Finnish Boys Research Articles

Differences in Anthropometric Parameters of Children in Six European Countries.

The databases of children's anthropometric parameters are often outdated, rarely representative and are not always available at an international level. To present children's anthropometric parameters in six European countries that contributed to the Feel4Diabetes project and find country-specific differences. The Feel4Diabetes study was performed between 2016 and 2018, targeting children in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Spain. The current study presents data from the baseline and the yearly follow-up anthropometric measurements. In total, 20,832 measurements of children (48.7% boys) between 6 and 10 years of age were conducted. weight, height, BMI. Belgian boys had the lowest body weight and height, while Greek boys had the highest body weight, and Finnish had the highest body height. The highest proportion of overweight (percentile above 85%) and obese boys (percentile above 95%) was in Greece, followed by Hungarian, Spanish, Bulgarian and Finnish boys. In contrast, Belgian boys had the lowest ratio in both categories. Among girls, Greece had the highest; Belgium had the lowest body weight; Finland was the highest in all age categories. The ratio in the overweight range was the highest in Greece, followed by Spanish, Bulgarian and Hungarian girls, who were second in the obese category. Finnish girls had lower and Belgian girls had the lowest ratio in both BMI categories. All the detailed data are presented in tables, and the trends are figures. Our study presents fresh and comparable anthropometric data of children between 6 and 10 years of age in six European countries, supporting the need for appropriate obesity prevention.

Reproductive Markers of Testicular Function and Size During Puberty in Boys With and Without a History of Cryptorchidism.

Longitudinal data on levels of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) during puberty in boys with a history of cryptorchidism are largely missing. We aimed to compare pubertal hormone levels between boys with a history of congenital cryptorchidism who experienced spontaneous testicular descent or underwent orchiopexy and boys without a history of cryptorchidism. This was a nested case-control study within a population-based birth cohort, with a prospective, longitudinal pubertal follow-up every 6 months (2005 to 2019). Participants were 109 Finnish boys, including boys with a history of unilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy (n = 15), unilateral cryptorchidism who had spontaneous testicular descent (n = 15), bilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy (n = 9), bilateral cryptorchidism who had spontaneous testicular descent (n = 7), and controls (n = 63). Serum reproductive hormone levels and testicular volumes were measured. From around onset of puberty, boys with bilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy had significantly higher follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lower inhibin B levels than controls. Boys with unilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy had significantly higher FSH than controls, whereas inhibin B levels were similar. Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, insulin-like factor 3, and IGF-I were generally similar between groups. Testicular volume of boys with unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy was smaller than that of the controls from 1 year after pubertal onset (P < 0.05). Cryptorchid boys, particularly those with bilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy, had altered levels of serum biomarkers of Sertoli cells and germ cells and smaller testicular volumes compared with controls.

Nordic adolescents responding to demanding survey scales in boring contexts: Examining straightlining.

Straightlining, or identical responses across all items within a multi-item scale, is often taken as an indication that responses to all items in a questionnaire are of poor quality. The purpose of this study was to examine straightlining on two scales: The Sense of Unity Scale (SUS) and the short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS). Data stem from the 2017-2018 data collections in four Nordic countries of the Health Behaviour in School-children study (HBSC) (15-year-old students only; 50.9% girls; n = 5928). Data were weighted to adjust for oversampling of Swedish-speaking Finnish students and to equalize sample size across countries. The main analyses were done with general linear modeling with adjustments for cluster effects (school classes). The proportion with straightlining on SUS was 22.8%, varying from 5.8% among Swedish girls to 46.4% among Finnish boys. The proportion with straightlining on SWEMWBS was 18.4%, varying from 5.2% among Norwegian girls to 46.0% among Finnish boys. Straightlining on one of the scales correlated with straightlining on the other one. Straightlining tended to inflate Cronbach's αvalues and reduce number of factors in factor analyses. Associations between the two scales and external variables tended to be lower among straightlining students. Associations between external variables (other than SUS/SWEMWBS) are on average slightly weaker among straightliners. Straightlining students obtained more favorable scores on several resource-related variables. Although some problems have been identified, straightlining does not serve well as a general indicator of poor data quality.

Peer Aggression and Sexual Harassment among Young Adolescents in a School Context: A Comparative Study between Finland and Turkey

The study investigates peer aggression and sexual harassment among young adolescents in Finland and Turkey. Sex differences and the interaction effect between country of residence and sex are also examined. A questionnaire was completed by 1,747 adolescents (1, 268 from Finland, 479 from Turkey, Mage = 14.1). Six different forms of aggression (physical, verbal, indirect, cyber, verbal sexual harassment, physical sexual harassment) were examined. More adolescents from Turkey, and more boys, were found to be involved in aggression as both victims and perpetrators compared to adolescents from Finland and girls. The interaction effect was significant between country of residence and sex with being a boy from Turkey was related to having the highest involvement in cyber aggression, verbal sexual harassment, and physical sexual harassment, as both victim and perpetrator. Regarding victimization from indirect aggression, girls from Finland scored higher than Turkish girls, while boys from Turkey scored higher than Finnish boys.

Dental caries among Finnish teenagers participating in physical activity and diet intervention: association with anthropometrics and behavioural factors

BackgroundAn association between childhood anthropometric measurements and dental caries is conflicting. The prevalence and severity of dental caries and its association with anthropometric and behavioural factors, were investigated among Finnish teenagers.MethodsThe study sample comprised 202 15–17-year-old participants in the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. Dental caries findings were recorded using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria, including activity estimation; numbers of decayed teeth (DT) and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) were recorded. Body weight, height and waist circumference were measured and respective body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Body fat percentage was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Health-related behaviours and consumption of food and drinks were assessed using questionnaires, and intake of nutrients using a 4-day food record.ResultsMean DMFT for all the participants was 2.4 (SD = 2.9), DT 0.6 (SD = 1.3), and 36% had DMFT = 0. No difference between genders was observed. In bivariate analyses, use of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) three times or less per week and not having used snuff associated significantly, whereas higher carbohydrate intake (E%), toothbrushing less often than twice a day and higher caries experience at baseline almost significantly with DT > 0. In adjusted regression analyses, frequent use of SSB and higher carbohydrate intake increased the odds for DT > 0. Additionally, higher carbohydrate intake (E%) and infrequent tooth brushing significantly associated with a higher number of DT.ConclusionCaries prevalence is still low and similar in Finnish teenage girls and boys. Behavioural factors are, but anthropometric factors are not associated with dental caries.

CAPMH health-related quality of life among adolescent psychiatric outpatients: a 12-month follow-up study among 12\u201314-year-old Finnish boys and girls

BackgroundLittle is known about adolescents’ perceptions about their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the course of routine adolescent psychiatric treatment. The aim of this 1-year follow-up study was to investigate HRQoL and changes in it among youths receiving adolescent psychiatric outpatient treatment.MethodsThe study comprised 158 girls and 82 boys aged 12–14 years from 10 psychiatric outpatient clinics in one Finnish hospital district. Same-aged population controls (210 girls and 162 boys) were randomly collected from comprehensive schools. HRQoL was measured using the 16D instrument. The questionnaire was self-administered when the adolescents entered the polyclinics (= baseline), after a treatment period of 6 months, and after 12 months.ResultsThe mean age of respondents was 13.8 years (SD 0.63). At baseline, the mean HRQoL score of both female and male outpatients was significantly lower than that of population controls (p < 0.001). HRQoL of female patients was significantly worse than that of male patients (p < 0.001). In girls, HRQoL improved continuously during the 12-month follow-up, yet it remained worse than that of female population controls. Among boys, HRQoL was substantially better at the 6-month follow-up than at baseline, but this positive development was no longer seen at the 12-month follow-up.ConclusionsFrom the perspective of HRQoL, girls seem to benefit more than boys from adolescent psychiatric outpatient treatment. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed.

Do maternal knowledge and paternal knowledge of children’s whereabouts buffer differently against alcohol use? A longitudinal study among Finnish boys and girls

BackgroundPrevious research suggests that parental knowledge of the child’s activities and whereabouts prevents adolescents’ alcohol use. However, evidence on whether the positive effects of maternal and paternal knowledge are distinctive for boys’ and girls’ alcohol use is inconclusive. We examined whether perceived parental knowledge at age 13 prevents alcohol use at age 16, whether the effect of maternal and paternal knowledge was the same for both genders, and whether paternal knowledge had as strong an effect as maternal knowledge. MethodAdolescents answered a school survey in 2011 (age 13) and 2014 (age 16) in Finland (N = 5742). Perceived maternal and paternal knowledge was measured separately using a Parents’ Monitoring Scale. The data were analysed via moderation regression modelling using Bayesian estimation. ResultsPerceived maternal and paternal knowledge at age 13 predicted boys’ and girls’ lower alcohol use at age 16. For those who had not used alcohol at age 13, parental knowledge protected against an increase of alcohol use at age 16. Both maternal and paternal knowledge had a shielding effect against the increase of boys’ and girls’ alcohol use, but maternal knowledge had a stronger shielding effect than paternal knowledge. ConclusionsBoth maternal and paternal perceived knowledge at age 13 buffers against the adverse development of alcohol use at age 16 for both genders. Underlining the importance of parent-child communication and knowledge about the child’s activities should be a part of family health counselling and school health services.

Postnatal Changes in Testicular Position Are Associated With IGF-I and Function of Sertoli and Leydig Cells.

Despite clinical guidelines calling for repetitive examination of testicular position during childhood, little is known of normal changes in testicular position during childhood, let alone factors that control it. To assess changes in and factors associated with testicular position during childhood. Testicular position (the distance from the pubic bone to the upper pole of the testes) at birth, 3 months, 18 months, 36 months, and 7 years and reproductive hormones at 3 months were measured. Prenatally recruited, prospective longitudinal birth cohort. A total of 2545 boys were recruited prenatally in a Danish-Finnish birth cohort and had a testicular position examination available. A subset of 680 Danish and 362 Finnish boys had serum reproductive hormone concentrations and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) determined at 3 months. Testicular distance to pubic bone (TDP), serum reproductive hormone, and IGF-I concentrations. TDP increased from birth to 3 months and decreased thereafter. Length, gestational age, weight for gestational age, and penile length were positively associated with larger TDP and thus lower testicular position in a linear mixed-effect model. Furthermore, IGF-I concentration, inhibin B/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and testosterone/luteinizing hormone ratio were all independently and positively associated with longer TDP. We provide longitudinal data on postnatal changes in TDP. TDP is dynamic and associated with Leydig and Sertoli cell function as well as with IGF-I levels during the first months of life at mini-puberty of infancy. TDP may thus be a useful biomarker of postnatal testicular function.

Finnish schoolchildren's perceived health-related quality of life deteriorates remarkably with age.

Background:Information on individuals’ functioning and disability is needed for numerous purposes in social and health care.Objective:The purpose of the study was to assess the perceived health-related quality of life of Finnish schoolchildren aged from 7 to 17 years. We were interested to ascertain if changes of health-related quality of life with age could be discovered.Method:The quality of life data (N = 4,776) were collected using Revidierter KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen (KINDL-R). The survey was conducted in several comprehensive schools using tablet computers. The response rate was 95%. The quality of life data are presented as means and standard deviations. The rating scale was 0 to 100 points.Results:The mean of respondents’ (N = 4,776) health-related quality of life points was 72.1 (SD 11.0). Family as a factor impacting on the quality of life scored the highest points 78.2 (SD 16.1), while self-esteem got the lowest points 62.5 (SD 17.9). Adolescent girls’ school-related quality of life points were 60.2 (SD 15.0) and adolescent boys’ points were 61.7 (SD 14.4). Lower graders’ and upper graders’ quality of life differed very significantly so that the ratings of the lower graders were higher than the ratings of the upper graders. Finnish girls’ quality of life as a whole was poorer than that of Finnish boys. The physical and emotional welfare as well as the self-esteem of young Finnish girls were poorer than those of their male peers.Conclusions:The poor well-being of adolescents is recognized and accepted as a development-related phenomenon. Poor health-related quality of life experienced by adolescents may be interpreted as a symptom of a disease. Deterioration in health-related quality of life among adolescents should not be accepted as a development-related factor; that phenomenon should be further investigated and necessary measures taken to improve the quality of adolescent’s life.

Social Functioning and Mental Wellbeing in 13- to 15-year-old Adolescents in Iran and Finland: A Cross-cultural Comparison

Objectives: To investigate social functioning and mental wellbeing in 13-15 year-old adolescents in Iran and Finland, in order to explore potential cultural and gender-based differences during early adolescence. Methods: One thousand and one (1001) adolescents from Iran and 2205 adolescents from Finland (age range 13-15 years) filled in a questionnaire consisting of the following scales: the Mini Direct and Indirect Aggression Scale (Mini-DIA), the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C), the School Burnout Inventory (SBI), and the Multidimensional Scale for Perceived Social Support Assessment (MSPSSA). Results: Iranian boys scored highest on Aggression, Victimization, and School Burnout, and lowest on Social Support, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Interpersonal Self-Efficacy. The Finnish boys scored highest on Interpersonal Self-Efficacy and Emotional Self-Efficacy, and lowest on School Burnout and Victimization. Finnish girls had the highest scores on Social Support and Academic Self-Efficacy, but the lowest on Aggression and Emotional Self- Efficacy. The Iranian girls did not have any highest or lowest scores in this sample. Conclusion: Clear differences due to culture and gender were found. It appears that Iranian boys, despite their higher societal status than girls, experience their school environment as more stressful than Iranian girls do, and than Finnish boys do as well. The findings are discussed.

The role of social support in the association between gambling, poor health and health risk-taking.

Studies have shown that gambling is associated with poor health and health risk-taking behaviour. However, little is known about those factors that can influence the association between gambling, health risk-taking and health. Using a population-based School Health Promotion Study of eighth- and ninth-grade Finnish boys and girls (N = 62,956), we investigated the relationships between gambling frequency, health risk-taking and poor health as well as whether social support from parents, friends and school staff could mediate these associations. Path analysis was used to discover direct and indirect effects of health, health risk-taking and gambling. Social support from parents and school staff decreased gambling among boys and girls, whereas among boys support from friends increased gambling. However, the role of social support as a mediator was very weak. Overall poor health and health risk-taking were associated with increased gambling. CONCLUSIONS GAMBLING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE IT CLUSTERS WITH OTHER UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS INTERVENTIONS CONCERNING ADOLESCENT GAMBLING SHOULD ALSO TAKE OTHER SIMULTANEOUS RISK-TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALSO SOCIAL SUPPORT FROM PARENTS AND SCHOOL SHOULD BE NOTED WHEN TRYING TO DECREASE ADOLESCENTS' GAMBLING.

Short report: self-reported psychopathic traits in Finnish and Dutch samples of non-referred adolescents: exploration of cultural differences.

BackgroundCulture-related differences in psychopathic traits have been reported for adults, but for adolescents such knowledge is lacking. The aim of this cross-national study was to compare self-reported psychopathic traits between Finnish and Dutch samples of mid-adolescent community youth.MethodsThe Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) was filled in by 372 Finnish and 474 Dutch 15- to 16-year-old pupils. As gender-specific differences exist in psychopathic traits, we analyzed the data separately for boys and girls.ResultsDutch boys scored significantly higher than Finnish boys on total and all dimensional scores of the YPI as well as on most sub-dimensional scores. Dutch girls scored significantly higher than Finnish girls on the Affective dimension and on the two corresponding sub-dimensions: remorselessness and callousness. Finnish girls scored significantly higher on grandiosity, which loads to the Interpersonal dimension of the YPI.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that culture influences the manifestation of psychopathic traits already in adolescence and that this relation is more prominent in boys.

’Ballet Energy for Boys’ in Finland: A Description of the Workshop Content

Abstract How can we improve Finnish boys’ conceptions of ballet? How can we increase male involvement in ballet? We tried to answer these central questions by reflecting on and reviewing the goals, content and teaching methods utilized to teach methods of a tuition-free ballet workshop titled Ballet Energy for Boys. Produced by the Finnish National Opera, this workshop was introduced to about 2500 seven to eight year-old boys in elementary schools in the capital region in Finland. Written primarily for dance educators, this article aims to contribute to the literature about our recent efforts in inspiring boys to learn ballet and to learn how to appreciate ballet.

Estonian and Finnish graduating seniors' opinions and motivation about physical education

This study investigated the general feelings and opinions about their health, school, leisure time physical activity and physical education among senior graduating students in Estonia and Finnish. The results showed that Estonian and Finnish youth had similar opinions about their health and the similar patterns in leisure time physical activity. Many of the Finnish and Estonian graduating senior reported that there is something that bothers in PE classes (PE classes are boring, condition, evaluation system). Finnish and Estonians students reported that evaluation is based on too much performing of general standards although evaluation should measure more individual development and how individual pushes during the PE classes. Most of the Estonian students reported that conditions during and especially after PE classes needed improvements. The study demonstrated that Finnish boys were more interested in having more PE in schools than Estonian boys. However most of the Estonian graduating students reported that there should be more optional PE lessons for choosing in schools. Additionally, in terms of motivation in physical education, the study revealed that the external type of motivation among Estonian girls was significantly higher compared to Finnish girls.

Childhood bullying and becoming a young father in a national cohort of Finnish boys

Childhood bullying is known to be associated with various adverse psychosocial outcomes in later life. No studies exist on its association with becoming a young father. The study is based on a national cohort, which included 2,946 Finnish boys at baseline in 1989. Information on bullying was collected from children, their parents and their teachers. Follow-up data on becoming a father under the age of 22 were collected from a nationwide register. The follow-up sample included 2,721 boys. Bullying other children frequently was significantly associated with becoming a young father independently of being victimized, childhood psychiatric symptoms and parental educational level. Being a victim of bullying was not associated with becoming a young father when adjusted for possible confounders. When the co-occurrence of bullying and victimization was studied, it was found that being a bully-victim, but not a pure bully or a pure victim, is significantly associated with becoming a young father. This study adds to other studies, which have shown that the risk profile and relational patterns of bully-victims differ from those of other children, and it emphasizes the importance of including peer relationships when studying young fathers.

Long-term daily intake estimates of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenylethers from food in Finnish children: risk assessment implications

Food is contaminated by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) worldwide. Previous data show elevated intakes in children. We determined intakes of POPs in Finnish children. Because no children-specific safe limit values exist, we used tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) set for adults by international expert bodies to examine the proportion of the study population that exceed those limits. We utilised dietary monitoring data with food consumption of Finnish boys and girls aged 1–6 years, measured the contaminant concentrations in all the main food items and calculated age-specific contaminant sum and congener-specific long-term daily intake levels. Our food intake and contaminant data correspond to years 2002–2005. The long-term upper-bound dioxin intakes ranged between 0.1 and 12.8 pg WHOPCDD/F-PCB-TEQ/kg bw/d (min and max). An immediate TDI for WHOPCDD/F-PCB-TEQs of 4.0 pg/kg bw/d were exceeded by 2.5%–7.5% of the children. PBDE long-term upper-bound intake was between 0.1 and 5.8 ng/kg bw/d (min and max). Congener-specific analyses indicated a typical Finnish adult exposure pattern of the children to PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs. The highest POP intakes were observed in children aged 3 years. Long-term daily PCDD/F, PCB and PBDE intakes among Finnish children varied greatly between individuals and ages. In each age group of the study population, there was a proportion of children with their WHOPCDD/F-PCB-TEQ intake exceeding considered safe limits set for adults. Based on the exposure profile reported herein, children should be clearly considered as a specific sub-population in food-mediated contaminant risk assessment.

Adolescents' Experiences of Parental Violence in Danish and Finnish Families: A Comparative Perspective

International comparative analyses enable the identification of specific, national criminal problems and the assessment of the effects of national prevention strategies. We compare the prevalence and a number of background factors of adolescents' experiences of parental violence between Denmark and Finland based on school surveys conducted among ninth-grade students in 2008: these were The Danish Youth Health Survey with 3,943 respondents and The Finnish Child Victim Survey with 5,762 respondents. Experiences of parental violence include being exposed to maternal or paternal violence or being witness to violence against the mother or father at home. Overall, the prevalence of adolescents' experiences of parental psychological aggression and physical violence is relatively similar in Denmark and Finland. However, marked gender differences exist. Finnish girls more frequently report experiences of psychological aggression and physical violence than Danish girls, whereas Danish boys more frequently report experiences of psychological aggression than Finnish boys. Having witnessed physical violence against the mother or father and having been exposed to parental violence are both more frequently reported by Finnish than Danish youth. In both countries, experiencing parental violence is more correlated to a number of family-associated factors, such as inter-parental fighting, little confidentiality between the youth and parents, and poor supervision of the youth, than to traditional socio-economic factors. The study article provides evidence on the context-related nature of violence experiences.

Relationship specificity of aggressogenic thought–behavior processes.

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the relationship specificity of aggressogenic thought-behavior processes and to investigate the role of self-esteem in translating or inhibiting aggressogenic thought into aggression toward personally liked and disliked targets. Participants (186 Finnish boys and girls; 11-12 years old at Time 1) completed measures twice over a 1-year interval. We assessed children's attributions of hostility, relational goals, expectations of anger, and self-efficacy at Time 1 as well as aggression, at both time points, toward their previously identified liked and disliked peers. Our results mostly supported our hypothesis that cognitions guide behavior mainly within the relationship context. Moreover, high self-esteem potentiated cognition-behavior links toward children's own liked peer but inhibited the actualization of aggressogenic thought toward children's disliked peer. These findings highlight the importance of taking a Person × Situation approach when studying cognition-behavior processes.

Relationship between Eating Behavior, Breakfast Consumption, and Obesity Among Finnish and Greek Adolescents

Objective To investigate the relationship between eating-related behaviors, particularly breakfast consumption, and weight status in Finnish and Greek adolescents. Methods A total of 6,468 16-year-old Finnish adolescents and 2,842 17- and 18-year-old Greek adolescents, based on the latest follow-up of 2 population-based cohorts, were studied. Univariate analysis examined the associations between breakfast consumption, family meals, emotional eating, bingeing, and weight status in both populations. Multiple logistic regression models focused on the relationship between breakfast consumption and overweight/obesity taking potential confounders into account. Results Daily breakfast consumption was associated with lower levels of overweight/obesity among Finnish and Greek boys, but not among girls. Adjusting for confounders did not change the result among Greek boys, but adjustment for father's body mass index, weight control, and fear of getting fat attenuated the association among Finnish boys. Conclusions and Implications This study highlights the importance of breakfast consumption, particularly among male adolescents, in obesity prevention programs.

Humour as a resource and strategy for boys to gain status in the field of informal school

Through a feminist approach this paper illustrates how humour is used as a resource and strategy for status among Finnish school boys and in constructing culturally accepted masculinity in the field of informal school. Based on interview and observation material collected in three schools, the results suggest that although humour is often affiliative and positive in nature, exclusive, violent humour is also used as a resource and strategy, which might have serious consequences on targeted students’ lives. The effect of humour as a symbolic resource of status depends not only on context and power relations between the agents, but also on a credible, strategic usage of the resources available to a boy. Humour has an important influence on constructing masculinities and the social status of boys. Furthermore, the status of a boy defines the value of his humour among his peer group.