Caucasian Youth Research Articles

Risks of inter-ethnic conflict in the North Caucasus in the perceptions of youth

The article analyzes the assessments and perceptions of the North Caucasus youth about the state of interethnic relations in the region. The North Caucasian region is distinguished by a high level of significance of confessional, ethnic and group identities, which creates the risk of conflict in interethnic relations. Significant differences remain in the degree of ethnic and confessional self-awareness among Russian and North Caucasian youth. The issues of compatibility of various value and socio-cultural foundations of the worldview of young people, the formation of unifying civil and cultural-civilizational foundations of the all-Russian identity are gaining importance. The purpose is to determine the conflict potential of interethnic relations in the North Caucasus in the perceptions of youth. Objectives are to identifying the causes of interethnic tension, determining the ethno-confessional factors of the conflict potential of inter-ethnic relations among young people, the degree of readiness to personally participate in ethno-confessional conflicts in the interests of their ethnic and confessional group, the significance of the main macro-identities: all-Russian, ethnic and confessional. When working on the research methodology, special attention was paid to modern Russian and foreign theoretical and methodological approaches to inter-ethnic conflicts, the role of ethno-political and economic factors of conflict potential and the determination of the causes of inter-ethnic tension in a multi-ethnic environment. Empirical data were obtained by a survey-questionnaire conducted in February-March 2023. 1,400respondents were interviewed– students of leading universities in the North Caucasus. A sub-sampling was carried out according to nationality and attitude to religion. The level of interethnic tension in the North Caucasus is assessed by the respondents as low. At the same time, the potential for conflict and the mobilization potential of ethnicity, their dependence on national identity, remains. Most of the respondents singled out socio-cultural reasons as the main reasons for interethnic tension in the North Caucasus: rejection of the culture and values of other peoples, hostility and prejudice towards other peoples. The all-Russian identity has been formed and is significant for all groups of respondents. Ethnic and confessional identities are also of great importance for North Caucasian youth. In the North Caucasus, there remain latent risks of conflict in interethnic relations among the youth, the mobilization potential of ethnic and confessional identity. The main causes of interethnic tension are of a value-ideological nature. In the minds of young people there is a high significance, along with the all-Russian, ethnic and confessional identity. There is a tendency for the "field of conflict" to flow from the ethno-political into the socio-cultural sphere. Emotional-psychological and socio-cultural reasons for young people are of greater importance than socio-economic and ethno-political ones.

Association of HDL-Cholesterol, hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy in youths with overweight or obesity

Background and aimTo evaluate the relationship between HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in a large sample of Caucasian youths with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Methods and resultsA cross-sectional multicenter study was performed in 1469 youths (age 6–16 years) with OW/OB observed in the period 2016–2020. An additional independent sample of 244 youths with an echocardiographic evaluation, observed in a single center was analyzed. The sample was divided in six quantiles (Q) of HDL-C: Q1: >56, Q2: ≤56 > 51, Q3: ≤51 > 45, Q4: ≤45 > 41, Q5: ≤41 > 39, Q6: <39 mg/dL. The nadir of the relationship was identified in youths in the first quantile. Among HDL-Cholesterol quantiles the distribution of hypertension was non-linear with a percentage of 25.0%, 40.1%, 33.6%, 31.3%, 35.2% and 39.7% in the six quantiles, respectively. The percentage of LVH was 21.8%, 43.6%, 48.8%, 35.5%, 38.5% and 52.0% in the six quantiles, respectively. The highest odds [95%Cl] of hypertension were 2.05 (1.33–3.16) (P < 0.01) in Q2, 1.67 (1.10–2.55) (P < 0.05) in Q3 and 1.59 (1.05–2.41) (P < 0.05) in Q6 vs Q1. The odds of LVH were 3.86 (1.15–10.24) (P < 0.05) in Q2, 4.16 (1.58–10.91) (P < 0.05) in Q3 and 3.60 (1.44–9.02) (P < 0.05) in Q6 vs Q1, independently by centers, age, sex, prepubertal stage, and body mass index. ConclusionContrary to the common belief, the present study shows that high levels of HDL-C may be not considered a negative predictor of hypertension and LVH, two risk factors for future CV disease.

Central sensitivity to thyroid hormones is reduced in youths with overweight or obesity and impaired glucose tolerance.

Thyroid hormones (TH) play multiple effects on glucose metabolism. Some recent studies carried out in adult patients suggested an association between altered sensitivity to TH and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. No studies are currently available on the presence of altered sensitivity to the action of TH in youths with prediabetes. To evaluate the relationship between sensitivity to TH and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 5.7% in youths with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). This cross-sectional study included 805 Caucasian youths with OW or OB (aged 6-18 years) recruited at seven Italian centers for the care of OW/OB. Individuals with TH out of the normal range of TH in each center were excluded. The fT3/fT4 ratio was evaluated to assess peripheral sensitivity, while TSH index (TSHI), Thyrotroph T4 Resistance Index (TT4RI), Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI) and Parametric TFQI were calculated to assess central sensitivity. Youths with IGT (n =72) showed higher levels of TSH (3.08 ± 0.98 vs 2.68 ± 0.98 mIU/L, P =0.001), TSHI (3.06 ± 0.51 vs 2.85 ± 0.53, P =0.001), TT4RI (46.00 ± 17.87 vs 38.65 ± 16.27, P <0.0001), TFQI [1.00 (0.97-1.00) vs 1.00 (0.99-1.00)], P=0.034), PTFQI (0.67 ± 0.20 vs 0.60 ± 0.22, P =0.007) compared to youths without IGT (n =733), independently of centers and age. No differences were observed for fT3/fT4-ratio. The others phenotypes of prediabetes were not associated with altered sensitivity to TH. Odds ratio of IGT raised of 1-7-fold for each increase of 1 mIU/L in TSH (P =0.010), 1 unit in TSH Index (P =0.004), TT4RI (P =0.003) or PTFQI (P =0.018), independently of centers, age, and prepubertal stage. IGT was associated with a reduced central sensitivity to TH in youths with OW/OB. Our finding suggests that IGT phenotype, known to be associated with an altered cardiometabolic risk profile, might also be associated with an impaired TH homeostasis in youths with OW/OB.

Which Is the Most Appropriate Cut-Off of HbA1c for Prediabetes Screening in Caucasian Youths with Overweight or Obesity?

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the best cut-off of HbA1c for detection of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), beta-cell impairment and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) profile in overweight or obese (OW/OB) Caucasian youths. Two-hour oral glucose tolerance test was available in 1549 youths, one-hour glucose (G60) in 1430 youths and disposition index (DI) in 972 youths. Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated as Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR and insulin sensitivity (IS) as 1/fasting insulin. High G60 was defined by a value ≥ 133 mg/dL. The best cut-off of HbA1c for IFG or IGT was 5.5%. The frequency of individuals with HbA1c ≥ 5.5% was 32.5%, compared to 16.3% with HbA1c ≥ 5.7% (as proposed by the American Diabetes Association). HbA1c ≥ 5.5% showed higher sensitivity and lower specificity with respect to HbA1c ≥ 5.7% for all the abnormalities examined (IFG, IGT, high G60, IR, low IS, DI and CMR factors). In conclusion, this lower cut-off might represent a more appropriate screening marker of glucose dysmetabolism in youths with OW/OB. Prospective studies are needed to validate this cut-off for predicting prediabetes/diabetes in youths with OW/OB.

A new formula to improve the screening of impaired glucose tolerance in youths with overweight or obesity

AimTo assess a new formula to improve the screening of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in youth with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Methods and resultsA cross-sectional study was performed in 1189 Caucasian youths with OW/OB aged 5–17 years, in whom impaired fasting glucose and high glycosylated hemoglobin were excluded. The sample was divided into training set (TS) (n = 883) and validation set (VS) (n = 306). Fasting (FG) and post-load plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipids and familial history for type 2 diabetes (FD) were available in all individuals. In the TS youths with IGT (n = 58, 7.0%) showed higher prevalence of female sex (FS), FD, and higher levels of FG, post-load glucose, ALT and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol vs individuals without IGT. The linear formula was obtained by logistic regression analysis in the TS: 0.05∗ALT + 0.07∗FG + 0.87∗FD + (0.06∗HDL∗ − 1) + 1∗FS. The best cut-off was 5.84. The performance of the formula vs IGT was: sensitivity: 0.74 and specificity: 0.71. Similar results were obtained in the VS. ConclusionsUsing metabolic and anamnestic data we obtained a simple formula with a good performance for screening isolated IGT. This formula may support pediatricians to identify youths with OW/OB in whom the OGTT may be useful for detecting IGT.

Phenotypes of prediabetes and metabolic risk in Caucasian youths with overweight or obesity

PurposeTo assess the prevalence of pre-diabetes phenotypes, i.e., impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), increased HbA1c (IA1c), and their association with metabolic profile and atherogenic lipid profile in youths with overweight/obesity (OW/OB).MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data of 1549 youths (5–18 years) with OW/OB followed in nine Italian centers between 2016 and 2020. Fasting and post-load measurements of glucose, insulin, and HbA1c were available. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by HOMA-IR and insulin sensitivity (IS) by reciprocal of fasting insulin. The atherogenic lipid profile was assessed by triglycerides-to-HDL ratio or cholesterol-to-HDL ratio. Insulinogenic index was available in 939 youths, in whom the disposition index was calculated.ResultsThe prevalence of overall pre-diabetes, IFG, IGT and IA1c was 27.6%, 10.2%, 8% and 16.3%, respectively. Analyzing each isolated phenotype, IGT exhibited two- to three-fold higher odds ratio of family history of diabetes, and worse metabolic and atherogenic lipid profile vs normoglycemic youths; IFG was associated only with IR, while IA1c showed a metabolic and atherogenic lipid profile intermediate between IGT and IFG.ConclusionPrevalence of pre-diabetes was high and IA1c was the most prevalent phenotype in Italian youths with OW/OB. The IGT phenotype showed the worst metabolic and atherogenic lipid profile, followed by IA1c. More studies are needed to assess whether HbA1c may help improving the prediction of diabetes.

Maximal Respiratory Pressure Reference Values for Hopi Children Ages 4-13.

The purpose of this study was to develop MRP reference values and prediction equations for Hopi children in the ages 4-13 years. A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 288 healthy children (125 male, 163 female), a 36% representative population of all the Hopi Native children attending Hopi Tribal Elementary Schools in Arizona. MIP and MEP values were measured. Age and the inverse of body mass were consistently significant predictors of the MRPs for both sexes. Predictions using the derived Hopi equations were significantly different (p≤0.001) than those using the equations for Navajo and Caucasian youth across both sexes, making it important for this population to have specific formulae to provide more accurate reference values. These data were collected from the children of Hopi ancestry resulting in MIP and MEP reference equations which should be used when measuring MIP and MEP in these children ages 4-13 years.

Russia’s Most Volatile Region: Contemporary Extremist Threats to Global Security in the North Caucasus

Abstract At the beginning of the 21st century in the North Caucasus, the processes of depoliticizing ethnicity, which created an opportunity for a democratic restructuring of regional politics, gave way to the process of politicizing religion. A new stage of politicized regional identity, which began in the middle of the 2000s, in contrast to the beginning and the middle of the 1990s, is characterized by an active confessional factor in conflict processes in Russia’s most volatile region. Religious extremism as a protracted threat to regional and global security is becoming the main source of North Caucasian large-scale demodernization and ethnic mobilization. Current approaches to combating terrorism and extremism fuel existing social instability, inequality, disintegration, resentment and discontent with regional and federal authorities. As a result of many years of Russian counter-terrorism strategies (including the strategy of ‘collective responsibility’), the Caucasus Emirate has disintegrated and is almost non-functioning, however, this is also explained by an ideological expansion of ISIS in the region. Today, ISIS propaganda and reemerging Taliban find their audience between North Caucasian youth, agitating them to embark on the path of global jihad in Russia or abroad. Remaining unresolved and unsettled, protracted regional conflicts turn into religious extremism, giving rise to a new round of violence, the likelihood of overcoming which is significantly reduced. The long-term activities of ISIS and the growing role of the Taliban create favorable conditions for the further transformation of the North Caucasus into one of the influential geopolitical centers of contemporary jihadism.

Using the Child Sheehan Disability Scale to Differentiate Severity Level in Youth With Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

The current study extends the psychometric support for the Child Sheehan Disability Scale (CSDS) as a measure of impairment associated with childhood anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder. The CSDS was completed by 1,481 predominately Caucasian youth (55.4% female) ages 8 to 17 (M = 12.68, SD = 2.78) from primarily two-parent households and a parent across community, outpatient, intensive outpatient treatment, and residential settings. The results replicated and extended the previously found strong convergent validity, discriminant validity, and treatment sensitivity with a revised parent-report item in the larger sample. Moreover, the CSDS successfully differentiated between patients receiving treatment of different levels of intensity. These data were used to develop preliminary qualitative descriptors associating individual scores with a likely level of indicated treatment to enhance the clinical applicability of the CSDS. This study establishes the CSDS as one of the briefest and most rigorously evaluated measures of impairment associated with child anxiety. However, the performance of the CSDS must be examined in more representative samples before being applied to diverse populations.

Риски конфликта групповых идентичностей полиэтничной молодежи Северного Кавказа

Objective of the study is to reveal the risks of identity conflict identification in multi-ethnic youth communities in the North Caucasus and search for optimal region's strategies for the formation of the integrating foundations of the all-Russian identity. &nbsp; The methodological basis of the research was based on qualitative (discourse analysis, conceptualization of identity) and quantitative (sociological survey) research strategies. They made it possible to understand the essence of complex and multidimensional modern social transformations, to carry out their theoretical reconstruction, to reveal the influence of regional specifics on the formation of youth identity and to determine the ratio and value-semantic content of group identities in the minds of young people. &nbsp; Research results. The North Caucasus youth, regardless of ethnicity, goes through the transformation processes of the value foundations of identity. Russian civic identity is significant for young people, while regional and ethnic identity is equally important. The survey revealed discrepancies in the priorities of these identities between Russian and Caucasian youth. For the North Caucasian peoples, traditional values are more important. These differences can trigger conflicts and contribute to the transformation of conflicts of interest into conflicts of identities. One of the conditions for further consolidation and socio-cultural development of the region is an effective identity politics and public activity aimed at developing supra-ethnic values of dialogue, trust, responsibility and solidarity. General value and symbolic grounds will provide a harmonious combination of regional, ethnocultural and all-Russian identities. &nbsp; Prospects of the study. Further analysis of the identity processes among the North Caucasus youth in the context of defining general value grounds of Russian self-awareness and the formation of supra-ethnic values and moral norms is needed. Such research can help to dialogue and social solidarity in multi-ethnic youth communities.

Neurostructural correlates of BDNF rs6265 genotype in youth bipolar disorder

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265single-nucleotide polymorphism has been associated with bipolar disorder (BD), and with brain structure among adults with BD. We set out to investigate the association of the BDNF rs6265Met allele with neurostructural phenotypes in youth BD. Caucasian youth (N=99; 13-20years; n=56 BD, n=43 age and sex-matched healthy controls) underwent 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and genotyping for BDNF rs6265. Region of interest (ROI) analyses of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and hippocampus were complemented by vertex-wise analyses examining cortical thickness, surface area (SA) and volume. Multivariable models included the main effects of diagnosis and gene, and a diagnosis-by-genotype interaction term, controlling for age, sex, and intracranial volume. There were no significant gene main effects or diagnosis-by-gene interaction effects in ROI analyses. The vertex-wise analysis yielded a significant gene main effect whereby Met allele carriers had greater middle temporal gyrus SA (p=0.001) and supramarginal gyrus volume (p=0.03) than Val/Val individuals. Significant interaction effects were found on lateral occipital lobe SA (p=0.03), whereby the Met allele was associated with increased SA in BD only. Interaction effects were also found on postcentral gyrus SA (p=0.049) and supramarginal gyrus SA (p=0.04), with smaller SA in BD Met carriers versus healthy control Met carriers. These findings suggest that BDNF rs6265 is differentially associated with regional SA in youth BD. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate whether BDNF protein levels mediate the observed effects, and to evaluate rs6265-related developmental changes.

Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Scottish South Asian and Caucasian Youth.

(1) Background: Scotland has one of the highest rates of obesity in the Western World, it is well established that poor weight profiles, and particularly abdominal obesity, is strongly associated with Type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Whether these associations are apparent in ethnic population groups in Scotland is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between different measures of fatness with clustered cardio metabolic risk factors between Scottish South Asian adolescents and Scottish Caucasian adolescents; (2) Methods: A sample of 208 Caucasian adolescents and 52 South Asian adolescents participated in this study. Stature, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk were measured; (3) Results: Significant, partial correlations in the South Asian cohort between body mass index (BMI) and individual risk factors were generally moderate. However, correlations between Waist circumference (WC) and individual risk factors were significant and strong. In the Caucasian cohort, a significant yet weak correlation between WC and total cholesterol (TG) was noted although no other associations were evident for either WC or BMI. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both BMI and WC were positively associated with CCR (p < 0.01) in the South Asian group and with the additional adjustment of either WC or BMI, the independent associations with clustered cardio-metabolic risk (CCR) remained significant (p < 0.005); (4) Conclusions: No positive relationships were found between BMI, WC, and CCR in the Caucasian group. Strong and significant associations between measures of fatness and metabolic risk were evident in Scottish South Asian adolescents.

Race and ethnicity in pediatric OCD: An exploratory study of a clinical North American sample.

Influences of race and ethnicity have received limited attention in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), despite noted importance in other psychiatric diseases. We sought to compare racially defined groups presenting to a North American tertiary care pediatric OCD subspecialty clinic. Clinician-rated and parent/child-reported information was extracted from a research data registry comprising OCD-affected youth assessed between 2011 and 2018. The study population was aggregated into racial groups, defined as Caucasian, Asian, and "other." Country of origin and spoken language were used as ethnicity proxies. Obsessivecompulsive disorder phenotype, clinical course, and family environment were compared, with inclusion of mixed Asian-Caucasians in post-hoc analyses. Asian youth reported significantly later ages of OCD symptom onset, clinical diagnosis, and treatment compared with Caucasian youth and were significantly less likely to have participated in OCD-specific treatment, despite similar clinician recommendation rates. Obsessivecompulsive disorder severity and comorbidities did not differ across groups. Asian parents reported significantly higher levels of family blame and conflict than Caucasian parents, but similar prevalence of OCD family history. Clinically relevant differences were identified between Asians and Caucasians, highlighting the need for individualized care that respects the influences of ethnicity and race in pediatric OCD. Replication and future study of additional racial groups is warranted.

Improving the Competitiveness of the Leading Universities of the North Caucasus Federal District in Sync with the Objectives of Regional Development

The purpose of the work is an analysis of the current state of the universities of the North Caucasus Federal District from the point of view of creating competitive regional development centers, bearing in mind the Spatial Development Strategy of Russia.The research methodology is based on empirical research methods (observation, comparison, data collection and study), current and prospective analysis and synthesis of theoretical and practical material, multivariate systems analysis, sociology, statistical analysis, etc.Results. In the course of the study, features of the development of the NCFD universities were revealed, various aspects of their activities were analyzed. Detailed mapping of the development of the NCFD universities has been made on a wide range of parameters and indicators. The authors note the lack of intelligible parameters used in the formation of the target admission levels in the universities of the North Caucasus Federal District, the weak connection of these figures with the real economy. The absence of status universities in the North Caucasus Federal District, in particular a flagship university, contributes to the outflow of talented students to central Russian and foreign universities.Application area. The results of this work can be applied in the activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in developing the new university model – “HEIs, providing personnel for basic branches of regional economy” and in planning the target admission levels of universities, setting goals for universities in the region in terms of synchronization their development programs with administrations for the implementation of national projects, programs for the socioeconomic development of the North Caucasus Federal District.Findings. The peculiarities of the socio-political and economic development of the NCFD indicate the difficulties in planning the training of highly skilled specialists for the region. Despite the fact that the “full range” of educational institutions in the North Caucasus Federal District is economically disadvantageous in the short term, the opportunity for young people to receive higher education in their region can be viewed as one of the few really effective channels of self-realization and socialization for a significant part of North Caucasian youth. Insufficient funding, weak involvement of universities in solving the problems of sustainable development of the region do not contribute to the creation and development of universities which can be the real drivers of sustainable and innovative development of the North Caucasus Federal District and competitive scientific and educational centers.

Predictive validity of the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) with Indigenous and Caucasian female and male adolescents on probation.

Indigenous people and the courts have emphasized that it is important to examine whether scores from violence risk assessment tools are valid and appropriate for Indigenous youth. However, studies are scarce. Therefore, we examined the predictive validity of youth probation officers' Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) ratings for 744 Canadian youth, including 299 Indigenous youth (219 male, 80 female), and 445 Caucasian youth (357 male, 88 female) in a prospective field study. The SAVRY summary risk ratings and risk total scores significantly predicted violent and any reoffending for Indigenous female and male youth with medium effect sizes. Relatively few significant differences in the predictive validity emerged for Indigenous and Caucasian youth. However, Historical, Protective, and Risk Total scores predicted any recidivism better for Caucasian males than Indigenous males. Also, Indigenous youth scored significantly higher on all risk domains than Caucasian youth. Opposite to predictions, the rates of false positives were higher for Caucasian youth than for Indigenous youth. Based on the results, the SAVRY appears to be a reasonable tool to use for assessing risk in Indigenous youth. However, assessors should take steps to ensure that they use the SAVRY in a culturally appropriate manner, such as considering cultural factors in case formulations and treatment planning as the SAVRY does not ground assessments in an understanding of factors such as colonialism. In addition, future research should examine culturally salient risk factors (e.g., discrimination) and examine potential causes of higher risk scores in Indigenous youth, particularly the role of both past and present-day colonialism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Can we rely on adolescents to self-assess puberty stage? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Clinicians, researchers, and global health advocates often include pubertal development in outcomes. However, assessments of pubertal stage can be challenging because of the sensitive nature and feasibility of clinical examinations, especially in larger settings. To determine the accuracy of self-assessed Tanner staging when compared with physically assessed Tanner stages by a clinician. MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL. Studies were included if they reported 5 × 5 tables of self-assessment compared to clinician-assessment for the 5-stage Tanner scale. We extracted data to generate complete 5 × 5 tables for each study, including any subgroup eligible for the analysis, such as overweight/obese youth. After screening, 22 studies representing 21,801 participants met our inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Overall agreement was moderate or substantial between the 2 assessments, with breast stage 1, female pubic hair 1, male pubic hair 1, and male pubic hair 5 having the highest agreement. When stages were collapsed into pre- (Tanner stage 1), in (stages 2,3), and completing (stages 4,5) puberty, levels of agreement improved, especially for pre- and completing pubertal development. Most included studies comprised Caucasian youth. More studies are needed which include a broader range of geographic and socioeconomic settings, as well as a greater diversity of racial/ethnic groups. Self-assessment of puberty is most accurate when identifying Tanner stage 1, Tanner stage 5 and when development is categorized into prepuberty, in, and completing puberty phases. Use of self-assessment data should be structured accordingly. PROSPERO # CRD42018100205.

Cross-Sectional Analysis Investigating the Concordance of Maturity Status Classifications in Elite Caucasian Youth Tennis Players

BackgroundTo evaluate the concordance of skeletal age (SA) with two predicted estimates of biological maturity status in elite British youth tennis players.MethodParticipants were 71 male and female elite youth tennis players aged 8 to 16 years. Weight, height, and sitting height were measured. SA (Fels method) was the criterion indicator of maturity status. Maturity status was predicted with two methods: predicted age at peak height velocity and percentage of predicted adult height at the time of observation. Players were classified as late, average (on time), or early maturing with each method. Concordance of classifications was evaluated with kappa coefficients and Spearman’s rank order correlations.ResultsKappa coefficients between maturity status classifications were low in both sexes, − 0.11 to 0.22, while Spearman’s rank order correlations between maturity status classifications based on SA and the percentage of predicted mature height were moderate in males (0.35) and females (0.25), but the corresponding correlations based on predicted age at peak height velocity (PHV) varied, moderate and negative in boys (− 0.37) and low and positive in girls (0.11). Concordance of maturity status classifications based on the prediction methods and SA among tennis players was thus limited.ConclusionsMaturity status based on the percentage of predicted mature height at the time of observation correlated better with maturity status based on SA in contrast to status based on predicted age at PHV in this sample of elite youth tennis players.

A latent class analysis of the co-occurrence of sexual violence, substance use, and mental health in youth

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand co-occurrence of sexual violence, substance use, and mental health in youth and see if there are differences in experiences among sexual identities, races, and genders. Methods: The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey sampled 14,638 high school students. Latent class analysis was used to understand the relationship between incidence of sexual violence, substance use, and depression and suicidality in a nationally representative sample. The model controlled for demographic and bullying covariates. Results: A four-class solution provided optimal fit. Classes were low risk (51.8%); low violence, frequent substance use, and high depression and suicidal ideation (29.7%); experienced violence and moderate mental health issues(5.1%); and some violence, high substance use, and high depression and suicidal ideation (13.4%). Youth who identified as sexual minority youth were almost 2.5–5 times more likely to be in the three higher risk classes than their heterosexual peers. Those who identified as “I don’t know” were almost 3 times more likely to be in the three higher risk classes than heterosexual youth. Multiracial youth had higher likelihood of being in the three riskier classes compared to Caucasian youth. Females were 2.5 and 3 times more likely to be in the low violence and some violence classes compared to males. Conclusion: The study’s finding distinct classes of co-occurring behavioral and mental health outcomes fill gaps in the current literature and informs practitioners that LGB youth and bi/multiracial youth were at an elevated risk of co-occurring victimization, substance use, and mental health problems.

Comparing disordered eating and feeding practices in African American and Caucasian treatment-seeking youth with obesity

ABSTRACTObjectives: Examine racial differences in disordered eating and parental feeding in youth with obesity. Methods: A diverse sample of 131 treatment-seeking youth (Mage = 12.84 years; Rangeage = 8-18 years; 65.6% African American, 34.4% Caucasian) with obesity (MBMIz = 2.60) completed a disordered eating questionnaire; parents completed a questionnaire about feeding practices. Results: No significant differences in disordered eating between African American and Caucasian youth emerged. Significant differences were found on parent feeding where parents of African American children endorsed more frequent use of pressure to eat, including ensuring and monitoring enough is eaten. Conclusions: Generally, comparisons of disordered eating and parent feeding practices between African American and Caucasian youth with obesity were not significant. Racial differences on some aspects of parental feeding practices were found. Future research should identify cultural factors impacting these differences. Clinical implications include providing culturally sensitive psychoeducation and interventions to address unhealthy feeding practices in diverse families.

Use of Manifest Injustice in the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

In the Washington State Juvenile Code, the Manifest Injustice (MI) provision allows judges to sentence youth outside of the standard guidelines. We compared rates of Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) involvement and MI between racial minority youth and Caucasian youth. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward African American and multiracial youth having MI used to decrease their sentence less frequently than Caucasian youth. African American youth were about half as likely to have MI used to intensify their sentence compared with Caucasian youth (rate ratio = .49, p = .002), whereas multiracial youth were 42 percent less likely (rate ratio = .58, p = .04). More African American youth reside in urban and liberal parts of the state where judges may be more progressive and less likely to use MI to intensify sentences. More diversion programs targeting minority youth exist in urban areas of Washington, and more African American youth are transferred to adult court; both reduce the likelihood of minority youth receiving MI. Judges in rural areas of the state, which have fewer treatment resources, may be using MI to access services only available to court-involved youth. It is imperative that community behavioral health services are available so that youth and families can be justly served.