[Children and the traumatogenic impact of images: what protection in the Internet age?] / Enfant et impact traumatogène des images : quelles protections à l'ère d'Internet ?

Although screen assistance does not prevent all image traumas, especially those that are likely to disturb the youngest children, it does help to anticipate them and reduce their impact. This is why the protection of minors against the dangers of images requires three series of measures: a reform of public broadcasting, in particular the composition and role of classification panels; more comprehensive information for parents; training for teachers, school psychologists, socio-cultural workers and educators. As part of their initial and ongoing training, all should be trained in the issue of images and their reception by children.

[The mobile telephone as a tool for resisting sectarian ideas]. / Le téléphone mobile pour résister aux discours sectaires.

The 'Pocket films empathy' activity is aimed at young people at risk of dropping out of school and those in crisis, often struggling to interact and show empathy with others. It provides support led by street educators trained in the use of the mobile telephone as a tool for talking and creating. By inviting them to put images and words to their emotions and compare their points of view, it enables these young people to express their anger, to escape from the fascination for sectarian ideas and to start to create their own personal history as well as their history within their family and society as a whole.

[Doctors and the benefits and dangers of social networks]. / Le médecin face aux bénéfices et aux dangers des réseaux sociaux.

Social networks have many different uses. Most young people use them for experimentation and innovation. Social networks help young people get familiar with the digital world, and develop themselves in interrelation with their peers. But social networks can also be used to avoid relationships in the real world, or to practice different forms of harassment. A specific danger lies in forgetting that a great number of people can have access to personal information posted online. Doctors should be particularly aware of this issue.

A cross-cultural study on surrogate mother's empathy and maternal-foetal attachment.

BACKGROUND: Traditional and gestational surrogate mothers assist infertile couples by carrying their children. In 2005, a meta-analysis on surrogacy was conducted but no study had examined empathy and maternal-foetal attachment of surrogate mothers. Assessments of surrogate mothers show no sign of psychopathology, but one study showed differences on several MMPI-2 scales compared to a normative sample: surrogate mothers identified with stereotypically masculine traits such as assertiveness and competition. They had a higher self-esteem and lower levels of anxiety and depression. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a difference in empathy and maternal-foetal attachment of surrogate mothers compared to a comparison group of mothers. METHODS: Three groups of European traditional and gestational surrogate mothers (n=10), Anglo-Saxon traditional and gestational surrogate mothers (n=34) and a European normative sample of mothers (n=32) completed four published psychometric instruments: the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (empathy index), the Hospital Anxiety and Depressions Scale and the MC20, a social desirability scale. Pregnant surrogate mothers filled the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (n=11). Statistical non-parametric analyses of variance were conducted. FINDINGS: Depending on cultural background, surrogate mothers present differences in terms of empathy, anxiety and depression, social desirability and quality of attachment to the foetus compared to a normative sample. CONCLUSIONS: Environment plays a role for traditional and gestational surrogacy. Surrogate mothers of both groups are less anxious and depressed than normative samples. Maternal-foetal attachment is strong with a slightly lower quality of attachment. Surrogate mother's empathy indexes are similar to normative samples, sometimes higher.