Perspectives, Directions and New Frontiers for Research and Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue—as highlighted on the international level by the scientific contributions of the 54th Division of the American Psychological Association and on the national level by the commitment of the Italian Society of Pediatric Psychology—begins with the consideration that research and intervention in pediatric psychology present numerous aspects of complexity (with respect to focus, perspectives, methods and methodologies, tools, etc.), which are related to the same complexity of the know-how of this discipline and consequently of the same object of study, requiring new openings for an increasing number of interdisciplinary contributions.

Pediatric psychology, as an evolutionary–clinical branch of psychology, assumes the following as objects of study and intervention: evolutionary processes in conditions characterized by the presence of a chronic or rare disease, a congenital malformation, disability, prematurity, etc., from the prenatal period, and conditions of the child/adolescent that constitute real conditions of "evolutionary emergency" with clinical and social implications. In this sense, pediatric psychology is of great interest to researchers, clinicians and the whole reference community of health in the pediatric and maternal–infant field. Shifting according to pediatric psychology implies orienting research towards the study of evolutionary resources even before compromises are oriented by disease/disability, recovering the most innovative perspectives on development, such as that of evolutionary trajectories and the contribution of neuroscience and epigenetic perspective, and not losing sight of the possible relationships between medical, psychological and social variables. Along with these aspects of complexity, the need for functional research to identify best practices for the promotion of well-being, understood as health (including mental health) in pediatric conditions must also be considered. In this sense, it is often research that identifies with assessment; on the level of the intervention, it appears relevant to move according to an integrated cure–care approach, which today is identified in the concept of "taking charge" as a process of care that crosses the dimensions/conditions of listening, welcoming, supporting, etc. Additionally, again, in pediatric psychology, attention to research and intervention with the family and systems of care (a medical team of reference) must be emphasized as the key leaders in the field of relationships that define every pediatric condition. Considering this framework and the complexity indicated, and accounting for the fact that the research contributions of pediatric psychology are often not clearly defined or collocated on the level of the indicated background, this Special Issue aims to promote the knowledge of research and action-research conducted according to this know-how among researchers, clinicians and young people in training interested in pediatric psychology. This is research that can be functional in improving the management of pediatric conditions in healthcare and prevention, hospital and territorial contexts. Through original articles, reviews, short communications and correspondence regarding all the relevant themes and topics of pediatric psychology, the aim is to highlight the richness of the possible directions of this research, but also the possible limits and future perspectives.

Prof. Dr. Concetta Polizzi
Prof. Dr. Giovanna Perricone
Guest Editors

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• pediatric oncohematology
• pediatric pain
• preterm birth
• risk pregnancies
• child neglect
• parental competence in pediatric condition
• promotion of psychological well-being for mother and infant
• children with disability
• development assessment
• medically assisted procreation
• best practices in pediatric psychology