Back to school after the pandemic: Adjustment of Spanish children and adolescents / La vuelta al colegio tras la pandemia: Adaptación de los niños y adolescentes españoles

Para frenar la propagación del COVID-19, el gobierno español aplicó medidas restrictivas, como el cierre escolar. Aunque los efectos de la pandemia en el bienestar emocional de los niños han sido estudiados, faltan estudios que examinen la adaptación escolar tras la pandemia y el papel que la infección ha tenido en el proceso de adaptación. El objetivo es analizar la relación entre los eventos estresantes relacionados con la escuela y la adaptación escolar después del confinamiento, incluyendo la ansiedad como mediadora. Los participantes fueron 219 padres de niños y adolescentes españoles de entre 3 y 18 años que completaron encuestas sobre la ansiedad de sus hijos (Spanish Brief Child Version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale), los eventos estresantes vividos relacionados con la escuela (Stressful Eventos relacionados con el Inventario de Pandemia), y la adaptación escolar (Escala de Ajuste de los Niños después del Cierre Escolar de la Pandemia). Los resultados mostraron mayor prevalencia en el evento estresante distancia social (87%). Tener COVID-19 y sufrir acoso escolar se relacionó directamente con una mayor ansiedad. Los niños que disminuyeron el contacto social y sufrieron acoso escolar mostraron peor adaptación escolar, siendo la ansiedad un mediador indirecto. Los hallazgos destacan la importancia de supervisar la adaptación escolar y promover estrategias para prevenir problemas emocionales en jóvenes expuestos a situaciones estresantes.(AU)

Aiming to mitigate the COVID-19 spread, the government of Spain applied restrictive measures, like schools’ closure. Although the ef-fects of the pandemic on children's emotional well-being have been stud-ied, there is a lack of studies examining school adjustment following the pandemic and the role that the infection has played in the adjustment pro-cess. The objective is to analyze the relationship between stressful events related to school experienced by children and their adjustment to school after the home confinement, including anxiety as a mediator variable. Par-ticipants were the parentsof 219 Spanish children and adolescents aged 3 and 18 years who completed a survey about their children’s anxiety (Span-ish Brief Child Version of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale), the stress-ful events experienced related to school (Stressful Events related to Pan-demic Inventory), and the adjustment to school (Adjustment of Children after Pandemic School Closure Scale). Results showed that social distance was the most reported stressful event (87%). Having COVID-19 and expe-riencing bullying were directly related to a high level of anxiety. Children ́s who decreased social contact and experienced bullying showed a worse ad-justment to school. Anxiety was an indirect mediator of this relationship. Findings highlight the importance of supervising school adaptation and promoting strategies to prevent emotional problems when the youths are exposed to stressful situations.(AU)

Daily Activities in European Children and Adolescents During COVID-19 School Closure: A Longitudinal Study Exploring Physical Activity, Use of Screens, and Sleep Patterns.

This longitudinal study aimed to analyze the evolution of patterns of daily activities (physical activity time, screen usage time, and sleep hours) in European youth during school closure due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Participants were 624 caregivers of children and adolescents aged 3-18 from Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Evaluations were online, and four time-points were considered: retrospective measurement of daily activities before confinement (T1), and two (T2), five (T3), and eight (T4) weeks after starting the lockdown. Generally accepted international guidelines on physical activity time, screen usage time, and hours of sleep by age group were used to determine whether the pattern might increase the risk for ill health or not. To estimate the evolution of daily activities, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used. The percentage of children who practiced less than 60 min of daily exercise increased significantly from before home confinement (47.8%) to T2 (86.4%); it slightly decreased at T3 (79.8%), and remained stable at T4 (76.1%). The percentage of children who made excessive use of screens (according to their age group) significantly increased from T1 to T2 and remained stable and high in the rest of the evaluations. The percentage of children who slept fewer or more hours than recommended for their age group remained stable between T1 and T4, although there was a significant increase at T3. In general, results found unhealthier behaviors as confinement was extended. Results are discussed in order to find strategies for promoting healthy daily activities for future pandemics.

Treating Emotional Disorders in Spanish Children: A Controlled Randomized Trial in a Clinical Setting.

Super Skills for Life (SSL) is a CBT-transdiagnostic group intervention currently being translated and validated in multiple countries. In Spanish children, it has shown a positive impact on anxious and depressive symptoms, as well as other variables such as self-concept, prosocial behaviors, or behavioral problems. However, the effectiveness of the program to treat internalizing symptoms in children with a mental disorder in a clinical setting has not been examined so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SSL in a Spanish sample of children with a major internalizing disorder. Participants aged 8-12 years (71.6% boys) were randomly allocated to the SSL group (n = 43) or the waiting list control (WLC) group (n = 43). All children and their parents completed a series of measures before the first session and after the last session or at about the same time in the WLC group. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed using generalized estimating equations. Significant reductions from pretest to posttest across multiple outcomes were found in children who participated in SSL group compared to those in the WLC group, including anxiety symptoms (SCAS, p = .02), anxiety interference (CALIS, p = .002), depressive symptoms (CDI, p = .033) and remission from diagnosis (K-SADS, p < .001). This study provides initial support for SSL as an effective treatment for children with emotional disorders in clinical settings. Future studies are needed to analyze long-term effects and broader benefits of the program in clinical contexts.

Benefits of Super Skills for Life in a randomized controlled trial in clinical settings for Spanish children with comorbid conditions.

Emotional disorders in children are often associated with low self-concept and problems with peers, and in many cases externalizing symptoms. Super Skills for Life (SSL) is a transdiagnostic treatment for emotional problems in children that has also shown benefits in other comorbid symptoms. This study aimed to examine, for the first time, the effect of SSL on a clinical sample of Spanish children aged 8-12 years with a major emotional disorder and comorbid externalizing symptoms and low self-concept. A quasi-experimental design with two groups, pretest and posttest, was carried out. Thirty-eight children received the SSL intervention, and 36 children were assigned to a wait-list control (WLC) group. Children in SSL showed statistically fewer posttest emotional symptoms (p < .001), peer problems (p = .002), and overall internalizing and externalizing difficulties (p = .005) compared to children in WLC, in addition to higher posttest self-concept (p = .002). There were no differences in the postinterventional changes between boys and girls in internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, significant differences were found in some facets of self-concept. The results of this study suggest that the SSL protocol may be useful in Spanish clinical contexts. Still, more research is needed to overcome some of the inherent limitations.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale: A 25-Year Systematic Review.

The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is one of the most used instruments to assess anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. Extensive research has been conducted to examine its psychometric properties and to develop other versions of the scale. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the SCAS across different versions and populations. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered. APA PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection) and MEDLINE (PubMed) were searched. Fifty-two studies were included in this systematic review. They examined the factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and internal consistency of the scale. The most supported model was the original six-factor model, followed by the higher order six-factor model for the long version of the SCAS. Studies provided evidence of convergent validity and internal consistency. It is concluded that the SCAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents, with a six-factor model structure well supported in most populations. Further research on the psychometric properties and factor structure of other versions of the scale and its application to clinical populations is warranted.

Effectiveness of a transdiagnostic computerized self-applied program targeting children with emotional problems: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Super Skills for Life (SSL) is an eight-session transdiagnostic program based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), aimed at the indicated prevention of childhood emotional problems, which has been implemented with positive short- and long-term results. The present study aimed to examine the effects of a self-applied computerized program based on SSL that maintains the same objectives and contents as the face-to-face program. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 75 children (49.3 % female) aged 8-12 years (Mage = 9.45, SD = 1.31), selected for exhibiting emotional symptoms, were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 35) or the waiting list control (WLC) group (n = 40). Pre- and post-intervention data were collected through self-reports and the report of parents who completed parallel versions of the same measures of emotional and behavioral problems. RESULTS: Overall, compared to the WLC group, the intervention group showed positive effects on targeted emotional symptomatology in the short term. Based on parents' reports, a significant reduction was found in outcomes such as anxiety, depression, emotional symptoms, and internalizing problems, while self-reported results were similar except for anxiety. In addition, a positive impact was found on symptoms related to other types of difficulties (e.g., externalizing problems and general difficulties measured). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, non-inclusion of follow-up assessment and other informants (e.g., teachers). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this research provides novel and promising data on the self-applied computerized adapted version of the SSL program, within a multi-informant approach, suggesting that it may be a useful tool for the indicated prevention of childhood emotional problems.

Stressful Life Events in Children Aged 3 to 15 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Class Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported an increase in psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of stressful life events on Spanish children and adolescents using a person-oriented statistical approach and the relationships between the profiles and emotional and behavioral symptoms have not yet been examined. The present study aims to identify profiles of Spanish children and adolescents, considering life-threatening stressful events during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Participants were 252 parents of children aged 3 to 15 years old who completed an online structured questionnaire that collected information about stressful life events related to the pandemic and its impact on their children's welfare. RESULTS: Through Latent Class Analysis (LCA), four profiles of children and adolescents were found according to the stressful events experienced: "COVID infection, social confinement", "economic loss", "reduced social contact" and "parental stress", with no significant age or gender differences. Reduction in social contact was the most prevalent stressor. Comparisons of psychological symptoms across latent classes were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings increase our understanding of how stressful life events during the COVID-19 situation impacted young people's psychological welfare and highlight the need to promote strategies to prevent emotional problems during a pandemic considering the identified profiles.

Effectiveness of psychological interventions for child and adolescent specific anxiety disorders: A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses / Eficacia de las intervenciones psicológicas para el tratamiento de los trastornos específicos de ansiedad en niños y adolescentes: una revisión derevisiones sistemáticas y meta-análisis

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in children and adolescents. The associated functional limitations and the negative psychological consequences have led to increased research into effective psychological interventions. What is missing, however, is a comprehensive review of the literatureaddressing the effectiveness of these treatments for specific disorders. A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating theeffectiveness of psychological treatments for specific anxiety disorders in children and adolescents was performed. The study followed PRISMAguidelines. Four bibliographic databases were searched: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection), and The CochraneLibrary. Two authors independently screened the articles by title, abstract, and full-text, according to established inclusion and exclusion criteria.Two independent authors evaluated the methodological quality of the included reviews using AMSTAR-2. Five records were included in this systematic review. Four studies included children and adolescents with specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorderand one focused solely on nocturnal fears. Cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment ofthese diagnoses in both short and long term. The methodological quality of the included studies was classified as critically low. Cognitive behavioralinterventions are effective in treating specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder and nighttime fears in childrenand adolescents. The improvement of the methodological quality and the need for further studies focusing on the effectiveness of treatments forspecific disorders are discussed. (AU)

Los trastornos de ansiedad son muy comunes en la infancia y adolescencia y repercuten negativamente enla vida del niño y la familia. Pese al aumento en el número de investigaciones centradas en estudiar la eficacia de las intervenciones psicológicas,hasta la fecha no se ha llevado a cabo una síntesis que haya dado cuenta de la eficacia de estas intervenciones para cada uno de los trastornosde ansiedad de manera específica. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis. Se realizaron búsquedas en cuatrobases de datos: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science (colección principal) y The Cochrane Library. Dos autores examinaron de formaindependiente los artículos por título, resumen y texto completo, según unos criterios de inclusión y exclusión previamente establecidos. Dos autoresevaluaron de forma independiente la calidad metodológica de las revisiones incluidas mediante AMSTAR-2. Se incluyeron cinco estudios. Cuatroincluyeron participantes con fobias específicas, ansiedad generalizada y ansiedad por separación y uno se centró en miedos nocturnos. Las intervenciones basadas en la terapia cognitivo conductual demostraron ser efectivas para el tratamiento de estos trastornos a corto y a largo plazo. Lacalidad metodológica de los estudios incluidos se clasificó como críticamente baja. Las intervenciones basadas en la terapia cognitivo conductualson eficaces para los trastornos de ansiedad en niños y adolescentes. Se discute la necesidad de mejorar la calidad metodológica y de aumentarlos estudios centrados en la eficacia de los tratamientos para trastornos específicos. (AU)

Examining academic self-concept as a mediator of the relationship between anxiety and depression: A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Self-concept plays a role as a mediator in the development and maintenance of internalizing symptoms but mechanisms through which the early presence of anxiety symptoms is associated with the subsequent development of depression is unknown. The aim of this longitudinal study was to analyze the mediating role of different areas of self-concept in the relationship between the early development of anxiety symptoms and the later appearance of depressive symptoms. METHODS: A longitudinal study with 3 time-points was conducted, including baseline, 2 months and 12 months from the baseline assessment. A total of 217 children aged 8-12 years participated. Mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Macro for SPSS. RESULTS: Academic self-concept (Time 2) mediated the relationship between Anxiety (Time 1) and Depression (Time 3) when controlling for children's sex and, age, baseline value of the mediator, anxiety (at Times 2 and 3), and depression (at Times 1 and 2). Children with self-reports of higher anxiety symptoms (Time 1) presented lower Academic self-concept (Time 2). Children who reported lower levels of Academic self-concept and Family self-concept (Time 2) were more likely to develop depressive symptoms (Time 3). CONCLUSIONS: Feeling competent in the school environment may be considered a protective factor against the development of depression in childhood. The identification of risk factors facilitates the development and implementation of preventive programs.

Tratamientos psicológicos para la adicción a videojuegos en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes: una revisión sistemática / Psychological Treatments for Video Game Adicction in Adolescents and Young Adults: a Systematic Review

La adicción a los videojuegos constituye un problema relevante, pues se encuentra vinculado a numerosas alteraciones psicosociales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer los tratamientos psicológicos para la adicción mencionada y determinar su eficacia. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en 7 bases de datos. Se obtuvo 2.355 artículos, de los que 21 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Se examinaron las características de los participantes, el diseño de los estudios, el riesgo de sesgo y la calidad de los estudios, el método de diagnóstico, el tipo de intervención y los efectos de las intervenciones. La Terapia Cognitivo Conductual (TCC) ha sido ampliamente estudiada, encontrándose disminuciones significativas en las variables contempladas (reducción de la sintomatología y/o tiempo de juego) en la mayoría de los estudios analizados. Sin embargo, la falta de rigurosidad en los diseños empleados y los sesgos asociados, impide ubicarla en la categoría de tratamientos bien establecidos según las normas APA. No obstante, existen indicios experimentales prometedores de que estas intervenciones pueden alcanzar los niveles de eficacia postulados. Esto mismo ocurre con los tratamientos catalogados como otros enfoques de tratamiento, a pesar de que estos todavía se encuentran en una fase experimental. Por esta razón, es necesario que investigaciones futuras superen las limitaciones metodológicas propias de los estudios realizados hasta el momento. (AU)

Video game addiction is a relevant problem, as it is linked to numerous psychosocial disorders. The objective of this work was to know the psychological treatments for the aforementioned addiction and to determine their effectiveness. A bibliographic search was carried out in 7 databases. 2,355 articles were obtained, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. Participant characteristics, study design, risk of bias and quality of studies, method of diagnosis, type of intervention, and effects of interventions were examined. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been widely studied, finding significant decreases in the variables contemplated (reduction of symptoms and/or playing time) in most of the studies analyzed. However, the lack of rigor in the designs used and the associated biases make it impossible to place it in the category of well-established treatments according to the APA standards. However, there is promising experimental evidence that these interventions can achieve the postulated levels of efficacy. The same is true for treatments listed as other treatment approaches, even though these are still in an experimental phase. For this reason, future research needs to overcome the methodological limitations of the studies carried out to date. (AU)

Stressful Life Events in Children Aged 3 to 15 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Class Analysis / Eventos Vitales Estresantes en Niños de 3 a 15 Años Durante la Pandemia deCOVID-19: Un Análisis de Clases Latentes

Background: Although several studies have reported an increase in psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of stressful life events on Spanish children and adolescents using a person-oriented statistical approach and the relationships between the profiles and emotional and behavioral symptoms have not yet been examined. The present study aims to identify profiles of Spanish children and adolescents, considering life-threatening stressful events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Participants were 252 parents of children aged 3 to 15 years old who completed an online structured questionnaire that collected information about stressful life events related to the pandemic and its impact on their children’s welfare. Results: Through Latent Class Analysis (LCA), four profiles of children and adolescents were found according to the stressful events experienced: “COVID infection, social confinement,” “economic loss,” “reduced social contact“ and “parental stress,” with no significant age or gender differences. Reduction in social contact was the most prevalent stressor. Comparisons of psychological symptoms across latent classes were analyzed. Conclusions: The findings increase our understanding of how stressful life events during the COVID-19 situation impacted young people’s psychological welfare and highlight the need to promote strategies to prevent emotional problems during a pandemic considering the identified profiles.(AU)

Antecedentes: Aunque diversos estudios han informado sobre el aumento de problemas psicológicos durante la pandemia de COVID-19, hasta el momento no se ha examinado el impacto de los eventos vitales estresantes en niños y adolescentes mediante un enfoque estadístico orientado a la persona, y la relación entre los perfiles y los síntomas emocionales y conductuales. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo determinar perfiles identificativos de niños y adolescentes españoles, ante eventos estresantes de riesgo durante la pandemia. Método: Participaron 252 padres de niños de 3 a 15 años, quienes completaron un cuestionario estructurado online que recopiló información sobre eventos estresantes relacionados con la pandemia y sobre su impacto en el bienestar de sus hijos. Resultados: Mediante Análisis de Clases Latentes (LCA), se encontraron cuatro perfiles, según los eventos estresantes experimentados: “Infección por COVID, encierro social,” “pérdida económica,” “contacto social reducido” y “estrés de los padres,” sin diferencias significativas en las variables edad y género. La reducción del contacto social fue el estresor más prevalente. Se analizaron las comparaciones de síntomas psicológicos entre clases latentes. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos resaltan la necesidad de promover estrategias para prevenir problemas emocionales durante la pandemia.(AU)

Spanish Validation of the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) in Children Aged 8-12.

BACKGROUND: The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) is one of the few well-established available measures designed to assess childhood depression. The objective of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties and explore the differential item functioning (DIF) of the SMFQ in a community sample of Spanish children. Gender and age differences in SMFQ scores were also analyzed. METHOD: The sample included 824 students aged 8-12 years (Mage = 9.64, SD = 1.2) recruited from four public and private schools in urban areas in the southeast of Spain. RESULTS: Findings from factor analysis and Polytomous Rasch analysis supported a unidimensional interpretation of the SMFQ, thereby replicating findings across cultures and languages. The SMFQ had good reliability, and test-retest analysis indicated fair to good temporal stability. Evidence of construct validity was provided by a path diagram of the SMFQ and SDQ subscales. No age or gender differences in the SMFQ scores were observed. However, two items (3 and 11) exhibited gender-related DIF. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SMFQ sum-scores as a continuous measure of the severity of depressive symptoms can be supported. The measure shows promise as brief, reliable, valid instrument for the assessment of depressive symptoms in Spanish children.

El TDAH en la etapa preescolar: Una revisión narrativa / ADHD in Preschool: A Narrative Review

El Trastorno por Déficit de Atención (TDAH) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo muy heterogéneo y altamente prevalente en población infanto-juvenil. La detección del TDAH en la etapa preescolar (entre los 3 y 5 años) permitiría intervenir de manera precoz, reducir sus síntomas y modificarel curso del trastorno. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo revisar de manera narrativa el concepto del TDAH en población preescolar, suscaracterísticas, los instrumentos que permiten su detección y los tratamientos disponibles. Los síntomas clínicos del TDAH en preescolares no sontan frecuentes como se ha pensado tradicionalmente y además presentan una gran validez predictiva, manteniéndose con frecuencia a lo largo delos años. La presentación del TDAH más frecuente en esta etapa es la hiperactiva/impulsiva y las presentaciones con predominancia de inatenciónaparecen con poca frecuencia. La evaluación del TDAH abarca la detección de psicopatología general que pueda ser comórbida al TDAH o bienque permita un correcto diagnóstico diferencial. Existen escalas de evaluación de síntomas de TDAH que son fiables para la detección clínica deltrastorno y deben combinarse con medidas que evalúen posibles dificultades asociadas. Las intervenciones familiares son las más frecuentementeutilizadas, no siendo recomendado el tratamiento farmacológico hasta los 6 años. Sin embargo, los resultados de efectividad de los tratamientosson poco robustos. Es necesaria una intervención preventiva precoz en la etapa preescolar con casos que presenten o estén en riesgo de presentarTDAH y no “sentarse y esperar” si bien se necesita encontrar intervenciones más efectivas. (AU)

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) is a very heterogeneous and highly prevalent neurodevelopmentaldisorder in children and adolescents. The detection of ADHD in the preschool stage (between 3 and 5 years of age) would allow early intervention, reducing its symptoms and modifying the course of the disorder. The present study aims to review in a narrative way the concept of ADHD inpreschool population, its characteristics, the instruments that allow its detection and the available treatments. The clinical symptoms of ADHD inpreschoolers are not as frequent as traditionally thought and present a high predictive validity, being frequently maintained over the years. The mostcommon presentation of ADHD at this stage is hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive-dominant presentations occur infrequently. The evaluation ofADHD includes the detection of general psychopathology that may be comorbid to ADHD or that allows a correct differential diagnosis. SeveralADHD symptom assessment scales are reliable for the clinical detection of the disorder and should be combined with measures that assess possible associated difficulties. Family interventions are the most frequently used, and pharmacological treatment is not recommended until 6 years ofage. However, the results of treatment effectiveness are not very robust. Early preventive intervention is needed in the preschool stage with casesthat present or are at risk of presenting ADHD and not “sit and wait”, although more effective interventions need to be found. (AU)

Spanish Validation of the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) in Children Aged 8-12 / Validación Española del Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) en Niños de 8 a 12 Años

Background: The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) is one of the few well-established available measures designed to assess childhood depression. The objective of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties and explore the differential item functioning (DIF) of the SMFQ in a community sample of Spanish children. Gender and age differences in SMFQ scores were also analyzed. Method: The sample included 824 students aged 8-12 years (Mage = 9.64, SD = 1.2) recruited from four public and private schools in urban areas in the southeast of Spain. Results: Findings from factor analysis and Polytomous Rasch analysis supported a unidimensional interpretation of the SMFQ, thereby replicating findings across cultures and languages. The SMFQ had good reliability, and test-retest analysis indicated fair to good temporal stability. Evidence of construct validity was provided by a path diagram of the SMFQ and SDQ subscales. No age or gender differences in the SMFQ scores were observed. However, two items (3 and 11) exhibited gender-related DIF. Conclusions: The use of SMFQ sum-scores as a continuous measure of the severity of depressive symptoms can be supported. The measure shows promise as brief, reliable, valid instrument for the assessment of depressive symptoms in Spanish children.(AU)

Antecedentes: El Cuestionario Breve de Estado de Ánimo y Sentimientos (SMFQ, por sus siglas en inglés) es una de las pocas medidas bien establecidas para evaluar la depresión infantil. Este estudio evalúa las propiedades psicométricas y explora el funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems (DIF) del SMFQ en una muestra comunitaria de niños españoles. Método: La muestra incluyó 824 escolares de 8 a 12 años (Medad = 9.64, DT = 1.2) de cuatro colegios públicos y privados del sureste de España. Resultados: Los hallazgos del análisis factorial y el análisis de Rasch politómico respaldaron una interpretación unidimensional del SMFQ. El SMFQ tuvo una buena consistencia interna y el análisis test-retest indicó una estabilidad temporal de regular a buena. Se examinaron las evidencias sobre la validez de constructo mediante un diagrama de ruta de las subescalas SMFQ y SDQ, sin diferencias en el SMFQ por edad y sexo. Sin embargo, dos ítems presentaron DIF relacionada con el género. Conclusiones: Se respalda el uso de las puntuaciones sumatorias del SMFQ como una medida continua de la gravedad de los síntomas depresivos. La medida se muestra prometedora como instrumento breve, fiable y válido para la evaluación de los síntomas depresivos en niños españoles.(AU)

Nighttime coping response in children: Development and validation of a new scale.

Coping strategies can play an important role in dealing with nighttime fears and related anxiety problems in school-aged children, but well-established self-reporting tools are lacking, and research in this area is limited. The aim of this study was to develop a new self-report instrument assessing coping strategies in school-aged children when facing nighttime fears, the Nighttime Coping Response Scale (NCRS), and to examine its psychometric properties. Participants were 786 children (48.7% boys) aged 8-12 years, who completed the NCRS and other measures related to anxiety and behavioral problems. The construction of the NCRS was based on relevant prior literature and experts' criteria. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses supported a three-factor structure, comprising 15 items measuring coping strategies related to self-control, social support seeking, and avoidance. The NCRS was shown to have good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent and divergent validity. This research found preliminary support for the use of the NCRS, suggesting the potential suitability of this brief tool to be used by clinicians and researchers to identify and address the use of children's maladaptive coping strategies when dealing with nighttime fears. The NCRS could also be important to enable the development of further research in this field.

Early detection of anxiety problems in childhood: Spanish validation of the brief Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for parents.

The small percentage of children with anxiety problems who receive psychological treatment, and the negative psychological consequences associated with these problems highlight the need for early detection. Although assessment instruments with appropriate measurement properties exist, they tend to be extensive, making it difficult to apply them in clinical settings, schools, or primary care practices. This study aimed to adapt the Spanish brief version for parents of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P-8). For this purpose, information on 215 children between 8 and 12 years of age was reported by 163 parents. The Spanish version of the SCAS-P-8 adequately fit a one-factor structure, χ2 = 44.25; df = 19; comparative fit index = .97; Tucker-Lewis index = .96; root mean square error of approximation: .07 (.04, .09); standardized root mean squared residual = .08. Evidence of internal consistency of the total SCAS-P-8 score was good (α = 0.82), and the direct correlations obtained between the SCAS-P-8 and internalizing problems showed evidence of convergent validity. Moreover, the appropriate measurement properties of the SCAS-P-8 were shown to be independent of gender. Differences in sociodemographic variables and SDQ-P between children with anxiety symptoms and those without anxiety symptoms were also discussed. Information reported by parents can help the clinician carry out an accurate diagnosis. A brief assessment scale can be easily applied in schools or primary care settings.

COVID-19: Psychological symptoms and coping strategies in preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents.

The present study aimed to compare psychological symptoms and coping strategies in 1480 preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents during home confinement due to COVID-19. We enrolled parents from Italy, Portugal, and Spain who completed a survey between the second and fourth week of lockdown. The results showed that preschoolers displayed more sleeping difficulties, temper tantrums, and dependency while adolescents' reactions were more related to COVID-19 worries and uncertainty. Schoolchildren showed more difficulty in concentrating. Adolescent girls showed higher anxiety levels than schoolchildren boys. Schoolchildren relied more on emotion-oriented strategies, which were linked to increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms in all ages. Task-oriented strategies, regardless of the child's age, work best to cope with stress. Our findings provide information for professionals and parents about children's most common and adaptive coping strategies according to age. Furthermore, they contribute to the early detection of long-term psychological maladjustment in children.

Validation of the brief version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for Spanish children (SCAS-C-8).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to validate the self-reported brief version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Children (SCAS-C-8) in pre-adolescent Spanish children. METHOD: Participants were 824 children aged 8-12 from a community sample. The results revealed a good fit to the one-factor structure, adequate internal consistency (α = 0.75), and evidence of test-retest reliability (α = 0.77). RESULTS: The strong relationship between the SCAS-C-8 and emotional problems provided evidence of convergent validity. Also, the results showed factorial gender invariance. CONCLUSION: The SCAS-C-8 is a suitable instrument for pre-adolescent Spanish children. The brevity and simplicity of this scale may facilitate early detection and help to narrow the existent gap between the presence of anxiety problems and psychological assistance-seeking.

Improving Social Performance Through Video-feedback with Cognitive Preparation in Children with Emotional Problems.

Anxious children report a more negative perception of their social performance and increased nervous behaviors. The video-feedback with cognitive preparation allows children to contrast and modify their negative social self-image, increasing their self-confidence and decreasing anxiety behaviors. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the Super Skills for Life (SSL) program in improving social performance in a sample of children with emotional symptoms. Results indicated that both objective and subjective evaluation showed positive effects of the SSL program on the children's social performance, enhancing their social skills and reducing anxiety behaviors in social situations, both during the program and in the last session. Girls felt more comfortable and showed better speech and social performance than boys. Our findings increase the evidence about the short-term effects of the video-feedback with cognitive preparation of the SSL program and provide a useful transdiagnostic protocol for application in the clinical setting.