Young Adolescents Research Articles

How do social and gender norms influence the sexual and reproductive health of younger adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa? A scoping review protocol

Introduction Younger adolescents (aged 10–14 years) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have disproportionate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes due to structural, behavioural, socioeconomic and other factors. Social and gender norms have important consequences for the SRH and wellbeing of younger adolescents both now and over their life course. SRH programming often focuses on older adolescents (aged 15–19 years), overlooking younger ones. This scoping review sets out to explore how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA, to inform tailored interventions. Methods The Arksey and O'Malley strategy will be used to review the available literature. Online databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and African Index Medicus) will be searched for original studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2024. Further, a manual search to include relevant grey literature will be performed. The steps in the review are: 1) defining the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) selecting studies, 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarising, and reporting the results. Results Findings will be reported in accordance with the guidance provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. Discussion The review will generate the most up-to-date evidence and identify gaps in literature in addition to informing future research on how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA. Findings will inform and influence future interventions and evaluations in this area.

Ruminative thinking mediates the effects of exposure to adverse life events on psychotic-like experiences

Introduction:A growing literature has shown that exposure to adverse life events during childhood or adolescence is associated with the presence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), which is in turn associated with the risk of psychotic outcomes. Ruminative thinking, i.e., the tendency to dwell on particular issues or ideas, may affect the perceived aversiveness and ability to cope with adverse life events. However, the role that rumination plays in the relationship between adverse life events and the presence of PLEs remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between adverse life events and PLEs in a longitudinal sample of young adults and adolescents, and to investigate whether this relationship is mediated by ruminative thinking.MethodsWe used a longitudinal naturalistic sample of 706 volunteers assessed at ages 18 and 22 years, within the Imagen consortium. Lifetime occurrence of adverse life events (i.e., events perceived as strongly negative by participants) was investigated using the Life Events Questionnaire. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experience (CAPE-42) served to assess the presence of PLEs, while ruminative thinking was investigated through the Ruminative Response Scale.ResultsResults showed that both frequency of PLEs and their persistence over time were associated with greater adverse life events exposure (r = 0.32, p < 0.001 and F1 = 9.8; p < 0.001, respectively) and greater ruminative response (r = 0.66, p < 0.001 and F1 = 94.9; p < 0.001, respectively). Mediation analyses showed that relationship between adverse life events and PLEs frequency was partially mediated by rumination (direct effect Z: 5.4, p < 0.001; indirect effect Z: 6.9, p < 0.001; total effect Z: 5.9, p < 0.001). Considering changes between the two assessment timepoints, relationship between PLEs variation between 18 and 22 years and adverse life events occurred during the same period was partially mediated by changes in rumination (direct effect Z: 2.8, p < 0.005; indirect effect Z: 4.3, p < 0.001; total effect Z: 4.3; p < 0.001).DiscussionOverall, our findings confirm that the presence of adverse life events may increase the risk of experiencing PLEs in healthy individuals and suggest that dysfunctional coping strategies, such as ruminative thinking, may be related to psychosis proneness. Results do not disentangle whether individuals with greater risk for psychosis tend to ruminate more or whether rumination exacerbates psychosis risk.

Abstract 4141472: Birthweight is Associated with Left Ventricular Mass Index in Childhood

Introduction/Background: Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is a risk factor for adult CV disease and is associated with cardiac development in utero. Associations of birthweight with LVM have been demonstrated in young children and adolescence, however, the association between birth weight and LVM in mid-childhood is not well described. Research Questions/Hypothesis: Utilizing an existing longitudinal data set of healthy children, we aimed to determine the association of birthweight to increased LVM at 6-8 years of age. Methods/Approach: A longitudinal cohort of 372 term-born children was enrolled at age 3 and followed until age 6-8 years. Anthropometrics, echocardiography, and maternal recall of birth weight were collected. LVM from echocardiography was indexed to height 2.7 . Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association of birthweight with LVM index at 6-8 years of age, adjusting for race, sex, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) percentile collected at the time of echocardiography. Results: 303 children were included in the analysis (21.5% Black and 88.5% White, mean age 7.4 ± 0.3 years at the time of echocardiography, mean birthweight 3.4 ± 0.6 kg, mean SBP percentile 42.7 ± 21.6 percentile). Greater birthweight significantly contributed to greater LVM index (1.2 ± 0.6, p = 0.03), along with Black race (1.9 ± 0.8, p = 0.02) and greater current BMI z-score (2.1 ± 0.3, p < 0.01). Sex and SBP percentile were included in the model but were not significantly related to LVM index (p = 0.23 and 0.51 respectively) in this analysis. Conclusions: Greater birthweight is significantly associated with greater left ventricular mass in childhood, independent of BMI z-score at the time of echocardiography. This suggests a critical period in fetal cardiac development that affects cardiac structure in mid-childhood.

Smokeless tobacco use and its associated factors among secondary school students of Rangeli Municipality of Morang district, Nepal.

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats and the world's leading cause of preventable death which is responsible for killing 8 million people every year. Adolescents are the vulnerable age group and are at greater risk of any tobacco use including smokeless tobacco (SLT) and nicotine addiction. Tobacco use at a young age increases the risk of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as respiratory illness, asthma, chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD), reduced pulmonary function, and cancers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smokeless tobacco and its associated factors among secondary school students of grades 11 and 12 in Rangeli Municipality, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 students from the selected secondary schools. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was cleaned and then exported to IBM SPSS Statistics 20 for analysis. Participants' characteristics were described using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the association between individual characteristics and prevalence of smokeless tobacco. All the tests were performed at a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and a p-value less than 0.05. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 18.0±1.3 years. Most participants were female (61.1%). The majority of the participants were from grade 11 (58.3%), government schools (60%), and nuclear families (64.8%). This study found that 38.4% and 61.6% of the participants were SLT ever users and never users respectively. Among the ever users, 29.5% were current users and most tried (47.7%) at the age of 10-14 years. Most participants revealed that homes and public places were common sites for SLT use. Paan Masala and Gutkha were the most commonly preferrable SLTs. This study found that age (AOR = 1.5, CI: 1.2-2.2), sex (AOR = 2.6, CI:1.6-4.4), and school type (AOR = 1.8, CI:1.1-3.0) were significantly associated with the prevalence of SLT. This study found that the prevalence of current SLT users is higher than the national survey. This study concludes that males, young adolescents, and students from private schools are at greater risk of SLT use and are unaware of the consequences on their health. Concerned stakeholders must expand awareness and promote educational programs on the harmful use of tobacco targeting secondary school students. The government organizations, educational institutions, and private organizations jointly work to strengthen the implementation of tobacco cessation programs and tobacco control strategies.

Awareness Regarding Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Among School Students in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) is a priority program in Nepal, yet significant knowledge gaps persist among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the awareness of ASRH among school adolescents and identify factors that influence their knowledge. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bageshowari Higher Secondary School in Bhaktapur Municipality, Nepal, involving 330 students aged 14-18 years. Participants were selected using a probability simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire that covered pubertal changes, sexually transmitted infections, family planning, and abortion. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The results revealed that 54.8% of adolescents demonstrated adequate ASRH awareness. Age was a significant factor, with older adolescents (≥16 years) showing higher awareness (46.6%) compared to younger adolescents (8.1%). Gender differences also existed, with females demonstrating higher awareness (35.1%) than males (19.6%). Ethnicity influenced awareness, with advantaged Janajatis showing higher awareness (31.1%). Grade-wise analysis indicated that awareness increased with higher grades, peaking at grade twelve (19.4%). Domain-specific analysis revealed the highest awareness for sexually transmitted infections (83.9%) and the lowest for abortion (35.2%). The study concluded that while ASRH awareness was moderate, there are significant gaps, especially concerning abortion. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, particularly for younger adolescents and male students, and recommend incorporating ASRH topics into school curricula along with specialized awareness programs focusing on underperforming areas.

Conditionally supporting freedom of speech: how cognitive sophistication and social identity affect adolescents’ support for freedom of speech and its restrictions

ABSTRACT Democracy requires the socialization of young people into democratic values. Yet, support for these democratic values cannot be unconditional, because they conflict in concrete situations. This paper aims to explain to what extent and why young adolescents support freedom of speech in uncontested and contested situations. We combine insights from moral development, political socialization, and social identity theory as mechanisms behind support for specific types of speech across different groups. We use large-scale, nationally representative data collected among 2355 young adolescents in 42 schools in the Netherlands, at the very start after they tracked into secondary education. We find that young adolescents differentiate between various types of speech. They combine high support for the abstract principle of free speech with lower support for types of speech in conflicted situations. Cognitive sophistication explains why abstract support for free speech is higher among students in pre-academic education than in pre-vocational education, whereas we find the inverse in contested situations. Social identity theory explains why adolescents are more reluctant to support free speech when it challenges their in-group. These findings underpin that adolescents have a fine-grained understanding of democratic values, and the need to focus on democratic trade-offs in scholarly research.

Middle-Level Teacher Development and Identity: A Review of the Literature

Historically, the field of middle-level education has taken it as a given that teachers of young adolescents should be specially prepared to teach in the middle grades, developing a teacher identity that centers around responding to and advocating for the age group above an identity as a subject area teacher. Defined broadly as teachers’ dynamic conceptualizations of themselves as educators and their related roles, decisions, and actions, teacher professional identity has garnered considerable attention in the research literature as a potential source of leverage in multiple dimensions of schooling, preservice teacher education and in-service teachers’ professional learning, and teachers’ professional lives. Teacher identity at the middle level is ideally grounded in a deep commitment to helping young adolescents realize their power and possibilities. While the literature on teacher identity development is well-established in some educational contexts, studies specifically examining the potentially unique developmental trajectory of teacher identity among middle-level educators remain limited. To address this gap, we conducted a review of the literature to address the question: what does the research say about middle-level teacher development and identity? Our review identified 26 relevant sources on middle-level teacher development and identity, published from 2015 through the first half of 2024, and yielded key ideas within three themes: (a) the development of teacher identity, (b) the intersectionality of teacher identity, and (c) critical consciousness, agency, and teacher identity. This review identifies both progress and gaps in the current literature, recognizes potential future directions for research on middle-level teacher identity, and offers possible implications for preservice and in-service middle-level teacher education.

The effect of participatory action research on HPV primary preventive measures among in-school adolescents in Benue State, Nigeria

BackgroundIndividuals with a higher level of awareness and knowledge of HPV are more likely to dispel misconceptions about HPV and reduce their likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior. Behavioural change can be achieved through interventions such as participatory action research (PAR), which has been applied in various contexts. Few studies have reported on the use of PAR in Nigeria. This study aims to utilise PAR as an intervention to increase HPV awareness, improve knowledge of HPV infection, and promote behavioural change for HPV prevention among young adolescents in Benue State, Nigeria.MethodsThe study design uses a school-based, pre-post intervention approach with a cross-sectional component. Study participants are young adolescents aged 10–19 years in selected co-educational secondary schools in three local government areas (LGAs) spread across the three senatorial zones in Benue State, Nigeria. Two-stage sampling was used to select the LGAs and schools, and the sample size was computed using the before and after implementation with some prior information from a previous study. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, HPV awareness and knowledge of infection and prevention, prevention practices, and willingness for HPV vaccination were obtained with a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Vaccination and HPV Knowledge (THinK) survey. The HPV Knowledge survey (New Zealand) was utilized to collect information from students at baseline and post-implementation after PAR intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed Test (WST) was used to investigate the significance of the median differences before and after the intervention. A p-value less than 0.05 or 0.001 was considered significant.ResultsA total of 548 adolescents were sampled before the intervention. After the intervention, the sample size decreased to 503, reflecting an 8% attrition rate. PAR effectively increased HPV awareness among the participants from 80.9% before the intervention to 99.8% afterward. The PAR led to a significant change in knowledge of HPV infection and primary prevention and an increase in perception of HPV primary prevention. decrease in misconceptions and risky sexual behaviours, increase in HIV screening tests, and increase in the willingness of participants to uptake the HPV vaccine. Among the measures of risky sexual behaviours was a decreased perception that having more than one sexual partner is not a risk factor for HPV after the PAR intervention. The number of participants in sexual relationships decreased from 84 (16.7%) at baseline to 37 (7.4%) post-implementation. The PAR also led to a decrease in the number of participants who reported having STDs. The Wilcoxon Signed test was further disaggregated based on sex (male and female), school funding type (public and private), and school class level (junior and senior).ConclusionsPAR led to a significant increase in awareness and knowledge of HPV, knowledge of different aspects of HPV infection, and willingness to uptake the HPV vaccine. Additionally, the study has provided evidence that PAR interventions can be a viable tool in delaying sexual initiation and reducing sexual behavioural tendencies, especially in high-risk groups.

Association between QTc and Poincare plot in polycystic ovary syndrome in young adolescents: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Context: PCOS is one of the most neglected noncommunicable diseases, and early detection would be of great value to primary care physicians. Sympathovagal imbalance detected using heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to detect early autonomic changes if any. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate QTc and Poincare plot (nonlinear analysis of HRV) in young adolescent PCOS patients. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving 25 PCOS and 25 healthy individuals of age group 12–18 years. HRV was evaluated using the lead II ECG for 10 min from which QTc was calculated manually using the Bazett formula. Student’s t-test was used to assess differences between means. A P value < 0.05 was taken for statistical significance. The association between QTc and Poincare plot descriptors was assessed by Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: HRV linear analysis domain represented as the LF/HF ratio was reported to significantly increased among the PCOS group (P = 0.04). Similarly, the nonlinear analysis of HRV by Poincare plot reported a significant decrease in SD1 (P = 0.04) and SD2 (P = 0.02). The heart rate was significantly increased among the PCOS group (P < 0.001). QTc did not show any significant increase among the PCOS group (P = 0.09). QTc was reported to be positively correlated with SD1 (r = 0.37, P < 0.01), SD2 (r-0.33, P = 0.02), LF HF ratio (r = 0.52, P < 0.001), and BMI (r = 0.92, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The study suggests that HRV nonlinear analysis can be used as a simple noninvasive tool to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic changes.

Exploring the Microbiome of Mobile Devices: Implications for Public Health and Hygiene

This study, which examined the diversity of microorganisms found on mobile phones, took a novel approach by identifying pathogenic microbes on phone users within different age groups. The study also aimed to test the effectiveness of a simple disinfection method using 70% sterile alcohol pads. Samples were collected using sterile cotton tip applicators and transport broth media before and after disinfection. The samples were cultured and incubated on Muller Hinton agar petri plates at 32 degrees Celsius for 48 hours. The isolated microbes were identified based on their morphological characteristics, gram-stain test, and biochemical analysis. The survey, conducted to determine the frequency of mobile phone usage and factors contributing to microbial contamination, revealed significant findings. Participants from two villages were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The sample size of participants was generated using a sample size calculator. Two participants from each age group per village were selected randomly for microbial sample collection from their mobile phones using R Studio software. The results showed that older adults' mobile phones were more contaminated than younger adults and adolescents, providing valuable insights. The frequency of usage and hygiene did not determine the total viable count of pathogenic microbes found, challenging existing assumptions. The study also found that disinfection using 70% sterile alcohol pads was 76% effective in reducing microbial contamination.

Anxiety and Changes in Relationships Among Young Adolescents During COVID-19 School Closure in Taiwan.

Anxiety and Changes in Relationships Among Young Adolescents During COVID-19 School Closure in Taiwan.

The effect of topical retinoids in treatment of acne vulgaris in Khartoum Teaching Dermatological Hospital

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 80% of young adults and adolescents. Prolonged therapy is often required for satisfactory results. Topical retinoids play a central role in acne treatment, with evidence supporting their efficacy in achieving significant improvements in acne symptoms. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of topical retinoids in treating acne vulgaris among patients at Khartoum Dermatology and Venereal Teaching Hospital from August 2019 to August 2020. Methods: A non-randomized interventional study was conducted at Khartoum Dermatology Teaching Hospital, covering patients diagnosed with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Data were entered, cleaned, and analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results: The study included 100 patients. Of these, 38% were aged 25-35 years, and 70% were female. 92% had experienced acne symptoms for more than six months. Regarding treatment duration, 87% used topical retinoids for more than three months. Clinical improvement was observed in 83% of patients, while 14% showed no improvement, and 3% experienced worsened symptoms. Conclusions: Topical retinoids are effective in treating mild and moderate acne vulgaris.

Hair Cortisol Concentrations in the Prediction of Early Substance Use Engagement in Youth

Objective Understanding factors associated with early onset of substance use is critical as using alcohol or drugs at a young age is a strong predictor of later substance dependency. Experiencing stressful life events is associated with increased risk for early substance use in youth. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is considered a biomarker of psychological stress experienced over longer periods of time. We examined whether HCC could predict early substance use engagement in youth followed over 5 years. Methods Participants were 395 young adolescents (50% female, age range 10-15 years, M age = 12.3, SD = 1.1 at baseline). Demographic data, socioeconomic factors, and substance use habits were collected at four waves between 2015 and 2021. HCC was assayed from hair collected at a home visit between Wave 1 and Wave 2. Analytic models tested a) HCC in relation to latent class membership of substance use and b) whether HCC moderated the relation between self-reports of stress and substance use. Results HCC did not add to the prediction of early substance use engagement in any of the models, while self-reports of stressful life events and everyday discrimination predicted early substance use engagement in the models comparing ‘Early’ vs ‘Late/No’ substance use class membership. Conclusion We found no evidence of HCC to be associated with early substance use engagement in youth. Nevertheless, our results do confirm that self-reports of stressful everyday life experiences predict earlier substance use engagement, underscoring the role of psychosocial stressors as significant predictors of substance use engagement in youth.

Risk perceptions and risk behavior among children attending a road safety education program in Greece

Abstract Background Road Traffic Injuries (RTI’s) are a significant public health concern for children, placing a considerable burden on their well-being. Greece has consistently recorded high numbers of RTI’s among adolescents. Methods A university lab (LaHeRS, HMU) offers a road safety education program for primary and secondary students in Heraklion, Greece. The program consists of two parallel sessions (practical training using a driving simulator and activity-based risk-perception training) aimed at enhancing competencies in resilience to peer influence, empowering children to engage in informed decision-making and fostering hazard perceptions skills. The current presentation reports on 800 students who attended the program between October 2023 and April 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on student’s beliefs, attitudes and practices on road safety. Results A total of 800 students attended the program from the broader Crete Region. 50.5% were girls with a mean age of 12.6 (SD = 2.3) years, 60.9% secondary education students, 58% resided in rural areas. 33.9% reported using a motorcycle and 33.8% a car without a driving license. 23.3% reported experiencing a road traffic incident while commuting. 57.1% identified road safety as a problem in their place of residence, only 26.5% felt safe on local streets and only 9.1% considered other road users as watchful. Additionally, 66.8% highly valued helmet use as a precaution in short distances. 71.6% reported always wearing seatbelt in front seats and 68.9% thought seatbelts are important at back seats. 52.1% did not identify themselves as risk takers on the street, and only 22.5% felt competent in avoiding road risks. 32.9% admitted experiencing peer pressure while commuting. Conclusions Risk taking behaviors and low use of protective measures are prevalent among school aged children and need to be addressed through targeted road safety education programs and interventions. Key messages • Promoting safe behaviors and enhancing risk perception is critical among children and young adolescents. • Road safety education should be integrated into school curricula, starting from pre-school education.

Sexuality and Gender Diversity Among Adolescents in Australia, 2019-2021

Sexuality- and gender-diverse (SGD) young people experience substantial health disparities relative to cisgender heterosexual peers. Little is known about SGD adolescents younger than 15 years. To describe SGD prevalence and associated factors in a population-representative cohort of younger adolescents in Australia. This prospective cohort study was part of the Future Proofing Study, with enrollment of year 8 students at 134 Australian secondary schools from 2019 to 2021 and annual follow-ups for 5 years. Data were analyzed from June 20, 2023, to June 6, 2024. Outcomes of interest were baseline self-reported gender and sexuality identities, individual characteristics, and mental health and disability diagnoses, as well as school characteristics. Among 6388 participants, median (IQR) age was 13.9 (13.6-15.8), with a range of 10.7 to 17.5 years. Most participants attended school in a major city (76.0%), were born in Australia (91.4%), and spoke English at home (93.7%). Approximately half (3122 participants; 48.9% [95% CI, 45.2%-59.0%]) identified as female or girls, and 46.5% (2973 participants; 95% CI, 39.8%-53.4%) identified as male or boys. The overall proportion of transgender identity was 3.3% (95% CI, 2.7%-3.9%), with 23 participants (0.4%) identifying as transgender boys, 10 participants (0.2%) identifying as transgender girls, 117 participants (1.8%) identifying as transgender nonbinary, and 59 participants (0.9%) identifying as another transgender identity. The overall proportion of sexuality diversity was 12.0% (95% CI, 10.4%-13.8%). The proportion of cisgender participants who were sexuality-diverse (13.0% [95% CI, 11.4%-14.8%] of girls and 4.7% [95% CI, 3.7%-5.9%] of boys) was lower than the proportion among gender-diverse participants, which ranged from 30.0% (95% CI, 9.3%-64.1%) of transgender girls to 91.5% (95% CI, 81.3%-96.4%) of those with another diverse gender identity. Gender diversity and sexuality diversity were strongly associated (odds ratio [OR], 66.24; 95% CI, 38.23-114.80), and both were negatively associated with age (gender diversity: OR per 1-year older, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49-0.76; sexuality diversity: OR per 1-year older, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93) and positively with mental health diagnosis (gender diversity: OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.79-3.24; sexuality diversity: OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 2.10-2.98), and disability diagnosis (gender diversity: OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.68-3.40; sexuality diversity: OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.64-2.36). While there were significant associations between individual and school characteristics and responses to gender and sexuality identity items, patterns of association differed, with no consistent association with economic disadvantage. This cohort study of young adolescents found higher rates of SGD than among samples of older adolescents. The significant associations with younger age, poorer mental health, and disability underscored the urgent need for inclusive programs to promote a safe and welcoming environment in schools, health care settings, and communities.

Factors associated with dementia-related stigma in British adolescents

BackgroundDementia-related stigma is a prominent barrier for people living with dementia, leading to poor well-being and social isolation. Adolescents are an under-researched group in society that may already have experience of dementia and are more susceptible to attitudinal change which makes them ideal targets for anti-stigma initiatives outlined by public health policy. For the development of evidence-based anti-stigma initiatives in adolescents, it is important to understand which socio-demographic groups are most likely to develop stigmatising attitudes and why. This study aims to identify factors of dementia-related stigma in adolescents.MethodsA total of 1,044 adolescents (aged 11–18 years) from across six regions of England were included in the analysis of this cross-sectional, survey-based study. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were employed to explore the association between demographic variables, modifiable factors of dementia-related stigma and the outcome of dementia-related stigma. A path analysis via a structural equation model was employed to test for direct and mediatory effects.ResultsMultiple regression models revealed that younger adolescents, those with higher levels of contact with dementia, higher levels of empathy, higher levels of dementia knowledge, and higher affinity to older adults, are associated with more positive dementia attitudes in adolescents (p < 0.05). Within the accepted structural equation model, empathy, level of contact and dementia knowledge were key mediators of dementia-related stigma (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study highlights that modifiable factors such as level of contact, ageism, and empathy have a potentially important role in how dementia-related stigma may start to form in the adolescent years. Developing contact-based strategies that stimulate empathetic responses may be useful targets for stigma reduction initiatives for adolescents.

Linking early emotional abuse/neglect with young adolescents’ social (versus general) anxiety symptoms: A developmental cascade through emotion regulation

Despite the widely documented implications of childhood emotional abuse/neglect for subsequent anxiety symptoms, the implicated mechanisms remain under-revealed, especially the various transdiagnostic and specific pathways related to early experiences of emotional abuse versus emotional neglect and different types of subsequent anxiety symptoms (social versus general). Using three-wave data from 844 Chinese adolescents (Meanage = 13.21 at Wave 1, SD = 0.39; 53 % Boys), we tested emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) as explanatory mechanisms underlying the links between childhood emotional abuse/neglect and subsequent social anxiety symptoms (SAS), while simultaneously considering general anxiety symptoms (GAS) for the identification of possible specificity. Results indicated that expressive suppression played a mediating role in the links between emotional neglect and both forms of anxiety symptoms, whereas cognitive reappraisal served as a linking mechanism only for the link between emotional neglect and GAS. No effects were identified for emotional abuse. All associations were identified after controlling for the baseline levels of anxiety symptoms, the baseline uses of emotion regulation strategies, and covariates (age, gender, and family socioeconomic status). Our findings re-confirm that emotion regulation is an important intermediate process accounting for anxiety-related sequelae of early emotional deprivation, suggesting that expressive suppression appears to be a more developmentally transdiagnostic process shaped particularly by early emotional neglect to contribute to different types of subsequent anxiety symptoms. Accordingly, educational and clinical practices on emotion regulation likely benefit the affective well-being of young adolescents whose childhood has been clouded with emotional neglect.

Genetic overlap between idiopathic scoliosis and schizophrenia in the general population.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and schizophrenia (SCZ) are two distinct conditions with poorly understood aetiologies that both emerge in otherwise healthy young adolescents. One rare genetic condition associated with both phenotypic outcomes is the 22q11.2 deletion (22q11DS). This microdeletion, encompassing 47 genes, occurs in approximately 1 in 2,148 live births and confers a 20-fold higher risk for both AIS and schizophrenia compared to the general population. In the general population (non-22q11DS carriers), AIS and SCZ have also been reported to be related and genetic studies suggest the involvement of genetic variants implicated in the central nervous functioning. In this study, our objective was to further investigate genetic overlaps between these conditions in the general population. Specifically, we aimed to explore the role of genes within the 22q11.2 region, not only in terms of common variants but also their potential impact on gene networks and biopathways. We used summary statistics from three genome-wide association studies (GWAS): two focused on AIS (n = 11,210), and one on schizophrenia (n = 36,989). To explore potential overlaps between the two conditions, we conducted a comparative analysis on the significance-based ranked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with both AIS and SCZ. Next, we employed in silico analyses to assess gene-networks enrichment for the most significant SNPs and investigate the contribution of genes within the 22q11.2 region. Post-hoc analysis was conducted to explore the biological pathways correlated with SNPs significantly associated with both AIS and SCZ. The in silico analyses revealed a significant (adjusted-p < 0.05) genetic overlap between SCZ and both AIS cohorts. The top 3% of the most significant SNPs associated with both conditions exhibited a distinct enrichment cluster which is unlikely to be a result of chance (p < 3e-04). The gene-networks analyses showed a significant overlap of 26-41% with the ones involving genes in the 22q11DS region. However, there was no overlap between SNPs in this region and the most significant SNPs identified in the GWAS. This study revealed compelling evidence that beyond the shared association with 22q11DS as a rare genetic variant, AIS and SCZ exhibit common genetic risk variants and an overlap of important genes. The gene networks enriched by the most significant SNPs for both conditions also intersect with the ones involving genes in the 22q11DS region. However, SNPs within this region were not overrepresented among the most significant SNPs from GWAS for both conditions. Notably, gene networks linked to the risk for both conditions suggest an involvement of biopathways related to cellular signaling and neuronal development.

The Clinical and Molecular Landscape of Rosette-Forming Glioneuronal Tumors.

Rosette-Forming Glioneuronal Tumors (RGNTs) are rare, typically benign central nervous system tumors primarily located in the fourth ventricle and pineal region. Despite being classified as WHO grade I with generally favorable prognoses, RGNTs present complexities in their molecular mechanisms, occasional malignant transformation, and epidemiological characteristics that require further investigation. This study systematically reviews the existing literature to analyze the epidemiological patterns, MRI characteristics, pathological features, diagnostic challenges, and molecular mechanisms associated with RGNTs, aiming to provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for clinical practice and future research. Through an in-depth review of recent studies, key molecular mechanisms, including mutations in FGFR1, PIK3CA, TERT, and IDH1/2, are highlighted. Additionally, the challenges in accurate diagnosis and the potential for misdiagnosis are discussed, emphasizing the importance of thorough molecular analysis in clinical settings. The literature indicates that RGNTs predominantly affect young adults and adolescents, with a slight female predominance. MRI typically reveals mixed cystic-solid lesions, often accompanied by hydrocephalus. Pathologically, RGNTs are characterized by a combination of neuronal and glial components, with immunohistochemical staining showing positivity for Synaptophysin and GFAP. High frequencies of FGFR1 and PIK3CA mutations underscore the significance of these pathways in RGNT pathogenesis and progression. Although RGNTs generally exhibit low malignancy, the TERT mutations identified in some cases suggest a risk of malignant transformation. This study concludes that while current treatment strategies focus on surgical resection, integrating molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies may be essential for managing recurrent or refractory RGNTs. Future research should explore the impact of various gene mutations on tumor behavior and their correlation with clinical outcomes, to optimize individualized therapeutic strategies and improve patient survival and quality of life.

Poverty Dynamics and Caries Status in Young Adolescents.

To investigate whether timing, accumulation and trajectories of poverty are associated with dental caries in young adolescents. The study was conducted within the Generation R Study, which is an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study conducted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This study included 2653 children. Information about household income and number of children and adults living in a household at six time points from pregnancy to 13 years old was retrieved from parental questionnaires to construct the poverty variable. Dental caries was assessed with the decayed, missing and filled teeth index through intraoral photographs at the age of 13 years. Sociodemographic and oral health-related characteristics were included as possible confounders. The association between poverty and dental caries was analysed on the basis of the three lifecourse theories, that is, critical period, cumulative risk and social mobility model. For the latter, we used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify poverty trajectories over time. Next, the associations were studied with Hurdle Negative Binomial Models. Poverty at birth and intermittent poverty up to the age of 13 were significantly associated with dental caries at 13 years of age (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.01-1.99; OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83 respectively) and with an increased mean number of decayed teeth by 34% (95% CI 1.02-1.76; 95% CI 1.05-1.71, respectively). LCGA showed four trajectories for the probabilities of poverty. All trajectories were significantly associated with dental caries at 13 years of age, with the 'downward mobility' trajectory showing the strongest association with dental caries (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.05-2.29) and an increasing mean number of decayed teeth by 58% (95% CI 1.18-2.12) than the 'stable absent' trajectory. Poverty at birth, intermittent poverty and downward poverty trajectory were associated with higher odds and higher mean number of decayed teeth at 13 years of age. The three lifecourse models influenced dental caries status during adolescence, hence strategies and policies targeted to improve socioeconomic conditions on deprived children should be implemented.