Sample Of Young Women Research Articles

Marijuana Use and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young Women Who Were Teenage Mothers

Teenage pregnancy and marijuana use are associated with higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this study, we examined the role of early and current marijuana use as it related to STI risk in a sample of young women who were pregnant teenagers, using a variety of statistical models. We recruited 279 pregnant adolescents, ages 12-18, from an urban prenatal clinic as part of a study that was developed to evaluate the long-term effects of prenatal substance exposure. Six years later, they were asked about their substance use and sexual history. The association of early and late marijuana use to lifetime sexual partners and STIs was examined, and then structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to illustrate the associations among marijuana use, number of sexual partners, and STIs. Bivariate analyses revealed a dose-response effect of early and current marijuana use on STIs in young adulthood. Early and current marijuana use also predicted a higher number of lifetime sexual partners. However, the effect of early marijuana use on STIs was mediated by lifetime number of sexual partners in the SEM, whereas African-American race, more externalizing problems, and a greater number of sexual partners were directly related to more STIs. Adolescent pregnancy, early marijuana use, mental health problems, and African-American race were significant risk factors for STIs in young adult women who had become mothers during adolescence. Pregnant teenage girls should be screened for early drug use and mental health problems, because they may benefit the most from the implementation of STI screening and skill-based prevention programs.

Behaviour, Cognition and Dreams

The link between poor health outcomes and socio-economic status(SES) has long been recognized but there is little data about sleep quality and SES. This study investigated relationships between subjective sleep complaints (7 questions) and key SES variables among a representative sample of young women (N = 14947) who completed the Australian Longitudinal Study ofWomen’s Health, Third Survey for YoungWomen(2003). Chi-square analyses assessed overall relationships between variables and relative risk analyses investigated the risk of sleep problems with differing income and occupational levels, marital status, ethnicity, number of children and living areas. Chi square results demonstrated that there were significant (p < 0.05) associations between all selfreported sleep problems and geographical area, income, marital status, motherhood, and being of Aboriginal descent, and all but one of the associations between occupation and investigated sleep problems ...

Sleep Disorders ? Narcolepsy/Hypersomnia

This study investigated relationships between subjective sleep complaints and several forms of abuse among a representative sample of young women (N = 14947) who completed the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health, Third Survey for Young Women (2003). The primary hypothesis to be investigated was that a history of abuse in the 3 years prior to data collection would be related to sleep disturbances at a greater prevalence than among women with no history of abuse. Relative risk analyses were conducted by creating dichotomous variables from all sleep and abuse variables, in order to determine the risk of experiencing sleep problems among women who reported different combinations of abuse occurring in the 3 years prior to data collection. The results of relative risk analyses showed that women who had experienced any kind of abuse (sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, harassment, severe physical violence or any combination of these) were at greater risk of experiencing a number of sleep disturbances. In particular, the risk of using prescription medication for sleep in the past month was greatly increased among women reporting sexual abuse in isolation (RR = 9.98, CI = 7.18–13.86) and among women reporting all five forms of abuse (RR = 4.52, CI = 3.19–6.42) when compared with women who reported no abuse in the last 3 years. Overall, the results demonstrated that women with a history of abuse were at greater risk of experiencing sleep disturbances than women who reported no abuse.

Recurrent binge eating (RBE) and its characteristics in a sample of young women in Germany

To examine the characteristics of recurrent binge eating (RBE) in a non-treatment-seeking sample from the general population. RBE individuals are described in terms of socio-economic status, general psychopathology, and comorbidity rates of mental disorders. Participants were 1877 German females aged 18-24 years from a population-based epidemiological study. The point prevalence of RBE in our sample was 0.9% (N = 17). Compared to healthy women, subjects with RBE suffered more often from comorbid mental disorders and also exhibited more general psychopathology: They were similar to women with other mental disorders and other eating disorders (EDs). RBE seems to be a syndrome of clinical significance itself and might be an important risk factor for the development of further EDs, especially binge eating disorder (BED) and other mental disorders.

Osteoporosis prevention among young women: Psychosocial models of calcium consumption and weight-bearing exercise.

To examine the putative determinants of two osteoporosis-preventive behaviors, calcium consumption and weight-bearing exercise, in 2 samples of young women (Sample 1, n = 202; Sample 2, n = 209). A common psychosocial model of both behaviors, comprising the health belief model and augmented with constructs drawn from social cognitive theory and the theory of planned behavior, was developed, tested, and replicated. A prospective 2-panel design was used. Baseline data were obtained in fall 1997 for Sample 1 and in spring 2002 for Sample 2. Behavioral follow-up data were obtained 6 months after initial data collection for both samples. Baseline measures of behavioral intentions served as proximal outcomes. Behavioral measures obtained 6 months later served as distal outcomes. Perceived barriers and self-efficacy directly predicted intentions to consume calcium and to exercise. Descriptive norms predicted intentions, in part indirectly through barriers and self-efficacy. Constructs specific to osteoporosis (e.g., susceptibility, severity) did not contribute to prediction. With initial behavior controlled, intentions to consume calcium and to exercise predicted the corresponding behaviors measured 6 months later; intentions fully mediated the relationship of model constructs to behavior. Health beliefs associated with a negative health outcome, here osteoporosis, distal to young women's lives did not contribute to prediction. In contrast, constructs related to the current behaviors of calcium consumption and weight-bearing exercise (barriers, self-efficacy, norms) were highly predictive. Implications for behavioral interventions are discussed.

Neurosteroids rapidly modulate synaptic plasticity of hippocampus at CA1 region

The role of estrogen in cognitive function and depressive symptoms is controversial due to discrepancies between results from randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies. Mendelian randomization analysis may provide further insights concerning the role of estrogen in these outcomes as it assesses the effect of lifelong endogenous exposure but is less vulnerable to confounding than observational studies.We used separate sample instrumental variable analysis to estimate the association of log 17β estradiol with cognitive function (Delayed 10 word recall, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)) and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)) in older Chinese women of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS, n = 3086). The estimate was derived based on the Wald estimator, the ratio of the association of genetic determinants (rs1008805 and rs2175898) of log 17β-estradiol with cognitive function and depressive symptoms in GBCS and the association of log 17β-estradiol with genetic determinants in the sample of young women in Hong Kong (n = 236).Genetically predicted 17β-estradiol was not associated with delayed 10-word recall (0.42 words per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.49 to 1.34) MMSE (0.39 per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% CI − 0.87 to 1.65) or GDS (0.24 per log increase in 17β-estradiol (pmol/L), 95% CI − 0.57 to 1.05).These results were largely consistent with evidence from RCTs and did not show any beneficial effect of estrogen on cognitive function and depressive symptoms. However, larger Mendelian randomization analyses are needed to identify any minor effects.

Self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism dimensions and their associations with disordered eating

This study examined the relationship between self-oriented and socially prescribed dimensions of perfectionism (using two measures of perfectionism) and disordered eating assessed across multiple time points in a sample of young women. Study participants (n=406) reported on their levels of perfectionism and on their subsequent patterns of dieting and bulimic symptoms. Self-oriented perfectionism was strongly linked to dietary restraint, whether using the theoretically derived perfectionism dimensions from the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) [Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991a). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456–470] or the dimensions derived from the Perfectionism subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) [Garner, D. M., Olmsted, M. P., & Polivy, J. (1983). Development and validation of a multidimensional eating disorder inventory for anorexia nervosa and bulimia. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2, 15–34]. A less clear-cut pattern emerged when bulimic symptoms were investigated, with both self-oriented (MPS and EDI) and socially prescribed perfectionism (MPS) being associated with bulimic symptoms. After controlling for negative affect, only a self-oriented dimension of perfectionism predicted unique variance in bulimic symptoms. What constitutes maladaptive perfectionism, concerns about using EDI-Perfectionism dimensions interchangeably with MPS dimensions, and future directions are discussed.

The interaction of perfectionism, perceived weight status, and self-esteem to predict bulimic symptoms: The role of ‘benign’ perfectionism

The present study sought to replicate an interactive model of global perfectionism, perceived weight status, and self-esteem in predicting bulimic symptom development in a sample of young women [Bardone-Cone, et al. (2006). Predicting bulimic symptoms: An interactive model of self-efficacy, perfectionism, and perceived weight status. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 27–42; Vohs, K. D., et al. (1999). Perfectionism, perceived weight status, and self-esteem interact to predict bulimic symptoms: A model of bulimic symptom development. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 695–700; Vohs, K. D., et al. (2001). Perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem: An interactive model of bulimic symptom development. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 20, 476–497]. The aim was to investigate the role of ‘problematic’ and ‘benign’ perfectionism within this model, using data from 95 female university students over a 3-month period. Contrary to hypotheses, multivariate analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction only between ‘benign’ perfectionism, perceived weight status and self-esteem in predicting change in bulimic symptoms over a 3-month period. The predictive effect of the interaction between ‘benign’ perfectionism and perceived weight status on bulimic symptoms was strongest for women with high self-esteem, for whom feeling overweight and having perfectionistic attitudes preceded increased bulimic symptoms. These findings suggest that high self-esteem is insufficient to protect against the development of bulimic symptoms when both the perception of oneself as being overweight, and high levels of perfectionistic standards, are present. It would appear that the role of perfectionism within the context of disordered eating is complex.

Why don't they want a male-dominated job? An investigation of young women who changed their occupational aspirations

We examined 2 hypotheses regarding why some young women do not maintain their espoused occupational aspirations in male-dominated fields from late adolescence through young adulthood. The first hypothesis concerns attitudes towards math and science; the second concerns the desire for job flexibility. The sample of young women (N = 104) was taken from a larger longitudinal investigation of approximately 1,000 young women from a midwestern metropolitan area in Michigan, USA, who were followed from age 18 (in 1990) to age 25 (1997). Findings suggest that desire for a flexible job, high time demands of an occupation, and low intrinsic value of physical science were the best predictors of women changing their occupational aspirations out of male-dominated fields. These results suggest that despite the women's movement and more efforts in society to open occupational doors to traditional male-jobs for women, concerns about balancing career and family, together with lower value for science-related domains, continue to steer young women away from occupations in traditionally male-dominated fields, where their abilities and ambitions may lie.

Relationships among fashion consumer groups, locus of control, boredom proneness, boredom coping and intrinsic enjoyment

AbstractFashion change agents and fashion followers differ in their need for mental stimulation. Within a context of fashion diffusion theory, this study examined the effects of locus of control and fashion consumer group on three attributes linked to mental stimulation – boredom proneness, intrinsic enjoyment, and boredom coping. For this US sample of young women, an internal locus of control orientation was associated with a higher level of fashion innovativeness and opinion leadership. Fashion change agents, with either an internal or external locus of control orientation, and fashion followers with an external locus of control orientation, were similar in their heightened ability to entertain themselves (internal stimulation). Fashion followers with an external locus of control orientation were less able to entertain themselves than the other three groups.

Changes in Young Women's Awareness, Attitudes, and Perceived Barriers to Using Emergency Contraception

Background In a 1996 survey, most young women ages 13–20 years from an urban, hospital-based clinic and a drug treatment center had inadequate awareness of emergency contraception (EC), and perceived several barriers to its use. Since that time, the FDA has approved two products for EC, media coverage has increased, and physicians have provided more counseling about EC. Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare the awareness, attitudes, and perceived barriers to using EC among a sample of young women from 1996 with a different sample of women from 2002. Methods We recruited 139 young women (mean age 16.7 ± 1.8 yrs) from the same adolescent clinic and drug treatment center as the 1996 sample. They had similar demographic characteristics, with the majority (63%) being African-American or multi-ethnic; 85% had ever been sexually active. They were interviewed using a questionnaire about their sexual and contraceptive history as well as their knowledge of and experience with EC. They then watched a 4½ minute video and received a 5-minute didactic review of EC. Following the educational intervention, participants' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to using EC were assessed. The questionnaire used to guide the interviews was nearly identical to that used in 1996. Results Between 1996 and 2002, the percentage of participants reporting that they had ever heard of EC grew (44% vs. 73%, P < 0.001), as well as the percentage reporting that they had ever used EC (4% vs. 13%, P = 0.02). Of those participants who had ever heard of EC, fewer 1996 participants knew where to obtain it compared to 2002 participants (78% vs. 95%, P = 0.002) and fewer 1996 participants knew the correct time limits for use (20% vs. 51%, P < 0.001). The above data were collected prior to a didactic review session about EC. After receiving information about EC, the percentage of participants reporting a positive attitude toward EC grew between 1996 and 2002 (72% vs. 96%, P < 0.001). Young women also had fewer concerns about safety and side effects in 2002. The 1996 participants were more likely to report barriers to using EC compared to the 2002 participants. In 1996, EC side effects and impact on fertility were the most commonly perceived barriers to EC use. However, in 2002 the frequency of all reported barriers decreased and cost had become the number one perceived barrier. Conclusion Since 1996, young women at an urban hospital-based adolescent clinic and drug treatment center increased their awareness, use, and positive attitudes towards EC, as well as decreased their perceived barriers to using EC. Educational interventions that focus on improving knowledge among younger adolescents, specifically about correct time limits and identifying ways to find affordable EC, will address the most common knowledge deficits and perceived barriers to EC use among adolescents.

Night eating syndrome in young adult women: Prevalence and correlates

The current study examined the prevalence and clinical significance of night eating syndrome (NES) in a community cohort of Black and White women. We assessed 682 Black and 659 White women for NES, eating disorders, and psychiatric symptomatology. The prevalence was 1.6% (22 of 1,341; Blacks [n = 20]; Whites [n = 2]). Comparisons between identified Black women and the remaining Black participants revealed no significant differences in obesity, psychiatric comorbidity, or self-reported psychiatric distress. Comorbidity with eating disorders as outlined in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association) was low (n = 1 [4.5%]). Black NES women were significantly less likely than Black non-NES women to be overweight and significantly more likely to have two or more children. NES was rare in this sample of young women. Low comorbidity of NES with other eating disorders suggests that NES may be distinct from the DSM-IV recognized eating disorders. Longitudinal data are needed to determine the long-term health implications of this behavioral pattern.

Cortical and trabecular bone density and structure in anorexia nervosa.

The aim of the study was to examine bone density and architecture with three different measurement methods in a sample of young women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and in an age-matched control group of women. Three-dimensional periphery quantitative computer tomography (3D-pQCT) at the ultradistal radius, a new technology providing measures of cortical and trabecular bone density and architecture, was performed, as well as quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the heel, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the spine and hip. Thirty-six women with AN aged 18-30 years (mean duration of AN: 5.8 years) and 30 age-matched women were assessed. Bone mineral density measured by DXA at the spine and hip, and broadband ultrasound attenuation measured by QUS at the heel were significantly lower in patients than controls. 3D-pQCT demonstrated a highly significant deficit in the absolute number of bone trabecules and a significant reduction of cortical thickness. Severity of underweight was significantly associated with bone deficits at the hip measured by DXA. 3D-pQCT revealed mostly deficits of cortical bone related with age of onset of eating disorder. Using three different methods to measure bone density and bone structure at the hip, spine, heel and ultradistal radius, significant deficits in bone mineral density both in trabecular and cortical bone, as well in trabecular structure could be demonstrated in the AN patients.

Better Child Support Enforcement

Stricter child support enforcement may reduce unwed childbearing by raising the costs of fatherhood. The authors investigate this hypothesis using a sample of young women from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, to which they add information on state child support enforcement. Models of the probability of a teenage premarital birth and of teenage premarital pregnancy and pregnancy resolution provide tentative evidence that during the early 1980s, teens living in states with higher rates of paternity establishment were less likely to become unwed mothers. This relationship is stronger for non-Hispanic Whites than for non-Hispanic Blacks. The findings suggest that policies that shift more costs of premarital child-bearing to men may reduce this behavior, at least among non-Hispanic Whites.

Facial attractiveness, symmetry, and physical fitness in young women.

This study explores the evolutionary-based hypothesis that facial attractiveness (a guiding force in mate selection) is a cue for physical fitness (presumably an important contributor to mate value in ancestral times). Since fluctuating asymmetry, a measure of developmental stability, is known to be a valid cue for fitness in several biological domains, we scrutinized facial asymmetry as a potential mediator between attractiveness and fitness. In our sample of young women, facial beauty indeed indicated physical fitness. The relationships that pertained to asymmetry were in the expected direction. However, a closer analysis revealed that facial asymmetry did not mediate the relationship between fitness and attractiveness. Unexpected problems regarding the measurement of facial asymmetry are discussed.

How feasible are healthy eating and physical activity for young women?

This study investigated young women's perceptions of the feasibility of physical activity and healthy eating behaviours, and how these vary by socio-economic status, domestic characteristics and weight status. This population-based study used a mailed questionnaire to investigate perceptions of the feasibility of commonly recommended healthy eating and physical activity behaviours among a sample of young women. The feasibility of 29 physical activity behaviours (e.g. relating to frequency, intensity, duration, domain/setting) and 15 healthy eating behaviours (e.g. relating to location/setting, fruit and vegetable intake, fat/sugar intake) was assessed. Height, weight and sociodemographic details were also obtained. Nation-wide community-based survey. A total of 445 women aged 18-32 years selected randomly from the Australian electoral roll. Most women reported that they either were already engaged in many of the healthy eating behaviours or saw these as highly feasible. Many physical activity behaviours, on the other hand, were perceived as less feasible, particularly among women with children and women who were overweight. Health promotion messages and strategies aimed at increasing physical activity and healthy eating are unlikely to succeed unless they take into account perceptions that these behaviours are not feasible. For young women, this may involve promoting more time-effective, flexible ways of achieving recommended physical activity. Messages specifically targeted to women with children, and women who are overweight, are required.

Health services use in women with a history of bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder

The current study examined health services use during the past 12 months in a sample of young women with a history of an adolescent eating disorder (bulimia nervosa [BN] or binge eating disorder [BED]). A community sample of 1,582 young women (mean age = 21.5 years) was classified, based on a screening interview (and, for eating disorder diagnosis, confirmatory diagnostic interview), into one of three groups: BN or BED (n = 67), other psychiatric disorder (n = 443), and no adolescent psychiatric disorder (n = 1,072). A history of BN/BED in adolescence was associated with elevated health services use, but this was a general effect associated with having a psychiatric disorder, not an effect specific to the diagnosis of an eating disorder. Total service days, outpatient psychotherapy visits, and emergency department visits were elevated in the combined group of BN/BED and other psychiatric disorder participants relative to the healthy comparison group. The women with BN/BED did not differ significantly from the women with a non-eating-related psychiatric disorder in the use of these services. The similarity of health services use in young women with BN or BED and those with other psychiatric disorders underscores the clinical and economic impact of these eating disorders.

Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) by Nugent’s criteria in a non-clinic national sample of young women entering the military: relationships with sexual experience, vaginal symptoms and signs

rency, partners having more than one partner during a time period, has been found to increase the risk of STIs. Purpose: To determine whether the association of sex partner concurrency and risk for current STIs varies by STI prevalence in geographic areas among female adolescents in Baltimore City. Methods: Sexually active 14–19 year olds were recruited for a longitudinal study between August 2000 and June 2002 from two urban clinics. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face structured interviews eliciting information on participants and their most recent main sex partner. Urine specimens were collected for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) LCR testing. Each participant’s primary residential address was geocoded to a Census 2000 census block group. STD surveillance information from 1994–1999 of gonorrhea case rates per census block group per 15–39 year olds per 100,000 were linked to the participant’s census block group information. Univariate associations between current CT and/or GC infection and sex partner concurrency and gonorrhea rate (categorized into 25th percentiles) in the participant’s census block group were conducted on baseline information. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of CT and/or GC infection of the participant (dependent) associated with the main effects of and interactions between sex partner concurrency and STI prevalence in geographic areas. Results: Univariate associations between CT and/or GC infection were not significant for sex partner concurrency and gonorrhea rate per census block group. However, multivariate logistic regression identified concurrency and an interaction between concurrency and STI prevalence in geographic areas as being significantly associated with current CT and/or GC infection. The interaction showed that among participants living in high prevalence geographic areas, having a concurrent sex partner was significantly associated with a current STI. Among participants living in low prevalence geographic areas, having a concurrent sex partner was not significantly associated with current STI in the index participant. Conclusions: The results show geographic context and sex partner concurrency have combined effects on current STI risk. The literature holds that sex partner behaviors are associated with risk of acquiring an STI, however, our results suggest an adolescent’s geographic context moderates the effect of partner behaviors. Our research adds to the basic understanding of STD transmission and acquisition in a high prevalence inner city. Further research is warranted into the effect of geography on STI acquisition.

Psychological distress in college-aged women: Links with unresolved/preoccupied attachment status and the mediating role of negative mood regulation expectancies

In the present study, associations between state of mind regarding attachment, expectancies for negative mood regulation (NMR), and the frequency of psychological problems were specified in a sample of young women (N = 104) involved in a collegiate setting. State of mind regarding attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996), while NMR expectancies and psychological health were measured via self-report instruments. The results supported the study hypotheses. As predicted, preoccupied women displayed less confidence in NMR and reported more psychological problems than 7secure and dismissing women. Similar findings were documented when contrasting unresolved/insecure and unresolved/secure women. NMR expectancies mediated relations between state of mind regarding attachment and psychological health. The study results have implications for attachment research and interventions with young adult women involved in collegiate settings.

Attachment style and self-reported aggression.

The present study examined the relationship between attachment style and self-reported aggression in a sample of young women (N = 139). Analysis showed that 27.3% of the subjects classified themselves as insecurely, i.e., avoidantly or ambivalently, attached by means of the Adult Attachment Questionnaire of Hazan and Shaver. In addition, the insecurely attached subjects had elevated anger and hostility compared to securely attached subjects.