the mechanisms behind complex effects of ELS by sex on risk factors for adolescent substance use initiation. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Individual and sex differences in the behavior of adolescents Macaque Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) united into a new social group

Introduction. Primates living in groups in the laboratory can exhibit a wide range of behaviors consistent with their natural behavioral repertoire. The study of adolescent macaques’ behavior grouped together in new social group is of interest for understanding the social organization of preschool children, as well as for anthropology in general. The goal of the work is to reveal the individual and sex differences of behavioral activity of unrelated adolescent rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), grouped in new laboratory conditions. Materials and methods. We conducted focal observations recording the behavior activity of each macaque in the first two months of their cohabitation. We analyzed individual and sex differences in the manifestation of locomotor, exploratory and social behavior. Results. Individual characteristics of macaques for each type of behavior were identified. The group turned out to be the most heterogeneous in the degree of manifestation of exploratory behavior. The exploratory activity of females was significantly higher than that of males. Social activity was significantly higher in males due to the predominance of friendly reactions, although aggression was equally demonstrated in both sexes. However, females were significantly more often exposed to aggression from other individuals than they showed it themselves. As for males, aggression towards other individuals and aggression from other individuals did not differ significantly. Most individuals in the group demonstrated more friendliness reactions than aggression, but two macaques showed these types of behavior equally. There were no differences in the number of locomotor reactions between males and females. Conclusion. The analysis made it possible to trace the basic forms of behavioral activity of adolescent macaques in context of the new social group formation. The obtained results give us better understanding of the mechanisms of primates’ social behavior organization.

Examination of the relationship between health promotion behavior and game addiction in adolescents

ObjectivesAdolescence is defined as the transition period from childhood to adulthood. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between health promotion behavior and game addiction in a sample of Turkish adolescents. MethodsThe sample consisted of 340 adolescents aged 10–14 years (50.70 % boys). We collected the data using the ‘Adolescent Health Promotion Scale’ and ‘Adolescent Game Addiction Scale’ (Short Form). ResultsIt was determined that 87.3 % of the adolescents played digital games. Adolescents with chronic diseases and poor health status had higher digital game addiction scale scores (p < 0.05). There is a significant difference between health promotion behaviors of adolescents according to age, mother's education level, income level, health perception, and duration of playing digital games (p < 0.05). There is a significant difference between the mean scores of adolescents' game addiction scale and life appreciation (p < 0.01), health responsibility (rSpearman = −0.290, p < 0.01), exercise (rSpearman = −0.154, p < 0.01), stress management (rSpearman = −0.122, p < 0.01), nutrition sub-dimension (rSpearman = −0.200, p < 0.01) and total mean scores (rSpearman = −0.257, p < 0.01). The results of the regression analysis showed that the adolescent's health promotion behaviors predicted digital game addiction (p < 0.01). In terms of self-esteem in children, only the health responsibility of the adolescents was a significant predictor (p < 0.01). ConclusionKnowing the factors affecting adolescents' health promotion behaviors and game addiction is very important for pediatric nurses to identify adolescents who are at risk for game addiction and take necessary precautions.

Internet gaming disorder and risky behaviours among Czech adolescents: A nationally representative study.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the complex association between Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), substance use, and other risky behaviours in Czech adolescents whilst providing prevalence estimates of IGD and psychometric information regarding the Czech Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF). A representative sample of 3,950 Czech adolescents was recruited through stratified random sampling in the school setting. Disordered gamers showed frequent use of specific substances such as pharmaceuticals, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide. In contrast, non-gamers had higher prevalence of alcohol, cigarettes, sedatives and tranquillisers, and marijuana use. A logistic regression, utilising IGDS9-SF raw scores and average daily gaming time, revealed a U-shaped relationship between gaming and both alcohol and cigarette use. Additionally, conduct problems such as bullying, and risky in-game behaviours were more prevalent among disordered gamers, with the exception of forging parents' signatures. The overall prevalence of IGD was 3.62% (95% CI = [3.1%, 4.3%]), with higher rates in males (5.89%; 95% CI = [4.9%, 7.0%]) than in females (1.45%; 95% CI = [1.0%, 2.1%]). The Czech IGDS9-SF used in the present study showed adequate psychometric properties. The association between gaming and substance use behaviours may be specific and multifaceted depending on the severity of the gaming-related problems. Furthermore, disordered gamers may become more vulnerable due to a higher incidence of conduct problems, bullying (victimisation), and in-game risky behaviours such as engagement with microtransactions mechanics (e.g., loot box) within video games.

Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study.

The actions required to achieve higher-quality and harmonised global surveillance of child and adolescent movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour including screen time, sleep) are unclear. To identify how to improve surveillance of movement behaviours, from the perspective of experts. This Delphi Study involved 62 experts from the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years and Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA). Two survey rounds were used, with items categorised under: (1) funding, (2) capacity building, (3) methods, and (4) other issues (e.g., policymaker awareness of relevant WHO Guidelines and Strategies). Expert participants ranked 40 items on a five-point Likert scale from 'extremely' to 'not at all' important. Consensus was defined as > 70% rating of 'extremely' or 'very' important. We received 62 responses to round 1 of the survey and 59 to round 2. There was consensus for most items. The two highest rated round 2 items in each category were the following; for funding (1) it was greater funding for surveillance and public funding of surveillance; for capacity building (2) it was increased human capacity for surveillance (e.g. knowledge, skills) and regional or global partnerships to support national surveillance; for methods (3) it was standard protocols for surveillance measures and improved measurement method for screen time; and for other issues (4) it was greater awareness of physical activity guidelines and strategies from WHO and greater awareness of the importance of surveillance for NCD prevention. We generally found no significant differences in priorities between low-middle-income (n = 29) and high-income countries (n = 30) or between SUNRISE (n = 20), AHKGA (n = 26) or both (n = 13) initiatives. There was a lack of agreement on using private funding for surveillance or surveillance research. This study provides a prioritised and international consensus list of actions required to improve surveillance of movement behaviours in children and adolescents globally.

The Triple E project: a factorial randomised controlled trial to enhance engagement with eHealth approaches to improve health risk behaviours among adolescents

BackgroundDigital, or eHealth, interventions are highly promising approaches to help adolescents improve their health behaviours and reduce their risk of chronic disease. However, they often have low uptake and retention. There is also a paucity of high-quality research into the predictors of eHealth engagement, and a lack of studies that have systematically evaluated existing engagement strategies in adolescent populations. This paper describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial which primarily aims to assess the effectiveness of different strategies in increasing engagement with a healthy lifestyles app, Health4Life. Associations between the engagement strategies and improvements in adolescent health behaviours (healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, recreational screen time, smoking, alcohol use) will also be examined, along with potential predictors of adolescents’ intentions to use health apps and their use of the Health4Life app.MethodsThe current study will aim to recruit 336 adolescent and parent/guardian dyads (total sample N = 672) primarily through Australia wide online advertising. All adolescent participants will have access to the Health4Life app (a multiple health behaviour change, self-monitoring mobile app). The trial will employ a 24 factorial design, where participants will be randomly allocated to receive 1 of 16 different combinations of the four engagement strategies to be evaluated: text messages, access to a health coach, access to additional gamified app content, and provision of parent/guardian information resources. Adolescents and parents/guardians will both complete consent processes, baseline assessments, and a follow-up assessment after 3 months. All participants will also be invited to complete a qualitative interview shortly after follow-up. The primary outcome, app engagement, will be assessed via an App Engagement Index (Ei) using data collected in the Health4Life app and the Mobile App Rating Scale – User version.DiscussionThis research will contribute significantly to building our understanding of the types of strategies that are most effective in increasing adolescents’ engagement with health apps and which factors may predict adolescents’ use of health apps.Trial registrationThe trial is registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000399695). Date registered: 19/04/2023.

Hiperrealitas dalam Penggunaan Smartphone pada Kalangan Remaja

Smartphones provide various instant messenger and social media applications that can facilitate communication and information. However, behind these benefits, hyperreality is currently occurring and there are many consequences that arise. Therefore, the main problem is How is hyperreality in smartphone use among teenagers. The purpose of this study is to determine the form of hyperreality and the consequences of smartphone use through instant messenger and social media among teenagers.This study uses a qualitative method. The data collection process is carried out using observation and in-depth interview techniques. In analyzing the data, the researcher uses qualitative analysis techniques. The theory used in this study is the theory of hyperreality proposed by Jean Baudrillard.The results of this research show that there are several forms of hyperreality of smartphone use via instant messenger and social media among teenagers which are seen through two Baudrillard concepts, namely simulation and simulacra. The simulation found is living in a digital simulation, acronyms and emoticons lose their reference and are obsessed with making friends in cyberspace. The simulacra found are blurring self-identity, changing use values to sign values, blurring the real world, chasing instant popularity, displaying falsehoods. Meanwhile, there are two consequences of smartphone use among teenagers. First, positive consequences, namely earning income and improving academic achievement. Second, negative consequences, namely reducing academic achievement, changing adolescent behavior, wasteful and uncertain time.

Association between sleep disturbances and suicidal behavior in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adolescents' health and well-being are seriously threatened by suicidal behaviors, which have become a severe social issue worldwide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality for adolescents in low and middle-income countries, with approximately 67,000 teenagers committing suicide yearly. Although an association between sleep disturbances (SDs) and suicidal behaviors has been suggested, data are still scattered and inconclusive. Therefore, to further investigate this association, we conducted a meta-analysis to verify if there is a link between SDs and suicidal behaviors in adolescents without diagnosed psychiatric disorders. PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to August 30th, 2024. We included studies reporting the estimation of suicidal behaviors in adolescents from 12 to 21 years of age, with SDs and healthy controls. The meta-analysis was based on odds ratio (OR, with a 95% confidence interval ([CI]), estimates through inverse variance models with random-effects. The final selection consisted of 19 eligible studies from 9 countries, corresponding to 628,525 adolescents with SDs and 567,746 controls. We found that adolescents with SDs are more likely to attempt suicide (OR: 3.10; [95% CI: 2.43; 3.95]) and experience suicidal ideation (OR: 2.28; [95% CI 1.76; 2.94]) than controls. This meta-analysis suggests that SDs are an important risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in healthy adolescents. The findings highlight the importance of early identification of SDs to prevent suicidal behaviors in this population. PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023415526.

Relationship between positive grandparenting styles and adolescent prosocial behavior: A moderated mediation model

In response to China's accelerated aging and revised birth policies, families are increasing choosing intergenerational caregiving owing to the value placed on kinship and also because of practicality. Using a cross-sectional survey of 1,289 participants, we explored the relationship between positive grandparenting styles and adolescent prosocial behavior, and further examined the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of peer relationships. Findings revealed that positive grandparenting was positively and significantly associated with adolescent prosocial behavior. Further, psychological resilience mediated this link, and peer relationships positively moderated the effect of positive grandparenting on adolescent psychological resilience, consequently amplifying this effect. In addition, stronger peer relationships augmented the indirect effect of positive grandparenting on prosocial behavior via psychological resilience. Our study enhances understanding of how grandparenting style may impact adolescent behavior and offers valuable insight into family upbringing practices within the Chinese societal context.

Exploring the cessation process from adolescence to young adulthood in individuals with lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury: a qualitative study.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common and concerning behavior in adolescents. However, most adolescents cease NSSI as they transition into adulthood. Increased knowledge of the cessation process is needed. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the factors contributing to NSSI cessation in individuals with lived experience of NSSI, providing valuable insights for treatment strategies. Twenty-six individuals assigned female sex at birth, between ages 20-22 years, from Sweden were interviewed between 2021 and 2023 in Linköping, Sweden. Of these, 21 individuals perceived themselves as having ceased NSSI and were included in the analysis. Thematic analysis and Hooley and Franklins' Benefits and Barriers Model of NSSI were used to analyze the transcripts. Three overarching themes were generated: "Something inside me changed", "Something in my close relationships changed", and "Something in my life context changed". The cessation of NSSI was associated with several key factors. Improved well-being and envisioning a different future were pivotal in initiating the cessation process. Additionally, interpersonal relationships and support from others were interpreted as powerful motivators for change. Transitioning to a new social context and leaving behind a destructive environment provided opportunities for personal growth and enhanced well-being, interpreted as initiators in the participants' broader life context. This study underscores the complexity of the NSSI cessation process and highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors. Access to emotion regulation skills was perceived as a significant barrier to NSSI engagement. Clinical implications and different interventions to support NSSI cessation are discussed.

The Relationship Between Epidemic Perception and Cyberbullying Behaviors of Chinese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government initiated measures for social distancing, leading to a gradual transition of adolescents' social interactions toward web-based platforms. Consequently, web-based behaviors, particularly cyberbullying, have become a prominent concern. Considering that adolescents experience more intense feelings, the widely increased negative emotions and strains perceived from the COVID-19 pandemic may end up engaging in cyberbullying behaviors. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents experiencing insomnia and negative affect are more prone to diminished self-control, which is associated with cyberbullying behaviors. This study aims to investigate the relationship between epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors, while also examining the serial mediating roles of insomnia and negative affect on the relationship between epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors. This study presents a large-scale web-based survey conducted during the period of concentrated COVID-19 outbreaks, encompassing 20,000 Chinese adolescents. A total of 274 submitted questionnaires were discarded because of high levels of missing data or their answers were clearly fictitious or inconsistent. The final count of valid participants amounted to 19,726 (10,371 boys, age range: 12-18 years; mean 14.80, SD 1.63 years). The Perceptions of COVID-19 Scale, Negative Affect Scale, Insomnia Scale, and Cyberbullying Behavior Scale were used to assess participants' responses on the Questionnaire Star platform. The results show that epidemic perception is positively correlated with cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.13; P<.001), insomnia (r=0.19; P<.001), and negative affect (r=0.25; P<.001). Insomnia is positively correlated with negative affect (r=0.44; P<.001) and cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.30; P<.001). Negative affect is positively correlated with cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.25; P<.001). And insomnia and negative affect play independent mediating and serial mediating roles in epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors. This study provides additional empirical evidence on the relationship between the perception of COVID-19 pandemic and cyberbullying in adolescents. In addition, the study offers recommendations for implementing interventions targeted at mitigating cyberbullying in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Approaches.

Adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter significant challenges, particularly aggressive behaviors that persist into adulthood and profoundly affect their daily functioning and quality of life. These behaviors not only pose hurdles for affected individuals but also present considerable challenges for caregivers and families. Managing aggression in adolescents with ASD requires comprehensive treatment approaches encompassing both non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. This paper reviews current interventions that have proven to be effective through empirical studies in managing aggression among adolescents with ASD. By synthesizing evidence-based practices, this study underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving medical, psychological, and educational interventions to effectively manage aggression among adolescents with ASD. It aimed to inform clinicians, educators, and caregivers of practical strategies and evidence-based interventions to address aggression in this population.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy Targeting Antisocial Behaviour in Adolescence

Youth criminal justice systems are under growing pressure to reduce re-offending behaviour and support young people's health and developmental needs. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to synthesise evidence for two prominent community-based interventions for delinquent and antisocial behaviour, multisystemic therapy (MST) and functional family therapy (FFT). We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and Social Services Abstracts for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies evaluating MST/FFT. Included studies involved participants aged under 18; included interventions targeted delinquent/antisocial behaviour, but not maltreatment. We estimated effect sizes for 6 primary outcomes, synthesising RCTs comparing MST/FFT to usual care using correlated hierarchical effects meta-analysis. We assessed risk of bias and evidence strength using best-practice tools. Given the additional resources needed to implement MST/FFT, we rated evidence strength against a minimum clinically important difference rather than a null effect. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021279736. We included 35 studies for MST (16 RCTs meta-analysed comprising 4095 participants, 26% female) and 19 studies for FFT (7 RCTs meta-analysed comprising 1471 participants, 22% female). MST had a likely clinically important effect on time in out-of-home care, but no clinically important effects on other primary outcomes (delinquency, new offences/convictions, placement in out-of-home care, substance use), with low-to-moderate evidence strength. FFT demonstrated possible clinically important effects for the number of new offences/convictions, time in out-of-home care, and substance use, but evidence strength was low. Contrary to reports in some evidence clearinghouses indicating that MST/FFT are supported by the highest level of evidence strength, there is limited evidence that these interventions are superior to usual care in reducing delinquent and antisocial behaviour in adolescence. These findings should be viewed in the context of important methodological differences with prior reviews, including the rating of evidence strength against a minimum clinically important difference.

Impact of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids after maternal dietary deficiency on adolescent anxiety and microglial morphology.

Dietary maternal deficiency in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) is a potential risk factor for the development of anxiety and other mood disorders in children and adolescents. Here, we used a previously characterized maternal n-3 PUFA dietary deficiency model in rats to determine the impact of postweaning supplementation on adolescent anxiety-like behaviors. We focused on two models of anxiety: innate anxiety tested by the elevated plus maze and a novel operant model of learned anxiety where animals learn that actions may be associated with a variable probability of harm. Given that recent basic and clinical studies have associated anxiety and other adverse effects of n-3 PUFA deficiency on inflammatory processes and microglial structure and function, we also assessed the impact of our dietary deficiency model and supplementation on adolescent microglial morphology in multiple brain regions. We found that the male and female adolescent n-3 PUFA-deficient groups exhibit increased innate anxiety, but only females showed enhanced learned anxiety. Supplementation after weaning did not significantly affect innate anxiety but ameliorated learned anxiety in females. Thus, the beneficial effects of supplementation on adolescent anxiety may be sex-specific and depend on the type of anxiety. We also found that n-3 PUFA deficiency influences microglia function in adolescents in the amygdala and nigrostriatal, but not mesolimbic, brain regions. Collectively, these data suggest that while n-3 PUFA dietary supplementation may be effective in reducing adolescent anxiety, this effect is context-, sex-, and brain network-specific. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Phubbing Phenomenon in Adolescents: Uncovering the Impact of Technology on Social Relationship Quality

Phubbing is a social behaviour where an individual prioritizes smartphone usage over engaging with those around them. This study seeks to explore the underlying causes, manifestations, and consequences of phubbing behaviour among adolescents and to understand how this behaviour affects the quality of their social relationships. Adopting a qualitative approach through case study methodology, this research focuses on three adolescents who are habitual practitioners of phubbing. The findings of this study reveal that smartphone dependence, fear of missing out (F.O.M.O.), and low self-control are the primary factors influencing this behaviour. The repercussions of phubbing include the weakening of social relationships and an increase in feelings of loneliness and discomfort during social interactions. This research provides valuable insights into how technological advancements impact adolescent social behaviour and underscores the crucial role of educators and parents in promoting healthier social interactions. By identifying the factors contributing to phubbing and its effects on social relationships, this study aids in developing strategies to help adolescents adapt to technology in a more balanced way while maintaining the quality of their interpersonal connections. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing phubbing and encourages more meaningful and supportive social interactions in the digital age. This expanded understanding of phubbing's impact highlights the importance of fostering better communication habits and supportive environments for adolescents navigating modern technology. Research shows that phubbing perpetrators have the defence that their behaviour is not the only one, that in this era, almost everyone does the same thing as they do, and their behaviour is inevitable. So, they tend to repeat the same cycle. Thus, phubbing behaviour is a cause-and-effect behaviour that is also influenced by an individual's internal and external factors.

Links between parental monitoring and parent-adolescent conflict: A multimodal test of bidirectional relations.

During adolescence, youth increase in both independence and conflict with parents. Parents vary in how much they know about their adolescents' whereabouts and activities and how they acquire this information (i.e., the sources of what parents know). We probed how parental knowledge of adolescents' whereabouts and activities-and their information sources-relates to (a) domains of parent-adolescent conflict (fighting about, or having different beliefs about, daily life topics) and (b) parent and adolescent attachment-related behavior during a conflict discussion task. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, we tested links between parental knowledge and its sources and conflict processes. Eighty-seven adolescents (Mage = 15.18; 55% female) and parents completed surveys about parental knowledge and its sources (i.e., parental solicitation of adolescents' activities, adolescent disclosure to parents about their activities) and separate interviews on conflict domains. A subset of parent-adolescent dyads (n = 65) interacted for 5 min about an adolescent-identified conflict topic. Different beliefs about daily life topics related to parental knowledge: parents' reports of greater different beliefs about daily life topics predicted less knowledge of adolescents' activities/whereabouts, solicitation, and disclosure, for both parent and adolescent reports of these domains. For adolescents, greater different beliefs related to less solicitation and disclosure. Only adolescent reports of parental knowledge, solicitation, and disclosure predicted attachment-related behaviors both dyad members displayed during the conflict discussion task. Findings reveal links between parental knowledge of adolescents' activities and conflict processes and demonstrate dyadic interdependence between parental knowledge of adolescents' activities and conflict processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).