Search Results (874)

Indoor bouldering is a popular and rapidly growing sport in which climbers fall repeatedly from walls up to 4–5 m high, making lower-limb injuries common. It is therefore essential to understand fall kinematics and impact conditions, yet fall kinematics remain poorly documented because laboratory motion capture is impractical in gyms. This study aimed to validate a markerless multi-camera pipeline (Pose2Sim) against a 2D video annotation tool (Kinovea) for displacement and velocity measurement, and against IMUs for peak acceleration. Ten teenage athletes (3 males, 7 females; 14–17 years) performed 40 falls recorded with five cameras (GoPro HERO12, USA, 2.7 K, 240 fps) and three IMUs (Blue Trident, Vicon, UK; ±200 g, 1600 Hz). Cut-off frequencies were set using Yu’s method (13 Hz for video, 39 Hz for IMUs). Pose2Sim’s results closely matched those of Kinovea for fall height and peak velocity with non-significant differences but underestimated peak acceleration. At the forehead, no significant difference was found, likely due to smaller accelerations at the head. Markerless video analysis is appropriate for studying fall kinematics and typology in indoor bouldering. IMUs remain necessary to quantify impact intensity, and future work should explore the combination of both IMUs and video to overcome this limitation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malocclusion is one of the most prevalent oral health concerns in paediatric dentistry, with anterior open bite (AOB) and posterior crossbite (PCB) being among the most common forms. Non-nutritive sucking habits (NNSHs), including digit-sucking habits (DSHs) and pacifier-sucking habits (PSHs), have been linked to malocclusion development. While both habits are known to impact dental and skeletal development, their comparative effects remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the difference in the development and prevalence of anterior open bite and posterior crossbite between patients with digit-sucking and pacifier-sucking habits. Materials and Methods: An exhaustive review of the literature was conducted on the 25 November 2024 across three databases, namely EBSCOhost (including PubMed-Medline), Web of Science and Scopus. The following PICO question was constructed for the systematic review: “In children and teenagers, is there a difference in the development and prevalence of malocclusions (Anterior Open bite & Posterior Crossbite) between patients with a history of digit sucking habits and patients with a history of pacifier sucking habits?”A meta-analysis was also performed with the selected studies, and the software used to carry out the meta-analysis was R 4.3.1 (R Core Team (2023)). Results: From the initial search, 102 articles were found and a further 11 articles were obtained from manual findings. 12 articles were included in the final systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis indicated that the risk of AOB and PCB was increased by both DSH and PSH. Conclusions: Both DSH and PSH significantly increased the risk of AOB and PCB. PSH posed a significantly higher risk than DSH for PCB development (OR = 2.66, p < 0.001), while no significant difference in AOB prevalence was observed between DSH and PSH (OR = 1.77, p = 0.150). Full article

While extensive research has examined adult perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s impact on the workforce, studies focusing on adolescents—who are at a critical stage of career development—remain scarce. Drawing upon Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and the significance of fostering adolescents’ adaptability in the era of AI, we designed a questionnaire-based experiment to examine how adolescents’ prior perceptions, attitude and immediate knowledge of AI influence their career preferences. We conducted a questionnaire-based experiment with 836 adolescents (M_age = 13.98, SD = 1.35 years; 52.30% male) to investigate the influence of three independent variable groups: prior perception of AI (familiarity with AI), prior attitudes towards AI (trust in AI and positive/negative attitude towards AI) and immediate knowledge of AI (experimental manipulation). The results showed that immediate knowledge of AI significantly and negatively predicted adolescents’ preference for both low- and high-replaceable jobs. In contrast, familiarity with AI, trust in AI and positive attitude towards AI significantly and positively predicted a preference for low-replaceable jobs. This study introduces an integrated empirical framework demonstrating that distinct AI-related factors differentially influence adolescent career preferences. Results emphasize the importance of familiarity with AI, trust in AI and positive attitude towards AI among teenagers in order to better adapt the future changes in the labor market. This finding provides an empirical reference for educators and policy makers to better guide teenagers to make career plans. Full article

The prevalence of food allergy continues to rise worldwide. The allergen profile of affected individuals changes with age: milk, egg, wheat, and soy allergies are more common in early childhood and often resolve before adolescence, whereas peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish allergies tend to persist and become more apparent in teenagers. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the impact of food allergy and elimination diets on the nutritional status, psychological functioning, and quality of life of adolescents. Although an elimination diet remains the main way of treatment, it may lead to the risk of vitamin D, calcium, iron, and protein deficiencies, and potentially to growth disorders. In adolescents, irregular eating habits and poor adherence to dietary recommendations pose additional challenges. The psychological burden of living with food allergy include fear of accidental contact with the allergen, difficulties in peer relationships, and reduced quality of life, particularly in terms of social and emotional functioning. Lack of training in using an adrenaline autoinjector and embarrassment about its use are further risk factors in this age group. Optimal care for adolescents with food allergies requires a multidisciplinary approach, including an allergist, dietitian, and psychologist. Education, psychological support, and gradual development of self-management skills are crucial to improving the safety and quality of life of adolescents with food allergies. Further efforts by medical societies are warranted to advance the development of alternative therapeutic approaches for food allergy, including immunotherapy and biologic therapies, as well as to strengthen public health strategies for individuals affected by food allergies. Full article

Creative thinking has become more important in education globally due to industry demand and a fast-paced world. In this study, boundary objects that can be tangible and digital objects are investigated to understand their role in facilitating creative thinking across five subject areas for teenagers aged 13–18 and their teachers, in their natural learning environment. A multiple case study method is used to investigate learners’ and their teachers’ experience in using boundary objects, to enable communication and understanding between individuals or groups in learning. Participants from an inner London secondary school comprised case groups: 8 Teachers and 16 Learners (8 from the lower school, aged 13–15 years, and 8 from the upper school, aged 16–18 years). Participants were invited through email and a short presentation. Consented participants were organised into male and female across teachers and students and were approached in lessons where boundary objects were being used. Data was collected through interviews and comprised photos of tool use, analysed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis for data analysis. The resulting five themes for teacher and student themes showed that boundary objects were perceived to facilitate creative thinking across all case groups within the studied context, with important insights such as iterative design, which develops real-world skills; metacognition, which is critical in learning and enables students to actively question their own thinking; memory, which is very important in enabling students to remember what they learned and how; and individual liberty, suggesting that learning need not be linear nor prescribed but that there must be freedom to learn in ways that are enjoyable and challenging too, amongst others. This study’s interpretive results indicate that when participants experience the use of boundary objects in a natural classroom or learning setting, the learning process is perceived to bring benefits that allow the process of creative thinking to occur. Full article

Background: Adolescence involves physical and psychological changes that often conflict with body ideals, potentially increasing body image (BI) dissatisfaction and unhealthy diet. The main objective was to analyze cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between BI satisfaction (BIS) and nutritional status, dietary habits (DH), and emotional management (EM) in adolescents. Methods: 1315 adolescents from the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial reported their BIS, DH, and EM at ages 12, 14 and 16. Linear and logistic mixed models estimated the associations between BIS, food intake, diet quality, and EM. Linear and logistic mixed-effect models for repeated measures assessed mean change estimates from baseline to 2- and 4-year follow-up in food intake and EM, stratified by gender. Results: A large proportion of adolescents without excess weight were dissatisfied with their BI. BIS was significantly associated with DH, especially in boys. Body-satisfied adolescents at baseline tended to have healthier DH (diet quality index: boys 56.7 ± 13.0; girls 58.8 ± 12.7) and showed a greater improvement in diet quality at 16 years (boys 3.44 (1.50, 5.37); girls 1.85 (0.18, 3.52)). Adolescents who desired to lose weight decreased their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, and snacks, whereas boys who desired to gain weight consumed more frequently fast food, sweets, snacks, and processed meat. Body-satisfied adolescents had higher self-esteem, and girls desiring to gain weight presented higher emotional eating. Conclusions: BIS was associated with nutritional status, and EM, showing gender differences. Overall, the desire to gain weight was associated with unhealthier DH. Educational interventions should promote self-esteem and BIS by focusing messages on healthy eating instead of body weight. Full article

This qualitative article is informed by queer theory, and more specifically queer theology, and explores how youth ministers in various denominations care for LGBTQ+ teenagers in their congregations. Seven youth pastors from three major denominational groups were interviewed from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), Alliance of Baptists, and Presbyterian Church, USA (PC-USA). Participants had to identify as LGBTQ+ affirming, though their congregations could be in various states of affirmation. Thematic analysis found the following significant categories: confidentiality, implications of whole church engagement, student-led engagement, theology/image of God, and degree of support for identity development. Full article

Background and Objectives: Adolescent pregnancy remains a major global public-health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Romania consistently reports the highest teenage birth rate in the European Union, with pronounced regional disparities. This study aimed to assess the incidence, sociodemographic predictors, and obstetric outcomes of adolescent pregnancies over a ten-year period in southeastern Romania. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, population-based study was conducted at the Clinical County Hospital “Saint Andrew the Apostle”, Constanța, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2023. All deliveries involving mothers aged ≤19 years were identified from institutional databases. Demographic variables (age, residence, education) and obstetric outcomes (mode of delivery, gestational age, neonatal parameters) were analyzed. Statistical tests included Pearson’s χ², t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests, and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of cesarean delivery and preterm birth. Results: Among 13,416 hospital deliveries, 1640 (12.2%) involved adolescent mothers (mean age 16.3 ± 1.4 years). Most originated from rural areas (64.6%) and had only primary education (42.8%). Cesarean section was performed in 58.3% of cases—significantly higher among rural (61.2%) and low-education (62.4%) groups (p < 0.05). The leading indications were cervical dystocia (19.2%) and cephalopelvic disproportion (16.9%). Preterm birth occurred in 30.5% and low birth weight in 27.1% of neonates. Multivariate analysis identified primiparity (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.45–3.05; p < 0.001) and low education (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.09–2.21; p = 0.015) as independent predictors of cesarean delivery, while rural residence and low education predicted prematurity (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.12–3.02; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Adolescent pregnancy in southeastern Romania remains a persistent public-health challenge concentrated among rural and low-education populations. These patterns are consistent with previously described vulnerabilities in adolescent populations, including developmental and healthcare-access challenges, although such factors were not directly measured in this study. Community-based prevention, comprehensive sexual education, and adolescent-friendly obstetric pathways are urgently needed to reduce the burden of teenage pregnancy in Eastern Europe. These associations should be interpreted with caution, as the retrospective design precludes causal inference. Full article

Background: Commissioning of ‘joint care’ across teenage and young adult (TYA) principal treatment centres (PTC) and regional designated hospitals was introduced to enable cancer care closer to home, while providing support through the TYA multidisciplinary team. We aimed to explore the processes being used to enable inter-organisational collaboration under joint care models through rapid ethnography. Methods: Healthcare professionals in TYA PTCs in England and Wales between June 2022 and December 2023 were identified by the TYA lead in each PTC as delivering TYA cancer care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually or by telephone based on the structuration model of collaboration proposed by D’Amour. Data were analysed against the model through framework analysis. Results: Our study highlighted variation across the different dimensions of inter-organisational collaboration. We found that healthcare professionals delivering TYA cancer care were working toward a shared goal but this was not always achieved. Social interaction between professionals was required to develop relationships and trust, but opportunities for social interaction were not regularly available. Processes for sharing information were not streamlined, so there were instances when information could not be shared between organisations. Interventions to achieve coordinated care, such as an outreach team, supported the delivery of joint care but these were not available in every region. While there were some levels of leadership within aspects of services, there were limited examples nationally or across geographical regions, which hindered the development of coordinated care. Conclusions: Coordination of care is mostly developing; however, the shared vision and goals dimension did achieve full active collaboration. The implementation of a service specification will address regional leadership requirements, but resources are required to extend the delivery of interventions to support coordination and collaboration, allowing the commissioned model of care to be delivered safely. Full article

Background: Healthcare policy in the United Kingdom recognizes that teenagers and young adults (TYA:16–24 years at diagnosis) require specialist care. In England, Principal Treatment Centers (PTCs) exist, delivering enhanced care exclusively within the PTC or as ‘joint care’ with designated hospitals (DHs). We examined whether joint care impacted patient-reported outcomes when compared to care at one site. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in England, Scotland, and Wales. This included validated measures of quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression, health status, social support, and illness perception. Comparisons were made based on young people’s exposure to specialist care within 6 months of diagnosis, defined as care in a TYA PTC: all-TYA-care (all care in a TYA unit), no-TYA-care (no care in a TYA unit, care delivered in a children’s/adult unit only), and joint-care (care in a TYA-PTC and in a children’s/adult unit). Results: Overall, 260/1009 (25.8%) participants responded (England n = 241; Scotland/Wales n = 19). Due to different healthcare policies, statistical analysis was applied to England only. Mean QoL scores were <69.7, the threshold indicating impaired QoL (mean 58.65, standard deviation 20.13). After adjustment for confounding factors, no clinically significant differences in mean QoL between categories existed. The adjusted mean difference for all-TYA-care (n = 66) versus no-TYA-care (n = 89) was −2.28 units (95% confidence interval (CI: −8.85 to 4.29) and for joint-care versus no-TYA-care (n = 85), −4.35 units (CI: −10.34 to 1.63). Similarly, no notable differences in social support, anxiety, depression, or illness perception between categories existed. Patients receiving all-TYA-care had a lower average health status compared with no-TYA-care (difference in means −0.09 (CI:−0.18 to −0.01). Conclusions: No evidence that patient-reported outcomes differ by categories of care existed. This may suggest the evolution of TYA cancer services has led to similar outcomes regardless of care category. However, given the small sample size it is not possible to draw firm conclusions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sensory properties of food, such as taste and smell, are the main factors influencing the preference or rejection of a given food product, especially among children. The aim of this study was to compare the food preferences of teenagers with diabetes to those of a group of healthy children. Additionally, we assessed the influence of children’s taste perception on food preferences. Methods: The study involved 102 adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 11–15, including 55 girls and 47 boys. We used a questionnaire that consisted of 63 photos of various food products, dishes, and drinks. For the taste evaluation, we used paper strips impregnated with four basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). Results: Healthy teenagers were more likely to self-report preferences for sweet foods. The overall preference score for sweet products included in the study was higher in the control group. The median score for this group was 4.21 (3.92–4.42), and for the diabetes group, the median score was 4.03 (3.68–4.26) (p = 0.0008). Preferences for bitter-tasting vegetables and fruits were clearly higher in teenagers with type 1 diabetes. The overall preference score for bitter taste products included in the study was higher in the diabetes group. The median score for this group was 3.71 (3.00–4.14), and for the control group, the median score was 2.86 (2.14–3.50) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Adolescents with diabetes showed greater acceptance of certain bitter-tasting foods compared to their healthy peers. Lower preferences for sweet and higher preferences for bitter foods can be taken into account in establishing nutritional plans for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Full article

Justice-involved boys are more likely to become teenage fathers than their community peers. This is linked to numerous negative outcomes, including increased delinquent behavior. To help legal practitioners better identify which boys are at risk of becoming a teen parent, this study identifies factors at the time of boys’ very first arrest that prospectively predict their odds of becoming a teen father. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of 1216 adolescent boys at the time of their first arrest. Binary logistic regression models were used to predict the odds of becoming a teen father across three domains: individual factors, social and contextual factors, and risky behaviors. Approximately 15% of the total sample (n = 171) reported becoming a teen father after their first arrest. At the time of first arrest, poorer neighborhood conditions, increased peer delinquency, substance use, and self-reported offending history increased the odds that boys would become a teen father. Additional models indicated that substance use was the strongest driver of teen fatherhood. However, all factors failed to reached significance once condom use was included in this model. Practical implications for policymakers are discussed, along with suggestions for interventions to reduce teen pregnancy. Full article

Objectives: Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that represents a group of leukodystrophies with severe disability and premature death, mostly with an infancy/childhood onset. In rare cases of late-onset phenotypes, symptoms are often milder and difficult to diagnose. We present a diagnostic journey of a teenage male patient with a progressive gait disorder starting at the age of 13 years, with a final diagnosis of Alexander disease. Early in the course of the disease, the boy exhibited distinctive cognitive involvement and neuropsychological deterioration characterized by selective impairment of visual and long-term auditory memory, along with a decline in IQ but preserved reasoning abilities. Methods: The patient underwent an extensive neurological diagnostic workup, which included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, spine, and abdomen, as well as electrophysiological, metabolic, and biochemical tests. Numerous specialist consultations were conducted, including genetic, cardiology, ophthalmology, pulmonology, oncohematology, psychological, and speech–language pathology consultations. In addition, a focused literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with the search terms “Alexander disease,” “GFAP gene,” “late-onset,” “spastic paraplegia” and “GFAP variant p/Gly18Val”. Results: Whole exome sequencing revealed an extremely rare missense GFAP heterozygous variant NM_002055.5: c.54G>T (p/Gly18Val), confirming the diagnosis of AxD. Conclusions: The presented case highlights the importance of whole-exome sequencing in the diagnosis of unexplained otherwise neurological symptoms, such as progressive spastic paraplegia. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to analyze parents’ perceptions regarding adolescents’ screen use, signs of screen dependency, and its impact on sleep among 10- to 16-year-olds in the district of Leiria, Portugal. A descriptive–correlational, cross–sectional study was conducted in April 2024 using an online questionnaire completed by a non-probabilistic accidental sample of 616 parents or legal guardians. Nearly half of the respondents (48.2%) perceived adolescents as dependent on screens, while 68.7% believed that their screen time was excessive. Several behavioural signs consistent with digital dependence were reported. Increased screen use was significantly associated with shorter sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and difficulties initiating sleep. Although many adolescents still achieved the recommended number of hours of sleep, those perceived as screen-dependent were more likely to experience compromised sleep quality and quantity. These findings reinforce the growing concern about adolescents’ digital habits and underscore the importance of implementing targeted health promotion strategies focused on responsible screen use and sleep hygiene among school-aged youth. Full article

This research examines the professional aspirations of teenage girls attending secondary school in a Brazilian state and how they perceive potential careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM remains a masculinised field, not only due to the predominance of men but also because of enduring cultural representations that associate it with exceptional academic performance and highly technical competencies. In response, various educational intervention initiatives have sought to challenge these assumptions and promote the inclusion of girls and women in STEM. This article discusses an intervention carried out in four public schools as part of a project led by the Centre for Informatics at the Federal University of Paraíba. The project collected quantitative and qualitative data on subject preferences, professional expectations and perceptions of STEM among teenage girls. A mixed-methods exploratory approach was adopted to analyse the data and therefore to contribute to understand better the specific challenges of implementing such interventions in socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts, which remain underrepresented within the Women in STEM scholarship. The findings illustrate how social and financial constraints shape these young women’s career aspirations, intensifying both the desire for economic stability and the pursuit of personal fulfilment. At the same time, many perceive the future as uncertain and regard STEM as difficult to access, frequently associated with anxiety surrounding core science subjects. This article contributes to ongoing debates on gender and STEM education, offering insights into the Brazilian context and outlining considerations for the development and refinement of future school-based interventions. Full article