Humor and health in early adolescents: perceived field motion as a mediating variable

The purpose of this study was to test a mediational model, developed within the science of unitary human beings, by examining the relationship between humor and eudaimonistic health conception in early adolescents and by examining the extent to which perceived field motion mediated this relationship. The sample consisted of 136 adolescents, aged 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring humor, perceived field motion, and eudaimonistic health conception in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the three hypothesized relationships. Regression analyses indicated that perceived field motion was one mediator of the relationship between humor and eudaimonistic health conception.     

Mediational models of health practices in early adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and positive health practices in early adolescents and to test two variables, depression and optimism, that mediate this relationship. The final sample included 128 adolescents, ages 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring social support, depression, optimism, and positive health practices in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the five hypothesized relationships. A series of regression analyses indicated that depression and optimism each were weak mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices. The application of findings to nursing is addressed, using the ACE Star Model for evidence-based practice.     

Factors related to seeking health care among adolescents with musculoskeletal pain

Musculoskeletal pain is common among adolescents, but little is known about the factors that affect seeking health care for the problem. We examined the care-seeking pattern among adolescents reporting musculoskeletal pain. The study consisted of adolescents aged 16 years from the 1986 Northern Finland Birth Cohort who responded to a mailed questionnaire in 2001 and reported musculoskeletal pain over the preceding 6 months (n = 5052). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess whether enabling resources, need factors, personal health habits, and psychological problems were associated with seeking health care for musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pain during the preceding 6 months was reported by 68% of boys and 83% of girls in the study population. Only 16% of boys and 20% of girls reporting pain had sought medical care. Among both boys and girls, care-seeking was associated with being a member of a sports club (boys, odds ratio [OR] 2.1; girls, OR 1.5) and having one (boys, OR 2.1; girls, OR 1.8) or at least 2 (boys, OR 2.2; girls, OR 2.1) other health disorders. In addition, it was associated with a high physical activity level (OR 1.5) and low self-rated (OR 1.5) health among girls. Reporting pain in other anatomical areas decreased the likelihood of seeking care for pain among both genders. In conclusion, relatively few adolescents with musculoskeletal pain had consulted a health professional for the problem. Being physically active (trauma), participating in organized sport (accessibility of care), and having other health problems may explain why an adolescent seeks care for musculoskeletal pain.     

Dispositional differences in critical thinking related to gender and academic major

Dispositional differences among several university majors and across gender were examined in this exploratory study, using Facione's California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. Participants were 334 baccalaureate undergraduates (121 males, 213 females) enrolled in majors classified as practice disciplines (i.e., nursing, education, business) and nonpractice disciplines (i.e., English, history, psychology). A MANCOVA with grade point average as a covariate was conducted for majors, indicating significant main effects for major. Highest scores generally were found in English, psychology, and nursing. When majors were grouped into practice and nonpractice disciplines, nonpractice had generally higher disposition scores, and female scores in both practice and nonpractice disciplines were higher than males on Open-Mindedness and Maturity.     

Cross cultural differences in health related quality of life in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Purpose : Quality of Life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in health care and pharmacological trials. The trend towards multinational clinical trials may be problematic because it is unclear as to whether, or to what extent, QoL measures are comparable across cultures. This study compared QoL between English and German adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and their healthy peers.

Method : The study comprised a cross-sectional design. The English subjects formed two groups; 58 adolescents with CF and 49 healthy controls. The German subjects consisted of 26 adolescents with CF and 75 healthy controls. Quality of life was measured using the English and German versions of the SF-36. Demographic (age and gender) and clinical data (FEV 1 % predicted and BMI) were also recorded.

Results : The English and German CF groups had similar age-adjusted lung function and body mass index. Both the English CF and control groups reported a poorer quality of life than their respective German counterparts across several domains of the SF-36. These were limitations in activities due to physical health problems and emotional difficulties, social functioning, energy and vitality and pain.

Conclusions : The differences in quality of life between English and German adolescents with CF appear to be either culturally determined or due to idiosyncrasies in the translations of the SF-36, rather than a consequence of their disease or its management.     

Cross cultural differences in health related quality of life in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Purpose : Quality of Life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in health care and pharmacological trials. The trend towards multinational clinical trials may be problematic because it is unclear as to whether, or to what extent, QoL measures are comparable across cultures. This study compared QoL between English and German adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and their healthy peers. Method : The study comprised a cross-sectional design. The English subjects formed two groups; 58 adolescents with CF and 49 healthy controls. The German subjects consisted of 26 adolescents with CF and 75 healthy controls. Quality of life was measured using the English and German versions of the SF-36. Demographic (age and gender) and clinical data (FEV 1 % predicted and BMI) were also recorded. Results : The English and German CF groups had similar age-adjusted lung function and body mass index. Both the English CF and control groups reported a poorer quality of life than their respective German counterparts across several domains of the SF-36. These were limitations in activities due to physical health problems and emotional difficulties, social functioning, energy and vitality and pain. Conclusions : The differences in quality of life between English and German adolescents with CF appear to be either culturally determined or due to idiosyncrasies in the translations of the SF-36, rather than a consequence of their disease or its management.     

Psychopathology in substance abusing adolescents: gender comparisons

Few studies have explored gender comparisons of psychopathology in substance abusing adolescents. To expand the knowledge base in this area, we assessed 59 adolescents (34 males and 25 females) presenting for inpatient treatment in a university‐based adolescent dual diagnosis program. Subjects were interviewed for psychiatric disorders using the revised Child Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia (K‐SADS). The Structured Clinical Interview DSM‐IV (SCID‐R) was used to diagnose substance use disorders. The subjects were primarily Caucasian, ages 12–18. Ninety‐four per cent of the sample used tobacco and females were more likely than males to meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. Disruptive disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses in both males and females. However, anxiety disorders were more prevalent in females, and social phobia was the most common anxiety disorder. Both groups had experienced physical and/or sexual abuse; however, there was a trend towards higher incidences of females than males having experienced sexual abuse. Significantly more females had a history of suicide attempt. Taken together, these data suggest that there are some gender differences in co‐morbidity that may have treatment implications for this population. Further exploration of gender comparisons of psychopathology in adolescent substance abusers is warranted.     

Parents matter – but relations to parents do not explain gender differences in self‐reported health in adolescents

The aim of the study was to explore whether parent–adolescent relations are associated to self‐reported health of adolescents. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a cross‐sectional data set consisting of 5060 adolescents, grades 7–9, from six municipalities in the northern part of Sweden. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Umeå, Sweden. Results showed that, in both boys and girls, experiencing low parental demands as well as perceiving the relationship quality and the communication with parents as poor were significantly associated with having poor general health, somatic complaints and feelings of stress. In general, girls scored lower on self‐reported health than boys, but our findings indicate that these gender differences could not be explained by relations to parents. In conclusion, relations to parents play an important role for self‐reported health of adolescents. Although no causal‐effect statements can be determined in this study, it is implied that there is a need for health professionals, such as school nurses, school welfare officers, etc., to pay special attention to parent–adolescent relations in their work with adolescents.     

Social support and positive health practices in early adolescents: a test of mediating variables

This study examines the relationship between social support and positive health practices in early adolescents and tests two variables, loneliness and hopefulness, that theoretically mediate this relationship. The final sample of the study consisted of 134 adolescents, ages 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring social support, loneliness, hopefulness, and positive health practices in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the five hypothesized relationships. A series of regression analyses indicated that loneliness and hopefulness each were weak mediators of the relationship between social support and positive health practices. Implications for nursing practice are addressed.     

湖北省部分城市及农村青少年1 498名心理相关问题抽样调查

背景青少年心理健康问题发生率越来越高,逐渐成为其健康成长的重要影响因素.目的调查湖北省部分城市及农村青少年心理健康水平,分析其影响因素.设计整群分层随机抽样,横断面调查.单位华中科技大学同济医学院儿少卫生与妇幼保健学系.对象于2003-03/06依据全国学生体质健康监测所选用的调查点,采取整群分层随机抽样法选取具有代表性的湖北省城市(武汉市、黄石市)和乡村(郧县、仙桃市、孝感市)16～18岁青少年1 498人进行调查.城市组605人,农村组893人.方法采用自制调查表进行一般情况调查,内容包括学生年龄、父母职业、父母文化程度、家庭类型、社会风气、学校类型及风气、人际关系;采用症状自评量表调查学生心理健康状况,以躯体化、强迫症状、人际关系、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性9个因子作为观察指标,采用5级评分法,凡某一因子分≥3,或总分≥160分则判定为有心理卫生问题.采用父母教育方式问卷调查家庭教育方式,内容包括积极的教育方式(情感温暖、理解)和消极的教育方式(惩罚、严厉,过分干涉,偏爱,拒绝、否认,过度保护);采用家庭环境量表调查家庭环境情况,选用其中具有较高信度和效度的四个分量表(亲密度、矛盾性、知识性、娱乐性)作为指标.使用匿名问卷法,由统一培训的专职调查人员按统一指导语讲解填写要求,以指导学生填表.表格由班主任收集后上交调查组.观察城乡青少年症状自评量表得分情况,以及其与家庭一般情况、父母教育方式、家庭环境质量的相关关系,并以症状自评量表总分为因变量进行相关因素的逐步回归分析.主要观察指标①湖北省部分城市及农村青少年心理卫生问题发生率及其性别,地区差异.②青少年症状自评男表评分及与全国常模分值比较.③症状自评量表总分与家庭一般情况,父母教育方式的相关分析.结果①湖北省1 498名青少年心理卫生问题发生率总发生率为18.13%.男少年为18.20%,女少年为18.04%,男女差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05).农村明显高于城市为[23.74%(212/893),16.69%(101/605),P＜0.05];在心理卫生问题中,以强迫、人际关系敏感、敌对、偏执和抑郁较多见.②与全国常模分值比较湖北省青少年症状自评量表各因子分、家庭环境质量各因子分明显低于全国常模水平.③单因素分析青少年症状自评量表总分与年龄、性别、父母文化、父母期望、学校风气等有明显的相关性(P均＞0.01);与积极的教育方式(情感温暖、理解)呈负相关,(P均＞0.01);与消极的教育方式(惩罚、严厉、过分干涉、偏爱及拒绝、否认等)呈正相关;与矛盾性呈明显的正相关,与亲密性、知识性、娱乐性呈明显的负相关,(P均＞0.01).⑥多因素分析学生心理卫生状况与年龄、性别、父母文化、父母对子女的期望、人际关系以及学校风气、父母教育方式、家庭环境质量均有密切的关系.结论湖北省部分城市及农村青少年心理卫生问题发生率较高,症状自评量表各因子评分均高于全国常模,心理健康水平较差.除与家庭诸因素中年龄、性别、父母文化、父母期望、学校风气等有明显的相关性外,家庭环境质量、父母教育方式是影响其心理健康成长的主要因素.     

Factors related to school absenteeism in adolescents with recurrent headache

OBJECTIVE: To examine possible risk and protective factors for school absenteeism among adolescents referred to a hospital-based behavioral treatment program. DESIGN: Data obtained from intake interviews, screening questionnaires, and baseline headache diaries of 283 consecutive adolescents referred for behavioral treatment of recurrent headache were reviewed for demographics, length of headache history, headache type, current headache activity, symptoms of anxiety and depression, perceived self-efficacy regarding headache control, school performance, participation in extracurricular activities, and school absenteeism. The study population was divided into 2 groups at the median number of days missed due to headache in the previous 6 months that school was in session. Adolescents who missed 2 or less days of school due to headache (low absenteeism) were compared with those who missed more than 2 days (high absenteeism). RESULTS: Compared with the low absenteeism group, the high absenteeism group had higher scores on the Children's Depression Inventory (8.7 +/- 6.5 versus 6.8 +/- 6.2, P <.05) and lower academic performance (2.1 +/- 1.0 versus 1.7 +/- 0.8, P <.0001). The 2 groups were not statistically different in age, sex, length of headache history, type of headache, current headache frequency or intensity scores, anxiety scores, self-efficacy ratings, or participation in extracurricular activities. CONCLUSIONS: In a referred population, students who missed more school due to headache had higher depression scores and lower academic performance than students who missed less school. A directional relationship, however, cannot be implied from these results. Future studies should investigate the complex relationship between recurrent adolescent headache, potential risk or protective factors, and school absenteeism.