The Impact of Children's and Parents' Perceptions of Parenting Styles on Attention, Hyperactivity, Anxiety, and Emotional Regulation.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology can be studied by examining the associated neurobiological factors or by looking at the environmental factors involved, such as parenting styles. Negative parenting styles have been associated with ADHD symptoms in childhood and adolescence. The present study aimed to analyze the predictive power of two parenting style dimensions (warmth-communication and criticism-rejection) and three factors about rule-setting and compliance (inductive, strict, and indulgent styles) in the explanation of ADHD symptoms (attention and hyperactivity) and associated emotional factors (anxiety and emotional regulation) considering parents' and children's perspectives. The results indicate that from the parents' perspective, the criticism-rejection variable was the most important in explaining attention difficulties, anxiety and emotional regulation. From the children's perspective, the strict parenting style was the most important variable in explaining hyperactivity and emotional regulation. In addition, for children, warmth-communication was significant in predicting fewer emotional regulation difficulties. Our results highlight the importance of considering family dynamics when assessing ADHD in order to implement comprehensive interventions that consider parental training in positive parenting styles.

Relationship between Executive Functions and Creativity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Executive functions and creativity could play an important role in children's education. To date, research on the relationship between these constructs has focused on adults. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the relationship between executive functions (EFs) and creativity in children to provide teachers with tools to improve students' abilities. (2) Methods: A total of 12 studies were identified using WOS, SCOPUS and PsycINFO, which matched the following criteria: (i) empirical studies with measures of executive functions and creativity; (ii) a sample of children or adolescents (3 to 18 years old); and (iii) in the previous decade (2012-2021). (3) Results: The results indicated a clear relationship between flexibility and creativity. Flexibility is positively correlated and inhibition is negatively correlated with creativity. There is no clear evidence that the remaining EFs, such as working memory, correlate with creativity. There was insufficient evidence on the relationship between intelligence, executive functions and creativity in a sample of children for the results to be generalized. (4) Conclusion: Future studies should consider the variability of standardized tests that measure these two constructs in order to be able to compare measurements and obtain generalizable results.

Language Skills in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect various areas of children's development, such as language. It exists an emerging idea that ADHD is characterised by the presence of language difficulties, which can be explained by the high comorbidity between ADHD and DLD. The aim of this review is to analyse the empirical evidence of language competence in children aged 6-17 years old, diagnosed with ADHD and/or DLD. (2) Method: Fifteen studies with experimental designs were identified from Scopus, PsycINFO, and WoS databases, reporting on language skills in children diagnosed with ADHD and/or DLD. Studies relating executive functioning to language skills in this target population were also included. (3) Results: The literature is heterogeneous and different components of language are also examined. Even though the results are contradictory, they convincingly demonstrate there are overlapping symptoms between ADHD and DLD, such as language skills and executive functions. (4) Conclusions: The differences in the samples limit the generalisability of the results. Therefore, this review highlights the importance of considering language skills when designing individualised interventions for the population with ADHD and DLD, both in comorbidity and in isolation.

Validation of the Shortened Version of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory in Spanish Uiversity Students.

BACKGROUND: The Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) is used all over the world to identify metacognitive components that are relevant to learning. However, there is not enough evidence confirming its factorial structure or the suitability of its Shortened Version, proposed by various authors. Also, to date, the MAI has not been validated in the Spanish context. METHOD: After adapting the MAI to Spanish, it was administered to 1076 university students from different regions of Spain. Different structures of the MAI Shortened Version, with 19 items, were compared with the structures of the original 52-item MAI. Indexes of validity and reliability were analyzed, considering the factorial structure and relationships to other validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Only the MAI Shortened Version that differentiates between knowledge and regulation of cognition achieved a good fit. These two scales showed good convergent and divergent validity, high criterion validity in relation to academic achievement, high test- retest reliability, and high internal reliability. CONCLUSIONS: results support the traditional differentiation between knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition, but only for the Shortened Version of the MAI. This instrument allows quick evaluations and identification of these components in Spanish contexts with adequate metric properties.

Development of a rapid, high-sensitivity, low-cost fluorescence method for protein surface hydrophobicity determination using a Nanodrop fluorospectrometer.

A microvolumetric method for surface hydrophobicity (H0) determination of proteins using a Nanodrop fluorospectrometer was developed. This method reduces the protein and fluorophore quantities that are necessary for sample preparations and readings by two and three orders of magnitude, respectively, compared to conventional methods. In addition, readings can be obtained in just 2-6 s. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 1-anilino 8-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS) were used for the first optimization of appropriate fluorophore-protein conditions for H0 determination (20 µM ANS, 0.5-4 µM BSA, pH 5). Based on validation guidelines, the novel method shows linear behavior, good intraday precision, accuracy, and sensitivity. This method was robust against several factors, as determined by a Youden-Steiner test. Additional surface hydrophobicity determinations using several proteins demonstrate suitable method applicability. The present microvolumetric method provides a reliable technique to determine the H0 of proteins for pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and food applications.

Psychometric Properties of Parental Burnout Assessment and Prevalence of Parental Burnout: A Person-Centered Approach / Propiedades psicométricas del Parental Burnout Assessment y prevalencia del burnout parental: un enfoque personal

ResumenAntecedentes/Objetivo: Con esta investigación se pretendió estudiar la estructura del Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), averiguar si los padres combinan las dimensiones del PBA en términos de perfiles y, finalmente, analizar los niveles de prevalencia. Método: Se analizaron las respuestas de 438 madres y padres con análisis factorial confirmatorio y análisis de perfiles latentes. Resultados: Se obtuvo evidencia tanto de validez (estruc-tural) como de fiabilidad (consistencia interna) del PBA. En base a las cuatro dimensiones del PBA se identificaron cuatro perfiles de agotamiento. Tanto desde una perspectiva centrada en la variable como desde una perspectiva centrada en la persona, se obtuvie-ron niveles muy altos de burnout parental. Conclusiones: Los resultados del estudio indi-can que el PBA es un instrumento válido y fiable (pudiéndose utilizar tanto los puntajes particulares de las dimensiones como el puntaje general). Asimismo, el nivel de las cua-tro dimensiones, en los cuatro perfiles de burnout parental, es similar dentro de cada perfil, pero diferente entre los perfiles. Finalmente, en comparación con el porcentaje indicado por estudios previos (3,2%), el nivel de prevalencia de burnout parental deriva-do de nuestro estudio es muy alto (sobre un 26%).

AbstractBackground/Objetive: The objective of this research is threefold. First, to study the structure of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA); second, to learn whether parents combine the dimensions of PBA in profiles; and third, to analyze the prevalence levels of parental burnout. Method: To address these objectives, the responses of 438 mothers and fathers were analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis and latent profile analysis. Results: Strong evidence of validity (structural) and reliability (internal consistency) of the PBA was found. Four parental burnout profiles were identified. Moreover, from a variable-centered perspective and a person-centered perspective, very high levels of parental burnout were found. Conclusions: Data indicate that the PBA is a reliable and valid instrument and suggest that practitioners may use the particular scores of the dimensions or the overall score. Likewise, the level of the four dimensions in the four parental burnout profiles (PBP) is similar within and different between profiles. Finally, the prevalence level of parental burnout is very high (over 26%) compared to data from previous studies (3.2%).

A Cross-Sectional Study to Measure Physical Activity with Accelerometry in ADHD Children according to Presentations.

(1) Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental disorder affecting 5-7% of school-aged children. Previous studies have looked at the effects of physical activity interventions on the symptoms of ADHD, although few have compared the motor behavior of children with ADHD versus those without. This exploratory study provides detailed information on the patterns and intensity of physical activity and sedentary behavior in children with ADHD as measured by Actigraph GT3X accelerometry, as well as the differences in physical activity in the different presentations of ADHD; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 75 children, aged 6 to 12 years, with and without ADHD. The ADHD group had a previous diagnosis, determined by clinical assessment based on DSM-5 criteria; (3) Results: Physical activity levels were higher in children with ADHD compared to children without ADHD, but there was no difference in sedentary time between groups during weekdays or weekends. Physical activity decreased with age, with significant differences in the ADHD group, who exhibited more minutes of moderate Physical activity in 6-7 year-olds than 10-11 year-olds during weekdays and weekends; (4) Conclusions: Sedentary time increased by age in children without ADHD, and there was a decrease in moderate-intensity physical activity time in children with ADHD by age.

Psychometric Properties of Parental Burnout Assessment and Prevalence of Parental Burnout: A Person-Centered Approach.

BACKGROUND/OBJETIVE: The objective of this research is threefold. First, to study the structure of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA); second, to learn whether parents combine the dimensions of PBA in profiles; and third, to analyze the prevalence levels of parental burnout. METHOD: To address these objectives, the responses of 438 mothers and fathers were analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis and latent profile analysis. RESULTS: Strong evidence of validity (structural) and reliability (internal consistency) of the PBA was found. Four parental burnout profiles were identified. Moreover, from a variable-centered perspective and a person-centered perspective, very high levels of parental burnout were found. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that the PBA is a reliable and valid instrument and suggest that practitioners may use the particular scores of the dimensions or the overall score. Likewise, the level of the four dimensions in the four parental burnout profiles (PBP) is similar within and different between profiles. Finally, the prevalence level of parental burnout is very high (over 26%) compared to data from previous studies (3.2%).

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Con esta investigación se pretendió estudiar la estructura del Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), averiguar si los padres combinan las dimensiones del PBA en términos de perfiles y, finalmente, analizar los niveles de prevalencia. MÉTODO: Se analizaron las respuestas de 438 madres y padres con análisis factorial confirmatorio y análisis de perfiles latentes. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo evidencia tanto de validez (estructural) como de fiabilidad (consistencia interna) del PBA. En base a las cuatro dimensiones del PBA se identificaron cuatro perfiles de agotamiento. Tanto desde una perspectiva centrada en la variable como desde una perspectiva centrada en la persona, se obtuvieron niveles muy altos de burnout parental. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados del estudio indican que el PBA es un instrumento válido y fiable (pudiéndose utilizar tanto los puntajes particulares de las dimensiones como el puntaje general). Asimismo, el nivel de las cuatro dimensiones, en los cuatro perfiles de burnout parental, es similar dentro de cada perfil, pero diferente entre los perfiles. Finalmente, en comparación con el porcentaje indicado por estudios previos (3,2%), el nivel de prevalencia de burnout parental derivado de nuestro estudio es muy alto (sobre un 26%).

Validation of the Shortened Version of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory in Spanish University Students / Validación de la Versión Abreviada del Inventario de Conciencia Metacognitiva en Estudiantes Universitarios Españoles

Background: The Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) is used all over the world to identify metacognitive components that are relevant to learning. However, there is not enough evidence confirming its factorial structure or the suitability of its Shortened Version, proposed by various authors. Also, to date, the MAI has not been validated in the Spanish context. Method: After adapting the MAI to Spanish, it was administered to 1076 university students from different regions of Spain. Different structures of the MAI Shortened Version, with 19 items, were compared with the structures of the original 52-item MAI. Indexes of validity and reliability were analyzed, considering the factorial structure and relationships to other validated questionnaires. Results: Only the MAI Shortened Version that differentiates between knowledge and regulation of cognition achieved a good fit. These two scales showed good convergent and divergent validity, high criterion validity in relation to academic achievement, high test- retest reliability, and high internal reliability. Conclusions: results support the traditional differentiation between knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition, but only for the Shortened Version of the MAI. This instrument allows quick evaluations and identification of these components in Spanish contexts with adequate metric properties.(AU)

Antecedentes: El Inventario de Conciencia Metacognitiva (MAI) se utiliza internacionalmente para identificar componentes metacognitivos relevantes para el aprendizaje. Sin embargo, hay escasa evidencia sobre su estructura factorial y la validez de su Versión Reducida, propuesta por diversos autores. Asimismo, hasta el momento, no ha sido validado en el contexto español. Método: Tras adaptar los ítems del MAI al español, se administró a 1076 estudiantes universitarios de diferentes regiones de España. Se compararon varias estructuras de la Versión Reducida del MAI, con 19 ítems, y del MAI original, con 52 ítems. Se analizaron la validez y fiabilidad, considerando las estructuras factoriales y las relaciones con otros cuestionarios ya validados. Resultados: Sólo la Versión Reducida del MAI que diferencia conocimiento y regulación de la cognición alcanzó un ajuste aceptable. Estas dos escalas mostraron buena validez convergente y divergente, alta validez de criterio en relación al rendimiento académico, alta fiabilidad test-retest y alta consistencia interna. Conclusiones: los resultados apoyan la diferenciación tradicional entre conocimiento de la cognición y regulación de la cognición, pero solo con la adaptación al español de la Versión Reducida del MAI. Este instrumento permite evaluaciones cortas y la identificación de estos componentes con propiedades métricas adecuadas en contextos españoles.(AU)

Neurodevelopmental disorders: An innovative perspective via the response to intervention model.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions classified together by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which include intellectual disability, communication disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorder (SLD), and motor disorders. SLD is present in many students, who exhibit significant difficulties in the acquisition of reading, written expression, and mathematics, mostly due to problems with executive functions (EF). The present study is a review of the current situation of neurodevelopmental disorders and SLD focusing on the benefits of the response to intervention model (RtI), which allows the combination of evaluation and intervention processes. It also addresses the key role of EF. The importance of adapting RtI to new possibilities such as the use of virtual reality is discussed and a theoretical framework for carrying that out is provided.

Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities.

Nowadays, how to encourage students' reflective thinking is one of the main concerns for teachers at various educational levels. Many students have difficulties when facing tasks that involve high levels of reflection, such as on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses. Many also have deep-rooted anxiety and demotivation towards such courses. In order to overcome these cognitive and affective challenges, researchers have suggested the use of "Problem-Solving before Instruction" (PS-I) approaches. PS-I consists of giving students the opportunity to generate individual solutions to problems that are later solved in class. These solutions are compared with the canonical solution in the following phase of instruction, together with the presentation of the lesson content. It has been suggested that with this approach students can increase their conceptual understanding, transfer their learning to different tasks and contexts, become more aware of the gaps in their knowledge, and generate a personal construct of previous knowledge that can help maintain their motivation. Despite the advantages, this approach has been criticized, as students might spend a lot of time on aimless trial and error during the initial phase of solution generation or they may even feel frustrated in this process, which might be detrimental to future learning. More importantly, there is little research about how pre-existing student characteristics can help them to benefit (or not) from this approach. The aim of the current study is to present the design and implementation of the PS-I approach applied to statistics learning in undergraduate students, as well as a methodological approach used to evaluate its efficacy considering students' pre-existing differences.

Coping with stress in parents of children with developmental disabilities

Abstract Background/Objective: Previous findings indicated that parents of children with developmental disabilities face greater care giving demands and report higher levels of stress. This study explores the styles and strategies of coping with stress among parents of children with developmental disabilities compared to parents of children with typical development. Method: 167 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 103 parents of typical development children participated as a voluntary. The CISS and the COPE Inventory were used to assess the coping styles and strategies in rearing a child. Results: The results from Multivariate Analysis indicated significant differences between parents of children with and without developmental disabilities in one of three coping styles and one of eight coping strategies. Parents of children with developmental disabilities less often used the avoidance-oriented style and emotional support strategy. The task-oriented style and strategies were the dominant approach in both groups of parents. In stressful situations connected with rearing a child, parents of children with developmental disabilities do not use as dominant strategies connected with seeking emotional support and religion, which occur in the parents of typical development children. Conclusions: The results suggest areas where coping may be different than in families of children without DD. (AU)

Resumen Antecedentes/Objetivo: Investigaciones previas muestran que los padres con hijos que padecen trastornos del desarrollo deben hacer frente a mayores demandas de atención y reportan mayor estrés. El presente estudio compara los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés utilizados de los padres de hijos con trastornos del desarrollo con los utilizados por padres de hijos con desarrollo típico. Método: Participaron 167 padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo y 103 padres de niños que muestran un desarrollo típico. Los inventarios CISS y COPE se utilizaron para evaluar los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas entre los padres de hijos con y sin trastornos del desarrollo en uno de los tres estilos de afrontamiento y una de las ocho estrategias, utilizando con menos frecuencia el estilo orientado a la evitación y la estrategia de apoyo emocional, siendo los orientados a la tarea el enfoque dominante. En situaciones estresantes, los padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo no utilizaron las estrategias de búsqueda de apoyo emocional o la religión. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren un afrontamiento diferente al de las familias con hijos sin discapacidades. (AU)

Coping with stress in parents of children with developmental disabilities.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Previous findings indicated that parents of children with developmental disabilities face greater care giving demands and report higher levels of stress. This study explores the styles and strategies of coping with stress among parents of children with developmental disabilities compared to parents of children with typical development. METHOD: 167 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 103 parents of typical development children participated as a voluntary. The CISS and the COPE Inventory were used to assess the coping styles and strategies in rearing a child. RESULTS: The results from Multivariate Analysis indicated significant differences between parents of children with and without developmental disabilities in one of three coping styles and one of eight coping strategies. Parents of children with developmental disabilities less often used the avoidance-oriented style and emotional support strategy. The task-oriented style and strategies were the dominant approach in both groups of parents. In stressful situations connected with rearing a child, parents of children with developmental disabilities do not use as dominant strategies connected with seeking emotional support and religion, which occur in the parents of typical development children. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest areas where coping may be different than in families of children without DD.

RESUMEN ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Investigaciones previas muestran que los padres con hijos que padecen trastornos del desarrollo deben hacer frente a mayores demandas de atención y reportan mayor estrés. El presente estudio compara los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés utilizados de los padres de hijos con trastornos del desarrollo con los utilizados por padres de hijos con desarrollo típico. MÉTODO: Participaron 167 padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo y 103 padres de niños que muestran un desarrollo típico. Los inventarios CISS y COPE se utilizaron para evaluar los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento. RESULTADOS: Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas entre los padres de hijos con y sin trastornos del desarrollo en uno de los tres estilos de afrontamiento y una de las ocho estrategias, utilizando con menos frecuencia el estilo orientado a la evitación y la estrategia de apoyo emocional, siendo los orientados a la tarea el enfoque dominante. En situaciones estresantes, los padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo no utilizaron las estrategias de búsqueda de apoyo emocional o la religión. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren un afrontamiento diferente al de las familias con hijos sin discapacidades.

[Empirically Supported Psychological Treatments for Children and Adolescents: State of the Art].

Empirically Supported Psychological Treatments for Children and Adolescents: State of the Art. BACKGROUND: The empirical evidence accumulated on the efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency of psychotherapeutic treatments in children and adolescents calls for an update. The main goal of this paper objective was to carry out a selective review of empirically supported psychological treatments for a variety of common psychological disorders and problems in childhood and adolescence. METHOD: A review was carried out of the psychological treatments for different psychological disorders and problems in social-emotional or behavioral adjustment in the child-adolescent population according to the Spanish National Health System (Clinical Practice Guidelines) levels of evidence and degrees of recommendation. RESULTS: The findings suggest that psychological treatments have empirical support for addressing a wide range of psychological problems in these developmental stages. The degree of empirical support ranges from low to high depending on the phenomenon analyzed. The review suggests unequal progress in the different fields of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: From this update, psychologists will be able to make informed decisions when implementing those empirically supported treatments to address the problems that occur in childhood and adolescence.

The Influence of State and Trait Anxiety on the Achievement of a Virtual Reality Continuous Performance Test in Children and Adolescents with ADHD Symptoms.

The three types of presentations of ADHD often co-occur with other disorders, anxiety being one of the most prevalent. For this reason and because there are few studies that have examined the influence of anxiety on attentional activities, this study aims to determine how internalizing difficulties (anxiety levels) can influence performance in a virtual reality continuous performance test. The study used a non-probabilistic clinical sample comprising 68 boys (66%) and 35 girls (34%) aged between 6 and 16 (M = 12.24; SD = 2.45) who had been referred to clinical services for the evaluation of ADHD symptoms. Once informed consent was given, the children were administered the STAI-C scale and a virtual reality continuous performance test by expert researchers. Hierarchical regression models showed that only state anxiety demonstrated significant explanatory power over attentional variables. These findings confirm how important it is for children to feel relaxed when they undergo psychological evaluation tests, as otherwise the individual's intervention design would be based on biased data. Similarly, the findings also suggested an effect of IQ in the interpretation of continuous performance scores.

Retrospective symptoms and learning difficulties predicting ADHD in adults: Differences between prison inmates and the clinical population.

People who suffer from ADHD in their childhood are more likely to be involved in criminal acts in late adolescence and adulthood. This study analyses the association between retrospective ADHD symptoms and associated problems (somatic and learning difficulties), and current symptoms in a sample of adults from imprisoned and clinical populations. Four hundred and fifty-seven participants, aged between 17 and 69 years, were divided into four groups: ADHD prison group without clinical history of symptoms (n = 61), prison group (n = 162), ADHD clinical group (n = 176) and clinical group (n = 58). The ADHD-IV scale and Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) were administered to the four groups and demonstrated high rates of persistence of ADHD symptoms into adulthood. ADHD groups reported significantly higher impairment both during childhood (symptoms, somatic and learning difficulties) and at present, with the ADHD clinical group being the most severely impaired. Finally, current symptoms of ADHD, along with childhood ADHD symptoms and learning difficulties, significantly predicted current impairments, but only in the clinical group. These findings represent some initial steps into the identification of predictors of ADHD symptomatology in adulthood in order to elucidate its etiopathogenesis and better identify high-risk groups for targeted prevention.

What Predicts Life Satisfaction in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? A Study from Parent and Child/Adolescent Perspectives.

The aim of this study was to analyze life satisfaction in a sample of 70 children and adolescents (M = 12.21, SD = 2.85) with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to parents' and children's/adolescents' reports. In addition, we examined the influence of a series of child/adolescent variables (ADHD presentation, and Conduct Disorder (CD) symptoms, age, gender, and pharmacological support status) on their levels of life satisfaction. Results indicated moderate correlations between children's/adolescents' and parents' perceptions of life satisfaction (r = .40; p < .01), with school being the area with the lowest levels of satisfaction. Also, 44.3% of the sample of parents reported that ADHD drastically interferes negatively in this context. Examining the effects of child/adolescent variables, only the variables age and CD symptoms generated statistically significant differences, showing that as children/adolescents grow up and/or present associate symptoms of CD, perceptions of life satisfaction tend to be more negative. These variables explained 34.5% of the variance of a composite score of life satisfaction, demonstrating a negative effect over the dependent variable. These results might have important implications for diagnosis and intervention in ADHD, as they highlight the relevance of considering life satisfaction as an important aspect to consider in both processes. Further studies must look more deeply into the mechanisms that explain these findings.

Effects of Sleep on the Academic Performance of Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with disordered or disturbed sleep and the association of sleep problems with ADHD is complex and multidirectional. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between sleep and academic performance, comparing children with ADHD and a control group without ADHD. Academic performance in Spanish, mathematics, and a foreign language (English) was evaluated. Different presentations of ADHD were considered as well as the potential difference between weekday and weekend sleep habits. The sample consisted of 75 children aged 6-12 in primary education. Accelerometry was used to study sleep, and school grades were used to gather information about academic performance. The results showed that ADHD influenced the amount of sleep during weekends, the time getting up at the weekends, weekday sleep efficiency, as well as academic performance. Given the effects that were seen in the variables linked to the weekend, it is necessary to consider a longitudinal design with which to determine if there is a cause and effect relationship.

New virtual reality tool (Nesplora Aquarium) for assessing attention and working memory in adults: A normative study.

Attentional and working memory (WM) processes undergo significant changes during different stages of development. However, currently there are not many continuous performance tools based on virtual reality (VR) for measuring attentional capacity in adults. The present study aimed to obtain normative data for the Nesplora Aquarium VR test in a Spanish population, looking at sex and age variables. In addition, this study also aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the tool such as scale, internal consistency, and item difficulty and discrimination indices. A total of 1,469 participants from different regions of Spain (57.6% female) with ages ranging from 16 to 90 years old took part in this normative study. Nesplora Aquarium was developed in order to support clinicians in the assessment of attentional processes and WM in adults over 16 years old. It is an 18-minute individual test performed through a VR system. The system provides better visual and auditory immersion in the task than computerized CPTs. This study revealed that the new VR tool, designed to measure adult attention and working memory levels, exhibited good psychometric properties related to reliability and internal consistency. In addition, item difficulty and discrimination values were also acceptable.

Personal and Instructional Variables Related to the Learning Process in Postgraduate Courses / Variables Personales e Instruccionales Relacionadas con el Proceso de Aprendizaje en los Estudios de Postgrado

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between different student characteristics (gender, reason for choosing the master's degree and specialty), the instructional context (perceived quality of the instructional process), and the characteristics of the learning process (practical learning strategies and study approach) in postgraduate study. METHOD: 621 students completed the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, the Inventory of Study Processes, the Inventory of Self-Regulatory Learning Processes and a questionnaire developed ad hoc about instructional processes. RESULTS: The data indicates notable differences between men's and women's involvement in their postgraduate study. Furthermore, the results also suggest that it is only when postgraduate courses are done for vocational reasons and students receive quality instruction that the two factors ensure students prioritize deep learning processes (e.g., significant learning, reflections on meaning, comprehensive learning) versus a surface learning approach. (e.g., memorization, lack of reflection). CONCLUSIONS: The results may be of interest for the design of postgraduate university education policy in relation to the selection processes for both students and teachers

ANTECEDENTES: en el presente estudio se pretendió analizar la relación entre diferentes características del estudiante (género, el motivo de la realización del máster y la especialidad realizada) y del contexto instruccional (percepción de la calidad del proceso instruccional recibido) y las características del proceso de estudio (estrategias de aprendizaje utilizadas y enfoque de estudio) en los estudios de postgrado. MÉTODO: 621 estudiantes contestaron al Motivated Startegies for Learning Questionnaire, al Inventario de Procesos de Estudio, al Inventario de Procesos de Autorregulación del Aprendizaje y a un cuestionario construido ad hoc sobre procesos instruccionales. RESULTADOS: los datos obtenidos muestran diferencias importantes en la implicación de hombres y mujeres en su formación de postgrado. Asimismo, también sugieren que únicamente cuando se accede a los estudios de postgrado por motivos vocacionales y, una vez dentro, se tiene lugar un proceso instruccional de calidad está garantizado que los estudiantes prioricen procesos de aprendizaje profundo (e.g., significativo, comprensivo) sobre el uso de un enfoque de estudio superficial (e.g., memorístico, sumativo). CONCLUSIONES: se concluye que los resultados obtenidos pueden tener interés para el diseño de la política educativa universitaria de postgrado, de cara al proceso de selección tanto de los estudiantes y como del profesorado