Eva S. Lefkowitz

Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in a Community Population of Older Adolescents

In a community study of 386 Caucasian working-class older adolescents, a sizeable proportion met lifetime criteria for selected DSM-III-R diagnoses. Alcohol abuse/dependence had the highest lifetime prevalence rate (32.4%), followed by phobias (22.8%), drug abuse/dependence (9.8%), major depression (9.4%), and, least commonly, post-traumatic stress disorder (6.3%) and obsessive compulsive disorder (2.1%). Significant gender differences were found for major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence, whereas socioeconomic differences occurred in major depression, phobias, and drug abuse/dependence. Adolescents with specific psychiatric disorders had significantly poorer functioning on measures of behavioral problems, interpersonal problems, self-esteem, and school performance. Results suggest the importance of identifying psychiatric disorder in adolescence, and the need for preventive strategies and prompt treatment.

Psychosocial Risks for Major Depression in Late Adolescence: A Longitudinal Community Study

OBJECTIVE An ongoing 14-year longitudinal study examined psychosocial antecedents of major depression in late adolescence in a community population. METHOD Subjects were 385 adolescents followed between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Early health, familial, behavior, academic, and environmental risks for major depression were identified using data collected at ages 5, 9, 15, and 18 years. At age 18, a lifetime diagnosis of major depression was assessed using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-III-R). RESULTS For males, neonatal health problems, dependence problems at age 5 years, perceived unpopularity and poorer perceptions of their role in the family at age 9 years, remarriage of a parent, early family discord, and anxiety at age 15 years significantly increased the risk of developing major depression. Females with major depression, compared with nondepressed females, had older parents and came from larger families, and at age 9 years had greater perceived unpopularity and anxiety, lower self-esteem, and poorer perceptions of their role in the family. Depressed females also reported more stressful life events, including death of parent and pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Underscoring the importance of early psychosocial factors in the later development of major depression and pointing to specific risks, our findings can aid in developing strategies for prevention and early intervention.

Religiosity sexual behaviors and sexual attitudes during emerging adulthood.

The current study examined associations between religiosity and sexual behaviors and attitudes during emerging adulthood. Two hundred and five emerging adults completed surveys about five aspects of their religiosity (group affiliation, attendance at religious services, attitudes, perceptions of negative sanctions, and adherence to sanctions) and their sexual behaviors (abstinence, age of onset, lifetime partners, condom use) and attitudes (conservative attitudes, perceived vulnerability to HIV, and condom‐related beliefs). Associations were found between the measures of religiosity and sexuality, although the patterns differed by measures used. Religious behavior was the strongest predictor of sexual behavior. Many aspects of religiosity were associated with general sexual attitudes, which was not the case for perceived vulnerability to HIV and condom‐related beliefs. The findings support reference group theory and highlight the importance of considering the specific constructs of religiosity and sexuality assessed in studies of these topics.

“Things Have Gotten Better” Developmental Changes Among Emerging Adults After the Transition to University

Emerging adulthood involves a number of developmental changes, including in the areas of interpersonal relations, religious views, and sexuality. The current study examined individuals’ perceptions of changes in these areas as a result of the transition to university. Participants (N = 205, 61% female, age range 18 to 25) responded to open-ended questions about changes in their relationships with parents, religious views, and views about sex. These responses were coded for themes and positivity. Changes were most common in relationships with parents, and least in religious views. Associations were found between types of changes and year in school. Changes in all three areas were generally portrayed positively. Belief or quality changes were more common than behavioral changes.

Tensions in the Parent and Adult Child Relationship: Links to Solidarity and Ambivalence

Tensions are normative in the parent and adult child relationship, but there is little research on the topics that cause the most tension or whether tensions are associated with overall relationship quality. In this study, adult sons and daughters, age 22 to 49, and their mothers and fathers (N = 158 families, 474 individuals) reported the intensity of different tension topics and relationship quality (solidarity and ambivalence) with one another. Tensions varied between and within families by generation, gender, and age of offspring. Compared to tensions regarding individual issues, tensions regarding the relationship were associated with lower affective solidarity and greater ambivalence. Findings are consistent with the developmental schism hypothesis, which indicates that parent-child tensions are common and are the result of discrepancies in developmental needs that vary by generation, gender, and age.

How Latino American and European American adolescents discuss conflicts, sexuality, and AIDS with their mothers.

The authors examined how the structure of mother-adolescent conversations differs by ethnic group, age, and dyadic and individual factors. Mother-adolescent dyads of European or Latino descent participated in conversations and reported on their relationship and AIDS knowledge. Latina American mothers dominated conversations more than European American mothers, independent of socioeconomic status. Mothers dominated conversations about sexuality and AIDS more than conversations about conflicts. Mothers of older adolescents reacted more negatively, and older adolescents reported less satisfaction, less openness, and more sexual discussions with persons other than their mothers. Latino American adolescents whose mothers dominated conversations more reported fewer sexual discussions. Latina American mothers who dominated conversations more reported more openness and satisfaction. When mothers dominated conversations more, adolescents had lower AIDS knowledge.

Sex-related communication with mothers and close friends during the transition to university.

Abstract The current study examines communication about sex-related topics with close friends and mothers during the first semester of college. Students (N equal; 182; 50% female; mean age equal; 18.5) completed surveys about the frequency and quality of their sex-related communication with same-sex close friends and mothers and about their sexual experience and attitudes. Sex-related communication was more frequently reported by women than by men and as occurring with close friends more frequently than with mothers. Sexually active students discussed most topics more frequently than did abstinent students. Communication with close friends was a stronger correlate of sexual attitudes than was communication with mothers. Finally, the quality of communication with close friends was more strongly associated with sexual experience and attitudes than was communication with mothers. Findings suggest the importance of understanding the role of friends in assigning meaning to sexual behaviors and beliefs.

Safer Sex and the Health Belief Model

Abstract The goal of the present study was to build on the Health Belief Model (HBM) by adding predictors of late adolescent safer sex behavior: perceptions of peer norms for sexual behavior, and sexual attitudes that emerge from socialization. Sexually active, late adolescent college students (N = 154, 62.3% female; mean age 20.8 years, 76% European American) participated in the study. Predictors from the original HBM included perceived vulnerability, condom use self-efficacy, and attitudes about condoms. In addition, peer norms for condom use and sexual behavior, general sexual attitudes, and endorsement of the sexual double standard were included as predictors of safer sex behavior. Attitudes about condoms, perceived vulnerability, condom use self-efficacy, and the sexual double standard emerged as significant correlates of condom use. General sexual attitudes and the sexual double standard were significantly correlated with alcohol use before or during sex. With the addition of these variables, the regression models accounted for 28% of the variance in condom use, and 14% of the variance in alcohol use before or during sex.

He Said, She Said: Gender Differences in Mother – Adolescent Conversations about Sexuality

This study examined gender differences in self-reported and observed conversations about sexual issues. Fifty mother –adolescent dyads reported on their conversations about sexual issues and participated in videotaped conversations about dating and sexuality in a laboratory setting. Gender differences (more mother – daughter than mother –son) were found in the extent of sexual communication based on adolescents’ reports, but no gender differences were found based on mothers’ reports, or on observations of conversations. Aspects of laboratory interactions, however, did distinguish mother– daughter and mother – son dyads, and related to self-report measures. Girls’ reported sexuality communication frequency related to behavior in the laboratory setting. During mother – son conversations, one person usually took on the role of questioner, whereas the other did not. In contrast, there was evidence for mutuality of positive emotions for mother – daughter dyads, but not for mother – son dyads.

Short-Term Positive and Negative Consequences of Sex Based on Daily Reports Among College Students

Because sexual behavior may be associated with a broader range of outcomes than physical consequences like sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, it is important to understand consequences of sex that may influence mental and social well-being in emerging adulthood. This article describes the short-term intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences reported by college students on days they engage in vaginal sex and what factors predict experiencing particular consequences. Data are from first-year college students who reported vaginal sex on at least one of 28 sampled days (mean age = 18.5 years; 53% female; 30% Hispanic/Latino [HL]; of non-HL participants, 30% were African American, 22% were Asian American, 35% were European American, and 12% were multiracial; N = 209 people and N = 679 person days). Participants reported positive consequences more frequently than negative consequences. Non-use of contraception and sex with a non-dating partner were associated with greater odds of reporting negative consequences. These findings have implications for messages about casual sex and use of contraception in sex education and sexual health programming.