| 1. |
- Isaksson, Johan, et al.
(författare)
-
Risk Factors Associated with Alcohol Use in Early Adolescence among American Inner-City Youth : A Longitudinal Study
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Substance Use & Misuse. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1082-6084 .- 1532-2491. ; 55:3, s. 358-366
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Early alcohol use is associated with an increased risk for later alcohol dependence, as well as social and mental health problems. In this study, we investigate the risk factors (internalizing and externalizing behaviors) associated with early alcohol consumption over a period of 1 year, and examine whether the association is sex-specific. Methods: U.S. inner-city adolescents (N = 1785, Mean age = 12.11) were assessed and reassessed in the sixth and seventh grades (Mean age = 13.10). Self-reported information was obtained on the lifetime level of alcohol consumption, internalizing (depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress [PTS]), and externalizing behaviors (sensation seeking, conduct problems and affiliation with delinquent peers). Associations between the variables were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: In an adjusted SEM analysis drinking by the sixth grade was primarily associated with externalizing behaviors, whereas PTS was linked to lower levels of alcohol consumption. In addition, alcohol consumption and greater externalizing behaviors by the sixth grade predicted higher alcohol consumption by the seventh grade, whereas anxiety and African American ethnicity were associated with less alcohol consumption. No sex differences were found in the association between internalizing and externalizing behaviors and drinking. However, in the adjusted SEM analysis female sex predicted higher lifetime consumption by the seventh grade. Conclusion: Sensation seeking behavior, conduct problems and affiliation with delinquent peers should be regarded as risk factors and taken into consideration when planning prevention efforts in order to decrease alcohol use in early adolescence.
|
|
| 2. |
- Isaksson, Martina, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
-
Longitudinal associations between community violence exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and eating disorder symptoms
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Journal of Eating Disorders. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 2050-2974. ; 12:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Eating disorder (ED) symptoms have been associated with different types of traumatic events, such as exposure to sexual and physical violence, and emotional abuse. However, the relation between ED symptoms and community violence exposure (CVE) is underexplored, despite the latter's adverse effects on many aspects of adolescent functioning. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between CVE and ED symptoms in adolescents, while also investigating the potential mediating and moderating roles of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, gender, and ethnicity.METHODS: Data were collected longitudinally over two consecutive years in the city of New Haven, CT, in the United States. Participants were 2612 adolescent students from the public school system (1397 girls and 1215 boys) with an average age of 12.8 years (SD = 1.29). The students were comprised of several different ethnic groups, including Caucasians, African Americans and Hispanic Americans. Associations between CVE (no exposure, witnessing, and victimization) and PTS symptoms at year one, and ED symptoms (thoughts and compensatory behaviors) at year two, were assessed with self-rating instruments. Moderation and mediation analyses were conducted using a variant of linear regression (Hayes PROCESS macro).RESULTS: ED symptoms at year two were significantly associated with both witnessing and being a victim of community violence at year one, with most or all of the relations being explained by PTS symptoms. Overall, neither gender nor ethnicity had a meaningful moderating effect in the observed relations.CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the notion that assessing and addressing PTS symptoms might be beneficial when treating individuals with ED symptoms who have experienced community violence, irrespective of gender or ethnicity.
|
|
| 3. |
- Koposov, Roman, et al.
(författare)
-
Community Violence Exposure and School Functioning in Youth : Cross-Country and Gender Perspectives
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Public Health. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-2565. ; 9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many children and adolescents experience violent events which can be associated with negative consequences for their development, mental health, school, and social functioning. However, findings between settings and on the role of gender have been inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate cross-country and gender differences in the relationship between community violence exposure (CVE) and school functioning in a sample of youths from three countries. Methods: A self-report survey was conducted among school students (12-17 years old) in Belgium (Antwerp, N = 4,743), Russia (Arkhangelsk, N = 2,823), and the US (New Haven, N = 4,101). Students were recruited from within classes that were randomly selected from within schools that had themselves been randomly selected (excepting New Haven, where all students were included). CVE was assessed with the Screening Survey of Exposure to Community Violence. School functioning was assessed with four measures: the Perceived Teacher Support scale, Negative Classroom Environment scale, and Academic Motivation and Perception of Safety at School scales. Multivariate Analyses of Covariance were performed to assess differences in the levels of school-related problem behaviors in boys and girls, who reported different degrees of CVE. Results: Participants in all three countries reported a relatively high prevalence of violence exposure (36.2% in Belgium, 39.3% in Russia and 45.2% in the US who witnessed violence), with a higher proportion of girls than boys witnessing violent events (varied from 37.4 to 51.6% between the countries), whereas boys reported more episodes of victimization by violence than girls (varied from 32.3 to 49.9% between the countries). Youths who experienced increased CVE (from no exposure to witnessing to victimization) reported an increase in all school functioning problems in all of the countries and this association was not gender-specific. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that regardless of differences in the level of CVE by country and gender, violence exposure is negatively associated with school functioning across countries. Nonetheless, even though reactions to community violence among adolescents may be expressed in a similar fashion, cross-country differences in social support systems should also be taken into account in order to provide culturally sensitive treatment modalities.
|
|
| 4. |
- Löfving-Gupta, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
-
Community violence exposure and substance use : cross-cultural and gender perspectives
- 2018
-
Ingår i: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - : SPRINGER. - 1018-8827 .- 1435-165X. ; 27:4, s. 493-500
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The negative effects of community violence exposure on child and adolescent mental health are well documented and exposure to community violence has been linked both to a number of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate cross-cultural and gender differences in the relationship between community violence exposure and substance abuse. A self-report survey was conducted among 10,575, 12-18 year old adolescents in three different countries, Czech Republic (N = 4537), Russia (N = 2377) and US (N = 3661). We found that in all three countries both substance use and problem behavior associated with it increased similarly along with severity of violence exposure and this association was not gender-specific. It was concluded that in spite of the differences in the levels of violence exposure and substance use cross-culturally and by gender, the pattern of their association is neither culturally nor gender bound.
|
|
| 5. |
- Ruchkin, Vladislav, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
-
Longitudinal Associations Between Community Violence Exposure and Mental Health Problems in Inner-City Youth : Ethnicity and Gender Perspectives.
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Journal of Interpersonal Violence. - : Sage Publications. - 0886-2605 .- 1552-6518. ; 38:13-14, s. 8619-8644
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a lack of agreement on whether children and adolescents with different cultural/ethnic backgrounds react to trauma in a similar fashion. This study adds to the existing literature by providing ethnicity and gender perspectives on the longitudinal associations between the degree of community violence exposure (CVE) and mental health problems in U.S. inner-city youth. The study was conducted on a representative sample of predominantly ethnic minority youth (N = 2,794; 54.1% female; age 11-16 years old (M [SD] = 12.77 [1.29]); 60.0% African-American, 26.1% Hispanic American, 13.9% White). Self-reported information was obtained on CVE in year 1 and on mental health problems (depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress, alcohol use, and conduct problems) in year 1 and year 2. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to compare mental health problems in youth from the three ethnic groups in relation to the different degrees of CVE experienced one year prior, while controlling for their baseline mental health problem levels, age, and socio-economic status. Mental health problems in year 2 increased in a similar fashion in relation to the degree of severity of CVE in year 1 in all three ethnic groups. The interaction effects suggested a gender-specific response to CVE, where girls in the three ethnic groups reported higher levels of depression and posttraumatic stress in relation to the same degree of CVE, as compared to boys. Adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds respond similarly to differing degrees of CVE with an increase in mental health problems over time. In response to a similar degree of exposure, girls tend to experience greater levels of internalizing problems than boys. Timely recognition of traumatic exposure and associated mental health problems is important for early prevention and intervention strategies.
|
|
| 6. |
- Ruchkin, Vladislav V., 1969-, et al.
(författare)
-
Prevalence and early risk factors for bulimia nervosa symptoms in inner-city youth : gender and ethnicity perspectives
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Eating Disorders. - : Springer Nature. - 2050-2974. ; 9:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Research on risk factors associated with bulimia nervosa symptoms (BN) in ethnic minorities has been limited. This study adds to the existing literature by providing the ethnicity- and gender-specific prevalence of BN in US inner-city youth and by exploring the longitudinal associations between a clinical level of BN and early risk factors assessed one year previously.METHODS: The study was conducted on a representative sample of predominantly ethnic minority youth (N = 2794; 54.1% female; age 11-16 years old (M(SD) = 12.77(1.29)); 60.0% African-American, 26.1% Hispanic American, 13.9% White). Self-reported information was obtained on BN and early risk factors (e.g., depressive and anxiety symptoms, posttraumatic stress, somatic complaints). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the longitudinal associations.RESULTS: The 3-month BN prevalence was higher in girls (5.1%) than in boys (2.3%) (ratio 2.22:1). Significant differences in BN rates were found between White and African American students (higher in Whites), whereas Hispanic-Americans did not differ significantly from either group. Individuals with BN had significantly higher levels of early risk factors one year prior.CONCLUSIONS: Timely recognition of BN and associated early risk factors is important for early prevention and intervention strategies.
|
|
| 7. |
- Stickley, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
-
Correlates of Weapon Carrying in School among Adolescents in Three Countries
- 2015
-
Ingår i: American Journal of Health Behavior. - 1087-3244 .- 1945-7359. ; 39:1, s. 99-108
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To determine the factors associated with weapon carrying in school among Czech, Russian, and US adolescents. Methods: Logistic regression was used to analyze data drawn from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA). Results: Violent behavior (perpetration / victimization) was linked to adolescent weapon carrying in all countries. Substance use was associated with weapon carrying among boys in all countries. Greater parental warmth reduced the odds for weapon carrying among Czech and Russian adolescents. Associating with delinquent peers was important for weapon carrying only among US adolescents. Conclusions: Factors associated with weapon carrying in school vary among countries although violent behavior and substance use may be associated with weapon carrying across countries.
|
|
| 8. |
- Stickley, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
-
Loneliness and health risk behaviours among Russian and US adolescents : a cross-sectional study
- 2014
-
Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: For some adolescents feeling lonely can be a protracted and painful experience. It has been suggested that engaging in health risk behaviours such as substance use and sexual behaviour may be a way of coping with the distress arising from loneliness during adolescence. However, the association between loneliness and health risk behaviour has been little studied to date. To address this research gap, the current study examined this relation among Russian and U.S. adolescents. Methods: Data were used from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA), a school-based survey conducted in 2003. A total of 1995 Russian and 2050 U.S. students aged 13-15 years old were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between loneliness and substance use, sexual risk behaviour, and violence. Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms, loneliness was associated with a significantly increased risk of adolescent substance use in both Russia and the United States. Lonely Russian girls were significantly more likely to have used marijuana (odds ratio [OR]: 2.28; confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-4.45), while lonely Russian boys had higher odds for past 30-day smoking (OR, 1.87; CI, 1.08-3.24). In the U.S. loneliness was associated with the lifetime use of illicit drugs (excepting marijuana) among boys (OR, 3.09; CI, 1.41-6.77) and with lifetime marijuana use (OR, 1.79; CI, 1.26-2.55), past 30-day alcohol consumption (OR, 1.80; CI, 1.18-2.75) and past 30-day binge drinking (OR, 2.40; CI, 1.56-3.70) among girls. The only relation between loneliness and sexual risk behaviour was among Russian girls, where loneliness was associated with significantly higher odds for ever having been pregnant (OR, 1.69; CI: 1.12-2.54). Loneliness was not associated with violent behaviour among boys or girls in either country. Conclusion: Loneliness is associated with adolescent health risk behaviour among boys and girls in both Russia and the United States. Further research is now needed in both settings using quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand the association between loneliness and health risk behaviours so that effective interventions can be designed and implemented to mitigate loneliness and its effects on adolescent well-being.
|
|
| 9. |
- Stickley, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
-
Loneliness and posttraumatic stress in U.S. adolescents : A longitudinal study
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Journal of Affective Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 0165-0327 .- 1573-2517. ; 361, s. 113-119
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Loneliness and posttraumatic stress (PTS) are common in adolescence. However, there has been little longitudinal research on their association. To address this deficit, this study examined the longitudinal association between these phenomena in a sample of U.S. school students while also exploring if gender was important in this context.METHODS: Data were analysed from 2807 adolescents (52.1 % female; age at baseline 11-16 years (M = 12.79)) who were followed over a one-year period. Information was obtained on loneliness in year 1 using a single-item question, while PTS was assessed with the self-report Child Post-Traumatic Stress - Reaction Index (CPTS-RI). A full path analysis was performed to assess the across time associations.RESULTS: Almost one-third of the students reported some degree of loneliness while most students had 'mild' PTS. In the path analysis, when controlling for baseline PTS and other covariates, loneliness in year 1 was significantly associated with PTS in year 2 (β = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.09). Similarly, PTS in year 1 was significantly associated with loneliness in year 2 (β = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.23). An interaction analysis further showed that loneliness was higher in girls with PTS than in their male counterparts.LIMITATIONS: The use of a single-item measure to assess loneliness that used the word 'lonely' may have resulted in underreporting.CONCLUSION: Loneliness and PTS are bidirectionally associated in adolescence. Efforts to reduce loneliness in adolescence may help in combatting PTS, while clinicians should intervene to address loneliness if detected in adolescents with PTS.
|
|
