Social anxiety symptoms among youth with chronic health conditions: trajectories and related factors.

This study explored three-year trajectories of social anxiety symptoms among youth with chronic health conditions and investigated factors influencing those trajectories. Participants ( = 439) were recruited from eight pediatric rehabilitation centers. The Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised measured social anxiety across four time points.

Youth with chronic health problems: how do they fare in main-stream mentoring programs?

Background: Youth with chronic physical health problems often experience social and emotional problems. We investigate the relationship between participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada community-based mentoring programs (BBBS) and youth social and mood outcomes by youth health status.

Methods: Youth newly enrolled in BBBS were classified by health status (one or more chronic physical health problems without activity limitation, n = 191; one or more chronic physical health problems with activity limitation, n = 94; no chronic health problem or activity limitation, n = 536) and mentoring status (yes/no) at 18 month follow-up.

Dimensionality of the PTSD Checklist in a Canadian Aboriginal Sample.

Background And Purpose: The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) is a widely used screening instrument measuring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, to our knowledge, the factor structure of the PCL-C has not been examined in an Aboriginal population. Considerable research indicates that PTSD symptoms are characterized by 4 factors, with both the "King model" and the "Simms model" supported by the literature.

Mentoring Relationships and the Mental Health of Aboriginal Youth in Canada.

We compared the mentoring experiences and mental health and behavioral outcomes associated with program-supported mentoring for 125 Aboriginal (AB) and 734 non-Aboriginal (non-AB) youth ages 6-17 participating in a national survey of Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring relationships. Parents or guardians reported on youth mental health and other outcomes at baseline (before youth were paired to a mentor) and at 18 months follow-up. We found that AB youth were significantly less likely than non-AB youth to be in a long-term continuous mentoring relationship.

Three-year trajectories of global perceived quality of life for youth with chronic health conditions.

Purpose: Objectives of this longitudinal study were to examine 3-year trajectories of global perceived quality of life (QOL) for youth with chronic health conditions, as obtained from youth and parent reports, and to identify personal and environmental factors associated with the trajectory groups for each perspective.

Methods: Youth with various chronic conditions aged 11-17 years and one of their parents were recruited from eight children's treatment centers. Latent class growth analysis was used to investigate perceived QOL trajectories (separately for youth and parent perspectives) over a 3-year period (four data collection time points spaced 12 months apart).

Mentoring Relationship Closures in Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Mentoring Programs: Patterns and Associated Risk Factors.

Previous research suggests that early mentoring relationship (MR) closures may have harmful consequences for the health and well-being of youth participating in community-based mentoring programs. However, knowledge of the factors that lead some MRs to close early has been slow to emerge. This study examined patterns and correlates of early versus on-time MR closures among 569 youth participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring programs.

The Role of Program-Supported Mentoring Relationships in Promoting Youth Mental Health, Behavioral and Developmental Outcomes.

This study examined the relationship between youth mentoring status and behavioral, developmental, and emotional outcomes for 859 youths aged 6-17 participating in a national survey of Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring relationships (MRs). Youth self-reported behaviors and mental health occurred at the baseline assessment (before being paired to a mentor) and at 18 months follow-up. Youth mentoring status was categorized as follows: (1) continuous MR less than 12 months (n = 131); (2) continuous MR 12 or more months (n = 253); (3) dissolved MR less than 12 months (n = 110); (4) dissolved MR 12 or more months (n = 70); 5) MR with a second mentor (re-matched; n = 83); and (6); never mentored (n = 212).

Maternal factors and the emotional and behavioural functioning of adolescents with chronic health conditions.

Purpose: This study investigated the association between mothers' mental health and education and the emotional and behavioural functioning of adolescents with chronic health conditions over time.

Methods: Data were drawn from an ongoing study. Study participants (N = 363) were recruited through eight children's rehabilitation centres.

ICF-based functional components and contextual factors as correlates of perceived quality of life for youth with chronic conditions.

Purpose: To explore International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based functional components and contextual factors associated with perceived quality of life (QOL) for youth with chronic conditions from the perspective of youth and parents.

Method: Baseline data were obtained from a longitudinal study examining predictors of changes in perceived QOL for youth with chronic conditions. 439 youth aged 11-17 (and one of their parents) completed a questionnaire.

The measurement properties of mentoring relationship quality scales for mentoring programs.

The measurement properties of two new scales designed to measure global and engagement mentoring relationship quality (Global Mentoring Relationship Quality Scale and Quality of Mentoring Relationship Engagement Scale) were examined among 272 mentors, 491 children, and 554 parents participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring programs across Canada. Results demonstrated their unidimensionality, moderate convergent validity, good external validity, and weak-to-moderate reporter concordance. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated good predictive validity of mentor and parent mentoring relationship quality scales with respect to predicting mentoring relationship status.

Out-of-school time activity participation profiles of children with physical disabilities: a cluster analysis.

Objective: To determine out-of-school activity participation profiles of school-aged children with physical disabilities.

Methods: Activity participation profiles were determined by cluster analysing 427 children's responses on multiple dimensions of participation (intensity, location, companionship, enjoyment, preference) in five activity types (recreational, active physical, social, skill-based, self-improvement). Socio-demographic, child, parent, family and environmental predictors of group membership were determined, along with child functioning, socio-demographic, self-concept and social support variables significantly associated with group membership.

Predictors of Change Over Time in the Activity Participation of Children and Youth with Physical Disabilities.

Little is known about predictors of change over time in the intensity of the leisure and recreational activity participation of children with physical disabilities. This study reports data from 402 children/youth with physical disabilities (216 boys and 186 girls), ages 6 to 15, collected on three occasions over a 3-year period. Latent growth curve modeling was used to determine the significant child, family, and community predictors of change in the intensity of their participation in five types of activities (recreational, active physical, social, skill-based, and self-improvement).

Gender differences in the effects of family adversity on the risk of onset of DSM-III-R social phobia.

Utilizing a random probability sample of Canadian residents aged 15-64 (n = 8116), this study assessed gender differences in the onset of social phobia and the moderating influence of gender on indicators of childhood family adversity hypothesized to increase the risk of developing the disorder. Results revealed statistically significant "gender by family adversity" interactions that varied by disorder sub-type. Among males, absence of a parent or other adult close confidant during childhood was associated with an elevated risk of developing social phobia (all diagnosed cases and the non-generalized sub-type).

Distinguishing generalized anxiety disorder from major depression: prevalence and impairment from current pure and comorbid disorders in the US and Ontario.

Estimation of comparative disease burden in epidemiological surveys is complicated by the fact that high comorbidities exist among many chronic conditions. The easiest way to take comorbidity into consideration is to distinguish between pure and comorbid conditions and to evaluate the incremental effects of comorbid conditions in prediction equations. This approach is illustrated here in an analysis of the effects of pure and comorbid major depression (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) on a number of different measures of role impairment in the US National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) and the Mental Health Supplement to the Ontario (Canada) Health Survey (the Supplement).

Prevalence and age of onset for drug use in seven international sites: results from the international consortium of psychiatric epidemiology.

This study compares lifetime prevalence and age of first use (onset) for alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs in six international sites. Data from seven epidemiologic field surveys that used compatible instruments and study designs were compiled for cross-site analyses by the International Consortium of Psychiatric Epidemiology (ICPE). The world health organization's composite international diagnostic instrument (WHO-CIDI) and additional items were used to ascertain drug use in each site.

Patterns and predictors of treatment seeking after onset of a substance use disorder.

Background: We studied survey respondents aged 18 through 54 years to determine consistent predictors of treatment seeking after onset of a DSM-III-R substance use disorder.

Methods: Survey populations included a regional sample in Ontario (n = 6261), a national sample in the United States (n = 5388), and local samples in Fresno, Calif (n = 2874) and Mexico City, Mexico (n = 1734). The analysis examined the effects of demographics, symptoms, and types of substances on treatment seeking.

Alcohol use, alcohol disorders, and the use of health services: results from a population survey.

Data from a population survey were used to explore relationships among drinking levels/patterns, alcohol dependence or abuse, and the use of emergency services, hospital admissions, and frequent visits to general practitioners in the past year. For both males and females, self-reported hospital admissions were less common among daily moderate drinkers than among lifetime abstainers. Among males, drinkers with no history of alcohol dependence or abuse were less likely to report being in hospital in the last year than lifetime abstainers.

The influence of early and frequent use of marijuana on the risk of desistance and of progression to marijuana-related harm.

Background: A significant minority of lifetime marijuana users will eventually receive a diagnosis of abuse or dependence. Yet little is known regarding the effect of age at onset and frequency of lifetime marijuana use on desistance from use and on progression to marijuana disorders.

Methods: To address this issue, data were obtained from a community sample of 2,729 lifetime marijuana users participating in the Ontario Mental Health Supplement.

Age at first alcohol use: a risk factor for the development of alcohol disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the natural course of DSM-III-R alcohol disorders as a function of age at first alcohol use and to investigate the influence of early use as a risk factor for progression to the development of alcohol disorders, exclusive of the effect of confounding influences.

Method: Data were obtained from a community sample (N=5,856) of lifetime drinkers participating in the 1990-1991 Mental Health Supplement of the Ontario Health Survey.

Results: Survival analyses revealed a rapid progression to alcohol-related harm among those who reported having their first drink at ages 11-14.

Lifetime use of professional and community services for help with drinking: results from a Canadian population survey.

Objective: To determine the lifetime prevalence of help seeking for alcohol problems among Canadian drinkers; to explore the influence on help seeking of age, gender, education, marital status and the number of life areas where alcohol was felt to have caused harm; and to consider any similarities and differences in the rate of help seeking in Canada and in the U.S.

Method: Analyses of data from a survey of 12,155 Canadian adults (response rate 75.

Antecedents of the risk of recovery from DSM-III-R social phobia.

Background: This study reports antecedents of recovery from DSM-III-R social phobia.

Methods: Retrospective data were obtained from 1116 individuals age 15 to 64 participating in a large population health survey in the province of Ontario, Canada

Results: Approximately 50% of the sample recovered from their illness. Survival analysis revealed a median length of illness of 25 years with peak periods of risk of recovery occurring between 30 and 45 years duration.

Predictors of the prevalence of tobacco use among Francophones and Anglophones in the province of Ontario.

This study examines Francophone/Anglophone differences in levels and patterns of tobacco use and associated risk factors in the province of Ontario, Canada. Estimates are derived from the self-administered portion of the 1990 Ontario Health Survey, a random probability survey of Ontario residents. The sample consists of 1127 Francophones and a random subset of 4023 Anglophones.