Secular trend in age at menarche among Indian women.

Age at menarche is not only a parameter that signifies biological characteristics for women but is also considered as an indicator to measure the quality of life of a population. Moreover, menarche has significant implications on women's health and information about menarcheal age is crucial for health policymakers. However, little is known about the trends in menarcheal age in India. Thus, in order to fill this research gap, the present study aimed to explore the age at menarche, its trend and regional heterogeneity among Indian women. A birth cohort approach was used by polling data from the 1st (1992-93), 4th (2015-16) and 5th (2019-21) rounds of NFHS. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed to present the distribution of age at menarche and mean age at menarche across birth cohorts and each category of covariates. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to examine the trend in age at menarche and further to investigate the association of covariates with menarcheal age among Indian women. The analysis demonstrated that a majority of women (66.2%) attained menarche between the ages of 13-14 years. Moreover, about 17.2% of women experienced an early age at menarche, whereas 16.7% of women had a late age at menarche. The mean age at menarche for the sampled women was 13.49 years. The analysis also observed a secular declining trend in menarcheal age among Indian women and a significant variation in the mean age at menarche across birth cohorts. It also highlighted significant socio-economic patterning in menarcheal age among women.

Factors related to health literacy among Brazilian adolescents: cross-sectional study / Factores relacionados con la alfabetización en salud de adolescentes brasileños: estudio transversal / Fatores relacionados ao letramento em saúde de adolescentes brasileiros: estudo transversal

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical factors with health literacy in Brazilian adolescents. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with 526 adolescents aged 14 to 19. Data were collected virtually between July and September 2021 using a sociodemographic characterization questionnaire, clinical profile and the Health Literacy Assessment Tool - Portuguese version. The variables were evaluated by multiple linear regression with normal response, with significance p < 0.05. Results: The average age was 16.9 years (±1.6), the average health literacy score was 25.3 (±5.4). Female gender (p = 0.014), university educational level (p = 0.002) and use of medication (p = 0.020) were related to higher levels of health literacy. Adolescents with chronic illnesses had a higher total literacy score, on average 1.51 points, compared to those without chronic illnesses. Conclusion: Male adolescents and those with less education performed worse in health literacy and, therefore, deserve special attention in health promotion actions.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre factores sociodemográficos y clínicos con la alfabetización en salud de adolescentes brasileños. Método: Se trata de un estudio transversal llevado con 526 adolescentes entre 14 y 19 años. Los datos se recogieron virtualmente entre julio y septiembre de 2021 mediante un cuestionario de caracterización sociodemográfica, de perfil clínico y de la Health Literacy Assessment Tool - versión en portugués. Las variables se sopesaron por regresión linear múltiple con respuesta normal y significación p < 0,05. Resultados: La edad promedio era de 16,9 años (±1,6) y la puntuación media en alfabetización en salud de 25,3 (±5,4). El sexo femenino (p = 0,014), la mayor escolaridad (p = 0,002) y el uso de medicación (p = 0,020) estaban relacionados con niveles más altos de alfabetización en salud. Los adolescentes con enfermedades crónicas obtuvieron una puntuación total de alfabetización más alta, en media, 1,51 puntos, en comparación con los que no padecían dichas enfermedades. Conclusión: Adolescentes del sexo masculino y aquellos con menos escolaridad presentaron un desempeño pobre en la alfabetización en salud y, por esa razón, necesitan atención especial durante las acciones de promoción de la salud.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos com o letramento em saúde de adolescentes brasileiros. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 526 adolescentes de 14 a 19 anos. Os dados foram coletados virtualmente entre julho e setembro de 2021 por meio de questionário de caracterização sociodemográfica, do perfil clínico e do Health Literacy Assessment Tool - versão em português. As variáveis foram avaliadas por regressão linear múltipla com resposta normal, com significância p < 0,05. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 16,9 anos (±1,6), a pontuação média do letramento em saúde foi de 25,3 (±5,4). Sexo feminino (p = 0,014), maior escolaridade (p = 0,002) e uso de medicamentos (p = 0,020) foram relacionados a maiores níveis de letramento em saúde. Adolescentes com doenças crônicas apresentaram pontuação total do letramento superior, em média 1,51 pontos, comparados aos sem doença crônica. Conclusão: Adolescentes do sexo masculino e os com menor escolaridade apresentaram pior desempenho no letramento em saúde e, por isso, merecem especial atenção nas ações de promoção da saúde.

Similarities between friends on service, activism, and awareness of inequities in an adolescent social network.

This brief report characterizes the tendency of adolescent friends to be similar on civic behaviors and critical consciousness. Using two waves of network data from a high school that serves primarily low-income Latiné youth (2019, N = 519; 2020, N = 521), the present study examined homophily on service, activism, and awareness of inequities. The results of Exponential Random Graph Models indicated that adolescents tended to be friends with peers who had similar service behavior and awareness of inequities, but not activism. The findings suggest that schools could foster civic engagement by providing infrastructure that encourages civic interactions between peers. The current study highlights the potential that social network analysis holds for generating novel insights into the relational underpinnings of youth civic engagement.

From chat rooms to classrooms and TikToks too: Dr. Brendesha Tynes' contributions to the study of race and development in digital contexts.

For more than a decade, Dr. Brendesha Tynes has been at the forefront of empirical research examining the role of race in youth experiences with technology. Tynes' expansive corpus of research highlights the psychological, academic, and socioemotional implications and impact of online racial discrimination on child and adolescent development, with a particular focus on Black youth. Using explicitly strengths-based frameworks in both her research and mentoring, Tynes' contributions to the fields of psychology and education are vast. Given the American Psychological Association's recent shift to intentionally and urgently address racism, Tynes' scholarship is more timely than ever. Using a narrative review approach, we trace the intellectual contributions that Tynes has made to psychology, specifically, and the study of race and racism more broadly throughout her career. Particularly, we highlight key conceptual, methodological, and empirical work that have influenced the study of race in psychology. We conclude by sharing implications and possibilities for Tynes' research to influence race-conscious practices in psychological research, clinical, and pedagogical spheres. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The Impact of Household Migration on the Intergenerational Educational Mobility: Based on the Perspective of Adolescent Development.

Improving intergenerational mobility is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of human capital, ensuring social vitality, and supporting sustainable long-term economic growth. Based on the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) of 2014, this paper empirically examines the effect of adolescent household migration on intergenerational educational mobility by using a fixed-effect model. The study found that: (1) Household migration in the adolescent period significantly improves intergenerational educational mobility. (2) The quality and quantity of education of offspring are the channels through which household migration improves the intergenerational educational mobility of the household. (3) There are significant differences between urban and rural areas, gender, and household resource allocation in the effect of adolescent household migration on intergenerational educational mobility. As the majority of poor households are unable to improve intergenerational mobility through migration due to its costs and institutional barriers, this paper suggests that the government should concentrate on reducing regional disparities in educational resources, advancing rural education reform, and enhancing social security.

Family Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Risks of Financial Insecurity and Coping.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have experienced unprecedented financial and social disruptions. We studied the impact of preexisting psychosocial factors and pandemic-related financial and social disruptions in relation to family well-being among N = 4091 adolescents and parents during early summer 2020, participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study. Poorer family well-being was linked to prepandemic psychosocial and financial adversity and was associated with pandemic-related material hardship and social disruptions to routines. Parental alcohol use increased risk for worsening of family relationships, while a greater endorsement of coping strategies was mainly associated with overall better family well-being. Financial and mental health support may be critical for family well-being during and after a widespread crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolução de conflitos familiares por adolescentes e defesa do domínio pessoal / Adolescents' family conflict resolution and defense of personal domain / Resolución de conflictos familiares por adolescentes y defensa del dominio personal

Compreender as estratégias de resolução de conflitos utilizadas por adolescentes na relação com seus pais é fundamental para entender como ocorre seu desenvolvimento saudável. Este artigo investigou a resolução de conflitos de adolescentes em situações de confronto entre o seu domínio pessoal e o controle parental. 36 adolescentes com idades entre 15 e 17 anos, divididos igualmente conforme o sexo, responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada, que continha quatro situações de conflito hipotéticas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo semântica e a testes não paramétricos. Os resultados foram categorizados em sete estratégias: Assunção de culpa, Submissão, Mentira, Hostilidade, Diálogo/Explicação, Negociação e Outra. A forma predominante de resolução utilizada foi o Diálogo/Explicação, considerada como uma forma recorrente de defender o domínio pessoal. Foram encontradas diferenças em relação ao sexo dos participantes e à situação hipotética. Por fim, os resultados são discutidos em termos de grau de autonomia e tipo de defesa do domínio pessoal.(AU)

Understanding the conflict resolution strategies used by adolescents in their relationship with their parents is fundamental to understanding how their healthy development occurs. This article investigated the resolution of conflicts by adolescents in confrontation situations between their personal domain and parental control. A total of 36 adolescents, aged 15 to 17 years, divided equally according to sex, answered a semi-structured interview that contained four hypothetical conflict situations. Data were subjected to semantic content analysis and non-parametric tests. The results were categorized into seven strategies: Assumption of Guilt, Submission, Lie, Hostility, Dialogue/Explanation, Negotiation, and Other. The predominant form of resolution used was Dialogue/Explanation, considered a recurrent form of defense of the personal domain. Differences were found depending on the participants' gender and the hypothetical situation. Finally, the results are discussed regarding the degree of autonomy and type of defense of the personal domain.(AU)

Enterarse de las estrategias de resolución de conflictos que los adolescentes utilizan en la relación con sus padres es fundamental para comprender cómo ocurre el desarrollo saludable de los adolescentes. A partir de una entrevista semiestructurada, presentamos cuatro situaciones hipotéticas de conflicto que fueron analizadas y respondidas por 36 adolescentes de entre 15 y 17 años, divididos según el género. Los datos se sometieron a un análisis de contenido semántico y a pruebas no paramétricas. Los resultados se categorizaron en siete estrategias de resolución de conflictos: Asunción de culpa, Sumisión, Mentira, Hostilidad, Diálogo/Explicación, Negociación y Otros. La forma de resolución más utilizada fue Diálogo/Explicación, y esta categoría fue una forma de defensa del dominio personal. Asimismo, se encontraron diferencias en función del género de los participantes y conforme la situación hipotética. Los resultados se discuten en términos de grado de autonomía y tipo de defensa del dominio personal.(AU)

Implicações da prática profissional no acolhimento institucional de crianças: perspectiva de cuidadoras / Implications of professional practice in children's institutional sheltering: caregivers' perspective / Implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el alojamiento institucional de niños: perspectiva de cuidadoras

Este estudo qualitativo teve como objetivo compreender, a partir da teoria de bioecológica de desenvolvimento, as implicações da prática profissional no processo de acolhimento de crianças em uma casa-abrigo, na perspectiva de cuidadoras. As participantes foram 10 profissionais de uma casa-abrigo localizada na região sul do Brasil. Utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a organização e análise dos dados sustentou-se na Grounded Theory, com auxílio do software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Os resultados evidenciaram uma centralização das ações de acolhimento e atenção em torno dos cuidados físicos das crianças. As ações para promover suporte e cuidados emocionais dentro da casa-abrigo eram delegadas às profissionais da equipe técnica da instituição. Observou-se que as dificuldades encontradas pelas cuidadoras diziam respeito à falta de segurança e preparação para responder e acolher as demandas emocionais das crianças, as quais estão presentes em diversos momentos do processo de acolhimento. Percebeu-se que as práticas institucionais afetaram decisivamente tanto as ações de acolhimento das participantes e o suporte emocional oferecido às crianças na passagem pela casa-abrigo quanto as cuidadoras, no sentido de vivenciarem no trabalho sentimentos de insegurança. Os resultados tensionam ecologicamente a interação nos processos proximais presentes no desenvolvimento humano. Advoga-se pela reflexão sobre as implicações das práticas institucionais de uma casa-abrigo e o desenvolvimento infantil, visando o cuidado integral dos acolhidos.(AU)

Based on the developmental bioecological theory, this study analyzes the implications of professional practice in children's user embracement at a shelter from the caregivers' perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 professionals from a shelter located in southern Brazil. Data organization and analysis was performed based on Grounded Theory using the Atlas.ti 8.4.14 software. Results showed that embracement and attention focus on the physical care of children. Support and emotional care activities were delegated to the institution's technical team. Caregivers faced difficulties regarding the lack of security and preparation to respond to and accept the children's emotional demands, which arise at different moments in the embracement process. The institutional practices decisively affected both user embracement actions and the emotional support offered to the children, as well as the caregivers, in the sense of experiencing feelings of insecurity. These findings ecologically tension the interaction in the proximal processes present in human development. Further reflections on the implications of institutional shelter-based practices for child development are needed to provide comprehensive care.(AU)

Este estudio cualitativo tuvo como objetivo comprender, desde la perspectiva de la teoría bioecológica del desarrollo, las implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el proceso de acogida de niños en una institución infantil desde la perspectiva de las cuidadoras. Las participantes fueron 10 profesionales de una institución de acogida infantil ubicada en la región Sur de Brasil. Se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada, y para la organización y análisis de datos se aplicó Grounded Theory, con el uso del software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Los resultados mostraron que las acciones de recepción y atención se centran en el cuidado físico de los niños. Las acciones de promoción de apoyo y cuidado emocional dentro del alojamiento se asignaron a los profesionales del equipo técnico de la institución. Se observó que las dificultades encontradas por las cuidadoras estaban relacionadas con la falta de seguridad y preparación para responder y aceptar las demandas emocionales de los niños, las cuales se encuentran presentes en diferentes momentos del proceso de acogida. Se notó que las prácticas institucionales afectaron decisivamente tanto las acciones de acogida de las participantes como el apoyo emocional que la institución brinda a los niños durante su paso, así como a las cuidadoras en el sentido de experimentar sentimientos de inseguridad en el trabajo. Estos resultados tensan ecológicamente la interacción en los procesos proximales presentes en el desarrollo humano. Se aboga por reflexionar sobre las implicaciones de las prácticas institucionales en los alojamientos institucionales y el desarrollo infantil, apuntando a la atención integral de los acogidos.(AU)

A practical guide for researchers and reviewers using the ABCD Study and other large longitudinal datasets.

As the largest longitudinal study of adolescent brain development and behavior to date, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® has provided immense opportunities for researchers across disciplines since its first data release in 2018. The size and scope of the study also present a number of hurdles, which range from becoming familiar with the study design and data structure to employing rigorous and reproducible analyses. The current paper is intended as a guide for researchers and reviewers working with ABCD data, highlighting the features of the data (and the strengths and limitations therein) as well as relevant analytical and methodological considerations. Additionally, we explore justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts as they pertain to the ABCD Study and other large-scale datasets. In doing so, we hope to increase both accessibility of the ABCD Study and transparency within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience.

Studying Ethnic-Racial Identity among White Youth: White Supremacy as a Developmental Context.

As developmental scholars increasingly study ethnic and racial identity among white youth, careful reflection is needed regarding its framing, implementation, and interpretation. In this three-part conceptual paper, we offer a foundation for such reflection. First, we discuss the sociocultural context of white supremacy that shapes U.S. society, psychology, and adolescent development, and situate the study of ethnic and racial identity among white youth within this context. Second, we consider Janet Helms's White Racial Identity Development model, reviewing theory and research building on her argument that race-and whiteness, specifically-must be centered to achieve racial justice-oriented scholarship on white identity. We conclude by offering four guiding insights for conducting critical research on racial identity development among white youth.

A saúde mental dos adolescentes brasileiros: pesquisa nacional de saúde do escolar de 2019 / La salud mental de los adolescentes brasileños: encuesta nacional de salud escolar 2019 / Brazilian adolescents' mental health: 2019 national school health survey

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever as prevalências dos indicadores de saúde mental entre os escolares brasileiros. Método: estudo transversal com dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) de 2019. Estimou-se as prevalências e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) dos indicadores de saúde mental dos adolescentes brasileiros de 13 a 17 anos, segundo idade, sexo, dependência administrativa da escola e Unidade da Federação. Resultados: dos 125.123 escolares de 13 a 17 anos investigados, 4,0% (IC95% 3,7-4,3) mencionaram que não tinham amigos próximos; 50,6% (IC95% 49,8-51,4) sentiram-se preocupados com as coisas comuns do dia a dia; 31,4% sentiram-se tristes na maioria das vezes ou sempre; 30,0% (IC95% 29,4 - 30,6) achavam que ninguém se preocupava com eles; 40,9% (IC95% 40,2 - 41,5) ficaram irritados, nervosos ou mal-humorados; 21,4% (IC95% 20,9-22,0) sentiam que a vida não vale a pena ser vivida; e 17,7% (IC95% 17,2-18,2) apresentaram autoavaliação em saúde mental negativa. A maioria desses indicadores foram mais frequentes em escolares de 16 e 17 anos, no sexo feminino e em escolas públicas. Conclusão: evidenciou-se o aumento do sofrimento mental entre os adolescentes brasileiros pelos indicadores de saúde mental da PeNSE edição 2019. Os resultados revelaram relações de desigualdades estruturais de gênero e classe social. É necessário maior investimento em políticas públicas a fim de diminuir as consequências do sofrimento mental entre os adolescentes brasileiros.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir la prevalencia de los indicadores de salud mental entre los escolares brasileños. Método: estudio transversal con datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Escolar 2019 (PeNSE). Se estimó la prevalencia y los intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%) de los indicadores de salud mental de los adolescentes brasileños de 13 a 17 años, según la edad, el género, la dependencia administrativa de la escuela y la Unidad de la Federación. Resultados: de los 125. 123 escolares de 13 a 17 años investigados, el 4,0% (IC95%: 3,7-4,3) mencionaron que no tenían amigos íntimos; el 50,6% (IC95%: 49,8-51,4) se sentían preocupados por las cosas comunes de la vida diaria; el 31,4% se sentían tristes la mayor parte del tiempo o siempre; el 30,0% (IC95% 29,4 - 30,6) sentía que nadie se preocupaba por ellos; el 40,9% (IC95% 40,2 - 41,5) estaba irritable, nervioso o de mal humor; el 21,4% (IC95% 20,9 - 22,0) sentía que no valía la pena vivir; y el 17,7% (IC95% 17,2 - 18,2) tenía una autoevaluación negativa de su salud mental. La mayoría de estos indicadores eran más frecuentes en los escolares de 16 y 17 años, en las mujeres y en los colegios públicos. Conclusión: se evidenció un aumento de la angustia mental entre los adolescentes brasileños a través de los indicadores de salud mental de la edición PeNSE 2019. Los resultados revelan relaciones de desigualdades estructurales de género y clase social. Es necesario invertir más en políticas públicas para reducir las consecuencias del malestar mental entre los adolescentes brasileños.

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the prevalence values of the mental health indicators among in-school Brazilian adolescents. Method: a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted with data from the 2019 National School Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar, PeNSE). The prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the mental health indicators of Brazilian adolescents aged from 13 to 17 years old were estimated according to age, gender, school's administrative system and Federation Unit. Results: of the 125,123 students aged from 13 to 17 years old that were investigated, 4.0% (95% CI: 3.7-4.3) mentioned that they did not have close friends; 50.6% (95% CI: 49.8-51.4) felt worried about common everyday issues; 31.4% felt sad most of the times or always; 30.0% (95% CI: 29.4-30.6) thought that no one cared about them; 40.9% (95% CI: 40.2-41.5) were irritated, nervous or in a bad mood; 21.4% (95% CI: 20.9-22.0) felt that life was not worth living; and 17.7% (95% CI: 17.2-18.2) presented negative mental health self-assessments. Most of these indicators were more frequent in female adolescents aged 16 and 17 years attending public schools. Conclusion: an increase in mental distress was identified among Brazilian adolescents according to the mental health indicators of PeNSE 2019. The results revealed relationships marked by gender and social class structural inequalities. More investment is necessary in public policies in order to reduce the consequences of mental distress among Brazilian adolescents.

Cohort differences in the development of civic engagement during adolescence.

Investigating whether changing societal circumstances have altered the development of civic engagement, this study compared developmental changes from mid- to late adolescence (i.e., age 15-18) across two cohorts of representative Swiss samples (born in 1991, N = 1258, Mage T1  = 15.30, 54% female, 33% migration background representing diverse ethnicities; born in 2000, N = 930, Mage T1  = 15.32, 51% female; 33% migration background). Findings from latent multigroup models revealed similar levels in attitudes about social justice in both cohorts, remaining stable over time. Adolescents reported lower levels of political efficacy and informal helping in the cohort born in 2000. Both aspects slightly increased during adolescence. Informal helping had a steeper increase in the 1991 compared to the 2000 cohort, suggesting developmental differences between cohorts.

Hastes telescópicas para correção de deformidades e prevenção de fraturas em crianças e adolescentes em fase de crescimento com osteogênese imperfeita / Telescopic rods for deformity correction and fracture prevention in growing children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta

INTRODUÇÃO: A OI é uma doença genética caracterizada por fragilidade óssea e fraturas recorrentes por mínimo trauma, além de deformidades de ossos longos e, nos casos mais graves, consequente incapacidade funcional para deambulação. Além do tratamento medicamentoso para aumentar densidade mineral óssea, cirurgias ortopédicas com inserção de dispositivos intramedulares são indicadas para corrigir as deformidades e estabilizar as fraturas. Entre estes dispositivos implantáveis disponíveis estão: fios (Kirschner ou Steinmann) e hastes (flexíveis ou extensíveis). Com o objetivo de alinhar os ossos longos prevenindo e corrigindo curvaturas que propiciem fraturas, a escolha por haste extensível, também chamada telescópica, para criança ou adolescente ainda em fase de crescimento se justifica por sua capacidade de se estender, acompanhando o crescimento ósseo e, possivelmente, reduzindo o número de revisões cirúrgicas para substituição do implante. Contudo, apesar da evolução das hastes extensíveis ao longo dos anos, chegando ao atual modelo Fassier Duval (FD), complicações pós-operatórias podem ocorrer e demandar revisão cirúrgica, assim como ocorre com as hastes e os dispositivos não extensíveis. TECNOLOGIA: Hastes intramedulares telescópicas (extensíveis). PERGUNTA: O uso de hastes intramedulares telescópicas (extensíveis, tipo Fassier Duval) é seguro e eficaz para correção de deformidades ósseas, redução das incidências de fraturas, revisões e complicações cirúrgicas, além de incremento dos resultados de

Parental education is associated with differential engagement of neural pathways during inhibitory control.

Response inhibition and socioeconomic status (SES) are critical predictors of many important outcomes, including educational attainment and health. The current study extends our understanding of SES and cognition by examining brain activity associated with response inhibition, during the key developmental period of adolescence. Adolescent males (N = 81), aged 16-17, completed a response inhibition task while undergoing fMRI brain imaging and reported on their parents' education, one component of socioeconomic status. A region of interest analysis showed that parental education was associated with brain activation differences in the classic response inhibition network (right inferior frontal gyrus + subthalamic nucleus + globus pallidus) despite the absence of consistent parental education-performance effects. Further, although activity in our main regions of interest was not associated with performance differences, several regions that were associated with better inhibitory performance (ventromedial prefrontal cortex, middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, amygdala/hippocampus) also differed in their levels of activation according to parental education. Taken together, these results suggest that individuals from households with higher versus lower parental education engage key brain regions involved in response inhibition to differing degrees, though these differences may not translate into performance differences.

Early-life activities mediate the association between family socioeconomic status in early childhood and physical fitness in early adolescence.

The graded association between family socioeconomic status (SES) and physical fitness is evident, but little is known about the mechanism underlying this association. This study investigated the role of early-life activities as mediators of the longitudinal relationship between early-life SES and health-related physical fitness in 168 adolescents (51.2% boys; final mean age: 12.4 years old). In Wave 1 (2011-12), their parents completed questionnaires about family socioeconomic status (SES), parent-child activities, and child screen time. In Wave 2 (2014-15), participants' physical activity levels were assessed through parent proxy-reports. In Wave 3 (2018-19), a direct assessment of handgrip strength, standing long-jump, and 6-min walk test (6MWT) performance was conducted. After controlling for demographic factors, results of mediation analyses revealed that (a) Wave 1 SES predicted Wave 3 long-jump and 6MWT performance; (b) child physical activity level in Wave 2 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and standing long-jump performance in Wave 3; and (c) recreational parent-child activities and child screen time in wave 1 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and 6MWT performance in Wave 3. Our findings suggest that the type and frequency of early-life activities play a role in the graded association between childhood SES and physical fitness in adolescence.

Multimethod assessment of pubertal timing and associations with internalizing psychopathology in early adolescent girls.

Early pubertal timing has consistently been associated with internalizing psychopathology in adolescent girls. Here, we aimed to examine whether the association between timing and mental health outcomes varies by measurement of pubertal timing and internalizing psychopathology, differs between adrenarcheal and gonadarcheal processes, and is stronger concurrently or prospectively. We assessed 174 female adolescents (age 10.0-13.0 at Time 1) twice, with an 18-month interval. Participants provided self-reported assessments of depression/anxiety symptoms and pubertal development, subjective pubertal timing, and date of menarche. Their parents/guardians also reported on the adolescent's pubertal development and subjective pubertal timing. We assessed salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, and estradiol levels and conducted clinical interviews to determine the presence of case level internalizing disorders. From these data, we computed 11 measures of pubertal timing at both time points, as well as seven measures of internalizing psychopathology, and entered these in a Specification Curve Analysis. Overall, earlier pubertal timing was associated with increased internalizing psychopathology. Associations were stronger prospectively than concurrently, suggesting that timing of early pubertal processes might be especially important for later risk of mental illness. Associations were strongest when pubertal timing was based on the Tanner Stage Line Drawings and when the outcome was case-level Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) depression or Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) distress disorders. Timing based on hormone levels was not associated with internalizing psychopathology, suggesting that psychosocial mechanisms, captured by timing measures of visible physical characteristics might be more meaningful determinants of internalizing psychopathology than biological ones in adolescent girls. Future research should precisely examine these psychosocial mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development.

Adolescence is a pivotal point in the life course, characterised by transformative physical, cognitive, and emotional growth, an openness to change, and a drive to reshape the social environment. It offers unique opportunities to adopt changes in diet and physical activity that can persist into later life. Yet pre-existing nutritional problems, including micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets, persist at the same time as adolescents face the rapid emergence of an obesity epidemic. Adolescent growth and nutrition has been largely overlooked in intervention and policy research. Most intervention studies have emphasised micronutrient supplementation, with few taking into account the multiple drivers of adolescent diets. This Series paper highlights that effective interventions and policies will need to cut across sectors; be supported by multifaceted and multilevel policy; and extend across education, health, food systems, social protection, and digital media. Better data standardisation and systems will be essential in coordinating and monitoring these responses. In a context of shifts in planetary ecosystems and commercial drivers, resilient food systems will need to both ensure access to healthy and affordable foods and provide the infrastructure and incentives for continuing physical activity. Intergenerational partnerships with young people will be essential in bringing about transformative change and ensuring that food policies reflect their needs and aspirations.

Examining the relationships between early childhood experiences and adolescent and young adult health status in a resource-limited population: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical point in the realization of human capital, as health and educational decisions with long-term impacts are made. We examined the role of early childhood experiences on health, cognitive abilities, and educational outcomes of adolescents followed up from a longitudinal cohort study in Pakistan, hypothesizing that early childhood experiences reflecting poverty would manifest in reduced health and development in adolescence. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Adolescents/young adults previously followed as children aged under 5 years were interviewed. Childhood data were available on diarrhea, pneumonia, and parental/household characteristics. New data were collected on health, anthropometry, education, employment, and languages spoken; nonverbal reasoning was assessed. A multivariable Bayesian network was constructed to explore structural relationships between variables. Of 1,868 children originally enrolled, 1,463 (78.3%) were interviewed as adolescents (range 16.0-29.3 years, mean age 22.6 years); 945 (65%) lived in Oshikhandass. While 1,031 (70.5%) of their mothers and 440 (30.1%) of their fathers had received no formal education, adolescents reported a mean of 11.1 years of education. Childhood diarrhea (calculated as episodes/child-year) had no association with nonverbal reasoning score (an arc was supported in just 4.6% of bootstrap samples), health measures (with BMI, 1% of bootstrap samples; systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 0.1% and 1.6% of bootstrap samples, respectively), education (0.7% of bootstrap samples), or employment (0% of bootstrap samples). Relationships were found between nonverbal reasoning and adolescent height (arc supported in 63% of bootstrap samples), age (84%), educational attainment (100%), and speaking English (100%); speaking English was linked to the childhood home environment, mediated through maternal education and primary language. Speaking English (n = 390, 26.7% of adolescents) was associated with education (100% of bootstrap samples), self-reported child health (82%), current location (85%) and variables describing childhood socioeconomic status. The main limitations of this study were the lack of parental data to characterize the home setting (including parental mental and physical health, and female empowerment) and reliance on self-reporting of health status. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, investments in education, especially for females, are associated with an increase in human capital. Against the backdrop of substantial societal change, with the exception of a small and indirect association between childhood malnutrition and cognitive scores, educational opportunities and cultural language groups have stronger associations with aspects of human capital than childhood morbidity.

Assessment of Swallowing Disorders, Nutritional and Hydration Status, and Oral Hygiene in Students with Severe Neurological Disabilities Including Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Special needs schools (SNS) educate children and young people with major neurological disabilities who are at high risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) and malnutrition (MN). We aimed to assess the prevalence of OD, MN, dehydration (DH), and oral health (OH) in students at an SNS. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at SNS L'Arboç, Catalonia, Spain. We assessed (a) demographics, health status, comorbidities, and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), (b) swallowing function, oral-motor evaluation, masticatory capacity, and EDACS classification for eating and drinking abilities, (c) nutritional and DH status (anthropometry, bioimpedance and dietary records), and (d) OH (Oral Hygiene Index Simplified). RESULTS: A total of 33 students (mean age 13.3 years; 39.4% level V of GMFCS) were included. Main diagnosis was cerebral palsy at 57.6%. All students presented OD, 90.6% had impaired safety, 68.7% were at levels II-III of EDACS, and 31.3% required PEG; furthermore, 89.3% had chronic MN, 21.4% had acute MN, 70% presented intracellular DH, and 83.9% presented impaired OH. CONCLUSION: MN, DH, OD, and poor OH are highly prevalent conditions in students with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities and must be specifically managed through nutritional and educational strategies. The multidisciplinary team at SNS should include healthcare professionals specifically trained in these conditions.