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Purpose: Social media celebrities are getting popular in promotions, and more people have experienced social media to receive information on diet and health tips. This research presents a study showing how social media can influence young people's diet behavior through collaboration with social media celebrities. Design/methodology/approach: Through recruiting on various social media and online education forums, this research recruited 196 young Hongkongers to participate in an online survey developed based on the AIDA (Action, Interest, Desire, Attention) marketing communication model on how youths access diet information from social media celebrities in Hong Kong. Findings: Hong Kong youths consume diet information from social media celebrities through instant messaging systems, social networking sites and online videos, and, in particular, information on food calories and nutrition. However, sponsorship from vendors would decrease their desire to agree with the messages from social media celebrities. After receiving this information, some participants would follow tips and guides from social media celebrities. However, they seldom share such information. Interestingly, males are more willing to follow these tips and guides. Originality/value: First, this study fills the gap of prior research, which did not study much on how social media celebrities contribute to diet promotion to youths in Asia. Second, through the AIDA Model, this study shows how social media can affect the awareness and accessibility of diet information by young Hongkongers, followed by initiating their interest in this topic and retrieving more relevant information. Furthermore, the authors further understand their desire to follow and improve their behavior as promoted by social media influencers and how they practice such behavior. Based on these findings, health-related brands could consider using social media influencers helping to promote their products and services, and these brands could further use social media to secure customer engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the effect of a 16-week fitness program (strength vs. aerobic) on different indicators of body composition and components of health-related physical fitness in youths with Down syndrome. Methods and procedures outcomes: Fifty adolescents (19 girls and 31 boys; average age, 18.33 ± 1.42 years) with Down syndrome were recruited and randomized to two groups (strength group vs. aerobic group). Adolescents allocated in the aerobic group carried out a physical activity program three times a week for 16 weeks meanwhile adolescents allocated in the strength group performed a fitness program three times a week for 16 weeks. Results: The exercise group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables (p <.05) but not on body composition. Conclusions and implications: A sixteen week fitness program consisting of three sessions of 60 min is able to increase levels of health-related physical fitness but not on body composition in youths with Down syndrome. The aerobic program does not seem to show significant differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen a significant increase in cyber sexual offenses (CSO) conducted through the creation and distribution of intimate images and videos of others without their knowledge or consent, oftentimes among minors. Restorative justice (RJ) offers a platform to conduct an open, direct, and safe dialogue between responsible persons (RP) and survivors. This explorative study aimed to identify the central characteristics of RJ processes conducted following CSO between youths and to explore their potential benefits and challenges. The study involved in-depth interviews with 10 RJ facilitators and mediators in Israel and Belgium, who led RJ processes following CSO among minors. In addition, content analysis of documents describing these processes was conducted. Four themes emerged: The uniqueness of youth CSO; features of direct encounter; intergenerational aspects; and the need to manage expectations of the process among youth, parents, and facilitators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an ethnographic investigation into hawking, pickpocketing, and other crimes perpetrated during traffic situations in contemporary Lagos. Scholarship on street hawking in Nigeria – Lagos in particular – has overlooked certain issues associated with street hawking within Lagos traffic and has failed to counter the everyday understanding that itinerant traders are major actors in the recurring crimes that occur in traffic hold-ups. Through immersive fieldwork and based on my personal experience as a street hawker, I challenge some of these beliefs that urban crimes such as pickpocketing and armed robbery during hold-ups are predominantly perpetrated by street hawkers. I argue that street hawkers are distinguishable from the real criminals, despite police discourse and common beliefs. The criminalization of hawkers in the public mind and in administrative practices is due to categorical stereotypes unfairly produced by the government about itinerant traders during the city's feared traffic hold-ups. I show how the unfair criminalization of itinerant traders has been used to justify curbing street hawking within the traffic in Lagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the association between meal duration and obesity indicators among Spanish adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) project involving 755 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (54.8% girls) from three secondary schools in the Valle de Ricote Region of Murcia, Spain. To evaluate overall meal duration, participants were asked how long (on average) breakfast, morning snacks, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner typically last. Subsequently, global meal duration was measured, and the participants were categorized into tertiles. Obesity-related indicators, including body mass index (BMI) z score, waist circumference (WC), and skinfold thickness, were assessed. The analyses were adjusted for potential confounders such as sex, age, socioeconomic status, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet quality, and energy intake. Results: Concerning meal duration status, adolescents with long meal durations had the lowest estimated marginal means of BMI z score, WC, and body fat percentage (using the sum of triceps and calf skinfolds). However, significant differences between adolescents with a long meal duration and those with a short meal duration were observed only for BMI z score (p = 0.008), and WC (p = 0.020). Furthermore, significant differences in BMI z score (p = 0.017) between adolescents with a long meal duration and those with a moderate meal duration were identified. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of promoting slower eating habits as part of obesity prevention strategies. Future studies should explore the causality of this association and its potential for behavioral interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence assessing the relationship between chronotype and disordered eating in adolescents is scarce. The current study tried to evaluate the association between chronotype and disordered eating in a sample of Spanish adolescents. Methods: This secondary cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study. The sample consisted of 703 adolescents (56.3% girls) aged between 12 and 17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). Chronotype was assessed using the Morningness/Eveningness Scale in Children (MESC). Disordered eating was evaluated by two psychologists using the Sick, Control, One, Fat, and Food (SCOFF) questionnaire. Results: Adolescents with an eveningness chronotype showed a higher SCOFF score (estimated marginal mean [M] = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7 to 1.5) in comparison with adolescents with a morningness chronotype (M = 0.7; 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8) (p = 0.010), as well as with those with an intermediate chronotype (M = 0.6; 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8) (p = 0.032). A higher predictive probability of having disordered eating was identified in adolescents with an eveningness chronotype (39.5%; 95% CI 22.8% to 59.1%), compared to adolescents with an intermediate chronotype (14.9%; 95% CI 10.8% to 20.1%) (p = 0.008) and with their counterparts with a morningness chronotype (16.9%; 95% CI 11.6% to 24.0%) (p = 0.021). Conclusions: This study reveals that adolescents with an eveningness chronotype are more likely to exhibit disordered eating behaviors compared to those with morningness or intermediate chronotypes. These findings highlight the importance of considering chronotype in adolescent health, particularly in developing targeted interventions to prevent eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gaia program is a 12-week mindfulness intervention based on cultivating body, emotional, and ecological self-awareness, which has been shown to be effective in reducing children's and adolescents' internalizing problems, and improving psychological well-being, and psychological distress in early adolescents. To clarify the psychological processes underlying mindfulness effects on mental health among adolescents, the present study aimed to examine whether emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) may be considered as key processes linking the Gaia program effects to improvements in psychological distress and well-being. A total of 361 adolescents (mean age 14 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the Gaia program (i.e., experimental group; N = 210) and waiting list (i.e., control group; N = 151). Measures were administered at three time points, approximately every three months: one week before treatment, one week after treatment, and three months after treatment. Using a structural equation model (SEM), we found that the Gaia Program had a positive and significant indirect effect on psychological well-being only via cognitive reappraisal as measured at follow-up [B = 0.181, 95% C.I. (0.012; 0.395)], whereas no significant indirect effects were found on psychological distress through cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Findings from this study provide evidence of key emotional processes underlying the effects of a mindfulness intervention on positive but not negative psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the extent to which Nigerian youths consider and commit suicide. The main objectives of this paper were to determine the extent young Nigerians consider or attempt suicide, ascertain how the mass media in Nigeria is used to accelerate or treat suicide and the evaluate whether interpersonal communication reduce suicidal inclinations in young people in Nigeria. A questionnaire was sent to different higher institutions, churches, and mosques in Edo State between 01 July and 31 December 2021 to elicit responses from adolescents aged 15 to 24, and 375 respondents completed the questionnaire, which was utilized for the study. According to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) and the Cultivation Theory, more female Nigerian youths contemplated and attempted suicide than their male counterparts, and the consumption of an overdose of unprescribed drugs was the most common method of committing suicide among Nigerian youths. Regarding the interpersonal communication feature of suicide bias, this study discovered that the percentage of Nigerian teenagers who spoke to someone about their suicidal thoughts is rather low, at 6%. The study also found that young people who use social media and online material had a 1 in 5 likelihood of trying suicide, but those who read newspapers, watch TV or listen to the radio have a 1 in 20 chance The survey also concluded that girls are four times more likely than men to suffer from any of the reasons for suicide and that general life stress, academic stress, loneliness, and relationship issues were the most prevalent causes of suicide among teens. According to the study, Nigerian youngsters who consume Internet-generated material are four times more likely to consider suicide than those who use conventional media such as newspapers, television, and radio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to synthesize the available evidence from the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and academic performance in children and adolescents. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, which adhered to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were examined from inception to April 8th, 2024. Eighteen studies were included in the current systematic review and sixteen in the meta-analysis. The relationship between adherence to the MedDiet and academic performance among children and adolescents was statistically significant (Pearson's correlation coefficient [ r ] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14 to 0.21, p < 0.001; inconsistency index [ I 2] = 56.7%). The influence analysis revealed that removing individual studies one at a time did not result in any changes to the overall results (p < 0.05 in all cases). A higher adherence to the MedDiet could play a relevant role in academic performance among children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this population-based longitudinal study was to explore whether distinct mental health trajectories in youths can be identified over the course of the pandemic. Methods: Mental health problems (MHP), psychosomatic symptoms and HRQoL were assessed at five time points between May 2020 and October 2022 in 744 children and adolescents aged 7 to 20 years using established instruments. We used generalized mixture modeling to identify distinct mental health trajectories and fixed-effects regressions to analyse covariates of the identified profiles of change. Results: We found five distinct linear latent trajectory classes each for externalising MHP and psychosomatic symptoms and four trajectory classes for internalising MHP. For HRQoL, a single-class solution that indicates a common development process proved to be optimal. The largest groups remained almost stable at a low internalising and externalising symptom level (64 to 74%) and consistently showed moderate psychosomatic symptoms (79%), while 2 to 18% showed improvements across the pandemic. About 10% of the youths had consistently high internalising problems, while externalising problems deteriorated in 18% of youths. Class membership was significantly associated with initial HRQoL, parental and child burden, personal resources, family climate and social support. Conclusions: The mental health of most children and adolescents remained resilient throughout the pandemic. However, a sizeable number of youths had consistently poor or deteriorating mental health. Those children and adolescents need special attention in schools and mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The learning management model it is another form of learning. that uses the application as a tool to promote analytical thinking for youth in the digital age with a flexible and easy to access anywhere anytime, aimed at promoting analytical thinking among youths in the digital age through applications seeks to develop analytical thinking by integrating concepts from various disciplines, including constructivism theory, self-regulation, social support, and connectivism theory. This framework aims to guide learners through the following steps: 1) problem identification or topics of interest, 2) knowledge exploration, 3) analysis process, 4) application of knowledge or real-life practices, 5) conclusion and effective knowledge presentation, and 6) reflection process within learners or self-assessment. Through the integration of various important theoretical concepts, an effective learning management model has been created to promote analytical thinking skills among youths in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During university education, students experience a new environment and need to adapt to new ways of relating to their families and peers. This period involves changes in early adulthood, which can affect mental health. Due to COVID-19, students' activities had to adopt virtual formats. In this context, the present study explored the association of depression and school connectedness in university students from a public university in Guatemala. A total of 494 students from different careers participated. Participants completed an adapted version of the subscale of the "What it is Happening in the School (WHITS)" instrument. For depression, we used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and a demographic questionnaire. Analyses through a simple linear regression resulted in a significant model: F (1, 49) = 79.10, p < .001, R² 13 %, with an equation Y = β0 (17.53) + β1 (-0.32) X. The results showed that increased connectedness to school is associated with less depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Despite the large number of studies published to date, the effect of lifestyle-based interventions on improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in young people has not been meta-analyzed. Objective The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was two-fold: (1) to determine the pooled intervention effects of lifestyle-based interventions on improving adherence to the MedDiet in a young population aged 3 years–18 years and (2) to examine the potential factors related to those intervention effects. Data Sources A systematic search of the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed from their inception until June 15, 2023. Data Extraction Different meta-analyses were independently performed to observe the effect of lifestyle-based interventions on adherence to the MedDiet (according to the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents [KIDMED]). Data Analysis Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a small increase in KIDMED score (d  = .27; 95% confidence interval [CI],.11 to.43; P  < .001; I 2 = 89.7%). Similarly, participants in the lifestyle-based intervention groups had a 14% higher probability of achieving optimal adherence to the MedDiet (risk difference = .14; 95% CI,.02 to.26; P  = .023; I 2 = 96.8%). Greater improvements in achieving optimal adherence to the MedDiet were found in interventions delivered out of school (risk difference = .24, 95% CI,.04 to.44; I 2 = 88.4%), those aimed at parents or at both children and parents (risk difference = .20, 95% CI,.07 to.34; I 2 = 98.2%), and those including only participants with overweight/obesity (risk difference = .34, 95% CI,.15 to.52; I 2 = .0%). Conclusion Healthy lifestyle-based interventions seem to be effective in increasing adherence to the MedDiet and in achieving optimal adherence to this dietary pattern among children and adolescents. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD2022369409. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children are more sensitive to tobacco advertisements than adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that tobacco use has doubled in the past four decades particularly among the youth. Smoking among teenagers is an issue that affects countries worldwide. Objective: This study identified the prevalence of tobacco consumption among youth of rural Jaipur. We also studied, their age of initiation of tobacco and their correlation with the income and occupation of parents. Method: Community based cross-sectional type of study was conducted on youth of 15-24 years of age in 30 clusters in the Vatika, Jaipur. Cluster sampling technique was adopted. A semi-structured pretested and predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection. The inter-personal communication technique was used maintaining full confidentiality. All the results were transferred onto Microsoft excel sheet and evaluated statistically. Results: Out of 420 youths, 79.0% youths consumes nicotine in any form. More male subjects (90.9%) consume nicotine than females (62.8%) highly significantly. 33.1% youths started nicotine consumption <12 years. Youths from more income family(63.6%), illiterate father (76.2%), illiterate mother (74.4%), father having farming as occupation (67.2%), consumes more nicotine. more (88.6%) of youths consume nicotine with their friends. 58.1% parents oppose their children. Conclusion: The prevalence of nicotine intake was higher in boys than girls and majority of them consumes nicotine in any form gutka or beedi-cigarette. The reasons for such high dependence of nicotine according to the youth were lack of knowledge of the ill effects of nicotine intake and peer pressure. However, majority of the youth did not want to quit nicotine consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weight bias internalization (WBI) is a serious challenge because of its negative impact on psychological consequences. Although the cognitive-behavioral intervention has been applied to reduce WBI, little is known about its effectiveness among Thai obese youth. Thus, this study sought to determine the effects of a cognitive-behavioral group counseling (CBGC) program on WBI and psychological outcomes in obese youths. Study Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eighty obese youths were randomly allocated to two intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. The intervention group received a CBGC program in three sessions with ten activities, while the control group performed their usual counseling process. Data were collected through standardized interviewers with a structured interview questionnaire. The chi-square test, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measure ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression were applied for data analyses. Results: At the follow-up visit, the intervention group had a significant decrease in the mean of WBI, depression, and perceived stress and an increased mean of self-esteem compared to the control group. After adjusting baseline characteristics and baseline outcome values, the intervention also significantly improved WBI (B = -6.82, P < 0.001), depression (B = -4.17, P < 0.001), perceived stress (B = -6.01, P < 0.001), and self-esteem (B = 5.07, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The CBGC program effectively reduced WBI, depression, and perceived stress while improving self-esteem among obese youths. This study recommends that group counseling programs be employed as part of a counseling process for obese youth who have experienced WBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this population-based longitudinal study was to explore whether distinct mental health trajectories in youths can be identified over the course of the pandemic. Methods Mental health problems (MHP), psychosomatic symptoms and HRQoL were assessed at five time points between May 2020 and October 2022 in 744 children and adolescents aged 7 to 20 years using established instruments. We used generalized mixture modeling to identify distinct mental health trajectories and fixed-effects regressions to analyse covariates of the identified profiles of change. Results We found five distinct linear latent trajectory classes each for externalising MHP and psychosomatic symptoms and four trajectory classes for internalising MHP. For HRQoL, a single-class solution that indicates a common development process proved to be optimal. The largest groups remained almost stable at a low internalising and externalising symptom level (64 to 74%) and consistently showed moderate psychosomatic symptoms (79%), while 2 to 18% showed improvements across the pandemic. About 10% of the youths had consistently high internalising problems, while externalising problems deteriorated in 18% of youths. Class membership was significantly associated with initial HRQoL, parental and child burden, personal resources, family climate and social support. Conclusions The mental health of most children and adolescents remained resilient throughout the pandemic. However, a sizeable number of youths had consistently poor or deteriorating mental health. Those children and adolescents need special attention in schools and mental health care.

Delaying the transition to marriage and parenthood among youths has been a policy priority in many countries. Reproductive transitions in the life course of individuals still attract the attention of social and health researchers and practitioners. The study analyzed the timing and intensity of reproductive transitions of three synthetic birth cohorts of youths and its correlates in Ethiopia using data extracted from Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys. A multistate approach suits best to investigate transitions that occur across a series of states through time. A flexible parametric survival model was fit to identify potential correlates of the timing and intensities of reproductive transitions. Data management and analysis were done using STATA 14. Reproductive transitions among youths occur starting at age 18 with stronger transition intensities. Even though the transition showed a changing pattern, family formation took the major share of the transition. Despite shaping the timing of entry to union of youths, education did not significantly reduce the risk of the debut to sex. The results demonstrate that early premarital sexual initiation is the main precursor to social ills such as early and single parenthood and their consequences among Ethiopian youths. Due to the excessive risk that female youths have been exposed to, a persistent gender gap in reproductive transition has also been observed. An effort must be made to close the gender gap in reproductive transitions and lessen the negative effects of early premarital sexual initiation, notably the increased risks young females face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children are more sensitive to tobacco advertisements than adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that tobacco use has doubled in the past four decades particularly among the youth. Smoking among teenagers is an issue that affects countries worldwide. Objective: This study identified the prevalence of tobacco consumption among youth of rural Jaipur. We also studied, their age of initiation of tobacco and their correlation with the income and occupation of parents. Method: Community based cross-sectional type of study was conducted on youth of 15-24 years of age in 30 clusters in the Vatika, Jaipur. Cluster sampling technique was adopted. A semi-structured pretested and predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection. The inter-personal communication technique was used maintaining full confidentiality. All the results were transferred onto Microsoft excel sheet and evaluated statistically. Results: Out of 420 youths, 79.0% youths consumes nicotine in any form. More male subjects (90.9%) consume nicotine than females (62.8%) highly significantly. 33.1% youths started nicotine consumption

Abstract Background Advanced HIV disease (AHD) in young people living with HIV (PLHIV) is an increasingly pressing public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite global progress in early HIV testing and reducing HIV-related deaths, many youths experience increased rates of HIV disease progression in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the burden, clinical manifestations, and factors for disease progression among young PLHIV aged 15 – 24 years seeking medical services at a major public hospital in Sierra Leone. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected data for PLHIV patients aged 15 to 24 seen at Connaught Hospital in Sierra Leone between September 2022 and March 2023. We estimated the proportion of AHD in young PLHIV and performed logistic regression modelling to explore predictors of AHD. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05 for all statistical tests. Results Of the 581 PLHIV that were reported, 238 (40.9%) were between the ages of 15 and 24 years, with a median age of 22 (20—24), and 151 (63.5%) were females. On review, 178 (74.8%) has initiated antiretroviral therapy regimen (ART); 117 (65.7%) were actively on ART for ≤ 6 months, while 114 (64%) had interruptions with their ART treatment. The overall prevalence of AHD was 41.6% (99/238); 46.7% (35/68) of young PLHIV at the HIV clinic, and 39.3% (64/163) of admission. Sex—Female (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28–0.94; p = 0.030), and Tertiary Education level (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10 – 0.78; p = 0.015) have significantly lower odds of AHD in the entire study population. While for inpatients, Age (young Adults) of PLHIV (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00–1.52; p = 0.047) had 1.23 times the odds of AHD compared to adolescents, and being female (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08–0.84; p = 0.024), Overweight—Body mass index (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01–0.77; p = 0.028), Tertiary Education level (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.52; p = 0.008) have significantly lower odds of AHD. Common conditions reported for the AHD group in the medical wards are tuberculosis (13.58%), hepatitis B (6.13%), Kaposi sarcoma (3.07%), and oesophagal candidiasis (2.45%). Conclusion We reported a high prevalence of advanced HIV among young patients in a tertiary Hospital in Sierra Leone. One in two young PLHIV aged 15 to 24 years reported AHD, emphasizing the need to strengthen public health measures that address access to and retention of HIV services.

Abstract Background Sexually transmitted infection is a common public health issue of youths and is characteristically transmitted through sexual intercourse. Even though early treatment for sexually transmitted infection is very important to reduce further complications and economic burden, studies to identify the proportion and the possible factor of early treatment seeking is rare in Ethiopia. Objective To assess the proportion of early treatment seeking for sexually transmitted infections and associated factors among patients attending youth friendly service in Bahir Dar city health centers, northwest, Ethiopia 2023. Method Institutional based Cross-sectional study was used among 407 participants from April 25 to May 24 /2023. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. An interview-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, whereas Epi-data version 4.6.0.2 and the statistical package for statistical science version 23 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. A frequency table and bar chart were used for descriptive analysis. Multiple binary logistic regression was employed to identify the factors at p-value of

Abstract Introduction Sexual risky behaviors, as defined by the World Health Organization, encompass a spectrum of sexual activities that heighten the likelihood of negative outcomes related to sexual and reproductive health. Despite the implementation of various healthcare programs and interventions, youths continue to encounter challenges in accessing reproductive health services. Consequently, they remain vulnerable to engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors; 50.36% of adolescents in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of risky sexual behavior and associated factors among out-of-school Youths in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2023. Methods A community based cross sectional mixed methods study was conducted among 701 youths in Addis Ababa from September 1st to 30th, 2023. The quantitative data were collected through face to face interview using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, while qualitative data were gathered through in depth interviews and focus group discussions. For the quantitative study, the study samples were chosen using systematic sampling. Conversely, purposive sampling was employed for the qualitative study. Variables with P-value ≤ 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were considered as candidates for the multivariable analysis. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value less than 0.05. Results The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among out of school students in Addis Ababa was 40.6% (95%CI: 36.8, 44.1). Age 15–19 years (AOR: 2.52; 95%CI: 1.61, 3.94), being female (AOR: 2.84; 95%CI: 1.93, 4.18), fathers who were unable to read and write (AOR: 4.13; 95%CI: 2.04, 8.37), alcohol consumption (AOR: 2.07; 95%CI: 1.33, 3.19), peer pressure (AOR: 2.59; 95%CI: 1.81, 3.72), live together with either of biological parent (AOR: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.52, 3.55), watching pornography (AOR: 2.10; 95%CI: 1.11, 3.97) and parental monitoring (AOR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.39, 0.90) were factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Conclusion and recommendations A lower prevalence of risky sexual behavior compared to prior research efforts. Age, gender, educational level of the husband, alcohol consumption, peer pressure, living arrangements, exposure to pornography, and family monitoring emerged as significant factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Therefore, government should prioritize strategies to reduce substance use, mitigate the impact of watching pornography, and enhance parent-youth connectedness.

Abstract Background Access to health care services is a basic human right, and an individual’s health and overall quality of life may suffer as a result of barriers to accessing health services. Access to comprehensive and quality health care is fundamental for promoting and maintaining health, preventing and treating diseases, and reducing premature deaths. However, only half of the African population has access to modern health services. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the health care access and associated factors among female youths in low-income East African countries. Methods This study used secondary data from 2016 to 2021 demographic and health surveys of 7 low-income East African countries. A total weighted sample of 51,064 youths was included. A multilevel binary logistic regression was employed to identify the associated factors of access to health care since the data has a hierarchical structure. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) at a p-value less than 0.05 was used to measure the association of variables whereas Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Median Odds Ratio (MOR), and proportional change in variance (PCV) were used to measure random effects. Result The overall magnitude of access to healthcare among female youths in low-income East African countries was 38.84% (95% CI: 38.41, 39.26). Youth’s educational level, rich wealth status, media exposure, and community level education were the positive while higher youth’s age and rural residence were the negative predictors of access to healthcare among female youths. Besides, living in different countries compared to Burundi was also an associated factor for accessing healthcare in low-income East African countries. Conclusion About six in ten female youths were not accessing health care in low-income East African countries. Therefore, to increase healthcare access, health managers and policymakers needed to develop strategies to improve the poor household wealth index, and redistribution of health services for rural residents. The decision-makers and program planners should also work on increasing access to education and media exposure for youths. Further research including health system and quality of service-related factors for accessing healthcare should also be considered by researchers.

Abstract Background Access to family planning services among young people is crucial for reproductive health. This study explores the access and associated factors among young people in Lira City, Northern Uganda. Methods and materials A mixed-methods study was conducted in March to April 2022. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 553 participants aged 15–24 years. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses for quantitative data, while interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for qualitative data. Results Overall, 31.7% of the respondents had a good perceived access to family planning services, with 64.6% reporting perceived availability of FP methods. Challenges included lack of privacy (57.7%), fear of mistreatment (77.2%), and decision-making difficulties (66.2%). Among females, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among urban residents (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.09–0.53), Christian respondents (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.01–0.36), Muslim respondents (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.55) and respondents with poor attitude to FP services (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24–0.64), but more likely among respondents with a sexual a partner (AOR: 4.48, 95% CI: 2.60–7.75). Among males, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among respondents living with parents (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.67) but more likely among respondents with good knowledge of FP services (AOR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.02–5.32). Qualitative findings showed that three themes emerged; knowledge of family planning methods, beliefs about youth contraception and, friendliness of family planning services. Conclusion The study revealed a substantial gap in perceived access to family planning services among young people in Lira City. Barriers include privacy concerns, fear of mistreatment, and decision-making difficulties. Tailored interventions addressing urban access, religious beliefs for females, and knowledge enhancement for males are essential. Positive aspects like diverse FP methods and physical accessibility provide a foundation for targeted interventions. Youth-friendly services, comprehensive sexual education, and further research are emphasized for a nuanced understanding and effective interventions in Northern Uganda.

Background Methods Results Conclusion Adequate skill levels of gross motor capacity affect activities of daily living, participation in recreational activities and general physical activity levels of youths (7–21 years). Most studies of typically developing youths have reported significant negative relationships between gross motor capacity and body mass index. The latter findings are especially of concern for youths with intellectual disabilities in that it has been estimated that 61% of children and 66% of adolescents were classified as overweight/obese. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the strength of the relationship between body mass index and gross motor capacity among youths with mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID).Components of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT‐2) were used for designated aspects of gross motor capacity: six items for upper limb coordination (ULC); seven items for balance (BAL); six items for bilateral coordination (BLC); and one item for agility (A‐2). Participants consisted of 654 youths (438 men), ages 8–21 years with ID. Participants were divided into pre‐puberty and post‐puberty men (post ≥12 years) and women (post ≥10 years of age). Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was determined by height and weight measurements on the day of testing. A Kendall's tau correlation coefficient (τ) was used to determine the strength of the relationship between body mass index and gross motor capacity (BOT‐2 test scores).The τ values for both pre‐puberty and post‐puberty for all BAL, BLC, A‐2 tests and for three of the six ULC tests were negligible to very weak (τ = 0 to ±0.19). Higher τ values were seen for pre‐puberty youths in three of the ULC tests, but they fell within the weak range (τ < 0.24). When combining all pre‐puberty and post‐puberty participants, τ values were in the negligible to very weak range for all tests.The strength of relationship between body mass index and gross motor capacity as measured by the BOT‐2 subtest item scores used in this study is very weak and suggests that they are not clinically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advanced HIV disease (AHD) in young people living with HIV (PLHIV) is an increasingly pressing public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite global progress in early HIV testing and reducing HIV-related deaths, many youths experience increased rates of HIV disease progression in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the burden, clinical manifestations, and factors for disease progression among young PLHIV aged 15 – 24 years seeking medical services at a major public hospital in Sierra Leone. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected data for PLHIV patients aged 15 to 24 seen at Connaught Hospital in Sierra Leone between September 2022 and March 2023. We estimated the proportion of AHD in young PLHIV and performed logistic regression modelling to explore predictors of AHD. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05 for all statistical tests. Results: Of the 581 PLHIV that were reported, 238 (40.9%) were between the ages of 15 and 24 years, with a median age of 22 (20—24), and 151 (63.5%) were females. On review, 178 (74.8%) has initiated antiretroviral therapy regimen (ART); 117 (65.7%) were actively on ART for ≤ 6 months, while 114 (64%) had interruptions with their ART treatment. The overall prevalence of AHD was 41.6% (99/238); 46.7% (35/68) of young PLHIV at the HIV clinic, and 39.3% (64/163) of admission. Sex—Female (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28–0.94; p = 0.030), and Tertiary Education level (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10 – 0.78; p = 0.015) have significantly lower odds of AHD in the entire study population. While for inpatients, Age (young Adults) of PLHIV (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00–1.52; p = 0.047) had 1.23 times the odds of AHD compared to adolescents, and being female (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08–0.84; p = 0.024), Overweight—Body mass index (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01–0.77; p = 0.028), Tertiary Education level (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.52; p = 0.008) have significantly lower odds of AHD. Common conditions reported for the AHD group in the medical wards are tuberculosis (13.58%), hepatitis B (6.13%), Kaposi sarcoma (3.07%), and oesophagal candidiasis (2.45%). Conclusion: We reported a high prevalence of advanced HIV among young patients in a tertiary Hospital in Sierra Leone. One in two young PLHIV aged 15 to 24 years reported AHD, emphasizing the need to strengthen public health measures that address access to and retention of HIV services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexually transmitted infection is a common public health issue of youths and is characteristically transmitted through sexual intercourse. Even though early treatment for sexually transmitted infection is very important to reduce further complications and economic burden, studies to identify the proportion and the possible factor of early treatment seeking is rare in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the proportion of early treatment seeking for sexually transmitted infections and associated factors among patients attending youth friendly service in Bahir Dar city health centers, northwest, Ethiopia 2023. Method: Institutional based Cross-sectional study was used among 407 participants from April 25 to May 24 /2023. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. An interview-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, whereas Epi-data version 4.6.0.2 and the statistical package for statistical science version 23 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. A frequency table and bar chart were used for descriptive analysis. Multiple binary logistic regression was employed to identify the factors at p-value of <0.05. The necessary assumption of the model was also checked by the Hosmer and Lemishow test. Results: The response rate of this study was 391 (96.1%) and the proportion of early treatment for sexually transmitted infection was 108 (27.6%, 95%CI; 23-32). Good knowledge about sexually transmitted infection (AOR=1.98, 95CI%; 1.13-3.47) know about their HIV status (AOR=1.95, 95%CI; 1.13-3.36), perceive severity of sexually transmitted infection (AOR=11.23, 95%CI; 6.15-20.45), and not fear the stigma about being infected with sexually transmitted infection (AOR=2.29, 95%CI; 1.32-3.96) were the significantly associated factors for early treatment of sexually transmitted infection. Conclusion and recommendation: The proportion of early treatment for sexually transmitted infection in Bahir Dar city was low. Knowledge about STIs, testing/ knowing HIV status, perception of the severity about sexually transmitted infection, and fear of stigma about sexually transmitted infection were the statistically significant factors for early treatment of sexually transmitted infection. So the government better give attention to health education and other health promotion activities to increase the knowledge of youths about sexually transmitted infection and to change their perception of sexually transmitted infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can both precede and co-occur with suicidal attempts (SA). Underlying mechanisms/factors leading to the transition to SA in NSSI youths have been proposed (including the role of social cognition), despite they should be yet confirmed. Therefore, the study aims at exploring the role of the Theory of Mind in the differentiation of a sample of NSSI youngsters (aged 15- 24) according to the presence of SA. We divided the sample into 4 groups using the Deliberate Self Harm Inventory (DSHI) and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS): control group (notNSSInotSA), NSSI without SA (NSSInotSA), NSSI with SA (NSSIplusSA), and SA without NSSI (SAonly). NSSIplusSA patients displayed higher Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) scores (indicative of ToM abilities) than both the NSSInotSA (p=0.0016) and SAonly groups (p=0.0198), while SAonly patients showed lower RMET scores compared to the control group (p=0.0214). Multiple regression models used to differentiate NSSInotSA and NSSIplusSA found a significant association between RMET and LOSCS-CSC (Level Of Self-Criticism Scale-Comparative Self-Criticism) (pC=0.0802, pD=0.0016, pG=0.0053). Our findings supported the hypothesis that a hypertrophic affective ToM may possibly be associated with the occurrence of SA in youth NSSI. Further larger and longitudinal studies should confirm these preliminary findings, by exploring all social cognition dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sexual risky behaviors, as defined by the World Health Organization, encompass a spectrum of sexual activities that heighten the likelihood of negative outcomes related to sexual and reproductive health. Despite the implementation of various healthcare programs and interventions, youths continue to encounter challenges in accessing reproductive health services. Consequently, they remain vulnerable to engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors; 50.36% of adolescents in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of risky sexual behavior and associated factors among out-of-school Youths in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2023. Methods: A community based cross sectional mixed methods study was conducted among 701 youths in Addis Ababa from September 1st to 30th, 2023. The quantitative data were collected through face to face interview using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, while qualitative data were gathered through in depth interviews and focus group discussions. For the quantitative study, the study samples were chosen using systematic sampling. Conversely, purposive sampling was employed for the qualitative study. Variables with P-value ≤ 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were considered as candidates for the multivariable analysis. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value less than 0.05. Results: The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among out of school students in Addis Ababa was 40.6% (95%CI: 36.8, 44.1). Age 15–19 years (AOR: 2.52; 95%CI: 1.61, 3.94), being female (AOR: 2.84; 95%CI: 1.93, 4.18), fathers who were unable to read and write (AOR: 4.13; 95%CI: 2.04, 8.37), alcohol consumption (AOR: 2.07; 95%CI: 1.33, 3.19), peer pressure (AOR: 2.59; 95%CI: 1.81, 3.72), live together with either of biological parent (AOR: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.52, 3.55), watching pornography (AOR: 2.10; 95%CI: 1.11, 3.97) and parental monitoring (AOR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.39, 0.90) were factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Conclusion and recommendations: A lower prevalence of risky sexual behavior compared to prior research efforts. Age, gender, educational level of the husband, alcohol consumption, peer pressure, living arrangements, exposure to pornography, and family monitoring emerged as significant factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Therefore, government should prioritize strategies to reduce substance use, mitigate the impact of watching pornography, and enhance parent-youth connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptive behavior during adolescence is linked to severe problems for the youths later in life and poses challenges to the families, schools, and treatment systems these youths meet. This randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the short- and long-term effectiveness of functional family therapy (FFT) for adolescents aged 11–17 referred for disruptive behavior to Child Welfare Services in Norway. One hundred sixty-one youths (Mage = 14.7, 45.9% female) were randomly assigned to FFT (n = 88) or treatment as usual (TAU, n = 73). Primary outcomes were parent- and teacher-reported youth aggressive behavior, rule-breaking behavior, internalizing problems, and social skills; youth self-reported delinquency (SRD) and negative peer involvement; and teacher-reported academic performance and adaptive functioning. Outcomes were collected before treatment (pretest), 6 months after pretest (posttest), and 18 months after pretest (follow-up). The results showed no intervention effect for FFT compared to TAU between pretest and posttest (p >.05). Significant improvements between pretest and posttest were found for youth receiving both FFT and TAU on parent-reported aggressive and rule-breaking behavior, internalizing problems, and social skills (ranging from d = 0.56 to −0.45) and youth SRD (d = 0.29). Between posttest and follow-up, however, a significant intervention effect in favor of TAU was found for parent-reported youth internalizing (d = 0.27). Significant improvements between posttest and follow-up were also found for youth receiving both FFT and TAU on parent- and teacher-reported aggressive behavior. Findings did not support the hypothesized superiority of FFT over TAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This protocol for a systematic review describes the methodology for assessing the validity and reliability of questionnaires used in studies on antibiotic resistance among youths. It also seeks to evaluate the methodological quality of these studies in terms of their ability to influence youths' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic resistance, as measured by the identified questionnaires. The review will include an exhaustive literature search spanning 2013 to 2023 using key databases and grey literature sources. Data from eligible studies will be extracted regarding sample characteristics, methodological quality, and questionnaire validity and reliability metrics. The participants will be categorized into secondary school, high school, and undergraduate students. The review thoroughly evaluates the instruments' psychometric features, including face validity, internal consistency, testretest reliability, construct validity, and hypothesis testing. Moreover, the protocol thoroughly examines the methodology and approach employed in the encompassed research, specifically emphasizing the educational setting and its impact on the efficacy of interventions to combat antibiotic resistance. The classification of individuals based on their educational stages enables a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of KAP questionnaires in various educational contexts. A meta-analysis will be performed to quantify the cumulative effects of studies. The systematic review is anticipated to provide valuable insights into the validity and reliability of questionnaires used in antibiotic resistance studies focusing on youths. By evaluating the methodological quality of these studies, this review intends to contribute to the development of standardized measurement instruments and to enhance our understanding of how interventions impact youths' KAP related to antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this integrative review was to investigate how resilience has been researched and explore experiences of resilience, in children of parents with mental illness or alcohol or substance misuse. Design: An integrative review. Method: The search included three major electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO with the aim of identifying peer‐reviewed studies where the concept of resilience was explored as resilience, coping, adaptation or protective factors. Results: Out of 4016 studies, 14 were included after meeting predetermined criteria and methodological quality evaluation. The findings are presented in five categories: characteristics of the studies, operationalization and interpretation of resilience, individual resources, family resources and resources outside the family. Patient or public contribution: Resilience in children of parents with mental illness or substance misuse refers to coping strategies, protective factors and absence of symptoms or risk behaviour despite being exposed to risk. We suggest a three‐level approach for mapping of resilience resources in the target group: the individual level, family level and outside of the family that includes both non‐professionals and professionals. The use of disengagement or avoidance strategies implies poor resilience but may be necessary in absence of support, as acts of self‐preservation during chaotic periods or harmful situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of wife-beating endorsements among never-in-union male and female African youths, aged 15–24 years. Demographic and Health Survey data from 14 Sub-Saharan African countries (female = 55,387; male = 29,128) were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analyses. Approximately 37% of male and 42% of female African youths justified wife-beating, ranging from Mali (female = 71.1%, male = 58.7%) to Malawi (female = 21.4%, male = 22.3%). Young age, low education, limited Internet access, poverty, and rural residence were commonly associated with acceptance. Eliminating violence against women in Africa requires timely and adequate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers conducting fieldwork, especially in comparative social research, face the complex issue of conceptualizing and practicing positionality. How we position ourselves affects the research approach, the interpretation of the data and, therefore, the whole research process. This paper discusses my own in-between or 'in-out-sider' positionality during my fieldwork studying the experience of youths in social movements in Thailand and Myanmar in 2020 and 2021. Drawing on data from a visit to Thailand and interviews with 40 Myanmar and Thai youths who participated in the movements, this article documents my experience of the subtle nuances of multiple positionalities and how I navigated through the fieldwork as an in-out-sider researcher. In this comparative context, especially, I believe that my in-out-sider positionality facilitated the research process, from interviewing participants to conducting the field visit. The discussion of this contextually situated positionality challenges the typical explanations of the insider/outsider dichotomy, suggesting the need for a rethinking of certain aspects of this explanation, such as the background and experience of the researcher, and the context in which the researcher and the researched interact. This paper therefore contributes to knowledge around this subject and its application, particularly in the context of comparative social research which studies specific groups of youth activists or protestors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying, traditional or cyber, among adolescents, is a public health concern. In this study, we explored frequencies and correlates of different forms of bullying among Connecticut high-school students. Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 2019 from Connecticut adolescents (N = 1814) were used. χ2 tests and survey-weighted logistic regressions examined relationships between bullying subgroups (in-school traditional bullying (ISTB) only, cyberbullying only, and both) and mental concerns, risk behaviors, academic performance, physical health, and receipt of social support, with the logistic regressions adjusted for demographics. The past-12-month frequency of having experienced only cyberbullying was 5.6%, only ISTB was 9.1%, and both forms was 8.7%. Between-group differences were observed by bullying status in terms of sex and race/ethnicity. In adjusted models, bullying status was associated with suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression/dysphoria, mental health, use of alcohol, marijuana, injection drugs, tobacco, and e-vapor, gambling, driving under influence of alcohol, high-risk sexual behavior, physical fights, weapon-carrying, injuries/threats at school, feeling unsafe at school, dating violence, obesity, poor general health, insecure housing, less perceived family support, and poor academic performance. People experiencing both types of bullying were typically more likely to report adverse measures. High-school students commonly report bullying. The findings that both forms (traditional and cyber) were more robustly linked to negative experiences highlight the need for examining further relationships between types and patterns of bullying and mental health and functioning. Better understanding may help improve preventive anti-bullying interventions. • Bullying (cyber, in school traditional, and both) was associated with poor health. • Rates of in-school traditional bullying-only were highest, followed by both forms. • Experiencing both forms of bullying was associated with more severe correlates. • The patterns of correlates differed among those with both or either form of bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Youth with overweight and obesity are susceptible to weight bias internalization (WBI) and tend to experience impaired quality of life (QOL). However, the evidence regarding the relationship between WBI and QOL remains scarce among Thai youth. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association between WBI and QOL among Thai youth with overweight and obesity. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted with 667 university youths with overweight and obesity from northeastern Thailand selected by a multistage sampling method. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to examine the association between WBI and QOL. RESULTS: More than half of the youths (51.4%) were females with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.5 kg/m² (SD = 2.5). More than one third (37.8%) of the participants had a high level of WBI, and 48.9% reported being dissatisfied with their body image. Our results indicate higher BMI and greater WBI, and body image dissatisfactions were strongly associated with worse QOL overall and across all domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) after adjusting for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS: WBI, BMI, and body dissatisfaction play an important role in impaired QOL. Thus, the development of intervention strategies or programs should consider the reduction of these factors as a key component of care or treatment for youth with overweight and obesity to improve QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the escalating challenge of mental health and substance abuse among university and college students. It underscores the mounting worry over mental health care crises within higher education. The stable persistence of alcohol and drug use over the last two decades is noted, attributing it to maladaptive coping mechanisms. The article aims to understand the influence of external factors such as low alcohol prices, advertising, and easy availability on increased substance use. The conclusion investigates the correlation between heavy episodic drinking and problematic behaviors among university and college students, presenting a comprehensive view of the pressing issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scammers diversify the modus operandi to commit fraud crimes. Therefore, knowledge of prevention tips is the first step in identifying and addressing an incident of fraud. The authorities have spread a number of prevention tips delivered through various channels to protect the community as victims of scam crime. Although the statistics of cases involving adolescents are small, knowledge of prevention is relevant to help them deal with it in the future. In this regard, this study analyses the influence of some of the prevention tips related to scam crime in increasing the confidence of youths to protect themselves from these crimes. The data of this study was obtained through questionnaire instruments distributed among adolescents in the East Coast, Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 261 respondents were selected in this study. The data obtained were analysed using the logistics regression method with six non-dependent variables. The results of the analysis found that five significant variables and two prevention tips showed a high positive influence namely vigilance in updating information and online transactions. Ending fake calls, not participating in get-rich-quick schemes and not disclosing financial information are three other variables that also indicated a positive influence. This finding proves that scam crime prevention tips are known to teenagers and effectively help to identify scam tactics and prevent them from getting caught as victims. In this regard, prevention tips should be distributed continuously to achieve the objective of tackling scam crime. This can be implemented effectively through joint involvement from social institutions such as family, friends, neighbours, teachers, and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youths with physical disabilities experience various obstacles in their transition to adulthood which can contribute to poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes in later life, compared to their non-disabled peers. Transitional care offers these youths the necessary support to overcome such obstacles. The objective of this study was to explore participants' experiential learning in the development of life skills within the transitional care program TranXition, and their perceived contribution of the program to their goal attainment. Data were collected using photo-elicitation. Five participants were recruited from the TranXition program to audio-visually record (photographs or videos) their meaningful experiences in the program and to reflect on them during interviews. Participants felt the TranXition program helped them build their self-awareness and self-efficacy, and to feel more confident and skilled, whether at home, in school or in the community. Moreover, they appreciated the program's group cohesion which facilitated learning life skills from others in order to achieve their goals. Finally, results suggest that group interventions, while important, may need to be complemented by individual consultations. Rehabilitation programs in real-world settings, such as the TranXition program, may be a promising adjunct to traditional transitional care for youths with physical disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Clínica Contemporánea: Revista de Diagnóstico Psicológico, Psicoterapia y Salud is the property of Colegio Oficial de Psicologos de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Access to family planning services among young people is crucial for reproductive health. This study explores the access and associated factors among young people in Lira City, Northern Uganda. Methods and materials: A mixed-methods study was conducted in March to April 2022. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 553 participants aged 15–24 years. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses for quantitative data, while interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for qualitative data. Results: Overall, 31.7% of the respondents had a good perceived access to family planning services, with 64.6% reporting perceived availability of FP methods. Challenges included lack of privacy (57.7%), fear of mistreatment (77.2%), and decision-making difficulties (66.2%). Among females, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among urban residents (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.09–0.53), Christian respondents (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.01–0.36), Muslim respondents (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.55) and respondents with poor attitude to FP services (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24–0.64), but more likely among respondents with a sexual a partner (AOR: 4.48, 95% CI: 2.60–7.75). Among males, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among respondents living with parents (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.67) but more likely among respondents with good knowledge of FP services (AOR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.02–5.32). Qualitative findings showed that three themes emerged; knowledge of family planning methods, beliefs about youth contraception and, friendliness of family planning services. Conclusion: The study revealed a substantial gap in perceived access to family planning services among young people in Lira City. Barriers include privacy concerns, fear of mistreatment, and decision-making difficulties. Tailored interventions addressing urban access, religious beliefs for females, and knowledge enhancement for males are essential. Positive aspects like diverse FP methods and physical accessibility provide a foundation for targeted interventions. Youth-friendly services, comprehensive sexual education, and further research are emphasized for a nuanced understanding and effective interventions in Northern Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study approached the issue of youths’ digital agency by analyzing the ways in which youths talk about their use of Internet technologies for recreational purposes outside of school. Using interview data from young people (n = 28) born in 2005 and 2006, this paper approaches youths’ speech as culturally embedded discourses that express their strategies for making their digital practices understandable and acceptable to adults. By doing so, the paper addresses the need for ongoing research that explores youths’ digital engagement with Internet technologies within a wider social context that positions them as ‘digital natives’. The study results were organized into 11 discourses under four themes: benefits, harms and risks, person-based networking, and Internet skills. The identified discourses reflect the ways in which young people articulate and negotiate their digital agency with social norms, assumptions and expectations of them as tech-savvy youths. By focusing on youths’ speech and discourses, this study advances current research on digital inequalities among young people. It also highlights the need for young people to be supported and empowered in developing skills that enable critical and safe engagements with Internet technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic social media use (PSMU, also referred to as social media addiction by some researchers) is considered a potential, behavioral addiction or non-substance addiction similar to Internet Gaming Disorder and requires further study. The purpose of this study was to examine whether problematic social media users have a core characteristic of reduced response inhibition similar to other addictive behaviors, both without and with social media-related stimuli. PSMU (n = 37) and healthy controls (HC, n = 41) participants completed an adapted version of the Problematic Social Media Use Scale (PSMUS), Internet Game Addiction Scale (IGAS), the Go/No Go task, and an adapted version of the Go/No Go task with social media elements. The results showed that in the Go/No Go task, there was no significant difference in the performance of the PSMU group and the HC group in terms of correct accuracy (p > 0.05). However, in the Modified Go/No Go task, the PSMU group performed worse and had a lower correct accuracy with the No-Go stimulus compared to the HC group. In addition, the No-Go correct accuracy in the Modified Go/No Go task was significantly lower for the PSMU group than the No-Go correct accuracy in the Go/No Go task. Finally, there was a negative correlation between PSMUS scores in the PSMU group and performance in the Modified Go/No Go task. Problematic social media users have response inhibition impairments similar to behavioral addictions, especially with social media-related cues. This adds to the existing evidence on the negative consequences of problematic social media use and its mental health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expectations about future labour market opportunities are essential for education and labour market decisions. This paper uses data from a survey of youths in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries to explore the role of expected returns to education on schooling decisions. We find substantial variation in subjective expectations partly explained by youths' socioeconomic characteristics. Also, we find that enrolment in tertiary education is positively related to perceived education returns. Furthermore, the association of expectations with schooling choices differs across individuals in relevant domains, including gender, skills, and socioeconomic background. Our results suggest that public policies might impact choices and reduce socioeconomic gaps in schooling by providing information on education returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: Gender norms shape individuals’ perceptions and behaviours, particularly concerning health outcomes. However, the lack of comprehensive gender norm attitude measures in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, impedes gender-transformative efforts. This study introduces the Multidomain Gender Norm Attitude Scale (M−GNAS) to evaluate gender norm attitudes among Bangladeshi youths. Method: Three sequential studies were conducted in Bangladesh in 2022 to develop the M−GNAS. Study 1 engaged 124 participants in focus group discussions, generating a 40-item pool reflecting prevalent gender norms. Study 2 involved 1374 youths (mean age 26.82, SD 5.50) to finalise the M−GNAS items and explore its latent structure through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Study 3, with 1416 participants of similar age, used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess structural validity and structural equation modelling to evaluate measurement invariance (MI) across genders. Results: EFA identified a four-domain solution with 13 items: gender-appropriate behaviour, family financial decisions, family responsibility, and career choice. CFA supported this four-domain solution (CFI=0.96, TLI=0.95; RMSEA=0.07; SRMR=0.04). MI across gender was well established (CFI & TLI>0.95, RMSEA≤0.06, SRMR

La discriminación por orientación sexual y la identidad de género sigue siendo un problema en la mayoría de los países. Este trabajo explora las dimensiones de la personalidad y los componentes cognitivos y afectivos de la empatía, con la finalidad de determinar el valor predictivo que tienen sobre las actitudes homofóbicas encubiertas y explícitas. La muestra estuvo formada por 849 estudiantes universitarios. Se utilizó la Escala de Homofobia Sutil y Manifiesta (EHMS), el Inventario de Personalidad (NEO-FFI) y el Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Los resultados muestran una tendencia hacia actitudes homófobas sutiles en los estudiantes universitarios. Además, tanto la empatía cognitiva como la afectiva y la apertura a la experiencia y la amabilidad se relacionan y predicen actitudes más favorables hacia la homosexualidad, pudiendo actuar como variables protectoras hacia el colectivo LGTBI y la diversidad sexual. Se destaca la importancia de intervenciones basadas en programas educativos y la transmisión de valores.

The study explored the push and pull factors driving Ugandan domestic workers to migrate to Saudi Arabia. The research paradigm employed was social constructivism, where individuals seek to understand their world and develop meanings based on their experiences. A qualitative approach using a phenomenological research design was utilised. Data was collected from a sample of eighteen (18) respondents through unstructured interviews to identify the factors contributing to the migration of Ugandan domestic workers to Saudi Arabia. Thematic analysis was conducted during data analysis. The migration factors were presented in concept maps created using Nvivo 10.0. The study uncovered that push factors varied from person to person, but major ones included poverty, unemployment, school dropout, family obligations, marital neglect, domestic violence, personal development goals, poor working conditions, work-related challenges, peer influence, and single parenting. Pull factors include the influence of Arabian family culture that promotes the demand for maids, bilateral labour agreements, adventure, attractive job prospects, free travel documents, cost-effective job processes, and an easy migration process. The study concluded that without effectively addressing push factors to provide long-term solutions, the migration of Ugandan domestic workers to Saudi Arabia will persist. It is recommended that the Government of Uganda take steps to create a conducive environment with satisfying employment opportunities for these young individuals to reduce the number of people seeking jobs outside Uganda. This involves generating employment opportunities to regulate internal domestic work and make it highly profitable, thereby encouraging young people to remain in Uganda.