Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Adolescent Behavior – classification'

This study investigates the changeability of transport-related attitudes and mode choice of early adolescents. Data on attitudes and travel behavior were collected in Austria and Germany in two consecutive survey waves with an interval of one year. The approach is based on a before-after control group experiment with an intervention promoting active travel modes. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior we used structural equation modeling analyzing effects of the intervention; the potential for behavioral changes was modelled as moderator variable between intention and behavior. Findings suggest that the intervention was effective in changing attitudes, perceived behavioral control (PBC) and intentions to use non-motorized travel modes more, and car less. Difference models show that changes of attitude, subjective norm, and PBC accounted for 29% (car passenger) to 92% (walking) of the variance in changes in intention. The changes in intentions are however weak predictors of changes in reported behavior.

Longitudinal developmental fMRI studies just recently began to focus on within-subject reliability using the intraclass coefficient (ICC). It remains largely unclear which degree of reliability can be achieved in developmental studies and whether this depends on the type of task used. Therefore, we aimed to systematically investigate the reliability of three well-classified tasks: an emotional attention, a cognitive control, and an intertemporal choice paradigm. We hypothesized to find higher reliability in the cognitive task than in the emotional or reward-related task. 104 healthy mid-adolescents were scanned at age 14 and again at age 16 within M = 1.8 years using the same paradigms, scanner, and scanning protocols. Overall, we found both variability and stability (i.e. poor to excellent ICCs) depending largely on the region of interest (ROI) and task. Contrary to our hypothesis, whole brain reliability was fair for the cognitive control task but good for the emotional attention and intertemporal choice task. Subcortical ROIs (ventral striatum, amygdala) resulted in lower ICCs than visual ROIs. Current results add to the yet sparse overall ICC literature in both developing samples and adults. This study shows that analyses of stability, i.e. reliability, are helpful benchmarks for longitudinal studies and their implications for adolescent development.

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent objective binge eating that occurs in the absence of compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. As the most common eating disorder emerging in youth, BED co-occurs with increased eating disorder and general psychopathology, impaired quality of life, and obesity [1]. Despite its clinical significance, there is a dearth of treatment studies in adolescents [1, 2]. Regarding cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the most well-established treatment for adults with BED [2], one pilot randomized-controlled trial (RCT) in 25 adolescent girls with objective binge eating suggested superiority to wait-list (WL) in achieving binge-eating abstinence through 6 months following randomization and in improving eating disorder psychopathology, but not in reducing binge eating or standardized body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) [3]. Other CBT-related RCTs documented efficacy of Internet-based, weight loss-oriented self-help versus WL [4] and no differences in dialectical behavior therapy versus weight management [5]. Based on this preliminary evidence, the aim of the BEDA (Binge Eating Disorder in Adolescents) study was to provide a confirmatory test of the efficacy of CBT in adolescent BED. It was hypothesized that CBT will be superior to WL in improving binge eating, associated psychopathology, and quality of life, but not BMI, with long-term maintenance of effects.

A number of studies have concluded that cognitive control is not fully established until late adolescence. The precise differences in brain function between adults and adolescents with respect to cognitive control, however, remain unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a study in which 185 adolescents (mean age (SD) 14.6 (0.3) years) and 28 adults (mean age (SD) 25.2 (6.3) years) performed a single task that included both a stimulus-response (S-R) interference component and a task-switching component. Behavioural responses (i.e. reaction time, RT; error rate, ER) and brain activity during correct, error and post-error trials, detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), were measured. Behaviourally, RT and ER were significantly higher in incongruent than in congruent trials and in switch than in repeat trials. The two groups did not differ in RT during correct trials, but adolescents had a significantly higher ER than adults. In line with similar RTs, brain responses during correct trials did not differ between groups, indicating that adolescents and adults engage the same cognitive control network to successfully overcome S-R interference or task switches. Interestingly, adolescents with stronger brain activation in the bilateral insulae during error trials and in fronto-parietal regions of the cognitive control network during post-error trials did have lower ERs. This indicates that those mid-adolescents who commit fewer errors are better at monitoring their performance, and after detecting errors are more capable of flexibly allocating further cognitive control resources. Although we did not detect a convincing neural correlate of the observed behavioural differences between adolescents and adults, the revealed interindividual differences in adolescents might at least in part be due to brain development.

Despite potentially severe medical consequences of pica and rumination disorder (RD), little is known about their prevalence and association with other psychopathology in childhood. As a part of a larger population-based study, 804 youths aged 7–14 years and their parents were asked about their experience of pica and RD behaviors, and associated eating, feeding and general psychopathology. A total of 12.31% and 11.49% of youth reported having engaged in pica or RD behaviors at least once. Recurring pica or RD behaviors had been experienced by 4.98% and 1.49% of the participants. The behaviors showed a significant, but small correlation with one another (r = .28, p < .01). Correlations with symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) were significant, but small (pica: r = .18, RD: r = .27, both p < .01). Prevalence rates of recurring pica behavior were significantly increased if recurring RD was present (58.33%), and also greater vice versa (17.50%). The prevalence rates for recurrent pica and RD behaviors were also increased in the presence of an ARFID diagnosis (both behaviors 12.0%). However, correlations with restraint, eating, weight, and shape concern were nonsignificant (all p > .05). In addition, RD behavior was positively correlated with emotional and conduct problems (r = .15 and .22, both p < .01) and both behaviors were negatively correlated with prosocial behavior (r = −.10 and −.09, both p < .05). Our findings underscore the clinical significance of pica and RD behaviors. More research is warranted on both disorders, their association and their relation with ARFID, in order to reach a further understanding of their presentation and to ascertain diagnostic validity.

Background: Several studies suggest that most school-age children are poorly informed about cancer risk factors. This study examines the effectiveness of the ‘Be smart against cancer’ (BSAC) program in promoting cancer awareness and intentions to engage in health-promoting behavior. Methods: 235 seventh-grade students were randomized to either the intervention (N = 152) or the wait-control group (N = 83). The intervention included the modules: “What is cancer?,” “Sun protection,” “Non smoking,” and “Physical activity, Healthy nutrition, and Limited alcohol consumption.” Outcomes measured at baseline and at the end of the one week BSAC program included knowledge of cancer and its behavioral risk factors, health-promoting intentions, and reported risk behavior. Results: BSAC was effective in increasing knowledge about cancer and risk factors for cancer (p < .001), as well as in increasing intentions to engage in health-promoting behavior (p < .001), independent of a student’s risk profile. Knowledge did not serve as a mediator for intention building. Conclusions: The BSAC is an effective school-based program for raising awareness of cancer, associated risk factors and intentions to engage in cancer-preventive behavior. The results indicate that the effectiveness of BSAC is independent of a student’s risk profile. Therefore, it holds considerable promise as a broadly applicable program to raise cancer awareness and promote healthy behavior intentions.

In den letzten Jahren ist nicht nur in der Forschung, sondern auch in der breiten Öffentlichkeit die akute Problematik der männlichen Identitätsfindung beziehungsweise Identitätskonstruktion unübersehbar geworden. Medial schlug sich dies allein im Januar und Februar 2008 in entsprechenden Leitartikeln sowohl im SPIEGEL als auch in der ZEIT nieder und lebensweltlich nimmt die Anzahl der von männlichen Jugendlichen ausgehenden Gewalttaten unvermindert zu. Ein Verweis auf die durch die Medien gegangenen U-Bahn-Attacken (München) mag hier genauso genügen wie die Erinnerung an die gewalttätigen Zwischenfälle an der Columbine High School, der Virginia Tech University, der Northern Illinois University (DeKalb), der Berliner Rütli Schule, dem Erfurter Gutenberg Gymnasium oder der Jokela Schule in Tuusula, Finnland.

The fetus is highly responsive to the level of glucocorticoids in the gestational environment. Perturbing glucocorticoids during fetal development could yield long-term consequences. Extending prior research about effects of prenatally exposed synthetic glucocorticoids (sGC) on brain structural development during childhood, we investigated functional brain correlates of cognitive conflict monitoring in term-born adolescents, who were prenatally exposed to sGC. Relative to the comparison group, behavioral response consistency (indexed by lower reaction time variability) and a brain correlate of conflict monitoring (the N2 event-related potential) were reduced in the sGC exposed group. Relatedly, source localization analyses showed that activations in the fronto-parietal network, most notably in the cingulate cortex and precuneus, were also attenuated in these adolescents. These regions are known to subserve conflict detection and response inhibition as well as top-down regulation of stress responses. Moreover, source activation in the anterior cingulate cortex correlated negatively with reaction time variability, whereas activation in the precuneus correlated positively with salivary cortisol reactivity to social stress in the sGC exposed group. Taken together, findings of this study indicate that prenatal exposure to sGC yields lasting impacts on the development of fronto-parietal brain functions during adolescence, affecting multiple facets of adaptive cognitive and behavioral control.

Background. Adolescent antisocial behaviors are versatile in terms of their onset, severity, pervasiveness, continuity, and developmental outcomes. A substantial body of literature on developmental pathway of antisocial behaviors indicates that meaningful subtypes exist within these heterogeneous antisocial behaviors, rendering important implications to their etiology, causal mechanism and intervention. This study tests a taxonomy of antisocial behavior by examining whether different offending groups can be distinguished by their different group features including background risks and external correlates. First, two broad offending groups, i.e., the early-onset group and the adolescent-onset group were identified in a clinical sample of 118 adjudicated male adolescents based on age of onset of symptoms of Conduct Disorder. Further, two distinct subtypes, i.e. antisocial behavior associated with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and antisocial behavior associated with callous-unemotional traits ii (CD traits), a defining feature of psychopathy, were hypothesized to coexist within the broad early-onset offending group, based on two lines of recent studies indicating ADHD and CD traits as important correlates of antisocial behaviors. These two subgroups were identified within the sample in this current study.<br>Conclusion. Different offending groups could be discerned by their distinctive associated group risks and deficits, giving evidence to different developmental pathways to antisocial behaviors. Implications to understanding and intervention of antisocial behaviors were discussed.<br>Method. Data were collected from 118 adjudicated male adolescents from a centralized probation facility in Hong Kong and 63 non-delinquent male control subjects from mainstream secondary schools, all aged between 12 and 17. Group comparisons and multinominal logistic regression were performed to test whether these offending groups could be distinguished by different background risks and deficits including variables pertaining to cognitive processes, family, parenting, and deviant peers, etc.<br>Results. The early-onset offending group could be differentiated from the adolescent-onset offending group by their association with adolescent adjustment iii difficulties, more background risks, ADHD diagnosis, and callous unemotional traits. The two early-onset subgroups, early-onset ADHD and early-onset CU traits group, shared similarities of having severer delinquency and poorer adolescent adjustment, but demonstrated differences in terms of disinhibitory processes.<br>Law, Yuen Wah Sonya.<br>Adviser: Patrick Wing-leung Leung.<br>Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-04, Section: B, page: .<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-289).<br>Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.<br>Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.<br>Abstract also in Chinese; appendix in Chinese.

碩士<br>南台科技大學<br>休閒事業管理系<br>97<br>This study aims to explore adolescents’ leisure behaviors in Tainan County. Four major objective are proposed: 1) to investigate adolescents’ leisure attitude, leisure participation, and leisure satisfaction; 2) to exaimine the differences on leisure attitudes, leisure participation, and leisure satisfaction among adolescents with different personal attributes; 3) to examine the differences on leisure attitudes, leisure participation, and leisure satisfaction among adolescents enrolling in different school classification; 4) to explore the relationships among leisure attitude, leisure participation, and leisure satisfaction among adolescents. Hopefully, the findings will contribute to the planning of leisure education and the promotion of leisure activities for vocational high schools. The convenient sampling method was employed and data were collected uring survey questionnaires. Students enrolling in vocational high schools in Tainan County were comprised of the sample. A total of 614 valid responses were obtained and analyzed using the statistical analysis methods of descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The findings are as follows: 1. Leisure Attitudes (1) The overall leisure attitudes of the adolescents in Tainan County tended to be positive. (2) The adolescents of different genders and school classification differ significantly in their leisure attitudes. (3) The adolescents of different grades and with various academic burdens have no significant differences in their leisure attitudes. 2. Leisure Participation (1) The adolescents in Tainan County tended to choose entertaining activities for their leisure participation. (2) The adolescents of different genders, with various academic burdens, and in different school classification have significant differences in their leisure participation. (3) For adolescents of different grades, there is no significant difference in their leisure participation. 3. Leisure Satisfaction (1) Overall, the adolescents in Tainan County are satisfied in their leisure activities. (2) The adolescents of different genders and school classficiation have significant differences in their leisure satisfaction. (3) The adolescents of different grades and with various academic burdens have no significant differences in their leisure satisfaction. 4. The relationship among leisure attitude, leisure participation, and leisure satisfaction. (1) For adolescents in Tainan County, there is a significant positive correlation between leisure attitude and leisure participation. (2) For adolescents in Tainan County, there is a significant positive correlation between leisure attitude and leisure satisfaction. (3) For adolescents in Tainan County, there is a significant positive correlation between leisure participation and leisure satisfaction. (4) For adolescents in Tainan County, leisure attitude and leisure participation are significant predictors of leisure satisfaction. Key words: Adolescents, School Classification, Leisure Behaviors, Leisure Satisfaction

Das vorliegende Forschungsvorhaben geht auf die Suche nach identitätsrelevanten Erfahrungen im Zusammenhang mit Konsum- und Rauscherlebnissen von jungen Menschen ohne Krankheitsdiagnosen. Ausgangshypothese war, dass es einen Zusammenhang gibt zwischen der Beteiligung an Konsum-, in erster Linie Alkoholszenen, und der Entwicklung eines jungen Erwachsenen Selbst. Folgende Forschungsfragen standen am Anfang der Studie: Welche Gründe stehen hinter einem Konsum von psychoaktiven Substanzen in der heute jungen Generation der 15- bis 25-Jährigen? Wie werden Rauscherfahrungen von Konsument/inn/en selbst bewertet und eingeschätzt? Welche subjektiven und gruppenspezifischen Gründe führen dazu, sich auf Konsumverhaltensweisen einzulassen, die aus einer Fremdperspektive auch gesundheitsschädigend und risikoreich sein können? Für die Studie wurden qualitative und quantitative Forschungsmethoden eingesetzt. Der Kern der Arbeit besteht aus einer – von der Grounded Theory ausgehenden – Analyse von 19 halbstandardisierten, themenzentrierten Interviews, die mit insgesamt 23 konsum- und rauscherfahrenen jungen Männern und Frauen zwischen 14 und 20 Jahren geführt wurden. Der empirische Teil bezieht sich auf Südtirol. Auf quantitativer Ebene wird gezeigt, wie sich die Konsumprävalenzen in den letzten 8 Jahren innerhalb der Population der 15- bis 25-Jährigen verändert haben und welche Korrelationen zwischen Konsumverhalten und Lebensbefindlichkeiten bestehen. Insgesamt kann das gesamte Vorhaben auch als Versuch gesehen werden, eine Sichtweise aufzuzeigen, die von den Lebenswelten der Betroffenen ausgeht. Als Resultat zeigt die vorliegende Arbeit klar und unmissverständlich auf, dass Alkoholszenen wichtige identitätsstiftende und verankernde Impulse leisten, die junge Burschen und Mädchen auf ihrem Weg in das Erwachsenenleben als Erfahrungswelt benötigen. Sie sind behilflich, um sich von der Kindheit zu verabschieden und zu einem eigenen Selbst zu kommen. Diese Szenen sind selbstorganisiert und selbstkonstruiert. In ihnen lernen die Beteiligten kompetent mit Schlüsselsituationen umzugehen. Nach einigen Jahren entwickeln sie durch die Beteiligung aber auch eine kritische Reflexionsfähigkeit und distanzieren sich erneut davon. Ersichtlich wird durch die ausgeprägt vorgefundenen Ambivalenzen allerdings auch, dass die Alkoholszenen Kunstwelten sind und für diesen Übergangsraum nicht die optimalen und idealen Orte darstellen. Dass Alkoholszenen diese Funktion trotzdem einnehmen, hat auch damit zu tun, dass Erwachsene sich aus diesem Raum mehr oder weniger verabschiedet haben. Für die seit Menschengedenken gleiche Aufgabe, seinen eigenen Platz im Gefüge zu finden, gibt es in der 2. Moderne keine aktualisierte und an die aktuellen Lebensbedingungen angepasste „Software“.<br>This paper aims to examine identity-related experiences of adolescents without confirmed diagnosis regarding their episodes of alcohol consumption and excessive drinking. The core assumption was that there is a connection between the participation in consumption scenes, alcohol scenes in particular, and the identity development of a young adult. The underlying questions of the study were the following: What are the reasons for the consumption of psychoactive substances in today’s 15 to 25-year-olds? How do consumers themselves value and assess their episodes of excessive drinking? What are the subjective and group-specific reasons for the participation in consumption behavior, which can be considered as dangerous and health damaging by people that are not involved? Qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied in the study. The core issue of the research consists of the analysis – based on the Grounded Theory Method – of 19 half-standardized, topic-related interviews with 23 young male and female subjects aged 14 to 20 experienced in consumption and inebriation. The empirical part of the study refers to the situation in South Tyrol. The quantitative part focuses on the change in consumption preferences of the population of 15 to 25-year-olds over the last eight years and on the correlation between consumption behavior and existential orientation. This paper can also be considered an attempt to show the perspective of the people concerned. The findings of the study clearly and unequivocally indicate that alcohol scenes provide important stimuli for the identity development and consolidation that adolescents need on their way to their adult life. These scenes are self-contrived and self-organized and can help adolescents to let go of their childhood and to find their own self. They teach participants to competently handle key situations. After some years, they develop a critical reflecting ability through their participation and they distance themselves from the scenes. The frequently encountered ambivalences also show that alcohol scenes are artificial worlds and do not represent the optimal and ideal places for this transitional period. Alcohol scenes take over this function because of the fact that adults have taken leave of this place. Since time memorial, a young people’s essential task has been that of finding their own place in the social fabric and second modernity has not provided appropriate “software” for the present living conditions yet.

The present study compared the suicidal behaviour and related measures of adolescents in high school in Germany (N=318) and South Africa (N=299). Participants completed a series of self-report measures of the SPS (Suicide Probability Scale), PSS-Fa (Perceived Social Support From Family Scale), PSS-Fr (Perceived Social Support From Friends Scale), SIB (Scale Of Interpersonal Behaviour) and a number of demographic questions. Analyses were conducted using content analysis, correlation coefficients and logistic regression to determine variables related to previous suicide attempts, stepwise multiple regression to account for variables predicting currents suicidal risk; and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine differences among the groups and among suicide attempters and non-attempters. 36 German (11.3%) and 48 South African (16.1%) adolescents reported that they had made previous suicide attempts. German adolescents reported 45 (14.2%) suicide attempts in the family and 82 (25.8%) suicide attempts by friends. South African adolescents reported 43 (14.4%) suicide attempts in the family and 92 (30.7%) suicide attempts by friends. The following variables were associated with previous suicide attempts in the German sample: attempted suicide by friends, a life-threatening event, previous psychiatric contact, the death of a friend, low perceived family support, female gender, attempted suicide in the family, suicide of a friend, and low perceived friend support. The following variables were associated with previous suicide attempts in the South African sample: low perceived family support, death of a friend, attempted suicide by friends, female gender, a life-threatening event, previous psychiatric contact, suicide of friends, and attempted suicide in the family. The following variables for the German sample were found to be significant predictors of current suicidal risk: low perceived family and friend support, previous suicide attempts, suicide attempts in the family, a life-threatening event, suicide attempts of friends, suicide of friends, female gender, and previous psychiatric contact. The following variables for the South African sample were found to be significant predictors of current suicidal risk: previous suicide attempts, low perceived family and friend support, death of a friend, a life-threatening event, previous psychiatric contact, suicide attempts in the family, suicide of friends, and suicide attempts of friends. These findings show that suicidal behaviour is frequent in both countries. Suicidal deaths of friends and family is more prevalent in Germany, whereas religion or belief in god does not protect against suicide attempts in both countries. Results indicate that perceived support from family is a strong protective factor against suicide attempts.<br>Psychology<br>M.A. (Psychology)

The first part of dissertation describes the problematic of problems in education and children prevention in period of early adolescence. Firstly have defined the specifics of this period of development, follow analyse of reasons the birth of education problems by personal factors view and also by influence to social individual environs. After below the description of behaviour problem forms (non-aggressive and aggressive conducts), prevention system in the Czech Republic and description of institutions which helps to solve already incurred problems in education. The second part of dissertation is getting closer to prevention activities of concretely Non- Governmental Organization. It's concerned into the program called "Chobotnička - chance for children and their next development. This part describes targets of program, organization and concept how to choice and select the clients and also including the example of lesson. Integral part is description of each methods using in program. For overall touch in to the work with clients are added case studies. Conclusion of dissertation gives heed to program analysis by provider and clients view and concerned to question about future of this program.

Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de lombalgia em jovens e a presença de potenciais fatores associados. Face às limitações dos instrumentos encontrados na literatura, pretendeu-se ainda realizar a adaptação de um questionário de lombalgia, a construção de um questionário de hábitos posturais, de um sistema de avaliação postural, e de uma proposta de classificação para os padrões posturais; bem como realizar a validação destes instrumentos. Metodologia: Participaram 679 jovens com idade dos 14-19 anos (média de 16.23 ±0.90 anos) de Florianópolis/Brasil, que responderam aos questionários. Destes, 330 realizaram as avaliações antropométricas e 300 a avaliação postural. Na análise estatística dos dados de lombalgia e fatores associados foram usados os testes Quiquadrado, Mann Whitney, análise multivariada. Adotou-se um nível de significância de 5%. Nos questionários, a avaliação da consistência interna foi realizada em 679 jovens e da reprodutibilidade em 40, usou-se Alpha de Cronbach e coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, respectivamente. A estabilização e fidedignidade do sistema de avaliação postural foram analisadas por meio de objeto de medidas conhecidas pelo coeficiente de variação acumulado. A acurácia da classificação dos padrões posturais foi analisada em 180 jovens, pelo teste ANOVA. Resultados: Os jovens reportaram prevalência de lombalgia de 27.2% no ponto presente, 62.73% trimestral e 76.97% ao longo da vida, especialmente as meninas. Os principais fatores associados à lombalgia foram o género feminino e a percepção de hábitos posturais inadequados, enquanto as praticas de atividades físicas foram apontadas como fator de proteção. Foi observada associação com a magnitude das curvas torácicas e lombares nos meninos e com a posição do ápice da curva na região cervical nas meninas. Os instrumentos utilizados neste estudo foram considerados válidos. Conclusão: Recomenda-se que estratégias de prevenção à lombalgia devam atuar no enfoque às atividades físicas, nos hábitos posturais saudáveis, no alinhamento das curvaturas e nos cuidados diferenciados entre os géneros. Os instrumentos utilizados podem ser aplicados em estudos com objetivos semelhantes.<br>Objectives: To determine the prevalence of low back pain in young people and the presence of associated potential factors. Considering the limitations of instruments found in literature, it was also intended to adapt a low back pain questionnaire, to construct a posture habits questionnaire, a postural assessment system, and a classification proposal for postural standards; as well as validate those instruments. Methods: 679 youngsters aged 14-19 years (mean of 16.23 ± 0.90 years) from Florianópolis / Brazil answered the questionnaires. Of those, 330 underwent anthropometric assessments; 300 underwent postural evaluations. For the statistical analysis of low back pain data and associated factors Chi-square tests, Mann Whitney and multivariate analysis were used. A significance level of 5% was adopted. In the questionnaires, the internal consistency was evaluated in 679 youngsters and the reproducibility in 40, by means of Cronbach's Alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. The stabilization and reliability of the postural evaluation system were analyzed by means of measures known, using the cumulative coefficient of variation. The accuracy of the postural patterns classification was analyzed with ANOVA test in 180 youngsters. Results: The subjects reported a low back pain prevalence of 27.2% at the present point, 62.73% quarterly and 76.97% throughout life, especially girls. The main factors associated with lombalgy were the female gender and the perception of inappropriate posture habits, while physical activity practices were pointed as protection factor. An association was observed with the magnitude of thoracic and lumbar curves in boys and with the position of the apex of the curve in cervical region in girls. The instruments used were considered valid. Conclusion: It is recommended that strategies for prevention of low back pain should focus on physical activities, healthy posture habits, alignment of curvatures and differentiated care between genders. The instruments used can be applied in studies with similar objectives.