[Measuring adolescents' use of social media: A systematic review]. / La mesure de l'usage des réseaux sociaux chez les adolescents: une revue systématique de la littérature.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the methods used to measure social network site use among adolescents. Such a review is important given the number and diversity of sites and the prevalence of their use among adolescents. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines to arrive at an analysis of 58 peer-reviewed studies indexed in PubMed, PsychInfo, or Scopus. To be included in the review, articles had to be peer-reviewed, available in full text, and published in French or English. For inclusion, studies were required to pertain to adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years; to focus on social network site use and indicate how their use was estimated. Studies that simultaneously examined social network sites and general internet use or video games and only provided a combined analysis were excluded. The keywords for the search were: social media use, social media usage, social media misuse, measure, teen, and adolescents. RESULTS: In the literature, different methods were used to operationalize the use of social network sites: quantitative methods with the measurement of frequency and duration of use of social network sites, and qualitative methods to measure the different activities adolescents engage in on such sites. In this review, 28 articles investigated the use of social media through a measurement of frequency and 22 articles through a measurement of the duration of use. Most of the studies focused on social network sites in general, without specifying which sites in particular were considered by the respondents when answering the question. However, some articles provided cross measures of quantitative and qualitative measurements resulting in the examination of both the frequency of use and the time spent on specific activities on social network sites. CONCLUSIONS: The present review highlights the great diversity in the methods used to measure the use of social network sites among adolescents. The reliance on frequency-based measurements without taking into account the specificities of the activities or sites involved limits the investigation of their impact on adolescent functioning and behaviors. Given the observed discrepancies in the literature concerning the measurement of social network site use among adolescents and their associated biases, the development of specific instruments is needed to advance in this important field of research.

[Investigating the relationship between social media use and body image among adolescents: A systematic review]. / Lien entre usage des réseaux sociaux et image corporelle chez les adolescents : une revue systématique de la littérature.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to update the scientific knowledge concerning the relationship between the use of social networking sites and body image among adolescents. METHODS: A preregistered systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and allowed to include 30 peer-reviewed articles for qualitative analysis, consisting of 26 unique samples (n=31,331; Mage=14.89; SDage=1.07). The search was conducted on Pubmed, PsychInfo and Scopus focusing on studies that included any social network site use and body image measures while being based on general population adolescent samples. Social networking site use referred: 1) to any online activities such as browsing, posting, editing selfies, liking, commenting; 2) to any exposure to appearance-related content; or 3) to a measure of frequency use. The scope of social networking sites considered in the present review was extended to online video-sharing platforms and online dating applications due to their relationship with appearance. Body image as considered through MeSH terms referred to a wide range of possible outcomes including body and facial dissatisfaction, dysmorphophobia, body surveillance, self-objectification, body shame, weight concerns, self-monitoring. Any mental health outcome was extracted when available although its absence was not an exclusion criterion.. RESULTS: Among the 30 studies included in the review, 22 were cross-sectional, seven were longitudinal and one had an experimental design. Overall, among studies based on unique samples, 18 studies included both males and females (n=28,081; Mage 14.84; SDage=1.06), seven were based exclusively on female samples (n=2,507; Mage 14.87; SDage=1.19), while one study recruited only male adolescents (n=743; Mage 15.90; SDage=0.54). Only six studies were based on representative samples. These studies reported a robust association between frequency of social networking site use and negative body image among both females and males. In addition, exposure to appearance-related content was also deleterious to body image. The association between the use of social media and negative body image may involve negative mental health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms, low body esteem and problematic use of social media. Measuring specific activities on social network sites or exposure to appearance-related content (e.g. selfies editing; selfies posting) may be more accurate than using a frequency of overall use (e.g. during the past month) when predicting body image. Studies addressing underlying processes supported that the relationship between use of social media and body image may not be direct but rather involve intermediary steps on both cognitive and social levels, namely internalization of the thin ideal, self-objectification, peer appearance-related feedback, ascendant social comparison with peers and celebrities. Also, it remains unclear whether mental health mediates this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The association between the use of social networking sites and negative body image is robustly supported in the literature. However, studies measuring frequency of overall use may instead be predicting negative body image with a nested measure of the use of social network sites, namely specific activities involving appearance-related content. Due to the observed discrepancies between self-reported frequency of social networking site use and actual use in methodological literature, future research may rather measure behaviors commonly encountered on a given platform. Furthermore, there is a need to distinguish specific site categories such as highly visual social media when focusing on body image outcomes. . Focusing on specific social media platforms may in turn lead to more targeted prevention regarding a safe utilization of social networking sites among adolescents. Despite the growing body of research concerning the association between social media and body image, the current review underlines that additional longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to investigate potential bidirectional effects, as well as studies based on representative samples to improve generalization to adolescent populations.

[Use of psychotherapy among adults with a history of suicide attempt: Results form a large population-based study]. / Recours à la psychothérapie en France chez les adultes avec tentative de suicide : résultats d'une vaste enquête épidémiologique.

OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to identify the factors associated with the use of psychotherapy among adults with a history of suicide attempt. METHODS: A large cross-sectional survey (N=22,138) was conducted in four regions of France to characterize mental health care needs in the general population. Data were collected between April and June 2005 by trained interviewers using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system (CATI). Sociodemographics, past-year mental disorders, lifetime and 12-month history of suicide attempts, and use of psychotherapy were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 7.1% of adults reported having undergone psychotherapy in the course of their life, and 2.0% in the previous 12 months. While 8.3% of adults with a lifetime suicide attempt (prior to the previous 12 months) underwent a psychotherapy in the previous 12 months, 27.5% of adults with a past-year suicide attempt underwent a psychotherapy in the previous 12 months. Psychotherapy was provided by psychiatrists (49.5%), psychologists (28.2%), and psychoanalysts (10.6%). While the frequency of psychotherapy sessions was greater among those with a prior attempt as compared to those with no prior attempt [Chi2 (10)=21.35, P=.019], there was no difference in therapy duration [Chi2 (8)=6.71, P=.568]. Compared to adults who did not report a prior attempt, those with a prior suicide attempt were 3,3 more likely to undergo psychotherapy with a psychologist [AOR=3.31 (2.54-4.31)]. Among adults with a prior suicide attempt, increased odds of undergoing a psychotherapy in the course of their life was predicted by higher education [AOR=2.81 (1.56-5.06)], living in the Paris region [AOR=2.06 (1.32-3.23)], and being a woman [AOR=1.50 (1.08-2.09)]. Increased odds of undergoing a psychotherapy in the previous 12 months was predicted by a major depressive disorder [AOR=2.59 (1.57-4.27)], any anxiety disorder [AOR=1.79 (1.07-2.97)], higher education [AOR=3.60 (1.29-10.0)], living in a city of 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants [AOR=2.71 (1.13-6.50)] and more [AOR=2.50 (1.12-5.57)] (outside of the Paris region), a 2000 to 3000 euros monthly income [AOR=2.37 (1.15-4.85)]. DISCUSSION: One third of adults with a lifetime suicide attempt and close to half of those with a past-year attempt have received some form of psychotherapy in the course of their life. In line with prior work, higher education and income level predicted past-year use of psychotherapy among adults with a prior suicide attempt. These findings highlight the association between major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders and increased odds of undergoing psychotherapy in the previous 12 months among adults with prior attempt. While pharmacological treatment, inpatient hospitalizations for mental health problems, visits with a general practitioner or specialized physician are free of charge in France, psychotherapy provided by psychologists or psychotherapists is currently not covered by the French Social Security health care system. As the treatment of mental disorders plays an important role in the reduction of suicide risk, supporting evidence-based psychotherapy through its reimbursement appears to be an important public health issue.

Education as a protective factor for mental health risks among youth living in highly dangerous regions in Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Children in Afghanistan live in dangerous areas, and have been exposed to traumatic events and chaotic education. Progress has been made on access to education for girls who were the most affected by traditional attitudes against engagement in education. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to evaluate the mental health of Afghan children living in regions of conflict and the association of mental health with school attendance for girls and boys. METHOD: The study included 2707 school aged children in eight regions of Afghanistan (16 provinces) residing in households recruited through a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy in 2017. The level of terrorist threat was evaluated by the intensity of terrorist attacks recorded that year in each province. Child mental health was assessed with the parental report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) along with information on school attendance, sociodemographic characteristics and geographic location. RESULTS: A total of 52.75% of children had scores above threshold for the SDQ total difficulties score, 39.19% for emotional difficulties, 51.98% for conduct challenges, and 15.37% for hyperactivity/inattention. Peer relationship problems were high (82.86%) and 12.38% reported that these problems impacted daily life. The level of terrorist threat was associated with SDQ total difficulties (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 4.08, P < 0.0001), with youth in regions with high levels of terrorist threat more likely to have problems than youth in regions with low or medium levels of danger, independent of region and ethnicity. School attendance was negatively associated with emotional symptoms (AOR = 0.65, P < 0.0001) and mental health difficulties with impairment (AOR = 0.67, P = 0.007), but positively associated with peer relationships difficulties (AOR = 1.96, P > 0.0001). Conduct (AOR = 1.66, P < .0001) and SDQ total difficulties (AOR = 1.22, P = 0.019) were higher among boys. Overall, gender did not modify the relationship between school attendance and child mental health. CONCLUSION: Attending school is essential for children's mental health, across gender, and should be supported as a priority in Afghanistan despite the return of the Taliban.

Detection of microfilarial antigen in circulating immune complex from sera of Wuchereria bancrofti-infected individuals.

Polyethylene glycol-precipitated circulating immune complexes (CICs) from the sera of patients with Bancroftian filariasis were examined for parasite antigen content by an ELISA. Of the 227 patients, 214 were asymptomatic microfilariae carriers with microfilaremias ranging between six and 14,000/ml blood, and 13 were symptomatic patients with chronic filariasis without microfilaremia. In addition, the sera of 10 of the patients treated with diethyl carbamazine were also examined. These assays were devised using mouse monoclonal antibody raised against microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. Using an acid-phase covalent-bound plate for the ELISA makes it possible to assay the antigen contents simply. Microfilarial antigens were detected from 92 (43.0%) of microfilaria (mf)-positive individuals. Furthermore, the level of antigen in CIC was correlated with mf counts from night blood Nuclepore filtration results. Antigen was not detected in CIC from patients with a variety of nonfilarial helminth infections. These findings indicate that microfilariae play an important role of CIC formation in lymphatic filariasis.