Search Results (92)

In the current digital age, children are exposed to electronic media at an increasingly early age. The issue of excessive electronic media use has become a significant risk factor affecting the healthy development of young children. To examine the association between parental phubbing and preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use, as well as the underlying mechanism—mediating roles of parent–child attachment and self-control, 758 parents of preschoolers were recruited to complete a set of scales. The results show that: (1) Parental phubbing was positively associated with preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use; (2) Parent–child attachment and self-control significantly mediated this relation, which contains three mediating pathways—the mediating effects of parent–child attachment and self-control, as well as their chain mediating effect. The study revealed the psychological mechanisms between parental phubbing and preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use, providing suggestions for the prevention and intervention of excessive electronic media use among preschoolers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parental mental health challenges are associated with parenting difficulties and child mental health issues. Parenting interventions can support families; however, parents with mental health challenges face barriers to accessing parenting support, which is not consistently offered within adult mental health settings. Embedding technology-assisted parenting programs into these settings could provide accessible, holistic support. Partners in Parenting Kids (PiP Kids) is a digital parenting program designed to prevent child anxiety and depression, yet its suitability for parents with mental health challenges and fit within mental health services remains unclear. This study aimed to co-design and adapt PiP Kids for future implementation in an Australian adult mental health service. Methods: Parents who recently sought mental health support (n = 8) and service providers (n = 7) participated in co-design workshops to explore needs and preferences for a technology-assisted parenting program and iteratively develop a prototype. Parents (n = 3) trialled the online component of the prototype and participated in qualitative interviews to assess acceptability. Results: The adapted clinician-supported program was designed to facilitate (1) parent and clinician readiness for parenting support; (2) emotional and social support for parents and clinicians; (3) practical, personalised parenting knowledge; (4) parent-led empowerment; and (5) accessible, integrated support. Prototype clinician training was developed to strengthen the clinician-support component. Parents indicated initial acceptability of the online prototype while reiterating the value of including face-to-face support. Conclusions: This study co-designed an online, clinician-supported parenting program for future embedding within adult mental health settings. The findings highlight key considerations for developing and implementing technology-assisted interventions that promote family-focused care for parents seeking mental health support. Full article

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) compromise the nutrition, growth, and quality of life in young children, and their relationship with breastfeeding practices remains disputed. Aim: To determine if prolonged breastfeeding increases the risk of dental caries in children aged under 71 months. Material and Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, and Evidence-Based Dentistry, was conducted through August 2025, including observational studies, randomized trials, narrative reviews, and meta-analyses on breastfeeding and ECC. Results: Thirty-one studies involving 28,000 children were included. Exclusive breastfeeding for under six months halves ECC probability (OR 0.53–0.58), whereas breastfeeding beyond 12 months and nocturnal feeds increase probability by 60–86% (OR 2.35–7.14). Parental factors—high plaque levels, feeding-to-sleep, and skipped post-feed cleaning—strongly predict ECC (OR 8.51–75.6). Interventions combining feeding counseling with home visits or visual aids reduce ECC incidence by 22–32% (RR 0.68–0.78). Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding through six months is protective against ECC, but prolonged or nocturnal feeding heightens risk. Integrating structured oral health education into breastfeeding promotion is recommended. Full article

Background/Objectives: Down Syndrome (DS) is frequently associated with oral-motor dysmorphologies, like oral hypotonia, tongue protrusion, short palate, and malocclusion, compromising the oral functions of sucking, chewing, swallowing, and speech production. Therapeutic interventions with stimulating palatal plates (SPP) have been proposed to prevent and improve oral-motor dysmorphologies in DS. This study proposes a new digital workflow for the manufacturing and use of a modified SPP. Methods: We report the application of the new workflow to five clinical cases, all infants with DS showing oral-motor disorders, aged between 5 and 11 months. The workflow is described step-by-step, from the mouth scanning protocol and model printing to SPP manufacturing and delivering, and assessment of oral-morphological features and language abilities via video captures and parental questionnaires. Key novel features include an SPP with an acrylic extension with a pacifier terminal and, importantly, the use of an infant-friendly intraoral scanner. Results: The new workflow had good acceptability by infants and parents, offering a safe, easy-to-implement, and feasible solution for SPP design, as it avoided the high risks associated with impression materials. It also supported the use of the SPP to promote tongue stimulation, retraction, and overall oral-muscle function in oral-motor disorders in children with DS, especially in infants. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the current study, it was shown that the proposed digital workflow constitutes a viable and infant-friendly approach to the production and use of a modified SPP, and thus promises to contribute to improving oral morphology and auditory-motor language abilities. Full article

Mothers’ behavior strongly influences children’s eating habits, with family attitudes and feeding practices playing a key role in dietary development. In accordance with the previous literature, this study examined these aspects, including also mothers’ use of social media to stay informed about nutrition as an innovative element. The main goal was to validate the Italian version of the PSEPAD scale (Parental Self-Efficacy for Promoting Healthy Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors in Children), which is a valid and reliable tool for assessing parental self-efficacy in encouraging healthy lifestyles in children, through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The sample was composed of 217 mothers. Results were interpreted through groups comparisons (chi-square, ANOVA, and t-test). The findings confirmed the central role of mothers in managing children’s diets and using strategies against picky eating behaviors. The study also highlighted the growing use of social media among mothers, especially younger ones, as a source of nutritional information, meal planning, and peer support, despite a generally low level of satisfaction with the content available on pediatric nutrition. Finally, the results showed a positive link between maternal self-efficacy and healthier child behaviors: mothers with higher self-esteem and confidence were more effective in promoting healthy habits. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to strengthen maternal self-efficacy and the development of digital tools to support healthy family lifestyles. Full article

Early adolescence is a sensitive period for digital media overdependence; however, persistent high-risk patterns remain poorly understood. Using data from the 2008 birth panel of the Panel Study on Korean Children (n = 1354), we examined predictors measured from early childhood to Grades 1–2 (2014–2016) and modeled digital media overdependence from Grades 3 to 6 (2017–2020). Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) were used to identify developmental trajectories, and machine learning models characterized risk signals using SHAP-informed feature importance. Five trajectories emerged, including one subgroup that maintained persistently high risk. The predictive model showed good discriminative performance (strong predictive performance [Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve (ROC AUC) = 0.84]). Executive function difficulties in Grade 1 and their worsening through Grade 2 predicted an elevated risk, whereas longer or increasing sleep duration, stronger family interactions, and appropriate parental control were protective. In contrast, higher maternal parenting stress, greater overall media use time, and a larger proportion of game-centered media use functioned as risk factors. These findings identify modifiable early childhood and early elementary predictors of high-risk maintenance trajectories of media overdependence and may inform early screening and preventive interventions in families, schools, and communities. Full article

Early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges, is essential for timely intervention. Naturalistic home videos collected via mobile applications offer scalable opportunities for digital diagnostics. We leveraged GuessWhat, a mobile game designed to engage parents and children, which has generated over 3000 structured videos from 382 children. From this collection, we curated a final analytic sample of 688 feature-rich videos centered on a single dyad, enabling more consistent modeling. We developed a two-step pipeline: (1) filtering to isolate high-quality videos, and (2) feature engineering to extract interpretable behavioral signals. Unimodal LSTM-based models trained on eye gaze, head position, and facial expression achieved test AUCs of 86% (95% CI: 0.79–0.92), 78% (95% CI: 0.69–0.86), and 67% (95% CI: 0.55–0.78), respectively. Late-stage fusion of unimodal outputs significantly improved predictive performance, yielding a test AUC of 90% (95% CI: 0.84–0.95). Our findings demonstrate the complementary value of distinct behavioral channels and support the feasibility of using mobile-captured videos for detecting clinically relevant signals. While further work is needed to improve generalizability and inclusivity, this study highlights the promise of real-time, scalable autism phenotyping for early interventions. Full article

Problematic Internet use is an emerging concern in adolescent mental health and is closely linked to psychological distress and emotional regulation. This cross-sectional study analyzed self-reported data from 1550 adolescents aged 11–19 years in South Tyrol, a linguistically and culturally diverse region in Northern Italy. Problematic Internet use was measured using the validated Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS-2), along with standardized instruments for depressive symptoms (PHQ-2) and anxiety (SCARED-GAD). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that depression and anxiety symptoms were the strongest independent predictors of higher GPIUS-2 scores. In contrast, demographic factors such as gender, family language, urbanization, migration background, and parental education were not significantly associated with PIU. Modest associations were observed between GPIUS-2 scores and both perceived economic burden and parental use of digital control tools. Perceived family support showed a small protective effect. These findings underscore the central role of emotional vulnerability in adolescent PIU and suggest that interventions should focus on supporting mental health and adaptive coping rather than solely targeting screen time or structural family characteristics. Full article

Effective classification and progress monitoring are central to inclusive education, ensuring that students with learning challenges receive timely and appropriate support. However, both international research and Qatari educators’ experiences reveal inconsistencies, limited resources, and a persistent gap between policy and practice. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 20 stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, coordinators, and policymakers. Thematic analysis conducted using ATLAS.ti 25 produced six main themes: inconsistent classification; staff and resource shortages; family resistance and collaboration; policy and accommodation gaps; fragmented monitoring; and innovative, inclusive practices. Participants described over-reliance on external diagnostic reports, inconsistent eligibility criteria, limited access to specialists, overcrowded classrooms, and insufficient early screening. Disconnected tools and the lack of a centralized data system hindered monitoring. Despite these barriers, educators showed adaptability through classroom-based interventions, behavioral support, and the emerging use of digital and AI tools. Stake-holders emphasized the need for a unified national framework, systematic early screening, expanded accommodations, integrated Education Management Information System (EMIS) records, and continuous professional development with parent involvement. Findings highlight that classification and monitoring depend on governance, capacity, and data culture, underscoring the need for coordinated policy and practice to achieve equitable, sustainable inclusion in Qatar. Full article

Background: eHealth literacy (eHL) is the ability to seek, find, understand, and apply digital health information. Adolescents often overestimate their eHL skills, potentially leading to poor health decisions and posing a public health concern. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward eHL and seeking health information online among a sample of Italian adolescents aged 10–19 to identify the sociodemographic characteristics and other variables that are associated with the outcomes of interest. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire, including the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Results: A total of 793 Italian adolescents from seven public schools in Naples, southern Italy, participated in the survey. Among the participants, 58.6% had an eHEALS score below 27. A higher eHL was associated with being male, perceiving the Internet as useful for health decisions, the use of electronic devices for seeking health information, consulting institutional/scientific sources, having a mother with lower education, and having parents without underlying chronic conditions. Additionally, a higher eHL, male sex, younger age, and Internet use for seeking health information in the last three months were linked to perceiving the Internet as a helpful tool for health decision making. Conclusions: Overall, Italian adolescents reported suboptimal eHL with sex, attitudes, and parental factors playing significant roles. Targeted educational interventions are needed to enhance eHL in this specific age group. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a cornerstone of cancer prevention across genders. In the United Kingdom (UK), the programme now includes boys, yet uptake remains below target, with persistent disparities by gender and region. This commentary examines the drivers of these gaps, including the historical framing of the HPV vaccine as a vaccine for girls, limited public awareness of boys’ eligibility, and challenges in school-based delivery. Gendered misconceptions, cultural norms, and inadequate communication continue to limit uptake in boys, while healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, dentists, and pharmacists, remain underused in supporting vaccine access and tackling parental hesitancy. Schools are central to equitable delivery, but teachers often lack training and possess low-to-moderate knowledge of HPV-related topics, including HPV vaccination availability for boys and HPV-related cancers affecting men. Drawing on health behaviour theory, we propose evidence-informed, multi-level recommendations to improve uptake, from gender-inclusive messaging and more efficient consent processes to digital engagement tools that support parents. We also highlight our ongoing research into parental attitudes toward HPV vaccination for boys aged 9–12 in England, which will inform future targeted interventions and policy development. Full article

Background: Parent education is a key component of family-centred care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). It supports positive parent-infant interactions, reduces parental stress and anxiety, and contributes to shorter hospital stays. Objectives: This paper reports on the adaptation of a South African parenting education intervention for parents of premature infants in the NICU: the NeuroSense PremmieEd programme. The study aimed to demonstrate the programme’s content validity, feasibility, and acceptability for preterm parent–infant dyads in public hospital NICUs, using a hybrid focus group discussion (FGD) method. The programme was based on an existing intervention and informed by literature on the components of parenting educational programmes and empirical data on parental expectations. Methods: A qualitative, iterative refinement process was undertaken using hybrid-format FGDs. A conceptual FGD was held during the design phase, followed by two consensus FGDs after pilot testing (reported separately). Stakeholders included end-users (mothers), clinicians, an instructional designer, a neurodevelopmental care expert, and programme facilitators. Results: The first FGD reviewed draft version 0.1 of the programme, confirming content relevance and clarity, while recommending adjustments, such as module integration, cultural and language alignment, and visual aids to support comprehension. Version 0.2 was then ready for pilot testing (reported elsewhere). The second and third FGDs led to refinements addressing emotional sensitivity in terminology, improved layout and readability, and the addition of home care guidance. Stakeholders highlighted the potential use of low-cost digital formats to enhance accessibility and standardisation. These revisions informed the final version 0.3. Conclusions: The hybrid FGD approach enabled input from diverse and geographically dispersed stakeholders. The NeuroSense PremmieEd programme was found to be feasible and acceptable by both mothers and healthcare professionals, supporting its suitability for broader implementation in resource-constrained settings. Full article

As technological developments proliferate, understanding the impact of digital media on children with special needs has become increasingly critical. This study examines problematic digital media use, behavioral problems, and family needs among children with special needs, and investigates whether these variables differ by disability type, parental education, and socioeconomic status (SES). Parents of 357 children with special needs from various regions of Türkiye participated. Data were collected via parent-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques. Findings indicate high levels of problematic media use, behavioral problems, and family needs in this population. In particular, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibited higher levels of problematic media use and behavioral problems, and their parents reported greater support needs than other groups. Conversely, lower levels of problematic media use and behavioral problems were observed among children whose parents had higher education and SES. Significant positive correlations also emerged among problematic media use, behavioral problems, and family needs. These findings suggest that appropriately guided digital media use may be associated with fewer behavioral difficulties and that strengthening supports for families could be a relevant target for intervention; however, causal inferences are not warranted from these data. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hispanic children in the U.S. experience disproportionately low COVID-19 vaccination rates, largely due to parental vaccine hesitancy. Digital storytelling offers a culturally relevant approach to address concerns through first-hand narratives. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a community-driven digital storytelling intervention to reduce vaccine hesitancy among Hispanic parents. Methods: Ten formerly vaccine-hesitant Hispanic parents developed digital stories about their reasons for vaccinating their child(ren) against COVID-19. We then enrolled 80 Hispanic parents whose children were not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines in a randomized feasibility trial. Intervention group participants (n = 40) viewed four digital stories selected by a community advisory board, while control group participants (n = 40) viewed four length- and format-matched videos about nutrition. Surveys were completed pre-intervention (T1), immediate post-intervention (T2), and at 2-month follow-up (T3). A subsample of intervention participants also joined focus groups at T3. Results: Qualitative data suggested that DST was an acceptable and engaging method of health education. Intervention group parents showed moderately larger increases in intention to vaccinate than did controls at T2 (d = 0.41) and T3 (d = 0.30). At T3, intervention group parents were more likely to have vaccinated their children than were controls (OR = 5.20, 95% CI = 1.63–16.57; RR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.30–7.37). Conclusions: The community-driven digital storytelling intervention was feasible and acceptable, and findings suggest moderate effects on increasing vaccine intentions and uptake. Future work should evaluate its effectiveness in reducing parental vaccine hesitancy and, in turn, vaccine uptake for other childhood immunizations. Full article

Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, highlighting the need for effective suicide prevention strategies. Safety planning is a best-practice intervention that has recently shifted toward smartphone-based formats. This study explored stakeholder perspectives (adolescents, parents, practitioners) and described the development of an age-tailored app. A qualitative study was conducted in Germany (2023–2024) with focus groups involving adolescents (n = 7), parents (n = 4), and practitioners (n = 4). Adolescents (14–21 years) were eligible if they had received inpatient treatment, experienced suicidal thoughts within the past 24 months, and had prior experience with safety planning. Parents and practitioners had experience or expertise with suicidality among adolescents. Data were analyzed using Kuckartz’s qualitative content analysis. App development was based, among other things, on insights from focus groups and pertinent theories. Stakeholders expressed differing needs regarding app content, settings, and adjustability. The developed emira-app includes an interactive safety plan to support users in self-managing emotional crises, along with additional features (e.g., digital HopeBox and diary) to promote integration into users’ daily routines. This multi-component safety planning app was specifically developed for adolescents, and its participatory development process allowed an intensive exploration of key stakeholders’ perspectives. Full article