Αντιληπτές γονικές πρακτικές και εσωτερικευμένα συμπτώματα στα παιδιά: ο ρόλος της θυματοποίησης και της ιδιοσυγκρασίας του αρνητικού συναισθήματος μέσα από μοντέλα διαμεσολάβησης και ρύθμισης

The development of internalized symptoms in children is a complex process involving various factors. In particular, research has linked parental practices to the development of internalized symptoms in children. However, this factor alone cannot fully explain the development of internalized symptoms in children, as other factors seem to influence this process. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors and mechanisms by which children develop internalized symptoms. In particular, the research examines how the relationship between parental practices and internalized symptoms is influenced by mediator and moderator factors, such as victimization and temperament. The research includes 374 children and their parents. The children attended the 5th and 6th grade of elementary school and the 1st and 2nd grade of high school and were between the ages of 10 and 14. The children completed the following tools: the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children and the Parental Bonding Instrument. The parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist – Parent Report, CBCL (Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment). For the statistical analysis of the data, the process method of the SPSS was used to construct mediation and moderated models that examine the relationship between parental practices and internalized symptoms, with victimization as mediator and temperament of negative affectivity as moderator factor. The results of the research highlighted that the relationship between parental practices and internalized symptoms is mediated by victimization, suggesting that a significant part of the above relationship is due to the mediation of victimization. The research also showed that negative affectivity temperament functions as a moderator factor in the relationship between parenting practices and internalized symptoms, suggesting that children with negative affectivity temperament develop more internalized symptoms when their parents use negative parenting practices. The research findings can contribute to the psychosocial and psycho-emotional empowerment of children, through the design of appropriate prevention and intervention programs.

Effects of the In vivo program on salivary cortisol and internalized symptoms of adolescents: a multiple case pilot study

Internalized disorders such as anxiety and depression are among the most common psychological problems in adolescents. An important risk factor in the development of these disorders is stress, which can increase the risk of developing emotional difficulties. This study sought to evaluate the effects of the In vivo program, which is aimed at developing stress coping skills. A multi-case research design was used with three girls and three boys aged 13 to 17. Internalized symptoms and program adherence were measured using questionnaires; stress was measured using a biomarker, salivary cortisol. The results demonstrate that boys showed a clinically significant improvement in internalized symptoms, whereas no improvement was observed in girls.

Impact of a Combined Philosophy and Mindfulness Intervention on Positive and Negative Indicators of Mental Health Among Pre-kindergarten Children: Results From a Pilot and Feasibility Study

Background: Fostering greater resiliency to stress, optimal psychosocial development and promoting better mental health and well-being in youth is an important goal of the Canadian and American elementary school systems (1, 2). Recent research on mindfulness and philosophy for children (P4C) has yielded promising results regarding innovative interventions that may be implemented in elementary school settings to foster greater child resiliency and well-being (3–5).Goal: The goal of this feasibility study was to pilot a new intervention, which combines mindfulness meditation and P4C activities, with the goal of improving mental health in pre-kindergarten children, assessed with positive (i.e., social skills and adaptability) and negative (i.e., internalized symptoms, comprises depression, anxiety, inattention; and hyperactivity) indicators.Methods: A randomized cluster trial with a wait-list control group was employed to evaluate the impact of the combined MBI and P4C intervention on child mental health. Two classrooms of pre-kindergarten children (N = 38, mean age = 4.6 years old) took part in this study and were randomly allocated to the experimental or wait-list control conditions. Teachers completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires.Results: ANCOVAs did not reveal a significant effect of condition on internalized symptoms, controlling for baseline levels. Sensitivity analyses indicated that for the whole sample, internalized symptom scores were statistically significantly lower at post-intervention, when compared to pre-intervention scores. No impact of group on levels of hyperactivity was found, however, sensitivity analyses indicated that for both the experimental and control groups, hyperactivity scores were statistically significantly lower at post-intervention, when compared to pre-intervention scores. Finally, no impact of group on levels of social skills and adaptability were found. Sensitivity analyses conducted using paired t-tests did not indicate statistically significant pre-to-post changes in scores for both variables.Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that mindfulness and philosophy for children may not be the most effective intervention to foster short-term resiliency, well-being and better mental health in children. Yet, group differences were often small and past research suggested the effectiveness of this type of intervention. Further research considering the impact of moderators such as age or baseline levels of psychopathology, using longer time frames and comparing the effectiveness of this combined intervention with other types of school-based interventions with similar aims (such as, e.g., P4C or MBI alone) is warranted, to evaluate if mindfulness and P4C interventions have an added value compared to other types of interventions implemented in school settings.

Canadian Adolescents’ Internalized Symptoms in Pandemic Times: Sex Differences and Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Confinement Habits, and Support

Background Adolescents, especially girls, are more at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms and it can be assumed that the stress and social isolation experienced during confinement has had negative consequences on adolescents’ mental health. However, not all of them experienced confinement in the same way. This study is aimed at determining which sociodemographic characteristics (age, family composition, achievement), confinement habits (schedule, new hobby, sleep duration, cellphone and computer use, sports, schoolwork), and sources of support (parents and teachers) are associated with more or less internalized symptoms (anxiety and depression) in Canadian adolescents. Given the increased vulnerability of girls, the results take gender into account. Methods Between April 8 and 30 (2020) and through an online survey, 895 Canadian adolescents (74% girls) aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.73) were recruited. Path analysis was performed to identify significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics, confinement habits, and support variables with internalized symptoms. Independent samples t-tests and invariance tests were conducted to compare boys and girls. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 and Mplus8. Results Certain confinement habits (time spent using cellphones, doing sports and schoolwork, finding a new hobby) and support (parents working outside the home) variables were significantly and negatively associated with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Regarding the sex differences, girls had higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, used their cellphones more, while boys used their computers more. Only the association between sleep duration and physical symptoms of anxiety significantly differed between boys and girls. However, it was not significant for both groups. Conclusions The results of this study help to better understand the experience of adolescents in confinement and how it is different for boys and girls. It sheds light on the characteristics and habits likely to characterize those who are more at risk of experiencing distress and thus make it possible to better support adolescents during this difficult period.