Change and Consistency of Self-Esteem in Early and Middle Adolescence in the Context of School Transition

Integrating Physical Activity into a Nutrition and Exercise Science Middle School Curriculum: The THINK Program

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Recent interest has emerged in novel initiatives that focus on the "whole child" to improve the health and well-being in youth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a translational health in nutrition and kinesiology (THINK) program addressing physical, psychological, and educational well-being could improve personal health and lifestyle behaviors in youth.

METHODS

A total of 81 adolescents (44 males, 37 females, 12.50 + 0.62 years) were evaluated at the beginning and end of the spring semester across three different years: 2019, 2021, and 2023. The physical literacy measures included the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES) and the Physical Activity Perception Scale (PAPS), along with knowledge-based tests in nutrition and exercise science. Social emotional learning (SEL), STEM education, and nutrition habits were evaluated using standard surveys and questionnaires. The physical evaluations included measures of body composition and physical fitness.

RESULTS

At the completion of the spring semester of each year, evaluations were compiled for all three years, with decreases found for % body fat (p < 0.001) and increases found for lean body mass (p < 0.001). The physical fitness components, including muscular strength (p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), power (p < 0.001), and flexibility (p < 0.01), all improved. The physical literacy components, including the PACES (p < 0.001), PAPS (p < 0.001), exercise (p < 0.05), and nutrition science knowledge (p < 0.05) results, also improved. There were no significant changes in any other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel in-school academic curriculum integrating the physical, psychological, and educational well-being of the whole child could lead to improved body composition, physical fitness, and physical literacy.

Effectiveness of a Self-Esteem Enhancement Intervention Integrated into Standard CBT Protocol for Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven effective in addressing the psychological and emotional challenges of cancer. This study evaluated the impact of a self-esteem enhancement intervention integrated into a standard CBT protocol on the quality of life and self-esteem of women with colorectal cancer. Conducted at Spitalul Județean Clinic Bihor (Romania) between August 2020 and March 2024, the study included 67 women aged 32 to 66 years undergoing chemotherapy or combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a self-esteem enhancement intervention integrated into a standard CBT protocol on the quality of life and self-esteem of women with colorectal cancer. Participants were assigned to a CBT group, receiving eight weekly sessions based on the Simonton Program, or a control group on a psychotherapy waiting list. Quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, and self-esteem was measured through actual and ideal self-perceptions. A repeated measures ANOVA analyzed changes in both outcomes. Results showed a significant improvement in quality of life (F = 6.33, df = 1, 65, p < 0.05) and self-esteem (F = 4.46, df = 1, 65, p < 0.05) in the CBT group, whereas no improvements were observed in the control group. Self-esteem was enhanced through reduced discrepancies between actual and ideal self-perceptions, especially in cognitive and emotional dimensions. Physical functioning improved but was less pronounced, influenced by disease progression and treatment stage. No significant changes were observed in social functioning, suggesting that longer-term interventions may be needed. These findings highlight CBT as a valuable complementary intervention in oncology care, supporting its integration into standard treatment to enhance patients' psychological well-being and quality of life.

Age-Dependent Relationship between Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies

Self-esteem is a powerful protective factor against depressive symptoms, with cognitive vulnerability theory suggesting that early self-esteem more strongly predicts later depressive symptoms than vice versa. While some meta-analyses have examined these relationships, limited knowledge exists on the prospective relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms, particularly how it changes with age. This study conducted a longitudinal meta-analysis of nine studies (20,733 participants) on the prospective relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms in Korean children and adolescents. Relationships were analyzed by integrating the effect sizes of 22 zero-order correlations and 17 partial correlations and examining age-related changes. The results indicated significant negative correlations in both zero-order and partial correlations. Age-related changes showed a reverse U-shape trend in partial correlations, with the strongest negative association during childhood, weakening until age 14, and then strengthening again. Moderator analysis revealed no significant effect size variation based on publication type or gender proportion, but more recent birth cohorts exhibited a stronger negative relationship in zero-order correlations. Significant differences were also found based on the measurement instrument of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions to enhance self-esteem and mitigate depressive symptoms, extending the cognitive vulnerability model within Korea's cultural context and providing insights into Korean youth mental health.

Comparison of the Skindex-Teen and the Skindex-29 quality of life survey instruments in a predominantly American Indian adolescent population

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The Skindex-29 and Skindex-Teen assess dermatology-related quality of life among adults and adolescents, respectively. This study directly compared the same adolescents' responses to the Skindex-29 relative to Skindex-Teen in a predominantly American Indian and/or Alaska Native population. This population is underrepresented in medical research. Although skin-related quality-of-life issues are widespread, American Indian and/or Alaska Native adolescents are not well-represented in related studies.

METHODS

Data were collected in-person by self-report survey at two regional powwows in Denver, Colorado in 2021 and 2022. Respondents completed the full Skindex-29 and Skindex-Teen (40 unique items total).

RESULTS

Eighty-six adolescents, 12-17 years old, completed the survey. The majority (70.9%, 61/86) of respondents self-identified as American Indian and/or Alaska Native. Analyses were conducted with all respondent survey data. Nearly two-thirds (64.0%, 55/86) of our respondents had a Skindex-29 score that revealed their quality of life was impaired at least mildly by skin disease. The Skindex-29 and Skindex-Teen demonstrated good reliability; there was substantial concordance between responses to the two measures (r values ranged from 0.88 to 0.97 for similar subscales). Compared to younger adolescents (aged 12-14), older adolescents (aged 15-17) reported worse dermatology-related quality of life and emotional toll based on higher Skindex-29 total, Skindex-Teen total, Skindex-29 Emotional subscale, and Skindex-Teen Psychosocial Functioning subscale scores.

CONCLUSIONS

American Indian and/or Alaska Native adolescents suffer from skin-related quality-of-life issues. The Skindex-Teen and Skindex-29 generated similar information regarding quality of life in young patients with skin disease. While the Skindex-Teen may be slightly more relevant to adolescents, these surveys were highly concordant. Both the Skindex-Teen and Skindex-29 exhibited frequent "never" responses to questions about impact of skin conditions on relationships with others and tendencies to stay home. Thus, careful attention should be paid to such questions to ensure their relevance to adolescents.

Improving adolescents' HIV/AIDS prevention behavior: A phenomenological study of the experience of planning generation program (GenRe) ambassadors as peer educators

Background

Adolescents face increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS due to factors such as insufficient knowledge and awareness, stigma, and restricted access to information. The Indonesian government initiated a peer education program through the Planning Generation Program (GenRe) ambassadors. These ambassadors are tasked with educating their peers about HIV/AIDS. However, their experiences are largely underexplored.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the GenRe ambassadors' experience in improving adolescents' HIV/AIDS prevention behavior.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach, with in-depth and semi-structured interviews of GenRe ambassadors who had served for at least three to six months within the South Jakarta Health Sub-Department, Indonesia. Purposive sampling and data saturation techniques were utilized. Data were collected from 13 May to 31 August 2022, and Colaizzi's steps were used to guide the data analysis.

Results

Nineteen GenRe ambassadors participated, predominantly female university students ages 18-22. Six themes were developed: 1) the impact of GenRe ambassadors' roles in improving HIV/AIDS prevention behavior, 2) activities to improve HIV/AIDS prevention behavior, 3) enhancement of self-concept as GenRe ambassadors, 4) obstacles to activities for improving HIV/AIDS prevention behavior, 5) support for activities to improve HIV/AIDS prevention behavior, and 6) hope for improving the GenRe ambassador program's implementation.

Conclusion

GenRe ambassadors are influencers who play a critical role in promoting HIV/AIDS prevention behaviors and fostering positive change in the broader youth community. Despite their positive self-concept, they encounter challenges in fulfilling their roles. Utilizing their insights, community health nurses can create effective peer-led HIV/AIDS prevention programs and contribute to a model of health promotion for adolescents. Leveraging the role of GenRe ambassadors as peer educators is recommended to enhance HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among adolescents.

Associations among Parental Phubbing, Self-esteem, and Adolescents' Proactive and Reactive Aggression: A Three-Year Longitudinal Study in China

Parental phubbing, as a new risk factor for adolescents' healthy development, has been noticed by scholars. However, few studies have clarified the associations between parental phubbing and adolescents' proactive and reactive aggression and the potential mediating mechanisms. To address the gaps, the current study explored the longitudinal associations among parental phubbing, self-esteem, and adolescents' proactive and reactive aggression by using the parallel process latent growth curve model and the cross-lagged panel model. The current study involved 2407 Chinese adolescents (girls were 1202, Mage = 12.75, SD = 0.58 at baseline, range = 11-16). Results indicated that parental phubbing significantly positively predicted adolescents' reactive aggression but not proactive aggression. Self-esteem significantly predicted the adolescents' reactive and proactive aggression. Self-esteem significantly mediated the associations between parental phubbing and adolescents' proactive and reactive aggression, respectively. These findings suggest that intervening with parental phubbing is a promising way to reduce adolescents' reactive aggression, and promoting adolescents' self-esteem is an effective approach to prevent their proactive and reactive aggression.

Are you scared of what comes next? Students' future career anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

In the present study, we explored the mediating effects of depression from COVID-19 (DEPCOVID) and self-esteem (S-EST) on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 (F-COVID) and future career anxiety (C-ANX) in high-school and university students (N = 470, M = 20.17, SD = 2.02, 63.04% females). We were interested in exploring these relationships in both the overall sample and high school students and university students, separately. Our findings suggested that DEP-COVID partially mediated the relationship between F-COVID and C-ANX in both groups (i.e., high-school and university students). Self-esteem was not significantly correlated to our primary variables in high-school students. In university students, as well as the overall sample, results suggested the partially mediating role of S-EST on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and C-ANX. We discuss our findings concerning the practices that may foster students? career development in turbulent times and consider possible interventions for these specific groups following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emotional Intelligence and Academic Engagement in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

Background

Academic engagement is a variable of vital importance in adolescence due to its relationship with academic adjustment and its protective role against risk behaviors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find out the variables involved in its development.

Objective

The specific objectives were to analyze the relationship between emotional intelligence, self-esteem and academic engagement, and determine the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between emotional intelligence and engagement in adolescence.

Methods

The sample of 1287 high school students used for this filled in the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale Student, Brief Emotional Intelligence Inventory and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.

Results

The results showed the existence of positive relationships between vigor, dedication and absorption with the emotional intelligence factors and self-esteem. Furthermore, the mediation models showed the direct effect of emotional intelligence on engagement of youths. Self-esteem acted as a mediator in the relationship between intrapersonal factors, stress management and adaptability of emotional intelligence and engagement.

Conclusion

Design of emotional intelligence intervention programs are recommended as a measure for promoting self-esteem and engagement in adolescence.