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Generally, it is observed, adolescent drivers contribute a major share in motor accident crashes/cases as they are prone to a high level of distraction during driving. Many sundry explanations are monitored behind such cases. An umpteen number of risks which make young drivers more vulnerable to accidents add in high use of electronic appliances, inexperienced drivers, peer involvement during driving and risk-taking tendencies. It can be ameliorated when young drivers are subjected to conditioning at the behavioural level. This review article is an attempt to explore the distraction studies carried out on drivers as well as the behaviour exhibited by them. There is an under-researched area which needs to present programmes related to behavioural changes to target friends, parents and adolescents. This review concludes that a) young drivers under influence of electronic gadgets, peers, music, vehicular adjustments, etc., are more prone to get distracted, b) maximum number of road accidents are due to driver distraction, c) some positive effects have been displayed to curb reckless behaviour at administrative hand by implementing restrictions for drivers and passengers in graduated licensing system. But stricter monitoring is needed d) driving behaviour can be improved by telling the consequences of distracted driving to teenagers as well as their parents through counselling, web-based programs, etc. This review article shows that reproductions of programmes delivered by Web and school-based programs have been assessed with complementary strategies suggested by parents and physicians. These changes are still at an initial stage of progress and eventually will require a controlled application and evaluation studies. Certainly, there is no probable single methodology to avoid the young driver to distraction. But interrelated strategies like accessing usage of other gadgets like cell phones through technological interventions for further development will be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust research shows that poor parenting practices are related to adverse outcomes among adolescents; however, few have examined the interaction between parenting variables and adolescent outcomes within the context of exposure to relentless crime. The current study examined the combined effects of parental monitoring and discipline on marijuana involvement and deviant peer affiliation among adolescent males living in Los Angeles neighborhoods with concentrated crime. For this study, areas with higher-than-average crime rates were selected based on census data, published statistics, and law-enforcement data. The study included 349 males between 13 and 17 years of age, mostly Latino (70.2%) and African American (28.4%). Data were collected using questionnaires to interview participants and analyzed using logistic regression. Results suggest that among adolescent males in geographic areas of high violence and crime, the interaction between parental monitoring and discipline was significantly related to marijuana involvement and deviant peer affiliation. Follow-up analyses showed parental monitoring was only an effective tool at higher levels of consistent parental discipline. In the absence of consistent discipline, good parental monitoring was ineffective at preventing marijuana involvement and affiliation with deviant peers. Results suggest that if time and resources are limited, clinicians should consider focusing on the use of consistent discipline with parents residing in high-crime neighborhoods. Highlights: Parent monitoring and discipline impact marijuana use & deviant peer affiliation for male youth in high-crime neighborhoods. Parental monitoring is not effective without consistent discipline in impacting marijuana use and deviant peer affiliation. Clinicians should ensure consistent discipline when addressing parental monitoring in high-crime neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent data show high school students from racial and ethnic minority (REM) backgrounds in the United States confront a twofold challenge, marked by the highest rates of firearm-related homicides since 1994 and increased youth substance use. The pandemic increased online and telehealth usage opportunities for at-risk REM youth. Therefore, this study investigated (1) the frequency and prevalence of co-occurring youth violence and substance use among REM adolescents, (2) racial/ethnic, age, and natal sex (as gender data was not collected) differences in patterns and trends in co-occurring youth violence and substance use among REM adolescents, and (3) the relationship between these syndemic issues and REM adolescent mental telehealth use during the pandemic., Methods: Data was sourced from a nationally representative sample of U.S. 9th-12th students (n = 3241) who completed the CDC's 2021 Adolescent and Behavioral Experiences Survey (ABES). Using univariate (frequency distribution), bivariate (Pearson's chi-squared test), and multivariate logistic regression models, we examined seven violence victimization outcomes, four violence perpetration outcomes, two family violence outcomes, and six substance use outcomes and their associations with telehealth use for mental health (dependent variable) among REM adolescents., Results: This sample was primarily female (50.7%), Black or African American (48.3%), Hispanic or Latinx (20.6%), and identified as straight or heterosexual (69.5%). The study found significant sex-based differences in violence perpetration/victimization, substance use, and telehealth use for mental health. In general, mental telehealth use was significantly associated with substance use among REM adolescents (cigarette smoking, vaping, alcohol, marijuana, prescription meds, and illicit drug use) (p-value = .001). Mental telehealth use was also significantly associated with all peer and family violence outcomes (p < 0.001). Controlling for covariates, gun carrying was associated with 4.8 times higher odds of using mental telehealth. Students in a physical fight or carrying a weapon (gun, knife, or club) on school property had 2.45 times and 8.09 times the odds of utilizing mental telehealth. Bullied students were 2.5 times more likely to use mental telehealth (p-value < 0.05). Illicit drug use (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and ecstasy) was associated with a higher likelihood of mental telehealth use (AOR = 1.3, p-value = .05)., Conclusion: Our results suggest crucial insights for shaping violence and substance use prevention strategies, with implications for the future of online and telehealth behavioral services. Mental telehealth help-seeking emerges as a crucial avenue for supporting adolescents affected by violence and substance use, especially when they face obstacles to accessing traditional services. It can work in tandem with in-person services to address these challenges., (© 2024. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or 'vapes') has risen rapidly among young Australians in recent years. To combat this, on 2 May 2023, the Albanese Government announced a suite of reforms to reduce the desirability and accessibility of e-cigarettes to young people-including a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, restricting flavours, colours and nicotine content and requiring pharmaceutical-like packaging. While many have welcomed this announcement, the efficacy of such reforms in reducing the availability of e-cigarettes to young people remain to be seen, particularly given the current prescription-only model has done little to curb youth vaping. We argue that, in an uncertain landscape where e-cigarettes will likely remain accessible and desirable to young people, it is critical that we also upskill, empower and arm our young people with the skills, resilience, resources and knowledge to make informed and positive health decisions so that: (i) fewer young people opt to take up vaping (primary prevention); and (ii) among those who already do vape, more seek help earlier on to reduce or cease their use before dependency develops (secondary prevention). Schools are an ideal setting for the delivery of these programs, where they can be delivered en masse, integrated into existing alcohol and other drug programs and aligned with school curricula. Skills-based school prevention programs have demonstrated significant and sustained reductions in drug-related harms up to 7 years post-intervention. For as long as vapes remain widely available, desirable and purposefully marketed towards young people, we believe our best defence is self-defence., (© 2023 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Although the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on antisocial behaviors is well established in the literature, limited research, if any, has analyzed the effect that ACEs have on behaviors at two different times. Limited research also has analyzed the effect that specific ACEs have on deviant behaviors after statistically controlling for respondents' protective factors. This study expands the literature in this area by analyzing in a sample of 555 adolescents the immediate and lagged effect that individual ACEs, and exposure to a number of ACEs, have on three deviant behaviors after controlling for respondents' protective factors not previously examined in ACEs studies. Results obtained from multivariate logistic regression models revealed that stealing things was predicted by being hit hard, being sexually molested, and having lived with a depressed or suicidal individual; and receiving threats over the internet predicted physical fights. Only being hit hard and living with an alcoholic had a lagged effect on smoking marijuana. Results also showed that the protective factors of school connection, anger management skills, and parental supervision reduced the effect of ACEs on the behaviors analyzed. Research, theory, and policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty in the long run, as the long-term source of pressures, has strengthened the vulnerability of juveniles and has increased the incidence of psychological or behavioral problems during their growth. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen preventive intervention for adolescents to avoid poverty's "scar effect" upon their physical and mental health. Explore the effect of group counseling using the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) model on improving the resilience of junior high school students in impoverished areas. This single-blind, randomized controlled study adopted a within-subject experimental design of 2 (intervention group/control group) × 3 (pre- and post-treatment, subsequent follow-ups) and conducted group counseling intervention on seventh- to eighth-grade students in poor areas of southern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (the group counseling lasted 8 weeks, with one session every week, 60 ~ 90 min for each session). The intervention effect was then evaluated using the Resilience Scale of Chinese Adolescent (RSCA), Core Self-evaluations Scale (CSES), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between RSCA, CSES, and SCSQ in the intervention group and the control group. After the intervention, the program significantly improved overall resilience scores, including three dimensions (goal focusing, positive cognition, and interpersonal assistance). And at the same time, the level of core self-evaluation and coping style has been improved, and the effect can last up to 3 months after the end of the intervention. Group counseling based on the ASE (Achieving Success Everyday) model can effectively improve students' resilience and has significant effects on improving the core self-evaluation and coping styles of the subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To conduct a systematic review of the involvement of siblings of individuals with a disability in therapeutic interventions to explore (a) sibling roles, (b) reported outcomes related to participant skills, interactions, or relationships, and (c) participant experiences. A search of popular databases and grey literature was completed identifying studies published in English from 1999-2020. In total, 14,815 citations were extracted. Following a review of titles and abstracts, 31 studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for study quality. The most common role assigned to siblings was that of a trained playmate (n = 11), followed by an untrained playmate (n = 5). Overall, the interventions reported positive outcomes, although sample sizes were small and variability in outcomes was high. None of the studies included adult participants and most (n = 28, 90.32%) included participants who had a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Over half of the studies reported participant experiences of the intervention, with most reporting positive experiences. Notwithstanding the reported positive outcomes of the interventions in this review, further research is needed to better understand the specific impact of involving siblings in interventions, as is research with adult participants and participants with diagnoses other than ASD. Siblings can fulfil a range of roles, (e.g., trained playmate, instructor, model), when participating in interventions for an individual with a disability. frequently with positive outcomes. While overall involving siblings in interventions seems to lead to positive outcomes, the specific effect of involving a sibling (rather than a peer or parent) in an intervention is not clear. Most of the available research has focused on children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and so the findings may not apply across all disability groups. It is important to acknowledge sibling opinions about taking part in such interventions to ensure all participants' needs are being met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The growing body of research evidence on substance use and substance use disorder (SU/SUD) prevention could be leveraged to strengthen the intended impact of policies that address SU/SUD. The aim of the present study was to explore how research was used in United States federal legislation that emphasized SU/SUD prevention. Design: Using a mixed‐methods approach, we assessed whether the use of research predicted a bill's legislative progress. We randomly sampled 10 bills that represented different types of research keywords to examine how research was used in these bills, applying content analysis. Setting: United States Congress. Participants/Cases: Federal legislation introduced between the 101st and the 114th Congresses (1989–2017; n = 1866). Measurements The quantitative outcome measures were bills' likelihood of passing out of committee and being enacted. Qualitative outcomes included the ways research was used in legislation. Findings Bills that used any research language were 2.2 times more likely to pass out of committee (OR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.75, 2.72) and 82% more likely to be enacted (OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.23, 2.69) than bills not using research language. Bills using dissemination words were 57% more likely to pass out of committee (OR = 1.57; CI, 1.08, 2.28) and analysis words were 93% more likely (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.51, 2.47) than bills not using dissemination or analysis words. Research was used to (i) define the problem to justify legislative action, (ii) address the problem by providing funding, and (iii) address the problem through industry regulations. However, there was a lack of research use that targets underlying risk and protective factors. Conclusions: In the US Congress, substance use and substance use disorder prevention bills that use research language appear to be more likely to progress in the legislative cycle than bills that do not, suggesting that legislation using research may be viewed as more credible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pediatric uveitis can lead to sight‐threatening complications and can impact quality of life (QoL) and functioning. We aimed to examine health‐related QoL, mental health, physical disability, vision‐related functioning (VRF), and vision‐related QoL in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), JIA‐associated uveitis (JIA‐U), and other noninfectious uveitis. We hypothesized that there will be differences based on the presence of eye disease. Methods: A multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted at four sites. Patients with JIA, JIA‐U, or noninfectious uveitis were enrolled. Patients and parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL; health‐related QoL), the Revised Childhood Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS; anxiety/depression), the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C‐HAQ; physical disability), and the Effects of Youngsters' Eyesight on Quality of Life (EYE‐Q) (VRF/vision‐related QoL). Clinical characteristics and patient‐reported outcome measures were compared by diagnosis. Results: Of 549 patients, 332 had JIA, 124 had JIA‐U, and 93 had other uveitis diagnoses. Children with JIA‐U had worse EYE‐Q scores compared to those with JIA only. In children with uveitis, those with anterior uveitis (JIA‐U and uveitis only) had less ocular complications, better EYE‐Q scores, and worse C‐HAQ and PedsQL physical summary scores compared to those with nonanterior disease. In children with anterior uveitis, those with JIA‐U had worse PedsQL physical summary and C‐HAQ scores than anterior uveitis only. Further, EYE‐Q scores were worse in children with bilateral uveitis and more visual impairment. There were no differences in RCADS scores among groups. Conclusion: We provide a comprehensive outcome assessment of children with JIA, JIA‐U, and other uveitis diagnoses. Differences in QoL and function were noted based on underlying disease. Our results support the addition of a vision‐specific measure to better understand the impact of uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 6391 7th- and 8th-grade students in 72 public schools in six Brazilian cities. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to create a unidimensional model for validity. Linear regression was used to evaluate how baseline past-month drug use, violence, and sociodemographic characteristics affected violence at follow-up. The results showed that previous involvement in violent episodes at school (β = 0.397, p < 0.001) as well as the use of inhalants at baseline (β = 0.358, p = 0.026) predicted higher levels of violence 9 months after baseline. Additionally, girls showed lower levels of involvement in violence than boys (β = −0.144, p < 0.001). School prevention programs and policies should simultaneously address drug use and violence. Inhalant use seems to act as a proxy of future involvement in school violence, independent of previous involvement in violent episodes. Trial registration: RebEC, RBR-4mnv5g. Registered 3 July 2014, http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4mnv5g/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychoactive substance use among college youth is increasing in low‑ and middle‑income countries like India. However, there are few systematically developed interventions for this vulnerable group. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a skill‑based intervention to prevent substance use among college students (or enable them to quit, if already initiated use). Method: The skill‑based intervention was informed by focus group discussions with college students regarding the kind of help they perceived would be useful. The intervention was pilot‑tested for its appropriateness and acceptability in this population, and revised based on their inputs. Results: The feedback received from the students was incorporated and the intervention was suitably revised. The final intervention adopted a disease prevention and health promotion approach, by addressing psychoactive substance use as a risk factor for several major illnesses, and providing practical guidance on how to overcome use. The intervention consisted of four sections: (i) Health effects of substances, with realistic depictions through computer graphics (e.g., to illustrate arterial blockage, brain shrinkage, lung damage, erosion of gastric mucosa, impaired sexual performance, premature aging); Clarification of Myths, Providing Medical Facts, (ii) How to Overcome Substance Use, with practical strategies for quitting, (iii) Quitting Substance Use as part of a Healthy Lifestyle, (iv) Conclusion, portraying life after quitting substances, with motivational messages. Conclusion: The skill‑based intervention received positive feedback regarding its applicability and acceptance among college students. An experimental trial can be planned to examine the efficacy of the intervention in bringing about improvement in specific outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: COVID-19 is becoming one of the biggest threats and challenges to global public health. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of online life skills training for the parent-adolescent conflicts and adolescents' academic procrastination during COVID-19 period. Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with a control group. Thirty students were selected based on multi-stage cluster and were randomly assigned to the experimental (15 students) and the control (15 students) groups. They filled out Straus' Parent-Adolescent Conflict questionnaire and Solomon and Rothblum's Academic Procrastination questionnaire. The participants in the experimental group received 10 online 60 minute sessions of life skills training, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance at a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: The results of data analysis showed that online life skills training during COVID-19 outbreak significantly reduced parent-child conflict, the components of reasoning, verbal aggression, physical aggression, and academic procrastination including the components of preparing for exams, preparing for homework, and preparing for classroom research (P ˂ 0.05). The effect size showed that the effect of online life skills training on parent-adolescent conflict was more effective than that of academic procrastination. Conclusions: Due to the effectiveness of online life skills in reducing parent-adolescent conflicts and academic procrastination, the use of this method is recommended to psychologists and family counselors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This US study examined dissociation, rejection sensitivity and identity distress among adults who experienced adoption as a child and the relationship between these factors. Further, groups of adoptees recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and social media were compared to assess whether these two recruitment methods achieve similar results. Adopted adults (n = 389) and non-adopted adults (n = 151) completed an online survey. Significant differences were found between adopted and non-adopted groups on the measures of dissociation, rejection sensitivity and identity. Rejection sensitivity and dissociation were also found to be better predictors of identity problems than adoption status alone. Recruitment methods resulted in significant differences on measures. Implications for consideration in a clinical setting are discussed as well as potential areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress produces physiological and mental reactions in the body. Stressful life is most common experiences in human life. Mild stress is beneficial in performance but constant high stress may lead to anxiety and depression. Examination stress act as stressor and decreases the performance of student. A stressor is a change in the personal event or an environment that can cause stress. AIM: Present study was done to evaluate the muscle strength variations and fatigue under examination stress among medical students. Material and Method: Study involved 100 healthy boys and girls between 18-21 years of age. Who have no history of tobacco or alcohol consumption. Each students muscle strength was assessed by calculating work done using hand grip dynamometer and Mosso's ergo graph, once during routine schedule in relaxed state (with no examination) and again during stressed state (during mid-term examination). Result: The amount of work done and handgrip strength was significantly higher on relaxed state compared to during examination. Conclusion: This study suggests that as examinations act as unavoidable stressors, which lead to the variation in the performance of the students. The medical teachers as well as students should be made aware of the negative consequences of stress faced during medical training. Effective relaxation program and psychological counselling services should be provided to students so that they cope better with examination stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Engagement in multiple substance use risk behaviours such as tobacco smoking, alcohol and drug use during adolescence can result in adverse health and social outcomes. The impact of interventions that address multiple substance use risk behaviours, and the differential impact of universal versus targeted approaches, is unclear given findings from systematic reviews have been mixed. Our objective was to assess effects of interventions targeting multiple substance use behaviours in adolescents.Methods: Eight databases were searched to October 2019. Individual and cluster randomised controlled trials were included if they addressed two or more substance use behaviours in individuals aged 8-25 years. Data were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses, reported by intervention and setting. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Heterogeneity was assessed using between-study variance, τ2 and Ι2, and the p-value of between-study heterogeneity statistic Q. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken using the highest and lowest intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: Of 66 included studies, most were universal (n=52) and school-based (n=41). We found moderate quality evidence that universal school-based interventions are likely to have little or no short-term benefit (up to 12 months) in relation to alcohol use (OR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.84, 1.04), tobacco use (OR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.15), cannabis use (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.86, 1.31) and other illicit drug use (OR 1.09, 95% CI: 0.85, 1.39). For targeted school-level interventions, there was low quality evidence of no or a small short-term benefit: alcohol use (OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74-1.09), tobacco use (OR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.11), cannabis use (OR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.66-1.07) and other illicit drug use (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-1.02). There were too few family-level (n=4), individual-level (n=2) and combination level (n=5) studies to draw confident conclusions. Sensitivity analyses of ICC did not change results.Conclusions: There is low to moderate quality evidence that universal and targeted school-level interventions have no or a small beneficial effect for preventing substance use multiple risk behaviours in adolescents. Higher quality trials and study reporting would allow better evidence syntheses, which is needed given small benefit of universal interventions can have high public health benefit.Trial Registration: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD011374. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011374. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adolescence is characterized by the ongoing maturation of emotion-regulation skills and increased emotional reactivity. There is a need for a measurement tool suitable to the Ecological Momentary Assessment methodology, to better capture within-day variations in well-being, and provide fine-grained data that can help understand how environments, behaviors, and health intersect. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the Ecological MOmentary Well-Being Instrument for adolescents, designed for use in EMA. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, to develop and assess the EMOWI. A literature review, pictorial production by graphic designers, and qualitative interviews with French and Canadian professionals and adolescents helped design and evaluate the scale face validity. Quantitative evaluation of dimensionality, reliability, and validity was conducted in two samples of French 8th graders. Results: The resulting 8-item EMOWI showed excellent face validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a single factor hypothesis (RMSEA = 0.072). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85) and intraday test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.83) were high. Correlations with existing scales were consistent with preset hypotheses. Ceiling effects were evidenced for all items, yet not on the global score. Quantitative estimations were similar for the verbal and pictorial versions, but qualitative findings argued in favor of the pictorial version. Conclusion: The 8-item pictorial EMOWI is a short and innovative instrument to measure momentary well-being in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Its strong psychometric properties and its acceptability among adolescents make it an excellent candidate instrument for the Ecological Momentary Assessment of well-being in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify distinct trajectories of cannabis use during adolescence and examine whether Sociability (ability to relate to others) and Responsibility (ability to integrate a community setting) during childhood are associated with these trajectories, accounting for individual and familial confounders. Population-based cohort study (1998–2019): 1511 children from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were followed between ages 5 months and 19 years. We identified developmental trajectories of adolescent cannabis use (assessed biyearly between ages 12 and 19 years) using a group-based trajectory model. We performed multinomial regression analyses to estimate the association between childhood Sociability and Responsibility assessed yearly between ages 6 and 12 years, and cannabis use trajectories. At 19 years, 62.8% (807/1286) of adolescents had used cannabis at least once in their lifetime, 44.2% had used at least once in the past 12 months (504/1140), and 6.8% were reporting daily use (77/1140). We identified three cannabis use trajectories: nonusers (n = 577, 38.2%), late users (n = 690, 45.7%; mean age of initiation: 16.2 ± 1.6), and early users (n = 244, 16.2%; mean age of initiation: 14.1 ± 1.3). Compared with Nonusers, children with low Sociability had a lower risk for late (OR, 0.43; 95 CI 0.27; 0.68) and early (OR, 0.22; 95 CI 0.12; 0.41) cannabis use. Children with low Responsibility were at higher risk of being Early users (OR, 2.23; 95 CI 1.13; 4.37) but not Late users (OR, 1.20; 95 CI 0.71; 2.03). Understanding the multiple dimensions of social skills and their association with cannabis use trajectories may help improve the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Polysubstance use is a common, problematic behavior that increases risk of harm to self and others. Research suggests that rates may vary based on gender, sex and sexuality. Understanding the current state of this literature may inform prevention and treatment of polysubstance use, leading to reduced public health burden. Objectives This review aimed to synthesize research on gender, sex and sexuality differences in polysubstance use in adults and adolescents. Methods A scoping review was conducted using all EBSCO databases, PubMed and Google Scholar to identify articles examining the effects of gender, sex and sexuality on polysubstance use. Polysubstance use was defined broadly as the use of any combination of substances over any time period and included licit (alcohol, tobacco) and illicit substances, concurrent and simultaneous use, from lifetime to daily use and use at any frequency. Studies were considered if they were published in peer-reviewed journals between January 1990 and October 2020 and were written in English. Publicly available data sources were also utilized to fully capture prevalence data that has not been published elsewhere. Results Findings were mostly inconsistent and often conflicting. Only two findings were generally consistent: adult men were overall more likely to report polysubstance use than adult women, and sexual and gender minorities report more frequent polysubstance use than non-minorities. Conclusions Research has been unable to clearly elucidate differences in polysubstance use prevalence and patterns according to gender, sex and sexuality. Several recommendations are offered to advance future research and address limitations of current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Attitude Survey Inclusive Education-Parents (ASIE-P) in mainland China. Methods: A sample of 1,656 parents (70.59% female) from 27 provinces in mainland China completed the online survey. The data set was randomly split into two equal parts for exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), respectively. Results: The result of EFA showed two factors (emotion and cognition) underlining the Chinese parents' attitude towards inclusive education. Results of CFA confirmed the two-factor structure and good psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the ASIE-P. Conclusions: The two-factor structure of the Chinese version of the ASIE-P is different from that in Western societies. Despite this, the Chinese version of the ASIE-P is reliable and valid for Chinese parents, and can be used as a measurement tool for studies of Chinese parents' attitude toward inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Stimulant use, including cocaine, often occurs in a social context whose influence is important to understand to decrease intake and reduce associated harms. Although the importance of social influence in the context of drug addiction is known, there is a need for studies assessing its neurobiological substrate and for translational research. Objectives: Here, we explored the influence of peer presence and familiarity on cocaine intake and its neurobiological basis. Given the regulatory role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on cocaine intake and emotions, we investigated its role on such influence of social context on cocaine intake. Methods: We first compared cocaine consumption in various conditions (with no peer present or with peers with different characteristics: abstinent peer or drug-taking peer, familiar or not, cocaine-naive or not, dominant or subordinate) in rats (n = 90). Then, with a translational approach, we assessed the influence of the social context (alone, in the group, in a dyad with familiar or non-familiar peers) on drug intake in human drug users (n = 77). Results: The drug consumption was reduced when a peer was present, abstinent, or drug-taking as well, and further diminished when the peer was non-familiar. The presence of a non-familiar and drug-naive peer represents key conditions to diminish cocaine intake. The STN lesion by itself reduced cocaine intake to the level reached in presence of a non-familiar naive peer and affected social cognition, positioning the STN as one neurobiological substrate of social influence on drug intake. Then, the human study confirmed the beneficial effect of social presence, especially of non-familiar peers. Conclusion: Our results indirectly support the use of social interventions and harm reduction strategies and position the STN as a key cerebral structure to mediate these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel comprehensive literature review of studies of the psychosocial functioning (PF) and quality of life (QoL) of patients with childhood glaucoma and their caregivers. Our findings demonstrate variable study quality and approach, as well as inconsistent results relating to the association of glaucoma-specific factors and sociodemographic variables with measured PF and QoL. Future studies should focus on the development of culturally cognizant and standardized assessment tools, execution of multi-center longitudinal studies with global representation, evaluation of PF and QoL among siblings and childhood glaucoma providers, and implementation of interventions to improve patient and caregiver PF and QoL., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Street teenagers are one of the groups vulnerable to health problems. It is evident from basic health research that smoking behavior has started since the age of 10 years, with 13.4% of adolescents having used cigarettes regularly every day and 9.63% of adolescents already familiar with alcohol. Street teenagers with all their limitations are required to help the family's economy and must be willing to share time between work and study or play in accordance with their developmental tasks. If this is allowed, then Indonesia will lose so many potential young generations in the future. Street literacy by providing reading sources about health for street teenagers and mentoring is expected to increase the enthusiasm of street teenagers to care about their health, so that the adaptive behavior of teenagers can increase. Objective: This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of street literacy on increasing healthy behavior in an effort to prevent the health problems of street teenagers. Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental with a pretest and posttest with one group design. The research was conducted by implementing street literacy activities for three months starting July-September 2021. The sample of this research was 60 street teenagers, from the Akur Kurnia halfway house in Jakarta and the Ahmad Dahlan halfway house in Yogyakarta. The research variable is the independent variable: street literacy which is oriented to cognitive and behavioral development, while the dependent variable is the behavior of street teenagers towards preventing teenager health problems which includes knowledge, attitudes, and skills or actions of street youth towards health prevention. Data analysis in this study used the paired sample test. Result: the application of street literacy can increase the knowledge (p=0.000), attitudes (p=0.000) and skills (p=0.000) of street teenagers in health prevention. Conclusion: street literacy is effective in improving the health behavior of street teenagers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence exposure is associated with psychological and behavioural maladjustment in adolescents. Yet, not all adolescents exposed to violence experience negative symptoms. Resilience is an outcome that is in part determined by multiple protective factors, or developmental assets, that protect adolescents from the negative influence of encountered stressors and allow them to attain positive developmental outcomes. A qualitative study was conducted to acquire an in-depth understanding of the developmental assets across different layers in the ecological system that promote positive psychological and behavioural functioning in South African adolescents exposed to violence. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a multi-ethnic group (black, white, and people of mixed heritage) of South African adolescents (boy: n = 17; girl: n = 13; age: 14–19 years) from seven schools in Cape Town. Adolescents reported both internal and external assets that helped them adaptively cope with violence exposure. The internal assets entailed individual characteristics and skills, including commitment to learning, positive values, positive identity, social competencies, and emotional insight. The external assets were boundaries and expectations, social support from adolescents' peers, family, school, and community, and adolescents' constructive use of time. The findings of the study may inform strengths-based interventions to enhance emotional and behavioural skills in adolescents at risk for violence exposure. Moreover, involving key stakeholders in the interventions from major developmental domains can be particularly helpful to optimise the social support that are needed for adolescents to be resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the measurement of treatment integrity is important to determine how much, and how well, interventions are delivered in schools, the science of treatment integrity is not well developed in education research. The purpose of this paper is to describe a program of research that has developed treatment integrity measures over the past 10 years to assess teacher delivery of an indicated program targeting reductions in problem behavior in early childhood and elementary school classrooms. Specifically, this paper will highlight the importance of active use of conceptual models to guide treatment integrity measure development, multidimensional assessment of treatment integrity and training procedures for observers, using several studies to illustrate the evolution and refinement of our measurement approach. Recommendations for researchers developing and evaluating interventions in schools are provided, as are recommendations to help the field move toward a more rigorous science of treatment integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the different aspects of infant–mother relationships in adolescent mothers and compared them in adult mothers. Children aged 18–40 months who were referred to our outpatient Infant Mental Health Department were analysed retrospectively. Sociodemographic data, Parent–Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIR-GAS) scores, and Emotional Availability (EA) Scales scores were analysed. Twenty-nine adolescent mothers being younger than 20 years at the beginning of pregnancy and thirty mothers who were aged at least 25 years were enrolled the same data as adult mother group. In the adolescent mothers group, the education years of the mothers, the ratio of mothers having professions were significantly lower (p < 0.001); the spousal age gap was significantly higher than among the adult mothers (p < 0.001). It was also found that an underinvolved relationship pattern was seen more frequently among the mother–infant dyads in the adolescent mothers' group than in the adult mothers group (p = 0.002). Although there were not found many problems in terms of the relationship of adolescent mothers with their infants/toddlers in the current study this may have been due to a small sample, we would like to emphasise that the problems should be detected and appropriate interventions should be made for adolescent mothers. Our main aim for this study was assesment of the effect of adolescent motherhood in terms of infant\toddler–mother relationship Our findings showed that lower education level and being unemployed were higher in adolescent mothers group. Higher age gap between spouses was found to be associated with adolescent motherhood. Underinvolved relationship was highly prevalent among adolescent mothers Our findings suggest that early motherhood is a risk factor for mother–infant\toddler–relationship and parenthood. Intervention and education programs during and after pregnancy for adolescent girls may help them to prepare for motherhood more consciously and form established relationships with their infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: International agencies report the importance of health promotion in planning educational strategies and school management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify the benefits of using a Health Promoting School (HPS) approach to guide educational and school policy during the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, the main objectives and practices to be implemented, and the challenges likely to be faced. Design: A three-phase qualitative and participatory approach: (1) identification of study objectives and relevant data, (2) data collection through an online form using open-ended questions (14 participants), and (3) online meetings to analyse the findings and reach consensus (17 participants). Setting: Educational leaders from the HPS Network in the Lombardy region in northern Italy participated in the study. Method: Qualitative content analysis was undertaken. Answers were coded into meaningful units and then grouped under higher-order headings. Codes, subcategories, categories and themes were identified. Results: Results suggested high potentiality, significance and sustainability of the HPS model during the pandemic. Objectives and actions relevant to each HPS component were identified. Adaptations to content and methodology, timing, continuity and inequalities requiring specific forms of intervention were identified. Conclusion: This study sought to develop an HPS model relevant to implementation during the COVID-19 epidemic and identified specific lines of action during this challenging period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Substance use peaks in emerging adulthood, with evidence suggesting that college-attending emerging adults have a higher rate of substance use than their non-college attending peers. More insight into the factors that might contribute to substance use among college-attending emerging adults is needed. The current study examined the moderating role of emotion reactivity in the link between perceived importance of reasons for not using substances and lifetime marijuana and alcohol use. Participants: 440 undergraduate students under the age of 21 (M = 18.67, 47.7% Male) from a large Midwestern university participated in the study. Methods Participants responded survey items assessing reasons for not using, lifetime marijuana and alcohol use, and emotion reactivity. Results: Emotion reactivity only moderated the link between reasons for not using alcohol (i.e., reasons related to self-control) and lifetime alcohol use. Conclusions: Future research on reasons for not using is warranted. Implications for preventative interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growth in the number of evidence-based programmes designed to act directly on the factors that predispose or precipitate the onset of disorders or symptoms, rather than designing specific interventions to deal with each particular problem or disorder. The development of the Universal Strengthening Families Programme 11-14 (SFP 11-14) is one such example, where parents and adolescents are trained through the acquisition of strategic skills. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of SFP 11-14 in tackling internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescents from 11 to 14 years old. A quasi-experimental design was used with a control group, based on pre-test and post-test assessments and a follow-up. 289 adolescents and 353 parents took part, with 16 experimental groups and 17 control groups. From an analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey-B tests, the effectiveness of SFP 11-14 in dealing with internalizing and externalizing symptoms was explored, confirming the efficacy of its short multicomponent (6-session) structure at the evaluation point (post-test1) and 6-month follow-up (post-test2). The results confirm that short preventive multicomponent programmes can prevent externalizing and internalizing symptoms in early adolescence. Improved family dynamics and relationships act as protective factors against possible mental disorders and against internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, in future research, a specific assessment should be made of the effectiveness of each component in order to reinforce the more productive input, as well as conducting longitudinal evaluations so as to confirm long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Puberty is a sensitive period of life for developing specific skills and knowledge and acquiring abilities and attributes that are essential for managing emotions and assuming adult roles. Thus, this has implications for health educational programs to responses to the experimentation and exploration that takes place during puberty.Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of life skills training using health literacy strategies on self-esteem and self-efficacy in adolescent female students.Methods: This was a semi-experimental study with intervention-control groups performed on 96 female students (7th grade of high school) in Mashhad, Iran from January 2017 to Jun 2017. The sampling method was a multi-stage random sampling. The samples were divided into two groups: an intervention group and a control group (each one having 50 subjects) through the simple randomized approach. Data collection tools used were the Coopersmith Self-esteem Questionnaire and Sherer's Self-efficacy Questionnaire. Life skills training for the intervention group consisted of five sessions of theoretical training and workshops with role play and were designed based on health literacy strategies. The pretest, posttest and follow-up (3 months after the intervention) was conducted for both groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 19 software (t-test, Mann-Whitney, chi-square (χ2) and repeated data analysis).Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of self-esteem score (p = 0.70) and self-efficacy (p = 0.10), but immediately after training, as well as 3 months later, a significant difference was found between the two groups (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Based on the findings, life skills educational interventions based on health literacy strategies could promote the self-esteem and self-efficacy abilities among female students during puberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Studies show that food insecurity is associated with adverse health behaviors for children and adults. However, published data among adolescents are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and substance use behaviors among US high school students. METHODS: Data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 10 states were combined to examine the association between household food insecurity and adolescent use of alcohol, marijuana, prescription opioid misuse, and illicit drugs using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among surveyed respondents, 12.3% of high school students reported experiencing food insecurity. In unadjusted analyses, the prevalence of substance use was higher among students with food insecurity compared to food secure students: current binge drinking (16.2% vs 11.5%), current marijuana use (24.0% vs 16.2%), lifetime prescription opioid misuse (21.3% vs 12.6%), and lifetime use of illicit drugs (12.3% vs 5.0%) (all p <.05). In adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with lifetime prescription opioid misuse and lifetime use of illicit drugs (aPR 1.38 and 1.70, respectively). CONCLUSION: Students with food insecurity are a potential group at a higher rise of substance misuse and may benefit from prevention programs designed to address their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vision-related quality of life is related to severity of visual impairments and show the impact of eye diseases on daily activities. This study aims to assess visual functions and disability and its association with age, gender, education, marital status, and economic status in adults aged 45-69 years.Methods: Data in this population-based study were from the second phase of the Shahroud eye cohort study and collected by using a Short-Form Visual Functioning Scale. The scores of visual function and disability were calculated based on Rasch-transformed scores of the National Eye Institute visual functioning questionnaire, where a more negative score indicates a better situation. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the factors associated with visual functions.Results: Among 4737 participants the visual function data for 4715 people were analyzed. The visual function of 75.3, 17.1 and 7.5% of participants were "ideal and good", "moderate", and "bad and very bad", respectively, while 0.06% were unable for vision. The running mean of the visual function was calculated to be - 3.95 ± 0.02. The visual performance was worse in females than the males (β = 0.14, p = 0.005). Visual function improved with increasing levels of education (β = - 1.06, p < 0.001). It was worse in low-economic (β = 0.016, p = 0.005) and moderate-economic (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) participants than high-economic ones.Conclusion: The visual function of Iranian adults aged 45-69 years was moderate. The male gender, higher education and the higher economic status had a better visual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug and violence resistance educational program (PROERD) on short-term secondary outcomes, such as intentions to use drugs, attitudes toward drugs, school experience, and life skills (refusal, decision-making, and communication). Two cluster-randomized controlled trials were conducted in 30 public schools in the city of São Paulo (Brazil) with 4030 students (1727 fifth and 2303 seventh graders). The intervention group attended 10 PROERD classes conducted by trained police officers, whereas the control group received no intervention. PROERD is a Brazilian adaptation of the North American Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program Keepin' it REAL. Data were collected at two time points: pre-intervention and at 9-month follow-up. Two different paradigms were used in the multilevel analysis, complete case (CC), and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, using full information maximum likelihood (FIML). We found mixed results. Although the seventh-year curriculum seems to have positive effects on school experience (coef = 0.093; 95% CI: 0.001, −0.185), it also increases the intention to use cigarettes in the future (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.109, 3.379) and the chances of accepting marijuana (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.53), and it appears to slightly reduce decision-making skills among fifth graders (coef = −0.078; 95% CI: −0.131, −0.025). Our results suggest that PROERD implementation and cultural adaptation should be reevaluated to understand why the program does not achieve the expected preventive goals and produces potential iatrogenic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The clinical outcomes of individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR-P) who do not transition to psychosis are heterogeneous and inconsistently reported. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate longitudinally a wide range of outcomes in CHR-P individuals not developing psychosis. Methods: "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses" and "Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology"-compliant meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42021229212) searching original CHR-P longitudinal studies in PubMed and Web of Science databases up to 01/11/2021. As primary analysis, we evaluated the following outcomes within CHR-P non-transitioning individuals: (a) change in the severity of attenuated psychotic symptoms (Hedge's g); (b) change in the severity of negative psychotic symptoms (Hedge's g); (c) change in the severity of depressive symptoms (Hedge's g); (d) change in the level of functioning (Hedge's g); (e) frequency of remission (at follow-up). As a secondary analysis, we compared these outcomes in those CHR-P individuals who did not transition vs. those who did transition to psychosis at follow-up. We conducted random-effects model meta-analyses, sensitivity analyses, heterogeneity analyses, meta-regressions and publication bias assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Twenty-eight studies were included (2756 CHR-P individuals, mean age = 20.4, 45.5% females). The mean duration of follow-up of the included studies was of 30.7 months. Primary analysis: attenuated psychotic symptoms [Hedges' g = 1.410, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002–1.818]; negative psychotic symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.683, 95% CI 0.371–0.995); depressive symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.844, 95% CI 0.371–1.317); and functioning (Hedges' g = 0.776, 95% CI 0.463–1.089) improved in CHR-P non-transitioning individuals; 48.7% remitted at follow-up (95% CI 39.3–58.2%). Secondary analysis: attenuated psychotic symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.706, 95% CI 0.091–1.322) and functioning (Hedges' g = 0.623, 95% CI 0.375–0.871) improved in CHR-P individuals not-transitioning compared to those transitioning to psychosis, but there were no differences in negative or depressive symptoms or frequency of remission (p > 0.05). Older age was associated with higher improvements of attenuated psychotic symptoms (β = 0.225, p = 0.012); publication years were associated with a higher improvement of functioning (β = −0.124, p = 0.0026); a lower proportion of Brief Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms was associated with higher frequencies of remission (β = −0.054, p = 0.0085). There was no metaregression impact for study continent, the psychometric instrument used, the quality of the study or proportion of females. The NOS scores were 4.4 ± 0.9, ranging from 3 to 6, revealing the moderate quality of the included studies. Conclusions: Clinical outcomes improve in CHR-P individuals not transitioning to psychosis but only less than half remit over time. Sustained clinical attention should be provided in the longer term to monitor these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge effect on adolescents' health and learning. Health promotion strategies should be valued, and life skill education is a potential approach in this direction. This study aimed to investigate the implementation of an evidence-based life skill education programme during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Lombardy Region (Italy) by collecting opinions about the programme's usefulness and feasibility and identifying the strategies for implementing it through distance teaching. The study involved 63 middle school expert teachers, principals or coordinators in life skill education. An online questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions was used. A qualitative content analysis was carried out using N-Vivo Answers software. The participants recognized the high value of life skill education at the time of COVID-19, but they showed reticence regarding its feasibility. Positive effects of the programme on both health and learning outcomes were reported. The obstacles were related to interpersonal aspects, student involvement, methods, organization and planning. Many strategies were suggested related to the teaching method, the curriculum organization and the adaptation needs. These strategies can be used to implement active and cooperative learning at a distance to reinforce students' life skills to cope with the crisis and promote their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A secondary analysis was conducted on longitudinal data collected from ELPI, a representative Chilean survey to model Chilean infant's receptive language using contextual, maternal and prenatal factors. The sample for the current study comprised children aged between 36 and 48 months (n = 3921). The sample was re-assessed when children were aged 60-72 months (n = 3100). Linear regression analyses were conducted. At the first time point, all the predictors included were significant (living area, health system provision, maternal intelligence and education, adolescent pregnancy, maternal medical appointments during pregnancy, and presence of a significant other at childbirth), except for smoking during pregnancy. The model explained 13% of the variance. However, when timepoint one receptive language scores were included in the analyses for when children were aged 60-72 months, only two variables remained as significant predictors: previous receptive language scores and maternal education, explaining 21% of the variance. Findings and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on adolescence and substance use point to a link between internalizing problems and substance use. The current longitudinal study investigates how internalizing problems and substance use change over time among minority adolescents and the role of internalizing problems in predicting trajectories of substance use among African American and Latinx adolescents, with attention to variation by gender, ethnicity, and generation status. This study follows a large sample of minority immigrant adolescents over three waves of data collection (10th, 11th, and 12th grades). Individual growth curve modeling showed that substance use increased over time while internalizing problems decreased overtime. Results showed that changes in internalizing problems over time significantly predicted changes in substance use over time. Ethnicity moderated this relation; specifically, greater internalizing problems predicted greater substance use for Latinx, but not African Americans. No significant interactions were found among gender or generation status in predicting substance use at intercept. Implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present pioneering study investigated the differences across various types of family structure among Chinese adolescents with proactive and reactive aggression. It aimed at providing frontline social workers and family therapists with inspirations for designing suitable interventions for adolescents with specific subtypes of aggressive behavior from different family structure backgrounds. After completing an online survey including the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) and the subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist – Youth Self-report (CBCL-YSR) on aggressive behavior, delinquent behavior, and anxious/depressed symptom, 520 out of 13,338 Chinese adolescents aged 11 to 18 were randomly selected and stratified based on the types of family structure (intact family, single father family, single mother family, stepfather family, and stepmother family). Expectedly, boys elicited more proactive aggression, delinquent behaviors, and aggressive behaviors than girls. Besides, significant cross-structural differences were found between children from stepmother family, who showed more proactive aggression, anxious/depressed symptoms, aggressive behaviors, and delinquent behaviors, and those from intact family regardless of gender. The interaction effects between gender and family structure were significant for reactive aggression, anxious/depressed behavior, and aggressive behavior. An interaction effect showed boys from stepmother families were more reactively aggressive than those from intact families. In addition, more anxious/depressed symptoms were found in boys from stepmother family than those from intact and single mother families. In conclusion, the impacts of family structure on proactive aggression and delinquent behavior are not gender specific, but the impacts on reactive aggression and anxious/depressed behavior are only specific to boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use by adolescents are major contributors to death and disability in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper reviews the extent of adolescents' ATOD use, risk and protective factors, and studies evaluating prevention interventions for adolescents in SSA. It also describes the harms associated with adolescents' ATOD use in SSA, which mainly include interpersonal violence, sexual risk behaviours, and negative academic outcomes. We use the socio‐ecological model as our framework for understanding ATOD use risk and protective factors at individual, interpersonal, peer/school, and societal/structural levels. We used two strategies to find literature evaluating ATOD interventions for adolescents in SSA: (a) we sought systematic reviews of adolescent ATOD interventions in SSA covering the period 2000–2020; and (b) we used a comprehensive evidence review strategy and searched for studies that had evaluated ATOD interventions in all SSA countries between 2000 and 2020. Only two community interventions (a brief intervention and an HIV prevention intervention), out of four that were identified, were partially effective in reducing adolescent ATOD. Furthermore, only one school‐based intervention (HealthWise), out of six that we uncovered, had any effect on ATOD use among adolescents. Possible reasons why many interventions were not effective include methodological limitations, involvement of non‐evidence‐based education‐only approaches in some studies, and shortcomings in adaptations of evidence‐based interventions. The scale of ATOD and related problems is disproportionate to the number of evaluated interventions to address them in SSA. More ATOD interventions need to be developed and evaluated in well‐powered and well‐designed studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preadolescents' involvement in religious congregations may serve as a distal protective factor against aggression. Interviews were conducted to explore Puerto Rico (PR) Christian church and faith-based organization (FBO) leaders' knowledge and perceptions about preadolescent violence, and the role of congregations in its prevention. Bullying was perceived as the most common type of aggression among PR preadolescents. Education, positive role modeling, and relationships with pro-social adults are considered important in its prevention. While willing to engage in violence prevention efforts, congregations may possess limited knowledge on the topic and its relevance. Findings can help inform the development of collaborative research and prevention efforts at the family and community levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parental support (PS) and parental monitoring (PM) are known protective factors against adolescent substance use (SU). However, little is known about whether PS and PM may affect SU outcomes differently by gender and age. This study examined the relationship between PS and PM and adolescent SU, specifically alcohol and tobacco use, stratified by gender and age group.Methods: Middle and high school students (n = 2351, 48.5% Female) completed surveys of self-reported SU, perceived PS and PM, and socioeconomic background. Age group was defined dichotomously as grade 7-8 Middle school and grade 9-10 High school students. PS and PM were each measured using previously validated tools. SU was measured by lifetime and past 30 days cigarette/alcohol use. One-way ANOVA and binary logistic regression models were completed. Odds ratios and means were reported.Results: PS and PM were significantly and negatively related to all outcome variables regardless of gender and age group. Mean differences in PS and PM were insignificant between age groups. Between genders, PM scores were significantly higher for girls (14.05) compared to boys (13.48) (p < 0.01). Odds Ratios of all four SU types (for alcohol and tobacco use) increased with higher age group, with ORs ranging from 1.45-2.61 (p < .05).Conclusions: PS and PM were protective against SU for all participants, consistent with previous literature. Girls reported greater parental monitoring than boys, irrespective of age-group. While girls experienced higher levels of monitoring, they did not report lower SU than boys. This suggests that monitoring girls more closely than boys appears unnecessary in preventing adolescent SU. Finally, PS was a more significant factor in preventing SU for older adolescents (high school aged group) than for younger adolescents, irrespective of gender suggesting that PS may be more impactful and important as adolescents age. As children mature, particularly from middle school to high school, PS may play a larger role in preventing SU for older adolescents compared to younger ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parental substance misuse is reported to endanger the health and psychological development of children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to address conceptual and methodological problems in estimating the number of children affected by parental substance misuse (CaPSM) and offer a novel approach based on survey data. Methods: Data came from the 2018 German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) among 18- to 64-year-olds (n = 9267) and from population statistics. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were used to assess substance use disorder (SUD) related to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or amphetamine. Based on the number of household members, the number of children below age 18 years and the information on SUD status of the respondent living in this household, the number of children currently living in households with at least one member with SUD was estimated. Results: In 2018, there were 13,597,428 children younger than 18 years living in Germany. Of these, 6.9–12.3% (935,522–1,673,103) were estimated to currently live in households where at least one adult had a tobacco use disorder, 5.1–9.2% (688,111–1,257,345) in households where at least one adult had an alcohol use disorder and 0.6–1.2% (87,817–158,401) in households where at least one adult had a disorder related to the use of illicit drugs. The total number of children currently living with SUD adults in their household was estimated at 11.2–20.2% (1,521,495–2,751,796). Conclusions: Available estimates are difficult to interpret and to compare due to a lack of clear case definitions and methodological approaches with various biases and limitations. Future estimates need to provide precise case definitions and standard approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-variable effects, such as mediation and confounding, are core concepts in prevention science, providing the theoretical basis for investigating how risk factors affect behavior and how interventions change behavior. Another third variable, the collider, is not commonly considered but is also important for prevention science. This paper describes the importance of the collider effect as well as the similarities and differences between these three third-variable effects. The single mediator model in which the third variable (T) is a mediator of the independent variable (X) to dependent variable (Y) effect is used to demonstrate how to estimate each third-variable effect. We provide difference in coefficients and product of coefficients estimators of the effects and demonstrate how to calculate these values with real data. Suppression effects are defined for each type of third-variable effect. Future directions and implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]