Young Adolescents Research Articles

COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantines and Mental Health Among Adolescents in Norway

Adolescence is a critical developmental phase when mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, often emerge. Stringent public health measures and quarantine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic could threaten adolescent mental health. To investigate the associations of public health measures and quarantine experiences with mental distress among Norwegian adolescents and to explore if certain vulnerability factors moderate these associations. This longitudinal cohort study used repeated measures to capture variations in mental distress explained by the stringency of public health measures and quarantine experiences. Data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child cohort study were linked to national health registries and a national stringency index from April 1, 2020, to February 17, 2021. Participant included 7787 Norwegian adolescents aged 16 to 18 years. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to October 2023. Stringency index of public health measures and quarantine experiences including recent quarantine (within the last 2 weeks) and quarantine frequency (cumulative number of quarantine episodes). Mental distress was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist across 6 data collection waves. In this study, 7787 participants were included in the analysis (4473 female [57%]; mean [SD] age, 17.0 [0.6] years). Stringent public health measures (β = 0.18; SE, 0.02; P < .001), recent quarantine (β = 0.11; SE, 0.02; P < .001), and frequent quarantine (β = 0.08; SE, 0.01; P < .001) were associated with higher levels of mental distress. The associations between public health measures and mental distress were not moderated by sex, age, prepandemic anxiety or depression, or genetic liability for mental health conditions. Frequency of quarantine appeared to be more strongly associated with mental distress among younger adolescents (β = -0.04; SE, 0.01; P = .008), those with parents with lower education (β = -0.04; SE, 0.01; P = .007), and those with lower genetic risk for depression (β = -0.03; SE, 0.01; P = .006). In this study, younger adolescents, those with parents with lower education, or those with low genetic liability for depression appeared more vulnerable when being quarantined several times. These findings emphasize the need for targeted support strategies to better protect adolescent well-being during future crises. Adolescents who experienced increased mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic may be at risk of continued mental health problems and in need of ongoing support.

Intersectionality, gender norms, and young adolescents in context: a review of longitudinal multicountry research programmes to shape future action.

Discriminatory gender norms can intersect and interact with other dimensions of discrimination-such as age, race, ethnicity, disability, education status, and sexual orientation-to shape individuals' experiences and impact their health and wellbeing. This interaction is referred to as intersectionality. Although the theory has been in circulation since the late 1980s, only recently has it gained traction in low-income and middle-income settings, and it has yet to fully penetrate global research on adolescence. The social and structural intersectional drivers of adolescent health and wellbeing, particularly during early adolescence (age 10-14 years), are poorly understood. The evidence base for designing effective interventions for this formative period of life is therefore relatively small. In this Review, we examine how gender intersects with other forms of disadvantage in the early stages of adolescence. Analysing data from hybrid observation-intervention longitudinal studies with young adolescents in 16 countries, our aim is to inform the health and wellbeing of girls and boys from a range of social contexts, including in conflict settings. Adolescents' perceptions about gender norms vary by context, depend on individual opinion, and are shaped by socioecological drivers of gender inequalities in health. Shifting those perceptions is therefore challenging. We argue for the importance of applying an intersectionality lens to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for young adolescents and conclude with five practical recommendations for programme design and research.

A strike to the head: Parallels between the pediatric and adult human and the rodent in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that occurs commonly in children from infancy through adolescence and is a global health concern. Pediatric TBI presents with a bimodal age distribution, with very young children (0-4 years) and adolescents (15-19 years) more commonly injured. Because children's brains are still developing, there is increased vulnerability to the effects of head trauma, which results in entirely different patterns of injury than in adults. Pediatric TBI has a profound and lasting impact on a child's development and quality of life, resulting in long-lasting consequences to physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Chronic issues like learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and emotional disturbances can develop. Early intervention and ongoing support are critical for minimizing these long-term deficits. Many animal models of TBI exist, and each varies significantly, displaying different characteristics of clinical TBI. The neurodevelopment differs in the rodent from the human in timing and effect, so TBI outcomes in the juvenile rodent can thus vary from the human child. The current review compares findings from preclinical TBI work in juvenile and adult rodents to clinical TBI research in pediatric and adult humans. We focus on the four brain regions most affected by TBI: the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Each has its unique developmental projections and thus is impacted by TBI differently. This review aims to compare the healthy neurodevelopment of these four brain regions in humans to the developmental processes in rodents.

Diagnosis and management of children and adult craniopharyngiomas: a French Endocrine Society/French Society for Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Consensus Statement

Craniopharyngiomas are rare hypothalamic-pituitary tumors found in young children, adolescents and adults, and their multidisciplinary management required, calls for consistent practices for practicioners, patients and families. The French Endocrine Society and French Society for Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes enlisted and coordinated adult and paediatric endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, pathologists, radiotherapists as well as psychologists, dieticians and a patient association, to draft a reference document on this severe disease.The management of craniopharyngiomas remains complex due to their aggressive nature, invasive behavior, and propensity for recurrence, requiring a sequential and measured therapeutic approach and follow-up in expert centers. Although patient survival rates are high, the consequences of both the tumor and its treatment can lead to serious comorbidities and impaired quality of life, particularly in those patients with lesional hypothalamic syndrome. Recent advances have allowed the two described tumor types - papillary and adamantinomatous - to be associated with distinct molecular signatures, specific pathophysiological mechanisms and ipso facto, distinct therapeutic approaches, including innovative medications for hyperphagia, that will continue to evolve. This consensus statement covers all stages in the management of patients with craniopharyngioma, from diagnosis to therapeutic strategies including the long-term follow-up.

Pediatric sport and nonsport concussions presenting to emergency departments: injury circumstances, characteristics, and clinical management.

The aim of this study was to compare injury circumstances, characteristics, and clinical management of emergency department (ED) presentations for sports-related concussion (SRC) and non-SRC. This multicenter prospective observational study identified patients 5-17 years old who presented to EDs within 24 hours of head injury, with one or more signs or symptoms of concussion. Participants had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13-15 and no abnormalities on CT (if performed). Data were stratified by age: young children (5-8 years), older children (9-12 years), and adolescents (13-17 years). Of 4709 patients meeting the concussion criteria, non-SRC accounted for 56.3% of overall concussions, including 80.9% of younger child, 51.1% of older child, and 37.0% of adolescent concussions. The most common mechanism of non-SRC was falls for all ages. The most common activity accounting for SRC was bike riding for younger children, and rugby for older children and adolescents. Concussions occurring in sports areas, home, and educational settings accounted for 26.2%, 21.8%, and 19.0% of overall concussions. Concussions occurring in a sports area increased with age, while occurrences in home and educational settings decreased with age. The presence of amnesia significantly differed for SRC and non-SRC for all age groups, while vomiting and disorientation differed for older children and adolescents. Adolescents with non-SRC were admitted to a ward and underwent CT at higher proportions than those with SRC. Non-SRC more commonly presented to EDs overall, with SRC more common with increasing age. These data provide important information to inform public health policies, guidelines, and prevention efforts.

Generating evidence to inform responsive and effective actions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescent health and well-being: a mix method protocol for evidence integration ‘the Roadmap Project’

BackgroundAustralia does not have a national strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescent health and as a result, policy and programming actions are fragmented and may not be responsive...

Inquiry and argumentation skill development work in conjunction

The argument and inquiry families of scientific thinking skills overlap. Yet they rarely are investigated together, with researchers instead focusing on one or the other. Here we hypothesize that inclusion of an additional intervention focused on inquiry will enhance the outcome of an established intervention known to be successful in developing argument skills, compared to the argument intervention alone. An Argument only (A) and an Argument and Inquiry (A&I) group of young adolescents participated in one or the other of these intensive intervention groups for four hours daily over a two-week period. Both groups made progress in argument skills as expected, but the A&I group showed greater gains in use of evidence to support claims, stronger forms of counterargument, and integrative however arguments that connect opposing claims to one another. The A&I group showed a particular advantage in reconciling contrasting claims, an epistemological understanding that lies at the core of scientific thinking. These findings suggest the value of conceptualizing argument skill development in a broader framework that includes an investigative component as well as the skill of coordinating claims and evidence that is fundamental to argument.

The Content of Dietary Advice for Young Adolescents Delivered in Dental Practice for Caries Prevention: A Rapid Scoping Review

The Content of Dietary Advice for Young Adolescents Delivered in Dental Practice for Caries Prevention: A Rapid Scoping Review

Adherence to The Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Associated Factors Among Adolescents: a Cross-sectional Study from Portugal

INTRODUCTION: The Mediterranean Dietary Pattern is one of the healthiest dietary models, being associated with several health benefits. However, in recent years, this pattern has been abandoned by adolescents in Mediterranean countries. OBJECTIVES: To determine and analyze the adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and its associated factors in a sample of adolescents from a city in the north of Portugal. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study. The data was collected via a stratified one-stage cluster sampling of adolescents (10 to 19 years old) from a city in the north of Portugal. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED Index) was self-administered to evaluate the adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern among adolescents. Participants self-reported information about sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics. Logistic regression was performed to identify the predictors of high adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern. RESULTS: Most adolescents had a low/moderate adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern (63.2%). Logistic regression modelling indicated that age and parents’ educational level were the utmost factors positively related to the possibility of high Mediterranean Dietary Pattern adherence. Sex, school location, body mass index and number of household members did not significantly predict high Mediterranean Dietary Pattern adherence. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of the parents’ education level in adolescents’ Mediterranean Dietary Pattern adherence, allowing the identification of the priority groups for a possible intervention, namely, younger adolescents and those whose parents have lower educational level.

Teatr „Łejery” – edukacja przez sztukę na przykładzie działalności Szkoły Podstawowej nr 83 im. Emilii Waśniowskiej w Poznaniu (wybrane problemy)

Primary School No. 83 Emilia Waśniowska in Poznań is known in Poland as “Łejery”. It is a unique institution in the country because, although it is a “systemic” school, it implements its educational programme through art, is based on selected assumptions of non-directive pedagogy, and the main educational means at the school is broadly understood theatre. The subject of the author’s study is to present the theatre operating at Primary School No. 83. “Łejery” in Poznań as a means of comprehensive education for children and young adolescents. The author, based on sources (websites, sources evoked – interviews with Jerzy Hamerski) and observations made from September 1 to December 22, 2023, as well as the literature on the subject, considers education at Primary School No. 83 in Poznań, presents the figure the founder of the Poznań “Łejery”, and analyses the ways of using theatre in the education process of children and youth attending the described school.

Evaluation of vitamin D status and its association with dietary patterns and sociodemographic factors among adolescents attending the outpatient department of selected hospitals in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Objectives: The current study aims to evaluate the vitamin D status of adolescents undergoing treatment at selected tertiary hospitals’ outpatient departments (OPD) in Dhaka city and to look at the relationships between vitamin D levels and sociodemographic characteristics and dietary habits. Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional study design targeting adolescents (10–19 years old) who came to the OPD of selected tertiary hospitals. Following the convenience sampling procedure, a total of 384 adolescents were included in the study whose medical records were available with vitamin D status. Vitamin D status was evaluated based on medical reports. In addition, dietary habits were recorded using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). To ascertain the factors influencing the individual’s vitamin D status, a multinomial logistic regression model was constructed. Results: Approximately two-thirds of the respondents were female, and over 58% of the respondents were young adolescents (ages 10 to 14). It was discovered that 32% of the adolescents lacked enough vitamin D, while 36.7% of them had insufficient levels of this nutrient. The deficiency level was considerably higher in older adolescents (15–19 years old). Girls were inadequate by 36.2% as opposed to boys, who were lacking by 24.6%. Deficits in vitamin D were more prevalent in women with low-paying employment, mothers with primary/below or no institutional education, mothers from lower-income families, etc., in addition to other sociodemographic characteristics. In terms of eating patterns, the study suggested that participants who frequently ate foods strong in vitamin D, like dairy, meat, eggs, nuts, fatty fish, fruits, and vegetables, as well as Horlicks, showed a decreased incidence of vitamin D deficiency. The mother's occupation (service holder), the less frequent use of dairy, meat, fortified oil, and Horlicks were discovered to be highly predictive factors of vitamin D deficiency, according to a multinomial logistic regression study. Conclusion: According to the current study, eating foods high in vitamin D, such as dairy, beef, fortified oil, and Horlicks, may raise adolescents’ vitamin D levels. Therefore, if any awareness programs or campaigns could be conducted for both parents and adolescents, it might be beneficial for reducing vitamin D deficiency. Bioresearch Commu. 10(2): 1501-1515, 2024 (July)

A Study of Social Self-Efficacy and Alexithymia Among Adolescents

This study explores the factors influencing social self-efficacy and alexithymia among adolescents, with a focus on gender, educational level, and sibling composition. A sample of 234 adolescents was analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analyses. The results indicate no significant gender differences in social self-efficacy and alexithymia. However, significant differences were observed across educational levels, with college students exhibiting higher social self-efficacy and lower alexithymia compared to younger students. Additionally, adolescents with siblings demonstrated higher social self-efficacy and lower alexithymia than only children. The study also found significant negative correlations between social self-efficacy and the subscales of alexithymia (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally-Oriented Thinking), suggesting that higher social self-efficacy is associated with better emotional awareness and expression. These findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions that address both social and emotional skills, particularly for younger adolescents and only children.

Investigating the Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Levels of Social Anxiety and Dental Anxiety in Adolescents

Background: Dental anxiety is a challenge faced by dental professionals when treating young children and adolescents. It is caused by several complex factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between different parenting styles and the levels of social anxiety and dental anxiety in adolescents. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 adolescents aged 12-19 and their mothers at a private pediatric dental clinic in Zahedan in 2021. The convenience sampling method was used to select participants. The Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were employed to measure dental anxiety and social anxiety, respectively. Mothers completed the Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included variance tests, post hoc (Tukey) tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: According to the findings of this study, the number of mothers with permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative parenting styles was 4 (3.2%), 9 (7.1%), and 113 (89.7%), respectively. The means±standard deviations (SD) of dental anxiety in the authoritative, permissive, and authoritarian parenting styles were 45.80±28.0%, 45.31±11.83%, and 35.42±18.49%, respectively. In addition, the mean scores±SD of social anxiety in the authoritative, permissive, and authoritarian parenting styles were 22.61±17.71%, 48.81±5.24%, and 38.72 ±11.93%, respectively. According to the results, social anxiety and maternal parenting styles were significant and influential factors in dental anxiety in adolescents (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the significant relationship between dental anxiety, social anxiety, and parenting styles in adolescents. Addressing social anxiety and understanding the impact of parenting styles can help reduce dental anxiety. Interventions should prioritize creating a supportive environment and attending to psychological well-being alongside dental care.

Measuring mental wellbeing in clinical and non-clinical adolescents using the COMPAS-W Wellbeing Scale.

Adolescence is a key period of vulnerability for poor mental health as the brain is still developing and may be more sensitive to the negative impacts of stress and adversity. Unfortunately, few measures comprehensively assess wellbeing in adolescents. The 26-item COMPAS-W Wellbeing Scale for adults was validated in a sample of 1,078 adolescents aged 13-17 years old (51.67% male, 79.13% non-clinical vs 20.87% psychiatric or developmental clinical cases). The six COMPAS-W sub-scales and total scale were examined in this sample using second-order confirmatory factor analysis, and psychometric testing. The 23-item COMPAS-W demonstrated the best fit for this sample according to goodness-of-fit indices (χ 2 (220, 1078) = 1439.395, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.893, TLI = 0.877, RMSEA = 0.070, SRMR = 0.095). Internal reliability for the confirmed 23-item COMPAS-W model was run for the total scale (α = 0.912) and sub-scales (Composure, α = 0.735; Own-worth, α = 0.601; Mastery, α = 0.757; Positivity, α = 0.721; Achievement, α = 0.827; and Satisfaction, α = 0.867). Test-retest reliability over 6 weeks was also good for the total scale at r = 0.845 and the sub-scales: Composure (r = 0.754), Own-worth (r = 0.743), Mastery (r = 0.715), Positivity (r = 0.750), Achievement (r = 0.750), and Satisfaction (r = 0.812). Compared with non-clinical participants' wellbeing (M = 90.375, SE = 0.400), those with clinical diagnoses reported lower wellbeing, both for those with developmental diagnoses (M = 85.088, SE = 1.188), or psychiatric diagnoses (M = 78.189, SE = 1.758), or combined developmental and psychiatric diagnoses (M = 77.079, SE = 2.116). Yet, when wellbeing category scores were considered by diagnosis group, both non-clinical and clinical groups demonstrated incidence across all three categories of languishing, moderate and flourishing wellbeing, in support of the dual-continua model of mental health. On average, younger adolescents' (13-14 years) wellbeing did not differ from older adolescents' (15-17 years) wellbeing; however, for sex, males scored 1.731 points significantly higher in wellbeing compared with females (p = 0.028); and American participants scored 3.042 points significantly higher in wellbeing compared with Australian participants (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the 23-item COMPAS-W is a reliable measure of wellbeing for adolescents, both for those with and without developmental and psychiatric diagnoses.

Attitudes and doping prevalence among Norwegian youth across exercise activities

BackgroundUse of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs), such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, has in the last decades spread from elite athletes to recreational exercisers seeking a shortcut to a lean and muscular physique. The drugs are associated with multiple potential negative health consequences, some of which may be particularly harmful for adolescents. To better develop adequate and targeted preventive measures, identifying individuals and groups at risk for using IPEDs are important. MethodsBy analyzing quantitative data extracted from Ungdata, a national data collection survey on adolescent health and well-being, this study describe self-reported physical activity and exercise habits, IPED prevalence, and attitudes and intentions towards IPEDs among 88 412 Norwegian adolescents aged 13–19 years. Results72 % participated in weekly sport or physical exercise. Young adolescents mostly exercised in sport clubs while older adolescents preferred training in gyms. Average lifetime IPED prevalence was 2.2 % (0.7 %–4.0 % depending on exercise activity). Respondents reported more favorable attitudes and higher intentions to use IPEDs when it was related to increasing muscle size (18 % and 5.8 %, respectively) and reducing weight (19 %, 8.1 %), compared to improving sport performance (5.6 %, 3.0 %). Large variations in attitudes and intentions were found between exercise groups, with individuals exercising in gyms having more favorable attitudes toward IPEDs than other groups. ConclusionThe study finds a low relative prevalence, but high acceptance for IPED use in certain exercise groups. Education and preventive measures should specifically target groups at risk for future use of these drugs.

Dietary Quality and Diet-Related Factors Among Emerging Adults (18–23 y) in the United States Are a Cause for Concern: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2018

BackgroundPoor dietary quality is a risk factor for diet-related chronic disease and suboptimal nutritional patterns often begin early in the life course. Although the dietary intakes of young children, adolescents, and middle-aged and older adults are well established, much less is known about emerging adults, who represent a unique time point in life, as they are undergoing significant changes in food environments, autonomy, finances, and caregiver and parental involvement. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine dietary quality, as assessed via the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), by demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics among emerging adults (18–23 y) in the United States who participated in the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MethodsNHANES data were collected via a household interview and 2 24-h dietary recalls (24HR). Usual dietary intakes from the 24HRs were approximated using the multivariate National Cancer Institute Method to compute mean HEI-2015 overall and component scores (range: 0–100; higher scores indicating higher dietary quality). ResultsOverall dietary quality among emerging adults (HEI-2015: 50.3 ± 1.3) was significantly lower than other adults (≥24 y) (HEI-2015: 56.3 ± 0.5; P < 0.0001) in the United States, with differences primarily driven by lower intakes of whole fruit, vegetables, and whole grains and higher intakes of sodium, refined grains, and saturated fat. Few differences in HEI-2015 scores were noted across population subgroups by sex, food security, family income, and food assistance program participation, except for added sugar; intakes of added sugar were significantly higher among women, food insecure, and food assistance program participants than those in their counterparts, respectively. ConclusionsDietary quality is poor among emerging adults in the United States and persists across all population subgroups, suggesting a significant need for tailored public health interventions to improve dietary quality among this population. Future research investigating to what extent emerging adults prioritize healthful behaviors and exploring other indicators for identifying nutritionally vulnerable subgroups may be impactful for identifying disparities among this life stage.

Determination of the relationship between depression and suicide in young adolescents.

This study was designed to explore the relationships between depression, and the likelihood of suicide among young adolescents by considering various factors. It was conducted in a descriptive-cross-sectional format, with fieldwork spanning from November 16, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The study assessed the likelihood of depression, and suicide in young adolescents attending a university in Eastern Turkey. Sociodemographic features survey form, Beck's Depression Inventory and Suicide Probability Scale were used to collect data. The results from this investigation indicated that women, individuals with chronic illnesses, those with a history of psychiatric conditions, those expressing a constant desire to die, those with suicidal thoughts or plans, and those with a family member who had attempted suicide exhibited significantly higher mean scores for depression and suicide. There was a positive correlation between high depression scores and suicidal tendencies. However, no conclusive evidence of a link between depression, and suicide was established. In this study, certain demographic and psychological factors were identified as correlating with elevated levels of depression and suicidal tendencies among young adolescents. It is imperative that individuals identified as being at risk be promptly referred to appropriate units for comprehensive interventions and support.

The Impact of Social Media Engagement on Friendship and Relationship Quality

The purpose of this study is to test the theory of how social media impacts the relationship of young men and women that compares the time spent on social media to the quality of relationships, both platonic and romantic, for students studying psychology at Clark Atlanta University. Past research on generation Z adults indicated that there has been a great decrease in interest in being in a monogamous relationship. This study is unique because not only does it focus on romantic relationships, but it includes friendships and how social media may play a significant factor. The hypothesis of the present study was that student social media activities will have an impact on relationship and friendship quality. The participants were Clark Atlanta students studying psychology. The data collection method was a survey created on Qualtrics. The results indicated that the participants do love their partners; however, desire more. Research shows that they are not necessarily satisfied in their relationships and that it does not meet their original expectations. Within their friendships, they have disagreements every so often, but they are able to maintain a healthy relationship as they practice good communication between one another. The majority stated that their most used application is a social media platform with an average of 15 hours a week. The expectations were thus confirmed. Implications of the results for future studies include a longitudinal study on the role of social media in romantic commitments. The results of this study can contribute to the field of psychology and help initiate positive change for young adults and adolescents who are currently consumed by social media and digital realities and ideas they acquire due to their excessive usage.

Pathogenesis and pathobiology of testicular germ cell tumours: a view from a developmental biological perspective with guidelines for pathological diagnostics.

Testicular germ cell tumours (GCT) are divided into three different subtypes (types I-III) regarding to their developmental origin, histological differences and molecular features. Type I GCT develop from disturbed primordial germ cells and most commonly occur in children and young adolescents, which is why they are referred to as prepubertal GCT. Type II GCT develop from a non-invasive germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) and show an isochromosome 12p (i12p) or gain of 12p material as a common and characteristic molecular alteration. Type III GCT originate from distorted postpubertal germ cells (e.g. spermatogonia) in adult patients and have changes on chromosome 9 with amplification of the DMRT1 gene. Type I GCT encompass prepubertal-type teratomas and yolk-sac tumours (YST). Type II GCT include seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, postpubertal-type teratoma and postpubertal-type YST. Types I and II GCT both show similar morphology, but are separated from each other by the detection of a GCNIS and an i12p in type II GCT. For type II GCT it is especially important to detect non-seminomatous elements, as these tumours have a worse biological behaviour and need a different treatment to seminomas. In contrast to types I and II GCT, type III tumours are equivalent to spermatocytic tumours and usually occur in elderly men, with few exceptions in young adults. The development of types I and II GCT seems to depend not upon driver mutations, but rather on changes in the epigenetic landscape. Furthermore, different pluripotency associated factors (e.g. OCT3/4, SOX2, SOX17) play a crucial role in GCT development and can be used as immunohistochemical markers allowing to distinguish the different subtypes from each other in morphologically challenging tissue specimens. Especially in metastatic sites, a morphological and immunohistochemical diagnostic algorithm is important to detect small subpopulations of each non-seminomatous GCT subtype, which are associated with a poorer prognosis and need a different treatment. Furthermore, primary extragonadal GCT of the retroperitoneum or mediastinum develop from misguided germ cells during embryonic development, and might be challenging to detect in small tissue biopsies due to their rarity at corresponding sites. This review article summarises the pathobiological and developmental aspects of the three different types of testicular GCT that can be helpful in the histopathological examination of tumour specimens by pathologists.

Axiological criteria for predicting the success of socio-psychological adaptation of schoolchildren of younger adolescence

Introduction. The system of personal value orientations is considered the main determinant of the processes of socio-psychological adaptation. The value structure has a significant impact on both the development and formation of a personality, as well as on the regulation of its self-awareness, cognitive and emotional sphere and behavior. In adolescence, the maximum stress of adaptation processes occurs and the most pronounced intolerance to negative environmental influences is manifested. In this regard, the analysis of value-intentional mechanisms and strategies of sociopsychological adaptation at this age seems extremely relevant.Materials and Methods. The study involved 300 boys and girls of early adolescence, who, using a refined technique, had Schwartz and the K. Rogers and R. Diamond questionnaire "Sociopsychological adaptation" assessed the system of value orientations and the level of adaptation. Statistical processing of the materials included the calculation of the Mann-Whitney U-test and discriminant analysis (step-by-step Wilkes method).Results. The system of value orientations (includes 19 parameters) and the level of social adaptation of adolescents are studied. The comparison of value and adaptation parameters in boys and girls was carried out. Using statistical procedures, respondents with high and low levels of adaptability were identified. The comparison of value indicators was carried out both between respondents with different degrees of adaptation, and between adolescents of different genders. Canonical functions with a high discriminative ability for boys and girls are calculated, which allow using axiological variables to divide the respondents according to their degree of social adaptation.Discussion and Conclusions. It is shown that the effectiveness of the processes of social adaptation of adolescents improves as the degree of differentiation of value orientations increases, manifested by an increase in the "spread" of their positions in the "field" of value consciousness. It is established that the most important factor in the successful social adaptation of adolescents is the dominance of the main group-centered value orientations and the diminution of the role of egocentric intentions. The ambivalence of the influence of hedonistic intention on adaptation has been revealed, the increasing importance of which, in combination with the development of groupcentered values, contributes to successful social adaptation, and in combination with the increasing role of other egocentric values, becomes a factor of low tolerance to social frustration. The maladaptive influence of the value orientations "reputation" (in boys) and "independence" (in girls) on the processes of social adaptation has been established. The axiological criteria are calculated.