Practical Implications For Prevention Research Articles

Investigating College Student Mental Health Needs and Barriers Using Natural Language Processing

College students’s mental health has been declining, despite efforts by universities to improve outreach and programming. Though a variety of resources are available, students, especially those who experience marginalization, often do not engage with them. LGBTQ+ students in Florida, in particular, may face unique challenges. To understand marginalized college students’s mental health experiences, we conducted ten focus group interviews (N = 65) with students with various marginalized identities. Using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, we conducted sentiment analysis with respect to students’s responses on interview questions (e.g., mental health needs, how needs are met/not met) among LGBTQ+ and other minority groups. Overall, LGBTQ+ students yielded a more negative sentiment than the other groups, with a marginally significant (at 0.1 level) difference suggested by Wilcoxon rank sum test. This project presents a novel approach to leveraging traditional qualitative methods and AI, provides deeper understanding of the mental-health-related needs of marginalized college students, and practical implications for prevention and intervention efforts to promote college students’s mental health.

Negative parenting style and depression in adolescents: A moderated mediation of self-esteem and perceived social support

BackgroundNegative parenting style as a risk factors of depression has been defined in the previous researches. However, the underlying mechanism between negative parenting style and depression was still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of perceived social support in the association between negative parenting style and depression among adolescents. MethodsA total of 14,724 Chinese adolescents were asked to complete the questionnaires including Parenting Style scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Self-esteem scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale. Mediation and moderation analyses were carried out in SPSS 25.0 macro PROCESS. ResultsSelf-esteem mediated the relationship between negative parenting styles and adolescent depression (β = 0.113, SE = 0.004, p < 0.001). Perceived social support moderated the direct effect of negative parenting style on depression (β = −0.076, SE = 0.009, p < 0.001). Moreover, perceived social support moderated the indirect effect of negative parenting style on self-esteem (β = −0.023, SE = 0.007, p < 0.001) and the indirect effect of self-esteem on depression (β = 0.070, SE = 0.009, p < 0.001) in the moderated mediation model. LimitationsCross-sectional research design was used in the study. All measures were based on participant self-report. ConclusionThis study reveals the underlying mechanism with regard to the influence of negative parenting style on depression through self-esteem and perceived social support. Findings provide a theoretical basis and practical implications for prevention and intervention programs to protect adolescents' mental health.

Loot boxes use, video gaming, and gambling in adolescents: Results from a path analysis before and during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown in Italy.

Loot Boxes (LBs), i.e., virtual items embedded within video games with numerous features reminiscent of gambling, are increasingly widespread among adolescents. LB use is associated with problem gambling in youth, but few studies have been conducted on the association between LB use and gambling behavior considering adolescents. Thus, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not clear. As LB use is a significant and positive risk factor for video gaming severity, and video gaming is associated with problem gambling, we hypothesized that LB use would be related to gambling frequency and problem gambling through the intermediary role of video gaming frequency and problem video gaming. We tested our hypothesis before COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown and during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown, in Italy. Study 1 was conducted with 1,078 high school students (39% boys, mean age = 16.46, SD = 1.28) before COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown, and Study 2 was conducted with 1,204 high school students (57% boys, mean age = 15.62, SD = 0.64) during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown. A path analysis was carried out to analyze the significance of indirect effects from LB use to gambling behavior and problem gambling through video gaming and problem video gaming. In both the studies, results showed that LB use exerted significant and positive direct effects on video gaming frequency, problem video gaming, and gambling frequency. Moreover, LB use had indirect significant and positive effects on problem gambling through video gaming frequency, problem video gaming, and gambling frequency. Findings attest that LB use can be related to problem gambling through a greater involvement in videogames. Thus, a specific subtype of young gamblers can develop Gambling Disorder symptoms from the use of LBs and through an intense use of video games. Practical implications for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Transactional associations between vocabulary and disruptive behaviors during the transition to formal schooling.

This study investigated the transactional relations between vocabulary and disruptive behaviors (DB; physical aggression and opposition/rule breaking/theft and vandalism), during the transition to formal schooling, using a community sample of 572 children. Cross-lagged panel model analyses were used to examine bidirectional relationships, comparing physical aggression to non-aggressive DB. Transactional associations between vocabulary and DB were observed, coinciding with school entry. Lower vocabulary in preschool (60mo.) was predictive of higher physical aggression scores in kindergarten. In turn, higher physical aggression in kindergarten was predictive of lower vocabulary in 1st grade. For non-aggressive DB, recurrent associations were found. Lower verbal skills in preschool (42mo.) and kindergarten predicted higher non-aggressive DB scores later in preschool and in 1st grade respectively. In turn, higher non-aggressive DB in kindergarten predicted lower vocabulary scores in 1st grade. In contrast to transactional paths from vocabulary to DB, transactional paths from DB to vocabulary observed after the transition to elementary school remained significant after controlling for comorbid hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention behaviors, suggesting these links were specific to aggressive and non-aggressive DB. Practical implications for prevention are discussed.

Understanding the relationship between distress intolerance and problematic Internet use: The mediating role of coping motives and the moderating role of need frustration.

There is emerging research interest in exploring the relationship between distress intolerance and problematic Internet use, yet most of the existing studies are limited by cross-sectional design, convenience sampling method, and poor understanding of the potential mediating and moderating factors involved. Based on the distress intolerance theory of addictive behavior and the theory of compensatory internet use, this study investigated a moderated mediation model to explain the impact of distress intolerance on problematic Internet use in adolescents. A three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted with 709 adolescents in Shanghai, China. The gender distribution was even, 50.2% were boys and 49.8% were girls. The mean age at T1 was 14.79 years (SD = 2.87). Distress intolerance at Time 1 was found to positively predict problematic Internet use at Time 3. This prospective relation was mediated by adolescents' coping motives for Internet use at Time 2. Further, the mediation effect of coping motives for Internet use was moderated by need frustration at Time 2. The moderated mediation model was statistically equivalent for both genders. Findings of this study contribute to new knowledge and have practical implications for prevention and intervention of adolescent problematic Internet use.

Risk behaviours in adolescence: predictive role of mindful parenting

ABSTRACT This research aimed to explore the role of parental characteristics and mindful parenting in risk behaviour of adolescents. A total of 604 participants took part in the study, out of which N = 361 were adolescents aged 13 to 18, N = 158 were their mothers, and N = 85 fathers. To achieve the aim of the research, the following questionnaires were used: The General Data Questionnaire for Adolescents and Parents, The Adolescent Risk Behaviour Questionnaire, The Family Satisfaction Scale, and The Mindful Parenting Questionnaire. The results indicated that male adolescents report more often on violent behaviour, while girls report symptoms of eating disorders and they are less satisfied with their life. Related to age, older adolescents report lower life and family satisfaction and more often normative undesirable behaviour. The family satisfaction of adolescents, as well as mindful parenting, are negatively associated with risk behaviour, while the focus of attention on the child, self-efficacy, and empathy is positively related to the satisfaction of adolescents. The results support existing knowledge in this field and have strong practical implications for prevention and treatment interventions targeting family context.

The Relationship Between Sexism, Affective States, and Attitudes Toward Homosexuality in a Sample of Heterosexual Italian People

Research within the Italian context on the determinants of attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women is relatively poor compared with the large number of investigations carried out in other countries. Our goal is to examine Italians’ attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women, as well as the factors that encourage these perspectives. We are interested in whether socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education level, and religiosity predict negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. Another goal is to examine affectivity and sexism’s role in predicting attitudes toward homosexuality. The study was conducted online with 1328 Italian heterosexual participants (women, 67.3%; men, 32.7%) ranging in age from 18 to 78 (women: M = 23.9, SD = 5.2; men: M = 26, SD = 8.9). The results show that men, older people, more religious people, sexists, and those who had higher negative affectivity were more predisposed to having negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. The results are discussed, while considering their practical implications for prevention and education programs focused on reducing discrimination against lesbian and gay people in Italian society today.

Parental and kinship ties, and low self-control: Violence perpetration among rural African American adolescents from the Black Belt

IntroductionA substantial body of research supports both social control and self-control theories in explaining violent or deviant behaviors. Most previous work has focused on the links between family ties or bonds and deviance, along with low self-control. A potentially untested and overlooked bond is the extended kinship network, particularly among African American youth. The current study tested the extent to which kinship ties explained unique variability in violence perpetration, net the effects by family ties, low self-control, and background variables. MethodsData were collected from rural African American adolescents enrolled in a poor, rural public school located in the Black Belt in the Southeastern United States. The sample included N = 610 adolescents (55.9% female; Mage = 15.64, SD = 1.74). ResultsFindings from hierarchical regressions provided evidence that kinship ties explained unique variance in violence perpetration, above and beyond the effects of parental support and low self-control. ConclusionsStudy findings provide some support for the unique importance of kinship ties in understanding variability in adolescent violence perpetration in this sample of poor, rural African American adolescents. Thus, they highlight a potentially unique extra-familial source of socialization and social control; this finding, in particular, has important theoretical and practical implications for prevention and intervention efforts targeting violent behaviors among rural African American youth.

Preventing juvenile sexual offending through parental monitoring: a comparison study of youth’s experiences of supervision

ABSTRACTThe parental monitoring literature has long observed a link between parental monitoring and juvenile antisocial behaviour. This study extends this line of research to juveniles who commit sexual abuse. The present study investigates whether juvenile reports of parental monitoring differ between juvenile sexual offenders (n = 338), juvenile delinquents (n = 346), and non-incarcerated juvenile controls (n = 256). Results indicate that both incarcerated groups reported significantly less parental knowledge compared to juvenile controls. Further, both juvenile sexual offenders and juvenile controls reported significantly more parental control compared to juvenile delinquents. With regard to parental solicitation, the results were mixed for sexual offenders. They reported high levels of solicitation for some items (e.g. what the youth was doing, who they were with), and lower levels for other items (e.g. where the youth was, whether an adult would be present). When repeating these analyses with the exclusion of non-parent caregivers, a similar pattern of results emerged; however, item-level analyses revealed that parents of juvenile delinquents reported certain types of solicitation and control behaviours more frequently (e.g. asked where the youth was going, made sure the rules were followed) compared to findings from the main sample. Potential explanations for these findings as well as practical implications for prevention are discussed.

Role of Sex Hormones in the Control of Vegetative and Metabolic Functions of Middle-Aged Women

Aims: In women's life, menopause is characterized by significant physiological changes often associated with an increase in body mass and obesity-associated sicknesses. Numerous researches described interdependencies of estrogen deficiency, aging, and resting energy expenditure (REE) downfall in the obesity correlated with the menopause. The aim of this study was to determining whether healthy, obese menopausal women underwent HRT treatment, showed changes in their REE, autonomic asset, and assessment of oxidative stress in comparison with obese pre- and post-menopausal women.Methodology: In this study, we measured the body composition, the REE, the oxidative stress, the diet assimilation, and the autonomic nervous system activity in three groups: pre-menopause women (n = 50), post-menopause women following hormone-replacement therapy (HRT; n = 50), and post-menopause women not following HRT (n = 50).Results: In the group with HRT a significant increase of the sympathetic activity and REE was described. Finally this group showed a notable increment of oxidative stress compared with the others, and utilizing BIA instrument, the free fat mass was increased respect to the fat mass of obese women.Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of the HRT-related physiological changes that influence body weight in menopause women. This results are important because have a practical implications for prevention and/or treatment of the obesity.

School engagement, acculturation, and mental health among migrant adolescents in Israel.

This study aimed to explore the role of school engagement and the mediation effect of acculturation in predicting 1.5 and second-generation migrant adolescents' mental health and risk behaviors. Participants included 448 seventh to tenth grade Israeli students (mean age 14.50, 53% boys): 128 non-Jewish 1.5 generation migrant adolescents (children of migrants living in Israel), 118 second-generation migrants (children of migrants born and living in Israel), and an age-matched sample of 202 native-born Jewish adolescents. All participants completed a battery of questionnaires assessing mental health symptoms, engagement in risk behaviors, social adjustment, and school engagement. Both migrant adolescent groups also completed an acculturation questionnaire. Differences between groups in school engagement, mental health symptoms, and risk behavior were examined, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate the hypothesized mediating effect of acculturation. Findings revealed substantially higher levels of mental health symptoms (p < .001) and risk behaviors (p = .001) among 1.5 and second-generation migrant adolescents compared with native-born adolescents, with no significant differences between 1.5 generation and second-generation migrants. Migrants' age and gender were associated with mental health symptoms and risk behaviors-older participants engaged in more risk behaviors (p = .02), and females had elevated mental health symptoms (p = .007). Identification with the host country mediated the relationships between school engagement and mental health symptoms (ps .006 and .008) and risk behaviors (ps .001 and .004) in 1.5 generation and second-generation migrants, respectively. The results are discussed in reference to current theories and research, as well as practical implications for prevention and intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record

Preschooler Sleep Patterns Related to Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning

Research Findings: Preschoolers’ sleep patterns were examined related to cognitive and adaptive functioning. The sample consisted of 874 typically developing preschool children with a mean age of 40.01 months. Parent/caregiver reports of children's sleep pattern factors, Stanford-Binet 5 intelligence scale scores, and Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, adaptive behavior composite scores were examined. The results provided evidence of the interaction among preschoolers’ sleep factors, cognitive variations across performance areas, and adaptive functioning. Practice or Policy: Sleep needs vary according to the child, and maintaining optimal sleep habits will help preschool performance and skills acquisition. Practical implications for prevention, early intervention, education, and policy are discussed.

Avian Influenza Risk Perception and Preventive Behavior among Traditional Market Workers and Shoppers in Taiwan: Practical Implications for Prevention

BackgroundAvian influenza (AI) can be highly pathogenic and fatal. Preventive behavior such as handwashing and wearing face masks has been recommended. However, little is known about what psychosocial factors might influence people's decision to adopt such preventive behavior. This study aims to explore risk perception and other factors associated with handwashing and wearing face masks to prevent AI.Methodology/Principal FindingsAn interviewer-administered survey was conducted among 352 traditional market workers and shoppers in Taiwan between December 2009 and January 2010. Factors associated with the recommended AI preventive behavior (i.e., when in a traditional market, wearing a face mask and also washing hands after any contact with poultry) included: having correct knowledge about the fatality rate of AI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.18), knowing of severe cases of AI (AOR = 2.13), being informed of local AI outbreaks (AOR = 2.24), living in northeastern Taiwan (AOR = 6.01), having a senior high-school education (AOR = 3.33), and having a university or higher education (AOR = 6.86). Gender interactive effect was also found among participants with a senior high-school education, with males being less likely to engage in the recommended AI preventive behavior than their female counterparts (AOR = 0.34).Conclusions/SignificanceSpecific information concerning AI risk perception was associated with the recommended AI preventive behavior. In particular, having correct knowledge about the fatality rate of AI and being informed of severe cases and local outbreaks of AI were linked to increased AI preventive behavior. These findings underscore the importance of transparency in dealing with epidemic information. These results also have practical implications for prevention and policy-making to more effectively promote the recommended AI preventive behavior in the public.

Sexual Risk Behavior in Emerging Adults: Gender-Specific Effects of Hedonism, Psychosocial Distress, and Sociocognitive Variables in a 5-Year Longitudinal Study

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal effects of HIV protection intention, condom self-efficacy, psychosocial distress and hedonism on sexual risk behavior up to 5 years later. The sample included 1,290 Swiss heterosexual young adults aged 16-24 years. A series of hierarchical logistic regression analyses yielded clear gender-specific results showing that for women condom self-efficacy and psychosocial distress, and for men HIV protection intention and hedonism, predicted sexual risk behavior up to 5 years later. The relationship between psychosocial distress and sexual risk behavior in women was partially mediated by a lower condom self-efficacy but not by a lower HIV protection intention. High hedonism in young men did not decrease HIV protection intention but had a direct effect on sexual risk behavior. Theoretical consequences for sociocognitive models of sexual risk behavior and practical implications for prevention are discussed.

Social behavior and peer relationships of victims, bully‐victims, and bullies in kindergarten

Although the prevalence of bully/victim problems in school-age children and adolescents has been investigated in many countries, only a few studies have been carried out among younger children. This study examines social behaviors and peer relationships of children involved in bully/victim problems in kindergarten. Three hundred and forty-four five- to seven-year-old children participated. Children were categorized as victims, bully-victims, bullies, and non-involved by means of teacher ratings and peer nominations. Teachers completed questionnaires on children's social behavior patterns. Peer relationships were assessed by means of peer nominations and social cluster mapping. Compared to non-involved children, victims were more submissive, had fewer leadership skills, were more withdrawn, more isolated, less cooperative, less sociable, and frequently had no playmates. As expected, bullies and bully-victims were generally more aggressive than their peers. In addition, bully-victims were less cooperative, less sociable, and more frequently had no playmates than non-involved children. Bullies were less prosocial, and had more leadership skills than non-involved children. Bullies belonged to larger social clusters and were frequently affiliated with other bullies or bully-victims. We were able to establish distinct behavior patterns for bullies, bully-victims, and victims. Some of these social behaviors may be considered as risk factors for being victimized or becoming a bully. Our findings also emphasize the significance of peer relationships in bully/victim problems. On the one hand, victimized children's lack of friends might render them psychologically and socially vulnerable, and thus more prone to becoming easy targets. On the other hand, bullies seemed to be preferred playmates, particularly for other aggressive boys. This affiliation of aggressive children might lead to an increase in bullying behavior. Our understanding of the social and interactional nature of bullying and victimization has practical implications for prevention and intervention against bully/victim problems.

The Effects of Cultural Differences on Peer Group Relationships

SUMMARY The goal of this study was to explore delinquency as an interdependent relationship between the social context and the individual or group of individuals being studied and to gain insight into the relationship between culture, peer group relationships, and delinquency. The results suggested that certain types of activities are more closely linked with delinquent behavior, rather than specific aspects of peer group relations. Cultural group differences were not manifested in peer group relationships. Therefore, these findings suggest the importance of youth culture rather than traditional culture as a protective or degenerative factor in delinquent behavior. Further research on the role of youth culture and peer groups in delinquent behavior is needed because of the theoretical and practical implications for prevention and intervention programs.

Facing guilt: Role of negative affectivity, need for reparation, and fear of punishment in leading to prosocial behaviour and aggression

The present study aims to further corroborate and to extend the scope of previous findings regarding the path of influence between negative affectivity, need for reparation and fear of punishment when examining the determinants and the motivational components of guilt. Data were collected from three different European countries (i.e. Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic). About 1100 young adolescents were involved in the research. The generalizability of a nomological network linking individual differences in Negative Affectivity to Need for Reparation, Fear of Punishment, Prosocial Behaviour, and Aggression has been investigated across countries and gender, by means of structural equation modelling. Need for Reparation turns out to be positively related to Prosocial Behaviour and negatively related to Aggression. Fear for Punishment turns out to be positively related to Aggression and negatively related to Prosocial Behaviour, with the exception of Hungary. Alternative paths of influence among considered variables have been examined. Practical implications for prevention and education are underlined. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Facing guilt: Role of negative affectivity, need for reparation, and fear of punishment in leading to prosocial behaviour and aggression

The present study aims to further corroborate and to extend the scope of previous findings regarding the path of influence between negative affectivity, need for reparation and fear of punishment when examining the determinants and the motivational components of guilt. Data were collected from three different European countries (i.e. Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic). About 1100 young adolescents were involved in the research. The generalizability of a nomological network linking individual differences in Negative Affectivity to Need for Reparation, Fear of Punishment, Prosocial Behaviour, and Aggression has been investigated across countries and gender, by means of structural equation modelling. Need for Reparation turns out to be positively related to Prosocial Behaviour and negatively related to Aggression. Fear for Punishment turns out to be positively related to Aggression and negatively related to Prosocial Behaviour, with the exception of Hungary. Alternative paths of influence among considered variables have been examined. Practical implications for prevention and education are underlined. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

The adolescent self-concept: A functional determinant of consultant preference

The consultant preferences of adolescents were examined in relation to self-worth and locus of control. A total of 247 subjects, 122 males and 125 females, ranging in age from 13 to 18 years, completed questionnaires indicating self-worth and locus of control orientation. These subjects also rated their preference for four generic consultant categories (a familiar adult, an adult expert, a familiar peer, or peer expert) in three hypothetical problem situations—an impersonal problem, an interpersonal problem with a peer, and an interpersonal problem with a parent. Analyses were conducted on the dependent measure of preference scores. A six-way analysis of variance was conducted with the independent variables of age, sex, self-worth, locus of control, and the repeated measures of situation (across three levels) and consultant choice (across four levels). The results reveal a significant three-way interaction between age, sex, and consultant choice. The results also indicate a significant four-way interaction between self-worth, locus of control, situation, and consultant choice. This interaction between personality variables, problem domain, and consultant characteristics contains practical implications for prevention and intervention.

Sexual Victimization of Children: Implications for Educators

The purpose of this article is three fold in its approach to educators regarding child sexual abuse. By utilizing the literature, detection and intervention strategies are outlined. Symptoms of sexually abused children are discussed and profiles of high risk children are given. Steps involving the reporting of suspected sexual victimization are set forth, as are some common pitfalls of involvement in the referral system. Treatment and long-term management strategies are discussed and also the practical implications for prevention that educators and school systems might follow.