Adolescent Health Interventions Research Articles

Family-based sexual health intervention for adolescents; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Family-based interventions are important in promoting adolescent sexual health outcomes. However, the effectiveness of these interventions in promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Lower and middle-income countries (LMIC) has not been empirically evaluated. This review aimed to summarise the effectiveness of family-based sexual and reproductive health interventions in promoting ASRH in LMIC. Methods We conducted a systematic search for studies published in English from 2000 to October 2023 using MEDLINE, PsyINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. Studies were included if they involved adolescents aged 10-19 years, included family members in a key intervention component, evaluated the effectiveness of the interventions using an experimental or quasi-experimental design, assessed ASRH outcomes reported by adolescents and were conducted in LMIC setting. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were computed and meta-analyses were conducted using random effect models. Results Ten articles involving 2,246 participants were included in the review. The studies were nostly conducted in Africa. Across studies, there was no significant impact of family-based interventions in improving adolescent sexual health knowledge (SMD=0.5, 95%CI: -1.98 to 2.98), attitudes (SMD= -0.05, 95%CI: -1.92 to 1.82), practices (SMD=0.53, 95%CI: -0.69 to 1.75), or sexual communication with their family (SMD= 0.14, 95%CI: -0.42 to 0.7). Although individual studies reported a mixed effect of family-based interventions in improving sexual health outcomes, the pooled results from the meta-analysis showed no significant impact of family-based interventions. Conclusions Our review did not find any significant impact of family-based interventions in improving ASRH in LMIC. We recommend interventions using innovative approaches and novel strategies to align with the socio-cultural and economic background of the study setting. Key messages • This study found no significant impact of family-based interventions in improving ASRH in LMIC. • Additional studies, particularly from Asia, using culturally relevant interventions is required in this area.

Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adolescent Behavioral Health Challenges, and High School Dropout.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with behavioral health challenges and high school dropout, and behavioral health is associated with high school dropout. Less is known about the role of behavioral health challenges in the relationship between ACEs and high school dropout. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (2013) and its 2014 Childhood Retrospective Circumstances Study supplement, the current study conducts mediational path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of cumulative ACEs on high school dropout via adolescent depression, anxiety, and substance use. Experiencing more ACEs was associated with depression, anxiety, and substance use. Only depression and substance use were associated with high school dropout. There was a significant direct effect between increased ACEs and high school dropout and significant indirect effects via depression and substance use, but not anxiety. Adolescent behavioral health interventions to address the long-term effects of ACEs may also support academic achievement. School-based interventions, particularly those aligned with trauma-sensitive school frameworks and engaging various school personnel, including school nurses, should be considered. Community- and policy-level interventions aimed at primary prevention of ACEs are also needed.

Stakeholder perspectives on managing the adolescent sleep crisis using a transdiagnostic self-management app for sleep disturbances: A qualitative follow-up study.

Sleep problems are diverse and pervasive among the adolescent population. Current sleep health interventions are ill-equipped to address the sleep crisis. We developed DOZE (Delivering Online Zzz's with Empirical Support), which is a self-management evidence-based app for sleep disturbances. In an initial study, we found that DOZE was perceived as an acceptable and effective support for teen sleep. In a qualitative follow-up study, we engaged with students and other stakeholders to understand their experiences with implementing, disseminating, and using DOZE. The study employed a combination of qualitative surveys and semi-structured interviews to students (n = 21) and stakeholders (teachers, social workers, and researchers; n = 5), respectively. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to experiences implementing and engaging with the app. Students reported increased sleep regularity and sleep duration after using DOZE. Facilitators included greater integration of the app with school curriculum, timing of implementation, and researcher involvement in supporting knowledge dissemination and engagement. Barriers included worries about phone use at night and normalized poor sleep patterns among adolescents. There is need to identify ways to support implementation and engagement in different communities. Researchers continue to engage with stakeholders to support timely access to sleep health interventions for adolescents.

Educating adolescents on preventing substance use: The role of 24-h movement behaviors ─ data from 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance

BackgroundLittle is known about how adhering to the health guidelines for physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration (SD) relates to substance use in adolescents. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential association between adherence to the 24-h movement behavior (24-h MB) guidelines and substance use among adolescents. MethodsData from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance was analyzed. Participants reported their weekly PA, ST, SD, and substance use (alcohol and smoking) over the past 30 days. The mean age in the total participants was 15.56, and 48.03 % of the participants were females. Logistic regression was used in this study to explore the potential association between 24-h MB and substance use. Odds ratios (ORs) were reported alongside a 95 % confidence interval to enhance understanding of the observed association. ResultsOnly 2.22 % participants adhered to all three 24-h MB guidelines, while 47.99 % did not follow any guidelines. Notably, there was no significant difference in the odds of cigarette smoking between participants who followed none of the guidelines and those who followed some or all of them. Nevertheless, adherence to one or more guidelines was found to be associated with higher odds of abstaining from alcohol consumption compared to non-adherence (one guidelines: OR = 1.17 [1.08, 1.28], two guidelines: OR = 1.28 [1.13, 1.44]). ConclusionsAdhering to 24-h MB guidelines may reduce adolescents’ alcohol consumption, but the adherence was not significantly associated with smoking. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings. These results can inform adolescent health policies and interventions aimed at reducing substance use from the perspective of healthy time-use behaviors, which can be used for researchers and educator.

What Emotion Regulation Strategies are Associated with a General Psychopathology Factor (p) in Adolescence? Identifying Possible Transdiagnostic Targets for Intervention.

Mental health problems in adolescence are increasing and there is an urgent call for transdiagnostic interventions, as most adolescents experience problems across multiple domains. Research has identified a general psychopathology factor (p) capturing the shared variance across mental health problems. In parallel, there is empirical support for the transdiagnostic nature of emotion regulation. In the current study, we explore the associations between p and emotion regulation strategies to identify which strategies may be promising targets for intervention. Data from the population-based Youth and Mental Health Study (YAMHS) (N = 2,464, mean age 13.7years, SD 0.6) was used. The fit of different structural models of emotion regulation and psychopathology were compared, and latent factors from the final models were included in multiple regression analyses to explore the associations between p and emotion regulation strategies. A bifactor exploratory structural equation model (B-ESEM) showed best fit for modelling p. For emotion regulation strategies, an ESEM model showed best fit, including Rumination, Reactive Impulsivity, Distraction, Non-Acceptance, Problem Solving, Social Support, and Proactive Behavior. Results showed that a higher score on p was predicted by higher scores on the emotion regulation strategies Rumination (β = .38, p < .001) and Reactive Impulsivity (β = .35, p < .001), and lower scores on Problem Solving (β = -.15, p < .001). The results indicate that Rumination and Reactive Impulsivity have the strongest associations with p and may be promising targets for mental health interventions for adolescents.

Effect of a digital school-based intervention on adolescent family planning and reproductive health in Rwanda: a cluster-randomized trial.

We conducted a cluster-randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of CyberRwanda, a digital family planning and reproductive health intervention for Rwandan adolescents. Sixty schools were randomized 1:1:1 to control or to one of two implementation models-self-service (self-guided access on tablets) or facilitated (peer-led clubs plus tablet access) with no masking. Eligible participants were aged 12-19 years, in secondary school levels 1 or 2, and willing to provide consent or assent/parental consent and contact information for follow-up. In 2021, 6,078 randomly selected adolescents were enrolled. At 24 months, 91.3% of participants were retained and included in the primary intention-to-treat analyses (control, n = 1,845; self-service, n = 1,849 and facilitated, n = 1,858). There were no adverse events related to the study. CyberRwanda did not affect the primary outcomes of modern contraceptive use (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.76, 1.42), childbearing (PR = 1.33; 95% CI = 0.71, 2.50) and HIV testing (PR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.91, 1.11) in the full sample. Significantly higher modern contraceptive use observed in the CyberRwanda facilitated arm in a prespecified analysis of sexually active participants suggests that longer-term evaluation is needed to examine effects as more of the study population becomes sexually active and has increased demand for contraception. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04198272 .

Just-in-time adaptive interventions for adolescent and young adult health and well-being: protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionHealth behaviours such as exercise and diet strongly influence well-being and disease risk, providing the opportunity for interventions tailored to diverse individual contexts. Precise behaviour interventions are critical during adolescence...

Factors influencing adoption of sexual and reproductive health intervention for adolescents in Ebonyi, Nigeria.

School and Community-embedded reproductive health interventions have been implemented in developing countries, with evidence that they led to improved sexual and reproductive health among adolescents. However, this type of intervention is rarely evaluated for its potential adoption and use. This study evaluated the constraints and enablers of the adoption of a school and community-embedded intervention that used community engagement, capacity building, partnerships and collaborations to deliver sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents. The intervention was implemented between 2019 and 2021 in six local government areas in Ebonyi State. The results on adoption presented here were collected four months into the mid-phase of the project, targeting adolescents, parents, adult family members, healthcare providers, local authorities, and community members. Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted with policymakers, 14 with health service providers and 18 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with parents, community leaders and adolescents who were part of the implementation process. The coding reliability approach, a type of thematic data analysis was used, that involves early theme development and the identification of evidence for the themes. The adoption of school and community-embedded reproductive health intervention was strong among stakeholders at the early stages of the implementation process. Multi-stakeholder involvement and its multi-component approach made the intervention appealing, thereby enabling its adoption. However, at the later stage, the adoption was constrained by beliefs and norms about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and the non-incentivisation of stakeholders who acted as advocates at the community level. The sustainability of the intervention may be threatened by the non-incentivisation of stakeholders and the irregular supply of materials and tools to facilitate SRH advocacy at the community level. The inclusive community-embedded reproductive health intervention was adopted by stakeholders because of the enablers which include timely stakeholder engagement. However, for it to be sustainable, implementers must address the non-incentivising of community-level advocates which serve as constraints.

Mental toughness in adolescents: bridging family relationships and depression across personality traits

BackgroundAdolescence is a pivotal stage vulnerable to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. While family relationships, mental toughness, and personality traits are known to impact adolescent mental health, their interactive and moderating roles are not fully understood.AimThis study aims to investigate the mediating role of mental toughness in the relationship between family relationships and depression among high school students, and to examine the varying impacts of personality traits on this mediation.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 734 adolescents. Participants completed measures assessing family relationships, mental toughness, personality traits, and mental health outcomes (depression). Latent Profile Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling, to investigate these relationships.ResultsThe study found that mental toughness significantly mediates the relationship between family relationships and depression. Notably, this mediating effect varied between personality type; it was more pronounced in the moderate-reserved type compared to the proactive-engaged type. LPA identified two distinct personality types of students based on their personality traits, with differential patterns of family relationships, mental toughness, and depression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that character and adaptability, components of mental toughness, were significant negative predictors of depression.ConclusionThe study contributes to understanding the dynamics of adolescent mental health, particularly in the context of Chinese high school students. It underscores the importance of considering family dynamics, personality traits, and mental toughness in developing effective mental health interventions for adolescents.

Digital Knowledge Translation Tools for Disseminating Sexual and Reproductive Health Information to Adolescents: Protocol for an Evidence Gap Map Review.

Digital or eHealth knowledge translation (KT) interventions have been identified as useful public health tools, particularly to advance sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among adolescents. Existing literature reviews on digital health interventions for adolescents' SRH demonstrate limitations, including shortcomings in reporting and comprehensiveness that limit the utility and trustworthiness of findings. However, there is a lack of evidence synthesis on the effectiveness of available digital or mobile health KT tools to promote SRH interventions for adolescents. We aim to identify, map, and describe existing empirical evidence on the digital KT tools developed to improve adolescent SRH outcomes globally. This study will be conducted using an evidence gap map (EGM) approach to address the objectives, including reviewing relevant literature and a landscape analysis of the outcomes of interest. The following electronic databases will be searched for retrieval of literature: MEDLINE (1946-present), Embase (1974-present), and Global Health (1910-present) via OVID; CINAHL (1936-present) via EBSCOhost; Scopus (1976-present); and Cochrane Library (1993-present) via Wiley. We will include only those studies that focused on adolescents aged 10-19 years and addressed SRH outcomes. We will include experimental studies (randomized or cluster randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, including quasi-randomized, controlled before-after, and interruptive time series) and observational studies, that is, including prospective cohort and case-control studies. The experimental and observational studies will only be included in the presence of control or comparison arms. Studies with a historical control arm will be excluded. The systematic review software, Covidence (Ventas Health Innovation), will be used to screen and select the studies. Further, 2 independent reviewers will complete the first and second levels of screening of studies and any conflicts arising will be resolved by consensus between the 2 reviewers or by involving the third reviewer. We will conduct the quality assessment of all included studies using the Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled trials, and AMSTAR2 for systematic reviews. Papers screening, data extraction, and synthesis will be completed by March 2024. We will use EPPI-Mapper (The International Public Policy Observatory) software to generate an online evidence map and to produce the tables and figures for the descriptive report. This EGM review will identify areas with high-quality, evidence-based digital KT tools (for immediate scale and spread) and areas where few or no KT tools exist (for targeted KT tool development and research or policy prioritization). This protocol focused on mapping eHealth KT tools that have been used in the literature to address SRH among adolescents. This will be the first EGM exercise to map digital KT tools to promote adolescents' SRH and will incorporate a range of published sources. DERR1-10.2196/55081.

Using formative research to inform a mental health intervention for adolescents living in Indian slums: the ARTEMIS study

BackgroundAdolescents are vulnerable to stressors because of the rapid physical and mental changes that they go through during this life period. Young people residing in slum communities experience additional stressors due to living conditions, financial stress, and limited access to healthcare and social support services. The Adolescents’ Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums (ARTEMIS) study, is testing an intervention intended to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents living in urban slums in India combining an anti-stigma campaign with a digital health intervention to identify and manage depression, self-harm/suicide risk or other significant emotional complaints.MethodsIn the formative phase, we developed tools and processes for the ARTEMIS intervention. The two intervention components (anti-stigma and digital health) were implemented in purposively selected slums from the two study sites of New Delhi and Vijayawada. A mixed methods formative evaluation was undertaken to improve the understanding of site-specific context, assess feasibility and acceptability of the two components and identify required improvements to be made in the intervention. In-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders (adolescents, parents, community health workers, doctors, and peer leaders), along with quantitative data from the digital health platform, were analysed.ResultsThe anti-stigma campaign methods and materials were found to be acceptable and received overall positive feedback from adolescents. A total of 2752 adolescents were screened using the PHQ9 embedded into a digital application, 133 (4.8%) of whom were identified as at high-risk of depression and/or suicide. 57% (n = 75) of those at high risk were diagnosed and treated by primary health care (PHC) doctors, who were guided by an electronic decision support tool based on WHO’s mhGAP algorithm, built into the digital health application.ConclusionThe formative evaluation of the intervention strategy led to enhanced understanding of the context, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention. Feedback from stakeholders helped to identify key areas for improvement in the intervention; strategies to improve implementation included engaging with parents, organising health camps in the sites and formation of peer groups.Trial RegistrationThe trial has been registered in the Clinical Trial Registry India, which is included in the WHO list of Registries, Reference number: CTRI/2022/02/040307. Registered 18 February 2022.

Network meta-analysis of the efficacy of physical exercise interventions on vision health in children and adolescents.

This study systematically evaluates the impact of different physical exercise modalities on vision health interventions for Chinese children and adolescents. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO, MEDLINE, Embase, and CNKI. The focus was on randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies related to physical activity interventions for vision health in this demographic. The search covered literature from the inception of each database until May 1, 2023. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, adhering to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. A network meta-analysis was performed using the "Network" package in Stata 14.2. The analysis encompassed 17 studies with 1,840 participants aged 7 to 18 years. Findings from the network meta-analysis revealed that badminton [MD = 0.23 (0.12, 0.33), p < 0.001] and table tennis [MD = 0.16 (0.09, 0.22), p < 0.001] exercises, along with health education [MD = 0.13 (0.03, 0.23), p = 0.013], were statistically significant in enhancing vision health compared to no intervention. According to the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) probability ranking, badminton (SUCRA = 96.7) and table tennis (SUCRA = 84.1) emerged as the most effective modalities for myopia intervention in children and adolescents, with health education (SUCRA = 73.2) following closely. Physical exercise significantly contributes to the healthy development of vision in children and adolescents. Among various activities, badminton and table tennis are the most effective in improving visual health, highlighting the need for augmented promotion of visual health education. However, the quantity and quality of the included studies necessitate further high-quality intervention research to confirm these findings.

Teachers’ Perspectives on Behavioral and Emotional Problems among School-going Adolescents in Kashmir: Examining the Risk Correlates of Behavioral and Emotional Problems

ABSTRACT Background: Political violence in Kashmir was a common occurrence. The phenomenon had occurred often and repeatedly in an unmanageable fashion. It had consequential implications for each member of society including children and adolescents. Aim: The study aimed to analyze the teachers’ perspective on mental health problems of adolescents in Kashmir. In Kashmir’s precarious circumstances, school-going adolescents were exceptionally vulnerable to mental health issues. Addressing unrecognized mental health issues among school-going adolescents established an important rationale for corresponding further deterioration. Methods: The study used the standardized tools of the Rutter’s Children Behavior Questionnaire (RCBQ-B) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Cluster sampling was employed in the study. About 45 schoolteachers rated the behaviors of 160 school-going adolescents of Kashmir from numerous schools. The data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as t-test and one-way analysis of variance and correlation. Results: We found that behavioral and emotional problems (BEPs) rose significantly, most notably indications of BEPs with risk factors. Across the socioeconomic status, age, adolescence type, and education, the results found an upward trend of 47% prevalence rate of mental health problems among adolescents with 45% as peer problems, 39% hyperactivity, 34% conduct, and 9% emotional problems. Conclusion: An increasing number of adolescents in prevailing situations in Kashmir suffered from mental health problems. The study findings reveal that there is a need to create effective mental health services and interventions for school-going adolescents in Kashmir.

Opportunities and challenges of using a health information system in adolescent health management: A qualitative study of healthcare providers' perspectives in the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory.

Adolescents are a critical demographic facing unique health challenges who are further impacted in humanitarian settings. This article focuses on the urgent need for a structured health information system (HIS) to address the gaps in data availability and evidence-based interventions for adolescent health. The study aims to identify opportunities and challenges in utilizing the HIS to enhance adolescent health in the West Bank by gathering insights from healthcare providers. Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with participants involved in the HIS regarding adolescent health in the West Bank. They were selected by purposive sampling. Nineteen interviews were conducted between July and October 2022, and thematic analysis was carried out using MAXQDA software. The opportunities identified were the small-scale victories the participants described in building the HIS for adolescent health. These included institutional and individual capacity building, digitalizing parts of the HIS, connection fragmentation of adolescent health activities, multi-sectoral collaboration, reorienting services based on health information, working with limited resources, enhancing community engagement to encourage ownership and active participation, and taking strategic actions for adolescents for information. The challenges were the high workload of staff, lack of health information specialists, limited resources, lack of a unified system in data collection, lack of data on essential indicators, data quality, data sharing, and data sources and use. This study showed the potential of the HIS with capacity building, digitization, and collaborative initiatives; it also suffers from issues like staff shortages, non-standardized data collection, and insufficient data for essential indicators. To maximize the impact of the HIS, urgent attention to staff shortages through comprehensive training programs, standardization of data collection systems, and development of a unified core indicator list for adolescent health is recommended. Embracing these measures will allow the HIS to provide evidence-based adolescent health programs, even in resource-constrained and complex humanitarian settings.

Systematic review: risk sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections, and adolescent pregnancy prevention interventions.

In many countries, there is a high number of teenage pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and unsafe sexual behavior, so there is a need for adolescent health intervention programs to change behavior. The effectiveness of comprehensive interventions in various contexts to reduce teenage pregnancy, STIs, and related sexual risk behaviors is reviewed in this systematic. This study aimed to identify risk sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections, and adolescent pregnancy prevention interventions. Literature search strategy from January 2008 to December 2022 through electronic databases. Key words 'teenage prenancy' OR 'teen pregnancy' OR 'pregnancy adolescence', AND 'maternal education', AND 'randomised clinical trial', AND 'risk behavior'. Articles that were deemed worthy of following the PRISMA guidelines were 28 articles. Most studies looked at school-based, individual, community, clinic, and family-based care. Most studies were followed up after intervention at intervals from one month to seven years, and the majority of the population and sample were adolescents with ages ranging from 13 to 18 years. Implementation of research in urban, suburban, and rural areas. This program has proven successful in preventing pregnancy, contraceptive use, STI and HIV, sexual behavior, dropping out of school, knowledge about pregnancy, sexuality, attitudes towards sexuality, intention to change risky sexual behavior, self-efficacy, and increasing parent-children. This article describes some basic trends in adolescent pregnancy prevention interventions in several countries that can be used as a reference for health programs. Unproven effectiveness can be implemented in conjunction with other interventions that have a high-quality impact.

Adolescents’ Perceptions of School Nurses’ Role in Functional Seizures at School

Adolescents with functional (psychogenic nonepileptic) seizures experience school-related struggles. School nurses are positioned to address such struggles. However, school nurses report having little education or confidence in their role of managing or responding to this mental health condition. Little is known about adolescents’ perceptions of school nurses’ role in functional seizure care. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 10 adolescents from across the United States with functional seizures to explore adolescents’ perceptions of school nurses’ roles in functional seizure care at school. Results revealed school nurses, when present, play a spectrum of roles according to adolescents’ perceptions, ranging from negative (harmful and uninvolved) to positive (being present, expressing care, and actively doing tasks for the student). These perceived roles shed light upon school nurses’ lack of functional seizure awareness and opportunities to incorporate mental health interventions for adolescents with functional seizures in the school setting.

Promotive and preventive interventions for adolescent mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa: a combined scoping and systematic review

IntroductionPoor mental health in adolescence is associated with mental, physical and social problems in later life. Adolescence is, therefore, a critical time for promoting mental well-being and preventing mental illness,...

Exploring Media-Based Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: Literature Review

Media-based interventions show promise in addressing the rising mental health concerns among adolescents, surpassing challenges associated with traditional care. This review critically assesses the effectiveness of media-based interventions in promoting adolescent mental health, with a specific focus on social media, digital applications, and film. The methodology employs a comprehensive approach, utilizing Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases (2012-2022) with keywords such as "mental health," "media," and "adolescents." the methodology is refined for enhanced clarity, explicitly detailing the search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and selection process. Findings from the analysis of 13 selected articles highlight promising outcomes of digital interventions in screening and treating mental disorders in adolescents. Emphasizing scalability, accessibility, and personalization benefits, the review recognizes the importance of addressing privacy concerns and the potential drawbacks of relying solely on digital platforms. Additionally, it emphasizes the impact of using booklets for mental health self-management in schools. The review improves organization and flow, eliminating repetition for a clearer presentation of information, providing a detailed evaluation of their strengths and limitations, enhancing the overall credibility of the review. the abstract explicitly discusses limitations related to inclusion criteria, such as language restrictions and the exclusion of specific study designs. This comprehensive approach contributes to a more robust understanding of the literature, providing valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in developing effective interventions for adolescent mental health. The implications stress the need for further research, evidence-based intervention development, and considerations for implementation and user experience in digital interventions.

The protective role of parental support in links between adolescents’ weight-based bullying and psychological adjustment problems

ABSTRACT In the United States, weight-based peer victimization (herein “bullying”) is prevalent and has been shown to have short- and long-term detrimental effects on adolescents’ mental health. We utilized secondary data analysis to explore associations between adolescents’ weight-based bullying, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and parental involvement. Moderated mediation models found depressive symptoms mediated the relation between weight-based bullying and both callousness and social anxiety symptoms, but only in the context of low parent involvement. This study highlights parental involvement as a potential protective factor and demonstrates the need for mental health screening and intervention for adolescents who experience weight-based bullying.

Exploring the Interplay of Social Anxiety Symptoms and Family Perception among Chinese Adolescents: A Psychosocial Investigation

Anxiety among children and adolescents has received significant attention. Nonetheless, the inquiry into social anxiety and its relationship with family dynamics, particularly within the Chinese culture, remains less explored. This study undertakes the task of bridging this scholarly void through the employment of a comprehensive questionnaire survey. Data from 308 participants aged 13 to 17 were collected through a questionnaire facilitated by the Sojump platform. The survey employed the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and the Adolescent Student Family Satisfaction Scale (ASFSS). Results reveal high internal reliability (=0.963) for IAS and ideal reliability (=0.973) for ASFSS. A strong negative correlation (r = -0.548) emerged between family satisfaction and social anxiety symptoms. This study addresses the underexplored relationship between these factors, contributing to the understanding of adolescent mental health dynamics within the familial context. Future research is recommended to incorporate longitudinal designs to enhance the breadth and depth of findings. Additionally, investigating mediating factors and developing family-centered interventions could yield valuable insights for shaping mental health interventions for adolescents.