Younger Boys Research Articles

Sibling relationship qualities and peer and academic adjustment: A multi-informant longitudinal study of Chinese families.

Very little is known about sibling influences on child adjustment in non-Western communities. Therefore, this multi-informant study examined the longitudinal associations of sibling warmth and conflict with peer and academic adjustment and tested birth order and gender as moderators among Chinese families from Hong Kong, China. On two occasions separated by about 12 months, data were collected from two siblings in each of 189 families. Data were also collected from the mothers and class teachers of these siblings. At Time 1, older and younger siblings' ages averaged 10.06 years (SD = 1.07) and 7.82 years (SD = 0.95), respectively. Among older siblings, 31% were boys, and among younger siblings, 48% were boys. At Time 1, siblings rated their warmth and conflict with each other. At Times 1 and 2, class teachers rated siblings on their peer exclusion, prosocial/communication skills, and academic performance. At Time 1, mothers rated their warmth and conflict with each sibling and provided family demographic information. Multilevel models revealed that, controlling for mother warmth and conflict and demographic factors, sibling warmth predicted increases in prosocial/communication skills and increases in academic performance, and sibling conflict predicted decreases in academic performance. Moreover, for younger boys, sibling conflict predicted increases in peer exclusion. Theoretically, findings highlighted the unique roles of sibling warmth and conflict, as related but distinct factors, in understanding the peer and academic adjustment of Chinese children. Practically, findings pointed to the utility of improving sibling relationships to promote positive child development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Cross-National Trends of Chronic Back Pain in Adolescents: Results From the HBSC Study, 2001-2014

Chronic back pain is a common problem that negatively impacts the wellbeing of many adolescents. Prior research suggests that the prevalence of chronic back pain has increased over the last decades, but research on this issue is scarce, single country-based, and has yielded inconsistent results. This study aimed to examine trends in the prevalence of chronic back pain over time in adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15, using data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 650,851 adolescents, retrieved from four waves (2001/02, 2005/06, 2009/10 and 2013/14) of HBSC data from 33 countries or regions. The prevalence of back pain was higher (1) in each successive survey over time (18.3% in 2001/02, 19.3% in 2005/06, 20.4% in 2009/10 and 21.6% in 2013/14), (2) in girls (21.9%) compared to boys (17.8%), and (3) in older adolescents compared to younger ones (14.5% in 11-year-olds, 19.6% in 13-year-olds and 25.5% in 15-year-olds). The increase in prevalence from 2001/02 to 2013/14 was more marked in older girls compared to younger girls, and in older boys compared to younger boys, and it ranged between 1% for 11-year-old boys and 7% for 15-year-old girls. More resources should be allocated to the prevention and treatment of chronic back pain in adolescents, especially for older girls. PerspectiveThe prevalence of chronic back pain in adolescents has increased from 2001-2002 to 2013-2014, especially in older adolescent girls. These findings underline the need of further research to understand the reason behind the increasing trend, and what programs are better suited to prevent chronic back pain among adolescents.

미국의 소년사법제도와 지역사회의 참여

In recent years, the US juvenile judicial policy has deviated from a hardened strategy, demanding judicial disposition in consideration of the developmental and scientific characteristics of juveniles, and efforts to seek the most effective measures to prevent recidivism from the strict distinction between punishment and security disposition. It has a lot of implications for our society as well. The increase in the qualitative importance and quantity of juvenile offenses, which have become a social issue in recent years, is rather promoting a social atmosphere that demands reinforcement of punishment for juvenile offenders. Nevertheless, why should the policy direction for juvenile offenses be prevention and discipline? Showing. In particular, in the United States, it is a policy direction that must be embraced to actively utilize community-connected programs to enable rehabilitation and daily protection even for boys in the dark where the judicial touch cannot reach. And it is attempted to block the tendency toward crime in advance through early intervention, so it is understood that normalization of school education and securing social stress through education are the most important juvenile policies. Based on the results of comparative studies showing that those who have left school education tend to be exposed to crime or become criminals, there is a tendency to see that completion of school education or return to school is the key to solving crimes for younger boys. In this paper is focused on the the recent trend of juvenile justice in the United States and the importance of revitalizing community-connected programs to be of significance in introducing them. In our society, the community program itself is limited, and protection measures are provided only to victims of juvenile crime. But juvenile offenders do not have the right to utilize or receive them. However, in the case of juveniles, the criminals are often victims of other social problems such as poverty, domestic violence, and sexual crimes, so it is necessary to try a protective approach both interdisciplinary and policy.

Increased Incidence of Perforated Appendicitis in Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Bavarian Multi-Center Study.

Introduction: Since early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic and statutory preventive reorganization of treatment capacities with cancellation of elective surgery as well as curfew regulations led to vastly decreased utilization of primary health care.Materials and Methods: To assess whether there are negative effects on pediatric acute care in Bavaria during the spring 2020 lockdown a state-wide retrospective multi-center study was performed to analyze the rate of perforated appendicitis during lockdown. Children who have been operated on during the corresponding period in 2018/19 served as control group.Results: Overall, 514 patients (292 boys, 222 girls) were included (2020: 176 patients; 2019: 181 patients; 2018: 157 patients). Median age was 11.2 years. Four hundred thirty-nine patients (85.4%) underwent laparoscopic surgery, 69 (13.4%) open surgery and 1.2% underwent conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. In 2020 a perforation rate of 27.8% (49/176 patients) was found, in 2018–2019 perforation rate was 20.7% (70/338 patients, p = 0.0359, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel-Test). Subgroup analysis showed that in younger patients (≤ 11.2 years), in 2020 perforation rate was significantly higher with 37.6% (32/85 patients), while 22.2% (39/176) in 2018/2019 (p = 0.014, Fisher's exact test).In boys perforation rate was significantly higher in 2020 with 35.0% (35/100 patients) compared to 21.4% in 2018–2019 (p = 0.0165, Fisher's exact test).Conclusion: During the period of curfew regulations in Bavaria the rate of perforated appendicitis in childhood increased significantly, especially in younger children and boys. Potentially this has to be attributed to delayed presentation to pediatric surgery care. Because of potential long-term sequelae of perforated appendicitis these adverse effects during curfew have to be taken into account for future political decision making to ensure reasonable patient care and avoid collateral damage in near-future or on-going pandemic situations.

Dog bite injuries in a tertiary care children's hospital: A seven-year review.

Dog bites are a major cause of traumatic injury in children. The aim of this study was to determine the experience, management, and outcome of dog bite injuries in our department. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records for 127 patients (mean age 7.15 ± 4.24years, range 1 to 17years; 68 males) affected by dog-related injuries, from 2012 to 2018. Characteristics of patients and dogs, type and severity of injuries, circumstances of the accidents, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Of 141 wounds, 73 (51.8%) affected the head and neck, 62 (44%) the limbs, and six (4.2%) affected the trunk. According to the Mcheik classification, 107 lesions (75.9%) were stage 1, 26 (18.4%) stage 2, and eight (5.7%) stage 3. Seventy-eight percent of the cases involved known dogs. The breed of the dog was recorded in 62/127 cases (48.8%) and the most common were mongrels (23/62, 37.1%). Seventy-five percent of the attacks occurred during spring and summer. All patients underwent antibiotic prophylaxis and immediate surgical repair. Wound infection was observed in two patients. Three unsightly scars required rectification, with good cosmetic results in all cases. Our results are consistent with previous data showing that the typical dog-related injury occurs from a known dog, during spring and summer, and in younger boys, who are frequently exposed to head and neck wounds. Our experience showed the feasibility and safety of primary repair and antibiotic prophylaxis in all patients, with very low incidence of infection and good cosmetic results.

Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play.

Outdoor play and independent, neighborhood activity, both linked with healthy childhood development, have declined dramatically among Western children in recent decades. This study examines how social, cultural and environmental factors may be hindering children’s outdoor and community-based play. A comprehensive survey was completed by 826 children (aged 10–13 years) and their parents from 12 schools (four each urban, suburban and rural) from a large county in Ontario, Canada. Five multilevel regression models, controlling for any school clustering effect, examined associations between outdoor play time per week and variable sets representing five prevalent factors cited in the literature as influencing children’s outdoor play (OP). Models predicted that younger children and boys were more likely to spend time playing outdoors; involvement in organized physical activities, other children nearby to play with, higher perception of benefits of outdoor play, and higher parental perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion also predicted more time in outdoor play. Time outdoors was less likely among children not allowed to play beyond home without supervision, felt they were ‘too busy’ with screen-based activities, and who reported higher fears related to playing outdoors. Study findings have important implications for targeting environmental, cultural and policy changes to foster child-friendly communities which effectively support healthy outdoor play.

Adjustment Correlates of Social Media Engagement Among Early Adolescents.

Social media engagement is common among adolescents, yet not all adolescents use social media in the same ways or experience the same adjustment correlates. This study examined four social media behaviors (self-disclosure, self-presentation, lurking, and social monitoring) and two time-based measures of social media use (daily number of hours on social media and frequency of social media use) on three developmentally relevant adjustment correlates (internalizing problems, prosocial support, and online peer victimization). Self-report data were collected from 426 middle-school students (54.2% female, 73.6% Caucasian, 11.5% Black, 4.8% Hispanic, 10.1% other ethnicity, mean age = 12.91). The findings showed distinct adjustment patterns among the social media engagement indices, as well as sex and age differences. Neither the number of hours on social media nor social monitoring were associated with any adjustment correlates; however, the frequency of social media use was associated with positive adjustment (less internalizing problems and more prosocial support), primarily for older adolescents. Self-disclosure was positively associated with online peer victimization (girls only) and prosocial support. Self-presentation was associated with higher levels of internalizing problems and online peer victimization, as well as less prosocial support for younger adolescents and boys. Lurking was positively associated with internalizing problems. The findings suggest the need to consider specific types of social media engagement when creating prevention and intervention programs to address adolescent maladjustment.

What shapes gender attitudes among adolescent girls and boys? Evidence from the UDAYA Longitudinal Study in India.

IntroductionThe role of gender norms in shaping education and work opportunities, distribution of power and resources, and health and wellbeing is well recognised. However, rigorous studies in low- and middle-income countries on when and how norms change over time and what factors shape adolescents’ and young adult’s gender attitudes are limited. This paper explores the factors that determine adolescents’ gender attitudes, as well as patterns in gender attitude shifts over time among younger and older adolescent boys and girls in India.Data and methodsData presented in this paper were drawn from a unique longitudinal study of adolescents aged 10–19 (Understanding the lives of adolescent and young adults–UDAYA study) in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, conducted during 2015–2016 (wave 1) and 2018–2019 (wave 2). The analysis presented in this paper drew on data from 4,428 boys and 7,607 girls who were aged 10–19 and unmarried at wave 1 and interviewed at both rounds of the survey. We used univariate and bivariate analyses to examine changes in adolescents’ gender role attitudes over time and the association between explanatory variables and gender role attitudes. We also used linear fixed effects regression models to identify factors that shape adolescents’ gender role attitudes.ResultsGender role attitudes became more egalitarian over time among boys and girls, except among the older cohort of boys in our study. Among both younger and older cohorts, girls/young women held more egalitarian views than boys/young men and this pattern held over time for both cohorts. Factors that influenced gender role attitudes differed for younger and older adolescents, particularly among boys. While some predictors differed for boys and girls, there were substantial similarities as well. Gender attitudes were affected by factors at the individual, family, peer, and societal levels, as well as by community engagement.ConclusionsOur findings show that it is possible to shift gender attitudes toward greater equity and, in so doing, contribute to improved health and rights.

Boys and bullying in primary school: Young masculinities and the negotiation of power

In this article, we draw on data from focus group discussions to examine the ways in which some young boys in a South African township primary school construct and negotiate hegemonic masculinity through bullying, and other forms of violence, within the school. Deviating from the simplistic victim-bully binary, we draw from critical masculinity studies to show how younger boys exert power over girls through violence but are, themselves, also victims of violence which, they say, is perpetrated by girls. Boys are often identified as bullies at school, but when we gave them the opportunity to talk about what it meant to be a bully, we gained a far more complex picture of how bullying behaviour manifests between learners at school. Indeed, our participants’ accounts of violence at school gave us great insights into the complexities of gender violence and highlighted the broader socio-cultural and economic conditions that produce it. We conclude that it is vital to understand the mechanisms of gender power relations among primary school learners, if primary school violence prevention interventions are to be effective.

A Phase 1/2 Study of Flavocoxid, an Oral NF-κB Inhibitor, in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Flavocoxid is a blended extract containing baicalin and catechin with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways. This phase 1/2 study was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of flavocoxid in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Thirty-four patients were recruited: 17 were treated with flavocoxid at an oral dose of 250 or 500 mg, according to body weight, for one year; 17 did not receive flavocoxid and served as controls. The treatment was well tolerated and nobody dropped out. Flavocoxid induced a significant reduction in serum interleukin (IL)-1 beta and TNF-alpha only in the group of DMD boys on add-on therapy (flavocoxid added to steroids for at least six months). The decrease in IL-1 beta was higher in younger boys. The serum H2O2 concentrations significantly decreased in patients treated with flavocoxid alone with a secondary reduction of serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, especially in younger boys. The exploratory outcome measures failed to show significant effects but there was a trend showing that the younger boys who received treatment were faster at performing the Gowers’ maneuver, while the older boys who received treatment were faster at doing the 10-m walk test (10MWT). Therefore, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study for at least two/three years is warranted to verify flavocoxid as a steroid substitute or as add-on therapy to steroids.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Diet as Mediators of the Association Between TV Time and BMI in Youth.

This study examined dietary indicators, sedentary time, and physical activity as potential mediators of the association between TV time and BMIz in youth. Cross-sectional study in 2 independent samples of youth. Data collection occurred by mail and telephone for adolescents and either at home or in medical settings for children. 928 youth ages 12-16 and 756 youth ages 6-12 and a parent. TV time, snacking/eating while watching TV, and a 3-day dietary recall were assessed via child/parent report. Physical activity and sedentary time were assessed by accelerometer wear. Direct and indirect associations (through 8 diet and activity variables) of TV time with BMIz were tested in boys and girls in each sample. TV time had a positive association with BMIz in 6-12 year old boys and girls. Direct associations emerged between TV time and the diet/activity variables, and between diet/activity variables and BMIz. Snacking/eating while watching TV had a significant positive association with BMIz in younger boys and mediated the association between TV time and BMIz (β = .06, p = .019; 25% attenuation). Snacking/eating while watching TV may be a possible reason TV time is consistently associated with obesity in youth. Targeting reductions in TV time and associated snacking could improve health impacts.

Effects of training on bone metabolism in young athletes

PurposeThis study investigated the effects of two types of training on the bone formation marker of osteocalcin and the bone resorption marker of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme 5b (TRAP5b) in young track and field boys and girls.MethodsThe 14-year-old group (10 boys, 10 girls) performed first time an intensive and supervised 8-week plyometric training. In the 17-year-old group (13 athletic boys, 6 control boys, 12 athletic girls, 6 control girls), the normal many-sided track and field training lasted 6 months.ResultsSignificant increases were noticed in osteocalcin (<i>p</i> < 0.01) both in younger boys and girls. The 20-m sprint performance improved in girls (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and the countermovement jump height increased in boys (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant increases in 17-year-old boys and girls were observed after training in osteocalcin (<i>p</i> < 0.01), osteocalcin/TRAP5b ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.001), and the standing 5-jump (<i>p</i> < 0.05 and<i> p</i> < 0.01). Serum TRAP5b decreased both in boys (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and in girls (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The boys also improved the standing 5-jump (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and the 12-minute running test results (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the combined group of all subjects, the correlation coefficient between TRAP5b and age was significant (<i>r</i> = –0.63, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>n</i> = 57).ConclusionsIn practice, it is important to add plyometrics and other strength training in the training plans of young athletes, regardless of their events, to increase their bone metabolism and muscle strength.

Validity of puberty self-report in children and adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City

Puberty is a milestone in child and adolescent development, yet a feasible tool to accurately assess pubertal stage in community context has not been validated in Vietnam. This study was conducted to validate pubertal self-report among Ho Chi Minh City children and adolescents in comparison with paediatrician’s assessment. 80 girls and 76 boys aged from 6 to 17 years old from 5 schools in Ho Chi Minh City were recruited. Self-administered questionnaires about sexual maturation were distributed to participants and results were compared with physician’s pubertal examination. Kappa statistic and Kendall’s τ b were used to evaluate validity of the questionnaire. Boys tended to overestimate their development stages while girls tended to underestimate. Fair to almost perfect agreement between students’ reports and paediatricians’ evaluation, along with high concordance was recorded, however younger boys (aged 6-11) showed limited evaluation of their own sexual maturation. This method was inaccurate to evaluate younger boys’ sexual maturation; however, acceptable accuracy in sexual maturation estimation among younger girls and adolescents could allow it to serve as an effective screening tool in community context.

Experiences and Correlates of Violence Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: A Brief Report.

The purpose of this paper is to document the scope and correlates of past 6-month victimization among American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) youth. Types of victimization under investigation included sexual assault, dating violence, bullying, sharing of nude photos, sexual harassment, homophobic teasing, and racism. Participants were 400 AI and AN youth in grades 7-10 who completed a survey in school. Results documented concerning rates of all forms of victimization among AI and AN youth during the past 6 months. Although most forms of victimization were related, bullying (at school and electronically), racism, and sexual harassment occurred more often than sexual assault and dating violence. Older youth, girls, and sexual minorities were more likely to report some forms of violence than younger youth, boys, and heterosexual youth respectively. Compared to nonvictims, victim status was consistently related to depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use and was less consistently correlated with feelings of school mattering. Evidence-based, culturally grounded prevention and response efforts are needed for AI and AN youth, as well as broader initiatives that seek to reduce health disparities among AI and AN youth.

Impaired myocardial strain in early stage of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: its relation with age and motor performance.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is complicated by an early and progressive left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Despite the reduction of ejection fraction (EF) usually manifests in the second decade, subtle alterations in LV mechanics can be detected earlier. Longitudinal and circumferential LV deformation, evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), are considered sensitive markers of early dysfunction. We retrospectively examined clinical and echocardiographic data of 32 DMD children with preserved LV function. According to the median age, patients were then divided into younger and older than 9 years, and compared to 24 age-matched healthy subjects. Six-minute-walk test (6MWT), North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA), and a comprehensive cardiac evaluation were performed. Although EF was within the normal range, DMD patients had significantly lower values than healthy controls, and the same occurred for the remaining conventional systolic and diastolic indices. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was reduced in all patients (older and younger, both p < 0.001). Global circumferential strain (GCS) was reduced only in older patients (< 0.001). Both GLS and GCS worsened with age in DMD patients (GLS p = 0.005; GCS p = 0.024). GLS was significantly worse in the apical segments and in the postero-lateral wall. GCS in the antero-septal, anterior and antero-lateral segments was significantly reduced in older patients, with a prevalent involvement of the sole septal wall in the younger boys. 6MWT appeared to be correlated inversely to GLS and directly to EF. A longitudinal evaluation should be scheduled in DMD boys to assess the global cardiac performance over time and to evaluate the impact of therapies.

Predictors of Hospitalization for Children With Croup, a Population-Based Cohort Study.

We sought to determine predictors of hospitalization for children presenting with croup to emergency departments (EDs), as well as predictors of repeat ED presentation and of hospital readmissions within 18 months of index admission. We also aimed to develop a practical tool to predict hospitalization risk upon ED presentation. Multiple deterministically linked health administrative data sets from Ontario, Canada, were used to conduct this population-based cohort study between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2017. Children born between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2011, were eligible if they had 1 ED visit with a croup diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with hospitalization, subsequent ED visits, and subsequent croup hospitalizations. A multivariable prediction tool and associated scoring system were created to predict hospitalization risk within 7 days of ED presentation. Overall, 1811 (3.3%) of the 54 981 eligible children who presented to an Ontario ED were hospitalized. Significant hospitalization predictors included age, sex, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale score, gestational age at birth, and newborn distress. Younger patients and boys were more likely to revisit the ED for croup. Our multivariable prediction tool could forecast hospitalization up to a 32% probability for a given patient. This study is the first population-based study in which predictors of hospitalization for croup based on demographic and historical factors are identified. Our prediction tool emphasized the importance of symptom severity on ED presentation but will require refinement before clinical implementation.

Evaluate the adverse impact of metal oxide on workers of different age groups that engage with gas metal arc welding process: health risk assessment.

Immense epidemiological studies have been indicated about adverse effects of the welding fumes on the health of the welders, especially respiratory problems and other physiological disorders. The different types of welding mechanisms produce aerosols/fumes that contain different metals including chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn). In the present study, the welders of two age groups (adolescents and adults) were selected; simultaneously the age-matched adolescents and adults belong to nonindustrial area as referents/control subjects. Biological samples (scalp hair) were collected from welders and referents, along with analyzed for Cr and Mn by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to acid digestion. To evaluate the occupational exposure on the health of the workers, the clinical features and biochemical parameters of selected population (exposed and non-exposed age-matched groups) were also carried out. The resulted data indicated that the concentrations of Mn and Cr were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of welders as compared to referent subjects (p < 0.01), verifying the absorption/exposure of both metals produced in welding fumes. The high prevalence of anemia and stomach disorder was observed in adolescent than adult welding workers. The incidence of asthma and related symptoms was elevated in adult welders than in younger boys. The neurological problems were particularly observed in aged welders > 50years, might be due to long time exposure of welding fumes contains different toxicant especially Mn in ill ventilation system of workshops.

The Regulation of “Sodomy” in the Latin East and West

The Regulation of “Sodomy” in the Latin East and West

The association between asthma and anxiety in elementary school students in Japan.

Studies on the association between asthma and anxiety in Asian children are limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between asthma and anxiety among Japanese elementary school students. A cross-sectional study of the association between asthma and anxiety in primary school children in Matsuyama City was conducted in 2014. The questionnaires included inquiries on asthma, anxiety, and other demographic variables. After excluding missing values, 17 752 (51.5% male) children were included in the analysis. The presence of asthma (yes/no) was answered by guardians. A score of four or more on the emotional symptom subscale of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire was considered as having anxiety. A Rohrer index score of 145 or more was considered as overweight. We estimated the prevalence ratio (PR) of having anxiety in relation to the presence of asthma based on the Poisson regression model. The multivariate PR (95% confidence interval) of having anxiety in asthmatic boys compared with non-asthmatic boys was 1.56 (1.21-1.99). The association was more evident in older than younger boys, where PR = 1.32 (0.93-1.88) for younger versus 1.87(1.32-2.64) for older boys (P for interaction = .08); and in non-overweight boys than overweight, where PR = 1.64 (1.27-2.13) and 0.94 (0.41-2.19) (P for interaction = .22), respectively. Similar associations were not found for girls. Asthma was significantly associated with anxiety in boys, particularly in older boys.

Religiosity as a predictor of mental health in Egyptian teenagers in preparatory and secondary school.

There have been few studies of religiosity in adolescents and even fewer in Muslim cultures. The present study investigated the associations of religiosity with subjective well-being (WB, and mental and physical health) using samples of Egyptian children and adolescents. Samples of Egyptian preparatory school children and secondary school children were administered questions concerning religiosity, mental and physical health and satisfaction with life. In study 1, boys obtained significantly higher mean scores than girls did on the self-rating scales of religiosity, mental health, physical health and satisfaction with life. In study 2, boys obtained significantly higher mean scores on the Arabic Scale of Mental Health and the self-rating scales of physical health and happiness. All the Pearson correlation coefficients between religiosity, WB and health were significant and positive in both studies. Predictors of mental health differed for boys and girls, but religiosity played a significant role in the prediction of mental health for the younger boys and for the older girls. Religion plays an important role in the lives of the present two samples of Egyptian adolescents.