Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Vitamin D Level In Relation To Depression Symptoms During Adolescence, Reem Al-Sabah, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Lemia Shaban, Ahmed N. Albatineh, Reem Sharaf Alddin, Praveen K. Durgampudi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and depression symptoms among adolescents in Kuwait, a country with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

METHODS: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 704 adolescents in middle schools. Data on depression symptoms were collected using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Data on covariates were collected from the parents by self-administered questionnaire and from adolescents by face-to-face interview. Blood samples were analyzed in an accredited laboratory; and 25(OH)D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Of 704 adolescents, 94 (13.35%; 95%CI:10.35-17.06%) had depression …

Investigating The Impact Of The Fava Well-Being Protocol On Perceived Stress And Psychological Well-Being With At-Promise High School Students, Renee L. Fensom

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

An elevation in stress levels can be caused by many contributing factors, which can ultimately interfere with the learning of young people. Fortunately, an increase in well being can help promote resilience, creating a buffer to stress. Therefore, the current study investigated the influence of a positive psychology intervention aimed at lowering perceived stress and increasing well-being among at-promise students. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Ryff’s Model of Psychological Well-Being (PWB). The specific intervention used was the Well-being Therapy School Protocol developed by Fava and associates, based off of Carol Ryff’s Model of PWB (Fava, 2016). …

Exposure To Household Secondhand Smoke Among Adolescents In Kuwait: Results From Two School-Based Cross-Sectional Studies, Ali H. Ziyab, Mohammad Almari, Abdullah Al-Taiar

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Detrimental effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure are well established; however, data on SHS exposure among adolescents in Kuwait are lacking. Hence, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of household SHS exposure among two samples of adolescents in Kuwait and assess its variation by socioeconomic status and parental education level.

METHODS: Data from two large school-based cross-sectional studies were analyzed. Adolescents attending public middle (n=3864; aged 11-14 years) and high (n=1959; aged 14-19 years) schools throughout Kuwait were enrolled in 2016-2017, and parental self-reported household SHS exposure was ascertained. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance …

Cyberbullying, Digital Citizenship, And Youth With Autism: Lis Education As A Piece In The Puzzle, Abigail Phillips, Amelia Anderson

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Librarians are beginning to address the lack of services for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing flexible and tailored programming and services. One important need among youth with ASD is a better understanding of how to navigate the online environment safely and responsibly. Given different engagement styles with social interaction and communication, youth with ASD may be more susceptible to cyberbullying and misinterpretations during online communications than their peers. This study investigates whether librarians can (or should) play a role in digital citizenship education for youth with ASD and provides suggestions for LIS educators preparing future librarians on …

Vitamin D Levels In Relation To Low Back Pain During Adolescence, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Abdur Rahman, Lemia Shaban, Anwar H. Albaloul, Sean Banaee, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and low back pain (LBP) among adolescents while adjusting for potential confounders pertinent to this age group including the weight of school bags, BMI and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 760 randomly selected adolescents in middle schools. Data on LBP and the risk factors for LBP were collected from parents by a self-administered questionnaire and from adolescents by face-to-face interview. Blood samples were tested in an accredited laboratory; and 25(OH)D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem MS. The lifetime prevalence and the 6-month prevalence of LBP …

Predictors Of Acne Vulgaris Among Adolescents In Kuwait, Mona Aikhabbaz, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Marwa Saeed, Reem Al-Sabah, Ahmed N. Albatineh

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: The prevalence of acne vulgaris (AV) among adolescents in Kuwait has remained mostly unknown. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of AV and its predictors among adolescents in Kuwait.

Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 participants who were randomly selected from public schools using multistage cluster random sampling. The presence or absence of AV, as well as severity of AV, were assessed using the Global Acne Grading Scale. Data on risk factors and potential confounders were collected from the parents through a self-administered questionnaire, and from the adolescents by face-to-face interview. Weight and height …

Anemia And It's Associated Factors Among Adolescents In Kuwait, Lemia Shaban, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Abdur Rahman, Reem Al-Sabah, Olusegun Mojiminiyi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

We estimated the prevalence of anemia among school children and investigated factors associated with this problem in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1415 adolescents randomly selected from middle schools in Kuwait. Hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, folate and vitamin B-12, in addition to many other laboratory indicators, were measured in a venous blood sample. Data on risk factors for anemia were collected from parents and adolescents. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with anemia. The prevalence of anemia was 8.06% (95% CI: 6.69-9.60%), which was significantly higher among females compared to males (10.96% vs. 5.04%; p < 0.001). Mean (SD) Hb level was 133.7 (9.89) g/L and 130.00 (10.48) g/L among males and females, respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of mild, moderate and severe anemia was 5.94%, 1.91% and 0.21%, respectively. Gender, age, iron concentration and ferritin were associated with anemia in multivariable analysis. These data indicate that anemia among school children in Kuwait is of mild public health significance. Further reduction in anemia in school girls should focus on correcting iron deficiency. Surveillance systems for anemia may consider using a cut-off point that is specific for the method of blood sampling and the method of Hb measurement.

Prevalence Of Low Back Pain Among Adolescents In Relation To The Weight Of School Bags, Fatemah Akbar, Muneera Albesharah, Jumana Al-Baghli, Farah Bulbul, Dana Mohammad, Bann Qadoura, Abdullah Al-Taiar

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

The association between the weight of school bag and Low Back Pain (LBP) amongst students remains under intense debate worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of LBP amongst public high school students (14 to 19 years) in Kuwait and to investigate the association between LBP and the weight of school bags.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study using multistage cluster random sampling with probability proportional to size was conducted on a total of 950 public high school students from all governorates. Data on LBP were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A 0–10 Numeric Pain Rating …

Impact Of After-School Activities On Meeting Cdc Requirements In Virginian Adolescents, Dorcas Bentil, Leah Crouch, Vignette Kaltsas, Christina Luchau, Phoebe Wallen, Lily Zheng

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To assess the correlation between after-school program attendance and meeting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirement of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.

Background: Less than 50% of all children meet the CDC required amount of MVPA.1

Methods: Survey provided to 350 students in grades 6-12 describing participation in after-school programs

Analysis: We will analyze how many students participate in the after-school programs and how long those programs dedicate to physical exercise. We will also analyze what type of exercise is performed.

Limitations: We are limited to the …

Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviors In Urban Chinese Children: Grade Level Prevalence And Academic Burden Associations, Xihe Zhu, Justin A. Haegele, Yan Tang, Xueping Wu

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

The objectives of this study were (a) to report grade level prevalence in physical activity and sedentary behaviors and (b) to examine academic burden associations with these behaviors. School-aged children (n = 48,118) reported their physical activity, perception of physical activity sufficiency, factors for activity insufficiency, homework hours, and screen time in a typical week. Data were analyzed using general linear models and logistic regression models of Complex Samples. Prevalence results showed that children had lower physical activity and lower screen viewing time, but higher homework time during transition grades (6th, 9th, and 12th) and high school years. Academic burden …

Unconditional Government Cash Transfer In Support Of Orphaned And Vulnerable Adolescents In Western Kenya: Is There An Association With Psychological Wellbeing?, Sylvia Shangani, Don Operario, Becky Genberg, Kipruto Kirwa, Miriam Midoun, Lukoye Atwoli, David Ayuku, Omar Galárraga, Paula Braitstein

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Orphaned and vulnerable adolescents (OVA) in sub-Saharan Africa are at greater risk for adverse psychological outcomes compared with their non-OVA counterparts. Social interventions that provide cash transfers (CTs) have been shown to improve health outcomes among young people, but little is known about their impact on the psychological wellbeing of OVA.

Objective

Among OVA in western Kenya, we assessed the association between living in a household that received monthly unconditional government CTs and psychological wellbeing.

Methods

We examined the likelihood of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and positive future outlook among 655 OVA aged between 10 and 18 …

A Latent Profile Analysis Of Drinking Patterns Among Nonstudent Emerging Adults, Cathy Lau-Barraco, Abby L. Braitman, Amy L. Stamates, Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research indicates that nonstudent emerging adults, as compared to their college-attending peers, are at higher risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorders. The present study sought to extend the limited research on nonstudent drinking by (1) identifying sub-groups of nonstudent drinkers based on their drinking patterns and (2) determining the extent to which social-cognitive between-person factors related to drinking (i.e., social expectancies, perceived drinking norms, social drinking motivations) distinguish these sub-groups. Participants were 195 (65.1% men) nonstudent emerging adult heavy episodic drinkers recruited from the community. Mean age was 21.88 (SD = 2.08) years and 45.4% were unemployed. …

Effectiveness Of Health Education Teachers And School Nurses Teaching Sexually Transmitted Infections/ Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention Knowledge And Skills In High School, Elaine A. Borawski, Kimberly A. Tufts, Erika S. Trapl, Laura L. Hayman, Laura D. Yoder, Loren D. Lovegreen

Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND- We examined the differential impact of a well-established human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) curriculum, Be Proud! Be Responsible!, when taught by school nurses and health education classroom teachers within a high school curricula.

METHODS- Group-randomized intervention study of 1357 ninth and tenth grade students in 10 schools. Twenty-seven facilitators (6 nurses, 21 teachers) provided programming; nurse-led classrooms were randomly assigned.

RESULTS- Students taught by teachers were more likely to report their instructor to be prepared, comfortable with the material, and challenged them to think about their health than students taught by a school nurse. Both groups reported …

Exploration Of The Genetic Epidemiology Of Asthma: A Review, With A Focus On Prevalence In Children And Adolescents In The Caribbean, A. Mohan, A. J. Roberto, B. C. Whitehill, A. Mohan, A. Kumar

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Asthma is a chronic disease caused by the inflammation of the main air passages of the lungs. This paper outlines a review of the published literature on asthma. While a few studies show a trend of rising asthma cases in the Caribbean region, even fewer have explored the genetic epidemiological factors of asthma. This is a literature review that seeks to sum the body of knowledge on the epidemiology of asthma. Specifically, the major objective of the literature review is to provide a unified information base on the current state of factors involved in the genetic epidemiology of asthma. The …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Being Bullied Among In-School Adolescents In Malawi: Results From The 2009 Global School-Based Health Survey, H.W. Kubwalo, A.S. Muula, S. Siziya, S. Pasupulati, E. Rudatsikira

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Physical and emotional violence against adolescents is a neglected, but growing problem globally. Violence against adolescents negatively affects the victim in terms of physical health, school attendance and performance and social adjustment. The literature on the prevalence and associated factors of bullying against adolescents is sparse in southern Africa outside South Africa. Such data are even sparser for Malawi. The current study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of self-reported bullying and its personal and social correlates.

Methods

A secondary analysis of the Malawi School-Based Student Health Survey (2009) was done. Descriptive analyses were done to describe the sample …

Victimization From Bullying Among School-Attending Adolescents In Grades 7 To 10 In Zambia, Seter Siziya, Emmanuel Rudatsikira, Adamson S. Muula

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background:

Among school- attending adolescents, victimization from bullying is associated with anxiety, depression and poor academic performance. There are limited reports on victimization from bullying in Zambia; we therefore conducted this study to determine the prevalence and correlates for victimization from bullying among adolescents in grades 7 to 10 in the country in order to add information on the body of knowledge on victimization from bullying.

Methods:

The 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data among adolescents in grades 7 to 10 were obtained from the World Health Organization. We estimated the prevalence of victimization from bullying. We also …

A Comparison Of Human Energy Fields Among Children, Youth, Adults, & Dahn Masters, Geoffrey K. Leigh, Karen A. Polonko, Catherine D. Leigh

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

While concepts and investigations of human energy fields have been developed for centuries, there has been little systematic work comparing the fields of children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, general fields have had little comparison between average adults and those participating in an intense practice that may affect the field. Using the GDV machine, this research compared small groups of children, adolescents, average adults, and Dahn Hak Masters on measures of 20 basic aspects of the human energy fields, including the seven chakras. Differences were found in seven of the 13 field parameters as well as all seven measures of …

Measuring Interpersonal Dependency In Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients, Susan D. Schaffer

Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The successful inpatient treatment of emotionally troubled adolescents must facilitate their achievement of developmentally appropriate independence while minimizing the maladaptive dependency that can be fostered by the hospitalization experience. Levels of interpersonal dependency were measured in seven adolescent psychiatric inpatients over a ninety day period. The Interpersonal Dependency Inventory by Hirschfeld, Klerman, Gough, Barrett, Korchin, & Chodoff was utilized. The individual therapist of each participant independently assessed the participant's response to hospitalization at forty-five and ninety days using a five point Leikert type scale. The study demonstrated no significant changes in dependency levels at forty-five and ninety days. The therapist's …

Effectiveness Of Dental Plaque Charts In Motivating Adolescents Toward Improved Oral Hygiene And Oral Health, Lee Ann Branscome

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A two group time series design was used to determine if exposure of adolescent clients to dental plaque charts during oral health instruction sessions is effective in motivating them to improve oral health over a six month period. Fifty-six adolescents who previously had received treatment at Old Dominion University Dental Hygiene Clinic consented to participate and were randomly assigned to a control or experimental group. Both groups of adolescents received identical oral health instructions from a research assistant; the experimental group's oral health instruction included an additional discussion about the dental plaque chart. The Patient Hygiene Performance Index and the …