Parental Educational Expectations,Academic Pressure,and Adolescent Mental Health:An Empirical Study Based on CEPS Survey Data

Background:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental educational expectations and adolescent mental health problems,with academic pressure as a moderating variable.Methods:This study was based on the baseline data of the China Education Panel Survey,which was collected within one school year during 2013–2014.It included 19,958 samples from seventh and ninth graders,who ranged from 11 to 18 years old.After removing missing values and conducting relevant data processing,the effective sample size for analysis was 16344.The OLS(Ordinary Least Squares)multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between parental educational expectations,academic pressure,and adolescents’mental health problems.In addition,we established an interaction term between parents’educational expectations and academic pressure to investigate the moderating effect of academic stress.Results:The study found that adolescents whose parents had high educational expectations reported less mental health problems.(β=−0.195;p<0.001).Additionally,adolescents who had high academic pressure reported more mental health problems.(β=0.649;p<0.001).Furthermore,the study found that academic pressure had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between parental educational expectations and adolescents’mental health problems(β=0.082;p<0.001).Conclusion:Parental educational expectations had a close relationship with adolescents’mental health problems,and academic pressure moderated this relationship.For those adolescents with high levels of academic pressure,the association between high parental educational expectations and mental health problems became stronger.On the contrary,for those adolescents with low levels of academic pressure,the association between high parental educational expectations and mental health problems became weaker.These findings shed new light on how parental educational expectations affected adolescent mental health problems and had significant implications for their healthy development.

Correlation between self-efficacy,parental parenting patterns,and severe depression in adolescents

BACKGROUND Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant psychological changes.This study explores how self-efficacy and parental parenting styles may influence the risk of severe depression among teens.The hypothesis is that higher self-efficacy and authoritative parenting patterns will be negatively correlated with severe depression in adolescents.AIM To investigate the correlation between self-efficacy,parenting patterns and major depression in adolescents,and to provide guidance for mental intervention.METHODS Using a cross-sectional survey design,the data were collected through a questionnaire survey.Patients with major depression and healthy adolescents in the hospital control group were selected as the study objects.The General Self-Efficacy Scale,the Parenting Style Evaluation Scale,and the Beck Depression Inventory were used as research instruments.Data input and statistical analysis were performed,including descriptive statistics,correlation analysis,through SPSS software.RESULTS The study found that depressed patients had significantly lower self-efficacy than healthy controls,and parenting style was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in terms of emotional warmth and understanding,punishment severity,and denial.Specifically,parental emotional warmth and understanding were significantly negatively associated with depressive symptoms,while parental punishment severity and denial were significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms.Self-efficacy showed a significant negative correlation with depressive symptoms,indicating that higher self-efficacy had lower depressive symptoms.CONCLUSION Adolescent major depressive disorder patient was significantly associated with their parenting style and selfefficacy.Higher self-efficacy is associated with decreased depressive symptoms,so improving adolescent selfefficacy and improving parenting style are important.

A determination of the quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents

Objective: Type 1 diabetes is a chronic illness which can have a negative effect on the health care and development of children and can put their lives in danger. This descriptive study aimed to determine the quality of life and the factors affecting it of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).Methods: The study was conducted in the Child Endocrinology Unit of a University Hospital in Bursa, Turkey. Totally 64 children eight-12 years and 85 adolescents aged 13-18 with type 1 diabetes and their parents were recruited. HbA1c measurements were obtained from the records of the endocrinology clinicare, which were made once every three months, and the average of the last three measurements was taken in the study. The PedsQL was used to measure quality of life of the children and adolescents. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and P<0.05 was considered significant. The demographic data of the children and parents were analyzed using means and percentiles. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between two averages. Results: Of the sub-groups on the scale, affective and school function scores were somewhat low, and social function scores were high. The quality of life scores of the children and adolescents were found to correlate with those of their parents. A negative correlation was found between HbA1c levels and adolescent quality of life, a positive correlation was found between the child's age and the quality of life of the child and parents, and a negative correlation was found between the number of children in the family and the quality of life of the child and parents. Conclusions: An evaluation of the quality of life after a diagnosis of diabetes can be used to assess the problems which may be faced by children and adolescents and to combat these problems.

Subjective Well-being and Family Functioning among Adolescents Left Behind by Migrating Parents in Jiangxi Province, China

We sought to identify the differences between adolescents left behind in their home villages/towns （LBA） and non-left behind adolescents （NLB） on subjective well-being and family functioning due to parental migration in south China. We used a stratified cluster sampling method to recruit middle school students in a city experiencing population-emigration in Jiangxi Province in 2010. Participants included adolescents from families with： （1） one migrant parent, （2） both parents who migrated, or （3） non-left behind adolescents （i.e., no migrant parent）. To determine predictors of subjective well-being, we used structural equation models. Adolescents left behind by both parents （LBB） were less likely to express life satisfaction （P = 0.038） in terms of their environments （P = 0.011） compared with NLB. A parent or parents who migrated predicts lower subjective well-being of adolescents （P = 0.051） and also lower academic performance. Being apart from their parents may affect family functioning negatively from an adolescent＇s viewpoint. Given the hundreds of millions of persons in China, many who are parents, migrating for work, there may be mental health challenges in some of the adolescents left behind.

Communication with Parents and Peers on Sexual Matters:the Experience of Adolescents in the Northeastern of China

Objective To analyze the status of parent-child communication on sexual matters and its relationship to the sexual behaviors of adolescents. Methods The data were obtained from a study which was conducted in Changchun city of China in 2001, Unmarried adolescents aged 15-19 years old（322 males and 360females） were selected for this analysis. Results Ten percent of adolescents reported having experience of sexual intercourse （16% of male and 5% of female）. The percentages of adolescents communicating with peers, mothers and fathers were 35%, 30% and 17%, respectively, Males were more likely to talk about sexual issues with peer, while females were more likely to talk with mothers. Significant difference was also noted between the ratio of communication on sexual matters and having a girl/boyfriend with peers and with parents, There was a statistically significant relationship between sexual experience and communication with fathers among male adolescents＇, Despite the fact that parents are the most closest care providers, adolescents obtained most of the sex information from ＂reading materials＂ and from ＂teachers＂, but not from their parents. There was an age difference in the main source of obtaining sexual information. Younger adolescents obtained sexual information mainly from teachers while older adolescents mainly from reading materials. Conclusion In addition to schools and reading materials, parents should serve as an important source of information on sexual education as well.

Social distance toward schizophrenia among parents of adolescents

Social distance toward schizophrenia is a reason for delays in receiving early treatment for the disorder. This study attempted to identify the factors underlying social distance. The participants were 2690 parents of adolescents. Factor analysis using a social distance scale identified two factors: private relationship and social relationship. Regression analysis revealed that gender, age, and participation in welfare activities for people with mental illnesses had independent effects on the factor private relationship (p < 0.05). These results suggest that women aged 40 - 49 years should be targeted for activities that attempt to counteract social distance and that they would benefit from taking part in public welfare activities for individuals with mental illnesses.

Childbirth expectations and correlates at the final stage of pregnancy in Chinese expectant parents

Purpose:To explore the childbirth expectations of Chinese expectant parents during their transition to parenthood.Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive survey was used through the Chinese version of the Childbirth Expectations Questionnaire.A total of 240 expectant parents were recruited when they were admitted to the obstetric units waiting for delivery at a large Maternal and Child Health care Center in Beijing,and 210 couples completed the questionnaires,yielding a response rate of 87.5%.Results:The expectant parents had a high level of childbirth expectations towards caregiving environment,spousal support,control and participation and medical support.Conversely,their expectations toward labor pain and their own ability to cope with the pain were relatively low.Expectant fathers’childbirth expectations and preference of partner’s accompany were two significant predictors of expectant mothers’childbirth expectations,explaining 18.9%and 3.3%of the total variance,respectively.While expectant mothers’childbirth expectations was the only significant predictor of expectant fathers’childbirth expectations.Conclusion:This study adds to understanding of the childbirth expectations of Chinese expectant parents.It is suggested that maternity healthcare providers pay close attention to the childbirth expectations of expectant parents,and improve the nursing care service to promote positive childbirth experiences and satisfaction of expectant parents.

The Outpatient Clinic Visit: Expectations and Fulfilment of Perceived Needs in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: To make outpatient visits for adolescents with diabetes successful, it is important for health care professionals to meet the adolescents’ needs and wishes. Aims: The aim is to investigate adolescents’ expectations of an outpatient diabetes clinic visit in comparison to what was deemed to be delivered and contrast this outcome in adolescents with self-reported high- and low-diabetes distress respectively. Methods: All adolescents in Sweden with type 1 diabetes, aged 15 to 18 years, were identified via The National Pediatric Diabetes Registry (SWEDIABKIDS) and asked to complete an online questionnaire regarding their expectations and the support received during the outpatient diabetes clinic visit. Results: 453 adolescents completed the survey. Boys’ expectations of discussion topics were mainly met while girls, especially those with diabetes distress, felt their discussion needs were not met regarding quality-of-life aspects. Conclusions: Although adolescents’ expectations are in general met during the diabetes outpatient clinic visit, aspects related to living with diabetes are not being met especially among female adolescents who reported diabetes distress. This study shows a gender difference both regarding expected discussion topics and what was deemed covered. Practice Implications: A multi-professional, individual person-centred care approach is needed at the diabetes outpatient clinic. This paper proposes that agenda setting performed by the adolescent, and agreed by the physician, prior to the outpatient clinic visit could facilitate individualized care and better meet the adolescents’ needs in a shared decision-making process.

Sex education for adolescents:Indonesian nurse educators’experience as parents

Objectives:Sex education toward adolescent remains the most controversial subject due to the various thoughts and ideas of different values present in society.Nurse educators as parents must exemplify sex education to their children.The aim of this present study was to explore parents’experience,with nurse educators background to be exact,on how they convey sex education to their children.Methods:This study is a descriptive qualitative study,and the sample is recruited by using the purposive sampling technique.The qualified participants filled in the informed consent,provided demographic data,and were interviewed.Saturation data were obtained at the 6th interview in this study.The interview is transcribed to find themes and subthemes using conventional content analysis.Results:We derived 3 main themes:parents’approach,sex education topic,and children’s reaction.Parents’approach contained 4 subthemes,namely,gender match,parent-child closeness,media,and attitude.Sex education topic included 5 subthemes of bodily autonomy,health and safety,reproductive anatomy,puberty-related changes,and how to maintain healthiness.Children’s reaction experiences also included 4 subthemes of uncomfortable,questioning,acknowledging,and laughing.Conclusions:As a matter of fact,some parents in eastern countries,such as Indonesia,conveyed sex education to their children.Children might have various reactions to that topic,but it is important to keep them safe,especially in reproductive health,regardless of the culture or tradition.Based on nurse educators as exemplifiers,nurses and nursing students might acquire the picture in conveying sex education to adolescents.

Are there differences between the expectations of parents, nurses and physicians when using music in NICU?

This paper aimed to describe and explain the expectations concerning the use of music in NICU from the viewpoints of parents, nurses and physicians. The relevant questionnaires were distributed to 836 participants who were recruited from the country’s five university hospitals (n = 508, response rate 61). Slightly over half of the participants preferred recorded music versus live music in the NICU. They strongly expected that their preferred music could be beneficial both for the infants, parents and staff. The parents agreed most that live music is the most suitable choice for infants (p < 0.001), and that the music could especially benefit the infant (p < 0.001) and parents (p < 0.001) compared with the nurses’ and physicians’ preferences. Some background details such as age, average length of time listening to music, musical training and experiences of using music provided significant explanations for the participants’ expectations. In conclusion, there were significant differences between the groups of the respondents concerning the type of the preferred music and its expected effects. This highlights the importance of discussion with the caregivers when taking music into regular use in the neonatal intensive care units.

Relationships Between Parenting Style, Self-Perception and Shyness Among Chinese Early Adolescents

The current study investigated the parenting style, self-perception, and shyness level of 1,338 junior high school students, so as to explore relationships between these variables. Results indicated that （1） The levels of the unassuming shyness, shyness when facing negative evaluation are higher than other dimensions of shyness; （2） The acceptance/involvement and strictness/supervision are negatively related with shyness; the acceptance/participation and strictness/supervision are positively correlated with self-perception; self-perception was negatively related with shyness; and （3） Parents＇ acceptance/participation can indirectly affect shyness through the self-perception; parents＇ strictness/supervision can affect shyness directly and indirectly through the self-perception.

Parenting Skills Determinant in Preventing Adolescents’ Sexual Health Risk Behavior

Parenting skill is one of the crucial needs that parents must have in caring adolescents’ sexual health risk behavior. Present study aims to determine predictors of parenting skills in preventing adolescents’ sexual health risk behavior. A cross sectional study was conducted among adolescents’ parents who attended government health clinics in a semi-urban district, West Malaysia. Data were collected by systematic random sampling using validated questionnaire from eight government health clinics based on routine daily out-patient services. There were 386 respondents participated with 98.9% of response rate. Parental skill is categorized as appropriate or inappropriate based on Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM) staging. Eighteen independent variables were used: parental socioeconomic status, adolescent characteristic, parenting style, parent-adolescent communication, parental stress, perception on adolescent sexual risk, comfortable in discussing sexual issues, knowledge in sexual reproductive health (SRH) and knowledge in HIV/AIDS. Assessment of parenting skills using the TTM stage showed 139 respondents (36%) had inappropriate parenting skills, in which they were in pre contemplation, contemplation or preparedness stages, while 247 respondents (64%) showed appropriate parenting skills when they were in action and maintenance stages of TTM. Older parent, late adolescent, low parental education level, extended family living arrangement, comfortable in discussing sexual issues, good parent-adolescent communication and higher knowledge in HIV/AIDS were found significant in bivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified older parent (AOR = 1.927, 95% CI = 1.889 - 1.966, p < 0.001), lower parental education (AOR = 2.394, 95% CI = 1.348 - 4.254, p = 0.003), comfortable in discussing sexual issues (AOR = 3.810, 95% CI = 1.622 - 8.948, p = 0.002), good parent-adolescent communication (AOR = 4.741, 95% CI = 2.478 - 9.071, p ≤ 0.001) and having higher knowledge on HIV/AIDS (AOR = 2.804, 95% CI = 1.528 - 5.147, p = 0.001) as significant predictors for appropriate parenting skills in preventing adolescent sexual health risk behavior. In conclusion, more than one third of parents were still not ready in preventing adolescent sexual risk behavior. Targeting the young parents and those having difficulty in communicating sexual issues with theirs adolescents should be emphasized in early intervention program for parents. Self-assessment using TTM stage questionnaire will help parents to identify their parenting skills in preventing adolescent sexual health risk behavior.

The Relationship among Chinese Adolescents’ Parental Involvement, Core Self-Evaluation and School Adaptation

The present study discusses the relationship among Chinese adolescents’parental involvement,core self-evaluation,and school adaptation.The Parental Involvement Behavior Questionnaire,Core Self-Evaluations Scale(CSES),and the School Adaptation Inventory were used to survey 1258 Chinese middle school students.The results showed that adolescents’school adaptation was significantly positively correlated with parental involvement and core self-evaluation.Furthermore,parental involvement and core self-evaluation were positively correlated.Mediation analysis found that core self-evaluation had partially mediated the relationship between adolescents’parental involvement and school adaption.Parental involvement could directly affect adolescents’school adaptation and indirectly affect school adaptation through the mediating effect of core self-evaluation.The present study results suggested that parents and educators could improve adolescents’school adaptation by increasing parental involvement and enhancing the adolescents’core self-evaluation.

The Influence of Authoritative Parenting Style on Adolescents’Academic Achievement

Parenting styles include four main styles: Authoritarian, Authoritative, Indulgent and Neglectful. Different styles present themselves with different practices which include warmth, acceptance, involvement, strictness and control. The joint and balance of parental practices can construct the most favorable parenting style. They have great influence on children 's and adolescents'all-round development, including academic achievement. According to a multitude of researches, Authoritative parenting style has the highest score of four styles.

Caretaker-Adolescent Communication on Sexuality and Reproductive Health: My Perceptions Matter;A Qualitative Study on Adolescents’ Perspectives in Unguja-Zanzibar

This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of adolescents on caretaker-adolescent communication on sexuality. Using an Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills model, this article highlights areas to emphasise when planning strategies to improve caretaker-adolescent communication on sexuality. Twelve focus group discussions were held with adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years, and data were analysed using content analysis. The participants found it important for caretakers to communicate with adolescents about sexuality to avoid sexual and related health risks. Caretakers were the most preferred communicators, by adolescents, on sexuality matters. It became apparent that information about the use of condoms was the most unpopular topic during the discussions, while information about the use of contraceptives seemed to be more interesting to the majority of the participants. From the adolescents’ point of view, the barriers to communication about sexuality on the caretakers’ side, include, the belief that such information might encourage promiscuity;some caretakers do not find it easy to discuss matters related to sexuality with their children;and others feel that some adolescents know more about sexuality than themselves. On the other hand, barriers on adolescents’ side include, “fear” of the caretakers, some of whom seem harsh, unfriendly, and sometimes unapproachable. Following the findings, it is being suggested that intervention strategies that would help to alleviate communication barriers would consequently facilitate caretaker-adolescent discussions about sexuality and reproductive health.

Can Social Support be Protective against Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents from 24 Low- and Middle-Income Countries?

Background:Adolescents are highly vulnerable to depressive symptoms worldwide partially because of limited social supports.However,it still remains largely unknown regarding the associations between social support(s)and depressive symptoms among adolescents living in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).The aim of this study aimed to explore the associations between different types of social support and depressive symptoms in adolescents from LMICs.Methods:Data were retrieved from the Global School-based Health Survey(GSHS)in which 92,551 adolescents(50.6%females)were included with mean of 15.6 years.Depressive symptoms in the past one month as the dependent variable were measured in combination with social support(was measured by“During the past 30 days,how often were most of the students in your school kind and helpful?”).Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis of country-wise estimates were performed to investigate the associations between social support and depressive symptoms,and the heterogeneity of the associations across the countries,respectively.Results:The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.9%of adolescents from LMICs.Peer support and parental connectedness were two major factors that were significantly associated with depression symptoms in adolescents.However,the associations of peer support and parental connectedness with depressive symptoms were significant in males and females,respectively.The country-wise analysis indicated that varied inconsistency(small to large)across the associations of peer support and parental connectedness with depressive symptoms in adolescents.Conclusion:Results in this study provides multi-national evidence of the protective roles of social support against depressive symptoms among adolescents.However,the association between social support and depression symptoms may be moderated by sex and types of social support.Although we found that social sup-port may be an important protective factor against depressive symptoms in adolescents from LMICs,specifically designed interventions should be implemented based on sex difference and country difference.

Mother’s need of support and their expectations of the BVC nurse at the first home visit—an interview study

One of the main priorities of the child healthcare services in Sweden is a home visit by the Child Health Care (BVC) nurse to newborn babies and their parents. It is essential that the BVC nurses have a comprehensive knowledge of the parent’s need of support and their expectations as new parents in order to be able to fulfill their needs. The aim of this study was to describe what type of support the mothers of infant children are in need of and what their expectations are of the BVC nurse when it is time for the home visit from the nurse. In this qualitative study twelve women were interviewed within one to two weeks after delivering a baby. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study shows that mothers who have previously given birth to children feel more secure in their parental role compared to what they experienced as first time mothers. The findings include that first time mother’s experienced uncertainty in their new role as a mother and caring for a baby. Parents seek support from the BVC nurse and they expect her behavior and attitude towards them to be friendly and professional. The fact that she is privy to personal knowledge of the family gives the parents a feeling of security when they contact the child healthcare center for various reasons. The mother’s need for support to develop as a parent and to feel secure in the parental role was a reoccurring theme in the interviews and became the theme of the study.

The longitudinal effect of parental support during adolescence on the trajectory of sport participation from adolescence through young adulthood

Background: One efficient way to increase physical activity is through sport participation because participation in sport activities inherently includes many enjoyable aspects, such as social interaction, competition, personal challenge, and goal achievement. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal effect of parental support during adolescence on the trajectory of sport participation from adolescence through young adulthood.Methods: The data used in this study came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health(Add Health). It is a 4-wave longitudinal study that followed up a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students in the US. A series of multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the effect of parental support at Wave 1 on the trajectory of sport participation from Wave 1 to Wave 4.Results: The effect of parental support during adolescence on participants' sport participation lasted until they become young adults(Wave 3)(p < 0.001). Among the male participants, parental support at Wave 1 was a significant predictor for sport participation at Waves 1, 2, and 3(p < 0.001). However, a significant effect of parental support at Wave 1 on sport participation in early young adulthood(Wave 3) becomes insignificant when adjusting for self-esteem and depression. Among the female participants, parental support at Wave 1 was a significant predictor for sport participation at Waves 1, 2, and 3(p < 0.01) even after depression and self-esteem were introduced into the model. That is to say, unlike male participants, parental support during adolescence has an independent effect on sport participation from adolescence(Wave 1) through early young adulthood(Wave 3) over and above the effects of depression and self-esteem in female participants.Conclusion: The results of this study contributed to the literature by providing important information on the longitudinal effect of parental support during adolescence on the trajectory of sport participation from adolescence through young adulthood using a nationally representative sample of participants transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood.