Domestic violence (DV) is a serious and preventable human rights issue that disproportionately affects certain groups of people, including Indian women. Feminist theory suggests that patriarchal ...ideologies produce an entitlement in male perpetrators of DV; however, this has not been examined in the context of women from the Indian subcontinent. This study examined Indian women's experiences of abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological) and controlling behavior across 31 countries by examining the relationship between the patriarchal beliefs held by the women's partners and the women's experience of DV. This study uses an intersectional feminist framework to examine the variables. Data from an online questionnaire was collected from 825 Indian women aged between 18 and 77 years (
= 35.64,
= 8.71) living in 31 countries across Asia (37.1%), Europe (18.3%), Oceania (23.8%), the Americas (16.1%) and Africa (3.2%) and analyzed using a hierarchical linear regression. A majority of participants (72.5%) had experienced at least one form of abuse during their relationship, and over a third (35.1%) had experienced controlling behavior. In support of the central hypotheses, after controlling for potential confounders, women whose partners showed greater endorsement of patriarchal beliefs were less likely to have access to freedom during their relationship (
= -0.38,
< 0.001) and were more likely to have been abused by their partner or a member of his family (
= 0.34,
< 0.001). The findings of this study highlight the need to engage with men in Indian communities through culturally-tailored intervention strategies designed to challenge the patriarchal ideologies that propagate, justify, and excuse DV.
The world youth population is the largest ever and the levels of problem behavior will influence future global health. Recognition of these issues raises questions as to whether adolescent ...development knowledge can be internationally applied. To date, most research examining adolescent problem behavior has been completed in the United States (USA) and there has been neglected analysis of health inequalities. The aim of the present study was to compare the structure and predictors of problem behavior in representative samples from the USA, Australia, India, and the Netherlands. Two timepoints of longitudinal data were analyzed from the International Youth Development Study that originally recruited state-representative student cohorts in 2002 in Washington State, USA (analytic sample
N
= 1942) and Victoria, Australia (
N
= 1957). Similar aged samples were recruited in Mumbai, India, in 2010 (
N
= 3.923) and the Netherlands in 2008 (
N
= 682). Surveys were matched and follow-up occurred over 1-year (average baseline ages 12 to 13). CFA identified a latent problem behavior construct comprised of substance use and antisocial behavior indicators. There were cross-national differences in the indicators for this construct. Factor loadings and items were similar between Australia and the USA; however, different items loaded on the construct for the Indian and Netherlands sample. SEM identified that problem behavior at time 2 was predicted by time 1 behavior, with cross-national differences evident. Low parent education was predictive in the USA and India. The number of risk factors present was predictive of problem behavior in all four nations. The findings suggest that evaluated preventative strategies to reduce adolescent problem behavior may have international applications. The analysis of cross-nationally matched longitudinal data appears feasible for identifying prevalence and predictor differences that may signify policy and cultural contexts, to be considered in adapting prevention programs.
BackgroundInjuries are one of the three leading causes of morbidity and mortality for young people internationally. Although community risk factors are modifiable causes of youth injury, there has ...been limited evaluation of community interventions. Communities That Care (CTC) offers a coalition training process to increase evidence-based practices that reduce youth injury risk factors.MethodUsing a non-experimental design, this study made use of population-based hospital admissions data to evaluate the impact on injuries for 15 communities that implemented CTC between 2001 and 2017 in Victoria, Australia. Negative binomial regression models evaluated trends in injury admissions (all, unintentional and transport), comparing CTC and non-CTC communities across different age groups.ResultsStatistically significant relative reductions in all hospital injury admissions in 0–4 year olds were associated with communities completing the CTC process and in 0–19 year olds when communities began their second cycle of CTC. When analysed by subgroup, a similar pattern was observed with unintentional injuries but not with transport injuries.ConclusionThe findings support CTC coalition training as an intervention strategy for preventing youth hospital injury admissions. However, future studies should consider stronger research designs, confirm findings in different community contexts, use other data sources and evaluate intervention mechanisms.
Introduction
Around half of Australian students aged 16–17 are estimated to have drunk alcohol in the past month, with 11% drinking at ‘risky’ levels. This study investigated: (i) how many Australian ...adolescents aged 16–17 had parental permission to drink at home in 2016/17 and whether prevalence differed by adolescent sex; (ii) whether adolescents allowed to drink at home had drunk more recently and were drinking greater quantities; (iii) if adolescents allowed to drink at home experienced more alcohol‐related harms; and (iv) if parental drinking patterns were associated with permitting adolescents to drink at home.
Methods
Data from Wave 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used. Descriptive and bivariate analyses addressed Aims i–iii. Nested multivariable logistic regression models addressed aim iv.
Results
In 2016/17, 28% of Australian adolescents aged 16–17 were allowed to drink alcohol at home. More adolescents with permission had drunk alcohol in the past month (77% vs. 63% of those without permission). There was no difference in quantity of alcohol consumed in the past week between groups. More adolescents allowed to drink at home had experienced alcohol‐related harm compared to those without permission (23% vs. 17%). In multivariable analyses, alcohol consumption by primary parents was associated with an increased likelihood of allowing adolescents to drink at home.
Discussions and Conclusions
In order to reduce adolescent alcohol use and associated harms, parents should avoid permitting alcohol use among adolescents at home. Frequent (twice or more/week) primary parental alcohol consumption was especially associated with greater odds of allowing adolescents to drink at home.
Introduction
Many community sporting clubs in Australia sell alcohol, but many do not comply with laws that require verification of age and forbid underage alcohol sales. This study aimed to assess ...the effectiveness of an intervention that incorporated sales monitoring and community awareness raising to improve compliance with alcohol service regulations in community sporting clubs.
Methods
Non‐randomised community trial in ‘matched’ intervention and comparison communities. A total of 50 sporting clubs from two metropolitan and two regional areas in Victoria, Australia, were selected, and baseline and follow‐up purchase observations completed during 2018. Youth who looked underage were monitored as they attempted to purchase alcohol. Intervention clubs received feedback letters regarding staff sales behaviour. Other intervention actions included building awareness of underage supply of alcohol and media coverage of baseline observations.
Results
Observations were completed at 46 clubs (intervention = 24; comparison = 22) at baseline and 39 (intervention = 24; comparison = 15) at follow up. Compliance was low but improved at follow up for both groups for age verification (intervention +12.5%; comparison +8.5%) and non‐supply of alcohol (intervention +12.5%; comparison +10.6%); but no significant intervention effects were found.
Discussion and Conclusions
Findings indicated low compliance with age verification checks and underage alcohol sales laws at baseline. Promising improvements in compliance were observed at follow up; however, ‘spillover’ of intervention activities may have compromised ability to detect significant intervention effects. Further intervention effort and evaluation is recommended to encourage alcohol sales compliance in community sporting clubs.
Objective
Longitudinal evidence of relationships between unhealthy diets and BMI in children is crucial for appropriately targeting obesity prevention activities. The objective was to determine the ...relationship between frequency of consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and high fat foods (HFFs) and body weight in Australian children aged from 4 to 10 years.
Methods
Data from 4,164 children participating in four waves (wave 1, 2004; wave 2, 2006; wave 3, 2008; and wave 4, 2010) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were analyzed. A multi‐level growth model tested relationships between consumption of SSB and HFF and BMI z‐scores.
Results
BMI z‐scores were associated with daily consumption of HFF, SSB and maternal BMI independent of BMI z‐scores at wave 1 (baseline); with each additional occurrence of SSB and HFF consumption intake per day, BMI z‐score increased by 0.015 U (P < 0.01) and 0.014 U (P < 0.001), respectively. With each additional maternal BMI unit, BMI z‐score increased by 0.032 (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Higher BMI z‐scores were strongly associated with the consumption of SSBs and HFFs. Future efforts to prevent obesity should consider urgent action to address the impact of the consumption of SSBs and HFFs in childhood.
Background
Completing high school enables access to educational and employment opportunities associated with better physical and mental health and improved quality of life. Identifying modifiable ...factors that promote optimal educational trajectories for youth experiencing disadvantage is an important research focus. Social inclusion has been theorised to play a role in promoting better educational outcomes for this priority population, however limited research has examined this relationship.
Method
This study used three waves of data from the state‐representative Australian arm of the International Youth Development Study (IYDS) (youngest cohort, N = 733; 54% female, 95% Australian born) to examine the extent to which vulnerability in primary school (Grade 5; Mage = 10.97, SD = 0.38) and social inclusion in mid‐adolescence (Year 10; Mage = 15.50, SD = 0.53), were associated with school completion in young adulthood (post‐secondary; Mage = 19.02, SD = 0.43).
Results
Regression models identified an interaction between social inclusion and vulnerability (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.06, 1.77, p = .016), indicating that the association between vulnerability and school completion varied as a student's level of social inclusion increased. Higher social inclusion was beneficial for youth with lower levels of vulnerability but did not appear to influence school completion for the most vulnerable students.
Conclusions
For many young people, promoting social inclusion may support engagement in education and play a protective role. However, further research is needed to better understand the role of social inclusion for highly vulnerable youth, particularly the mechanisms via which social inclusion may have differential effects on school completion.
There is a dearth of research on delinquency, school context, and risk factors across developed and developing nations. Using representative samples and matched surveys, we examined delinquency among ...cohorts in Mumbai, India (N = 3,717); Victoria, Australia (N = 1,842); and Washington State (WA), United States (N = 1,828). We used multivariate Poisson hierarchical linear modeling. Risk factor and delinquency levels varied across sites. Delinquency clustered within certain schools, particularly in Mumbai. Community disorganization exhibited an association with delinquency as a school‐level context effect in Mumbai and Victoria. Peer delinquency, sensation seeking, and poor family management exhibited cross‐nationally consistent associations with delinquency. Programs that target schools, the clustering of problem behaviors, and cross‐nationally consistent risk factors should be considered internationally.
ObjectiveInternalising disorders are one of the most common mental health problems in children under 12 years, yet mixed findings exist for current treatment options. This pilot involves a novel ...10-session intervention, BEST-Foundations, to treat internalising symptoms in children using a family-inclusive model. Initial findings and feasibility using a mixed-methods approach are reported.MethodTwenty-two participants from eight families (n = 8 children; n = 8 mothers; n = 6 fathers) participated in an uncontrolled single treatment design. Included children (aged 3–11 years) reported clinical-level internalising symptoms on the Child Behaviour Checklist. Data were collected across four timepoints: baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4-weeks follow-up.ResultsAs predicted, mothers reported large improvements in child internalising symptoms pre-post (SMD = −.83; 95% CI = 50.58–70.42) and maintained pre to follow-up (SMD = −.92; 95% CI = 50.14–69.11). Sustained improvements were also found in externalising problems and total problems. Qualitative analysis indicated families reported positive improvements in targeted areas including parent confidence and parent–child relationships.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate initial feasibility data and effect size estimates comparable to previous trials using the “BEST” framework, and larger than CBT-based interventions. Results are considered preliminary due to the small sample. Further evaluation is warranted, showing the value of family-inclusive interventions to treat child internalising problems.
Despite a decline in Australian adolescents reporting to have consumed alcohol, a high proportion of the adolescent population still consumes alcohol. Community-led prevention interventions that ...systematically and strategically implement evidence-based programs have been shown to be effective in producing population-behaviour change related to youth alcohol and drug use. This study evaluated the post-intervention effects of a multi-component community intervention in Australia. It comprised social marketing targeting adolescents and parents, and a community intervention to reduce underage alcohol sales. Structural equation modelling was used to examine direct and indirect effects of community intervention components on intention and consumption. Self-report surveys (
N
= 3377) and community sales data (27 communities) were analysed to evaluate the effect of the intervention components on intention and consumption before the age of 18. The intervention reduced alcohol sales to minors (OR = .82). Exposure to the social marketing was significantly associated with household no-alcohol rules (OR = 2.24) and parents not supplying alcohol (OR = .72). The intervention predicted intention not to consume alcohol before age 18; intention was associated with not consuming alcohol (OR = 5.70). Total indirect effects from the intervention through to intention were significant. However, parents setting a rule and not supplying alcohol were the only significant direct effects to intention. Parents setting a rule was directly associated with lower consumption. Overall, the intervention logic was supported by the data modelling. The study extends prior knowledge of community-based interventions to prevent adolescent alcohol use by identifying critical intervention components and effect mechanisms.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier
: ACTRN12612000384853.
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