Leisure time activities in adolescents predict problematic technology use.

The problematic use of technology of children and adolescents is becoming a growing problem. Research has shown that excessive technology use predicts a variety of psychological and physical health problems. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of leisure time activities (structured and unstructured) in adolescents as a predictor of problematic technology use. Participants were 7723 adolescents, of which 55% were girls, from four Spanish-speaking countries (Chile, Spain, Mexico, and Peru) between the ages of 13 and 18 years. The evaluation instrument applied was the YOURLIFE project self-report questionnaire. Two executive functions were measured: goal setting and inhibitory control. Using structural equation modeling, findings indicated that structured leisure time activities predicted less PTU, whereas unstructured activities predicted more PTU, MLχ2 (69, N = 7723) = 806.60; CFI = 0.929, RMSEA = 0.042, and the model had good predictive capacity for PTU (R2 = 0.46). Structured and unstructured activities also showed indirect effects on PTU through executive functions. As adolescents spent more time in unstructured leisure activities, poorer goal setting, inhibitory control skills, and more PTU were found. The opposite was true for structured leisure time activities. Implications of structured leisure activities to develop executive functioning and to prevent PTU for adolescents are discussed.

Evaluation report of Early Intervention Program in Situations of Youth-to-Parent Aggression: What happens one year after? / Informe de Evaluación del Programa de Intervención Precoz en Situaciones de Violencia Filio-Parental: ¿Qué ocurre un año después?

Introducción: El Programa de Intervención Precoz en Situaciones de Violencia Filio-Parental (IP-VFP) tiene un buen nivel de protocolización y es de acceso abierto. El objetivo principal de este estudio es evaluar el efecto del programa IP-VFP en los/as adolescentes a medio plazo. Métodos: Los/as participantes fueron 22 adolescentes (entre 12 y 17 años) y 49 padres-madres de familias españolas, que habían completado el programa. Se aplicó un diseño experimental de caso único, permitiendo realizar el seguimiento del cambio en los/as adolescentes mediante la comparación entre fases (pre, post-intervención y seguimiento a los 6 meses). Resultados. A medio plazo tras la intervención, se observó una disminución de la violencia filio-parental, de los síntomas clínicos (síntomas depresivos, creencias irracionales, inestabilidad emocional y falta de empatía), y de la percepción del conflicto familiar, así como un aumento de la satisfacción vital. Conclusiones: Este estudio aporta más evidencias de la calidad de este programa pionero, ya que se comprueba que tiene un impacto positivo en los/as adolescentes a medio plazo y que tiene una buena aceptabilidad por parte de ellos/as, por lo que puede considerarse un programa muy prometedor para el contexto clínico y de protección familiar.(AU)

Introduction: The Early Intervention Program in Situations of Youth-to-Parent Aggression (EI-YPA) has a good level of protocolization and is open access. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the ef-fect of the EI-YPA program on adolescents in the medium term. Methods: Among the participants who successfully completed the program, 22 ado-lescents (between 12 and 17 years old) and 49 parents from Spanish fami-lies participated in the study. A single-case experimental design was ap-plied, allowing the monitoring of change within adolescents through com-parison between phases (pre-, post-intervention, and follow-up at 6 months). Results: In the medium term after the intervention, it was ob-served reductions in youth-to-parent aggression, clinical symptoms (de-pressive symptoms, irrational beliefs, a lack of empathy, and emotional in-stability), and the perception of family conflict, alongside improved life sat-isfaction. Conclusions: This study improves the quality of the evidence of this pioneering program, having a positive impact on adolescents in the medium term and good acceptability; it can thus be considered a very promising program for the clinical and family protection contex.(AU)

Recommended Instruments for Analyzing Cyber Dating Violence: A Systematic Review.

Cyber dating violence is an emerging form of dating violence that may have serious health effects on adolescents and young people, and in recent years interest in its study has increased. In order to understand completely the nature and magnitude of the problem, a clear understanding of the concept, constructs and well-established measurement tools are needed. The goal of this study was to analyze the measurement instruments of cyber dating violence in adolescents and young adults, and to determine which are the best suitable to use. To accomplish these objectives a systematic review was carried out. After reviewing the literature, twenty-four measurement instruments were analyzed, with important differences found between them in terms, constructs, dimensions and measurement attributes, as well as differences in their assessed psychometric properties. Once the methodological quality evaluation of the instruments was carried out following COSMIN (COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) guidelines, three scales were found to be recommendable depending on the age and cultural context of participants: Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire (Borrajo, Gámez-Guadix, Pereda, et al., 2015), Technology-facilitated Abuse in Relationships Scale (Brown & Hegarty, 2021), and Abuse in Teen Relationships (CARPA; Calvete et al., 2021).

Recommended Instruments for Analyzing Cyber Dating Violence: A Systematic Review

Cyber dating violence is an emerging form of dating violence that may have serious health effects on adolescents and young people, and in recent years interest in its study has increased. In order to understand completely the nature and magnitude of the problem, a clear understanding of the concept, constructs and well-established measurement tools are needed. The goal of this study was to analyze the measurement instruments of cyber dating violence in adolescents and young adults, and to determine which are the best suitable to use. To accomplish these objectives a systematic review was carried out. After reviewing the literature, twenty-four measurement instruments were analyzed, with important differences found between them in terms, constructs, dimensions and measurement attributes, as well as differences in their assessed psychometric properties. Once the methodological quality evaluation of the instruments was carried out following COSMIN (COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) guidelines, three scales were found to be recommendable depending on the age and cultural context of participants: Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire (Borrajo, Gámez-Guadix, Pereda, et al., 2015), Technology-facilitated Abuse in Relationships Scale (Brown & Hegarty, 2021), and Abuse in Teen Relationships (CARPA; Calvete et al., 2021). (AU)

Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Factorial Structure and Concurrent Validity.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive family assessments in Child Protection Services should include instruments with suitable psychometric characteristics. The present study aims to provide initial evidence of the factorial structure and other psychometric properties of the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). METHOD: Participants were 80 mother-child dyads with children aged 4-8 who received family support from Child Protection Services in Spain. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit for a four-factor solution (Praise, Questions, Clear commands and Negative talk) with 15 items. Inter-rater reliability indices were optimal. Evidence of concurrent validity found that DPICS factors were related to self-reported parenting and teacher-informed child behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence of the DPICS's psychometric properties for assessing mother-child interaction within Child Protection Services. Further research with larger samples of mother-child and father-child dyads is still needed to confirm the four-factor solution.

Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Factorial Structure and Concurrent Validity / Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS): Estructura Factorial y Validez Concurrente

Background: Comprehensive family assessments in Child Protection Services should include instruments with suitable psychometric characteristics. The present study aims to provide initial evidence of the factorial structure and other psychometric properties of the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). Method: Participants were 80 mother-child dyads with children aged 4-8 who received family support from Child Protection Services in Spain. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit for a four-factor solution (Praise, Questions, Clear commands and Negative talk) with 15 items. Inter-rater reliability indices were optimal. Evidence of concurrent validity found that DPICS factors were related to self-reported parenting and teacher-informed child behavior problems. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence of the DPICS’s psychometric properties for assessing mother-child interaction within Child Protection Services. Further research with larger samples of mother-child and father-child dyads is still needed to confirm the four-factor solution. (AU)

Antecedentes: la evaluación de familias en los Servicios de Protección Infantil debería incluir instrumentos con características psicométricas adecuadas. El objetivo principal de este estudio es proporcionar evidencia de la estructura factorial y otras propiedades psicométricas del Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). Método: la muestra estuvo formada por 80 díadas madre-hijo/a con niños/as de 4 a 8 años que recibieron servicios de apoyo familiar de los Servicios de Protección Infantil en España. Resultados: el análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró un buen ajuste para la estructura de cuatro factores (Elogio, Pregunta, Orden Clara y Verbalización Negativa) con 15 ítems. Los índices de fiabilidad interjueces fueron adecuados. Las evidencias de validez concurrente mostraron que los factores del DPICS estaban relacionados con las competencias parentales autoinformadas y con los problemas de conducta infantil informados por los profesores. Conclusiones: el presente estudio proporciona evidencia preliminar sobre las propiedades psicométricas del DPICS para la evaluación de la interacción madre-hijo/a en los Servicios de Protección Infantil. Sería necesario continuar investigando con muestras más amplias de díadas madre-hijo/a, así como díadas padre-hijo/a para confirmar la estructura de cuatro factores. (AU)

A Systematic Review of Youth-to-Parent Aggression: Conceptualization, Typologies, and Instruments.

The goal of this study was to analyze the conceptualization of YPA (youth-to-parent aggression) in relation to terms, definitions, typologies and assessment instruments. To achieve this aim, a systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA protocol. Assessment instruments for YPA were examined in accordance with COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments). After reviewing the literature on conceptualization and measuring instruments, some gaps were found. The use of some particular terms was justified depending on the age of children and severity of case. Taking into account the theoretical background, a full definition of YPA was offered. Moreover, this study revealed that it was possible to discriminate four typologies of YPA (Offensive, Defensive, Affective, and Situational) as a function of the coercion level and nature of the violence. Eleven instruments to measure YPA were analyzed exhaustively, with the most reported and robust psychometric properties being internal consistency and structural validity, while other validity evidence was understudied. The CPV-Q (12-25 years) obtained the highest rating as a promising instrument. The initial psychodiagnosis of a YPA situation would help in the individual or family intervention, as well as prevent more severe situations of YPA through early intervention.

Promising observational instruments of parent-child (0-12 years) interaction within the child protection system: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Parent-child interaction (PCI) is considered a critical environmental factor that affects child development. In the field of child and family intervention, assessment of caregiver-child interaction has great relevance for decision-making. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report the results of a systematic review of the best observational instruments to assess the quality of PCI, taking into account the most advanced protocols. METHODS: Firstly, one search was conducted to identify eligible observational instruments, and a second search was conducted to identify studies reporting on the psychometric properties of the instruments previously identified. To assess and rate the quality of the psychometric properties of the tools, the COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) checklist was applied. RESULTS: The nine PCI observational tools selected (with category B - promising) are widely used by researchers and clinicians across different stages of childhood. The Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (2-71 months) obtained the highest rating. CONCLUSIONS: The most reported and robust psychometric property was inter-rater reliability, but validity evidence is understudied. This systematic review can help clinicians keep up-to-date, provide evidence for policymakers to judge risks and benefits of health care behaviors, as well as assess the evaluation programs in child abuse and neglect context.

Child-to-Parent Violence as an Intervening Variable in the Relationship between Inter-Parental Violence Exposure and Dating Violence.

The exposure of adult children to inter-parental violence is an indirect form of victimization which has not been widely investigated in relation to its consequences in adulthood. The main goal of this study was to analyze predictors of dating violence based on an integrated model of intergenerational transmission of violence with the assessment of potential indirect effects of inter-parental violence exposure on dating violence through child-to-parent violence and sexism. A total of 847 college students participated in this study, ranging from 18 to 25 years of age. Inter-parental violence exposure plays a relevant role in dating violence, with indirect effects through child-to-parent violence and sexism. These results support social learning theory in explaining the intergenerational transmission of violence and indicate that further attention should be paid to children exposed to inter-parental violence. Intervention models to prevent the perpetration of dating violence should include the prevention of inter-parental violence exposure and child-to-parent violence.

Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Family Environment: The Perceptions of Same Reality?

The use of several sources of information (parents and children) is scarce in family studies. Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is still considered the most hidden and stigmatized form of family violence. One objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perceptions of family environment as a function of the informant (parent or child), child's sex, and parents' sex in a community population. The study also aimed to analyze the predictive power of family conflict and aggressive family discipline in child-to-parent violence depending on the informant. A sample of 586 adolescents (49% boys, aged between 12 and 18) and their parents (40%) participated in the study. The Family Environment Scale and the Conflict Tactics Scales were administered. Results showed good consistency between adolescent reports and parent reports for physical CPV, but adolescents perceived worse family environments than their parents. Multiple regression models revealed that aggressive family discipline and family are important risk factors for CPV. Early intervention to prevent CPV is recommended, focused on promoting family relationships and avoiding harsh discipline practices. It is important that parents are able to ask for help when they need it.

Mental Health of Spanish Immigrants in Germany and the UK in Comparison to Non-Immigrants and Migration Protective Factors / La salud mental de los españoles inmigrantes en Alemania y Reino Unido en comparación con los españoles no inmigrantes y sus factores protectores

The global economic crisis of the previous decade has accelerated internal mobility in the European Union. The main objective was to analyse perceived stress and mental health among Spanish immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as gender differences, and to examine the mediation role of perceived stress in the relationship between migration protective factors and mental health. A convenience sample (N = 941) was obtained by snowball sampling, contacting with social networks during 2014 and 2015. Spanish immigrants (n = 719) living in Germany or United Kingdom and non-immigrants (n = 222) living in Spain answered an online survey with a questionnaire about socio-demographic and migration variables (immigrants) as well as PSS-14 and GQH-28. The low level of perceived stress and mental health symptoms found were similar in Spanish immigrants and non-immigrants. Women immigrants presented slightly higher rates of prevalence of somatisation and anxiety/insomnia and higher perceived stress. A parsimonious structural equation model with two protective migration factors was obtained (R2 = .58), which had direct and indirect effects on mental health through perceived stress. The migration process was not related to poorer mental health in the European context, and gender differences were small. These findings could be explained by the privileged migration conditions of Spanish immigrants

En la última década la crisis económica global ha acelerado la movilidad interna dentro de la Unión Europea. El objetivo principal de este estudio ha sido analizar el estrés percibido y la salud mental de los españoles inmigrantes en comparación con los no inmigrantes, atendiendo a las diferencias de género. Un objetivo complementario era examinar el papel mediacional del estrés percibido en la relación entre los factores protectores migratorios y la salud mental. Se obtuvo una muestra de conveniencia (N = 941) a través del muestreo de bola de nieve contactando con redes sociales en el periodo 2014-2015. Españoles inmigrantes (719 residentes en Alemania o Reino Unido) y no inmigrantes (n = 222) respondieron en internet a un cuestionario sobre variables sociodemográficas y migratorias (inmigrantes), así como a los instrumentos PSS-14 y GHQ-28. Los bajos niveles de estrés percibido y los síntomas de salud mental encontrados fueron similares en la población española inmigrante y no inmigrante. Las mujeres inmigrantes presentaban tasas de prevalencia ligeramente más elevadas en somatización, ansiedad e insomnio que los hombres inmigrantes. Se obtuvo un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales parsimonioso que incluía dos factores migratorios protectores (R2 = .58), con efecto directo e indirecto en la salud mental a través del estrés percibido. El proceso migratorio estudiado no se relaciona con peor salud mental en el contexto europeo y las diferencias en función del sexo son muy pequeñas. Estos resultados pueden explicarse por las condiciones privilegiadas migratorias de la población española en otros países de la Unión Europea

Learning to Detect Deception from Evasive Answers and Inconsistencies across Repeated Interviews: A Study with Lay Respondents and Police Officers.

Previous research has shown that inconsistencies across repeated interviews do not indicate deception because liars deliberately tend to repeat the same story. However, when a strategic interview approach that makes it difficult for liars to use the repeat strategy is used, both consistency and evasive answers differ significantly between truth tellers and liars, and statistical software (binary logistic regression analyses) can reach high classification rates (Masip et al., 2016b). Yet, if the interview procedure is to be used in applied settings the decision process will be made by humans, not statistical software. To address this issue, in the current study, 475 college students (Experiment 1) and 142 police officers (Experiment 2) were instructed to code and use consistency, evasive answers, or a combination or both before judging the veracity of Masip et al.'s (2016b) interview transcripts. Accuracy rates were high (60% to over 90%). Evasive answers yielded higher rates than consistency, and the combination of both these cues produced the highest accuracy rates in identifying both truthful and deceptive statements. Uninstructed participants performed fairly well (around 75% accuracy), apparently because they spontaneously used consistency and evasive answers. The pattern of results was the same among students, all officers, and veteran officers only, and shows that inconsistencies between interviews and evasive answers reveal deception when a strategic interview approach that hinders the repeat strategy is used.

Ambivalent Sexism Inventory: Adaptation to Basque Population and Sexism as a Risk Factor of Dating Violence.

There is currently a consensus that sexism is one of the most important causes of intimate partner violence, but this has yet to be empirically demonstrated conclusively. The key objective of the study was to adapt Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) and to validate it to the Basque language. It also aims to analyze the prevalence of violence in dating relationships and verify if ambivalent sexism in young men and women is a valid predictor of perpetration and/or victimization in their dating relationships. Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and Dating Relationship Questionnaire were administered to 1378 undergraduate students (66% women and 45% Basque), aged between 17 and 30. The psychometric properties of the Basque and Spanish versions of the ASI are deemed to be acceptable. Sufficient guarantees are provided to be used as an instrument for measuring ambivalent sexism in adult Basque speakers. Ambivalent sexism among young men and women are both positively associated with the perpetration of violence and victimization in their dating relationships. However, ambivalent sexism or two sub-types of sexism (hostile and benevolent) are not relevant risk factors to be perpetrator or victim of violence in dating relationships, due to accounting for 3% or less of variance in dating violence.

Strategic Interviewing to Detect Deception: Cues to Deception across Repeated Interviews.

Previous deception research on repeated interviews found that liars are not less consistent than truth tellers, presumably because liars use a "repeat strategy" to be consistent across interviews. The goal of this study was to design an interview procedure to overcome this strategy. Innocent participants (truth tellers) and guilty participants (liars) had to convince an interviewer that they had performed several innocent activities rather than committing a mock crime. The interview focused on the innocent activities (alibi), contained specific central and peripheral questions, and was repeated after 1 week without forewarning. Cognitive load was increased by asking participants to reply quickly. The liars' answers in replying to both central and peripheral questions were significantly less accurate, less consistent, and more evasive than the truth tellers' answers. Logistic regression analyses yielded classification rates ranging from around 70% (with consistency as the predictor variable), 85% (with evasive answers as the predictor variable), to over 90% (with an improved measure of consistency that incorporated evasive answers as the predictor variable, as well as with response accuracy as the predictor variable). These classification rates were higher than the interviewers' accuracy rate (54%).

Academic Failure and Child-to-Parent Violence: Family Protective Factors.

A reduction in academic achievement over the course of adolescence has been observed. School failure is characterized by difficulties to teaching school goals. A variety of other behavioral problems are often associated with school failure. Child-to-parent violence has been associated with different school problems. The main objective of current study was to examine the contribution of family variables (parental education level, family cohesion, and positive family discipline) on academic failure and child-to-parent violence of adolescents from a community sample. Moreover, a goal was to explore if academic failure was a valid predictor of child-to-parent violence. To this end, it has been developed a comprehensive statistical model through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Participants were 584 children from eight secondary schools in the Basque Country (Spain) and aged between 12 and 18. Among other scales Conflict Tactics Scale and Family Environment Scale were administrated for measuring child-to-parent violence and family cohesion environment, respectively. The structural model revealed that parental education level is a relevant protective factor against academic failure. Positive family discipline (inductive discipline, supervision, and penalty) show a significant association with child-to-parent violence and academic failure. Disciplinary practices could be more efficient to prevent child-to-parent violence or school failure if children perceive a positive environment in their home. However, these findings could be explained by inverse causality, because some parents respond to child-to-parent violence or academic failure with disciplinary strategies. School failure had indirect effects on child-to-parent violence through family cohesion. For all that, education policies should focus on parental education courses for disadvantaged families in order to generate appropriate learning environments at home and to foster improvement of parent-child relationships.

Ambivalent sexism inventory: adaptation to Basque population and sexism as a risk factor

There is currently a consensus that sexism is one of the most important causes of intimate partner violence, but this has yet to be empirically demonstrated conclusively. The key objective of the study was to adapt Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) and to validate it to the Basque language. It also aims to analyze the prevalence of violence in dating relationships and verify if ambivalent sexism in young men and women is a valid predictor of perpetration and/or victimization in their dating relationships. Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and Dating Relationship Questionnaire were administered to 1378 undergraduate students (66% women and 45% Basque), aged between 17 and 30. The psychometric properties of the Basque and Spanish versions of the ASI are deemed to be acceptable. Sufficient guarantees are provided to be used as an instrument for measuring ambivalent sexism in adult Basque speakers. Ambivalent sexism among young men and women are both positively associated with the perpetration of violence and victimization in their dating relationships. However, ambivalent sexism or two sub-types of sexism (hostile and benevolent) are not relevant risk factors to be perpetrator or victim of violence in dating relationships, due to accounting for 3% or less of variance in dating violence (AU)

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Predictores familiares de la violencia filio-parental: el papel de la disciplina familiar / Family predictors of child-to-parent violence: the role of family discipline

La violencia filio-parental es un problema social cualitativamente diferente a otros tipos de violencia familiar, porque los adolescentes dirigen la violencia hacia quienes debieran representar la autoridad y proporcionarles bienestar. El objetivo principal de este estudio era analizar el papel de las relaciones paternofiliales y la disciplina familiar en el desarrollo de conductas violentas y prosociales de los adolescentes hacia sus padres. En el estudio participaron 585 hijos/as (48% varones) entre 12 y 18 años procedentes de 8 centros escolares de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco. Los resultados indican que las relaciones familiares basadas en el afecto y la comunicación son las que favorecen las conductas prosociales de los hijos, y reducen las conductas violentas de éstos en el hogar. Por el contrario, las estrategias de disciplina parental coercitivas y las estrategias parcialmente coercitivas (supervisión y coste de respuesta) se asocian a un mayor nivel de violencia física y psicológica de los hijos adolescentes hacia sus padres. Finalmente, se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados en relación a la educación parental

Child-to-parent violence is a social problem that is qualitatively different from other types of family violence, since adolescents direct their violence toward those who should represent authority and provide for their welfare. The main goal of this study was to analyze the role of family relationships and family discipline on violent and prosocial behavior by adolescents toward their parents. Participants were 585 children aged between 12 and 18 from 8 schools in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (Spain). Results show that family relationships based on affect and communication are those that promote prosocial behaviors by children and reduce their violent behaviors at home. However, power-assertive parental discipline strategies and partially punitive strategies (monitoring and penalty) were associated to more physical and psychological violence by adolescents toward their parents. Finally, implications of these findings for parenting education are discussed

Behavioral problems and depressive symptomatology as predictors of child-to-parent violence / Problemas conductuales y sintomatología depresiva como predictores de la violencia filio-parental

The number of complaints filed by parents against their children nationwide has increased dramatically, particularly since 2005. The aim of this study was to examine whether young offenders who had been charged for violence against their parents presented different psychological problems from youngsters charged with other types of offence and non-offenders. Data from 231 adolescents of both sexes aged 14 to 18 years and living in the Basque Country (Spain) were analyzed. Of these, 106 were offenders and the rest were from a community sample. Some of the offenders had been charged with child-to-parent violence (n= 59), while the rest of them had not (n= 47). Offenders who had assaulted or abused their parents presented more behavior problems outside home and more characteristics associated with depressive symptomatology than offenders of other types or non-offenders. Certain psychological problems in adolescents could precipitate family conflict situations and leave parents unable to control their children. Findings highlight the need for offenders charged with child-to-parent violence to receive individual psychological therapy (AU)

El número de denuncias por maltrato presentadas por los padres contra sus hijos a nivel nacional se ha incrementado de forma alarmante sobre todo a partir del año 2005. El objetivo de este estudio era comprobar si los menores infractores denunciados por maltrato a sus progenitores presentan diferentes problemas psicológicos que los infractores por otros delitos y los adolescentes no infractores. Para ello se analizaron los datos de 231 adolescentes entre 14 y 18 años del País Vasco (España) de ambos sexos, de los cuales 106 eran infractores y el resto procedía de la población general. Algunos de los infractores tenían delitos por violencia filio-parental (n= 59) mientras que el resto tenían delitos de otro tipo (n= 47). Los infractores que agreden a sus padres se caracterizan por presentar más problemas conductuales fuera del hogar y características asociadas a la sintomatología depresiva que los infractores por otros delitos o los que no son infractores. Determinados problemas psicológicos de los hijos podrían precipitar situaciones de conflicto en el seno familiar y los progenitores verse incapaces de controlarlos. Los resultados ponen de relieve la necesidad de que los infractores por violencia filio-parental reciban terapia psicológica individual (AU)

Predictors of substance abuse treatment participation among homeless adults.

The current study focuses on the relationships among a trauma history, a substance use history, chronic homelessness, and the mediating role of recent emotional distress in predicting drug treatment participation among adult homeless people. We explored the predictors of participation in substance abuse treatment because enrolling and retaining clients in substance abuse treatment programs is always a challenge particularly among homeless people. Participants were 853 homeless adults from Los Angeles, California. Using structural equation models, findings indicated that trauma history, substance use history and chronicity of homelessness were associated, and were significant predictors of greater recent emotional distress. The most notable result was that recent emotional distress predicted less participation in current substance abuse treatment (both formal and self-help) whereas a substance use history alone predicted significantly more participation in treatment. Implications concerning treatment engagement and difficulties in obtaining appropriate dual-diagnosis services for homeless mentally distressed individuals are discussed.

Protective factors for adolescent violence against authority.

Both the family and school environments influence adolescents' violence, but there is little research focusing simultaneously on the two contexts. This study analyzed the role of positive family and classroom environments as protective factors for adolescents' violence against authority (parent abuse and teacher abuse) and the relations between antisocial behavior and child-to-parent violence or student-to-teacher violence. The sample comprised 687 Spanish students aged 12-16 years, who responded to the Family Environment Scale (FES) and the Classroom Environment Scale (CES). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test our model of violent behavior towards authority based on Catalano and Hawkins' Social Developmental Model (1996). Perceived family cohesion and organization showed an inverse association with parent abuse, suggesting that a positive family environment was a protective factor for the development of violence against parents. Family and classroom environments had direct effects on adolescents' violence against authority, and antisocial behavior showed a mediating effect in this relationship. The model accounted for 81% of the variance in violence against authority. As family environment was a better predictor of violence against authority than school environment, intervention efforts to reduce rates of adolescent violence should focus on helping parents to increase family cohesion and to manage conflictive relationships with their children.