Validation of a Measurement Model to Identify Socio-emotional Difficulties in Preschool Children: The Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Chilean Version.

Identifying issues in early childhood enables timely interventions, potentially mitigating future mental health risks. In this context, this study seeks to validate the model of Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist for detecting social and emotional challenges among Chilean preschoolers, as reported by their caregivers. In the first stage, 36 cognitive interviews using the published Spanish version of the PPSC were conducted with caregivers, parents and/or teachers of preschool aged children, so that they could review the questions and be sure that they understood them. In stage 2, 12 experts checked the questions for coherence and consistency. As a result, only one item was slightly modified. Then, 1009 preschool caregivers answered the preliminary version of the Chilean-adapted scale (PPSC-CL). Taking into account the minor changes incorporated in the scale, and using latent variable analysis techniques, it was possible to obtain evidence of validity for the four-factor structure of the PPSC-CL. Additionally, by using the questions about children's difficulties, a robust bifactor model was established, highlighting the presence of a general factor whose items have a specific component that sustain the existence of latent dimensions for internalizing, externalizing, and attentional problems. Thanks to this advancement, it will now be possible to identify and report the occurrence of global mental health challenges in preschool-aged children.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Behavioral Problems in 5-Year-Old Children Born with Cleft Lip and/or Palate from the Cleft Collective.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the UK prevalence of behavioral problems in 5-year-old children born with isolated or syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) compared to the general population and identify potentially associated factors. DESIGN: Observational study using questionnaire data from the Cleft Collective 5-Year-Old Cohort study and three general population samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). PARTICIPANTS: Mothers of children (age: 4.9-6.8 years) born with CL/P (n = 325). UK general population cohorts for SDQ scores were: Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) (n = 12 511), Office of National Statistics (ONS) normative school-age SDQ data (n = 5855), and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (n = 9386). RESULTS: By maternal report, 14.2% of children born with CL/P were above clinical cut-off for behavioral problems, which was more likely than in general population samples: 7.5% of MCS (OR = 2.05 [1.49-2.82], P < 0.001), 9.8% of ONS (OR = 1.52 [1.10-2.09], P = 0.008), and 6.6% of ALSPAC (OR = 2.34 [1.70-3.24], P < 0.001). Children in the Cleft Collective had higher odds for hyperactivity, emotional and peer problems, and less prosocial behaviors. Maternal stress, lower maternal health-related quality of life and family functioning, receiving government income support, and maternal smoking showed evidence of association (OR range: 4.41-10.13) with behavioral problems, along with maternal relationship status, younger age, and lower education (OR range: 2.34-3.73). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest elevated levels of behavioral problems in children born with CL/P compared to the general population with several associated maternal factors similar to the general population.

Longitudinal pathways between emotional difficulties and school absenteeism in middle childhood: Evidence from developmental cascades.

Emotional difficulties are associated with both authorized and unauthorized school absence, but there has been little longitudinal research and the temporal nature of these associations remains unclear. This study presents three-wave random-intercepts panel models of longitudinal reciprocal relationships between teacher-reported emotional difficulties and authorized and unauthorized school absence in 2,542 English children aged 6 to 9 years old at baseline, who were followed-up annually. Minor differences in the stability effects were observed between genders but only for the authorized absence model. Across all time points, children with greater emotional difficulties had more absences, and vice versa (authorized: ρ = .23-.29, p < .01; unauthorized: ρ = .28, p < .01). At the within-person level, concurrent associations showed that emotional difficulties were associated with greater authorized (ß = .15-.17, p < .01) absence at Time 3 only, but with less unauthorized (ß = -.08-.13, p < .05) absence at Times 1 and 2. In cross-lagged pathways, neither authorized nor unauthorized absence predicted later emotional difficulties, and emotional difficulties did not predict later authorized absence at any time point. However, greater emotional difficulties were associated with fewer unauthorized absences across time (ß = -13-.22, p < .001). The implications of these findings are discussed.

Body image and behavioural and emotional difficulties in German children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Behavioural and emotional difficulties might play an important role in the development of body image disturbances, which represent serious risk factors for eating disorders or depression. The present study provides a detailed overview on body image disturbances and several behavioural and emotional difficulties (differences between gender, age, and weight status) and their inter-relations in German children and adolescents. METHODS: Data on body image disturbances, assessed through a Figure Rating Scale, and on behavioural and emotional difficulties, assessed through Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), were available for 5255 observations of 1982 German children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years from the LIFE Child study, based in Leipzig, Germany. Associations were investigated using multiple logistic regression. Each association was checked for interaction with gender, age, and weight status. RESULTS: Boys reported more behavioural difficulties than girls, while girls reported more emotional difficulties. Gender, age and weight status were related to behavioural and emotional difficulties as well as body image disturbances. Individuals with fewer difficulties were more satisfied with their own body. Children and adolescents who desired to be larger showed more prosocial behaviour problems, conduct and emotional problems and more signs of hyperactivity. Those, who desired to be thinner showed more problems in all SDQ-subscales. A more accurate body size perception was associated with fewer behavioural and emotional difficulties. Children and adolescents who overestimated their body size showed more prosocial behaviour and emotional problems. Underestimation one's body size was associated with more signs of hyperactivity. CONCLUSION: The current findings highlight the importance of raising the awareness about the association between behavioural and emotional difficulties and body image disturbances in children and adolescents to prevent negative outcomes.

Do Parents' Internal Processes and Feelings Contribute to the way they Report Their Children's Mental Difficulties on the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)?

The way parents report their child's emotional and behavioral difficulties is important both for identifying the child's needs, diagnosis, and prevention. This study examined to what extent parents' internal processes predict the way in which parents report their child's emotional and behavioral difficulties on the SDQ, as mediated by parental feelings. Parents of children who were referred to a community mental health clinic completed a self-report questionnaire including the following scales: adulthood attachment style, self-regulation difficulty, personal well-being, self-compassion parental feelings, and their child's emotional-behavioral difficulties. Study findings indicated that parents' internal processes do not directly predict parents' report of their children's mental difficulties on the SDQ, only when mediated by parental feelings. These findings highlight the significance of parental feelings in reporting children's behavioral and emotional difficulties. It also contributes to the body of knowledge concerning the importance of caring for parents' needs and feelings and overall parenthood.

Assessing Adolescent Functioning from Different Perspectives: Extending the Validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS).

The study aimed to provide further evidence for the validity of the 33-item Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS) as a parent- and adolescent-report scale of adolescent adjustment. In separate samples of parents (N = 542; 88% female) and adolescents (N = 303; 60% female), confirmatory factor analyses supported the original 4-factor structure of the AFS. Analyses produced a 28-item parent measure, and a 27-item adolescent measure. Parent and adolescent versions included positive development, oppositional behaviour, antisocial behaviour and emotional problems subscales. Evidence for convergent and construct validity was provided through correlations with existing measures of adolescent functioning and parenting. The AFS demonstrated configural and metric invariance, but not scalar variance. The study provided support for the validity and reliability of the revised AFS for parents and adolescents. The strong psychometric properties, and brief and multi-dimensional nature of the AFS means that it will have utility in research and applied contexts.

Association between symptoms of sleep apnea and problem behaviors in young adult twins and siblings.

BACKGROUND: Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and it is related to multiple negative health consequences. Previous studies have shown that sleep apnea is influenced by genetic factors. However, studies have not investigated the genetic and environmental influences of symptoms of sleep apnea in young adults. Furthermore, the underpinnings of the relationship between apnea symptoms and internalizing/externalizing problems are unknown. The objectives of this study were to estimate the magnitude of: (1) genetic and environmental influences on self-reported apnea symptoms; (2) the relationship between self-reported apnea symptoms and internalizing/externalizing traits; (3) genetic and environmental influences on the associations between self-reported apnea symptoms, internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors. METHODS: In a twin/sibling study, univariate and multivariate models were fitted to estimate both individual variance and sources of covariance between symptoms of sleep apnea and internalizing/externalizing behaviors. RESULTS: Our results show that genetic influences account for 40% of the variance in sleep apnea symptoms. Moreover, there are modest associations between depression, anxiety and externalizing behaviors with apnea symptoms (ranging from r = 0.22-0.29). However, the origins of these associations differ. For example, whereas most of the covariation between symptoms of depression and sleep apnea can be explained by genes (95%), there was a larger role for the environment (53%) in the association between symptoms of anxiety and sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic factors explain a significant proportion of variance in symptoms of apnea and most of the covariance with depression.

Orthorexia nervosa and its association with alexithymia, emotion dysregulation and disordered eating attitudes among Lebanese adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore whether orthorexia nervosa, like other eating disorders, is associated with difficulties identifying, describing, and regulating one's own emotions among a sample of Lebanese adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during October 2020, during the lockdown period imposed by the government for the COVID-19 pandemic. All participants above 18 years of age were allowed to participate in this study. A total of 787 Lebanese adults out of 920 (85.54%) completed an online survey including Arabic versions of the ORTO-R measure of orthorexia, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Eating Attitudes Test. RESULTS: After making sure that all norms are verified, hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to evaluate the association between disordered eating attitudes (EAT scores) and ON (model 1), and after controlling for difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS score) (model 2). Model 1 accounted for 15.1% of the variance of ON (adj. R2 = 0.151, F(1, 786) = 140.06, p < 0.001) and showed that higher levels of disordered eating (higher EAT scores) (ß = 0.15) were significantly associated with more ON tendencies and behaviors. When adding the DERS total score to the model, Model 2 was a much better fit with 17.7% of the variance of ON (adj. R2 = 0.177, F(2, 786) = 84.44, p < 0.001), with higher levels of emotion dysregulation (higher DERS scores) (ß = 0.06) and more disordered eating attitudes (higher EAT scores) (ß = 0.13) were associated with higher levels of ON (Table 5). CONCLUSION: The present research suggests that people with high ON tendencies experience troubles recognizing, regulating, and describing their emotions, similarly to other disordered eating. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Parental mental health screening in a neuropaediatric sample: Psychometric properties of the Everyday Feeling Questionnaire and variables associated with parental mental health.

BACKGROUND: Many previous studies have highlighted distress in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Further knowledge about the relationship between parental mental health and children's characteristics could help neuropaediatric services improve treatment. The current study examined the applicability of the Everyday Feeling Questionnaire (EFQ) as a screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric sample. METHODS: Children and adolescents (N = 299) referred to neurodevelopmental/neurological assessment at neuropaediatric outpatient clinics in Northern Norway were assessed for concurrent mental health problems; one of their parents completed the EFQ. RESULTS: The EFQ items loaded highly on a general mental health factor. Parental mental health was more strongly associated with child functional impairment than child emotional/conduct difficulties; it was not associated with child neurodevelopmental disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The EFQ is a suitable screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric population. Child functional impairment seems an important predictor of parental mental health.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Emotional Difficulties in Chronic Granulomatous Disease: Data on Adult and Pediatric Patients from Italian Network for Primary Immunodeficiency (IPINet).

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by life-threatening infections, inflammation, and autoimmunity with an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Few data are available for children, whereas no study has been conducted in adults. Here, we investigated HRQoL and emotional functioning of 19 children and 28 adults enrolled in Italian registry for CGD. PEDsQL and SDQ were used for children and their caregivers, and adults completed the SF-12 questionnaire. Mean scores were compared with norms and with patients affected by chronic diseases. Comparisons were made for CGD patients who underwent or not hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). When compared with norms, CGD children exhibited higher difficulties in social/school areas, peer relationship, and conduct/emotional problems (< 5 years of age), as scored by proxies. Differently, CGD adults reported higher difficulties both in mental and physical area than norms. Only for children, clinical status had a damaging effect on psychosocial and school dimensions, whereas age had a negative impact on social areas. No significant difference was observed between patients treated or not with HSCT. When compared with patients affected by chronic diseases, CGD children and adults both displayed fewer physical disabilities. Differently, in mental scale adults scored lower than those with rheumatology diseases and had similar impairment in comparison with patients with diabetes mellitus and cancer. This study emphasized the impact of CGD on HRQoL since infancy and its decline in adulthood, with emotional difficulties occurring early. HRQoL impairment should be considered in clinical picture of CGD and pro-actively assessed and managed by clinicians.

Triadic interactions, parental reflective functioning, and early social-emotional difficulties.

Early childhood is a critical period for social-emotional development; during this period, the child's immediate family is the system with the greatest influence on his or her development. The parents' capacity to reflect on the children's ability to process and interact within a social environment, called parental reflective functioning (RF), is considered an important factor in protecting children from highly prevalent social-emotional difficulties and may have a strong influence on children's long-term development. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the relationships among parents' RF, the quality of the mother-father-child triadic interaction, and children's social-emotional difficulties. METHOD: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted. Fifty mother-father-child triads, each in a current relationship that included at least one child aged 12-36 months, were evaluated. Sociodemographic background, triadic interaction, parental RF, and social-emotional difficulties were assessed. RESULTS: Triadic interaction was found to have a significant effect on the child's social-emotional difficulties, explaining 9% of the variance. In addition, the mothers' RF had a significant influence on triadic interaction, explaining 19% of the variance. An exploratory finding showed that triadic interaction mediates the relationship between mothers' RF and children's social-emotional difficulties.

La temprana niñez es un período crítico para el desarrollo socio-emocional; durante este período, el núcleo familiar del niño es el sistema con la mayor influencia en su desarrollo. La capacidad de los padres de reflexionar sobre la habilidad del niño de procesar e interactuar dentro del ambiente social, llamada la función reflexiva de los padres (RF), es considerada un factor importante en la protección del niño en cuanto a dificultades socio-emocionales altamente prevalentes y pudiera tener una fuerte influencia en el desarrollo del niño a largo plazo. OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar la relación entre la función reflexiva de los padres (RF), la calidad de la interacción tríadica entre mamá, papá y niño, y las dificultades socio-emocionales de los niños. MÉTODO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio no experimental, transversal y correlacional. Se evaluaron cincuenta tríadas de mamá, papá y niño, cada una de ellas en una relación presente que incluía por lo menos un niño de edad entre 12 y 36 meses. Se evaluaron el trasfondo demográfico, la interacción tríadica, la RF de los padres, así como las dificultades socio-emocionales. RESULTADOS: Se encontró que las interacciones tríadicas tenían un efecto significativo en las dificultades socio-emocionales del niño, lo cual explica el 9% de la variación. Adicionalmente, la RF de las mamás tuvo una influencia significativa en la interacción tríadica, lo cual explica el 19% de la variación. Un resultado exploratorio mostró que la interacción tríadica sirve de mediadora en la relación entre la RF de la mamá y las dificultades socio-emocionales de los niños.

La petite enfance est une période critique pour le développement socio-émotionnel. Durant cette période la famille proche de l'enfant est le système ayant la plus grande influence sur son développement. La capacité des parents à réfléchir à la capacité des enfants à traiter et à interagir avec l'environnement social, appelée le fonctionnement de réflexion parentale (abrégé en anglais RF), est considérée comme étant un facteur important qui protège les enfants de difficultés socio-émotionnelles extrêmement prévalente et qui peut avoir une forte influence sur le développement long-terme des enfants. OBJECTIF: Décrire et analyser les relations entre le RF des parents, la qualité de l'interaction triadique mère-père-enfant, et les difficultés socio-émotionnelles des enfants. MÉTHODE: Une étude non-expérimentale, corrélationnelle, avec une coupe transversale a été effectuée. Cinquante triades mère-père-enfant, chacune dans la relation actuelle qui incluait au moins un enfant âgé de 12 à 36 mois, ont été évaluées. Le contexte sociodémographique, l'interaction triadique, le RF parents, et les difficultés socio-émotionnelles ont été évalués. RÉSULTATS: On a trouvé que l'interaction triadique avait un effet important sur les difficultés socio-émotionnelles de l'enfant, expliquant 9% de l'écart. De plus, le RF des mères s'est avéré avoir une influence importante sur l'interaction triadique, expliquant 19% de l'écart. Un résultat exploratoire a montré que l'interaction triadique affecte la relation entre es le RF des mères et les difficultés socio-émotionnelles des enfants.

Adolescent trust and primary care: Help-seeking for emotional and psychological difficulties.

Although a quarter of adolescents are likely to experience emotional and psychological difficulties, only a third of them will seek professional help. In this exploratory study we undertook focus groups with 54 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 in eight post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. Young people do not trust their GPs, perceiving them as strangers, impersonal and uncaring. The basis of distrust is different among males and females. The findings are discussed in light of adolescents' developmental challenges of identity formation and the consequent demand to be respected and taken seriously by adults.

Behavioral Problems and Emotional Difficulties at Children and Early Adolescents of the Veterans of War with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Behavioral problems and emotional difficulties at children of the veterans of war with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have not been researched entirely. In our country, which has a lot of persons suffering from some psychological traumas, this trauma seems to continue. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the exposure, manifestations of behavioral problems and emotional difficulties at children and early adolescents, whose fathers were the veterans of war demonstrating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. RESPONDENTS AND METHODS: The analyzed group comprised 120 school age children (10-15 years of age), whose parents/fathers were the veterans of war. The children were divided into two groups, and each group into the following two age sub-groups: 10-12 (children) and 13-15 (early adolescents) according to PTSD presence at their fathers - veterans of war. PTSD symptoms at fathers, veterans of war, were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Bosnia and Herzegovina version and MKB-10 - audit of criteria. To assess the behavioral problems of children, the Child Behavior Checklist for parents was used, and to evaluate the neuroticism at children Hanes-Scale of neuroticism-extraversion was used while the depression level was evaluated using the Depression self-rating scale (DSRS). To analyze the obtained results, SPSS 17 program was used. The value p <0. 05 is considered significant. RESULTS: Children of fathers, the veterans of war, demonstrating the PTSD symptoms show more problems in activity, social and school conduct as well as in symptoms of behavioral problems compared to the children whose fathers do not demonstrate the PTSD symptoms (p<0. 001). Children of the war veterans demonstrating the symptoms of the post-traumatic stress disorder show significant difference at neuroticism sub-scales (p<0.001). Negative correlation between PTSD and activity, social and school conduct has been determined (p <0. 01), while positive correlation was determined between PTSD of war veterans with symptoms and neuroticism at children (p <0. 01). Depression symptoms are found at 17.5% children, while 28.3% are in the risky group and the girls demonstrate higher depression level. CONCLUSION: Children and early adolescents of fathers - veterans of war with post-traumatic stress disorder show significant differences in competencies, behavior, emotional difficulties and neuroticism. Significant correlation was found between psychopathology of parents - fathers the veterans of war and their children. Impact of psychological conditions of fathers - the veterans of war with post-traumatic stress disorder to children is strong and they represent a significant risky group for development of mental disorders.

Early emotional and behavioral difficulties and adult educational attainment: an 18-year follow-up of the TEMPO study.

Children who experience behavioral difficulties often have short and long-term school problems. However, the relationship between emotional difficulties and later academic achievement has not been thoroughly examined. Using data from the French TEMPO study (n = 666, follow-up 1991, 1999, 2009, mean age = 10.5, sd = 4.9 at baseline), we studied associations between internalizing and externalizing symptoms in: (a) childhood and (b) adolescence and educational attainment by young adulthood (< vs. ≥ high school degree), accounting for participants' age, sex, juvenile academic difficulties, and family income. High levels of childhood (but not adolescent) internalizing and externalizing symptoms were associated with low educational attainment; however, in multivariate models only the association with childhood internalizing symptoms remained statistically significant (OR = 1.75, 95 % CI 1.00-3.02). Supporting children with internalizing problems early on could help improve their long-term educational attainment.

Measuring positive and negative aspects of youth behavior: Development and validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale.

This paper outlines the development and validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS) in an Australian sample of parents of young people aged 11-18 years (N = 278). The AFS, a parent self-report measure, was designed to assess problem behavior and positive development in adolescents. Principal components analysis produced a 33-item measure comprising four subscales: Positive Development, Oppositional Defiant Behavior, Antisocial Behavior and Emotional Difficulties. Convergent validity was established via correlations between the AFS and established measures of adolescent functioning and parenting, and discriminant validity was shown through no association between the AFS and a measure of technology use. Internal consistency for the subscales was high (H = .82-.92 for different age groups), as was test-retest reliability (r = .77-.86). The study indicated that the AFS is a potentially valuable tool for assessing levels of problem behaviors and positive development in adolescents.

Normative data for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for young children in Australia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to report normative data for the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) from a large population cohort of young children aged 4-6 years from Victoria, Australia, to establish age- and sex-specific cut-off values for future use, and to determine the scale reliability of the SDQ for children aged 4-6 years. METHODS: Parents of children (n = 53 372) entering their first year of school in Victoria in 2010 completed a survey via a 15-page School Entrant Health Questionnaire reporting on the physical and emotional well-being of their child (including the SDQ), use of child health and other support services, and a range of socio-demographic variables. Reliability was assessed and norms generated. Appropriate cut-off values for each SDQ scale and total difficulties scale were generated for each age group separately for each sex. RESULTS: The five scales of the SDQ and total difficulties scale generally had acceptable internal reliability. Mean SDQ scale scores differed for both sex and age, although only a narrow age range is examined in this study. Cut-off values were marginally higher for girls (lower for prosocial) and generally increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: This study has utilised a large Australian population sample of children to generate age- and sex-specific cut-off values that define SDQ scores as 'normal', 'borderline' or 'abnormal' for Australian children aged 4-6 years.

Depression and Self-Esteem in Early Adolescence.

AIM: Depression prevalence has increased in the last few decades, affecting younger age groups. The aim of this research was to determine the range of depression and low self-esteem in elementary school children in the city of Split. Testing was carried out at school and the sample comprised 1,549 children (714 boys and 832 girls, aged 13). METHODS: Two psychological instruments were used: the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) and the Children and Adolescent Depression Scale (SDD). RESULTS: The average value of scores obtained by SEI test was 17.8 for all tested children. No statistically significant difference was found be-tween boys and girls. It was found that 11.9% of children showed signs of clinically significant depression, and 16.2% showed signs of depression. Statistically significant association between low self-esteem and clinically significant depression was found. No statistically significant difference among boys and girls according to dimension of cognitive depression was found, whereas statistically significant level of emotional depression was higher in girls than boys. It was found that both dimensions of depression decreased proportionally with the increase of SEI test score values: cognitive and emotional dimension of depression. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that it is necessary to provide early detection of emotional difficulties in order to prevent serious mental disorders.

[Relationship between Machiavellianism and emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescence]. / A machiavellizmus kapcsolata viselkedéses és pszichés problémákkal serdülokorban.

INTRODUCTION: Machiavellianism is a personality trait that is characterized by intense interpersonal manipulation in order to achieve personal material goals. Previous studies revealed a relationship between Machiavellianism and diverse forms of psychological difficulties in adults. AIM: Studies also revealed such relationships in adolescents as well, but studies investigating the relationship between Machiavellianism and psychological difficulties in adolescents are still absent in Hungary. METHOD: In this study 502 secondary school students (356 girls) filled out questionnaires that measured Machiavellianism and psychological and behavioral difficulties. RESULTS: Machiavellianism was associated with higher total problem score. This resulted mainly from higher scores on scales measuring emotional and behavioral problems. Moreover, hyperactivity and lack of prosocial behavior were also associated with Machiavellianism. At the same time, Machiavellian adolescents did not differ in self-reported loneliness from their peers. CONCLUSIONS: The author discusses the results in the light of previous research and from the perspective of emotion and behavior regulation. Practical aspects of the results are also discussed in the context of prevention.

Emotion regulation mediates the relation between intolerance of uncertainty and emotion difficulties: A longitudinal investigation.

Intolerance of uncertainty has been proposed as a transdiagnostic factor in emotional disorders. Despite comprehensive empirical evidence demonstrating the association between intolerance of uncertainty and emotional disorders, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Drawing on theoretical frameworks and empirical studies, the current study proposed that emotion regulation emerges as a potential mechanism. We explored the connections among intolerance of uncertainty, eight emotion regulation strategies (both adaptive and maladaptive), and emotional difficulties (specifically anxiety and depression) using a three-wave longitudinal approach (N = 341). Our findings revealed that heightened intolerance of uncertainty predicted increased anxiety but not depression over time. Greater intolerance of uncertainty significantly predicted elevated levels of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies including experiential avoidance, thought suppression, rumination, and reassurance-seeking. Adaptive strategies (i.e., mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, problem-solving) predicted lower anxiety and/or depression whereas maladaptive emotion regulation strategy rumination predicted greater levels of anxiety and depression. Surprisingly, thought suppression predicted lower levels of anxiety and depression. More importantly, our analysis showed that both rumination and thought suppression served as significant mediators in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and both anxiety and depression. These results hold implications for future interventions, emphasising rumination and thought suppression as potential targets for interventions aimed at alleviating emotional difficulties in individuals with intolerance of uncertainty.

Emotional - Behavioral Difficulties and Prosocial Behaviour among Vietnamese Adolescents: the Role of Social Support.

Background: In recent decades, a high prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents has been reported worldwide. In Vietnam, mental health problems such as emotional and behavioural difficulties are relatively common in the adolescent age group. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of emotional-behavioural problems and prosocial behaviours in Vietnamese adolescents and identify the role of social support in these adolescents' strengths and difficulties. Methods: A population sample of 582 adolescents from sixth to ninth grade from four secondary schools in Vietnam voluntarily participated by completing the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (α = .64) and the Social Support Scale (α = .90). Results: The research results revealed that Vietnamese adolescents suffered from considerable levels of emotional-behavioural difficulties and prosocial behaviour problems. Through multible regression analysis, support from their families significantly predicted to decrease students' emotional and behavioural symptoms (ß\< 0; p\< .05) and increasing prosocial behaviours (ß> 0; p \< .05). In contrast, friend support only contribute to protecting adolescents from behavioural problems (ß = -.18; p \< .05) and encouraged prosocial behaviours (ß = .22; p \< .05). Discussion: Family support had a central role in its positive contribution to reducing emotional-behavioural and prosocial behaviour problems. Friend support only decreased behavioural problems and encouraged prosocial behaviours. These results are interpreted that educators could limit adolescents' emotional-behavioural difficulties and encourage prosocial behaviours through social support from their families and friends.