Adolescents’ concerns, routines, peer activities, frustration, and optimism in the time of covid-19 confinement in spain

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has brought changes in adolescents’ daily routines, restrictions to in-person interactions, and serious concerns about the situation. The purpose of this study was to explore COVID-19-related concerns, daily routines, and online peer activities during the confinement period according to sex and age groups. Additionally, the relationship of these factors and optimism along with adolescents’ frustration was examined. Participants included 1246 Spanish students aged 16–25 years old (M = 19.57; SD = 2.53; 70.8% girls). The results indicated that the top concern was their studies. COVID-19-related concerns, daily routines, and online peer activities varied by sex and age. Findings also revealed moderate to high levels of frustration, which were associated with adolescents’ main concerns, online peer activities, maintaining routines, and optimism. The results are discussed in light of their implications in designing support programs and resources to reduce the psychological impact of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health

Potenciales de tronco cerebral eléctricamente estimulados sobre ventana redonda

INTRODUCCIÓN Los potenciales de tronco cerebral eléctricamente estimulados (PTCEE) sobre ventana redonda (VR) son registros de la actividad neural de la vía auditiva generados mediante estimulación eléctrica de la cóclea. Están basados en la capacidad de activar el nervio auditivo (NA) en casos de lesión coclear mediante estímulos eléctricos, siendo un indicador objetivo de la activación de la vía auditiva periférica. Sin embargo, a pesar de ser un buen procedimiento para obtener un conocimiento objetivo y fiable, la identificación de las respuestas eléctricas constituye un problema bastante frecuente. La generación de artefactos por el empleo de un estímulo eléctrico y la obtención de falsos negativos hacen que esta prueba sea poco utilizada en la práctica común. No obstante, una de las aplicaciones que mayor interés ha cobrado en los últimos años es en casos de aplasias/hipoplasias de NA. En éstos creemos necesario disponer de pruebas objetivas con estimulación eléctrica que nos ayuden a seleccionar los candidatos idóneos al IC. Consideramos que los PTCEE sobre VR pueden demostrar un NA funcionante. HIPÓTESIS Y OBJETIVOS Nuestra hipótesis es que la realización de PTCEE de forma extracoclear puede obtenerse de forma fiable para evaluar la capacidad funcional residual de la conducción nerviosa. Nuestro objetivo será la puesta a punto de una técnica de estimulación con electrodo bipolar y registro a nivel de tronco cerebral mediante un estímulo idéntico al IC a través de un dispositivo “Implant Box”. Ejecutaremos un estudio para la validación de la técnica en una población control sin malformaciones de NA para posteriormente aplicarla en pacientes con aplasias/hipoplasias de NA. MATERIAL Y METODO Todos los pacientes serán intervenidos por el mismo equipo de cirujanos de la Unidad de Hipoacusias del Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe de Valencia entre los años 2008 y 2013. El registro de PTCEE se realizará en el mismo acto operatorio del IC. El acceso a la VR se realizará a través de la timpanotomía posterior tras mastoidectomía. Se analizarán datos demográficos y características comunes de las respuestas eléctricas. Se estudiará cómo influye el manejo de las condiciones de estimulación sobre los resultados tras el empleo de un estímulo monopolar y bipolar. Para validar las respuestas obtenidas en la estimulación eléctrica extracoclear se comprobará si la obtención de la onda V intraoperatoria se asemeja a la obtenida a través del IC a los 3 meses. En el procedimiento hemos empleado un equipo de estimulación proporcionado por la casa comercial MED-EL y un equipo de registro. RESULTADOS Presentamos 50 pacientes en el grupo control con una edad media de 34±21.9 (2-73) donde el 61,3% fueron hombres y el 38,7% mujeres. Las características comunes de los registros son: la estabilidad en las respuestas, la identificación de la onda V entre 3 y 5,5 mseg y la ausencia del resto de ondas. La media de las latencias obtenidas en función de la carga eléctrica empleada disminuye según vamos aumentando las unidades de carga empleadas. La comparación de las condiciones de estimulación proporciona registros más fiables y reproducibles manteniendo amplitudes constantes con variaciones en la duración de fase encontrando diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p=0.024). La utilización de una estimulación bipolar en comparación a una monopolar proporciona mayor porcentaje de respuestas positivas encontrando diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0.001). El uso de relajantes musculares durante el registro elimina potenciales miogénicos capaces de enmascarar las respuestas. En cuanto al grupo patológico se han realizado 15 estimulaciones en 9 pacientes. Tres (33,3%) obtuvieron respuesta eléctrica positiva (unilateralmente). En todos se colocó un IC. Cuatro (44,4%) presentaron nula respuesta eléctrica a la estimulación. En dos se implantó un implante de tronco (ABI), en uno un IC y otro está pendiente de un ABI. Dos (22,2%) mostraron respuestas eléctricas débiles/dudosas. En ambos se colocó un IC. De los 6 pacientes con IC dos (33,3%) obtuvieron un resultado malo, uno (16,6%)un resultado regular, dos (33,3%)un resultado bueno y uno (16,6%) un resultado muy bueno. De los dos pacientes con un ABI, uno presentó un resultado regular y otro malo. CONCLUSIONES: Los PTCEE son una herramienta útil en la evaluación preoperatoria para comprobar los elementos neurales supervivientes de la vía auditiva permitiendo determinar de forma objetiva la función coclear en el momento de la cirugía. La estimulación eléctrica extracoclear con sonda bipolar proporciona resultados fiables y reproducibles. Ésta mejora los resultados de la monopolar, obteniendo un 100% de resultados positivos en el grupo control. En pacientes con malformaciones de NA el uso de PTCEE es determinante para la implantación coclear. Aquellos pacientes con respuestas positivas o débiles serán candidatos a un IC.Electrically Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response (EABR) to round window (RW) stimulation are recordings of the auditory pathway neural activity generated by electric stimulation of the cochlea. They are meant to be an objective measure of the ability to electrically activate the auditory pathway through the auditory nerve (AN) in case of cochlear damage. Nevertheless, despite of being a good method for objective and reliable assessment, the identification of the evoked responses show frequent difficulties. The artifacts generated by the electric stimulation and false negative data could be recorded, thus this procedure is poorly used in clinical practice. However, recently there has been increased interest in this diagnosis procedure due to cases of Aplasia/hypoplasia of the AN. We believe that objective measures with electric stimulation are necessary in order to select potential candidates for cochlear implantation and considerer that EABR to RW stimulation can assess in finding a functioning AN. HYPOTHESIS AND OBJECTIVES Our hypothesis is that EABR can be reliably recorded to asses the functional residual nervous conduction. Our objective is the development of a brainstem stimulation technique that gives an identical stimulus as the cochlear implant (CI). We can achieve this through a device called "Implant Box”, which uses a bipolar electrode on the RW for stimulation. The study will first be performed in control group without AN malformations to validate the technique, and after in a group with aplasia/hypoplasia of the AN. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study will take place at “Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe de Valencia”. All patients will undergo surgery by the same Hearing Loss Department surgical team, between the years 2008 and 2013. The EABR recordings will be performed during the CI surgery. RW access will be trough a mastoidectomy and posterior tympanostomy. The necessary equipment will be provided by MED-EL trading house. Demographical data and common characteristics of the electrical responses will be analyzed. Also, the influence of the stimulation conditions and whether they are done with a bipolar or monopolar electrode, will be studied. To assess the reliability of the responses recorded during the RW stimulation, a comparison of the V wave obtained after 3 months of cochlear implantation will be done. RESULTS The data recollected showed 50 patients in the control group with an average age of 34 ± 21.9 (2-73) where 61.3% were men and 38.7% women. The common characteristics of the records were: stability in responses, identifying the V wave between 3 and 5.5 msec and the absence of other waves. The mean latencies registered decrease as we increase the electric charge used. Comparing the stimulation conditions provides more reliable and reproducible amplitudes records held constant with variations in the duration of phase finding statistically significant difference (p = 0.024). The use of a bipolar stimulation in contrast to a monopolar one provides greater percentage of positive responses, finding statistically significant differences (p<0.001). The use of muscle relaxants during registration removes a plausible masking of the responses by myogenic potentials. As for the pathological group 15 stimulations were performed in 9 patients. Three (33.3%) had a positive electrical response (unilaterally). A CI was placed in all. Four (44.4%) had no response to electrical stimulation. An Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) was placed in, a CI in one and the fourth one is awaiting for ABI placement. Two (22.2%) showed weak/doubtful electrical responses. In both a CI was paced. Of the 6 patients with CI two (33.3%) had a poor outcome, one (16.6%) a fair result, two (33.3%) a good outcome and one (16.6%) a very good outcome. Of the two patients with a ABI, one presented a fair result and the other a bad one. CONCLUSIONS: EABR to RW are a useful tool in preoperative evaluation to check the remaining neural elements of the auditory pathway thus allowing objective evaluation of cochlear function at time of surgery. Extracochlear electrical stimulation with a bipolar probe provides reliable and reproducible results. In contrast with monopolar probe stimulation, there has been improvement, obtaining 100% positive results in the control group. In patients with AN malformations EABR are critical to assess cochlear implantation. Patients with positive or weak responses are candidates for CI

Parejas y redes de iguales en la adolescencia: naturaleza, factores explicativos y propuestas de intervención psicoeducativa.

Esta tesis versa sobre el inicio y mantenimiento de las relaciones erótico-sentimentales en los años adolescentes. Esta tarea evolutiva es considerada la hallmark de la adolescencia (Collin, 2003; Collins, Welsh & Furman, 2009) ya que contribuye al desarrollo de importantes competencias y habilidades, como el reconocimiento del deseo sexual propio y ajeno (Ortega-Rivera, Sánchez-Jiménez & Ortega-Ruiz, 2010), la gestión del deseo (Crockett, Raffaelli, & Moilanen, 2003), la expresión ajustada del interés sexual a través de prácticas de cortejo (Manning, Giordano, & Longmore, 2006; Tuval-Mashiach, Walsh, Harel & Shulman, 2008; Ortega-Rivera et al., 2010), y el establecimiento de interacciones sexuales y relaciones de pareja positivas, libres de violencia y coacción (Diamond, Bonner & Dickenson, 2015; Pepler, 2012). En el análisis científico de esta tarea evolutiva encontramos que existen dos grandes retos en la actualidad. Por una parte, se hace necesario un mayor desarrollo teórico y conceptual del papel que Internet y las nuevas tecnologías tienen en las relaciones erótico-sentimentales de los adolescentes (Runions, 2013). A este respecto sabemos que el medio online puede ser considerado un contexto de desarrollo donde se entremezclan las oportunidades y los riesgos (Livingstone, 2003; Livingstone & Bober, 2004). Pero además es un contexto social, ya que las nuevas tecnologías son empleadas principalmente por los jóvenes para comunicarse con otras personas, en especial con los amigos y con las parejas (Fox & Warber, 2012; Subrahmanyam, Smahel & Greenfield, 2006; Subrahmanyam & Smahel, 2011b; Van Ouytsel, Van Gool, Walrave, Ponnet, & Peeters, 2016). De modo específico, la pregunta de investigación que actualmente guía buena parte de los estudios disponibles es descubrir si los riesgos y oportunidades que las relaciones sociales con los iguales y con las parejas tienen para el desarrollo adolescente son los mismos fuera y dentro de las pantallas; o si por el contrario, la especificidad del contexto online contribuye a reinterpretar estos riesgos y oportunidades. Esta tesis pretende avanzar en este debate, por una parte, a través de la elaboración y validación de instrumentos para evaluar algunos de estos riesgos y oportunidades, como son la cibervictimización sexual entre iguales (estudio uno) y la calidad online de las relaciones de pareja (estudio dos); y por otra parte, a partir de un estudio longitudinal en el que se analiza la naturaleza de la agresión online en la pareja adolescente (estudio tres). El segundo reto de la investigación científica es el desarrollo y evaluación de intervenciones psicoeducativas que promuevan relaciones de pareja saludables fuera y dentro de las pantallas, y que prevengan la implicación en comportamientos abusivos en ambos contextos. Este reto se justifica en tres grandes razones. En primer lugar, no existen programas en Europa y concretamente en nuestro país que se hayan desarrollado con rigor metodológico, empleando procedimientos de asignación aleatoria de los participantes en los grupos experimentales y controles, y cuyo diseño y procedimiento permita comprobar su eficacia de modo fiable (Leen et al., 2013). En segundo lugar, se hace necesario lograr que las intervenciones que se desarrollen sean realmente eficaces en la prevención de comportamientos abusivos en las relaciones de pareja. Hasta el momento, los programas disponibles parecen ser consistentes en la modificación de creencias, conocimientos y actitudes relacionadas con la violencia, pero han sido escasas las intervenciones que han analizado su impacto en la reducción del comportamiento violento y cuyos resultados hayan sido positivos (De la Rue, Polanin, Espelage & Pigott, 2014; Fellmeth, Heffernan, Nurse, Habidula & Sethi, 2014; Martínez-Gómez & Rey-Anacona, 2014; O’Leary & Slep, 2012). En tercer lugar, han sido escasos los programas que hayan abordado y evaluado las nuevas formas de violencia en las parejas adolescentes que ocurren a través de las nuevas tecnologías. Solo conocemos dos intervenciones que hayan analizado su eficacia en la reducción de estas formas de violencia online (Foshee et al., 2015; Miller et al., 2015), arrojando resultados prometedores. A partir de estos resultados, esta tesis pretende contribuir al estado del arte de la prevención de la violencia en la pareja adolescente con el desarrollo, implementación y evaluación de un programa de prevención (estudio cuatro). Se trata de una tesis por compendio de publicaciones. De los cuatro estudios que se presentan, tres de ellos han sido publicados en revistas de impacto a nivel internacional indexadas en JCR (estudios uno, dos y cuatro) y uno se encuentra aceptado con cambios para su publicación (estudio tres) en una revista también indexada en JCR. El listado de publicaciones que se presentan para la obtención del Grado de Doctora junto con el resto de publicaciones relacionadas con esta tesis se detallan en el apartado Informe de la relevancia científica de las publicaciones. La estructura de este informe de investigación comienza con una revisión de la literatura donde se analiza la importancia de las relaciones con los iguales y con las parejas sentimentales en los años adolescentes así como el impacto de las nuevas teconologías en estos contextos relacionales. Se detallan de forma específica las oportunidades y los riesgos del contexto online en la vida relacional adolescente, deteniéndonos en las conductas abusivas y violentas que pueden originarse. El último capítulo de la revisión de la bibliografía describe el estado del arte de la prevención de la violencia en las relaciones románticas de los adolescentes. Posteriormente se describen los dos grandes objetivos que guían este trabajo de investigación, por una parte, el análisis de los riesgos y oportunidades del contexto online en las relaciones con los iguales y con las pareja, y por otra parte, el desarrollo, implementación y evaluación de un programa de prevención de la violencia en las relaciones sentimentales de los adolescentes. El diseño metodológico de los dos primeros estudios ha sido transversal, mientras que el estudio tres y cuatro han sido longitudinales de dos tiempos. Para los estudios uno y dos se empleó un muestro intencional por accesibilidad, mientras que para los estudios tres y cuatro se llevó a cabo un muestreo aleatorio, cuya unidad de aleatorización fueron los centros educativos. En todos los estudios los participantes fueron estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria de Institutos públicos de Sevilla y Córdoba (España). En el estudio uno participaron 601 adolescentes con edades comprendidas entre 12 y 16 años. En el estudio dos se realizaron dos estudios, uno cualitativo y otro cuantitativo. En el cualitativo participaron 16 adolescentes con edades comprendidas entre 14 y 17 años, mientras que 626 adolescentes participaron en el estudio cuantitativo. En el estudio tres participaron 1003 adolescentes de entre 12 y 18 años. En el estudio cuatro participaron 1764 adolescentes (entre 11 y 19 años). Excepto para los grupos focales del estudio dos, los instrumentos empleados fueron de tipo autoinforme. Se han realizado análisis de contenido, análisis bivariados (descriptivos, de comparación de medias y de correlaciones), análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, análisis multigrupo, latent change score y modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los estudios uno y dos han avanzado en la medida de dos fenómenos, la cibervictimización sexual entre iguales y la calidad online en las relaciones de pareja adolescente. Se han propuesto dos instrumentos válidos y fiables, Peer Sexual Cybervictimization y Cyberdating Q-A. El primero de ello supone una adaptación al contexto online de uno de los instrumentos más empleados a nivel internacional para medir el acoso sexual entre iguales (Sexual Harassment Survey; AUWW, 2001), en el que se ha concluido la existencia de una dimensión macro que anida dos formas de victimización sexual online, la forma personal y la forma ambigua. El instrumento ha mostrado ser invariante por sexo lo que supone una fortaleza, permitiendo la comparación entre chicos y chicas. El segundo instrumento supone una propuesta integradora de la calidad online, en la que se incluyen usos positivos y negativos de las nuevas tecnologías en la relación de pareja. Además, se trata del primer instrumento disponible para evaluar estos comportamientos en adolescentes, y especialmente en nuestro país. Ambos instrumentos evalúan aspectos que se encuentran muy presentes en la vida de los jóvenes. En el caso de la cibervictimización sexual se observó que aproximadamente de 2 de cada 10 adolescentes recibió imágenes o comentarios sexuales, insultos, o solicitudes sexuales de parte de sus iguales. En el caso de la calidad online, las cifras subrayan la importancia del contexto online en la vida sentimental de los jóvenes, encontrándose una prevalencia mayor del 75% para la intimidad online, los celos online, el control online, las estrategias de comunicación emocional, la intrusividad online y las prácticas de cibercortejo. Por su parte el estudio tres nos permitió reflexionar acerca de la naturaleza de la ciberagresión en parejas adolescentes a partir del análisis de los factores predictores comunes y diferenciales de la agresión online y la agresión psicológica. Este estudio pretendió contribuir al debate acerca de si la agresión online puede ser considerado un subtipo de agresión psicológica, o por el contrario, se trata de un fenómeno con características singulares como consecuencia del contexto en el que ocurre. Los resultados mostraron que ambas formas de agresión se explicaron a partir de los problemas en la regulación de la ira, la presencia de una calidad negativa en la relación de pareja, y por los celos. Sin embargo, otros factores resultaron específicos de cada forma de agresión, como por ejemplo, la empatía cognitiva o la aceptación de la violencia. Por último, el estudio cuatro ha avanzado en la prevención de la violencia en las relaciones de pareja adolescente. El programa Dat-e Adolescence ha mostrado resultados prometedores, logrando modificar importantes factores de riesgo de la violencia, como los mitos del amor romántico, la regulación de la ira y la autoestima. Sin embargo, los resultados también han reflejado que en esta primera evaluación el programa no modificó la implicación en comportamientos violentos ni la calidad de la relación. A modo de conclusión, este trabajo ha contribuido a dos retos actuales de la investigación sobre las relaciones erótico-sentimentales en la adolescencia. Comprender por una parte el papel o la naturaleza del contexto online en algunos comportamientos que suceden en la vida de los adolescentes y que tienen importantes consecuencias para su desarrollo y bienestar. Y por otra parte, avanzar en el desarrollo de propuestas de intervención psicoeducativas que promuevan relaciones sentimentales saludables, previniendo la aparición de comportamientos abusivos. Esta tesis se ha desarrollado gracias a un contrato de Formación del Profesorado Universitario financiado por el Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (FPU2013/00830) y se ha llevado a cabo en el marco de dos proyectos de investigación “Parejas y redes de iguales en la adolescencia” (PSI2013-45118-R) y “Prevención de la violencia interpersonal en la adolescencia: una nueva generación de intervenciones basadas en la evidencia” (PSI2017-86723-R) financiados por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.This thesis addresses the onset and maintenance of erotic–romantic relationships during the adolescent years. This developmental task is considered the hallmark of adolescence (Collin, 2003; Collins, Welsh, & Furman, 2009) given that it contributes to the development of important skills and abilities, including the recognition of one’s own and others’ sexual desire (Ortega-Rivera, Sánchez-Jiménez, & Ortega-Ruiz, 2010); managing one’s sex drive (Crockett, Raffaelli, & Moilanen, 2003); the adjusted expression of sexual interest via dating practices (Manning, Giordano, & Longmore, 2006; Tuval-Mashiach, Walsh, Harel & Shulman, 2008; Ortega-Rivera et al., 2010); and establishing positive sexual interactions and couple relationships free from violence and coercion (Diamond, Bonner, & Dickenson, 2015; Pepler, 2012). Scientific analysis of this developmental task has revealed two main challenges in current research. First, there is a need for further conceptual and theoretical development of the role that the Internet and new technologies play in adolescent erotic–romantic relationships (Runions, 2013). From this perspective, we know that the online world can be considered a development context in which risks and opportunities come together (Livingstone, 2003; Livingstone & Bober, 2004), particularly in terms of adolescent social relationships, considering that new technologies are primarily used by young people to communicate with others, especially with friends and their respective partners (Fox & Warber, 2012; Subrahmanyam, Smahel, & Greenfield, 2006; Subrahmanyam & Smahel, 2011b; van Ouytsel, van Gool, Walrave, Ponnet, & Peeters, 2016). Specifically, the research question that currently guides most available studies revolves around discovering whether the risks and opportunities that peer and couple social relationships present for adolescent development are the same on- and off-screen; and, in contrast, whether the specificity of the online context contributes to reinterpreting these risks and opportunities. This thesis has a wofold approach to moving this debate forward. The first approach is through designing and validating instruments to assess some of these risks and opportunities; for example, peer sexual cybervictimization (study one) and online dating relationship quality (study two). The second approach is via a longitudinal study in which the nature of cyber-aggression in adolescent romantic relationships is analyzed (study three). The second challenge facing scientific research is the development and evaluation of psychoeducational interventions that promote healthy romantic relationships on- and off-screen and which prevent abusive behavior engagement in both contexts. Three overriding reasons warrant this challenge. First, there are no programs in Europe – and in Spain specifically – that have been developed with methodological rigor using randomized control trials whose design and procedure allow us to reliably test their efficacy (Leen et al., 2013). Second, it is necessary to ensure that developed interventions are truly effective at preventing abusive behaviors in romantic relationships. To date, the available programs appear to demonstrate consistency in modifying violence-related beliefs, knowledge and attitudes; however, few interventions have analyzed their impact on mitigating violent behavior and whose results have been positive (De la Rue et al., 2014; Fellmeth et al., 2014; Martínez-Gómez & Rey-Anacona, 2014; O’Leary & Slep, 2012). Third, programs that address and evaluate new forms of violence in adolescent dating couples via new technologies have been limited. We are aware of only two interventions that have tested their efficacy in reducing online violence of this kind (Foshee et al., 2015; Miller et al., 2015), delivering promising results. Based on these results, the present thesis seeks to contribute to the state of the art in teen dating violence prevention through the development, implementation and assessment of a prevention program (study four). This thesis adopts the format of a compendium of publications. Three of the four presented studies have been published in international JCR-indexed, impact factor journals (studies one, two and four) and the remaining one (study three) has been accepted for publication subject to changes in a JCR-indexed journal. The list of publications submitted for obtaining the PhD degree, together with all other publications related to this thesis, are detailed in the Report on the Scientific elevance of Publications section. The structure of this research report begins with a review of the literature, in which the importance of peer and romantic relationships in adolescence is analyzed, as well as the impact of new technologies in these relational contexts. The risks and opportunities that the online context opens up in teen relational life are specifically detailed, focusing our attention on the abusive and violent behaviors which may arise. The final chapter of the literature review describes the state of the art in dating violence prevention programs. The two main aims that guide this research project are subsequently described: namely, an analysis of the risks and opportunities underlying peer and romantic relationships in the online context; and the development, implementation and assessment of a violence prevention program corresponding to adolescent romantic relationships. The methodological design of studies one and two was cross-sectional in nature, whereas studies three and four adopted a two-wave, longitudinal approach. In studies one and two, purposive sampling on the basis of accessibility was used, whereas random sampling was conducted in studies three and four, with schools assigned as the unit of randomization. Participants across all studies were high-school (ESO) students at state schools in Seville and Córdoba (southern Spain). In study one, 601 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years participated. Study two comprised two studies: one qualitative and the other quantitative. The qualitative study involved 16 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years, whereas 626 adolescents participated in the quantitative study. In study three, 1,003 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years took part. Finally, 1,764 adolescents aged between 11 and 19 years participated in study four. Self-report measures were used, except in study two which took a focus group approach. Content analysis, bivariate analysis (descriptive, means comparison-based and correlational), exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, latent change score and structural equation modeling were performed. Studies one and two have made advances in measuring two phenomena: peer sexual cybervictimization and online quality of adolescent romantic relationships. Two valid and reliable instruments were proposed: Peer Sexual Cybervictimization and Cyberdating Q-A. The first is an online adaptation of one of the most widely used international tools for measuring peer sexual harassment (Sexual Harassment Survey; AUWW, 2001), and which has identified a macro dimension that encompasses two forms of online sexual victimization: the personal and the ambiguous. The instrument has proven invariant by sex, which is considered a strength, thus allowing for male and female comparisons to be made. The second instrument is an inclusive proposal of online quality, which includes the positive and negative uses of new technologies in the couple dynamic. Furthermore, it represents the first available instrument for evaluating these behaviors in adolescents, and especially in Spain. Both measures assess highly visible aspects of young people’s lives. In the case of sexual cybervictimization, it has been observed that approximately two out of every ten adolescents has received sexual images or comments, insults, or unwanted sexual solicitations by peers. As for online quality, figures emphasize the importance of the online context in the romantic lives of young people, with prevalence rates surpassing 75% for online intimacy, online jealousy, online control, emotional communication strategies, online intrusiveness, and cyberdating practices. For its part, study three enabled us to reflect on the nature of cyber-aggression in adolescent couples by analyzing the common and differential predictor factors of online aggression and psychological aggression. This study sought to contribute to the debate on whether online aggression can be considered a subtype of psychological aggression and, in contrast, whether it is a phenomenon with unique characteristics as a consequence of the context in which it occurs. The results showed that both forms of aggression can be explained by anger regulation problems, the presence of negative couple relationship quality, and by jealousy. However, other factors were found to be specific to each form of aggression; for example, cognitive empathy and the acceptance of violence. Lastly, study four has made advances in preventing violence in adolescent romantic relationships. The Dat-e Adolescence program has delivered promising results, successfully modifying important risk factors for violence such as myths of love, anger regulation, and self-esteem. However, the results have also reflected how involvement in violent behaviors and relationship quality did not change during this first program evaluation stage. In conclusion, the present work has contributed to two current challenges facing research into adolescent erotic–romantic relationships. On the one hand, to understand the role and nature of the online context in some behaviors that play out in adolescent life and which entail significant consequences for youth development and well-being. And on the other hand, to further develop psychoeducational intervention proposals that promote healthy romantic relationships, thus preventing the onset of abusive behaviors. jealousy, online control, emotional communication trategies, online intrusiveness, and cyberdating practices. For its part, study three enabled us to reflect on the nature of cyber-aggression in adolescent couples by analyzing the common and differential predictor factors of online aggression and

Romantic relationship quality in the Digital Age: a study with young adults

Recent studies suggest that the online and offline behaviors young people display in romantic relationships are closely related. However, the differential effects of the dimensions of couple quality in the online context have not yet been explored in depth. The aim of this study was to explore online couple quality in young-adult relationships, and its association with romantic relationship satisfaction, also looking at effects of gender, age, and length of the relationship. 431 university students currently in a romantic relationship (68.2% females; mean age = 21.57) participated in this study. They completed different self-report measures to tap the online quality of their romantic relationships (online intimacy, control, jealousy, intrusiveness, cyberdating practices, and communication strategies) and level of satisfaction with those relationships. Results showed that participants more often reported online intimacy (Mmen = 2.49; Mwomen = 2.38) than the negative scales of online quality (mean ranged from .43 to 1.50), and all the online quality scales decreased with age (correlations ranged from –.12 to –.30) and relationship length (correlations ranged from –.02 to –.20). Linear regression analyses indicated that online intimacy (b = .32, p = .001) and intrusiveness (b = .11, p = .035) were positively related to rela-tionship satisfaction, while cyberdating practices (b = –.20, p = .001) and communication strategies (b = –.34, p = .001) were negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Moreover, gender and relationship length moderated some of these associations. Results indicate that while online quality and relationship satisfaction are related, the impact of different online quality dimensions on relationship satisfaction differs depending on a participant’s sex, age, and relationship lengt

Cibervictimización sexual entre adolescentes: desarrollo y validación de una escala

Background/Objective: The study of sexual cyberbehaviour in adolescence has received much attention in recent years, because of the risks associated with exposure to pornography, unwanted sexual solicitations, and gender-based sexual harassment. The prevalence of this phenomenon varies from study to study due to a lack of consensus around how to define and measure peer sexual cybervictimization. This study aims to contribute to this research topic by developing and validating a measure of peer sexual cybervictimization among adolescents. Method: 601 adolescents (mean age 14.06) from two Spanish cities participated in this study. Cross-validation was performed using EFA and CFA. In a second step, a multi-group analysis was conducted to compare the equivalence of the measure by gender. Results: The results confirmed a second-order model comprising two first-order factors: Ambiguous sexual Cybervictimization and Personal sexual Cybervictimization. The model was invariant by gender. Descriptive analyses showed significant differences in Ambiguous sexual aybervictimization, this being more frequent in boys than in girls. Prevalence rates varied from 17 to 26%, with less involvement observed in the Personal dimension. Conclusions: This work proposes a valid and gender invariant measure to analyze peer sexual cybervictimization in adolescence.Antecedentes/Objetivo: El estudio de la ciberconducta sexual en la adolescencia ha recibido mucha atención en los últimos años, especialmente la referida a los riesgos que factosuponen la exposición a la pornografía, las solicitudes sexuales indeseadas y el hostigamientosexual basado en el género. La prevalencia del fenómeno varía entre los diferentes estudios debido a una falta de consenso en la definición y medida del constructo cibervictimizaciónsexual. Este trabajo pretende contribuir en esta área, desarrollando y validando una escala paramedir victimización sexual online. Método: Una muestra de 601 adolescentes de dos ciudades españolas (edad media 14,06) participaron en el estudio. Se realizó una validación cruzada empleando AFE y AFC, así como un análisis multigrupo para comparar la equivalencia de la medida por sexo. Resultados: se confirmó un modelo de segundo orden compuesto por dos factores (Cibervictimización sexual ambigua y Cibervictimización sexual personal) invariante por sexo. Los análisis indicaron diferencias significativas en la dimensión ambigua, siendo más frecuente en ellos. Los datos revelaron una prevalencia entre el 17 y 26%, siendo menor la implicación en la forma personal. Conclusiones: Se propone una medida válida e invariante en ambos sexos de la cibervictimización sexual por parte de los iguales en la adolescencia.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (España) PSI2013-45118-

Cyberdating in adolescence: the risks and the emotional harm of sexual cyberbehavior

Las TIC han revolucionado los ecosistemas relacionales humanos, especialmente entre los adolescentes. Partiendo del modelo de la Co-construcción entre los contextos online y offline, es de esperar que adolescentes y jóvenes expresen en ambos escenarios las tareas del desarrollo propias de su etapa evolutiva, como la sexualidad y el inicio de las relaciones de pareja. Estas tareas de desarrollo se convierten en experiencias de aprendizaje fundamentales, si bien no exentas de dificultades, pudiendo derivar en conductas agresivas y de riesgo, como las ciberagresiones sexuales o el sexting. La atención al fenómeno de las agresiones y riesgos de la ciberconducta sexual se ha incrementado en los últimos años, aunque todavía no existen datos concluyentes. Este trabajo se ha planteado describir la prevalencia de estas ciberconductas en la adolescencia tanto en los iguales como en la pareja, así como el malestar emocional percibido. 268 adolescentes con experiencia sentimental (edad media 14.22, d.e. 1.44), fueron entrevistados utilizando una versión adaptada del Sexual Harassment Survey. Los resultados mostraron que estas ciberconductas estaban igual de presentes en las parejas y entre iguales, y que los comportamientos más frecuentes fueron los intercambios de mensajes e imágenes con contenido sexual visual y verbal. Los chicos afirmaron realizar estos comportamientos más que las chicas, pero ambos afirmaron recibirlas en los mismos porcentajes. Las chicas percibieron más molestos estos comportamientos que los chicos. Los resultados se discuten atendiendo al significado que estos comportamientos tienen en la vida relacional adolescente.The new technologies have changed the way people interact with each other, especially among adolescents. The co-construction model stress that online and offline context are connected, so adolescents express the tasks and issues of their age, as sexuality and romantic relationships, in both contexts. These developmental tasks are an important source of learning, but some difficulties can appear, as sexual aggressions and other risky sexual behaviors. The attention to aggressive and risk of sexual behavior online has increased in the last years although results are not conclusive. This study will analyze the prevalence ofthese behaviors among adolescents, into peer and couple context. The perceived emotional harm will be also analyzed. 268 adolescents with sentimental experience (mean age 14.22, s.d. 1.44) were interviewed using an adaptation of the Sexual Harassment Survey. Results showed that aggressive and risky sexual behaviors online were present at similar level in both, peer and couple context. The most frequent behaviors were visual/verbal sexual messages. Boys were more involved than girls for perpetration but no differences appear for receiving it. Girls felt more upset than boys after receiving these behaviors. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning of these behaviors for adolescents’ social development

Efficacy evaluation of "Dat-e Adolescence": A dating violence prevention program in Spain

This study presents the first evaluation of Dat-e Adolescence, a dating violence prevention program aimed at adolescents in Spain. A cluster randomized control trial was used involving two groups (a control group and experimental group) and two waves (pre-test and posttest six months apart). 1,764 students from across seven state high schools in Andalucı ´a (southern Spain) participated in the study (856 in the control group and 908 in the experimental group); 52.3% were boys (n = 918), with ages ranging from 11 to 19 years (average age = 14.73; SD = 1.34). Efficacy evaluation was analyzed using Latent Change Score Models and showed that the program did not impact on physical, psychological or online aggression and victimization, nor did it modify couple quality. It was, however, effective at modifying myths about romantic love, improving self-esteem, and improving anger regulation, as a trend. These initial results are promising and represent one of the first prevention programs evaluated in this country. Future follow-up will allow us to verify whether these results remain stable in the medium term.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad PSI2013-45118-RMinisterio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad PSI-2017-86723-RMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte FPU2013/0083

Longitudinal risk profiles for physical, psychological, and sexual dating aggression: A latent profile analysis with Spanish adolescents

Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness: (PREVENT; PSI2017-86723-R). Introduction Understanding the specific risk profile for distinct forms of dating aggression (DA) is very informative to define cross-cutting interventions. The study aims to evaluate whether specific profiles of risk defined using a person-oriented approach predicted physical, sexual, and psychological DA after 6 months. Methods Eight hundred sixty-six Spanish adolescents were interviewed at two time points (50.5% male; average age = 15.04). Latent profile analysis at T1 was used to delineate profiles of individual and relational risk. Results A three-class model best represents the data: a “normative” class (N = 768; 88%); a “highly aggressive” class char- acterized by acceptance of violent norms, bullying behaviors, and anger dysregulation (N = 13, 1.5%); a “jealous-conflictual” class characterized by cognitive and emotional jealousy, negative couple quality, and anger dysregulation (N = 85, 10%). Controlling for age, sex, and longitudinal stability, physical DA was predicted significantly by the “highly aggressive” profile (β = .11; p < .05), psychological DA by the “jealous-conflictual” profile (β = .16; p < .01), and sexual DA by the “jealous- conflictual” (β = .20; p < .001) and “highly aggressive” profile as a trend (β = .08; p = .071). Conclusions Specific risk profiles differentially predict risk for physical, sexual, and psychological DA perpetration. A gen- eral aggressive pattern predicts physical DA and sexual DA weakly, whereas psychological and sexual DA are associated with a couple of risks, where the dimension of jealousy, control, and conflict characterizes the dynamic between partners. Policy Implications Findings suggested that physical DA, and at a lower level sexual DA, should be prevented using cross- cutting strategies on general aggression. Psychological and sexual DA might require more contextually based interventions.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad PSI2017-86723-

Can the life-history strategy explain the success of the exotic trees Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia in Iberian floodplain forests?

Ailanthus altissima and Robina pseudoacacia are two successful invasive species of floodplains in central Spain. We aim to explain their success as invaders in this habitat by exploring their phenological pattern, vegetative and sexual reproductive growth, and allometric relations, comparing them with those of the dominant native tree Populus alba. During a full annual cycle we follow the timing of vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, leaf abscission and fruit dispersal. Growth was assessed by harvesting two-year old branches at the peaks of vegetative, flower and fruit production and expressing the mass of\ud current-year leaves, stems, inflorescences and infrutescences per unit of previous-year stem mass. Secondary growth was\ud assessed as the increment of trunk basal area per previous-year basal area. A. altissima and R. pseudoacacia showed\ud reproductive traits (late flowering phenology, insect pollination, late and long fruit set period, larger seeds) different from P. alba and other native trees, which may help them to occupy an empty reproductive niche and benefit from a reduced competition for the resources required by reproductive growth. The larger seeds of the invaders may make them less dependent on gaps for seedling establishment. If so, these invaders may benefit from the reduced gap formation rate of flood-regulated rivers of the study region. The two invasive species showed higher gross production than the native, due to the higher size of pre-existing stems rather than to a faster relative growth rate. The latter was only higher in A. altissima for stems, and in R. pseudoacacia for reproductive organs. A. altissima and R. pseudoacacia showed the lowest and highest reproductive/vegetative mass ratio, respectively. Therefore, A. altissima may outcompete native P. alba trees thanks to a high potential to overtop coexisting plants whereas R. pseudoacacia may do so by means of a higher investment in sexual reproduction

Online Intrusiveness, online jealousy and dating aggression in young adults: a cross-national study, Spain-Italy

The current study aims to analyze the impact of online and conventional couple quality on the explanation of dating aggression in Spain and Italy. 312 Italian and 430 Spanish university students participated in the study. Logistic regression analysis showed that conflicts increased the likelihood to be involved in psychological and physical aggression in both countries. Transgressive behavior increased the odds of being involved in physical and psychological aggression in Spain and in psychological aggression in Italy. Online intrusiveness influenced Spanish participants’ involvement in physical and psychological dating aggression while online jealousy was the main predictor of both types of aggression in Italy. Results are discussed in terms of the insecurity that seems to characterize dating aggression in young adulthoodIntrusività, gelosia e dating aggression online nei giovani adulti: uno studio crossculturale Spagna-Italia. Lo studio intende analizzare l’impatto della qualità della relazione tra partner online e offline nella spiegazione del dating aggression in Spagna e in Italia. 312 studenti universitari italiani e 430 spagnoli hanno partecipato allo studio. Regressioni logistiche hanno mostrato come il conflitto aumenti la probabilità di essere coinvolto nel dating aggression fisico e psicologico in entrambi i Paesi. Il comportamento trasgressivo incrementa la probabilità di essere coinvolto nel dating aggression fisico e psicologico in Spagna ma solo in quello psicologico in Italia. Infine l’intrusività online influenza il dating aggression fisico e psicologico in Spagna mentre in Italia è la gelosia online a predire entrambe le forme. I risultati enfatizzano il ruolo dell’insicurezza nel predire la qualità delle relazioni sentimentali nella prima adultit