Search Results (179)

Background/Objectives: Participation in sports activities is one of the risk factors for traumatic dental injuries. Nevertheless, little data are available in the literature on such problems in persons with disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of traumatic dental injuries in athletes with intellectual disabilities and other coexisting chronic diseases, as well as the use of mouthguards and the level of treatment of injuries in this population. Methods: The research was carried out in seven special needs schools. Two calibrated dentists performed dental examinations in 100 subjects practicing sports, aged 8–30 years (study group), and in 128 individuals, aged 8–25 years, who do not perform systematic physical activity (control group). Statistica Software v.10 was used for statistical analysis, with the level of statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority of individuals had one tooth affected by traumatic injury in the study and control individuals, with the results amounting to 14% and 5%, respectively; the difference between both groups was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Only one athlete used a mouthguard during training and competitions. Restorative treatment of traumatically damaged teeth was performed in six athletes (37%) out of the total sixteen subjects affected by dental injuries from the study group and in two (15%) out of thirteen participants from the controls. Conclusions: This study reveals that dentists should be professionally prepared to meet the special needs of the population with disabilities and chronic disorders to minimize the burden of dental trauma. There is an urgent need for preventive programs for special needs athletes, their parents/caregivers, and trainers concerning the use of mouthguards. Full article

Trauma exposure has severe consequences for the exposed individuals as well as their children. The current paper is a conceptual narrative review that uses the intergenerational transmission of trauma (ITT) framework to synthesize the literature on the association between a parent’s exposure to trauma and the brain and behavioral outcomes in their children. There are likely multiple mechanisms for the ways in which parental history of trauma exposure can lead to these negative outcomes. However, this review highlights parenting as a key pathway through which caregiver trauma conveys both the risk and resilience in the child’s neurodevelopment, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed, relationship-focused interventions. Full article

This community-based participatory research (CBPR) study explored, using a Photovoice methodology, the lived expeiences of northeastern Black and/or African American youth and mothers who were currently experiencing the incarceration of their fathers and husbands. Grounded in critical theories of dual consciousness and comparative conflict, the findings provide valuable insights into how this population navigates the intersections of family, school, and community within the context of the criminal legal system, and, in the process, underscore the relevance of Abolitionist practice in capturing their theoretically lived experiences. Participants documented through photography and narrative reflections the multifaceted impacts of incarceration on fathers and husbands, including disrupted family dynamics, social stigma, and barriers to community resources. A focus group with the mothers of these youth highlighted the profound impact of incarceration on their family structure, revealing significant emotional burdens for caregivers as well as personal changes to parenting styles as a result of this project. A central theme that emerged was the development of a “double” or “dual consciousness”—an ability to see humanity and injustice in their circumstances, fueling a desire for systemic change. Overall, this CBPR project amplifies the voices of marginalized youth and mothers, illuminating how the criminal legal system perpetuates cycles of trauma, stigma, and disempowerment. The implications call for a radical reimagining of the role of social work in creating more equitable, restorative, and healing-centered communities, including an immediate embrace of Abolitionist practice concepts and interventions. Full article

School social work practice in the South African context is a growing field; however, there is limited research regarding the roles and responsibilities of school social workers, particularly in the Gauteng province. This province is unique in that school social workers are employed by multiple institutions, including individual schools and the education and social development departments. This study aimed to explore and describe the roles and responsibilities of school social workers in the Gauteng province, recognizing them as critical specialists in addressing learners’ psychosocial needs within school settings. An explorative qualitative design was used in this study. Data were collected from 22 purposively selected participants, comprising school social workers, supervisors, and provincial managers of school social work programs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and thematic analysis was employed to identify themes. The findings revealed context-specific roles of school social workers, including the creation of conducive teaching and learning environments, advocacy for social justice and child protection, conducting interviews and psychosocial assessments, providing counseling and trauma debriefing, conducting home visits and offering family services, removing abused learners from harmful environments, including their respective homes, and providing parental skills training and support. As a conclusion, this study highlights the need for standardized national and provincial guidelines to formalize and support school social work practice. It is recommended that the identified roles be incorporated into future practice frameworks. Furthermore, it is suggested that a uniform assessment tool be developed to promote consistency and guide school social workers in the initial evaluation processes. Full article

This study aims to analyze maladaptive schemas through the Young Schema Questionnaire—Short Form 3 among 895 high school students, with an average age of 18.15 years, in relation to the potentially traumatic experience of being the victim of violence inflicted by family members through hitting and beating and in connection with violent behavior (in and outside school). Almost half of the students reported that, in their families, there were prolonged problems in the couple relationship of their parents/caregivers, and almost 40% of these students were involved from time to time in at least one form of violence in or outside school, with the highest share of this violence resulting from physical aggression by hitting and pushing and verbal or emotional abuse. A factor analysis was performed using a unifactorial model and a mediation model, and it indicated that the presence of trauma increases the total violence score. A higher violence score was recorded in students who were subjected to family violence (t(890) = −6.267, p < 0.001). The schemas that proved to be the most relevant for the violence factor were those of Punitiveness (PU: 0.89) and Mistrust/Abuse (MA: 0.77), followed by the schemas of Emotional Inhibition (EI: 0.68), Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness (US: 0.63), and Entitlement/Grandiosity (ET: 0.58). The mediation that the Punitiveness schema achieves between victimization in the family and subsequent aggressive behavior is based on the internalization of the punitive parental figure and the victim’s development of the belief that violence is the only answer when others do not meet their expectations. Full article

Strong emotional bonds within families are foundational to children’s academic, psychological, and social development. While family cohesion is widely recognized as a protective factor across these domains, there remains a need to understand the specific mechanisms and interventions that foster such cohesion, particularly in diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts. This systematic review examines global evidence on factors influencing family cohesion and evaluates intervention strategies designed to strengthen familial relationships. Drawing on 41 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2023, this review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and applies the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to assess methodological quality. The findings are organized around four core dimensions of family cohesion—emotional bonding, adaptability, communication, and support—and highlight both common patterns and culturally specific mechanisms. Studies were drawn from a range of settings including North America, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, and Europe, enabling a cross-cultural analysis of how family cohesion operates under different social, cultural, and economic conditions. Intervention strategies are reviewed separately following the synthesis of correlations, with attention to their effectiveness, cultural relevance, and contextual adaptability. Community-based programs, trauma-informed therapies, and parenting interventions emerge as key approaches, though their success has varied by regional and structural context. Studies consistently demonstrate that higher family cohesion correlates with improved academic outcomes, as supportive home environments promote motivation, reduce stress, and enhance learning. Mental health benefits are also evident, with cohesive and adaptable families mitigating risks of anxiety and depression through open communication and emotional availability. Social competence is fostered through observed and practiced interpersonal skills within family settings. Socioeconomic status emerges as both a challenge and a moderating factor, with lower-SES families facing greater barriers to cohesion but also displaying notable resilience when supported through external interventions. Effective strategies identified include family therapy, parenting education, community-based programs, culturally sensitive approaches, and socioeconomic policy supports. Family cohesion and adaptability are critical to nurturing children’s academic success, emotional well-being, and social development. This review contributes to a more culturally nuanced and policy-relevant understanding of family cohesion by integrating empirical findings across global contexts and identifying both shared and differentiated pathways to resilience. The results inform future program design and suggest priorities for cross-cultural family research and intervention development. 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

Background: Earthquake exposure has been linked with high rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and comorbid conditions. Familial factors play critical roles in modulating these outcomes. This study examined youth trauma and parental influence following the twin earthquakes in Kefalonia, Greece, in 2014; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 502 adolescents (aged 11–18 years) and 474 parents from three regions categorized by proximity to the earthquake epicenter. Standardized self-report measures were administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple hierarchical regression analyses to identify key predictors of adverse outcomes; Results: Among children, 5.2% exhibited probable PTSD, with girls reporting significantly higher symptom levels than boys. Higher earthquake exposure was associated with elevated PTSS and anxiety. In parents, 44.3% met criteria for probable PTSD, and those in the epicenter group reported significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Earthquake exposure was identified as the strongest predictor of adverse outcomes, with parental psychopathology and diminished social support further contributing to increased symptom severity in children; Conclusions: The study demonstrates that both direct earthquake exposure and familial factors—particularly parental mental health and social support—play critical roles in shaping posttraumatic outcomes in youth, underscoring the need for integrated, family-centered mental health interventions in post-disaster settings. Full article

Methods. Through the lens of childhood trauma theory, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling methods to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of former students with corporal punishment and how those experiences have shaped their academic and psychological outcomes. Interviews were conducted via Zoom with 19 men and women of different ages and races who attended schools in Mississippi. Results/Conclusions. The study revealed that parents and school personnel collaborated to punish the student corporally both on campus and at home. Related, beaten students did not share their punishment with their parents/caregivers, and if their families did find out, they received another beating at home. There was a general lack of consistency in how and who administered corporal punishment. In addition to the well-documented ways that corporal punishment is administered in school, we also found that students were made to hold painful positions or perform painful tasks. There were also peer effects of trauma, with students experiencing fear or anger following a friend or classmate being beaten in front of them. Race was an influence if the abused students felt that their punishment was racist, with Black American participants feeling there were racial undertones regardless of the perpetrator’s race. The study’s findings align with those of previously conducted research, but also extend them and can be used to create policy to allow schools to address trauma and create instructional practices that eliminate the fear and racial disparities that have been proven to exist in schools with corporal punishment. Full article

Zimbabwe’s 2008 electoral violence created lasting societal impacts, yet the psychological consequences for youth, particularly through intergenerational effects, remain under-explored. This study examines how memories of this violence are transmitted to contemporary youth, including those born after 2008, and influence their political attitudes and participation. The study employed a qualitative approach in Harare’s Mbare suburb, utilising 20 in-depth interviews and four (4) focus groups, which were analysed through a trauma-informed lens. Findings indicate that youth inherit ‘traumascapes’ from elders, which cultivate fear, silence, and political apathy. Parental warnings and experiences link activism directly to vulnerability, prompting youth to adopt disengagement or performative allegiance as survival strategies amidst structural impunity and socio-economic precarity. Unresolved, intergenerationally transmitted trauma perpetuates cycles of civic disempowerment. The study concludes that post-conflict recovery in Zimbabwe requires moving beyond institutional reforms to prioritise psychosocial healing and demands that transitional justice frameworks explicitly address these inherited psychological wounds. 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

Background/Objectives: Mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience significant stress, which can have lasting effects on mental health and parent–infant bonding. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore maternal stress response, coping, and resilience by examining physiological stress markers and maternal narratives. Methods: A total of 28 mothers who had an infant hospitalized in the NICU within the past three years participated in a two-hour laboratory session, which included stress induction using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary cortisol (sCort) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured to assess physiological responses. Results: Qualitative analysis of maternal narratives identified two distinct response patterns: an anger/trauma (AT) group (n = 7) and a gratitude/optimism (GO) group (n = 6), with the remaining 15 mothers classified as a mixed (M) group. GO mothers exhibited significantly higher cortisol reactivity during recovery compared to AT mothers (p < 0.01). While GO mothers had higher baseline HF-HRV, no significant between-group differences were found in HRV responses. Conclusions: Findings suggest that maternal perception of NICU experiences is associated with distinct physiological stress response patterns, highlighting the importance of stress appraisal and coping in maternal well-being. Full article

Stakeholders from parents to policy-makers are concerned about youth online safety. Present solutions are frequently punitive and often lack opportunities for youth to make mistakes and try again in a safe environment. This paper proposes a new framework, based on trauma-informed child psychology models and research by computer scientists and human-centered design scholars, entitled Pause, Reflect, and Redirect (PRR). The PRR framework offers three levels of intervention ranging from casual engagement to coached engagement with crisis response. To further develop and validate PRR as a framework, PRR was implemented within a web-filtering software that was installed in a public middle school comprising grades 6 to 8 (i.e., ages 11–14) in an urban charter district. Preliminary results from the deployment of the software suggest that it may help youth make better choices with respect to their online behaviors. Full article

Background/objectives: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a serious public health concern affecting youth worldwide. Potential risk factors of ADV include child maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence exposure (eIPV), though existing research on ADV perpetration specifically is inconsistent. There is limited research on co-occurring eIPV and CM, despite co-occurrence in 30–60% of homes where there is one. This study aims to address these gaps by testing the impact of childhood violence exposure on ADV perpetration and assessing two potential, theory-informed mitigating factors—mental health and parent–youth relationship. Methods: This study utilizes moderated-mediation structural equation modeling with longitudinal data from a sample of 2354 U.S. adolescents (10–18) and one of their caregivers. Three models were tested: (1) childhood violence exposure (eIPV only, CM only, or co-occurring CM & EIPV) and ADV perpetration; (2) mediation by mental health quality on model 1; and (3) overall moderation by parent–youth relationship quality on model 2. Results: The final sample consisted of 961 youth with a history of dating. A significant direct effect between eIPV and ADV perpetration was found. There was a significant direct effect between co-occurrence (eIPV & CM) and ADV perpetration, which was mediated by mental health quality. Conclusions: This study further emphasizes the relation between eIPV and ADV and provides novel evidence of the impact co-occurrence has on ADV. Evidence of a trauma-informed mitigating factor, mental health quality, offers a potential point of intervention to be considered by mental health providers and ADV prevention/intervention programs. Full article

Although the relationship between attachment and mental health has been widely studied, no systematic review has focused specifically on refugee populations. Objectives: This systematic review examines associations between attachment patterns and psychological distress in refugees—a population at elevated risk for mental health disorders due to forced displacement and trauma. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines. we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (last search: 5 October 2024). Studies were included if they examined the relationship between attachment and psychological distress or disorders in refugees, presented empirical data, were peer-reviewed, were published from 2004 onward in English, and met quality criteria based on CASP and JBI checklists. Studies were excluded if they did not focus on refugees, lacked empirical data, did not assess both attachment and psychological distress, were not peer-reviewed, or consisted of grey literature. A narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Of 2.951 records, 11 studies with 1.319 participants met inclusion criteria. Five studies examined adults, four children, and two adolescents. Insecure and unresolved attachment were consistently linked to higher psychological distress, particularly PTSD, especially in adults. In children, insecure attachment was associated with parental mental health problems and dysfunctional parenting, whereas secure attachment buffered the effects of parental PTSD. Discussion: Limitations include small sample sizes, cultural and linguistic complexity, inconsistent definitions of “refugee”, and varied assessment methods. Conclusions: Attachment insecurity is strongly associated with psychological distress in refugees, mirroring patterns in Western clinical populations. Findings support the integration of attachment-informed approaches into refugee mental health care. Funding: This review was funded by the Köhler Stiftung and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024590759). Full article