A feasibility test of an online intervention to prevention dating violence in emerging adults

Dating violence in emerging adults is a significant problem and few prevention programs based on the developmental needs of this age group have been developed. Our research team developed an online dating violence prevention program called WISER (Writing to Improve Self-in-Relationships) for emerging adults. The program is based on narrative therapy principles and uses structured writing techniques. A single group pre-post feasibility test of WISER was conducted with 14 college women. WISER was demonstrated to be feasible and acceptable and to show promise as an effective program to decrease dating violence in this population.

Cultural Stressors and Depressive Symptoms in Latino/a Adolescents: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND

Latino/a adolescents experience higher levels of depressive symptoms than Caucasian and African American adolescents. Many studies found that cultural stressors contribute to this disparity, but these findings have not been integrated into a cohesive picture of the specific cultural stressors that contribute to the development of depressive symptoms for Latino/a adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this integrative review is to identify cultural stressors that are associated with depressive symptoms in Latino/a adolescents.

DESIGN

Procedures outlined by Ganong were used to conduct the review. The results of 33 articles that met inclusion criteria were synthesized.

RESULTS

Discrimination, family culture conflict, acculturative and bicultural stress, intragroup rejection, immigration stress, and context of reception were identified as cultural stressors that are associated with depressive symptoms in Latino/a adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should employ strategies to help Latino/a youth cope with cultural stressors and advocate for policies that support the mental health of Latino/a youth.

Characteristics Associated with Confidential Consultation for Adolescents in Primary Care

OBJECTIVE

To examine how provider report of confidential consultation in the electronic health record is associated with adolescent characteristics, health risk factors, and provider training.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective cohort study was conducted as part of a larger study implementing computerized clinical decision support in 2 urban primary care clinics. Adolescents used tablets to complete screening questions for specified risk factors in the waiting room. Adolescent-reported risk factors included sexual activity, substance use, and depressive symptoms. Providers were prompted on encounter forms to address identified risk factors and indicate whether confidential consultation was provided. Provider types included adolescent medicine board certified pediatrics and general pediatrics. Differences in proportions of adolescents reporting risk factors by provider type were assessed using χ² tests. Associations between adolescent characteristics, risk factors, and provider-reported confidential consultation were examined using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The sample included 1233 English and Spanish-speaking adolescents 12-20 years of age (52% female; 60% black; 50% early adolescent). Patients seen by adolescent medicine board certified providers reported sexual activity, depressive symptoms, and substance use significantly more often than those seen by general pediatric providers. Among patients seen by board certified adolescent medicine providers, confidential consultation was provided to 90%. For those seen by general pediatric providers, confidential consultation was provided to 53%. Results of multiple logistic regression demonstrated that female sex, later adolescence, and clinic location were significantly associated with confidential consultation.

CONCLUSIONS

Provider training is needed to reinforce the importance of confidential consultation for all adolescents.

Ethical considerations for involving Latina adolescents in mental health research

TOPIC

US Latina adolescents experience significant mental health disparities, such as depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and, therefore, should be involved in research studies focused on minimizing these health disparities. However, researchers must consider the specific ways this population is vulnerable and provide adequate protections to reduce risks related to these vulnerabilities.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to describe the different ways that Latina adolescents with mental health problems can be vulnerable research participants, identify strategies to protect this population during a research study, and describe steps taken to apply these strategies in an ongoing qualitative study examining depression in Latina adolescents.

SOURCES USED

Kipnis's (2003) article describes seven ways that children can be vulnerable research participants. These seven vulnerabilities are used to describe the vulnerabilities of Latina adolescents with mental health problems. Specific strategies to protect this population are synthesized to provide a list of strategies that can be used by researchers to reduce the risks associated with the vulnerabilities of this group.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to minimize risks for Latina adolescents, researchers must be engaged in Latino/a communities, use culturally and linguistically appropriate consent processes, and implement strategies to protect the confidentiality of Latina adolescent participants.