Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Recreational screen time activities (e.g., computer use, television viewing, and videogame engagement) have become increasingly embedded in modern day culture, posing both physical and psychological health consequences (Babic et al., 2017; Goldfield et al., 2013). Despite the established link between recreational screen time and adolescent depressive symptomatology, little is known about mechanisms that may explain or influence this relationship. The overarching objective of the present dissertation, which includes two separate studies, was to examine cognitive, behavioural, affective, and interpersonal factors associated with the relationship between adolescents’ total daily recreational screen time activities and depressive symptomatology over time. The dissertation includes archival data from the Research on Eating and Adolescent Lifestyle (REAL) Study, which examined a large sample of students from the National Capital Region of Canada. Both Study 1 and Study 2 examined a subsample of these students. Given that exposure to screen time occupies up to 10 hours of Canadian children and adolescents’ waking hours (Active Healthy Kids Canada, 2013; Leatherdale & Ahmed, 2011; Leatherdale & Harvey, 2015), the independent variable examined in the model was total daily recreational screen time activities. Because trajectories of depressive symptomatology typically increase during adolescence (Duchesne & Ratelle, 2014), the dependent variable examined in the model was depressive symptomatology. The time points spanned over 7 years. The purpose of Study 1 was to test a prospective longitudinal path analysis model. The model examined the relationship between total daily recreational screen time at baseline (T0) and depressive symptomatology at Time 4 (T4), with body image and disordered eating behaviours at Time 2 (T2) as potential mediating variables. The final sample included 304 English-speaking students (194 females, Mage = 13.40 years, SD = 1.10). Total daily recreational screen time at T0 was significantly predictive of depressive symptomatology at T4. Appearance (dis)satisfaction at T2 mediated the relationship between total daily recreational screen time at T0 and depressive symptomatology at T4. Total daily recreational screen time at T0 was significantly predictive of emotional eating and decreased body image satisfaction at T2. Restrained eating and appearance satisfaction were negatively associated with depressive symptomatology at T4. Results were independent of age and depressive symptomatology at T0. The purpose of Study 2 was to test a longitudinal moderation model including total daily recreational screen time at T0 and depressive symptomatology at T4, with attachment style, coping style, and perceived social support at T0 as potential moderating variables. The final sample included 170 English-speaking students (106 females; Mage = 13.01, SD = 0.96). Contrary to expectation, attachment style, coping style, and perceived social support did not moderate the relationship between total daily recreational screen time at T0 and depressive symptomatology at T4. However, insecure attachment was identified as a risk factor for depressive symptomatology among males. A trend emerged in that avoidance-oriented coping appeared to be a risk factor for depressive symptomatology among females and a protective factor for males. There was also a three-way interaction between total daily recreational screen time, gender, and perceived social support. That is, when perceived social support was high, higher levels of total daily recreational screen time at T0 was associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology at T4 for both males and females, but the relationship was significant for males only. Findings from the present dissertation offer important theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications.

This thesis seeks to identify the psychosocial factors that influence adolescent smoking and to make suggestions for a smoking prevention/intervention programme. It is of particular interest to explore adolescent smoking in the Greek setting, where both teachers and pupils smoke on the school premises and smoking is socially acceptable. The participants are 672 pupils who attend six Greek schools - 351 aged 12-13 years old (mean age=12.6 years) and 321 aged 15-16 years old (mean age=15.8 years). Self-report, anonymous and confidential questionnaires are completed at the beginning and at the end of the academic year (7 months apart). The participants are grouped into four categories according to their smoking behaviour and 150 of them are randomly selected and interviewed. The interviews are semi-structured and employed to validate the self-reports and to provide more in-depth information on certain issues. Information on the situation in Greek schools is collected from 120 teachers who are interviewed at the beginning of the academic year. There is a significant increase in the smoking prevalence of both age groups at phase two. The patterns of the changes in smoking support the theory of stages. Psychosocial factors, such as school, teachers, parents, siblings and friends exert different levels of influence on the adolescents, who are not merely passive recipients. Personality factors are equally important determinants of the adolescents' decision to experiment with cigarettes and take up the habit of smoking or not. Adolescents foster many misconceptions about cigarettes, which may differ according to their gender. Their knowledge tends to mirror a reproduction of statements they do not fully understand. Intention to smoke in the future seems to be a fairly accurate predictor of taking up smoking eventually. Suggestions for smoking prevention/intervention programmes and a model of layers of influence on adolescent smoking are discussed.

Objective: To determine the association between body image dissatisfaction (BID) and depressive symptoms in adolescents from a school in Lima, Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed through a census of 875 high-school students, aged 13 to 17 years, from a school in Lima. Participants completed a survey containing the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data regarding demographics, alcohol and tobacco use, self-esteem, and family history of depression were also obtained. To identify associated factors, Poisson regression with robust variance was used. Prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Of the 875 adolescents, 55.8% were male. The mean age was 14.161.5 years. Depressive symptoms were observed in 19.9% of participants. An association between BID and depressive symptoms was found. Alcohol and tobacco use were also associated with the outcome of interest. Conclusions: Teens who had BID were 3.7 times more likely to report depressive symptoms. Additionally, those who used tobacco or alcohol were 1.5 and 1.4 times more likely to have depressive symptoms, respectively. Further studies targeting other populations and using longitudinal designs are recommended.

The capacity of psychotherapeutic metaphors to play a facilitating role in the process of psychotherapy with adolescents is the research question under investigation in this study. To determine whether this process-facilitating capacity exists, the researcher will describe various case studies to illustrate this occurrence. To this end and because of the lack of research in this area, the aim of this study is to determine the facilitating role of metaphor in psychotherapy with adolescents. To achieve this, the basic concepts of cybernetic epistemology are explored, as well as the psychotherapeutic use of metaphors. These theoretical constructs are then applied to the therapeutic case studies where the facilitating role of metaphors are described, thus satisfYing the initial aim of this study. It is important to remember that the aim of this study is not to provide guidelines for therapeutic interventions, nor is it to propose a new psychotherapeutic technique. Rather, the aim of this study is to describe the facilitating role played by metaphors in psychotherapy. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Centre for Scientific Development / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

Objective: Students from 5 public schools in east Tennessee in grades 6 through 10 were assessed for their risk of eating disorder. Method: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT40), a self-administered questionnaire, was given anonymously to 1,302 male and female adolescents. Results: The results showed that 19.8% of females and 3.7% of males scored above 29, indicating high risk for development of an eating disorder. There was also a trend toward increased prevalence of risk in areas that are more rural. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the risk for eating disorders may be greater in rural areas than has previously been believed. This has implications for understanding the etiology of these diseases as well as demonstrating the need for more research in these often underserved areas.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters Of Arts (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University Of Zululand, 2013 . / Background: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The HIV and AIDS epidemic is one of the largest obstacles that are destroying the lives and the livelihoods of millions of South Africans. Adolescents are the most vulnerable population at high risk of contracting HIV.Department of Health (2010) noted that in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is the province with the highest HIV prevalence. Aims: To explore the perceptions of adolescents living in a township about HIV/AIDS. : To explore factors contributing to adolescents’ high rate of HIV/AIDS infection. To explore the influences of these perceptions on adolescents’ sexual behavior.: To explore adolescents’ general knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS.Method: Data collection instrument that was employed is a questionnaire with both open-ended and closed ended questions. Random sampling was employed and 50 participants from Ongoye high school took part in this study with 44% males (n=22) and 56% females (n=28).Results: Findings of this study revealed that the majority of respondents have enough information in regard to meaning, mode of transmission and preventing methods of HIV/AIDS, however some of the participants listed unrealistic perceptions about HIV/AIDS. When comparing between both genders, females seems to have more misconceptions about HIV and AIDS than males.Conclusion: Adolescents have misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. More programmes that target adolescents should be implemented in order to address these misconceptions as well as the factors that make them vulnerable to contract HIV/AIDS. More research should also be conducted on issues related to HIV/AIDS among adolescents.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Educational Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology & Special Needs Education at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / The aim of this study was to assess the mental health status of school going adolescents on ART. The objectives of the study being to establish the status of mental health before and after these adolescents are placed on ART. A literature study was done in order to determine the feasibility of the study and in order to strengthen the need for such information to be known. A qualitative approach was used so as to gain insight into the topic. Data was collected using face to face interviews and an interview guide was prepared to guide the discussions between the researcher and the participants. The data collected was thematically analysed and the results were presented using the research questions and the themes that emerged in answering those questions. Themes and sub-themes that emerged included compliance; fear of disclosing; normalisation of life with HIV; acceptance and support from family; fear of rejection, stigma and discrimination; institutional support; morally judged. Since participants were young when they tested mental health changes occurred once their status was disclosed to them. The adolescents have unresolved mental health issues and which become unknown to the healthcare workers due to ineffective communication. Participants were still preoccupied with the thought that they will be on ARVs for the rest of their lives. Key problems faced by the adolescents included preoccupation about the future, fear of stigma and discrimination and reject from society. There were no feelings of anger towards their caregivers once their status was disclosed to them. Only feelings of fear and confusion were raised which were quickly addressed by caregivers. Recommendations were included to address the concerns highlighted in the study and these included a need to address factors such as disclosure, stigma and discrimination as these directly and indirectly have an impact on the mental health of HIV positive adolescents and follow-up research needs to be done to document the lives of adolescents post admission in the ART programme.

Excerpt: Martsolf, Draucker, Bednarz, and Lea (2011) provide valuable qualitative information of how adolescents incorporate opinions about their troubled dating relationships, however, the study appears to arrive at the wrong conclusion due to logic errors in both developing themes from quotations and developing conclusions from themes and quotations.

Attachment is an important aspect of parent-adolescent relationships, and thus it may play a key role in predicting adolescents' behavioral outcomes and well-being. This study examined how parenting dimensions (authoritative, psychological control, and over-protecting) relate to youth outcomes (self-esteem, autonomy, and friend attachment) by way of parent-adolescent attachment, among Chinese families. The sample included 298 Chinese adolescents ages 15-18 years (M age = 16.36, SD =.678 ; 60% female). A series of structural equation models was estimated to examine the hypothesis that authoritative parenting, psychological control, and over-protecting would predict adolescent outcomes as mediated by attachment. The best fitting model included only indirect paths from the three parenting variables to the three outcome variables, by way of attachment. In this final model, authoritative parenting was positively predictive of attachment, while psychological control was a negative predictor. In turn, parent adolescent attachment was positively related to the three outcomes: autonomy, self-esteem, and friend attachment. Lastly, parenting related to the outcomes similarly for boys and girls. These findings suggest that what parents do might relate to the well-being of their adolescents by way of the quality of their relationships with their adolescents.