Search Results (5,531)

Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, made it the first country worldwide to implement a nationwide prohibition on major platforms for adolescents. This narrative literature review compares Australia’s age-based restriction with international approaches to protecting young people from online risks. The review synthesized 26 academic studies and 15 grey literature sources (policy documents, legislation, and official reports published between 2015 and 2025). It employed Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to examine effects across family, platform, institutional, and broader socio-legal contexts. Three key themes emerged: (A) Empirical findings on age-threshold policies remain inconclusive and context-dependent. While unregulated use relates to psychological vulnerabilities, structured and intentional engagement can promote social connection, identity exploration, and support access, especially for marginalized youth. (B) Global responses vary, favoring alternatives like parental consent, platform duty-of-care obligations, and screen-time control measures. (C) Balanced, sustainable harm reduction depends on combining parental involvement, platform accountability, and digital literacy education. Overall, while Australia’s precautionary approach addresses legitimate developmental and public health concerns, its effectiveness seems limited by enforcement challenges, risks of digital exclusion, and potential human rights issues. Bronfenbrenner’s framework underscores the need for coordinated governance across interconnected systems to lessen online harm. Full article

Despite growing emphasis on democratic citizenship education in South Korea, limited research has examined the social and psychological factors influencing children’s democratic citizenship—defined here as awareness of and willingness to engage in societal issues as responsible community members. This study examines the relationship between parent–child communication and democratic citizenship, focusing on the mediating roles of growth mindset and peer relationships among South Korean elementary school students. A total of 212 students in grades four to six completed a cross-sectional survey assessing parental communication, democratic citizenship (operationalized as civic awareness and community engagement), growth mindset, and peer relationships. Serial-multiple-mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the mediating effects of growth mindset and peer relationships. The results indicated that positive parent–child communication was associated with higher levels of democratic citizenship and that growth mindset and peer relationships jointly mediated this relationship in a serial manner. These findings highlight the importance of fostering open parent–child communication, encouraging a growth mindset, and promoting positive peer relationships to enhance democratic citizenship development in children. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences should be interpreted with caution, and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these relationships. Full article

Stock market investors and traders operate in high-pressure environments marked by volatility, uncertainty, financial risk, and intense performance demands. These conditions lead to substantial psychological distress, increasing vulnerability to psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Key psychological risk factors in this population include acute financial loss, chronic stress, impulsivity, perfectionism, and identity fusion with professional performance. Evidence from behavioral psychology and clinical psychiatry indicates elevated rates of mood disorders, anxiety, and burnout in trading environments. Resilience—including emotional regulation, effective stress-coping mechanisms, strong social support, and cognitive flexibility—emerges as a critical protective factor that mitigates suicide risk and promotes adaptive functioning. Strengthening psychological resilience and implementing evidence-based mental-health strategies may help reduce suicide risk and support overall well-being. The medico-legal dimensions of this issue encompass duty of care within high-stress financial workplaces, clinical obligations related to suicide risk assessment and documentation, confidentiality and safety considerations, and questions of foreseeability of suicide in cases involving severe or catastrophic financial loss. Despite growing awareness of mental health challenges in financial professions, the intersection of suicide risk, resilience, and medico-legal responsibilities in this population remains underexplored. Further research is needed to refine assessment frameworks and develop targeted suicide prevention interventions for this at-risk group. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been linked to psychological and cognitive benefits, yet evidence for their impact on brain structure remains sparse. Neuroimaging suggests MBIs may alter gray matter volume (GMV), density (GMD), and cortical thickness (CT). The purpose of this scoping review was to investigate structural neuroplasticity following MBIs. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2023 that used structural MRI to assess structural brain changes in subjects after receiving MBIs. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, including five randomized controlled trials. Results: Mindfulness interventions ranged from 10 h of training to long-term practice spanning decades. Structural changes were most consistently observed in the insula, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, posterior cingulate, and temporoparietal junction, regions tied to interoception, executive control, and self-referential processing. The greatest structural changes were reported in studies implementing multi-month interventions or long-term meditative practice. Conclusions: MBIs are associated with structural brain changes across a limited and heterogeneous body of literature, but current evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions regarding causality or consistency of effect. Larger, diverse, and more methodologically rigorous trials with extended follow-up are needed to clarify the durability and significance of observed changes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Severe brain injuries generate complex, long-term needs requiring intensive physical, cognitive and relational care. These conditions also profoundly affect families, who often experience emotional distress, uncertainty and a heavy caregiving burden. Although neuro-palliative care is increasingly recognised, the early integration of palliative care for this population remains limited. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the palliative care needs of patients with severe brain injuries and their caregivers and to identify factors that hinder or facilitate early palliative care implementation in specialised settings. Methods: An interpretive qualitative study was conducted using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Fifteen semi-structured narrative interviews were carried out with healthcare professionals working in specialised hospital units in Northern Italy. Data were analysed inductively through an iterative and reflexive process following Braun and Clarke’s six phases. Methodological rigour and transparency were ensured using the COREQ checklist. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) intensive, individualised patient care needs with complex communication issues; (2) palliative needs centred on dignity, quality of life and early integrated management; (3) caregivers’ involvement and expectation-related difficulties; (4) continuous or anticipatory grief requiring structured psychological support; (5) facilitators and barriers influencing care pathways. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals identify intertwined and evolving palliative care needs in both patients with severe brain injuries and their families. The findings highlight the perceived importance of early, integrated and multidisciplinary neuro-palliative care models focused on dignity, symptom relief and sustained emotional support. Full article

Background/Objectives: Siblings of children with the life-limiting disease Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) are growing up witnessing rapid disease progression and death, affecting development and psychological wellbeing. Family-centred palliative care should include sibling support, but research on sibling needs is scarce. This semi-structured interview study aims to describe parents’ perceptions of siblings’ behavioural adaptation, emotional reactions, and support needs. Methods: Seven parents recruited from a national resource centre for rare disorders participated in semi-structured interviews that were audiotaped and transcribed. Content analysis was used to identify recurrent themes. Results: Siblings were described as more mature, patient, caring, appreciative, and sociable than other children due to life with the ill child. Expressions of love and concern, fear, sadness and sorrow, anger, and hope were described. Parents described how sibling support implies strengthening close family relations and providing resources at home, external support, and information. Conclusion: This study shows that sibling support involves all instances surrounding the family and ill child, and that a family-centred, trauma-sensitive approach is needed. Full article

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common multifactorial condition with significant physical, psychological and relational consequences. While historically associated with aging, its rising prevalence among younger men underscores the need for updated diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks. This narrative review synthesizes contemporary evidence on the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup and management of ED, with emphasis on guideline-directed care and emerging treatment modalities. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, with evidence synthesized from key clinical guidelines, landmark trials and recent peer-reviewed studies. Lifestyle optimization remains the foundational step, followed by first-line pharmacotherapy with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is), which demonstrate high efficacy and safety across diverse patient populations. For patients with inadequate PDE5is response, second-line options include alprostadil (intracavernosal, with approximately 70% success rates or intraurethral), vacuum erection devices and penile prosthesis surgery, with patient and partner satisfaction exceeding 95% for the latter when performed in experienced centers. Psychosexual therapy is an integral adjunct, particularly in psychogenic or mixed etiologies. Regenerative approaches such as low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-SWT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are under investigation; current evidence supports their use only in experimental settings due to limited long-term data. A multidisciplinary, individualized strategy—incorporating pharmacologic, surgical and psychosocial interventions—remains the cornerstone of modern ED management. This review critically distinguishes well-established evidence from ongoing clinical debates and translates findings into practical guidance for daily practice. Ongoing technological advances may further refine diagnostic accuracy and treatment personalization, but high-quality studies are needed to establish the role of regenerative and digital tools. Full article

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in children is associated not only with infectious burden but also with potential psychological distress, which remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern and evolution of depressive symptoms in pediatric TB patients during treatment using a structured screening approach. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study including 190 pediatric patients aged 7–18 years diagnosed with tuberculosis between 2019 and 2021. Depressive symptoms were assessed at two time points, namely at diagnosis (T0) and at first follow-up (T1), using a 10-item structured clinical screening tool routinely applied in practice. A threshold of ≥50% affirmative responses was used to identify patients with suspected depressive symptoms. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) was administered to patients with positive screening results, according to standard clinical protocols. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed to evaluate changes over time. Results: A high proportion of patients screened positive for depressive symptoms at baseline (T0). At follow-up (T1), a reduction in the proportion of patients with suspected depressive symptoms was observed; however, a substantial number of patients continued to report symptoms suggestive of emotional distress. Most symptom changes between T0 and T1 were not statistically significant, with the exception of decreased appetite, which showed a modest improvement. The overall pattern suggests persistence of symptoms in a subset of patients over time. Conclusions: These findings suggest that symptoms indicative of psychological distress are common among pediatric TB patients and may persist during treatment. However, given the use of a non-validated screening tool and the retrospective design, the results should be interpreted with caution. The study highlights the potential value of systematic psychological assessment in this population and supports the need for further research using validated instruments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of breast cancer and improves oncological outcomes; however, its impact on patients’ psychosocial well-being remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess changes in life satisfaction and self-esteem in women with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 211 women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Assessments were performed one week before initiation of chemotherapy and three weeks after its completion. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: A significant decrease in life satisfaction was observed after chemotherapy (mean 21.6 vs. 18.7; p < 0.001), indicating a shift from slight satisfaction to slight dissatisfaction. Self-esteem also significantly decreased (29.4 vs. 27.8; p < 0.001), although it remained within the average range. A decline in life satisfaction was reported in 60.7% of patients and a decrease in self-esteem in 50.2%. A significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and self-esteem was observed both before and after treatment. Financial status significantly differentiated both outcomes after chemotherapy. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a significant decline in life satisfaction and self-esteem in women with breast cancer, highlighting its psychosocial impact. These findings support the need for routine assessment of psychological well-being and the integration of psycho-oncological support into comprehensive cancer care. Because the post-treatment assessment was performed shortly after chemotherapy completion, the findings primarily reflect short-term changes during treatment phase. Full article

Background: The use of food supplements (FS) is rapidly increasing, particularly in Italy, which leads the European market. This trend is driven by various factors, including the pursuit of physical well-being, the influence of advertising, and concerns about disease prevention. This exploratory pilot descriptive study aimed to characterize FS use among patients attending general practitioner (GP) offices and examine potential patterns with psychophysical well-being. Methods: Two questionnaires were administered to participants: one on FS use and another on physical and mental health (SF-12 questionnaire). General information and anthropometric characteristics were also collected. Results: 230 questionnaires on FS use and 192 on psychophysical well-being were analyzed. The majority of participants (73.5%) reported using FS, primarily for general well-being (21.0%), immune system support (12.2%), and increased energy (11.4%). The most commonly consumed FS were vitamins (19.4%), minerals (16.9%), and probiotics (15.7%). Only 57.4% of patients reported informing their doctor about FS use, while 66.3% engaged in self-prescription. The SF-12 questionnaire revealed lower mental health scores (mood, energy, anxiety, and depression) in the studied population, while physical health remained unaffected. Importantly, no significant associations were observed between FS use and either physical or mental health scores, suggesting these patterns are independent of supplement consumption. Conclusions: FS use is prevalent among patients attending GP offices. The observed decrease in mental health scores may indicate psychological distress though this pattern was not associated with FS consumption. Given the exploratory nature of this study, findings should be interpreted with caution. This study highlights the need for improved health education and professional training to promote safer and more informed FS use. Further research is required to expand upon these initial findings. Full article

Black women in the United States experience inequities in perinatal and neonatal mortality, contributing to psychological stress during and after perinatal loss. This analysis drew on a subset of interviews from a larger qualitative dataset and explored the experiences of 22 Black women who experienced perinatal loss and were pregnant or had given birth after a loss, focusing on feeling unheard by healthcare providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using descriptive coding and inductive thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: unheard and dismissed concerns, biased and stratified care, and perinatal loss follow-up gaps driving self-advocacy. Women described how systemic racism intensified psychological distress, expressed as heightened anxiety and uncertainty in subsequent pregnancies after perinatal loss. Findings underscore the need for maternity settings to confront racial bias and strengthen cultural safety. Care environments that validate Black women’s concerns and act on them may help rebuild trust and improve maternal and newborn outcomes. The study calls for changes in maternity and mental healthcare aimed at addressing systemic racism and strengthening culturally responsive, equitable care. These findings have implications for perinatal public health practice and policy, including surveillance, prevention, and community-responsive approaches to maternity care during and after perinatal loss. Full article

Background: Critical care nurses are frequently exposed to traumatic clinical events and occupational stress, increasing the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compassion fatigue, and compromised psychological well-being. However, the interrelationships among these variables in Saudi Arabia remain unclear. This study investigated the associations between PTSD symptoms, compassion fatigue, and psychological well-being among critical care nurses. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2025 with 210 critical care nurses from the Eastern and Riyadh regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean PCL-5 score was 27.44, with 38.1% of participants meeting the cutoff for probable PTSD. Compassion fatigue was moderate. The mean WHO-5 score was 54.60, indicating moderate well-being, though a substantial proportion reported poor well-being. Psychological well-being was negatively correlated with both PTSD symptoms and compassion fatigue, while PTSD symptoms were strongly positively correlated with compassion fatigue. Both PTSD and compassion fatigue independently predicted lower well-being, explaining 21% of the variance. Sociodemographic variables were not significant predictors after adjustment. Conclusions: Critical care nurses experience moderate PTSD symptoms and compassion fatigue, adversely affecting psychological well-being. These findings underscore the interconnected nature of trauma-related distress and professional quality of life, highlighting the need for routine psychological screening, trauma-informed support, and resilience-focused interventions. Full article

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents reflects their perception of physical, psychological, and social well-being within a specific cultural context, considering developmental stage and individual differences. The KIDSCREEN-27 is a self-report instrument designed to assess HRQoL in children and adolescents, with demonstrated validity and reliability in international samples. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties (i.e., reliability, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance) of the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire in a sample of Mexican adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1124 Mexican adolescents aged 10–17 years (M = 13.37, SD = 1.08; 53.5% female; 83.6% secondary education) obtained through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Reliability (Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω), structural validity through exploratory (AFE) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), measurement invariance by gender, and convergent and discriminant validity via correlations with self-esteem, well-being, stress, and anxiety–depressive symptoms were evaluated. Results: Analyses showed strong internal consistency (α = 0.912, ω = 0.914). EFA supported a five-dimensional structure. CFA showed an optimal fit after including specific covariances (χ²/df = 3.62, RMSEA = 0.048, CFI = 0.929, TLI = 0.919, SRMR = 0.043). Metric and scalar gender invariance were supported. Positive correlations emerged with well-being (r = 0.76, p < 0.01), self-esteem (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), and satisfaction with life (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), and negative correlations with stress (r = −0.61, p < 0.01), academic stress (r = −0.32, p < 0.01) and anxiety–depressive symptomatology (r = −0.53, p < 0.01), providing evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusions: The KIDSCREEN-27 demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, supporting its use among Mexican adolescents, enabling the identification of well-being needs, monitoring of interventions, informed decision-making in health and educational practice and supporting cross-cultural comparisons of adolescent well-being. Full article

In elite youth soccer, the objective is to identify, develop, and enhance players’ ability to support their progression. During adolescence, players of the same chronological age often show differences in technical, tactical, physical, and psychological performance due to variations in biological maturation. The bio-banding (BB) format tries to reduce these discrepancies by grouping players with maturity-matched peers, promoting development within a maturity-respecting environment. This review synthesizes the effects of BB on soccer-specific performance in comparison to traditional chronological-age (CA) grouping. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (Core and Medline), and BASE databases were searched, and experimental studies using crossover, such as those applying both BB and CA in young soccer players, were considered eligible. Eleven experimental studies were included. Most of the investigated outcomes focused on physical performance (n = 9) and technical and tactical characteristics (n = 8), while psychological aspects were less examined (n = 2). Moreover, two studies further assessed how different BB methods influenced the investigated outcomes. The evidence confirms that BB influences youth soccer player characteristics, showing differences compared to CA grouping. BB can be an approach for optimizing individual growth but is not a definitive solution, presenting limits that require careful management, appropriate challenge, and integration with injury prevention and workload monitoring. Further research is needed to clarify its performance-related impact across maturity statuses. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nursing students are often exposed to bullying in clinical settings. Bullying in a practice environment is an important issue that causes psychological, physical, and mental health problems in nursing students. However, in South Korea, few qualitative studies have examined bullying among nursing students in clinical practice environments. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of bullying among South Korean nursing students during clinical practice. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study using a semi-structured interview guide was employed to collect data from nursing students in a focus group. Overall, three focus groups were used, with seven students in each group comprising males and females. The sample size was based on data saturation and saturated on three focus group discussions, giving a sample size of 21. Purposeful sampling was used to select students who had completed one or more semesters of clinical practice (six credits, 270 h) from two nursing colleges. Interviews were conducted in May 2025. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Results: A total of 23 meaning units, 14 themes, and 7 thematic clusters were identified. Seven overarching thematic clusters emerged: (1) exposure to harsh speech; (2) experiencing physical harm; (3) being considered a sexual object; (4) disrespected as a nursing student; (5) assigned tasks beyond an individual’s capabilities; (6) restricted educational opportunities corresponding to clinical practice objectives; and (7) discriminatory treatment due to healthcare professionals’ prejudice. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for raising the awareness of bullying and applying the strategies to prevent bullying and protect nursing students during clinical practice. Full article