567 research outputs found
Associations Between Peer Pressure and Adolescents' Binge Behaviors: The Role of Basic Needs and Coping
Framed from a framework based on the integration of self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) and Endler and Parkerâs (1990) conception of coping strategies, the authors analyzed the relationships between peer pressure and binge behaviors (binge eating and binge drinking) in adolescence. Moreover, the authors explored the mediating role of satisfaction/frustration of basic psychological needs and coping strategies in these associations. Participants were 570 high school students (Mâ=â15.75 years, SDâ=â1.14 years) living in Italy. The study design was cross-sectional and adolescents were administered self-report questionnaires. Path analysis showed significant and positive direct associations of peer pressure with both binge eating and binge drinking. Moreover, findings show that there is an indirect path in which peer pressure is positively associated with need frustration that is related to the use of emotion-oriented coping strategies that, on their turn, are associated with binge eating. Differently, binge drinking seems to be only directly related to peer pressure. The authors put light to the complex nature of the relationships between peer pressure and binge behaviors in adolescence, taking into account the separate contribution of need satisfaction and need frustration, as well as of coping strategies. Finally, practical implications of the study are discussed
Parental Monitoring and Youth's Binge Behaviors: The Role of Sensation Seeking and Life Satisfaction
Framed within an ecological perspective of the onset of adolescent problem behaviors, the current study explored the joint role of parent-adolescentsâ relationships and youth's individual factors in binge eating and drinking. Firstly, in line with pieces of research highlighting the beneficial impact of effective parenting on youth development, the present paper sought to enhance the knowledge about the positive influence of parental monitoring on youth's binge drinking and eating. Moreover, since literature evidenced that the explanatory mechanisms of the association between parental monitoring and binge behaviors are not fully explored, the study focused on the potential intervening role of sensation seeking and life satisfaction as mediators. The study design was cross-sectional and self-report questionnaires were administered among a population of 944 high school students (Mâ=â16.35, SDâ=â1.31) living in Palermo (Italy). Path analysis showed that parental monitoring was directly and negatively related to both binge eating and binge drinking. Moreover, sensation seeking negatively mediated the relationships between parental monitoring and both binge behaviors, whereas life satisfaction only mediated between parental monitoring and binge eating. The current study provided data useful to understand the complex interrelations between intrapersonal (life satisfaction and personality trait, i.e. sensation seeking) and contextual factors (parentâchild relationships) that may discourage or cause eating and alcohol use disorders among youth. Finally, implications for parents and practitioners working with youngsters were discussed
The Role of parental control and Coping Strategies on adolescents\u2019 problem behaviors
The current study was aimed at contributing to the understanding of the role of perceived parental monitoring, psychological
control, and coping strategies on adolescents\u2019 problem behaviors, in terms of anxiety and drinking behavior. Participants were
541 high school students, 17 to 19-year old (M = 17.09, SD = 0.80) high school students in Sicily and Calabria (Italy).
Participants completed self-report measures assessing parental monitoring, psychological control, coping strategies (i.e., TaskOriented, Emotion-Oriented, and Avoidance-Oriented). Results of the path analysis showed that coping strategies play a mediating role in the association between parental psychological control and both adolescents\u2019 anxiety and drinking behavior.
Furthermore, a direct positive association was reported from parental psychological control and anxiety, while a negative direct
association was reported from parental monitoring to drinking behavior. Results of this study provide a comprehensive model that
showed that the different coping strategies could explain the psychological mechanisms that underline the associations between
two different kinds of parental control (psychological control and monitoring) and both internalizing and externalizing adolescents\u2019 form of maladjustment (e.g. anxiety and drinking behaviors). Overall, coping strategies seem to be a fruitful target for the
prevention programs for adolescents\u2019 anxiety and drinking behaviors
Maternal Parenting Stress and Preschoolersâ Social-Emotional Competence and Behavioural Difficulties: A Variable- and Person-Centred Approach
Background: The present study examined the relations between maternal parenting stress and preschoolersâ psychosocial adjustment, using both a variable-centred and a person-centred approach. Methods: The study had three main purposes: (a) evaluating the associations of maternal parenting stress with childrenâs social-emotional competence and behavioural difficulties, as perceived by their mothers; (b) inquiring the existence of different childrenâs clusters based on their level of social-emotional competence and behavioural difficulties; (c) exploring differences in maternal parenting stress linked to cluster membership. Participants were 91 Italian mothers, aged from 22 to 47 years old (M = 35.14, SD = 5.80), having a preschool child from 3 to 6 years old (M = 4.6, SD = 0.80).
Results: Overall, results showed that maternal parenting stress was negatively associated with childrenâs social-emotional competence, and positively associated with their behavioural difficulties. A cluster analysis allowed identifying four childrenâs profiles characterized by different levels of social-emotional competence and behavioural difficulties: Maladjusted, Troubled, Adjusted and Controversial.
Conclusions: Results also evidenced differences among clusters in maternal parenting stress. Ultimately, this study suggests that interventions may consider reducing maternal parenting stress to promote childrenâs psychosocial adjustment
Radicalization in Correctional Systems: A Scoping Review of the Literature Evaluating the Effectiveness of Preventing and Countering Interventions
Although several prevention and countering radicalization programs in correctional institutions have been carried out in Europe and worldwide, little is known about their effectiveness. Thus, the current scoping review aimed at reporting on the state of the art of the literature assessing and evaluating such actions, identifying knowledge gaps, and examining methods used to assess their successfulness and impact. A total of eight studies that met eligibility criteria were reviewed after performing a search on Scopus, Web of Science, and PsychInfo (Ebsco) databases: Two studies evaluated a reintegration initiative based in the Netherlands; four focused on an Australian disengagement program; and two offered insights on a rehabilitation program carried out in Sri Lanka. Findings were discussed according to their evaluation methods (qualitative, mixed-methods, and quantitative) and instruments. Results highlighted that the evaluation process is still confronted with several methodological difficulties, such as a lack of agreement on how to univocally define and measure success and the identification of uniform indicators of deradicalization and disengagement. Additionally, results revealed that the effectiveness of these interventions is predominantly based on anecdotal evidence rather than on rigorous, empirical proofs. As such, it was not possible to compare these programs and determine which worked best. Suggestions for future research and practical implications for policymakers, prison governors, and practitioners are offered in the concluding section of this work
Maternal Parenting Practices and Psychosocial Adjustment of Primary School Children
This study was aimed at evaluating the associations between maternal parenting practices
(positive, negative/inconsistent, and punitive), childrenâs difficulties (such as conduct problems,
emotional symptoms, peer problems, and hyperactivity), and prosocial behaviors. Participants
were 131 Italian mothers of primary school children; mothers were aged between 26 and 52 years
(M = 38.38, SD = 5.46); children (54% girls) were aged between 6 and 10 years (M = 7.15, SD = 0.98).
Mothers completed two scales assessing their parenting practices and their childrenâs psychosocial
adjustment. A path analysis was run to test the hypothesized model. The results showed the following:
(a) maternal positive parenting was negatively and significantly related to childrenâs conduct
problems and hyperactivity, and positively and significantly to childrenâs prosocial behavior; (b) maternal
negative/inconsistent parenting was positively and significantly related to childrenâs conduct
problems, emotional symptoms, and hyperactivity; (c) maternal punitive parenting was positively
and significantly related to childrenâs conduct problems and emotional symptoms. Moreover, the
results showed that, according to the mothersâ perceptions, boys tended to exhibit higher levels of
hyperactivity and peer problems and lower levels of prosocial behaviors than girls. Overall, this study
highlights the unique role of different maternal parenting practices in the psychosocial adjustment of
primary school children
Validation of the Italian version of the Devaluation consumers' Scale and the Devaluation Consumers Families Scale
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Italian versions of the Devaluation of Consumers Scale (DCS) and the Devaluation of Consumer Families Scale (DCFS), two short-scales examining public stigma towards people with mental disorders and their relatives. Methods: The scales were administered to 117 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of affective or non-affective psychoses (ICD 10 criteria F20-29, F30-33). Translation procedures were carried out according to accepted standards. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Convergent validity was evaluated in terms of correlation with the Global Functioning Scale (GAF) and with the Questionnaire on Users' Opinions (QUO). Known-group validity was assessed comparing patients at first-episode of psychosis and patients with a history of psychosis of at least 3 years (long-term psychosis). Results: The overall Cronbach's alpha value was 0.85 for DCS and 0.81 for DCFS; subscales' alpha values ranged from 0.80 to 0.55 for DCS, and from 0.68 to 0.55 for DCFS. Negative correlations were found between the Italian DCS and the DCFS total score and the QUO affective problems (DCS -0.33; DCFS -0.235) and social distance subscales (DCS -0.290; DCFS -0.356). Moreover, the GAF positively correlated with some of the DCS and DCFS subscales. Patients with long-term psychosis had higher scores in most DCS and DCFS subscales. Conclusion: The Italian translation of DCF and DCFS showed good internal consistency, known-group validity, and convergent validity. These psychometric properties support their application in routine clinical practice in Italy as well as their use in international studies
Psychometric evaluation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) in Italy
Two studies were conducted to adapt the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) to the Italian context. Results suggest that the BPNSFS can be considered a promising instrument in the context of SDT-based research for investigating satisfaction and frustration of the three basic needs in Italy
Search for a dark vector gauge boson decaying to using decays
We report a search for a dark vector gauge boson that couples to
quarks in the decay chain , . No signal is found and we set a
mass-dependent limit on the baryonic fine structure constant of in the mass range of 290 to 520 MeV/. This analysis is
based on a data sample of 976 fb collected by the Belle experiment at
the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
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