Introduction: Sexual deviance has emerged as a significant contemporary concern among adolescents. An individual’s psychological characteristics, underlying concerns, or behavioral issues are closely linked to their likelihood of engaging in deviant sexual behavior or reoffending. Numerous studies have explored the nature of the juvenile sexual offense, but rare efforts were made to estimate the risk factors in offending. Method: The review also includes quantitative and qualitative studies of adolescents. A standardized data extraction form and quality appraisal checklist were used to extract essential information, critically appraise each study, and assess data reliability. A narrative synthesis was used with heterogeneous studies, i.e., reviews or meta-analyses, which are not similar or consistent in their characteristics. Electronic databases EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature between January 1979 and December 2024. Result: Antisocial Cognition is a key contributor to sexual deviancy among adolescents and is also recognized as a potential risk factor for antisocial behavior in adolescents. Adolescents are especially at risk for sexual violence due to various factors present in their environment. Discussion: This review will synthesize findings on antisocial cognition and its effect on the sexually deviant behavior of adolescents. The study seeks to explore deviant sexual conduct and related delinquent behavior in adolescents, as well as highlighting the existing research gaps on this issue for future guidance. Conclusion: Criminogenic and demographic factors may contribute to the risky sexual behavior in adolescents and perpetrating violent sexual intentions. Further, it was found that antisocial cognition is a potential risk factor for adolescent sexual deviancy.
Background:: The COVID-19 pandemic caused prolonged social disruption in the United States, affecting children, adolescents, and young adults during their developmentally sensitive periods. We synthesized data from the first 38 months of the pandemic to assess the prevalence, correlates, and moderators of youth mental health outcomes. Methods:: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, medRxiv, and Google Scholar (June 2020–December 2024) for peerreviewed English-language studies of U.S. youth aged 3–24 years. Studies included longitudinal, cross-sectional, and observational designs reporting preand pandemic outcomes. Results:: Of 276 screened studies, 163 were included (N~20.5M). Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior correlated with elevated depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Mental health ED visits rose by 24-31% among ages 5-17, despite overall declines in pediatric visits. Adolescents showed the steepest increases in depression and suicidality; college students reported the highest clinical symptom rates. Girls, gender-diverse youth, racial/ethnic minorities, and economically disadvantaged groups faced disproportionate risk. Discussion:: Psychiatric impacts varied by developmental stage. Loneliness, disrupted routines, and family stress served as transdiagnostic risk factors. Digital engagement maintained social connection but worsened distress when excessive. Childhood outcomes centered on caregiver functioning, while adolescent and young adult distress reflected disrupted autonomy and peer networks. Conclusion:: Mental health and well-being deteriorated substantially among U.S. youth during COVID-19. Infection control measures and school closures affected youth mental health, with impacts varying by developmental stage. These findings highlight the importance of developmentally informed, traumaresponsive interventions to promote resilience among youth during future crises.
Introduction: Medical students, especially those in high-stress fields such as anesthesia, are often exposed to significant psychological pressures due to academic workload, clinical responsibilities, and the emotional demands of patient care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and levels of stress among anesthesia students at the Department of Anesthesia, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Qalam University, Kirkuk, Iraq; identify key stressors; and explore associated demographic factors and coping mechanisms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 697 students using the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ-20). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: The overall mean stress level was 1.85, indicating moderate stress among anesthesia students; 62.5% experienced moderate stress, 35% high stress, and 2.5% mild stress. Drive and Desire-Related Stressors (DRS) and Group Activities Related Stressors (GARS) were the most significant contributors to stress. Age, sex, and residence had limited statistical significance on stress levels. Comparison with non-anesthesia students showed no significant differences in overall stress scores. Discussion: The overall mean stress score for anesthesia students indicated moderate stress, consistent with findings from other geographic areas. Many factors influence the development of stress among medical students, leading to variability in stress rates across institutions. The stress rate was lower among anesthesia students than among nonanesthesia students across the overall scale and six domains. In addition, significant differences in stress rates were observed between the 2nd- and 3rd-year anesthesia students across most domains, except in the TLRS domain and the overall score. Conclusion: Anesthesia students at Al-Qalam University College experienced moderate stress, with domain-specific stress scores ranging from moderate to high levels, primarily driven by personal pressure, and an overall prevalence of 46.24%. In contrast, nonanesthesia students with moderate stress had domain scores ranging from moderate to high, with a prevalence of 48.14%. Targeted interventions, such as counseling programs and academic support, are recommended to mitigate stress and enhance student well-being.
In the original version of the article (Kolliopoulou, 2026), a paragraph was inadvertently duplicated during the layout stage. This duplication has now been removed to ensure the clarity and accuracy of the publication. The removed paragraph is as follows: “Next, we compared the category of questions concerning the relationship with proximity perspectives with marital status and occupation, and the analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two, as Marital Status Χ²(2) = 2.51, p=0.643, and Occupation Χ²(2) = 4.74, p=0.315 (Table 13)”. The original article can be found online at: https://www.benthamscience.com/article/151329 The publisher apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
A growing number of adolescents suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety, sadness, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can have a negative influence on their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Conventional pharmaceutical therapies frequently have drawbacks, such as adverse effects, low effectiveness, and noncompliance. A non-psychoactive substance obtained from Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol (CBD), has gained attention as a possible medicinal substitute because of its antidepressant and anxiolytic qualities. The purpose of this study was to examine how cannabidiol may be incorporated into adolescent psychiatry, with an emphasis on its therapeutic uses and safety-risk profile for the treatment of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were used to do a thorough literature assessment. The effectiveness, safety, dose guidelines, and mechanisms of CBD in treating mental illnesses in teenagers were evaluated using an analysis of clinical trials, preclinical research, and observational reports released between 2019 and 2024. New research suggests that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, serotonin receptors, and hippocampus neurogenesis, producing both anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. With minimal psychotropic effects, it may help reduce anxiety and PTSD symptoms. However, concerns about safety, particularly in teenage brains, arise from variations in formulations and a lack of long-term research. CBD may be used as a complementary or alternative therapy for PTSD, sadness, and anxiety in teenagers. However, to provide uniform recommendations and guarantee a safe transition into psychiatric treatment, thorough, long-term, and age-specific clinical studies are necessary.
