Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Are Adolescents Smoking Identities Valid Descriptors Of Their Smoking Behaviour? (2008), Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background

•Smoking identities represent psychosocial constructions of how adolescents who smoke perceive themselves in relation to their smoking behaviour

•These smoking identities converge (or diverge) with established taxonomies used to describe youth smoking behaviour

•The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of adolescents’ ‘smoking identities’ by comparing them to established smoking behaviour categorizations and perceived addiction to tobacco

“I Have Always Felt Different:” The Experience Of Childhood Ad/Hd, Mona Shattell, T. Robin Bartlett, Tracie Rowe

Mona Shattell

Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is one of the most important psychiatric problems of our time. This study examined the experience of childhood AD/HD within the contexts that are most significant to this age group – home, school, and friendships. The sample included 16 college-enrolled young adults (ages 18 - 25) with a self-reported history of AD/HD. Participants revealed feelings of difference, misunderstanding, and struggle in all areas of their lives (home, school, and friendships). Nurses can use these findings to improve the care and long-term outcomes of children diagnosed with AD/HD.