Childhood trauma and psychopathy: The moderating role of resilience.

OBJECTIVE: Despite accumulating evidence of significant albeit moderate associations between childhood trauma and psychopathy, little is known about the potential moderators of these associations. To advance knowledge in this area, the present study investigated the moderating role of resilience in the childhood trauma-psychopathy link. METHOD: A community sample of 521 adult participants from the Netherlands (40.1% men; Mage = 35.27 years, SD = 15.99) completed two self-report questionnaires measuring psychopathic personality traits: a self-report measure of resilience and a retrospective measure of childhood traumatic experiences. Correlation analyses were employed to investigate bivariate associations among study variables. Moderated multiple regression analyses with bootstrapping followed by simple slope analyses were employed to examine Childhood Trauma × Resilience interactions in predicting scores of psychopathy subscales. RESULTS: Childhood trauma had small positive associations with psychopathic traits across the board, with the exception of a small negative association with boldness traits, as well as a small negative association with resilience. Resilience was strongly and positively related to boldness, and negatively related to affective (callousness, meanness) and behavioral (antisocial, disinhibition) traits of psychopathy. Resilience moderated six out of seven associations between childhood trauma and psychopathic traits. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience appeared to represent a significant buffer in the associations between childhood traumatic experiences and psychopathic traits, such that these associations became weaker and nonsignificant (and even negative for boldness) at higher levels compared to lower levels of resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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.

Exploring the Influence of Fok1/Apa1 Polymorphic Variants on Adolescent Mental Health and Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in Embryonic Hippocampal Cell Lines.

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been observed in association with susceptibility to various pathologies, including autism, major depression, age-related changes in cognitive functioning, and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This study aimed to establish the association between Fok1/Apa1 polymorphic variants and anxious/depressive symptoms in nonclinical adolescents from central Italy, with the goal of identifying the risk of developing both symptoms. We found no significant difference in genotype distribution or dominant/recessive models of Fok1/Apa1 VDR polymorphic variants between subjects with anxious/depressive symptoms and controls. HN9.10e cell lines carrying the AA genotype for Fok1 and the CC genotype for Apa1 responded better to treatment with vitamin D3 than cell lines carrying the AG genotype for Fok1 and CA genotype for Apa1. Cell lines carrying the GG genotype for Fok1 and the AA genotype for Apa1 did not respond at all, suggesting avenues for future studies in both the general population and individuals with mental and/or neuropsychiatric disorders. These studies suggest that the level of response to vitamin D3 administered to prevent and/or treat mental or neurological disorders could depend on the polymorphic variants of the vitamin D receptor.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Overweight and Obesity: An Explorative Study Focused on School Functioning and Well-being.

Overweight and obesity in childhood has reached epidemic levels, and their roles in physical and psychological health are now recognized. Recently, researchers have focused on the impact of these weight problems in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) domains, which are less investigated in children. This exploratory study examined the differences in HRQoL domains between a clinical group who were overweight/obesity treatment-seeking (n = 58) and a normal-weight group (n = 44) in a sample of 102 children, with a specific focus on school functioning and well-being. The second aim explored the link between our findings and other HRQoL dimensions. After controlling for sex and age, a multivariate analysis of variance showed lower levels in school functioning and well-being dimensions between overweight/obesity than normal-weight (F = 4.72; p < 0.05). Correlation analyses highlighted positive links between lower school functioning and well-being and lower levels of self-esteem (r = 0.308; p < 0.01) and social domains in terms of friendships (r = 0.522 ; p < 0.001) and family relationships (r = 0.561; p < 0.001) in children who were with overweight and obesity. This study discusses the implications of these findings in educational research and practices.

Anxiety and Stress among American, Chinese, Italian, and Russian Emerging Adults: Does Uncertainty Avoidance Matter?

Levels of anxiety and stress vary throughout the lifespan and across cultures. Uncertainty appears particularly relevant during emerging adulthood, thus potentially affecting both stress and anxiety. Uncertainty as a construct was identified by Hofstede (i.e., Uncertainty Avoidance Index, UAI), who defined it as the extent to which members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and tend to avoid them. The UAI was considered as a means to understand cultures in addition to the "classic" distinction between collectivist and individualistic cultures. The present study compared levels of anxiety and stress in 1790 university students (18-21 years old) from two individualistic (Italy and the US) and two collectivistic (China and Russia) countries, with a consideration of country UAI levels. Results showed that country-level UAI scores were associated with levels of anxiety and stress, controlling for age and sex. Italian and Russian students reported greater anxiety than American and Chinese ones. Chinese emerging adults reported the lowest stress levels, followed by American, Italian, and Russian students. The study findings provide initial evidence that anxiety and stress in emerging adults are associated with how a culture deals with perceived instability and uncertainty about the future.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents during covid-19 pandemic: a transcultural approach / Ansiedad y Síntomas Depresivos en Niños y Adolescentes durante la Pandemia de la COVID-19: un enfoque transcultural

BACKGROUND: Despite being necessary to delay the spread of COVID-19, home confinement could have affected the emotional well-being of children and adolescents. Knowing which variables are involved in anxiety and depressive symptoms could help to prevent young people's psychological problems related to lockdown as early as possible. This cross-sectional study aims to examine anxiety and depressive symptomatology in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese children and adolescents in order to determine which variables are related to poorer well-being during the pandemic. METHOD: The parents of 515 children, aged 3-18 years old, completed an online survey. Children's anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Version, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Parent Version. RESULTS: We found differences in anxiety and depression between countries, with higher anxiety scores in Spanish children, and higher depression scores in Spanish and Italian children compared to the Portuguese. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were more likely in children whose parents reported higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are discussed in the light of detecting and supporting affected children as early as possible

ANTECEDENTES: a pesar de ser necesario para retrasar la propagación del COVID-19, el confinamiento podría haber afectado al bienestar emocional de niños y adolescentes. Conocer qué variables están involucradas en la ansiedad y depresión podría ayudar a prevenir en los niños los problemas psicológicos asociados al confinamiento lo antes posible. Este estudio transversal tiene como objetivo examinar la sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva en niños y adolescentes italianos, españoles y portugueses, para detectar qué variables están relacionadas con un peor bienestar durante la pandemia. MÉTODO: los padres de 515 niños de 3 a 18 años completaron una evaluación online. Los síntomas de ansiedad de los niños se evaluaron con la Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Version, y los síntomas depresivos con el Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Parent Version. RESULTADOS: se hallaron diferencias en la ansiedad y la depresión entre países, con mayor ansiedad en los niños españoles, y mayor sintomatología depresiva en los niños españoles e italianos, en comparación con los portugueses. Los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión eran más probables en niños cuyos padres informaron de un mayor nivel de estrés. CONCLUSIONES: estos hallazgos se discuten con el propósito de detectar y apoyar a los niños afectados lo antes posible

"Ripple effect": psychological responses and coping strategies of Italian children in different COVID-19 severity areas

COVID-19 has affected learning and the outdoor activities of more than 862 million children or adolescents worldwide. This study investigated the mental health of Italian children and explored their psychological response and coping strategies in different COVID-19 epidemic severity areas, with the aims of alleviating the impacts of COVID-19, promoting targeted intervention, and reducing the risk of future psychological problems. 1074 parents of children aged 6 to 12 years old participated in an ad-hoc online survey. Among them, 40.3% were from the high-risk areas in the North, and 59.7% were from the medium/low-risk areas in the center of Italy. The results showed that, compared to the children in medium- or low-risk areas, children in the North scored significantly higher for symptoms of anxiety, moods, and cognitive changes, showing a "ripple effect" trend. Moreover, children in the northern areas used fewer task-oriented strategies and more emotion- and avoidance-oriented strategies than those in the central areas. Specifically, children in the northern areas were more likely to show acceptance and seek affection from others, while those in the central areas used more humor when their parents talked about quarantine or coronavirus. These findings provide relevant evidence and a reference point for crisis management in children's mental health

El COVID-19 ha afectado el aprendizaje y las actividades al aire libre de más de 862 millones de niños o adolescentes en todo el mundo. Este estudio investigó la salud mental de los niños italianos y exploró su respuesta psicológica y las estrategias de afrontamiento en diferentes áreas de gravedad de la epidemia de COVID-19, con el objetivo de aliviar los impactos de la misma, promover la intervención específica y reducir el riesgo de futuros problemas psicológicos. 1074 padres de niños entre 6 a 12 años de edad participaron en una encuesta ad-hoc online. De ellos, el 40,3% procedían de las zonas de alto riesgo del norte y el 59,7% de las zonas de riesgo medio/bajo del centro de Italia. Los resultados mostraron que, en comparación con los niños de las áreas de riesgo medio o bajo, los niños del norte obtuvieron una puntuación significativamente más alta en cuanto a los síntomas de ansiedad, cambios cognitivos y de estado de ánimo, mostrando una tendencia de "efecto dominó". Además, los niños de las zonas del norte utilizaron menos estrategias orientadas a las tareas y más estrategias orientadas a las emociones - y la evitación - que los de las zonas centrales. Concretamente, los niños de las zonas del norte eran más propensos a mostrar aceptación y a buscar el afecto de los demás, mientras que los de las zonas centrales usaban más el humor cuando sus padres hablaban de la cuarentena o del coronavirus. Estos hallazgos proporcionan evidencia relevante y un punto de referencia para el manejo de crisis en la salud mental de los niños

Spanish validation of the Adolescent Self-Consciousness Questionnaire

Self-consciousness development takes place mainly in adolescence because the brain undergoes certain structural changes that facilitate abstract thinking and metacognition, thus favoring the development of identity. Despite the importance of self-consciousness for mental health, there are no specific measurement instruments for Spanish adolescents. The objective of this study was to explore the dimensions of self-consciousness among Spanish adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years and validate the Chinese Adolescent Self-Consciousness Questionnaire (ASC) in this population. A second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in accordance with previous validations of the ASC, using R Studio and the Lavaan package, to test its adequacy in a Spanish sample. Internal consistency and temporal stability were also tested, and evidence of validity was found. The results showed a good fit to the model eliminating four items with poor fit indices, CFI = .90, TLI = .89, RMSEA = .078, 95% CI [.076, .080]. Higher self-consciousness was associated with greater self-esteem and lower depressive symptomatology. No significant gender differences were found. This study provides a valid measure to evaluate self-consciousness in Spanish adolescents. The relationship established between self-consciousness and anxiety and depression requires further study as self-consciousness is involved in the development and maintenance of adolescent psychopathology

No disponible