Adolescent Health Research Articles

Development will (try to) find its way: a qualitative study of Chilean adolescent mental health during and after lockdown

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a well-evidenced impact on adolescents, who are especially sensitive to pandemic disruptions given the critical role of socialization in their development. In Chile too, evidence shows increases in mental health complaints among adolescents over the lockdown period. Our study aimed at exploring the experiences of Chilean adolescents regarding their mental health during the lockdown and school closure (March 2020-December 2021), and during the return to on-site education (2022) as informed by adolescents and school staff, with a focus on family, school, and social sources of risk and support for adolescents’ wellbeing during these periods.MethodsUsing a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 adolescents and 16 staff members from schools in an urban area of Chile.ResultsThrough thematic analysis, we generated five themes: [1] Adolescents in a mental health crisis, comprising a range of distressing experiences and mental health problems. This crisis was fueled by alterations in the functioning of adolescents’ systems: [2] Broken support systems (peers and school); [3] The school agenda must go on, reflecting schools’ strict compliance with the educational curriculum; and [4] Blurred boundaries between home and school life and within the family. Finally [5], Development will (try to) find its way describes how most participants experienced a bouncing back to wellbeing in the course of the school year upon return, and how some developmental milestones took place despite the abnormal conditions, providing evidence for resilience amid pandemic adversity.ConclusionsThe findings give insight into how the exchanges between the adolescent and the social systems they are embedded in were interfered. The results help us understand the challenges for mental health during and after the pandemic, and highlight adolescents’ capacity to thrive as normality was restored. The results also underscore the importance of upholding stability across adolescents’ systems and routines, in order to mitigate impacts on wellbeing amid abnormal circumstances. The findings are relevant for development-informed initiatives in policy design in the aftermath of the pandemic and in future crisis management responses.

81 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety among children and adolescents from the Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network

Abstract Background The Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS) expanded its active safety surveillance for COVID-19 vaccines among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives This analysis aimed to determine whether the first or second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is associated with health events in children and adolescents. Design/Methods Adolescents 15-19 years of age or parents/guardians of children 5-14 years of age were recruited from seven Canadian provinces/territories and followed for the occurrence of health events seven days after doses 1 and 2 or for a seven-day period for unvaccinated participants. The primary outcome was a health event that prevented daily activities, resulted in school absenteeism, and/or required a medical consultation, including emergency department visits or hospitalization. Aged-stratified multivariable logistic regression examined health events associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA1273, and mixed [different products for doses 1 and 2]) for children aged 5 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Results Between January 2021 and February 2023, a total of 249,418 (Children BNT162b2: 205,744, mRNA-1273: 36, and Adolescent BNT162b2: 39,628, mRNA-1273: 4,010) completed the first dose survey and 128,599 (Children BNT162b2: 109,625, mRNA-1273: 3, mixed: 235, and Adolescent BNT162b2: 17,202, mRNA-1273: 1,155, mixed: 474) had completed the second dose survey. A total of 668 unvaccinated participants (Children 431 and Adolescent 237) completed the control survey. In the week following dose 1, health event rates among vaccinated children and adolescents were <4% and lower than in unvaccinated counterparts (6.9%), and neither BNT162b2 nor mRNA-1273 were associated with health events in either age group. Following dose 2, among vaccinated adolescents health events rates (BNT162b2 4.6%, mRNA-1273 8.5%, mixed 10.4%) were higher than unvaccinated adolescents (3.4%), but were self-limiting and resolved within 7 days. Among children, there was no difference in health event rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Conclusion For children, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were not associated with health events preventing daily activities, resulting in school absenteeism and/or requiring medical consultation. Similar to vaccinated adults our findings found vaccinated adolescents reported higher rates of health events after dose 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, but these were self-limiting and resolved quickly. Our findings can be used to inform adolescents and their parents of what to expect following COVID-19 vaccination.

83 What is social paediatrics and how do we teach it? A scoping review of social medicine curricula in the child and youth health context across health disciplines

Abstract Background Social paediatrics is a field that focuses on addressing social and environmental factors that affect children’s health and wellbeing1. Over recent years in medical education, social paediatrics has become increasingly recognized as foundational to undergraduate and postgraduate paediatrics curricula. Paediatric residency programs worldwide have been developing and offering social paediatrics curricula, yet we lack understanding of effective strategies for teaching it to medical trainees. 1. Spencer N, Colomer C, Alperstein G, et al. Social paediatrics. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005;59(2):106-108. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.017681 Objectives We conducted a scoping review to describe the various educational interventions used to teach content and practice related to social paediatrics. Design/Methods We conducted a scoping review to describe the various educational interventions used to teach content and practice related to social paediatrics. Our literature search first drew upon Ovid MEDLINE and MedEd PORTAL, with subsequent studies identified through reference searching in relevant articles. We included studies that described and/or evaluated educational interventions aimed to teach elements of social paediatrics. We excluded studies published before 2000. We extracted data from the selected articles and conducted thematic analysis. Results Our search yielded 443 articles. Initial screen by title and/or abstract and subsequent screen by abstract and/or full text yielded 28 papers. Where it was unclear if studies met inclusion criteria, two additional researchers reviewed the full text. With the addition of articles found in references of the provisional articles, a total of 36 papers were included in the review. Of those, 17 (47%) described curricular interventions at the level of paediatric residency, 7 (19%) described medical school curricula, and 8 (22%) included non-medicine fields such as dentistry, nursing, research, and others. Fifty percent of curricula required self-directed learning, while a different 50% subset had a formal reflection process as part of learning consolidation. We organized the literature thematically into the following themes: interdisciplinary collaboration, community partnership, advocacy training, and experiential learning. Conclusion Our scoping review describes a variety of curricular interventions aimed to teach elements of social paediatrics, with a large focus on social determinants of health, primarily poverty, and a relative lack of focus on the underlying structural, systemic, and social justice issues underpinning these health determinants. We need to consider how the pedagogical strategies on offer can be purposed towards the development of more robust social paediatrics curricula at the postgraduate level.

Physical Exercise and Mental Health in Adolescents: Scoping Review

Objective. To identify the most implemented exercises and their prescription, in addition to the effects of exercise on mental health in adolescents. Methods. A scoping review was performed from search of electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Springer, Google Scholar, from 23/08/2023 to 01/01/2024 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese language, including randomized clinical trial and cohort type studies. Results. A total of 7 articles were included: 57.14% controlled clinical trials, 100% in English. The number of participants was 85,637 aged 12 to 16 years. Intervention time ranged from 8 to 43 weeks, 2 to 5 times per week, 1 session per day, duration per session 10 to 120 minutes. The most used type of training was Programmed Physical Education followed by High Intensity Interval Training. Conclusions. Exercises such as Programmed Physical Education, High Intensity Interval Training, Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity are included, which show positive effects on the increase in psychological well-being, quality of life and a significant decrease in anxiety and stress symptoms.

Close relationships with caregivers as protective factor for the mental health and functioning of war-affected Congolese youth

BackgroundSupportive social connections are a crucial determinant of the mental health and adjustment of youth in conflict-torn regions. Conflict-affected youth face particular risks to their well-being due to high levels of trauma exposure and perpetration of violent acts as members of armed groups and post-conflict discrimination. However, little is known about the possible protective role of close relationships with caregivers in the aftermath of trauma. This study examined whether a higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers would attenuate the associations between exposure to traumatic experiences and four indicators of adjustment (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], emotional problems, behavioural problems, criminal behaviour) in a sample of 268 war-affected youth (61.2% male, Mage = 16.31 years) living in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than half of the present sample (56.7%) were former members of armed groups.MethodsData were collected using quantitative structured interviews and analyzed through regression models using the PROCESS macro.ResultsHigher cumulative trauma exposure was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS and emotional problems, while more frequent perpetration of war-related violence was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS, behavioural problems, and criminal behavior. The perceived quality of relationships with caregivers significantly moderated the associations between youth’s cumulative trauma exposure and all four outcomes. At higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers, the associations between trauma exposure and emotional problems, behavioural problems, and criminal behaviour were no longer significant and the association with PTSS was significantly weakened. Higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers was also directly significantly related to lower levels of mental health problems and criminal behaviour.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that interventions that focus on strengthening relationships with caregivers are crucial for supporting the mental health and functioning of youth who experienced and perpetrated war-related violence.

Smartphone use, gender, and adolescent mental health: Longitudinal evidence from South Korea

Smartphone use, gender, and adolescent mental health: Longitudinal evidence from South Korea

Adolescent Health in Lebanon: Exploring Alcohol Use, Dietary Patterns, Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Smoking Using the Global School-Based Student Health Survey Approach.

This study aims to assess alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, mental health, and smoking behaviors among Lebanese adolescents aged 13-17 years, with a focus on gender and school-type differences. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in Lebanon between March and July 2022 using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire. A representative sample of students from public and private schools participated in the survey, with key variables analyzed to identify significant patterns and disparities. Our findings reveal that 6.3% of adolescents consumed alcohol, with males reporting a higher prevalence and earlier initiation (p = 0.003). Gender differences were evident in dietary habits, where males were more likely to consume sugary drinks (p = 0.04) and have consistent breakfast habits (p = 0.003). Adolescents from private schools exhibited distinct dietary behaviors, including lower milk consumption (p < 0.001) and higher fatty food intake (p = 0.008). Males were also more physically active and reported better mental health outcomes compared to females (p = 0.004). Smoking behaviors showed that males smoked more frequently, while private school students reported smoking less. No significant difference was observed in bullying experiences between genders or school types. The study highlights critical health behaviors among Lebanese adolescents, with significant variations by gender and school type. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the identified risk factors and promote healthier behaviors in this population.

Examining the mediating effect of real and cyber self-control on cyberbullying and health risk behaviors among secondary vocational students in China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCyberbullying and health risk behaviors are pervasive issues for secondary vocational students that not only detrimentally impact their academic achievement but also pose a significant threat to overall health. The purpose of this study was to understand the current situation of cyberbullying and health risk behaviors among secondary vocational students in China and to explore the relationships among cyberbullying, self-control, self-control over internet usage, and health risk behaviors through a mediation model.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. From March to April 2023, a self-administered questionnaire was completed by a cluster sample of 1184 students from grades 1 to 3 at three secondary vocational schools in Jilin Province. The researchers utilized a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization Scale (CAV), the Adolescent Health Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI), the Self-Control Scale (SCS), and the Internet Usage Self-Control Scale (IUSCS-CS) to assess the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying and health risk behaviors. Descriptive statistics, spearman correlation analyses. Finally, the Process plug-in V2.16.3 was used to analyze a mediation model for the data.ResultsAmong secondary vocational students, 839 individuals (70.86%) experienced cyberbullying and 1036 individuals (87.50%) had one or more health risk behaviors. A chi-square test showed that the differences in cyberbullying incidence were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for being children, type of accommodation, residence, ethnicity, purpose of using the internet, and family composition. Statistically significant differences in health risk behaviors were observed based on gender, type of accommodation, residence, ethnicity, academic achievement, classmate relationships, purpose of using the internet, and family composition (P < 0.05). Health risk behaviors and cyberbullying were correlated (r = 0.60), health risk behaviors and self-control and internet usage self-control were negatively correlated (r = -0.42, -0.50). Mediation analysis indicated that self-control (0.02, 0.08) and internet usage self-control (0.08, 0.17) partially mediated the association between cyberbullying and health risk behaviors.ConclusionsSecondary vocational students exhibit a high prevalence of cyberbullying and health risk behaviors. The study confirmed that self-control and internet usage self-control has an important role in mediating cybeibullying and health risk behaviors. Adolescent health promoters should develop targeted strategies to enhance the self-control of secondary vocational school students to mitigate their engagement in health risk behaviors.

Mental health awareness intervention for junior high school students in Jakarta

Purpose: Adolescence is a time of significant physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral upheaval, making teenagers susceptible to experiencing difficulties. With a limited number of professionals available to address the escalating trend of mental health problems, there is growing interest in preventive measures. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a two-hour educational program aimed at promoting mental health awareness among junior high school students in Jakarta. Method: A one-group post-test only design was carried out in providing psychoeducational activities regarding adolescent development, mental health, and help-seeking behavior. Seventy-three students participated in this activity, selected purposively. Result: The findings from this research demonstrate that the students' comprehension of mental health and their willingness to seek help improved significantly after participating in a psychoeducation program. Conclusion: Understanding and promoting mental health awareness and literacy among adolescents has been shown to be effective through education on their world, mental health, and help-seeking behavior.

Association of psychological distress with health-related quality of life in Asian adolescents seeking obesity treatment.

There is limited research on the psychosocial health of Asian adolescents undergoing obesity treatment. Our study examined the predictors of psychological distress, disordered eating and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these adolescents and the associations between them. A total of 82 adolescents aged 11-17 years were recruited from the Weight Management Clinic in KK Women's and Children's Hospital between June 2022 and January 2023. Participants completed the following questionnaires: (a) Young Person's Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (YP-Core) assessing for psychological distress, (b) Children's Eating Attitude Test (ChEAT) evaluating for disordered eating behaviours, and (c) Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) measuring HRQoL. Participating adolescents had a mean body mass index of 31.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2. Of the participants, 40% reported significantly symptomatic psychological distress (YP-Core score ≥14) and 16% were at risk of eating disorders (ChEAT score ≥20). A higher YP-Core score was the only significant determinant of poorer HRQoL, after controlling for demographic variables and ChEAT scores. Malay (regression coefficient: 6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-12.6, P = 0.031) and Indian (regression coefficient: 8.9, 95% CI: 3.8-14.0, P = 0.001) adolescents were more likely to report disordered eating and psychological distress, respectively, as compared to Chinese adolescents. Adolescents whose parent(s) had obesity (regression coefficient: 3.4, 95% CI: 0.1-6.7, P = 0.043) were also more likely to experience greater psychological distress. Understanding the determinants of psychological distress, disordered eating and HRQoL will facilitate targeted screening and management of the psychosocial complications of adolescent obesity.

Mindfulness and mental health: the importance of a clinical intervention to prevent the effects of a traumatic event. A pilot study.

Numerous research studies show that mindfulness can mitigate the negative impact of trauma on mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety, mediating the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health, and treating symptoms resulting from traumatic events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which was considered a traumatic event, the wellbeing of adults and children was severely compromised. Although children seem less vulnerable to the physical effects of the virus, this does not seem to be true for the psychological effects. Indeed, a prolonged period of loss of family activities and routines can have a negative impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. To investigate how mindfulness can help preschool children cope with the effects of COVID-19, a study was conducted on 46 children aged 4-5 years. The programme, based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and adapted to the age of the participants, consisted of eight weekly 45-min sessions. Qualitative and quantitative results showed positive feedback, indicating that mindfulness helps children make sense of their experiences and achieve functional post-traumatic growth. This approach is seen as a challenge to guide children toward the restoration of psychological wellbeing, which is essential for good psychological balance.

Knowledge and Perspective regarding Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Adolescents in Selected Schools of Birendranagar Mucinipality of Surkhet, Karnali Province

Introduction: Adolescence is the period of transition and opportunity in which physical, psychological, and social changes occur. Adolescents have various sexual and reproductive health problems like teenage pregnancy, abortions, sexually transmitted infections, etc. This study was designed to investigate the adolescence’s knowledge and perspective towards sexual and reproductive health in Birendranagar Municipality of Surkhet, Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the adolescence’s knowledge and perspective towards sexual and reproductive health in Birendranagar Municipality of Surkhet, Nepal. Structured questionnaires were developed in close-ended form and administered to a selected sample population. The questionnaire contained questions in five domains: social-demographic data, knowledge regarding adolescents’ sexual life, knowledge on reproductive health and safe sexual behavior, practices of sexual behaviors, and other contextual factors. In this study, a total of 328 respondent’s questionnaires were issued, and 312 were valid. The response rate was 95%. Results: There were a total of 312 participants, 174 boys, 137 girls, and 1 third gender involved in the study. Around 80% of adolescents were from secondary level education, and only 20% were from basic level education. Nearly half of the adolescents had inadequate knowledge of adolescents’s sexual and reproductive health. Sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancy, early marriage, and STIs were the common reproductive health problems faced by adolescents. Conclusion: So, based on the above findings, government of Nepal should make different plans and policies to solve the adolescent’s sexual and reproductive health problems.

Progressing "Positive epidemiology": A cross-national analysis of adolescents' positive mental health and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Positive epidemiology" emphasizes strengths and assets that protect the health of populations. Positive mental health refers to a range of social and emotional capabilities that may support adaptation to challenging circumstances. We examine the role of positive mental health in promoting adolescent health during the crisis phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used four long-running Australian and UK longitudinal cohorts: Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study (CATS; analyzed N=809; Australia); Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) - Baby (analyzed N=1,534) and Kindergarten (analyzed N=1,300) cohorts; Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; analyzed N=2,490; UK). Measures included: (Pre-pandemic exposure): Positive mental health (parent-reported, 13-15 years) including regulating emotions, interacting well with peers, and caring for others; and pandemic outcomes: psychological distress, life satisfaction, and sleep and alcohol use outside of recommendations (16-21 years; 2020). We used two-stage meta-analysis to estimate associations between positive mental health and outcomes across cohorts, accounting for potential confounders. Estimates suggest meaningful effects of positive mental health on psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic, including lower risk of psychological distress (Risk Ratio [RR]=0.83 95%CI=0.71, 0.97) and higher life satisfaction (RR=1.1, 95%CI=1.0, 1.2). The estimated effects for health behaviors were smaller in magnitude (sleep: RR=0.95, 95%CI=0.86, 1.1; alcohol use: RR=0.97, 95%CI=0.85, 1.1). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that adolescents' positive mental health supports better psychosocial outcomes during challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but relevance for health behaviors is less clear. These findings reinforce the value of extending evidence to include positive health states and assets.

"We pray for the night to be shorter, so we can change our menstrual pads": A qualitative exploration of menstrual hygiene challenges among internally displaced adolescent girls in Northern Ethiopia, 2023.

Menstrual hygiene management is a critical aspect of adolescent health. However, access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities is severely restricted during times of war. There is a dearth of information about the menstrual hygiene needs of adolescent girls during humanitarian crises. This study investigated the menstrual hygiene management needs of the internally displaced adolescent girls in the war-torn region of Tigray, Ethiopia. A qualitative study was conducted in three centers for internally displaced people in Mekelle, Tigray Region. Four focus-group discussions and six in-depth interviews were conducted using the local language among 39 adolescent girls aged 13-19 years. The collected data were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using the ATLAS.ti-7.5.18 software through a qualitative thematic analysis approach. Six primary themes were identified: 1) shortage of menstrual pads; 2) poor accommodation of latrine facilities; 3) silence around menstruation; 4) exchange of menstrual pads for life-saving commodities, 5) lack of privacy; 6) menstruation is a "curse" for adolescent girls living in displaced people's camps. The study highlights the significant challenges faced by internally displaced adolescent girls in managing their menstrual hygiene while living in camps for internally displaced people. Lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene management supplies often leads them to use rags or worn-out clothing instead of menstrual pads. Access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities is severely limited among displaced adolescent girls in Tigray. The findings emphasize the urgent need to address menstrual hygiene issues during emergencies. Supplying essential items such as sanitary pads, soap, water, sanitation infrastructure, and improved information on menstrual hygiene management should be prioritized.

An Interpersonal and Meta-analytic Approach to Parenting Behaviors and Adolescent Sleep.

Two dimensions of parenting behaviors-affiliative/non-affiliative and autonomy/control- are each consistently linked to adolescent sleep health. Parenting behaviors that facilitate good sleep likely involve affiliation (i.e., warmth) and some degree of parental guidance and appropriate autonomy-granting to the adolescent; however, these domains are often confounded in parenting assessments, which limits understanding and specificity of recommendations for providers and families on how to optimize adolescents' sleep. Thus, we categorized existing literature according to an interpersonal developmental framework to identify parenting behaviors most strongly linked to adolescent sleep health. Studies (k = 42) included 43,293 participants (M age = 14.84, SD age = 2.04). Structural analysis of social behavior (SASB)interpersonal coding was applied to define and operationalize parenting behaviors (independent variables). Dependent variables included measures of sleep health (i.e.,sleep regularity, duration, efficiency, latency, timing, quality, alertness/sleepiness) and sleep disturbance. The final effect size of interest for analysis was a correlation coefficient r. Optimal parenting behaviors (e.g., warm, autonomy-granting, moderately controlling) were associated with longer sleep duration, earlier bedtime, less daytime sleepiness, shorter sleep latency, and fewer sleep disturbances. Suboptimal parenting behaviors (e.g., hostile, controlling) were associated with more daytime sleepiness and more sleep disturbances. This is one of the first studies to specify that, when paired with affiliation, both moderate control and moderate autonomy-granting were associated with better adolescent sleep health. Findings indicate that the importance of parental interpersonal warmth extends into adolescence and further suggest that the interpersonal security necessary for good sleep includes appropriate use of control and autonomy-granting behaviors.

Psychometric properties of the variants of the Chinese UCLA Loneliness Scales and their associations with mental health in adolescents

Loneliness is a pervasive and distressing emotional experience that affects individuals of all ages and can have significant consequences for both physical and mental health. The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) is widely used to assess the subjective feelings of loneliness, but concerns have been raised about its structure and applicability in diverse cultural contexts. This study analysed the reliability and validity of the five Chinese versions of the UCLA-LS in a representative sample of 2,643 adolescents and young adults with Chinese as their first language in Hong Kong. The results showed high internal consistency across all versions and content validity for most items. Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure for the longer versions and a unidimensional structure for the shorter versions. However, the fit statistics suggested that the models did not meet good fit criteria, indicating item loading or model specification requires further review. The scales demonstrated strong associations with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as psychosocial factors like hopelessness and aggression. Notably, the 8-item version’s total scores were associated with mental health and psychological attributes comparable to those of the 20-item version, suggesting its potential suitability as a screening tool in population settings. Future research is needed to improve the generalisability of these scales to other Chinese populations, particularly for items with lower content validity.

Psychiatric hospitalizations among adolescents during the pandemic in Italy: a retrospective study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted child and adolescent mental health. The study outcome was the evaluation of the pandemic impact on adolescents' hospitalizations in an acute psychiatric ward. With an observational and retrospective design,we collected selected variables among adolescents hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward from 01/07/2017 to 30/06/2022. Data were statistically processed. Our sample consisted of 118minors with an average age of 15.7±1.2 SD, mostly represented by females (61 %) and Italians (60.2 %), who made 204 hospitalizations inthe study period. The admissions by years drastically decreased in 2020 concomitantly with the lockdown and increased in the first half of 2022. The admission rate was higher in winter and spring, except in 2020 when all admissions decreased (p=0.000). Females more frequently were hospitalized for suicidal behavior and acute anxiety (p=0.000) and were discharged with acute stress reactions, eating disorders, and mood disorder diagnoses (p=0.000). Differently, males more frequently were hospitalized for aggressive behavior (p=0.000) and discharged with ADHD diagnosis (p=0.000). At multiple linear regression, the duration of hospitalization (dependent variable) was negatively associated with "the pandemic period" (p=0.017) and "absent aggressive behavior" (p=0.003), and positively with "autism" diagnosis (p=0.000). We highlighted the more stressful impact of COVID-19 pandemic on female adolescents, who required more frequently psychiatric hospitalizations due to suicidal behavior, anxiety and mood disorders.

"We Want to be There to Support … Do We Have the Capacity to Do That?" Current Priorities and Challenges in School Social Work.

While adolescent mental health needs have continued to rise, schools have become a central location for adolescents seeking support for mental health needs, and approximately 96% of public schools in the United States report providing some form of mental health care to students. This study aims to explore school social workers' current challenges and priorities in their roles. Qualitative focus groups with current school social workers in Virginia (N = 16) were conducted for this study. Participants worked in middle and high schools for a minimum of 3 years across the state. Braun and Clarke's steps for thematic analysis were used to guide coding and themes. The current study found 3 primary themes: (1) role confusion due to vast scope of responsibilities within their schools; (2) a disconnect between desired roles and assigned roles and responsibilities; and (3) lack of formal model of service provision. Focus should be placed on the integration of current models of school social work practice to ensure the effective utilization of their services. The study reveals important information regarding the current and future state of school social work practice.

An Overview of Health-Promoting Programs and Healthy Lifestyles for Adolescents and Young People: A Scoping Review.

The health of children, adolescents, and young adults is a primary global concern. In 2021, there were 2.1 million deaths among children and adolescents. Injuries, violence, communicable diseases, nutritional deficiencies, substance use, non-communicable diseases, and mental health disorders are among the leading causes of death in this age group. Background/objectives: This scoping review aims to identify and describe health promotion and healthy lifestyle programs developed worldwide targeting adolescents and young adults. Methods: A total of 106 programs were included, of which 8 were selected through scientific databases and 98 through other research methods (e.g., government websites and other online sources). Results: The results show that Europe, North America, New Zealand, and the United States of America are the continents and countries with the highest number of programs. Most programs originated before 2020 and are aimed at children, adolescents, and young adults. Mental health, substance and non-substance dependencies, and sexual and reproductive health were the most frequent areas among the available youth programs. Most programs do not mention evaluating or monitoring the services provided. Conclusions: This work allows for a deeper understanding of the programs available for adolescents and young adults, providing an overview of their characteristics. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of increasing the number of available programs, especially in countries with higher morbidity and mortality rates among the young population. The programs must be based on population studies to better meet their needs. Lastly, programs should become sustainable and integrated into national public policies, accompanied by ongoing training, supervision, and intervision of professionals working in these contexts.

FP2020 and FP2030 Country Commitments: A Mixed Method Study of Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Components.

Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) was established in 2012 with the goal of expanding contraceptive access. By 2020, 46 countries had made commitments to FP2020. A sustained focus on adolescents and youth (AY) began in 2016. During the commitment formulation process, substantial support was offered to countries to develop AY commitments based on sound data, research evidence, and programmatic experience. This study assesses how country commitments under FP2020 and FP2030 have evolved over time with respect to improving attention to and focus on the needs of adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH). We analyzed the content of FP2020 and FP2030 country commitments focusing on AY (aged 10-24 years) using a scoring guideline we developed to measure the AY commitments in terms of completeness, clarity, and quality. This analysis shows that FP2030 commitments better articulate strategies and activities to reach AY with contraceptive information and services when compared to FP2020 commitments. FP2030 commitments are stronger in some areas on AYSRH, such as commitment to establish national or local policies, strategies, and guidance for AY programming, specifying the target audience of the AY commitment, and partnering with AY or youth-led organizations in commitments. However, more work remains to be done by countries to dedicate a budget for achieving AY objectives, including measurable targets for monitoring progress, identifying and addressing the root causes that impact AY access to and use of contraception, including child marriage and gender-based violence, and reducing financial barriers to access contraception.