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Iroegbu M, O'Brien F, Muñoz LC, Parsons G. Investigating the Psychological Impact of Cyber-Sexual Harassment. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2024:8862605241231615. [PMID: 38357898 DOI: 10.1177/08862605241231615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The impact of cyber sexual harassment (CSH) on adult women and the factors influencing this impact are largely under-researched. Communication technologies provide novel means for people to threaten, communicate, and harass others. Victims of in-person sexual harassment (ISH) can experience negative symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and negative body image. The current study explored the psychological impact of CSH in adult women to determine whether CSH predicts psychological difficulties. Adult female participants (N = 136) took part in an online, cross-sectional study; 44% of participants had experienced CSH and this was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, trauma, and body image dissatisfaction. Younger victims, those who had been in a relationship for a shorter amount of time, those who had previously experienced of ISH, and those who had a higher number of social media followers were more likely to have experienced CSH. When controlling for demographic variables, CSH predicted anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image dissatisfaction; however, experience of ISH impacted upon body-image dissatisfaction over and above CSH. There is a need to routinely ask individuals accessing mental health services whether online interactions cause harm. Future research should examine these phenomena in more ethnically diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Freya O'Brien
- School of Justice Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
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Okoye H, Ojukwu E, Coronel Villalobos M, Saewyc E. Racism as a social determinant of health: Link to school-related psychosocial stressors in a population-based sample of African adolescents in Canada. J Adv Nurs 2023; 79:3498-3512. [PMID: 37070694 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racism is a social determinant of health that links to the health and well-being of racial/ethnic marginalized populations. However, perceived racism among African Canadian adolescents has not been adequately addressed, especially the link between racism and psychosocial stressors in school settings. AIM The aim of the current study was to assess racism and the link to school-related psychosocial stressors in a population-based sample of African Canadian adolescents. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the population-based 2018 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey dataset. METHODS Logistic regression and generalized linear models tested the link between racism and psychosocial stressors among African Canadian adolescents (n = 942), adjusting for sociodemographic factors. RESULTS/FINDINGS More than 38% of the adolescents reported racism in the year preceding the survey. Regardless of gender and birthplace, and controlling for covariates, those who experienced racism were significantly more likely to report peer victimization, which includes teasing, social exclusion, cyberbullying and sexual harassment, and they felt less safe and connected to their schools compared to those who did not experience racism. With gender and birthplace differences, those who reported racism had higher odds of having been physically assaulted, stayed away from school, reported negative emotional responses and used avoidant behaviours to evade racism. CONCLUSION African Canadian adolescents are a visible racialized ethnic group in British Columbia, who are at heightened risk of racism and the associated psychosocial stressors. IMPACT These findings demonstrate the influences of racism on psychosocial stressors and related emotional responses among African Canadian adolescents. Nurses and other healthcare providers should be cognizant of racism and the psychological impacts when providing care to "at-risk" populations. Promoting positive and inclusive school climates and addressing racism at all levels of the society will foster better social integration, as well as improve the health and academic achievement of African Canadian adolescents. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION We presented the research and preliminary results of the data analysis to the African community (parents and adolescents who self-identify as African). The African community who attended the gathering corroborated the link between racism and health and reiterated that addressing these psychosocial stressors can promote adolescent health and well-being. The attendees accepted all the variables that we included in the analysis. However, they emphasized the need for more African representation among school staff and teachers to foster trust, feelings of safety and connectedness, and to promote African students' academic achievement and well-being. They stressed the need to train and build the capacities of the school staff and teachers so that they can assist students regardless of race. They emphasized the need to promote cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity among all healthcare providers. We included the recommendations in the appropriate sections of the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Okoye
- Stigma and Resilience among Vulnerable Youth Centre, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emmanuela Ojukwu
- Stigma and Resilience among Vulnerable Youth Centre, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mauricio Coronel Villalobos
- Stigma and Resilience among Vulnerable Youth Centre, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Saewyc
- Stigma and Resilience among Vulnerable Youth Centre, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Ye R, Li J, Du Y, Wang H, Gu J. Experience of childhood sexual violence and its associations with depressive symptoms among university students in Guangdong, China. J Affect Disord 2023; 321:234-241. [PMID: 36336165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual violence, especially childhood sexual violence, is a serious social issue, yet the prevalence of childhood sexual violence among university students is unknown. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of these experiences and assess their associations with depressive symptoms. METHODS The study included 29,311 participants, mean (SD) age 20.5 (1.4) years, from a cross-sectional survey of a multi-stage stratified cluster random sample from all universities in Guangdong province of China. Data were obtained through an anonymous electronic questionnaire from December 2 to 15, 2019. Undergraduates' experiences of childhood sexual violence were self-reported. Current depressive symptoms were measured by Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). Stress measures in recent months were measured by the College Student Stress Scale. RESULTS The prevalence of childhood sexual violence experience among university students was 4.8 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 4.6 %-5.0 %), 7.3 % (95 % CI = 6.9 %-7.7 %) for female students and 1.8 % (95 % CI = 1.6 %-2.0 %) for male students. Sexual violence in childhood was related to students' current depressive symptoms after adjustment for stress and socio, demographic characteristics (adjusted prevalence ratio (PRa) = 1.36, 95 % CI = 1.30-1.42). Significant differences in the association between childhood sexual violence and depressive symptoms were also found by sex. CONCLUSIONS Experiences of childhood sexual violence among university students are not negligible and associated with their current depressive symptoms. The association between childhood sexual violence and depressive symptoms among female and male students is different. Schools, families, and society as a whole should be encouraged to provide education on healthy sexual behavior preventive interventions related to sexual violence for childhood students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Ye
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jinghua Li
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen Global Health institute, Research Center of Health Informatics, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
| | - Yaoyao Du
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jing Gu
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen Global Health institute, Research Center of Health Informatics, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
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Espino E, Ortega-Rivera J, Ojeda M, Sánchez-Jiménez V, Del Rey R. Violence among adolescents: A study of overlapping of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence and cyberdating violence. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105921. [PMID: 36244211 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Face-to-face and virtual violence among adolescents could lead to polyvictimisation and polyaggression. More studies are needed to simultaneously analyse various types of violence to understand the extent of involvement in violence during adolescence. OBJECTIVE This study explores the overlap of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence, and cyber dating violence, considering dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING This study involved 2514 Spanish middle school students (49.8 % girls) aged 11-19 years (M = 13.97, SD = 1.40). METHODS The design of this study was cross-sectional. Data were collected through a survey. RESULTS Among adolescents with no dating experience, 39.7 % were not victims, and 55.9 % were not aggressors. By contrast, among adolescents with dating experience, 7.1 % were not victims, and 10.5 % were not aggressors. Gender differences in poly-involvement were found between adolescents with and without dating experience. Girls were significantly less involved than boys as polyvictims and polyaggressors when they had no dating experience. They were significantly more involved than boys as polyvictims (9.7 %) and polyaggressors (23.9 %) in dating violence and cyber dating violence when they had dating experience. Age differences in poly-involvement were found only in adolescents with dating experience. Adolescents were more polyinvolved late than early adolescence, especially in dating violence, sexual harassment, and cyber dating violence as polyvictims (22.8 %) and polyaggressors (26.7 %). CONCLUSIONS Experiences of poly-involvement are diverse according to dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. More comprehensive peer and dating violence prevention strategies need to be designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Espino
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Sevilla, Pirotecnia Street, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Ortega-Rivera
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Sevilla, Pirotecnia Street, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Mónica Ojeda
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Sevilla, Pirotecnia Street, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Virginia Sánchez-Jiménez
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Sevilla, Pirotecnia Street, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Rosario Del Rey
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Universidad de Sevilla, Pirotecnia Street, 41013 Seville, Spain.
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Sakellari E, Berglund M, Santala E, Bacatum CMJ, Sousa JEXF, Aarnio H, Kubiliutė L, Prapas C, Lagiou A. The Perceptions of Sexual Harassment among Adolescents of Four European Countries. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9101551. [PMID: 36291487 PMCID: PMC9600464 DOI: 10.3390/children9101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Sexual harassment is a crucial public health issue among adolescents. In order to develop school health promotion programs, there is a need to involve adolescents themselves paying particular attention to their perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and practices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the adolescents' perceptions about sexual harassment as well as the ways it could be prevented. Four focus groups were conducted during an online "camp" in autumn 2021, facilitated by members of SHEHAP project research team. Participants were secondary school students from Finland, Greece, Lithuania and Portugal. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Concerning how participants perceive sexual harassment, the themes that emerged were: physically expressed sexual harassment; verbally expressed sexual harassment; virtually expressed sexual harassment; violation of self-determination. Virtual environment; school environment; public environment; familiar environment, were identified as the places where sexual harassment may occur. Finally, in regard to the participants' views on the prevention of sexual harassment, the following themes emerged: youth education; adult education aiming teachers and parents; professional, peer and family support; official consequences; health education methods. The findings of the current study can be used for the development of school-based programs aiming to prevent sexual harassment among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanthia Sakellari
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Mari Berglund
- Faculty of Health and Well-Being, Turku University of Applied Sciences, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Elina Santala
- Faculty of Health and Well-Being, Turku University of Applied Sciences, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | | | | | - Heli Aarnio
- Faculty of Health and Well-Being, Turku University of Applied Sciences, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Laura Kubiliutė
- Klaipeda City Public Health Bureau, LT-93200 Klaipeda, Lithuania
| | - Christos Prapas
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Areti Lagiou
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-213-20-10-245
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Champion AR, Oswald F, Khera D, Pedersen CL. Examining the Gendered Impacts of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: A Mixed Methods Approach. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:1607-1624. [PMID: 35182285 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02226-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is defined broadly as unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior involving the use of technology, including online sexual harassment, online gender or sexuality-based harassment, online image-based abuse (colloquially known as "revenge porn"), and online sexual aggression/coercion (colloquially known as "sextortion"). The purpose of this study was to explore the victim impact of TFSV and to critically examine the positioning of TFSV as a gender-based harm; that is, a harm directed primarily towards women. This study employed a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative online survey data (N = 333; Mage = 33.91 years; 63% women) with qualitative interview data (N = 10; Agerange = 24-46; 50% women) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of TFSV. We found that victims of TFSV experienced anxiety, stress, depression, loss of control, mistrust, multiple victimizations, poor academic/occupation functioning, problematic alcohol consumption, embarrassment, and online behavior changes (e.g., limiting personal information online) due to TFSV victimization. Individuals who experienced online image-based abuse reported greater distress on items of depression, anxiety, and occupational/academic functioning than did victims of other types of TFSV. The current study provides partial support for the gender similarities hypothesis that TFSV is not exclusively a gender-based harm; our findings suggest that women and men's TFSV experiences are similar for most TFSV types. Overall, the present study demonstrates the negative impact TFSV has for both women and men and highlights the need for greater awareness and increased support for all victims of this form of sexual violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Champion
- Department of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Flora Oswald
- Departments of Psychology & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Devinder Khera
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Cory L Pedersen
- Department of Psychology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 12666 72nd Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3W 2M8, Canada.
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He F, Zhang P, Zhang Q, Qi G, Cai H, Li T, Li M, Lu J, Lin J, Ming J, Tian B. Dopaminergic Projection from Ventral Tegmental Area to Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata Mediates Chronic Social Defeat Stress-Induced Hypolocomotion. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5635-5648. [PMID: 34382160 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02522-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Numerous human clinical studies have suggested that decreased locomotor activity is a common symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as other psychiatric diseases. In MDD, the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons are closely related to regulate the information processing of reward, motivation, cognition, and aversion. However, the neural circuit mechanism that underlie the relationship between VTA-DA neurons and MDD-related motor impairments, especially hypolocomotion, is still largely unknown. Herein, we investigate how the VTA-DA neurons contribute to the hypolocomotion performance in chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), a mouse model of depression-relevant neurobehavioral states. The results show that CSDS could affect the spontaneous locomotor activity of mice, but not the grip strength and forced locomotor ability. Chemogenetic activation of VTA-DA neurons alleviated CSDS-induced hypolocomotion. Subsequently, quantitative whole-brain mapping revealed decreased projections from VTA-DA neurons to substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) after CSDS treatment. Optogenetic activation of dopaminergic projection from VTA to SNr with the stimulation of phasic firing, but not tonic firing, could significantly increase the locomotor activity of mice. Moreover, chemogenetic activation of VTA-SNr dopaminergic circuit in CSDS mice could also rescued the decline of locomotor activity. Taken together, our data suggest that the VTA-SNr dopaminergic projection mediates CSDS-induced hypolocomotion, which provides a theoretical basis and potential therapeutic target for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng He
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Pei Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China.,Institute for Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangjian Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongwei Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongxia Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiazhen Lu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaen Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Ming
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technolog, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430022, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bo Tian
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Institute for Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, Rudolph J, Pariz J. A cascade of rejection and appearance preoccupation: Adolescents' body dysmorphic symptoms and appearance rejection sensitivity over 4 years. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 40:17-34. [PMID: 33891314 DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a high-risk period for body image disturbance and appearance concerns. In a cascade model, we examined interrelations of body dysmorphic symptoms (BDS) with appearance rejection sensitivity (ARS) and tested gender moderation. Participants were 397 Australian adolescents (T1 Mage = 11.7, SD = 0.91; 56% girls) who completed six surveys over 4 years. In a random-intercept cross-lag model, two (of five possible) paths showed ARS predicted higher subsequent BDS, and three (of five possible) paths showed BDS predicted higher subsequent ARS. Girls reported more BDS and ARS than boys, and random intercepts of BDS and ARS were correlated with the correlation stronger in girls than boys. Cross-lag BDD-ARS associations over the six waves were not significantly moderated by gender. Overall, girls are at higher risk of appearance concerns than boys, but BDD-ARS cascade effects do not differ between girls and boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J Zimmer-Gembeck
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Julia Rudolph
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juliane Pariz
- School of Applied Psychology and Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
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Chen IH, Gamble JH, Lin CY. Peer victimization’s impact on adolescent school belonging, truancy, and life satisfaction: A cross-cohort international comparison. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Online sexual harassment and negative mood in Croatian female adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 30:225-231. [PMID: 32162054 PMCID: PMC7932980 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-020-01506-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Online sexual harassment (OSH) appears to be a relatively frequent phenomenon, particularly for older adolescents. It is also a gendered experience. Compared to their male peers, female adolescents are more likely to experience OSH and find it upsetting. This study sought to explore the role of resilience in explaining the association between online sexual harassment (OSH) and negative mood (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms) among female adolescents. Using data from a panel sample of 477 female Croatian adolescents (age at baseline = 15.8 years; SD = 0.48) and two-wave cross-lagged path analysis, we investigated OSH, changes in depression/anxiety symptoms, association between OSH and negative mood, and the role of resilience. During the 26-month period under observation, OSH and negative mood were associated cross-sectionally, but not longitudinally. This suggests the negative mood effects of OSH exposure may be short-lived or that factors other than OSH explain changes in negative mood over time. Resilience was consistently and negatively associated with negative mood, but not OSH. In adolescent girls with low levels of resilience, OSH was associated with negative mood; no such relationship was observed among their highly resilient peers. Experiences other than OSH appear to be more pertinent in predicting symptoms of negative mood in older adolescent girls over time. Given that resilience attenuated the relationship between OSH and negative mood, efforts to increase resilience to online challenges may be more helpful than efforts to limit or control young people's online exposure.
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Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Robinson E, Daly M, Terracciano A. Body-related discrimination and dieting and substance use behaviors in adolescence. Appetite 2020; 151:104689. [PMID: 32247897 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Unfair treatment on the basis of a physical characteristic, such as body weight, is associated with unhealthy dieting behaviors in adolescence and adulthood and has also been implicated in substance use. Peer victimization is likewise associated with these health-risk behaviors. It is unclear, however, whether body discrimination is associated with these behaviors independent of peer victimization. The present research uses data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to test the relation between body discrimination and dieting and substance use behaviors in adolescence and test whether the associations are independent of peer victimization, as well as depressive symptoms which are associated with both forms of victimization and health-risk behaviors. Participants (N = 2955) reported on body discrimination, dieting behaviors, and substance use at ages 14-15. Participants who experienced body discrimination were more likely to report fear of gaining weight, losing control over eating, going without eating, using medicine or vomiting to control their weight, engaging in restrained eating, and exercising to control their weight. They also had tried nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana. The associations with eating and alcohol use were independent of peer victimization, whereas the associations with smoking and marijuana were reduced when peer victimization was included in the model. All associations were also independent of depressive symptoms. Overall, the findings suggest that body discrimination is associated with harmful health behaviors at least as early as age 14.
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