Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Electroencephalogram Theta/Beta Ratio And Spectral Power Correlates Of Executive Functions In Children And Adolescents With Ad/Hd, Dawei Zhang, Hui Li, Zhanliang Wu, Qihua Zhao, Yan Song, Lu Liu, Qiujin Qian, Yufeng Wang, Steven J. Roodenrys, Stuart J. Johnstone, Frances M. De Blasio, Li Sun

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

OBJECTIVE: The electroencephalogram (EEG) has been widely used in AD/HD research. The current study firstly aimed to replicate a recent trend related to EEG theta/beta ratio (TBR) in children and adolescents. Also, the study aimed to examine the value of resting EEG activity as biomarkers for executive function (EF) in participants with AD/HD. METHOD: Fifty-three participants with AD/HD and 37 healthy controls were recruited. Resting EEG was recorded with eyes closed. Participants with AD/HD additionally completed EF tasks via the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. RESULTS: TBR did not differ between groups; however, TBR was positively correlated with inattentive symptoms …

Pubertal Stage, Body Mass Index, And Cardiometabolic Risk In Children And Adolescents In Bogota, Colombia: The Cross-Sectional Fuprecol Study, Robinson Ramírez-Velez, Antonio García-Hermoso, Cesar A. Agostinis-Sobrinho, Jorge Mota, Rute Santos, Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista, Carlos Andres Pena-Guzman, María Andrea Domínguez-Sanchez, Jacqueline Schmidt-Riovalle, Emilio Gonzalez-Jimenez

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study explored the association between pubertal stage and anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in youth. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2877 Colombian children and adolescents (9¿17.9 years of age). Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A biochemical study was performed to determine the cardiometabolic risk index (CMRI). Blood pressure was evaluated and pubertal stage was assessed with the Tanner criteria. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. The most significant variable (p < 0.05) in the prognosis of cardiometabolic risk was found to be the BMI in both boys and girls. In the case of girls, the pubertal stage was also a CMRI predictive factor. In conclusion, BMI was an important indicator of cardiovascular risk in both sexes. Pubertal stage was associated with cardiovascular risk only in the girls.

A School-Based Intervention Incorporating Smartphone Technology To Improve Health-Related Fitness Among Adolescents: Rationale And Study Protocol For The Neat And Atlas 2.0 Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial And Dissemination Study, David R. Lubans, Jordan J. Smith, Louisa Peralta, Ronald Plotnikoff, Anthony D. Okely, Jo Salmon, Narelle Eather, Deborah Dewar, Sarah G. Kennedy, Chris Lonsdale, Toni A. Hilland, Paul Estabrooks, Tara Finn, Emma Pollock, Philip J. Morgan

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction Physical inactivity has been described as a global pandemic. Interventions aimed at developing skills in lifelong physical activities may provide the foundation for an active lifestyle into adulthood. In general, school-based physical activity interventions targeting adolescents have produced modest results and few have been designed to be 'scaled-up' and disseminated. This study aims to: (1) assess the effectiveness of two physical activity promotion programmes (ie, NEAT and ATLAS) that have been modified for scalability; and (2) evaluate the dissemination of these programmes throughout government funded secondary schools. Methods and analysis The study will be conducted in two phases. In …

Is Belief In God Related To Differences In Adolescents' Psychological Functioning?, Lee Huuskes, Patrick C. L Heaven, Joseph Ciarrochi, Philip Parker, Nerina Caltabiano

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Many studies have documented links between positive psychological functioning and religiousness during the adolescent years, but very few have contrasted religious and nonreligious youth. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in psychological functioning among adolescent atheists, agnostics, and believers using a profile analysis approach. The authors conducted a survey of Grade 8 students (N = 1,925) enrolled in Catholic schools in two Australian states. The survey included 10 measures of psychological functioning, broadly divided into three categories (positive adjustment, social well-being, and negative outcomes). Results indicated that belief in God was related to distinct profiles of …

Objectively Measured Sedentary Behaviour And Health And Development In Children And Adolescents: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Dylan P. Cliff, Kylie Hesketh, Stewart A. Vella, Trina Hinkley, Margarita D. Tsiros, Nicola D. Ridgers, Alison Carver, Jenny Veitch, Anne-Maree Parrish, Louise L. Hardy, Ronald Plotnikoff, Anthony D. Okely, Jo Salmon, David R. Lubans

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Sedentary behaviour has emerged as a unique determinant of health in adults. Studies in children and adolescents have been less consistent. We reviewed the evidence to determine if the total volume and patterns (i.e. breaks and bouts) of objectively measured sedentary behaviour were associated with adverse health outcomes in young people, independent of moderate-intensity to vigorous-intensity physical activity. Four electronic databases (EMBASE MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus) were searched (up to 12 November 2015) to retrieve studies among 2- to 18-year-olds, which used cross-sectional, longitudinal or experimental designs, and examined associations with health outcomes (adiposity, cardio-metabolic, fitness, respiratory, bone/musculoskeletal, …

Ability Of Measures Of Adiposity In Identifying Adverse Levels Of Inflammatory And Metabolic Markers In Adolescents, J Oliveira-Santos, Rute Santos, Carla Moreira, Sandra Abreu, Luis Lopes, C Agostinis-Sobrinho, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Overweight and obesity have been associated with a pro-inflammatory state. We aimed to assess the ability of different measures of overall and abdominal adiposity for identifying adverse levels of inflammatory and metabolic markers in adolescents. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis with 529 Portuguese adolescents (267 girls), mean age 14.3 ± 1.7 years. Weight, height, sitting height, waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured; and BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-sitting-height ratio (WsHtR) were calculated. We measured C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complements C3 and C4, leptin, and adiponectin levels. Receiver operating characteristic …

Association Between Serum Adiponectin Levels And Muscular Fitness In Portuguese Adolescents: Labmed Physical Activity Study, C Agostinis-Sobrinho, Rute Santos, Carla Moreira, Sandra Abreu, Luis Lopes, J Oliveira-Santos, R Rosario, Susana Povoas, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background and aim: Paradoxically, recent investigations have showed that adiponectin levels are inversely associated with muscle strength. However, to date, there is a lack of knowledge on the relationship between muscular fitness (MF) and adiponectin levels in adolescents. We aimed to examine the independent associations between MF and adiponectin levels in adolescents, controlling for several potential confounders. Methods and results: This is a cross-sectional analysis with 529 Portuguese adolescents aged 12-18 years. A MF score was computed as the mean of the handgrip strength and standing long jump standardized values by age and gender. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, HDL-cholesterol, …

Sodium And Potassium Urinary Excretion And Dietary Intake: A Cross-Sectional Analysis In Adolescents, Carla Goncalves, Sandra Abreu, Patricia Padrao, Olivia Pinho, Pedro Graca, Joao Breda, Rute Santos, Pedro Moreira

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause for heart disease and stroke, for mortality and morbidity worldwide, and a high sodium-to-potassium intake ratio is considered a stronger risk factor for hypertension than sodium alone. Objective: This study aims to evaluate sodium and potassium urinary excretion, and assess the food sources of these nutrients in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Design: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 250 Portuguese adolescents. Sodium and potassium excretion were measured by one 24-h urinary collection, and the coefficient of creatinine was used to validate completeness of urine collections. Dietary sources of sodium and potassium were …

A Personal Constructivist Approach For Investigating The Patterns Of Dependency Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Case Study Of Two Families, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Peter Caputi, Beverly M. Walker, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This research investigated the utility and practicality of dependency grids for capturing and presenting the dependency distribution patterns of three adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The investigation also involved family members to explore their level of awareness of the adolescents' dependency preferences. The grids were analyzed using a range of measures, including the uncertainty index and partial order scalogram analysis. Findings indicate the adolescents had various ways of dispersing their dependencies among their resources and differed in the types of support most used. Additionally, family members differed in their awareness of the adolescents' preferences. The benefits and drawbacks of the …

Hpv.Edu Study Protocol: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Evaluation Of Education, Decisional Support And Logistical Strategies In School-Based Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Vaccination Of Adolescents, S R. Skinner, Collette Davies, Spring Cooper, Tanya Stoney, Helen S. Marshall, Jane Jones, Joanne Collins, Heidi Hutton, Adriana Parrella, Gregory Zimet, David Regan, Patty Whyte, Julia Brotherton, Peter Richmond, Kristen Mccaffrey, Susan Garland, Julie Leask, Melissa Kang, Annette J. Braunack-Mayer, John M. Kaldor, Kevin Mcgeechan

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background

The National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program in Australia commenced in 2007 for females and in 2013 for males, using the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV 6,11,16,18). Thus far, we have demonstrated very substantial reductions in genital warts and in the prevalence of HPV among young Australian women, providing early evidence for the success of this public health initiative. Australia has a long history of school-based vaccination programs for adolescents, with comparatively high coverage. However, it is not clear what factors promote success in a school vaccination program. The HPV.edu study aims to examine: 1) student knowledge about HPV vaccination; …

Association Between Sodium Excretion And Hydration Status By Free Water Reserve: A Cross-Sectional Analysis In Adolescents, Carla Goncalves, Sandra Abreu, Patricia Padrao, Olivia Pinho, Pedro Graca, Joao Breda, Rute Santos, Pedro Moreira

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Excessive sodium intake is excreted through urine and could affect hydration status. This study aims to describe hydration status in adolescents and to assess the association between hydration status by free water reserve (FWR) and urinary sodium excretion. Methods: Two hundred participants (118 girls), aged 13-18 years completed the study. Median urinary sodium excretion was measured in one 24-hour collection and was used as a proxy for sodium intake. FWR (measured urine volume minus the obligatory urine volume) was used for characterization of hydration status, and linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between urinary sodium excretion …

Active Commuting Amongst School Children And Adolescents In A Rural Area Of South Africa, Eva M. Craig

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract of a presentation at the Be Active 2014 Conference, 15-18 Oct, Canberra, Australia.

Parents And Adolescents Discuss Gambling Advertising: A Qualitative Study, Samantha L. Thomas

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The study specifically aimed to explore:

1. How socio-cultural factors may influence the meanings individuals construct about gambling.

2. How different audience segments (in this case parents and their children) interpret messages about different types of advertisements in different ways.

3. How the framing of messages about gambling may influence perceptions about the risks and benefits associated with different types of gambling products and services.

The specific objectives of the study were to:

1. Provide detailed qualitative information about how different audience segments interpret the messages they see in gambling advertisements.

2. Strengthen understandings about how different gambling advertising strategies …

Assessment Of Psychosocial Outcomes In Adolescents And Young Adults With Cancer: A Systematic Review Of Available Instruments, Claire E. Wakefield, Pandora Patterson, Fiona Ej Mcdonald, Helen L. Wilson, Esther L. Davis, Ursula Sansom-Daly

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Given the burgeoning body of research relating to the psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer, this review aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and appropriateness of the instruments available for use in this unique population. Specifically, we reviewed published instruments developed to assess psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of recurrence), psychological growth (resilience, posttraumatic growth, and benefit finding), unmet needs, coping, quality of life, identity, and mindfulness-based practices and skills in AYAs with cancer. Given the dearth of validated instruments targeting AYAs with cancer, this review also provides a summary of promising measures yet …

Associations Between Sports Participation, Adiposity And Obesity-Related Health Behaviors In Australian Adolescents, Stewart A. Vella, Dylan P. Cliff, Anthony D. Okely, Maree L. Scully, Belinda C. Morley

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organized sports participation, weight status, physical activity, screen time, and important food habits in a large nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents.

Methods

Nationally representative cross-sectional study of 12,188 adolescents from 238 secondary schools aged between 12 and 17 years (14.47 ± 1.25 y, 53% male, 23% overweight/obese). Participation in organized sports, compliance with national physical activity, screen time, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods were self-reported. Weight status and adiposity (BMI, waist circumference) were measured.

Results

Organized sports participation …

The Experience Of Transitioning Two Adolescents With Asperger Syndrome In Academically Focused High Schools, Roselyn M. Dixon, Kathleen Tanner

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Adolescents with Asperger syndrome (AS) are increasingly being placed in academically focused high schools. These students, although academically able, may not be coping with the wider classroom and social demands of transition to, and within, the high school environment. Schools are keen to enrol these students. However, there appears to be a gap between the rhetoric and the reality relating to the varying perceptions of key stakeholders. In this paper we present the results of a study of the perceptions of key stakeholders in the transition of two students with AS into two academically focused high schools. Eight participants were …

Effect Of Air Pollution And Racism On Ethnic Differences In Respiratory Health Among Adolescents Living In An Urban Environment, Thomas E. Astell-Burt, Maria J. Maynard, Erik Lenguerrand, Melissa Whitrow, Oarabile R. Molaodi, Seeromanie Harding

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Recent studies suggest that stress can amplify the harm of air pollution. We examined whether experience of racism and exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm and 10 µm (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) had a synergistic influence on ethnic differences in asthma and lung function across adolescence. Analyses using multilevel models showed lower forced expiratory volume (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) and lower rates of asthma among some ethnic minorities compared to Whites, but higher exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and racism. Racism appeared to amplify the relationship …

Reference Curves For Bmi, Waist Circumference And Waist-To-Height Ratio For Azorean Adolescents (Portugal), Rute Santos, Carla Moreira, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Susana Vale, Luisa Soares-Miranda, Pedro Moreira, Luis Lopes, Ana I. Marques, Antonio Oliveira-Tavares, Paula Clara Santos, Sandra Abreu, Manuel J. Coelho-E-Silva, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective There are no percentile curves for BMI, waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) available for Portuguese children and adolescents. The purpose of the present study was to develop age- and sex-specific BMI, WC and WHtR percentile curves for a representative sample of adolescents living in the Portuguese islands of Azores, one of the poorest regions of Europe, and to compare them with those from other countries. Design Cross-sectional school-based study. Weight, height and WC were objectively measured according to standard procedures. Smoothed percentile curves were estimated using Cole's LMS method. Setting Azores, Portugal. Subjects Proportionate stratified random sample …

The Alpha Health-Related Physical Fitness Test Battery For Children And Adolescents, Rute Santos, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this issue of Nutricion Hospitalaria, Ruiz and colleagues present the new health-related fitness test battery for youth based upon the work developed by the ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity) study. The ALPHA was a study funded by the European Union aimed "to provide a set of instruments for assessing levels of physical activity, its underlying factors (e.g. build environment, transport, and workplace), as well as, fitness in a comparable way within the European Union". The work presented in this issue by Ruiz and colleagues relates to the working package 6 of the ALPHA project -Assessing Healthrelated Physical Fitness- …

Metabolic Risk Factors, Physical Activity And Physical Fitness In Azorean Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study, Carla Moreira, Rute Santos, Jose Cazuza De Farias Junior, Susana Vale, Paula Clara Santos, Luisa Soares-Miranda, Ana I. Marques, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased over the last few decades in adolescents and has become an important health challenge worldwide. This study analyzed the relationships between metabolic risk factors (MRF) and physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) in a sample of Azorean adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 417 adolescents (243 girls) aged 15-18 from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. Height, weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure were measured. A sum of MRF was computed, and adolescents were classified into three groups: no MRF, one MRF and two or more …

Ability Of Different Measures Of Adiposity To Identify High Metabolic Risk In Adolescents, Carla Moreira, Rute Santos, Susana Vale, Paula Clara Santos, Sandra Abreu, Ana I. Marques, Luisa Soares-Miranda, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction. This study aimed to evaluate the screening performance of different measures of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for high metabolic risk in a sample of adolescents. Methods. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 517 adolescents aged 15-18, from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure. HOMA and TC/HDL-C ratio were calculated. For each of these variables, a Z-score was computed by age and sex. A metabolic risk score (MRS) was constructed by summing the Z-scores of all individual risk factors. …

Understanding The Behaviour Of The Target Market: What Do Adolescents Think About When Asked Questions About Their Behaviour In The Sun?, Melinda Williams, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We undertook a project to develop a psychometrically sound instrument measuring adolescent sun-related behavior for use in the evaluation of a social marketing program. During the preliminary stages, we conducted a pilot study to test the face validity of the instrument with adolescents. Think-aloud sessions were completed with 24 adolescents. Results identified gaps in our understanding of adolescent sun-related behavior. Adolescents interpreted 'tanning' as specifically lying at the beach in the sun, however also reported behaviours to 'get a bit of sun', suggesting adolescents and researchers have different interpretations of key terms. The study highlights that use of the think-aloud …

Increasing Awareness Of Sun Protection Among Australian Adolescents: Results Of A Community-Based Intervention, Sandra C. Jones, Melinda Williams, Peter Caputi, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Birth Weight And Parental Bmi On Adolescents Obesity Status, Susana Vale, Rute Santos, Luisa Soares-Miranda, Jorge Mota

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background/Objectives:

The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to analyze differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), parents’ body mass index (BMI) and birth weight (BW) between non-overweight (NOW) and overweight/obese (OV/OB) adolescents, and (2) to investigate the association of those variables with the risk of their biological offspring being OV/OB.

Subjects/Methods:

This study comprised 788 adolescents (477 girls and 311 boys), aged between 12 and 18 years. CRF was predicted by maximal multistage 20-m shuttle-run test according to the procedures described in FITNESSGRAM. Children's BMI was classified according to the International Obesity Task Force. Adolescents’ BW was assessed from …

'I Think Condoms Are Good But, Aai, I Hate Those Things': Condom Use Among Adolescents And Young People In A Southern African Township, Catherine L. Mac Phail, Catherine Campbell

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Levels of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection are high amongst South African youth, with one recent survey reporting levels of 18.9% amongst 17-20 year olds and 43.1% amongst 21-25 year olds. In these groups levels of knowledge about HIV are high, but perceived vulnerability and reported condom use are low. Much existing research into youth HIV in developing countries relies on survey measures which use individual knowledge, attitudes and reported behaviour as variables in seeking to explain HIV transmission amongst this group. This paper reports on a focus group study that seeks to complement existing individual-level quantitative findings with qualitative findings …

Adolescents And Hiv In Developing Countries: New Research Directions, Catherine L. Mac Phail

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Adolescents are of interest in HIV/STD studies as they are a group whose behaviour places them at increased risk of HIV infection (Hein, 1992). Adolescence is a period characterised by the development and formation of sexuality, a process which frequently involves a high turn-over of sexual partners (Krahe and Reiss, 1995; Lear, 1995). Teenage experimentation with drugs and alcohol frequently leads to the adoption of high risk behaviours or engagement in unplanned episodes of casual sex (Weatherburn and Project SIGMA, 1992). In addition, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the normative social influences of their peers (DiClemente, 1990). These influences among …