Results of Neurofeedback in Treatment of Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorders in children and adolescents. Neurofeedback, a nonpharmaceutical treatment, has shown promising results. To review the evidence of efficacy of neurofeedback as a treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD. A systematic review of the specific scientific studies published in 1995–2021, identifying and analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCT). A total of 1636 articles were identified and 165 met inclusion criteria, of which 67 were RCTs. Neurofeedback training was associated with significant long-term reduction in symptoms of ADHD. Though limitations exist regarding conclusions about the specific effects of neurofeedback, the review documents improvements in school, social, and family environments.Plan Nacional i+d+i (National Research, Development and Innovation Program) PSI2008–06008-C02–0

Direct and indirect influences of objective socioeconomic position on adolescent health: the mediating roles of subjective socioeconomic status and lifestyles

The use of composite indices and subjective measures to evaluate socioeconomic position, taking into account the effect of inequalities on adolescent health-related behaviors, can contribute to understanding the effect of inequalities on health during adolescence. The aim of this study was to examine the direct and indirect contribution of objective and subjective socioeconomic factors in a broad range of health and lifestyles outcomes. The data come from a representative sample of adolescents (N = 15,340; M age = 13.69) of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Spain. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. A global index for evaluating objective socioeconomic position predicted both health and healthy lifestyles. Subjective socioeconomic status mediated the relationship between objective socioeconomic position and health but did not have a significant effect on healthy lifestyles when objective indicators were considered. Lastly, fit indices of the multiple-mediator model—including the direct effect of objective socioeconomic position on health and its indirect effects through the subjective perception of wealth and lifestyles—explained 28.7% of global health variance. Interventions aimed at reducing the impact of health inequalities should address, in addition to material deprivation, the psychological and behavioral consequences of feeling poor.Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia de la Junta de Andalucía P11—SEJ—800

Sex differences in body image, weight control and Body Mass Index of Spanish adolescents

Este estudio examinó las diferencias entre 21.811 chicos y chicas adolescentes (11-18 años) en variables clave en el desarrollo de trastornos de la alimentación, como son el Índice de Masa Corporal, la percepción y satisfacción con la imagen corporal y las conductas destinadas a controlar el peso. A pesar de que las chicas tenían una puntuación en el Índice de Masa Corporal más ajustada y presentaban un nivel menor de sobrepeso y obesidad, se encontró que eran ellas las que se percibían más obesas, las que estaban más insatisfechas con su imagen corporal y las que realizaban con más frecuencia dietas para adelgazar. Por otra parte, se encontró que la razón que mueve a chicos y chicas a realizar dietas para adelgazar no es el peso corporal real, sino la percepción que tienen de su cuerpo, en primer lugar, y cómo de satisfechos están con él, en segundo lugar. Por lo tanto, en este artículo se encuentran importantes diferencias entre chicos y chicas, a tener en cuenta en el diseño y desarrollo de los diversos programas que se destinen a la prevención de problemas con la imagen corporal y la conducta de hacer dieta.This research paper studied the differences among 21,811 adolescents (between the ages of 11 and 18) in key variables in the development of eating disorders, including the Body Mass Index, the perception of and satisfaction with their body image, and the behaviours used to control weight. In spite of the fact that the girls had a better adjusted BMI and a lesser degree of overweight and obesity, we found that they perceived themselves as being fatter, were less satisfied with body image, and the ones who dieted the most to lose weight. On the other hand, we found that the main reason for boys and girls to diet in an effort to lose weight was not their real body weight, but rather their perception of their own bodies, followed by just how satisfied they were with their bodies. Therefore, important differences are revealed between boys and girls in this article, which must be taken into consideration in the design and development of the various programs that are aimed at the prevention of problems with body image and diet behaviour

Trends in cannabis use among adolescents in Spain 2006-2018

The aim of this study was to examine trends in cannabis use among Spanish students 2006-2018 by sex, age, and sex and age combined. Data showed a global decrease both in a lifetime and frequent cannabis use between 2006 and 2018 but four-year comparisons revealed more variability within the specific sex-age groups. No change was found in lifetime use between 2014 and 2018 for all groups. The results emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of trends in cannabis use and the importance of implementing preventive measures to avoid a change in tendency and to work with high-risk groups, especially 17-18-old boys

The role of body image in internalizing mental health problems in Spanish adolescents: An analysis according to sex, age, and socioeconomic status

During adolescence there is a relatively high prevalence of weight problems and eating disorders. Furthermore, body image plays an important role in weight control and eating behaviors as well as in mental health. This study analyses the influence of body mass index, perception of being overweight, and body image satisfaction (BIS) on internalizing symptoms related to mental health in adolescents. In addition, sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), dieting, and physical activity are taken into consideration. This research is based on the international study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). The sample consists of 4531 Spanish adolescents from 13 to 18 years old. Participants were selected through random multi-stage sampling stratified by conglomerates. Two instruments were employed: the HBSC questionnaire and the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, ASEBA). Results demonstrated that BIS –the emotional component related to body image–was the main predictor of adolescent internalizing symptoms. In addition, results show double-inequalities according to the interaction effects of sex, age, and SES. Likewise, interesting results are shown regarding how dieting behaviors to lose or gain weight/volume and physical activity relate to body image perception and satisfaction, as well as with internalizing symptoms. This study highlights important body image aspects relevant to intervention and prevention of internalized mental health problems in adolescence.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad de España PRJ20170315

Ajuste psicológico y clasificación de mujeres cuidadoras de nietos y nietas y/o ascendientes en función de su inteligencia emocional

El envejecimiento de la población y la cultura actual en torno a los cuidados han propiciado un aumento del número de abuelas cuidadoras, ya sea de sus nietos o nietas, de sus ascendentes, o incluso de ambas generaciones simultáneamente. Con el objetivo de conocer más en profundidad las consecuencias psicológicas de este fenómeno, se llevaron a cabo entrevistas estructuradas a 115 mujeres del suroeste de España que eran abuelas, a la vez que hijas o nueras de una generación anterior. Se ha realizado un análisis de cluster bietápico para clasificar a estas mujeres según su inteligencia emocional. Las mujeres han quedado distribuidas casi al 50% en dos grupos claramente diferenciados. El primer grupo, caracterizado por mayor flexibilidad, tolerancia al estrés y control de los impulsos, aglutina una mayor proporción de mujeres residentes en entornos urbanos y con mayor nivel de estudios, y muestra niveles significativamente más altos de salud psicológica y felicidad. En cambio, el segundo grupo de mujeres, caracterizadas por menor inteligencia emocional, obtiene puntuaciones significativamente más altas en estrés y ansiedad. Este estudio pone de manifiesto la importancia de incluir la promoción de estas habilidades de inteligencia emocional en programas de prevención y promoción de la salud en este colectivo.The aging of the population and the current culture of caregiving have led to an increase in the number of grandmothers who care for their grandchildren, their ancestors, or even both generations simultaneously. In order to know more deeply the psychological consequences of this phenomenon, 115 structured interviews were conducted with women from southwestern Spain who were grandmothers and, at the same time, who were daughters or daughters-in-law from a previous generation. A two-stage cluster analysis was performed to classify these women according to their emotional intelligence. Women have been distributed almost 50% in two clearly differentiated groups. The first group, characterized by higher flexibility, stress tolerance and impulse control, brings together a greater proportion of women living in urban environments and with a higher level of studies, and shows significantly higher levels of psychological health and happiness. In contrast, the second group of women, characterized by lower emotional intelligence, scores significantly higher in stress and anxiety. This study highlights the importance of including the promotion of these emotional intelligence skills in prevention and health promotion programs in this collective of women

How family socioeconomic status, peer behaviors, and school-based intervention on healthy habits influence adolescent eating behaviors

Psychologists in schools can play an important role in developing policies and programs to promote healthy eating habits. This study analyzes the contributions of family socioeconomic status, peer influence (schoolmates’ food consumption), and school-based nutrition interventions to explain adolescent eating behaviors. Data were obtained from the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey in Spain, with a sample of 6,851 adolescents (11–16 years old). The results suggest that school-based healthy-eating programs could improve by considering parental education leveland by implementing interventions focused on the peer social network. Policies that limitaccess to unhealthy products in schools—rather than simply offering healthy foods alongside unhealthy products—could be more effective

Análisis del modelo salutogénico en España: aplicación en salud pública e implicaciones para el modelo de activos en salud

This article seeks to provide an in depth review about one of the most revolutionary and influential methods used in understanding the variables and processes that explain human health. Based on a new vision in the analysis of the consequences of the Nazi Holocaust, a doctor-sociologist-Aaron Antonovsky-managed to influence medicine and behavioral science by facilitating the keys for the optimal development of public health today. Despite the fact that this theory began appearing in the 1970s in the 20th century, its real development and expansion have been seen in recent years. In fact, in Spain, there is little scientific literature that analyses the theoretic keys of the model in depth. This work seek to cover this gap; to achieve this objective, it first presents how the construct of salutogenesis arose, the social-cultural context that promoted it, as well as the importance public health acquires today. This is the aim of this work, which analyses the theoretical bases of the salutogenesis model, with specific emphasis on its background and precursors, as well as its inception, development and current expansion.Este artículo tiene el objetivo de tratar en profundidad uno de los modelos más revolucionarios e influyentes para la comprensión de las variables y procesos que explican la salud humana. A partir de una nueva visión en el análisis de las consecuencias del holocausto nazi, un médico-sociólogo -Aaron Antonovsky-, consiguió influir en la medicina y la ciencia del comportamiento, facilitando las claves para el óptimo desarrollo de la salud pública actual. A pesar de que esta teoría empezó a forjarse en los años 70 del siglo XX, su desarrollo real y su expansión están sucediendo en los últimos años. De hecho, en España existe muy poca literatura con base científica que analice con detalle las claves teóricas del modelo. Este trabajo trata de cubrir esa carencia y, para ello, y en primer lugar, expone cómo surgió el constructo salutogénesis, el contexto sociocultural que lo impulsó, así como la importancia que adquiere en la salud pública actual. Con este objetivo, en estas páginas se analizan las bases teóricas del modelo salutogénico, con especial énfasis en sus antecedentes y precursores, así como en sus inicios, desarrollo y expansión actual

The Influence of Developmental Contexts in Adolescent’s Expected Sociopolitical Participation through the Sense of Unity: An Analysis of the Mediation Model Invariance through Sex, Age, and Socioeconomic Status

Civic engagement plays a positive role in adolescent wellbeing, as well as being the basis for maintaining a democratic society. This research analyzed how perceived support from developmental contexts contributes to adolescent civic engagement –assessed through their expectations of future sociopolitical participation–, mediated by sense of unity, and differences according to sex, age, and socioeconomic status. The sample included 3,715 participants (13–18 years old) from the 2019 OPINA Barometer who were selected using multistage random sampling stratified by conglomerates. The measures assessed sex, age, family, friends, classmates, and teacher support, the expectations of future sociopolitical participation, and sense of unity. Socioeconomic status was assessed by the Family Affluence Scale (FAS). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, mean comparisons, and structural equation models using bootstrapping and measurement invariance. Results showed developmental contexts to significantly affect expected sociopolitical participation only through the mediator role of the sense of unity. In addition, peer support (both friends and classmates) showed a stronger direct influence on sense of unity –and indirect influence on the expectations of future sociopolitical participation– than family and teachers. The model was invariant across sex, age, and FAS. This research highlights that a sense of unity, derived from feeling part of a larger dependable structure, is crucial for establishing behaviors in the interest of the common good, and that this social connectedness is learned in the most immediate developmental contexts, specifically, that of peers.Unicef 3122/0294Unicef 3592/0991Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad US-1266024Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades FPU19/0002

Alcohol consumption trends among Spanish school-aged adolescents in the first decade of the 21st century

Objetivo: Conocer la tendencia en el consumo de cerveza, vino y licores destilados de los adolescentes españoles en 2002, 2006 y 2010, así como la tendencia de haber experimentado episodios de embriaguez durante este mismo periodo de tiempo. Método: La muestra está conformada por 23.169 adolescentes de 15 a 18 años de edad: 7103 en 2002, 10.443 en 2006 y 5623 en 2010. En las tres ediciones del estudio, los datos son representativos de los escolares de esas edades en España. Se utilizó el cuestionario de consumo de alcohol consensuado por el equipo internacional del estudio Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). Se estimaron las odds ratio y los intervalos de confianza del 95% mediante regresiones logísticas. Resultados: Los resultados principales muestran un descenso del consumo frecuente de vino y licores destilados de 2002 a 2010, que se mantiene cuando se controla la variabilidad debida al sexo y a la edad de los participantes. Sin embargo, se encontró una tendencia al alza de los episodios de embriaguez en las diferentes cohortes de adolescentes estudiadas. Conclusiones: Se obtienen resultados de especial importancia para el análisis de las consecuencias de las políticas de salud pública implementadas durante los años que abarca el estudio. Se encuentran cambios en los patrones de consumo de las diferentes bebidas alcohólicas, lo que puede constituir una información clave para el diseño de nuevas políticas de salud pública.Objective: To determine trends in beer, wine, and liquor consumption among Spanish adolescents in 2002, 2006, and 2010, as well as drunkenness trends during the same period. Method: The study sample was composed of 23,169 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years old: 7,103 in 2002, 10,443 in 2006 and 5,623 in 2010. In the three time points of the study, the data were representative of Spanish adolescent students. We used the alcohol consumption questionnaire designed by the international team of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. We estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals through logistic regressions. Results: The main results showed a decrease in frequent consumption of wine and liquor from 2002 to 2010. This decrease was maintained after controlling for the variability due to the participants’ gender and age. However, an increasing trend was found in drunkenness episodes in the different cohorts of the adolescents under study. Conclusions: The results ofthis study are of particular importance in the analysis ofthe effects ofthe public health policies implemented during this time period. We also found changes in consumption patterns of the various alcoholic drinks, which may constitute key information in the design of new public health policies.Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e IgualdadMinisterio de Sanidad y Política Social (Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad/Sanidad y Política Social/Sanidad y Consumo