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We estimate prevalence, incidence and persistence of short sleep or sleep deprivation in a two wave cohort study of 4175 youths 11-17 years old at baseline and 3134 of these a year later. Data were collected using computer interviews and questionnaires. Sleep deprivation was defined as 6 h or less per night during the past 4 weeks. Weighted logistic regression procedures were employed to calculate prevalence, incidence, persistence/chronicity, and odds ratios. Prevalence rates and rates of persistence suggest sleep deprivation is highly prevalent and chronic. Multivariate analyses indicate that short sleep increases risk across multiple domains of dysfunction, suggesting pervasive deleterious effects. The broad impact of sleep deprivation and its pervasiveness suggests interventions will need to focus on multilevel changes to increase sleep time and reduce the negative impact of sleep deprivation among adolescents. (Contains 4 tables.)

A reexamination of ethnicity as a risk factor for adolescent suicidal behavior, focusing on whether Mexican American youths are at increased risk, was undertaken. Data from a sample of 4,175 African, European, and Mexican Americans, aged 11-17, are presented. We examined lifetime attempts and past year attempts, thoughts, and plans. Odds ratios, adjusting for covariates, indicate no differences between European and Mexican Americans on past year thoughts, plans, or attempts or lifetime attempts. Although some studies have reported Mexican American youths are at increased risk, we did not find any differences. Possible explanations for disparate results across studies are discussed, in particular methods effects.

Objective: The authors present prevalence data for adolescents in a large metropolitan area and examine the association of DSM-IV diagnoses with functional impairment and selected demographic correlates among European Americans (EA), African Americans (AA), and Mexican (MA) Americans. Method: The authors sampled 4,175 youths ages 11 to 17 years whose households were enrolled in large health maintenance organizations. Data were collected using questionnaires, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV and the Children's Global Assessment Scale. The data were collected in the Houston Metropolitan area in 1998-2000. Data on psychiatric disorders were derived from interviews with youths only. Results: AA had a lower prevalence of mood disorders, substance use disorders, and any disorders adjusted for Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV impairment or Children's Global Assessment Scale score than did others. EA had greatest prevalence of substance use disorders, whereas AA were lowest. After adjusting for covariates, EA had a higher risk for some disorders than AA. Effects of gender, age, parent education, family income, and marital status were not consistent across groups. Family income was protective only for EA. Conclusions: There appear to be few systematic differences between majority and minority adolescents at risk for psychiatric disorders. MA are not at increased risk contrasted to EA. AA had lower risk for some disorders, but adjusting for impairment and covariates eliminated most differences. Thus, multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that initial ethnic differences appear to be a function of factors associated with disadvantaged minority status rather than to distinctive ethnic culture. A noteworthy finding was that disadvantaged social status did not appear to increase the risk for disorders among minority youths. (Contains 4 tables.)

A reexamination of ethnicity as a risk factor for adolescent suicidal behavior, focusing on whether Mexican American youths are at increased risk, was undertaken. Data from a sample of 4,175 African, European, and Mexican Americans, aged 11-17, ate presented. We examined lifetime attempts and past year attempts, thoughts, and plans. Odds ratios, adjusting for covariates, indicate no differences between European and Mexican Americans on past year thoughts, plans, or attempts or lifetime attempts. Although some studies have reported Mexican American youths are at increased risk, we did not find any differences. Possible explanations for disparate results across studies are discussed, in particular methods effects.

Mexican American women reported more depressive symptoms than men (after controlling for effects of age, education, income) in two surveys conducted in Alameda County, California (1975, 1978). Among the married, the employed reported fewer symptoms than the nonemployed; there was no difference in depression scores of employed men and women. (Author/LC)

Sex differences in depressive symptomatology among Mexican Americans are examined using data from two sample surveys conducted in Alameda County, California, in 1975 and 1978. In both studies, women reported more depressive symptoms than men, even after controlling for the effects of age, education, and income. Among the married, the employed reported fewer depressive symptoms than the nonemployed, and controlling for the effects of employment on depression eliminated the sex differentials observed initially. Also, in both studies, there was no difference in the depression scores of employed men and women. This finding for Mexican Americans is at variance with most findings from other populations, in which employed men generally report less depression than their female counterparts. Another finding was that housewives in both studies reported more symptoms of depression than did working men, which is consistent with previous research results. In regard to the contrast between employed and nonemployed women, in one sample the housewives were more depressed while in the other there was no difference between these two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To examine the impact of insomnia among adolescents on somatic, interpersonal, and psychological functioning using data from a two-wave, prospective study.Methods: Subjects were adolescents 11-17 years of age sampled from managed care enrollment rosters in the United States. The baseline sample was 4175 and the follow-up sample a year later was 3136. Data were collected using computer-assisted personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Insomnia was measured using DSM-IV symptom criteria, scored as a summated scale and as separate symptoms. Indicators of somatic functioning were perceived health, limitations due to health problems, and impact of illness on family activities. Indicators of interpersonal functioning were social support, relations with parents, relations with peers and relations at school. Indicators of psychological functioning were self-esteem, perceived mental health, life satisfaction, and depression.Results: Symptoms of insomnia were common, with 17% reporting nonrestorative sleep, 6% difficulty initiating sleep, 7% daytime fatigue, and 5% daytime sleepiness almost every day. Without adjustment for insomnia at follow-up, the odds of dysfunction at follow-up for those with insomnia averaged 2.5 across 11 indicators of functioning. For 9 of 11 indicators, there was a clear dose-response relation such that moderate levels of insomnia increased risk and this risk increased with greater insomnia. Adjusting for insomnia at follow-up eliminated the association with somatic functioning and attenuated associations with interpersonal and psychological functioning.Discussion: These prospective data provide additional evidence that insomnia can have adverse consequences for the functioning of adolescents. Given the growing evidence for a relation between disturbed sleep and impaired adolescent functioning, more attention needs to be directed to identifying causal pathways and possible strategies for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]