Youth Quality Research Articles

The Impact of SkiKu on Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Alaska Native Youth

The Impact of SkiKu on Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Alaska Native Youth

Забезпечення якості життя дітей і молоді в школах сприяння здоров’ю Львівської області

Purpose : to establish the role of health-promoting schools in providing of life quality of youth of school age. Material & Methods: the project activity and its benefits for youth’s life of 69 health promoting schools were analyzed. 2108 students of 10–11 grades was surveyed. 1080 students was studied in health promoting school. Results : the objective conditions for life quality formation according project activities ‘Health promoting school’ were described. The factors that contribute high life quality level of school youth were identified with regression analysis. Conclusions : the increasing of odds ratio for life quality was identified for males (in 2,2–2,6 times), for respondents with high levels of physical activity (in 1,3–2,8 times) and respondents which studied in health promoting schools (in 2,3–3,1 times).

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT AS A FORM OF YOUTH CIVIL EDUCATION

The paper gives the definition of volunteering movement, methods of educating civic qualities of youth through meaningful participation in socially useful affairs and the lack of an effective mechanism for the implementation of this process in practice. The model of organization of state support for volunteer movement among the youth has been developed. Systematic development and support of volunteering as a social value and at the same time a unique system of knowledge and technology in the sphere of development of human resources is one of the existing tools for managing the issue of creating conditions for the active participation of young people in solving social problems. The results of an authorial sociological research have been given. The findings of the study revealed the following problems: the modern infrastructure to support volunteering is not formed; the level of specialist training in the sphere of volunteer management is low. The basic technologies for implementing the proposed model of supporting the volunteer movement have been determined; the main conclusions of the study, trends and characteristics of organizing the state support for volunteer activities among the youth have been defined. A number of recommendations on the effectiveness of volunteer associations have been suggested

Leadership, Youth and Development in Nigeria

This paper set out to x-ray how the leadership of a nation influences the quality and characteristics of youth and the development of the nation; in the process certain words were clarified. The writer used observation, evaluated certain written documents and purposively interviewed some persons that are considered as significant others in order to generate data. Following the review, it was discovered that the quality of leadership in Nigeria has created youth that are acritical, indolent and veritable tools ready to perpetuate negativity in the society on slightest provocation. Such characteristics exhibited by the youth are hinged on the fact that development programmes are geographically based and the kind of education prevalent enthrones ethnic loyalty, nepotism and brigandage. This paper therefore, suggests that the leadership of the nation should have attitudinal change by encouraging meritocracy, down play ethno-political loyalty and encourage patriotism. To be able to achieve this feat, a functional education is required and this will be possible if those in position of authority encourage the welfare of the general populace and abandon conspicuous consumption which directly or indirectly have demonstration effect on the youth; whose life style and statements are tended towards getting rich quick by engaging in some unwholesome practices which are in the forms of being used as political thugs, who kill and maim opposition groups, snatch ballot boxes and even armed robbery. All that is intended just to portray the youth’s loyalty to the powers that be. Such negative actions evidence the mechanical stage of development of the people.

‘Learning the basics’: young people’s engagement with sexuality education at secondary schools

School-based sexuality education remains a key response to the HIV epidemic. Drawing on findings from an ethnographic study, this study explores how young people engage with sexuality and HIV- and AIDS-related education as it is delivered through the Life Orientation (LO) learning area in South Africa, in order to understand the dynamics that support or hinder engagement. Focus group discussions were held with Grade 9 and 11 learners (aged 14–18 years) from 16 randomly selected public secondary schools across three provincial districts. Results show that enjoyment of LO education was related to perceived relevance and distinctiveness, informal lesson delivery, subjective assessment standards and seemingly minimal effort. However, the perception of reduced effort tarnished the status of LO and young people’s motivation to participate. Learner engagement is influenced by a variety of cognitive, affective and behavioural pathways including internalised discourse around HIV and AIDS, gender and sexuality; the quality of youth–educator relations and teaching competencies; peer pressures; and broader cultural dynamics. The cultivation of a learning environment in which young people share and debate their views promotes engagement and critical thinking. In-service and pre-service educator training, structured activity plans and monitoring are recommended to advance the content knowledge and pedagogy of educators.

Suicidal-related behaviors and quality of life according to gender in adolescent Mexican high school students.

The study of pre-suicidal behaviors is important not only because of their association with suicide but also because of their impact on quality of life (QOL). Given the scarcity of information regarding this relationship in adolescence, the objective of this study was to analyze the association between suicidal-related behavior and QOL according to gender in adolescent Mexican high school students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with participants between 14 and 18 years of age. A translated version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Spanish version of the Youth Quality of Life Research - Instrument version were used. Non-parametric tests were applied. Informed consent was obtained from parents and students, and ethical committee approval was sought. The developmental-transactional model of suicidal behavior in adolescents by Bridge et al. was used. Separate analyses were conducted for males and females to show the suicidal-related behaviors associated with QOL. The behavior of having felt sad or hopeless generally presented the greatest effect sizes. The regression models showed that some suicidal-related behaviors increase the probability of a lower QOL even after adjusting for covariates.

Validação do Youth Quality of Life Instrument (YQOL-R) para a população portuguesa

Objetivo: É incontornável o estatuto que o conceito de qualidade de vida assume hoje na prática e políticas de saúde pública. Na infância e adolescência é ainda escassa a investigação, tornando-se crucial o desenvolvimento de instrumentos de qualidade vida relacionada com a saúde validados para esta população. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fundamental analisar as qualidades psicométricas e validar a versão portuguesa do Youth Quality of Life (YQOL-R). Métodos: A amostra é constituída por 507 adolescentes, com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 19 anos (M = 15,74; DP = 1,62), a frequentar o 3.º ciclo do ensino básico e ensino secundário de escolas públicas do ensino regular. Para além do citado instrumento a validar, os jovens preencheram também, para a análise da validade convergente e divergente, o Kidscreen-27 e a Escala da Depressão, Ansiedade e Stresse (EADS-21). Resultados: O YQOL-R apresenta uma estrutura fatorial de quatro fatores, semelhantes à versão original americana (individual, relações sociais, ambiente e qualidade de vida em geral). Possui uma boa consistência interna e uma adequada estabilidade temporal. Mostrou correlações significativas e no sentido esperado com as variáveis em estudo. Foram igualmente encontradas diferenças entre sexos em relação à qualidade de vida, sendo os rapazes a reportarem em média níveis mais elevados de perceção da qualidade de vida, comparativamente às raparigas. Conclusões: Futuros estudos devem ser realizados em amostras clínicas para confirmação dos dados. Não obstante esta limitação, o presente estudo contribuiu para a disponibilização de um novo instrumento para avaliação da qualidade de vida em crianças e adolescentes, o qual evidenciou boas propriedade psicométricas, apoiando, assim empiricamente, a sua utilização nas práticas de saúde e investigação em amostras da comunidade.

Examining social competence, self-perception, quality of life, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescent females with and without autism spectrum disorder: a quantitative design including between-groups and correlational analyses.

BackgroundAdolescent females with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are an understudied population, yet are also quite vulnerable, due to the increased complexities of social interaction and increased risk for internalizing symptoms in adolescence. Most research literature currently focuses on males with ASD, limiting our understanding of social experiences for females with ASD, and thus the potential to better inform supports and intervention to promote social-emotional functioning. This study examined similarities and differences in selected indicators of social-emotional health (social competence, self-perception, quality of life) and problematic behaviors such as externalizing and internalizing symptoms for adolescent females with and without ASD.MethodsThis study employed a quantitative design utilizing correlational analysis as well as t test comparisons to examine selected indicators of social-emotional health and problematic symptoms using the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS), Youth Quality of Life Instrument (YQOL), and the Self-Perceptions Profile for Adolescents (SPPA) for adolescent females with ASD in relation to their typically developing peers.ResultsSignificant differences were found between females with and without ASD in terms of their self-ratings of social-emotional health and problematic behaviors. The no-ASD group rated themselves higher across all areas of social-emotional health. Findings also suggest strong relationships between these constructs, especially for females without ASD. Parent reports of autism symptoms and social-emotional health indicated that as symptoms of autism are more severe, so too was the impact on individuals’ social competence.ConclusionsAdolescent females with ASD perceive themselves as having lower social competence, self-worth, and quality of life and higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms as compared to their typically developing peers. Parent ratings indicate that higher levels of autism symptoms relate to lower levels of social competence. These findings lend support to the postulate that adolescent females with ASD are more vulnerable than their typically developing counterparts due to the compounded impact of ASD symptoms on social-emotional health and the higher risk for internalizing disorders for adolescent girls. Limitations and implications for further research and intervention are discussed.

Using a Dance/Movement Therapy-Based Wellness Curriculum: An Adolescent Case Study

This study examined the relationship between an adolescent female’s overall wellness, defined by quality of life, and her participation in a dance/movement therapy (DMT)-based holistic wellness curriculum. The curriculum focused on the topics of nutrition, mindfulness, movement, body image, and friendships. Research indicates that the curriculum topics, holistic wellness models, and DMT are each relatively effective for work with adolescent females, but their combination had yet to be explored using the format of the current study. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered using the Youth Quality of Life-Research Version, as well as parent surveys and session transcriptions. Themes emerging from these data suggest that through engagement with the curriculum the participant increased knowledge about herself and how her body functioned, and that the use of DMT was appropriate in this particular situation. Future in-depth research with groups and different populations is warranted.

Italian Translation of the Youth Quality of Life Scale in Tourette Syndrome

The aim of this study was to translate the English version of the youth quality of life-research version (YQOL-R) instrument into Italian. A group of 50 patients affected by Tourette syndrome (TS) and 50 healthy controls were evaluated two times with YQOL-R. Moreover, a neuropsychological analysis was performed with evaluation scales and interviews that are able to measure the same properties as the YQOL-R. As a result, the Italian variant proved to be simple to understand, reliable, and valid for both patient groups. In conclusion, this instrument will prove useful for measuring the quality of life in patients with TS. It will also prove useful for monitoring health status and treatment outcomes. While the YQOL-R is not specific for children and adolescents with TS, it still captured the differences in quality of life between healthy controls and those with TS.

Improving dietary quality in youth with type 1 diabetes: randomized clinical trial of a family-based behavioral intervention.

BackgroundDiets of children with type 1 diabetes are low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and high in foods of minimal nutritional value, increasing risk for future adverse health outcomes. This 18-month randomized clinical trial tested the effect of a family-based behavioral intervention integrating motivational interviewing, active learning, and applied problem-solving on the primary outcomes of dietary intake and glycemic control among youth with type 1 diabetes.MethodsA parallel-group study with equal randomization was conducted at an outpatient, free-standing, multidisciplinary tertiary diabetes center in the United States. Eligible youth were those age 8–16 years with type 1 diabetes diagnosis ≥1 year and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% and ≤10.0%. Participants were 136 parent-youth dyads (treatment n = 66, control n = 70). The intervention consisted of 9 in-clinic sessions delivered to the child and parent; control condition comprised equivalent assessments and number of contacts without dietary advice. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day diet records at 6 time points across the 18-month study. Dietary outcomes included the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI2005; index measuring conformance to the 2005 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans) and Whole Plant Food Density (WPFD; number of cup or ounce equivalents per 1000 kcal of whole grains, whole fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds consumed). HbA1c was obtained every 3 months. Overall comparison of outcome variables between intervention and usual care groups was conducted using permutation tests.ResultsThere was a positive intervention effect across the study duration for HEI2005 (p = .015) and WPFD (p = .004). At 18 months, HEI2005 was 7.2 greater (mean ± SE 64.6 ± 2.0 versus 57.4 ± 1.6), and WPFD was 0.5 greater (2.2 ± 0.1 versus 1.7 ± 0.1) in the intervention group versus control. There was no difference between groups in HbA1c across the study duration.ConclusionsThis behavioral nutrition intervention improved dietary quality among youth with type 1 diabetes, but did not impact glycemic control. Findings indicate the potential utility of incorporating such strategies into clinical care, and suggest that improvement in diet quality can be achieved in families living with this burdensome disease.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT00999375Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0214-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

HOME Plus: Program design and implementation of a family-focused, community-based intervention to promote the frequency and healthfulness of family meals, reduce children's sedentary behavior, and prevent obesity.

BackgroundInvolvement in meal preparation and eating meals with one’s family are associated with better dietary quality and healthy body weight for youth. Given the poor dietary quality of many youth, potential benefits of family meals for better nutritional intake and great variation in family meals, development and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving and increasing family meals are needed. This paper presents the design of key intervention components and process evaluation of a community-based program (Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus) to prevent obesity.MethodsThe HOME Plus intervention was part of a two-arm (intervention versus attention-only control) randomized-controlled trial. Ten monthly, two-hour sessions and five motivational/goal-setting telephone calls to promote healthy eating and increasing family meals were delivered in community-based settings in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN metropolitan area. The present study included 81 families (8-12 year old children and their parents) in the intervention condition. Process surveys were administered at the end of each intervention session and at a home visit after the intervention period. Chi-squares and t-tests were used for process survey analysis.ResultsThe HOME Plus program was successfully implemented and families were highly satisfied. Parents and children reported that the most enjoyable component was cooking with their families, learning how to eat more healthfully, and trying new recipes/foods and cooking tips. Average session attendance across the ten months was high for families (68%) and more than half completed their home activities.ConclusionsFindings support the value of a community-based, family-focused intervention program to promote family meals, limit screen time, and prevent obesity.Trial registrationNCT01538615

Food Insecurity and Quality of Life among Obese Latino Adolescents

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between quality of life and food insecurity among obese Latino adolescents participating in a diabetes prevention program.MethodsBaseline surveys including the USDA food security screener and the Youth Quality of Life scale were administered to 62 parent‐adolescent (mean age 14.8 yrs) dyads prior to the intervention. Multivariate regressions were used to assess the relationship between youth's quality of life and food insecurity (both household and adolescent's self‐report) , adjusting for parent employment status, household size, and youth's gender and age.ResultsSelf‐reported food insecurity prevalence was high among parents (54.2%) and moderate among youth (19.7%). The odds of a child reporting food insecurity was 3.8 times higher if parents reported food insecurity (p=0.07). The mean adolescent quality of life score was 81.0±11.3. There was no significant relationship between adolescents' quality of life and food insecurity status(β=‐3.67; p=0.33), or in the relationship in adolescents' quality of life and parents' food security status even after adjusting for child food insecurity status (β=‐2.01; p=0.59).ConclusionsParents may protect their children from food insecurity, given the lower relative prevalence of food insecurity in adolescents as compared to parents. Surprisingly, there was no association observed between food security and quality of life; health professionals addressing food insecurity among youth may consider capitalizing on the positive outcomes in overall quality of life when designing interventions.

OCD? Not Me! Protocol for the development and evaluation of a web-based self-guided treatment for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundOCD? Not Me! is a novel, web-based, self-guided intervention designed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young people aged 12–18, using the principles of exposure and response prevention. The current...

Factors influencing quality of life of obese students in Hangzhou, China.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of overweight and obese middle or high school students and identify relevant factors influencing their QOL scores.Methods716 students were recruited from 6 middle or high schools in Hangzhou, China. The Chinese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument–Weight Module (YQOL-W) was self administered. The YQOL-W scores were compared among different BMI groups, gender, educational status, annual household income, parental education and recruitment community using t test or one-way analysis of variance. The independent association of these variables with QOL among overweight and obese students was examined using multivariable linear regression modeling.ResultsOverweight and obese students reported lower total scores, self, social and environment scores than their normal weight peers (all P<0.001). The QOL of overweight and obese middle and high school students was associated with BMI value, gender, educational status, parental education, and recruitment community. Girls had lower total scores, self, social and environment domain scores than boys (all P<0.001); high school students had lower total and three domain scores than middle school students (all P<0.05). Students whose fathers had higher education reported higher total scores, self and social scores than students with less educated fathers (all P<0.05). Students whose mothers had higher education reported higher environment scores than students with less educated mothers (P = 0.01). Students from migrant communities reported significantly lower total scores, self and social scores than those from rural communities (all P<0.05), but comparable scores with those from urban communities (P>0.05). Students from migrant communities reported comparable environment scores with those from rural and urban communities (P>0.05).ConclusionsOverweight and obesity have negative effects on students’ quality of life. Therefore weight specific QOL could be included in weight reduction interventions as a relevant outcome.

Dimensions of Identity and Subjective Quality of Life in Adolescents

The aim of this study is to investigate the relations between identity statuses and the perceived quality of life in adolescents aged 16–19. The research methods include the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire to assess identity status of a sample covering 233 participants (148 girls, 85 boys), and the Youth Quality of Life Instrument to assess their subjective quality of life. Diffused identity is linked to the lowest level of subjective quality of life, whereas foreclosed identity to the highest. Five patterns of the connection between identity dimensions and perceived quality of life have been distinguished through cluster analysis. The results indicate that different patterns of identity processes in adolescents coexist with different levels of quality of life.

Гендерный аспект корпоративных стандартов организации

Corporate standards of appearance based on the strategy of positioning the organization, implementing a number of aesthetic factors, which include gender characteristics. The style of corporate standards of appearance is determined largely by the severity of the characteristics on a scale of masculinity —femininity. Masculine type of clothing is perceived as a purely functional and business. Key features of normative masculinity in clothes are the elements of status. Today the masculine type of clothing is increasingly in demand in the corporate standards of organizations that impose strict requirements for staff appearance. Standards of feminine type are associated primarily with taboo or propaganda of sex symbols in staff appearance. It can be successfully implemented in those spheres of business where the quality of beauty, strength and youth act as a competitive advantage (firms operating in the market of entertainment and gaming services, the industry of sports, modeling), or where competitive advantages are based on care, empathy, communication skills (organization of welfare service, preschool and school education, and others). Unidentified type embodies the style unisex as a means of &amp;#34;raising&amp;#34; of women to men. That type of gender may be relevant to areas of business where there is an absolute erasure of gender roles, such as sports or IT technology. Androgynous type is a structure that includes elements of traditional male and female clothing. This type is used in the areas of business where competition is based on combining the standards of masculinity and femininity at the same time, for example, service, tourism and other similar activities.

Salient characteristics of youth with type 1 diabetes initiating continuous glucose monitoring.

Consistent continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use is a challenge in youth with type 1 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate patient and family behavioral and clinical characteristics associated with interest in implementing CGM. In a cross-sectional study, we compared 120 youth interested in starting CGM (the CGM group) with a general sample of 238 youth with type 1 diabetes (the Standard group). Youth and their parents completed validated surveys assessing adherence to diabetes management, diabetes-specific family conflict, parent involvement in diabetes management, and youth quality of life. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from chart review and interview. Youth participants had a mean age of 13.0±2.8 years, diabetes duration of 6.3±3.4 years, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 8.2±1.0% (66±11 mmol/mol). Youth in the CGM group performed more frequent blood glucose monitoring, had lower HbA1c levels, and were more likely to be treated by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and to be living in two-parent homes than youth in the Standard group. Compared with the Standard group, youth interested in wearing a CGM device and their parents reported greater adherence to diabetes management, less diabetes-specific family conflict, and higher youth quality of life. No differences were found between groups with respect to parent involvement in diabetes management by both youth and parent reports. In efforts to enhance CGM uptake, it is important to address factors such as blood glucose monitoring frequency, CSII use, adherence, and diabetes-specific family conflict when considering youth with type 1 diabetes for CGM implementation.

Validation of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument for Portuguese Adolescents

Introduction Quality of Life (QoL) plays a remarkable role in practice and public health policy. However, research on QoL among children and adolescents is still scarce and it seems crucial to develop and validate assessment tools for measuring health-related QoL. Objectives The current study aims to analyse the psychometric properties and validate the Portuguese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument (YQOL-R; Patrick et al., 2002). In addition, the convergent and divergent validities are examined with related constructs. Methods Participants were 507 adolescents, with ages between 12 and 19 years old, attending middle and high schools. Together with YQOL-R, participants also filled out the Kidscreen-27 (Gaspar & Matos, 2008) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (Pais-Ribeiro, Honrado & Leal, 2004). Results The Portuguese version of YQOL-R showed a four-factor structure (dimensions: Self, Relationships, Environment, General Quality of Life), similar to the original version. This instrument also revealed a good internal reliability and adequate temporal stability. YQOL-R showed positive correlations with health-related quality of life and negative associations with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. There were significant gender differences regarding quality of life, with boys reporting higher levels of perceived quality of life than girls. Conclusions Future studies should be conducted to ensure these findings among clinical samples or physical conditions. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the set of available instruments for the assessment of QoL among children and adolescents, suggesting that the YQOL-R may be a useful tool for research and health practices in community samples.

The Relationship between Personality Disorders and Quality of Life in Adolescent Outpatients

Abstract Background: During recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the benefits of the early detection and treatment of personality disorders in adolescents. Previous studies of adults have shown that the number of personality disorder criteria met is negatively correlated with a patient’s quality of life and general functioning. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of personality disorders, particularly with regard to the correlation between the number of personality disorder criteria fulfilled and self-perceived quality of life. Distribution according to gender and age in a clinical sample of adolescent outpatients were also considered. Method: This study included 153 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 years who were referred to a mental health outpatient clinic. Personality disorders were assessed using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality. Quality of life was assessed using the Youth Quality of Life Instrument - Research Version, which is a 41-item questionnaire that covers broad aspects of quality of life. Axis I disorders were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results: Results demonstrated that 21.6% of the adolescents met the diagnostic criteria for at least one personality disorder. A relationship between the number of personality disorder criteria met and reduced quality of life was found. No significant gender differences with regard to the prevalence of each of the personality disorders were revealed. Adjustment for the presence of Axis I disorders did not appreciably affect these findings Conclusion: The present study indicates that reduced quality of life as a result of the number of personality disorder criteria met affects adolescents in much the same way that it does adults. This further emphasizes the clinical importance of including quality of life assessment as part of the general diagnostic procedures used with adolescents.