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Background: Children with asthma are often marginalized at school, including bullying victimization. The purpose of this study is to estimate the association between asthma and school or electronic bullying victimization among US high school students, and test whether the association varies significantly by sex. Methods: Pooled data from five waves of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 73,074) were used. Additive interactions were estimated in R software as per STROBE guidelines. Results: Asthma increases the risk of bullying victimization among female and male adolescents. The risk of school bullying was significantly greater among female students with asthma (7.3%) compared to males (4.0%, p = 0.002). Similarly, the increased risk for electronic bullying victimization associated with asthma was significantly greater among female (7.2%) than among male students (3.4%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Targeted educational interventions to decrease bullying victimization among adolescents with asthma are needed to mitigate its negative impacts.

In recent years, the United States has seen an increase in gun-related violence and school shootings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the incidence of gun carrying among high-school students has declined. Nevertheless, an examination of the underlying factors that increase the risk of violence-related behaviors is necessary to develop interventions to decrease gun use among high-school students. General Strain Theory (GST) predicts that victims of violence are (a) significantly more likely to engage in violent behaviors and (b) the increased risk of violent behavior by persons who experience violence is significantly greater among male victims. This research aims to test these predictions of the strain theory with data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). To that end, it investigates whether the relationship between forced sexual intercourse victimization (FSIV) and gun or weapon carrying or physical fighting is significantly greater among male students. Using R and pooled data from the nationally representative YRBS (2017 and 2019), additive interactions were estimated according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines to determine the association between FSIV and weapon carry, gun carry, or physical fighting. Multiplicative interactions and odds ratios were also estimated for comparison. Results show a high risk of gun and weapon carrying and physical fighting among both male and female students who experience FSIV and a significant relationship between FSIV and increased risk of these violence-related behaviors. Additive interactions show that the relationship between FSIV and these violent behaviors is significantly greater among male students than female students. Results confirm the predictions of GST and show that FSIV significantly increases the risk of gun carrying and other violence-related behaviors among male and female U.S. high-school students; the increased risk is significantly greater among male students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to determine whether nontraditional undergraduate students in the US who enroll in distance education classes are less likely to have an enrollment gap (enrollment gap=part year enrollment). Previous research has shown that preference for distance education classes is significantly greater among nontraditional than among traditional undergraduate students; nontraditional students invariably have a greater number of competing demands (work and family) on their time. Since distance education courses provide students with more convenient and flexible class schedules, nontraditional students, who have time or location constraints that prevent them from enrolling in face-to-face classes during a semester or quarter, may be more likely to enroll in distance education classes in order to stay enrolled for the entire academic year. Based upon this rationale, we predicted that enrollment in distance education classes is significantly related to a decreased likelihood of an enrollment gap among nontraditional students. To test this prediction, we used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2008. The NPSAS 2008 used a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 113,500 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. Results confirm our prediction, and show that enrollment in distance education is significantly related to a decreased likelihood of an enrollment gap among nontraditional students, but not among traditional students. Results also show that five of the seven dropout risk factors (identified by previous research to decrease 6-year graduation rates) are each significantly associated with an increased likelihood of an enrollment gap. These results suggest that the offer of distance education classes could increase degree progress and possibly completion rates for nontraditional undergraduates who are at high risk for dropout. (Contains 7 tables.)

The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between sleep insufficiency, depressive symptoms, demographic factors, and the nonmedical use of prescription medications (NMUPMs) in the U.S. high school students. Data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System were used (n = 13,570) and analyzed using IBM SPSS 23™ (complex samples). Significant bivariate relationships were found between the NMUPMs and sleep (p < 0.01), feeling sad (p < 0.001), grade level (p < 0.001), and race/ethnicity (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analyses found that all of the independent variables were significant in predicting the likelihood of the NMUPMs. Findings underscore the potential impact of preventing NMUPMs in high school adolescents by improving their sleep behaviors and assessing adolescents for depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Children with asthma are often marginalized at school, including bullying victimization. The purpose of this study is to estimate the association between asthma and school or electronic bullying victimization among US high school students, and test whether the association varies significantly by sex. METHODS: Pooled data from five waves of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 73,074) were used. Additive interactions were estimated in R software as per STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: Asthma increases the risk of bullying victimization among female and male adolescents. The risk of school bullying was significantly greater among female students with asthma (7.3%) compared to males (4.0%, p =.002). Similarly, the increased risk for electronic bullying victimization associated with asthma was significantly greater among female (7.2%) than among male students (3.4%, p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted educational interventions to decrease bullying victimization among adolescents with asthma are needed to mitigate its negative impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to identify student-specific characteristics that are related to students' preference for distance education courses. Since distance education courses provide students with more convenient and flexible class schedules, they should be preferred by students who have a greater number of competing demands, such as work and family, on their time. Not surprisingly, previous research has shown that such competing demands are also risk factors for undergraduate degree non-completion. Therefore a major purpose of this research is to examine whether students with risk factors for non-completion of their undergraduate degree prefer distance education courses. Another purpose of this research is to examine whether students with a disability that limits their mobility, and thus experience greater barriers to access their face-to-face class rooms, prefer distance education classes. For this research, the data are from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2003-04. The NPSAS uses a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 80,000 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. Results confirm that students with increasing number of risk factors for non-completion of their degree show a significantly greater preference for distance education courses. Results also show that students with limited mobility also prefer distance education classes. Taken together, these results suggest that distance education classes are likely to increase enrollment and degree completion rates both for non-traditional undergraduates, who have more risk factors for degree non-completion than traditional undergraduates, and for students with physical disabilities that limit their mobility. (Contains 4 tables.)

Bullying victimization among adolescents is associated with increased illicit substance use. This research estimates whether the association between bullying victimization and substance use is significantly greater among female adolescents. Using R software and the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2011, 2013, 2014, and 2017), interactions were estimated to determine the association between self-reported school or electronic bullying victimization and previous 30-day alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and electronic vaping product use. Bullying victimization was significantly associated with each of the substance use variables, Effects were significantly greater in female students. Efforts should be put in place in schools and communities to reduce bullying, mitigate the harmful effects of this form of victimization, and reduce illicit substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified coping and sociodemographic correlates and predictors of depressive symptoms in mothers at risk for clinical depression. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. A convenience sample of 88 low-income or ethnic-minority mothers aged 21 to 45 completed a depression scale, demographic data sheet, and responded to an open-ended question. Content analysis, descriptive, and inferential statistics was used for data analysis. Exactly 42.5% of mothers reported high depressive symptoms (>16). Lower income levels (r =.342, p =.01) and head-of-household status (r =.220, p =.04) were significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those who used social support coping had lower depressive symptoms than those who did not (t = 2.50, p =.014). Those using emotion-focused coping only had higher depressive symptoms than those using a mix of coping strategies (t = 2.60, p =.011). Healthcare providers can employ vigilant depression screening and encourage utilization of a mix of problem and emotion-focused coping strategies to reduce depressive symptoms and prevent clinical depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the relationship between students' field of study and their preference for distance education. For this research, data were used from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: Undergraduate, which uses a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of undergraduate postsecondary students in the US. Results show that a student's field of study is significantly related to enrollment in distance education classes, enrollment in a distance education program, and satisfaction with distance education. Full-time employment, presence of dependents, and a mobility-limiting disability are also significantly associated with distance education preference. Enrollment trends show significant growth in distance education enrollment over 2000 to 2008 among students in all fields of study.

First Generation undergraduate students from low-income households (FGLI students) continue to have substantially higher dropout rates than non first generation students or students from more affluent households despite numerous efforts over many decades to improve graduation rates among this group of students. The purpose of this research is to determine whether FGLI students in the US who enroll in distance education classes are likely to make greater academic progress (more likely to be enrolled for the entire academic year and more likely to be enrolled full time during the academic year) than FGLI students who enroll in face-to-face classes exclusively. For this research, we used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2008. The NPSAS 2008 used a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 113,500 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. The results of this study show that FGLI students who enrolled in distance education were significantly "less likely to have an enrollment gap" in 2008 than FGLI students who did not enroll in any distance education class. Indeed, the negative association between distance education enrollment and the likelihood of an enrollment gap was significantly "greater among FGLI students" than among non-FGLI students. Distance education enrollment was also associated with a greater likelihood of full-time enrollment in 2008, among both FGLI students and non-FGLI students. These results, from a large nationally representative sample, suggest that providing FGLI students with greater access to distance education classes may increase degree progress rates and degree completion rates. (Contains 10 tables.)

The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between sleep insufficiency, depressive symptoms, demographic factors, and the nonmedical use of prescription medications (NMUPMs) in the U.S. high school students. Data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System were used (n = 13,570) and analyzed using IBM SPSS 23™ (complex samples). Significant bivariate relationships were found between the NMUPMs and sleep (p < .01), feeling sad (p < .001), grade level (p < .001), and race/ethnicity (p < .01). Logistic regression analyses found that all of the independent variables were significant in predicting the likelihood of the NMUPMs. Findings underscore the potential impact of preventing NMUPMs in high school adolescents by improving their sleep behaviors and assessing adolescents for depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the relationship between students' field of study and their preference for distance education. For this research, data were used from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: Undergraduate, which uses a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of undergraduate postsecondary students in the US. Results show that a student's field of study is significantly related to enrollment in distance education classes, enrollment in a distance education program, and satisfaction with distance education. Full-time employment, presence of dependents, and a mobility-limiting disability are also significantly associated with distance education preference. Enrollment trends show significant growth in distance education enrollment over 2000 to 2008 among students in all fields of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to determine whether nontraditional undergraduate students in the US who enroll in distance education classes are less likely to have an enrollment gap (enrollment gap=part year enrollment). Previous research has shown that preference for distance education classes is significantly greater among nontraditional than among traditional undergraduate students; nontraditional students invariably have a greater number of competing demands (work and family) on their time. Since distance education courses provide students with more convenient and flexible class schedules, nontraditional students, who have time or location constraints that prevent them from enrolling in face-to-face classes during a semester or quarter, may be more likely to enroll in distance education classes in order to stay enrolled for the entire academic year. Based upon this rationale, we predicted that enrollment in distance education classes is significantly related to a decreased likelihood of an enrollment gap among nontraditional students. To test this prediction, we used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2008. The NPSAS 2008 used a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 113,500 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. Results confirm our prediction, and show that enrollment in distance education is significantly related to a decreased likelihood of an enrollment gap among nontraditional students, but not among traditional students. Results also show that five of the seven dropout risk factors (identified by previous research to decrease 6-year graduation rates) are each significantly associated with an increased likelihood of an enrollment gap. These results suggest that the offer of distance education classes could increase degree progress and possibly completion rates for nontraditional undergraduates who are at high risk for dropout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First Generation undergraduate students from low-income households (FGLI students) continue to have substantially higher dropout rates than non first generation students or students from more affluent households despite numerous efforts over many decades to improve graduation rates among this group of students. The purpose of this research is to determine whether FGLI students in the US who enroll in distance education classes are likely to make greater academic progress (more likely to be enrolled for the entire academic year and more likely to be enrolled full time during the academic year) than FGLI students who enroll in face-to-face classes exclusively. For this research, we used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2008. The NPSAS 2008 used a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 113,500 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. The results of this study show that FGLI students who enrolled in distance education were significantly less likely to have an enrollment gap in 2008 than FGLI students who did not enroll in any distance education class. Indeed, the negative association between distance education enrollment and the likelihood of an enrollment gap was significantly greater among FGLI students than among non-FGLI students. Distance education enrollment was also associated with a greater likelihood of full-time enrollment in 2008, among both FGLI students and non-FGLI students. These results, from a large nationally representative sample, suggest that providing FGLI students with greater access to distance education classes may increase degree progress rates and degree completion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to identify student-specific characteristics that are related to students' preference for distance education courses. Since distance education courses provide students with more convenient and flexible class schedules, they should be preferred by students who have a greater number of competing demands, such as work and family, on their time. Not surprisingly, previous research has shown that such competing demands are also risk factors for undergraduate degree non-completion. Therefore a major purpose of this research is to examine whether students with risk factors for non-completion of their undergraduate degree prefer distance education courses. Another purpose of this research is to examine whether students with a disability that limits their mobility, and thus experience greater barriers to access their face-to-face class rooms, prefer distance education classes. For this research, the data are from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2003-04. The NPSAS uses a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 80,000 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. Results confirm that students with increasing number of risk factors for non-completion of their degree show a significantly greater preference for distance education courses. Results also show that students with limited mobility also prefer distance education classes. Taken together, these results suggest that distance education classes are likely to increase enrollment and degree completion rates both for non-traditional undergraduates, who have more risk factors for degree non-completion than traditional undergraduates, and for students with physical disabilities that limit their mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents who have been forced to have sexual intercourse have higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidality., Purpose: This research investigated whether the association between adolescent forced sexual intercourse victimization and depressive symptoms or suicidality varies significantly by sex., Method: This secondary analysis pooled cross-sectional data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2001 through 2017 (N = 132,580) using R to estimate adjusted risk differences and additive interactions., Findings: Results show an extremely high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidality among adolescents who experience forced sexual victimization. This association is significantly higher among females for depressive symptoms, but significantly higher among males for suicide attempt or suicide attempt requiring treatment., Results: also showed that approximately 40% of both males and females who attempted suicide requiring treatment also had a history of forced sexual intercourse victimization., Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of screening for sexual victimization, depression and suicidality among adolescents., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: Most adolescents do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity. Female, Black, and Hispanic students have significantly less physical activity than White male students. Physical activity of Asian or Multiple Race students have not been reported. The purpose of this research is to estimate differences in physical activity by race/ethnicity and gender among US high school students to examine whether Black Hispanic, Asian and multiple race female students and 11th grade and 12th grade female students have significantly lower physical activity levels., Design/methods: This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial, nationally representative survey of US high school students. Four waves of data were pooled from 2011 to 2017 YRBS (N = 59,397). Dependent variables were the number of active days per week a student was physically active, and whether the student was physically active for zero, 5 or more, or 7 days per week. Data were analyzed using R software., Results: Asian students and students in grade 12 had the fewest number of physically active days per week. Female students were less physically active than male students. Significant negative interactions were measured in female gender by race/ethnicity (Black or Hispanic) and female gender by grade levels for the number of physically active days per week and for zero physically active days per week. The gender disparity in physical activity was significantly more pronounced among Black and Hispanic students. The reduction in physical activity by grade level was also significantly greater among female students., Discussion: Efforts to increase physical activity are especially needed among Asian, Black, and Hispanic, and upper-grade female students., Practical Implications: Further research is needed to identify explanations and solutions for the significantly lower physical activity among Asians, female minority students, and students in upper grades., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no known conflict of interest to report., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prescription opioid misuse and suicide among adolescents are significant health challenges., Purpose: This study investigated whether effects of prescription opioid misuse on depressive symptoms and suicidality are greater among female than male students., Methods: Using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 14,765), this research estimated additive interactions using risk differences as well as multiplicative interactions using odds ratios., Discussion: Results showed prescription opioid misuse was associated with significantly greater risks among females than males for depressive symptoms (31.1% vs. 20.8%), suicidal ideation (27.3% vs. 19.1%), suicide attempts (18.1% vs. 11.9%) and suicide attempts requiring treatment (8.5% vs. 4.4%). In contrast, multiplicative interactions using odds ratios were all nonsignificant., Conclusions: Among students who misused prescription opioids, females compared to males had much higher average predicted margins of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide attempts requiring treatment. Screening for depression and suicidality among adolescents who misuse prescription opioids, and vice versa, is paramount., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Bullying victimization is common among adolescents and increases the likelihood of depressive symptoms and suicidality. Two previous meta-analyses have shown that these relationships do not significantly vary by gender., Objectives: This research investigated whether there are significant positive additive interactions between bullying victimization and female gender on depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide attempts that required treatment., Methods: For this research, analyses of pooled data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 44,632) were performed to estimate measures of additive interaction, as well as measures of multiplicative interaction in order to examine whether the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms or suicidality significantly varied by gender., Results: Measures of additive interaction show that the magnitude of the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms or suicidality is significantly greater among female than male individuals. In contrast, measures of multiplicative interaction indicate that the magnitude of the relationship between bullying and depressive symptoms or suicidality is not significantly greater among female than male individuals., Discussion: Measures of additive interaction are relevant for nursing and population health research. Future research should further explore how and why bullying victimization appears to more profoundly affect female individuals more than male individuals and how to mitigate it.