Suburban Adolescents Research Articles

Shared and distinct parental influences on teen impaired driving in rural and suburban contexts: A mixed methods study of young drivers

ObjectiveTo explore shared and distinct parental influences on rural and suburban adolescents’ riding with an impaired driver (RWI) and driving while impaired (DWI) behaviors during high school. MethodsParticipants in the NEXT Generation Health Study (NEXT) were classified into four RWI/DWI trajectory classes (i.e., Abstainer, Escalator, Decliner, Persister) which described patterns of RWI/DWI from high school to emerging adulthood. A follow-up, in-depth, qualitative interview was conducted with a purposeful selection of participants from each trajectory class between March and September 2020. Guided by Ecodevelopmental Theory, the interview included questions which explored parent-teen influences on driving and RWI/DWI. ResultsImposition of a curfew was a shared parental influence in rural and suburban contexts. Unique to the rural context, parent modeling of RWI/DWI was described as normative and occurring since childhood. ConclusionsPrevention interventions targeting parent RWI/DWI may reduce their children’s risk for RWI/DWI among rural adolescents.

Exploring the tactical mobilities and everyday activity of immigrant adolescents in a Canadian suburban city

ABSTRACT The concentration of immigrants in suburban neighborhoods and cities should motivate research into the mobility experiences of racialized and immigrant youth in the suburbs. While intentionally turning our attention to racialized suburban adolescents, we might also look to consider how activities and travel are embodied, reproduced, and embedded with the environment, the social, and the material. Drawing from an ethnographic study about non-school activities and travel of adolescents ages 13–19 years in the suburban city of Mississauga, Canada, we highlight mobility experiences that are mediated by socio-material structures and embedded within micro and macro power relations. Attention is given to visible and invisible negotiation tactics employed by participants to navigate and access and/or exit four types of data-emergent childhood places: physical, mobile, digital, and representational. Participants indicated awareness of systemic surveillance and a parental preference to construct and preserve the innocent child. In response, participants strategically employ mundane daily practices, technologies, and peer-networks to access, widen and obscure the social, spatial (virtually and otherwise) and temporal scope of everyday life.

Exploring differences in adolescent BMI and obesity-related behaviors by urban, suburban, and rural status

Data from the nationally representative 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study was examined to identify differences in adolescent Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors by rurality status (i.e., urban, suburban, rural) while accounting for relevant demographics (i.e., sex, race/ethnicity, household income). This secondary, cross-sectional analysis included 1,353 adolescents. Analyses included descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Chi-squared tests, and multiple linear regression models (reported significance level p < 0.05). Rurality was not associated with BMI when controlling for demographics. However, relative to rural adolescents, suburban adolescents had significantly higher junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), sugary food (all β=+0.2, p ≤ 0.001), and fruit/vegetable intake (β=+0.1, p ≤ 0.05). Compared to Non-Hispanic White adolescents, Non-Hispanic Black adolescents had significantly higher BMI (β=+4.4, p ≤ 0.05), total sedentary time (β=+4.1, p ≤ 0.001), junk food, SSB, and sugary food intake (all β=+0.2, p ≤ 0.05). Relative to their lower-income household counterparts, adolescents from higher-income households had significantly lower BMI (β = -9.7, p ≤ 0.001), junk food (β = -0.2, p ≤ 0.05), and SSB intake (β = -0.5, p ≤ 0.001). Contrary to literature, rurality was not a significant predictor of adolescent BMI. While suburban status was significantly associated with several diet-related risk factors, it was not in the direction anticipated. Being non-Hispanic Black and from a low-income household had the greatest influence on adolescent BMI. Findings highlight the importance of using a three-category classification for rurality.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONSUMPTION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDOL AMONG THE TEENAGERS IN SUBURBAN AREA OF YOGYAKARTA

The advancement of technology has made many people, including teenagers, use new media to access information and interact with other people. One of the new media platforms widely used by teenagers is social media. Because identity plays a significant role in the life of the youth, besides sexuality, social media is relevant to teenagers. Social media helps teenagers on their quest to define and explore who they are, one of which is by facilitating them to find idols. This research aims at illustrating the construction of idols in teenagers through the consumption of one of the social media platforms, Instagram, by employing a qualitative approach and case-study methods. The research result shows that social media consumption in suburban adolescents is low and makes them still have strong connections with the surrounding social environment. The low consumption and influence of social media also make it easy for teenagers to believe in their idol's appearance and perceive it as a complete image of the idol. Teenagers have many ways to find and 'meet' their idols. Teenagers believe in their idols' social media appearance and perceive that the contents show the natural character and personality of the idols.

Experiences of adversity in childhood and adolescence and cortisol in late adolescence.

Early life adversity influences the diurnal cortisol rhythm, yet the relative influence of different characteristics of adversity remains unknown. In this study, we examine how developmental timing (childhood vs. adolescence), severity (major vs. minor), and domain of early life adversity relate to diurnal cortisol rhythms in late adolescence. We assessed adversity retrospectively in early adulthood in a subsample of 236 participants from a longitudinal study of a diverse community sample of suburban adolescents oversampled for high neuroticism. We used multilevel modeling to assess associations between our adversity measures and the diurnal cortisol rhythm (waking and bedtime cortisol, awakening response, slope, and average cortisol). Major childhood adversities were associated with flatter daily slope, and minor adolescent adversities were associated with greater average daily cortisol. Examining domains of childhood adversities, major neglect and sexual abuse were associated with flatter slope and lower waking cortisol, with sexual abuse also associated with higher cortisol awakening response. Major physical abuse was associated with higher waking cortisol. Among adolescent adversities domains, minor neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing violence were associated with greater average cortisol. These results suggest severity, developmental timing, and domain of adversity influence the association of early life adversity with stress response system functioning.

Exploring landscape preference through photo-based Q methodology. Madrid seen by suburban adolescents

The needs and group practices of adolescents have great impact on public spaces. Further understanding how and why they value certain environments is instrumental to better integrate their perspective in the design and management of our landscapes, as well as in raising environmental awareness and fostering sustainable attitudes and practices. We present the findings of a workshop on landscape preference carried out with a secondary school in the suburbs of Madrid. With participants between the ages of 11 and 16, photo-based Q methodology in combination with qualitative data allowed for the identification of groups sharing similar viewpoints, general trends, as well as exploring the structure and meaning behind consensus and disagreement photographs. Findings show overall positive valorisation towards green spaces, especially those where urban greenery is combined with recognizable architectural elements. Familiarity with the landscape type seems to encourage positive rankings, and preference towards well-known cultural sites manifests at older ages. Among the wide array of photo-elicitation techniques devoted to the assessment of landscape preference, photo-based Q methodology has seldom been used. However, this intuitive, effective, and inexpensive technique can be carried out in short and enjoyable sessions, showing great potential to be applied in geographical and environmental education.

Correlation of Myopia with Physical Exercise and Sleep Habits among Suburban Adolescents.

Purpose To analyse the correlation of myopia with physical exercise and sleep habits to explore the possible risk or protective factors of juvenile myopia. Methods This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 1831 students aged 11–18 years from five schools in Qingpu completed questionnaires from 2018 to 2019; the students were divided into the nonmyopia group and the myopia group, with students in the myopia group having myopia in at least one eye. Based on the chi-square test, the variables with statistical significance were selected for the logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Results Myopia was positively associated with older age (OR = 2.216, 95% CI: 1.720–2.855), having a parent with myopia (father: OR = 2.463, 95% CI: 1.900–3.193; mother: OR = 2.853, 95% CI: 2.232–3.646), and a late bedtime during holidays (before 10 pm: p = 0.002; 10 pm-11 pm: OR = 1.516, 95% CI: 1.095–2.100; 11 pm-12 am: OR = 1.966, 95% CI: 1.383–2.795), but negatively correlated with male gender (OR = 0.693, 95% CI: 0.549–0.876), a late daily wake time (OR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.621–0.985), and having more days per week of outdoor activities during the semester (OR = 0.764, 95% CI: 0.597–0.978). After adjustment for demographic characteristics, myopia was positively associated with a late bedtime during holidays (before 10 pm: p = 0.003; 10 pm-11 pm: OR = 1.570, 95% CI: 1.076–2.289; 11 pm-12 am: OR = 2.173, 95% CI: 1.451–3.253; after 12 am: OR = 1.786, 95% CI: 1.093–2.919), but negatively correlated with a late daily wake time during the semester (OR = 0.761, 95% CI: 0.581–0.997). Conclusion The association of outdoor exercise with myopia among Chinese suburban adolescents does not seem to be as strong as that of sleep habits. Future research could seek to provide consistent evidence for a potential association between myopia and sleep habits.

Experiences of adversity in childhood and adolescence and cortisol in late adolescence

Early life adversity influences the diurnal cortisol rhythm, yet the relative influence of different characteristics of adversity remains unknown. In this study, we examine how developmental timing (childhood vs. adolescence), severity (major vs. minor), and domain of early life adversity relate to diurnal cortisol rhythms in late adolescence. We assessed adversity retrospectively in early adulthood in a subsample of 236 participants from a longitudinal study of a diverse community sample of suburban adolescents oversampled for high neuroticism. We used multilevel modeling to assess associations between our adversity measures and the diurnal cortisol rhythm (waking and bedtime cortisol, awakening response, slope, and average cortisol). Major childhood adversities were associated with flatter daily slope, and minor adolescent adversities were associated with greater average daily cortisol. Examining domains of childhood adversities, major neglect and sexual abuse were associated with flatter slope and lower waking cortisol, with sexual abuse also associated with higher cortisol awakening response. Major physical abuse was associated with higher waking cortisol. Among adolescent adversities domains, minor neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing violence were associated with greater average cortisol. These results suggest severity, developmental timing, and domain of adversity influence the association of early life adversity with stress response system functioning.

Risk factors associated with abdominal obesity in suburban adolescents from a Malaysian district.

We aimed to determine the risk factors associated with abdominal obesity (AO) in suburban adolescents. This cross-sectional study included adolescents aged 15-17 years from five randomly selected secondary schools in the Hulu Langat district of Selangor state, Malaysia. Waist circumference (WC) was measured at the midpoint between the lower margin of the last palpable rib and the top of the iliac crest. Information on sociodemographic data, dietary habits, physical activity levels and duration of sleep was obtained via interviewer-administered questionnaires. Participants' habitual food intake was determined using a 73-item Food Frequency Questionnaire. Among 832 participants, 56.0% were girls; 48.4% were Malay, 40.5% Chinese, 10.2% Indian and 0.8% of other ethnic groups. Median age and WC were 16 (interquartile range [IQR] 15-16) years and 67.9 (IQR 63.0-74.6) cm, respectively. Overall prevalence of AO (> 90th percentile on the WC chart) was 11.3%. A higher proportion (22.4%) of Indian adolescents were found to have AO compared with Malay and Chinese adolescents. Logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 7.064, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.087-23.913; p = 0.002), Indian ethnicity (adjusted OR 10.164, 95% CI 2.182-47.346; p = 0.003), irregular meals (adjusted OR 3.193, 95% CI 1.043-9.774; p = 0.042) and increasing body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR 2.867, 95% CI 2.216-3.710; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with AO. AO was common among Malaysian adolescents. Female gender, Indian ethnicity, irregular meals and increasing BMI were significant risk factors.

Suicidal ideation among suburban adolescents: The influence of school bullying and other mediating risk factors

Objective: Prior research has identified multiple factors that influence suicidal ideation (SI) among bullied youth. The effects of school bullying on SI cannot be considered in isolation. In this study, we examined the influence of school bullying on SI, through a constellation of risks, which include depressive and anxiety symptoms, family conflict, and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use. We also provide recommendations for therapists working with bullied youth.Method: Our sample consisted of 488 adolescents (ages 10-18 years) from a northern New Jersey, United States suburban community. Students were recruited through the district’s physical education and health classes. Students responded to multiple measures, which included family cohesion/conflict, ATOD use, mental health indicators, SI, and school bullying experiences. Following preliminary analyses, several logistic regression models were used to assess the direct influence of bullying on SI, as well as the unique effects of family conflict, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and substance use. In addition, a parallel multiple mediating model with the PROCESS macro in SPSS was used to further assess mediating effects.Results: Logistic regression results indicated that school bullying increased the odds of SI among males and females and that when mediating variables were added to the model, bullying no longer had a significant influence on SI. Overall, these results display that for both males and females, school bullying was a significant contributor to SI. Results from the parallel multiple mediating model further illustrated the mediating effects that family conflict, depression, and ATOD use had between bullying and SI. Some variation was noted based on gender.Conclusion: This study draws attention to the multiple experiences associated with school bullying on SI, and how these results may differ by gender. The results of this study are particularly important for those working directly and indirectly with bullied youth. Therapists that engage bullied youth need to consider the multiple spheres of influence that may increase SI among male and female clients. To holistically and adequately assess SI among bullied youth, therapists must also consider how these mechanisms vary between gender groups.

Food Hygiene's Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices between Urban and Suburban Adolescents

Abstract An independent samples t-test was conducted to examine whether there was a significant difference between urban and suburban about the impact of parental influences towards food hygiene practices. The test revealed that there are no statistically significant difference between urban and suburban (t = 0.779, df = 394.29, p > 0.001). Urban adolescents (M = 19.615, SD = 3.024) reported significantly equal with the overall parental influences suburban adolescents (M = 19.390, SD= 2.743). The result indicates that similar parental influences due to increased food safety awareness and information communication technology can be easily passed down to their children.

Trajectories of emotional-behavioral difficulty and academic competence: A 6-year, person-centered, prospective study of affluent suburban adolescents.

This longitudinal study of affluent suburban youth (N = 319) tracked from 6th to 12th grade is parsed into two segments examining prospective associations concerning emotional-behavioral difficulties and academic achievement. In Part 1 of the investigation, markers of emotional-behavioral difficulty were used to cluster participants during 6th grade. Generalized estimating equations were then used to document between-cluster differences in academic competence from 6th to 12th grade. In Part 2 of the study, indicators of academic competence were used to cluster the same students during 6th grade, and generalized estimating equations were used to document between-cluster differences in emotional-behavioral difficulty from 6th to 12th grade. The results from Part 1 indicated that patterns of emotional-behavioral difficulty during 6th grade were concurrently associated with poorer grades and classroom adjustment with some group differences in the rate of change in classroom adjustment over time. In Part 2, patterns of academic competence during 6th grade were concurrently associated with less emotional-behavioral difficulty and some group differences in the rate of change in specific forms of emotional-behavioral difficulty over time. These results suggest that the youth sampled appeared relatively well adjusted and any emotional-behavioral-achievement difficulty that was evident at the start of middle school was sustained through the end of high school.

Multidimensional Perfectionism Within Gifted Suburban Adolescents: An Exploration of Typology and Comparison of Samples

Researchers explored the typology of perfectionism among 153 (46% male, 54% female; 88% White, 8% African American, 5% Asian American, 4% Hispanic, 1% Other) suburban gifted adolescents and compared perfectionism scores (using the Goals and Work Habits Survey, a modification of Frost’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale [F-MPS]) to samples of gifted students from previous studies. Nonhierarchical k-mean cluster analyses revealed a three-type classification of unhealthy, functional, and nonperfectionists; unhealthy perfectionists displayed higher levels of avoidance internalized coping than functional perfectionists, but functional perfectionism was not differentiated by approach-oriented coping. Sample t-tests revealed that the present sample had significantly higher scores of perfectionism (especially unhealthy dimensions) than previous studies. Plausible explanations for higher perfectionism scores include the present educational climate and related cultural factors. Researchers recommend additional analyses of perfectionism among broader samples and enhancing the psychometric properties of the F-MPS, facilitating more practical application. Implications for addressing perfectionism are also discussed.

Sleep duration, mental health, and substance use among rural adolescents: Developmental correlates.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that most adolescents do not get adequate amounts of sleep. Furthermore, insuf?cient sleep is associated with increased risk for depression and suicide attempts as well as substance abuse in adolescence. However, extant studies have relied primarily on national samples or suburban adolescents, with a paucity of research examining the associations between sleep duration and mental health and substance abuse risk in rural adolescents. Additionally, these associations rarely have been examined within a developmental context. The present study attempted to address these gaps by using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to examine the associations between sleep duration and risk factors in the lower and upper grade levels for high school students attending schools in rural areas. YRBS data were obtained from 2 rural school districts located in the Appalachian region of North Carolina (n  987). For the full sample, approximately 40% of students reported receiving 6 or fewer hours of sleep on a typical school night. High school students in the lower grades (9th and 10th) who reported short sleep duration were more likely to have endorsed each of the mental health, suicidal behavior, and substance use items. Signi?cant differences emerged between sleep groups on suicide attempts and alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use for students in the upper grade levels. We conclude that short sleep duration is problematic in rural high school students, especially for those students recently transitioning from middle school to high school. These ?ndings can inform identi?cation, prevention, and intervention strategies to encourage and promote healthy sleep habits among rural adolescents.

Comparing sleep disorders in urban and suburban adolescents

Background Sleep disturbances commonly occur in adolescents. Socioeconomic levels, lifestyle, and urban or suburban environments influence the sleep patterns of adolescents. The modernization process in urban environments is marked by the development of information technology media, and the lack of parental monitoring potentially influencing adolescent sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances may affect children's physical growth, as well as their emotional, cognitive, and social development.Objective To assess for sleep disorders in urban and suburban adolescents, and to determine the factors that influence the prevalence of sleep disturbances.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 12 to 15-year-old junior high school students in urban (n=350) and suburban (n=350) environments in the city of Medan, North Sumatera. The study was undertaken from May to June 2010 using the Sleep Disorders Scale for Children (SDSC), a set of questionnaires. The SDSC was filled out by parents based on what they remembered about their children's sleep patterns in the prior 6 months.Results In the urban group, there were 133 (38.0%) subjects with sleep disturbances, 182 (52.0%) were borderline, and 35 (10.0%) were normal. In the suburban group, there were 132 (37.7%) subjects with sleep disturbances, 180 (51.4%) were borderline, and 38 (10.9%) were normal. The most influential factors for sleep disturbances in urban and suburban youth were environmental noise (P=0.001) and consuming beverages that contain caffeine (P=0.001). There were three types of sleep disorders that significantly found more in urban adolescents: disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, disorders of excessive somnolence, and sleep hyperhidrosis.Conclusion The prevalence of sleep disturbances do not differ between urban and suburban adolescents. Howevet; there are significant differences in the types of sleep disorders experienced. The most influential factors on sleep disturbance in both areas are environmental noise and consuming beverages that contain caffeine.

Comparing sleep disorders in urban and suburban adolescents

Background Sleep disturbances commonly occur in adolescents. Socioeconomic levels, lifestyle, and urban or suburban environments influence the sleep patterns of adolescents. The modernization process in urban environments is marked by the development of information technology media, and the lack of parental monitoring potentially influencing adolescent sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances may affect children's physical growth, as well as their emotional, cognitive, and social development.

Coming of Age in the Bubble: Suburban Adolescents' Use of a Spatial Metaphor as a Symbolic Boundary

This article explores how suburban middle‐class adolescents use a spatial metaphor, “bubble,” as a symbolic boundary. The narratives about the bubble, collected through focus group discussions and ethnographic observations, show consensus among the teenagers about the socioeconomic and cultural superiority of the community, but they also reveal opposing views on its moral status. I also find that the teens use the same metaphor to draw moral distinctions among their peers, based on whether they align their identity with the norms and values the bubble symbolizes. I argue that the adolescents living in this community develop a strong place identity, even when they identify flaws with it, because their mundane references to the bubble provide them with an opportunity to critically examine the implication of their middle‐class status.

Listening to Student Voices

This study explores the perspectives of rural and suburban adolescents on the nature of schools, teaching, and leadership that influences learning. Middle and high school students with and without disabilities offer relevant insights to educators who are seeking to promote greater engagement, community, and success in their schools. Results suggest that student voices can be a powerful tool for school improvement.

Relationships Among Selected Demographic Variables and Adolescent Psychosocial Well‐Being

This study investigated the relationships among self‐esteem, social competence, stress, social support (family and peer), gender, and ethnicity among urban, rural, and suburban adolescents. The participants in this study were drawn from a nationally representative sample of adolescent youth. Analyses of data revealed that there were significant relationships between self‐esteem, social competence, stress, and social support. Significant differences within gender were found between self‐esteem, social competence, peer support, and stress. Also, there were significant ethnic differences in self‐esteem and peer support. Regression analyses revealed that both family and peer support accounted for a significant degree of the variation on self‐esteem and significant family and peer effects. No significant distinctions between geographic locations and the psychosocial variables were indicated.

Lower neighbourhood walkability and longer distance to school are related to physical activity in Belgian adolescents

Objective To investigate whether adolescents living in a high-walkable town centre are more physically active than those living in a less-walkable suburb. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Izegem (Belgium). Data collection took place in spring 2007. One high-walkable urban neighbourhood and one less-walkable suburban neighbourhood were selected, based on objective connectivity and residential density. One hundred twenty adolescents (12–18 years, 60 per neighbourhood) completed the Neighbourhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS), the Neighbourhood Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ), wore a pedometer for 7 days and filled in an activity log. Results In contrast with the expectations, adolescents living in the less-walkable suburb reported 220 min/week more cycling for transport than those living in the high-walkable town centre. A trend towards significance was found for mean step counts/day with 1371 more steps/day for suburban adolescents. Travel time to school was 7.4 min less for urban adolescents. Conclusions In contrast with previous results in adults, lower walkability and larger distance to school was associated with more physical activity in Belgian adolescents. Therefore, physical environmental interventions designed for adults, focusing on increases in connectivity, residential density and connectivity, might not be effective for Belgian adolescents.