Eleni C. Tzavela

Online Social Networking in Adolescence: Patterns of Use in Six European Countries and Links With Psychosocial Functioning

PURPOSE Online communication tools, such as social networking sites (SNS), have been comprehensively embraced by adolescents and have become a dominant daily social practice. Recognizing SNS as a key context of adolescent development, this study aimed to investigate associations between heavier SNS use, and adolescent competencies and internalizing problems. METHODS Data was collected in six European countries: Greece, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, and Iceland. Participants were 10,930 adolescents aged 14-17 years (F/M: 5,719/5,211; mean age 15.8 ± .7 years); 62.3% were aged 14-15.9 years and 37.7% were aged 16-17.9 years. Participants reported on their use of online communication tools, and their general competencies and internalizing problems (Youth Self Report). RESULTS SNS are both ubiquitous--used by 70% of adolescents--and engaging, given that 40% of users spend 2 or more hours daily on SNS (labeled heavier SNS use). Heavier SNS use was associated with more internalizing problems, and the relation was consistently more pronounced among younger adolescents. Moreover, heavier SNS use was associated with lower academic performance and lower activities scores, especially for younger adolescents. In contrast, among older adolescents heavier SNS use was positively associated with offline social competence. CONCLUSIONS Although heavier SNS use is associated with higher social competence for older adolescents, it is also associated with increased internalizing problems and diminished competencies in academics and activities, especially for younger adolescents. Age, capturing developmental differences in social and regulatory skills, appears to moderate the effects of heavier SNS use on adolescent functioning.

Cyberbullying victimization prevalence and associations with internalizing and externalizing problems among adolescents in six European countries

More than one in five of European adolescents reported cyberbullying victimization.The prevalence rate of cyber victimization was higher among girls than boys.The prevalence rate was highest in Romania while the lowest was in Spain.Externalizing, internalizing and academic problems were associated with cyber victimization. Cyberbullying victimization is an important adolescent health issue. The cross-national study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cyber victimization and associated internalizing, externalizing and academic problems among adolescents in six European countries. A cross-sectional school-based study of 14-17year-old adolescents (N=10,930; F/M: 5719/5211; mean age 15.8?0.7years) was conducted in Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Iceland and Greece. In total, 21.4% of adolescents reported cyber victimization in the past 12months. Reports were more frequent among girls than boys (23.9% vs. 18.5%), and among the older adolescents compared to the younger ones (24.2% vs. 19.7%). The prevalence was highest in Romania and Greece (37.3% and 26.8%) and lowest in Spain and Iceland (13.3% and 13.5%). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that cyber victimization was more frequent among adolescents using the internet and social networking sites for two or more hours daily. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that externalizing, internalizing and academic problems were associated with cyber victimization. Overall, cyber victimization was found to be a problem of substantial extent, concerning more than one in five of the studied European adolescents. Action against cyber victimization is crucial while policy planning should be aimed at the prevention of the phenomenon.

1653 – The developemnt of adaptive and maladaptive patterns of internet use among european adolescents at risk for internet addictive behaviors: a grounded theory inquiry

Introduction Full findings from the European Commission funded EU-NET-ADB study (Safer Internet Programme) will be presented. Objectives Empirical findings that elucidate the development of an internet addictive behaviour are still incomplete. This is also related to risk as well as protective factors of internet use. Here a process oriented approach to identify underlying conditions of an internet addictive behaviour was chosen. Aims The aim of the study is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of underlying processes which lead to situation were internet addictive behaviour can evolve. Methods In total 124 in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescents with an age of 14-17 year. Adolescents from seven different European countries (Greece, Spain, Poland, Germany, Romania, Netherlands & Iceland) participated in this study. Eligibility was granted when adolescents scored more than 30 point or equal in the Internet Addiction Test (IAT; Young, 1998). Data analysis was conducted by use of a step-wise full version of Grounded Theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1990; 1998). Results Adolescents employed maladaptive and adaptive strategies in regard to their involvement in the internet. Thus different Digital Outcomes such as “I am addicted” (Stuck Online) ranging to more adaptive internet behaviour like (Juggling it All) and patterns of self-correcting (Coming Full Cycle) were identified. These Digital Outcomes were consequently linked to adolescents developmental pathways and can be characterized by the core category “Navigating Adolescent Pathways”. Conclusions Contextual and developmental factors that mediate the development of an internet addictive behaviour could be identified and linked to multiple Digital Outcomes.

Bullying Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: “An Ongoing Story”

Bullying in school-aged children is a universal problem, which continues to be a serious threat to physical and emotional health of children and adolescents. This article highlights the prevalence, the common characteristics of bullies and victims, as well as the short- and long-term impact of bullying involvement. Key areas highlighted include the efficacy of bullying prevention programs, which can help health care providers to assess and provide interventions to children and adolescents affected by bullying.

Adolescent digital profiles

High online engagement is common among adolescents. Besides concerns, not all highly involved adolescents online develop maladaptive patterns of use. The focus of the present qualitative study was to explore the experiences of highly engaged adolescents with signs of internet addictive behaviors. We aimed to uncover the processes differentiating high online engagement, and formulate a typology of users. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 72 adolescents (Mage=15.7 years; SD=0.6) living in Greece, Spain, Iceland and Poland. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory. A typology of highly engaged adolescents emerged based on three processes: satisfying needs across contexts (online-offline), experiencing personal gains and losses and self-regulating use. Four distinct user profiles emerged, ranging from adaptive (Juggling it All, Coming Full Cycle) to maladaptive (Stuck Online, Killing Boredom). The developed typology can help parents, teachers and professionals better understand the ways high engagement is experienced within a developmental context. Such knowledge can inform the development of prevention and supportive services. Implications for assessment and intervention are discussed for each profile. Not all adolescents highly engaged online develop maladaptive internet use.Four profiles of highly engaged adolescents emerged from three distinct processes.The typology can inform the development of assessment and targeted interventions.

Erythema Ab Igne in Three Girls with Anorexia Nervosa.

We present three girls with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa (AN) presenting with erythema ab igne (EAI), a benign, reticular, erythematous dermatosis caused by repeated prolonged skin exposure to mild heat. AN has been associated with abnormal peripheral vascular response to cold, vasoconstriction of the limbs, low hand blood flow, exaggerated response to cold stimuli, subnormal core temperature, and a general feeling of cold that may encourage prolonged heat exposure and induce EAI.

The career aspirations of adolescents with eating disorders: an exploratory study and suggested links to adolescent self-concept development

Abstract The health effects of eating disorders (EDs) in adolescence have been widely studied, but their impact on present adolescent psychosocial adjustment and development have been overseen. This study aimed to investigate the association between EDs and career aspirations in middle adolescence. The participants were 147 adolescents diagnosed with EDs. Participants reported on their future career aspirations, and these were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education of 1997. Of the participants, 83 adolescents were followed up longitudinally, and their aspirations were reassessed and compared for stability across the two assessments. Moreover, participants’ career aspirations were compared to those of healthy (non-ED) best-friend controls. Health-related and social-behavioral science careers were chosen significantly more by adolescents with an ED as compared to their non-ED counterparts. For adolescents with an ED, career choices were consistent across reassessments. These findings suggest that adolescents with an ED gravitate toward careers associated with their pathology, namely, both facets of their mind-body pathology. This finding may indicate restricted identity development for adolescents with an ED. Suggestions for treatments protocols to include identity exploration are discussed.

Treatment engagement in the early phase of cognitive-behavior therapy for panic disorder: A grounded theory analysis of patient experience

Abstract Exposure-based cognitive-behavior therapy (EBCBT) is the treatment of choice for panic disorder (PD). However, little is known about early treatment processes that facilitate retention in treatment and positive outcomes of PD treatment. We studied the development of early treatment process with semi-structured individual in-depth interviews with 12 patients with PD, conducted post session 3. Grounded theory was used to analyze the transcripts. The development of early treatment process was captured by four thematic categories: approaching the problem, easing in and opening up, building trust and bonding, and making sense of panic. The developmental scheme culminated to the core category: Jointly Engaging in PD Therapy versus Awaiting Relief, capturing early engagement or disengagement from PD therapy respectively. The emergent core category was cross-validated against distal treatment outcome. Emergent processes can be replicated and incorporated in early treatment procedures of EBCBT for PD. Clinical practice recommendations are discussed.