Deborah van der Westhuizen, Nicolaas Claassen, Margaretha Viljoen
{"title":"A case study of two adolescent-parent pairs describing the association between vagal tone and social-emotional adjustment during a Positive Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programme.","authors":"Deborah van der Westhuizen, Nicolaas Claassen, Margaretha Viljoen","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1488718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1488718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>A case study describing the association between vagal tone and social-emotional adaptation in two distressed adolescent-parent (A-P) pairs during a Positive Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programme (P-CBTP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two A-P pairs completed a P-CBTP with pre- and post-intervention biosocial-emotional assessments; weekly training sessions over 7 weeks to develop individual strengths, new adaptive cognitions, positive discipline skills, optimism and knowledge on age-appropriate developmental expressions; augmented by moderate physical activity. Resting vagal tone and vagal reactivity were assessed by time-domain measures of vagal activity (RMSSD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Social-emotional adjustment improved in all A-P pairs. Resting vagal tone increased over the intervention period, from low-to-low-normal towards average-for-normal in three subjects. The fourth individual had excessive pre-intervention resting vagal tone that declined in the direction of normal over the intervention period. Vagal reactivity in response to orthostatic stress remained the same pre- to post-intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Changes in resting vagal tone demonstrated improvements in psychological functioning in all four subjects over the period of intervention. Results supported the view of the association between vagal tone and mental health not being an absolute positive relationship, but that low, as well as excessive, vagal tone may be maladaptive. Indications are that the same may apply to vagal reactivity to psychological stress. More studies need to examine the association between resting vagal tone and emotion regulation in A-P relationships during P-CBTP, keeping in mind that a linear relationship cannot summarily be expected in population studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 2","pages":"111-130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1488718","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36509895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychological effects of multimedia-induced sexualisation of girls in middle childhood: a systematic literature review.","authors":"Caryn Du Plooy, Heleen Coetzee, Esmé van Rensburg","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1496921","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1496921","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to systematically review available literature pertaining to the psychological effects of multimedia-induced sexualisation of girls in middle childhood (between the ages of 6 and 12 years old).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review was conducted through a comprehensive electronic search. Nineteen studies were included in the review and the data was analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two themes were identified, namely: 1) detrimental psychological effects of sexualisation; and 2) beneficial psychological effects of sexualisation. Findings appeared to indicate that the psychological effects on girls in middle childhood resulting from sexualisation, such as internalisation, mental health problems, objectification and gender stereotyping, were more likely to be detrimental than beneficial to their well-being. The review also found a paucity of research on the topic within developing countries. Consequently, the authors recommended a precautionary approach pertaining to sexualisation of girls in middle childhood.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A thorough understanding of the topic is valuable as it can inform a preventative and proactive management approach. It can especially assist in informing policy as well as therapists by informing their developmental conceptualisation and treatment of girls in middle childhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 2","pages":"67-85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1496921","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36506821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roshini Jain, Ch Chiech Chang, Mpho A Koto, Alden N Geldenhuys, Richard J Nichol, Gina Joubert
{"title":"Cannabis use and knowledge among medical students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.","authors":"Roshini Jain, Ch Chiech Chang, Mpho A Koto, Alden N Geldenhuys, Richard J Nichol, Gina Joubert","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1438291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1438291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cannabis use among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State (UFS), and the extent of their knowledge about the substance.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This cross-sectional study included five year groups of undergraduate medical students. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 643 medical students, 541 (84.1%) completed the questionnaire. In total, 161 (30.9%) students reported that they had ever used cannabis. The percentage of males who had ever used cannabis was twice that of females (relative risk 2.04; 95% CI 1.56; 2.67). Of the cannabis users, less than 12% used it monthly or more often. A fifth (19.5%) of all students stated that they did not know the side effects of cannabis use. Nearly half (45.4%) indicated that they could not name any medicinal (medical) uses. The median knowledge score of students who used cannabis tended to be higher than that of students who did not use cannabis; this was statistically significant only in the third-year group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Medical students generally have a low level of knowledge about cannabis. The reported lifetime prevalence and pattern of cannabis use are similar to those reported in other South African studies published over the past 35 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"19-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1438291","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35998045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy D Habeger, Kimberly S van Vulpen, Teresa F Simmons
{"title":"Perceptions of rural school mental health services: a focus group study.","authors":"Amy D Habeger, Kimberly S van Vulpen, Teresa F Simmons","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2017.1419250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2017.1419250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The presence of emotional or behavioural disorders has an impact on academic achievement. Access to behavioural health services is a challenge, particularly in rural communities. School-based mental health services have been recognised as an effective means of addressing the needs of students with emotional or behavioural disorders. This qualitative focus group study explored the service needs, gaps, and barriers to mental health services. Themes related to time, space, family engagement, and education for teachers and caregivers emerged from the focus groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2017.1419250","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36004731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kerry A Howard, Kathleen M Griffiths, Rebecca McKetin, Jennifer Ma
{"title":"Can a brief biologically-based psychoeducational intervention reduce stigma and increase help-seeking intentions for depression in young people? A randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Kerry A Howard, Kathleen M Griffiths, Rebecca McKetin, Jennifer Ma","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1467323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1467323","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is disagreement in the literature as to whether biological attribution increases or decreases stigma. This study investigated the effect of an online biological intervention on stigma and help-seeking intentions for depression among adolescents. A three-arm, pre-post test, double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) was used to compare the effects of a biological and a psychosocial intervention delivered online. Participants comprised secondary school students (N = 327) aged 16-19 years. Outcome measures included anticipated self-stigma for depression (primary), personal stigma, help-seeking intention for depression, and biological and psychosocial attribution. Neither the biological nor the psychosocial educational intervention significantly reduced anticipated self-stigma or personal stigma for depression relative to the control. However, a small increase in help-seeking intention for depression relative to the control was found for the biological educational condition. The study was undertaken over a single session and it is unknown whether the intervention effect on help-seeking intentions was sustained or would translate into help-seeking behaviour. A brief online biological education intervention did not alter stigma, but did promote a small increase in help-seeking intentions for depression among adolescents. This type of intervention may be a practical means for facilitating help-seeking among adolescents with current or future depression treatment needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"27-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1467323","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36101206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ehimwenma W Isa, Cornelius Ani, Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Olayinka Omigbodun
{"title":"Effects of psycho-education plus basic cognitive behavioural therapy strategies on medication-treated adolescents with depressive disorder in Nigeria.","authors":"Ehimwenma W Isa, Cornelius Ani, Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Olayinka Omigbodun","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1424634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1424634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Limited data exists on psychological interventions for adolescent depression in African countries such as Nigeria. This study therefore investigates the effects of a psychological intervention that includes psycho-education and basic elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on depressed medication-treated adolescents in Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This was a pre-post one-group intervention study of 18 adolescents aged 13-18 years with clinically diagnosed depressive disorder, attending a specialist psychiatric hospital. They had been on antidepressants for 3 months or longer. Depressive symptoms, knowledge of depression, hope, and attitudes towards treatment adherence were measured at baseline and repeated at 1 and 4 weeks post-intervention. The adolescents received four sessions of a group-based manualised intervention focused on psycho-education and basic CBT strategies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms were recorded, as were improvements in the adolescents' knowledge of depression, hope, and attitude towards treatment adherence one week after the intervention (all p = 0.001). All differences were sustained at 4 weeks post-intervention. Participants' satisfaction with the intervention was high.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that adding psycho-education with elements of CBT to antidepressant treatment is feasible, acceptable and can produce further benefits to depressed adolescents in this region.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"11-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1424634","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35997909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social support, violence exposure and mental health among young South African adolescents.","authors":"Annette Humm, Debra Kaminer, Anneli Hardy","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1476358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1476358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Cumulative violence exposure has been associated with both internalising and externalising difficulties in youth. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors that may ameliorate both exposure to and the impact of cumulative violence. This study aimed to identify sources of perceived social support amongst early adolescents in a low-income, high-violence community in South Africa, and to examine the association of perceived support with exposure to violence and with the severity of depression, aggression and conduct disorder symptoms.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A sample of 615 Grade 7 learners completed measures of perceived social support, different types of violence exposure and symptoms of depression, aggression and conduct disorder.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Maternal, paternal and overall family support were weakly associated with a reduced risk of domestic violence, but not with other forms of violence exposure, and were also weakly associated with a reduced risk of mental health difficulties. Peer support was associated with higher symptomatology across all mental health outcomes while teacher support was associated with greater severity of depression.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The stress-buffering effects of social support may not be maintained in contexts of high exposure to violence. Implications for interventions to enhance youth safety and resilience in high-violence contexts are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"41-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1476358","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36230638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trajectories of depression in adolescents and young adults in Vietnam during rapid urbanisation: evidence from a longitudinal study.","authors":"Quyen Tt Bui, Lan Th Vu, Dien M Tran","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2018.1478299","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2018.1478299","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: This paper investigates the trajectories of depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults, and explores factors associated with their depression. Method: For each respondent, three waves of data were collected in 2006, 2009 and 2013 from adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 years. The modified Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to interview participants, while the generalised estimating equation (GEE) model was used to identify whether certain factors were associated with depression. Results: The mean depression scores in 2006, 2009 and 2013 were 29.76, 30.80 and 30.51 respectively. Compared to boys, girls reported higher initial levels of depressive symptoms. The depression score was found to be highest among adolescents aged 15 to 17 years. Depression among young people was associated with age, gender, marital status, education levels, general health and living location. Conclusion: Using longitudinal design, this research demonstrated the different trajectories of depression scores between boys and girls over time and provided evidence for interventions improving adolescent mental health in a semi-urban area of Vietnam.","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"30 1","pages":"51-59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2018.1478299","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36230640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clifford Odimegwu, Nicole De Wet, Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun
{"title":"Perceptions of social capital and sexual behaviour among youth in South Africa.","authors":"Clifford Odimegwu, Nicole De Wet, Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2017.1388246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2017.1388246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With about one quarter of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occuring in young people, there is an on-going debate regarding the role of social capital on youth sexual behaviour. Some studies have suggested that high levels of family and community social capital may act as protective factors that lessen the likelihood of negative consequences; while others have concluded that social capital may be a risk factor for risky sexual behaviour among youth. Using data from the Third National Communications Survey (2012) conducted in South Africa, we examined the relationship between perceptions of social capital and youth sexual behaviour measured by age at first sex and condom use among 3 399 males and females (aged between 16 and 24 years). We assessed community perceptions of social capital with questions that measured trust, social participation, and support. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to predict the risk for early sexual debut. Logistic regression was used to predict the odds of condom use. There was no association between perceptions of social capital and youth sexual behaviour. This work reveals that youth sexual behaviour in South Africa may be influenced by socio-economic characteristics, especially at the individual level.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":"205-217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2017.1388246","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35562346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ronél van der Watt, Carina Pheiffer, Stephen Brown
{"title":"The psychosocial themes of children with a congenital heart defect.","authors":"Ronél van der Watt, Carina Pheiffer, Stephen Brown","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2017.1405815","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2017.1405815","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children living with a congenital heart defect (CHD) carry the burden of a condition affecting their biological, psychological, and social functioning. Even though the physical heartbeats of these children might be inaudible and defective, their intra- and inter-personal 'stories in sound' need to be heard and understood. The aim of this research study was to explore these 'stories in sound' in children diagnosed with CHD. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study using thematic analysis was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six boys and three girls between the ages of eight and fourteen years, who were diagnosed with CHD. The developmental psychopathology model (DPM) served as a conceptual framework. Five main themes emerged and were related to (i) the participants' understanding of their cardiac diagnoses; (ii) the participants' perceptions regarding their post-operative cardiac statuses; (iii) the participants' psychological experiences related to their cardiac statuses; (iv) the effects of living with CHD on their social functioning; and (v) a unique relationship to their chronic cardiac condition. Within each of these themes, thirteen subthemes were identified. The article concludes that an age-appropriate understanding of CHD and post-operative cardiac status is important, as children's perceptions have implications for their psychosocial experiences and acceptance of living with CHD. These children need comprehensive support from health care professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":"29 3","pages":"231-244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2989/17280583.2017.1405815","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35656416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}