School Adolescents Research Articles

The prevalence and correlates of sibling bullying victimisation in early adolescence: An investigation of over 30,000 adolescents in 18 countries.

Sibling bullying is a common childhood experience. Recent studies have shown that correlates of sibling bullying are proximal and distal. However, a lack of cross-cultural understanding still exists on the prevalence and protective factors of sibling bullying. The objective of the current study was to examine the prevalence of sibling bullying and investigate whether positive environments protect against sibling bullying victimisation in 18 countries. We analysed existing data from an international study of over 30,000 adolescents aged 10 and 12years old, the Children's World Survey. Adolescents reported physical and verbal sibling bullying victimisation experiences and the positive aspects of their home, neighbourhood, and school environments. Regression models were fitted to investigate whether individual- and country-level positive home, neighbourhood, and school environments are associated with sibling bullying victimisation. On average, the prevalence of sibling bullying victimisation was 28%; 1 in 4 adolescents were physically hurt or called unkind names more than three times in the last month by a sibling (excluding fighting or play fighting). The prevalence varied by country; ranging from 9%-59%. Whilst, on the whole, individual-level positive home, neighbourhood, and school environments were associated with reduced sibling bullying victimisation (odds ratios, 0.68-0.85), these effects differed for each country. Country-level positive environments were not associated with sibling bullying victimisation. These findings demonstrate that improving adolescents' home, neighbourhood, and school environments might serve to reduce sibling bullying victimisation.

Prevalence and associated characteristics of sexual exploitation in a representative sample of spanish youth from an intersectional perspective.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) involves using a child or youth as a sexual object in exchange for remuneration, reward, or favors, meeting their survival needs, and also serving the perpetrator's aims for sexual, social, or economic gain. The present study addresses the prevalence of CSE in Spain. A representative sample of 4024 secondary school adolescents from 14 to 17years old (M=15.42, SD=1.034) was surveyed. Three questions adapted from previous European studies on the topic were used. An overall prevalence of 2.6% was recorded, comprising exchange of sexual material (1.7%), sexual touching (0.9%), and sexual relations involving oral sex or penetration (0.9%). While no significant age-related differences emerged, gender-specific patterns were observed. Boys exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of oral and penetrative sex than girls (1.2% vs 0.5%), while girls showed a slightly higher prevalence of exchange of sexual material (2% vs 1.2%) than boys. LGB youth reported a significantly higher risk for CSE than heterosexual youth (5.5% vs 2.1%), and European adolescents reported less CSE (2.2% vs. 4.1%) than youths from other ethnicities. CSE should be a social concern because it affects a substantial number of children worldwide. Interventions should adopt an intersectional perspective that incorporates the various risk factors associated with this form of victimization.

The correlation between parental education level and emotional disorders among female adolescents in high schools in Surabaya

According to WHO data (2022), in 2019, 1 in every 8 people, or approximately 970 million individuals worldwide, lived with mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. Poor emotional conditions can affect an individual's physical health, with one of the impacts on female adolescents being irregular menstrual cycles. Female adolescents can detect emotional disorders early, which highlights the importance of environmental support, particularly the role of parents. Mothers with higher education levels are likely to play a significant role in family decision-making. This study aimed to examine the correlation between parental education levels and emotional disorders among female adolescents in high schools in Surabaya. The study employed a quantitative analysis method with an observational design and a cross-sectional approach. Data were collected from female adolescents aged 15–17 years in high schools in Surabaya using cluster random sampling. The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The results showed p-values of 0.174 and 0.350 (p-value > 0.05), indicating no significant correlation between parental education levels and emotional disorders among female adolescents aged 15–17 years in high schools in Surabaya. Future research should further explore factors related to emotional disorders to reduce the prevalence of such cases.

Self-Management in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Illness: An Evolutionary Analysis of the Concept.

To increase conceptual clarity regarding the self-management of school-age children and adolescents with chronic illnesses in a community context. Concept Analysis: Rodgers' evolutionary approach. Search conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Nursing and Allied Health Collection, Academic Search Complete, Cochrane, Web of Science, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis. Thirty-one articles were identified, published between 2004 and 2023. Followed the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research guidelines-Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. Self-management in children and adolescents with chronic illness, in school age, in a community context, consists of a process of acquiring knowledge and beliefs that promote the self-efficacy of this population in developing skills to face needs inherent to the health condition. Promoting self-management goes beyond simply educating for skill acquisition. Participants with stronger beliefs in their ability to control their behaviours are more successful in self-management. The activation of resources that position the child as an agent of change is recommended. It contributes to the development of strategies that promote self-management across different healthcare disciplines, focusing on education and change, but also on psychological encouragement to foster confidence in change. Competent self-management during childhood promotes autonomy, empowerment, and control of the condition, with consequent physical and emotional well-being, quality of life, family stability, and social development. There was no direct contribution from patients or the public in this work (literature review).

Listening to the voices of adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease after returning to school: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among Chinese adolescents has continued to increase in recent years. Adolescents with IBD interrupted their schooling due to the diagnosis and treatment of...

Prevalence, predictors and selected outcomes of early sexual initiation among adolescents in secondary schools in Lugbe, Abuja, Nigeria: a mixed methods study

BackgroundEarly sexual initiation is the onset of sexual intercourse below 15 years. Despite many negative effects of early sexual initiation, its prevalence has kept increasing globally over the past decades.ObjectiveThis...

The whole life cycle myopia management.

Myopia stands as a prevalent ocular condition with global implications, impacting individuals at various life stages. In school-age children and adolescents, uncorrected myopia impedes reading and academic performance. Among middle-aged and elderly populations, myopia poses severe risks such as macular degeneration, macular holes and retinal detachment, leading to irreversible visual impairment. The term "myopia management" is widely embraced by ophthalmic practitioners and optometry associations worldwide, encompassing strategies to correct refractive errors and ongoing assessment of disease progression, aiming to reduce the progression of myopia and axial elongation. To date, current management strategies for myopia include public health policies, optical solutions, medical interventions and surgical options, but these interventions are general and lack age specificity. Despite existing interventions, we propose the concept of "Whole Life Cycle Myopia Management" in this review. This approach outlined major risk factors of myopia through the whole life cycle, discussed current interventions for myopia and provided age-specific management strategies for myopia of eight different life stages-infancies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, adolescents, young adults, middle-age and old-age, including the prevention of myopia onset, slowing of myopia progression and monitoring of myopia complications. Achieving the "Whole Life Cycle Myopia Management" requires collaborations efforts from government, schools, hospitals and families, to restore vision and enhance the quality of life for those individuals affected by myopia.

“People First, Students Second”: Considerations for Building Trusting Relationships Between Educational Professionals and Adolescents in Schools

“People First, Students Second”: Considerations for Building Trusting Relationships Between Educational Professionals and Adolescents in Schools

Психологическое насилие и угрозы безопасности обучающихся в американских школах и способы минимизации этих угроз

<p style="text-align: justify;">The article presents an analysis of contemporary research on threats to psychological well-being in US high schools. A meta-analysis of publications presented to the professional community on the portal: ResearchGate was conducted. 100 articles related to the problem of security in the US educational system were analyzed; as a result, 20 publications related directly to threats to psychological well-being were identified. The research is aimed at various categories of the population: elementary, middle, and high school students, students, children and adolescents with disabilities, representatives of minorities, educators, and parents. The threats identified are 1) violence in any form, from armed to sexual, 2) racial problems, 3) problems with ensuring the rights of minorities and the need to organize effective interaction with them, 4) professional burnout of teachers. Subjective and objective factors of ensuring psychological well-being in American schools are also highlighted. Objective factors include the peculiarities of American legislation, the presence of structures that ensure the safety of the educational environment and juvenile justice. National Association of School Psychologists. Subjective factors include the peculiarities of the country’s culture, in particular, the orientation toward individualism characteristic of the American mentality. Ways to minimize these threats to the psychological well-being of students include the involvement of social workers and the active involvement of parents in ensuring psychological safety at school. A three-dimensional conceptual model for improving the safety of an educational institution's environment is described and analyzed. Aspects of the model include physical, procedural, and psychological reinforcement.</p>

The link between bullying victimization and mental well-being: Self-compassion and emotional flexibility as mediators among adolescents

Abstract Bullying victimization poses a potential threat to the mental well-being of adolescents. Existing literature indicates correlations between bullying victimization, self-compassion, emotional flexibility, and mental well-being. However, further exploration of these connections is warranted. This study seeks to investigate the mediating roles of self-compassion and emotional flexibility in the association between bullying victimization and mental well-being among adolescents. The study involved 1120 high school adolescents, comprising 669 boys (59.7%) and 451 girls (40.3%). The results indicated a significant negative relationship between bullying victimization and mental well-being. Moreover, self-compassion and emotional flexibility were found to mediate the relationship between bullying victimization and mental well-being. These mediation roles imply that self-compassion and emotional flexibility may act as buffering mechanisms. Mental well-being levels of adolescents exposed to bullying victimization decrease. On the other hand, self-compassion and emotional flexibility may increase adolescents’ mental well-being. Developing self-compassion and emotional flexibility skills in adolescents exposed to bullying can be effective intervention methods for improving their mental well-being.

Coping with dual roles: a case of adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools

PurposeThis paper aims to examine adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools’ unique coping strategies. It intends to explore strategies adolescent student mothers use in coping with the challenges of managing motherhood concurrent with schooling in the context of Tanzania’s secondary schools.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a qualitative single-case study design, involving 35 adolescent student mothers and 5 class teachers selected through purposive sampling. Data collection methods included focus group discussions for adolescent student mothers and semi-structured interviews for class teachers, facilitating insights into their coping strategies, and the contextual factors guiding their choices of certain coping strategies. Thematic analysis ensured systematic analysis of the data.FindingsThe findings indicate that adolescent student mothers use coping strategies like relying on interpersonal support systems, skipping schooling for some days, bringing with them their children to school, getting into convenience marriages, involving in income-generating ventures, ignoring and relying on faith and spiritual support.Research limitations/implicationsThis research will be beneficial to adolescent student mothers, parents and schools and will add a contribution to this field. However, the coping strategies identified were limited to a small sample from a selected region and schools, hence cannot be used for generalization to a larger population.Practical implicationsThis research will assist policymakers in evaluating and reassessing the re-admission policy to create more conducive environments that suit adolescent student mothers’ situations. This will create a supportive environment that fosters the well-being of adolescent student mothers and their children.Social implicationsThe findings of this paper will be useful in understanding the coping strategies employed by student mothers and how educational modifications can be implemented to suit adolescent student mothers’ situations.Originality/valueThe research was conducted after introducing the re-admission circular to primary and secondary schools in Tanzania, and the findings derived from it are original.

School Ethnic Density and Mental Health Problems in Black, Latine, and White Preadolescent Children.

Previous studies suggest school ethnic density is associated with less internalizing problems in Black and Latine adolescents in high school. Here, we assessed associations between school ethnic density and internalizing, externalizing, and thought problems in Black, Latine, and White pre-adolescent children (mean age=9.9 years) in elementary school. We additionally examined if associations differed by family generational status. We analyzed baseline data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study (n=10, 076). We operationalized school ethnic density as a measure of racial and/or ethnic concordance. In models stratified by race and ethnicity, we used generalized estimating equation models to assess associations between proportions of school racial and/or ethnic concordance and the internalizing, externalizing, and thought problem subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist. We subsequently adjusted for family and neighborhood socioeconomic factors and tested for interactions with family generational status. For Black children, a higher proportion of Black students at schools was associated with less internalizing (β=-1.11, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -2.82, -.13; p =.026) and thought problems (β=-.47, 95% CI: -.78, -.06; p =.026). For Latine children, a higher proportion of Latine students was associated with less thought problems, but only among children from immigrant families (β=-.65, 95% CI: -1.20, -.09; p =.023). For White children, an initial association between a higher proportion of White students and less externalizing problems disappeared after controlling for socioeconomic factors. We find protective associations between school ethnic density and mental health problems for Black children and Latine children from immigrant families.

Nutritional Status of 8,128,014 Chilean and Immigrant Children and Adolescents Evaluated by the National Board of School Aid and Scholarships (JUNAEB) Between 2013 and 2023.

Nutritional issues, including overweight and obesity, along with the rising number of immigrants facing their own nutritional problems, continue to keep Chile on alert. To evaluate the epidemiological and nutritional status changes among Chilean and immigrant boys, girls, and adolescents (BGA) in schools evaluated by the National Board of School Aid and Scholarships (JUNAEB) from 2013 to 2023. This descriptive study analyzed individual, anonymous, and de-identified data on the nutritional status of BGA in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, fifth grade, and the first year of high school using the JUNAEB Nutritional Map. The sample consisted of 8,128,014 BGA, 49.2% women and 50.8% men. In 2013, immigrant BGA represented 0.4% of the total number of children evaluated, and by 2023, this percentage increased to 7.9%. It was observed that Chilean BGA had a lower proportion of thinness, risk of thinness, stunting, and normal weight, but a higher proportion of overnutrition compared to immigrants, similar to observations made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons by sex showed that Chilean and immigrant women had a lower percentage of thinness, risk of thinness, obesity, severe obesity, and stunting, and a higher proportion of normal weight when compared to men. The rise in immigrant BGA within the Chilean school system, together with the nutritional differences between both groups, highlights the need to consider these particularities when designing nutritional public policies in the health and education sectors.

Prevalence and associations of meeting adherence to 5-2-1-0 health guidelines with externalizing and internalizing symptoms and hygiene behaviour among school adolescents in the Philippines

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to look into the prevalence and associations of meeting adherence to 5-2-1-0 health guidelines (5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables/day (FV), ≤2 hours of recreational screen time/day (ST), at least 1 hour of moderate and/or vigorous physical activity (PA), and 0 sugar-sweetened beverages/day) among school adolescents in the Philippines. The 2011, 2015 and 2019 Philippines Global School-based Student Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of teenagers aged 11 to 18 provided the study’s data. Measures included self-reported demographics, peer and parental support, body mass index, six externalized and four internalized behaviours, and four hygiene behaviours, and 5-2-1-0 health guidelines. The relationship between behavioural outcomes and meeting the 5-2-1-0 health guidelines number was investigated using logistic regression models. The percentages of participants who adhered to none, one, and two, 5-2-1-0 health guidelines were 11.6%, 38.9%, and 41.8%, respectively, whereas 7.7% of participants met three (7.2%) or four (0.5%) guidelines. Compared to participants from study wave 2011, participants from study waves 2015 and 2019, and having obesity were negatively associated with adhering to 3 or 4 5-2-1-0 health guidelines, while school attendance, peer and higher parental support were positively associated with adhering to 3 or 4 5-2-1-0 health guidelines. Compared with meeting none of the 5-2-1-0 health guidelines, participants who met a higher number of recommendations were less likely to report externalizing behaviours (current alcohol use, history of intoxication, participation in physical fighting, sustained a physical injury, were physically attacked and had been bullied), internalizing behaviours (suicidal ideation, plan and attempt and psychological distress) and hygiene behaviours (inadequate tooth brushing, not always hang hygiene before meals, after toilet and with soap). Future behavioural and mental health interventions for adolescents should focus on improving their overall 5-2-1-0 behaviours while taking demographic differences into account.

The influence of anxiety-related emotional disorders and self-esteem on obesity among Chinese children

Background Anxiety and obesity can have negative impacts on the health of children. Understanding the relationship between obesity and mental disorders in children and adolescents will help develop effective prevention and intervention strategies. This research investigates the impact of anxiety-related emotional disorders and self-esteem on obesity among Chinese children aged 6-12 in Anhui Province. Methods Utilizing a non-experimental, cross-sectional study design, data were from 136 participants collected through standardized instrument measures from Chinese children: the “Chinese screening for overweight and obesity among school-age children and adolescents” in the “Health Industry Standards of the People’s Republic of China” as the standard for identifying obesity, the Screen for Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) for assessing anxiety disorder, and the Children’s Self-Esteem Scale (CSES) for evaluating self-esteem. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analyses was performed using SPSS version 26 to determine the predictive relationships between the variables. Results The analysis revealed that anxiety-related emotional disorders and self-esteem contribute significantly to the prediction of obesity among Chinese children, accounting for a 13.7% variance. The study highlights the critical roles of anxiety-related emotional disorders and self-esteem in determining children’s obesity. It suggests that underscores the necessity for comprehensive interventions that address both physical and mental health aspects to combat childhood obesity effectively. The study concludes that addressing anxiety and self-esteem is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce obesity rates among Chinese children, meeting the research objectives, and contributing to the development of holistic health programs for children’s well-being.

The Relationship Between Parental Autonomy Support, Psychological Control, and Academic Adaptation of Middle School Students: The Mediation of Parent-child Relationship and Self-efficacy

In the current contemporary competitive social environment, the academic adaptation (AA) is crucial to personal growth and future development. Many studies have shown that family parenting styles (PSs) significantly impact the academic adaptation. Nonetheless, the existing comprehension of the underlying mechanisms by which parental autonomy support (AS) and psychological control (PC) within family parenting styles influence the academic adjustment of middle school adolescents remains insufficiently elucidated. Therefore, this study explored in depth the influencing mechanism of parental AS, PC, and AA of middle school kids, while analyzing the mediators, i.e., parent-child interactions and self-efficacy (SE). The study results found that parental AS positively influenced academic adaption, whereas PC negatively affected it. The parent-child relationship and SE served as mediators in the relationship between the two variables. This study could be beneficial to improving family PSs and promoting the academic growth of middle school kids, while also emphasizing the significance of building positive parent-child bonds and enhancing students' SE in family parenting.

Aportes de la escuela de Frankfurt y Edgar Morin para fomentar el pensar dialéctico y complejo en la educación

The aim of this text is to present an educational proposal that challenges the way adolescentsin school think, and, consequently, how they relate to uncertainty, change, and otherness. To this end, the text starts from the formulation of a "method" –a key term in this work– based on thephilosophies of the Frankfurt School and Edgar Morin, which can address the multidimensionalityand multireferentiality of reality: dialectical and complex thinking. It is believed that only sucha way of thinking, one that turns the individual into a strategist, will produce citizens capable of taking responsibility for their democracies. The connection between education and politicsis clarified, with the first positioned as the foundation and engine of the latter. The educationalproposal for forming complex citizens is then described, which is based on the recovery of aprofound culture capable of deepening adolescents’ thinking and distancing them from simplisticand totalizing discourses. Finally, it is concluded that the only way to avoid new barbarities, such as Auschwitz –both as an extermination camp and, more importantly, as a metaphor for the placeknowledge can lead without an educated thought to guide it– is to promote an education forcomplexity, understanding, and freedom.

Nutritional assessment of adolescents: A cross-sectional study from public schools of North India.

Technological advancements and globalization have shifted dietary behaviours, contributing to increased chronic disease prevalence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like India. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to these changes, which can impact their lifelong health. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of adolescents in public schools in Chandigarh, India. Conducted as part of a cluster randomized control trial, the study used two-stage random sampling to select 12 schools and eighth-grade classes, recruiting 453 adolescents aged 10-16 years. Nutritional status was evaluated through dietary behaviour assessments, anthropometric measurements, and 24-hour urinary salt-level analysis. Dietary patterns were recorded using two 24-hour recalls, and analyzed with PURE study software based on 2010 Indian dietary data from ICMR-NIN. Anthropometric measures followed standardized protocols, and salt levels were assessed in laboratories. The mean age of the adolescents was 13.06 years, with 55% being boys. Among them, 32% had high salt intake, and 55% had high sugar intake. Additionally, 90% had low fruit intake, and 83% had low vegetable intake. The adolescents were deficient in several macro and micronutrients, including energy, fats, fibre, iron, zinc, iodine, riboflavin, and vitamins B-6 and B-12. A higher proportion of boys (10%) were classified as thin compared to girls (2%), while a greater proportion of girls (36%) had abdominal obesity. In contrast, a larger proportion of boys (23%) were severely acutely malnourished. Nearly all adolescents exhibited high urinary excretory salt levels. Most adolescents exhibited dietary risk factors, including high salt and sugar intake, along with low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Many were deficient in various macro and micronutrients, with the coexistence of both thinness and obesity. Regular nutritional assessments in schools are essential to address the dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition. Furthermore, health-promoting interventions should be developed within school settings to encourage healthy dietary practices.

Small‐ and large‐group instruction and a didactic method in mathematics for low‐performing adolescents: results from a randomized field experiment

AbstractThere is an increasing focus on helping low‐performing adolescents in school. We have randomly exposed low‐performing adolescents in mathematics in grade 8 to variations in key school inputs: teacher training, teaching material, and group size. Test scores of students in small groups taught by newly trained teachers provided with teaching material increased by 0.06 standard deviation. We find no impact on students in large groups with trained teachers and no new teaching material. Classroom observations indicate higher implementation fidelity of the didactic method among teachers of small groups, suggesting that targeted instruction with suitable teaching material in small and homogeneous groups can improve results for low‐performing adolescents and reduce achievement gaps in lower secondary education.

Dependent Group-Oriented Contingencies:A Synoptic Review

Dependent group-oriented contingencies (DGOC) are those in which the consequences for a group of students is dependent on the performance of one member or a small subsection of the group. There have been several reviews of group-oriented contingencies but none focusing solely on DGOCs to the exclusion of independent and interdependent types of group-oriented contingencies. Therefore, the purpose of the present review was to describe studies only using DGOCs to determine their feasibility and effectiveness for children and adolescents in school and school-related settings. Results indicated that DGOC can be used effectively, but methods need to be in place to minimize the risk of other students scapegoating and threatening the child for whom the contingency was implemented.