Search Results (222)

Background: research suggests that adolescents with a migrant background may be particularly vulnerable to behavioral addictions, including problematic gaming and Internet use. Methods: we compared Italian (ITA) and non-Italian (WIC) students on Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Internet Addiction (IA) and examined whether coping strategies and interpersonal-relationship quality were associated with these outcomes, using robust linear models estimated with the GENLIN procedure in IBM SPSS Statistics 31 and regression-based models on observed variables. A total of 535 students (64.5% female; aged 9–18) completed the Video Games Addiction Questionnaire (VGA), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist–Revised (CCSC), and the Assessment of Interpersonal Relations (AIR). Results: robust generalized linear models showed that WIC adolescents reported significantly higher IGD levels than their Italian peers, while no differences emerged for IA. Gender differences were evident only in unadjusted models, with males reporting higher IGD and females higher IA; however, these effects were not significant once age and nationality were considered simultaneously. Age was positively associated with IA but not with IGD. Avoidance coping was associated with higher levels of both IGD and IA, whereas active coping was negatively associated with IGD. Relationship quality was not associated with IGD but showed protective effects for IA: better relationships with mothers and with both male and female peers were associated with lower IA scores. Overall, the findings highlight that IGD and IA follow partially distinct developmental patterns. Migrant background emerged as a specific vulnerability factor for IGD, while IA appears more closely linked to age-related processes, coping styles, and interpersonal-relationship quality. Conclusions: the results call for differentiated prevention and intervention approaches targeting the distinct etiological mechanisms of each problematic behavior, focusing on coping and migration-related stress and belonging for IGD, and on strengthening coping repertoires and relational resources for IA. Full article

Post-appendectomy intra-abdominal abscess (PAA) is a common and problematic complication in children with perforated appendicitis, contributing to prolonged hospitalization, readmissions, and increased healthcare costs. Despite advances in surgical and antimicrobial management, substantial heterogeneity persists in definitions, risk stratification, and treatment strategies. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence regarding the pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostic pathways, clinical impact, and therapeutic approaches to PAA in the pediatric population. PAA occurs predominantly after perforated appendicitis and reflects persistent contamination and fibrin-driven loculation within the peritoneal cavity. Established predictors include fecalith presence, higher perforation severity, and elevated inflammatory markers. Diagnosis is typically established during the second postoperative week using ultrasound as first-line imaging. Management strategies vary widely, ranging from antibiotics alone to percutaneous or surgical drainage. PAA significantly increases length of stay, need for invasive procedures, and healthcare expenditure. In conclusion, PAA remains a clinically significant complication in pediatric perforated appendicitis. Standardized definitions, validated predictive tools, and high-quality trials are urgently needed to harmonize management, optimize outcomes, and reduce variability in care. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between general and problematic social media use, and young adults’ future time perspectives during their school-to-work-transition. It also explores how parents perceive the influence of their children’s media use on career perspectives. Utilizing longitudinal data from a quantitative study, 443 parent–youth dyads at t1 and 355 at t2 were surveyed on their practices concerning daily social media use, problematic social media engagement, transition and moratorium orientations, and parental assessments. Open-ended responses from parents indicated that the majority perceived either a positive effect or no influence of media use on career opportunities, while a smaller proportion reported negative impacts. Adolescents whose parents expressed positive views demonstrated significantly stronger transition orientations. Cross-sectional analyses demonstrated that problematic social media use was negatively associated with transition orientation and positively related to moratorium orientation. General usage time, however, showed no meaningful associations. Longitudinal regression analyses indicated that neither general nor problematic social media use predicted subsequent levels of transition or moratorium orientation after controlling for baseline orientations, pointing to substantial stability in these dispositions. The findings suggest that problematic social media engagement coincides with less future-oriented mindsets, while future orientations remain stable over time. Full article

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring the self-efficacy of primary school and mathematics teachers regarding dyscalculia. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the study followed established scale development procedures. In the initial phase, a pool of 42 items was generated to assess teachers’ self-efficacy regarding dyscalculia. The items were reviewed by a panel of seven experts in the fields of psychometrics, mathematics education, special education, and psychology to ensure content validity. Based on expert evaluations, four items were removed due to overly technical phrasing that could lead to misinterpretation, reducing the pool to 38 items. Subsequently, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) conducted with 273 teachers indicated that four additional items exhibited inadequate factor loadings or problematic cross-loadings; these items were also excluded. The resulting Dyscalculia Self-Efficacy Scale (DSES) comprises 34 items organized into four factors: “Dyscalculia Symptoms”, “Providing Psychological Support to Children with Dyscalculia”, “Diagnosing Dyscalculia”, “Providing Support in the Teaching Process”. Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted with a separate sample of 242 teachers yielded strong model fit indices, supporting the construct validity of the scale. The overall scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.980, McDonald’s ω = 0.980). Correlation analyses with established instruments provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. The findings indicate that the DSES is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing teachers’ self-efficacy regarding dyscalculia. Full article

Despite increasing efforts by the scientific community to raise awareness of breed-related health problems through educational campaigns, public information initiatives, and veterinary outreach programmes, brachycephalic dog breeds remain highly popular. As the number of brachycephalic dogs increases, the prevalence of associated health problems rises accordingly. Ethical and animal welfare considerations appear to play a limited role in breed selection. In German-speaking regions, extensive educational efforts have been undertaken in recent years to address the issue of so-called torture breeding, defined as intentional selection for extreme phenotypic traits that impair health, reduce welfare, and cause chronic suffering, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying reasons for the decision to buy and keep a brachycephalic dog. Although the veterinary profession is already improving education and communication, this qualitative study intended to find new starting points for targeted education against animal suffering and to explore the sociological background of the ownership of such dogs. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews with people with brachycephalic dogs were conducted throughout Switzerland (n = 16). The focus was on the animal–human relationship. The interviews were defined by systematically applied guidelines for the design of the interview process, while still allowing maximum openness (all possibilities for expression). The transcribed interviews were coded and analysed according to the Kuckartz methodology, which allows us to set certain focal points of analysis and to structure them according to codes. The results of this study indicate that, although awareness of torture breeding is present within the broader population, owners of brachycephalic dogs frequently rely on individualised arguments and rationalisations. These typically involve emphasising the perceived health, functionality, or exceptional characteristics of their own animal (e.g., claims that their dog is “healthy” or not affected by breed-related problems), thereby distancing their personal ownership experience from the general welfare concerns associated with the breed. This psychological pattern can be interpreted as cognitive dissonance, in which contradictory beliefs are harmonised through selective perception or re-evaluation. The results also show that brachycephalic dogs offer a very strong projection surface: their owners assign them a variety of social roles that go beyond the classic animal–human relationship—for example, as a substitute for children, a romantic partner, or a best friend. This qualitative study provides differentiated insights into the attitudes and motivations of owners of brachycephalic dogs and illustrates that traditional awareness campaigns have not been sufficient to effectively change problematic breeding practices and ownership patterns. In order to develop long-term effective solutions, interdisciplinary cooperation is therefore needed—for example, between veterinary medicine, animal welfare, communication science, psychology and law. In addition to individual education, new, target-group-specific communication strategies and consistent legal regulations are needed to protect animal welfare in the long term. This study is intended to serve as a catalyst for a broader ethical and social debate on the keeping of torture breed dogs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parental health literacy is linked to child health outcomes, but the evidence relies mainly on parent proxy reports. This study examined the association between parental health literacy and proxy-reported mental health outcomes in children aged 6–10 years and assessed whether these associations reflect general reporting patterns. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data derived from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in South Tyrol, Italy, including proxy data from 3183 children aged 6–10 years. Parental health literacy was categorized as inadequate, problematic, adequate, or missing/insufficient. The outcomes included emotional and behavioral difficulties, psychosomatic complaints, and perceived social support. Linear regression models were estimated for each outcome, adjusted for children’s age, gender, parental age, education, family affluence, migration background, residential setting, and questionnaire language. Selective missingness and insufficient completion of parental health literacy data were examined using logistic regression analysis. Sensitivity analyses were used to adjust the mental health models for social support. Results: Higher parental health literacy was associated with lower emotional and behavioral difficulties (B = −1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.79 to −1.01), higher psychosomatic complaint scores (B = 0.61, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.081), and higher perceived social support (B = 0.14, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.26). The effect sizes were small. Missing or insufficient parental health literacy data showed social patterns by parental education and age, whereas no systematic predictors of early disengagement were observed among parents who partially completed the health literacy instrument. Sensitivity analyses attenuated but did not eliminate the associations between parental health literacy and child mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Parental health literacy is associated with proxy-reported psychosocial outcomes in children aged 6–10 years. The consistency of the effects across outcomes suggests that parental health literacy may influence how parents report child functioning, underscoring the importance of considering informant characteristics in proxy-based research. Full article

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder depicted by the occurrence of tics and accompanying behavioral problems that commonly appear during childhood. Tics, both motor and vocal, may cause musculoskeletal pain. Both acute and chronic muscle pain have been recognized as a common comorbid aspect of TS-related tic disorders in childhood. The pain most reported in children includes cervical, throat, shoulder, ocular, and joint pain, with most children reporting musculoskeletal pain in more than one part of the body. The impact of muscular pain caused by motor and phonic tics can negatively affect a child’s quality of life. This review describes the association and causation of musculoskeletal pain in childhood tics and TS, which are commonly under recognized and diagnosed. An analysis of the presence of musculoskeletal pain, the severity of the pain, the location of the pain and the movement incapacity due to pain in children is reviewed. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions known to improve musculoskeletal pain in children are highlighted with supportive frameworks evaluated. Further research is needed to better understand musculoskeletal pain cause(s) and prevalence along with age-appropriate assessment methods and outcomes measures. Motor- and phonic-related musculoskeletal pain should be recognized as a common comorbid characteristics of TS and tic disorders in childhood. Such recognition may lead to greater therapeutic opportunities for this problematic condition. Full article

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a developmental disability caused by injury to the fetal or infant brain, affecting between 1.6 to 3.7 per 1000 live births worldwide. Ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy experience various gait problems, for which they seek treatment from medical professionals. Varus foot deformities are among the most problematic for patients. Varus foot deformity is characterized by the inner border of the foot being tilted upward and the hindfoot inward, increasing weightbearing on the lateral aspect of the foot. This positioning increases weight-bearing pressure under the lateral (outside) of the foot and often under the fifth metatarsal head when walking. As such, varus foot deformity can contribute to in-toeing, make shoe and brace-wearing difficult and painful, compromise gait stability, and sometimes lead to metatarsal fractures. Current knowledge of CP etiology and classifications, as well as principles and advances in assessment and treatment decision making for varus foot deformities, are outlined in this narrative review. In younger children with flexible deformities, non-operative interventions such as bracing, botulinum toxin injection, and serial casting are effective. The literature and expert consensus suggest that, if possible, surgery should be delayed until after the age of 8 years. When surgery is indicated, soft tissue procedures are used for flexible deformities. In addition to the soft tissue procedures, bone surgery is needed for rigid deformities. Careful pre-operative foot assessment is needed, including assessment of deformity flexibility and range of motion, X-rays, and computerized gait analysis if possible. Strategies are presented for thorough assessment when gait analysis is not available or feasible. Research reports of surgical outcomes for soft tissue and bony correction are positive, but should be interpreted with caution. The quality of evidence on surgical outcomes is compromised by use of varying research design methods and selection of outcome measures, with few including measures of function or patient-reported outcomes. It is recommended that surgical outcome be assessed using standardized assessment tools, such as the Foot Posture Index, which have had their validity and reliability established. Recent advances in 3D kinematic foot model development and musculoskeletal modeling have the potential to greatly improve surgical outcomes for patients with CP. Full article

Background/Objectives: Coupled with the already-problematic background rates of traditional cigarette consumption during pregnancy, the surging epidemic of electronic cigarette usage among pregnant women redoubles the importance of understanding the impacts of nicotine exposure during critical periods of development. To date, a burgeoning body of human epidemiological and animal model research indicates that not only the children but also the grandchildren of maternal smokers are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia and are predisposed to neurodevelopmental abnormalities which transcend these diagnoses. However, the roles of discrete cellular sub-populations in these and other intergenerational consequences of smoking during pregnancy remain indeterminate. Methods: Toward the resolution of this void in the literature, the present study characterized alterations in the gene expression profiles of dopamine receptor D1-expressing striatal cells from the first- and second-generation male progeny of female mice that were continuously exposed to nicotine beginning prior to conception, continuing throughout pregnancy, and concluding upon weaning of offspring. Results: Dopamine receptor D1-expressing striatal cells from our mouse models of the children and grandchildren of maternal smokers exhibit differential expression patterns for a multitude of genes that are (1) individually associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, (2) collectively overrepresented in gene set annotations related to brain, behavioral, neurobiological, and epigenomic phenotypes shared among neurodevelopmental disorders, and (3) orthologous to human genes that exhibit differential DNA methylation signatures in the newborns of maternal smokers. Conclusions: Together with our and others’ previous findings, the results of this study support the emerging theory that, by inducing extensive alterations in gene expression that in turn elicit cascading neurobiological changes which ultimately confer widespread neurobehavioral abnormalities, nicotine-induced epigenomic dysregulation may be a primary driver of neurodevelopmental deficits and disorders in the children and grandchildren of maternal smokers. Full article

Objective: This study on children in low-income families explored whether their mental health problems are attributable to distress from five socioeconomic disadvantage factors playing roles in the multiple disadvantage model. These factors are social disorganization, social structural factors, social relationships, health/mental health, and access to care factors. Methods: The present study employed data extracted from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health, describing 7540 low-income children. Weighted logistic regression was conducted (with robust standard errors). Results: It showed that such children were more likely to have mental health problems when seven variables were present. The variables were argumentative children, parents’ difficulty with parenting, children’s difficult peer relations, children being bullied, families’ problematic substance use, families’ use of public health insurance, and families’ difficulty accessing mental health services. In turn, children were less likely to have mental health problems in the presence of six variables: a rundown neighborhood, an unsafe neighborhood, children’s Hispanic ethnicity, children’s Asian ethnicity, children’s general good health, and parents’ good mental health. The present study’s findings support the multiple disadvantage model. Conclusions: That is, the five types of factors key to the model (social disorganization, social structural, social relationships, health/mental health, and access to care) were observed to be related to low-income children’s mental health problems. These findings’ three main implications for practice are that it is crucial to (a) ensure children receive mental health services they need; (b) facilitate effective parent–child communication; and (c) provide low-income families with psychoeducation. Their main implications for policy involve two domains. Improving physical environments and safety in poor neighborhoods is necessary, as is enforcing schools’ anti-bullying rules and using schools to foster students’ assertiveness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Eating disorders (EDs) in adolescents are increasingly prevalent. In South Tyrol, a bilingual region in Northern Italy, not only actual gender and age prevalences can be compared to screening rates, but even the comparability of screening tools across languages can be examined. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis integrated clinical registry data with representative, online school-recruited adolescents (11 to 17) self-reports. 166 clinically diagnosed cases and 1465 screened adolescents (1246 German, 219 Italian), were examined. The SCOFF questionnaire (cutoff ≥ 2 for German and ≥3 for Italian), body mass index, body image perception, psychosocial and lifestyle indicators in proxy and self-reports were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The clinical dataset for 2024 has a prevalence rate of 0.4%. The SCOFF screening tool identified symptomatic cases in 10.6%, and an age-increasing trend among females. The overall SCOFF-prevalence did not differ between language versions, although responses to individual items varied significantly. Predictors of ED included body image, psychosomatic complaints, problematic social media use, and low social support, with differences between genders. Parents tended to underestimate their children’s perception of being “too thick.” Conclusions: In early adolescence, preventive strategies are needed and targeted interventions in late adolescence. For early detection and intervention, gender-sensitive prevention and active parental involvement is needed. The SCOFF questionnaire demonstrates utility across both languages, but bilingual comparison highlights the need for culturally adapted tools and cross-language validation. Full article

Background: Adolescents spend much of their leisure time using technological devices, especially mobile phones and video games, making their use susceptible to becoming problematic. Objectives: This study aims to examine the relationship between social anxiety and risk perception in problematic mobile phone use (PMU) and problematic video game use (PVGU) among adolescents aged 10 to 16, considering potential gender differences. Methods: A total of 757 participants completed the Spanish version of the Cuestionario de uso problemático de nuevas tecnologías (UPNT), the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale for Adolescents (MPPUSA), and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised (SASC-R). Results: Boys reported higher PVGU scores, and significant differences were observed between genders in perceptions of risks associated with both PMU and PVGU. No differences emerged in overall social anxiety or its subfactors. Within each gender, positive associations were observed between PMU, PVGU, and social anxiety. Predictive models explained up to 63% of the variance, identifying different risk and protective factors for boys and girls. Conclusions: Both PMU and PVGU should be analyzed from a gender perspective. Although there are similarities between genders, relevant differences highlight the need for tailored preventive strategies. 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: The rise of problematic social media use among children and adolescents is often associated with significant physical and psychosocial effects. In China, QQ, a popular social media platform among youth, has become a major mental health concern due to its excessive use. The present study aimed to explore the association between QQ addiction and negative mental health through a Latent Class Analysis (LCA). Methods: The study data were collected from a sample of 1006 Chinese school students (49.8% male; age M = 13.32, SD = 1.34 years) through a paper-pencil survey using the convenience sampling technique. Results: LCA identified three latent groups based on QQ addiction symptom scores: No-risk (77.2%), At-risk (16.8%), and High-risk (6.0%). The analysis revealed that children and adolescents in the High-risk class exhibited significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, emotional problems, conduct issues, hyperactivity, and peer problems, as well as lower life satisfaction and prosocial behaviors compared to the No-risk and At-risk groups (p < 0.05), signifying a strong association between problematic QQ use and poor mental health. Conclusions: Mental health professionals would benefit from designing intervention plans to mitigate the negative mental health among the High-risk and At-risk classes of problematic QQ users. Full article

Working memory (WM) is crucial for learning and academic success, emphasizing the need for effective theory- and practice-informed interventions supporting children with poor WM. Given limited transferable effects, recent research stresses the importance of context, focusing on malleable environmental factors like teacher–student interaction. This study uses a microtrial approach to explore the effects of teacher-provided instructional support on children’s observable WM-related problematic behavior. The experimental group (n = 35, 42.9% girls, Mage = 8.37, SDage = 1.66) received targeted instructional support, while the control group (n = 32, 40.6% girls, Mage = 8.67, SDage = 2.03) received teaching as usual. Pre- and post-intervention comparisons examined changes in students’ WM behavior. The four-week intervention included five strategies derived from a systematic review and a qualitative study, building on teachers’ existing practices. Findings revealed a significant time × condition interaction, with reduced WM-related problematic behavior in the experimental group, showing medium to large effect sizes (η_p² = 0.08–0.20). Improvements were noted in classroom behavior and the home environment, as reported by parents blinded to the condition. This study contributes to the causal evidence base indicating that targeted instructional support can reduce WM-related challenges and highlights the potential of brief, teacher-provided classroom interventions. Full article