Enhancing adolescent mental health through cognitive and social support:Insights from study on depression in Chinese adolescents

Adolescent depression is a growing global health concern,affecting 14%of adolescents and leading to severe consequences such as academic failure,substance abuse,and suicidal ideation.The study by Yu et al,investigates the cognitive and social factors influencing depression in 795 Chinese adolescents.Findings reveal that negative life events(NLEs)and dysfunctional attitudes are strongly associated with depressive symptoms,while social support moderates the impact of NLEs but not dysfunctional attitudes.The study highlights the need for cognitivebehavioural interventions targeting perfectionism and autonomy,and the importance of strengthening social support systems in schools and communities.Culturally sensitive,holistic approaches to adolescent mental health are crucial for addressing both the internal vulnerabilities and external pressures contributing to depression.Further research is needed to explore the roles of peer and parental support and the long-term effects of these factors across diverse cultural contexts.

Global,regional and national burdens of bipolar disorders in adolescents and young adults:a trend analysis from 1990 to 2019

Background Bipolar disorder is identified as a cause of severe damage to the physical,psychological and social functioning of adolescents and young adults.Aims The aim of this study is to ascertain the trends in the burden of bipolar disorder among individuals aged 10-24 years at global,regional and national levels from 1990 to 2019.Methods The data analysed in this study were from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019.The numbers,rates per 100000 population,average annual percentage changes(AAPCs)of incidence,prevalence and years lived with disability(YLDs)of bipolar disorder are reported at the global,regional and national levels among individuals aged 10-24 years.Global trends by age,sex and Social Development Index(SDI)were further analysed.Results Globally,the incidence of bipolar disorder among adolescents and young adults increased from 79.21 per 100000 population(95%uncertainty interval(Ul):58.13 to 105.15)in 1990 to 84.97 per 100000 population(95%Ul:61.73 to 113.46)in 2019,AAPC 0.24(95%confidence interval(Cl):0.22 to 0.26).In the past three decades,there has been an increase in incidence,prevalence and YLDs in both males and females.The largest increase in incidence between 1990 and 2019 was observed in those aged 20-24 years old from 51.76 per 100000 population(95%Ul:26.81 to 87.20)in 1990 to 58.37 per 100000 population(95%UI:30.39 to 98.55)in 2019;AAPC 0.42(95%Cl:0.38 to 0.47).By the SDI quintile,the largest increase in incidence was observed in the middle SDl;however,the high SDI countries had the highest incidence.Regionally,the largest increase in incidence was observed in southern Latin America.At the national level,the most pronounced increase in the incidence was in Greenland.Conclusions The global increase in incidence among adolescents and young adults between 1990 and 2019 indicates that strategies to improve their mental health still need to be emphasised.

Adolescent suicide risk factors and the integration of socialemotional skills in school-based prevention programs

Adolescents are considered one of the most vulnerable groups affected by suicide.Rapid changes in adolescents’physical and mental states,as well as in their lives,significantly and undeniably increase the risk of suicide.Psychological,social,family,individual,and environmental factors are important risk factors for suicidal behavior among teenagers and may contribute to suicide risk through various direct,indirect,or combined pathways.Social-emotional learning is considered a powerful intervention measure for addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.When deliberately cultivated,fostered,and enhanced,selfawareness,self-management,social awareness,interpersonal skills,and responsible decision-making,as the five core competencies of social-emotional learning,can be used to effectively target various risk factors for adolescent suicide and provide necessary mental and interpersonal support.Among numerous suicide intervention methods,school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence have shown great potential in preventing and addressing suicide risk factors in adolescents.The characteristics of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence,including their appropriateness,necessity,cost-effectiveness,comprehensiveness,and effectiveness,make these interventions an important means of addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.To further determine the potential of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence and better address the issue of adolescent suicide,additional financial support should be provided,the combination of socialemotional learning and other suicide prevention programs within schools should be fully leveraged,and cooperation between schools and families,society,and other environments should be maximized.These efforts should be considered future research directions.

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.

Shifting the Paradigm:A Fresh Look at Physical Activity Frequency and Its Impact on Mental Health,Life Satisfaction,and Self-Rated Health in Adolescents

As adolescent mental health problems are becoming a more serious issue globally,this paper explores the relationship of physical activity in adolescents and its frequency on mental health as well as examines the mediating effects of life satisfaction and self-rated health in order to provide a reference for the promotion of mental health in adolescents.A sample of 3578 Chinese high school students completed questionnaires assessing their mental health,physical activity frequency,life satisfaction,and self-rated health.The mean SCL-90 value for adolescents was found to be 1.629%,and 24.73%of adolescents had varying degrees of mental health issue.Increased physical activity frequency is positively associated with improved mental health(p<0.001).Additionally,life satisfaction and self-rated health were found to play significant mediating roles in the relationship between physical activity frequency and mental health.Specifically,low-frequency physical activity had the most pronounced mediating effect on mental health through life satisfaction,while high-frequency physical activity exerted the most significant mediating effect on mental health through self-rated health.These findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity among adolescents and highlight the distinct pathways through which physical activity frequency can influence mental health outcomes.Further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse populations and settings,as well as to develop targeted intervention.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with long COVID symptoms in children and adolescents in a southern province of Vietnam

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with long COVID symptoms among children and adolescents who have recovered from COVID-19.Methods:This study applied a cross-sectional approach within community settings in a southern province of Vietnam.A structured questionnaire featuring socio-demographic information and common long COVID symptoms was employed.Phi correlation coefficients assessed associations among pairs of long COVID symptoms.Additionally,multivariable logistic regression models were performed to investigate the risk factors of long COVID in recovered COVID-19 children and adolescents.Results:Among 422 participants,39.3%reported long COVID symptoms,with a prevalence of 45.2%(SD=0.5)in children and 22.2%(SD=0.4)in adolescents.Common symptoms reported were cough 34.6%(SD=0.5),fatigue 20.6%(SD=0.4),shortness of breath 10.9%(SD=0.3),and lack of appetite 6.6%(SD=0.3).Concerning risk factors of long COVID,a higher risk was observed among demographic groups,including girls(OR 1.25,95%CI 1.15-1.37;P<0.001,reference:boys),children compared to adolescents(OR 1.24,95%CI 1.12-1.37;P<0.001),overweight individuals(OR 1.14,95%CI 1.02-1.27;P=0.018,reference:healthy weight),and participants without any COVID-19 vaccination(OR 1.36,95%CI 1.20-1.54;P<0.001),or have received only one single dose(OR 1.35,95%CI 1.10-1.64;P=0.004)compared to those who have received two doses.Besides,patients with a COVID-19 treatment duration exceeding two weeks also had a higher risk of long COVID(OR 1.32,95%CI 1.09-1.60;P=0.003)than those who recovered less than seven days.Conclusions:The insights from this study provide crucial guidance for predicting the factors associated with the occurrence of long COVID in pediatric patients,contributing to strategic interventions aimed at mitigating the long COVID risks among children and adolescents in Vietnam.

Interaction between adolescent sleep rhythms and gender in an obese population

BACKGROUND The obesity rate of adolescents is gradually increasing,which seriously affects their mental health,and sleep plays an important role in adolescent obesity.AIM To investigate the relationship between sleep rhythm and obesity among adolescents and further explores the interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity,providing a theoretical basis for developing interventions for adolescent obesity.METHODS Research data source Tianjin Mental Health Promotion Program for Students.From April to June 2022,this study selected 14201 students from 13 middle schools in a certain district of Tianjin as the research subject using the convenient cluster sampling method.Among these students,13374 accepted and completed the survey,with an effective rate of 94.2%.The demographic data and basic information of adolescents,such as height and weight,were collected through a general situation questionnaire.The sleep rhythm of adolescents was evaluated using the reduced version of the morningness-eveningness questionnaire.RESULTS A total of 13374 participants(6629 females,accounting for 49.56%;the average age is 15.21±1.433 years)were analyzed.Among them,the survey showed that 2942 adolescent were obesity,accounting for 22%and 2104 adolescent were overweight,accounting for 15.7%.Among them,1692 male adolescents are obese,with an obesity rate of 25.1%,higher than 18.9%of female adolescents.There is a statistically significant difference between the three groups(χ2=231.522,P<0.000).The obesity group has the smallest age(14.94±1.442 years),and there is a statistical difference in age among the three groups(F=69.996,P<0.000).Obesity rates are higher among individuals who are not-only-child,have residential experience within six months,have family economic poverty,and have evening-type sleep(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis shows a correlation between sleep rhythm and adolescent obesity.Evening-type sleep rhythm can increase the risk of obesity in male adolescents[1.250(1.067-1.468)],but the effect on female obesity is not remarkable.Further logistic regression analysis in the overall population demonstrates that the interaction between evening-type sleep rhythm and the male gender poses a risk of adolescent obesity[1.122(1.043-1.208)].CONCLUSION Among adolescents,the incidence of obesity in males is higher than in females.Evening-type sleep rhythm plays an important role in male obesity but has no significant effect on female obesity.Progressive analysis suggests an interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity,and the combination of evening-type sleep and the male gender promotes the development of adolescent obesity.In formulating precautions against adolescent obesity,obesity in male adolescents with evening-type sleep should be a critical concern.

The effects of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents:a meta-analysis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference(MD;before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants(60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9–16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I^(2) test provided by Review Manager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies(P = 0.67, I^(2) = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant(MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53–4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This metaanalysis was registered at PROSPERO(registration ID: CRD42023439408).

Network analysis of suicide ideation and depression-anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents

Background The co-occurrence of depression and anxiety among adolescents is typically associated with suicide ideation.Aims The study aimed to investigate the symptom-level relationship between suicide ideation and the comorbidity of depression and anxiety.Methods 1501 adolescents aged 12-19 years were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9)and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale,and 716 adolescents who scored≥5 on both scales were selected as participants.Network analysis was used to identify the network structure of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms.Participants were categorised into either the suicide ideation or non-suicide ideation groups based on their scoring on the suicide-related item in PHQ-9.A comparison was made between the depression-anxiety symptom networks of the two groups.Results‘Restlessness’,‘sad mood’and‘trouble relaxing’were the most prominent central symptoms in the depression-anxiety symptom network,and‘restlessness’,‘nervousness’and‘reduced movement’were the bridge symptoms in this network.‘Sad mood’was found to be directly related to‘suicide ideation’with the highest variance.The network structure was significantly different in properties between the suicide ideation group and the non-suicide ideation group,with‘restlessness’and‘sad mood’exhibiting significantly higher influence in the network of the suicide ideation group than that in the non-suicide ideation group.Conclusion Restlessness and sad mood could be targeted for the intervention of depression-anxiety symptoms among adolescents with suicide ideation.

Thirty-year trends of anxiety disorders among adolescents based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

Background Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric problems,affecting approximately 1 in 12 children and 1 in 4 adolescents.Understanding the incidence,burden and correlated risks of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents can help identify areas of success,stagnation and emerging threats,thereby facilitating effective improvement strategies.Aims To estimate the incidence and burden trends of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and compare the incidence and disease burden in different countries.To examine the association between anxiety disorders and social indicators(healthcare access and quality of life).Methods Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.The age-standardised incidence rates(ASIRs)and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)were reported to assess the burden of anxiety disorders,and the estimated annual percentage change was calculated to quantify the temporal trends.Pearson’s correlation was used to investigate country-level risk factors for incidence and DALYs.Results Globally,there were 932 million incident cases of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents,739.29 per 100000 ASIRs and 380.62 million DALYs in 2019.From 1990 to 2019,the estimated annual percentage change of incidence of anxiety disorders decreased by 2.2%.Significant variations were observed in the age-standardised burden rate and the changing trend of anxiety disorders among countries.Portugal reported the highest ASIR of anxiety disorders,while Mexico had the largest increase rate of ASIR.In 2019,Portugal reported the highest number of DALYs(1001.71 million),and India(212.09 million)reported the lowest number of DALYs.The burden of anxiety disorders was positively correlated with the average number of psychiatrists,psychologists and nurses in the mental health sector(per 100000),and quality of life and the correlation coefficients were 0.58,0.67,0.43 and 0.53,respectively.Conclusions The incidence and global burden of anxiety disorders in adolescents have continued to decrease over the past 30 years.However,the incidence and disease burden in developed countries are still increasing steadily.Policymakers should design and implement mental health strategies for adolescents based on their specific developmental status,as well as the cultural and regional characteristics of each country.

Mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between rumination and suicide attempts in Chinese adolescents with mood disorders

To the editor:Mood disorders(MD)are serious mental illnesses that commonly affect adolescents,leading to a high incidence of suicidal behaviour.1 In China,the suicide attempt(SA)rate for adolescents with MD is 51.96%,2 and over 500000 adolescent SA are reported annually in the USA due to depression.3 Risk factors for SA include gender,hormone levels,family conflict and,particularly,negative cognitive styles such as rumination.

Effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on cytokines in adolescents with subthreshold depression:a randomized controlled study

Strong evidence has accumulated to show a correlation between depression symptoms and inflammatory responses.Moreover,anti-inflammatory treatment has shown partial effectiveness in alleviating depression symptoms.Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP),derived from Goji berries,exhibits notable antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.In our recent double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial,we found that LBP significantly reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents with subthreshold depression.It is presumed that the antidepressant effect of LBP may be associated with its influence on inflammatory cytokines.In the double-blinded randomized controlled trial,we enrolled 29 adolescents with subthreshold depression and randomly divided them into an LBP group and a placebo group.In the LBP group,adolescents were given 300 mg/d LBP.A 6-week follow up was completed by 24 adolescents,comprising 14 adolescents from the LBP group(15.36±2.06 years,3 men and 11 women)and 10 adolescents from the placebo group(14.9±1.6 years,2 men and 8 women).Our results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment,the interleukin-17A level in the LBP group was lower than that in the placebo group.Network analysis showed that LBP reduced the correlations and connectivity between inflammatory factors,which were associated with the improvement in depressive symptoms.These findings suggest that 6-week administration of LBP suppresses the immune response by reducing interleukin-17A level,thereby exerting an antidepressant effect.

Predictive Ability of Hypertriglyceridemic Waist,Hypertriglyceridemic Waist-to-Height Ratio,and Waist-to-Hip Ratio for Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Clustering Screening among Chinese Children and Adolescents

Objective Hypertriglyceridemic waist(HW),hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio(HWHtR),and waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)have been shown to be indicators of cardiometabolic risk factors.However,it is not clear which indicator is more suitable for children and adolescents.We aimed to investigate the relationship between HW,HWHtR,WHR,and cardiovascular risk factors clustering to determine the best screening tools for cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.Methods This was a national cross-sectional study.Anthropometric and biochemical variables were assessed in approximately 70,000 participants aged 6–18 years from seven provinces in China.Demographics,physical activity,dietary intake,and family history of chronic diseases were obtained through questionnaires.ANOVA,χ2 and logistic regression analysis was conducted.Results A significant sex difference was observed for HWHtR and WHR,but not for HW phenotype.The risk of cardiometabolic health risk factor clustering with HW phenotype or the HWHtR phenotype was significantly higher than that with the non-HW or non-HWHtR phenotypes among children and adolescents(HW:OR=12.22,95%CI:9.54-15.67;HWHtR:OR=9.70,95%CI:6.93-13.58).Compared with the HW and HWHtR phenotypes,the association between risk of cardiometabolic health risk factors(CHRF)clustering and high WHR was much weaker and not significant(WHR:OR=1.14,95%CI:0.97-1.34).Conclusion Compared with HWHtR and WHR,the HW phenotype is a more convenient indicator with higher applicability to screen children and adolescents for cardiovascular risk factors.

Refraction difference value variations in children and adolescents with different refractive errors

AIM:To evaluate the refraction difference value(RDV)variations in children and adolescents with different refractive errors and analyze its correlation with refractive development.METHODS:Participants aged 4-16y with different refractive statuses(hyperopia,emmetropia,myopia)underwent comprehensive eye examinations,including spherical equivalent(SE)refraction,axial length(AL),total RDV(TRDV),and RDVs at various eccentricities(0°-15°,15°-30°,30°-45°)and quadrants(inferior,superior,nasal,temporal).Statistical analysis involved one-way ANOVA for group comparisons and Pearson correlation for examining relationships between SE/AL and RDVs.Paired t-tests compared quadrant-specific RDVs within groups.RESULTS:Significant difference was found in TRDV(P<0.001),RDV15°-30°(P=0.033),RDV30°-45°(P<0.001),RDV-inferior(RDV-I,P<0.001)and RDV-temporal(RDV-T,P<0.001)among hyperopia,emmetropia and myopia group.Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation of SE with TRDV(P=0.001),RDV30°-45°(P=0.004),RDV-I(P=0.047),and RDV-T(P<0.001).The differences between RDV-superior(RDV-S)and RDV-I were statistically significant in all groups(P<0.001 for all)and between RDV-T and RDV-nasal(RDV-N)were statistically significant in hyperopia group(P<0.001).Within the premyopic group,the analysis revealed a negative correlation of SE with RDV-I(P=0.009).Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation of AL with TRDV(P=0.036),RDV15°-30°(P=0.004),RDV30°-45°(P<0.001),RDV-S(P=0.003),RDV-I(P<0.001),RDV-T(P<0.001),RDV-N(P=0.022),while revealed a negative correlation of AL with RDV0-15°(P=0.018).CONCLUSION:Our study indicates TRDV,RDV30°-45°,RDV-I,RDV-T may relate to refractive development,and a negative correlation between SE and RDV-I in pre-myopic children.

Could school programs based on social-emotional learning prevent substance abuse among adolescents?

In this editorial,we comment on the article Adolescent suicide risk factors and the integration of social-emotional skills in school-based prevention programs by Liu et al.While the article focused on the issue of suicide and social-emotional learning programs as a possible intervention,we here discuss evidence of other reported outcomes and if it could be an effective way to prevent substance abuse among adolescents.

Psychological interventions for depression in children and adolescents:A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND Depression has gradually become a common psychological disorder among children and adolescents.Depression in children and adolescents affects their physical and mental development.Psychotherapy is considered to be one of the main treatment options for depressed children and adolescents.However,our understanding of the global performance and progress of psychological interventions for depression in children and adolescents(PIDCA)research is limited.AIM To identify collaborative research networks in this field and explore the current research status and hotspots through bibliometrics.METHODS Articles and reviews related to PIDCA from January 2010 to April 2023 were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection database.The Charticulator website,CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to visualize the trends in publications and citations,the collaborative research networks(countries,institutions,and authors),and the current research status and hotspots.RESULTS Until April 16,2023,1482 publications were identified.The number of documents published each year and citations had increased rapidly in this field.The United States had the highest productivity in this field.The most prolific institution was the University of London.Pim Cuijpers was the most prolific author.In the context of research related to PIDCA,both reference co-citation analysis and keywords co-occurrence analysis identified 10 research hotspots,including thirdwave cognitive behavior therapy,short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy,cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy,family element in psychotherapy,modular treatment,mobile-health,emotion-regulation-based transdiagnostic intervention program,dementia risk in later life,predictors of the efficacy of psychological intervention,and risks of psychological intervention.CONCLUSION This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of PIDCA from 2010 to present.Psychological intervention characterized as psychological-process-focused,short,family-involved,modular,internet-based,emotionregulation-based,and personalized may benefit more young people.

Unraveling the complexities of adolescent depression:A call for action

The adolescent years are a period of profound change,both physically and psychologically.For many,these years are marked by excitement and exploration,but for others,they are fraught with challenges that can lead to significant mental health issues.Depression,in particular,has become an increasingly prevalent concern among adolescents worldwide,and its multifaceted etiology requires a comprehensive approach to understanding and intervention.A recent study on the relationships among negative life events,dysfunctional attitudes,social support,and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between various factors contributing to adolescent depression.The authors explore a moderated mediation model to better understand how these factors interact with and contribute to the onset of depression.This article aims to delve into the key findings of the study,highlight its implications for clinical practice,and encourage further research in this critical area.

The Influence of Vulnerable Narcissism on Social Anxiety among Adolescents:The Mediating Role of Self-Concept Clarity and Self-Esteem

Social anxiety (SA) is a prevalent mental health issue among adolescents, and vulnerable narcissism (VN) can exacerbate thiscondition. This study aims to investigate the impact of vulnerable narcissism on social anxiety in adolescents, specificallyfocusing on the mediating effects of self-concept clarity (SCC) and self-esteem (SE) in the relationship between vulnerablenarcissism and social anxiety. Through cluster sampling, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 982 students from threesecondary schools in two provinces. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results revealedthat there was a significant negative correlation between vulnerable narcissism and both self-concept clarity and self-esteem,while there was a significant positive correlation between vulnerable narcissism and social anxiety. Additionally, self-conceptclarity showed a significant positive correlation with self-esteem but had a negative correlation with social anxiety. Both selfconceptclarity and self-esteem played an intermediary role in the chain linking vulnerable narcissism to social anxiety. Thisstudy confirms the mediating role of both self-concept clarity and self-esteem in explaining how vulnerable narcissisminfluences social anxiety, providing valuable insights into its underlying mechanism.

Factor Structure and Longitudinal Invariance of the CES-D across Diverse Residential Backgrounds in Chinese Adolescents

Background:Valid and reliable measures of depressive symptoms are crucial for understanding risk factors,outcomes,and interventions across rural and urban settings.Despite this need,the longitudinal invariance of these measures over time remains understudied.This research explores the structural components of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale(CES-D)and examines its consistency across various living environments and temporal stability in a cohort of Chinese teenagers.Method:In the initial phase,1,042 adolescents furnished demographic details and undertook the CES-D assessment.After a three-month interval,967 of these participants repeated the CES-D evaluation.The study employed Confirmatory factor analysis(CFA)to scrutinize the scale’s structural integrity.We investigated factorial invariance by conducting a twopronged CFA:one comparing urban vs.rural backgrounds,and another contrasting the results from the initial assessment with those from the follow-up.Results:The CES-D demonstrated adequate reliability in both rural and urban high school student samples.The preliminary four-factor model applied to the CES-D demonstrated a good fit with the collected data.Invariance tests,including multigroup analyses comparing rural and urban samples and longitudinal assessments,confirmed the scale’s invariance.Conclusions:The results suggest that the CES-D serves as a reliable instrument for evaluating depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents.Its applicability is consistent across different living environments and remains stable over time.

Multimodal abnormalities of brain structures in adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder:An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)in adolescents and young adults contributes significantly to global morbidity,with inconsistent findings on brain structural changes from structural magnetic resonance imaging studies.Activation likeli-hood estimation(ALE)offers a method to synthesize these diverse findings and identify consistent brain anomalies.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for neuroi-maging studies on MDD among adolescents and young adults published up to November 19,2023.Two independent researchers performed the study selection,quality assessment,and data extraction.The ALE technique was employed to synthesize findings on localized brain function anomalies in MDD patients,which was supplemented by sensitivity analyses.RESULTS Twenty-two studies comprising fourteen diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)studies and eight voxel-based morphome-try(VBM)studies,and involving 451 MDD patients and 465 healthy controls(HCs)for DTI and 664 MDD patients and 946 HCs for VBM,were included.DTI-based ALE demonstrated significant reductions in fractional anisotropy(FA)values in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in adolescents and young adults with MDD compared to HCs,with no regions exhibiting increased FA values.VBM-based ALE did not demonstrate significant alterations in gray matter volume.Sensitivity analyses highlighted consistent findings in the right caudate head(11 of 14 analyses),right insula(10 of 14 analyses),and right lentiform nucleus putamen(11 of 14 analyses).CONCLUSION Structural alterations in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in young MDD patients may contribute to its recurrent nature,offering insights for targeted therapies.