Views Of Adolescents Research Articles

Pathways from peers to mental health: Adolescent networks, role attainment, and adult depressive symptoms

Both adolescent peer networks and adult role attainment affect mental health in adulthood. However, whether adult roles mediate associations between adolescent networks and adult mental health is unclear. Using path analysis with survey data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 8543) in the United States, we examine the direct impact of adolescent (grades 7–12) popularity (received ties) and sociality (sent ties) among school peers on adult (ages 33–43) depressive symptoms, and we assess mediation pathways through four key adult roles: marriage, employment, education, and residential independence. We then examine whether pathways differ across men and women. Results indicate that adolescent popularity, or how others view an adolescent's position in the peer network, benefits adult mental health through the attainment of marriage, employment, and education. Residential independence is a significant mediator for popularity in models for men. Sociality, or how an adolescent views their own position in the peer network, relates to adult depressive symptoms through the attainment of a college degree for women and marriage for men. Sociality also directly predicts lower depressive levels, independent of adult role attainment, in models for women. Overall, results indicate gendered pathways for how adolescent networks relate to mental health decades later through adult roles.

Separation-Individuation in Patterns in Turkey: An Investigation of Developmental, Gender and Contextual Differences

IntroductionThere is still a paucity of studies exploring the impacts of teenage employment on mental health and development. In many developing countries, youths participate intensively in the teenage labor force. The involvement of adolescent in the world of work would promote the development of responsibility and prepare the young person to function more effectively in adult roles.ObjectivesThe purposes of the present study were to examine the adolescent separation-individuation among an understudied and vulnerable population; and to examine the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA) for revealing the differentiation working male group from student male group.MethodsParticipants completed the SITA. The group of study 1 consisted of 618 high school and 252 university students between the ages of 14 and 24, 489 of which were girls and 381 were boys. In Study 2, participants were 269 male adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17, 141 of which were full-time worker and 128 high school students. In study 1, these results were consistent with the rapprochement subphase of the separation-individuation process in adolescence -the striking desires for intimacy and independence.ResultsOur results support the gender specific patterns of identity formation and the argument that connectedness in close relationships plays a central role in the female identity development. Interestingly, there were no significant gender differences in the tendency to view close interpersonal relationships as threatening to their sense of independence and selfhood, and to deny or avoid dependency needs. The reason for this might be the cultural differences between the individualistic and collectivistic cultures. In study 2, working males could be distinguished from student counterparts by their increased tendency to seek close interpersonal ties with caretakers. The finding also suggested that student males reflected characteristics of the traditional view of adolescents’ independence striving. Across both studies it was found that the traditional Turkish child-rearing patterns have been characterized by an emphasis on interpersonal relationships and close ties with family than individualistic culturesConclusionsOur results revealed that the subscales of SITA –especially dependency denial, rejection expectancy, nurturance seeking, engulfment anxiety, and teacher enmeshment- can help clinicians for assessing the adolescent separation-individuation process in a reliable way. We suggested that adolescent employment would lead to the difficulties in developing bonds with parents because of the adolescents’ long work hours, the early involvement with the world of work would lead to the withdrawal from the more dependent, preadultlike student role, and student adolescents would reflect characteristics of the traditional view of adolescents’ independence striving.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Adolescent Views on Asthma Severity and Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Asthma and COVID-19 have overlapping symptoms. During the 2019-2022 pandemic, pediatric asthma control appears to have improved, with some researchers theorizing that that is due to changes in asthma self-management. This study examined adolescents' views regarding how the pandemic impacted their asthma severity and self-management. Differences by urbanicity, sex, and race/ethnicity were explored. Methods: We utilized baseline data from adolescents with poorly controlled asthma (n = 183) who were participating in 1 of 2 school-based clinical trials-1 in rural schools and 1 in urban schools-testing the impact of interventions to improve asthma control. Adolescents reported if they believed their asthma severity remained the same, improved, or worsened during the pandemic, and if it changed, how it changed. They also reported if and how they modified their asthma management since the pandemic. We used multinomial logistic regression and binary logistic regression to assess the relationship between demographic factors and changes in asthma severity during the pandemic, and if adolescents altered their asthma management. Results: Adolescents' mean age was 15.9 years; most lived in rural communities (65.6%) and identified as female (66.7%). About half (56.2%) self-identified as black, 13.1% as Hispanic, and 10.4% as another race/ethnicity. Most (68.4%) reported that their asthma severity remained unchanged; 26.0% reported it worsened. Nearly 30% reported they altered how they managed their asthma, with most (80%) reporting additional efforts. Compared with asthma remaining the same, females had a higher relative risk than males of reporting that their asthma worsened [adjusted relative risk ratio = 3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.34-9.90, P < 0.05]. Urban youth had greater odds (adjusted odds ratio = 5.4, 95% CI = 2.0-14.5, P < 0.001) of reporting they changed their asthma self-management compared with rural peers. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that during the 2019-2022 pandemic, adolescents generally believed their asthma severity stayed consistent and many took additional self-management efforts.

What makes a ‘good man’? A mixed-methods exploration of UK adolescent attitudes towards masculinity

ABSTRACT Stereotypes of men (e.g., strong, domineering, assertive) can harm boys’ health and contribute to the normalization of sexual harassment. Yet research on how adolescents view masculinity is limited, particularly for those growing up during the #MeToo movement. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore beliefs about masculinity in a sample of 16 to 19 year olds growing up in the UK (N = 129). Results from the quantitative analysis show that, compared to girls, boys report feeling more comfortable with media representations of hegemonic masculinity, greater adherence to hegemonic ideology, higher self-esteem, and less engagement with the topic. Results from the qualitative analysis reflected these findings; boys’ descriptions of masculinity were more reliant on hegemonic ideals, and they were less critical of the topic than girls. Despite recent narratives on masculinity’s place in society, this study suggests that boys are complacent about societal expectations to behave in line with gender stereotypes.

Views of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer and Their Oncologists Toward Patients' Participation in Genomic Research.

Purpose: With increased use of genomic testing in cancer research and clinical care, it is important to understand the perspectives and decision-making preferences of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer and their treating oncologists. Methods: We conducted an interview substudy of the BASIC3 Study, which enrolled newly diagnosed cancer patients <18 years of age with assent. Of 32 young adults (YAs) with cancer who reached the age of majority (AOM; 18 years) while on study, 12 were successfully approached and all consented to study continuation at AOM. Of those, seven completed an interview. Patients' oncologists, who enrolled and participated in return of clinical genomic results, were also interviewed (n = 12). Interviews were transcribed, deidentified, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: YAs cited the possibility of helping others and advancing science as major reasons for their assent to initial study enrollment and their willingness to consent at AOM. YAs thought obtaining informed consent from research participants for study continuation at AOM was a good idea in case they changed their minds or wanted to make their own decisions, and to keep them aware of study activities. There was diversity in what YAs understood and learned from genomic testing: some recalled specific findings, while some remembered minimal information about their results. Oncologists varied in their assessment of adolescents' engagement with the study and understanding of their results. Conclusion: Given the different ways AYAs engage with genomic information, careful assessment of AYAs' diverse communication and decision-making preferences is needed to tailor interactions accordingly.

Life Course of Asthma.

Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic airway disease that can vary over a lifetime. Although broad categories of asthma by severity and type have been constructed, there remains a tremendous opportunity to discover an approach to managing asthma with additional factors in mind. Many in the field have suggested and are pursuing a novel paradigm shift in how asthma might be better managed, considering the life course of exposures, management priorities, and predicted trajectory of lung function growth. This approach will require a more holistic view of prenatal, postnatal, adolescence, hormonal and gender aspects, and the aging process. In addition, the environment, externally and internally, including in one's genetic code and epigenetic changes, are factors that affect how asthma progresses or becomes more stable in individuals. This chapter focuses on the various influences that may, to differing degrees, affect people with asthma, which can develop at any time in their lives. Shifting the paradigm of thought and strategies for care and advocating for public policies and health delivery that focus on this philosophy is paramount to advance asthma care for all.

Supplemental Material for Adolescents View Social Exclusion Based on Social Class as More Wrong Than Do Children

Supplemental Material for Adolescents View Social Exclusion Based on Social Class as More Wrong Than Do Children

Positive and Negative Aspects of Digital Games from the Perspective of Adolescents

The game, which is the work of the child, is handled in two ways as real play and digital play. From these games, digital games can be played with technological tools owing to the development of technology. These games also have positive and negative aspects. For this reason, it was aimed to reveal the positive and negative aspects of digital games from the point of view of adolescents in the study. Therefore, the study was carried out with 106 voluntarily adolescents who play digital games and between ages 12-14. In the study, where the data were collected quantitatively, a questionnaire consisted of open-ended-multiple-choice questions were used. According to the adolescents, the positive aspects of digital games were; eliminating boredom, reflex development, learning language, strategic thinking, experiencing competitiveness, earning money, relaxation, possibility to being an e-sport player. The negative aspects of digital games were; physical problems, problems related to lessons, attention, family.

Positive and Negative Aspects of Digital Games from the Perspective of Adolescents

The game, which is the work of the child, is handled in two ways as real play and digital play. From these games, digital games can be played with technological tools owing to the development of technology. These games also have positive and negative aspects. For this reason, it was aimed to reveal the positive and negative aspects of digital games from the point of view of adolescents in the study. Therefore, the study was carried out with 106 voluntarily adolescents who play digital games and between ages 12-14. In the study, where the data were collected quantitatively, a questionnaire consisted of open-ended-multiple-choice questions were used. According to the adolescents, the positive aspects of digital games were; eliminating boredom, reflex development, learning language, strategic thinking, experiencing competitiveness, earning money, relaxation, possibility to being an e-sport player. The negative aspects of digital games were; physical problems, problems related to lessons, attention, family.

Overcome the Fear (Vencer el Miedo): using entertainment education to impact adolescent sexual and reproductive health and parent-child communication in Mexico

BackgroundAdolescents in Mexico experience high pregnancy and birth rates. A collaboration with Grupo Televisa led to the development of an entertainment-education telenovela intervention, Overcome the Fear (OTF), which aired in 2020 to a national audience and addressed adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics. This study details the development and evaluation of OTF’s impact on adolescent contraceptive practices and parent-adolescent SRH communication in Mexico.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional survey interviews (street-intercept and telephone) with 12–19-year-olds (n = 1640) and parents of adolescent children (n = 820) post-broadcast across Mexico’s five most-populated metropolitan zones. Quotas were implemented for gender, zone, and OTF viewership (viewer vs. non-viewer). Bivariate statistics and multivariable binary logistic regression models assessed the relationship between OTF viewership (including parent-adolescent co-viewing) and adolescent contraceptive practices and parent-adolescent SRH communication. Adolescent and parent data are not dyadic and were analyzed separately.ResultsNearly half of adolescents (47.9%) and parents (47.7%) were viewers. Among adolescents, bivariate analyses suggest that viewers had less negative attitudes towards contraception (p < .001). Logistic regression models suggest that adolescent viewers were more likely to seek out information about contraception (p < .001) and unhealthy romantic relationships (p = .019), and to use contraception other than condoms (p = .027) and dual contraception (p = .042) in the last 3 months. Among parents, bivariate analyses suggest that non-viewers had more positive attitudes towards abstinence (p = .045) and more negative attitudes towards contraception and communication with adolescents about sex (p = .001). Logistic regression models suggest that parent viewers were more likely to have talked with adolescent children about sexual relations (p < .001), contraceptive methods (p = .01), condoms (p = .002), and abstinence (p = .002) in the last 3 months. Parent-adolescent co-viewing of OTF was also significantly related to certain outcomes in bivariate analyses.ConclusionsThis study suggests that viewership of a high-quality entertainment-education telenovela informed by extensive formative research is related to adolescent health outcomes and to parent-adolescent SRH communication on a country-wide scale in Mexico. Entertainment-education remains an underutilized public health strategy, despite its promise to engage viewers and motivate healthful behaviors.

A Validation Study of the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction in Sexually Active Adolescents

ABSTRACT Positive views of adolescents’ sexuality have only begun to garner interest in the last two decades. Despite great strides in this emerging area, progress is limited by the paucity of valid and reliable measures among this population. The goal of this study was to validate the widely used adult five-item Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) in a large sample of sexually active adolescents. A total of 1,036 adolescents (516 girls, 49.8%) aged between 14 and 17 years (Mage = 14.62; SD = 0.66) were recruited to investigate the reliability and validity of the GMSEX. The GMSEX yielded strong psychometric properties in adolescents, including factor structure, measurement invariance, and reliability. Results showed that the scale works similarly for boys and girls as well as for heterosexual, cisgender, and sexual minority adolescents. The GMSEX is a short, reliable, and valid measure of sexual satisfaction that can be used in future studies focusing on adolescents’ sexuality and relationships.

“Just Be Careful, Since Social Media Is Really Not as Safe as It’s Being Portrayed”: Adolescent Views on Adult Support for Safer Social Media Use

Social media is an integral part of the lives of adolescents, but they are also closed arenas concealed from the next of kin and are resistant to parental mediation. Consequently, this study aims to investigate how adolescents reflect on the safe use of social media and the conversations they have with their parents. The present study used data from 8 focus group interviews with adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years in Norway. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation—an inductive thematic cross-case analysis. The results showed three themes: (1) next of kin encourage caution, (2) safety is created through mutual learning, and (3) adolescents expect parental mediation. The present study has important implications for policymakers, media educators, and education institutions and its findings will enable better preparation and targeting of curricula and education from basic to secondary schools on a national level.

2.59 Understanding the Phenomenon of Anime and Its Broader Clinical Significance to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

As anime, or Japanese animation, continues to rise in popularity in the United States, the medical community has begun taking greater interest in the impact it may have on young viewers. Although many anime series contain mature themes, recent studies report a significant rise in child and adolescent viewers. Existing literature theorizes that children and adolescents, who often learn through character mirroring, may suffer poor mental health outcomes from impersonating characters who are violent, depressed, or positioned toward self-harm.

Narrative review to capture patients' perceptions and opinions about non-response and response to biological therapy for severe asthma.

There are now many biological therapies to treat severe asthma. To assess which work best for which patient, we need to develop definitions of response. This narrative review aims to capture severe asthma patients' perceptions about non-response and response to biological therapy. Four bibliographic databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Grey literature was searched with the involvement of patient representatives. A thematic approach was used for synthesis. No qualitative studies specifically explore patients' perspectives on response to biological therapy for severe asthma. Three papers and one published asthma patient interview were included. Relevant grey literature was included from online discussion forums, blogs and social media websites. Adult patients framed positive response to biological therapy in terms of reduced burden of disease and treatment. Both were multifaceted. Some patients experienced reduced benefit from biological therapy over time. There was a group of patients who described a limited response or non-response to biological therapy. This was framed within the context of continuing hospitalisation and oral corticosteroid treatment. The speed of onset of benefit was felt to be important by some. Definitions of non-response and response need to be patient-centred, yet there is a complete lack of qualitative research focused on this topic. By combining relevant published and grey literature we have provided a description of adult patients' perceptions of response to biological therapy in severe asthma. We now need to understand the views of children and adolescents with severe asthma and their carers, and diverse patient experiences in real-world settings.

Being Under Pressure to Sext: Adolescents' Experiences, Reactions, and Counter-Strategies.

This study explored adolescents' experiences of being under pressure to sext (sending nude images), offering insights into what situations adolescents view as pressuring, how adolescents react to the pressure, and what counter-strategies they use. Written statements from 225 adolescents (age 13-16 years, M = 14.4 years, SD = 0.93) were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results indicated a range of situations including both explicit and implicit pressure. The pressure elicited different emotional responses, including severe physical and psychological reactions, becoming distressed, and being seemingly unconcerned. A majority of the adolescents reported successful strategies on how to ward off the unwanted sexual requests. This study provides insight into how young people cope with potentially harmful situations online.

ERGENLERİN SOSYAL MEDYA KULLANIMI ODAĞINDA ÖZ-ŞEFKATİN ROLÜNÜ ANLAMAK

Bu araştırmada, ergenlerin öz-şefkat odağında sosyal medya kullanımına ilişkin görüşleri incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 13-16 yaş arası 26 ergen oluşturmaktadır. Bu araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden olgu bilim (fenomenoloji) deseninden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmanın verileri araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu ile toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizi yoluyla çözümlenmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre katılımcılar; Instagram, Youtube, Snapcat, Tiktok, Twiter uygulamalarını bir saat ila sekiz saat arasında aktif olarak kullanmaktadır. Ergenlerin sosyal medyayı en sık “ilgi alanlarına yönelik hesapları takip”, “akranların takibi”, “eğlence ve fenomenleri takip” amacı ile kullandıkları görülmüştür. Ergenlerin, sosyal medya takip ettikleri paylaşımlardan mutluluk duymanın yanı sıra paylaşımları gördüklerinde sıklıkla olumsuz hislere kapıldıkları sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ergenlerde, sosyal medya paylaşımlarının takibinin ardından dış görünüşünü yetersiz bulmak, arkadaşlarıyla birlikte o paylaşımda yer almayı istemek, özenme, mutsuz hissetme, yaşam şartları ve mali şartları yetersiz hissetmek, moralinin bozulması, kızgın hissetmek temalarının sıkça tekrar ettiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ergenler bu paylaşımları takip ettiklerinde kendi bedenlerine yönelik eleştiri yaptıklarını ve kendilerini daha az başarılı bulduklarını ifade etmişlerdir. Ergenlerin bir kısmının paylaşım yapmayıp sosyal medyada sadece izleyici olduğu ya da bir ‘private’ hesaptan paylaşım yaptığı bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Sosyal medya paylaşımları yüksek oranda beğeni ya da etkileşim almadığında kendilerini üzgün, utanmış, pişman hissettiklerini ve bir kısmı da böyle bir durum karşısında paylaşımı silebileceğini ifade etmiştir. Sosyal medya paylaşımlarına karşı alaycı bir tavırda etkileşim aldıklarında, katılımcıların bir kısmı bu durumu umursamayacağını ifade ederken bir kısmı da üzgün, öfkeli, tedirgin, kinlenmiş, özgüven eksikliği hissetmiş olduklarını ifade etmişlerdir. Ergenlerin bir kısmı fenomenlerin paylaşımlarını izlediğinde kendilerini onlarla kıyaslayabileceğini, bir kısmı ise paylaşımlardan olumsuz etkilenmediğini ifade etmiştir.

"It's Not Good for the Animals, but I Think It Should Be Done"-Using Focus Group Interviews to Explore Adolescent Views on Animal Experimentation.

Simple SummaryThere are comparatively many studies that explore how adults judge animal experiments. But how do young people think about this topic? Our group interviews conducted with Austrian teenagers showed that the participants assessed animal tests more positively than we had expected. The teenagers evaluated animal experiments mainly based on the following criteria: the relevance of research, the extent of animal suffering, and the existence of alternatives. All groups found positive aspects for animal experiments and identified acceptable animal experiments among the examples discussed. Particularly with regard to the approval of animal experiments, a key consideration was the extent to which the research is relevant to humans.The present study focused on an in-depth analysis of adolescents’ (aged 15–16) attitudes towards animal experimentation. Focus group interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding regarding the ethical considerations of this age group. The data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. All participants considered their own knowledge about the whole topic as low. Our results show that adolescents in the study had considerably more positive attitudes toward animal experimentation than the literature had suggested. All groups identified positive aspects of animal experimentation and accepted at least one scenario of animal experimentation. Most of the groups rated half of the examples presented as acceptable. The participants tended to make specific assessments in view of a concrete scenario and seemed to form their positions anew. In their discussion, students focused mainly on the following criteria: the relevance of research, the extent of animal suffering, and the existence of alternatives. Generally, we hypothesize that the focus group discussions took place largely within the framework of anthropocentric ethics.

Internalizing and externalizing pathways to high-risk substance use and geographic location in Australian adolescents.

One specific instantiation of the storm-and-stress view of adolescence is the idea that “normal” adolescence involves high-risk substance use behaviors. However, although uptake of some substance use behaviors is more common during adolescence than other life stages, it is clear that not all adolescents engage in risky substance use—and among those who do, there is much variation in emotional, behavioral, and contextual precursors of this behavior. One such set of predictors forms the internalizing pathway to substance use disorder, whereby internalizing symptoms in childhood such as negative affect and anxiety set off a chain of consequences culminating in high-risk substance use in late adolescence. However, findings linking internalizing symptoms to substance use are mixed, and it is clear that this link varies across adolescents and contexts. One heretofore unanswered question is whether and how geographic location, specifically whether the adolescent lives in an urban or rural location, moderates this link. The current report is a secondary analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC; N = 2,285), in which we examined the link between internalizing symptoms in childhood and initiation of substance use through age 19. Using a multiple event process survival mixture model (MEPSUM), we identified three trajectories of substance use initiation in adolescence: one (65.7% of the sample) characterized by near-complete abstinence until late adolescence, another (27.2%) by earlier initiation of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis, and another (7.2%) by early initiation of these substances and later initiation of more hazardous drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Although childhood externalizing symptoms increased the risk of being in the second or third class, internalizing symptoms decreased risk when rural and non-rural adolescents were considered together. Few effects of rurality were found, but the negative relationship between internalizing at age 10 and high-risk substance use was only observed among non-rural adolescents. This finding, which was inconsistent with our initial predictions that rurality might confer higher risk for substance use, instead suggests a potentially protective effect of internalizing symptoms for engagement in risky substance use which may differ based on an adolescent’s geographical context.

Young people don't tend to ask for help more than once: Child and adolescent psychiatrists' views on ailing mental health services for young New Zealanders.

To explore the views of New Zealand doctors working in child and adolescent psychiatry regarding the state of public mental health services. All practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists/advanced trainees were electronically surveyed in August 2021. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of feedback was undertaken. Almost 100 specialists responded, an 80% response rate. High levels of dissatisfaction with current services and future service plans were identified. Content analysis identified an overarching theme that child and adolescent services were under great pressure, with subthemes of increased demand, a stretched workforce and social issues driving complex presentations. Recommendations were made for addressing workforce, service design and wider issues. Multiple measures are needed to improve currently ailing child mental health services, including urgently expanding the number of psychiatrists and other clinical staff.

Perceptions of adolescents on the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to school: qualitative questionnaire survey, September 2020, England

BackgroundLittle is known about the views of adolescents returning to secondary school during the current COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn September 2020, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly known as Public Health England (PHE),recruited staff and students in secondary schools to provide nasal swabs, oral fluid and blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody testing. Students aged 11–18 years in five London schools completed a short questionnaire about their perception of the pandemic, returning to school, risk to themselves and to others and infection control measures, and participating in school testing.ResultsA questionnaire was completed by 64% (297/462) of participants. Students were generally not anxious at all (19.7%; 58/294) or not really anxious (40.0%; 114/295) about returning to school, although 5.4% (n = 16/295) were extremely nervous. Most students were very worried about transmitting the virus to their family (60.2%; 177/294) rather than to other students (22.0%; 65/296) or school staff (19.3%; 57/296), or catching the infection themselves (12.5%; 37/296). Students were more likely to maintain physical distancing in the presence of school staff (84.6%; 247/292) and in public places (79.5%; 233/293) but not when with other students (46.8%; 137/293) or friends (40.8%; 120/294). A greater proportion of younger students (school years 7–9; 11–14-year-olds) reported not being anxious at all than older students (school years 12–13; 16–18-year-olds) (47/174 [27.0%] vs 3/63 [4.8%]; p = 0.001). Younger students were also less likely to adhere to physical distancing measures and wear face masks. Most students reported positive experiences with SARS-CoV-2 testing in schools, with 92.3% (262/284) agreeing to have another blood test in future visits.ConclusionsYounger students in secondary schools were less concerned about catching and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 and were less likely to adhere to protective measures. Greater awareness of the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between secondary school students potentially leading to increased risk of infection in their teachers and their household members may increase adherence to infection control measures within and outside schools.