Parental Mediation of Cell Phone Use and Adolescent Autonomy

Adolescents’ cell phone use occurs during significant developmental shifts in parent–adolescent relationships, as adolescents’ drives for independence can conflict with parents’ desires for connection. This study examines parental mediation of cell phone use within an interpersonal and family communication framework. Previous mediation research has not examined connections with social penetration theory, uncertainty reduction theory, relational dialectics theory, and communication privacy management, each of which has conceptual links to parental mediation. Cell phone mediation reflects the broader phenomenon of disclosure in interpersonal relationships. The extent to which individuals disclose information is influenced by personal desires for autonomy and connection, privacy and intimacy, which are components of interpersonal and family communication theories. This study explores the notion that families develop norms and expectations about cell phones that might influence parental mediation. Results indicate that perceptions of parent–child relationships and family expectations for cell phone use both significantly influence mediation.

The Relationship Between Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Late Adolescent Autonomy

This study aims to determine the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and late adolescent autonomy in Makassar City. This study uses quantitative methods with a correlational research design. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale-30 (TMMS-30) and adolescent autonomy scale were given to the research sample selected by purposive sampling method, totaling 453 respondents of adolescent aged 18-21 years; data college use online survey. The object of study is located in Makassar City and identifying themselves Bugis ethnicity. The demonstration and data analysis results using the Bivariate Pearson correlation test showed a positive (unidirectional) relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and late adolescent autonomy. However, the relationship between these variables was moderate (R-calculated = 0.417; with Sig. level < 0.01). The demonstration of the correlation of these variables means that the higher the level of perceived emotional intelligence possessed by adolescents is in line with the level of autonomy of adolescents. However, our study also underlines that the ability of perceived emotional intelligence in predicting the autonomy factor of adolescents is in the moderate category. It is assumed that the control of the perceived emotional intelligence variable is not strong enough to justify its role in the autonomy of late adolescents in this study.

599 Exploring Ways to Optimize Parental Involvement in Adolescent Sleep Interventions

Introduction Sleep is critical to the health and functioning of adolescents, but most teens do not obtain the recommended amount of sleep each night. Some sleep interventions have been efficacious in promoting sleep among adolescents, though others have had a more limited impact. One potential strategy for improving the efficacy of adolescent sleep promotion programs is to optimize the role of parents in supporting their child’s sleep. Recent findings on parental involvement in adolescent sleep suggest that monitoring can improve sleep duration but may be challenged by disagreements about sleep between parents and adolescents. Thus, it is crucial to understand how to involve parents in adolescent sleep promotion while supporting adolescent autonomy. Here, we report qualitative data on strategies for involving parents in adolescent sleep promotion in a way that is acceptable and effective. This data was collected specifically to inform the development of a sleep promotion program for adolescents. Methods We conducted 9 focus groups (3 each for youth, parents of adolescents, and healthcare providers treating adolescents). Transcripts of focus group proceedings were coded and thematically analyzed using inductive and deductive approaches, focusing on parents’ current role in their child’s sleep and the proposed role of parents in an adolescent sleep program. Results Some parents report being involved in their child’s sleep habits by setting bedtimes and supervising a consistent sleep routine. Adolescents prefer parental support that encourages child autonomy for their own sleep routine. To maintain healthy sleep habits, parents report that physicians or other trusted adults may play a key role in facilitating the negotiation of sleep habits that addresses the priorities of both parents and adolescents. Conclusion Our findings support adolescent preference for autonomy in their health behaviors consistent with their developing independence during this development period. Future work should focus on improved understanding of how adolescents and parents can negotiate adolescent autonomy and should examine the efficacy of a sleep promotion program based on varying levels of parental involvement. Support (if any):

“They Just Tell Me to Abstain:” Variable Access to and Uptake of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Kenya

Background: To improve holistic care for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), including integration of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS), the Kenya Ministry of Health implemented an adolescent package of care (APOC). To inform optimized SRH service delivery, we sought to understand the experiences with SRHS for ALHIV, their primary caregivers, and health care workers (HCWs) following APOC implementation.Methods: We completed a mixed methods evaluation to characterize SRHS provided and personal experiences with access and uptake using surveys conducted with facility managers from 102 randomly selected large HIV treatment facilities throughout Kenya. Among a subset of 4 APOC-trained facilities in a high burden county, we conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 40 ALHIV and 40 caregivers of ALHIV, and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with HCWs. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Facility survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Of 102 surveyed facilities, only 56% reported training in APOC and 12% reported receiving additional adolescent-related SRHS training outside of APOC. Frequency of condom provision to ALHIV varied, with 65% of facilities providing condoms daily and 11% never providing condoms to ALHIV. Family planning (FP) was provided to ALHIV daily in 60% of facilities, whereas 14% of facilities reported not providing any FP services to ALHIV. Screening and treatment for STIs for adolescents were provided at all clinics, with 67% providing STI services daily. Three key themes emerged characterizing experiences with adolescent SRHS access and uptake: (1) HCWs were the preferred source for SRH information, (2) greater adolescent autonomy was a facilitator of SRH discussions with HCWs, and (3) ALHIV had variable access to and limited uptake of SRHS within APOC-trained health facilities. The primary SRHS reported available to ALHIV were abstinence and condom use education. There was variable access to FP, condoms, pregnancy and STI testing, and partner services. Adolescents reported limited utilization of SRHS beyond education.Conclusions: Our results indicate a gap in SRHS offered within APOC trained facilities and highlight the importance of adolescent autonomy when providing SRHS and further HCW training to improve SRHS integration within HIV care for ALHIV.

An Ecological Perspective of Food Choice and Eating Autonomy Among Adolescents

Adolescence is an important developmental period marked by a transition from primarily parental-controlled eating to self-directed and peer-influenced eating. During this period, adolescents gain autonomy over their individual food choices and eating behavior in general. While parent-feeding practices have been shown to influence eating behaviors in children, little is known about how these relationships track across adolescent development as autonomy expands. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that impact food decisions and eating autonomy among adolescents. Using the food choice process model as a guide, four focus groups were conducted with 34 adolescents. Focus group discussion was semi-structured, asking teens about influences on their food choices across different food environments, their involvement with food purchasing and preparation, and perceived control over food their choices. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using deductive and inductive code creation and thematic analysis. This study found six leading influences on adolescents' food choices and identified additional factors with prominence within specific environmental contexts. This study distinguished a broader spectrum of factors influencing adolescent food choice that extend beyond “convenience” and “taste” which have previously been identified as significant contributors. The degree of control that teens reported differed by eating location, occasion, and social context. Finally, adolescents demonstrated various levels of engagement in behaviors related to their eating autonomy. Identifying the emergent themes related to adolescent autonomy was the first step toward the goal of developing a scale to evaluate adolescent eating autonomy.

Parental perspectives on negotiations over diet and physical activity: how do we involve parents in adolescent health interventions?

Objective: To identify the ways in which parental involvement can be incorporated into interventions to support adolescent health behaviour change. Design: Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Setting: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Participants: A convenience sample of twenty-four parents of adolescents. Results: Parents consider themselves to play an important role in supporting their adolescents to make healthy choices. Parents saw themselves as gatekeepers of the household and as role models to their adolescents but recognised this could be both positive and negative in terms of health behaviours. Parents described the changing dynamics of the relationships they have with their adolescents because of increased adolescent autonomy. Parents stated that these changes altered their level of influence over adolescents’ health behaviours. Parents considered it important to promote independence in their adolescents; however, many described this as challenging because they believed their adolescents were likely to make unhealthy decisions if not given guidance. Parents reported difficulty in supporting adolescents in a way that was not viewed as forceful or pressuring. Conclusions: When designing adolescent health interventions that include parental components, researchers need to be aware of the disconnect between public health recommendations and the everyday reality for adolescents and their parents. Parental involvement in adolescent interventions could be helpful but needs to be done in a manner that is acceptable to both adolescents and parents. The findings of this study may be useful to inform interventions which need to consider the transitions and negotiations which are common in homes containing adolescents.

Notes: Children, autonomy and statements: The need for a bright-line rule

Currently, a child cannot provide a statement without parental or guardian consent. This limits the child’s right to participate fully in matters which affect the child. Indeed, it also impacts the fact-finding process of an investigation. In terms of international conventions and the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, child participation is a cornerstone of children’s rights. This note proposes that South African law recognise adolescent autonomy — specifically, an adolescent’s competence to provide a statement in matters affecting the child. An adolescent’s stage of growth (physical and mental) makes the child capable of understanding the consequences of such conduct, and the child’s developing agency and cognitive abilities mean that the child may wish to do so. The note proposes that the law recognise the autonomy of a child who is twelve years or older to provide an unassisted statement in legal fora.