Biomedical subjects

C J Brack

Publications and source records attributed to C J Brack.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

Reported sexual behaviors and self-esteem among young adolescents.

Six hundred seventy-seven adolescents in grades 7 through 9 of a blue-collar, midwestern junior high school responded to a survey of sexual behavior and self-esteem. The focus of this study was on the relationship between sexual experience and self-esteem. Fifty-five percent of the students reported having had at least one coital experience; 7% reported having intercourse about once a week. The proportion of sexually experienced adolescents increased with age; 28% of 12-year-olds, 52.7% of 13-year-olds, 60.1% of 14-year-olds, 73.6% of 15-year-olds, and 90% of 16-year-olds reported having intercourse on at least one occasion. More boys of all ages were sexually active than girls. Six percent of students had had, or were suspicious of having had, a sexually transmitted disease; 7.8% were involved in a pregnancy. The average of the self-esteem scores for girls was significantly lower than the average for boys. There was an interaction effect between gender and coital history for self-esteem. Girls who reported having had intercourse had lower self-esteem scores than those who did not. On the other hand, self-esteem of sexually experienced and inexperienced boys did not differ, nor did self-esteem of virginal boys and girls. Boys and girls with a history of sexually transmitted diseases had lower self-esteem than all others. Pregnancy, on the other hand, did not seem to affect self-esteem of the sexually experienced adolescents. This cross-sectional study does not permit determination of whether the lower average self-esteem among certain girls was antecedent to or a consequence of sexual experience.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Longitudinal relationship of asymptomatic hypoglycemia to cognitive function in IDDM.

Early-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is linked to subsequent learning deficits. To investigate the relationship of learning deficits to metabolic control, 23 children with IDDM (age at testing 71 +/- 21 mo, age at diagnosis 35 +/- 15 mo) diagnosed before 5 yr of age were followed for periods of 6-78 mo. Mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1), episodes of severe hypoglycemia, and frequency of self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) measurements less than 2.8 mM (50 mg/dl, asymptomatic hypoglycemia) were recorded every 3 mo. Six subjects entered the study 12.3 +/- 6.7 mo after diagnosis, and only severe hypoglycemia was present before entry. For the remaining 17 subjects, HbA1 and severe and asymptomatic hypoglycemia were present from the time of diagnosis of diabetes. Mean HbA1 level was 10.1 +/- 1.0%, and mean severe hypoglycemic episodes per patient was 2.9, but the frequency was highly skewed; one patient had 37 episodes, and 14 had none. The mean percentage of SMBG readings less than 2.8 mM was 2.4 +/- 2.1. On the revised Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale there was no correlation between any subscale and severe hypoglycemia. However, the relative frequency of asymptomatic hypoglycemia correlated with scores on the abstract/visual reasoning scale (r = -.39, P = .037). This relationship was primarily accounted for by the relationship of asymptomatic hypoglycemia to performance on the copying subscale (r = -.42, P = .022). Children with frequent asymptomatic hypoglycemic episodes had lower mean copying scores and abstract reasoning scores than those with infrequent episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring↗

PubMed1988

Abuse, feelings, and health behaviors in a student population.

Behavioral sequelae of child abuse are frequently cited, but there are few studies that examine the strength of association between behavioral effect and abuse for children in a nonclinical setting. Seven hundred twelve junior high school students (mean age, 13.5 years) were surveyed for self-report of personal experience with abuse, certain health behaviors, and self-esteem. Physical and/or sexual abuse was reported by 18.3% of students. Both types of abuse were associated with the following behaviors: running away; considering hurting oneself; suicide attempts; and the use of drugs, pot (marijuana), cigarettes, and laxatives. No clinically significant relationships were found between abuse and report of anger, sadness, or self-esteem. These data suggested that some feelings and behaviors were common among all adolescents sampled, while others were more common among abused adolescents. Recognition of strong associations should help direct clinical management. The results of this study confirm findings from some previous reports and indicate the need for further studies of children who are not in a clinical setting.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Pubertal maturation and cognitive maturity in adolescents.

To determine the relationship between puberty and cognitive development, 135 students, ages 11 through 19 years, were studied. The participants were 73% white, 55% female, and of predominantly middle-class backgrounds with a mean Hollingshead score of 37.1 +/- 16.3. Measures of general intelligence (IQ), cognitive complexity (conceptual level), and cognitive style (perceptual field dependence-independence) were administered. Students rated their own level of sexual maturity (Tanner stage). Mean Tanner stage of 4.0 +/- 0.9 was consistent with the mean age of 14.2 +/- 2.2 years. General intelligence was average (105 +/- 18.2). Most did not demonstrate the use of mature cognitive processes, as reflected in low conceptual level scores (1.19 +/- 0.5) and a more field-dependent cognitive style (7.9 +/- 4.9). Older adolescents (r = 0.377; p less than 0.001), females (r = 0.217; p less than 0.005), and those with a higher IQ (r = 0.329; p less than 0.001) were cognitively more complex. Using an analysis of covariance to control for colinearity of variables, differences in conceptual level and cognitive style as functions of levels of sexual maturity were compared. Once the statistically significant colinear effects of age, gender, and IQ (p less than 0.0001) were removed, no statistical contribution was left attributable to the level of sexual maturity. In other words, when the effects of age were controlled, more advanced Tanner stage was not a predictor of more mature cognitive processes. Physical growth and development during puberty do not appear to affect cognitive development.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Pubertal maturation and adolescent self-esteem.

One hundred thirty-five students attending a suburban junior and senior high school were studied to examine the relationships between self-esteem and age, gender, and pubertal events. Forty-five percent of the subjects were male, and 24% were black. Mean Hollingshead Two Factor Index of Social Position was 37.1 +/- 16.3, reflecting their predominantly middle-class background. Self-esteem was not related to age but did correlate with intelligence (r = 0.233, p = 0.003). Females had significantly lower self-esteem than males (p = 0.001). Pubertal status (Tanner stage) did not affect self-esteem. However, our data suggest that a subtle relationship between timing of sexual maturation and self-esteem may exist for males. Perhaps more sensitive measures of early pubertal maturation (such as hormone levels) may clarify the extent of this relationship and the gender differences found prior to age 11 years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

School-based, short-term group treatment for behaviorally disturbed young adolescent males: a pilot intervention.

Behaviorally maladjusted students represent a serious problem for schools. A short-term group counseling program was initiated as an alternative to out-of-school suspensions for male students in a middle school (grades six-eight). Thirteen adolescents were identified for group treatment. All received a standard psychiatric interview, and standard measures of self-concept, anxiety, cognitive complexity, and sexual maturity. Eleven students referred to the program had conduct disorders supported by Devereux Behavior profiles. Compared to 48 males of similar age (m = 12.5 years) without behavior problems, no significant differences were noted in self-concept or anxiety. Boys with behavior problems were less cognitively mature (p = .02) and were significantly (p = .001) more advanced in Tanner sexual maturity rating than the comparison group. A behavior management system using group rewards and consequences for individual behavior was utilized. Disciplinary problems decreased in the classroom during treatment but no long-term changes were noted following cessation of treatment. The data raises the question whether early sexual maturation modifies an adolescent's risk for psychological problems. Short-term group treatment may be effective in improving classroom behavior of behaviorally disturbed adolescent males.

Adolescent↗