Italian validation of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES IV) short version for adolescents: SAD_FACES

This study validated the Italian short version of FACES-IV (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale) for adolescents, namely SAD_FACES. The scale assessed adolescents’ perceptions of their families’ adaptive and maladaptive functioning along the six dimensions of cohesion, flexibility, disengagement, enmeshment, rigidity and chaos as defined by the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems. SAD_FACES was administrated to a sample of secondary school students (Age = 14–16 years; N = 446). The Family Communication Scale (FCS), measuring positive communication skills used in the family system, was also administered to assess external validity. ESEM was performed and evaluation of model fit was based on values of the comparative fit index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The scores that were computed as the sum of the intended items and latent traits were both considered for each dimension. Results showed that SAD_FACES (24 items) has the same structure and internal consistency of the Italian version of FACES IV validated with adolescent samples. Implications for the validity and usage of a short scale for the assessment of adolescents’ perception of family functioning and their wellbeing are discussed. Future research should validate SAD_FACES with different age cohorts of adolescents and belonging to different cultural contexts as well as consider clinical samples of adolescents. The agility of SAD_FACES could facilitate investigations with clinical samples of adolescents. Future research is needed in this area

Unpacking the relation between children's use of digital technologies and children's well-being: a scoping review.

Over the last decade, a substantial number of studies have addressed children's use of technologies and their impact on well-being. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of clarity on the operationalisation of technology use, well-being, and the relation between the two. This scoping review intended to shed lights on Digital Technologies Use, its operationalisation, and the relation between Digital Technologies Negative Use (DTNU) and children's well-being. For the scope of the special issue we focused on negative use. Results showed two conceptualisations of DTNU: compulsive/addictive use of devices and the Internet (e.g., Internet addiction) and negative online experiences/risky behaviours (e.g., cyberbullying). Well-being in relation to DTNU was mainly studied in terms of psycho/social dimensions (e.g., depression), and a gap in cognitive well-being studies was identified. Study designs were largely quantitative, and, in most studies, well-being was considered as a predictor of DTNU. Also, research with children under 12 years was lacking. Future research on DTNU should look at: how dimensions of addiction and negative online experiences relate; provide more evidence on cognitive well-being; explore the interplay of well-being multiple components relying on integrative conceptual frameworks. The recent notion of digital well-being should also be explored considering the results of this review

Are smartphones transforming parent-child everyday life practices? A cross-generational qualitative study comparing parents' and early adolescents' representations.

Over the last decade, a substantial number of studies has aimed to understand the role of smartphones in parent-child communication as well as in youth cultures; however, little attention has been given to the systematic analysis of what dimensions of parent-child everyday life communication and practices have been transformed by the usage of smartphones. The present study builds upon the Couple and Family Technology Framework (CFTF), to investigate parents’ and children’s representations of the impact of smartphones on family structure and process as well as the similarities and differences between parents’ and children’s representations. Fifteen parents (9 mothers, 6 fathers; M = 46.07; SD = 4.25) and 15 early adolescents (7 females, 8 males; M = 11.73; SD = 0.46) participated in six focus. The analyses showed that: (a) parents of early adolescents use smartphones’ for several everyday life tasks; (b) according to both parents and children smartphones facilitate organizational tasks; (c) smartphones have more impact on family structure dimensions (especially, family rules and roles) than on family process dimensions (intimacy, formation and maintenance of relationships); (d) parents and children’s representations diverged only on structure dimensions; (e) gender differences with respect to smartphones representations emerged on both parents and children’s groups. These findings pave the way for further investigations on the role of smartphones in family dynamics and their practical implications on parents and children’s everyday life practices

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA)

Identity diffusion is a core element of the borderline personality organization. A valid and reliable assessment tool is needed to identify at-risk adolescents in the Italian context. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess identity diffusion vs. identity integration, in an Italian sample (N = 1,102) of clinical and nonclinical adolescents. Explorative structural equation modeling supported the expected bi-factor structure with one general factor and six descriptive factors. Scale reliability was good, with Cronbach’s α = .94 for the AIDA total scale. The results supported convergent validity with measures of borderline personality features as well as discriminant validity with identity dimensions in ideological and interpersonal domains. The AIDA total score identity diffusion differed highly significantly and with a large effect size between the general population sample and patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (n= 55). The Italian version of the AIDA proved to be a valid and reliable measure to assess adolescents’ identity pathology within the Italian context