@phdthesis{Scheiner2024,
  author    = {Scheiner, Christin},
  title     = {Vulnerability in adolescence: prevalence, pandemic impact and prevention},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-35164},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-351644},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {This compilation focuses on adolescent mental disorders and their prevention. It comprises three distinct studies, each contributing to a deeper understanding of this critical topic. This work addresses a critical gap in the understanding of, and approach to, adolescent mental health, and as a result reveals a critically important and urgently needed policy implication for action. The thematic structure of these studies begins with an examination of the epidemiology of child and adolescent mental disorders. Baseline data were collected from N = 877 adolescents with a mean age of 12.43 years (SD = 0.65). Mental health problems, such as depressive symptoms, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, symptoms of eating disorders, and gender differences, are thoroughly examined. Results revealed a significant portion of our sample displaying mental health problems as early as the 6th and 7th grades, with girls generally being more affected than boys. The findings underscore the importance of early adolescence in the emergence of mental health problems and thereby emphasize the need for preventive measures. Moving beyond prevalence estimates, the compilation delves into the etiology of these disorders, exploring their potential correlation with a COVID-19 infection. Understanding the early signs and risk factors is crucial for timely support. While numerous studies have investigated potential risk and protective factors during the pandemic, our focus shifts to adolescents' coping when an infection with the virus was involved (N = 2,154, M = 12.31, SD = 0.67). We hypothesized that students infected or with close family members infected, would exhibit an increased psychopathology and a decreased functioning of protective factors such as self-efficacy or self-esteem. We found no connection between infection and the mental health status within our sample, but protective factors and mental well-being were positively associated. Thus, universal primary prevention appears to be the preferred approach for promoting mental health. Lastly, the compilation introduces LessStress, a noteworthy contribution to more evidence-based prevention programs. This universal approach is designed to reduce stress in schools, accompanied by a cluster-randomized trial to evaluate its effectiveness (estimated sample size N = 1,894). Existing studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of stress prevention, leading us to introduce a short and easy-to-implement prevention program. There is positive evidence for one-lesson interventions in schools for promoting well-being and health behaviors among adolescents. LessStress is designed based on a life skills approach that not only imparts psychoeducational content but also teaches skills relevant to everyday life and directly applicable. Throughout these studies, a common thread emerges: the pressing need to address mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. These formative years play a pivotal role in the development of mental health problems. These formative years play a crucial role in the development of mental health problems. They highlight the importance of epidemiological data collection and analysis based on the latest models to develop prevention interventions that are not only effective but also reach young people on a global level.},
  subject      = {Jugend},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hajduk2024,
  author    = {Hajduk, Maurice Martin},
  title     = {Darf es etwas mehr sein? Neuroenhancement im Studium - eine Befragung an W{\"u}rzburger Hochschulen},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-35981},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-359812},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Neuroenhancement (NE) bezeichnet die Einnahme psychotroper Substanzen mit dem Ziel der geistigen Leistungssteigerung oder Beruhigung. NE wird durch gesunde Perso- nen genutzt. Es besteht somit keine Indikation zur Einnahme psychotroper Wirkstoffe. Zum NE genutzte Substanzen sind z.B. Koffeintabletten, verschreibungspflichtige Medi- kamente oder illegale Substanzen. Die bisherige Forschung findet Hinweise auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen NE und ADHS-Symptomen, einigen Aspekten psychischer Gesundheit, sowie Substanzkonsum. Bisher gibt es keine Forschung zu NE am Hoch- schulstandort W{\"u}rzburg. Es wurde eine anonyme online Querschnittsbefragung im ersten Quartal 2021 durchge- f{\"u}hrt. Eingeladen waren 5600 Studierende der Julius-Maximilians-Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg und der Hochschule f{\"u}r angewandte Wissenschaften W{\"u}rzburg Schweinfurt. Der Frage- bogen bestand aus 53 Items und enthielt u. a. die folgenden validierten Messinstrumente: ASRS, PSS-10, PHQ-4 und AUDIT-C. Die Response Rate lag bei 18\% (n = 1011). Das Wissen {\"u}ber NE war weit unter den Stu- dierenden verbreitet. Die Pr{\"a}valenz f{\"u}r Neuroenhancement im Studium lag bei 12.7\%. Die drei meistgenannten Substanzen waren Koffeintabletten (6.6\%), Cannabis (4.5\%) und Methylphenidat (4.3\%). H{\"a}ufigster Anlass f{\"u}r NE war die Pr{\"u}fungsvorbereitung. Es zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den Fachbereichen, u.a. hinsichtlich der Pr{\"a}valenz von NE. ADHS-Symptomen, Stress, {\"A}ngstlichkeit, und Depressivit{\"a}t waren positiv mit NE assoziiert. Ein st{\"a}rkerer Effekt ergab sich f{\"u}r den Zusammenhang zwi- schen NE und riskanten Alkoholkonsum bzw. Tabakkonsum. Diese Ergebnisse wurden durch eine binomial logistische Regression best{\"a}tigt. Die konsumierten Substanzen, das Wissen {\"u}ber NE, die Pr{\"a}valenz von NE und die Gr{\"u}nde f{\"u}r dessen Nutzung f{\"u}gen sich nahtlos in die bisherige Forschung ein. Auch die Assoziation zwischen ADHS-Symptomen, Stress, {\"A}ngstlichkeit, Depressivit{\"a}t, riskan- tem Alkoholkonsum und Tabakkonsum best{\"a}tigt bisherige Forschungsergebnisse. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass rund ein Zehntel der Studierenden NE bereits genutzt haben. In Anbetracht der gesundheitlichen Gefahren, die mit NE einhergehen ist die Etab- lierung bzw. der Ausbau von Aufkl{\"a}rung-, Beratungs- und Hilfsangeboten f{\"u}r Studie- rende anzustreben sowie weitere Forschung zum Thema indiziert.},
  subject      = {Psychische Gesundheit},
  language  = {de}
}