Do specific early-life adversities lead to specific symptoms of psychosis? A study from the 2007 the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.
Bentall RP, Wickham S, Shevlin M, Varese F.
Source
Institute for Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Waterhouse Building Block B, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK. richard.bentall@liverpool.ac.uk
Previous studies have reported associations between childhood adversities, eg, loss of a parent, being raised in institutional care, sexual and other kinds of abuse by adults and bullying by peers, and psychosis in adulthood. However, the mechanisms by which these adversities lead to psychotic experiences are poorly understood. From models of the psychological processes involved in positive symptoms, it was predicted that childhood sexual abuse would be specifically associated with auditory hallucinations in adulthood, and that disruption of early attachment relations and more chronic forms of victimization such as bullying would be specifically associated with paranoid ideation. We therefore examined the associations between sexual trauma, physical abuse, bullying, and being brought up in institutional or local authority care and reports of auditory hallucinations and paranoid beliefs in the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. All simple associations between childhood adversities and the two symptom types were significant. Childhood rape was associated only with hallucinations (OR 8.9, CI = 1.86-42.44) once co-occurring paranoia was controlled for. Being brought up in institutional care (OR = 11.08, CI = 3.26-37.62) was specifically associated with paranoia once comorbid hallucinations had been controlled for. For each symptom, dose-response relationships were observed between the number of childhood traumas and the risk of the symptom. The specific associations observed are consistent with current psychological theories about the origins of hallucinations and paranoia. Further research is required to study the psychological and biological mediators of these associations.
Res Q Exerc Sport. 2012 Jun;83(2):308-17.
The nature, occurring contexts, and psychological implications of weight-related teasing in urban physical education programs.
Li W, Rukavina P.
Source
School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1224, USA. li.832@osu.edu
Abstract
This study examined the nature, occurring contexts, and psychological implications of weight-related teasing in urban physical education programs. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 47 participants from a large urban school district. Data were analyzed using inductive analysis and constant comparisons. Most overweight adolescents experienced many different types of teasing in physical education. Victims of teasing felt hurt and experienced uncomfortable feelings due to social comparisons. Overweight students who were not teased reported a variety of reasons. Teachers lacked awareness of and strategies to handle teasing of overweight students. There is a need to implement preventive policies and rules to eliminate weight-related teasing and create inclusive physical education environments.
Pediatr Clin North Am. 2012 Jun;59(3):601-12, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2012.03.023. Epub 2012 Apr 18.
Social networking sites and adolescent health.
Moreno MA, Kolb J.
Source
Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53705, USA. mamoreno@pediatrics.wisc.edu
Abstract
Social networking sites are popular among and consistently used by adolescents. These sites present benefits as well as risks to adolescent health. Recently, pediatric providers have also considered the benefits and risks of using social networking sites in their own practices.
Pediatr Clin North Am. 2012 Jun;59(3):623-33, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2012.03.019.
Internet bullying.
Donnerstein E.
Source
Department of Communication, University of Arizona, 1103 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. edonners@u.arizona.edu
Abstract
There is substantial literature on the impact of the mass media on children's and adolescents' health and development. The question of what role new technology plays in the media's influence is now a subject of both review and discussion, particularly regarding health risks and intervention. This article takes a brief look at online usage and the theoretical mechanisms that might make Internet access more problematic in terms of risks, compared with more traditional media such as television and film. One of these risks, known today as cyberbullying or Internet harassment, is scrutinized in detail.
Association of pupil vandalism, bullying and truancy with teachers' absence due to illness: a multilevel analysis.
Ervasti J, Kivimäki M, Puusniekka R, Luopa P, Pentti J, Suominen S, Vahtera J, Virtanen M.
Source
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. jenni.ervasti@ttl.fi
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether vandalism, bullying, and truancy among pupils at school are associated with absence due to illness among teachers. Data on such problem behaviour of 17,033 pupils in 90 schools were linked to absence records of 2364 teachers. Pupil reported vandalism and bullying at the school-level were associated with teachers' short-term (1- to 3-day) absences. Cumulative exposure to various forms of pupils' problem behaviour was associated with even higher rates of short-term absences among teachers. No association was found between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' long-term (>3-day) absences. In conclusion, there seems to be a link between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' short-term absence due to illness. Further work should determine whether problem behaviour is a cause or a consequence of absences or whether the association is noncausal.
J Pers Disord. 2012 Jun;26(3):428-34. doi: 10.1521/pedi.2012.26.3.428.
