Criminal Behavior and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Brazilian Adolescent Offenders: An Exploratory Latent Class Analysis

Considering that adolescent offenders are quite a heterogeneous group in terms of behavioral and psychosocial variables, it is considered that a typological approach can assist in the systematization of these differences, aiming at a better understanding of the phenomenon and at clearer guidance in terms of interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the behavioral and psychosocial profiles of male adolescent offenders, based on empirical data collected in a Brazilian sociocultural context. The profiles were made with a sample of 400 adolescent offenders to perform an exploratory latent classes analysis. The instruments used in data collection were the Youth Behavior Questionnaire (Questionário de Comportamentos Juvenis, QCJ) and the Brazilian Jesness Inventory—Revised (Inventário Jesness-Revisado-Brasileiro, IJ-R-Br). The most appropriate model was that of four classes, with the profiles found indicating differences between the adolescent offenders both in relation to psychological functioning and criminal pattern, as well as the psychosocial risk/protective factors associated with each of the profiles. These findings, in addition to contributing to understanding the phenomenon, may help to reflect on the assessments required to assist in judicial decision-making processes and the customized proposal of psychosocial interventions.

Well-Being Perception during COVID-19 Pandemic in Healthy Adolescents: From the Avatar Study

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an extraordinary and naturalistic context to observe young people’s psychosocial profiles and to study how a condition of environmental deprivation and lack of direct social contact, affects the well-being and health status of adolescents. The study explored whether the COVID-19 outbreak changes, in the short term, the acute well-being perception in adolescents, as measured by a Personalized Well-Being Index (PWBI) and the four components affecting health (i.e., lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, mental skills), in a sample of early adolescent students. Data from 10 schools were collected on 1019 adolescents (males 48.3%, mean age 12.53 ± 1.25 y). Measurements were obtained at two time points, in September/October 2019, (baseline condition, BC) as part of the “A new purpose for promotion and eVAluation of healTh and well-being Among healthy teenageRs” (AVATAR) project and during the Italian Lockdown Phase (mid–late April 2020, LP), with the same students using an online questionnaire. During COVID-19 quarantine, adolescents showed a lower PWBI (p < 0.001) as compared to the BC. Considering the four health-related well-being components, lifestyle habits (p < 0.001), social context (p < 0.001), and emotional status (p < 0.001), showed significantly lower values during LP than BC. However, mental skills, in LP, displayed a significant increase as compared to BC (p < 0.001). In this study, we have provided data on the personalized well-being index and the different components affecting health in adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown, showing a general decrease in well-being perception, expressed in lifestyle habits, social, and emotional components, demonstrating detrimental effects in the first phase of quarantine on adolescents’ psychosocial profiles. Our results shed new light on adolescence as a crucial period of risk behavior, especially when social support is lacking.

Abstract P193: Psychosocial Profiles And Hypertension Control: Results From The Multi-ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Introduction: Increasing research demonstrates psychosocial factors are associated with blood pressure control (BPC) among individuals with hypertension. To date, little research has examined multiple psychosocial factors simultaneously to identify distinguishing profiles among individuals with hypertension. The association of psychosocial profiles and BPC remains unknown. Thus, the goal of this study was to characterize the psychosocial profiles of individuals with hypertension and assess whether they are associated with BPC over 14 years. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that discrete psychosocial profiles will emerge, and they will be associated with BPC longitudinally. Methods: We included 2,665 MESA participants (38.57% Black; 55.43% Female) with prevalent hypertension in 2002-2004. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct psychosocial profiles based on a combination of nine psychosocial variables (Table). We used generalized estimating equations to determine associations of the psychosocial profiles with BPC, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 90 mm Hg. Results: The LPA revealed an optimal model of three psychosocial profile groups (AIC 121,229; entropy = .88) namely “Healthy”, “Depressed Mood” and “Discriminated Against”. There were no significant differences in BPC of both targets (SBP and DBP) combined across the profiles. Examining SBP and DBP separately, participants in the “Depressed Mood” profile group were 60% less likely [95% CI: 0.43, 0.84] to have their DBP < 90 mm Hg as compared to the “Healthy” profile in the unadjusted model, but there was no association with covariate adjustment. Conclusions: Discrete psychosocial profiles exist among individuals with hypertension, but were not associated with BPC after full covariate adjustment.

Abstract P241: Psychosocial Profiles and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Control: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (cardia) Study

Introduction: Psychosocial factors are associated with the onset of chronic disease, however few studies have examined the association between these factors and cardiovascular disease risk factor (CVDRF) control over time in individuals who already have a chronic disease. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate associations of psychosocial factors with a composite measure of CVDRF control. Methods: This study includes 1,018 CARDIA participants (51.6% Black; 41.6% Male) with prevalent hypertension (n = 604), hypercholesterolemia (n = 636), and/or diabetes (n = 210) in 2000-2001 (Year 15 follow-up exam). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct psychosocial profiles based on a combination of personality, social life, and psychological health factors (Table). We used generalized estimating equations to determine associations of the psychosocial profiles with composite control, defined as HbA1c < 7.0%, systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mm Hg, and LDL-cholesterol < 100 mm/dl, all measured in 2005-2016. Results: The LPA revealed an optimal model of three psychosocial profile groups (AIC 87,467.545; entropy = .895) namely “Healthy”, “Depressed Mood” and “Discriminated Against”. There were no significant differences in composite control across the profiles. Looking at HbA1C, SBP, and LDL separately in the unadjusted models, we found participants in the Depressed and Discriminated Against profiles were less likely to meet guidelines for SBP compared to individuals in the Healthy profile. Participants in the Discriminated profile were significantly less likely to meet the guidelines for HbA1C levels compared to the Healthy profile. These associations were attenuated with adjustment for sociodemographic covariates. Conclusions: Psychosocial profiles were associated with CVDRF control in unadjusted models, but not independent of socio-demographic characteristics.