Late Adolescence Research Articles

Longitudinal links from attachment with mothers and fathers to adolescent substance use: Internalizing and externalizing pathways.

The present study examined whether internalizing and externalizing symptoms may mediate the association between adolescent-mother and adolescent-father attachment and substance use. The sample included 167 adolescents (47% girls) who were assessed at five time points with approximately 1 year between each assessment, beginning in middle adolescence (Mage=14.07) and ending in the transition to young adulthood (Mage=18.39). The adolescents reported their perceived attachment with both their mother and father during middle adolescence (Times 1 and 2), their internalizing and externalizing symptoms during late adolescence (Times 3 and 4), and their alcohol use during the transition to young adulthood (Time 5). The results showed that less secure adolescent-father attachment, but not adolescent-mother attachment, was predictive of heightened externalizing and internalizing symptoms. In turn, heightened externalizing symptoms were predictive of heightened alcohol use. Despite the nonsignificant direct association between adolescent-father attachment and alcohol use, less secure adolescent-father attachment was indirectly predictive of greater alcohol use, mediated through heightened externalizing symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of close and trusting father-adolescent relationships in the development of psychopathology and substance use behaviors. The developmental cascade from a less secure adolescent-father attachment to greater externalizing symptoms and heightened substance use, as well as implications for prevention and intervention of young adult substance use, are discussed. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The differential pathways from adolescent-mother and adolescent-father attachment to substance use during the transition to young adulthood are not well known. Longitudinal data were used to test whether internalizing and externalizing symptoms may mediate the association between adolescent-mother and adolescent-father attachment and substance use. Less secure adolescent-father attachment predicted heightened internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and less secure adolescent-father attachment predicted greater alcohol use, mediated through heightened externalizing symptoms. The findings suggest that addressing insecure attachment with fathers during adolescence may reduce unhealthy substance use during the transition to young adulthood.

Digital Natives and Community Resilience: An Exploration of AAPI Families’ Digital Technology Use

The current study adopted community resilience and explored Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) digital natives’ supporting family members’ digital technology use and outcomes related to engagement. A sample of 29 AAPI late adolescents answered open-ended questions about the challenges, benefits, and familial dynamics when the group helped or instructed older family members in using digital technologies. Findings showcased complex intergroup dynamics between digital natives and their family members, including increased mutual respect, greater communication access, and worry of family members’ physical ailments interrupting digital technology use. Outcomes demonstrated how AAPI digital natives, amid family systems, embraced collectivist tendencies as a means of resilience amid the ongoing challenges related to digital technology use.

Fat mass mediating effect on the association of worsening insulin resistance with increased left ventricular mass in 1595 adolescents: a 7-Year Longitudinal and Mediation Study

Abstract Background Fat mass-insulin resistance vicious cycle has been established in the young population and late adolescence has been identified as the critical time when the pathologic cycle begins. However, the independent and synergistic effect of fat mass in the relationship of insulin resistance with cardiac structure remains unexamined in a large cohort of adolescents, possibly due to the scarcity of repeated echocardiography measures. Mounting effective prevention strategies relies on strong evidence of the timing of the earliest cardiovascular alteration induced by insulin resistance. Purpose To investigate the longitudinal association of insulin resistance with left ventricular mass (LVM) and the mediating effect of fat mass in adolescents. Methods From the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), UK birth cohort, 1595 adolescents aged 17 years who had fasting glucose and insulin measured at 17- and 24-year clinic visits were included. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from fasting insulin x fasting glucose/22.5 at ages 17 and 24 years. Repeated echocardiography measured LVM indexed for height2.7 (LVMI2.7) was available at baseline and follow-up. Fat mass was repeatedly measured with dual-energy Xray absorptiometry at both time points. Multivariable adjusted association was examined using generalized linear mixed-effect models and adjusted for sex, family history of hypertension/diabetes/high cholesterol/vascular disease, socioeconomic status, and time-varying covariates measured at both baseline and follow-up such as age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, fat mass, lean mass, smoking status, sedentary time, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Mediation analysis was conducted with a structural equation model adjusting for same covariates, except fat mass. Results Among 1595 adolescents (mean [SD] age at baseline, 17.74 [0.38] years; 955 [59.8%] females]) median insulin resistance increased from 1.46 to 1.74, median fat mass increased from 15.6kg to 19.2kg and the mean LVMI increased from 35.4g/m2.7 to 38.1g/m2.7, over 7 years. In a fully adjusted model, increased insulin resistance from adolescence through young adulthood was significantly associated with increased LVMI (effect estimate 1.01g/m2.7 [95% CI, 0.63 – 1.57], p<0.001) across the 7-year observation period. Increased fat mass mediated (62.3% mediation effect) the longitudinal association between insulin resistance and LVMI from ages 17 – 24 years. Conclusion Worsening insulin resistance from adolescence through young adulthood was associated with increased cardiac mass, contributing 37% to the total increase in LVMI between ages 17 to 24 years but increased fat mass explained two-thirds of the relationship.

Psychosomatic complaints at age 15-16 and subsequent depression and anxiety disorders

Abstract Background In recent years, the prevalence of self-reported mental health issues such as psychosomatic complaints has risen among adolescents in several countries, including Sweden. Despite this trend, a gap in the understanding remains regarding the implications of these complaints, including their ability to predict more severe mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety represent common mental health disorders among youth today, significantly affecting daily functioning. In light of this, the current study aims to investigate the association between self-reported psychosomatic complaints at age 15-16 and the likelihood of being diagnosed with depression or anxiety by age 20. Methods Data was drawn from Futura01, a cohort study of Swedish adolescents who attended grade 9 in 2017 (n = 5,225). Information on psychiatric diagnoses was obtained from the Swedish National Patient Register. Psychosomatic complaints were captured through self-reported frequencies of headache, stomach ache, and difficulties falling asleep, which were aggregated into an index (ranging from 3-15). Covariates included sex, parental education, parental country of birth, family type, and prior diagnoses of ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results The findings show that higher levels of psychosomatic complaints at age 15-16 were prospectively associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with depression (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.22-1.34) as well as anxiety (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.25-1.35) by age 20, even after adjusting for prior diagnoses and other covariates. Conclusions This study highlights the potential for psychosomatic complaints during adolescence to act as early indicators of future mental health disorders. Recognising the importance of these complaints and implementing public health interventions targeting mental health issues among youth could help improve mental health outcomes in late adolescence and young adulthood. Key messages • Adolescents reporting frequent psychosomatic complaints at age 15-16 were more likely to receive subsequent specialised care due to a depression or anxiety diagnosis in a Swedish sample. • Interventions directed at youth experiencing frequent psychosomatic complaints may have a beneficial impact on their future mental health outcomes.

Examining factors associated with cocaine use in late adolescence and early adulthood

Abstract Background In 2022, cocaine was the leading problem drug for which individuals sought treatment in Ireland, overtaking opioids for the first time. Despite increasing concerns about cocaine, there is limited longitudinal research examining factors associated with cocaine use in the general youth population. We describe levels of use and associated factors at 17 and 20 years old Methods Past-year cocaine use was studied at age 17 (N = 5965) and 20 (N = 4679) in a nationally representative cohort. Individual, family, social and environmental exposure variables were selected a priori. Weighted logistic regression models were fitted using Generalised Estimating Equations to multiply imputed and complete case data. Results Cocaine use was reported by 220 (4%) at age 17, and 1072 (23%) at age 20. Both individual and community factors predict use. Earlier alcohol initiation and having friends who use cannabis were strongly associated with increased odds of cocaine use at both ages. Those with parents who reported that neighbourhood intoxication or drug-taking was common had elevated odds of cocaine use at age 17. Conclusions Past-year cocaine use at 20 years old in this cohort is substantially higher than other international cohort studies. Levels of cocaine use increase significantly between 17 and 20 years old. Acknowledgement: Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). It is managed by DCEDIY in association with the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Results in this report are based on analyses of data from Research Microdata Files provided by the CSO. Neither the CSO nor DCEDIY take any responsibility for the views expressed or the outputs generated from these analyses. Key messages • Our study underscores significant cocaine use rates and correlations with early substance initiation and neighbourhood factors. • This emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive, multilevel strategy for preventing cocaine use.

Diet quality trajectories from infancy to age 18 and their association with diet quality at age 26

Abstract Background and objectives Dietary habits during childhood and adolescence show strong stability. However, no studies have investigated dietary trajectories from infancy to adulthood. We therefore aimed to 1) identify diet quality trajectories from age 1 to 18 years and 2) explore how trajectories are associated with diet quality at age 26 years. Methods The study included 620 individuals from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP), started in infancy (n = 1062). Food and nutrient intake was assessed annually from age one to age 18, and again at age 26 using 4-day food records. A food-based diet score (range 0-33) was calculated to indicate diet quality. Group-based modelling was used to model trajectories of diet quality between the ages of 1 and 18 years. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate associations between the diet quality trajectory groups and diet quality at age 26 years. Results By the age of 18, we found five diet quality groups: 1) low (19% of participants) with a mean diet score of 12 points, 2) decreasing (25%) with a mean diet score of 15 points, 3) increasing (15%) with a mean diet score of 16 points, 4) intermediate (31%) with a mean diet score of 18 points, and 5) high (10%) with a mean diet score of 22 points. The diet quality trajectory groups were associated with 0.4 (decreasing), 2.5 (medium), 3.8 (increasing) and 4.1 (high) points higher diet scores at age 26 compared to the low diet quality trajectory group (p < 0.001 for all). Discussion Five distinct dietary trajectories were found from infancy to late adolescence, with a clear difference between the groups with the lowest and highest diet quality. However, the differences in diet quality levelled out by the age of 26 years. Our results suggest that diet quality established already in childhood moderately predicts diet quality into adulthood. Key messages • Diet quality established in childhood moderately predicts diet quality in young adulthood. • Five distinct dietary trajectories were found from infancy to late adolescence, with a clear difference between the groups with the lowest and highest diet quality.

Climate Change Impacts on Respiratory Health: Bridging Inequalities in Children and Adults

Abstract Respiratory diseases rank as the third leading global cause of mortality, with climate change exacerbating their prevalence and severity. Wild fires, floods, extreme heat events, infectious diseases, urban air pollution and aeroallergen exposure contribute to respiratory health deterioration. Vulnerable populations, including individuals with pre-existing lung conditions and children, bear a disproportionate burden of these effects. We centrepiece the connection of climate change to respiratory health inequalities, while bridging the evidence gap regarding increasing extreme heat and cold events, ambient and indoor air pollution exposure with significant ramifications on respiratory health. Specifically, we will showcase research on the tailored, multidisciplinary NCD prevention package named FRESHAIR4Life, targeting air pollution exposure in mid- to late adolescents from disadvantaged populations. Given the high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and air pollution exposure as major contributors, urgent preventive interventions are required, particularly in disadvantaged populations. Initiating preventive interventions during adolescence is considered an optimal window of opportunity for long-term health benefits. Furthermore, we will present a robust evidence base delineating climate change’s impact on lung health among vulnerable European populations. We will discuss how narratives on climate-induced lung health issues are co-created with affected communities and stakeholders to facilitate policy translation. The aim of these presentations is to break silos among health professionals, fostering collaboration from the respiratory community to the public health community. Through lung health collaborations we seek to deepen understanding and catalyze action to address the intersection of climate change, respiratory health, and inequalities, ultimately working towards a healthier and more equitable health for all.

Exploring the Link Between Physical Activity, Sports Participation, and Loneliness in Adolescents Before and Into the COVID-19 Pandemic: The HUNT Study, Norway

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on adolescents’ physical activity, sports involvement, and feelings of loneliness remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to explore the shifts in leisure-time physical activity, sports participation, and loneliness among adolescents before and during the pandemic, positing that the pandemic has led to decreased physical activity and sports engagement, as well as heightened loneliness, where more active adolescents experience lower loneliness levels. This study included a prior four-year follow-up cohort from the same region two decades earlier to explore the existence of typical longitudinal aging effects in a cohort not affected by the pandemic. Methods: Prospective and longitudinal data from two cohorts of the Young-HUNT Study two decades apart involving adolescents aged 13–19 years were utilized. The controls were as follows: Cohort 1 from the Young-HUNT1 (YH1) Survey included 2399 adolescents with follow-up in the Young-HUNT2 (YH2) Survey four years later. Cohort 2 included the Young-HUNT4 (YH4) Survey (2017–2019) of 8066 adolescents, with a subset of 1565 participants followed up in the Young-HUNT COVID Survey (YHC) (2021) after exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. Changes over time were assessed using McNemar’s tests and dependent sample T-tests, while multinomial logistic regression modeled within-individual changes in loneliness, adjusting for age, gender, and other factors. Results: The findings revealed a significant decline in physical activity and sports participation in both cohorts from early to late adolescence. Additionally, there was a considerable increase in reported loneliness, more after exposure to the pandemic and especially among girls, but without any difference in historical initial levels (between cohorts). Inactive adolescents faced a greater risk of increased loneliness, while those participating in sports had a lower risk of loneliness. Physically inactive boys had a higher risk of loneliness compared with physically active boys at both time points in Cohort 2, which was higher than in the control Cohort 1. There was no historical difference between initial assessments. Conclusion: Adolescents experienced a significant decrease in physical activity and sports participation, along with increased loneliness, from early to late adolescence. Given the protective benefits of physical activity against loneliness and the negative longitudinal trends observed, public health initiatives should focus on increasing physical activity and reducing sports drop-out rates among adolescents to combat rising loneliness.

Late Adolescents' Early Maladaptive Schemas: Are They Longitudinally Linked with Middle Childhood Temperament Over and Above Attachment?

Temperament is thought to influence the development of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). However, whether temperament is longitudinally related to EMSs beyond attachment, the best known predictor of EMSs, hasbeen underexplored. Hence, this study investigated (1) Whether middle childhood temperament is longitudinally related to late adolescent EMSs, (2) To what extent temperament explains EMSs beyond middle childhood attachment, and (3) Whether attachment moderates this temperament-EMSs link. In total, 157 children (Mage = 10.91 in middle childhood,Mage = 16.71 in late adolescence) participated in this study. Adolescent EMSs were assessed along with middle childhood temperamental negative affect, affiliation, surgency, and effortful control, and attachment at both explicit and implicit levels. Results indicated that all temperamental features were longitudinally related to later EMSs; themajority of the temperament-EMSs links did not survive after controlling for attachment, except for some limited correlations between EMSs and negative affect and effortful control; and an inconsistent moderating effect for attachment on the temperament-EMSs link. This study provides further insight into the role of child factors (middle childhood temperament and late adolescent attachment) in understanding EMSs variability in late adolescence. It suggests that EMSs are informed more by past relational experiences (attachment) thanchildren'sinborn tendencies (temperament).

A Nationwide, Population-based Study of Intelligence and Hearing Loss Among 3,104,851 Adolescents.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a relationship between general intelligence (GI) in youth and hearing loss (HL). However, no large-scale study assessed the relations of GI in late adolescence with conductive HL and sensorineural HL, stratified by severity. This study examined the connection between HL and GI in late adolescence. Cross-sectional study on mandatory pre-military recruitment data recorded during 1967-2019 of patients aged 17-19. We compared GI between sensorineural HL, conductive HL, and those with normal hearing. In addition, we used logistic regression to measure the associations between HL and GI after adjuring for age, sex, education, and socioeconomic status. Among 3,104,851 adolescents assessed, 20,075 (0.6%) exhibited hearing loss (HL). We categorized general intelligence (GI) into three levels for analysis: low (lowest category), medium, and high (reference category). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) revealed that sensorineural HL (SNHL) was associated with lower GI levels, with ORs ranging from 1.3 [95% CI 1.4-1.2] for the lowest GI category to 1.1 [95% CI 1.15-0.04] for the medium category. Conductive HL (CHL) also demonstrated significant associations, with ORs from 1.8 [95% CI 1.9-1.6] for the lowest GI level to 1.1 [95% CI 1.2-0.9] for medium. Further analysis revealed a statistically significant, severity-dependent relationship between SNHL and the odds of being in the lowest GI quartile (Q1). Specifically, the odds ratios for SNHL ranged from 1.2 [95% CI 1.1-1.3] to 1.3 [95% CI 1.1-1.5] as severity increased, indicating a strong link between greater SNHL severity and reduced cognitive performance. In contrast, CHL did not show a consistent correlation between its severity and GI outcomes, with an OR of 1.6 [95% CI 1.2-2.3] across severity levels. We report a strong relationship between HL and GI in late adolescence. Sensorineural HL, but not conductive HL, demonstrated a severity-based decline in GI. The results highlight the value of early, specifically targeted therapies for HL that consider its etiology and degree.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Sexual and Reproductive Health among Secondary School Students in Kicukiro District, Rwanda

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is intricately connected to a variety of factors, including cultural norms, psychological influences, and individual experiences. This study explores the experiences of late adolescents regarding SRH, focusing on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Kicukiro District, Rwanda. Despite government efforts to educate youth on SRH, many secondary school students remain vulnerable to issues like unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sexual and reproductive health among secondary school students in Kicukiro District, Rwanda. The study targeted secondary school students from two schools: Groupe Scolaire Saint Vincent Pillotie Gikondo (urban) and EFOTEK (rural). Using Fisher’s formula, a sample size of 423 respondents was determined through stratified random sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS and descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings revealed that 88% of students were aware of puberty and pregnancy processes, while 78.7% were knowledgeable about contraceptive methods, particularly condoms and oral contraceptives. Positive attitudes towards SRH were noted, with a mean score of 4.00 for pre-marital relationships, but significant misconceptions existed, such as 11% of respondents lacking knowledge on HIV protection. The overall mean for practices related to SRH was 3.98 for seeking medical check-ups, indicating a willingness to engage with health services. However, practices promoting healthy lifestyles received a lower mean of 3.25, suggesting areas needing improvement. The study highlights the need for enhanced sexual and reproductive health education among secondary school students in Kicukiro District. While students demonstrate good knowledge and positive attitudes toward SRH, targeted interventions are necessary to address misconceptions and promote healthier practices, particularly in areas related to lifestyle and open communication.

Environmental and Genetic Contributions to Attachment in Late Adolescence and Young Adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with attachment insecurity and psychopathology. However, some individuals remain securely attached and resilient following ACEs. Researchers have examined polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), particularly rs53576, as a source of resilience, though examination of the biological mechanism by which rs53576 buffers the relation that would otherwise exist between ACEs and attachment insecurity is absent. The aim of the current study was to examine how ACEs interact with individual genetic and immune vulnerability to shape attachment security in older adolescents and young adults (n = 201). Moderated mediational models were tested in which ACEs acted as independent variables, attachment security acted as a dependent variable, inflammation (i.e., IL-6) was tested as a mediator, and rs53576 (i.e., AA, AG, GG genotypes) was tested as a moderator. Results indicated that physical abuse was significantly associated with decreased attachment security, with moderation by rs53576. A significant main effect of rs53576 on IL-6 was also noted. A similar pattern of results was evident across other ACEs and suggests that the effects of ACEs on attachment are buffered by the GG genotype. Association between GG and lower IL-6 suggests inflammation plays some role, though more research is needed.

Factors influencing health literacy in overweight management among late adolescents in Thailand: A cross-sectional study.

Health literacy is crucial in managing health outcomes, including overweight, which is a significant issue among late adolescents. Despite the importance of health literacy in weight management, research focusing on this population remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing health literacy in overweight management among late adolescents in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted with late adolescents from five higher education institutions in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. A total of 403 participants were selected through multistage random sampling. Self-report questionnaires, validated for reliability and accuracy, were used to collect data from March to May 2023. Multiple regression analysis was employed, with a significance level set at 0.05. The sample consisted predominantly of females (91.10%) with an average age of 20-21 years (54.30%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity among participants was 25.06%. Four factors were significantly associated with health literacy in overweight management: access to health and weight control resources (r = 0.368, p <0.001), access to online social learning resources (r = 0.321, p <0.001), access to books, journals, and websites (r = 0.340, p <0.001), and management of weight control behaviors (r = 0.145, p <0.001). These factors together accounted for 20% of the variance in health literacy (R2 = 0.200). The study identified key factors that enhance health literacy in overweight management among late adolescents in Thailand. It is recommended that nurses and other healthcare professionals develop targeted interventions focusing on these factors to effectively manage overweight in this population.

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.

VP-net: an end-to-end deep learning network for elastic wave velocity prediction in human skin in vivo using optical coherence elastography.

Acne vulgaris, one of the most common skin conditions, affects up to 85% of late adolescents, currently no universally accepted assessment system. The biomechanical properties of skin provide valuable information for the assessment and management of skin conditions. Wave-based optical coherence elastography (OCE) quantitatively assesses these properties of tissues by analyzing induced elastic wave velocities. However, velocity estimation methods require significant expertise and lengthy image processing times, limiting the clinical translation of OCE technology. Recent advances in machine learning offer promising solutions to simplify velocity estimation process. In this study, we proposed a novel end-to-end deep-learning model, named velocity prediction network (VP-Net), aiming to accurately predict elastic wave velocity from raw OCE data of in vivo healthy and abnormal human skin. A total of 16,424 raw phase slices from 1% to 5% agar-based tissue-mimicking phantoms, 28,270 slices from in vivo human skin sites including the palm, forearm, back of the hand from 16 participants, and 580 slices of facial closed comedones were acquired to train, validate, and test VP-Net. VP-Net demonstrated highly accurate velocity prediction performance compared to other deep-learning-based methods, as evidenced by small evaluation metrics. Furthermore, VP-Net exhibited low model complexity and parameter requirements, enabling end-to-end velocity prediction from a single raw phase slice in 1.32ms, enhancing processing speed by a factor of ∼100 compared to a conventional wave velocity estimation method. Additionally, we employed gradient-weighted class activation maps to showcase VP-Net's proficiency in discerning wave propagation patterns from raw phase slices. VP-Net predicted wave velocities that were consistent with the ground truth velocities in agar phantom, two age groups (20s and 30s) of multiple human skin sites and closed comedones datasets. This study indicates that VP-Net could rapidly and accurately predict elastic wave velocities related to biomechanical properties of in vivo healthy and abnormal skin, offering potential clinical applications in characterizing skin aging, as well as assessing and managing the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Adolescent close friendships, self-perceived social acceptance, and peer-rated likeability as predictors of wellbeing in young adulthood

IntroductionLinks between interpersonal relationships and physical and psychological functioning have been well-established in the literature. During adolescence, success or distress in peer relationships may have distinct effects on different aspects of wellbeing. The present study aims to examine the ways in which different adolescent peer relationship contexts (i.e., close friendship quality, social acceptance, and likability from peers) can predict outcomes relevant to adult wellbeing (i.e., social anxiety, depression, aggression, social integration, romantic insecurity, job satisfaction, and physical health). Further, the study considers how different developmental stages of adolescence may impact links between peer relationships and wellbeing outcomes.MethodPeer relationship contexts were assessed in early (ages 13–14) and late (ages 17–18) adolescence. Markers of wellbeing were measured in young adulthood (ages 28–30). A path analysis was used to examine whether the developmental timing of adolescent peer relationship contexts could predict wellbeing in young adulthood.ResultsResults suggest that, across adolescence, broader perceived social acceptance may be a more robust predictor of adult wellbeing compared to close friendship quality and peer likability. When examined at early and late adolescence separately, early adolescent social acceptance and late adolescent close friendship quality best predicted outcomes of adult wellbeing.DiscussionImplications and considerations for future research are discussed.

The genetics of spatiotemporal variation in cortical thickness in youth

Prior studies have shown strong genetic effects on cortical thickness (CT), structural covariance, and neurodevelopmental trajectories in childhood and adolescence. However, the importance of genetic factors on the induction of spatiotemporal variation during neurodevelopment remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the genetics of maturational coupling by examining 308 MRI-derived regional CT measures in a longitudinal sample of 677 twins and family members. We find dynamic inter-regional genetic covariation in youth, with the emergence of regional subnetworks in late childhood and early adolescence. Three critical neurodevelopmental epochs in genetically-mediated maturational coupling were identified, with dramatic network strengthening near eleven years of age. These changes are associated with statistically-significant (empirical p-value <0.0001) increases in network strength as measured by average clustering coefficient and assortativity. We then identify genes from the Allen Human Brain Atlas with similar co-expression patterns to genetically-mediated structural covariation in children. This set was enriched for genes involved in potassium transport and dendrite formation. Genetically-mediated CT-CT covariance was also strongly correlated with expression patterns for genes located in cells of neuronal origin.

Exploring associations between psychotic experiences and structural brain age: a population-based study in late adolescence.

Neuroimaging studies show advanced structural "brain age" in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, potentially reflecting aberrant brain ageing or maturation. The extent to which altered brain age is associated with subthreshold psychotic experiences (PE) in youth remains unclear. We investigated the association between PE and brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) in late adolescence using a population-based sample of 117 participants with PE and 115 without PE (aged 19-21 years) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Brain-PAD was estimated using a publicly available machine learning model previously trained on a combination of region-wise T1-weighted grey-matter measures. We found little evidence for an association between PEs and brain-PAD after adjusting for age and sex (Cohen's d = -0.21 [95% CI -0.47, 0.05], p = 0.11). While there was some evidence for lower brain-PAD in those with PEs relative to those without PEs after additionally adjusting for parental social class (Cohen's d = -0.31 [95% CI -0.58, -0.03], p = 0.031) or birth weight (Cohen's d = -0.29 [95% CI -0.55, -0.03], p = 0.038), adjusting for maternal education or childhood IQ did not alter the primary results. These findings do not support the notion of advanced brain age in older adolescents with PEs. However, they weakly suggest there might be a younger-looking brain in those individuals, indicative of subtle delays in structural brain maturation. Future studies with larger samples covering a wider age range and multimodal measures could further investigate brain age as a marker of psychotic experiences in youth.

Time trends in adolescent depressive symptoms from 2010 to 2019 in Norway: real increase or artifacts of measurements?

Whether the recent rise in adolescent self-reported depressive symptoms is influenced by changing reporting behavior is much debated. Most studies use observed sum scores to document trends but fail to assess whether their measures are invariant across time, a prerequisite for meaningful inferences about change. We examined whether measurement noninvariance, indicative of changing perceptions and reporting of symptoms, may influence the assessment of time trends in adolescent depressive symptoms. Data stem from the nationwide repeated cross-sectional Ungdata-surveys (2010-2019) of 560 712 responses from adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Kandel and Davies' six-item Depressive Mood Inventory. Using structural equation modeling, we examined measurement invariance across time, gender and age, and estimated the consequences of noninvariance on cross-cohort time trends. Across most conditions, the instrument was found measurement invariant across time. The few noninvariant parameters detected had negligible impact on trend estimates. From 2014, latent mean depressive symptom scores increased among girls. For boys, a U shaped pattern was detected, whereby an initial decrease in symptoms was followed by an increase from 2016. Larger issues of noninvariance were found across age in girls and between genders. From a measurement perspective, the notion that changed reporting of symptoms has been an important driver of secular trends in depressive symptoms was not supported. Thus, other causes of these trends should be considered. However, noninvariance across age (in girls) and gender highlights that depressive symptoms are not necessarily perceived equivalently from early to late adolescence and across gender.

7980 Physical Activity Attenuates the Association of Early Adolescent Adiposity with Later PCOS

Abstract Disclosure: R. Whooten: None. S. Rifas-Shiman: None. W. Perng: None. J. Chavarro: None. E. Oken: None. M. Hivert: None. Purpose: Adiposity is a risk factor for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Limited knowledge exists regarding modifiable behaviors, such as physical activity, during early-life may mitigate the association of adiposity with PCOS risk. We aimed to assess how moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may impact the association of adiposity in early adolescence with later report of adolescent PCOS. Methods: Within the Project Viva prospective cohort, we used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association of body mass index z-score (BMIz) at early adolescence (mean age 13.1 years) with mid-late adolescent PCOS (self-reported diagnosis or oligo-anovulation with clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism at mean age 17.7 years). We stratified our analyses by actigraphy-assessed MVPA during early adolescence (≥30 versus &amp;lt;30 minutes/day). In multivariable models, we adjusted for maternal education and PCOS; and child race and ethnicity, dietary behaviors, actigraphy-assessed sleep duration, and self-reported screentime; and season of actigraphy assessment. Results: Among 341 female adolescents, n=47 (14%) met criteria for PCOS at mid-late adolescence. At early adolescence, mean (SD) BMIz was 0.32 (1.10) units and n=110 (32%) had ≥30 minutes/day MVPA. There was no difference in MVPA ≥30 minutes/day among those with versus without later PCOS (30% vs 33%, p=0.70). In unadjusted analyses, there was an association of early adolescent BMIz with mid-late adolescent PCOS (OR=1.93, 95%CI 1.39, 2.69 per unit increase in BMIz). In stratified analyses, the association of early adolescent adiposity with later PCOS was stronger in those with MVPA &amp;lt;30 minutes/day (OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.37, 3.11) than in those with MVPA ≥30 minutes/day (OR=1.72, 95%CI 0.97, 3.06). These findings persisted after adjusting for all covariates (overall: OR=1.72 95%CI 1.15, 2.56; MVPA &amp;lt;30 min/day: OR=2.01 95%CI 1.17, 3.45; MVPA ≥30 minutes/day: OR=1.36 95%CI 0.64, 2.91), however p-values for interaction terms were non-significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that maintaining ≥30 minutes MVPA daily during early adolescence may attenuate the association of adiposity with risk of PCOS by late adolescence. This has implications for the importance of promoting physical activity among at-risk individuals. Presentation: 6/2/2024