Risk of depression and self-harm in teenagers identifying with goth subculture: a longitudinal cohort study

Trajectories of Goth Music Preferences in Adolescence and Psychological Adjustment in Adulthood

Non-mainstream rock music preferences, like goth, are linked to psychological difficulties in adolescence and emerging adulthood. This study explored the persistence of these difficulties into adulthood, while considering gender moderation. From ages 15 to 22, 364 participants (59% female) annually indicated their preference for goth music. Their mental health and well-being were evaluated at age 30 and at ages 13-14 as a control. A latent class growth analysis on their goth preference revealed two trajectories: lower (non-fans; 77%) and higher (fans; 23%). Gender moderation analysis showed that only males on the higher trajectory reported lower well-being and poorer mental health at age 30. Male goth music fans, most likely attracted to this cultural expression of their difficulties, may face increased psychological challenges as adults due to societal gender norms and growing marginalization. This study indeed suggests that an extended affinity for goth music during adolescence and emerging adulthood indicates long-term psychological adjustment challenges among adult male fans.

Effects of Emotional Regulation, Resilience, and Distress Disclosure on Post-Traumatic Growth in Nursing Students

Nursing students, who need to reflect on self, secure their identity, and be prepared as would-be nurses, can make a good use of post-traumatic growth (PTG) that can function as a catalyst for positive change even amidst this COVID-19 crisis. Emotional regulation strategies in traumatic events are key factors for successful growth, resilience is positively associated with PTG, and distress disclosure is an important factor for stress reduction. In this context, this study is a descriptive research study to identify factors influencing the PTG of nursing students, using emotional regulation, resilience, and distress disclosure as the main variables. Data were collected from 231 junior and senior students of the nursing departments of two universities, and the collected data were analyzed using the t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, the Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS/WIN 26.0. Analysis of the PTG scores of the nursing students by general characteristics revealed significant differences in PTG according to the transfer status, perceived health status, and levels of satisfaction with major, hybrid-learning class, interpersonal relationship satisfaction, and clinical practice. Factors influencing PTG were identified to be resilience, reappraisal among emotional regulation strategies, satisfaction with clinical practice, and transfer, with the overall explanatory power calculated at 44%. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to consider resilience and reappraisal, which is a sub-variable of emotional regulation strategies, in order to develop programs designed to promote PTG of nursing students in the future.

Does anime, idol culture bring depression? Structural analysis and deep learning on subcultural identity and various psychological outcomes

Subculture, includes animation, comics, games (ACG), and idol fan culture, is popular among young generations in Japan. Previous studies have shown different psychological outcomes within different subcultural groups; however, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study proposes that subcultural identity may play a crucial role in mental health outcomes by interweaving social support and reputation. We examined the interplay between subcultural identity, social support, reputation, and different psychological outcomes through structural equation modeling (N = 300). Furthermore, we trained neural networks (NN) by applying a deep learning algorithm to predict psychological outcomes of different subcultures. The results suggest identity related to anime, idol, and hip-hop was positively associated with anxiety, aggression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal tendencies. By contrast, fashion and sports identities associated with no adverse or positive psychological outcomes. Perceived reputation mediates adverse psychological outcomes in the ACG, idol, and hip-hop groups. The highest accuracy in our NN reached 71%, indicating that NN could be an effective tool for predicting mental problems. Our work points up an urgent need to improve the mental health of the young generation by de-stigmatizing discriminated cultural groups.

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Identity related to anime, idol, and hip-hop was positively associated with adverse psychological outcomes.

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Identity related to fashion and sports had no association with positive or adverse psychological outcomes.

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Perceived reputation mediates adverse psychological outcomes.

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Neural network can predict psychological problems based on cultural preference.

Defining research priorities for youth public mental health: reflections on a coproduction approach to transdisciplinary working

BACKGROUND

With most mental health problems established during childhood/adolescence, young people must be a key focus of public mental health approaches. Despite the range of factors known to influence mental health, evidence for effective interventions is lacking for this age group. This study aimed to define priorities for future public health intervention-focused research to support youth mental health by engaging with transdisciplinary stakeholder groups.

METHODS

Our coproduction approach involved priority-setting workshops with young people, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. Each workshop focused on three thematic areas: social connections and relationships; schools and other education settings; and key groups at greater risk of mental ill-health, specifically LGBTQ+ and care-experienced young people. Workshop outputs were synthesized to define research priorities.

RESULTS

This paper presents the research priorities that were defined through the priority-setting workshops, and our reflections on the coproduction approach to guide future similar activities undertaken by others. Ten priorities for youth public mental health research were defined, covering the following areas: building supportive relationships; whole system approaches; social media; support at times of transition; improving links between different services; development and training for those who support young people; staff mental health; engaging with families; awareness of and access to services; and out-of-school and community settings.

CONCLUSIONS

These research priorities can inform future intervention development to support youth public mental health. Our transdisciplinary approach means the identified research priorities are likely to be relevant to young people's experiences and needs, and to fit with the needs of those working in practice and policy to support young people.

"Wild Years": Rock Music, Problem Behaviors and Mental Well-being in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Adolescent preferences for non-mainstream types of rock music can be markers of adolescent problem behaviors, but no study has ever investigated whether this relationship continues into adulthood. In a six-wave study, 900 Dutch adolescents were followed from ages 12 to 21 (Mage T1 12.4, 51.1% girls), while reporting on depressive symptoms, mental well-being, aggression and drug use. A latent class growth analysis on their preferences for specific types of rock music revealed four fan groups. When these fan groups were compared to one another, in adolescence, the all-out rock fans displayed the highest peak in depressive symptoms and the lowest dip in well-being and the rock/metal fans reported the most aggression. And for both these groups, drug use increased at the onset of adulthood. Pop fans displayed a profile characterized by low depressive symptoms and aggression, and high in mental well-being. Finally, the popular rock fans held an in-between position between pop fans, on one side, and the all-out rock fans and rock/metal fans, on the other side. Thus, music preferences can be markers of problems, not only in adolescence but also in young adulthood. Still, music can enhance mood, helps to cope with problems, and peers in fan groups can provide support. This research focuses on the relationship between music and problem behaviors, specifically among members of the all-out rock fans and rock/metal fans, but many of these young people might have had more personal problems if they had not had their music and their fan-group peers.

Factors associated with risk behaviors in adolescence: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the distal (≤ 6 years of age) and proximal (between 6 years of age and early adolescence) factors in adolescent risk behavior is important for preventing and reducing morbidity and mortality in this population. This study sought to investigate the factors associated with the following adolescent risk behaviors: i) aggressiveness and violence, ii) tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use, iii) depressive behavior and self-harm (including suicidal ideation and attempts), iv) sexual risk behavior, and v) multiple risk behavior.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to identify longitudinal studies that examined factors associated with adolescent risk behaviors. The PubMed, PsycINFO, and LILACS databases were searched.

RESULTS

Of the 249 included studies, 23% reported distal risk factors, while the remaining reported proximal risk factors. Risk factors were related to sociodemographic characteristics (neighborhood, school, and peers), family patterns, and the presence of other adolescent risk behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Distal and proximal factors in adolescent risk behavior that are not exclusively socioeconomic, familial, environmental, or social should be explored more thoroughly.

Goth Music and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

Identification with Goth youth culture has been related to elevated levels of depression, self-harm and suicide ideation. However, this identification may be difficult to assess as Goth is stigmatized and adolescents may hesitate to self-identify. Conversely, adolescents readily respond to questions on their music preferences. This study addresses the potential link between liking Goth music and depressive symptoms in a four-year study among 10 to 15-year-olds (N = 940, M age = 12.4 at T1, 49% female). In this study, it was found that Goth music is only liked by a small minority of adolescents (4 to 11%). Both girls and boys who liked Goth music reported increased levels of depressive symptoms as they grew older. The findings of this study suggest that a preference for Goth music emerges as an early, sensitive marker of dormant or developing depressive symptoms in adolescents. The mechanisms through which music preferences can translate into or sustain depressive symptoms are discussed.

Insulin resistance and obesity, and their association with depression in relatively young people: findings from a large UK birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Depression frequently co-occurs with disorders of glucose and insulin homeostasis (DGIH) and obesity. Low-grade systemic inflammation and lifestyle factors in childhood may predispose to DGIH, obesity and depression. We aim to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations among DGIH, obesity and depression, and to examine the effect of demographics, lifestyle factors and antecedent low-grade inflammation on such associations in young people.

METHODS

Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort, we used regression analyses to examine: (1) cross-sectional and (2) longitudinal associations between measures of DGIH [insulin resistance (IR); impaired glucose tolerance] and body mass index (BMI) at ages 9 and 18 years, and depression (depressive symptoms and depressive episode) at age 18 years and (3) whether sociodemographics, lifestyle factors or inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6) at age 9 years] confounded any such associations.

RESULTS

We included 3208 participants. At age 18 years, IR and BMI were positively associated with depression. These associations may be explained by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. There were no longitudinal associations between DGIH/BMI and depression, and adjustment for IL-6 and C-reactive protein did not attenuate associations between IR/BMI and depression; however, the longitudinal analyses may have been underpowered.

CONCLUSIONS

Young people with depression show evidence of DGIH and raised BMI, which may be related to sociodemographic and lifestyle effects such as deprivation, smoking, ethnicity and gender. In future, studies with larger samples are required to confirm this. Preventative strategies for the poorer physical health outcomes associated with depression should focus on malleable lifestyle factors.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents

BACKGROUND

25-35% of adolescents in random samples drawn from German schools have been found to have manifested at least one episode of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The prevalence in samples from child and adolescent psychiatric clinics is approximately 50%. NSSI can arise as a symptom in the setting of various types of mental illness.

METHODS

This review is based on a selective literature search carried out in the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases, with special consideration of regional study samples.

RESULTS

NSSI is usually resorted to as a dysfunctional coping strategy for emotional regulation. The main risk factors for NSSI include bullying, accompanying mental illnesses, and a history of abuse and neglect in childhood. Neurobiological studies have shown abnormal stress processing in persons with NSSI and an elevated pain threshold in persons with repetitive NSSI. Psychotherapeutic interventions of various kinds lessen the frequency of NSSI; to date, no particular type of psychotherapy has been found to be clearly superior to the others. Randomized controlled trials have revealed small to moderate effects from dialectic-behavioral therapy and mentalization-based therapy in adolescent patients. No psychoactive drug has yet been found to possess specific efficacy against NSSI in adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The first ever German-language clinical guidelines for the treatment of NSSI have now been issued. Psychotherapy is the treatment of first choice. More research is needed so that subgroups with different disease courses can be more clearly defined.

Hello darkness my old friend: preferences for darkness vary by neuroticism and co-occur with negative affect

Metaphors frequently link negative affect with darkness and associations of this type have been established in several experimental paradigms. Given the ubiquity and strength of these associations, people who prefer dark to light may be more prone to negative emotional experiences and symptoms. A five study investigation (total N = 605) couches these ideas in a new theoretical framework and then examines them. Across studies, 1 in 4 people preferred the perceptual concept of dark over the perceptual concept of light. These dark-preferring people scored higher in neuroticism (Studies 1 and 2) and experienced greater depressive feelings in daily life (Study 3). Moreover, dark preferences shared a robust relationship with depressive symptoms (Study 4) as well as generalised anxiety symptoms (Study 5). The results provide novel insights into negative affectivity and extend conceptual metaphor theory in a way that is capable of making individual difference predictions.

Understanding death, suicide and self-injury among adherents of the emo youth subculture: A qualitative study

Emo youth subculture bases its subcultural identification mostly on symbols of death, dying, suicide, and other kinds of morbid content. The main goal of the present study was to explore attitudes toward suicidal behavior and self-injury in emo adolescents. Semistructured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 emo adherents, accompanied by the analysis of emo Web discussion forums. Participants reported attitudes including high acceptance for suicidal behavior and self-injury. The identification with the emo youth subculture is considered to be a factor strengthening vulnerability towards risky behaviors.

Understanding the social context of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury

OBJECTIVE

Research investigating the social context of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been limited. We therefore examined social characteristics of NSSI, such as knowledge of friends' NSSI and the role friends play in continuing NSSI, and their relationships to other known NSSI correlates, such as suicidality.

METHOD

We assessed NSSI characteristics, including social features, in a community sample of 89 self-injuring adolescents. We also assessed psychosocial correlates of NSSI, including impulsivity, self-concept, and psychiatric symptoms.

RESULTS

Knowledge of friends' NSSI was relatively common among self-injurers. In addition, knowledge of friends' NSSI was associated with use of more NSSI methods, cutting behaviors, and suicidal ideation, but not with other NSSI correlates. However, teaching or encouragement of NSSI by friends was rare.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of friends' NSSI may serve as marker of increased severity among adolescent self-injurers. These findings have implications for identifying and intervening with high-risk self-injuring youth.

This corrosion: A systematic review of the association between alternative subcultures and the risk of self-harm and suicide

BACKGROUND

Rates of self-harm and suicide are increasing in young people. The literature suggests that individuals who identify with alternative subcultures (e.g., Goth) may be at a greater risk.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence of self-harm and suicide in alternative subcultures and the factors that might contribute to this increased risk.

METHOD

Using a systematic strategy, the databases PsycINFO, Scopus, MEDLINE and Web of Science, and the E-Thesis online service (ETHOS) were searched for English language only papers, with no restrictions in terms of date of publication. Papers were selected that included data on the relationship between either alternative subculture identity (e.g., Goth) or preference for alternative music (e.g., Heavy Metal) and self-harm or suicide. Ten quantitative papers were included: seven cross-sectional, two longitudinal and one cross-sectional state-level comparison study. Two qualitative papers were also included. Studies were assessed by two reviewers for risk of bias.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that individuals who associated with alternative subcultures were at a greater risk of self-harm and suicide. Whilst qualitative papers identified potential mechanisms (e.g., exposure to self-harm and the way self-harm is presented or normalized), there remains limited support for these mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

More research is required to understand the association between self-harm, suicide and alternative subculture affiliation, and the factors underlying it. Longitudinal studies and studies focusing on mechanism are particularly important.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

The review supports the suggestion that those who identify as belonging to an alternative subculture may be at a higher risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviour. It also presents preliminary evidence that alternative affiliation predicts self-harm over time, and that this effect holds whilst adjusting for a number of likely confounders. The findings highlight the importance of increasing the awareness of the victimization and potential risk that these groups hold and suggests areas for intervention in health, educational, and social services. The review does not, however, indicate specifically what it is about alternative subculture affiliation (or alternative music preference) that could contribute to the risk of self-harm. Consequently, studies with a greater focus on mechanisms are needed. Methodological limitations (e.g., cross-sectional studies, small sample of 'alternative' participants, westernized samples) restricted the reliability and validity of the results which impacted on the extent to which the findings could be generalized more widely.

Nicht-suizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) im Jugendalter: Klinische Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Nicht-suizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) ist ein häufiges, klinisch relevantes Phänomen im Jugendalter, das sich in Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen psychischen Störungen beobachten lässt. Deutschland gehört mit einer Lebenszeitprävalenz von 25–35 % bei Jugendlichen innerhalb Europas zu den Ländern mit den höchsten Prävalenzraten an NSSV. Bislang existierte eine zuletzt im Jahr 2006 überarbeitete AWMF-Leitlinie zu selbstverletzendem Verhalten und stereotypen Bewegungsstörungen, deren Gültigkeit 2011 abgelaufen war.

Methoden: Die Leitliniengruppe setzte sich aus elf medizinisch, psychologisch bzw. psychotherapeutischen Fachgesellschaften und zwei Interessensvertretungen aus Angehörigen- bzw. Präventionsprojekten zusammen. Die Leitlinie wurde in zwei Konferenzen, darauf aufbauenden Literaturrecherchen und einer abschließenden Konsensuskonferenz erarbeitet. Der Algorithmus wurde in drei Delphi-Runden verabschiedet.

Ergebnisse: Während die Datenlage zur Epidemiologie und zur Diagnostik von NSSV gut ist, sind noch immer wenige Studien zum Langzeitverlauf und zur psychotherapeutischen sowie zum Stellenwert einer psychopharmakologischen, adjuvanten Behandlung von NSSV im Jugendalter verfügbar. Berufsgruppenübergreifend wurde auch das Vorgehen im Falle der Notwendigkeit einer somatischen Versorgung bei NSSV thematisiert.

Schlussfolgerungen: In Anbetracht der heterogenen Evidenzlage wurden, um die klinische Anwendbarkeit der Leitlinie zu gewährleisten, die wesentlichen Punkte zur Behandlung von NSSV im Jugendalter in einer Konsensuskonferenz abgestimmt. Forschungsdefizite zeigen sich sowohl im Bereich präventiver als auch klinischer Interventionen.

Negative body image and eating disorder symptomatology among young women identifying with goth subculture

The present study compared the rates of negative body image and risk for disordered eating in young women who identify as part of goth subculture and a matched sample. Participants were 80 women who identified as part of goth subculture and a matched sample of 82 women from London, United Kingdom. Participants completed measures of self-ideal body size discrepancy, body appreciation, appearance investment, and eating disorder symptomatology. Between-group comparisons indicated that goth women reported significantly higher drive for thinness (d=0.51), body dissatisfaction (d=0.62), and dysfunctional appearance investment (d=0.52), as well as lower body appreciation (d=0.55), than the matched sample. Heightened expectations about appearance and self-presentation, alongside appearance competitiveness, may result in more negative body image and disordered eating in young women who identify with goth subculture, but further research is necessary on this under-studied youth subculture.

Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common mental health threat among adolescents. This review aims to present the current literature on epidemiology, etiology, and therapeutic approaches with a focus on the period of adolescence.

RECENT FINDINGS

NSSI is widespread among adolescents both in community as well as in clinical settings with lifetime prevalence rates between 17 and 60% in recent studies. It is influenced by multiple factors including social contagion, interpersonal stressors, neurobiological background, as well as emotional dysregulation and adverse experiences in childhood. There is still a lack of studies regarding the psychotherapeutic as well as the psychopharmacological treatment of NSSI in adolescence. Furthermore, sufficient evidence for prevention programs is missing.