Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Online Risk Taking: The Role of Gist and Verbatim Representations

AbstractGiven the popularity and reach of Instagram among American adolescents and young adults (AYA), the well-known influence of social media on the behaviors of youth, and the rising rates of melanoma in this age group, this study sought to examine and describe the content of a sample of Instagram posts related to skin cancer. At three different times, a search of Instagram was conducted using #skincancer as the hashtag. Descriptive analyses of Instagram characteristics and content was performed. Overall, content focused on prevention (33.3%), skin cancer treatment (29.3%) and preventive measures such as using sunscreen and protective gear (29.3%). Nearly one-quarter discussed the ABCDEs (Asymmetrical; Borders are irregular; Color is not even; Diameter is large; Evolving) of screening and detection. Instagram postings that covered skin cancer prevention (n = 50, 33.3%) more often discussed the role of sun exposure in the development of skin cancer (28.0% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.005) and use of sunscreen and protective gear (62.0% vs. 13.0%, p < 0.001). The findings of this study indicate that a considerable portion of the Instagram posts included in this study focused on prevention. Thus, indicating that Instagram could be used to promote health, particularly among AYA.

Download Full-text

Is It Helpful to Believe That Efforts Will Lead to Positive Outcomes? Two Cross-Lagged Panel Investigations among Adolescents and Young Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207585 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7585

Author(s):

Jacky C. K. Ng ◽

Vince W. T. Cheung ◽

Helen S. M. Wong ◽

Sherry M. Y. Leung ◽

Victor C. Y. Lau

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Young Adults ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Time Lags ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

The Past ◽

Multiplicative Effect ◽

Positive Effect

Over the past few decades, the role of self-views in life satisfaction has been extensively investigated. Recently, growing attention has been directed to the question of whether an optimistic worldview, termed “reward for application”, helps boost life satisfaction. Conceptually, the association between reward for application and life satisfaction can be paradoxical. Due to various methodological and theoretical shortfalls, previous investigations were unable to draw a robust conclusion on this association. To address these shortfalls, two cross-lagged panel studies were conducted with different time lags. Over and above the potential confounds of self-views (namely, self-esteem and self-rated personality traits), reward for application had a positive effect on lagged life satisfaction among both adolescents and young adults, while the reverse effect was not found. Moreover, we found support for the multiplicative effect between worldviews and self-views, in which the positive effect of reward for application on life satisfaction was attenuated by high self-esteem.

Download Full-text

Functional disability in adolescents and young adults with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: the role of academic, social, and athletic competence

Journal of Pediatric Psychology ◽

10.1093/jpepsy/24.3.271 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 271-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

R. Claar

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Athletic Competence ◽

Irritable Bowel

Download Full-text