Behavior In Late Adolescence Research Articles

Multidimensional Latent Religiosity Profiles and Sexual Behaviors in Late Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

AbstractStudies assessing the relationship between religiosity and sexual behaviors in youth are limited by their use of single‐aspect measures of religiosity, assumption of linearity, and focus on coital behaviors. This study assessed how multidimensional latent profiles of religiosity were associated both with sexual risk behaviors and noncoital sex. Data were gathered using a national sample of emerging adults in Croatia (N = 1,210; Mage = 21.74, 48.0 percent female). Latent profile analysis provided a three‐profile model as the most robust solution, differentiating among the low, moderate, and high religiosity groups. The gradient pattern (differences among all profiles) was observed only in the association between religiosity and the frequency of masturbation and experiencing oral sex. The relationship between religiosity and other sexual behaviors either was nonlinear or not found. Overall, religiosity was associated with a more limited sexual repertoire. Its protective effect in sexual risk taking was small but relevant for the most religious youth.

Age-related changes in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activation are associated with daily prosocial behaviors two years later

As adolescents acquire agency and become contributing members of society, it is necessary to understand how they help their community. Yet, it is unknown how prosocial behavior develops in the context of community-based prosocial behaviors that are relevant to adolescents, such as donating time to charities. In this longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging study, adolescents (N=172; mean age at wave 1=12.8) completed a prosocial task annually for three years (N=422 and 375 total behavioral and neural data points, respectively), and 14 days of daily diaries reporting on their prosocial behaviors two years later. During the task, adolescents decided how many minutes they would donate to a variety of local charities. We found that adolescents donated less time to charities from early to mid adolescence. Longitudinal whole-brain analyses revealed declines in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) activation, as well as inverted U-shaped changes in precuneus activation when adolescents donated their time from early to mid adolescence. A less steep decrease in vlPFC activation predicted greater real-life prosocial behaviors in youth’s daily lives two years later. Our study elucidates the neurodevelopmental mechanisms of prosocial behavior from early to mid adolescence that have enduring effects on daily prosocial behaviors in late adolescence.

Childhood emotional but not physical or sexual maltreatment predicts prosocial behavior in late adolescence: A daily diary study

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment (CM), including physical, emotional, and sexual maltreatment, is detrimental to adolescents' psychological and behavioral outcomes. However, most studies on the relationship between CM and prosocial behavior focused on the overall experience of CM. Since different forms of CM exert various influences on adolescents, it is essential to find out which form of CM has the strongest link with prosocial behavior and the underlying mechanism behind it to fully understand this relationship and design a specific intervention for promoting prosocial behavior. ObjectiveGuided by internal working model theory and hopelessness theory, this study aimed to investigate the connections of multiple forms of CM with prosocial behavior, and explore the mediating mechanism of gratitude from the perspective of the broaden-and-build theory through a 14-day daily diary study. ParticipantsA total of 240 Chinese late adolescents (217 females; Mage = 19.02, SDage = 1.83) from a college volunteered for this study and completed questionnaires regarding CM, gratitude, and prosocial behavior. MethodsA multilevel regression analysis was conducted to investigate which form of CM was correlated to prosocial behavior, and a multilevel mediation analysis was applied to examine the underlying mechanism (i.e., gratitude) behind this relationship. ResultsThe results of the multilevel regression analysis showed that it was childhood emotional maltreatment, but not physical or sexual maltreatment that negatively predicted prosocial behavior. The results of the multilevel mediation analysis indicated that gratitude mediated the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment and prosocial behavior. ConclusionsFindings from the present study highlight the predictive effect of childhood emotional maltreatment on late adolescents' prosocial behavior and the mediating role of gratitude in this link.

Cognitive Reappraisal and Need to Belong Predict Prosociality in Mexican-Origin Adolescents.

This two-year longitudinal study examined Mexican-origin adolescents' need to belong and cognitive reappraisal as predictors of multiple forms of prosocial behavior (i.e., general, emotional, and public prosocial behaviors). Prosocial behaviors, which are actions intended to benefit others, are hallmarks of social proficiency in adolescence and are influenced by intrapersonal abilities and motivations that typically develop during adolescence. Yet, few studies of Mexican-origin or other U.S. Latinx youths have examined whether such individual difference characteristics, specifically social motivation and emotion regulation skills, support prosocial behavior. In a sample of 229 Mexican-origin youth (Mage = 17.18 years, SD = 0.42, 110 girls), need to belong, cognitive reappraisal, and general prosocial behaviors were assessed at ages 17 and 19. Emotional and public forms of prosociality also were assessed at age 19. Cognitive reappraisal was positively associated with concurrent general prosociality at age 17, whereas need to belong was positively associated with concurrent public prosociality at age 19. Moderation analyses revealed that general and emotional types of prosocial behaviors at age 19 were lowest for youth with both lower need to belong and less use of cognitive reappraisal at 19 years. Greater cognitive reappraisal skills and need to belong may reflect distinct motivations for engaging in varying forms of prosocial behavior in late adolescence.

Chronic adolescent exposure to cannabis in mice leads to sex-biased changes in gene expression networks across brain regions

During adolescence, frequent and heavy cannabis use can lead to serious adverse health effects and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Rodent models of adolescent exposure to the main psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), mimic the behavioral alterations observed in adolescent users. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we treated female and male C57BL6/N mice with high doses of THC during early adolescence and assessed their memory and social behaviors in late adolescence. We then profiled the transcriptome of five brain regions involved in cognitive and addiction-related processes. We applied gene coexpression network analysis and identified gene coexpression modules, termed cognitive modules, that simultaneously correlated with THC treatment and memory traits reduced by THC. The cognitive modules were related to endocannabinoid signaling in the female dorsal medial striatum, inflammation in the female ventral tegmental area, and synaptic transmission in the male nucleus accumbens. Moreover, cross-brain region module-module interaction networks uncovered intra- and inter-region molecular circuitries influenced by THC. Lastly, we identified key driver genes of gene networks associated with THC in mice and genetic susceptibility to CUD in humans. This analysis revealed a common regulatory mechanism linked to CUD vulnerability in the nucleus accumbens of females and males, which shared four key drivers (Hapln4, Kcnc1, Elavl2, Zcchc12). These genes regulate transcriptional subnetworks implicated in addiction processes, synaptic transmission, brain development, and lipid metabolism. Our study provides novel insights into disease mechanisms regulated by adolescent exposure to THC in a sex- and brain region-specific manner.

Impact of chronic exposure to legacy environmental contaminants on the corpus callosum microstructure: A diffusion MRI study of Inuit adolescents

Exposure to environmental contaminants is an important public health concern for the Inuit population of northern Québec, who have been exposed to mercury (Hg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead (Pb). During the last 25 years, the Nunavik Child Development Study (NCDS) birth cohort has reported adverse associations between these exposures and brain function outcomes. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether contaminant exposure is associated with alterations of the corpus callosum (CC), which plays an important role in various cognitive, motor and sensory function processes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was administered to 89 NCDS participants (mean age ± SD = 18.4 ± 1.2). Diffusion-weighted imaging was assessed to characterize the microstructure of the CC white matter in 7 structurally and functionally distinct regions of interest (ROIs) using a tractography-based segmentation approach. The following metrics were computed: fiber tract density, fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). Multiple linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, current alcohol/drug use and fish nutrients (omega-3 fatty acids and selenium) were conducted to assess the association between diffusion-weighted imaging metrics and Hg, PCB 153 and Pb concentrations obtained at birth in the cord blood and postnatally (mean values from blood samples at 11 and 18 years of age). Exposures were not associated with fiber tract density. Nor were significant associations found with cord and postnatal blood Pb concentrations for FA. However, pre- and postnatal Hg and PCB concentrations were significantly associated with higher FA of several regions of the CC, namely anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium, with the most pronounced effects observed in the splenium. FA results were mainly associated with lower RD. This study shows that exposure to Hg and PCB 153 alters the posterior microstructure of the CC, providing neuroimaging evidence of how developmental exposure to environmental chemicals can impair brain function and behavior in late adolescence.

The cross-sectional, longitudinal, and transitional associations between perceived support and suicidal ideation and behavior in late adolescence and emerging adulthood: Adjacent-category logit models.

Suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts (SA) are prevalent in late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Prior research has identified perceived support as a correlate of SI and SA. Less is known, though, about the role of perceived support in differentiating among suicidal outcomes and between the incremental escalation of suicidal outcomes from SI to SA to serious suicide attempts (SSA). Using ordinal regression, we used Wave 1 and 2 data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N=4500; 53% female; Mage =16.6; 12% Hispanic) to examine cross-sectional, longitudinal, and transitional models of perceived support and suicidality. Cross-sectional results indicated that youths with higher perceived support were less likely to have suicidal ideation. Longitudinal results showed that youths with higher perceived support at Wave 1 were less likely to have suicidal ideation or serious suicide attempts at Wave 2. Transitional model results revealed that higher perceived support at Wave 1 was negatively associated with escalation in suicidal outcomes from Wave 1 to 2. We discuss findings in the context of theories of suicide and discuss implications for suicide risk identification, intervention, and prevention efforts in late adolescence and emerging adulthood.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ‘INGAT PESAN IBU’ CAMPAIGN IN CHANGING LATE ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR IN THE TOURISM AREAS OF BALI, BANDUNG, AND YOGYAKARTA

The high number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia has prompted the government to promote various efforts to suppress the spread of Covid-19 cases, one of which is ‘Ingat Pesan Ibu’ campaign. However, several tourism areas such as Bali, Bandung, and Yogyakarta are still favourite tourism destinations in the pandemic era. This research was conducted to determine if the ‘Ingat Pesan Ibu’ campaign effectively changes late-adolescents’ behavior and determine how far is the late adolescents receive ‘Ingat Pesan Ibu’ campaign in Bali, Bandung, and Yogyakarta. The method used is quantitative descriptive includes table of mean, standard deviation and being analyzed descriptively according to data’s tendency. Pearson Product Moment formula is used for validity test and Cronbach Alpha formula for reliability test. Kolmogorov-Smirnov formula is used for normality test before doing the T-test. In each region, the T-test shows Sig. (2-tailed) is greater than 0.1, which means ‘Ingat Pesan Ibu’ campaign effectively changed late-adolescent behavior. The campaign is effective on Knowledge (X1), Attitudes (X2), and Skills (X3) variables with a mean above 3.5. The behavior (X4) stage is not optimal because the mean result is still at number 3, supported by variable X4.4 which shows answers about taking-off masks in public spaces.

Social Sustainability in Late Adolescence: Trait Emotional Intelligence Mediates the Impact of the Dark Triad on Altruism and Equity.

Adolescence involves a profound number of changes in all domains of development. Among others, adolescence yields an enhanced awareness and responsibility toward the community, representing a critical age to develop prosocial behaviors. In this study, the mediation role of Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) was detected for the relationship between the dark triad and prosocial behavior based on altruism and equity. A total of 129 healthy late adolescents filled in the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, measuring Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism; the Altruistic Action Scale, evaluating behaviors directed at helping others; the Equity Scale, assessing behaviors directed at equity in different forms; and the TEI Questionnaire-Short Form. Results showed that TEI mediated the negative effects of the three dark triad traits on both altruism and equity. This finding suggests that TEI, which relies on a set of dispositions (e.g., emotional management of others, social competence, and empathy), might reduce the malevolent effects of the dark triad on altruism and equitable behavior in late adolescence. This led to assume that intervention programs focused on improving emotional skills, also in late adolescence, can promote prosociality.

Associations between Risk Factors in Late Adolescence and Problem Behaviors in Young Adulthood: A Six-Year Follow-Up of Substance Related and Behavioral Addictions in Swedish High School Seniors.

Introduction: Risk factors of traditional substance use related problems in young adults are more well-known than for behavioral addictions such as gambling and gaming problems. The present study aims to provide knowledge about the longitudinal patters of substance use related and behavioral addictions in early adulthood. Methods: Using self-report surveys, substance-related, psychiatric, and demographic predictors were assessed in Swedish high school seniors and re-assessed six years later along with gambling and gaming problems, n = 800. Associations (Risk Ratios) between risk factors in late adolescence and problem behaviors in young adulthood were analyzed. Results: Tobacco use, illicit drug use, and hazardous drinking in young adulthood were associated with tobacco use, illicit drug use, alcohol use, conduct problems, and impaired impulse control in late adolescence. Gambling problems in young adulthood were only associated with heredity of alcohol problems, while gaming was not associated to any problem behavior in late adolescence. Conclusion: It is concluded that predictors for traditional substance-related addictions differ from predictors for behavioral addictions, and that this difference is more pronounced for gaming problems than for gambling problems.

Sociodemographic And Social Activities Factors Associated With Premarital Sex Behaviour Among Late Adolescents In Semarang

Introduction: Premarital sexual behavior is one of the complex problems faced by adolescents. This behavior is increasingly prevalent throughout the world, especially in Indonesia. This study aims to determine the sociodemographic factors (gender, and monthly allowance) and social activities related to premarital sexual behavior in late adolescence in Semarang City.Methods : This research is a quantitative study with a cross sectional approach. The number of samples was 400 respondents aged 18-22 years using consecutive sampling technique. This study used univariate and bivariate analysis using the chi-square test.Results: The results showed that gender (p = 0,000), monthly allowance (p = 0,000) and social activity (p = 0,000) had a relationship with premarital sexual behavior in late adolescence.Conclusion: It is necessary to establish youth programs at SMA / SMK / equivalent and university levels to develop self-confidence and life skills with an increasing the ability of adolescents to avoid and / or reduce risky sexual behavior.

BEBERAPA FAKTOR YANG BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN PERILAKU DIET REMAJA AKHIR USIA 18-22 TAHUN PADA KONSUMEN HERBALIFE DI KOTA SEMARANG

Fashion development introduced people to the ideal body shape, one of which is adolescents, the lack of knowledge about dietary behavior can cause the adolescent to behave unhealthy diet. Herbalife products are claimed as safe products that can be maintaining weight. However, still has an adverse side effect if not used as recommended. This study aimed to find out the related factors to diet behavior late adolescent age in a consumer of Herbalife product located in Semarang city. The design of this study was a cross-sectional study with a quantitative research method. The sample of this study is 85 late adolescent which using Herbalife product, the sample was obtained using proportional random sampling. Data collection was conducted by distributing questionnaires through form application. Data analysis was conducted using univariate and bivariate. The result showed that dependent variable related to knowledge (p=0,000), attitude (0,007), BMI (0,000), body dissatisfaction (0,000), frequency use the product (0,003), friends support (0,001), Herbalife coach support (0,000). It can be concluded there is a correlation between people around who have more interaction with late adolescents to the formation of dietary attitudes and behaviors in late adolescence which using Herbalife products located in Semarang city. Therefore, the health workers may develop a prevention program for unhealthy diet behavior in late adolescence by approaching people around who have more interaction with.

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Aggressive Behavior in Late Adolescence

The high incidence of aggressive behavior in adolescence needs further study, So, it is necessary to explore what factors influence aggressive behavior in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of emotional intelligence on aggressive behavior in late adolescence. This study was quantitative research, A cross-sectional analytical study was done in this research. The sample in this study consisted of 191 students at a private university in Kediri. The sampling technique used simple random sampling and the data analysis used a Spearman rank test. Based on the results of the Spearman test, the p-value was 0.003 with a correlation coefficient of -0.212. This shows that there is a relationship between emotional intelligence and aggressive behavior. The higher a person's emotional intelligence, the lower level of aggressive behavior. It means That Emotional Intelligence gave an effect on aggressive behavior, but only a low effect.

From early care and education to adult problem behaviors: A prevention pathway through after-school organized activities.

Motivated by Edward Zigler's proposition that programs serving children (birth through 12 years) can have long-term effects on well-being and development, we used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 1,258) to test two pathways by which early care and education (ECE) are linked to after-school organized activities in middle childhood and to problem behaviors in late adolescence and adulthood. In support of an activities pathway, we found children with more ECE hours and more epochs in center-based ECE settings from 1 to 54 months had more epochs in after-school organized activities from kindergarten to 5th grade, which then predicted less impulsivity and less police contact at age 26. In support of a child pathway, we found that more ECE hours and more epochs in center-based ECE settings were linked to externalizing problems in early childhood, which then predicted higher problem behaviors in middle childhood, late adolescence, and adulthood. Together, these pathways underscored the potential of direct and indirect links of ECE and after-school organized activities in relation to later development.

Developmental Course and Risk Factors of Physical Aggression in Late Adolescence

This study examined risk factors of physical aggression during transition from early to late adolescence using a two-wave longitudinal study. Specifically, we examined if risk factors in early adolescence predict physically aggressive behavior starting in late adolescence and why some adolescents desist physical aggressive behavior while others do not. The study sample consisted of 2289 Norwegian adolescents (1235 girls) who participated in the Young-HUNT1 study (mean age 14.5) and the follow-up study 4 years later, Young-HUNT2 study (mean age 18.4). One in six young adolescents reported engaging in physical fights. Moreover, physical aggression in early adolescence was significantly associated with male gender, attention problems, academic problems, being bullied, drinking alcohol, and smoking. Male gender and heavy drinking during early adolescence increased the risk for newly emerging aggressive behavior in late adolescence, whereas heavy drinking during early adolescence was a predictor for persistent versus desisting aggressive behavior in late adolescence.

Parental Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment and Offspring's Mental Health: Investigating Pathways Through Parental Adversity and Offspring Exposure to Maltreatment.

Parental exposure to child maltreatment (CM) is an important predictor of their offspring's CM experiences and mental health. However, less attention has been paid to examine possible mechanisms of transmission, which is critical to inform prevention and intervention efforts. The current study tested (1) whether the association between parental CM exposure and offspring CM exposure was mediated by (a) parental exposure to violence in adulthood or (b) other emotional stressors/adversities in adulthood and (2) the indirect effects from parental CM exposure to offspring mental health outcomes through parental adversity and offspring CM exposure. Data came from a longitudinal study of maltreatment on adolescent development, and analyses focused on adolescents living with a biological parent (N = 185, 51% female). Biological parents (95% mothers) reported on their history of CM and exposure to other adversities across their lifetime. Adolescents self-reported lifetime CM experiences and current depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and externalizing behaviors in late adolescence (Mage = 18.49). Results showed a significant indirect effect of parent CM exposure on offspring's CM exposure and mental health through parental emotional stressors/adversities, but not physical violence. These findings highlight different types of stressors that may impact the risk for intergenerational transmission of CM and subsequent offspring mental health.

Prospective Associations between BOLD Markers of Response Inhibition and the Transition to Frequent Binge Drinking.

Altered brain activation during response inhibition has been linked to a greater risk for alcohol and other substance use behaviors in late adolescence. However, the ability of neural markers of response inhibition, acquired during adolescence, to temporally predict the transition from less frequent and lower quantity alcohol use to high-risk, frequent (≥ weekly) binge drinking behavior remains unclear. Adolescents (N=29; 9 females) were selected from a larger ongoing longitudinal study to include those who transitioned to at least weekly binge drinking (≥5/4 alcoholic drinks for males/females per occasion) over a 15-year follow-up period. Prior to the onset of weekly binge drinking (mean age=18.0), participants underwent a functional MRI including a go/no-go task. Whole-brain activation from the no-go correct rejection versus no-go false alarm contrast was used to predict time to transition to frequent binge drinking. Less no-go correct rejection versus no-go false alarm activation in a cluster including the precentral gyri, insula, and inferior frontal gyri predicted a more rapid transition into frequent binge drinking (voxel-wise alpha<0.001, cluster-wise alpha<0.05, cluster threshold≥18 voxels). Results from this study are supported by literature suggesting that frontoinsular involvement is important for successful inhibition and cognitive control. Altered brain activation during response inhibition may thus represent neural antecedents of impulse regulation difficulties related to alcohol consumption. The magnitude of this activation provides temporal information that may be used to inform and optimize timing of interventions aimed at preventing the escalation and transition to problematic drinking for youth who have already begun to engage in drinking behaviors.

The greener the better? Does neighborhood greenness buffer the effects of stressful life events on externalizing behavior in late adolescence?

We tested whether neighborhood greenness is a promotive and/or a protective factor in the development of adolescent externalizing behavior problems and explored a possible mechanism of its effects via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) recovery after stress. Data from a longitudinal multi-method study on adolescents (N = 715) was used. Result showed that neighborhood greenness was neither a promotive nor a protective factor. However, adolescents who reported more stressful life events showed more externalizing behavior and -contrary to our expectation- this effect was stronger for adolescents who grew up in greener neighborhoods (vs. less green neighborhoods).

Adolescent Mediators of Unplanned Pregnancy among Women with and without Childhood ADHD

We aimed to identify adolescent mediators of the significant and sizable link between childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and later unplanned pregnancy in our prospectively followed, all-female sample. Participants included an ethnically diverse (47% non-White) sample of women with (n = 140) and without (n = 88) childhood ADHD who were assessed 4 times across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Potential mediators were measured via self, parent, and teacher report on questionnaires and interviews and by objective testing. We tested 5 early adolescent variables in three domains (personality, behavioral, and academic) as components of serial mediation pathways from (a) childhood ADHD status to (b) the early adolescent putative mediator to (c) risky sexual behavior in late adolescence and finally to (d) unplanned pregnancy by early adulthood. Of these, academic achievement (indirect effect = .1339, SE = .0721), 95% confidence interval (CI) [.0350, .3225] and substance use frequency (indirect effect = .0211, SE = .0167), 95% CI [.0013, .0711] operated through late-adolescent risky sexual behavior to explain rates of unplanned pregnancy, even adjusting for the effects of age, IQ, and family socioeconomic status (SES). When these 2 indirect effects were entered simultaneously, only the pathway from childhood ADHD to low academic achievement to higher rates of risky sexual behavior to unplanned pregnancy was significant (indirect effect = .0295, SE = .0145), 95% CI [.0056, .0620]. We discuss the significance of these early adolescent mediators, particularly academic engagement, as potential intervention targets intended to reduce rates of later unplanned pregnancies among female individuals with ADHD.

Эго-восприятие и танатос-центрация как источники суицида в подростковом возрасте

The article considers structural, processual and causal aspects of suicides. Problems of child philosophizing, specifics of adolescence in the context of suicide discussed. The concept of suicidal risk clarified and its diagnostic possibilities shown. Identified that according to parents opinion significant role belongs to conflicts and personality traits among causal factors of suicidal risk. According to adolescents, suicidal intentions are associated with the subjective impossibility to create satisfactory continuation of life. It has been found that suicidal risks and types of suicidal behavior in late adolescence differ depending on age, worldview, gender and personality traits.