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Adolescents faced with chronic stressors (e.g., financial instability, interpersonal violence) are at heightened risk for developing mental health problems, likely due in part to stressors that interfere with effective emotion regulation. Although mindfulness may help to act as a buffer against the deleterious effects of life stressors, a relatively untested assumption is that adolescents can maintain mindfulness during periods of stress. This paper explores this assumption by investigating the real‐time, dynamic relationships among life stressors, mindfulness, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents exposed to chronic stressors. Eighty‐one participants who were 10–18 years old (M = 14.33; SD = 2.20; 56% male; 57% Non‐Hispanic White) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA) three times a day for 7 days and contributed a total of 1186 EMA reports. Multilevel structural equation modelling revealed that the presence (vs. absence) of stressors was associated with lower momentary mindfulness and greater momentary emotion regulation difficulties concurrently and prospectively. Stressors with greater severity were also concurrently, but not prospectively, associated with lower momentary mindfulness and greater momentary emotion regulation difficulties. Findings highlight that exposure to life stressors may degrade momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation. Given that mindfulness and emotion regulation are closely associated with mental health, these results also demonstrate one way that stressors may contribute to health disparities at the micro‐level. Going forward, it will be important to investigate methods of helping adolescents learn to maintain mindfulness and adaptive emotion regulation in the face of stressful events. This study was preregistered (NCT04927286). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major aim of this study was to understand the experience of resilience in adolescents and young adults within the context of a unitary caring science and to generate insights into ways to cultivate resilience in adolescents and young adults who have experienced adversity. Four major essences emerged and were synthesized into one statement. Maintaining hope and optimism for a promising future is acknowledging awareness and acceptance and experiencing connectedness while embracing power in the situation. The essences were interpreted within a theory of unitary caring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent dating violence (DV) is not only a social but also a public health problem, necessitating the development and scale-up of prevention strategies. We conducted a review of the literature to identify adolescent and young adult DV prevention programs that have shown promising behavioral outcomes. The literature search covered articles published from 1996 to 2022 and indexed in Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Embase. The review focused on programs implemented and evaluated in the United States or Canada that included intervention and comparison groups, a baseline assessment, and at least one post-assessment conducted after the intervention exposure. Promising behavioral outcomes were defined as positive, statistically significant differences between intervention and comparison groups with respect to DV perpetration or victimization or bystander behavior in relation to DV. A total of 118 articles were screened by abstract and read in-depth. Eighteen programs that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Of these programs, one showed reductions in DV victimization, six showed reductions in DV perpetration, and nine showed behavioral reductions in both violence perpetration and victimization. The review highlighted that while multiple programs have demonstrated efficacy in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence in North American youth populations, more robust research on the replication of these programs outside researcher-controlled environments is needed. Furthermore, issues with program inclusivity, such as with sex and gender-minority individuals, should be considered in future intervention development and replication research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong relation between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and aggression has been established in adult populations, with less research examining this relation earlier in development. The purpose of this study was to complete a scoping review of the current evidence available on the relation between ACE and aggression and subtypes of aggression within a child and adolescent population. Inclusion criteria for the review included publications in English between 1998 and 2023, use of a child/adolescent population, and peer-review and quantitative publications. Databases searched included PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and EBSCO, and search terms included words related to ACE and aggression. Initial selection was based on title and abstract, with 32 papers meeting eligibility criteria for inclusion. Two authors extracted the relevant characteristics of the studies independently and conferred on any disagreements. The overall findings from the scoping review suggest that there is a strong link between aggression and ACE; however, this link may not be as strong for specific subtypes of aggression. Additionally, characteristics of ACE may play role in understanding this relation, but little research is available within a child and adolescent population. A few studies have attempted to examine potential mediators and moderators of this relation; however, none have been replicated within a child and adolescent population. The findings from this review support the need for additional research in this area and identify significant gaps in the literature that need to be addressed within a child and adolescent population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, weight-based peer victimization (herein "bullying") is prevalent and has been shown to have short- and long-term detrimental effects on adolescents' mental health. We utilized secondary data analysis to explore associations between adolescents' weight-based bullying, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and parental involvement. Moderated mediation models found depressive symptoms mediated the relation between weight-based bullying and both callousness and social anxiety symptoms, but only in the context of low parent involvement. This study highlights parental involvement as a potential protective factor and demonstrates the need for mental health screening and intervention for adolescents who experience weight-based bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CHOICES-TEEN is a bundled intervention aimed at reducing the risks of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol- and tobacco-exposed pregnancies for adolescent girls involved in the juvenile justice system. We examined youths' (N = 22) elicited pros and cons concerning alcohol, tobacco, condom, and contraception use to inform future iterations of CHOICES-TEEN and other prevention programming during a one-arm pilot study. Content analysis was used to identify recurring themes elicited and recorded during a decisional balance exercise with a counselor. The most recurrent pros and cons were factors that directly affected these adolescents, with more immediate consequences. The results provide insight into motivations for engaging in substance use and risky sexual behaviors for these youth, as well as barriers to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships between current anxiety problems and school engagement, community service or volunteer work, and paid work among U.S. adolescents. The 2018–2019 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) dataset was analyzed and included 24,609 adolescents ages 12–17 years. We conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyzes. A total of 12.6% of adolescents had healthcare provider-confirmed current anxiety problems. Adolescents with current anxiety were at decreased odds of engaging in school (aOR = 0.35, 95%CI = 0.29, 0.41) and participating in community service or volunteer work (aOR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.59, 0.86) compared to adolescents without current anxiety. Adolescents with current anxiety were at increased odds of participating in paid work (OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.01, 1.38). This study reports that U.S. adolescents with anxiety were less likely to engage in school and participate in community service or volunteer work, but were more likely to participate in paid work compared to their peers without anxiety. Results should inform future interventions targeting adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to explore the associations of screen time, cyberbullying victimization, and suicidality during the COVID‐19 pandemic in female and male high school schools, especially the sex differences in the mediation effect of cyberbullying on the relation between screen time and suicidality. This study analysed the direct paths and mediation effects between variables among the 13,982 participants (female: 49%; male: 51%; age 15–17: 74%) in the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2021 (YRBS) using the Structural Equation Model and the Monte Carlo methods in Stata. Multiple‐group analysis was conducted to compare sex differences in the mediation effects. Elevated screen time increased the likelihood of suicide ideation (male: OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.26–1.79; female: OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.28–1.70), suicide plan (male: OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.29–1.89; female: OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24–1.69), suicide attempts (female: OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02–1.48). Cyberbully victims had higher odds of suicide ideation (female: OR: 3.69, 95% CI: 3.25–4.17; male: OR: 4.50; 95% CI: 3.80–5.34), suicide plan (female: OR: 3.74; 95% CI: 3.28–4.25; male: OR: 5.03; 95% CI: 4.22–6.01), and suicide attempt (female: OR: 4.24; 95% CI: 3.66–4.92; male: OR: 4.70; 95% CI: 3.81–5.79). Sex differences were revealed in the mediation effects on suicide ideations (χ2(2) = 8.72, p <.05), suicide attempts (χ2(2) = 8.80, p <.05), and suicide overall (χ2(2) = 6.42, p <.05), where the effects were stronger in female students than in males. Screen time and cyberbullying victimization were directly associated with suicide‐related behaviours in adolescents. Cyberbullying victimization in females had stronger mediation effects than in males. These findings emphasized the importance of understanding the new hybrid psychosocial dynamics and creating a healthy hybrid psychosocial environment, especially for female adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although hate speech against Asian American youth has intensified in recent years—fueled, in part, by anti-Asian rhetoric associated with the COVID-19 pandemic—the phenomenon remains largely understudied at scale and in relation to the role of schools prior to the pandemic. This study describes the prevalence of hate speech against Asian American adolescents in the US between 2015 and 2019 and investigates how school-related factors are associated with whether Asian American youth are victims of hate speech at school. Analyses are based on a sample of 938 Asian American adolescents (Mage = 14.8; 48% female) from the three most recently available waves (2015, 2017, and 2019) of the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey. On average, approximately 7% of Asian Americans were targets of hate speech at school between 2015 and 2019, with rates remaining stable over time. Findings also indicate that students had lower odds of experiencing hate speech if they attended schools with a stronger authoritative school climate, which is characterized by strict, yet fair disciplinary rules coupled with high levels of support from adults. On the other hand, Asian American youth faced higher odds of experiencing hate speech if they were involved in school fights. Authoritative school climate and exposure to fights are malleable and can be shaped directly by broader school climate related policies, programs and interventions. Accordingly, efforts to promote stronger authoritative climates and reduce exposure to physical fights hold considerable potential in protecting Asian American youth from hate speech at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peer influence on risky behavior is particularly potent in adolescence and varies by gender. Smoking prevention programs focused on peer-group leaders have shown great promise, and a social influence model has proven effective in understanding adult smoking networks but has not been applied to adolescent vaping until 2023. This work aims to apply a social influence model to analyze vaping by gender in a high school network. Methods: A high school's student body was emailed an online survey asking for gender, age, grade level, vape status, and the names of three friends. Custom Java and MATLAB scripts were written to create a directed graph, compute centrality measures, and perform Fisher's exact tests to compare centrality measures by demographic variables and vape status. Results: Of 192 students in the school, 102 students responded. Students who vape were in closer-knit friend groups than students who do not vape (p <.05). Compared to males who vape, females who vape had more social ties to other students who vape, exhibiting greater homophily (p <.01). Compared to females who do not vape, females who vape were in closer-knit friend groups (p <.05) and had more ties to other students who vape (p <.01). Conclusion: Differences in vaping by social connectedness and gender necessitate school and state policies incorporating the social aspect of vaping in public health initiatives. Large-scale research should determine if trends can be generalized across student bodies, and more granular studies should investigate differences in motivations and social influence by demographic variables to individualize cessation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the direct and indirect effects (via depressive symptoms) of lifetime use of a broad range of substances on suicide risk among US adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study. Data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used (N = 12,303, 48.7% female). Associations between five types of substance use (cigarette, e-cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription pain medicine) and three dimensions of suicide risk (suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt) were measured by multivariate logistic regression models. The role of depressive symptoms was further examined by structural equation modeling. Almost three in five (57.5%) adolescents had used one or more substances in their lifetime (18.1% one type, 12.2% two types, 13.1% three types, 10.2% four types, and 3.8% five types). Adolescents using five substances were up to 16 times more likely to experience suicidal ideation and behaviors. Depressive symptoms significantly linked the pathway from substance use to suicide risk, resulting in much stronger indirect effects than the direct effects. Collectively, the five substance use behaviors and depressive symptoms explained about 60.4% of variance in suicidal ideation, 53.6% of variance in suicide plan, and 55.0% of variance in suicide attempt. Lifetime use of multiple substances is significantly correlated with suicidal ideation and behaviors among adolescents via the pathway of depressive symptoms. Routine screening for a broad range of substance use behaviors is needed to identify adolescents at risk for suicide and accessible mental health services could potentially attenuate the linkage between substance use and suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have focused on evaluating the relationship between dating violence (DV) and suicide during the critical period of adolescence, particularly for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth. The study examined the relationship between experiencing DV victimization and perpetration in the past 6 months and suicidality (ideation and attempts) among male, female, and TGD adolescents. This study used data from a longitudinal randomized trial examining the effectiveness of myPlan, a healthy relationship and safety planning app intervention for adolescents, to a control website. Data for this study was collected virtually, in which participants completed surveys through online platforms. A convenience sample was recruited through youth organizations and posting on online platforms including social media. N = 610 adolescents age 15–17 years, who resided in the U.S. experienced DV in the past 6 months, had access to a safe device, and were able to access online surveys were included in this study. The majority were female (63.8%) with (19.5%) TGD and 16.7% male. Nearly 22% of the sample identified as Hispanic/Latino and 61.0% as white. Participants completed an online survey consisting of measures of socio demographics, DV victimization and perpetration via the Conflict of Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI), and suicidality. The primary outcome was the association between DV victimization and perpetration on suicidality. Different forms of DV were accounted for including emotional/relational, physical, and sexual DV. Logistic regressions determined differences in the rate of DV victimization and perpetration on suicidality between gender groups (cisgender female, cisgender male, and TGD). A stratified analysis was conducted to test if the relationship between DV and suicidality differed across gender identity. Approximately one-third (32.2%) of adolescents reported suicidality in the past 6 months. TGD adolescents were more likely to report suicidality compared to males (20.6%, p <.05) and females (32.7%, p >.05). The overall odds of suicidality increased as frequency of emotional/relational DV victimization (OR = 1.37, p <.001), physical DV victimization (OR = 1.59, p <.001) and sexual DV victimization (OR = 1.42, p <.001) increased. These relationships were not significant for DV perpetration. When stratifying findings by gender groups, all forms of DV victimization significantly increased the odds of suicidality for females as well as female perpetration of physical violence. For males, all forms of DV victimization and perpetration were associated with increased odds of suicidality, although not significant due to the smaller sample size. While DV victimization is associated with increased odds of suicidality for TGD, perpetration of DV is associated with decreased odds of suicidality, although not significant due to small sample size. The findings from this study provide further insight into experiences of DV and suicidality among gender diverse youth and can guide future interventions aimed at preventing DV and suicide among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Youth violence, victimization, and bullying are pervasive in schools across the United States and are detrimental for learning and healthy development. K‐12 school safety is an increasingly urgent issue to research and understand from multiple perspectives. Physical and psychological safety in school is linked to better student and school outcomes and is fundamental to fostering well‐being and prosocial behavior. METHODS: Despite research demonstrating positive outcomes associated with school safety, there is no comprehensive conceptual model in the literature that considers precursors, strategies, mechanisms, and outcomes of school safety together. The current paper presents an equity‐centered comprehensive model of school safety, which is intended as a holistic representation of the multiple factors and pathways that contribute to school safety and positive youth development. RESULTS: This model can guide research and practice through an equity‐centered and comprehensive approach. This model can enable practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to make informed decisions and reach consensus regarding planning and decisions related to reducing violence and establishing supportive school environments. CONCLUSION: Our model suggests that a comprehensive approach can ensure the safety and well‐being of students and staff. By thinking ecologically, schools, communities, and stakeholders can ensure that all aspects of the school context are included in school safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding child maltreatment on a national level is complicated by lack of consistency in definitions of abuse and reporting by state. Adolescents experience child maltreatment, but responses to their maltreatment likely differ from younger children due to differences in development and vulnerability. The present study examined state variations of adolescent child protective systems reports using data from the 2015–2019 NCANDS. We calculated the rates of maltreatment reports, substantiations, and maltreatment subtypes per 1,000 adolescents in the population. Findings revealed wide variations across all three measured rates. Examining state variations involved with CPS is critical to informing policy and practice solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pervasiveness of racism in the U.S. and its negative relations with key development outcomes has led researchers to uncover mediators, of which this article argues efficacy should be considered. Self‐efficacy, one's belief in their capability to accomplish a task or goal, can be measured in multiple domains of functioning and contexts to predict behaviour. The current study examines possible specificity in the relation between discrimination (general discrimination and school discrimination) and efficacy (academic efficacy and efficacy to combat discrimination), whether resilience moderates these associations, and if these processes differ by gender. A total of 879 Black youth (47% female; mean age = 12, SD = 0.58) were included in the analyses. Findings suggest that school discrimination experiences are differentially associated with domains of efficacy. Resilience was associated with increased efficacy, but no significant moderation effects were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives. Adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by the exploration of independence and self-identity. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between indulgent parenting (characterized by high responsiveness and low demandingness) and adolescents' maladjustments across emotional, behavioral, and social domains. Methods. Using a cross-cultural sample of high school students from the U.S. (n = 268) and China (n = 189), we tested the hypotheses that indulgent parenting was associated with adolescents' maladjustments, and that such association varied by cultural context (U.S. vs. China) and parental gender. Results. The results from Bayesian structural equation modeling supported the hypotheses, showing significant associations between indulgent parenting and adolescents' maladjustments and differences in the associations across cultures and parental gender. Conclusions. The findings highlighted the need for culturally informed parenting programs to foster healthy adolescent development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis examined relationships between childhood adversities and the odds of suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17. Respondents (N = 2072) completed the survey through Amazon's Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. The sample was represented disproportionately by young adult women who identified as Caucasian. The sample was differentiated into subsets with versus without suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17. Suicide attempt(s) in this sample (22.4%) varied in number (once, n = 200; 9.7%; twice, n = 114, 5.5%; multiple, n = 150, 7.2%). The odds of suicide attempt(s) prior to age 17 were significantly (p <.001) higher for respondents reporting childhood sexual abuse (OR = 5.0), physical abuse (OR = 4.9), emotional abuse (OR = 3.7), peer bullying (OR = 3.1), parental neglect (OR = 1.6), and maternal battering (OR = 2.15). All adversities but exposure to maternal battering accounted for unshared variance in suicide attempts prior to age 17. Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire exposure counts were associated with child and adolescent suicide attempts. Suicide risk did not appear to increment progressively by additional exposures after two co-occurring stressors. The odds of early suicide attempt(s) were markedly higher in this sample among respondents who were exposed to one or more forms of childhood adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period for the development of affectivity and sexuality. Adolescents begin to explore their sexual identities, form intimate relationships, and learn to manage their emotions in new and complex contexts. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of habits and behaviors related to the affective–sexual health of adolescents in the fourth year of ESO, identifying risk factors, comparing their behaviors and risks, monitoring these behaviors, analyzing their pornography consumption, and evaluating the use of the internet as a source of sexual information. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study using questionnaires. Participants are fourth-year ESO students from a school in the Baix Llobregat province (Catalonia), aged between 14 and 18 years. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses are conducted using the chi-square test and p-value calculations with the R Project software. Frequency and percentage analyses are also used to describe the health behaviors of the participants. Results: The study reveals that girls have better knowledge of the contraceptive pill and male condom than boys. Sexual initiation and condom use management vary between the genders, with girls being more capable of persuading their partners to use them. Pornography consumption also shows significant differences in terms of the age of initiation and frequency between boys and girls. Conclusions: This study on adolescent affectivity and sexuality reveals knowledge about contraceptives, early sexual initiation, and high pornography consumption, highlighting the need for early and diverse affective–sexual education, youth empowerment, and media misinformation management to promote safer and healthier behaviors within municipal public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With considerable debate concerning the impact of culture on the expression of callous–unemotional (CU) traits, it is unclear whether the core features of CU traits generalize to youth across cultures. This study aimed to examine whether cultural differences are reflected in the core features of CU traits and the associations among these features. Network analysis was employed to identify the core features and to examine the network structure of CU traits operationalized by the Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits (ICU) in four community youth samples from different nations (Australia, N = 190; the UK, N = 437; the USA, N = 330; China, N = 503). The item "Apologizes to people" was identified as a cross-cultural core feature in the ICU network with a greater centrality of this item compared to others in all four samples. In addition, some items were identified as culture-specific core features in the network, differing in their centrality across samples. The network structures of the youth self-report ICU items were moderately similar across samples, while the structures of parent-report items showed substantial differences. These findings have important implications for cross-cultural research on CU traits as well as practical implications for screening and treatment. The core features of ICU appear to be generalizable in youth across cultures, although cultural-specific manifestations should be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the reciprocal relation between body mass index and internalizing behavior from age 2 to 15, and also the predictive role of executive function. This study included a subset sample of 640 children (47% were male) from the National Institute of Child Health and Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. A refined random-intercept cross-lagged model was employed to analyze: (1) the reciprocal relation between children's body mass index and internalizing behavior assessed in eight waves from age 2 to 15; (2) the predictive role of executive functioning in both children's body mass index and internalizing behavior. Trait-level body mass index-to-internalizing behavior association was not found; a significant state-level prediction from body mass index in 5th grade to internalizing behavior in 6th grade was found. Executive function was significantly associated with trait-level body mass index, trait-level internalizing behaviors, and state-level internalizing behaviors. The findings suggest that deficits in children's executive functioning may be a shared risk associated with both high body mass index and internalizing behaviors. From an intervention perspective, this study highlighted the importance of targeting executive function to intervene in children's obesity or internalizing behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of recreational cannabis use among adolescents is a growing public health concern due to its link to short- and long-term adverse effects on adolescents' wellbeing, physical health, mental health, and interpersonal behaviors. Method: Five databases were searched from inception to March 17, 2023, for exposure (nicotine product, alcohol) and outcome (recreational cannabis) in adolescents (persons aged 10–19 years). The studies were screened independently by two reviewers, and the quality of the studies was assessed with Newcastle Ottawa and AXIS tool. PRISMA guidelines were employed in this review. Result: Twenty-one (21) studies involving 2,778,406 adolescents were included in the appraisal and heterogeneity was found among these studies. Ascertainment bias was commonly detected in thirteen (13) of the included studies. Among the substances examined as potential exposures, nicotine-product use emerged as a significant factor associated with future cannabis use among adolescents, particularly in mid-adolescence and in places where recreational cannabis use has been legalized. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests an association between nicotine-product use and subsequent recreational cannabis use among adolescents. However, further research is needed to establish causality between exposure to nicotine substances and the use of recreational cannabis within this age demographic. Additionally, there is a need for the development of prevention programs and targeted policies that continuously inform and update this vulnerable sub-population about the risks associated with cannabis use for leisure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both parasympathetic nervous system regulation and receipt of social support from close relationships contribute to prosocial development, although few studies have examined their combined influences in adolescence and particularly within racially and ethnically minoritized populations. In this longitudinal study of 229 U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents (48% female-identifying), youths reported on receipt of social support from family and friends from 10 to 16 years, had their baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) measured at 17 years, reported their prosocial behavior and completed the Mind in the Eyes test to assess cognitive empathy at 17 and 19 years, and reported their prosocial civic behavior (i.e., community activity) at 19 years. Family social support predicted prosocial behavior at 17 years, and friend social support predicted prosocial civic behavior at 19 years. Compared to youths with lower or higher baseline RSA, youths with moderate RSA reported more prosocial civic behavior, had greater cognitive empathy, and tended to report more general prosocial behavior at 19 years. The quadratic association between baseline RSA and cognitive empathy was stronger for youths with greater family social support. These findings are the first to extend the evidence that moderate baseline parasympathetic nervous system activity supports prosocial development into late adolescence and with the U.S. Mexican-origin community, and these findings address calls for more integrative biopsychosocial studies of prosociality. Public Significance Statement: This study shows that physiological regulation and social support from family and friends support prosocial development for U.S. Mexican-origin youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To examine the independent and joint effects of state legislation on minimum age for purchasing handguns and background checks on the suicide of young adults aged 18 to 20 years. Methods. We used negative binomial regressions with fixed effects for year and generalized estimating equations for state to estimate the effects of state legislation on annual counts of firearm, nonfirearm, and total young adult suicides in all 50 US states from 1991 to 2020. Results. Minimum age laws decreased the incidence rate of firearm suicide among young adults, an effect that was amplified in states with permit to purchase laws; there was no effect on the nonfirearm or total suicide rate. Permit to purchase laws significantly decreased the young adult firearm suicide incidence rate by 39% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51, 0.74) and the overall suicide incidence rate by 14% (IRR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.75, 0.99), with no effect on the nonfirearm suicide rate. Conclusions. Permit to purchase laws are a more promising avenue for reducing young adult suicides than are age-based restrictions. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(8):805–813. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307689) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies have investigated and found an association between victimization and weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between exposure to neighborhood violence (NV) and gun carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional association between exposure to NV and gun carrying among adolescents. Data for this study came from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 17,033 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years old (51.7% male) was analyzed using logistic regression with complementary log-log link function. The outcome variable investigated in this study is gun carrying and was measured as a binary variable, whereas the main explanatory variable examined in this study was exposure to NV, which was also measured as a binary variable. Of the 17,033 adolescents, 4.2% carried a weapon during the past year, and 18.7% were exposed to NV. Controlling for the effects of other factors, adolescents who were exposed to NV had more than double the odds of carrying a gun when compared to their counterparts not exposed to NV (adjusted odds ratio = 2.33, 95% Confidence Intervals [1.69, 3.23]). Other significant factors associated with gun carrying include being a male, non-Hispanic Black, being threatened or injured with a weapon, use of alcohol, cigarette smoking, and misuse of prescription opioids. High parental monitoring was protective against gun carrying. The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age-appropriate intervention strategies to reduce gun carrying among adolescents. School counselors and other professionals working with adolescents in disadvantaged neighborhoods should actively engage parents in assessments and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of a school-based health intervention on adolescents' health knowledge, psychosocial assets and health behaviors, including comparisons of implementation mode: remote, hybrid or in-person. The Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaches Program, an 8-week, school-based health promotion and coaching skills program, was offered to adolescents (ages 14–18 years) from four low-income US communities. Mode of program implementation was remote, hybrid or in-person. Participants completed online pre- and postsurveys. Analysis included paired t -tests, linear regression and qualitative coding. From Fall 2020 to Fall 2021, 262 adolescents enrolled and 179 finished the program and completed pre- and postsurveys. Of the 179, 80% were female, with a mean age of 15.9 years; 22% were Asian; 8% were Black or African American; 25% were White; and 40% were Hispanic. About 115 participants were remote, 25 were hybrid and 39 were in-person. Across all participants, significant improvements (P  < 0.01) were reported in health knowledge, psychosocial assets (self-esteem, self-efficacy and problem-solving) and health behaviors (physical activity, nutrition and stress reduction). After adjusting for sex and age, these improvements were roughly equivalent across the three modes of delivery. Participation was associated with significant improvements in adolescent health behaviors. Furthermore, remote mode of instruction was just as effective as in-person and hybrid modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pornography often depicts traditional gender norms and aggression paired with sexual behaviour. Among adolescents, exposure to pornography is related to unhealthy beliefs about gender, sex and relationships. Critical thinking about media may reduce the internalisation of unhealthy messages in pornography. However, there is a dearth of research examining how critical media attitudes are protective of youth in early adolescence. Using a US sample of ninth- and tenth-grade students (n = 558; Mage = 14; 53% female), this study examines how the relationship between frequency of pornography use and acceptance of traditional gender norms, dating violence and rape myths may be moderated by critical media attitudes. More frequent pornography use was related to greater acceptance of rape myths and gender norms, but only for adolescents who were less sceptical about media messages. For adolescents who were sceptical of media messages about sex, there was no relationship between pornography use and their acceptance of rape myths and gender norms. This study provides preliminary evidence of the protective influence that critical media attitudes may have on adolescents' sexual and relationship health. In an increasingly digital world, it is critical to provide early media literacy education as part of sexuality education to promote adolescents' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: E-cigarettes are the most-used tobacco product among US adolescents and are associated with nicotine addiction. This qualitative investigation aimed to understand adolescents' experiences and perceptions with nicotine addiction, and related influences of addiction, to inform product regulation, health communication, and cessation resource development. Methods: Between May 2020 and December 2021, in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 47 California (United States) adolescents ages 13–17 who reported recent tobacco use (primarily e-cigarette use). The topic of addiction both arose organically and followed specific interviewer questions. Researchers used thematic analysis techniques to identify unifying themes related to addiction. Results: Adolescents described e-cigarette addiction in ways that reflected a loss of control over their routines and activities and as physical symptoms, including reward and withdrawal. While some viewed addiction risk as a reason not to vape, others perceived it possible to use e-cigarettes and avoid or manage addiction. Specific characteristics of e-cigarette devices, particularly disposable nicotine-salt products, including flavors, "cool" designs, concealable size and odor, low price, and ease-of-use, were seen as enhancing addiction risk. Quit attempts were difficult and usually unsupported by adults or formal cessation aids. Conclusions: For many adolescents, addiction is a major component of their experience with e-cigarettes, often in ways that disrupt their routines and reduce their quality of life. Tobacco control or regulation could target e-cigarette product characteristics to decrease potential for addiction among adolescents. Needed are youth-targeted public communication about nicotine addiction and adolescent-tailored, evidence-based cessation support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The linkage between substance use and youth suicidality is less developed due to the predominant focus on certain types of substances (e.g., alcohol consumption, prescription opioid misuse). This study examines polysubstance use and its mutual impact on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among US adolescents. Methods: Data from 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were utilized. Associations between the concurrent use of five substances (cigarette, e-cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription opioid) and suicidality (suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts) were measured by logistic regression models. The combined effect of polysubstance use on suicidality was further assessed by structural equation modeling. Results: About two in five (42.1%) adolescents used at least one type of substances in the past month and one in seven (13.5%) used three or more types concurrently (polysubstance use). Adolescents with polysubstance use behaviors were three to five times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts (OR=3.8, p < 0.05), make a suicide plan (OR=3.5, p < 0.05), or attempt suicide (OR=4.6, p < 0.05) than non-users. In the final structural model, polysubstance use and suicidality were significantly correlated with each other (β=0.37, p < 0.05). Collectively, polysubstance use explained about 14% of variance in youth suicidality. Conclusions: Polysubstance use shows a significant impact on youth suicidality. School-based health centers and educational programs are recommended to reduce substance use and suicidal behaviors among adolescents. Accessible mental health services and targeted treatments are needed for polysubstance users to mitigate their risk of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although substance use rates among adolescents have decreased, drug overdose deaths among adolescents have increased since 2020, driven largely by illegally made fentanyl (IMF). This study explores substance use patterns and characteristics of adolescents who were assessed for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to inform prevention and response strategies. Methods: A convenience sample of adolescents aged 10–18 years assessed for SUD treatment from September 2017 to December 2021 was analyzed using the Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens. The percentage of lifetime and past 30-day substance use was examined. Adolescent characteristics (e.g., demographics, history of overdoses or hospital visits due to drug/alcohol use) were analyzed by lifetime substances used. Results: Among 5,377 assessments, most were male (58.7%), aged 16–18 years (50.5%), non-Hispanic White (43.1%), enrolled in school (87.3%), and living with their parent(s) (72.4%). The most commonly reported lifetime substances used were marijuana (68.0%), alcohol (54.2%), and prescription opioid misuse (13.6%). The most common past 30-day substance use combination was alcohol and marijuana (35.6%). The percentage of assessments indicating past-year overdoses or hospital visits due to drug/alcohol use was greatest among those who reported lifetime use of IMF (24.0%), followed by heroin (21.4%) and cocaine (15.3%). Overall, 2.3% reported lifetime IMF use and 0.6% thought IMF was causing them the most problems. Conclusions: Findings inform opportunities to address substance use and increased IMF-involved overdose among adolescents. Continued overdose prevention and response strategies such as evidence-based education campaigns, naloxone distribution and harm reduction efforts, and evidence-based SUD treatment expansion are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adolescent children of US service members (i.e., military‐dependent youth) face unique stressors that increase risk for various forms of disinhibited eating, including emotional eating. Difficulties with adaptively responding to stress and aversive emotions may play an important role in emotional eating. This study examined emotion dysregulation as a potential moderator of the association between perceived stress and emotional eating in adolescent military dependents. Method: Participants were military‐dependent youth (N = 163, 57.7% female, Mage = 14.5 ± 1.6, MBMI‐z = 1.9 ± 0.4) at risk for adult binge‐eating disorder and high weight enrolled in a randomized controlled prevention trial. Prior to intervention, participants completed questionnaires assessing perceived stress and emotional eating. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing their adolescent's emotion dysregulation. Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS and adjusted for theoretically relevant sociodemographic covariates. Results: The interaction between adolescent perceived stress and emotion dysregulation (parent‐reported about the adolescent) in relation to adolescent emotional eating was found to be significant, such that higher emotion dysregulation magnified the association between perceived stress and emotional eating (p =.010). Examination of simple slopes indicated that associations between perceived stress and emotional eating were strongest for youth with above‐average emotion dysregulation, and non‐significant for youth with average or below‐average emotion dysregulation. Discussion: Findings suggest that greater emotion dysregulation may increase risk for emotional eating in response to stress among military‐dependent youth at risk for binge‐eating disorder or high weight. Improving emotion regulation skills may be a useful target for eating disorder prevention among youth who are at risk for emotional eating. Public Significance: Prior research has shown that adolescent military dependents are at increased risk for eating disorders and high weight. The current study found that emotion dysregulation moderated the relationship between perceived stress and emotional eating among military‐dependent youth. There may be clinical utility in intervening on emotion regulation for adolescent dependents at particular risk for emotional eating and subsequent eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the prevalence of dating violence and mental health symptoms among bisexual youth. Participants completed surveys that measured three types (physical, psychological, and sexual) of dating violence and three types of mental health symptoms (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and conduct disorder). Correlations revealed positive associations between sexual, physical, and psychological dating violence victimization among bisexual adolescents. Multiple regressions identified a connection between violent beliefs about a partner and experiencing violence with negative mental health symptoms. The results of the present study indicate that for bisexual teenagers who encountered dating violence, engaging in controlling behaviors and justifying violence against both boys and girls are notable indicators of adverse mental health outcomes. Mental health practitioners should be aware of the possible mental health symptoms among bisexual dating violence victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used latent profile analysis with data from 481 U.S. men to examine patterns of men's attitudes toward gender equity and their engagement in gender-equitable (GE) behaviors. Five resulting profiles included groups with (a) high endorsement of both GE attitudes and behaviors, (b) low endorsement of both, (c) mid-range endorsement of both, (d) strong endorsement of GE attitudes, but low engagement in action, and (e) low endorsement of GE attitudes but high participation in GE behavior. Worryingly, this last group reported higher rates of violence perpetration than other groups, while simultaneously reporting higher rates of participation in gender-based violence prevention actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commensurate measures of alcohol-related consequences across countries and cultures are critical for addressing the global burden of hazardous alcohol use. The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI), developed and validated in the United States, is a popular measure of alcohol problems. This study examined measurement invariance of the RAPI across samples of U.S. and Swedish high school seniors. Latent mean differences in alcohol problems across countries and differences in associations between alcohol problems with alcohol use and protective behavioral strategies (PBS) were also examined. The RAPI was scalar invariant. Swedish students reported fewer problems than U.S. students (latent mean difference = −0.19, p =.047). In both samples, the RAPI was positively correlated with alcohol use frequency and quantity (ps <.001), and negatively correlated with PBS use (p s <.05). Overall, the RAPI demonstrated measurement invariance, and we found evidence for its validity across samples of U.S. and Swedish high school seniors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children have increased in prevalence. Dietary intake may modify risk. Data collected during a randomized trial testing the effect of a behavioral intervention on adiposity, blood pressure (BP), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were analyzed using multivariable regression to determine independent associations of sodium, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), and artificially sweetened beverage (ASB) intake with outcomes. High sodium intake (≥3.5 g) was associated with hypertensive BP (odds ratio 12.8; P =.027) in minimally adjusted models. High SSB intake (≥4 oz) was independently associated with body mass index z -score (β =.34; P =.035) and waist circumference z -score (β =.49; P =.022) in fully adjusted models. Any ASB intake was associated with LVMI in fully adjusted model (% change 38.22; P =.004). There was no effect modification between sodium and SSB on outcomes. Dietary factors explored in this study independently impacted CVD risk. Further effect measure modification should be explored in larger cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: State-level prevalence data are used to investigate whether recreational cannabis legalization moderates the mediated pathway from the perception of low risk of harm, to cannabis use, to cannabis use disorder (CUD) treatment admissions, among adolescents (age 12–17) in the US. Methods: Annual state prevalence measures of perception of low risk, cannabis use, and CUD treatment admissions between 2008 and 2019 (N = 542 state-year observations) were collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and the Treatment Episode Dataset – Admissions (TEDS-A). A two-way fixed effects (state and year) moderated mediation model was used to test whether recreational legalization moderated the indirect effect of perception of low risk on treatment admissions via cannabis use. Results: A positive indirect effect of perceiving cannabis as low risk on CUD treatment admissions via cannabis use was observed prior to legalization but not afterwards. After legalization, the positive association of perceiving cannabis as low risk with cannabis use was strengthened, and the positive association of cannabis use with treatment admissions was suppressed, as compared to before legalization. Discussion: Recreational legalization may alter the social acceptability and medical self-administration of cannabis, potentially leading to CUD treatment utilization decline among adolescents even as risk factors for CUD increase. Linking recreational cannabis legalization to advancing awareness of the health risks associated with adolescent cannabis use and promoting adolescent CUD treatment engagement through mHealth approaches and primary care providers are key to addressing potential adolescent health challenges brought about by expanding cannabis legalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of e-cigarette-related harm and addiction perceptions on e-cigarette initiation among US tobacco-naïve adolescents. This is a longitudinal study. Using data from five waves (2013–2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, we created a longitudinal data set for 2775 youth aged 12–17 years who had no prior use of tobacco products at Wave 1. E-cigarette initiation was defined as transitioning from non-use at Wave 1 to ever use in subsequent waves. Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the impact of harm and addiction perceptions on e-cigarette initiation. Our analytic sample comprised 63.1% of youth who had never used tobacco products at Wave 1 and consequently initiated e-cigarette use in subsequent waves. Over time, fewer individuals perceived e-cigarettes as harmless (14.1%–2.1%), whereas more perceived them as likely to cause addiction (53.7%–76.6%). Compared with perceiving e-cigarettes as a lot of harm, those perceiving some harm (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.52), little harm (aHR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.20–1.68), or no harm (aHR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.64–2.65) were more likely to initiate e-cigarette use. Demographic factors for initiation included being Black or Hispanic ethnicity (vs White), younger age (12–14 vs15–17 years), and receiving over $20 per week (vs $0) in pocket money, with P -values <0.05. However, in adjusted results, addiction perceptions did not significantly impact e-cigarette initiation (P -values >0.05). Among youth without prior tobacco/nicotine use, perceiving e-cigarettes as having low harm significantly predicted initiation over time. Effective prevention strategies, including targeted risk communication interventions, are essential for discouraging e-cigarette use among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse experiences throughout development confer risk for a multitude of negative long-term outcomes, but the processes via which these experiences are neurobiologically embedded are still unclear. Adolescence provides an opportunity to understand how these experiences impact the brain's rapidly changing structure. Two models are central to current adversity conceptualizations: a cumulative risk model, where all types of experiences are combined to represent accumulating stress, and a dimensional model, where certain features of experience (e.g., threat or deprivation) exert unique neurophysiological influence. In this registered report, we extended upon previous research by using a form of representational similarity analysis to examine whether the dimensional and cumulative risk models of adversity predict cortical thinning in frontoparietal and frontotemporal networks and volumetric changes in subcortical regions throughout adolescence. Drawing from a longitudinal sample of 179 adolescent girls (ages 10–13 years at the first wave) from Lane County, Oregon, United States, and up to four waves of follow-up data, we found that operationalizing adversity by similarity in threat and deprivation provided better prediction of brain development than similarity in overall adversity. However, these dimensions do not exhibit unique associations with developmental changes in the hypothesized brain changes. These results underscore the significance of carefully defining adversity and considering its impact on the entire brain. Public Significance Statement: Difficult experiences adolescents face while growing up can shape pathways of brain development over many years. The more one adolescent's experiences differ from another adolescent's experiences, especially in cases of threat or neglect, the more their rates of brain development diverge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests an association between exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) marketing and e-cigarette use (vaping) among adolescents. However, there is limited evidence on exposure to e-cigarette marketing and susceptibility to future vaping, especially among Black and Latino adolescents. This study aimed to examine associations between exposure to e-cigarette marketing and susceptibility to future vaping among Black and Latino adolescents in the United States (US). Participants (N = 362; equal representation between Black and Latino adolescents) completed a baseline assessment (available in English and Spanish) including sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., racial/ethnic group, age, gender, sexual orientation, etc.), exposure to e-cigarette marketing, and susceptibility to future vaping. Exposure to e-cigarette marketing was recoded and organized into two categories (high exposure = 2 to 3; low exposure = 0 to 1). Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel tests were used to evaluate the association between exposure to e-cigarette marketing and susceptibility to future vaping, stratified by racial/ethnic group. Multiple logistic regressions assessed the association between exposure to e-cigarette marketing and susceptibility to future vaping, controlling for gender, sexual orientation, grade, and academic performance within each racial/ethnic group. Black adolescents reported significantly higher frequencies of exposure to e-cigarette marketing (p = 0.005). A significant interaction was found between exposure to e-cigarette marketing and racial/ethnic group (X2 (1) = 6.294, p = 0.012). Among Black adolescents, high exposure to e-cigarette marketing (vs. low exposure) was associated with a higher probability of susceptibility to future vaping (OR: 2.399, 95% CI 1.147–5.021, p = 0.020). For Latino adolescents, exposure to e-cigarette marketing was not associated with susceptibility to future vaping (OR: 0.503, 95% CI 0.245–1.03, p = 0.062). Future studies should evaluate how and where adolescents are exposed to e-cigarette marketing. Prevention efforts must include the implementation of effective counter-marketing campaigns and the reduction of exposure to e-cigarette marketing among Black and Latino adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited previous studies investigated the influences of various types of neighborhood factors on adolescent behavior problems. Meanwhile, although previous theoretical frameworks suggested that gender played a significant role in terms of neighborhood impacts on adolescent behavioral problems, few studies investigated the gender differences in such neighborhood influences. Using the year 9 and year 15 data of the national dataset Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS, overly sampled participants from low-income families), this study examined how the neighborhood structural and process factors can affect adolescent behavioral problems (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and whether gender worked as a significant moderator for such relationships in the U.S. Structural equation models and multigroup SEM were estimated (N = 3411). Findings suggested that residential instability was associated with increased levels of internalizing symptoms among adolescents at age 15, whereas neighborhood social cohesion was linked to reduced levels of externalizing symptoms throughout adolescence. Furthermore, the moderating effects of gender were found for the association between residential instability and internalizing symptoms. Implications of such findings are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent substance use continues to be a global concern. Research has shown that two consistent predictors of this behavior are self-control and peer substance use. The objective of this study was to determine if these two variables interact to affect the frequency of substance use among young people. The analysis utilized three years of data from the Second International Self-Report Delinquency study (2005-2007) (ISRD-2), which gathered information from youth, ages 12-17, residing in 30 nations (n = 72,206). Illicit substance use included cannabis, ecstasy, stimulants, and other substances. A zero-inflated negative binomial model that adjusts for selection effects was estimated to predict the frequency of substance use. The results showed that adolescents with low self-control who associated with substance using peers tended to be the most frequent substance users. Yet, youth with higher levels of selfcontrol were likely to report no or low frequency use regardless of the number of their friends who used illicit substances. Self-control affects substance use among adolescents and can attenuate the influence of peer substance use. Research using longitudinal data is needed to disentangle changes in self-control, peer substance use, and one's own substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents from ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds increasingly report high rates of attempted suicide, trauma exposure, and limited access to mental healthcare services. However, less is known regarding their use of services across different youth‐serving systems. This study examines the associations and interactions between self‐injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), race/ethnicity, and service sector utilization (mental healthcare, general healthcare, school, and social services) among a sample of trauma‐exposed and treatment‐seeking adolescents. Participants were treatment‐seeking adolescents (N = 4406) ages 12–17 from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set who had available data for SITBs, race/ethnicity, services utilized, and other key variables. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to examine main and interactive effects for whether adolescents' race/ethnicity and SITBs were associated with service utilization in each of the identified service sectors. SITBs were associated with adolescents' utilization of mental healthcare (OR = 1.38 p < 0.001), general healthcare (OR = 2.30; p < 0.001), and school services (OR = 1.38 p < 0.001). NH Black adolescents reporting SITBs were less likely to use mental health services than other NH Black youths (OR = 0.53; p = 0.004). Hispanic adolescents reporting SITBs were more likely to utilize healthcare services than other Hispanic youths (OR = 1.51; p = 0.039). Trauma‐exposed adolescents reporting SITBs are more likely to utilize mental healthcare, general healthcare, and school‐based services than other trauma‐exposed adolescents. However, NH Black adolescents experiencing SITBs may face additional barriers to utilizing mental healthcare services. Findings can be used to develop nursing practices and policies to address barriers faced by adolescents reporting SITBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregivers of adolescent daughters with juvenile legal system involvement face unique stressors that have been largely overlooked in research and practice. The current study recruited 183 Black and Native North American/Indigenous caregivers with daughters involved in the juvenile legal system via a Qualtrics survey distributed using MTurk with careful screening practices. Results indicated high levels of stress and worry related to daughter's juvenile legal system involvement. Female caregivers used prayer, talking with friends, going to therapy, and exercise significantly more than male caregivers as coping strategies. Problems associated with daughter's juvenile legal system involvement and worry about daughter's juvenile legal system involvement significantly impacted use of most coping strategies. Finally, nearly all caregivers were interested in trying new activities to strengthen their relationship with their daughter and in strategies to improve their own mental health. Potential intervention components highlighted by caregivers indicate future directions for family-focused programming targeting families with juvenile legal system involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cannabis interest and use is increasing in the United States, yet research on its use among cancer patients is limited. Methods: Individuals with cancer completed an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regressions estimated odds ratios (OR) between patients' demographic and clinical characteristics with cannabis-related interest, current use, and provider recommendation. Results: Participants (n = 943) were, on average, 61.7 years old. Older patients were less likely to use cannabis products (OR = 0.42, confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.26–0.69) and less likely to be interested in cannabis (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44–0.84) than younger patients. Those with higher education were less likely to be using cannabis (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25–0.67) and less likely to have received a provider recommendation of cannabis use than the least educated (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19–0.76). Cancer spread and type were significant correlates of provider recommendation of cannabis use. Conclusions: Additional research is warranted to better understand cancer patients' motivations for cannabis use and interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paternal incarceration (PI) is recognised as a severely stigmatising event that undermines social connections leaving affected children isolated and vulnerable. However, few studies have explored social group membership as a potential mediator of positive outcomes. This paper analysed data from two national contexts, Scotland and the United States, to examine the potential for social group membership in childhood to mediate the association between PI and child behavioural and emotional outcomes. Study 1 reported on cross‐sectional data from the Growing Up in Scotland dataset of children aged 12 years. Study 2 used longitudinal data from the Fragile Families cohort study (USA) of children aged 9 years and then 15 years. Children and parents completed measures of PI, children's group membership, as well as positive functioning. In Study 1, a mediated indirect effect of PI on prosocial behaviour via children's group membership was observed. In Study 2, children's reported social group membership mediated the effect of PI on positive adolescent functioning longitudinally. Whilst experiences of PI at age 9 were linked with lower group membership at age 15, group membership was associated with higher levels of positive adolescent functioning. This has implications for the support families receive when a parent is incarcerated to avoid children serving sentences for 'the sins of their fathers'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental monitoring of digital media use evolves throughout childhood and adolescence and become increasingly important when autonomy seeking on social technologies emerges during early adolescence. We investigate a survey cohort of 248 US parents of early adolescents and their parental media monitoring behaviors (i.e., restrictive, active, deference), the family context (i.e., closeness and parent technoference), and perceptions of child's problematic internet use. Using an explanatory mixed methods approach, the results of this study reveal that restrictive parental monitoring of adolescents' digital media use is positively associated with child's problematic internet use. However, active and deference monitoring are not associated with early adolescent problematic internet use and positively associated with family contexts. Familial closeness and technoference are consistent negative and positive correlates, respectively, of perceived problematic use among early adolescents. Qualitative interviews with a subset of 31 parents reveal while most parents report restrictive behaviors, multiple techniques (e.g., active, surveillant, and deference) are also leveraged when navigating their child's online behaviors. Parents tended to converge on the same types and reasons for restrictive monitoring of media, whereas for other approaches the reasons behind their decision-making were quite divergent. The implication of this study is that parental media monitoring behaviors during early adolescence are rapidly evolving and not confined to a singular strategy, often related to prevention of or intervention on their child's online behavior patterns. Understanding the family dynamics and parent involvement of adolescent's digital media use remains critical in prevention of child's problematic behaviors and promotion of positive online behaviors. Highlights: Restrictive media monitoring is positively associated with parental perceptions of early adolescent's problematic internet use. Active and deference monitoring is associated with family characteristics, but not early adolescent's problematic online behaviors. Parental media monitoring strategies are constantly shifting depending on the child, context, and insecurities about effectiveness of their approaches. Family closeness and parental device use are also important indicators of early adolescent online behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although high parental education reduces adolescents' tobacco use, this effect may be weaker for ethnic minorities than non-Latino White adolescents. Aim: To study the association between parental education at baseline and adolescents' subsequent tobacco curiosity overall and by ethnicity. Methods: The current study used four years of follow-up data from the PATH-Adolescents) study. All participants were 12 to 17-year-old non-smokers at baseline and were successfully followed for four years (n = 3109). The outcome of interest was curiosity about (traditional and electronic) cigarettes in year four. The predictor of interest was baseline parental education, the covariates were age, sex, and parental marital status at baseline, and the moderator was ethnicity. Results: According to our linear regressions, higher parental education at baseline was predictive of adolescents' subsequent tobacco curiosity at year four; however, this association was weaker for Latino than non-Latino adolescents. We did not find a significant difference in the effect of baseline parental education on subsequent tobacco curiosity of White and African American adolescents. Conclusion: The effect of high parental education on tobacco curiosity differs between Latino and non-Latino adolescents. Future research should test the role of advertisement exposure, the prevalence of smokers, as well as other contextual factors at school and neighborhood conditions that may increase curiosity toward cigarettes in Latino adolescents regardless of parental education. The role of high-risk peers, family, friends, proximity to tobacco outlets, and other contextual conditions should be tested in future multi-level research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While more research is emerging about the development of masculinity during adolescence, not much is known about how masculine-type behaviors develop over time in middle to late adolescence within the context of friendships and peer experiences. This study examined trajectories of masculine-typed behavior from ages 14 to 17. Multilevel modeling was used to account for cross-time and within-time variability in masculine-typed behavior and examined the role of positive and negative peer experiences in predicting this variability. This was done in a sample of 334 U.S. adolescents (51% boys; 50% White, 19% Black, 15% Latina/o/e). At the between-person level, boys and girls decreased in masculine-typed behavior over time. At the within-person level, negative peer experiences predicted fluctuations toward greater masculine-typed behavior, whereas friend support predicted fluctuations toward less masculine-typed behavior. Adolescence is a key period for navigating masculinity norms, and peer experiences are a key context for the development of masculine-typed behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]