Adolescent Participants Research Articles

Riding for Focus as a Pathway to Improved Mental Health in Middle School Students

Youth mental health remains in a critical state even in a post-COVID pandemic world. Exercise is a well-regarded method to boost mental health and well-being in all age groups. The Riding 4 Focus (R4F) program is a cycling education program designed to equip students with basic cycling handling skills and introduce students to the lifetime physical activity of cycling. A secondary outcome of this program is to improve the behavioral health and well-being of adolescents in middle schools, primarily aged 10-14. The current study examined associations between participating in the R4F program and mental health and well-being in those with specific unmodifiable risk factors including gender, socioeconomic, and racial identity. Anonymous online surveys were collected from 3924 adolescent participants before the R4F program and 3289 students after the cycling program across 31 schools during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters. Psychosocial well-being was quantified using the WHO-5 and PSC-17-Y metrics. Using non-parametric test statistics, the data shows a significant increase in the mental health and well-being of participants after the program. Further analysis revealed that participation in the R4F program was associated with improved psychological health and well-being of minority and low-income adolescents, as well as protective associations for both genders. Although these findings are encouraging, the effcacy of the program depends on a number of factors, and future studies are needed to assess causality. Outride, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, University of Redlands Summer Research Program, P20MD006988. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Research on the Promotion Mechanism of Sports Participation in Children and Adolescents Based on Social Cognitive Theory

This study aims to explore the promotion mechanism of children and adolescents' sports participation, based on social cognitive theory. By analyzing the theoretical framework of social cognitive theory, this study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the internal mechanisms of children and adolescents' participation in sports, and provide theoretical support for promoting their physical and mental health development. The study adopted various research methods, including literature review, expert interviews, observation, and teaching experiments, to systematically analyze the elements and promotion mechanisms of children and adolescents' participation in sports. The research results show that social cognitive theory plays a crucial role in interpreting children and adolescents' sports participation behavior, cognitive processes, and emotional experiences. In terms of practice, research has proposed multiple strategies, including innovating the teaching mode of physical education for children and adolescents, integrating sports training camps with social cognitive theory, and designing intervention programs for children and adolescents in sports participation based on social cognitive theory. Future research directions include providing diverse role models, encouraging diverse ways of social participation, and establishing a positive sense of social identity to further promote the practice and development of sports participation among children and adolescents.

Association between sports participation and resilience in school-attending students: a cross-sectional study.

This research sought to identify the association between sports participation and resilience in children and adolescents as a means to enhance mental health. A comprehensive survey was carried out, encompassing primary, middle, and high school students from chosen educational institutions. The analytical sample comprised 67,281 students of school age. Sports participation and resilience were evaluated using validated assessment tools, while relevant covariates, such as sex and school grade, were assessed through self-reported questionnaires. Generalized Linear Models were applied to ascertain the association between sports participation and resilience for the entire sample, and separately for subgroups divided by gender or school grade, after controlling for covariates. Among the 67,281 school students, males constituted 51.9% of the sample. Approximately 47.1% of the entire sample reported no sports participation, and the average resilience score was 24.7. The regression model analysis revealed that, in the entire sample, increased in sports participation was linked to higher resilience scores (odds ratio [OR] for 1-3 times per month: 1.20, 95%CI: 1.16-1.24; OR for 1-2 times per week: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.33-1.43; OR for 3 times or more per week: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.65-1.79). Analyses stratified by gender and school grade indicated that sports participation was consistently associated with greater resilience. This study provides cross-sectional evidence supporting the positive association between sports participation and the resilience of children and adolescents, underscoring the potential of encouraging sports participation as a strategy for promoting mental health resilience. The findings presented herein should be subject to further confirmation or refutation in future research endeavors.

The Effect of Using a Client-Accessible Health Record on Perceived Quality of Care: Interview Study Among Parents and Adolescents.

Patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) are assumed to enhance the quality of care, expressed in terms of safety, effectiveness, timeliness, person centeredness, efficiency, and equity. However, research on the impact of PAEHRs on the perceived quality of care among parents, children, and adolescents is largely lacking. In the Netherlands, a PAEHR (Iuvenelis) was developed for preventive child health care and youth care. Parents and adolescents had access to its full content, could manage appointments, ask questions, and comment on written reports. This study aims to assess whether and how using this PAEHR contributes to perceived quality of care from a client's perspective. We chose a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach to explore how parents and adolescents perceived the impact of using a PAEHR on quality of care. In-depth interviews that simultaneously included 1 to 3 people were conducted in 2021. In total, 20 participants were included in the study, representing parents and adolescents, both sexes, different educational levels, different native countries, and all participating municipalities. Within this group, 7 of 13 (54%) parents had not previously been informed about the existence of a client portal. Their expectations of using the client portal, in relation to quality of care, were discussed after a demonstration of the portal. Parents and adolescents perceived that using Iuvenelis contributed to the quality of care because they felt better informed and more involved in the care process than before the introduction of Iuvenelis. Moreover, they experienced more control over their health data, faster and simpler access to their health information, and found it easier to manage appointments or ask questions at their convenience. Parents from a migratory background, among whom 6 of 7 (86%) had not previously been informed about the portal, expected that portal access would enhance their understanding of and control over their care processes. The parents expressed concerns about equity because parents from a migratory background might have less access to the service. Nevertheless, portal usability was regarded as high. Furthermore, both parents and adolescents saw room for improvement in the broader interdisciplinary use of Iuvenelis and the quality of reporting. Using Iuvenelis can contribute to the client-experienced quality of care, more specifically to perceived person centeredness, timeliness, safety, efficiency, and integration of care. However, some quality aspects, such as equity, still need addressing. In general, client information about the portal needs to be improved, specifically focusing on people in vulnerable circumstances, such as those from migratory backgrounds. In addition, to maximize the potential benefit of using Iuvenelis, stimulating a person-centered attitude among professionals is important. Considering the small number of adolescent participants (n=7), adding quantitative data from a structured survey could strengthen the available evidence.

A Qualitative Exploration of Past Family Planning Counselling of Adolescent and Young Mothers

Objective: This study explores the family planning counselling that adolescents receive during pregnancy care, with the aim of identifying those factors that make counselling effective or ineffective. Methods: The study population consisted of ten adolescents who had recently given birth and ten health care providers. Adolescents were recruited using posters; providers, by email. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed in keeping with grounded theory. Analysis consisted of open coding (identification of initial concepts), axial coding (drawing connections between repetitive and similar concepts), and selective coding (clustering of categories to identify themes). Results: The adolescent participants desired detailed information about pregnancy and motherhood, were challenged by the disruptive effects of pregnancy, and were strongly reliant on nonmedical support people. Our participants described that the adolescent-provider relationship was strengthened when providers sought to empower adolescents and to provide a balance of support and independence. Judgment and bias interfered with relationship building. Postpartum continuity with the pregnancy care provider and a positive relationship with the family physician were both highly desirable yet highly variable. In general, the adolescents found family planning counselling an awkward and intimate undertaking and preferred providers to slowly progress towards explicit counselling. The adolescents who opted not to initiate postpartum contraception still found the counselling process informative and beneficial. Conclusion: Effective family planning counselling is not information driven but rather gradual, individualized, and context focused. This article has been peer reviewed.

Dysmenorrhea in Tunisian high school adolescent girls: frequency, effects, and absence from school.

Dysmenorrhea is a known phenomenon and not just recently, and investigations conducted recently have shown that female adolescents are very susceptible to this condition. Our goal is to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in Tunisia, its risk factors, its impact on truancy rates, and the therapeutic attitudes of girls attending high school about this illness using an epidemiological survey. This eight-month study, which spans from October 2022 to May 2023, focuses on 160 high school girls between the ages of 13 and 21. It is a transversal descriptive study. The required data is gathered through the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of female adolescent participants is 16.44 years and 68 % of them reported dysmenorrhea. The most common symptoms of the pain were headaches (40.0 %). There is a notable prevalence of absenteeism during the menstrual cycle. There seems to be a trend toward self-medication. In Tunisia, primary dysmenorrhea is a common cause of school absenteeism among female adolescents. Girls' attitudes toward dysmenorrhea indicate a lack of knowledge, which is why it is crucial for midwives and physicians to educate teenage girls about the condition.

Clinical and neurodevelopmental predictors of psychotic disorders in children and adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: the CAPRIS study.

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia represents the disorder as an expression of an alteration during the brain development process early in life. Neurodevelopmental variables could become a trait marker, and the study of these variables in children and adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) could identify a specific cluster of patients who later developed psychosis. The aim of this study is to describe clinical and neurodevelopment predictors of transition to psychosis in child and adolescent participants at CHR.Naturalistic longitudinal two-center study of 101 CHR and 110 healthy controls (HC) aged 10-17. CHR participants were children and adolescents aged 10-17, meeting one or more of the CHR criteria assessed at baseline and at 18 months' follow-up. Neurodevelopmental variables assessed were obstetric complications, delay in principal development milestones, and presence of a neurodevelopment diagnosis. Pairwise comparisons, linear regressions, and binary logistic regression were performed.A transition rate of 23.3% at 1.5 years was observed. Participants who developed psychosis (CHR-P) showed higher rates of grandiosity and higher proportions of antipsychotic medication intake at baseline compared to participants who did not develop a psychotic disorder (CHR-NP). In terms of neurodevelopment alterations, CHR-P group showed a higher proportion of participants reporting delay in language development than the CHR-NP and HC groups. The odds of psychosis increased by 6.238 CI 95% [1.276-30.492] for a one-unit increase in having a positive score in grandiosity; they increased by 4.257 95% CI [1.293-14.023] for a one-unit increase in taking antipsychotic medication, and by 4.522 95% [1.185-64.180] for showing language development delay. However, the p-values did not reach significance after adjusting for multiple comparisons.A combination of clinical and neurodevelopmental alterations could help predict the transition to psychotic disorder in a CHR child and adolescent sample. Our results suggest the potential utility of collecting information about neurodevelopment and using these variable multifactorial models to predict psychosis disorders.

Bone health and physical activity in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a cross-sectional case-control study

BackgroundAdolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) tend to engage in less physical activity than their typically developing peers. Physical activity is essential for bone development and reduced physical activity may detrimentally effect bone health. Thus, we examined differences in total body bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) between adolescents with JIA and adolescent controls without JIA. We also examined associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), lean mass, and bone outcomes.MethodsParticipants included 21 adolescents with JIA (14 females, 7 males) and 21 sex- and age-matched controls aged 10–20 years. Assessments included: height; weight; triple-single-leg-hop distance (TSLH); MVPA by accelerometry; and total body BMC, aBMD, and lean mass measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Height-adjusted z-scores were calculated for BMC and aBMD and used for all analyses. Multiple linear mixed effects models examined group differences in BMC and aBMD, adjusting for sex, maturity, MVPA, TSLH, and lean mass. Participants clusters, based on sex and age (within 18 months), were considered random effects.ResultsAdolescents with JIA had lower total body aBMD z-scores [β (95% CI); -0.58 (-1.10 to -0.07), p = 0.03] and BMC z-scores [-0.47 (-0.91 to -0.03), p = 0.04] compared with controls. Mean daily MVPA was 22.0 min/day lower in adolescents with JIA than controls; however, MVPA was not associated with aBMD [-0.01 (-0.01 to 0.01), p = 0.32] or BMC [0.00 (-0.01 to 0.00), p = 0.39]. Lean mass was positively associated with aBMD [0.05 (0.01 to 0.09) g/cm2, p = 0.03] and BMC [0.06 (0.03 to 0.10) g, p < 0.001].ConclusionAdolescents with JIA had lower total body aBMD and BMC compared with sex- and age-matched controls without JIA. Group differences in bone outcomes were not associated with the lower MVPA participation of adolescents with JIA. Despite this, physical activity should still be encouraged as it promotes physical well-being.

Conduction velocity, G-ratio, and extracellular water as microstructural characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.

The neuronal differences contributing to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are still not well defined. Previous studies have suggested that myelin and axons are disrupted during development in ASD. By combining structural and diffusion MRI techniques, myelin and axons can be assessed using extracellular water, aggregate g-ratio, and a new approach to calculating axonal conduction velocity termed aggregate conduction velocity, which is related to the capacity of the axon to carry information. In this study, several innovative cellular microstructural methods, as measured from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are combined to characterize differences between ASD and typically developing adolescent participants in a large cohort. We first examine the relationship between each metric, including microstructural measurements of axonal and intracellular diffusion and the T1w/T2w ratio. We then demonstrate the sensitivity of these metrics by characterizing differences between ASD and neurotypical participants, finding widespread increases in extracellular water in the cortex and decreases in aggregate g-ratio and aggregate conduction velocity throughout the cortex, subcortex, and white matter skeleton. We finally provide evidence that these microstructural differences are associated with higher scores on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) a commonly used diagnostic tool to assess ASD. This study is the first to reveal that ASD involves MRI-measurable in vivo differences of myelin and axonal development with implications for neuronal and behavioral function. We also introduce a novel formulation for calculating aggregate conduction velocity, that is highly sensitive to these changes. We conclude that ASD may be characterized by otherwise intact structural connectivity but that functional connectivity may be attenuated by network properties affecting neural transmission speed. This effect may explain the putative reliance on local connectivity in contrast to more distal connectivity observed in ASD.

Informing Modifications to Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN) for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs

Informing Modifications to Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN) for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs

A Half-Day Camp Program for Adolescents Affected by Childhood Cancer.

Background: Adolescents affected by childhood cancer experience various degrees of psychosocial distress, social isolation, and social support throughout the treatment process. Objective: To create and implement an evidence-based practice project consisting of a pilot half-day camp program to improve social support and connectedness for adolescents affected by childhood cancer. Methods: A pilot half-day camp program was implemented. Twenty adolescent patients, survivors, and siblings (ages 13-18 years) participated in the program. Participants provided basic demographic information and completed pretest, immediate posttest, and 4-week posttest surveys to assess their levels of social support and camp connectedness. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: All measures of social support in adolescent participants affected by childhood cancer trended upward following the conclusion of the program, then trended downward over time, with overall social support and family social support significantly decreasing over time postintervention. Camp connectedness was not significantly impacted by the program. Conclusions: Social support decreases as participants are further out from attending a half-day camp program. This pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of a short-term, local, cost-effective camp program that is scalable to larger groups. Implications for Nursing: Providers should refer adolescents affected by childhood cancer to camp programs for social support. More research is needed to determine if more frequent camp programs sustain a high level of social support in participants.

The effects of telerehabilitation in adults with complex biventricular congenital heart conditions: protocol for a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial—CH-FIT

BackgroundAccumulated evidence suggests that exercise training exerts beneficial effects on people with congenital heart conditions. These findings are predominantly derived from small, single-centre exercise trials conducted in outpatient rehabilitation facilities. In recent years, the delivery of exercise interventions remotely has increased through digital communications technology (telerehabilitation). However, very little research to date has been conducted into the efficacy of telerehabilitation in people with a congenital heart condition.AimsTo evaluate the effects of a telehealth-delivered exercise intervention in people with a history of a surgical biventricular repair due to a congenital heart condition.MethodsOne hundred eligible adolescent (≥ 16 years) and adult participants living with a complex biventricular congenital heart condition will be recruited from four Australian sites and randomised to either (1) a 16-week telehealth-delivered combined (aerobic and resistance) exercise training programme of moderate-to-vigorous intensity or (2) usual care (control group), in a 1:1 allocation, with an 8-month follow-up.Outcomes of interestThe primary outcome will be the change in aerobic capacity expressed as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Secondary outcomes will include changes in vascular function, muscle oxygenation, metabolic profile, body composition and musculoskeletal fitness, neurohormonal activation, neurocognitive function, physical activity levels, dietary and nutritional status, and quality of life. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 16 weeks, and 12 months (to determine longer-term maintenance potential).DiscussionIf found to be efficacious, telerehabilitation may be an alternative option for delivering exercise, improving health outcomes, and increasing accessibility to exercise programmes. Efficacy data is required to quantify the clinical significance of this delivery mode of exercise.Trial registrationACTRN12622000050752Trial registration date: 17 January 2022Trial registration URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382635&showOriginal=true&isReview=trueTrial registry name: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry

Participation in physical activity by adolescents with physical disability: cross-sectional snapshot and future priorities ("Youth Experience Matters" protocol).

Young people with physical disability experience challenges to being physically active. To attain the health benefits of physical activity (PA) and sustain engagement, it is essential that participation is meaningful and enjoyable. This study aims to describe current participation in PA by adolescents with physical disability in Ireland, and to establish consensus on their priorities for enhancing physical activity participation. A parallel convergent mixed methods study will be undertaken, comprising a national cross-sectional quantitative assessment of PA participation ("Participation Snapshot") and Delphi consensus study ("Delphi"). Adolescents (n=100) aged 13-17 years with a physical disability will be invited to take part. The Participation Snapshot primary outcome is the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). Contextual factors including underlying medical diagnosis, demographics, mobility (Functional Mobility Scale), hand function (Manual Ability Classification System) and health related quality of life (Child Health Utility 9D) will also be collected. The Delphi will comprise two to four survey rounds, until consensus is reached. Round 1 consists of a bespoke survey, designed and piloted with a public and patient involvement (PPI) panel, with open-ended questions and Likert scales inviting contributions from adolescents on their prior experience and ideas to enhance participation. Responses will be analysed using inductive thematic analysis to construct items and themes, which will then be deductively mapped to the "F-words" and the family of Participation-Related Constructs frameworks. These items will be presented back to participants in subsequent rounds for selection and ranking, until consensus is achieved on the "top 10 priorities" for enhancing PA participation. The project team and PPI panel will then co-design dissemination material and identify targets for dissemination to relevant stakeholder or policy groups. The findings will provide a basis for developing interventions aiming to enhance future PA participation for adolescents with physical disability.

Cooperative behavior in adolescents: a contribution of empathy and emotional regulation?

This study aims to identify different levels of empathy and emotional regulation along adolescent years and their relationship with cooperative behavior. Eighty healthy males were divided into four age groups: 20 Early Adolescents, 20 Middle Adolescents, 20 Late Adolescents and 20 Adults. Participants responded to empathic and emotional regulation scales, then were assigned to an unknown partner to perform the prisoner's dilemma paradigm. The statistical analyses allowed to distinguish the groups on the basis of the components making up the two scales: scores on the Perspective Taking component were higher for Adults and Late Adolescents participants than for Middle Adolescents and Early Adolescents groups (p < 0.05); scores on the Personal Distress component were higher for Early Adolescents group than for Late Adolescents and Middle Adolescents groups (p < 0.05); scores on the Difficulties engaging in goal directed behavior component were higher for Middle Adolescents and Early Adolescents groups than for Adults group (p < 0.05). We observed differences between groups (p < 0.001) with higher number of cooperation responses in Adults compared to Middle Adolescents (p < 0.05) and Early Adolescents groups (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that the cooperative behavior changes during the different stages of adolescence seem to be related to the development of empathy and emotional regulation components.

Navigating distress: Exploring factors affecting adolescent girls' wellbeing during and after a violence-focused survey in Maharashtra, India

BackgroundEnsuring the emotional wellbeing of participants in violence-focused research is a paramount ethical requirement. While previous research suggests that most participants in violence-focused studies do not report harmful consequences, little is known about the experiences of adolescent participants in low- and middle-income countries. ObjectiveThis study, conducted in Maharashtra, India, aims at assessing how participant, contextual, and interviewer characteristics affect the level of distress that adolescent girls experience after participation in a violence survey. MethodsA total of 3049 13–18-year-old girls were interviewed on their experiences of family and intimate partner violence. Following the interview, both girls and interviewers completed a 5-item questionnaire on perceived participant distress. Linear regression analyses were conducted to identify possible correlates of girls' distress. ResultsLess than 10 % of participants reported feelings of distress upon completion of the interview. Higher levels of interviewers' empathy were significantly associated with decreased levels of participants' distress (standardised beta: −0.25, p < 0.001). Reported distress was also lower if girls had opted for an audio- and mobile-assisted self-interview (ACASI) format (standardised beta: −0.05, p < 0.01) and if the interview was conducted by someone older (standardised beta: −0.22, p < 0.001). Conversely, if interviews were conducted in participants' homes and by interviewers with higher education levels, reported distress was significantly higher (standardised beta: 0.06, p < 0.01 and 0.12, p < 0.001, respectively). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that incorporating empathetic interviewing and trust-building techniques into interviewer training, offering ACASI interviews, and choosing interview locations that ensure confidentiality can help protect the wellbeing of participants in violence research.

How is race perceived during adolescence? A meta-analysis of the own-race bias.

Adolescence is a critical developmental period that is marked by drastic changes in face recognition, which are reflected in patterns of bias (i.e., superior recognition for some individuals compared to others). Here, we evaluate how race is perceived during face recognition and whether adolescents exhibit an own-race bias (ORB). We conducted a Bayesian meta-analysis to estimate the summary effect size of the ORB across 16 unique studies (38 effect sizes) with 1,321 adolescent participants between the ages of ∼10-22 years of age. This meta-analytic approach allowed us to inform the analysis with prior findings from the adult literature and evaluate how well they fit the adolescent literature. We report a positive, small ORB (Hedges's g = 0.24) that was evident under increasing levels of uncertainty in the analysis. The magnitude of the ORB was not systematically impacted by participant age or race, which is inconsistent with predictions from perceptual expertise and social cognitive theories. Critically, our findings are limited in generalizability by the study samples, which largely include White adolescents in White-dominant countries. Future longitudinal studies that include racially diverse samples and measure social context, perceiver motivation, peer reorientation, social network composition, and ethnic-racial identity development are critical for understanding the presence, magnitude, and relative flexibility of the ORB in adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-harm in sexually abused adolescents: The role of posttraumatic symptoms, emotional impulsivity, and negative cognition.

Posttraumatic symptoms, emotional impulsivity, and negative cognition have been proposed as pathways in explaining why individuals have experienced trauma are at increased risk for self-harm. The present study examined whether emotional impulsivity (i.e., negative and positive urgency) and negative cognition (i.e., personal attribution and feeling different from peers) mediate the path from posttraumatic symptoms to self-harm in sexually abused adolescents, a population at the highest risk for self-harm. One hundred and thirty-one sexually abused youths aged 10-18 years in South Korea completed the Self-Harm Inventory, UPPS-P (urgency-premeditation-perseverance-sensation seeking-positive urgency) Impulsive Behaviors Scales for use with children, and Children's Attribution and Perception Scale, and their parents completed the Korean version of the parent report of posttraumatic symptoms. Among the adolescent participants, 77.1% (n = 101) reported engaging in at least one self-harm behavior, and 61.8% (n = 81) reported engaging in deliberate self-injury. Mediation model analyses showed that parent-reported posttraumatic symptoms predicted more self-harm behaviors among sexually abused adolescents. The indirect effect of parent-reported posttraumatic symptoms on self-harm through adolescents' negative cognition was significant, but the indirect effect through emotional impulsivity was not. The results indicate that, at least among sexually abused adolescents, posttraumatic symptoms lead to self-harm via negative cognition rather than increased emotional impulsivity. These findings suggest that sexually abused adolescents suffering from posttraumatic symptoms are more likely to engage in self-harm in response to negative cognition of themselves and the world rather than as an impulsive response to intense emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Towards sustainable diets – interventions and perceptions amongst adolescents: a scoping review

Adolescence is an important life-stage during which shifts towards more healthy and sustainable diets can be promoted. Adolescents have increasing influence over their food choices informed by their developing personal knowledge and values, impacting long-term dietary behaviours into adulthood(1). We aimed to review the recent literature regarding adolescents’ perceptions of environmentally sustainable diets, and interventions to support adolescents to eat sustainably. We reviewed published literature that focussed on adolescent participants and their perceptions of, or interventions to support, sustainable dietary habits. Five electronic databases were searched to include studies published since 2012 that met the inclusion criteria. The JBI approach and PRISMA-Sc checklist(2) was used for source screening, data extraction and presentation of data. Data was extracted including study characteristics, methodology and results in relation to each research question. The extracted data was reported, synthesised and discussed in the context of the food system framework(3) and broader research. Twenty-eight articles were included in the review. Findings suggest that adolescents’ understanding of what constitutes sustainable eating is low. Most adolescents, when asked, were unsure of what constitutes sustainable eating, or a plant-based diet. The environmental impact of the production methods, transport and packaging of foods was most commonly reported when adolescents considered the environmental impact of their foods. The most commonly perceived barrier to consuming sustainable foods mentioned was cost, particularly by adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Other barriers include unappealing taste, appearance or smell of ‘sustainable’ food items (particularly those that were vegetarian). Geographical limitations impacting the ability to grow or purchase local and organic products were also mentioned as barriers to consuming sustainable foods. Adolescents reported a lack of understanding of sustainable diets, and distrust of sustainability-related claims from fast-food outlets regarding the quality or source of ingredients, making it difficult to make informed food choices. Additionally, behaviours conflicting with personal and/or group norms were noted as barriers to adopting sustainable dietary habits. Adolescents that had previously received relevant education, valued nature and health, or were from a rural or indigenous community, were more likely to value environmentally sustainable food choices. Interventions which target adolescents’ cognitive understanding and aspiration to make sustainable food choices appear to improve their attitudes towards sustainable food, whereas interventions to increase the availability of sustainable foods improved the environmental sustainability of adolescents’ dietary intake. Multicomponent, tailored and community-based interventions were most effective however the long-term effect of these interventions remains unclear. More research is needed in diverse countries and settings, with consideration of adolescents’ level of autonomy in food choice and long term-effectiveness of interventions.

Interrelations of Intelligence and Social-Adaptive Skills in Adolescents with Multiple Developmental Disorders: A Pilot Study

IntroductionThe relationship between social adaptation and intelligence in adolescents with developmental disorders varies depending on various psycho-social factors. Adolescence is marked by pubertal changes in mental and physical development. Previous research has revealed a moderate correlation between intelligence and various groups of adaptive skills in adolescents with Down syndrome. However, studies involving adolescents with multiple developmental disorders are relatively scarce in the existing literatureObjectivesDetermine the distribution of intelligence among adolescents with severe multiple disabilities; Identify the connection between intelligence and the level of adaptation in this group; explore the connection between intelligence and independence skills in the subjects.MethodsThe study included 11 adolescent participants enrolled in a comprehensive social skills development intervention program at the Center for Curative Pedagogics: 5 girls and 6 boys, mean age - 14,0 yrs. Age st.dev: 24,3 and 18.4. ICD-10 DS of participants were: F48.xx, F70.xx, F80.xx, F84.xx, G40.xx, G80.xx, Q74.xx, and Q90.xx.Following tools were used: Leiter-3 scales (LIQ), Vineland-3 Adaptive Behavior Scales (VSS); Perkins I.C.A.N. independence Scales (ICAN).ResultsSelected variables including were tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test. p-values of the SW test indicated that data were not distributed normally: LIQ (w=0.953, p=0.685); VSS (w=0.964, 0.821); ICAN (w=0.877;p=0.095).For the identification of the connections between the intelligence (LIQ) and adaptive functioning (VSS) we used r-Spearman criteria. These parameters showed significant monotonic relationship (rs = 0.961, p&lt;0.001). Mean IQ level of the sample is characterized as mildly impaired (mean = 62.9). The adaptive and the independence skills level of the sample are also far below the low normative results (57.1 and 48.7 respectively). Images 1,2 and 3 shows the distribution of the data. The correlation between IQ (LIQ) and independence skills (ICAN) is not significant (rs = 0.671, p&lt;0.024), as well as the correlation between adaptive and independence skills (rs = 0.733, p&lt;0.010).ConclusionsWe made an exploratory study of the adolescent participants of the comprehensive social skills development intervention program at the Center for Curative Pedagogics. Results show that non-verbal intelligence of the participants shows strong connection to the adaptive skills, but not to the independence skills. Sample size is very small, which is explained by the specifics of the intervention. Further research should be focused on the increasing sample and the expanding analysis parameters, such as social and family history, intervention details and the additional variables of the existing measurements.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Participation of children and adolescents in family mediation processes in Chile in light of Law No. 21,430

Este trabajo estudia la garantía y protección integral, el ejercicio efectivo y goce pleno del derecho de niños, niñas y adolescentes a participar activamente en los procesos de mediación familiar en Chile, a la luz de la Ley Nº 21.430, sobre Garantías y Protección Integral de los Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia. La autora se propone analizar el marco normativo vigente a tenor de los estándares internacionales derivados de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño, mediante la aplicación del método dogmático, con la finalidad de aportar al reconocimiento de NNA como sujetos titulares de derechos. Se concluye que la regulación normativa de la mediación familiar en Chile resulta insuficiente para garantizar la participación real y efectiva de NNA, considerándose imprescindible su adecuación a tenor de los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos existentes sobre la materia.