Waiving parent permission can be an option in some epidemiological and social research with adolescents. However, exemptions have not been uniformly considered or applied. Our aim is to critically assess the different factors that could be taken into account when making decisions about waiving active parental permission in observational research with adolescents.

This article explores the importance of integrating socio-emotional competencies into the formal education of adolescents to promote sustainable development. It argues that social and emotional learning (SEL) not only enhances personal and academic well-being, but also facilitates the building of more resilient and sustainable communities. A scoping review was conducted using a qualitative methodology based on document analysis through matrix-based reviews. The 49 selected studies were analyzed in relation to the personality facets of the Big Five (OCEAN) model. The results of the interventions show improvements in self-efficacy, empathy, motivation, school climate, bullying reduction, and the prevention of mental health issues. It is concluded that a more holistic approach is needed, combining SEL with character education to achieve lasting impacts. Furthermore, interventions must be sensitive to cultural contexts and the specific realities of each school community.

A partir del siglo XX el ocio ha tenido un papel crucial en la sociedad, la economía, la cultura y la educación. Este hecho ha despertado un gran interés por estudiar la conexión que tiene este fenómeno con los estilos de vida, la satisfacción, el entorno, y la relación entre ocio y trabajo. Este artículo analiza la influencia del ocio en la vida de los jóvenes. En la primera parte, se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de las principales teorías sociológicas y psicológicas que explican su sentido, evolución y relación con el trabajo. En la segunda parte, se expone el modelo de desarrollo positivo, centrado más en el florecimiento del potencial de los jóvenes que en prevenir conductas de riesgo. El uso positivo del tiempo libre se basa en la realización de actividades estructuradas, con participación voluntaria, motivación intrínseca y supervisadas por adultos. Se concluye que la implicación de los jóvenes en asociaciones, organizaciones e instituciones que desarrollen actividades estructuradas de participación voluntaria o autoimplicada facilita la transición a la vida adulta, en relación con el uso constructivo del tiempo unido a un ocio libre y placentero.

La ética del cuidado es la propuesta de Carol Gilligan, tras notar el sesgo de género que contenía la tabla del desarrollo moral, propuesta por Lawrence Kohlberg. Gilligan plantea que, mientras el varón tiende a resolver los dilemas morales de manera racionalista, apelando a la idea de justicia, la mujer utiliza también el apego y la empatía. Entonces, propone agregar, en el juicio moral, todo aquello que la mujer capta mejor para corregir el sesgo del sistema de Kohlberg. Por su parte, Nel Noddings convierte la ética del cuidado en una propuesta pedagógica, en diálogo con el movimiento de la educación del carácter. Su modelo contempla cuatro componentes básicos: modelamiento, diálogo, práctica y confirmación. Noddings indica que superar el sesgo de género implica que el juicio moral no se reduzca a la racionalidad instrumental, pero propone evitar caer en el emotivismo. De allí que su propuesta apele a una correcta educación del corazón, buscando un equilibrio entre corazón y cabeza. En este sentido, ambas pensadoras lanzan un desafío positivo a las corrientes actuales de la educación del carácter, justo en un momento en que este campo educativo está expandiendo sus reflexiones fundamentales, mientras busca reflejar todos los aspectos de lapersona humana.

Paid sex is associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, which are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, few data exist on this sexual practice among the general population in SSA, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where data on paid sex mainly comes from sex workers. In the DRC, most HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers do not discuss paid sex as a risk factor. Thus, we aimed to analyze the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors and association with HIV among women and men attending HIV VCT at a reference hospital in Kinshasa. From 2016 to 2018, the Observational Kinshasa AIDS Initiative cohort analyzed the impact of HIV VCT on changes in HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors at follow-up. Participants aged 15–69 years were HIV tested and interviewed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. At baseline, participants were asked about their history of “ever” having had exchanged sex for money. At both follow-ups, the frequency of this practice was referred to as “the previous 6 months.” Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors, and the association between paid sex and HIV. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata 15.1. Among 797 participants at baseline, 10% of those sexually experienced reported having ever had paid sex (18% men and 4% women, p < 0.001). At 6 and 12-month follow-ups, 5% and 2%, respectively. Paid sex was significantly and independently associated with being male (aOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.4–5.2), working or studying (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.5–5.0), daily newspaper reading (aOR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.7–11.2); daily/weekly alcohol consumption (aOR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.8–6.1), first sexual intercourse before age 15 years (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1–5.0), multiple sexual partners (aOR = 4.1; 95% CI = 2.2–7.7), and extragenital sexual practices (aOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.3–4.4). A high religiosity (daily/weekly church attendance and praying) was inversely associated with paid sex (aOR = 0.1; 95% CI = 0.0–0.4). The high prevalence of paid sex among people attending HIV VCT in Kinshasa, associated with other sexual and consumption risk behaviors, highlights the need to include paid sex among the risk factors mentioned in HIV prevention counseling.