Limited research is available on the acceptability of comprehensive sex education for economically marginalized Black youth. The current evaluation study collected quantitative self-report data from 109 high-school-aged predominately Black or African American economically marginalized youth after completing a comprehensive sex education program.…

High school athletes are not immune to mental health challenges. The persistent lack of state or national mental health guidelines for athletes has impacted high school athletes' abilities to access and apply resources in a mentally healthy manner. This can impact not only a high school athlete's career but can leave lasting effects on collegiate…

Insufficient sleep among high school students has become a pressing concern for its detrimental effects on academic performance, physical health, and mental wellness. This concern is amplified for students living away from their parents in a boarding school setting. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate and improve the sleep…

Digital gaming has broad appeal globally, with a reported 2.7 billion gamers worldwide. There is significant interest in using games to enhance learning, with 'serious games' being included in classrooms to engage adolescents' learning across a range of domains. A systematic scoping review of serious games used for health promotion with…

Infection with sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies are risks associated with adolescents' risky sexual behavior. Mental models of attachment relationships influence behavior and may influence adolescents' involvement in sexual activities that are risky. This study explored whether attachment styles predicted adolescents'…

This study aimed to explore the meaning of life among Syrian adolescent refugees enrolled in public schools in Jordan. In particular, it investigated the relationship between the meaning of life and unhealthy behaviors among Syrian adolescent refugees enrolled in public schools in Jordan. The sample comprises 225 Syrian adolescent refugees (104…

Legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada was intended to protect youth health and safety by limiting access and raising awareness of safety and risks. The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore youths' perceptions of their cannabis health literacy and future educational needs. A convenience sample of youth aged 13 to 18 residing…

This cross-sectional study examined the mediating role of three reasoned action approach (RAA) constructs--attitudes, perceived social pressure, and perceived behavioral control--on the relationship between peer networks and intention to consume unhealthy food. The authors examined self-reported data of a sample of 277 adolescents from public and…

Sleep is critical to teen physical and mental health, daily function, and school performance. Yet, sleep deficiency is prevalent among ethnoracially diverse teens. The purpose of this community-engaged focus group study was to explore multilevel influences on teen sleep from teen and community stakeholder perspectives and to use this information…

COVID-19 has shaped and changed our normalities, and, with the discovery of new variants, the long-COVID syndrome, and stress disorders, the end of the pandemic seems distant. The current scenario is impacting all aspects of our lives. In particular, many studies reported that the pandemic resulted in increased psychiatric disorders and…

Developmental psychology and brain research can support campus leaders as they work together with students to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on college campuses and in the surrounding communities. This rapid expert consultation presents research-informed habit-promoting and communication strategies to encourage the adoption of behaviors that can…

Preventing smoking among adolescents is critical. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Smoking Prevention Education Program among nonsmoking adolescents. A quasi-experimental study design was used. Data were collected from Year 5 students (n = 140) from four government primary schools in the Kuantan and Pahang districts of Malaysia. The…

The consequences of adolescent drug and alcohol use may be serious and far-reaching, forecasting problematic use or addictive behaviors into adulthood. School counselors are particularly well suited to understand the needs of the school community and to seamlessly deliver sustainable substance use prevention. This pilot study with 46 ninth-grade…

A framework for understanding relationships between school connectedness and student aberrant behaviors is outlined that is synthesized from Merton's insights into anomie and Bernstein's theory of cultural transmission (which focuses on schools' instructional methods and students' internalization of schools' values). A seven-category…

Communication with sexual partners about protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is associated with safer sexual behaviors among general populations of youth, but little is known about partner communication among American Indian youth. We assessed the prevalence of adolescents' communication with sexual partners about STI…