Indian Adolescents Research Articles

Comparison between Thai and Indian Adolescents' Self-Figure Drawing as Child Abuse Art-Based Assessment.

The current study compared Self-Figure drawings from Thai and Indian adolescents to assess the cross-cultural applicability of a child abuse assessment tool. The research aims to understand the extent to which distinctions or similarities arise in Self-Figure drawings among adolescents from two culturally similar yet distinct backgrounds characterized by differences in religious affiliations, socioeconomic contexts, and political environments. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study utilized quantitative measures, including the Traumatic Events Checklist (TEQ-5) and Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ), alongside a qualitative analysis of Self-Figure drawings. Ethical approval was obtained with waived informed consent, and a convenience sample of 386 adolescents aged 13-18 years (193 from Thailand [M = 14.8, SD = 1.73; 135 females (69.9%) and 58 males (30.1%)], and 193 from India [M = 15.2, SD = 1.64; 135 females (69.9%) and 58 males (30.1%)]), who reported experiencing child abuse, participated in the study by completing questionnaires and drawing themselves. The analysis revealed that Thai adolescents had higher MSDQ scores, while Indian adolescents exhibited more prominent pictorial indicators. Indian participants reported experiencing a broader range of event types, whereas Thai adolescents predominantly depicted verbal or emotional abuse. Variations in pictorial indicators were found significant, except for hair, cheek or chin, omitted legs or feet, and omitted eyes. These findings contribute to the understanding of how cultural factors influence adolescents' self-representations through drawing. The differences in pictorial indicators highlight the nuanced variations within similar cultures, emphasizing the cultural specificity of self-expression.

Awareness and Practices about Using Food Labeling among Adolescents in the City of Vijayapura, Karnataka

Abstract Background: Obesity among Indian adolescents is on the rise. Obesity among Indian adolescents is on the rise and unhealthy snacking habits, and consumption of processed and packaged foods are a major cause of it. Food labels on packets provide information on its contents; however, its awareness and use are to be evaluated. Methodology: A cross-sectional study among 206 adolescents of a 2 tier city in South India were administered questionnaire to assess their awareness and practice using food label information. Results: All the adolescents purchased packaged foods at least once during their school time, with chips/biscuits being the most commonly bought foods. About 86% of them were aware of food labels and only 57% knew about nutritional information. Endorsement by celebrity or peer approval made the nutritional claims more trustworthy. About half always read labels before buying, and “date of manufacture” or “date of expiry” was the most commonly read information. Conclusion: The awareness regarding food package labels is high among adolescents; however, their actual usage is low. There is a need to educate adolescents regarding food label use and study alternative methods to display label information effectively.

Effect of Indo-Mediterranean diet versus calorie-restricted diet in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A pilot randomized control trial.

Dietary interventions and increased physical activity are the cornerstones for management of the paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Though, no specific diet has been proven superior, Indo-Mediterranean diet (IMD) has shown promise in adult literature. Thus, we aimed to compare the effect of IMD and a standard calorie-restricted diet (CRD) in Indian overweight children and adolescents with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Thirty-nine consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD children between the ages of 8 and 18 years were randomized into either IMD or CRD for 180 days, and various parameters were evaluated at baseline and then after 180 days (NCT05073588). A total of 34 subjects (18 in IMD and 16 in CRD group) completed the study. There was a significantly higher decrease in controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values (as a marker of hepatic steatosis; on transient elastography) (95% CI: 4.2-73.4, p = 0.042), weight (95% CI: 0.75-5.5, p = 0.046) and body mass index (BMI) (95% CI: 0.21-2.05, p = 0.014) (but not in Pediatric NAFLD Fibrosis Index or PNFI; as a marker of hepatic fibrosis) in IMD group compared to the CRD group. Liver stiffness measurement, serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and HOMA-IR decreased only in the IMD group (p < 0.001). Our statistical model showed that delta-Weight was the only independent variable associated with delta-CAP. Both IMD and CRD can improve the various anthropometric, clinical, imaging and biochemical parameters but IMD was superior to CRD in terms of reducing CAP values and weight/BMI over 180 days in overweight/obese NAFLD children.

Prevalence and Correlates of Double and Triple Burden of Malnutrition Among Children and Adolescents in India: The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey

BackgroundLimited information on the co-prevalence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overnutrition, and abnormal levels of noncommunicable disease biomarkers at the same time in children and adolescents in India hinders efforts to comprehensively address their health. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of double burden of malnutrition (DBM) and triple burden of malnutrition (TBM) among children and adolescents (5–19 y) to inform policies and programs. MethodsA total of 17,599 children (5–9 y) and 16,184 adolescents (10–19 y) with available biomarker data from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey were included. Malnutrition was defined based on either undernutrition based on anthropometry, overnutrition/abnormal metabolic markers, and anemia/micronutrient deficiency. DBM was defined as the coexistence of any 2 forms of malnutrition. DBM+ was defined as the coexistence of undernutrition and/or micronutrient deficiency along with overnutrition. TBM was defined as having the coexistence of all 3 forms of malnutrition. The prevalence of DBM, DBM+, and TBM was estimated accounting for probabilistic selection. We used mixed-effect binomial regression to determine correlates of DBM/TBM in children and adolescents separately. ResultsThe prevalence of DBM, DBM+, and TBM was 50.8%, 37.2%, and 14.4%, respectively, in children and 53.4%, 36.1%, and 12.7%, respectively, in adolescents. The prevalence of DBM+ was significantly higher in girls compared to in boys in the 5–9 y age group. In children, being in a disadvantaged caste group, having a lower wealth index, having inadequate diet diversity, having no maternal schooling, and having a recent history of acute illness were associated with DBM. In adolescents, being in a disadvantaged caste group, maternal occupation, and lower paternal age were correlated with DBM. A similar set of variables was associated with TBM in both age groups. ConclusionsThe prevalence of DBM and TBM is substantial in children and adolescents in India and varies across states. Socioeconomic factors and acute illness were the main correlates for DBM and TBM.

Traffic emissions and greenspace exposure and associations with respiratory outcomes among urban children and adolescents in India

Traffic emissions and greenspace exposure and associations with respiratory outcomes among urban children and adolescents in India

Dimensionality and cross-language invariance of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among Indian adolescents and adults.

Sleep quality, key to physical and mental health, requires regular assessment in clinical and non-clinical settings. Despite widespread use, the dimensionality of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is debated, and its Hindi version's factor structure remains unexplored. Our study evaluates the PSQI's dimensionality among Indian adolescents and adults aiming to demonstrate cross-language (Hindi and English) invariance of its factor structure. The PSQI showed satisfactory item reliability, and a best-fitting two-factor model: "sleep efficiency" (comprising sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency), and "perceived sleep quality" (comprising remaining five PSQI components). This model showed configural invariance across age groups, sexes, and languages. Metric invariance was noted across age groups, but a partial metric non-invariance was observed across languages and sexes as reflected by differences in factor loadings. The second-order factor structure model had an excellent fit indicating the usefulness of aggregate scores of the two factors as a single index of sleep quality. Our findings better support a two-factor structure of sleep quality (both for English and Hindi versions of PSQI) in India. However, further validation in diverse clinical and non-clinical samples is warranted.

Silent Screams: A Narrative Review of Cyberbullying Among Indian Adolescents.

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies, which can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It is repeated behavior aimed at scaring, angering, or shaming those who are targeted. India happens to be one of the rapidly improving countries in the cyber world and thus faces a lot of problems regarding cyber crimes, especially cyberbullying. This narrative review aims to provide a thorough assessment of the impact of cyberbullying among Indian adolescents. The database engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO were searched relevant to the Indian context, focused on cyberbullying and victimization among adolescents, and published within the last 10 years (2014-2024) were included. Around 19 articles were reviewed and analyzed. Cyberbullying in India is on the rise due to increased technology access, social media, and insufficient awareness and prevention measures, with significant gender differences in aggression patterns. The severe psychological and physiological effects on victims, including depression and stress-related health issues, highlight the need for accurate data and culturally tailored interventions. Studies show varying prevalence rates, emphasizing the urgent need for focused efforts to combat cyberbullying among Indian youth. The review encompasses various aspects, including prevalence, standard methods, forms, causes, consequences, and effects on mental health factors contributing to cyberbullying in India. Additionally, the review explores cyberbullying during COVID-19 and interventions for cyberbullying and highlights the evidence from cohort studies, mixed-method studies, and systematic reviews. A growing number of adolescentsare experiencing cyberbullying, which has a severe impact on their lives and leads to unexpected deviances. Cyberbullying remains a growing threat, requiring stronger, coordinated action by the government to genuinely make a difference and safeguard adolescents in India.

Relationships between autistic traits, self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms in a nonclinical sample of Indian early adolescents.

Having more "autistic traits" is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions. However, few studies have examined autistic traits in nonclinical samples. This study aims to analyze the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms among early adolescents and to examine the moderating effect of self-efficacy. Survey data were collected from early adolescents ages 10-14 living in Darjeeling, India (n=274) to assess autistic traits, self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms. Higher internalizing symptoms were significantly associated with a higher report of autistic traits. Academic, social, and emotional dimensions of self-efficacy moderated the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms. The moderation effects between social and emotional self-efficacy among youth with high versus low autism trait scores suggest the need for social-emotional learning interventions designed for and with neurodivergent youth. Such interventions aim to reduce internalizing symptoms during early adolescence and improve future mental health trajectories.

Hypertension care cascade and their determinants among older adolescents in India: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Adolescent hypertension in India is an emergent public health concern with lack of programmatic focus on regular screening amongst both individuals and healthcare providers. This study was conducted to assess the hypertension care cascade (prevalence, awareness, treatment and control status of hypertension) from nationally representative data. We used data from the demographic and health surveillance (DHS) comprising India's National Family Health Survey Fifth Round (2019-2021). The prevalence of hypertension among 204,054 older adolescents (15-19 years) was 5.08% (95% CI: 4.94-5.23%) wherein 42.26% (95% CI: 40.69-43.64%) were aware of their condition, 43.70% (95% CI: 41.73-45.70%) of those aware were receiving treatment, and 85.88% (95% CI: 83.83-87.71%) of those on treatment achieved blood pressure control. Overall, there were nearly 60% newly diagnosed hypertension cases detected on screening. Females had significantly lower odds, while those with diabetes and higher waist-hip ratio had significantly higher odds of having hypertension. The awareness of their hypertensive status was higher among females and rural residents, while it was lower among adolescents that were obese and tobacco smokers. Improved blood pressure control was associated with a lower waist-to-hip ratio. In conclusion, nearly five in every hundred older adolescents in India are clinically hypertensive with significantly higher odds linked with obesity and male gender. Awareness and utilization of antihypertensive treatment was lower than the classical rule of halves signifying deficiencies in hypertension screening and management strategies for older adolescents within the existing public health policy framework.

Mental health in Indian Adolescents - A Review

Mental health in Indian Adolescents - A Review

Life Skills for Promoting Mental Well-Being among Indian Adolescents and Youth

Abstract: Adolescents and young emerging adults are highly vulnerable to stress and strain due to numerous transitions which are biological, socio-emotional, and psychological in nature. This coupled with external factors and environmental influences such as family structure and needs, peer-pressure, school and college environment play a critical role in influencing their thoughts and behavior. Hence it becomes crucial to find the means for strengthening problem-solving skills thereby enhancing their mental health and overall well-being. Life skills serve as an effective means of empowering adolescents and youth to navigate life’s challenges proficiently, using a skill-based approach. The World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on ten core life skills including aspects of individual personality (self-awareness, empathy), cognitive skills (critical and creative thinking, decision making, problem solving), coping skills (coping with stress and emotions), interpersonal relationships and communication skills. The Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum (2.0) framed by University Grants Commission proposes several core skills essential for living successful lives viz. communication skills, professional skills (career and team skills), leadership and management skills and universal human values. This study attempts to explore the role of core documents such as the Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum (2.0), WHO Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health and National Education Policy (NEP, 2020) in supporting the mental well-being of the target population, using document analysis. The study findings indicate that the Jeevan Kaushal curriculum (2.0) can be used as an effective tool towards fostering student skills sets and enhancing mental strength thereby supporting the promotion and maintenance of mental well-being of adolescents and youth in the Indian context. Moreover, it is in alignment with the core features of NEP 2020 which focuses on a holistic, transformational higher education curriculum incorporating value-based education and community engagement services.

Prevalence and associated factors of impaired kidney functions among children and adolescents in India: insights from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health problem. The burden of CKD in children and adolescents in India is not well described. We used data from the recent Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) to estimate the prevalence of impaired kidney function (IKF) and its determinants in children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19.MethodsCNNS 2016–18 adopted a multi-stage sampling design using probability proportional to size sampling procedure after geographical stratification of urban and rural areas. Serum creatinine was tested once in 24,690 children and adolescents aged 5–19 years. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was derived using the revised Schwartz equation. The eGFR value below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 is defined as IKF. Bivariate analysis was done to depict the weighted prevalence, and multivariable logistic regression examined the predictors of IKF.ResultsThe mean eGFR in the study population was 113.3 + 41.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. The overall prevalence of IKF was 4.9%. The prevalence in the 5–9, 10–14, and 15–19 year age groups was 5.6%, 3.4% and 5.2%, respectively. Regression analysis showed age, rural residence, non-reserved social caste, less educated mothers, Islam religion, children with severe stunting or being overweight/obese, and residence in Southern India to be predictors of IKF.ConclusionsThe prevalence of IKF among children and adolescents in India is high compared to available global estimates. In the absence of repeated eGFR-based estimates, these nationally representative estimates are intriguing and call for further assessment of socio-demographic disparities, genetics, and risk behaviours to have better clinical insights and public health preparedness.

Lifestyle Practices of Adolescents in a Tertiary Care Centre in India

Introduction: Adolescents are individuals in the 10–19year age group; there are 253 million adolescents in India. Growth and development are predominant during adolescence, a relatively healthy time. Good diet, physical activity, sleep, and screen time are pillars of good health. Aims &amp; Objectives: To identify lifestyle practices such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and screen time among adolescents in the outpatient and inpatient services, Departments of Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Methods: A descriptive study design employing a non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 1420 adolescents. Written consent and assent were obtained, demographic and clinical variables were collected using interviews, and the lifestyle practice was assessed using a modified YRBS questionnaire. Results: 70.8% of the adolescents were in the age group of 10-14 years; males and females were almost equal (46.2 and 53.8%), 73.6% lived in nuclear families, and 19.4% had a BMI of 23 adult equivalent. Regarding diet in the past 7 days, 41.3% did not consume green/vegetable salads, and 89.7% of the adolescents ate breakfast daily, but the meals of 81.4% did not contain 25% carbohydrates. 42.2% did not meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, and 51% were not a part of any sports team in the past year. Most (33.8%) of the adolescents slept for about 8 hours during the school days, but 68% reported difficulty falling asleep. Most participants (58.7% and 59.2%) stopped screentime just before sleep on weekdays and weekends. Conclusion: Adolescence is when lifestyle behaviours that affect present and future health begin. Therefore, helping adolescents establish healthy lifestyles and avoid developing health risk behaviours is crucial and should be started before these behaviours are firmly established. Keywords: Adolescents, Lifestyle, Diet, Physical Activity, Sleep, Screen time.

Development and Validation of a Micronutrients Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Questionnaire for Adolescents Using Psychometric Analysis.

Introduction The development of a questionnaire that measures knowledge, attitude, and practices towards micronutrients will help to develop nutrition intervention programs. The present study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) on micronutrients in adolescents in India. Methods A total of 150 adolescent girls participated in the study. The literature was reviewed to formulate an initial draft of a questionnaire (122 items). Face and content validity were measured by participants and subject experts, respectively, and the content validity index was calculated. Construct validity was assessed using the principal component method of exploratory factor analysis.Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were determined by Cronbach's α value and interclass correlation coefficient correlations, respectively. Results The content validity index for all items except eight items from thepractice subscalewas satisfactory. Face validity results showed that participants understood all items. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor construct (perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived benefits, readiness to change, and perceived barrier) in the attitude subscale. Internal consistency for knowledge, attitude, and practice items were 0.980, 0.840, and 0.930, respectively. For knowledge and attitude items, interclass correlation coefficient correlation estimates ranged between 0.705 to 0.987 and 0.775 to 0.997, respectively, whereas for practice items, it ranged from 0.701 to 0.945. In the final questionnaire, 134 items consisting of 33 knowledge, 21 attitudes, and 80 practices (55 dietary practices and 25 other practices related to micronutrients) were included. Conclusion The results provided evidence of the validity and reliability of the questionnaire on micronutrients and that can be used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices on micronutrients in adolescents.Further studies in different diverse settings are recommended.

A Comparative Study of Bone-Health and Associated Factors in Healthy Indian Adolescents and Young Women.

Adolescence is a critical period for the accrual of bone mass. However, few studies have assessed the bone geometry in slum-dwelling girls/young women. We thus conducted this study: (1) to assess bone health in Indian adolescent girls and young women residing in slum vs nonslum (NS) areas and (2) to identify factors associated with poor bone health. This cross-sectional case-control study was performed on 110 apparently healthy unmarried, nonpregnant, nonlactating, postmenarchal adolescent girls and young women aged 11 to 24 years residing in urban slums with the same number of age-matched controls from NS areas. Anthropometric, dietary, physical-activity and bone-health parameters (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography-DXA and pQCT-respectively) were evaluated using standard protocols. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Slum girls were significantly shorter and lighter and had lower dietary intakes of calcium and protein after adjusting for total daily calorie intake than NS girls (P < 0.05). Areal bone-mineral density (BMD) at lumber spine (0.940 ± 0.13 vs1.042 ± 0.15 g/cm2), femur and total body (less-head), bone-mineral apparent density adjusted for volume at the lumbar spine (0.295 ± 0.04 vs 0.319 ± 0.04 g/cm3) and height-adjusted bone density at femur (0.862 ± 0.011 vs 0.905 ± 0.011 g/cm2) were significantly lower in slum dwelling participants as compared to their NS counterparts (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders like sunlight exposure, anthropometric parameters and dietary calcium intake, area of dwelling was still a significant factor for the difference in BMD. The potential determinants of poor bone density and geometry in girls and young women residing in slums include residential location, dietary habits, and physical activity levels. Despite adjustments for confounding factors, differences in bone health between those in slum and nonslum areas suggest adaptations developed over generations of deprivation in these individuals, necessitating urgent intervention.

Exploring the link between eustress and adolescent health in India: An empirical study.

Modern psychological research challenges the conventional view of stress as solely detrimental by introducing the concept of eustress versus distress, emphasizing the potentially positive aspects of stress. In the context of India, limited studies have investigated the distinct effects of eustress and distress on adolescents, a group prone to stress-related health issues. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the correlation between eustress and both mental and physical well-being among adolescents attending government schools in two districts of Haryana, India. A non-experimental quantitative research approach was adopted to achieve this objective. The study involved a sample of 400 adolescent students, equally split between genders, aged 15 to 18 years, enrolled in grades 10 to 12. Participants were selected through systematic random sampling from two districts in Haryana. The assessment tools employed in the study included the Post Graduate Institute Health Questionnaire and the Eustress Scale, which were utilized to evaluate the participants' mental, physical, and eustress levels. In our study involving Indian adolescents, we discovered a substantial positive correlation (r = 0.563, P < 0.01) between eustress and mental health, underlining the valuable role of positive stress in enhancing psychological well-being. Notably, male participants exhibited significantly higher eustress scores (mean = 26.63) than their female counterparts (mean = 22.82, P < 0.01), indicating gender-specific variations in stress responses. Furthermore, our findings emphasized the influence of cultural nuances inherent to the Indian context on how adolescents perceived and experienced eustress. These outcomes emphasize the urgency of culturally sensitive interventions to promote adolescents' well-being. This investigation contributes valuable insights into the nexus between eustress and adolescent health in the Indian context. The study accentuates the potential advantages of leveraging eustress to foster positive development by underlining the differential influence of eustress and distress on adolescent health. Future research endeavors and policy formulation could delve into the mechanisms underpinning eustress and distress, thus guiding strategies to enhance adolescents' health and overall well-being.

Adaptations and validation of Hindi happiness scale (HHS) among Indian adolescents and young adults

Culturally appropriate assessment tools to measure happiness among English speaking adolescents and young adults in India are required. The study establishes the reliability and validity of the adapted HHS among English speaking Indian adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25. Translation and back-translation methods were used by language expert for the items of HHS. Results reveal that five-factor structure of the scale, demonstrating satisfactory internal consistency and concurrent validity with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The adapted and validated HHS in English emerges as a reliable instrument for assessing happiness, also contributing to a deeper understanding of subjective well-being in India.

Challenges of Frontline health workers on reduction of anaemia among adolescents: A Qualitative enquiry

Purpose: High prevalence of anaemia is a severe public health problem in several low- and middle-income countries like India. In adolescents, anaemia has been linked to impaired physical and mental development and increases reproductive morbidities among adolescent girls during their womanhood. To tackle this high prevalence, number of government programs have been launched in India. However, a slow decline in the prevalence of anaemia has been reported in Indian adolescents over the recent past. Therefore, it is important to unfold the issues in reduction of prevalence of anaemia and the current study was carried out to identify challenges in reducing anaemia among adolescent girls. Methods: 33 frontline health workers were recruited from 6 randomly selected villages (out of 6, 2 villages were having population less than 2000, 2 villages were having population 2000 to 5000 and 2 villages were having more than 5000 population) of Kashi Vidyapeeth block, Varanasi. between January 2022 to April 2022. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were carried out in local language using an interview guide. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data was analysed manually for theme extraction. This study was granted ethical permission by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: Following major themes were extracted during the data analysis: (i) Poor knowledge about adolescent health-related issues; (ii) non-adherence to program guidelines; (iii) Irregularity in the supply chain; (iv) Beneficiary’s lack of interest in only education about anaemia in the community; (v) Excessive administrative burden; (vi) Dissatisfaction in terms of monetary remuneration. Conclusions: The emerging findings throw light on the knowledge &amp; perspective of Frontline health workers about program guidelines and also highlights the different challenges in implementing anaemia prevention strategies faced by them at the grass root level.

A Cross-sectional Study of Mental Health Effects of Excessive Screen Time and Social Media Use among Indian Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract Introduction: The impact of excessive screen time and social media use on mental health, particularly among adolescents and young adults, has raised concerns. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the mental health effects of excessive screen time and social media use among adolescents (13–19 years) and young adults (20–25 years) in India. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey study recruited 1392 participants (672 adolescents and 720 young adults) from India. Validated scales assessed mental health outcomes, screen time, social media use, mediating factors, and coping strategies. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, regression models, and thematic analysis were employed. Results: The prevalence of depression symptom was 37.9%, anxiety symptom was 33.3%, high stress 43.7%, and low self-esteem 25.3%, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between screen time, social media use, and symptoms of depression (r = 0.32, r = 0.25), anxiety (r = 0.28, r = 0.22), and stress (r = 0.36, r = 0.29), while negative correlations existed with self-esteem (r = −0.25, r = −0.18). Poor sleep quality and cyberbullying exacerbated mental health issues, while physical activity and social support had protective effects. Common coping strategies included physical activity, hobbies, social support, digital detox, and mindfulness. Conclusions: The study provides compelling evidence linking excessive screen time and social media use with adverse mental health outcomes such as depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, stress, and low self-esteem among Indian adolescents and young adults. Key mediating factors were poor sleep quality exacerbating mental health issues, while physical activity, social support, and reduced cyberbullying were protective. While recognizing technology’s benefits, the study highlights promoting balanced digital habits, addressing underlying factors, and equipping youth with coping skills to foster a healthier relationship with technology and safeguard mental well-being.

1825-LB: Reproductive Health (RH) and Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Knowledge Mediates the Intervention Effect on the Intention to Communicate in Dyads of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Female Adolescents and Young Adults (FAYA) at Risk for GDM and their Adult Female Caregivers

AIAN women are unduly impacted by GDM. This secondary analysis of Stopping GDM trial data explored possible mechanisms of action of a psycho-behavioral educational intervention targeting healthy behaviors to reduce GDM risk from pre- to post-test among AIAN FAYA. Dyads of FAYA and their adult female caregivers were recruited from 5 sites. Each dyad member independently completed questionnaires regarding RH and GDM knowledge, health beliefs, and intention to initiate discussion with healthcare providers (HCPs) and their corresponding dyad member. Between assessments intervention participants viewed a 45-minute video, the initial component of the intervention. Dyadic mediation analysis was conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model extended to Mediation (APIMeM) assuming distinguishable dyad members. The sample (N=149 dyads; intervention; n=79; control: n=70) included FAYA (mean age 16.7±3.0 years) and adult female caregivers (mean age 44.1±9.3 years; 81.0% being mothers of FAYA). APIMeM revealed a positive actor indirect effect of the intervention for improvement in the FAYA’s intention to initiate discussion through increases in FAYA’s RH and GDM knowledge (1.53, 95%CI=[0.27, 2.98]). A positive partner indirect effect was also observed for the intervention on the improvement in the FAYA’s intention to initiate discussion through increases in the adult caregiver’s RH and GDM knowledge (0.61, 95%CI=[0.042, 1.42]). No effects were found for changes in health beliefs of FAYA or adult caregivers as mediators of intervention effects on FAYA’s and adult caregiver’s intention to initiate discussion. These results suggest that enhancing RH and GDM knowledge may improve key downstream outcomes such as communication between FAYA, adult caregivers and HCPs for AIAN FAYA at risk for GDM. Disclosure S.M. Sereika: None. K.R. Moore: None. S.A. Stotz: None. X. Pei: None. Y. Wang: None. D. Charron-Prochownik: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01-NR014831)