Young Adults Research Articles

Psychometric properties of the self-report questionnaire on occupational balance in university students with game addiction

Background: The prevalence of adolescents and young adults playing games on the internet is increasing worldwide. However, excessive game playing can cause game addiction among adolescents. Studies have demonstrated that game addiction increases the risks of physical and mental health problems, leading to occupational performance issues. Nevertheless, what level of game addiction impacts occupational health issues is controversial. Therefore, this study focused on occupational balance, an individual’s perception of a proper amount and diversity of activities. The study demonstrated that occupational imbalance could lead to a decrease in an individual’s occupational performance. However, an appropriate instrument for screening occupational balance in young adults with game addiction has never been studied yet, especially in a Thai version. Objective: This study aimed to develop a self-report questionnaire on occupational balance for Thai university students with game addiction. Materials and methods: The questionnaire consisted of 21 items divided into four dimensions, including the individual’s perceptions of participating in meaningful activities, having the proper proportion of time to perform occupations, having the appropriate variety of professions, and being satisfied with their health and well-being. In addition, the psychometric properties of a questionnaire were investigated. Results: The questionnaire had sufficient validity and good internal consistency for screening occupational balance in Thai university students with game addiction. The questionnaire was divided into four dimensions, each with good construct validity and internal consistency. Conclusion: The questionnaire was valid and reliable for evaluating occupational balance for Thai university students with game addiction. This information can provide a new occupational therapy instrument for identifying occupational balance in the population with game addiction.

Age-related Electrophysical Correlates of Cross-modal Attention Switching.

The human experience demands seamless attentional switches between sensory modalities. Aging raises questions about how declines in auditory and visual processing affect cross-modal attention switching. This study used a cued cross-modal attention-switching paradigm where visual and auditory stimuli were simultaneously presented on either spatially congruent or incongruent sides. A modality cue indicated the target modality, requiring a spatially left versus right key-press response. EEG recordings were collected during task performance. We investigated whether the mixing costs (decreased performance for repetition trials in a mixed task compared with a single task) and switch costs (decreased performance for a switch of target modality compared with a repetition) in cross-modal attention-switching paradigms would exhibit similarities in terms of behavioral performance and the ERP components to those observed in the traditional unimodal attention-switching paradigms. Specifically, we focused on the ERP components: cue-locked P3 (mixing/switch-related increased positivity), target-locked P3 (mixing/switch-related decreased positivity), and target-locked lateralized readiness potential (mixing/switch-related longer latency). In addition, we assessed how aging impacts cross-modal attention-switching performance. Results revealed that older adults exhibited more pronounced mixing and switch costs than younger adults, especially when visual and auditory stimuli were presented on incongruent sides. ERP findings showed increased cue-locked P3 amplitude, prolonged cue-locked P3 latency, decreased target-locked P3 amplitude, prolonged target-locked P3 latency in association with switch costs, and prolonged onset latency of the target-locked lateralized readiness potential in association with the mixing costs. Age-related effects were significant only for cue-locked P3 amplitude, cue-locked P3 latency (switch-related), and target-locked P3 latency (switch-related). These findings suggest that the larger mixing costs and switch costs in older adults were due to the inefficient use of modality cues to update a representation of the relevant task sets, requiring more processing time for evaluating and categorizing the target.

The Desiring Girl in South African Young Adult Fiction

ABSTRACT Girls in South African young adult (YA) fiction typically represent a heteropatriarchal, sexually passive model of femininity that allows for neither sexual autonomy nor sexual desire. This article examines six prominent South African YA novels that are unusual in that the sexual desires of their teenage heroines play an important role in shaping plot or character: S. A. Partridge’s Dark Poppy’s Demise (2011); Adeline Radloff’s Sidekick (2010); Sonwabiso Ngcowa’s In Search of Happiness (2014); and Lily Herne’s Mall Rats series of three books. The study finds that even in these rare examples of South African texts that treat girls’ desires as significant, desire mostly remains ambivalent or is treated evasively, while violence, by contrast, is embedded in each novel’s social context and routinely described at length, in explicit detail. South African girls live in a violent world, but the article argues that reducing their lives to a single violent dimension only perpetuates that violence. And in correlating girls’ desire indissociably with violence, these texts normalize the violent punishment of girls whose femininity is not sexually passive.

Adverse Events at 1 Month Following Medication Initiation for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adolescents and Young Adults.

We assess adverse events (AEs) following medication initiation for adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorder (OUD). This is a secondary analysis of a clinical trial of long-acting injectable naltrexone (LAI-naltrexone) among youth with OUD aged 15 to 21 years. Participants were recruited from residential treatment and placed into 1 of 3 treatment groups based on medication receipt at time of discharge (no medication, sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone [buprenorphine], or LAI-naltrexone). Frequencies and percentages of AEs by body system were compared by medication group at the 1-month follow-up visit. Logistic regression was used to compare groups on their likelihood of reporting an AE, overall and excluding injection site reactions. Of 199 participants, 71 (36%) received no medication, 59 (30%) buprenorphine, and 69 (35%) LAI-naltrexone at discharge. Participants who received LAI-naltrexone experienced more AEs, primarily due to injection site reactions (62%, accounting for 43% of all AEs among participants who received LAI-naltrexone). There were 6 reports of nonlethal overdose, 5 in the no medication, 1 in the buprenorphine, and none in the LAI-naltrexone group. Participants receiving LAI-naltrexone were more likely to report an AE compared to the other groups (P = .04), but this difference was no longer significant when excluding injection site reactions (P = .82). Excluding injection site reactions, there were no significant differences in the likelihood of reporting an AE 1 month after receiving LAI-NTX, buprenorphine, and no medications. LAI-naltrexone should be among the medications offered for the treatment of OUD in youth.

Preparing adolescents and young adults with epilepsy for transitioning health care (PATH) study: The important role of age and self-efficacy

BackgroundAt least 30 % of youth with epilepsy will require transition from pediatric to adult neurology care. Many adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with epilepsy are inadequately prepared for health care transition, which may contribute to health care disruptions and decreased quality of life. The current study aimed to add to the growing body of literature on health care transition in epilepsy by characterizing a sample of AYAs with epilepsy and assessing the relationship between pre-existing and behaviorally modifiable factors and epilepsy-specific transition readiness. Methods103 AYAs (Mage = 17.56; range = 14–21; 54 % female; 85 % White) with epilepsy and 84 of their caregivers were enrolled from two pediatric hospitals in the United States. Participants provided sociodemographic and medical information and completed questionnaires assessing functioning, epilepsy management, and transition readiness. Data were analyzed using a two-step hierarchical multiple linear regression model with epilepsy-specific transition readiness as the outcome: 1) pre-existing factors (i.e., age, insurance, seizure severity); and 2) behaviorally modifiable factors (i.e., cognitive functioning, medication self-management, epilepsy self-efficacy). ResultsOnly 44 % of AYAs had discussed health care transition with their pediatric neurologist. The final model was significant, ΔF (3, 90) = 13.45, p < 0.001. Older age and greater epilepsy self-efficacy were associated with greater epilepsy-specific transition readiness. ConclusionAYAs with greater epilepsy self-efficacy may be better prepared for the transition from pediatric to adult neurology care. Routine assessment of epilepsy self-efficacy and transition readiness starting in early adolescence may help to identify individuals who could benefit from targeted interventions.

Vaping nicotine and cannabis on the same occasion is linked to increased vaping consumption among young adults: a smartphone-based daily diary study

SignificanceVaping both nicotine and cannabis in the past 30 days (co-vaping) is common among young adults. It is unclear which co-vaping patterns may increase substance use and dependence. We examined day-level associations between vaping patterns with vaping quantity. MethodDaily assessments of vaping behaviors were collected via smartphone for 30 consecutive days among 111 young adults (aged 18-29, vaping nicotine/cannabis at least 20 days during the past month) in California, US, in 2023-2024. Participants reported daily use of nicotine/tobacco (e.g., e-cigarettes, cigarettes) and cannabis products (e.g., vaporized/combustible cannabis). Vaping intensities were the number of times a participant vaped nicotine/cannabis in an entire day. Vaping patterns on a given day were categorized into non-vaping, single-substance vaping, same-day different-occasion co-vaping, and same-occasion co-vaping. Generalized linear mixed-effect models examined day-level associations between these patterns and vaping intensity outcomes, controlling for covariates. ResultsOf the participants, 84.7% reported co-vaping and 15.3% reported single-substance vaping in the past 30 days. Of the 2,522 daily assessments, 42.7% were nicotine-only vaping, 9.7% cannabis-only vaping, 16.5% same-day different-occasion co-vaping, and 16.9% same-occasion co-vaping. Participants reported a greater intensity of vaping nicotine and cannabis on days with same-occasion co-vaping compared to days with other vaping patterns. Vaping intensities on days with same-day different-occasion co-vaping were greater than on days with single-substance vaping or non-vaping. ConclusionsCloser temporal proximity of co-vaping was associated with greater intensities of vaping nicotine and cannabis. Same-occasion co-vaping is linked to the greatest increase in vaping intensity. Interventions addressing this high-risk pattern are warranted.

A descriptive analysis of sarcopenia markers in young adults with down syndrome.

Most body composition research in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) has focused on overweight and obesity. Although limited research has shown muscle mass indexes and physical performance levels of adults with DS are similar to or lower than older adults with sarcopenia, there is still a large gap in the literature regarding sarcopenia. This brief report provides a comprehensive descriptive analysis of sarcopenia and obesity markers in individuals with DS. Fourteen young adults (age=26±9yrs.) with DS (males: n=6; females: n=8) had appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) measured with bioimpedance analysis and handgrip strength (HGS) measured with a hand dynamometer (dominant hand). Sarcopenia was computed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People revised definition (EWGSOP2). The BMI for the entire group was 24.41±4.01kg/m2, ranging from 16.21 to 31.31kg/m2, with one participant classified as obese. ASM ranged from 11.33 to 24.41kg (17.49±4.71kg), and 64% of participants fell below the EWGSOP2 criteria for muscle mass. HGS ranged from 8 to 31kg (20±7kg), and 57% of participants fell below the EWGSOP2 criteria for muscular strength. Lastly, 5 of 14 participants (approximately 36%) had sarcopenia according to the EWGSOP2 definition. An alarming number of young adults with DS had sarcopenia, and low HGS and ASM when using the EWGSOP2 definition. Health professionals are encouraged to screen for sarcopenia in young adulthood rather than deferring it to a later stage in life for individuals with DS.

When a bright future is in mind: Young adults’ positive views on aging contribute to resilience through enhanced sense of control

When a bright future is in mind: Young adults’ positive views on aging contribute to resilience through enhanced sense of control

Association between allostatic load and cardiac structural and functional abnormalities in young adults with serious mental disorders.

Allostatic load refers to the pathophysiological consequences of uncompensated adaptation to chronic stress. Few studies have investigated the effect of allostatic load on cardiac health in patients with serious mental disorders (SMDs), a population at high risk of cardiac mortality. Herein we evaluated associations between allostatic load and cardiac structure and function in young adults with SMDs. A total of 106 participants aged younger than 45years underwent echocardiographic study, blood biochemistry examination, and blood cell count analysis. Echocardiographic imaging was conducted in accordance with recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. Allostatic load index was calculated using 15 measures representing cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory or oxidative stress markers. The SMD group exhibited a significantly higher allostatic load index than did control (Cohen's d=0.59). Additionally, they exhibited a greater left ventricular relative wall thickness (LVRWT, Cohen's d=0.39) and a less favorable mitral valve E/A ratio (Cohen's d=0.31), left ventricular ejection fraction (Cohen's d=0.51), and global longitudinal strain (Cohen's d=0.71). After demographic and clinical characteristics were adjusted for, multiple linear regression revealed that allostatic load index was positively associated with LVRWT (β=0.255) and negatively associated with mitral valve E/A ratio (β=-0.247) in the SMD group. This is the first study to suggest that allostatic load may play a critical role in accelerated adverse cardiac remodeling among young patients with SMDs. Future studies should elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Drug utilization among young adults with atopic dermatitis: Influence of sex, socio-economic status and disease severity.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects individuals of all ages, and the first-line treatment are emollients and topical corticosteroids. There is insufficient knowledge about factors possibly affecting the drug utilization of young adults with AD. To describe the drug utilization of young adults with AD in relation to sex, socio-economic status and disease severity. A cross-sectional study based on the 24-year follow-up from the population-based BAMSE (Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology Survey) birth cohort linked with dispensing data from the National Drug Register (n = 2912). Self-reported AD and socio-economic status were defined from questionnaire data and disease severity was determined through the clinical examination and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure questionnaire. The prevalence of AD in young adults was 17.7% (n = 516) and 45.5% of them were dispensed at least one drug for the treatment of AD during the study period (January 2016 to June 2019). Topical corticosteroids (TCS) were the most common drugs (32.9%) followed by emollients (21.7%). A larger proportion of men were dispensed TCS than women (39.0% vs. 29.1%: p-value = 0.020). A larger proportion of young adults with moderate-to-severe AD were dispensed TCS than those with mild AD (52.6% vs. 35.3%: p-value = 0.026). No one was dispensed the recommended amount of emollients and less than five individuals were dispensed the recommended amount of TCS for mild disease. Male sex (adj.OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06-2.34) and moderate-to-severe AD (adj.OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.59-4.31) were associated with dispensation of TCS. A large proportion of young adults with AD was undertreated or untreated. Sex and disease severity did affect the dispensing patterns of investigated drugs.

Association of baseline cytokines with antibody concentrations after diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis booster vaccination in Finnish children

BackgroundDespite extensive vaccinations, pertussis remains endemic and epidemic in multiple countries. The persistence of cases can be partly attributed to the significant individual variation in vaccine responses. This study evaluated the association of baseline cytokines (before booster vaccination) on antibody concentrations to Tdap-vaccine antigens. MethodsHealthy Finnish children (7–10y, n = 36), adolescents (11–15y, n = 37), young adults (20–34y, n = 25), and older adults (60–70y, n = 23) received a Tdap3-IPV booster. Serum antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (Prn), fimbriae 2/3, diphtheria toxoid (DT), and tetanus toxoid (TT), as well as PT neutralizing antibodies were measured before, one month, and one year after the booster. Baseline serum concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17 A and IL-17F were determined. ResultsThe proportion of detectable and undetectable baseline cytokines varied between age groups 58.3 % of children had a higher proportion of detectable IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-17F compared to adolescents (IL-5, 37.8 %; IL-10, 48.6 %; IL-13, 48.6 %; IL-17F, 37.7 %), young adults (IL-5, 36.0 %; IL-10, 28.0 %; IL-13, 36.0 %; IL-17F, 44.0 %), and older adults (IL-5, 26.1 %; IL-10, 21.7 %; IL-13, 39.1 %; IL-17F, 30.4 %). IFN-γ had a lower detectability in children (44.4 %) and young (40.0 %) and older adults (39.1 %) in contrast to adolescents (62.2 %). IL-2 was undetectable in all age groups while the proportion of detectable IL-17 A decreased with age. A mixed model showed that undetectable baseline levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17 A were associated with higher antibody concentrations in children before and after vaccination, particularly against PT. Positive associations were observed in adolescents for anti-TT concentrations and young adults for anti-FHA IgA concentrations. ConclusionThese findings indicate a possible role of existing cytokines in pertussis booster antibody concentrations in children and warrant further studies in different populations. However, the results should be interpreted with caution as the number of subjects is limited.

The effect and mechanism of acceptance and commitment therapy for young adults’ appearance-based rejection sensitivity and social comparison based on appearances : A randomized controlled trial

This study tested the effect and mechanism of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on young adults’ appearance-based rejection sensitivity (ARS) and social comparison based on appearance (SCBA). A sample of 190 university students (Mage = 18.35, SD = 0.78; 56.62% female) was randomly assigned to either the ACT group (n = 94) or an active control group (n = 96), which focused on interpersonal discussions about experiences of appearance-based rejection. Participants completed six weekly group interventions, as well as three surveys: a baseline assessment before the intervention (T1), a post-test immediately after the intervention (T2), and a 3-month follow-up (T3). Clinically significant decreases in ARS and SCBA were observed in the ACT group from baseline to both the post-test and follow-up. Comparisons at each phase indicated that the ACT group outperformed the control group in reducing ARS and SCBA, as well as in improving psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. Furthermore, the parallel mediation models supported the mediating roles of psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion between the ACT intervention and ARS/SCBA. These findings suggest that ACT is effective in reducing ARS and SCBA by improving psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. Future research should further explore the effects and mechanisms of ACT on ARS and its related constructs using diversified samples and multiple long-term follow-ups.

Barriers and Predictors of Long-Term Physical Activity Maintenance: The STRRIDE I Reunion Cohort

ABSTRACT Introduction This study aimed to identify barriers and predictors of self-reported physical activity (PA) maintenance 10 yr following the Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE I) randomized trial among young older adults. Methods Participants completed a PA recall questionnaire that assessed barriers to PA maintenance. Chi-square tests assessed differences in barriers by PA maintenance tertile. Demographic and clinical measures collected at baseline and post-intervention from the STRRIDE I parent trial were included in model development to identify predictors of PA maintenance. Three models were generated using a backward bootstrap variable selection algorithm followed by multiple linear regression. Results Participants who returned for the STRRIDE I Reunion study (n = 104; 63.0 ± 6.2 yr old) reported mean PA participation of 77.9 ± 76.5 min·wk−1. Commonly reported barriers to PA maintenance included lack of self-motivation (41%), time constraints (33%), illness or injury (29%), and family obligations (23%). There was a significant association between the percentage of individuals who reported one or more barriers versus no barriers by PA maintenance tertile (frequency of PA: χ 2 ratio = 26.1, P &lt; 0.0001; amount of PA: χ 2 ratio = 15.1, P = 0.0005). The baseline predictive model had an adjusted R 2 value of 0.05, the post-intervention predictive model had an adjusted R 2 of 0.12, and the change score (post-intervention minus pre-intervention) predictive model had an adjusted R 2 of 0.17. Conclusions Maintaining PA beyond a structured exercise intervention setting continues to be challenging for older adults. Compared to those who reported no barriers, young older adults who reported one or more barriers to PA maintenance were less active 10 yr following STRRIDE I. Additionally, how participants respond to a structured exercise intervention in certain clinical variables may be the most indicative of future PA maintenance.

Higher physical activity levels are related to faecal microbiota diversity and composition in young adults

Higher physical activity levels are related to faecal microbiota diversity and composition in young adults

Clinical experience in a 28-year-old male patient with mandibular osteosarcoma. Case Report

Introduction: osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor in adolescents and young adults. Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor in which cancer cells produce osteoid matrix or mineralized bone. Six percent of osteosarcomas involve the mandible, making it the fourth most common site after the femur, tibia and thigh bone. Overall, mandibular OS is a high-grade and relatively rare lesion. This suggests that osteosarcoma of the mandible behaves differently than osteosarcoma of the long bones. The location of the tumor also presents a different set of resection and reconstruction difficulties than long bone tumors. The aim of the present study is to learn about the clinical and diagnostic presentation of this pathology. Clinical Case: We present a 28-year-old male patient who reports a painful tumor in the left mandibular region, which has evolved over the last 1 year. The patient refers pain on mobilization and makes it difficult to consume food, which is the reason for his visit. Patient with a reserved prognosis, complementary examinations were performed and tumor recension of the same with a diagnosis of malignant osteosarcoma. Conclusion: osteosarcoma is a very rare malignant tumor of the oral cavity. The best prognostic results are obtained with technically feasible radical tumor resection. To achieve this, diagnosis or at least suspicion should be established as early as possible.

Impact of bedroom light exposure on glucose metabolic markers and the role of circadian-dependent meal timing: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Light at night (LAN) has become a global concern. However, little is known about the effects of bedroom LAN exposure on glucose metabolism markers. We aimed to explore the association between intensity and duration of bedroom LAN exposure with glucose metabolism markers, and the role of circadian-dependent meal timing in these associations. Real-ambient bedroom LAN exposure was measured using a portable illuminance meter for two consecutive days. Seven consecutive days of sleep time and 24-h dietary records were assessed by wrist-worn accelerometer and mobile phone photos, respectively. Circadian-dependent meal timing, including the timing of meal relative to clock time and sleep time, was calculated from 24-h dietary records and sleep data. The mean age of participants was 18.7 years, and 32.8 % were male. Per SD lx increase of bedroom LANavg was associated with 1.75 μU/mL-increase in INS (95 %CI: 0.10, 2.50), 0.61 unit-increase in HOMA-IR (95 %CI: 0.43, 0.79), and 0.09 unit-increase in TyG (95 %CI: 0.04, 0.15); per SD min increase of bedroom LAN3 was associated with 1.61 μU/mL-increase in INS (95 %CI: 0.84, 2.37), 0.48 unit-increase in HOMA-IR (95 %CI: 0.29, 0.67), and 0.07 unit-increase in TyG (95 %CI: 0.01, 0.13). Nevertheless, these associations were found to be significant in later circadian-dependent meal timing group while weaker or not significant in earlier circadian-dependent meal timing group (time of first meal ≤ 9:00, time of last meal ≤ 19:00, first meal - sleep end ≤ 2 h, and sleep onset - last meal ≥ 5 h). Overall, bedroom LAN exposure was associated with impaired glucose metabolism markers among young adults. Importantly, circadian-dependent meal timing may have potentially moderate effects on these associations. Keeping bedroom darkness at night and adhering to early eating pattern may be important public health strategies to reduce the risk of glucose metabolism disorders.

Care-studies in adolescent psychiatry

The Fondation santé des étudiants de France offers inpatient psychiatric care for adolescents or young adults with stabilized psychiatric disorders compatible with schooling. This arrangement requires the close collaboration of a psychiatric care unit and an educational team from the French Ministry of Education. The admission process involves a careful assessment of each case file to refine the medical indications. Despite its advantages, such as care in a protected environment and small classes, it faces logistical challenges when patients come from far away, and difficulties in maintaining external partnerships due to staff shortages in adolescent psychiatry.

REMIT: Reirradiation of diffuse midline glioma patients – a NOPHO feasibility study

Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) continues to be an aggressive brain stem cancer among children and young adults. It has a dismal prognosis with less than 10% of patients alive two years after diagnosis. Radiotherapy has been demonstrated to be effectful, albeit transient. Hence, radiotherapy is considered a cornerstone in the treatment. Reirradiation has, in retrospective studies, shown promising overall survival and palliative effect but no pan-European consensus for reirradiation exists. The REMIT (Reirradiation of diffuse Midline glioma paTients) protocol evaluates safety and the palliative efficacy of reirradiation of patients with DMG (clinicaltrials.gov NCT06093165). Patients included in the protocol will be followed with 1) performance status (Karnofsky or Lansky), 2) toxicity monitored with NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), 3) motor and functioning skill with PEDI-CAT (The Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory) and 4) quantification of corticosteroid use. Furthermore, the impact on quality of life and well-being will be assessed qualitatively with interviews as well as with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQl) Cancer Module questionnaire. The protocol also includes dose accumulation and contouring studies to assess standardization as well as a pre-screening log to address selection bias of patients. The safety and palliative efficacy of reirradiation in DMG will be prospectively evaluated, including qualitative patient reported outcomes, through the REMIT protocol. REMIT is planned to open for inclusion in 2024.

Comparing food waste interests and environmental concerns in young adults: A qualitative reasoning approach

Comparing food waste interests and environmental concerns in young adults: A qualitative reasoning approach

Factors associated with HIV self-testing and PrEP use among Nigerian youth: Baseline outcomes of a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized controlled trial

IntroductionAdolescents and young adults (AYA, 14–24 years) bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections in Nigeria and are more likely to have worse HIV outcomes compared to other age groups. However, little is known about their access to recommended sexual health care services, including HIV self-testing (HIVST), sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, sexual behavior patterns, awareness and or access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and overall risk for HIV. MethodsWe present a baseline analysis of the 4 Youth by Youth randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the uptake and sustainability of crowdsourced HIVST strategies led by and for young people across 14 states in Nigeria. None of the participants had received intervention at the time of completing this self-reported behavioral survey. We conducted a descriptive analysis to summarize participants' characteristics, sexual behavior, HIV testing, STI testing, and knowledge of PrEP and use across the study sample of the AYAs. We conducted a chi-square test, and the level of significance was set at ≤0.05. ResultsA total of 1551 participants completed the baseline survey comprising males (777, 50.1 %) and females (774, 49.9 %). The majority (77 %) of the participants were students at enrollment. Very few of the participants had ever tested for syphilis, 47 (3.1 %), gonorrhea, 49 (3.2 %), chlamydia, 31 (2.0 %), and hepatitis B, 106 (6.9 %). 678 (43.8 %) of the participants reported to be sexually active at the time of enrolment into the study, of which about 38 % of them engaged in condomless sex. Paying for sex, alcohol use, and drug use are all significant sexual behaviors (p < 0.01). Only 14 (1 %) have ever used PrEP. 481 (31.4 %) have ever tested for HIV, and 104 (6.8 %) have ever used an HIV self-testing kit at baseline. 457 (38.6 %) were eligible for PrEP. ConclusionsHIVST and STI uptake were low at baseline among the AYA in this study. Most AYAs also do not receive recommended sexual health care services, including STI testing services. This underlines the need for interventions to increase the uptake of HIV/STI prevention services among Nigerian AYA.