Youth Report Research Articles

Message received: Concordance between parents and children in perceptions of messages about race and ethnic identity development.

The objective of this study was to examine the agreement between African American and Latinx parents and their school-age children regarding the amount of ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) parents provided and relations to youth ethnic-racial identity development. The sample included 353 parents and their 10-11 year-old children (57% Latinx; 55% boys), who both completed surveys 1 year apart. Latent difference scores were used to quantify agreement between parents and youth and to examine the relation between agreement and family and child characteristics including youth ethnic-racial identity development. Parents reported higher levels of ERS than children, and differences were greater for preparation for bias than cultural socialization. Higher levels of cultural socialization and greater discrepancies between parent and youth reports were associated with greater ethnic-racial identity development 1 year later. Greater discrepancies in report of bias preparation were associated with less ethnic-racial identity development, but this effect was not significant once the impact of parent-reported bias preparation was accounted for. Incorporating both parent and youth reports of ERS provides a more complete picture of these practices and associated outcomes. Implications for the study of ERS and clinical intervention are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining the Role of Peer and Family Belongingness in the Mental Health of Black LGBTQ + Youth

A sense of belonging to familial and peer networks is crucial for the mental health of LGBTQ + youth. Black LGBTQ + youth report feeling rejected and isolated due to their sexual and/or gender identities. Utilizing linear regression analyses, this study explored the relationship between peer and family belongingness and levels of depression, anxiety, and self-rated mental health among 181 Black LGBTQ + youth in the United States and Canada. Findings suggest that family and peer belongingness are important factors in Black LGBTQ + youth’s mental health and warrant further study into the protective nature of peer and family relationships for this population.

Longitudinal perspectives of riding with a cannabis-impaired driver

ObjectiveTo explore decisions and perceptions of engaging in riding with a cannabis-impaired driver (RWI) during high school and young adulthood to build context around RWI-cannabis events. MethodsParticipants were sampled from the NEXT Generation Health Study (NEXT), a 7-year national cohort study of adolescent health behaviors. Four RWI and driving while impaired (DWI) trajectories classes (i.e., Abstainer, Escalator, Decliner, Persister) were previously derived.A theoretical model based on ecological systems theory guidedin-depth semi-structured interviews to includecomplex, social-developmental and environmental multi-level factors affectingpersonal experiences with RWI-cannabis during high school, after high school, and during young adulthood. Participants (n = 105) were purposively selected from each trajectory class for follow-up, in-depth, qualitative interviews. All interviews were conducted via Zoom between March and September 2020. ResultsTwo unique themes emerged as facilitators of RWI-cannabis: “Driving Context” and “Trust in Driver”. “Legal Concerns” and “Concerns with Safety Emerge with Age” were themes that described deterrents to RWI-cannabis. ConclusionsCurrent data suggest that youth RWI-cannabis occurs during daytime hours and while driving to everyday activities. Youth report legal concerns as a potential deterrent to RWI-cannabis in high school and concerns for safety emerge in young adulthood. The multifaceted nature of RWI-cannabis among young drivers identifies potential complexities for programming designed to reduce RWI/DWI-cannabis.

Lift Every Voice: Engaging Black Adolescents in Social Justice Service-Learning to Promote Mental Health and Educational Equity

This study reports on the feasibility and acceptability of a social justice infused service-learning (S-L) program to promote Black adolescent mental health and educational equity. We convened a community advisory board to help adapt and pilot test, via open trial mixed method design, an evidence-based service-learning program for Black middle school adolescents (n = 21) attending summer camp at a faith-based setting. We describe a S-L curriculum, with a focus on the achievement gap, and training for church staff and assess staff and youth reports of feasibility, acceptability, and promise to (a) improve/engage psychological engagement targets, and (b) improve academic motivation, and social-emotional and behavioral outcomes. Mixed method findings revealed high feasibility and acceptability of the S-L intervention as indicated by consistent attendance and enthusiastic engagement by staff and youth, high satisfaction, high completion rates of planned sessions, and emergent qualitative themes from staff interviews and adolescent focus groups highlighting that service-learning (1) facilitated skills (e.g., goal-setting, social-emotional and behavioral regulation, and problem-solving), (2) shaped perspectives and inspired openness, and (3) created a space for all to feel valued and included to address the inequities of education that directly impacted them. There was preliminary evidence for efficacy in that youth report of emotional symptoms, peer problems, and staff report of general internalizing symptoms decreased following the intervention, while youth report of prosocial behaviors increased. Implications suggest that S-L programming demonstrates promise to promote mental health outcomes, raise social awareness, and inspire critical consciousness and lift the voices of Black youth by providing tools for working toward systemic changes to reduce inequities in both education and mental health.

Irritability, Negative Life Events, and the Course of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in a Clinical Sample of Youth: A Longitudinal Study

Irritability, the tendency to react with anger, and the experience of negative life events (NLE) have independently been associated with the emergence of anxiety and depression. Here, we investigate how irritability and cumulative effects of NLE interactively predict the course of anxiety and depression in the context of common psychiatric disorders. 432 youth with no psychiatric diagnosis, or a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), participated in this study. At baseline, we assessed NLE, parent and youth reports of irritability and anxiety, and youth reports of depression. Symptoms were annually reassessed for up to four years. In youth without psychiatric diagnoses but with elevated baseline irritability, the presence of NLE predicted decreasing anxiety, while the absence of NLE predicted increasing anxiety. In youth with an anxiety disorder, elevated baseline irritability predicted decreasing anxiety independent of NLE, while a large cumulative effect of NLE predicted increasing depression. NLE predicted persisting mild anxiety in ADHD and persisting mild depressive symptoms in DMDD. Our findings suggest that, particularly in non-referred samples, NLE might moderate the relationship between irritability and future anxiety such that irritability/ anger in the context of NLE can positively affect the course of anxiety. Future work replicating this finding while repeatedly measuring NLE and rigorously controlling for potentially confounding effects of treatment, is warranted.

Binary and Non-binary Gender Identities, Internalizing Problems, and Treatment Wishes Among Adolescents Referred to a Gender Identity Clinic in Germany

Clinical research on transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents has focused on binary individuals or often not differentiated among gender identities. Recent studies suggest that a considerable proportion of TGNC adolescents identify as non-binary and that these youth report more internalizing problems as well as different transition-related medical treatment wishes than binary adolescents. However, the results are inconclusive, and data for the German-speaking area are lacking. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the percentage of binary and non-binary gender identities in a German sample of clinically referred TGNC adolescents and examine associations of gender identity with internalizing problems and transition-related medical treatment wishes. The sample consisted of 369 adolescents (11–18 years, Mage = 15.43; 305 birth-assigned female, 64 birth-assigned male) who attended the Hamburg Gender Identity Service for children and adolescents (Hamburg GIS) between 2013 and 2019. Gender identity and treatment wishes were assessed using study-specific items and internalizing problems using the Youth Self-Report. In total, 90% (n = 332) of the sample identified as binary and 10% (n = 37) as non-binary. Having a non-binary gender identity was significantly associated with more internalizing problems and with wishing for no transition-related medical treatment or only puberty-suppressing hormones. The results underscore that non-binary adolescents represent a specifically vulnerable subgroup within TGNC adolescents with unique mental health needs and treatment wishes. Future research should differentiate among various gender identities. In clinical practice, it is crucial to create an inclusive space for non-binary youth and provide mental health care if needed.

Sharing the Burden: Latinx Immigrant Parents and Teens’ Sociopolitical Discussions and Their Impact on Youth Mental Health

Background. There is limited research on parent-child discussions about sociopolitical issues in the US and how they take place. There is less known about the role of sociopolitical conversations as a protective factor benefitting immigrant youth and families. We draw on the ecological expansion of the adverse childhood experience framework to better understand how immigrant-origin youth are making sense of restrictive immigration policies coupled with cultural and sociopolitical messaging received from parents. Methods. Participants engaged in one-hour virtual interviews between 2020 and 2021. We conducted ten interviews with undocumented Latinx parents and 10 interviews with their adolescents aged 13-17. Results. Three main themes emerged from parent interviews: (1) sociopolitical socialization and youth agency, (2) documentation status socialization, and (3) emotional and mental health well-being. Findings show that parents use storytelling to share messages about race, culture, and immigration and provide counternarratives to the toxic sociopolitical environment. Four themes emerged from youth interviews: (1) sociopolitical awareness and action; (2) youth taking on a protective role; (3) learning about risks, injustices, and privileges; and (4) mental health. Youth shared a desire for sociopolitical education and reported a range of coping mechanisms against anti-immigrant rhetoric. Conclusion and Implication. Our findings provide a greater understanding of communication practices within Latinx mixed-status immigrant families, by drawing on both parent and youth reports. These findings can inform practitioners and researchers alike of the amplified systemic barriers felt by immigrant families during the pandemic and the urgency of supporting them as they fight for their rights and dignity.

Attachment and trauma-informed programme to support forcibly displaced parents of youth in Sweden: feasibility and preliminary outcomes of the eConnect Online programme

ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility, acceptability and the impact of an online parenting programme for forcibly displaced parents of adolescents.DesignThe study was a single-arm feasibility study using pre-intervention post-intervention and follow-up...

Evidence for the Influence of Confucian Filial Piety on Deviancy Among Young People

This study is a test of Confucian filial piety’s ability to influence deviant behavioral outcomes among young people. Variables examining the acceptance/rejection of parental guidelines by young people, representing levels of filial piety, were collected from the NLSY97. These acceptance/rejection of parental guidelines variables were tested by delinquency and substance use outcome variables. The data was attained from the first three waves of responses from the NLSY97, with a sample of 8,985 people from the United States within the ages of 12-19. Confucian theory was supported by this examination, even after controlling for several variables including ethnicity, gender, year of birth, household income, parent education, etc. Generally, the more that parental guidelines were rejected, the greater the probability for delinquency and substance use. Limit-breaking in the years 1997 (both youth and parent reports) and 1999 (youth report) produced significantly greater levels of delinquency and substance use. Limit-breaking in 1998 (youth report) had no effect on delinquency and substance use. When young people reject the limits set by their parents, when they reject filial piety, there is a greater likelihood that limits will be broken within society as well. This study adds support to Confucian criminological theory.

Generalizable prediction of childhood ADHD symptoms from neurocognitive testing and youth characteristics

Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are believed to result from disrupted neurocognitive development. However, evidence for the clinical and predictive value of neurocognitive assessments in this context has been mixed, and there have been no large-scale efforts to quantify their potential for use in generalizable models that predict individuals’ ADHD symptoms in new data. Using data drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), a consortium that recruited a diverse sample of over 10,000 youth (ages 9–10 at baseline) across 21 U.S. sites, we develop and test cross-validated machine learning models for predicting youths’ ADHD symptoms using neurocognitive abilities, demographics, and child and family characteristics. Models used baseline demographic and biometric measures, geocoded neighborhood data, youth reports of child and family characteristics, and neurocognitive tests to predict parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptoms at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up time points. Predictive models explained 15–20% of the variance in 1-year ADHD symptoms for ABCD Study sites that were left out of the model-fitting process and 12–13% of the variance in 2-year ADHD symptoms. Models displayed high generalizability across study sites and trivial loss of predictive power when transferred from training data to left-out data. Features from multiple domains contributed meaningfully to prediction, including neurocognition, sex, self-reported impulsivity, parental monitoring, and screen time. This work quantifies the information value of neurocognitive abilities and other child characteristics for predicting ADHD symptoms and provides a foundational method for predicting individual youths’ symptoms in new data across contexts.

1795-PUB: Teaming Up for T1D with Telehealth—An Initial Look at Youth and Family Coping following a New T1D Diagnosis

Purpose: A diagnosis of T1D is often associated with increased youth and parental distress as families learn to manage complex daily diabetes tasks and navigate glycemic fluctuations. This study sought to capture the early experiences of families following initial diagnosis, specifically focusing on its psychosocial impact. Method: Eight children (8-12; M=9.0; SD=1.3), 12 teenagers (13-17; M=14.7; SD=1.9) with T1D and 31 parents of youth ages 3-17 diagnosed with T1D were surveyed two weeks following diagnosis as part of a larger pilot of a prevention intervention to support families during the first-year post diagnosis. Additionally, electronic medical records were reviewed 3 months post diagnosis to evaluate health care utilization and medical outcomes. Results: Two weeks post T1D diagnosis, some parents (38.7%) and youth (18.8%) reported elevated symptoms of depression. Similarly, 36.7% of parents and 12.5% of youth reported elevated symptoms of anxiety. Fewer youth (11.8%) and parents (11.1%) endorsed elevated diabetes distress at two weeks post-diagnosis. At 3 months, mean A1c was 7.5% (SD = 1.4) and mean time in range was 67% (SD = 21.8). No baseline variables were correlated with A1c at 3 months post-diagnosis; however, youth report of family conflict was negatively correlated with time in range (r = -.761; p <.01). At 3 months following diagnosis, nearly all (92.6%) youth were using CGM, while few (7.7%) were using insulin pumps. Discussion: This study examined the experiences of youth and their parents following a T1D diagnosis, along with 3-month post diagnosis clinical outcomes. Many parents experience elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety two weeks following diagnosis. Few baseline variables correlated with clinical outcomes at three months following diagnosis. Future studies should examine family experiences in the first year following diagnosis, as well as interventions that promote positive coping among youth and their parents. Disclosure K.R.Howard: Stock/Shareholder; Abbott, AbbVie Inc. N.W.Smith: None. K.P.Garza: None. J.Weissberg-benchell: Advisory Panel; Beta Bionics, Inc., Research Support; Beta Bionics, Inc. M.Feldman: None. Funding JDRF (2-SRA-2020-985-S-B)

673-P: Youth with Type 1 Diabetes and Elevated A1C during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic—Examination of Family, Caregiver, and Medical Team Factors

Introduction: A subset of youth with T1D experience avoidable health problems, but it is unclear how specific social factors relate to these problems, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how systemic factors (caregiver, family, medical team) were related to medical outcomes in youth with elevated A1c from five academic medical centers during the pandemic. Methods: Youth 12-17 yrs with 1) T1D for ≥1 yr and 2) A1c≥10% in the past year were enrolled. Caregivers and youth completed measures of family conflict (Diabetes Family Conflict Scale-R); parent practices, stress, and health literacy (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, Stress Index for Parents of Adolescents, BRIEF Health Literacy Scale); youth strengths and social support (Diabetes Strengths and Resilience, PROMIS); and family-medical team relationship (Quality of Healthcare Relationship) with EHR review including baseline A1c and acute complications (e.g., ED visits). Results: Participants were 157 youth with mean age 14.6 ± 1.6 years and mean A1c 11.0% ± 1.9%. 51% self-identified as Non-Hispanic White. Caregiver, family, and relational factors were significantly (p<.05) related to frequency of complications and A1c, with higher family conflict associated with higher A1c (r=.23) and more ED visits (r=.18). For caregivers, low health literacy (r=.17), inconsistent discipline practices (r=.20), and high parental stress related to low adolescent achievement (r=.26), were significantly (p<.05) associated with acute complications, as was youth report of low social support (r=-.20, p<.01). Positive family-medical team relationship was strongly related to lower A1c (r=-.30, p<.01). Discussion: Given these findings, screening and intervention efforts should emphasize targeting multiple systems and relationships with this population of youth, potentially with increased focus on the family-medical team relationship. Disclosure D.V.Wagner: None. L.Yglecias: None. J.Flores garcia: None. A.Torres sanchez: None. A.Bonilla ospina: None. J.Raymond: None. M.A.Harris: None. M.Perry: None. M.A.Clements: Consultant; Glooko, Inc., Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Abbott Diabetes. J.C.Wong: Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. D.Naranjo: None. A.Reed: None. C.Jenisch: None. C.Cruz: None. S.Mitchell: None. Funding JDRF

Impact of youth and caregiver worries about treatment on therapeutic process factors and posttreatment outcomes

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of youth- and caregiver-reported pretreatment worries about treatment (i.e., concerns about the effect of, perceptions of, or aspects involved in treatment) before cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety on (1) clinician-rated therapeutic process factors (i.e., client engagement, client-therapist alliance, content mastery, and homework completion) and symptom change (i.e., improvement, anxiety severity) assessed throughout treatment and (2) independent evaluator-rated posttreatment outcomes (i.e., response, remission, and functional impairment). MethodsParticipants were 128 youth, aged 7–17 years, who sought treatment for a principal anxiety disorder, and their primary caregiver. Multilevel models were estimated to examine the relationship between worries about treatment and the set of therapeutic factors. Regression models examined the relationship between worries about treatment and posttreatment outcomes. ResultsResults indicated that greater youth-reported worries about treatment flattened/lessened improvement trajectories throughout treatment and had a positive association with higher anxiety severity and lower content mastery. Greater caregiver-reported worries about treatment were associated with greater homework completion, client engagement, and content mastery throughout treatment. Youth- and caregiver-reports of worries about treatment did not impact independent evaluator-rated posttreatment outcomes. ConclusionsFindings support the notion that worries about treatment do not prevent youth from achieving favorable posttreatment outcomes, but do impact various therapeutic factors differentially across youth and caregiver report (e.g., content mastery, client engagement, and homework completion). The value of addressing worries about treatment at the start of therapy is discussed.

Understanding the Health Consequences of Children’s Exposure to Violence

Violence is a regular feature of children’s lives in the United States. In nationwide surveys, 37% of youth report being physically assaulted each year, and 24% report having an indirect exposure, e.g., a murder in their neighborhood. There is increasing evidence linking these childhood violence exposures with adverse health outcomes across the lifespan. Yet we know little about the mechanisms involved, and whether protective factors exist that confer resilience. In this presentation, I will discuss a series of studies that seek to fill these gaps in knowledge. The results suggest three conclusions. First, following a violence exposure, children’s monocytes show an upregulation of inflammatory activity, marked by increased responsivity to microbial challenge and decreased sensitivity to inhibitory signals. Second, these inflammatory changes are evident following both personal victimizations, e.g., being assaulted, and indirect experiences, e.g., when a murder occurs in a child’s neighborhood, but he/she has no connection to the victim. These findings suggest that even “vicarious” experiences may have health consequences. Finally, a brain network involved with self-regulation – the central executive network (CEN) – appears to protect youth from these changes. Specifically, among children with high functional connectivity of the CEN, the patterns described above are not evident – for them, violence does not portend changes in inflammatory activity, or in cardiovascular health.

Prenatal and Childhood Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and Behavior Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults in the CHAMACOS Study.

We previously reported associations of prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides with poorer neurodevelopment in early childhood and at school age, including poorer cognitive function and more behavioral problems, in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS), a birth cohort study in an agriculture community. We investigated the extent to which early-life exposure to OP pesticides is associated with behavioral problems, including mental health, in youth during adolescence and early adulthood. We measured urinary dialkylphosphates (DAPs), nonspecific OP metabolites, in urine samples collected from mothers twice during pregnancy (13 and 26 wk) and at five different times in their children (ages 6 months to 5 y). We assessed maternal report and youth report of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2), when the youth were ages 14, 16, and 18 y. Because there was evidence of nonlinearity, we estimated associations across quartiles of DAPs and modeled repeated outcome measures using generalized estimating equations. There were 335 youths with prenatal maternal DAP measures and 14-. 16-, or 18-y BASC-2 scores. Prenatal maternal DAP concentrations (specific gravity-adjusted median, , ) were associated with higher T-scores (more behavior problems) from maternal report, including more hyperactivity [fourth vs. first quartile of exposure ; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 4.45], aggression (; 95% CI: 0.15, 3.66), attention problems (; 95% CI: 0.26, 5.30), and depression (; 95% CI: 0.08, 5.24). Associations with youth report of externalizing problems were null, and associations with depression were suggestive (fourth vs. first quartile of exposure ; 95% CI: , 4.67). Childhood DAP metabolites were not associated with behavioral problems. We found associations of prenatal, but not childhood, urinary DAP concentrations with adolescent/young adult externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. These findings are consistent with prior associations we have reported with neurodevelopmental outcomes measured earlier in childhood in CHAMACOS participants and suggests that prenatal exposure to OP pesticides may have lasting effects on the behavioral health of youth as they mature into adulthood, including their mental health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11380.

Examining the measurement precision of behavior problems among a sample of primarily rural youth on juvenile probation and their parents

Accurate and timely intervention in the justice system is particularly critical in rural communities, given documented barriers to accessible, evidence-based services for youth. As youth in the juvenile justice system have a high prevalence of behavioral health needs, accurate assessment of those needs is a critical first step in linking youth to appropriate care. The goal of the current study is to examine the reliability of a brief assessment (the Brief Problem Checklist [BPC]) among a sample of 222 justice-involved youth and their caregivers who primarily reside in rural communities in the United States. Using a series of reliability analyses and tests of agreement, we examined whether youth and caregiver BPC produces reliable scales, the strength of the convergence among each of the BPC scales, and youth and caregiver agreement on the BPC scales. Findings support the reliability of the BPC, but not inter-rater reliability. Poor agreement between youth and caregiver reports exists for both youth internalizing and externalizing problems. Additionally, the BPC was significantly related to several theoretically relevant constructs, including treatment, substance use disorder severity, and family history of substance use. These findings lend merit to discussions about the need for more research on the reliability and validity of assessment instruments before their widespread use in guiding youth- and agency case planning decisions, along with informing conclusions about program effectiveness.

Patient and Parent Characteristics Related to Quality of Life and Self-Esteem in Healthy Youth Undergoing Provocative Growth Hormone Testing

To examine how height and youth as well as parenting characteristics associate with quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem among healthy youth undergoing growth evaluation with growth hormone (GH) testing. Healthy youth, aged 8-14years, undergoing provocative GH testing, and a parent completed surveys at or around the time of testing. Surveys collected demographic data; youth and parent reports of youth health-related QoL; youth reports of self-esteem, coping skills, social support, and parental autonomy support; and parent reports of perceived environmental threats and achievement goals for their child. Clinical data wereextracted from electronic health records. Univariate models and multivariable linear regressions were used to identify factors associated with QoL and self-esteem. Sixty youth (mean height z score -2.18±0.61) and their parents participated. On multivariable modeling, youth perceptions of their physical QoL associated with higher grade in school, greater friend and classmate support, and older parent age; youth psychosocial QoL with greater friend and classmate support, and with less disengaged coping; and youth height-related QoL and parental perceptions of youth psychosocial QoL with greater classmate support. Youth self-esteem associated with greater classmate support and taller mid-parental height. Youth height was not associated with QoL or self-esteem outcomes in multivariable regression. Perceived social support and coping skills, rather than height, were related to QoL and self-esteem in healthy short youth and may serve as an important potential area for clinical intervention.

Learning from young people in Gauteng, South Africa, about their experiences of depression: a discussion space report

Across the world, rising youth depression is a pressing concern that has animated researcher and popular media attention. Mostly, this attention has missed that youth depression can be prevented, provided we can discover and mobilize protective mechanisms at different systemic levels that have differential (i.e., the most impactful) value for specific youth in specific cultures and contexts. Importantly, we need to consider what combinations of protective mechanisms matter most and pay more attention to mechanisms in the systems that young people are connected to (like their families and communities). A handful of studies across a diversity of biological, social and environmental sciences are beginning to challenge the overly narrow focus on protective mechanisms at the level of the individual (Arango et al., 2021; Thapar et al., 2022). They show that a wide range of factors, like food security (Teasedale et al., 2021), less polluted or more temperate environments (Sugg et al., 2019; Theron et al., 2022), trusted social connections (Choi et al., 2020), opportunities for school and work engagement and social justice (Minh et al., 2021) matter as much, if not more, than individual resources for youth resilience to depression. Further, the Resilient Youth in Stressed Environments (RYSE) study is showing that these factors work in combination. RYSE-related work on the multisystemic determinants of the psychosocial resilience of youth living in stressed environments in Canada and South Africa (Ungar et al., 2021), has shown that at-risk youth report negligible depression symptoms when they also report greater access to a culturally relevant combination of relational, institutional and ecological resources (Theron et al., 2022). We wondered how these insights would hold up in stressed urban environments. We wanted to learn more about the intersection between multisystemic resources and young peoples’ real life experiences of mental poor health or depression in overcrowded, violent, stressed city spaces. To do this, we held a Discussion Space in Johannesburg in February 2023 to centre the voices of Black 18-24 year olds, and engage them in a participatory approach to navigate this emerging research landscape.

Inclusive National Educational Policies as Protective Factors for LGBTI Youth Adjustment: An European Cross-National Study

PurposeTo evaluate whether the presence of inclusive national educational policies is associated with more positive adjustment, better school experiences, and less harassment among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) youth. MethodsA total of 66,851 LGBTI youth aged 15–24 from 30 EU countries completed the EU-LGBTI II survey in 2019. Participants reported on feelings of sadness/depression, life satisfaction, lack of safety at school, being out at school as LGBTI, experiences of bias-based school violence, and experiences of general and bias-based harassment. Individual-level data were linked to country-level data on the presence of LGBTI-inclusive school policies obtained from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation report which reviewed existing European educational measures. The inclusiveness of each policy was assessed by the inclusion of the following grounds as protected: Variation in sexual characteristics, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation. National policies were categorized into (1) antidiscrimination laws; (2) policies and action plans; (3) inclusive curricula; (4) teacher training; and (5) government support. ResultsLGBTI youth with more inclusive school policies in their countries had lower odds of lack of school safety, and concealment, and higher odds of life satisfaction. Inclusive teacher training and curricula were associated with less lack of safety and depression/sadness, and less school bias-based violence. Moreover, whereas teacher training was associated with more visibility and less concealment among LGBTI youth, inclusive curricula were linked to less general and bias-based harassment experiences. DiscussionA multipronged national approach that includes teacher training and inclusive curricula is needed to better support LGBTI youth.

Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and adolescent assessment of behavior: Discrepancies by age and reporter.

Acetaminophen, which is one of the most commonly used medications during pregnancy, has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring during childhood. Less is known about associations with outcomes occurring later in adolescence. Methods: We conducted a follow-up study of children born between 1996 and 2002. Data on illnesses and medications, including acetaminophen, during pregnancy were collected through a standardized interview after delivery. Behavioral assessments were conducted at two subsequent time points, childhood (ages 5-10) and adolescence (ages 11-17). Outcomes examined included internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems based on the parent-completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the teacher-completed Teacher Report Form (TRF), and the youth-completed Youth Self Report (YSR, adolescent follow-up only). Adjusted linear regression models were used to calculate mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in T-scores comparing those with prenatal acetaminophen exposure to those without. Stabilized inverse probability weights were used to account for attrition. Results: Among the 216 mother-child dyads with completed parent and teacher behavioral assessments at both childhood and adolescence, prenatal acetaminophen exposure was not associated with behavioral problems according to either parent or teacher assessments. Modest increases in externalizing and total behavior problems were observed according to youth report (MD: 1.9). Compared to associations observed during the childhood follow-up, associations at adolescence were attenuated according to parent-report. Conclusion: Reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and behavioral outcomes were not consistent over time nor between reporters.