Family and school influences on adolescents' adjustment: The moderating role of youth hopefulness and aspirations for the future

Mobile phone addiction and negative emotions: an empirical study among adolescents in Jiangxi Province

Background

The relationship between mobile phone addiction and negative affect among adolescents is characterized by intricate interconnections. These factors have an impact on the emotional and psychological well-being of young people. While previous studies have provided preliminary insights into this relationship, further in-depth exploration and research is required to fully understand the complex mechanisms behind these relationships and to identify any group differences.

Methods

This study collected questionnaire data from 493 adolescents aged 17-22 years old in Jiangxi Province. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and structural equation modelling (SEM) with the aim of exploring the mechanisms and differences in the effects of mobile phone addiction on negative emotions of different youth groups.

Results

The findings of the study indicated notable discrepancies in mobile phone addiction by gender and place of residence. Secondly, mobile phone addiction among adolescents positively drives negative emotions. The findings revealed that negative emotions triggered by mobile phone addiction were significantly higher among rural adolescents than urban adolescents; male adolescents exhibited higher levels than female adolescents in the same place of residence. Additionally, family factors, physical exercise and psychological resilience can directly or indirectly inhibit mobile phone addiction among adolescents. Finally, adolescents' psychological resilience can significantly alleviate the negative emotions associated with mobile phone addiction. Physical exercise and family factors can reduce the negative emotional impact of mobile phone addiction by increasing psychological resilience.

Conclusions

This study employs the relationship between mobile phone addiction and negative emotions in adolescents, reveals the complex mechanisms and group differences behind these relationships, and provides a fresh perspective for understanding the impact of mobile phone addiction on adolescents' mental health, as well as a scientific basis for the development of effective interventions.

Hope for the Future and Its Associated Factors Among Adolescents in Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Hope is a universal, multidimensional psychological construct related to an individual's expectation that they will achieve desirable outcomes by setting realistic objectives. The study aims to investigate the factors associated with hope among adolescents in Tanzania. Methods Baseline characteristics were collected from 2,058 adolescent girls and 1,770 adolescent boys at 41 primary and 13 secondary schools in Korogwe District, Tanzania. The level of hope was measured using the Herth Hope Index. The associated hope factors were analyzed using multiple linear regression models based on sex. Results The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that secondary school students demonstrated significantly higher levels of hope for the future than primary school students among both adolescent girls and boys [95% CI]: 2.34 [1.53 to 3.15], 1.69 (0.98 to 2.41). Both Christian adolescent girls and boys had significantly higher levels of hope than their Muslim counterparts. Adolescent girls who intended to enrol in secondary school or obtain employment exhibited significantly higher levels of hope than those who were uncertain about their post-school plans.  Conclusions This study showed common and distinct factors associated with hope for the future ofadolescent girls and boys in Tanzania. This suggests that there are potential avenues for identifying target subpopulations of adolescent girls and boys and developing sex-specific interventions to enhance their hope for the future. Future research must focus on elucidating the methods for assessing and measuring hope in various populations in order to understand the essence of this concept based on strengths within particular cultural contexts.

The relationship between anxiety and depression in adolescent depression patients: The mediating effect of hope level and coping modes

Background

Adolescents diagnosed with depression are particularly susceptible to anxiety and depressive symptoms, this vulnerability often diminishes their future expectations and overall outlook on life. The objective of this research was to scrutinize the associated risk factors of adolescent depression and delineated the interplay between anxiety and depressive symptoms. Concurrently, it sought to ascertain the latent mediating effects of hope levels and coping strategies within this framework.

Methods

A mixed-methods research approach was employed. For the qualitative component, 18 adolescents with depression were interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide, with sessions audio-recorded. The data were subsequently transcribed and subjected to thematic content analysis. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to 210 adolescents diagnosed with depression using Questionnaire Star, with data analysis performed using SPSS25.0 and AMOS 24.0.

Results

The qualitative analysis identified three major themes and nine categories as key risk factors influencing the onset of adolescent depression. Three major themes were generated: school factors, family factors, and other factors. Nine categories were generated: heavy academic load, strained peer, and teacher-student relationships; unstable family structures, internal familial conflicts, and high parental expectations; a strong sense of social isolation, insufficient sexual education, and prevalent suicidal ideation or attempts. A nurturing and supportive school environment significantly bolsters adolescents' sense of hope and coping abilities, while a warm and encouraging family setting effectively mitigates psychological stress. Conversely, heightened loneliness and the onset of suicidal ideation are frequently linked to diminished hope and the adoption of maladaptive coping strategies. Hence, to comprehensively understand the intricate interplay of these factors, this study concentrated on the levels of hope and coping mechanisms, investigating their potential mediating role in adolescent anxiety and depression. Quantitative analysis revealed a positive correlation between anxiety and depression (r = 0.767, p＜0.01). Additionally, it was found that hope levels and coping strategies mediated the relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms (β = -0.24-0.84 = 0.20, p < 0.001; β = 0.19-0.51 = -0.10, p < 0.01), with the mediating influence of hope levels being more significant than that of coping strategies.

Conclusion

Enhancing hope levels and fostering positive coping strategies are instrumental in aiding adolescents with depression to alleviate their anxiety and depressive symptoms. Moreover, this study underscored the importance of focusing on adolescents' mental health and providing them with emotional support, thereby increasing their hope levels and encouraging the adoption of positive coping mechanisms to effectively address their challenges.

Reciprocal developmental pathways between future-related thinking and symptoms of adolescent depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Adolescence is a time when important decisions about the future are made and vulnerability to mental health problems increases. We reviewed longitudinal studies examining the reciprocal pathways between future-related thinking (hopelessness, hope, optimism/positive future expectations) and adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms. Evidence from 22 studies (N = 10,682) found that negative future-related thinking predicted subsequent depression (r = 0.27, p < .001), an effect still significant after controlling for baseline depression (r = 0.23, p < .001). Higher hopelessness (r = 0.34, p < .001), lower hope (r = 0.16, p < .001), and reduced optimism/positive future expectations (r = 0.18, p < .001) were associated with subsequently increased depressive symptoms. Negative future-related thinking also predicted later increased anxiety symptoms (r = 0.15, p = .021). Concerning the reciprocal pathway, depressive symptoms were associated with later negative future-related thinking (r = 0.32, p < .001), which remained after baseline levels of future-related thinking were controlled (r = 0.07, p = .02). There were insufficient studies to infer reciprocal links between anxiety and future-related thinking. Our analyses provided evidence of a reciprocal developmental relationship between depressive symptoms and future-related thinking, implying a negative cycle. Identifying precursors of this cycle could provide the basis for depression prevention in adolescents and promote better decision-making about the future.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Social Mobility Beliefs among Chinese Adolescents: The Protective Roles of Parental Academic Involvement and Adolescent Future Orientation

Social mobility beliefs play a significant role in shaping adolescents' adaptive developmental outcomes, including well-being and academic functioning. Nevertheless, existing research may not cast light on the distinct trajectories and potential protective factors of social mobility beliefs. The present study aims to identify heterogeneity in trajectory patterns of social mobility beliefs among Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.45, SDage = 2.60; 55.1% boys; 40.0% rural adolescents) in a four-wave (i.e., fall 2017, fall 2018, spring 2019, and fall 2019) longitudinal design, and examines the protective roles of parental academic involvement and adolescent future orientation. Three distinct trajectories of social mobility beliefs were identified: high-increasing (35.1%; a positive trajectory with the best developmental outcomes, including the lowest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the highest life satisfaction and academic competence), moderate-stable (49.8%), and low-decreasing (15.1%; a negative trajectory with the worst developmental outcomes, including the highest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the lowest life satisfaction and academic competence). Apart from the main effects of parental academic involvement and future orientation, a significant interaction effect of these two protective factors and adolescent group was detected, and only rural adolescents who reported both high levels of parental academic involvement and future orientation have a greater chance of being placed in the high-increasing trajectory than the low-decreasing trajectory. These findings highlight the significance of clarifying individual differences in the dynamic process of social mobility beliefs during adolescence, and elucidate rural-urban disparities in the influences of protective factors on social mobility beliefs trajectories, and inform individualized intervention strategies.

Parent-child educational aspiration congruence and adolescents' internalizing problems: The moderating effect of SES

Previous studies have found that adolescents and their parents may hold discrepant views about educational aspirations. However, little is known about how these discrepancies affect adolescents' internalizing problems and the moderating effect of SES on the relation between (in)congruence of parent-child educational aspirations and adolescents' internalizing problems. Therefore, this study explored the relation between (in)congruence of parent-child educational aspirations and adolescents' internalizing problems, and further tested the moderating role of SES. Based on two-wave survey data collected from a nationally representative sample of 8194 parent-child dyads in China (51.3 % boys, mean age = 13.58 years), multilevel polynomial regression and response surface analysis were performed to investigate the hypotheses. The results found that (1) internalizing problems were minimal when the two educational aspiration variables were congruent, (2) internalizing problems were the highest when the discrepancy between child educational and parental educational aspirations was largest, and (3) SES moderated the relation between (in)congruence in educational aspirations and adolescents' internalizing problems. The study's results not only comprehensively and intuitively reveal the influence of parents' and children's educational aspirations on adolescents' internalizing problems, but also provide targeted guidance and suggestions regarding parenting practices for families from diverse SES backgrounds.

Creating A child-friendly social environment for fewer conduct problems and more prosocial behaviors among children: A LASSO regression approach

BACKGROUND

Creating a child-friendly social environment is an important component of promoting child-friendly city development. This study aims to explore the key indicators of friendly family, school and community social environments from the perspective of children's conduct problems and prosocial behaviors.

METHOD

The sample included grade 3-5 students from one public elementary school in the urban areas and another public elementary school in the rural areas of a Chinese city pursuing a child-friendly philosophy. A total of 418 participants were included in this study. Data on conduct problems, prosocial behaviors and the social environment were collected. To effectively select important variables and eliminate estimation bias, this study used LASSO regression to identify key indicators predicting children's conduct problems and prosocial behavior, followed by linear regression coefficient estimation and significance testing.

RESULTS

Creating a friendly family environment (ensuring family members' assistance with academic problems) and school environment (reducing cheating, fighting, and unfriendly teacher language) was associated with reduced conduct problems in children. Creating a positive family atmosphere (enhancing children's trust in family members), school environment (increasing parents' awareness of school affairs, reinforcing students' prosocial behavior, increasing extracurricular activity programs, and encouraging student engagement in academics) and community environment (respecting all children in the community) was associated with improving children's prosocial behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

This study transforms the multidimensional, complex child-friendly social environment evaluation indicator system into concise and specific measurement indicators, which can provide theoretical and practical implications for government decision-making in child-friendly city development through empirical research.

The effect of spiritual reminiscence therapy on depression and hope among Iranian older adults: a quasi-experimental study

This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the impact of spiritual reminiscence therapy (SRT) on depression and hope among older adults living in Shahroud, northeast of Iran. One hundred fifty-six older adults were selected through convenience sampling and assigned non-randomly to the intervention (n= 78) and control (n= 78) groups. The data collection tools included the Geriatric Depression Scale and Adult Hope Scale. For the intervention group, SRT was conducted in six weekly sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 min, over six weeks. The data were analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics and inferential tests (independent t-test, Chi-square test, and analysis of covariance). The two groups' post-intervention mean scores on depression (t= 11.63 and P< 0.001), and hope (t= 4.41 and P< 0.001) were statistically different, suggesting that SRT positively affected older adults by alleviating despair and boosting hope. The findings indicate that engaging in SRT can be beneficial in reducing depression and fostering hope among older adults.

Links between mental health problems and future thinking from the perspective of adolescents with experience of depression and anxiety: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are common during adolescence and could have detrimental impacts on young people's ability to make and implement plans for their future. However, to the best of our knowledge, no other study has adopted a qualitative approach in investigating these effects from the perspective of adolescents with lived experiences of depression and anxiety. We sought to understand how young people perceive and interpret the impact of mental health conditions on their thinking about the future.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 adolescents aged 16-19 years in the UK (median age = 19, IQR = 1.5), who had a history of protracted periods of clinical or subclinical depression and/or anxiety. They were asked to reflect on how their ability to think about the future and the content of the future-related thinking was impacted during periods of poor mental health, compared with periods of feeling well. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Five domains were identified. First, the impact of mood on future thinking capability focuses on reduced ability and motivation to engage in future thinking. Second, the impact of mood on images, thoughts, and feelings about the future includes the emotional valence of future-related thoughts, their vividness, structure, and the extent to which they intimated subjective feelings of control (i.e., agency). Third, social influences focuses on social factors that might ameliorate or exacerbate future thinking. Fourth, reflections on personal worries and expectations about the future captures personal interpretations of past worries and hopes and how future thinking affected mood. Finally, personal coping refers to how young people cope with the negative emotions that come with future thinking.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided a nuanced and granular account of how depression and anxiety impacted young people's future thinking based on their lived experiences. By highlighting the different ways that variations in future thinking were experienced as a function of depression and anxiety, our analysis highlighted new factors that should be considered in studies of adolescent mental health risk, which could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Early Child Adversity and Delinquent Behavior in Foster Care Youth: Do Future Expectations and Sexual Identity Moderate the Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress?

Purpose

Delinquency in youth is a significant public health concern for individuals who experienced adversity and complex trauma as children. The present study explored the longitudinal associations between adverse child experiences and future engagement in delinquent behavior.

Methods

Using a sample of 1,245 foster youth who are aging out of the child welfare system, mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation analysis was used to test the mechanistic role of post-traumatic stress symptoms and the moderating role of sexual identity and positive future expectations on engagement in delinquent behavior.

Results

Results showed a positive and significant association between adverse child experiences and engagement in delinquent behavior. Post-traumatic stress symptoms partially mediated the ACEs-delinquency relationship. In addition, sexual minority youth and youth who were less optimistic about the future, but who experienced more ACEs, were at risk for heightened levels of post-traumatic stress.

Conclusions

Interventions that promote positive future outlooks may minimize the psychological sequelae of early child adversity and delinquent behavior particularly when tailored to the needs of sexual minority youth.

Longitudinal relationship between social media and e-cigarette use among adolescents: the roles of internalizing problems and academic performance

BACKGROUND

Prior research has investigated the influence of social media on e-cigarette use among adolescents, predominantly through the display of e-cigarette content and advertisements. However, the psychological mechanism underlying this relationship remains underexplored. This study aims to address the mediating effect of youths internalizing problems and elucidate the moderating effect of academic performance from a longitudinal perspective.

METHODS

Panel data from the Public Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Waves 3-5 (2015-2019) were utilized in this study. The sample consisted of 3,975 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. A moderated mediation model was utilized for analyses.

RESULTS

Adolescents using social media more frequently in Wave 3 reported higher odds of internalizing problems in Wave 4 (bp = 0.061, p < .01), which led to more e-cigarette use in Wave 5 (bp = 0.029, p < .01). A negative moderating effect of academic performance was found in the association between internalizing problems and e-cigarette use (bp=-0.088, p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent social media use among young individuals leads to an increase in e-cigarette use through enhanced internalizing problems. However, adolescents who perform well academically exhibit higher resistance to e-cigarette use. Based on our findings, we recommend that tailored anti-e-cigarette campaigns and mental health interventions be used to target frequent social media users and academically struggling adolescents to prevent adverse health outcomes.

The Relationship between Parent-Offspring Communication and the School Adaptation of Leftover Children in Overseas Countries: The Mediating Role of Companionship and the Moderating Role of a Sense of Safety

BACKGROUND

In the diasporic eastern coastal region of China, leftover children are a unique group of children; their social adaptation challenges are more prominent due to transnational separation from parents. This study explores the relationship between parent-offspring communication and school adaptation among leftover children.

METHODS

We administered questionnaires to 957 children from six schools in June and December of 2022. All students in the sample were randomly selected from within the classrooms. In total, 561 (47.95% female, mean age = 12.84, SD = 0.95) of them were leftover children. Self-report questionnaires on communication with their parents, school adaptation, companionship, and feelings of safety were used in this investigation We subsequently used SPSS software and the PROCESS plugin to analyze the relationships between variables.

RESULTS

A significant and positive relationship was found between parent-offspring communication and school adaptation in leftover children. Companionship mediated this effect. Additionally, the impact of parent-offspring communication on companionship was moderated by a sense of safety.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that parent-offspring communication, school adaptation, companionship, and a sense of safety were all positively correlated. In addition, companionship partially mediated the relationship between parent-offspring communication and school adaptation. Moreover, a sense of safety played a moderating role. These conclusions can provide empirical support for improving the school adaptation of leftover children.

Attachment to Peers and School: Longitudinal Moderators of the Relation Between Caregiver Psychological Distress and Adolescent Hopelessness

Research has yet to determine how relationships outside of the family system may buffer negative outcomes associated with hopelessness among racial minority youth. In a sample of Black American youth (N = 512; 49% females) and their parents or caregivers, this study used longitudinal growth models to explore whether youth relationships (attachment to peers and attachment to school) moderated the association between caregiver distress (depressive symptoms and traumatic stress), and youth hopelessness. Adolescents' gender was examined to determine if there were gender differences present in these associations. Four linear growth models showed a significant change in levels of hopelessness over time for youth and a significant positive relation between caregiver distress and youth level of hopelessness. Attachment to peers and attachment to school did not equally moderate the relation between caregiver psychological distress and youth hopelessness. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. Implications for the importance of non-familial attachments among Black American youth with distressed parents are discussed.

Racial/ethnic differences in social determinants of health and health outcomes among adolescents and youth ages 10-24 years old: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

With the recent emergence of the Healthy People 2030 goals there is a need to understand the role of SDOH on health inequalities from an upstream perspective. This review summarizes the recent body of evidence on the impact of SDOH across adolescence and youth health outcomes by race/ethnicity using the Health People 2030 Framework.

METHODS

A systematic, reproducible search was performed using PubMed, Academic Search Premier, PsychInfo, and ERIC. A total of 2078 articles were screened for inclusion. A total of 263 articles met inclusion criteria, resulting in 29 articles included for final synthesis.

RESULTS

Across the 29 articles, 11 were cross-sectional, 16 were cohort, and 2 were experimental. Across SDOH categories (economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context), 1 study examined self-efficacy, 6 educational attainment, 10 behavior, 5 smoking, 11 alcohol use, 10 substance use, and 1 quality of life. The majority of outcomes represented in this search included health behaviors such as health risk behavior, smoking, alcohol use, and substance use. Across the 29 articles identified, significant differences existed across outcomes by race/ethnicity across SDOH factors, however magnitude of differences varied by SDOH category.

DISCUSSION

SDOH differentially affect adolescents and youth across race/ethnicity. The lived adverse experiences, along with structural racism, increase the likelihood of adolescents and youth engaging in risky health behaviors and negatively influencing health outcomes during adolescence and youth. Research, public health initiatives, and policies integrating SDOH into interventions at early stage of life are needed to effectively reduce social and health inequalities at a population level.

Longitudinal Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Chinese Adolescents: The Buffering Roles of Gratitude and Parental Autonomy Support

Drawing on the resilience-oriented socioecological framework, the current study contributes to scarce scholarship by exploring intrapersonal (i.e., gratitude) and interpersonal (i.e., parental autonomy support) factors in the longitudinal association between bullying victimization and adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Participants were 238 Chinese adolescents (Mage at Time 1 (T1) = 13.45 years; 106 girls and 132 boys) based on a two-wave prospective design with data spanning one year. At T1, adolescents self-rated all study variables, and at Time 2 (T2), youth again reported their NSSI. The results showed a significant main effect (b = 0.12, SE = 0.05, p = 0.04), indicating that bullying victimization was positively related to T2 NSSI one year later, even controlling for T1 NSSI. Moderation analyses further indicated that parental autonomy support buffered against the positive association between bullying victimization and T2 NSSI, but only when adolescents experienced lower levels of gratitude. Specifically, for adolescents with lower levels of gratitude, high levels of parental autonomy support, in a compensatory way, prevented adolescents from NSSI after victimization occurred (b = -0.03, SE = 0.09, p = 0.78); by contrast, for those with higher levels of gratitude, bullying victimization was not significantly related to T2 NSSI, regardless of the levels of parental autonomy support (b = 0.07, SE = 0.04, p = 0.59 for higher parental autonomy support; b = 0.01, SE = 0.07, p = 0.93 for lower parental autonomy support). These findings suggest that gratitude and parental autonomy support, manifesting in a compensatory interaction pattern, could serve as targeted agents for breaking the vicious linkage between bullying victimization and NSSI.

Mechanisms for change: A theoretical pathway for a school-wide social-emotional learning initiative in an urban middle school

Introduction

Investment in academic instruction without complementary attention to the social-emotional environment of students may lead to a failure of both. The current study evaluates a proposed mechanism for change, whereby academic achievement occurs as a result of the social-emotional learning environment impacting behavioral (discipline) outcomes.

Methods

We tested the hypothesized model during each year of a 3-year intervention to determine whether the relations among these constructs held potential as a pathway for targeted improvement.

Results

Path analysis for each year demonstrated excellent fit [Year 1: χ² (19) = 76.16, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.05,TLI = 0.98; Year 2: χ² (19) = 70.68, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.048, TLI = 0.98; Year 3: χ² (19) = 66.59, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.05, TLI = 0.98] supporting the theoretical model for change. For each year the effect of the SEL Environment construct on discipline was significant, as was the effect of discipline on Academic Performance. Further, the indirect effect of SEL Environment on Academic Performance was significant across all years.

Discussion

The consistency of these relationships supports the proposed logic model as a potential mechanism for change and has the potential to guide interventions for whole school improvement.

Young Adolescent Perceptions of School Climate and Self-Efficacy: The Intersectionality of Race and Gender

The researchers investigated adolescent perceptions of school climate and academic self-efficacy over time for a group of Grade 7 through Grade 9 students. We followed 717 students in an ethnically diverse school district in a small town in northern Ohio from fall 2009 to spring 2011. Four waves of data collected in surveys each fall and spring included measures of perceptions of school climate and academic self-efficacy. Compared to the original cohort of middle school students, the Grade 9 cohort demonstrated the most consistent school climate scores over time, but the Grade 7 students demonstrated the greatest change over two years. White girls exhibited the most consistent level of self-efficacy over time, but ethnically minoritized girls demonstrated the lowest level of self-efficacy (most often) when compared to White girls or ethnically minoritized boys. Results illustrate the importance of intersectional analyses of adolescents' perceptions of their schools and of themselves so as not to make assumptions about all students within certain gender or ethnic/racial identities.

Self-Perceptions of Attractiveness and Offending During Adolescence

Despite a well-established body of research demonstrating that others' evaluations of a person's physical attractiveness carry significant meaning, researchers have largely ignored how self-perceptions of physical attractiveness relate to offending behaviors. Applying general strain theory and using eight waves of panel data from the Adolescent Academic Context Study, we explore how self-perceptions of attractiveness relate to offending as youth progress through school. Results demonstrate that youth who perceive themselves as more attractive engage in more-not less-offending. Depression, which is treated as a form of negative affect, does not appear to mediate this relationship. We conclude by raising attention to the possibility that being "good-looking" may actually be a key risk factor for crime.

Parent-Child Discrepancy in Educational Aspirations and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study

Adolescents may have educational aspirations that are different from their parents' educational aspirations for them, and such discrepancy may affect adolescents' psychological adjustment. This longitudinal study examined how parent-child discrepancy in educational aspirations relate to depressive symptoms in early adolescents, both concurrently and prospectively, when controlling for parents' depressive symptoms. Moreover, parent and child gender differences in the effects were explored. Data were collected from 3799 students (52.0% boys; M_age = 10.78) and their fathers and mothers when the students were in fifth and seventh grade over 2 years. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis was used to analyze the effects of parent-child aspiration discrepancy on depressive symptoms separately in four parent-child gender dyads. Cross-sectional results demonstrated that for all parent-child gender dyads, congruently higher aspirations were related to lower depressive symptoms, and greater incongruence in aspirations was related to higher depressive symptoms. Moreover, for parent-son dyads, adolescents whose aspirations were lower than those of their parents reported higher depressive symptoms than adolescents whose aspirations were higher than those of their parents. However, longitudinal results further showed that, for father-son dyads only, congruently higher aspirations were related to increased depressive symptoms over time, while for parent-daughter dyads only, greater incongruence in aspirations was related to increased depressive symptoms over time. The findings support the importance of considering parent-child discrepancy when exploring the role of educational aspirations in adolescents' psychological adjustment and call for a more detailed and rigorous analysis and interpretation of this relationship.

Trends and Variation in the Gap Between Current and Anticipated Life Satisfaction in the United States, 2008-2020

Objectives. To describe national- and county-level trends and variation in a novel measure of hope. Methods. Using data from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index (n = 2 766 728), we summarized the difference between anticipated life satisfaction (ALS) and current life satisfaction (CLS), measured by the Cantril Self-Anchoring Scale, for each year from 2008 to 2020 and by county over two 5-year periods in the United States. Results. Across all years, there was a significant positive trend in the difference between ALS and CLS for the nation (P = .024), which remained positive but not significant when we excluded 2020. Maintenance of ALS with a decrease in CLS drove the 2020 increase. From 2008-2012 to 2013-2017, 14.5% of counties with 300 or more responses (n = 599) experienced an increase in the difference of more than 1 SD, whereas 13.9% experienced a more than 1 SD decrease. Fifty-two counties experienced decreases in ALS and CLS. Conclusions. Responding to trends in the gap between ALS and CLS at national and local levels is essential for the collective well-being of our nation, especially as we navigate and emerge from crisis.

Effectiveness of Yoga Nidra in reducing stress in school going adolescents: An experimental study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Academic stress can exert severe stress in adolescents answering their career deciding board exams. The present study attempted to understand the efficacy of Yoga Nidra (YN) in mitigating psychosocial stress.

DESIGN

and Methods: This study was carried on 10th-grade students (ages 14 to 16) and had two arms, one performing YN (experimental) and the other without YN (control) for 21 consecutive days. Modified Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-I) was used to assess the stress in the students before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

The results indicate that performing YN was effective and significantly decreased the total stress (P < 0.001) and vital domains like the stress of home life (P < 0.005), school performance (P < 0.026), teacher interaction (P < 0.024), future uncertainty (P < 0.001), school and leisure conflict (P < 0.001). Also, at the end of the study in control, low and moderate stress was observed in 58.06% and 41.93%, while in the YN group, it was 96.15% and 3.85% and was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that YN effectively reduced psychosocial stress in adolescents and could be useful in school curriculum.

Mental health in Somali youth in the United States: the role of protective factors in preventing depressive symptoms, suicidality, and self-injury

Objectives: Community, school, family, and individual factors protect against mental illness in general samples of adolescents. How these assets apply to Somali youth resettled to the United States (U.S.), a group with significant trauma exposure, remains unclear. We aimed to quantify which protective factors are associated with lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicidality, and self-injury among Somali youth in the U.S. compared with their non-Hispanic white peers.Design: Participants consisted of 8th, 9th, and 11th grade respondents to the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey, an anonymous school-administered statewide survey with 85.5% school district participation, who identified as Somali ethnicity (n = 1552) or as non-Hispanic white (n = 80,583). Multivariable logistic regression assessed odds of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and attempts, and self-harm, using eight protective factors (i.e. internal developmental assets, school engagement, empowerment, and family and teacher connectedness, caring adults and after-school activity frequency and quality) as independent variables. Models were run separately for Somali and white youth.Results: Somali youth reported similar rates of depressive symptoms, but lower levels of suicidal ideation or attempts and self-harm behaviors than their white peers (p < 0.001). All eight protective factors were associated with outcomes in the expected direction for white youth. For Somali youth, internal developmental assets (aOR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.97), empowerment (aOR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.45-0.73), family connectedness (aOR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.51-0.71), perception of caring adults in the community (aOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76-0.92), and quality of after-school activities (aOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.86) were protective against depressive symptoms, with similar patterns for other outcomes. Other school factors protected Somali youth less consistently.Conclusions: Previously established protective factors against mental illness, particularly school factors, do not universally apply to Somali youth. Interventions that strengthen individual, family, or community factors, or that increase the relevance of school factors, should be explored for these youth.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Delayed Development in Adolescents

INTRODUCTION

The early identification of developmental delay in adolescents by health professionals is relevant for a good prognosis. However, the clinical indicators of development delay are unclear in nursing science.

PURPOSE

To analyze the clinical indicators of delayed development in school adolescents.

METHODS

A diagnostic accuracy study that investigated delayed development among 385 adolescents in public schools between July and September of 2017. The accuracy measures were analyzed using a latent class analysis based on sensitivity and specificity values.

FINDINGS

The delayed development is present in 18.26% of school adolescents. The best accuracy values were as follows: low self-esteem (0.9838), dissatisfaction with own image (0.8400), impaired daily activities (0.9815), internalization behavior (0.8304), outsourcing behavior (0.6367), eating disorders (1.0000), emotional insecurity (0.7093), dependent behavior (0.9836), and altered sexual maturation (0.6085).

CONCLUSION

Thus, this set of nine clinical indicators can be used by nurse practitioners to confirm delayed development in school adolescents.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research contributes by providing accurate clinical indicators of delayed development in adolescents. Thus, nurses should recognize delayed development in adolescents through accurate clinical indicators and propose nursing interventions that have positive health results.

Trajectories of Physical Activity Among Adolescents in the Transition From Primary to Secondary School

Research on physical activity (PA) behavior reveals an overall decrease worldwide from early childhood and throughout adulthood. The ability to illuminate which factors promote activity for whom and in which phase of life, therefore, becomes a key concept in extending our understanding of individuals' physical activity trajectories. Accordingly, this study investigates latent trajectories of objectively measured PA in adolescents (n = 306) over 3 years from ages 13 to 15. Further, it was tested whether eagerness for physical activity, perceived athletic competence, and parental support were associated with the different trajectories of PA. Latent class growth analysis revealed two PA trajectories (trajectory 1: "decrease from very high" and trajectory 2: "steeper decrease from high"). Trajectory 1 had a higher PA level at baseline and less PA decline than trajectory 2. Trajectory 1, "decrease from very high," was associated with higher levels of eagerness for physical activity and perception of competence at all three time points. Furthermore, the effect size of differences between trajectory 1, "decrease from very high," and trajectory 2, "steeper decrease from high," increased from baseline (age 13, seventh grade) to posttest (age 15, ninth grade). This finding indicates a stronger experience of PA as enjoyable, personally relevant, and self-confirming behavior (i.e., "I regard myself as a person who exercises") within the most active adolescents and even stronger as they get older. Consistent with previous research, the PA level declined from seventh to ninth grade. Being more eager for PA and perceiving oneself more as athletically competent is related to higher levels of PA. This highlights the importance of optimizing environmental factors that increase adolescents' experience of eagerness for physical activity and physical athletic competence.

The impact of adolescents' racial and ethnic self-identity on hope

The two components of hope (i.e., hope-agency defined as the ability to envision and believe in one's ability to achieve goals; hope-pathway defined as belief in one's ability to devise strategies to achieve one's goals) propel adolescents toward well-being, academic achievement and personal fulfillment. This study compares levels of hope and its components, for different groups of immigrant and ethnic non-immigrant youths, while adjusting for and measuring the impact of racism, school and family characteristics, and the youth's unique individual attributes. Using a community-based participatory research approach and a cross-sectional study design, data were collected from immigrant and non-immigrant youth (n = 567) between May 2015 and December 2015 at three Israeli public high schools. The study included five groups of youth based on their self-descriptions: Ethiopian immigrant (n = 48), Russian immigrant (n = 145), Israeli-born Mizrachi/Sephardi (n = 59), Israeli-born Ashkenazi (n = 49), or Israeli-born Unspecified (n = 266). Linear regression models showed that Ethiopian immigrant youth, compared to Russian immigrant youth and all Israeli-born groups of youth, had significantly lower hope-agency, hope-pathway and overall hope. However, an interaction effect between racism and ethnicity indicated that adolescents who perceived racism and self-identified as Ethiopian had higher hope-agency, hope-pathway and overall hope. This effect was not found with Russian immigrant or Israeli-born youth. Immigrants of color compared to other immigrants and ethnicities have less overall hope; but those who acknowledge racism feel more control over their future (hope-agency), able to devise strategies to surmount barriers blocking goals (hope-pathway), and have greater overall hope.

Relationship between Parental Socialization, Emotional Symptoms, and Academic Performance during Adolescence: The Influence of Parents' and Teenagers' Gender

Scientific interest in students' emotional and psychosocial experiences has been increasing in the last years due to their influence on students' learning processes and academic performance. The present manuscript tries to go further in the study of the relationship between perceived parenting socialization and academic performance by analyzing not only their direct effects, but also by testing their indirect influence through other variables such as students' psychological and school maladjustment, especially focusing on gender differences (both of students and parents). The sample comprised 823 students (416 males and 407 females) from the Basque Country (Spain), with ages ranging between 12 and 16 years (M = 13.7, SD = 1.2). Students completed a sociodemographic data form, the PARQ-Control questionnaire, and the BASC-S3 test. Teachers answered an ad hoc question on each student's academic performance. The data showed that, both for males and females, the same structure of parent-teenager relationship predicted teenagers' academic performance, via psychological and school maladjustment. However, the intensity of the relationship between parental acceptance and teenagers' results in all the other factors differed depending on teenagers' gender. Fathers' influence was greater in males, and mothers' influence was higher in females. This study is considered a starting point for a theoretical model predicting academic performance and psychological and school maladjustment among teenagers.

Does Eagerness for Physical Activity Matter? The Association Between Eagerness and Physical Activity Among Adolescents

This study investigated the association between perceived parental support and eagerness for physical activity (EPA) among adolescents, and the association between EPA and physical activity. We further examined whether perceived athletic competence (PAC) mediates a presumed association between EPA and physical activity level, when controlling for gender. This study included 320 adolescents (aged 12-13) from 18 schools in two medium-sized Norwegian municipalities. Questionnaires and accelerometers were assessed during spring 2017. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the associations. Standard regression coefficients are presented. Data demonstrated that perceived parental support was positively associated with EPA (β = 0.52), and eagerness was positively associated with PAC (β = 0.52). Both EPA (β = 0.20) and PAC (β = 0.24) were also positively associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). When mediating the relationship between EPA and MVPA, through PAC, the effect on MVPA increased (from β = 0.20 to β = 0.32). Analysis revealed that 87% of the adolescents fulfilled the national health recommendations for physical activity. This study highlights the relevance of EPA and PAC in studies of physical activity among adolescents, and the impact of perceived parental support for adolescents' EPA and physical activity level.

Engajamento escolar: Efeito do suporte dos pais, professores e pares na adolescência

Resumo Este trabalho investigou a contribuição do suporte social da família, professores e pares para o engajamento escolar. Participaram 504 adolescentes, com idade média de 15,88 (DP=0,88) matriculados no ensino médio de escolas públicas. Os instrumentos foram Questionário Sociodemográfico, Brazilian Delaware Student Engagement Scale, Social Support Appraisals e Delaware School Climate Survey. Os resultados oriundos das análises de regressão hierárquica indicaram queo suporte dos professores contribuiu de forma destacada para a explicação da variância no engajamento emocional e comportamental/cognitivo. O suporte da família se mostrou preditora penas para o engajamento comportamental/cognitivo. O suporte dos pares mostrou capacidade explicativapara ambos os tipos de engajamento, depois de considerada conjuntamente a influência do suporte da família e professores. Conclui-se que o suporte social parece influenciar de forma distinta o engajamento cognitivo/comportamental e emocional. O entendimento mais aprofundado do engajamento escolar pode favorecer a realização de intervenções melhor fundamentadas no contexto escolar.

Life Satisfaction in Adolescents: The Role of Individual and Social Health Assets

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between adolescents' life satisfaction and individual and social health assets. A nationally representative sample of 3,494 Portuguese adolescents (mean age = 14.94 ± 1.30 years; 53.6% girls) completed the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey measuring a variety of health behaviors and beliefs. A sequential regression analysis was conducted with gender, individual assets (academic achievement, social competence, self-regulation and life objectives) and social assets (family support, peer support, parental monitoring and school connectedness) entered in separate steps. A second regression analysis was conducted with social assets entered before individual assets. The final model explained 18.3% of life satisfaction. School connectedness (β = .198, p < .001) and family support (β = .154, p < .001) were the strongest predictors of adolescents' life satisfaction followed by social competence (β = .152, p < .001), academic achievement (β = .116, p < .001) and self-regulation (β = .064, p < .001). Social assets explained a larger variance of life satisfaction than individual assets when entered first in the regression (r2 = .134 and r2 = .119, respectively, p < .001). When entered last step in the regression analysis, social assets added more to life satisfaction's variance than when individual assets were added in the last step (r2 = .060 and r2 = .045, respectively, p < .001). These results reinforce the role social interaction and social capital models in the promotion of well-being.

Perceived parenting and adolescents' adjustment

Adolescence is an important developmental period that is characterised by heightened problems of adjustment. The aim of this study is to analyse adolescents' adjustment, and to explore the typologies and dimensions of parenting, and thus to determine the relationships between these factors. The sample comprised 1285 adolescent students aged 12 to 16 from the Basque Country (Spain). The students filled out the self-report of the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) and the Parental Acceptance-Rejection/Control Questionnaire, (PARQ/Control). Differences by age were found in the adolescents' school maladjustment and parenting style perception. Moreover, perceptions of little parental warmth were related to higher levels of clinical and school maladjustment, and the lower the parental control, the greater the clinical maladjustment. Finally, the results obtained revealed that the interaction between the mothers' and fathers' parenting styles was significant only for clinical maladjustment; those students with neglectful mothers and authoritative fathers presented the highest level of clinical maladjustment, followed by other combinations of neglectful mothers. Furthermore, the students from neglectful and authoritarian families presented the highest levels of school maladjustment, without differences between neglectful and authoritarian or between indulgent and authoritative families.

High School Students Residing in Educational Public Institutions: Health-Risk Behaviors

Although several health-risk behaviors of adolescents have been described in the literature, data of high school students who reside at educational institutions in developing countries are scarce. This study aimed to describe behaviors associated with health risks among high school students who reside at an educational public institution and to associate these variables with the length of stay at the institution. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the year 2015 and included 122 students aged 14-19 years at a federal educational institution in the Midwest of Brazil; students were divided into residents of <8 months and those of >20 months. Information concerning the family socioeconomic status and anthropometric, dietary and behavioral profiles was investigated. Despite being physically active, students exhibited risk-associated behaviors such as cigarette and alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors that were exacerbated by fragile socioeconomic conditions and distance from family. A longer time in residence at the institution was associated with an older age (p ≤ 0.001), adequate body mass index (BMI; p = 0.02), nutritional knowledge (p = 0.01), and less doses of alcohol consumption (p ≤ 0.01) compared with those with shorter times in residence. In conclusion, the students exhibited different health-risk behaviors, and a longer institutional residence time, compared with a shorter time, was found to associate with the reduction of health-risk behaviors.

Influence of inter-parental conflict on adolescent delinquency via school connectedness: Is impulsivity a vulnerability or plasticity factor?

This study examined the mediating effect of school connectedness on the relationship between inter-parental conflict and adolescent delinquency, and impulsivity's moderation of the conditional effect of school connectedness. In total, 1407 Chinese students (mean age = 12.74 years, SD = 0.57) from 4 middle schools completed anonymous questionnaires regarding inter-parental conflict, impulsivity, school connectedness, and delinquency. Path analysis revealed school connectedness was a mediator in the relationship between inter-parental conflict and adolescent delinquency. Furthermore, impulsivity moderated the indirect effect of school connectedness in the relationship between inter-parental conflict and adolescent delinquency. A simple slope plot, together with a proportion affected (PA) index, indicated that impulsivity functioned more as a plasticity, rather than a vulnerability, factor in school connectedness. When school connectedness was low, high impulsivity was associated with more delinquent behaviors; however, when it was high, high impulsivity was associated with fewer delinquent behaviors.