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Health Promotion International Apr 2021Many effective community health service delivery systems implemented in the USA assess risk and protective factors (RPFs) for youth problem behaviors in a community, and...
Many effective community health service delivery systems implemented in the USA assess risk and protective factors (RPFs) for youth problem behaviors in a community, and report these data back to local coalitions for prevention planning. This study examined whether community prevention coalitions in Chile and Colombia perceived these reports of RPFs-based on the results of the Communities That Care Youth Survey-to be understandable, valid, useful, and worth disseminating. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data collected from 7 focus groups with 75 coalition members. Results indicated heterogeneity between and within coalitions in terms of participants' understanding of RPFs. However, most participants found reports of RPFs to be easy to understand, thorough, 'true' to their communities, and useful for diagnosing and prioritizing needs, action planning, and mobilizing others in their communities. Findings suggest the viability of preventive systems that rely on community-level RPF data, for use in Latin America.
Topics: Adolescent; Chile; Colombia; Community Health Services; Humans; Preventive Medicine; Protective Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32830230
DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa075 -
Molecular Oncology Mar 2021
Topics: Global Health; Humans; Neoplasms; Protective Factors; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33660939
DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12927 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2022(1) Background: the prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) reaches up to 20%. PND could be based on the interaction between a psychological vulnerability and chronic...
(1) Background: the prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) reaches up to 20%. PND could be based on the interaction between a psychological vulnerability and chronic stress that pregnancy would activate. Vulnerability factors reflect a psychological profile mirroring mindfulness-trait (MT). A high level of MT is associated with an efficient regulation of both physiological and psychological stress, especially negative moods. Interestingly, mindfulness level can be improved by program based on mindfulness meditation. We hypothesize that MT is a protective factor for PND. We also postulate that negative moods increase during the pregnancy for women who develop a PND after delivery (2) Methods: we conducted a multicentric prospective longitudinal study including 85 women during their first trimester of their pregnancy and 72 from the childbirth to the baby's first birthday". At the inclusion, presence and acceptance of MT and various variables of personality and of psychological functioning were assessed. Mood evolution was monitored each month during the pregnancy and a delivery trauma risk was evaluated after delivery. PND detection was carried out at 48 h, 2, 6 and 12 months after the delivery with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with a screening cut-off >11. (3) Results: high-acceptance MT is a protective factor for PND (OR: 0.79). Women without PND displayed less negative mood during pregnancy ( < 0.05 for Anxiety, Confusion and Anger). (4) Conclusions: these results suggest the value of deploying programs to enhance the level of mindfulness, especially in its acceptance dimension, before, during and after pregnancy, to reduce the risk of PND.
Topics: Depression; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Mindfulness; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Protective Factors; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 35162565
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031545 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2022This study investigates the principal risk and protective factors associated with student distress and school dropout in a group of preadolescents, through a qualitative...
This study investigates the principal risk and protective factors associated with student distress and school dropout in a group of preadolescents, through a qualitative and quantitative comparison between the perspectives of students, parents, and teachers. We administered a questionnaire to evaluate student distress and school dropout in a middle school (student's age range 13-15 years). We afterwards analyzed the responses of students at risk of school dropout. We also administered a semi-structured interview with their parents and their teachers. The results indicated significant levels of school distress in students (Collective Distress > 8.75) and a problematic relationship between parents and students (22.42%). We also found a problematic relationship between teachers and students (24.39%). The main protective factor of student distress and school drop-out indicated by the students was a more sensitive and supportive relationship with both parents and teachers. On the contrary, parents and teachers indicated as possible causes of school distress and drop-out the intrinsic students' motivation or other external factors associated with the community. The results of our study highlight the importance to apply a multidimensional and transactional psycho-educational model, in which the relationship between the students and their caretaker plays a major role.
Topics: Adolescent; Educational Personnel; Humans; Protective Factors; School Teachers; Schools; Student Dropouts; Students
PubMed: 36231889
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912589 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jan 2021Differences in risk and protective factors (e.g., victimization, abuse, social support) have been used to explain elevated rates of suicidal ideation and suicide...
BACKGROUND
Differences in risk and protective factors (e.g., victimization, abuse, social support) have been used to explain elevated rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in sexual minority youth (SMY) relative to heterosexual peers. However, little is known regarding how risk and protective factors may explain suicide risk differences among subgroups of SMY. The aims of this study were to 1) examine differences in prevalence and severity for suicide risk and protective factors among SMY, and 2) explore whether risk and protective factors are differentially associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts for SMY subgroups.
METHODS
Participants were 6,423 adolescents (ages 12-17) recruited from 14 Emergency Departments across the United States who completed an assessment of suicide risk and protective factors. SMY were 20% of the sample (n = 1,275) and categorized as bisexual (8%), gay/lesbian (2%), mostly straight (5%), or other sexual minority (5%).
RESULTS
Bisexual youth had elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, more risk factors (e.g., bullying victimization, depression), and fewer protective factors (e.g., parent-family connectedness, positive affect) relative to mostly straight and other sexual minority youth. Bisexual and gay/lesbian youth only differed in parent-family connectedness (lower among bisexual youth). Depression and parent-family connectedness had weaker associations with suicidal ideation for bisexual youth.
LIMITATIONS
Emergency departments were not nationally representative. Study design was cross-sectional, preventing causal inferences.
CONCLUSIONS
Interventions seeking to mitigate risk factors and promote protective factors are greatly needed for SMY and may benefit from tailoring to address unique stressors for sexual minority subgroups.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Humans; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Suicidal Ideation; United States
PubMed: 33074147
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.015 -
Risk and Protective Factors of Disordered Eating in Adolescents Based on Gender and Body Mass Index.International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2020The current study aimed to identify potential psychosocial risk and protective factors contributing to eating disorders in adolescents, and observe any differences...
The current study aimed to identify potential psychosocial risk and protective factors contributing to eating disorders in adolescents, and observe any differences between genders and Body Mass Index (BMI) categories. A cross-sectional survey was carried out with a total of 2605 (1063 male) adolescents, who were assessed for disordered eating, body-image satisfaction and investment, appearance/weight-related anxiety, situational dysphoria, media influences, self-esteem, and body appreciation. The results revealed that weight/appearance-related anxiety and situational dysphoria were the most significant risk factors for both genders. Pressures from the media posed a significant risk only for males and the internalization of the thin ideal only for females; however, the internalization of the athletic ideal did not pose as a significant risk factor. Compared to gender, these risk factors did not differ based on BMI. Additionally, body appreciation was found to be a robust protective factor (unlike global self-esteem) for both genders, and across all BMI groups. The findings indicate that the most significant risk and protective factors of eating disorders do not differ largely for male and female adolescents or different BMIs. Intervention and prevention programs would therefore benefit from the inclusion of exercises that reduce the constructs of weight/appearance-related anxiety and situational dysphoria, and promote body appreciation.
Topics: Adolescent; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Self Concept; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33321884
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249238 -
Cells Oct 2023Sulfur mustard (SM) and its derivatives are potent genotoxic agents, which have been shown to trigger the activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and the...
Sulfur mustard (SM) and its derivatives are potent genotoxic agents, which have been shown to trigger the activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and the depletion of their substrate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential molecule involved in numerous cellular pathways, including genome integrity and DNA repair, and thus, NAD supplementation might be beneficial for mitigating mustard-induced (geno)toxicity. In this study, the role of NAD depletion and elevation in the genotoxic stress response to SM derivatives, i.e., the monofunctional agent 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulfide (CEES) and the crosslinking agent mechlorethamine (HN2), was investigated with the use of NAD booster nicotinamide riboside (NR) and NAD synthesis inhibitor FK866. The effects were analyzed in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) or monocyte-like cell line THP-1. In HaCaT cells, NR supplementation, increased NAD levels, and elevated PAR response, however, did not affect ATP levels or DNA damage repair, nor did it attenuate long- and short-term cytotoxicities. On the other hand, the depletion of cellular NAD via FK866 sensitized HaCaT cells to genotoxic stress, particularly CEES exposure, whereas NR supplementation, by increasing cellular NAD levels, rescued the sensitizing FK866 effect. Intriguingly, in THP-1 cells, the NR-induced elevation of cellular NAD levels did attenuate toxicity of the mustard compounds, especially upon CEES exposure. Together, our results reveal that NAD is an important molecule in the pathomechanism of SM derivatives, exhibiting compound-specificity. Moreover, the cell line-dependent protective effects of NR are indicative of system-specificity of the application of this NAD booster.
Topics: Humans; Alkylating Agents; NAD; Protective Factors; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; DNA
PubMed: 37830610
DOI: 10.3390/cells12192396 -
Psychiatry Research Mar 2023Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people worldwide. Few studies examined the factors of childhood suicidality and compared them with adolescent...
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people worldwide. Few studies examined the factors of childhood suicidality and compared them with adolescent suicidality to meet their age-specific needs. We examined the similarities and differences in risk and protective factors of children and adolescent suicidality in Hong Kong. A school-based survey with 541 students in grades 4-6 and 3,061 students in grades 7-11 from 15 schools was conducted. We measured the demographic, familial, school, mental health, and psychological factors of suicidality. Hierarchical binary logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between correlates and child and youth suicidality, and the interaction effects of these factors and school-age groups. Approximately 17.51% and 7.84% of secondary school respondents and 15.76% and 8.17% of primary school respondents reported suicidal ideation and attempt, respectively. Common correlates for suicidal ideation were depression, bullying, loneliness, self-compassion, and growth mindset, while those for suicide attempt were depression and bullying. Secondary school respondents with higher life satisfaction reported less suicidal ideation, while primary school respondents with higher self-control reported fewer suicide attempts. In conclusion, we recommended recognizing the factors of suicidal ideation and attempt in children and adolescents to tailor preventive strategies in a culturally sensitive manner.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Child; Suicidal Ideation; Hong Kong; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Suicide, Attempted
PubMed: 36796255
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115059 -
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Oct 2023Although consensual sending of sexts between adolescents is considered developmentally appropriate, it may also entail a range of negative consequences. Current sexting...
Although consensual sending of sexts between adolescents is considered developmentally appropriate, it may also entail a range of negative consequences. Current sexting research lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework identifying a range of risk and protective factors underpinning adolescent consensual sending of sexts across individual, interpersonal, and distal levels. Further, there is a lack of systematic evaluation of how the importance of these factors may vary across adolescent age. This study investigated the utility of the Social Development Model to predict a range of risk and protective factors across individual, family, peer, school, and community-level factors. The sample included 1302 teenagers from Victoria, Australia (M = 14.54, SD = 1.14, 50.8% girls). Results indicated that 146 (11.7%) participants sent a sext (76 boys and 70 girls). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the Social Development Model accounted for 45.8% of variance in sexting, with greater likelihood of sending sexts being associated with older age, prior sexual activity, school sector, physical activity, lifetime substance use, greater depressive symptoms, sensation seeking, and perceived substance availability in the community. Multigroup analyses revealed that lifetime substance use was associated with a greater likelihood of sending sexts among younger teens. Among older adolescents, adaptive coping was associated with reduced engagement in sexting, while higher parental overcontrol and family conflict increased the odds of sending sexts. Overall, sexting is associated with a range of modifiable factors potentially amenable to intervention.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Adolescent; Protective Factors; Text Messaging; Sexual Behavior; Peer Group; Adolescent Behavior; Victoria
PubMed: 37481506
DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01827-1 -
Journal of Autism and Developmental... Dec 2023This study examines autistic and non-autistic college students' experiences of discrimination and harassment and identifies protective and risk factors. A nationwide...
This study examines autistic and non-autistic college students' experiences of discrimination and harassment and identifies protective and risk factors. A nationwide survey was used to match autistic students (N = 290) and non-autistic students (N = 290) on co-occurring diagnoses and demographic characteristics. Multiple regression and interaction analysis revealed that faculty support was protective against discrimination and harassment regardless of autism status. Habits of mind was particularly protective for autistic students against harassment. Any student who engaged in school-facilitated events was more likely to experience discrimination and harassment, but the risk was heightened for autistic students. Findings highlight the importance of faculty support in fostering positive interpersonal experiences on campus, and demonstrate the need to address deeper college campus issues with respect to neurodiversity.
Topics: Humans; Autistic Disorder; Protective Factors; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Students; Peer Group
PubMed: 36103077
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05729-2