Academic achievement and being bullied at school were the psychosocial factors most strongly associated with psychological distress among adolescents. Parental factors had an indirect effect on adolescent psychological distress, through adolescents' psychosocial factors.

This article examines the sociocognitive processes contributing to intention to use contraception and willingness to engage in unsafe sex, using extended versions of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the Prototype/Willingness model (Gibbons & Gerrard, 1995, 1997). Data were obtained from a questionnaire delivered to all the pupils in ninth grade (N = 196) at three schools in Oslo. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to predict intention and willingness. The results showed that subjective norm was the most important predictor of intentions for girls, whereas moral norm was most important for boys' intentions and willingness. Prototypes were the most important predictor for girls' willingness. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Background This study aims to better understand the association between bullying behaviour (the bullied, the bullies and the bully-victims) and self-harm, and which protective factors moderate this association. Methods A total of 16,182 adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years, were invited to participate in the cross-sectional Ung-data survey. This survey covered various aspects of young people’s lives. The response rate was 87%. To assess the relationship between self-harm and bulling behaviour, and psychological- and environmental covariates, we conducted logistic regression analyses. In addition, we tested for potential interaction effects between protective factors and the three bullying groups on self-harm. Results Fifteen percent of participating adolescents reported engaging in self-harm during the last year. The risk of self-harm was six times higher for the “bully-victims”, five times higher for the bullied, and three times higher for the bullies, compared to the “neither-bullied nor bullies”. The risk of self-harm in the face of being bullied was significantly greater for girls than boys. Depression, anxiety and parental conflict accounted for some of the association between being bullied and self-harm, and between bully-victims and self-harm. School behavioural problems accounted for some of the association between the bullies and self-harm and the bully-victims and self-harm. The relationship between the bullied and self-harm was significantly moderated by parental support and school well-being, while the relationship between “bully-victims” and self-harm was moderated by school well-being. Conclusion There is a strong link between bullying and self-harm. Interventions to address bullying may reduce self-harm. Our findings also suggest that high levels of parental support and school well-being may buffer the harmful relationship between bullying behaviour and self-harm. Addressing these factors may be important in reducing the risk of self-harm among those experiencing bullying.

Background The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent observed gender differences in mental health are associated with the protective factors social support, sense of coherence and participation in regular physical activity and more generally, engagement in organized or unorganized activity with other people. Methods This study was based upon a cross-sectional regional health survey in Norway, conducted during the winter of 2015–2016, in three southern counties; Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder and Vestfold. The study focused on young adults, comparing three age groups; 18–24 years old (n = 624), 25–31 (n = 582), and 32–38 years old (n = 795). Results Sense of coherence was strongly associated with low mental distress in all age groups and for both genders, while the association between low social support and mental distress was significant for young women only. Regular physical activity was not positively associated with low mental distress when sense of coherence and social support were included in the analysis. Conclusion Social support appears to have a stronger role as a protective factor for mental distress among young women, compared to young men and older persons. This has implications for health promoting activities that target young women. Sense of coherence showed a strong association with low mental distress scores for all ages studied.

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Abstract Background: This study aims to better understand the link between bullying behaviour (both the bullied, the bullies and the bully-victims) and self-harm, and which risk- and protective factors will moderate this link. Methods: A total of 16 182 adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years were invited to participate in the cross-sectional Ung-data survey. The response rate was 87%. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between self-harm and bulling behaviour, and which potential risk- and protective factors would partly explain this relationship. In addition, to test for potential interaction effects between protective factors and the three bullying groups on self-harm.Results: Fifteen percent of participating adolescents had engaged in self-harm in the last year. The risk for self-harm was six times higher for the “bully-victims”, five times higher for the bullied, and three times higher for the bullies, compared to the non-bullied nor bullies. The risk of self-harm in the face of being bullied was significantly greater for girls than boys, compared with their “neither being bullied nor bullying” counterparts. Depression and family conflicts explained part of the relationship between being bullied and self-harm, and between bully-victims and self-harm. School behaviour problems was an important risk factor for the bullies and bully-victims on self-harm. The relationship between self-harm and the bullied was significantly moderated by parental support and school well-being, and the relationship between self-harm and “bully-victims” was moderated by school well-being. Conclusion: Parental support and school well-being moderate the harmful consequences of bullying behaviour on self-harm among adolescents. The finding warrants further attention in future studies and interventions.

Background: This study aims to better understand the association between bullying behaviour (the bullied, the bullies and the bully-victims) and self-harm, and which protective factors moderate this association. Methods: A total of 16 182 adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years, were invited to participate in the cross-sectional Ung-data survey. The response rate was 87%. To assess the relationship between self-harm and bulling behaviour, and risk- and protective factors, we conducted logistic regression analyses. In addition, we tested for potential interaction effects between protective factors and the three bullying groups on self-harm.Results: Fifteen percent of participating adolescents reported engaging in self-harm during the last year. The risk of self-harm was six times higher for the “bully-victims”, five times higher for the bullied, and three times higher for the bullies, compared to the “neither-bullied nor bullies”. The risk of self-harm in the face of being bullied was significantly greater for girls than boys. Depression, anxiety and parental conflict accounted for some of the association between being bullied and self-harm, and between bully-victims and self-harm. School behavioural problems accounted for some of the association between the bullies and self-harm and the bully-victims and self-harm. The relationship between the bullied and self-harm was significantly moderated by parental support and school well-being, while the relationship between “bully-victims” and self-harm was moderated by school well-being. Conclusion: There is a strong link between bullying and self-harm. Interventions to address bullying may reduce self-harm. Our findings also suggest that high levels of parental support and school well-being may buffer the harmful relationship between bullying behaviour and self-harm. Addressing these factors may be important in reducing the risk of self-harm among those experiencing bullying.

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent observed gender differences in mental health are associated with the protective factors social support, sense of coherence and participation in regular physical activity and more generally, engagement in organized or unorganized activity with other people.Methods: This study was based upon a cross-sectional regional health survey in Norway, conducted during the winter 2015-2016, in three southern counties; Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder and Vestfold. The study focused on young adults, comparing three age groups; 18-24 years old (n=624), 25-31 (n=582), and 32-38 years old (n=795).Results: Sense of coherence was strongly associated with low mental distress in all age groups and for both genders, while the association with social support was highly significant for young women only. Regular physical activity was not positively associated with low mental distress when sense of coherence and social support were included in the analysis.Conclusion: Social support appears to have a stronger role as a protective factor for mental distress among young women, compared to young men and older persons. This has implications for health promoting activities that target young women. Sense of coherence showed a strong association with low mental distress scores for all ages studied.