Promoting mental health in esports

There is growing recognition of the demands and health challenges experienced by esports athletes. The purpose of this perspective paper is to draw specific attention to the mental health of competitive gamers and spur on both future research and applied initiatives focussing on this important but under-addressed topic. We will briefly discuss the prevalence of mental health concerns, domain-specific stressors, and the need for comprehensive mental health support systems tailored to the esports context. It is our hope that, with this perspective paper, we can help set a new research agenda addressing mental health in esports

The Importance of Conditioned Stimuli in Cigarette and E-Cigarette Craving Reduction by E-Cigarettes

This study examined the impact of four variables pertaining to the use of e-cigarettes (e-cigs) on cravings for tobacco cigarettes and for e-cigs after an overnight abstinence period. The four variables were the nicotine level, the sensorimotor component, the visual aspect, and the aroma of the e-cig. In an experimental study, 81 participants without prior vaping experience first got acquainted with using e-cigs in a one-week tryout period, after which they participated in a lab session assessing the effect of five minutes of vaping following an abstinence period of 12 h. A mixed-effects model clearly showed the importance of nicotine in craving reduction. However, also non-nicotine factors, in particular the sensorimotor component, were shown to contribute to craving reduction. Handling cues interacted with the level (presence/absence) of nicotine: it was only when the standard hand-to-mouth action cues were omitted that the craving reducing effects of nicotine were observed. Effects of aroma or visual cues were not observed, or weak and difficult to interpret, respectively

Perspectives of Early Adolescents, Parents and Grandparents on Parenting Behaviors in China

In China, both parents and grandparents play an important role in child-rearing. However, it is unclear whether parenting behaviors reported by early adolescents, parents, and grandparents are comparable. Therefore, this study investigated (a) cross-generational validity of reporting (grand)parenting behavior based on perspectives of adolescents, parents and grandparents; (b) mean differences in parenting across informants; and (c) how (grand)parenting is related to adolescent’s problem behaviors. The sample included 1149 early adolescents, 1038 mothers, 926 fathers and 248 grandparents. Confirmatory factor analyses showed scalar measurement invariance for a five-factor parenting model, including parental support, proactive control, punitive control, harsh punitive control and psychological control, across informants. Pearson correlations indicated evidence for agreement between informant dyads. Paired samples t-tests showed the lowest scores for grandparents on all parenting variables. By comparing covariance matrices, the results suggested that interrelations of parenting dimensions and associations between parenting and problem behaviors differ for different family members.status: Published onlin

The interplay between parenting and empathy in relation to aggressive behavior in adolescence

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The Importance of Conditioned Stimuli in Cigarette and E-Cigarette Craving Reduction by E-Cigarettes

This study examined the impact of four variables pertaining to the use of e-cigarettes (e-cigs) on cravings for tobacco cigarettes and for e-cigs after an overnight abstinence period. The four variables were the nicotine level, the sensorimotor component, the visual aspect, and the aroma of the e-cig. In an experimental study, 81 participants without prior vaping experience first got acquainted with using e-cigs in a one-week tryout period, after which they participated in a lab session assessing the effect of five minutes of vaping following an abstinence period of 12 h. A mixed-effects model clearly showed the importance of nicotine in craving reduction. However, also non-nicotine factors, in particular the sensorimotor component, were shown to contribute to craving reduction. Handling cues interacted with the level (presence/absence) of nicotine: it was only when the standard hand-to-mouth action cues were omitted that the craving reducing effects of nicotine were observed. Effects of aroma or visual cues were not observed, or weak and difficult to interpret, respectively

The Association between Normative Beliefs Approving Aggression and Overt Aggressive Behavior in Vietnamese adolescents: A short-term longitudinal study

In Vietnam, school violence is a serious problem, yet little is known about the factors explaining this phenomenon. The current study looked at the role of normative beliefs approving aggression in the development of overt aggressive behavior. Using a short-term longitudinal design with three waves (four-month interval), this study examined the associations between normative beliefs approving aggression and overt aggressive behavior in a sample of Vietnamese adolescents. The sample included 632 participants at Wave 1 (51.4% boys, Mage = 13.00, SD = 0.85), 567 participants at Wave 2 (50.8% boys, Mage = 13.36, SD = 0.90) and 530 participants at Wave 3 (49.8% boys, Mage = 13.62, SD = 0.87). All variables were measured using self-report questionnaire. Within waves, normative beliefs approving aggression were positively related to overt aggressive behavior. More importantly, cross lagged panel analysis revealed that the normative beliefs predicted increases in overt aggressive behavior over time.status: publishe

The longitudinal transactional associations between beliefs favoring overt aggression and overt aggressive behavior in Vietnamese youth

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The longitudinal transactional associations between beliefs favoring overt aggression and overt aggressive behavior in Vietnamese youth

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Strengthening Mental Health and Resilience Through Schools: Protocol for a Participatory Design Project

BackgroundMental health problems are a main contributor to the global burden of disease in children and young people within urban environments. In response, the potential of both school- and sport-based mental health promotion interventions has been advocated. However, there exists limited insights into how sport-based interventions can be integrated within school environment. Moreover, there is a need to consider children and young people’s specific needs, challenges, and motivations when designing novel mental health promotion interventions. ObjectiveThe Strengthening Mental Health and Resilience Through Schools (SMARTS) project aims to co-design an evidence-informed school-sport-based mental health promotion program. Specific objectives include (1) co-designing a multicomponent program, integrating sport sessions with class-based sessions, and complementing with educational modules for teachers and parents; (2) exploring how the mental health program can be implemented most effectively within the Brussels school system; and (3) conducting preliminary process and outcome testing of the program. MethodsA participatory design framework will be adopted to develop the program. This framework involves end users throughout the entire study process, from problem identification to intervention delivery and evaluation, while at the same time ensuring program development remains directly informed by the available scientific evidence. ResultsParticipant recruitment will commence in September 2023. The full project will be completed by March 2027. ConclusionsWith this intervention, we aim to provide a direct contribution to the promotion of children and young people’s mental health within the Brussels school context. At a broader level, conducting and documenting this large participatory design project can, hopefully, inspire other researchers to tailor their mental health programs to specific populations. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/4967