High-Risk Behavior Among Young Adolescents in The Central and Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia: Baseline Data from The MyHeART Study

The onset of high-risk behaviors in adolescents are associated with family, social and behavioral factors. This study aims to describe the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among young adolescents in Peninsular Malaysia and determine the relationship between high-risk behaviors and family sociodemographics and behaviors. The data utilized are from the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Study, a prospective cohort analysis conducted in three large states of Peninsular Malaysia: Selangor, Perak, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The sample included 13-year-old adolescents in their first year of secondary school. Students and parents or guardians were given separate, standardized self-administered questionnaire. A high-risk behavior variable was determined on the basis of exposure to substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs), gambling, and online pornography or violence. The exploratory variable of interest (family sociodemographics) was defined as parents’ demographics, employment status, education level, and socioeconomic status. The analysis included 1341 adolescents and 1146 parents. Of the school-going adolescents, 4.7?% (n?=?52) reported HRBs. Tobacco use (9?%, n?=?1 19) and watching pornography or violent content on the Internet (5?%, n?=?72) accounted for most of the behaviors, whereas illicit drug use contributed the least (2?%, n?=?32). More adolescents from the higher socioeconomic groups, than from the middle groups exhibited high-risk behaviors (odds ratio ?=?3.039, 95?% confidence interval?=?2.884–3.202); by contrast, the odds ratio of high-risk behavior among adolescents with a low socio-economic status was 2.246 (95?% CI?=?2.014–2.397). Future intervention programs for adolescents should focus on overcoming high-risk behaviors and sustain behavioral changes.     

Self-Assessed Risk of HIV and Other STIs Among Young Adults in Norway and Croatia

The purpose of the present study is to explore how sexually active young Norwegian and Croatian adults assess the risk of being infected with HIV and other STIs. Study results are based on a 2009–2010 large-scale national probability survey of young adults aged 18–24 in Croatia (n = 1,005) and Norway (n = 871). A majority of sexually active young adults in Croatia and Norway assessed the risk of becoming infected with HIV or other STIs as low or negligible. Among non-condom users, 85–98% determined they had low or no risk of getting infected with HIV. The corresponding figures for STIs were 77–79%. In both countries a higher HIV risk self-assessment was observed among those who had had same-sex sexual experience, those who reported a higher number of sex partners during the past year, and those who were single. When investigating the patterns of HIV/STI risk assessment, gender and country-related differences appeared. Condom use associated with higher risk assessment was significant only among Croatian men. The strong perception of condom use as being a male responsibility in Croatia may be the reason for a higher risk assessment for unwanted pregnancy and HIV/STIs when protection fails. The risk assessment for HIV/STIs was not associated with partner turnover in Croatian men. New campaigns need to develop gender-sensitive messages, particularly targeting men who believe that a great number of sexual partners is a sign of manliness and women who shy away from their responsibility to use protection.     

Eating Attitudes and Dieting Behavior Among Religious Subgroups of Israeli-Arab Adolescent Females

Objectives The aim of the study was to compare the eating attitudes and behaviors, including weight concerns and dieting behavior, among three religious subgroups (Moslems, Druze, and Christians) and three age subgroups (12–13, 14–15, and 16–18 years old) of Israeli-Arab adolescent females. Methods The sample consisted of 1141 Israeli-Arab adolescent females, including 926 (81.2%) Moslem, 128 (11.2%) Christian, and 87 (7.6%) Druze schoolgirls in the seventh to twelfth grades. Participants were assessed using the EAT–26 questionnaire. Results The results showed that 75% of the students had a negative EAT-26 score (>20) and that 25% of the students had a positive EAT-26 score (<20). No significant differences were found in total scores, subscale scores, or scores above 20 between the age subgroups or the religious subgroups. The results demonstrated a high prevalence of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors among Israeli-Arab adolescent schoolgirls. Discussion Higher prevalence of disturbed eating attitudes found among Israeli-Arab schoolgirls as compared to their Jewish counterparts. Although our sample is a communal based, there still remains an open question as to why the desired “slenderness culture” evident in the results is not reflected in the number of ED clinic referrals, among clinical population. These discrepancies were discussed in light of ethnicity-specific factors that may influence the perceived severity of eating disorders and the receptiveness of primary practitioners to address them.     

The Interplay Between Trust Among Peers and Interpersonal Characteristics in Homophobic Bullying Among Italian Adolescents

This study is based on exploring the trust between peers and the individual characteristics related to homophobic bullying in adolescence. Participants were 334 adolescents (141 boys and 193 girls) aged from 15 to 20 years. Participants completed the homophobic bullying scale, to investigate bullying actions towards sexual minorities, the personal attributes questionnaire, for personal characteristics, and the inventory of parent and peer attachment, to the trust between peers. The results demonstrated how female participants manifested a higher level of interpersonal traits and trust among peers than boys. Results showed how a lack of trust between peers predicts homophobic bullying. Nevertheless, we found that the lack of interpersonal characteristics represents a variable that likely mediates the relationship between lack of trust in peers and homophobic bullying. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Influence of Religious Factors on Attitudes Towards Suicidal Behaviour in Ghana

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how religion influences lay persons’ attitudes towards suicide in Ghana. Twenty-seven adults from both rural and urban settings were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Results showed that the participants are committed to core and normative religious beliefs and practices they perceived as life preserving. Such an understanding influenced their view of suicidal behaviour as unacceptable. Nevertheless, religion facilitated their willingness to help people during suicidal crisis. Religious commitment theory is used to explain some of the findings of this study. Implications for suicide prevention are discussed.     

The Influence of Gender on Job Loss Coping Behavior Among Unemployed Managers

Using the Job Loss Coping Behavior scale (JLCB; Leana & Feldman, 1992), this article examines the behaviors of 131 unemployed male and female managers in coping with their Job loss. The results indicate that the men had significantly higher job search efficacy. The article's findings suggest that women may need more help in identifying a network of colleagues and friends to assist with then-Job search activities than men. The authors encourage employment counselors to be mindful of this finding and to help unemployed women to develop more appropriate proactive behaviors and skills that will assist them with their Job search activities.     

Do Genetic Factors Influence Religious Life? Findings from a Behavior Genetic Analysis of Twin Siblings

Social scientific research assumes that religious involvement is primarily, if not exclusively, the product of social-environmental influences There is growing evidence, however, that genetic or other biological factors also play a role Analyzing twin sibling data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), this study addresses this issue by showing that individual-level variation on four different aspects of religious life—organizational involvement, personal religiosity and spirituality, conservative ideologies, and transformations and commitments—is indeed the product of both genetic and environmental influences Specifically, genetic factors explain 19–65 percent of the variation, while environmental influences account for the remaining 35–81 percent depending upon the aspect of religion under investigation Research of this type enhances contemporary social science by providing a new perspective that nicely supplements existing ones, but it also highlights potential implications, including explanatory power deficiencies and potentially bias     

School and Peers: Examining the Influence of Protective Factors on Delinquency and Age of Onset

This paper uses data on 10th graders from 2014 Caring Communities Youth Survey to examine the effect of protective factors on delinquency/age of onset (never, 13 or younger, 14 or older) of two antisocial behaviors (carrying a handgun to school and attacking someone with the intent of seriously hurting them). Two domains of protective factors are used: school and peers. The most significant protective factor for both antisocial behaviors was religiosity which is within the peer domain. Cramer’s V was used because of the nominal level variables, 2 by 3 tables, and large sample. The literature on age of onset and protective factors is discussed.     

Wellness Factors Decrease the Odds of Drinking and Driving Among College Students

The authors examined holistic wellness factors and drinking and driving behaviors among undergraduate students. Two factors of the Indivisible Self Wellness Model, the Coping Self and the Physical Self, decreased the odds of engaging in drinking and driving behavior.     

The Protective Effects of Religious Beliefs on Behavioral Health Factors Among Low Income African American Adolescents in Chicago

Religious involvement has long been argued to have protective effects for negative behavioral health outcomes for vulnerable youth. This study builds on the existing resilience literature and need for more studies that examine protective factors associated with behavioral health. A sample of 638 low-income African American adolescents in Chicago to examine within group variations of the influence of religious involvement on delinquency, school engagement, substance use and sexual risk behaviors, and whether such relationships differ by gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Logistic regression findings documented that greater religious involvement was protective with regards to lower rates of delinquency, drug use, risky sexual behaviors and higher rates of school engagement, and that gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status varied for several of these relationships. Overall findings are discussed with regards to future research.     

Linked Lives, Faith, and Behavior: Intergenerational Religious Influence on Adolescent Delinquency

Research on religion and delinquency has generally concluded that only minor forms of delinquency are affected by religious commitments. However, parents have not often been the focus of religion and delinquency research. This study explores the influence of parental religious identity and behavior on the serious delinquency of adolescent children. This analysis tested an intergenerational model of religious influence on delinquent behavior. Results suggest parental religious devotion protects girls considerably better than boys. In fact, it may amplify delinquency among boys, at least when controlling for other important influences such as autonomy and family satisfaction. Parents' conservative Protestant affiliation displays consistent negative direct effects on delinquency, but little indirect influence. This study reinforces the importance of considering linked lives in the development of youth, as well as the need to assess both direct and indirect religious influences.     

略论宗教世俗化对其社会功能的影响

社会政治生活、文化生活,尤其是经济生活的现代化发展不断改变着人们传统的宗教观念,导致宗教神圣性逐渐衰退,亦即世俗化.这使得传统的宗教价值体系正日益减弱,并进而对宗教的社会功能演化产生影响.     

中学生异性同伴交往的结构与类型研究

在文献、开放式问卷和访谈的基础上,编制了中学生异性同伴交往量表.对1,300名中学生进行了测试.结果表明,该量表具有良好的信度和效度;中学生异性同伴交往是由主动性、困扰性,礼节性、策略性和广泛性等五个因素组成;中学生异性同伴交往有策略型、疏远型、中间型和开放型等四种类型.     

宗教宽容与北爱社会冲突的化解

耗费了无数人心血的《北爱尔兰和平协议》终于达成,但是北爱人民并没有享受到随之而来的和平。本文从分析北爱宗教分裂和宗教歧视的现状入手,通过对冲突化解理论的剖析,指出在北爱这样一个宗教严重分裂的社会,没有宗教的宽容精神,就难以实现社会的真正和解以及和谐。     

Fertility Behavior and Psychological Stress: The Mediating Influence of Gender Norm Beliefs Among Egyptian Women

The influence of gender norms on women's family planning experiences is a finding that cuts across numerous studies included in Family Health International's multi-country Women's Studies Project. This paper explores findings from one of these studies on the mediating influence of beliefs about gender norms on the relationship between fertility behavior and psychological well-being. Using cross-sectional survey data from 4,908 Egyptian women, hierarchical multiple regression models were tested with depression and anxiety as the dependent variables. Independent variables included three demographic variables, two measures of beliefs about gender norms developed from survey items using exploratory factor analytic techniques, and two fertility behavior variables—use of family planning and number of children. Gender norm beliefs predicted both anxiety and depression. The statistical analyses demonstrated a separate effect of family planning use on anxiety, independent of gender norm beliefs, but the effect of family planning behaviors on depression disappeared when gender norms beliefs were included in the regression model, which indicates a mediating effect of gender norm beliefs. Although cross-sectional data do not allow for the determination of causality among the three types of variables, a conceptual framework is offered for the possible causal mechanisms for the identified relationships.     

The Association of Religiosity,Sexual Education,and Parental Factors with Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Adolescents and Young Adults

This study examined the association of religiosity, sexual education and family structure with risky sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults. The nationally representative sample, from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, included 3,168 women and men ages 15–21 years. Those who viewed religion as very important, had frequent church attendance, and held religious sexual attitudes were 27–54% less likely to have had sex and had significantly fewer sex partners than peers. Participants whose formal and parental sexual education included abstinence and those from two-parent families were 15% less likely to have had sex and had fewer partners.     

The Influence of Boundaries on Young Children's Searching and Gathering

Two experiments were conducted to examine how boundaries influence the organization of the gathering and searching of 3- and 4-year-olds. In Experiment 1, children retrieved miniature carrots that were in plain view from a dollhouse that was divided in half by a visual, a functional, or a visual-functional boundary. There was also a control condition in which no boundary was present. Children exhibited more organized gathering in the visual and visual-functional boundary conditions than in the functional boundary and no-boundary conditions. This suggests that visual rather than functional properties of boundaries influenced the organization of young children's gathering behavior. In Experiment 2, we increased task difficulty by requiring children to search for carrots that were out of sight. Unlike in Experiment 1, children produced more organized searching in the visual, visual-functional, and the functional boundary conditions than in the no-boundary condition. Our discussion focuses on the role of the physical environment in organizing behavior.     

Identifying Mediators of the Influence of Family Factors on Risky Sexual Behavior

Participation in risky sexual behaviors has many deleterious consequences and is a source of concern for parents as well as practitioners, researchers, and public policy makers. Past research has examined the effect of family structure and supportive parenting on risky sexual behaviors among emerging adults. In the present study, we attempt to identify the mediators that explain this relationship. Using survey data from a sample of over 2,000 college students (1,297 females and 780 males) we use structural equation modeling to investigate the role of commitment to marriage, desired characteristics in an intimate partner, and sociosexuality in linking the influence of family structure and supportive parenting to risky sexual behaviors. Results indicate that respondents from continuously married families were more committed to marriage, and this commitment reduced the probability of risky sexual behavior both directly, as well as indirectly through its negative impact on unrestricted sociosexuality. On the other hand, respondents who reported having supportive parents rated sensitivity and similarity of values as more important in a mate than physical attractiveness and sexual compatibility. This approach to mate selection reduces unrestricted sociosexuality and, in turn, risky sexual behavior. Even after taking our mediators into account, there is still a direct effect of family factors on risky sexual behavior. Gender differences in the pattern of findings are discussed and directions for future research are identified.     

Religious Coping and Depression in Young Adulthood: Effects of Global Stress Exposure and Pre-Teenage Religious Service Attendance

This paper builds upon previous research on the association between religiosity and depressive symptomatology in young adults by focusing on the coping aspects of religious involvement (use of beliefs, comfort seeking, and prayer). Data come from a representative sample of Miami-Dade County, Florida, youths interviewed initially at around age 11 and then at age 19 to 21 (N = 1,210). OLS regression models demonstrate an inverted U-shaped curvilinear relationship between religious coping and depression which, in subgroup analyses, applies only to females, and specifically to those young women reporting above-average stress exposure who had attended religious services at least once a week during their middle school years. No association is found among those reporting lower stress exposure or less frequent pre-teenage service attendance. These results provide evidence that early religious exposure on a regular basis and high global stress exposure may be essential preconditions for a relationship at the aggregate level between current religious coping and depressive symptomatology in young adults.