Search Results (281)

Family empowerment is a key component of effective family-centered practices in healthcare, mental health, and educational services. The Family Empowerment Scale (FES) is the most commonly used instrument to evaluate empowerment in families raising children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders. Despite its importance, the FES for diverse populations, especially Latinx parents, has rarely been evaluated using innovative psychometric approaches. In this study, we evaluated key dimensions and psychometric evidence of the Family Empowerment Scale (FES) for 96 Latinx parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States using an exploratory graph analysis (EGA). The EGA identified a five-dimensional structure, and EGA models outperformed the original CFA 3-factor models for both parents of children with autism and other disabilities. This study identified distinct, meaningful dimensions of empowerment that reflect both shared and unique empowerment experiences across two Latinx parent groups. These insights can inform the design of culturally responsive interventions, instruments, and policies that more precisely capture and boost empowerment in Latinx families. This study contributes to closing a gap in the literature by elevating the voices and experiences of Latinx families by laying the groundwork for more equitable support systems in special education and disability services. Full article

Maternal mental illness significantly impacts caregiving, influencing both mothers and their children. This narrative review examines the challenges faced by mothers with conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, which often disrupt caregiving routines, emotional stability, and social integration. These difficulties can hinder secure attachments and contribute to adverse developmental outcomes in children, including heightened risks of anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and cognitive impairments. Children of mothers with mental illnesses are 1.8 times more likely to develop emotional or behavioral problems and face a 2.7 times higher risk of suicidal ideation during adolescence. Intergenerational transmission of mental illness is also prevalent, with affected children showing a 2.5 times greater likelihood of developing mental illnesses in adulthood. Effective interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family-based approaches, and community programs integrating parenting education and mental health resources. These strategies have demonstrated improvements in maternal well-being and child resilience. The review highlights the need for comprehensive policies addressing maternal mental health, early intervention for children, and culturally sensitive support systems to break cycles of intergenerational mental illness. Future research should prioritize evaluating long-term intervention effectiveness and exploring innovative tools like digital mental illnesses solutions to support affected families. Full article

Background/Objectives: The use of digital technologies among children and adolescents has been increasing exponentially, raising concerns about the potential impacts on physical, mental, cognitive, educational, and social development. Understanding these effects is key to informing clinical and educational practices and public policies that promote digital wellbeing in childhood and adolescence. The main objective of this study was to map the latest available scientific evidence on the patterns of digital technology use by children and adolescents and its main impact, identifying risk factors, opportunities, and strategies for promoting digital wellbeing. Methods: A rapid review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese or English, that addressed the use of digital technologies by children and adolescents were included. The assessment of methodological quality was based on JBI’s Critical Appraisal Tools. Results: Ten studies from diverse contexts showed an association between excessive screen time and risks of sedentary lifestyles, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, and low academic performance. Occasional benefits arose with adult mediation and educational use; parental mediation and socioeconomic background were key factors. Conclusions: The use of digital technologies is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon that requires integrated approaches; the promotion of digital literacy, public policies for equitable access to quality digital resources, and longitudinal and intercultural studies are recommended to clarify causal relationships and adapt interventions to local contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parenting stress, the emotional strain resulting from the demands of child-rearing, can profoundly affect both parental well-being and children’s emotional and behavioral development. This study examined the impact of maternal parenting stress during early childhood on the longitudinal progression of children’s internalizing, externalizing, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, from early childhood through adolescence. Methods: The study included 406 mother–child pairs from the Rhea mother–child cohort in Crete, Greece. Maternal parenting stress was assessed at age 4 using the Parental Stress Scale (PSS). Children’s symptoms were evaluated at ages 4 (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, ADHD Test), 6, 11, and 15 years (Child Behavior Checklist, Conners’ Parent Rating Scale) through maternal reports. Multivariate mixed regression models, incorporating a random intercept for each child and a random slope for age at follow-up, were used to analyze the trajectories of symptoms from ages 4 to 15. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify trajectory groups from 4 to 15 years, and multinomial logistic regression models were implemented to examine the associations between parental stress and group trajectories. Results: The results revealed that higher parental stress at age 4 was significantly associated with increased internalizing (b = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.68, 1.21), externalizing (b = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.30), and ADHD symptoms (b = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.58, 1.14) over the study period. Notably, the impact of parenting stress on behavioral problems decreased with age (interaction with age, p = 0.032). Additionally, higher parenting stress at age 4 was linked to a greater likelihood of belonging to adverse symptom trajectories, including high decreasing, low increasing, and stable high trajectories for both internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of early maternal parenting stress as a predictor of long-term emotional and behavioral difficulties in children, emphasizing the need for early intervention programs that support maternal mental health and children’s emotional development. Full article

The growing influence of technology in the healthcare industry has led to the creation of innovative applications that improve convenience, accessibility, and diagnostic accuracy. However, health applications face significant challenges concerning user privacy and data security, as they handle extremely sensitive personal and medical information. Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs), such as Privacy-Attribute-based Credentials, Differential Privacy, and Federated Learning, have emerged as crucial tools to tackle these challenges. Despite their potential, PETs are not widely utilized due to technical and implementation obstacles. This research introduces a comprehensive framework for protecting health applications from privacy and security threats, with a specific emphasis on gamified mental health apps designed to manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. Acknowledging the heightened sensitivity of mental health data, especially in applications for children, our framework prioritizes user-centered design and strong privacy measures. We suggest an identity management system based on blockchain technology to ensure secure and transparent credential management and incorporate Federated Learning to enable privacy-preserving AI-driven predictions. These advancements ensure compliance with data protection regulations, like GDPR, while meeting the needs of various stakeholders, including children, parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. Full article

As mental health has gained prominence in recent years, elite ice hockey players have shared their experience of psychological problems, including adverse alcohol use, anxiety, depression, distress, eating disorders, and sleep disturbances. Mental health remains a sensitive issue for ice hockey players, as stigma, a strong hockey culture, lack of mental health literacy, and negative past experiences with seeking help constitute barriers to seeking support. This scoping review aims to identify the psychological factors contributing to elite ice hockey players’ well-being. After screening the titles and abstracts of three databases within a 2002–2025 timeframe, a total of 517 articles were retrieved. Seventeen articles targeting ice hockey athletes over 14 years of age competing at an elite level were selected. Three main categories emerged from the included studies: anxiety and depressive symptoms, motivational variables, and coping strategies at different career stages. Factors such as retirement, concussions, social support, parenting style, task-approach goals, and task-oriented behavior were influential components to the well-being and mental health of elite ice hockey players. Using the Lazarus and Folkman model, the identified psychological factors may help athletes and various actors surrounding them to better understand athletes’ well-being. Full article

Background: Parental burnout is one of today’s significant challenges, increasingly manifesting as a problem in our fast-paced world. The aim of this review is to create an exploratory, descriptive summary of parental burnout through the analysis of available international publications, providing a clearer and more accurate understanding of the psychological condition, severity, manifestations, and treatment options. Methods: Our narrative literature review includes publications from 2010 onwards, focusing on those that directly address the topic of parental burnout syndrome and contain epidemiological data, risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic possibilities, and treatment strategies. We excluded publications that examined the condition within narrow societal groups, such as parents caring for children with somatic mental disorders. Results: Based on our review, it appears that parental burnout may potentially affect both women and men. Factors such as low emotional intelligence, workplace stress, and lack of supportive family background render parents vulnerable to this condition. Significant differences in the prevalence of parental burnout can be measured between countries, due to cultural differences. Parental burnout has extremely detrimental effects on family dynamics and the emotional development of children, and it can negatively impact the willingness to have more children at the family level, which has dire consequences considering the low birth rates characteristic of European countries. Full article

Worsening adolescent mental health is a significant social issue. Although dreams may reflect one’s mental state, few studies have focused on adolescents. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between dream content and mental health, specifically anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms, among Japanese adolescents. This cross-sectional study obtained data on gender, grade, age, lifestyle habits, weekday sleep duration, anxiety disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and dreams from Japanese high school students. The data were analyzed via multiple logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms increased with the frequency of “rumination at bedtime”, “memory of dreams”, “emotional carryover”, and “awakening by frightening”, “unpleasant”, “film-like”, “fantastical”, and “recurring” dreams. However, this was not the case for “pleasant dreams”. Furthermore, “rumination at bedtime” (anxiety disorder symptoms: adjusted odds ratio: 10.60; 95% confidence interval: 5.92–18.97; depressive symptoms: 8.79, 5.58–13.87) and “unpleasant dreams” (anxiety disorder symptoms: 5.25, 2.86–9.64; depressive symptoms: 10.13, 5.57–18.44) exhibited particularly high odds ratios. “Rumination at bedtime” and “unpleasant dreams” may serve as early indicators of declining mental health. School- and parent-led interventions aimed at improving mental well-being may help prevent the progression or exacerbation of anxiety and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Full article

Background: Mental health issues among youth are a growing public health concern. Schools play a vital role in the early detection and prevention of mental health issues, with principals being central to the implementation of mental health initiatives. This study assessed the attitudes, preparedness, and practices of school principals regarding mental health promotion and prevention among school-aged children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) was conducted between March and April 2025. A 19-item questionnaire was sent to all 1564 primary and secondary school principals in the Lodz region. Data from 605 respondents (response rate: 38.7%) were analyzed. Results: A total of 94.9% of the principals reported an increase in student mental health problems over the past five years. Over one-quarter of school principals (26.3%) declared a very good or rather good level of preparation for teachers to work with students diagnosed with a mental disorder. Moreover, 42.3% declared a very good or rather good level of preparation of teachers for conversations with parents about mental health problems observed in their children. Mental health education was conducted in 94.7% of schools, and teacher training in 73.2% of schools. Secondary schools more often offered such training (81.9% vs. 70.7%; p = 0.01) and reported stronger support from specialist teachers (79.7% vs. 67.7%; p = 0.01) than primary schools did. Rural schools rated teacher-parent communication more positively (47.0% vs. 37.7%; p = 0.02) despite fewer training initiatives (68.7% vs. 77.7%; p = 0.01). Suicide response procedures were implemented in 78.5% of schools. Conclusions: The findings confirm a marked rise in student mental health needs and reveal structural disparities in providing school-based support. Enhancing school leadership, expanding teacher training, and ensuring systemic support may facilitate mental health promotion interventions in schools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience associated functional limitations, diseases, or impairments. Included in these associated concerns are mental health symptoms/disorders and academic concerns. There has been an increasing research focus on the mental health of youth with CP over the past 5 years, and there is a need to synthesize this research. This review aims to synthesize the most recent research on the mental and behavioral health of youth with CP. Methods: A literature search on research focused on mental health, academic functioning, and mental and behavioral treatment for youth with CP was conducted in August of 2024 and limited to the last 5 years to highlight the most recent developments in this area of research. Four hundred and forty-eight articles were screened, and thirty-eight articles were included in this review. Results: Based on this literature review, children with CP have high rates of mental health diagnoses across multiple diagnostic areas, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, anxiety, and depression. Academic concerns are common for children with CP. Intervention studies have focused on both child and parent interventions. Conclusions: Research over the past 5 years has added to prevalence estimates of mental health disorders in the pediatric CP population. Considering the high rates of mental health symptoms found in children with CP, future research should focus further on mental health interventions for this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emotional eating has been recognized as the tendency to eat in response to emotions, being recognized as a crucial risk factor for recurrent weight gain. Emotional eating has been interrelated with obesity/overweight, depression, anxiety, stress, and specific dietary habits at any stage of human life, negatively affecting human quality of life. The present study aims to summarize and explore the effects of emotional eating on children and how these effects may, in turn, influence their mental and physical health at the next stages of their lives. Methods: This is a narrative review of the presently existing clinical evidence concerning the impact of emotional eating in children. A comprehensive search of the most reliable online databases, e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, was performed utilizing relevant keywords. Several inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to collect only cross-sectional, longitudinal, descriptive, and case–control surveys in children’s populations. Results: The current clinical evidence suggests that parental behavior may increase the risk of emotional eating in children. Several pieces of evidence also implied potential associations of emotional eating with overweight/obesity and mental disorders in children. Children’s dietary habits may also affect their risk of developing emotional eating. Conclusions: The prevalence of emotional eating is gradually increasing in the general population, and especially in children. Public strategies should be performed to educate parents to recognize potential emotional eating behaviors in their children and to adopt more healthy dietary habits for their children, even in the first months of their life. Educational programs should be organized in school communities to directly educate children on the benefits of healthy dietary patterns. Full article

This study aims to illustrate the impact of accumulated traumatic experiences in adolescence and to evaluate the potential of brief focal psychotherapy (BFP) as a treatment approach for complex trauma. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy who experienced vicarious gender-based violence, child abuse, early maternal separation without alternative secure attachment figures, and forced sudden migration. The patient exhibited symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma. The culturally sensitive intervention, delivered at a public child and adolescent mental health center, consisted of twenty weekly individual sessions of 45 min each, complemented by three 45 min psychoeducation sessions with the caregiver. The assessment was conducted using a multitrait and multi-informant approach, systematically gathering information across multiple domains of functioning (emotional–behavioral, physical, cognitive, self-perception, and relational) and from different sources (the adolescent, his mother, and the clinician) through clinical interviews, projective techniques, and parental feedback. The primary therapeutic focus was the establishment of a secure therapeutic alliance to facilitate emotional exploration and trauma processing. Following treatment, the patient demonstrated significant improvements in emotional regulation, family relationships, and school performance, as measured by both self-report and parental observations. This case highlights the potential of BFP in addressing complex trauma in adolescents, particularly during a developmental stage marked by increased vulnerability to the effects of chronic trauma exposure. The findings suggest that BFP can effectively reduce both acute symptomatology and broader psychosocial consequences associated with prolonged and cumulative trauma. Further research, particularly controlled studies and longitudinal follow-ups, is needed to refine and optimize the use of BFP by mental health professionals working with adolescents affected by complex trauma. Full article

Parent Peer Support (PPS) provided by other caregivers who have lived experience raising a child with mental health conditions (e.g., such as anxiety, depression, attention, and/or behavior disorders) holds promise as a service that can improve outcomes by helping young people and their families overcome system- and individual-level barriers to receiving care. Here, we describe the development of a collaboration of researchers and Family-Run Organizations (FROs) to provide research support for PPS through three phases (1) developing a research agenda and study aims through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) “Pipeline to Proposal” grant; (2) designing a pilot study, including refining the measurement framework for a successful grant application to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); and (3) implementing the study through the incorporation of research methodology into FRO operations without disrupting the organizations’ missions. This paper summarizes the participatory action research (PAR) strategies employed by this interdisciplinary research team throughout the three phases, covering the benefits and challenges of these unique partnership activities. We focus on how this project was able to increase the relevance of the research to the FROs and the communities they serve and improve dissemination and utilization of the results to support other PPS projects. Full article

Background: Based on the multitude of findings, nutrition is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. One promising approach is the so-called oligoantigenic diet (OD). This intervention involves avoiding certain foods that often trigger intolerances and allergies. Previous studies have shown that around 60% of patients experienced a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms after completing such a diet. The aim of the present study was to further confirm the efficacy of the OD within an analysis focusing on the symptom of impulsivity. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the Parent Rating of the Diagnostic System of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents (DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD) questionnaire was used to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms. Of 34 children and adolescents (between 7 and 18 years of age) screened and included in this study, 31 participants completed the 4-week OD diet. Results: The corresponding post-diet analysis showed significant short-term improvements for the DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD total score, compared to the start of the diet. This pattern of results also applied to the respective subscales of the DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD questionnaire. A follow-up evaluation conducted 3.5 years after the intervention with 21 participants suggested that the improvements in ADHD symptoms were maintained over time. Specifically, 66.7% of the participants continued to meet the responder criterion, with particularly notable and lasting reductions in impulsivity. Discussion: These results suggest that the beneficial effects of the oligoantigenic diet followed by identifying and avoiding individual intolerant foods may persist long term, and participants’ dietary habits may have also evolved over the years. Conclusion: The oligoantigenic diet may have long-term therapeutic potential for reducing ADHD symptoms, especially impulsivity, in children and adolescents. Full article

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neuropsychiatric diagnoses that commonly co-occur, as approximately 25% of youth with OCD also have a diagnosis of ADHD and 11% of youth with ADHD have OCD. Individuals with ADHD and OCD are also commonly treated for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and traumatic experiences. Conversely, Black and Latiné youth in the United States have limited access to culturally responsive providers to address these conditions due to systemic racism; the lower rates of appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and inclusion in research create worsening symptoms of OCD. Thus, we sought to understand how ADHD symptoms affect OCD symptoms and how these comorbid diagnoses, in addition to anxiety disorders, affect reported anxiety, depression, and trauma for Black and/or Latiné teens. Procedures: Participants (N = 48) are Black and/or Latina/é/o youth with ADHD in the United States. Self and parent-report measures were completed for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess current mental health diagnoses (OCD, ADHD, trauma). Results: A path analysis showed higher levels of ADHD inattentive (ADHDI) symptoms (β = 0.34) were positively associated with obsessions. In contrast, higher ADHD hyperactive/impulsivity symptoms (ADHDHI) (β = −0.11) were negatively associated with obsessions. Neither ADHDI nor ADHDHI symptoms were associated with compulsions. Interestingly, ADHDI (β = 0.33) & obsessions (β = 0.28) were both associated with depression; however, ADHDHI was negatively associated with depression (β = −0.29). Importantly, ADHDI was associated with trauma (β = 0.13) and obsessions were strongly associated with anxiety (β = 0.38). Conclusions: These findings may allow for better screenings and treatments for co-occurring OCD and ADHD symptoms and a greater understanding of the impact depression, anxiety, and trauma have on neurodivergent Black and/or Latiné youth. Full article