International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021

11 pages, 785 KiB

Open AccessReview

Physical Activity in the COVID-19 Era and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Well-Being

by Elena Bozzola, Sarah Barni, Andrea Ficari and Alberto Villani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043275 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3406

Abstract

Physical inactivity and sedentary habits are among the major risk factors for decreased physical and mental well-being. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, normal daily routines changed, including physical activity (PA) habits. The aim of this manuscript is to review the literature [...] Read more.

Physical inactivity and sedentary habits are among the major risk factors for decreased physical and mental well-being. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, normal daily routines changed, including physical activity (PA) habits. The aim of this manuscript is to review the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines in order to analyze the changes in PA and exercise practice after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the well-being of adolescents. A PubMed search was performed using the keywords “Exercise” [Mesh]) AND “COVID-19” [Mesh], and filters to limit the research to pertain to adolescents (13–18 years) and English reports. Out of the search, 15 reports met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The main findings outlined a global decrease in PA levels associated with decreased well-being levels, modified eating habits and leisure time activity, and increased obesity, anxiety, and depression among adolescents. PA is a significant health determinant and should be improved through the awareness of the benefits of regular PA and of the risks of sedentary behavior, as well as through support from family, friends, and teachers. Providing PA at school, as a part of the academic program, increasing the availability of equipment and facilities, and promoting at-home PA options are suggested as support for increasing PA in all countries and settings. Full article

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2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021

12 pages, 352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Child Abuse, Depression, and School Bullying among Chinese Secondary School Students

by Liu Liu, Xiaotao Wang, Binli Chen, Wing-Hong Chui and Xiying Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010697 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3347

Abstract

Introduction: School bullying is a serious social and public health problem. This article aims to explore the association between experiences of childhood abuse and involvement in school bullying, especially considering the mediating effects of depression. Methods: The sample of this study was 3059 [...] Read more.

Introduction: School bullying is a serious social and public health problem. This article aims to explore the association between experiences of childhood abuse and involvement in school bullying, especially considering the mediating effects of depression. Methods: The sample of this study was 3059 students (1584 males and 1475 females) aged from 12 to 20, in eleven Chinese secondary schools, which included six middle schools, four high schools, and one vocational high school in both urban and rural areas. The multinomial logit regression and linear regression were conducted by the two gender groups, to determine the mediating effect of depression in the association between child abuse experiences and involvement in school bullying. Results: This study indicated that female students were less likely to be involved in school bullying. Male students were more represented in the bully-victim group and experienced more physical and mental abuse during childhood. Depression was a mediator between childhood abuse and involvement in school bullying. Nevertheless, there was a gender difference in that depression fully mediated the relationship between the two variables among female students, while it only partially meditated such a relationship for male students. Conclusions: These findings indicate that more school-based service interventions and evidence-based research are needed to more thoroughly investigate school bullying and its predictors in China. Full article

11 pages, 374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey Study in Western Mexico

by Guillermo Alonso Cervantes-Cardona, Gabino Cervantes-Guevara, Enrique Cervantes-Pérez, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco, Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho, Jonathan Matías Chejfec-Ciociano, Irma Valeria Brancaccio-Pérez, María Fernanda Zarate-Casas, Fanny Yesenia González-Ponce, Kriscia Vanessa Ascencio-Díaz, Mario Jesús Guzmán-Ruvalcaba, Tania Abigail Cueto-Valadez, Andrea Estefanía Cueto-Valadez and Alejandro González-Ojeda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16154; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316154 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3017

Abstract

Social isolation and school closure may predispose adolescents to higher prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. In this cross-sectional observational study, the validated Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was administered to 3112 students aged 14–22 years old. We [...] Read more.

Social isolation and school closure may predispose adolescents to higher prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. In this cross-sectional observational study, the validated Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was administered to 3112 students aged 14–22 years old. We also collected data on participant gender, age group, school shift (morning or afternoon), school year, family type, whether they or any first-degree relative had been infected with COVID-19, whether any family member had died of COVID-19, and whether either of their parents worked. Mean scores were 8.34 ± 6.33 for depression, 7.75 ± 5.89 for anxiety, and 10.26 ± 5.84 for stress. Female students presented significantly higher scores on all three measures compared with male students. Students who had been infected with COVID-19, who had an infected family member, or who had a family member who died of COVID-19 also presented higher scores on all three measures. Identifying the symptoms and warning signs of depression and anxiety disorders is critical, particularly in vulnerable populations like adolescents. Full article

13 pages, 665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How School Travel Affects Children’s Psychological Well-Being and Academic Achievement in China

by Pengxiang Ding and Suwei Feng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13881; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113881 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5092

Abstract

Previous research on the role of school travel in children’s well-being (WB) has paid little attention to developing countries. Using national survey data across China, this study examines how children’s psychological well-being (PWB) and academic performance differ across commute duration and mode among [...] Read more.

Previous research on the role of school travel in children’s well-being (WB) has paid little attention to developing countries. Using national survey data across China, this study examines how children’s psychological well-being (PWB) and academic performance differ across commute duration and mode among urban, rural, and urban fringe areas. Our findings show that commute times are significantly negatively associated with children’s PWB and academic achievements, and this correlation varies across areas. Children living in the urban fringe have the longest average one-way commuting time (18.6 min), but they have a better acceptance of longer commuting duration, whereas commuting time is more influential in the city center and rural areas. Regarding travel mode, walking to school is positively associated with PWB in the center area, while bicycles and public transport positively affect the rural student scores. Results from quantile regression show that students on the lower quantiles of the conditional distribution of PWB tend to suffer more than the others when commuting time increases; students with middle scores respond similarly to marginal changes in commuting time. Recommendations for urban planners and policymakers to enhance child WB include fostering school-home balance, improving public transit services, and investing in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure for those vulnerable groups. Full article

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8 pages, 316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Smoking among Multicultural Adolescents

by Jin-Hee Park, Mi-Jin Kim and Sung-Eun Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11219; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811219 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1738

Abstract

Since an increasing number of multicultural adolescents have started smoking in Korean society, it is necessary to check the smoking status among multicultural adolescents and provide differentiated smoking cessation education and awareness through intervention programs. This study examined the factors that influenced smoking [...] Read more.

Since an increasing number of multicultural adolescents have started smoking in Korean society, it is necessary to check the smoking status among multicultural adolescents and provide differentiated smoking cessation education and awareness through intervention programs. This study examined the factors that influenced smoking among multicultural adolescents and identified interventions. This study was a cross-sectional survey. It used raw data from the 15th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) of 2019. Of the 57,303 participants in the 15th KYRBS, 749 were multicultural adolescents, i.e., their fathers or mothers were not born in Korea. The factors affecting smoking among multicultural adolescents were determined using a composite sample multiple logistic regression analysis. The results of the composite sample multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that 41 (6.4%) participants were smokers, had low academic performance levels, drank alcohol, were sexually active, and were more likely to smoke with other adolescents. They were 15.79 times more likely to smoke while drinking than when not drinking. Educational and psychological interventions are needed to increase multicultural youth school adaptation and academic performance levels, reduce health risk behaviors (drinking and sexually active), and ultimately, lower the smoking rate. Full article

13 pages, 349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Self-Doubt to Pride: Understanding the Empowering Effects of Delivering School-Based Wellness Programmes for Emerging Adult Facilitators—A Qualitative Study

by Galia Ankori, Dana Tzabari, Tamar Hager and Moria Golan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8421; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148421 - 10 Jul 2022

Viewed by 2140

Abstract

Ample literature exists on the impact of prevention programmes on their target audience, while much less is known about how delivering such programmes influences their facilitators. Even less literature exists on the emotional and social processes that form this potential impact on facilitators. [...] Read more.

Ample literature exists on the impact of prevention programmes on their target audience, while much less is known about how delivering such programmes influences their facilitators. Even less literature exists on the emotional and social processes that form this potential impact on facilitators. The current study analysed qualitative in-depth, non-structured interviews, as well as written essays provided by 33 student-facilitators who delivered the “Favoring Myself” programme in Israel during 2019–2021. This school-based wellness programme comprised 10 weekly, 90 min sessions on self-care behaviours, media literacy, self-esteem, and positive body image, which are well-known protective factors against risky behaviours. A thematic analysis was applied to explore the main themes in the collected data. An interesting affective transformation from self-doubt to pride in themselves emerged as a shared experience of these young facilitators. Facilitators related their ability to facilitate the programme, as well as to undergo an individual maturation and empowerment experience, to certain components of the programme itself, such as the preparatory course, individual supervision, and the peer-group experience. This shift from doubt to pride is discussed using two frameworks—a theoretical discourse of emerging adulthood as a developmental stage, and the self-determination theory. Full article

15 pages, 398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of a Psycho-Educational and Socio-Emotional Intervention Programme for Adolescents

by Susana Sánchez-Herrera, Eloísa Guerrero-Barona, Diana Sosa-Baltasar, Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso and Miguel Ángel Durán-Vinagre

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138153 - 2 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2716

Abstract

The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of a psycho-educational intervention programme. The objective of this programme was to achieve optimisation of self-concept and basic socio-emotional skills for comprehensive development in the adolescent stage. The sample consisted [...] Read more.

The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of a psycho-educational intervention programme. The objective of this programme was to achieve optimisation of self-concept and basic socio-emotional skills for comprehensive development in the adolescent stage. The sample consisted of 402 students from 19 groups from public secondary schools in the province of Badajoz. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was applied with a control group using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Self-Concept Form 5, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The analysis showed that the programme was effective in the family and social dimensions of self-concept, while in the other dimensions, the changes were not statistically significant. The results for emotion perception, understanding and regulation show that there were no statistically significant differences in the experimental group, although there were significant differences in the control group. Full article

9 pages, 309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Survey Setting Effect on Current E-Cigarette Use Estimates among High School Students in the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey

by Julia Chen-Sankey, Michelle T. Bover Manderski, William J. Young and Cristine D. Delnevo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6468; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116468 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3154

Abstract

The 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) was completed by youth online during class time, either in school or at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the role of NYTS data in tobacco regulatory science, it is vital to understand the effect [...] Read more.

The 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) was completed by youth online during class time, either in school or at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the role of NYTS data in tobacco regulatory science, it is vital to understand the effect of survey settings (home, school) on tobacco-use estimates. We used a series of multivariable logistic regressions to examine whether survey settings (home vs. school) predicted current e-cigarette use among high school students, controlling for other known predictors of e-cigarette use as well as the pandemic learning model that was dominant in students’ counties (e.g., nearly all at-home, majority in school). We observed a significant survey setting effect. Those who completed the survey in school had higher odds of current e-cigarette use than those who completed the same survey at home (AOR = 1.74); this effect was attenuated when we controlled for the pandemic learning model (AOR = 1.38). Moreover, e-cigarette use was independently associated with students’ learning model; students whose schools were nearly entirely in-person had the highest odds of e-cigarette use compared to students whose learning model was nearly all at-home (AOR = 1.65). Survey setting is a methodological artifact in the 2021 NYTS. Perceived privacy and peer effects can potentially explain this artifact. Full article

15 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Volunteering among Chinese College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Yun Geng, Shannon P. Cheung, Chien-Chung Huang and Jinyu Liao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5154; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095154 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2997

Abstract

Volunteering has been found to be not only beneficial to the well-being of recipients but also to the volunteers themselves, particularly from the life course perspective. Although previous studies have identified key factors of volunteering motivation, the literature is less focused on the [...] Read more.

Volunteering has been found to be not only beneficial to the well-being of recipients but also to the volunteers themselves, particularly from the life course perspective. Although previous studies have identified key factors of volunteering motivation, the literature is less focused on the interplay of public interest and private gains in volunteering motivation. This study used 1871 college students across China to examine how the interplay between public interest and private gains affects general and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-specific volunteering during the pandemic. The results show that the interplay of these two factors constitutes a dynamic process, depending on the volunteering and time-specific context. Overall, undergraduate students with greater concern for public interest and less preference in private gains had the highest rate of overall volunteering, followed by students with high concern for both public interest and private gains. It is crucial to take both public interest and private gains into account when discussing volunteering opportunities among Chinese college students, which may increase the well-being of students in the long run. Full article

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13 pages, 550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Delivering School-Based Wellness Programs for Emerging Adult Facilitators—A Quasi-Controlled Clinical Trial

by Moria Golan, Dana Tzabari and Maya Mozeikov

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4278; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074278 - 2 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2196

Abstract

A quasi-controlled clinical trial included a university-based supervision course for facilitators of an interactive wellness school-based program. The study aimed to investigate how students that facilitate prevention programs are personally affected by delivering content related to self-esteem, body-image, and media literacy. In total, [...] Read more.

A quasi-controlled clinical trial included a university-based supervision course for facilitators of an interactive wellness school-based program. The study aimed to investigate how students that facilitate prevention programs are personally affected by delivering content related to self-esteem, body-image, and media literacy. In total, 66 university students who were either facilitators of preventive programs (intervention group) or non-facilitators (comparison group) completed questionnaires before, after, and three months following the program’s termination. All methods were performed following the Declaration of Helsinki regulations and Consort 2010 guidelines. Participants in the facilitator group demonstrated statistically significant superiority, with large effect size, regarding improvement in identifying advertisement strategies. Weight-related body-esteem, and the reduced impact of media messages’ pressure also had statistically significant superiority, with small effect size. The number of participants with pathological EAT-26 scores (>20) decreased from 5 to 2 in the facilitator group compared to an increase from 5 to 6 (no statistical significance) in the comparison group. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant decreases in eating disorder perceptions and behaviors from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Delivering a prevention program proved beneficial to facilitators, in addition to the target school pupils, and thus may be considered as part of the prevention programs’ effectiveness assessment. Full article

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15 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Interventions to Improve Treatment Outcomes among Adolescents on Antiretroviral Therapy with Unsuppressed Viral Loads: A Systematic Review

by Farai Kevin Munyayi, Brian van Wyk and Yolanda Mayman

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073940 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4221

Abstract

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face unique developmental challenges that increase the risk of unsuppressed viral loads. Current reviews present a need for proven interventions to improve viral suppression among ALHIV on ART, who have a history of unsuppressed viral loads. This systematic [...] Read more.

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face unique developmental challenges that increase the risk of unsuppressed viral loads. Current reviews present a need for proven interventions to improve viral suppression among ALHIV on ART, who have a history of unsuppressed viral loads. This systematic review aims to synthesize and appraise evidence of the effectiveness of interventions to improve treatment outcomes among ALHIV with unsuppressed viral loads. Six bibliographic databases were searched for published studies and gray literature from 2010 to 2021. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool, CASP checklists and GRADE. A total of 28 studies were eligible for full-text screening; and only three were included in the qualitative synthesis. In addition, two studies were included from website searches. Four types of interventions to improve viral suppression were identified, namely: intensive adherence counselling; community- and facility-based peer-led differentiated service delivery (DSD); family based economic empowerment; and conditional economic incentives and motivational interviewing. We strongly recommend peer-led community-based DSD interventions, intensive adherence counselling, and family-based economic empowerment as potential interventions to improve viral suppression among ALHIV. Full article

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2021

Jump to: 2023, 2022

10 pages, 367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gender Stereotypes among Teachers and Trainers Working with Adolescents

by Adrián Mateo-Orcajada, Lucía Abenza-Cano, Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal, Sonia M. Martínez-Castro, Alejandro Leiva-Arcas, Ana María Gallardo-Guerrero and Antonio Sánchez-Pato

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 12964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412964 - 8 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3244

Abstract

Previous scientific literature has not determined the influence exerted by trainers and teachers of adolescents on the development of gender stereotypes in sport. For this reason, the aims of the present research were to establish differences in gender stereotypes in sport among teachers [...] Read more.

Previous scientific literature has not determined the influence exerted by trainers and teachers of adolescents on the development of gender stereotypes in sport. For this reason, the aims of the present research were to establish differences in gender stereotypes in sport among teachers and trainers as a function of profession and sex and to analyze the influence of age and years of experience of male and female trainers and teachers on the gender stereotypes in sport. For this purpose, 127 teachers and trainers completed the questionnaire “gender beliefs and stereotypes towards physical activity and sport”. The results showed a significantly higher score of the teachers in “beliefs about physical activity and gender” (p = 0.048) and of the trainers in “physical education classes and gender” (p = 0.006). Concerning sex, women showed higher scores in “sport and gender” (p = 0.005), and men in “beliefs about physical activity and gender” (p = 0.045). Regarding covariates, age showed significant differences in “sport and gender” (p = 0.029), with female teachers showing higher values with respect to female trainers and male teachers, while years of experience showed differences in “beliefs about sport and gender” (p = 0.044), with male teachers showing higher values than male trainers and female teachers. Full article

14 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal Changes in Swiss Adolescent’s Mental Health Outcomes from before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Beyhan Ertanir, Wassilis Kassis and Ariana Garrote

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312734 - 2 Dec 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3690

Abstract

This study aimed to explore changes in mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, home, and school stress) from before the first COVID-19 wave (autumn 2019) to the later stages of the same wave (autumn 2020) in a sample of N = 377 Swiss adolescents [...] Read more.

This study aimed to explore changes in mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, home, and school stress) from before the first COVID-19 wave (autumn 2019) to the later stages of the same wave (autumn 2020) in a sample of N = 377 Swiss adolescents (M_age = 12.67; 47% female). It also examined whether students’ background characteristics (gender, immigrant status, and socio-economic status) and reported COVID-19 burden predicted students’ outcomes and their intra-individual changes. Student’s mental health, background characteristics, and reported COVID-19 burden were assessed by a self-report questionnaire. The intra-individual changes in students’ scores were estimated using random coefficients regression analyses, with time points nested in individuals. To examine the effects of predictors (students’ background characteristics and the reported COVID-19 burden) on outcome scores and changes, multilevel intercepts-and-slopes-as-outcomes models were used. The results showed that the expected impact of the pandemic on mental health was not noticeable in the later stages of the first COVID-19 wave. Only two effects were demonstrated in terms of intra-individual changes, namely, an effect of gender on depression and anxiety symptoms and an effect of reported COVID-19 burden on school stress symptoms. Moreover, few associations were found for selected predictors and students’ mean level scores, averaged across both time points. Full article

9 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Emotional Behavior with Nutritional Status and Lifestyle Habits among Schoolchildren Aged 5–10 Years in Sri Lanka

by Chisa Shinsugi, Deepa Gunasekara and Hidemi Takimoto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10332; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910332 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2665

Abstract

We aimed to examine the relationships of lifestyle habits and nutritional status with emotional behavior among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka. Five hundred and eight schoolchildren (195 boys and 313 girls) aged 5–10 years were included. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the [...] Read more.

We aimed to examine the relationships of lifestyle habits and nutritional status with emotional behavior among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka. Five hundred and eight schoolchildren (195 boys and 313 girls) aged 5–10 years were included. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Nutritional status was used for body mass index-for-age z-score. Breakfast consumption, daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), wake-up time, and bedtime were considered lifestyle habits. The mean total difficulties score ± standard deviation was 12.0 ± 5.3, and the mean prosocial behavior score was 7.4 ± 1.9. In total, 89.2% children ate breakfast, and 41.3% engaged in at least 60 min of MVPA per day. After adjustment for confounding factors, multiple logistic regression analyses showed that breakfast skipping was associated with high scores on conduct problems (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50 to 5.77, p < 0.01) and that late bedtime was related to low prosocial behavior scores (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.17 to 5.03, p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that promoting regular lifestyle habits helps reduce psychological difficulties in schoolchildren. However, further research, including longitudinal studies, are required to identify the mechanism underlying this relationship. Full article

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12 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parenting Styles as a Moderator of the Association between Pubertal Timing and Chinese Adolescents’ Smoking Behavior

by Hui Ling, Yaqin Yan, En Fu, Amin Zhu, Jianren Zhang and Siyang Yuan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 8903; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18178903 - 24 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2427

Abstract

Background: Pubertal timing refers to the timing of an individual regarding pubertal sexual maturation, both physiologically and psychologically. Existing research shows that pubertal timing is associated with behavioral problems. This study investigated the role of parenting style in the relationship between pubertal timing [...] Read more.

Background: Pubertal timing refers to the timing of an individual regarding pubertal sexual maturation, both physiologically and psychologically. Existing research shows that pubertal timing is associated with behavioral problems. This study investigated the role of parenting style in the relationship between pubertal timing and Chinese adolescents’ smoking behavior. Methods: The study examined the association of pubertal timing, parenting style and adolescents’ smoking behavior, using the Pubertal Development Scale (Chinese version), Simplified Parenting Style Scale-Chinese version, and three items related to adolescents’ smoking situation. Participants were 1391 Chinese adolescents aged 11–16 years old (53.41% boys). Hierarchical linear regression analyses assessed the moderating role of parenting style on the association between pubertal timing and adolescent smoking behavior. Results: The results indicated that parenting style moderates the relationship between pubertal timing and adolescent smoking behavior. For male adolescents, father rejection moderated the relationship between early pubertal timing and smoking behavior. For female adolescents, father rejection, father emotional warmth, and mother emotional warmth moderated the relationship between pubertal timing and smoking behavior. Conclusions: Findings from the study highlight the importance of parenting style, which may influence the negative outcomes associated with early pubertal timing and can help improve interventions aimed at reducing these negative outcomes. Full article

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12 pages, 648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flourishing of Rural Adolescents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model of Social Capital and Intrinsic Motivation

by Sijia Guo and Diyang Qu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8158; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158158 - 1 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2598

Abstract

Flourishing, an indicator which reflects one’s emotional status and ability to function, is an important antecedent for adolescents’ later psychological and physical development. This study aimed to shift the research focus on rural adolescents from a deficit-based orientation to a strength-based orientation by [...] Read more.

Flourishing, an indicator which reflects one’s emotional status and ability to function, is an important antecedent for adolescents’ later psychological and physical development. This study aimed to shift the research focus on rural adolescents from a deficit-based orientation to a strength-based orientation by integrating the effects of individual and social factors. Altogether, 995 Chinese rural adolescents (569 boys and 426 girls, Mage = 12.56 years) completed a self-report questionnaire which included the Ego Identity Scale, Intrinsic Motivation Scale, Social Capital Scale and Flourishing Scale. The results indicate that: (1) ego identity exploration has a positive effect on rural adolescents’ flourishing; (2) intrinsic motivation has an indirect effect on the relationship between ego identity exploration and flourishing; and (3) social capital may moderate the indirect effect by attenuating the relationship between ego identity exploration and intrinsic motivation. The findings highlight the importance of constructing a more comprehensive framework by integrating individual and social perspectives to understand and foster the flourishing of rural adolescents. Meanwhile, it is necessary to incorporate the strengths of family, school and social organizations in order to enhance rural adolescents’ flourishing. Full article

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12 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adolescents’ Social Media Use and Their Voluntary Garbage Sorting Intention: A Sequential Mediation Model

by Pengya Ai, Wu Li and Wuyue Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158119 - 31 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3485

Abstract

Encouraging adolescents to sort garbage is vital for the sustainable development of the ecological environment. This study investigates the relationship between adolescents’ social media use and their garbage sorting intention. A survey, in both online and paper-based versions, was distributed in 2020 in [...] Read more.

Encouraging adolescents to sort garbage is vital for the sustainable development of the ecological environment. This study investigates the relationship between adolescents’ social media use and their garbage sorting intention. A survey, in both online and paper-based versions, was distributed in 2020 in Shanghai and a total number of 605 valid responses were obtained. This study supports the proposed sequential mediation model, indicating that adolescents’ social media use increased their garbage sorting intention via the serial mediation effect of objective and subjective knowledge and the perceived importance of garbage sorting. The current study and its findings provide important insights into the link between adolescents’ social media use and their garbage sorting intention, particularly its underlying mechanism, by distinguishing knowledge into two specific types and introducing perceived importance into the conceptual model. Practical implications for improving adolescents’ intention to sort garbage are also discussed. Full article

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12 pages, 984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Organised Sport, Physical Education and Active Commuting on Physical Activity in a Sample of New Zealand Adolescent Females

by Jennifer T. Gale, Jillian J. Haszard, Tessa Scott and Meredith C. Peddie

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158077 - 30 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2695

Abstract

Background: The majority of adolescents do less physical activity than is recommended by the World Health Organization. Active commuting and participation in organised sport and/or physical education individually have been shown to increase physical activity in adolescents. However, how these domains impact physical [...] Read more.

Background: The majority of adolescents do less physical activity than is recommended by the World Health Organization. Active commuting and participation in organised sport and/or physical education individually have been shown to increase physical activity in adolescents. However, how these domains impact physical activity both individually and in combination has yet to be investigated in a sample of New Zealand female adolescents from around the country. Methods: Adolescent females aged 15–18 y (n = 111) were recruited from 13 schools across eight locations throughout New Zealand to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed questions about active commuting, and participation in organised sport and physical education, before wearing an Actigraph GT3X (Actigraph, Pensacola, FL, USA) +24 h a day for seven consecutive days to determine time spent in total, MVPA and light physical activity. Results: Active commuters accumulated 17 min/d (95% CI 8 to 26 min/d) more MVPA compared to those who did not. Those who participated in sport accumulated 45 min/d (95% CI 20 to 71 min/d) more light physical activity and 14 min/d (95% CI 5 to 23 min/d) more MVPA compared to those who did not. Participation in physical education did not seem to have a large impact on any component of physical activity. Participation in multiple domains of activity, e.g., active commuting and organised sport, was associated with higher accumulation of MVPA but not light activity. Conclusion Active commuting and sport both contribute a meaningful amount of daily MVPA. Sport participation has the potential to increase overall activity and displace sedentary behaviour. A combination of physical activity domains may be an important consideration when targeting ways to increase physical activity in adolescent females. Full article

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11 pages, 2071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using a 24 h Activity Recall (STAR-24) to Describe Activity in Adolescent Boys in New Zealand: Comparisons between a Sample Collected before, and a Sample Collected during the COVID-19 Lockdown

by Meredith C. Peddie, Tessa Scott and Jillian J. Haszard

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 8035; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158035 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2615

Abstract

Background: Tools that assess all three components of 24 h movement guidelines (sleep, physical activity, and screen use) are scarce. Our objective was to use a newly developed Screen Time and Activity Recall (STAR-24) to demonstrate how this tool could be used to [...] Read more.

Background: Tools that assess all three components of 24 h movement guidelines (sleep, physical activity, and screen use) are scarce. Our objective was to use a newly developed Screen Time and Activity Recall (STAR-24) to demonstrate how this tool could be used to illustrate differences in time-use across the day between two independent samples of male adolescents collected before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: Adolescent boys aged 15–18 years (n = 109) each completed the STAR-24 twice, n = 74 before lockdown and n = 35 during lockdown. Results: During lockdown more than 50% of the sample reported gaming between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, transport was not reported as an activity, and activities of daily living spiked at mealtimes. Gaming and screen time were more prevalent in weekends than weekdays, with the highest prevalence of weekday screen use (before lockdown) occurring between 8 and 9 p.m. Differences in estimates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity prior to and during lockdown (mean difference (95% CI); 21 (−9 to 51) min) and sleep (0.5 (−0.2 to 1.2) h) were small. Total and recreational screen time were higher during lockdown (2 h (0.7 to 3.3 h) and 48 min (−36 to 132 min), respectively). Conclusions: The STAR-24 holds promise as a single tool that assesses compliance with 24 h movement guidelines. This tool also allows clear illustration of how adolescent boys are using their time (instead of only providing summary measures), providing richer data to inform public health initiatives. Full article

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11 pages, 752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyses of Child and Youth Self-Poisoning Hospitalizations by Substance and Socioeconomic Status

by Samantha Pawer, Fahra Rajabali, Alex Zheng, Jennifer Smith, Roy Purssell and Ian Pike

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 7003; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137003 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2680

Abstract

Child and youth self-poisoning is a growing public health issue in many regions of the world, including British Columbia (BC), Canada, where 15–19-year-olds have the highest rates of self-poisoning hospitalizations compared with those of all other ages. The purpose of this study was [...] Read more.

Child and youth self-poisoning is a growing public health issue in many regions of the world, including British Columbia (BC), Canada, where 15–19-year-olds have the highest rates of self-poisoning hospitalizations compared with those of all other ages. The purpose of this study was to identify what substances children and youth commonly used to poison themselves in BC and how socioeconomic status may impact self-poisoning risk. Self-poisoning hospitalization rates among 10–14 and 15–19-year-olds from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2020 were calculated by substance using ICD-10-CA codes X60-X69 and T36-T65, as well as by socioeconomic status using the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec’s Deprivation Index. Nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics were the most common substances involved, with rates of 27.6 and 74.3 per 100,000 population among 10–14 and 15–19-year-olds, respectively, followed by antiepileptic, sedative–hypnotic, antiparkinsonism, and psychotropic drugs, with rates of 20.2 and 68.1 per 100,000 population among 10–14 and 15–19-year-olds, respectively. In terms of socioeconomic status, rates were highest among 10–19-year-olds living in neighbourhoods with the fewest social connections (243.7 per 100,000 population). These findings can inform poisoning prevention strategies and relevant policies, thereby reducing the number of self-poisoning events among children and youth. Full article

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16 pages, 399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Higher Efficacy Beliefs Are Associated with Better Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Study of High School Adolescents in Lebanon

by Joyce Hayek, Hein de Vries, Maya Tueni, Nathalie Lahoud, Bjorn Winkens and Francine Schneider

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6928; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136928 - 28 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3098

Abstract

This longitudinal study aims to examine how changes in health behaviors and socio-cognitive factors influence the academic achievement of Lebanese adolescents over a period of 12 months. Adolescents (n = 563) from private and public schools in Mount Lebanon and the Beirut [...] Read more.

This longitudinal study aims to examine how changes in health behaviors and socio-cognitive factors influence the academic achievement of Lebanese adolescents over a period of 12 months. Adolescents (n = 563) from private and public schools in Mount Lebanon and the Beirut area, aged between 15 and 18, participated in a three-wave longitudinal study and completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing socio-demographics, health behaviors, socio-cognitive factors, parenting styles, and academic achievement. A linear mixed model was carried out to examine if changes in health behaviors and cognitive factors affect changes in academic achievement after 6 and 12 months from the baseline, adjusting for demographic variables and parenting style. Results show that improved adherence to the Mediterranean diet and an increase in self-efficacy were associated with an increase in academic achievement. An increase in adherence to the Mediterranean diet had the same effect on academic achievement 6 and 12 months from the baseline, whereas an increase in efficacy beliefs was only significantly associated with achievement at 12 months from the baseline. This study supports the longitudinal link between diet quality and efficacy beliefs with the academic achievement of adolescents. This relationship is independent of sex, age, religion, parents’ education, and raising styles. Full article

14 pages, 2991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Closeness to Parents and Experiencing Threats with COVID-19 Mediates the Link between Personality and Stress among Adolescents

by Ewa Gurba, Alicja Senejko, Grzegorz Godawa and Alicja Kalus

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126358 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2957

Abstract

Purpose: many researchers have already established that the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to adolescent psychological health. Studies on the COVID-19 pandemic mainly focus on individual psychological consequences, such as anxiety, depression or stress. The presented study added a family context to [...] Read more.

Purpose: many researchers have already established that the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to adolescent psychological health. Studies on the COVID-19 pandemic mainly focus on individual psychological consequences, such as anxiety, depression or stress. The presented study added a family context to psychological analyses of the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescence. We examined the mediational effects of closeness to parents and perceived pandemic-related threats to relationships between personality (emotional stability and agreeableness) and stress in adolescents. Methods: in total, 413 students from secondary schools in southern Poland completed questionnaires measuring stress, personality, closeness to parents and experiencing threats with COVID-19. Results: the results demonstrated that closeness with parents in conjunction with experiencing family-related threats and threats related to lifestyle changes were mediators between adolescent personality traits and the intensity of the stress experienced. Conclusions: closeness with parents and threats experienced with COVID-19 mediate relationships between personality traits (emotional stability and agreeableness) and the intensification of stress in adolescents. Full article

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7 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Psychometric Properties of the Maternal and Paternal Parenting Styles Scale in Chilean Adolescents

by José Luis Gálvez-Nieto, Karina Polanco-Levicán and Braulio Navarro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6229; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126229 - 9 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2460

Abstract

Parenting style has been related to a series of positive outcomes that extend into adulthood. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale (PSS-MP) in a sample of adolescents. A cross-sectional design [...] Read more.

Parenting style has been related to a series of positive outcomes that extend into adulthood. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale (PSS-MP) in a sample of adolescents. A cross-sectional design was used, with a probability sample of 2683 adolescents (48.8% women) from 32 public, private, and subsidized schools in Chile. In total, four confirmatory factor models were contrasted, which was the best fit to support the originally proposed six-correlated factor structure. The factor invariance analysis reflected that the metric equivalence according to sex is present at the level of scale invariance. It is concluded that the abbreviated version of the PSS-MP provides sufficient evidence for use in the Chilean adolescent population. Full article

15 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social and Behavioral Correlates of Adolescent Sexual Experience and Intention to Use Condoms in Northwestern Botswana

by Francis Barchi, Helen Apps, Oleosi Ntshebe and Peggie Ramaphane

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5583; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115583 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4227

Abstract

Adolescent sexual behavior is shaped by individual, social, and structural factors that can increase HIV-risk, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. To inform the development of a comprehensive sexuality education program, 239 secondary school adolescents ages 14–19 in Maun, Botswana, completed a survey [...] Read more.

Adolescent sexual behavior is shaped by individual, social, and structural factors that can increase HIV-risk, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. To inform the development of a comprehensive sexuality education program, 239 secondary school adolescents ages 14–19 in Maun, Botswana, completed a survey of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in February–March 2020. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined factors associated with sexual experience and perceived ability to insist on condoms. Approximately 21% of respondents reported having had sexual intercourse. More than half felt able to insist on condoms. Sources of information about human reproduction, alcohol use, attitudes about when sex is acceptable, and perceived sexual activity by one’s peers were predictive of sexual experience. Age, confidence in correct condom use, perceived acceptability of adolescent sex with condoms, and endorsement of prevailing gender norms were significantly associated with perceived ability to insist on condom use. Full article

14 pages, 329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Parent–Child Communication on Sexual Health and Drug Use and Use of Drugs during Sex among Urban Black Youth

by Donte T. Boyd, Ijeoma Opara, Camille R. Quinn, Bernadine Waller, S. Raquel Ramos and Dustin T. Duncan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5170; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105170 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3247

Abstract

Black youth and their families living in urban settings may experience unique stressors that contribute to underlying issues due to the environmental context. Such factors may exacerbate and promote drug use and engagement in risky sexual behaviors, unknowingly. Little is known about how [...] Read more.

Black youth and their families living in urban settings may experience unique stressors that contribute to underlying issues due to the environmental context. Such factors may exacerbate and promote drug use and engagement in risky sexual behaviors, unknowingly. Little is known about how family factors, peer pressure, condom use, and other related factors are associated with substance use and engaging in sexual behaviors while on drugs among urban African American youth aged 12–22 (N = 638). We used regression models to examine associations between parental bonding, parent–adolescent sexual health communication, condom use, peer pressure on substance use, and having sex while on drugs. Multivariate results indicated that parental bonding was statistically significant and associated with drug use (OR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.36). Our study highlights that parental bonding plays a critical role in youth using drugs while living in urban environments. Full article

14 pages, 735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Twenty-Four-Year Trends in Family and Regional Disparities in Fruit, Vegetable and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Adolescents in Belgium

by Manon Rouche, Maxim Dierckens, Lucille Desbouys, Camille Pedroni, Thérésa Lebacq, Isabelle Godin, Benedicte Deforche and Katia Castetbon

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094408 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2899

Abstract

Dietary habits are influenced by various determinants that may evolve over time. This study aimed to examine, among adolescents in Belgium, trends in the dietary habits between 1990 and 2014 and to determine changes in family and regional disparities related to diet during [...] Read more.

Dietary habits are influenced by various determinants that may evolve over time. This study aimed to examine, among adolescents in Belgium, trends in the dietary habits between 1990 and 2014 and to determine changes in family and regional disparities related to diet during this time period. In the 1990, 2002 and 2014 cross-sectional “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children” (HBSC) surveys, food consumption was estimated using a short Food Frequency Questionnaire. The Relative Index of Inequality (RII) enabled quantification of the gradients of inequality related to the family structure and to the region for non-daily fruit and vegetable and daily sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. Between 1990 and 2014, the prevalence of non-daily fruit consumption increased from 27.7% to 60.6%, whereas the daily SSB consumption decreased from 58.9% to 34.8%. Over time, a downward trend in family disparities (p = 0.007) was observed for daily fruit consumption (RII: 1.58 (1.33–1.88) to 1.18 (1.13–1.23)). An upward trend in region-related disparities (p < 0.001) for SSB was found (RII: 1.15 (1.07–1.23) to 1.37 (1.28–1.47)). The overall trend of increasing disparities when dietary habits improved and decreasing disparities when dietary habits worsened highlights the need to implement actions that improve overall dietary habits while ensuring that disparities do not increase. Full article

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11 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Palestinian Refugee Youth in Jordan: Parental Practices, Neighborhood Cohesion and Assistance, and Adolescent Wellbeing

by Ikhlas Ahmad and Judith Smetana

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073649 - 31 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2529

Abstract

In this study, a total of 335 Palestinian refugees (M = 15.5 years, SD = 1.05, 49% males), recruited from four United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) schools at the Al-Baqa’a and Jabal Al-Hussein refugee camps in Jordan, rated their neighborhood [...] Read more.

In this study, a total of 335 Palestinian refugees (M = 15.5 years, SD = 1.05, 49% males), recruited from four United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) schools at the Al-Baqa’a and Jabal Al-Hussein refugee camps in Jordan, rated their neighborhood physical environment and neighborhood support and cohesion, separately rated their mothers’ and fathers’ parenting on several dimensions, and reported on their adjustment to these circumstances (internalizing symptoms, self-concept clarity, and norm breaking). Living in more dangerous physical environments was associated with higher levels of refugee youths’ internalizing symptoms and norm breaking, but effects were not significant when parenting was considered. Our study showed that higher levels of psychological control–disrespect (significantly for fathers and marginally for mothers) and marginally, higher levels of maternal harsh punishment were associated with more teen internalizing symptoms. In addition, fathers’ greater psychological control and lower levels of support had a marginally significant effect on teens’ greater norm breaking. For behavioral control, only mothers’ greater behavioral control was associated with refugee youths’ greater self-concept clarity but not with paternal behavioral control. Thus, fathers’ psychological control and mothers’ behavioral control had the biggest association with adolescent outcomes. Full article

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