Sample Of High School Adolescents Research Articles

Eating disorder risks and psychopathological distress in Italian high school adolescents

BackgroundPsychopathological disorders are often comorbid diagnosis in eating disorders (EDs). We aimed to assess the presence of psychopathological traits and symptoms associated with EDs in an Italian high school adolescent population.MethodsA sample of high school adolescents was enrolled, and demographic and clinical data were collected. Two self-report questionnaires, the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Psychopathology in Adolescence (Q-PAD), were administered.Results548 adolescents (333 F/215 M; 16.89 ± 0.85 years) were included. Symptoms associated with EDs of clinical or high clinical concern were prevalent in a range of individuals, with percentages varying from 26.82% for body dissatisfaction to 51.83% for Interoceptive Deficits. The findings from the Q-PAD assessment indicated the presence of psychological distress, leading to discomfort or challenging situations requiring potential intervention in a percentage of adolescents ranging from 2.93% for psychosocial risks to 23.77% for anxiety. These percentages showed differences between genders (F > M, p < 0.001). Our study also highlighted an association between symptoms of EDs and lifestyle factors within families. We observed correlations between Q-PAD measures and EDI-3 scores, including a positive correlation between Q-PAD and EDI-3 body dissatisfaction (r = 0.7), Q-PAD interpersonal conflicts and EDI-3 interpersonal problems (r = 0.6) and a negative correlation between Q-PAD self-esteem and well-being and EDI-3 ineffectiveness Composite (r=-0.7).Conclusionsa substantial prevalence of ED symptoms and psychological distress among high school adolescents were recorded. These conditions are interrelated, suggesting the importance of addressing them comprehensively. Early detection is essential to improve treatment outcomes and to implement preventive strategies.

Measuring Stressors Among Adolescents: Validation of the Positive and Negative Adolescent Life Experiences Scale

This article develops and validates the Positive and Negative Adolescent Life Experiences (PANALE) scale, a 11-item tool that enables researchers to measure adolescent stressors in a more valid and efficient manner than existing adolescent stressors scales. The PANALE presents good psychometric qualities, in terms of construct validity (factorial structure, measurement invariance, and composite reliability) and concurrent validity with regard to eustress and distress symptoms in a French sample of high school adolescents ( N = 1513). Overall, the PANALE provides a viable alternative to existing methods for conducting quantitative research on adolescent stress processes, notably those related to school disengagement and dropout processes.

Sexual Communication in the Digital Age: Adolescent Sexual Communication with Parents and Friends About Sexting, Pornography, and Starting Relationships Online

Online sexual behaviors like sexting, viewing pornography online, and using the internet to start relationships are increasingly common among adolescents, yet research has struggled to keep pace. This study fills a gap in the sexual communication literature by examining the extent to which a sample of high school adolescents are discussing digital sexual topics with their parents and best friends compared to more traditional sexual topics (pregnancy, STDs, condoms, and abstinence). Participants were 226 U.S. high school students (M age = 16.25; 58% girls; 46% White, 25% Latino, 24% Black) who reported their digital sexual behavior and sexual communication in the past year. Rates of sexting, viewing pornography, and starting relationships online were high (89% had engaged in at least one of these behaviors; 35% engaged in all three behaviors); yet communication about these topics was generally low: only 7% of youth had discussed all three digital topics with their parents and 19% had discussed all three with their best friends. This is in contrast to nearly 50% of youth who discussed traditional topics with their parents and best friends. Patterns of communication and digital sexual behavior were similar by gender, with the exception of pornography: boys were more likely to view pornography and discuss it with friends than girls. Implications for adolescent development in the digital age are discussed.

82. The Association of Protective Factors With Vaping in a Locally Representative Sample of High School Adolescents

Vaping has gained increasing popularity among adolescents despite numerous negative health consequences. Associated risk factors and substance use co-occurrence patterns have been identified, yet few studies have focused on factors that may protect against vaping. Social support, school connectedness, parental monitoring, and future orientation are known protective factors against other forms of substance use, including tobacco. However, vaping has different use demographics, perceived safety, and regulatory standards than other substances. Here, we sought to examine associations between these protective factors and vaping to inform prevention efforts.

INTERNET ADDICTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A WESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIAN CITY.

ABSTRACTObjective: Analyze the prevalence and factors associated with internet addiction in a sample of high school adolescents in Acre, a state in northern Brazil.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,387 adolescents between 14 and 18 years old enrolled in high schools in the city of Rio Branco, Acre. A structured questionnaire with questions about demographics, family and behavioral patterns was applied. Internet addiction was verified using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), with a cutoff equal to or greater than 70 points. The associated factors were identified by multiple logistic regression analyses.Results: The overall prevalence of Internet addiction was 10.6%. Higher dependence was observed in females. The factors associated with Internet addiction were being female, using the computer for more than two hours a day during weekdays and on the weekend, not practicing physical activities and going out to dance at nightclubs and concerts at least once a month. A protective association of reading habits in relation to Internet dependence was observed.Conclusions: The present study showed a high prevalence of Internet dependence, with female adolescents being more susceptible. Behavioral aspects were associated with internet dependence in a sample of adolescents from Rio Branco, Acre.

Validation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey in Spanish adolescents.

There are a large number of studies in the literature on burnout and its negative consequences for health and psychological wellbeing. Use of the burnout index in the academic context has increased to the point of identifying even the adolescent population. Nevertheless, at the present time there is no validated instrument for evaluating this syndrome in Spanish high school students. In view of this, our study attempted to evaluate the factor structure and reliability of the Spanish version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) in a sample of high school adolescents. The sample included 1,209 students in the autonomous region of Andalusia (Spain), of whom 47.1% were boys and 52.9% girls, with a mean age of M=15.07, SD=1.174). The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a model with 12 items showing good fit, distributed across three factors: emotional exhaustion, cynicism and academic efficacy. These results demonstrate that the proposed instrument has an excellent factor structure and internal consistency, and is useful for evaluating academic burnout in the adolescent Spanish high school population.

Relationship between disordered eating and self-identified sexual minority youth in a sample of public high school adolescents.

To investigate the relationship between selected disordered eating behaviors and self-reported sexual minority status (gay/lesbian, bisexual, and unsure) among a representative sample of high school adolescents. The 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-sponsored Connecticut Youth Risk Behavior Survey was utilized (N=2242). Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses, separated by gender, examined sexual minority adolescents (gay/lesbian, bisexual, and unsure) and selected eating behaviors. Analyses adjusted for race, age, cigarette use, binge drinking, organized school activity participation, body mass index (BMI), and depression. Gay males were significantly more likely to report exercising or eating less to lose weight in the unadjusted models (p<0.05) and fasting, vomiting, and taking diet pills in both adjusted (p<0.05) and unadjusted models (p<0.01) when compared to the referent heterosexual males. Bisexual females were significantly more likely to report fasting, vomiting, and taking diet pills in the unadjusted model (p<0.05) when compared to the referent heterosexual females and significantly less likely to report exercising or eating less to lose weight in the adjusted models (p<0.05). Although additional studies are needed owing to small sample sizes, preliminary findings support previous research suggesting that high school-aged sexual minority youth subgroups are a priority target population for increased efforts to prevent disordered eating.

Different patterns of behavioural and emotional difficulties through adolescence: The influence of prosocial skills

&lt;p&gt;The main purpose of the study was to examine the cluster composition of the analysis on the effect of gender and age of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in a large school-based sample of high school adolescents ranging from 14 to 18 years old (&lt;em&gt;N&lt;/em&gt; = 1474). In order to do this, a K-means iterative cluster analysis was performed. A five-cluster solution turned out to be the most parsimonious in the differentiation of emotional and behavioural patterns. A five-cluster solution yielded the following patterns: “No difficulties and high prosocial scores” (&lt;em&gt;n &lt;/em&gt;= 418; 28.36%), “high difficulties and low prosocial scores” (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 239; 16.21%), “high on hyperactivity, low on the rest of the difficulties subscales, and high in prosocial capabilities” (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 302; 20.49%), “high on emotional and peer problems, relatively low on conduct and hyperactivity, and high in prosocial capabilities” (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 275; 18.66%), and finally “hyperactivity problems and average in the others difficulties subscales, and in prosocial capabilities” (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 239; 16.21%). This cluster solution was replicated attending to the same gender and age groups. Nevertheless, differences in the distribution of the cluster composition suggest that difficulties differ by gender and age. The results allow for the conclusion that men reveal a greater number of problems of an externalizing nature whereas women indicate a greater degree of problems with internalizing difficulties and prosocial skills.&lt;/p&gt;

Patterns of Behavioural and Emotional Difficulties through Adolescence: the Influence of Prosocial Skills

The main purpose of the study was to examine the cluster composition of the analysis on the effect of gender and age of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in a large school-based sample of high school adolescents ranging from 14 to 18 years old (N = 1474). In order to do this, a K-means iterative cluster analysis was performed. A five-cluster solution turned out to be the most parsimonious in the differentiation of emotional and behavioural patterns. A five-cluster solution yielded the following patterns: “No difficulties and high prosocial scores” (n = 418; 28.36%), “high difficulties and low prosocial scores” (n = 239; 16.21%), “high on hyperactivity, low on the rest of the difficulties subscales, and high in prosocial capabilities” (n = 302; 20.49%), “high on emotional and peer problems, relatively low on conduct and hyperactivity, and high in prosocial capabilities” (n = 275; 18.66%), and finally “hyperactivity problems and average in the others difficulties subscales, and in prosocial capabilities” (n = 239; 16.21%). This cluster solution was replicated attending to the same gender and age groups. Nevertheless, differences in the distribution of the cluster composition suggest that difficulties differ by gender and age. The results allow for the conclusion that men reveal a greater number of problems of an externalizing nature whereas women indicate a greater degree of internalizing difficulties and prosocial skills

Predictors of Obesity in a US Sample of High School Adolescents With and Without Disabilities.

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern. Children with disabilities have a higher prevalence of obesity. We examined factors associated with obesity within a cross-sectional study of US adolescents with and without disabilities. Data were obtained from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess effects of dietary habits, physical activity, and unhealthy weight control behaviors on obesity. Effect modification by disability status was examined. Twenty percent (1986 of 9775 participants) reported a disability. Adolescents with disabilities were more likely to be obese (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-2.1) and have at least 1 unhealthy weight control behavior (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.6-2.5), and were less likely to be physically active (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.6). Lack of physical activity, increased television watching/video game playing, and unhealthy weight loss behaviors were significantly associated with obesity regardless of disability status (p-for-interaction >.05). Successful obesity interventions should target diet, physical activity, and weight control among adolescents with disabilities. Understanding barriers to healthier diet and physical activity for this population is critical to developing effective obesity prevention programs and reducing the prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors.

Association Between Adolescent Suicide Ideation, Suicide Attempts and Emotional Self-Efficacy

This cross-sectional study investigated relationships between suicide ideation, suicide behavior and emotional self-efficacy in a sample of high school adolescents in grades 9–12 with an age range of 12–18 (n = 3,836) in South Carolina. The hypothesis of the study proposed that low levels of emotional self-efficacy would be significantly associated with higher levels of suicide ideation and suicide attempts for study participants. A brief emotional self-efficacy scale was added to the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey to investigate associations with suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis and multivariate models constructed separately for sex and race were employed. Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine use; relationship violence; depressed mood; socioeconomic status; and weapon/gun access were included as covariates in the adjusted models. Nearly all suicide variables were significantly related to emotional self-efficacy in the unadjusted models for the four race/sex groups. In adjusted models, suicide ideation, planning a suicide attempt, attempting suicide and a suicide attempt resulting in injury were associated (α ≤ .05) with reduced emotional self-efficacy for black females. For white males, suicide ideation, attempting suicide and a suicide attempt resulting in injury were associated (α ≤ .05) with reduced emotional self-efficacy. Suicide ideation for black males was associated (α ≤ .05) with reduced emotional self-efficacy. No significant associations were established for white females. Results have implications for health services and suicide prevention programs for adolescents. Measures of emotional self-efficacy as a part of adolescent mental health assessments might be useful for field work, intervention, and program evaluation efforts.

Decomposing the Components of Friendship and Friends' Influence on Adolescent Drinking and Smoking

Friendship networks are an important source of peer influence. However, existing network studies vary in terms of how they operationalize friendship and friend's influence on adolescent substance use. This study uses social network analysis to characterize three types of friendship relations: (1) mutual or reciprocated, (2) directional, and (3) intimate friends. We then examine the relative effects of each friendship type on adolescent drinking and smoking behavior. Using a saturated sample from the Add Health data, a nationally representative sample of high school adolescents (N = 2,533 nested in 12 schools), we computed the level of exposure to drinking and smoking of friends using a network exposure model, and their association with individual drinking and smoking using fixed effect models. Results indicated that the influence from mutual or reciprocated type of friendship relations is stronger on adolescent substance use than directional, especially for smoking. Regarding the directionality of directional type of friendship relations, adolescents are equally influenced by both nominating and nominated friends on their drinking and smoking behavior. Results for intimate friends friendship relations indicated that the influence from "best friends" was weaker than the one from non-"best friends," which indicates that the order of friend nomination may not matter as much as nomination reciprocation. This study demonstrates that considering different features of friendship relationships is important in evaluating friends' influence on adolescent substance use. Related policy implications are discussed.

Is there a gender difference in associates of adolescents' lifetime illicit drug use in Tehran, Iran?

IntroductionInformation regarding gender differences in drug use of adolescents is essential for designing gender-specific drug prevention policies. This study was conducted in high school students in Tehran, Iran, in 2007. Here, we report the gender differences in lifetime prevalence as well as psychosocial associates of drug use.Material and methodsThis was a gender analysis of the data collected in a drug use survey conducted in a random sample of high school adolescents (573 boys and 551 girls) in Tehran, Iran, 2007. Demographic characteristics, parental and peers’ substance use, school performance, religious beliefs, attachment, self-esteem and emotional intelligence (EI) were entered in logistic regression analyses to predict the lifetime illicit drug use in boy and girls, separately.ResultsBoys were more likely to report lifetime illicit drug use than girls (10.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.023). Differences in the risk profile associated with lifetime illicit drug use by gender included history of substance use in the family, higher score of attachment, and having an employed mother as predictors of substance use in boys, but not girls.ConclusionsUnderstanding this gender difference in predictors of lifetime use of illicit drugs in high school adolescents facilitates the design of gender-sensitive drug use preventive programmes. It seems that family variables may have more value in prevention of illicit drug use in male adolescents.

Sociodemographic Differences in Depressed Mood: Results From a Nationally Representative Sample of High School Adolescents

Research on adolescent mental health suggests that prevalence rates for depressed mood are not uniformly distributed across all populations. This study examined demographic difference in depressed mood among a nationally representative sample of high school adolescents. The 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey was utilized to examine the association between depressed mood and demographic variables. To examine demographic associations, chi-square and follow-up logistic regression models were created for the sample of high school adolescents (N = 15,214). Caucasians and African Americans were significantly less likely to report depressed mood when compared to Hispanics and Others. Women were also more likely than men to report depressed mood. No significant differences were observed among levels of urbanicity and age. An understanding of the difference in the prevalence and correlates of depressed mood among adolescents of various ethnic/racial and gender groups deserves increased attention. Given the fact that challenges with depressed mood in adolescents can be substantial and relatively unrecognized, there is an increased need to identify these adolescents early and intervene with culturally appropriate interventions.

Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviour among a sample of high school adolescents in the Pietersburg area of the Northern Province, South Africa

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviour among a sample of high-school adolescents in the Pietersburg area (Central Region) of the Northern Province, South Africa. Participants: Participants in this study were 435 secondary-school adolescent students around the Pietersburg area (Central Region), in the Northern Province. Two hundred and forty-three (56%) participants were female and 192 (44%) were male. They were aged between 15 and 19 years, with the mean age of 17.25 years ( s.d.=1.34). Their educational level ranged between standards 7 and 10 (Grades 9–12). Instruments: Participants’ demographic variables were determined by use of a questionnaire which covered participants personal characteristics such as age and gender, as well as educational level. Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking behaviour were also measured using the questionnaire. Results: Findings of this study indicate the prevalence rate of 19.8% for illicit drug use, 10.6% for cigarette smoking and 39.1% for alcohol consumption among the participants. Both drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are associated more with males than with females. The majority of the drug users and cigarette smokers indicated that they do so when they are bored, tired or stressed up, or at parties; and most of those who drink alcohol indicated that they do so at parties, weekends, or any other time. The mean age for first drug use is 14.9 years ( s.d.=1.77); 14.54 years ( s.d.=1.80) for first cigarette smoking and 15.33 years ( s.d.=1.91) for first alcohol consumption. Among those who drink alcohol, 24.1% and 14.1% experience unplanned drunkenness and irritability, respectively. Unplanned drunkenness is associated with males, while unplanned irritability (after drinking alcohol) is not associated with any gender. Conclusion: Mental health workers and the law-enforcement agencies should take note of the above findings while planning preventive and therapeutic strategies for the reduction of drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol use and abuse among adolescents in the area.

Sociomoral reasoning, perceptions of parenting and self-reported delinquency in adolescents

This study considers the relationships between perceived parenting, sociomoral reasoning, and self-reported delinquency in a sample of high school adolescents. Correlational analysis revealed that moral reasoning was associated with a consistent disciplinary style. Self-reported delinquency was positively related to a number of the parenting variables but negatively correlated with moral reasoning. Separate analysis for males and females showed similar patterns for self-reported delinquency, with the exception that moral reasoning was negatively correlated with attachment and supervision among females. The most significant predictors of delinquency scores were parenting variables, with moral reasoning also playing a role for males. A factor analysis of the perceived parenting measure revealed two factors. The first factor reflected a warm, inductive and involved style of parenting with the second reflecting a parenting style characterized by physical punishment. Self-reported delinquency was negatively significantly associated with Factor 1, and positively related to Factor 2. There were also differences in the self-reported delinquency scores of the top and bottom quartiles of Factor 1 scores. These support the conclusion that a parental style that is perceived to be warm, involved and inductive is associated with lower levels of delinquency in adolescence. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Childhood sexual abuse and coercive sex among school-based adolescents in a Midwestern state

Childhood sexual abuse has been identified in several studies as a predictor of adult sexual aggression or sexual victimization. Aggression and victimization are defined in this study as coercive sex. To date, no study of a sample of high school adolescents has investigated the association between a self-reported history of childhood sexual abuse and adolescent coercive sex. Findings from the present study are based on a 10% random sample of the white and all the African American and Native American 9th and 12th grade students of a Midwestern state who completed a state-wide anonymous survey of risk-taking behavior in 1989. The present study identified a 10% prevalence of sexual abuse. Females were four times more likely to report sexual abuse than males, while Native Americans and African Americans were approximately twice as likely as whites to report sexual abuse. Sexually abused adolescents were five times more likely to report any type of coercive sex with a friend or date than their nonabused peers. Specifically, compared to nonabused peers, sexually abused adolescents were twice as likely to report sexual aggression, and six times more likely to report sexual victimization and the co-occurrence of sexual aggression and victimization. Both by victimizing and being revictimized, sexually abused adolescents perpetuate their abusive experience. Adolescent health care providers should assess patients for sexually coercive behavior if they report childhood sexual abuse and assess adolescents who report current sexually coercive behavior for childhood sexual abuse.

Targeted Prevention of Unipolar Depressive Disorder in an At-Risk Sample of High School Adolescents: A Randomized Trial of a Group Cognitive Intervention

This investigation attempted to prevent unipolar depressive episodes in a sample of high school adolescents with an elevated risk of depressive disorder. Adolescents at risk for future depressive disorder by virtue of having elevated depressive symptomatology were selected with a two-stage case-finding procedure. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was administered to 1,652 students; adolescents with elevated CES-D scores were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children. Subjects with current affective diagnoses were referred to nonexperimental services. The remaining 150 consenting subjects were considered at risk for future depression and randomized to either a 15-session cognitive group prevention intervention or an "usual care" control condition. Subjects were reassessed for DSM-III-R diagnostic status after the intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-up points. Survival analyses indicated a significant 12-month advantage for the prevention program, with affective disorder total incidence rates of 14.5% for the active intervention, versus 25.7% for the control condition. No differences were detected for nonaffective disorders across the study period. Depressive disorder can be successfully prevented among adolescents with an elevated future risk.