Adolescent Health Research Articles

Retrospective analysis of regional and metropolitan school food environments using Google Street View: A case study in New South Wales, Australia with youth consultation.

Food environments surrounding schools have a strong influence on the adolescent's food choices. Moreover, the prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases is higher in regional than metropolitan areas in Australia. Understanding school food environments in these different settings is crucial for informing future strategies to improve adolescent health. Google Street View was used to identify food outlets within 1.6 km around all secondary schools in Wagga Wagga and Blacktown in New South Wales which were selected as regional and metropolitan case study areas. Based on food outlet type, healthfulness categories were assigned, and Chi-squared tests were performed. The Health Advisory Panel for Youth at the University of Sydney (HAPYUS) were engaged to obtain their perspectives on findings. Unhealthful food outlets were consistently most prevalent around schools in Wagga Wagga and Blacktown over 17 years. In 2023, these were predominantly restaurants (19.4% vs. 21.1%), cafés (16.8% vs. 11.1%), fast-food franchise outlets (15.1% vs. 17.4%) and independent takeaway stores (14.1% vs. 9.6%). No significant difference in healthfulness between regional and metropolitan areas was found. Youth advisors recognised price and social reasons as major contributors to food choices. Google Street View was used as a novel resource to examine school food environments in regional and metropolitan areas which have remained consistently unhealthful for nearly two decades. SO WHAT?: Unhealthful school food environments may encourage poor diets and exacerbate rates of adolescent overweight and obesity. Critical government action is needed to improve school food environments.

Integrating Universal Hepatitis C Screening into Adolescent Well Visits is a "Win-Win" Scenario: Rationale and Demonstration of Real-World Feasibility and Implementation.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing is recommended for all adults 18 years and older to increase identification of those with infection and facilitate prompt referral for curative antiviral therapy. While critical to promote elimination, this strategy excludes a key demographic group who are clearly at risk of undetected HCV infection and who could benefit from early treatment: adolescents. In this paper, we review the available data on the burden of HCV and the close association with injection drug use, discuss the rationale of universal testing in adolescents and, finally, present data from a quality improvement project implementing HCV testing into routine adolescent health visits.

Self-rated health in late adolescence as a predictor for mortality between 46 and 70 years of age

Self-rated health is a common assessment used in epidemiological research and an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. We investigate if a single measure of self-rated health in late adolescence predict mortality between 46 and 70 years of age. This study was based on 47 286 Swedish men that conscribed 1969–1970 at age 18–20 and that were still alive in 1997. Self-rated health and data on potential explanatory factors (psychological factors, health status markers and health behaviors) were collected at conscription. Adult socioeconomic position in 1990 was derived from registries. Death and cause of death (cancer, cardiovascular disease, violent and alcohol abuse related disorders) were derived from the Causes of Death Register between 1997 and 2019. Conscripts that rated their health as fair or poor/very poor had significantly higher hazard of all-cause mortality than conscript that rated their health as very good (HRfair = 1.27, 95%CI:1.18–1.37 and HRpoor = 1.25, 95%CI:1.11–1.41) and disease-specific mortality. Adjusting for all explanatory factors attenuated the risk estimates by 9–100%. In conclusion, poor self-rated health reported in late adolescence predicts all-cause and disease-specific mortality between the ages of 46 and 70 years. Psychological factors and health behaviors measured at conscription may serve as potential explanatory factors underlying the predictive ability of self-rated health in late adolescence.

Parents' Experiences of Accessing Mental Health Services for Their Adolescents With Mental Health Challenges: A Scoping Review.

To analyse the literature on parents' experiences of accessing mental health services with their adolescents for mental health challenges in Ireland. Health systems globally have inadequately addressed mental health service needs resulting in notable gaps between population needs and access to adolescent mental health services. This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Five electronic databases SocINDEX, MEDLINE, CINHAL, Scopus and EBSCO were searched and reference lists screened 2015-2024. Twenty-three studies were included. Applying Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis identified three themes: adolescent community mental health services for adolescents with mental health challenges, accessing mental healthcare services via emergeny departments for adolescents with mental health challenges and parents' experiences of accessing mental health services for their adolescents with mental health challenges. Parents' experiences of accessing mental health services for their adolescents are not fully understood, and further research is required to map key concepts to inform practice and policymaking. The findings from this scoping review highlight challenges for adolescent mental health services in Ireland and internationally. Heightening awareness of these issues is necessary to improve the clinical practice of nurses. This was a scoping review study.

8주간 유산소운동이 여고생의 신체구성과 정신건강에 미치는 영향

Objectives This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week aerobic exercise program on the body composition and mental health of high school girls. Methods To achieve the purpose of the study, a total of 35 high school girls participated, with 17 assigned to the exercise group and 18 to the control group through random allocation. The exercise group performed aerobic exercise three times a week for 60 minutes each session over an 8-week period, while the control group maintained their usual daily activities during the same period. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted using the SPSS 23 statistical program to examine the differences between the groups, and the significance level was set at .05. Results The exercise group showed a statistically significant decrease in body fat percentage (p=.001) and a statistically significant improvement in mental health (p=.016). Conclusions Aerobic exercise positively impacts the body composition and mental health of high school girls, enhancing their overall well-being. It not only brings about physical changes but also helps to improve emotional stability. Therefore, in order to improve the health and quality of life of high school girls, various aerobic exercise programs are developed, and customized designs are needed considering interest and persistence. Such programs comprehensively support the physical and mental health of adolescents and contribute to building a healthier society in the long term.

"If I Stay Quiet, the Only Person That Gets Hurt Is Me": Anti-Asian Racism and the Mental Health of Chinese-Canadian Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Despite documented accounts of racial discrimination against Chinese communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies have examined experiences of racism among Canadian youth. This qualitative study explored the experiences of Chinese-Canadian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and their mental health. A qualitative descriptive research design, informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT), was used for this study. Data was collected using focus groups and image-based elicitation methods. Youth who self-identified as Chinese-Canadian, aged 18-24, and who experienced some account of self-defined racism were included. We analyzed the data using a coding system developed for this study and formulated key themes. Our analysis identified three themes: (I) Becoming racialized; (II) Learning the rules of racism; and (III) Effects of racism on mental health. We discuss findings in relation to the model minority stereotype, intersectionality of race and gender, and factors leading to a lack of support. This study provides evidence that racism had immediate and prolonged effects on the mental health of Chinese-Canadian youth and their relationships with peers, family, and even strangers. Our research suggests the need for enhanced services for Chinese-Canadian youth and other groups experiencing racism.

Social media and the youth mental health crisis: Is there a relationship?

I attended a recent webinar, “Beyond the hype: What research tells us about social media use in youth mental health” (August 2024), expecting the panelists to focus on the adverse effects of screen time. Interestingly, they offered a different perspective, one of nuanced findings in a young area of research, the suggestion to “take the panic level down” and still recognize risk factors (Schleider, 2024), and how social media might be a powerful tool for promoting positive mental health in youth.

COVID-19 incidence and cardiorespiratory fitness among first-year college students.

With the emergence of the COVID-19 virus, there was a widespread infection rate among college campuses, creating a need to understand the impact of COVID-19 infection on the health and wellbeing of adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine COVID-19 incidence and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among undergraduate students in the 2 years post-COVID-19 pandemic lock-down. Participants (n = 151) included undergraduate college freshmen students during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years. A series of annual surveys (n = 151) and laboratory measures among a sub-sample of participants (n = 28) were conducted to assess COVID-19 incidence, CRF, anthropometrics, and physical activity (PA). Over half of participants self-reported COVID-19 infection (59%), "good" or better CRF, a healthy body mass index (BMI), and 25% met PA recommendations. Nearly a quarter, (24%) perceived a negative impact of COVID-19 on their CRF and although not statistically significant, participants who contracted COVID-19 had 46% lower odds of having a positive perception of CRF than those who did not contract COVID-19 before. However, students who were more physically active were more likely to perceive a negative impact of COVID-19 incidence on their CRF (p = 0.035). Although no relationship was detected between COVID-19 and CRF, those who perceived a negative impact of COVID-19 on their CRF reported engaging in more physical activity.

Variation in health and well-being parameters: cross-country and temporal aspects

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus epidemic has stimulated large-scale structural and socio-economic changes throughout the world and led to increased attention to the problem of health in general. But has the epidemic affected the change in the attitude of people of different ages to their health, the perception of various parameters of subjective well-being? The article presents a comparative analysis of a number of assessments (about the level of happiness, satisfaction with income, healthcare, safety, communication, life, attitude towards people, etc.) of respondents from Europe and Central Asia for the period 2006–2021. AIM: The goal is to assess changes that have occurred over a 15-year time interval in relation to health and social determinants of well-being, to determine possible directions for changing the current situation. METHODS: To achieve this goal, the results of the tenth wave of the international comparative European Social Survey, conducted in 2021 (32 countries), were used in comparison with data from the third wave, conducted in 2006 (25 countries). The impact of the pandemic on the health of children and adolescents aged 11–15 years was based on materials from the international Health Behavior in School-Aged Children 2021–2022 in 44 countries in Europe and Central Asia. RESULTS: Despite the difficulties, dictated by the coronavirus, over the period 2006–2021 in most European countries stability in the perception of the world of work and the healthcare institution has been maintained, the psychological situation related to the safety of living has improved, and life satisfaction has increased. According to most of the parameters considered, Russians are outsiders among European countries; however, Russians’ responses to 7 indicators of health and well-being (out of 12) show positive changes. The results of studies of the health of children and adolescents during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods indicate significant negative consequences, mainly related to mental health. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to increase the attention of Russian government bodies to the health and well-being of Russians, first of all, to children and adolescents.

Gender Characteristics of the Psychoemotional Status of Students with Different Levels of Academic Performance

The study of the health of student youth remains one of the important areas in scientific research, since the task of higher educational institutions is not only to instill professional skills, but also to form a full-fledged personality. Neuropsychiatric adaptation is one of the keys, so it is important to identify the factors that influence its formation. 120 students of the medical faculty of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University were examined: 1) young men (n=30) and 2) girls (n=30) with high academic performance; 3) young men (n=30) and 4) girls (n=30) with low academic performance. We evaluated emotional intelligence according to the N. Hall scale, aggression according to L. G. Pochebut, the level of depression according to the Tsung test, emotional orientation according to B. I. Dodonov, level of self-esteem, style of behavior in conflict. Young men with high academic performance compared to similar girls are more likely to have a low level of emotional intelligence, high self-esteem, face mild depression, show more physical aggression, and have lower scores in communicative and aesthetic emotional orientation. Among those with low academic performance, girls, in comparison with young men, manage their own emotions worse, do not have high self-esteem, and have higher scores in communicative, hedonic and aesthetic emotional orientation. Sex differences in the psycho-emotional sphere are more clearly manifested among students with a high level of academic performance. The study of gender features in more detail assesses the psycho-emotional state of students, makes it possible to predict possible violations and timely carry out preventive or correctional measures, and, therefore, increase the success of adaptation.

Factors Associated with Mental Health Service Use Among Children with ADHD from Adolescence to Early Adulthood.

Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common and is associated with lifelong adverse outcomes. Little is known about factors associated with mental health service use (MHSU) among children with ADHD from adolescence to early adulthood. This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate factors associated with MHSU among children with ADHD from adolescence to early adulthood using secondary data from Waves I to III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 554). Multivariable Poisson regression and Generalized Estimating Equation were used to estimate adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. Results indicate that factors significantly associated with MHSU from adolescence to early adulthood included race/ethnicity, a routine physical exam last year, and a history of suicidal ideation or attempt. Findings of the study extend the current understanding by identifying predictors and barriers for MHSU and inform the development of targeted intervention programs for increasing MHSU among children with ADHD.

An observational study on menstrual hygiene practices among adolescents girls attending zilla parishad high school at Kommadi village in Visakhapatnam

Under RMNCH+A strategy, adolescent health program is relatively a new concept, particularly for female gender, and has been considered to be a continuum of health services up to adolescent age. The priority interventions among adolescent girls are, nutrition, Adolescent Friendly Health clinics (AFHCs), Counselling, Menstrual hygiene and preventive health checkups. Menstrual hygiene component has been taken for the present study among the adolescent girls in a Zilla Parishad High School aged 10 to 19 years. Rastriya Kishora Swastya Karyakram (RKSK) is broader one including both gender for distinct health services in India. : To study the association of various socio- economic and cultural practices influencing the usage of sanitary napkins by menstruating adolescent school girls. : Cross sectional study among menstruating adolescent girls in a Zilla Parishad High School at Kommadi village. 198 adolescent girls were randomly selected for study using semi structured questionnaire. Each menstruating girl is questioned categorically (yes/no) as per the structured questionnaire covering socio economic status, literacy of mother, awareness about ASHA etc. Appropriate statistical tests like frequencies, percentages and chi-square tests are applied to analyse and interpret the collected data.Socio-demographic factors of the target population in the community from where the adolescent girls attending zilla Parishad High school were subjected to study and found that 19(22%) adolescent girls having white ration card are using sanitary napkin. 46% of sanitary napkin users in our study are aware of using cloth available in the house during menstruation. 39 (52%) adolescent girls using sanitary napkin are aware of ASHA worker visiting their colony. One of the family members, either mother or elder sister being a member in Self Help Group in the colony is influencing the usage of sanitary napkin 46 (50.5%). Habit of Over-the-Counter drugs usage in the family has significantly (55%) influenced the adolescent school girls in using sanitary napkin. School drop-outs 51(62.9%) are also observed among sanitary napkin users during menstruation.: The usage of sanitary napkin replacing the traditional home-made cloth is highly essential for proper menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls attending the school regularly without drop out. The role of ASHA workers and other paramedical staff in the community cannot be undermined.

Multi-scale asynchronous correlation and 2D convolutional autoencoder for adolescent health risk prediction with limited fMRI data.

Adolescence is a fundamental period of transformation, encompassing extensive physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. Effective health risk assessment during this stage is crucial for timely intervention, yet traditional methodologies often fail to accurately predict mental and behavioral health risks due to the intricacy of neural dynamics and the scarcity of quality-annotated fMRI datasets. This study introduces an innovative deep learning-based framework for health risk assessment in adolescents by employing a combination of a two-dimensional convolutional autoencoder (2DCNN-AE) with multi-sequence learning and multi-scale asynchronous correlation information extraction techniques. This approach facilitates the intricate analysis of spatial and temporal features within fMRI data, aiming to enhance the accuracy of the risk assessment process. Upon examination using the Adolescent Risk Behavior (AHRB) dataset, which includes fMRI scans from 174 individuals aged 17-22, the proposed methodology exhibited a significant improvement over conventional models. It attained a precision of 83.116%, a recall of 84.784%, and an F1-score of 83.942%, surpassing standard benchmarks in most pertinent evaluative measures. The results underscore the superior performance of the deep learning-based approach in understanding and predicting health-related risks in adolescents. It underscores the value of this methodology in advancing the precision of health risk assessments, offering an enhanced tool for early detection and potential intervention strategies in this sensitive developmental stage.

Parental emotional support, self-efficacy, and mental health problems among adolescents in Hong Kong: a moderated mediation approach.

Early signs of mental health issues may develop into severe mental illnesses over time. The influence of parental emotional support on adolescent mental health problems is well acknowledged. However, prior research has predominantly focused on psychological symptoms, often neglecting the somatic symptoms associated with mental health. Additionally, there has been insufficient exploration of the mediating role of self-efficacy and the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescent mental health, particularly within the context of Hong Kong. Using data from 3,613 adolescents aged 15 years from 109 schools in Hong Kong who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment 2018, this study explored the relationship between parental emotional support and two dimensions of adolescent mental health symptoms (psychological and somatic symptoms), and the mediating effect of self-efficacy and the moderating role of SES. We found that parental emotional support significantly reduced psychological and somatic symptoms, primarily by enhancing self-efficacy. MoreovSES moderated these relationships, with the impact of parental emotional support on psychological symptoms being more pronounced among adolescents from lower SES backgrounds. This study deepens the understanding of the mechanisms underlying adolescent mental health in Hong Kong. By highlighting the importance of parental emotional support and self-efficacy, as well as the moderating effect of SES, the findings offer valuable insights for effective interventions aimed at improving adolescent mental health.

Association of volatile substance, nitrous oxide and alkyl nitrate use with mental health in UK adolescents.

'Inhalants' have been associated with poorer mental health in adolescence, but little is known of associations with specific types of inhalants. We aimed to investigate associations of using volatile substances, nitrous oxide and alkyl nitrates with mental health problems in adolescence. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 13- to 14-year-old adolescents across England and Wales collected between September 2019 and March 2020. Multilevel logistic regression examined associations between lifetime use of volatile substances, nitrous oxide and alkyl nitrates with self-reported symptoms of probable depression, anxiety, conduct disorder and auditory hallucinations. Of the 6672 adolescents in the study, 5.1% reported use of nitrous oxide, 4.9% volatile solvents and 0.1% alkyl nitrates. After accounting for multiple testing, adolescents who had used volatile solvents were significantly more likely to report probable depressive (odds ratio = 4.59, 95% CI 3.58, 5.88), anxiety (odds ratio = 3.47, 95% CI 2.72, 4.43) or conduct disorder (odds ratio = 7.52, 95% CI 5.80, 9.76) and auditory hallucinations (odds ratio = 5.35, 95% CI 4.00, 7.17) than those who had not. Nitrous oxide use was significantly associated with probable depression and conduct disorder but not anxiety disorder or auditory hallucinations. Alkyl nitrate use was rare and not associated with mental health outcomes. Adjustment for use of other inhalants, tobacco and alcohol resulted in marked attenuation but socioeconomic disadvantage had little effect. To our knowledge, this study provides the first general population evidence that volatile solvents and nitrous oxide are associated with probable mental health disorders in adolescence. These findings require replication, ideally with prospective designs.

Early Childhood Routines and Adolescent Health & Well-Being: Associations From a US Urban Cohort of Children With Socioeconomic Disadvantage.

To investigate longitudinal associations between the presence of early childhood routines- predictable and repeatable functional practices that promote healthy growth, development, and relationships - and adolescent health outcomes. Secondary data analysis. 20 large U.S. cities. 2943 children with socioeconomic disadvantage from the Future of Families cohort. Routines at age 3 (shared family meals, bedtime routine, daily reading); outcomes later in the same children at age 15 (healthy routines, overall health, psychological well-being). Descriptive statistics, regression analyses. We detected longitudinal associations between early childhood routines and later adolescent routines (increased count of shared family meals by parent report [IRR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.24, P = 0.007], bedtime routine and daily reading by adolescent report [aOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.67, P = 0.008; aOR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.38, P = 0.04; respectively]). A bedtime routine in early childhood was associated with excellent health in adolescence (aOR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.79, P = 0.004]. Adolescent routines were concurrently associated with overall health and psychological well-being. We also detected two longitudinal patterns of associations suggesting multiple mechanisms for how early childhood routines influence later health and well-being. Early childhood routines predict adolescent routines, and may contribute to long term adolescent health outcomes. Future studies may promote childhood routines during critical developmental stages as a strength-based strategy to promote long-term health and well-being.

APERFEIÇOAMENTO SOBRE O RASTREIO DA TUBERCULOSE PARA OS AGENTES COMUNITÁRIOS DE SAÚDE DA ESTRATÉGIA DE SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA DO NASCENTE I E II EM ARARIPINA-PE.

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease formerly described as typhus, was known in the 19th century as the white plague, decimating hundreds of thousands of people around the world. TB can be caused by any of the seven species that make up the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, M. canetti, M. microti, M. pinnipedi and M. caprae. M. tuberculosis is transmitted by air, from a person with pulmonary or laryngeal TB, who eliminates bacilli in the environment (source case), to another person, by inhaling aerosols from coughing, talking or sneezing. Primary pulmonary TB usually occurs after the individual's first contact with the bacillus and is therefore more common in children. Its main characteristic is a dry or productive cough. Evening fever, without chills, does not usually exceed 38.5ºC. Night sweats and anorexia are common. Tuberculosis is a serious disease, but it is curable in the vast majority of cases, as long as the treatment is followed correctly. In Brazil, treatment is standardized and free of charge, provided by the National Tuberculosis Control Program (PNCT) in Health Units. In Brazil, tuberculosis treatment is standardized and consists of two phases: intensive and maintenance. The basic regimen recommended by the Ministry of Health (BRASIL, 2019) for adults and adolescents aged 10 and over includes rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (RHZE). Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) is a fundamental strategy for ensuring patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment and reducing abandonment rates. Adopted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) based on WHO recommendations, DOT consists of direct observation of drug intake by health professionals. Community health workers (CHWs) are essential for tuberculosis control, from diagnosis to the outcome of cases. Their duties include Spreading the word to their community about tuberculosis as an important current public health problem. Educate the population about airborne transmission of tuberculosis and the preventive measures that can be adopted. To be aware of the main symptoms of tuberculosis (cough, fever, weight loss and night sweats) at all meetings with the community, as well as publicizing them, and referring suspected cases to the health unit.

Adolescent mental health services in West Africa: a comparative analysis of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger

BackgroundAdolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical issue worldwide, particularly in West Africa, where it is intensified by socio-economic, cultural, and security challenges. Insecurity and the presence of mining sites expose adolescents to hazardous environments, substance abuse, and adulterated alcohol, further aggravating their mental health. Despite these severe issues, research on AMH in this region remains limited. This study aims to analyze the provision of AMH services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger, highlighting the unique challenges these countries face within the broader West African healthcare context.MethodsThe study adopted a multi-stage, stratified sampling design to collect data from primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the three countries. Using STATA.17, Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to availability of AMH services, types of mental health disorders treated, resources available, and OPD attendance rates. The analysis also incorporated factors such as the rural-urban divide and the presence of national guidelines for AMH services.ResultsThe findings reveal a significant shortfall in the provision of AMH services across the region, with less than 30% of PHCs across all the countries offering these services. The study also highlights a pronounced rural-urban disparity in AMH service availability, a general absence of national guidelines for AMH care, and low OPD attendance rates.ConclusionThe study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform and targeted interventions to enhance AMH services in West Africa. Key policy reforms should include the development and implementation of national guidelines for AMH care and integration of AMH services into primary healthcare. Additionally, efforts should focus on capacity building through the training of mental health professionals, increasing public awareness to reduce stigma, and ensuring equitable resource allocation across rural and urban areas. Improving AMH care is essential not only for the well-being of adolescents but also for driving broader socio-economic development in the region.

Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations. There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.

O IMPACTO DO USO DE CIGARROS ELETRÔNICOS NA SAÚDE MENTAL DOS ADOLESCENTES: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

Objective: To analyze the impact of electronic cigarette use on adolescent mental health, identifying motivational and risk factors associated with the use of these devices. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases, with descriptors in Portuguese and English. Studies published between 2019 and 2024 that analyzed the relationship between electronic cigarette use and the mental health of adolescents aged 12 to 24 years were included. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected for analysis. Results: The main motivational factors for the use of electronic cigarettes include curiosity, the perception of lower risk compared to traditional cigarettes, sensory appeal, and social influence. Risk factors include adverse childhood experiences, mental health problems, substance use, and poor academic performance. The review indicated a strong association between the use of electronic cigarettes and increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders in adolescents. Additionally, the importance of stricter public policies and psychological support programs is emphasized to mitigate the negative effects of electronic cigarette use among young people.