Problem Solving Reduces Sexual Risk Associated with Sensation Seeking, Substance Use, and Depressive Symptoms Among African-American Adolescents

Creativity as a Positive Factor in the Adolescence Stage: Relations with Academic Performance, Stress and Self-Esteem

Creativity is a construct that aids in conflict resolution. Through the development of creative skills in adolescence, young people can carry out a series of strategies to make decisions or respond to a problem. The possession of creative skills helps students' personal wellbeing. The aim of this research is to analyze the relationships established between creativity and other individual variables such as academic performance, self-esteem and stress in adolescent students. The following descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a total sample of 743 adolescent students, between 14 and 19 years of age, from different educational centers in the province of Almería (Spain). The results obtained indicate a positive correlation between creativity and self-esteem and significant differences in the level of creativity among students who have repeated an academic year. Regression analyses indicate that both stress and creativity are two predictor variables of self-esteem. On the other hand, another of the findings obtained is that creativity acts as a mediating variable between self-esteem and repeating an academic year. It is discussed how creativity is a beneficial element in adolescence and, therefore, how its promotion can help the optimal development of adolescent students.

Relations Between Adolescent Sensation Seeking and Risky Sexual Behaviors Across Sex, Race, and Age: A Meta-Analysis

Sensation seeking (SS)-the seeking of novel and intense sensations or experiences and the willingness to take risks for the sake of such experiences-has been shown to be related to various risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) in areas such as multiple sexual partners, condom use, and sexual initiation. The aims of the current meta-analysis were to examine (1) how SS relates to specific RSBs in adolescents and (2) how the overall relationship between SS and RSB differs across sex, race, and age. Overall, a total of 40 studies met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis examining the relationship between SS and RSB, contributing 102 effect sizes. RSB variables included unprotected sex; multiple sexual partners; hazardous sexual activity; sexual initiation; virginity status; and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis. Moderating effects of sex, race, and age were also examined. The overall mean effect size of the correlational relationship between adolescent SS and RSB was statistically significant, as were the mean effect sizes of the relationships between SS and RSB subgroups, except for history of STD diagnosis. Race and age did not significantly moderate the overall relationship between SS and RSB; however, results indicated that SS and RSB relations were stronger in females compared to males. Our findings suggest that adolescents with elevations in SS tendencies tend to engage in more RSBs compared to their peers with lower levels of SS, increasing their risk of unplanned pregnancy and STD acquisition.

Perceptions of mental health nurses about psychosocial management of depression in adolescents, North West province, South Africa

Background

Depression in adolescents is a multifactorial global public health concern, with devastating consequences on the sufferer. The prevalence of depression amongst this age group is on the rise, and thus there is the need for greater attention.

Aim

To explore and describe the perceptions of mental health nurses regarding the psychosocial management of depression in adolescents in North West province, South Africa.

Setting

The study was conducted in two mental healthcare institutions and two mental healthcare units within two general hospitals in North West province, South Africa.

Method

A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used in conducting this study. Data were collected through focus group discussions from four groups of mental health nurses from each of the mental healthcare institutions and mental healthcare units with 18 mental health nurses. Data were analysed using Tesch’s open coding method.

Results

Two themes emerged from the study: comprehensive psychosocial management and involvement of different stakeholders.

Conclusion

The findings revealed clear psychosocial management for depression in adolescents. Adopting the findings of this study could improve depressive symptoms and curtail the prevalence of depression amongst adolescents in the North West province, South Africa.

Escala Búsqueda de Sensaciones (Forma V) de Zuckerman estudio psicométrico en población adolescente Mexicana

El rasgo de Búsqueda de Sensaciones (BS), se concibe como La necesidad de sensaciones y experiencias nuevas, variadas y complejas, y el deseo de arriesgarse con el fin de obtenerlas. Este rasgo se asocia con mayor riesgo de realizar conductas peligrosas y con diferentes trastornos mentales. Sin embargo, en México no disponemos de una adaptación de la escala más utilizada para evaluar la BS. Por ello, el objetivo de la presente investigación es estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Búsqueda de Sensaciones – Forma V (Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V), analizando su consistencia interna, su validez convergente y fiabilidad considerando la naturaleza dicotómica de los datos. Participaron 334 estudiantes de secundaria, con edades comprendidas entre 12 y 15 años tanto mujeres (n=171) como hombres (n=163). En los resultados se identificaron 20 ítems que se distribuían en tres factores mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio que se calculó con la mitad de la muestra, esta estructura mostró un ajuste adecuado en el análisis confirmatorio que se realizó con la otra parte de la muestra (χ2 = 213.78, gl = 167, p< 0.05, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.04). Se calcularon los índices de fiabilidad (KR = 0.78, omega = 0.94), se encontraron correlaciones con la escala de impulsividad (r = .39), la escala de uso de sustancias (r =.31 ) y con depresión (r = .26 ). Tanto en la escala total como en los factores se observaron mayores puntuaciones en hombres que en mujeres.