Adolescents, Volume 5, Issue 1 (March 2025) – 9 articles

Adolescence is a crucial transition stage for young people. While many physical, psychological, and social developmental changes are taking place, this may also be the time of a teenager’s first love relationship. At this stage of early romance, adolescents sometimes experience violent abusive relationships, and the choices around this reality could be linked to family upbringing and history. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between such violent encounters in early teenage love relationships and family functionality using the Intrafamily Relationships Evaluation Test (FF-SIL). This study explored the experiences of secondary students at a school in southern Peru in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative method was used, entailing a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational approach. The questionnaire was administered to 153 student respondents. The results show that 45.1% of students come from moderately functional families, followed by 29.4% from dysfunctional families. Likewise, 24% of adolescents report having experienced violence in their relationships, which is relatively equally distributed across all levels of family functionality. Although no significant relationship was found between family functionality and violence (p > 0.05), the present study highlights the existence of bidirectionality in violence between adolescent partners, with a slightly higher incidence in violence perpetrated by women. In terms of violence, the violence received (22%) exceeds the violence exerted (13%) during dating. In both categories, victims of physical violence prevail, and no significant gender differences are found. These results provide a piece of baseline information for preventing adolescent dating violence in education institutions, also a reference for health and other social policymakers. Full article

Research has provided evidence of the protective characteristics of extended family for U.S. emerging adults, but no research has specifically explored cousin relationships. The current study fills this gap by analyzing qualitative data collected from 192 U.S. 18–29-year-old adults (M age = 25.6 years). As this topic is relatively unexplored, examining qualitative data provides scope and vocabulary for further exploration. Participants completed an online survey asking them to describe interactions with extended family, identifying 561 cousins (M age = 28.2 years). A thematic analysis based on the process defined by Braun and Clark generated four primary themes: (1) emerging adults feel varying degrees of closeness and distance with their cousins, (2) relational maintenance with cousins is both planned and incidental, (3) family membership provides resources, and (4) cousins share the same generational position. These results describe important characteristics of the cousin relationship, including moments of unexpected closeness and shared experience of family. The findings also highlight the relevance of sharing a similar life stage within the same family system. Practitioners can utilize findings to help clients identify extended family members that can be tapped for bonding and support. Full article

Background: Afterschool programs (ASPs) funded under the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Act were designed to provide a safe environment for students to engage in extracurricular programming. COVID-19 disrupted the school environment leading to numerous negative outcomes for students and parents, as well as teachers and school administration. The effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt as educational disparities persist, creating opportunities for afterschool programming to help lessen the gaps. Methods: Based on the lasting impact of COVID-19 and the lack of literature on ASPs, the purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a 21st CCLC ASP from spring 2019 to spring 2020 to account for the initial effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our aims were to (1) examine the differences in student ratings of various ASP outcomes the semester before and semester during which COVID-19 began, and (2) determine if student grade level impacts ratings of various ASP outcomes. Findings: Results showed that family involvement significantly increased from before to during COVID-19 and that early adolescents had significantly worse outcomes related to family, friends, grades, and overall opinions of the ASP during the pandemic than those in younger grades. Conclusions and Implications: Recommendations for ways to increase engagement in ASPs for both families and youth transitioning to higher grade levels are discussed. Full article

While previous studies have established inverse relationships between (particulate matter) PM exposure and the body mass index (BMI), this study is the first to demonstrate that the strength of this relationship varies significantly according to the PM source type and age group, particularly across developmental stages. Through a comprehensive 31-year analysis in Thailand that uniquely captured the transition from traditional to modern energy sources, this research investigated the relationship between PM exposure and a high BMI among children and adolescents across different demographic groups, using a correlational analysis of time point data from the Global Burden Disease (GBD) study (1990–2021). The analysis examined the association between a high BMI and two categories of PM exposure—ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor)—through cross-correlation, Spearman correlation, and mixed-effects models. The results reveal a significant inverse relationship between household PM exposure and a high BMI, particularly pronounced in younger age groups (2–9 years), with household PM showing consistently stronger associations compared to ambient PM. Among children aged 2–4 years, household PM exposure exhibited a strong negative correlation with a high BMI without a time lag, suggesting persistent effects of the household air quality on physical development. Conversely, ambient PM exposure showed relatively weaker associations, with only slight positive correlations observed in certain subgroups. Further analysis indicated that decreases in household PM exposure correlated with longitudinal increases in a high BMI, with this relationship diminishing during adolescence. These findings provide crucial insights for targeted public health interventions and offer a model for understanding PM-BMI relationships in other developing nations experiencing similar transitions. Full article

Abstract: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the first-line treatment for adolescents suffering from major depressive disorder, even though a black box warning concerns suicidal ideation was put forth in 2004. Numerous trials have been conducted evaluating this risk in adult patients, with less being done surrounding pediatric patients. Trials that have focused on this specific risk in adolescents have shown either a strong connection, conflicting results, or non-significance. Trials comparing other non-SSRI antidepressants have also demonstrated some risk of suicidal ideation, suggesting the risk may not be specific to this class of drugs. Other data have also suggested that the risk is linked to treatment duration, genetics, and/or simply that the adolescent patients with major depressive disorder are an at-risk population. Herein, a review is presented of the trials conducted surrounding SSRIs, their use in adolescents, and their risk in terms of developing suicidal ideation. Full article

U.S. Latino/a college students face distinct stressors, including acculturative stress and enculturative stress, impacting their capacity to engage in prosocial behaviors (voluntary actions benefiting others). Cultural stress can deplete resources essential to engaging in altruistic acts (selflessly motivated helping), yet it can also stimulate selfishly motivated prosocial behaviors. The present study examines how cultural adjustment stressors and cultural identity relate to prosocial behaviors among U.S. Latino/a college students. A sample of 1450 U.S. Latino/a college students (M age = 19.7 years; SD = 1.61; 75.4% women) completed an online survey assessing their levels of enculturative and acculturative stress, ethnic and U.S. identity, and altruistic and public prosocial behaviors. A path analysis revealed that higher enculturative stress is associated with lower ethnic identity, which, in turn, predicts increased public prosocial behaviors. Conversely, acculturative stress is linked with higher ethnic identity, leading to elevated public prosocial behaviors. The discussion underscores the importance of mitigating culture-related stress that can stem from home and U.S. society to enhance the well-being of U.S. Latino/as. Full article

The increasing use of digital platforms by adolescents has brought to light critical vulnerabilities related to online grooming. This study explores the risk factors associated with grooming among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years enrolled in a Reparative Program for Abuse in Chile. Using a non-experimental, quantitative, exploratory cross-sectional design, a sample of 50 adolescents was evaluated. Data collection employed validated instruments, including the Okasha Scale for Suicidality (EOS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Subjective Well-being Scale (EBS-8), and the Online Grooming Risk Scale (OGR-S). Findings revealed significant associations between grooming and variables such as excessive cellphone use, number of virtual social networks, lack of social connections, economic hardships, and depressive symptoms. Regression analysis highlighted that adolescents with unrestricted internet access, poor social interaction skills in face-to-face contexts, and exposure to environmental risk factors exhibit a heightened likelihood of experiencing grooming. These results underscore the necessity for targeted preventive interventions and policy enhancements to safeguard adolescents in vulnerable circumstances. Full article

The aim of this paper is to discuss the findings derived from the associations between self-efficacy in life skills and its major psychological correlates (psychological well-being, resilience, and coping strategies) in various convenience samples of Sicilian adolescents. We include a summary of the main results and statistical outcomes obtained from previous studies performed in the Sicilian context, focusing on several psychological topics associated with self-efficacy in life skills. Comparing the outcomes from different studies revealed positive correlations between self-efficacy in life skills and higher levels of psychological well-being, resilience, and functional coping strategies to manage critical situations. Future research will focus on the development of life skills programs to improve the quality of life of adolescents and promote their functional and optimal development. Full article

This opinion paper dives into the crucial but challenging space of HIV prevention for adolescents and young persons (AYPs). While their vulnerabilities may be heightened, so too is their potential for resilience, innovation, and positive change. To safeguard their health and empower them to make informed choices, a comprehensive science-to-program and systems approach to HIV prevention is paramount. Recognizing their unique vulnerabilities and immense potential, these authors advocate for a multifaceted approach that bridges the gap between scientific evidence and program implementation within a robust healthcare system. This opinion unpacks how leadership, governance, health policies, human resources, health information systems, and HIV surveillance can be strengthened to create a supportive ecosystem where AYPs have the knowledge, resources, and services they need to thrive. This collective effort, involving policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and AYPs themselves, is critical to a future where no young person is left behind in the fight against HIV. Full article