Background and aims: The prevalence of perinatal depression in Japan is 14.3%, with higher prevalence in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (Tomimatsu et al., 2020). Depressive rumination and interpersonal factors have recently been identified as risk modifiers for perinatal mental health (Jones et al., 2025). However, the relationship between perinatal depression, depressive rumination, and interpersonal factors has not yet been examined in Japan. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of depressive rumination and interpersonal relationships on perinatal depression among pregnant Japanese women.

Methods: Participants were 202 pregnant women (M = 32.25 years, SD = 3.88) with an average gestational age of 24.12 weeks (SD = 10.71). Each participant completed a questionnaire consisting of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), the Ruminative responses scale (RRS) (brooding and reflective pondering), and two subscales of the Psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy questionnaire (PSEQ) (relationship with mother and relationship with husband/partner).

Results: Prior to the analysis, based on Usuda et al. (2017), a cutoff score of 13 was set for the EPDS. As a result, 24 participants (11.9%) were classified into the high-risk group. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the EPDS, RRS, and PSEQ subscales, and moderate positive correlations were observed between the EPDS and all variables (r = .42–.58). Multiple regression analysis revealed that “brooding” (β = .49) and “relationship with husband/partner” (β = .33) had positive relationships with EPDS (p < .001, R² = .44).

Conclusions: These results suggest that perinatal depression in pregnant Japanese women is associated with depressive rumination and interpersonal relationships. In particular, depressive rumination and the relationship with husbands or partners have significant impacts on perinatal depression. Future research should further investigate the detailed influencing factors and their interactions.

Funding: This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP24K06540.

Background Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is a significant public health concern that can adversely affect fetal brain development and child outcomes. High levels of stress during pregnancy can increase maternal cortisol levels, which can cross the placenta into the fetal bloodstream. Exposure to high levels of cortisol may disrupt the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, potentially leading to a hyper-responsive stress system, making the fetus more vulnerable to stressors later in life. This study aims to investigate the effects of maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy on infants’ stress response.

Methods Preliminary data from 100 infants and their mothers recruited from public health care clinics in Innlandet County, Norway, will be presented. Maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy were measured in maternal hair samples provided at approximately 8 weeks postpartum. Infants’ stress response was measured at 6 months by measuring saliva cortisol levels before (T1), and 20 minutes (T2) and 40 minutes (T3) after a blood sampling procedure. Statistical analyses will include multiple regression to examine the relationship between maternal cortisol and baseline infant cortisol levels (T1). Additionally, we will explore how maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy influence infant salivary cortisol reactivity to the blood sampling, specifically examining changes in cortisol levels from baseline to T2 and from T2 to T3.

Results Mean maternal cortisol levels for each trimester and infant salivary cortisol levels at the three time points (T1, T2, and T3) will be reported. The relationship between maternal cortisol and infant baseline cortisol (T1) will be presented, along with the association between maternal cortisol levels and infant cortisol reactivity, as indicated by changes in cortisol from baseline to T2 and from T2 to T3.

Discussion Findings will contribute to understanding the complex interplay between maternal mental health during pregnancy, cortisol levels, and infant stress regulation.

A growing body of research indicates that obstetric disrespect and mistreatment during childbirth are widespread globally. These experiences can contribute to perceiving childbirth as traumatic, with implications for the woman's mental health and the quality of the mother-infant relationship. Considering that the quality of early interactive dyadic experiences is crucial for the child's later development, it is necessary to use instruments to study obstetric mistreatment and its consequences. However, this phenomenon remains unexplored due to the lack of valid clinical tools. This study aims to develop and validate the Disrespect and Mistreatment during Childbirth Questionnaire (DMCQ) and explore factors contributing to traumatic childbirth experiences, as well as the relationship between mistreatment and the stress perceived by mothers in the parent-child interaction during the first two postpartum years. An online survey was administered to 620 women, assessing sociodemographic and childbirth-related factors, experiences of disrespect and mistreatment during childbirth, postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms related to childbirth, personality traits, and parenting stress. Exploratory factor analysis identified a 5-factor model with good internal consistency: negative interactions with healthcare providers, separation from the newborn, medical intrusiveness, verbal mistreatment, and pain experience. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this structure. Women with higher education, low income, and births in Southern Italy reported greater obstetric mistreatment. Other risk factors included primiparity, unplanned cesarean, instrumental delivery, episiotomy, anesthesia, labor exceeding 12 hours, and delivery complications. Finally, higher scores on the DMCQ correlated with increased perception of traumatic childbirth and the stress perceived in the parent-child relationship. In conclusion, the DMCQ is a psychometrically valid tool to address obstetric mistreatment in the early years postpartum. The results also underline the importance of educating maternal-care health professionals about this phenomenon to promote the well-being of both the mother and the child.

Background Joint visual attention (JVA) refers to the ability to coordinate visual attention between oneself, another person, and an object or event in the environment. It facilitates the interpretation of social cues, reciprocal interactions and the development of language skills. Maternal mental health, particularly in the context of postpartum depression, has been shown to negatively impact early parent-child interactions and infants’ socioemotional development. The aim of this study is to examine the interplay between maternal mental health, infants’ social-emotional development, and JVA, focusing on how maternal mental health and infants’ social-emotional competencies influence JVA at 12 months.

Methods The study included 300 mother-infant dyads from a prospective longitudinal cohort in Norway (RART, 2022–2025). Maternal mental health was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6-15 weeks postpartum. Infant social-emotional development was measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social and Emotional (ASQ-SE) at 6 months postpartum. Infants’ gaze following during a JVA task was recorded with a Tobii Pro Spectrum eye tracker at 12 months.

Results Descriptive statistics and zero-order correlations will be reported for JVA performance, maternal mental health scores, and social-emotional development measures. Regression analyses will assess whether maternal depressive symptoms (EPDS at 6–15 weeks) and infant social-emotional development (ASQ-SE at 6 months) predict JVA at 12 months, to explore how maternal mental health and social-emotional development contribute to the emergence of early social cognition.

Discussion This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between maternal mental health, infant social-emotional development, and JVA, highlighting JVA as an early indicator of social cognition.

Aim

To investigate the relationship between quality of General Movements (GMs) and neurodevelopmental outcomes in two-year-old infants born very preterm (VPT).

Method

Retrospective single-centre cohort study including infants born before 32 weeks’ gestation. GMs video recordings at 3 months corrected age rated with the Motor Optimality Score - Revised (MOS-R). Recordings were rated twice by raters blinded to neonatal or developmental outcomes. Child cognitive, language and motor development at 2 years was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition.

Results

The study included 316 infants [52.5% males, mean (SD) gestational age 28.7 (2.3) weeks, birth weight z-score -0.14 (0.85)]. The median MOS-R total score was 23 (range: 5-28). The mean cognitive composite, language and motor scores at two years were 102.0 (15.4), 92.1 (16.1), and 95.8 (15.3) respectively. Higher MOS-R total scores were related to better cognitive and motor development at two years. However, associations disappeared when controlling for number of severe neonatal morbidities.

Interpretation

While the quality of GMs at three months corrected age is associated with the infant's cognitive and motor development at two years, it might have no incremental predictive power over the number of severe neonatal morbidities.

Introduction: Crying is recognised as the earliest evolutionary expression of emotion and communication in human infants. Approximately 20% of infants worldwide exhibit excessive, persistent, or atypical crying behaviours, which are particularly prevalent in conditions associated with somatic health vulnerabilities and atypical development. Conversely, international literature reports that certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, are associated with a reduced intensity of crying as a signalling mechanism.

Aims: Our study aimed to understand and describe the crying characteristics of Hungarian children with Down syndrome under the age of 36 months, and to compare these data with the crying behaviour of typically developing infants and toddlers of the same age in nationally representative community samples.

Methods: The research project "Infancy in 21st Century Hungary" collected data on parents' perceptions of early childhood crying behaviour in nationally representative samples of two cohorts (2019-2020, n=980; 2023-2024, n=415), along with other important constructs of parenting and child behaviour. As a continuation of this research, a study was launched in early 2025 to measure parental perceptions and observations of crying in children with Down syndrome using a self-report questionnaire based on international literature.

Result: Here, we present some comparative descriptive data on crying behaviour and parental responses (e.g. intensity and frequency of crying episodes, parental reassurance strategies and levels of parental concern about crying) in typically developing children and children with Down syndrome. We also report on differences in the distribution of perceptions of crying according to socio-demographic and other background variables.

Conclusion: A comparative analysis of the crying behaviour of typically and atypically developing children, such as those with Down syndrome, may reveal specific characteristics and processes, as well as parental perceptions that are important to consider when designing educational and intervention programmes.

Emotional availability (EA) refers to parents' sensitivity towards their children without intrusiveness or hostility and to children's responsiveness to and involvement of their parents (Biringen et al., 2014). EA shapes children's socio-emotional development (McMahon et al., 2022). Limited research examined its stability from infancy to childhood, and the handful of studies primarily focused on term-born children or those at psychosocial risk (Bornstein & Putnick, 2021; Easterbrooks et al., 2012). The two studies examining EA stability in preterm infants focused on stability from age 6 and 18 months (corrected age; CA) to toddlerhood and preschool years (Salvatory et al., 2016; Stack et al., 2018).

We aimed to extend these works in two ways. First, by examining EA stability in mothers and preterm-born children from an earlier age, 3-4 months (CA), and across a more extended period, age 5-8 years. Second, by assessing maternal sensitivity in infancy across various modalities: touch, holding, lifting and putting down the infant; vocalization; and eye contact. Participants were 47 mothers and their preterm infants. Mothers' sensitivity across modalities and non-intrusiveness and infants' responsiveness and involvement during free play interaction were coded using the Mother & Infant Attunement scales (Lev-Enacab & Sher-Censor, 2012), developed for this study and adapted from the EA scales (Biringen, 2008). In childhood, mother-child play interactions involving fine motor, gross motor, and collaborative storytelling were rated using the EA scales (Biringen, 2008).

Controlling for relevant covariates (child age at Time 2 and negative life events between Time 1 and Time 2), MANCOVA revealed stability in maternal sensitivity and non-intrusiveness and child responsiveness and involvement over time, Wilk's lambda= .92, F (4, 41) =.85, p = .500; Univariate F’s (1, 44) < .29, p’s > .594. These results highlight the importance of fostering EA among mothers and their preterm infants from early age.

Event components (e.g., manner, path; action, result) are encoded differently across languages (Talmy, 1985). In Mandarin, state-change events are best expressed with resultative verb compounds (RVCs, ‘action verb - result verb’), while no-state-change events typically use action verbs. Mandarin-speaking children struggle to use action verbs for no-state-change events but successfully apply RVCs to state-change events (Chen, 2017). Previous studies demonstrated that factors such as inherence and inferability of manner (Allen et al., 2007; Papafragou et al., 2006) influence syntactic packaging of manner and path. Here, we investigated whether endstate salience ('cucumber breaks' vs. 'doll gets out of box') contributes to children's learning challenges with action verbs and RVCs.

A 2x2 design was employed, manipulating Change-of-State ('state-change' vs. 'no-state-change') and Endstate ('salient' vs. 'inconspicuous'). Ninety-six monolingual Mandarin-speaking children (M = 5.32 yrs, SD = 1.07, range: 3.1~6.8) were randomly assigned to either the salient or inconspicuous condition and asked whether a given RVC or action verb appropriately described an event. Each child evaluated both a state-change and a no-state-change event. Logistic regression model was applied to analyze acceptance rates as the dependent variable.

Results revealed a significant interaction between Change-of-State and Endstate (β = -5.96, p = .017) for RVCs. In state-change events, children accepted RVCs regardless of endstate salience. However, in no-state-change events, higher endstate salience reduced RVC acceptance.

No significant interaction was found (β = -1.35, p = .068) for action verbs. Not Endstate (β = -.45, p = .286), but Change-of-State significantly affected action verb acceptance (β = -2.51, p < .001). Overall, children showed a preference for applying action verbs to state-change events.

These findings suggest that Mandarin-speaking children are sensitive to the degree of endstate achievement when learning RVCs. Further exploration of action type may be necessary to understand the challenges in applying action verbs.

Attachment research suggests parents’ sensitivity to their children (i.e., reading children’s signals accurately and responding in timely, attuned ways) impacts their socio-emotional development, including behavior problems. Most research has focused on typically developing children, but growing evidence supports this notion in children with autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and psychiatric disorders (Biringen et al., 2022). Our study extended prior work to children with language disorders, focusing on under-studied Arab families and using a longitudinal design to address the predominance of cross-sectional research in clinical populations. We hypothesized that children of less sensitive mothers would show more behavior problems over time.

Forty Arab-Israeli mothers and their children aged 4–9 years (M_months= 68.63, SD = 16.47; 10 female) participated in Time1, and 31 of them participated in Time2 (two years later). Twenty-two children were diagnosed with stuttering, and 18 with expressive language delay. Maternal sensitivity was assessed at Time1 through observed mother-child interactions (narrating with a picture book and “social play” without physical objects), coded using the Sensitivity scale (Biringen et al., 2008) and through the Reaction to Speech Disfluency Scale (Humeniuk & Tarkowski, 2016). Higher scores on the latter indicate less attuned and more negative maternal responses when children stutter or struggle expressing themselves (e.g., irritation, speaking for the child). Children’s language disorder severity and verbal IQ were assessed using standard tests. Behavior problems were measured at Time1 and Time2 using mothers’ reports on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997).

Controlling for background variables, regression analyses showed that lower maternal sensitivity (observed and self-reported) predicted more behavior problems at Time1 and an increase in these problems by Time2.

These findings extend prior research to Arab-speaking children with language disorders, emphasizing the importance of maternal sensitivity in shaping socio-emotional outcomes and highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support these families.

Study objectives

Executive functioning (EF) is a critical factor associated with various neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes. Poor EF has been linked to higher externalizing and internalizing problems in school-age children. EF develop rapidly during early childhood, a period that also coincides with the emergence of socio-emotional problems in at-risk children. However, research on longitudinal early EF development and its associations with child mental health remains limited. The aim of the present study is to examine the associations between longitudinal EF profiles from infancy to 5 years of age and socio-emotional problems in children, as reported by parents at age 5.

Methods

The children in the sample were drawn from the longitudinal FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Children with available parent report of socioemotional problems at 5 years evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and longitudinal EF profiles based on assessments conducted at 8 months, 2.5 years, and 5 years of age were included (N=830). Children's longitudinal EF profiles were identified (Karonen et al., under review) using item response theory (IRT) and latent profile analysis (LPA). Three profiles were identified: (1) 'Below Average' (14.2%), where children consistently performed below average on EF tasks at all time points; (2) ' Lower Average' (56.0%); and (3) 'Higher Average' (29.8%). The latter two profiles were differentiated by their performance on the working memory task at age 5. Between-group differences in children's socioemotional problems will be tested using general linear modelling.

Results expected

We expect an association between child’s poorer early EF profile and higher internalizing and externalizing problems.

Conclusions

The longitudinal study design will offer valuable insights into the early developmental profiles of EF and their impact on children's socio-emotional well-being. Gaining a better understanding of how to identify children at risk for mental health problems is crucial for the early preventive interventions.

Several studies have shown that conversation-based activities are particularly effective in improving theory of mind and wellbeing among school-aged children. The objective of this study was to verify whether a conversation-based training is able to increase theory of mind, resilience, empathy, and adaptive coping strategies, and to simultaneously decrease maladaptive coping strategies in school-aged children. This goal was pursued using a randomized pre-post research design, with two groups receiving an identical training in different phases of the longitudinal intervention study. The sample was composed of 285 Italian children attending fourth and fifth grade of primary school (Mage = 10.00; SD = 0.57; girls = 121), of which 142 randomly assigned to the first experimental group (G1) and 143 assigned to the second experimental group (G2). At Time 1 (autumn), Time 2 (winter), and Time 3 (spring), children completed self-report questionnaires on the target constructs. The intervention lasted one month and consisted in four weekly sessions of a conversation-based training (each lasting 50 minutes). G1 received the training between Time 1 and Time 2, whereas G2 between Time 2 and Time 3. Overall, analyses conducted through linear mixed effects models revealed a significant time × Training Group interaction for coping strategies and resilience, with post-hoc tests showing a substantial reduction in internalizing coping strategies among fifth graders following the intervention t(299) = 4.926, p < 0.001. No significant variations emerged in the other constructs, neither in fourth nor in fifth graders. The present results suggest that a relatively short intervention based on group discussions of mental states, resilience and coping strategies, can reduce some forms of maladaptive coping strategies. However, only older children benefited from the training. Therefore, future studies will need to diversify the training contents depending on the age of the participants to achieve better results.

Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) refers to a parent's ability to reflect on their own internal mental and emotional states (thoughts, feelings, desires) as well as those of their child (Fonagy et al., 1991). It involves understanding that one’s own thoughts and feelings can be influenced and transformed by acknowledging the thoughts and feelings of the other, and has proven a fruitful direction in both theory and research, especially regarding sensitive parenting, parent-child interactions, and the formation of secure relationships. PRF is a critically important capacity for foster parents, considering the high levels of trauma and the emotional and behavioral difficulties often experienced by foster children. It helps foster parents tolerate and manage their children’s challenging behaviors and dysregulated emotional states, while also positively influencing the children’s attachment representations. However, to our knowledge, research on foster parents’ PRF is limited, especially regarding children in preschool and early school years, and completely absent in the Greek context.

The purpose of the present study, which is part of the first author's ongoing doctoral research on the formation of secure relationships between foster parents and young children, is to evaluate the PRF of foster parents in Greece. Participants were 30 foster parents, mothers and fathers, who foster children between the ages of 4 and 7. PRF has been assessed through the Parental Development Interview (PDI) (Fonagy et al., 1998), which evaluates PRF while also allowing for the overall exploration of the parent-child relationship in the present. The findings suggest that foster parents' PRF is associated with better parental care, greater parental satisfaction, and a sense of self-efficacy, as well as better communication within the family. At the same time, the findings highlight the significant need for psychoeducational intervention programs that focus on PRF.

Risky play is a fundamental aspect of children's development as, according to existing research, it promotes self-confidence, independence and psychological resilience, by helping children to overcome fears and to develop coping skills in challenging situations. However, in 21st century western societies, there is a tendency to avoid risky play in favour of children’s safety, while research on risky play is limited, especially in environments not designed for this purpose.
The presented research focuses on children's, parents' and teachers' perceptions and experiences regarding risky play. It is conducted in one preschool educational setting with cultural heterogeneity and the presence of children with disabilities, which gives an inclusive and empowering character to the study findings. Data will be collected through focus groups with the children, the parents and the preschool teachers of the particular setting, thus allowing for a deeper understanding of participants' experiences and perceptions. The research questions are:
1. How do children perceive and engage in risky play?
2. How does the school environment support or hinder children's risk taking in their play?
3. What are parents' and preschool teachers’ fears and concerns about risky play?
4. What is the role of preschool teachers in facilitating risky play?
The findings so far, highlight the desire of children to engage in risky play against adult restrictions, its contribution to developing children's self-confidence, independence and agency, as well as the diverse factors associated with risky play. At the same time, they highlight the importance of developing positive attitudes towards risky play as significant for children's development and the crucial role of parents and teachers in creating safe environments for risky play.

Early childhood peer relationships play a crucial role in social, cognitive, and emotional development. Peer rejection has been consistently linked to the emergence of externalizing behaviors and early antisocial tendencies in preschoolers. Understanding this relationship is essential for early intervention and prevention strategies to mitigate long-term behavioral maladjustment. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence to explore how peer rejection in early childhood contributes to the development of externalizing behaviors, including aggression, impulsivity, and antisocial traits, in preschoolers. Additionally, this review examines potential mediating and moderating factors influencing this relationship. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and ResearchGate, following systematic review guidelines. Inclusion criteria required studies to (1) be published in peer-reviewed journals between 2009 and 2024, (2) focus on preschool-aged children (3–6 years old), (3) investigate the association between peer rejection and externalizing behaviors or antisocial traits, and (4) utilize longitudinal, cross-sectional, or experimental designs. Findings consistently demonstrate that peer rejection in early childhood significantly predicts increases in externalizing behaviors, including physical and verbal aggression, noncompliance, and impulsivity. Peer rejection fosters social alienation, reinforcing maladaptive attitudes toward authority and increasing the risk of antisocial behaviors. Key mediating factors include poor emotion regulation, executive dysfunction, harsh parenting, and deficient social skills, while protective factors such as teacher support, social skills training, and structured intervention programs help mitigate the negative effects of peer rejection. Additionally, children who experience peer rejection are more likely to associate with antisocial peers and to interpret ambiguous social cues as hostile, further reinforcing maladaptive behaviors. These findings highlight the critical importance of early interventions focusing on emotion regulation and positive peer relationships. Future research should explore the effectiveness of early intervention programs and the longitudinal impact of peer rejection across different developmental stages.

Keywords: peer rejection, early childhood, externalizing behaviors, antisocial traits, social-emotional development

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there is a surge in research studies investigating the intersection of autism and gender diversity. These studies have shown that, in adolescents and adults, gender diversity is elevated in autistic individuals. Almost all prior studies focused on adolescents or adults, and very limited research has examined gender diversity in autistic children. The few prior studies including autistic children (3 studies on gendered play and 1 study on gender identity) relied heavily on parent reports, examined a limited number of outcomes, and did not assess cognitive abilities.

METHOD: The present study examined aspects of gendered play and gender identity in 120 children without intellectual disability (30 autistic boys, 35 non-autistic boys, 20 autistic girls, 35 non-autistic girls) aged 4–11 years. Vocabulary and abstract reasoning were also assessed. For gendered play, measures were employed to assess parent-reported composite play, observed toy play, self-reported activity preferences, self-reported toy preferences, and self-reported playmate preferences. For gender identity, children’s self-reports were used to assess own-gender similarity, other-gender similarity, gender contentedness, and wish to be of the other gender.

RESULTS: Consistently across all 9 play and identity outcomes, there were differences between autistic boys and non-autistic boys in the same direction, suggesting increased gender nonconforming play and increased gender identity variance in autistic boys. These differences in play and identity in boys were mostly medium or large and were mostly significant. Autistic and non-autistic boys did not differ in vocabulary, abstract reasoning, or age. No consistent, clear, or significant differences emerged in comparisons of autistic and non-autistic girls.

CONCLUSION: Gender diversity may emerge early in childhood in autistic individuals, although the developmental trajectory may differ for autistic boys and girls. The relatively unaltered development in autistic girls may be in part explained by masking and exposure to female peers and adults.

Background:

Mental health problems are prevalent among children, with 13.4% of young people worldwide meeting diagnostic criteria (Polancyzk et al., 2015). Anxiety problems are particularly common, yet few families access support (Reardon et al., 2018). Long waiting times and perceived stigma are frequently cited barriers to accessing treatment. One way to address these issues and increase access is to deliver treatment online and through parents.

A treatment to meet this need already exists – Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety (OSI). OSI is a digital, parent-led treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles, consisting of eight modules and therapist support. A recent randomised controlled trial (the Co-CAT study; Creswell et al., 2024) showed that OSI was clinically and cost effective, and acceptable to families and clinicians.

Methods:

Following the Co-CAT study, participating clinical teams were invited to continue using OSI in their routine practice (i.e. outside of a research study). This formed a service evaluation project called OSI-GROWS (GRowing OSI With Services). Initial outcomes from the OSI-GROWS project are promising and comparable to those in the Co-CAT study. However, we have little information about which groups of children do not benefit from OSI, and what characteristics may predict poorer outcomes.

Predictors of outcome in the OSI-GROWS project will be explored, along with predictors of acceptability and engagement. OSI collects child demographics, including age, gender, primary anxiety problem, and suspected or diagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions, that will be used as predictor variables.

Results and Discussion:

The findings from this study will increase our understanding of which families benefit least from online, parent-led treatments for child anxiety problems and inform adaptions to OSI to ensure that the intervention is as effective as possible for more families.

This poster presents findings from an exploratory study examining how families adapt and function when a child is diagnosed with a rare genetic condition. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight families, whose experiences are explored from three temporal perspectives—past, present, and future—shedding light on challenges, coping strategies, and evolving aspirations. The qualitative data reveal complex emotional trajectories, with families describing a profound initial impact of the diagnosis, a period of adjustment and adaptation, and varying degrees of hope and concern for what lies ahead.

To complement these qualitative insights, we also report aggregate data from 100 families raising a child with various rare genetic disorders (including Angelman syndrome, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Rett syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Dandy Walker syndrome and different types of Mucopolysacharidosis). Results indicate that many parents experience a notable decline in the quality of their relationship following the child’s diagnosis. However, this stress is accompanied by significant growth in certain aspects of self-actualization. Participants frequently reported deeper understanding of others, an enhanced sense of empathy, and a heightened sense of purpose or meaning in life.

By integrating qualitative and quantitative findings, this research highlights the multifaceted nature of family adaptation in the face of rare genetic conditions. The results underscore the importance of providing both emotional and practical support for parents, as well as interventions aimed at strengthening partner relationships. Ultimately, these insights may inform the design of targeted, holistic programs to better meet the needs of families navigating the challenges posed by rare diseases.

Mental health problems tend to cluster in urban areas, highlighting the significant impact of city living on psychological well-being (Krabbendam et al., 2021). Urbanicity emerged as a crucial factor in understanding the development of mental health issues (van der Wal et al., 2021). Urban stressors such as high population density, access to facilities and green space, and social cohesion have been linked to mental health outcomes. Research suggests that growing up in an urban environment increases the risk of developing mental disorders, including anxiety and depression (Penkelle & Kohler, 2014; Krabbendam et al., 2021).

Beyond individual mental health, urban environments may also shape family dynamics. Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with higher parenting stress (Spijkers et al., 2002) and increased child problem behavior (Sellström & Bremberg, 2006). However, previous studies primarily focused on socioeconomic status, overlooking other urban factors that may shape parenting and child development. Moreover, few studies have examined how urban stressors impact parenting behavior itself.

This cross-sectional study examined whether urbanicity-related factors relate to parenting and child behavior. We surveyed 169 Dutch parents (n = 127 mothers) with children aged 2 to 17 years (M_age = 8.75, SD = 4.42). Most participants lived in high-density neighborhoods (66.1%) with moderate to high socioeconomic status (67.7%). Parents provided self-reports on general health, stress, urban stressors, neighborhood social cohesion, parenting stress, parenting behavior, and child problem behavior. Using multiple regression models, we will analyze whether urbanicity (parents’ experiences of urban stressors, socioeconomic position, and population density) relates to parenting stress, parenting behavior, and child problem behavior. Results will be available in August 2025.

Understanding the relationship between the urban environment and parenting could provide valuable insights for designing more effective, context-aware parenting interventions. Our findings could also offer insight into moderation factors in intervention research.

Increasing evidence indicates that both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the unpredictability of a child's environment may increase the risk of subsequent mental illness. In this study, we investigate the associations between ACEs and the level of unpredictability in children’s living environments at age 9. Additionally, we explore the possible interaction effect of ACEs and unpredictability on children's mental health at the same age.

This study is part of the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study (Karlsson et al., 2017). At this stage, the sample included 81 children who participated in the study visit at age 9. Data collection is still ongoing. Unpredictability in the childhood environment was assessed using the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC, Glynn et al., 2022). ACEs were measured using the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-Events Screener (PEARLS). Children's mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach et al., 2000).

Children's reports of unpredictability were significantly correlated with their reports of ACEs (r = .047**). When comparing three groups based on ACE levels (low, moderate, and high), the level of unpredictability was higher in the high-ACE group (M = 7.07, SD = 5.82) compared to both the low-ACE group (M = 3.8, SD = 2.7) and the moderate-ACE group (M = 4.28, SD = 3.56) (F = 4.035, p = .021).

Preliminary findings suggest that ACEs and environmental unpredictability are linked, contributing to a potential cumulative risk to a child’s well-being. While the two measures are correlated, they account for only about 20% of shared variance and should therefore be considered independently. In the poster presentation, we will present these associations with a larger study sample. We will also explore the direct and interaction effects of ACEs and unpredictability on children's mental health outcomes.

Objective. While problematic internet use (PIU) has been widely studied in elder adolescents and adults, younger children remain underexplored. Researches often examine PIU in isolation, despite its strong links to screen time (ST) and mental health problems (e.g., Restrepo et al., 2020; Chen & Fan, 2024). These associations became particularly pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased ST and potentially exacerbated PIU and its psychological consequences. This study applies Latent Class Analysis with covariates to classify children (7–13 years) based on PIU, screen time, and emotional and behavioral difficulties, using a multidimensional approach to identify PIU profiles and examine the predictive role of age, gender, and parental education.

Methods. Data from 869 Lithuanian children (mean age = 9.94 years, 47.4% girls) were analyzed. The sample, collected between 2020 spring – 2023 winter (COVID and early post-COVID period), relied on parental reports of PIU (Compulsive Internet Use Scale), leisure ST, and total difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ).

Results. A three-class model provided the best fit. Among 7–13-year-olds, low-risk users (33.4%) showed moderate PIU and ST with low SDQ difficulties; moderate-risk users (54.9%) had higher PIU, increased ST, and elevated SDQ difficulties; high-risk users (11.7%) exhibited severe PIU, excessive leisure ST (~5 hrs/day), and significant emotional and behavioral problems. Older children and boys were significantly more likely to belong to the higher risk group, while parental education did not significantly predict risk level. Overall, demographic factors did not distinguish between moderate- and high-risk users.

Conclusions. As demographic factors alone do not explain risk transitions, additional individual or contextual factors may contribute. High-risk users not only had severe PIU but also had more emotional and behavioral difficulties and excessive leisure ST. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, developmentally sensitive interventions addressing ST regulation and mitigation of emotional and behavioral problems risks.

This research combines a systematic literature review and a qualitative study to deepen our understanding of how European youth define mental well-being, identify key influencing factors, and propose concrete actions for improvement. The literature review synthesizes qualitative studies on youth perspectives on mental well-being. A multidisciplinary search across electronic databases yielded 40,369 results, from which 23 studies were selected using AI-supported screening. Findings reveal that youth often conflate mental well-being with related concepts (e.g. mental health, quality of life, happiness), yet primarily describe it as an overarching sense of “feeling well” or “doing well.” They view mental well-being as complex, multidimensional, and deeply context-dependent, with strong links to their social environment—particularly the quality of their relationships, especially with parents and friends. Based on these insights, we propose a youth-informed conceptual framework that captures the broad range of influential factors while recognizing personal experiences and contextual influences. The qualitative study engages Dutch adolescents (aged 12–18) in focus groups, providing deeper insights into youth well-being through (1) a semi-structured discussion on key factors shaping mental well-being, (2) a co-creation exercise to assess and refine the youth-informed framework, and (3) a final discussion proposing concrete actions at multiple socioecological levels. By integrating a systematic literature review with direct youth engagement, this study bridges research and lived experience, providing both a broad conceptual overview and tangible recommendations. The findings offer valuable insights for future research, policies, and interventions aimed at promoting youth mental well-being across Europe.

Studies showed that the COVID-19 has affected people’s lives around the world but death rates varied across the contries. Research showed that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted not only parents but also children’s mental health. They experienced problems such as worry, loneliness, and anxiety (Orgiles et al., 2020), as well as an increase in their anxiety levels compared to the pre-pandemic phase (e.g., Hawes et al., 2020; Ravens-Sieberer et al., 2020). COVID-19-related anxiety, stress and experiences are found to be associated with increased mental health problems in mothers (Hart & Han, 2021) and also in their children. Thus, present study aimed to investigate children’s anxiety levels during the pandemic by controlling pre-pandemic levels of both mothers’ and children’s anxiety in Türkiye. Specifically, how mothers’ COVID-19 experiences mediated by their general anxiety levels during pandemic in predicting their children’s anxiety. Since children differentially effected by their environment the moderating roles of children’s temperamental traits (negative affect and sensory processing sensitivity) were also tested in the association between maternal and child anxiety levels during pandemic. Four moderated mediation models were tested by the Process Macro (Model 14; Hayes, 2018; see Figure 1). 324 mother-child pairs were recruited for this study and the measurements were collected both before the pandemic and during the pandemic. Findings suggested that maternal anxiety related to COVID-19 and mothers’ losses due to COVID-19 were both positively related to maternal general anxiety during the pandemic, which in turn, were significantly related to child anxiety indicating a full mediation model. Additionally, for the temperamental trait of negative affect, a moderated mediation model was marginally significant. Results will be discussed by comparing the findings from different countries.

In the present study, emphasis was placed on examining the contribution of factors related to executive functions according to the division of "hot" versus "cold" executive functions. Alongside the executive functions, factors related to anxiety and social anxiety were examined, as well as environmental factors related to the socio-economic background of the adolescents, including household income levels, and mediating and moderating variables related to gender and metacognitive abilities.

The final sample of the current study included 100 participants, adolescents from the Arab society in Israel, native Arabic speakers. The average age was 15.5 years with a standard deviation of 0.32.

To assess the executive functions, the participants' parents completed a brief questionnaire designed to evaluate executive functions ("hot" versus "cold"). In addition, the participants were tested on tasks assessing "hot" executive functions, such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test designed to assess "cold" executive functions, as well as a backward digit span task to assess working memory, associated with "cold" executive function.

The tendency for antisocial behavior among the participants was examined based on self-report using a questionnaire (Bendixen & Olweus, 1999), while levels of general anxiety and social anxiety were assessed through self-reports using anxiety questionnaires and a social anxiety questionnaire. Additionally, attitudes toward the tendency to use psychoactive substances were assessed with a shortened questionnaire. Finally, cognitive processes were evaluated through performance on Raven's Progressive Matrices test.

The study's findings particularly highlight the relationship between "hot" executive functions, especially self-regulation, emotional control, and risk-taking, and the tendency toward antisocial behavior. This relationship was not consistently reflected in the context of "cold" executive functions.

The findings of the study are discussed mainly in the context of the literature on executive functions and the development of antisocial personality.

Background: Naikan therapy, a psychotherapeutic approach from Japan, is said to deepen self- and other-awareness by reflecting on past experiences through three key questions. It is sometimes applied in educational settings. For children, instructional texts may be modified. For example, "What has this person done for me?" may be reworded as "Things to be thankful for," "What have I done for this person?" as "Things that made others happy," and "What difficulties have I caused this person?" as "Things to apologize for." However, a key feature of Naikan therapy is its emphasis on objective facts rather than subjective emotions. This raises the question of whether making instructional texts more subjective affects clients' recollections and experiences, leading to this investigation.
Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 112 participants aged 18 and older who had no prior Naikan therapy experience. Participants recalled both past and present periods using either conventional or modified instructional texts with altered expressions, then described their recollections and impressions. Considering the order effect, participants were randomly assigned to four groups in an online setting. However, for the final analysis, comparisons were made between two groups: the conventional and modified groups. Analysis was conducted using KH Coder, a text-mining software program.
Results & Discussion: Results suggest traditional instructional texts are less likely to interfere with Naikan-based recall. The conventional group tended to focus on their actions' impact on others, while the modified group searched for feelings of gratitude or apology from a self-perspective.
Limitations and Future Directions: This study was conducted with adults, and the same results may not necessarily apply to children. However, when implementing Naikan therapy for children, if modifications are made to the instructional texts for better comprehension, therapists need to provide appropriate explanations.

Online hate speech (OHS) is a form of cyberviolence that involves disseminating discriminatory content targeting specific groups based on characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. The rapid increase in OHS has emerged as a major public concern, particularly given its growing prevalence among young people. Despite the expanding body of research on OHS, little is known about adolescents’ perceptions and experiences—whether as direct targets or as bystanders. This study addresses this gap by exploring how adolescents in Italy understand, perceive, and respond to OHS.

Through a qualitative approach, six focus groups were conducted with adolescents aged 14 to 16, attending the 9th and 10th grades across Italy. A thematic analysis of the data, employing both deductive and inductive coding, identified three key categories: Definition and Characteristics of OHS, Impact on Targeted and Non-Targeted Individuals, and Responses to OHS.

Findings indicate that adolescents frequently conflate OHS with cyberbullying, perceiving it as aggression toward individual(s) rather than as systemic violence against marginalized groups. Additionally, the study highlights that exposure to OHS negatively affects not only those targeted but also bystanders, influencing their well-being and social behaviors. Adolescents' responses to OHS and their strategies to counter it were also explored, highlighting factors, that may influence their willingness to intervene (or not) to limit the spread of hate (i.e., victim blaming, individualism, belonging to a minority group).

This research underscores the need to address adolescents' misconceptions about OHS and foster critical awareness. Understanding how young people perceive and react to OHS is crucial for developing effective interventions that empower them to recognize, and counter OHS. The study’s findings provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and social media platforms aiming to promote digital citizenship and a safer online environment.

Photo self-disclosure has become one of the main activities among adolescents on social networking sites (SNS). Today, it is well established that adolescents spend a significant amount of time on TikTok, where they share various types of age-restricted content, including photos and videos depicting forbidden behaviors. However, it remains unclear how adolescents’ photo self-disclosure of smoking or posing with electronic or real cigarettes (SPERC) on TikTok is related to narcissism and parental mediation.

This study aims to examine the relationship between narcissism, parental mediation (both active and restrictive), and adolescents' SPERC on TikTok. To achieve this, a quantitative study was conducted (N = 299; M age = 15.35, SD age = 0.48; 62.5% female). Adolescents completed online questionnaires assessing their problematic photo disclosure on SNS and other psychosocial factors, including narcissism and parental mediation.

The results of a three-step hierarchical regression analysis indicate that both narcissism and restrictive parental mediation increase adolescents’ likelihood of engaging in SPERC on TikTok (F = 3.94, p < .05). This suggests that adolescents with higher levels of narcissism and those experiencing stricter parental regulation of social media use are more likely to engage in SPERC on TikTok.

These findings highlight the importance of considering narcissism and parental mediation when designing and implementing prevention or intervention programs aimed at reducing adolescents' SPERC self-disclosure on TikTok.

This research has received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No S-MIP-23-16.​

The relationship between parental monitoring (i.e, rule-setting and parental solicitation) and adolescents’ problem behaviors has been examined in many studies. Additionally, few studies have investigated how adolescents interpret rule-setting and parental solicitation and whether neighborhood characteristics moderate the link between parental monitoring and adolescent maladjustment. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined whether adolescents’ interpretations of monitoring practices change as a function of perceived neighborhood characteristics, and whether this has an impact on how they relate to problem behaviors in adolescents. This study aims to examine whether perceived neighborhood disorder moderates the association between parental monitoring practices, adolescents' interpretations of parental monitoring, and adolescents’ problem behaviors. The participants will be 300 Turkish adolescents aged between 14-18 years residing in neighborhoods that vary in terms of crime rates and socioeconomic status. Adolescent will report on parental rule-setting and solicitation (Parental Control and Parental Solicitation Questionnaires; Kerr & Stattin, 2000), interpretations of parental monitoring (anticipated negative feelings, perceptions of being intruded on, perceived mattering to parents, and perceived legitimacy of parental monitoring) by using 4 vignettes (Selçuk et al., 2022), neighborhood disorder (the Perceived Neighborhood Disorder Scale; Ross & Mirowsky, 1999), and internalizing and externalizing problems (the Youth Self Report/11-18; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). We anticipate that perceived neighborhood disorder will moderate (1) the relationship between parental monitoring practices and adolescents’ interpretations of parental monitoring and (2) the direct relations between parental monitoring practices and adolescents’ problem behaviors. As previous research does not provide a solid ground, we do not have a specific hypothesis as to whether adolescents who perceive higher levels of neighborhood disorder will report more benign or more negative interpretations, and more or less problem behaviors compared to those who perceive lower levels of neighborhood disorder. We will test our hypotheses with a moderated mediation path analysis.

This study examined the emotional reactions and coping resources of Bedouin teenagers (ages 12–18) following the events of October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Iron Swords War between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza. The study focused on the relationships between subjective exposure, personal sense of coherence, community resilience, and the use of different coping strategies, on the one hand, and anxiety, anger, and psychological distress, on the other. During 2024, 762 participants completed the study questionnaire, which addressed the different study variables. The findings revealed significant differences between the boys and the girls. Specifically, the girls reported higher levels of subjective exposure and emotional reactions. Personal sense of coherence was found to be a significant protective factor. In contrast, the use of nonproductive coping strategies increased distress. This study underscores the need for intervention programs tailored for this society and by gender, as well as training for educational professionals, to help them to identify and treat emotional reactions to stress in ways that take into consideration the Bedouin cultural context. This study enhances our understanding of how Bedouin teenagers cope with stressful situations and crises.

Background: Adolescence is a sensitive developmental period when exposure to violence can be particularly detrimental to mental health. While acute trauma responses are quite well-studied, reactions to ongoing violence require distinct consideration.

Objective: This study aimed to validate the Lithuanian version of the Continuous Traumatic Stress Response (CTSR) scale in adolescents and examine associations between violence exposure and CTS reactions.

Method: The sample comprised 321 adolescents (M(SD)_age=14.19(1.26); 56.4% female) from Lithuania. 54.5% of participants reported continuous violence exposure. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis with measurement invariance testing across genders and employed latent class analysis to identify CTS reaction patterns.

Results: The CTSR scale demonstrated strong structural validity and measurement invariance. Three distinct CTS reaction patterns emerged (low, moderate, high), with a suggested clinical cut-off score of ≥18. The scale showed good differential validity between violence-exposed and non-exposed groups across all subscales (Exhaustion/Detachment, Rage/Betrayal, Fear/Helplessness). Different forms of violence exposure (neglect, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse) significantly predicted higher CTS reaction patterns.

Conclusions: This study establishes the CTSR as a valid measure for adolescent populations while highlighting the significant relationship between violence exposure and continuous traumatic stress reactions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted adolescent mental health worldwide, with girls experiencing a more pronounced decline in well-being indicators than boys. This study aims to understand the reasons behind reduced well-being in girls by examining gender differences in coping strategies and their association with well-being indicators among adolescents in 7th and 9th grades. Data from the HBSC survey (N = 3,765; 52% boys and 48% girls) were analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). Results show that girls are more likely than boys to adopt avoidance coping, a strategy associated with poorer well-being, lower life satisfaction, increased psychosomatic symptoms, and poorer self-perceived health. Conversely, boys rated the received family support more positively than girls, which mediates the relationship between gender and distraction coping, contributing positively to well-being and health outcomes. In conclusion, boys and girls differ in their use of avoidance coping strategies, and this difference could contribute to distinct psychological functioning patterns, emphasizing the importance of more nuanced support systems for adolescents. These findings highlight the complex interplay between gender, coping strategies, and well-being indicators, offering a deeper understanding of how adolescents navigate mental health challenges.

In line with the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2001), this study investigates how social environmental factors, such as the quality of social relations in different domains (friendship, family and school), predict emotional well-being in adolescents through individual cognitive factors (Luijten et al., 2023), such as Emotion Regulation (ER) in adolescents of both native and migratory backgrounds.

It is proposed that Emotion Regulation mediates the association between adolescents’ social relationships, particularly the quality of friendships, and their emotional well-being.

We hypothesize that improvements in emotional regulation partially mediate the impact of school and social well-being on emotional well-being, with a smaller effect on friendships but a stronger effect in classroom settings for adolescents with a migratory background due to their greater sensitivity to structured socialization agents.

Results highlight the positive impact of school relationship quality on emotional regulation across both native adolescents and those with a migratory background. Good school relationships enhance adolescents’ emotional regulation, which is crucial for well-being, with emotional regulation mediating the link between school relationships and emotional well-being. However, this mediating effect is particularly significant for adolescents with a migratory background. This suggests that while school relationships are important for fostering emotional regulation in all adolescents, they play a pivotal role for those from different cultural backgrounds by providing support and stability to navigate the challenges of cultural adaptation. These findings underscore the importance of structured social environments in promoting emotional well-being, especially for adolescents facing cultural integration

Within the coparenting dynamic, mothers may either facilitate (maternal gateopening) or inhibit (maternal gateclosing) fathers’ involvement in childrearing, a process known as maternal gatekeeping (Allen & Hawkins, 1999). Previous research has shown that both types of gatekeeping were associated with mother/father-adolescent relationship, and that gateclosing was related to parental psychological control, highlighting the potential impact of maternal gatekeeping behaviors on family interactions. As such, it is possible that maternal gatekeeping would be associated with adolescent information management and adolescent problem behaviors via its relation with parenting practices. In this study, we aim to examine (1) the association of maternal gateclosing with adolescent disclosure and secrecy about their out-of home activities and adolescent problem behaviors with the intervening role of psychological control and (2) the association of maternal gateopening with the same outcome variables with the intervening role of parental autonomy support. Participants will consist of 200 Turkish adolescents aged 11–14 years and their mothers. Mothers will report on their gateopening and gateclosing behaviors (Maternal Gatekeeping Scale; Fagan & Barnett, 2003), and adolescents will report on parental psychological control (Psychological Control Scale; Barber, 1996), parental autonomy support (autonomy-support subscale of the Children’s Perceptions of Parents Scale; Soenens et al., 2007), self-disclosure and secrecy (Child Disclosure Scale; Stattin & Kerr, 2000), and their internalizing and externalizing problems (Youth Self-Report 11/18; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). We anticipate that (1) maternal gateclosing will relate to higher psychological control, which in turn less self-disclosure, more secrecy, and more internalizing and externalizing behaviors and (2) maternal gateopening will relate to higher autonomy support, which in turn more self-disclosure, less secrecy, and less internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Structural equation modeling with manifest variables will be used to test our hypotheses.

Keywords: maternal gatekeeping, psychological control, autonomy supportive parenting, information management, internalizing problems, externalizing problems.

Romantic breakups in late adolescence are often distressing due to the developmental stage's emotional upheaval and identity formation challenges (Erikson, 1968; Collins & Sroufe, 1999). The literature on romantic breakups distress is mainly focused on young adults. Adolescent’s breakup is studied in terms of risk factors (e.g., insecure attachment; Simpson, 1990), negative consequences (e.g., depression, anxiety; Monroe et al., 1999) and reasons for breakups (e.g., lack of communication; Laursen & Collins, 1994) but there is no research focusing on the concept of romantic breakups distress in adolescents. This study aims to address this gap by examining the understanding of romantic breakups in adolescence using a qualitative and a quantitative approach. In relation to first, we conducted four focus groups with high school students (N=90, grade: 10-11^th; 93.3% male, mean age=15.33, SD=.65) to explore their breakup experiences. Thematic analysis was used to identify common terms, emotional outcomes and strategies related to romantic breakups. In relation to the quantitative approach, we adapted the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS; Filed, 2009) to the adolescence age. Insights gained from the focus groups informed the adaptation of the BDS, a 4-point Likert scale with 16 items designed to assess psychological suffering caused by breakups. Preliminary analysis revealed that only 25.6% of the adolescent participants reported experiencing a romantic breakup within the past year. Items related to memories were more frequently endorsed, while those assessing the impact on future relationships were less frequent. Comparing our results with studies involving young adults (Shulman et al., 2013; Zapata-Vega et al., 2022), the mean levels found in adolescents appear to be higher, however, age-related, cultural and methodological differences should be considered when interpreting these findings. This study contributes to the initial understanding of distress management dynamics that arise from romantic breakup in adolescence.

First romantic experiences are a normative part of adolescent development and can be positive or negative for the protagonists depending on how they are managed. The perception of quality that adolescents have of their own relationships is an indicator factor of this management, which is related to previously acquired affective competences. Likewise, dating violence is one of the most significant risks related to the poor management of these first couples. This study examines the relationship between affective competence, perceived quality and dating violence with a structural equation model. A total of 1132 adolescents (55.83% girls) aged 12-20 years participated. All participants had been or were in a dating relationship. Affective competence was assessed using the AICQc (Viejo et al., 2020; 2025). The NRI (Buhrmester y Furman, 2008) was used to assess their perceived quality of their own relationships, and the CADRI (adapted from Benítez and Bandera, 2014) was used to assess perpetration and victimisation behaviours in the adolescent couple. Results showed that higher affective competence was related to lower perceptions of negative quality in the couple, which, in turn, was related to dating violence aggression and victimisation behaviours. Affective competence was also related to lower dating violence behaviours. These results reveal the role of affective competence as a possible protective factor for negative quality as well as dating violence in adolescent couples. Negative quality is also revealed as a risk factor for the development of aggression-victimisation behaviours within the couple. The results are discussed considering the development of affective competence strategies to initiate and manage relationships in order to prevent risks such as dating violence and to foster the development of relationships with a positive quality.

Introduction: Research on adolescent social media use has overlooked the study of the processes through which social media can impact peer relationships. Building on this, Nesi et al. (2018) introduced the "Transformation Framework," a new theoretical model for understanding the role of social media in transforming adolescents’ experiences. Social media, as a real social context, are characterized by eight specific features (i.e., asynchronicity, permanence, publicness, availability, cue absence, quantifiability, visualness, algorithm) that contribute to transform peer relationships by changing, for example, the frequency or intensity of certain experiences or requests. Since there is no existing measure of users' perception of the presence of these eight features, the aim of the present study was to create and validate the “Perceived Social Media Features Scale (PSMF).”

Method: Based on the conceptual definition of each feature, 32 items were created. A total of 1840 adolescents (M_age = 15.83, SD = 1.29; 59.8% F) indicated their level of agreement with each item on a 5-point scale, completing an anonymous self-report questionnaire. To test the factorial validity of the PSMF, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with 8 factors was performed and the internal consistency of each subscale was tested by calculating Cronbach’s alpha.

Results: Results confirmed an adequate fit of the model to the data: χ2 (432) = 1514.761, p < .001; CFI = .929; SRMR = .036; RMSEA = .037, 90% CI [0.035-0.039], with factor loadings ranging from .398 to .747 (p < .001). Cronbach's alpha showed acceptable values for each subscale, greater than .60. Invariance test confirmed the equivalence of the factorial structure across gender.

Conclusion: Although these results are preliminary, the PSMF in its current form appears promising and could represent an important contribution to the study of the role of social media in adolescents’ peer experiences

Unaccompanied immigrant minors (UIMs) represent a vulnerable group whose identity development can be significantly affected by their migration experiences and the absence of parental figures (Garcia & Birman, 2022; Daniel-Calveras et al., 2022). Cultural identity plays a critical role in the psychosocial adjustment of youth, particularly in multiethnic contexts, as a positive cultural identity is linked to better well-being and intercultural competence (Umaña-Taylor et al., 2014). However, interventions targeting cultural identity exploration and resolution are scarce for UIMs. This study aimed to explore changes over time in cultural identity exploration and resolution among UIMs in Italy who participated in an adapted version of the Identity Project, an 8-week intervention targeting ethnic-racial identity development (Umana-Taylor & Douglass, 2017). Between February and April 2023, 31 UIMs (Mage = 16.64, SD = 0.76, 55% from Eastern European and 45% from Northern African countries) participated in the intervention, and reported on their levels of cultural identity exploration and resolution at three time points: pretest (T1), posttest (T2; 10 weeks after pretest), and follow-up (T3; 37 weeks after pretest). Qualitative feedback post- intervention was gathered via focus groups at T1 and T2. Results indicated that heterogeneous individual trajectories for both exploration and resolution emerged. At posttest, more than half of the participants reported no significant changes, while the remaining participants showed increased curiosity toward their culture and a shifted attitude toward others. At follow-up UIMs showed a similar variety of responses. Descriptive survey data mirrored these findings, with approximately 50% of participants showing increased exploration from T1 to T2, although some returned to baseline levels by T3. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that individual differences may influence or even obscure intervention effects (Könen & Karbach, 2021), highlighting the need for personalized intervention strategies to support UIMs in their cultural adaptation.

Introduction: Cyberbullying represents a crucial health and socioeconomic problem in our world due to its stronger impact on youths’ psychological and physical health. Although a variety of studies investigated predictors of this phenomenon, limited research focused specifically on the three different roles that youths may have in cyberbullying (i.e., victim, bully, or bystander), and further limited evidence was provided for the role of Emotional Self-Efficacy Beliefs in these roles, both concurrently and prospectively.

Aims: Thus, the general aim of the present work was to examine individual factors associated with cyberbullying roles in middle adolescence, controlling for age and gender, in a short time interval of three months. We considered temperamental characteristics (i.e., Sadness and Impulsivity), individual self-regulatory emotional beliefs (i.e., Self-efficacy in positive emotional expression and Self-efficacy in negative emotional management), and social media engagement as predictors of being cyber-victimized, being cyberbully, or being cyber-bystander.

Method: 606 Italian youths (M_age=15.25; SD=0.51; 60%males) completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale and the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire for measuring Sadness and Impulsivity; the Emotional Self-regulatory Self-Efficacy Scale for measuring Self-Efficacy in expressing positive emotions and in managing negative emotions, and the Social Media Engagement Scale at T1. After three months, the Florence Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization Scale was used to collect information about youths’ level of involvement in victimization, bullying or bystanding activities online.

Results: Path analysis models showed that Emotional Self-efficacy plays a role in each of the three roles considered, and in particular, lower SE in expressing positive emotions was associated with the cyber-victim and the cyber-bystander roles, while lower SE in managing negative emotions was associated with the cyber-bully role. Temperament determined the probability of being online victims or bullies but not bystanders, and higher social media engagement predicted the probability of being cyber-bully or cyber-bystanders but not victimized.

Perceived Empathic Self-Efficacy (PESE) refers to people's belief in their ability to empathize with others, respond compassionately to their distress, and recognize the emotional impact of their actions (Bandura et al., 2003; Di Giunta et al., 2010). PESE may be a protective factor against various negative outcomes, including loneliness defined as the subjective dissatisfaction with one's social and relational life (Shevlin et al., 2014). Individuals with higher levels of PESE tend to be more other-oriented, which fosters positive social connections and, in turn, helps reduce feelings of loneliness (Eisenberg et al., 2010).

Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor within the general population, particularly among young people (Victor & Young, 2012), and it has become more prevalent over recent decades (Bueker et al., 2021). This study investigates its putative protective role among adolescents aged 14 to 15 years. Over 28 days, once a day, we asked 78 adolescents (71% boys) through a smartphone app to answer questions about loneliness and PESE. We conducted a multilevel regression analysis to investigate the protective effect of PESE on loneliness at the between level (i.e., interindividual differences) and within-person level (i.e., intraindividual changes). Our findings indicated that PESE negatively predicted daily loneliness both at the interindividual (β=-.40; p=.02) and intraindividual levels (β=-.23; p<.01) among adolescents. These results imply that both higher levels on average of PESE and higher-than-expected peaks of PESE may foster stronger social connections, thereby diminishing feelings of loneliness and fulfilling communal needs (Bakan, 1966). Understanding the role of PESE in adolescents can inform the development of interventions to address the daily challenges young people face. By enhancing PESE, these interventions could promote social competencies, reduce loneliness, and ultimately improve overall well-being.

Fan psychology is a mental state which we have when we act as a fan, for example, going to a concert. In Japan, previous studies on fan psychology focused on positive aspects of fan psychology and suggested that it promoted well-being (Matsumoto, 2022; Moriyama, 2022), however, previous studies conducted abroad focused on negative aspects of it and suggested that it negatively affected well-being (Maltby, 2001; Maltby, 2006; Reeves, 2012; Scharf, 2015). Consequently, findings on fan psychology are inconsistent between Japanese and foreign studies. Moreover, previous studies conducted abroad suggested that the intensity of fan psychology related interpersonal relationships and tendency of dependence, but it was not examined well in Japan. The purposes of this study were to develop the Fan Psychology Scale which included both foreign and domestic aspects and examine its factor structure, to examine the effects of fan psychology on well-being, and to examine formation of fan psychology.

In this study, fan psychology, well-being, and interpersonal relationships were investigated on web in a sample of 139 Japanese between the ages of 18 and 63, using Fan Psychology Scale which we developed, MDAS (Sato, Yasuda & Kodama, 2001) and ECR-RS (Komura, Murakami & Toda, 2016).

As a result, we found that fan psychology may be centered around highly intense and negative elements. We suggested that there are no large differences in fan psychology between Japan and other countries. In addition, as well as earlier studies conducted abroad, this study suggested that the high-intensity fan psychology had pathological aspect and negative effect on well-being in Japan as well as abroad. Moreover, this study suggested that poor interpersonal relationships may lead to the formation of maladaptive fan psychology. Therefore, this study suggested the need to examine not only positive aspects of fan psychology but also negative aspects of it in Japan.

Street harassment is a persistent societal challenge rooted in power imbalances, such as gender inequality and sexual double standards. Despite global efforts to prevent street harassment, little attention has been given to the role of youth professionals—those working with youth at the neighbourhood or street level on a daily basis—in addressing this issue.

Youth professionals build long-term relationships with youth, promoting youth’s self-confidence, sense of belonging and pro-social behaviour. This makes them uniquely positioned to contribute to various approaches that can aid in street harassment prevention. On the other hand, their own identities and experiences likely shape how they perceive street harassment, and how they think potential perpetrators need to be approached.

This study explores how youth professionals in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, engage with youth (aged 12-24) who (may) participate in street harassment. More specifically, by applying an inductive data analysis on semi-structured interviews with n = 25 youth professionals, it aims to uncover 1) their perceptions of street harassment, 2) their strategies to approach and communicate with (potential) street harassment perpetrators, and 3) how the first shapes the second.

Preliminary findings indicate that youth professionals perceive street harassment among youth as primarily driven by peer pressure and social norms shaped by social media. However, their strategies to approach and communicate with (potential) street harassment perpetrators often focus on changing individual beliefs and strengthening empathy by leveraging personal relationships. Our findings suggest that it is essential to equip youth professionals with more comprehensive strategies for reducing street harassment and promoting safer spaces for women and minority groups.

Background: The transition to adulthood presents significant challenges for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, limited research has explored how readiness for adulthood differs between youth with and without ASD and the factors that are associated with this transition in Taiwan.

Objective: This study examines the associations between youth’s executive function (EF), parenting styles, and youth’s readiness for adulthood among youth with and without ASD.

Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited parents of youth aged 10–17 years with and without ASD in Taiwan. Parents completed three questionnaires: (1) Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Responsibility Domain, measuring readiness for adulthood; (2) Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2), assessing youth’s executive function; and (3) Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire. Parents of youth with ASD also completed the Social Communication Questionnaire-Lifetime. Linear regression models analyzed the associations of parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive), EF, ASD diagnosis, youth’s age, and youth’s sex with readiness for adulthood.

Results: Thirty-four parents of youth with ASD and fifty-seven parents of typically developing youth participated in the study. Three regression models were fitted. In the authoritative parenting model, the youth’s age, ASD diagnosis, EF, and authoritative parenting were significantly associated with youth’s readiness for adulthood, while sex was not (R² = .53, F(5, 85) = 18.84, p <0.001). In the authoritarian parenting model, youth’s age, ASD diagnosis, and EF were significant, while sex and authoritarian parenting were not (R² = .45, F(5, 85) = 14.08, p <0.001). In the permissive parenting model, youth’s age and EF were significant, while sex, ASD diagnosis, and permissive parenting were not (R² = .45, F(5, 85) = 14.04, p <0.001).

Conclusion: EF and authoritative parenting may be associated with readiness for adulthood among youth with and without ASD. These findings highlight the importance of fostering EF skills and supportive parenting to enhance the transition to adulthood.

Aggression, which is a common and remarkably damaging problem, has its roots in stress-responsive systems. Although children display a wide range of individual differences in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function, numerous initial conditions of stress reactivity may reach the same end state. In other words, both hyper- and hypo-responses to stress tend to induce heightened risks for aggressive behavior. Informed by equifinality in developmental psychopathology, this study examined the U-shaped relationship between the multilocus genetic profile score (MGPS) of five HPA axis genes and aggression in the context of family adversity in two samples. The participants were, respectively, 983 Chinese adolescents (51.7% girls; mean age of 12.32 years at first assessment) and 522 young adults (53.8% females; mean age of 19.46 years). A U-shaped relationship between the MGPS and aggression was observed in the adolescent sample but only among those who reported high negative parenting. Such nonlinear relation between MGPS of HPA and aggression among adolescents exposed to family adversity was replicated in the young adult sample, with both low and high MPGS carriers exhibiting high aggression when exposed to higher levels of childhood abuse. These findings inform our understanding of how additive genetic variants in the HPA axis and its response to adversity are involved in the etiology of aggressive behavior. It is likely that, because of the U-shaped relationship, the association between HPA genetic function and aggression is more complex than the general perspective. Findings also inform a nonlinear genetic effect such that different initial conditions predisposed by genetic factors may reach the same end state and highlight the value of taking an equifinality perspective when investigating the etiology of aggression.

This study examines the relations between prosocial behavior—defined as voluntary, intentional actions that benefit others (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998)—loneliness (i.e., subjective perception of discontent with one's social and relational life; Shevlin et al., 2014, and both hedonic (i.e., Subjective assessment of one’s life satisfaction and happiness (Ryan & Deci, 2001) and eudaimonic well-being(i.e., actualization of human potential in alignment with personal goals, including concepts like meaning in life and closeness to others) in young adults (18–35 years). We employed an innovative methodological approach integrating randomized intrapersonal encouragement within a dynamic perspective.

Using the Within-Person Encouragement Design (WPED; Schmiedek & Neubauer, 2020) within the Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) framework (Hamaker et al., 2018), we implemented randomized encouragement to manipulate prosocial behavior at the intrapersonal level. For 21 consecutive days, participants completed a daily questionnaire assessing their prosocial behavior and transient loneliness. Additionally, on 11 non-consecutive mornings, they received smartphone messages encouraging them to engage in more prosocial actions than usual.

Findings revealed that directly encouraging prosocial behavior did not significantly reduce transient loneliness on the same day nor did it enhance hedonic or eudaimonic well-being. However, overall daily prosocial behavior—including spontaneous behaviors—was associated with lower transient loneliness and higher levels of well-being. Specifically, on days when participants engaged in more prosocial behavior than their usual baseline, they reported reduced transient loneliness (β = -0.32) and increased hedonic (β = 0.32) and eudaimonic well-being (β = 0.44).

These results suggest that while externally prompted prosocial behavior may not yield immediate benefits, spontaneous prosocial engagement plays a crucial role in reducing loneliness and enhancing well-being. This aligns with the theoretical framework of Agency and Communion (Bakan, 1966), emphasizing the importance of self-initiated prosociality in fostering social and psychological flourishing.

Responses by governments and organizations to mitigate the health risks of the COVID-19 virus included lockdowns and many restrictions placed on citizens during multiple waves of the pandemic. These policies were primarily focused on the health risks. However, over time, it became clear that these responses had negative effects upon the mental health of vulnerable populations, including university students. Lockdowns and restrictions of social gathering interrupted individuals’ typical coping strategies to deal with pandemic stressors. Coping strategies are a mediating factor between a stressful event and it’s emotional and behavioral impact on an individual.

We conducted a study with three areas of interest: (1) discover what coping strategies students were using after 1 year of multiple waves of the pandemic and lockdowns, (2) learn how effective various coping strategies were in buffering against depression, anxiety and stress, (3) discover how students’ coping strategies changed or adapted during the pandemic period. One year after the pandemic began, a study was conducted in person with 180 undergraduate students at a university in the U.S. Coping strategies were measured with the Brief COPE and depression, anxiety and stress were assessed with the DASS-21. A scale based on the Brief COPE was created to assess perceived changes in their coping strategies. Avoidant and approach coping strategies were analyzed related to their changes during the pandemic and their correlation with anxiety, depression and stress. Females reported significantly higher scores in depression, anxiety and stress. Both males and females reported increasing multiple approach coping strategies during the pandemic, yet this did not appear to be an adequate buffer. The degree of distress was most closely correlated with avoidant coping. Distress was significantly correlated with the specific strategies of Behavioral Disengagement, Self-Blame and Venting. Results suggest that interventions should address the ineffective use of avoidant coping strategies.

Imposter syndrome (IS) is a difficulty in internalizing success, attributing it to external factors. Using social media for self-presentation and self-recognition triggers imposter syndrome by comparison with others. Low self-concept autonomy increases imposter syndrome, stressing the external input. The main assumption is that motives of self-presentation and self-recognition on social media are associated with IS, and the relation is mediated by social comparison orientation and autonomy of self-concept.

The participants (N=312, 60 males) filled The Clance IS Scale, Personal Self-Concept (Goni et all 2011), Motives to use Social Networks (Pertegal et all 2019), Self presentation scale (Bodroža & Jovanović, 2016) and Comparison Orientation (Gibbons & Buunk,1999).

Results show that social comparison orientation fully mediates the relation between social media use for self-presentation and IS, and partially mediates the relation between social media use for self-recognition and IS (Process, model 4). Self-concept autonomy partially mediates the relation between social media use (self-presentation and recognition) and IS. Together, social comparison and autonomy fully mediate the relation between social media use and IS.

Developing an autonomous self-concept, decreasing the importance of social comparison and limiting social media use, help decrease feelings of imposture, by creating an internalized and stable self, and an increased sense of self-worth and self-confidence.

Perfectionism and impostor phenomenon are often studied separately, yet they share psychological mechanisms such as fear of failure, self-doubt, and sensitivity to external evaluation. While perfectionism is typically a drive for flawlessness, impostor phenomenon reflects a persistent fear of being exposed as incompetent despite evident success. Though highly correlated, the relationship between these constructs remains unclear—does perfectionism fuel impostorism, or are they distinct forms of self-evaluation shaped by external pressures?

This literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed empirical studies from the past decade, focusing on college students and emerging adults. Search terms addressed both constructs and intersectional identities, and a systematic search of ERIC via ProQuest and PsycINFO using the Boolean string (perfection OR exceptional* OR conscientiousness OR "performance standards" OR "impostor phenomenon") AND ((BIPOC OR "of color" OR minoriti* OR marginali*) N5 (students OR womn OR girls OR female)) yielded 97 articles. After screening, 14 peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters were selected.

A two-stage screening and two-pass coding process were used to identify relevant studies and categorize them by definitions, methods, findings, and theoretical frameworks. Themes were synthesized to examine how perfectionism and impostor feelings overlap and diverge, particularly in academic contexts shaped by race and gender.

Findings suggest socially prescribed perfectionism is especially linked to impostor feelings, underscoring the role of external expectations in reinforcing self-doubt. Yet, the interaction between these constructs across diverse academic and sociocultural settings remains underexplored.

This poster presents key points of convergence and divergence between the two constructs, highlights theoretical gaps, and poses questions for future research—particularly the need for longitudinal, context-sensitive studies. By offering an integrated, intersectional perspective, this review refines how we conceptualize perfectionism and impostor phenomenon in academic development.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood involves significant challenges, such as entering the workforce, achieving financial independence, and forming stable romantic relationships. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the factors that, in the face of these daily challenges, may serve a protective function for young adults' psychological well-being, which encompasses fundamental aspects necessary for positive individual functioning, such as a sense of purpose and connection with others (Ryff, 1989).

Research has shown that engaging in prosocial behavior, which involves intentionally helping others without expecting anything in return (Eisenberg et al., 2006), can enhance psychological well-being by fulfilling relational needs and fostering positive affect (King & Hicks, 2021). However, studies examining this relationship on a daily basis are lacking.

Using daily diaries over a 21-day period, this study aims to investigate how prosocial behavior contributes to daily psychological well-being, considering both between-person differences and within-person fluctuations, while controlling for gender, age, and daily negative life events.

The study involved 178 young Italian adults (40% men, 60% women), aged 19-35 years (M = 25.49, SD = 3.52). At the between-person level, those who reported more prosocial behaviors across the 21 days also experienced higher psychological well-being (β = 0.21; p < .002). At the within-person level, on days when participants behaved more prosocially than usual, they reported greater well-being compared to their average across the study period (β = 0.25; p < .001). These findings remained significant even after accounting for gender, age, and daily negative life events. These results highlight that helping others daily makes young adults feel more satisfied, authentic, and able to build meaningful relationships, despite life's challenges.

In practical terms, the study suggests that promoting interventions aimed at increasing prosocial behaviors (e.g., volunteering, awareness campaigns, support groups) could enhance young adults' psychological well-being on a daily basis.

Identity styles are a concept that explains the individual differences in information-processing and problem solving about identity, which is key for understanding the development and well-being of young people. Berzonsky (1989) describes three distinct identity styles: Diffuse-avoidant, informational, and normative identity styles. In the present study, the effects of parenting on identity styles are examined, and to explore the underlying mechanisms, a Self-Determination Theory-based approach is adopted. The purpose of the study is to examine the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS) in the relationship between perceived parenting behaviors (autonomy-support and involvement) and identity styles. Study sample is consisted of 265 undergraduate students. Data was collected using demographic information form, Perception of Parents Scale (POPS), Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs (BMPN) Scale, and Identity Styles Inventory-5. Hypothetical model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling. Results revealed that data showed good fit with the model (χ2/sd = 2,03; RMSEA=0,06; GFI=0,91; CFI=0.96; NFI=0.91; SRMR=0.06). The path from mothers’ behaviors to BPNS was statistically significant (r=.68; p<.05), and BPNS predicted all three of the identity styles (diffuse-avoidant, informative, and normative identity styles; r=-.70, .36, -.23; p<.05, respectively). However, fathers’ behaviors were not predictors of BPNS (r=.07; p>.05). The indirect effects of mothers’ behaviors on identity styles were found to be at different levels, all were statistically significant. 52% of the variance in basic psychological need satisfaction; 49% of the diffuse-avoidant identity style; 13% of the informative identity style; and 05% of the normative identity style were explained by the model. Mothers’ behaviors predicted all of the three identity styles with the mediation of basic psychological needs satisfaction. However, indirect effects of the fathers’ behaviors found to be insignificant. Findings are discussed in light of relevant literature.

*This presentation is supported by TÜBİTAK 2224-A Grant Program for participation in scientific meetings abroad.

This study aimed to examine the extent to which climate anxiety and ecological self-efficacy predict pro-environmental behavior among youth in Croatia. Specifically, we investigated whether these psychological factors remain significant predictors after controlling for sociodemographic variables (i.e., gender and age).

A convenience sample of 458 university students (M = 21.75, SD = 2.94, age range: 18–44 years) participated in the study, with a slightly higher representation of male participants (N = 249; 54.4%). Participants completed the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (Clayton & Karazsia, 2020), the Environmental Self-efficacy Scale (Huang, 2016), and the Proactive Environmental Behavior Questionnaire (Huang, 2016). Additionally, they provided sociodemographic information, including gender, age, and socioeconomic status.

Correlation analyses indicated significant associations between gender, climate anxiety, ecological self-efficacy, and proactive environmental behavior. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that gender, climate anxiety, and ecological self-efficacy jointly accounted for 20.0% of the variance in pro-environmental behavior. The findings suggest that women, individuals with heightened climate anxiety, and those with stronger perceptions of ecological self-efficacy are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors.

These results underscore the psychological determinants of environmental engagement and highlight the importance of fostering ecological self-efficacy as a means of promoting sustainable behaviors among youth.

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Having a child who has experienced abuse or neglect, where the parents themselves have also undergone similar experiences, is referred to as the intergenerational transmission of child malteratment or the cycle of abuse. The continuation of this cycle results in more children being affected by malteratment. Therefore, identifying the factors involved in the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment is important. This study examines parental difficulties in emotion regulation and perceived social support as variables related to the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. The study was conducted with 632 university students (83% female) and their mothers. The ages of the participating university students ranged from 18 to 25 (X̅= 20.25, SD = 1.44), while the ages of the mothers ranged from 36 to 68 (X̅= 47.63, SD = 4.96). Data were collected from university students using a Demographic Information Form and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33); mothers completed a Demographic Information Form, CTQ-33, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form. Based on the scores obtained from the CTQ-33, the experiences of abuse and neglect were determined for both students and mothers. Four transmission groups were formed based on the abuse or neglect experiences of the mothers and students: 1) Control (no experience of maltreatment for both mother and child), 2) Initiator (no experience of maltreatment for the mother but experience present for the child), 3) Breaker (experience of maltreatment for the mother but not for the child), and 4) Sustainer (experience of maltreatment for both parent and child). The transmission groups were compared regarding sociodemographic characteristics, mothers' difficulties in emotion regulation, and perceived social support, and the results were discussed in the context of existing literature. We aim to enhance the literature regarding the mechanisms involved in the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment.

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on sexual activity as a form of self-injury. In Sweden, the concept of sex as self-injury (SASI) has been studied. However, in Japan, there have been no studies that have examined sexual activity from the framework of self-injury. The purpose of this study is to clarify “what women who engage in sexual activity as self-injury feel under what circumstances in Japan” by using the SASI concept in an interview survey.

Five females participated (Mean age = 30.6, SD = 11.6). Semi-structured interviews were conducted online. The interview data were transcribed and analyzed by adopting the modified grounded theory approach(M-GTA).

Women who engaged in sexual activity as self-harm had a very low image of themselves and held values about sexual activity influenced by such a low self-image even before they engaged in such sexual activity. In the loop of sexual activity as self-injury, they felt a strong sense of psychological discomfort. Despite such discomfort, they sometimes felt that it was consistent with their low self-image and felt relief. These reinforced the low self-image and the value of sexual activity, and sexual activity as self-injury continued. In general, ambivalent feelings were always held toward sexual activity as self-injury. In some cases, these self-injurious sexual activities were repeated to harm themselves intentionally, and in other cases, they broke out of the loop and recognized that the acts were self-injurious. In addition, all the sexual activities were done with their consent. On the other hand, they also expressed their selfishness and doubts about feeling hurt despite their consensual sexual activities.

This study suggests the need to view sexual activities from the framework of self-injurious behavior in Japan.

Sexual orientation is closely tied to intimacy, a key developmental task in adulthood. The degree of attraction to specific targets varies among individuals and may fluctuate throughout even within individual development. Existing scales often measure specific sexual orientations separately, but no comprehensive scale simultaneously addressing heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, and pansexuality has been identified.

This study aimed to (1) develop a "Comprehensive Sexual Orientation Scale" to measure diverse sexual orientations and evaluate its reliability and validity, and (2) examine differences in sexual orientation trends across developmental stages through age comparisons.

The scale includes three subscales: (Ⅰ) eight items measuring sexual attraction to men, (Ⅱ) eight items measuring sexual attraction to women, and (Ⅲ) six items measuring pansexual tendencies. Items were developed through expert feedback and cognitive interviews, rated on a seven-point Likert scale. Data were collected from 921 Japanese-speaking individuals aged 18–69 via the Tokyo Rainbow Pride event and an online survey. Participants also answered questions about sexual experiences, sexual desire (SDI-2) for convergent validity, and mental health (K6) for discriminant validity.

The scales showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > .90) and strong structural validity (SRMR < .15). Construct validity was supported, with 75% of the hypotheses confirmed. Cutoff values were calculated using ROC curves: 17 points for (Ⅰ), 26 points for (Ⅱ), and 13 points for (Ⅲ). Individuals exceeding cutoffs for both (Ⅰ) and (Ⅱ) but not (Ⅲ) were categorized as having bisexual tendencies, while those below all cutoffs were categorized as having asexual tendencies.

Age comparisons revealed that among those who identify as women, sexual attraction generally decreased with age after their twenties, potentially reflecting developmental differences. Pansexual tendencies also declined with age across genders, possibly influenced by social factors such as increased awareness of gender and sexuality.

The concept of ibasho, indigenous to Japan, is defined as a place where one feels they particularly want to be in their daily life. Unlike a purely physical location, ibasho encompasses subjective intentions and emotions, deeply intertwining with Japanese cultural psychology. Japanese individuals assign meaning to a place not based on its physical attributes but on the emotions they experience there (Takashina, 2015). This reflects a cultural belief that the self and one’s place are closely interconnected, with personal identity being rooted in the existence of ibasho (Kitayama, 1993).

The Children and Families Agency of Japan (2024) has proposed that maintaining multiple ibasho is essential for leading a healthy and fulfilling life. While multiple studies in Japan have suggested the importance of ibasho for well-being, few have examined the specific types of ibasho and their contributions to well-being. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 individuals in emerging adulthood, aged 18 to 30(mean age = 25.73, SD = 3.28) who identified as having two or more ibasho. The findings revealed that feelings of being “recognized” and “needed” within one’s ibasho are crucial for Japanese individuals. These results align with the theory of interdependent self-construal prevalent in Japanese culture (Markus & Kitayama, 1991), suggesting that cultural characteristics significantly shape the structure and importance of ibasho. Additionally, the study highlights that maintaining ibasho with varying functions plays a vital role in sustaining individual well-being. Humans possess a fundamental need for attachment to places (Relph, 1976). From the perspective of well-being, while ibasho is often regarded as a culturally unique concept in Japan, its psychological significance may extend beyond Japan, offering valuable insights for psychological research in other cultural contexts.

Introduction

Subjective beliefs of human development have an action-guiding function for one’s own development. Developing an instrument for the economic assessment of the subjective understanding of development is useful for various fields of practice e.g. clinical psychology, education (e.g. identification of maladaptive developmental orientations; prevention of problematic developmental pathways), etc.. The importance that people assign to (1) their own activities (2) external factors and (3) autonomous processes for human development is decisive for the present model for assessing the subjective understanding of development.

Method

A sample of n=299 people (age:M=22.21(SD=4.35)) got a questionnaire containing 50 development-related statements. The statements represent central domains of scientific development theories such as changeability, influence, etc. were evaluated by the respondents. A theoretically based three-factor-model of subjective understanding of development was derived. Each factor ((1)actional-orientated understanding,(2)ecological-orientated understanding, (3)understanding of development as autonomous process) consists of 4 Items (out of the 50 original items). A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to confirm the factorial structure. In addition to the exact fit, the fit indices (Cmin/df, CFI, RMSEA) were used to assess the model fit. The threshold values according to Hu and Bentler (1999) are applied. Internal consistency (a) and the item discriminability (r_tt) are calculated as well.

Results

The results show an acceptable model fit (χ²(51)=94.52,p<.001,Cmin/df=1.85,CFI=.908,RMSEA=.054[KI90:.036-.070]). The internal consistency, item discriminability and factor loadings for each factor are as followed: Factor 1: actional (β=.51-.74,a=.73,r_tt=.42-.61), Factor 2: ecological (β=.33-.61,a=.58,r_tt=.25-.44), Factor 3: autonomous(β=.15-.66,a=.47,r_tt=.15-.66).

Conclusion

The dimensional structure was confirmed. The results support the measurement accuracy of the first factor (actional-orientated understanding of development). Factor 2 (ecological-orientated understanding of development) and factor 3 (understanding of development as autonomous process) could be modified for better reliability. The current model enables an economic assessment of the basic subjective understandings of development. Possible modifications of the model are discussed.

Background. Having children is for women a major factor of personal satisfaction, validation and conformity to social expectations (Alamin et al 2020). The relation with medical personnel (Gameiro et al, 2013) and support from the social and family environment (Kong et al , 2018) are very important in coping with infertility, as well as treatment related empowerment diminishing its negative psychological effects (Massarotti et al 2019).

Method. The participants are 335 women aged 22 to 46 years old, facing infertility for at least 1 year. They filled the Fertility problem inventory (FPI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Interpersonal Processes of Care (IPC), Treatment-related Empowerment Scale(TRE) and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS) for the dependent variable plus a demographic questionnaire. We performed several multiple linear regressions to test the impact of perceived support from family, friends, medical personnel and patient empowerment on life satisfaction.

Results. From the 5 FPI subscales only relationship concerns is a significant negative predictor of SWLS (β= -.35, p<.001). From the MSPSS scale only the support from a significant other is a significant positive predictor of SWLS (β= .38, p<.001). TRE is a significant predictor of SWLS (β= .13, p=.008) while none of the subscales of IPC significantly predict SLWS.

Discussion. From all the factors, serving as psychological support system for a woman facing infertility, the most important is the support from the proximal layer of social environment, namely the life partner and/or a significant other, who should be involved in any psychological intervention.

Negative stressful experiences often lead to physical and psychological problems, and adversely affect the development of a healthy identity. Previous studies have indicated that resilience and benefit-finding skills are related, and both have been reported to contribute to the recovery of stable and consistent identities. However, when negative experiences become central to one’s life story, the manner in which these two variables influence identity must be determined. This study investigates how individual resilience promotes healthy identity development by mediating some benefits derived from negative experiences central to identity.

A total of 699 Japanese adults (350 men, 349 women; M = 44.31 ± 13.29 years) were asked to recall and describe a past event that most influenced their current identity, regardless of whether it is negative or positive, to avoid leading to particular answers. Thereafter, they completed a questionnaire on event centrality, the degree to which a past event became central to identity, resilience, benefit-finding, and identity development.

Exploratory factor analysis revealed three benefit-finding domains: (a) greater insight into intimate relationships, (b) personal growth, and (c) gaining new perspectives. Path analysis revealed that the resilience dimension of “emotion regulation” promoted benefit-finding associated with personal growth, which, in turn, led to identity development. Furthermore, resilience associated with “positive future orientation” promoted benefit-finding regarding intimate relationships and also directly promoted identity development. These results indicate that having bright future prospects and concrete future goals may help protect identity from negative experiences central to it. In addition, consistent with previous studies, perceived personal growth was found to promote identity development. Therefore, obtaining the ability to control negative emotions and keep calm could be more emphasized as an important aspect of resilience for inducing self-reflective thinking.

Introduction: Autistic individuals are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, and are more likely to have psychotic experience. Moreover, autistic traits often correlate with psychotic symptoms in both autistic and general population samples. Concerns exist, however, regarding the use of standard psychosis questionnaires within autistic populations, due to risks of misinterpretation and symptom overlap between autism and negative psychotic traits. This study aimed to examine the relationship between autistic and psychotic traits, and to explore how autistic individuals interpret psychosis-related questionnaire items. The purpose of this study, ultimately, is to develop an amended psychosis questionnaire for use within autistic populations.

Research Questions: This study examines whether:
i) autistic and psychotic symptom scores are associated, and
ii) autistic individuals correctly interpret psychosis-related questionnaire items.

Methods: 108 autistic and 107 non-autistic participants completed the Autism Quotient-10 (AQ-10) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire – Brief Revised (SPQ-BR). Participants also completed a qualitative task, reporting how they interpreted each item of the SPQ-BR. Items identified as prone to misinterpretation were revised for clarity and are currently being evaluated by clinicians and autistic individuals.

Results: A moderate positive correlation was found between AQ-10 and SPQ-BR scores, as well as SPQ-BR negative and disorganised subscale scores. A weaker association was found between AQ-10 and SPQ-BR positive subscale scores. Autistic participants had significantly higher overall, negative, and disorganised SPQ-BR scores, but no differences were found between positive subscale scores. Preliminary qualitative analysis suggests that some SPQ-BR items are prone to frequent misinterpretation by both autistic and non-autistic individuals.

Discussion: While an association exists between autistic and psychotic traits, both within autistic and non-autistic populations, this association may be overestimated due to shared traits (e.g., social anxiety, self-perceived odd behaviour). Further, the validity of using standard psychosis questionnaires within autistic populations warrants further research.

Objectives: Autistic individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with psychotic disorders and experience psychotic symptoms. This association may result from methodological issues, such as misinterpretation of psychosis questionnaires by autistic individuals and clinician difficulty differentiating between symptoms of autism and psychosis. This meta-analysis aimed to update the review of this association and examine whether it is moderated by the methods used to measure it.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science. Included studies required: autism and psychosis measurements, comorbidity data, adult participants, and quantitative data. Risk of bias was assessed using
Hoy et al. (2012) criteria, and analyses examined correlational data, computed odds ratios, and computed Cohen's d.
Results: Sixty-three papers were included. Significant correlations were found between autistic traits and overall (r = 0.435, p < .0001), positive (r = .274, p < .0001), negative (r = .506, p < .0001), and disorganized (r = .366, p < .0001) psychotic symptoms. Individuals with one condition had increased risk of being diagnosed with the other (OR = 7.03, p < .001), and scored higher on trait measures of the other (d = 1.187, p < .0001). No moderating effect of measurement was found.
Discussion: This meta-analysis provides an updated overview of the association between autism and psychosis, with no evidence that methodological issues are specific to any measure. The weaker correlation between autistic traits and positive psychotic symptoms suggests symptom overlap may partly explain the association.

The intricate relationship between parental reflective functioning (parental mentalization) and parental burnout remains a critical yet understudied area in family psychology. While previous research has established preliminary connections between these phenomena, longitudinal investigations capturing their dynamic interplay are notably absent. Our pioneering study addresses this crucial gap by following mothers of young children (ages 0-5) over a one-year period, employing a robust three-wave design with measurements at six-month intervals. This methodological approach uniquely positions our research to uncover the temporal dynamics and bidirectional influences between distinct dimensions of maternal mentalization and her parental burnout. Our findings promise to advance theoretical understanding of how chronic parenting stress may compromise maternal mentalization capacities, while simultaneously illuminating potential protective factors. These insights will directly inform the development of targeted preventive interventions, enabling practitioners to more effectively support mothers struggling with burnout while maintaining their crucial capacity for mentalization. Ultimately, this research bridges a significant gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications, with implications for enhancing family resilience and maternal mental health.

Aging populations represent a global challenge, with profound implications for individual well-being and societal health systems (Pammolli et al., 2012). As people age, the perception of aging-related damage, such as physical decline, loss of autonomy, and reduced social roles, can adversely impact life satisfaction (Özkan et al., 2024). However, emerging evidence suggests that active aging, characterized by engagement in meaningful activities that promote purpose, integration, and functionality, may mitigate these negative effects. This study aimed to deepen how perceived aging, active aging, and life satisfaction, can interact offering insights into strategies for better aging and quality of life. Specifically, it was hypothesized that active aging could mediate the relationship between perceived aging-related damage and life satisfaction. Additionally, the moderating role of gender was also tested.

A sample of 386 participants (M = 72 years, SD = 6.6) was involved. Two models were tested: one allowing free variation of indices between genders, and another constraining them to equality. ANOVA revealed no significant differences between the models (p = .95), indicating that gender did not significantly influence these relationships. As a result, the most parsimonious model was adopted, where indices were constrained to equality across genders.

The findings demonstrate that while perceived age-related damage negatively affects life satisfaction (β = -0.53), active aging significantly mediates this relationship (indirect effect β = -0.16, total effect β = -0.41). These results highlight the protective role of active aging in promoting well-being, even in the presence of perceived age-related challenges.

This study emphasizes the importance of developing and promoting active aging policies and interventions to enhance the quality of life and support healthy aging at both the individual and societal levels. By addressing key psychosocial factors, this research contributes to the global debate on aging and provides evidence-based information for improving outcomes in older populations.

Understanding the determinants of positive aging is becoming increasingly important as the European population continues to age. While multiple indicators of well-being have been proposed (e.g., life satisfaction, subjective well-being), the question of whether these represent the same construct or distinct yet related phenomena remains unanswered. By leveraging a large, multinational sample and applying a cross-lagged path model, our research aims to clarify the mutual relationship and stability of psychological well-being and life satisfaction.

Method. The data from waves 7, 8, and 9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were used. Data from European residents (N=51,195) across 27 countries, aged 50 and older (M=67.2, SD=8.9), were analyzed. Women comprised 57.8% of the sample. This research received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. S-MIP-24-19.

Following indicators were used: psychological well-being (CASP-12; Hyde et al., 2003), life satisfaction (one question), age, gender. A cross-lagged path model was applied to examine the co-change of psychological well-being and life satisfaction. Age and gender were included as predictors of baseline (wave 7) well-being and life satisfaction.

Results. The fit indices indicated an acceptable fit (χ²(df=12)=4804.2, p<0.001; CFI=0.948; RMSEA=0.088; SRMR=0.04), considering the low degrees of freedom and large sample size. Standardized coefficients indicated substantial stability in life satisfaction and high stability in well-being. The cross-lagged paths from well-being to life satisfaction were stronger than the paths from life satisfaction to well-being.

Discussion. The findings reveal a robust and stable association between psychological well-being and life satisfaction over time, with well-being exerting a stronger effect on subsequent life satisfaction than vice versa. This allows for the assumption that psychological well-being, which encompasses various emotional and cognitive aspects, may potentially play a greater role in the formation of life satisfaction, which is more cognitive in nature.

Background: The impact of early environmental risks (EER) on mental and physical health is well established. However, mechanisms linking EER and cardio-metabolic health via the interplay of mental health and lifestyle factors in early life remain unclear. We examined whether EER predicts later mental health, lifestyle factors, and cardio-metabolic health, and identified the mediating roles of mental health and lifestyle in these relationships.

Method: Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study (valid N=6092), we assessed the relationship between EER (prenatal, neonatal, socioeconomic, maternal mental health, and parenting factors; 9 months to 3 years), mental health (internalising and externalising problems; 7 years), lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, smoking, and drinking; 11 years), and cardio-metabolic health (14-17 years). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test proposed pathways. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was conducted by limiting the outcome to obesity due to it being the most prevalent physical health outcome.

Results: The EER significantly predicted mental health problems at 7 years, all four lifestyle risk factors at 11 years, and cardio-metabolic health at 14-17 years. Significant indirect effects were found between early environmental risk and cardio-metabolic risk through drinking and different mental health problems (internalising and drinking: β=-.003, p=.02; externalising and drinking: β=.01, p=.01). The indirect effects of EER on less exercise and drinking via internalising (less exercise: β =.04, p<.001; drinking：β =-.02, p=.004) and externalising (less exercise: β =-.03, p<.001; drinking: β =.05, p<.001) were differential. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results and confirmed the robustness of the findings.

Conclusion: Our study first identified the causality between EER and cardio-metabolic health via the interplay of mental health and lifestyle factors. By highlighting the importance of EER and the mediating role of different lifestyles in mental and cardio-metabolic health, our findings provide evidence of shared risk mechanisms linking mental and physical health.

Aim: identify the wellbeing needs of adolescent dancers and support these needs with a manualised positive psychology intervention (Positive Balance).

Methods: we employed an intervention mapping approach to develop a tailor-made 3-week programme for psychological resilience. This approach involved semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals (n=5) in two ballet schools, a ‘background’ questionnaire on self-reported challenges and a pilot stratified controlled trial. We replicated these steps with dancers from two schools in the implementation phase. Analysis included thematic analysis of interviews, frequency analysis of questionnaire responses, analysis self-reported measures from the pilot, followed by thematic analysis of focus groups.

Results: thematic analysis of interviews revealed themes including self-criticism, homesickness, demanding lifestyles and ballet commitment. The background questionnaire highlighted additional challenges around assessments and injuries. Intervention content was designed to tackle these challenges by increasing wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and optimism. There was no significant effect on wellbeing. Observational data and focus groups highlighted feasibility and acceptability for Positive Balance with a need to refine and add educational content. The intervention was refined for the implementation phase, including psychoeducational activities and measures. Preliminary results of the implementation phase including post-intervention focus groups show that a psychoeducational positive-psychology-based intervention is effective, feasible and acceptable for this cohort.

Conclusions: Qualitative analyses from the pilot highlighted Positive Balance’s potential. The implementation phase demonstrated success in incorporating psychoeducational material. This adaptable approach makes Positive Balance a potential blueprint for future programmes aimed at preventing poor mental health for a wider group of adolescents.

Cultural life scripts represent prototypical ways of living for individuals. These scripts are a form of semantic knowledge that outline the ideal life trajectory within a given society. The present study, which is part of a nationwide project, investigates the cultural life scripts of Turkish students aged 11 to 18. The study included a total of 446 participants from diverse regions across Turkiye. Participants were asked to describe seven important events that would most likely occur in the life of a prototypical same-gender infant in their culture, from birth to death. Additionally, they were requested to answer follow-up questions regarding these events, including expected age of occurrence, emotional valence, prevalence, and perceived importance. The Cultural Life Script Questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data collection. A content analysis was conducted to categorize the scripts, with two independent coders analyzing the data. Descriptive analyses were performed to examine the responses to the follow-up questions. The findings revealed that the most commonly mentioned scripts pertained to academic achievements, employment, romantic relationships, family life, and biological milestones. These scripts were further analyzed and categorized based on their expected age, emotional valence, prevalence, and importance. By mapping the cultural life scripts of Turkish youth, the study contributes to a broader theoretical understanding of how cultural and familial expectations shape perceived developmental trajectories and individual identity formation. These findings extend the literature on cultural developmental psychology by illustrating the shared semantic frameworks that guide life expectations during adolescence.

Persistently low birth rates and increasing childlessness present significant economic and policy challenges, garnering attention from demographers, sociologists, and economists. Psychologists are particularly interested in the motivations behind parenthood and childlessness, emphasizing their role in individual well-being across the lifespan. Childbearing decisions are equally critical in health sciences, due to their strong connections to reproductive and general health. Pregnancy intentions, for instance, significantly shape maternal and child health outcomes.

Although medical and health-related aspects are inherently linked to reproduction, research on childbearing motivations tends to marginally address concerns about pregnancy and childbirth. In contrast, worries about the future child’s health are largely overlooked. This study sought to adapt the Childbearing Motivation Scale (CMS), developed by Guedes and colleagues in Portugal in 2015, to the Polish context and expand its scope to include various health-related concerns about future offspring, including the increasingly relevant issue of genetic disorders. A total of 386 Polish adults participated in an online survey, completing the Polish, expanded version of the CMS. The original scale's structure was largely replicated, with minor adaptations. Notably, within the Negative Motivation dimension, two health-related subscales emerged, capturing concerns about the child’s general health and fears of passing on a genetic condition. While both subscales demonstrated good internal consistency and discriminant validity, the latter showed a particularly strong negative correlation with childbearing desire.

The expanded version of the CMS allows more nuanced perspective on health concerns in childbearing motivations. These concerns may be pivotal for reproductive decisions, but also for women’s health-related behaviours during pregnancy, such as prenatal testing choices or overall self-care during pregnancy—factors crucial for maternal and child well-being.

Research has shown that interventions using social-emotional competence development can prevent a child’s future behavior problems, antisocial behavior, and many other risks[1]. One of the empirically based programs is ELLA training for the promotion of emotional and social competences, developed in Austria[2]. The implementation of the program in Lithuania consists of two parts.

1. The research of effectiveness of the ELLA for preschool children was performed in 2021. 140 children aged 3–6 years participated in the study. Children’s emotional and social competences were assessed before and after the program using the EMK 3–6 inventory[3]. Results showed that the ELLA training significantly improved children’s self-regulation abilities, primary emotions, secondary emotions, prosocial behavior competences.

2. Researchers from Lithuania and Austria will perform the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lithuanian version of ELLA for primary school. The sample will consist of 450 children. The assessment of the children will be carried out using the ELLA screening questionnaires for parents and teachers and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 6-18) for parents. Focus groups for teachers on the competencies acquired of children through the ELLA program will be performed.

This research No. P-EDU-23-22  is co-funded by the European Union (the project „ Breakthrough in Educational Research“ No 10-044-P-0001) under the 1st April 2025 Agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (RCOL) and the 17th April 2025  Joint Activity Agreement with Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

[1]Weisz JR, Kazdin AE. Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents. In Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents, 2nd ed. Guilford Publications:New York,USA,2010

[2] Amtmann E.; Kerbl V. ELLA: Ein Training zur Förderung der Emotionalen und Sozialen Kompetenz; Leykam:Graz,Austria 2019;80p.

[3] Petermann, F.; Gust, N. EMK 3-6: Inventar zur Erfassung Emotionaler Kompetenzen bei Drei- bis Sechsjährigen; Hogrefe:Göttingen,2016.

Rare diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study examined the cognitive and adaptive abilities of 50 boys diagnosed with DMD, aiming to clarify the wide range of functioning observed in this population. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (Fifth Edition), while adaptive skills were measured with ABAS-3. Our findings indicate that IQ scores ranged from profound intellectual disability to above-average intelligence. Notably, lower scores were often accompanied by additional symptoms characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD, suggesting that comorbidities significantly correlate overall development in this group. These results underscore the necessity for comprehensive evaluations that address both motor and cognitive functioning, as well as behavioral and emotional factors. During the presentation, we will discuss the varied cognitive profiles of boys with DMD and highlight implications for individualized intervention and support. Our findings underscore the importance of targeted, interdisciplinary approaches for children with rare diseases like DMD.

Prior research suggests a dual relationship between infant negative affect and problem-solving skills: negative affect may either reflect a problem-solving orientation, where infants seek external (e.g., caregiver support) or internal (e.g., self-soothing) strategies to manage distress, or hinder cognitive functioning, attention, and information processing, potentially reducing problem-solving abilities. This study investigated the link between infants’ negative affect in a stressful situation and problem-solving skills, while exploring the moderating role of mothers’ perceived social support.

The sample included 110 infants (49% females) and their mothers, with data collected during the peripartum period (T1) and when the infants were 8-10 months old (T2). We employed the Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) Procedure as an observational task to assess infant negative affect (T2) as well as maternal reports of their perceived social support (T1 and T2) and infants’ problem-solving skills (T2). Spearman correlations and moderation analysis with PROCESS macro were performed in SPSS, controlling for maternal education, maternal age, maternal mental health, and child sex.

Results revealed that infant negative affect was positively (b = 1.88, p < .05) associated with problem-solving after controlling for other variables, while mothers’ perceived social support was not (b = 0.73, p = ns). Notably, in testing the interaction between negative affect during FFSF and social support (b = 1.13, p < .01), the findings reveal more optimal problem-solving skills in infants whose mothers reported at T1 moderate (b = 2.98, p < .01) or high (b = 4.11, p < .01) social support. No moderating effect of social support was found at T2.

These findings suggest that infants' negative affect may reflect problem-solving ability, and increasing social support for perinatal women could enhance their infants' problem-solving skills, highlighting the potential of negative affect as a coping mechanism and offering insights into intergenerational resilience.

Caring for a chronically ill relative can be a heavy burden and cause a significant reduction in the caregiver's quality of life. The illness of a loved one is associated with significant changes in the lives of family members, requiring adaptation to the new situation and also the adaption of a new identity - as a caregiver.To our knowledge, there are no studies on the formation of a sense of identity among family caregivers.

Regarding the consequences of family caregiving, research clearly indicates that this group is at risk for increased levels of depression and anxiety. The level of distress among family caregivers depends, among others, on their caregiving beliefs. Preliminary studies, however, conducted in other groups, on the relationship between identity and dysfunctional thoughts, indicate that they are significant predictors of identity. Thus, we can suspect that dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving will also affect the development of caregiver identity.

In our poster, we would like to present the results of a study conducted among more than 600 Polish informal caregivers.The research was questionnaire-based: we used modified versions of the Utrecht-Management of identity Commitments Scale and Dimensions of Identity Development Scale questionnaires to measure sense of identity. To measure dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving, we used the Dysfunctional Thoughts about Caregiving Questionnaire (DTCQ). The SWLS Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to measure quality of life. Currently, the data are still being analyzed and will be shown for the first time at the conference.

As the population ages, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the processes of adaptation to the role of caregiver. Considering also the documented in many studies negative consequences of caring , this knowledge is crucial in the future planning of appropriate prevention and intervention programs.

Parental acceptance and rejection play a crucial role in shaping a child's psychological and emotional development. Children who feel accepted by their parents tend to develop positive self-esteem, emotional stability and confidence in interpersonal relationships. Perceived parental rejection, on the other hand, is associated with a range of negative effects, such as low self-esteem, emotional instability and hostility (Khaleque & Rohner, 2012). These negative effects often persist into adulthood as well, affecting various aspects of life, including personality traits and parenting styles.

Our goal was to assess whether perceived parental rejection in childhood is associated with higher levels of perfectionism (both self-oriented and child-oriented) and lower levels of capacity for self-care in adulthood, and whether self-care competence mediates the relationship between rejection/ acceptance and perfectionism.

We used Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Rohner, 2016) to measure parental acceptance/ rejection. To measure the capacity for self-care we used the Self-Care Competence Questionnaire (Brzeg, Suchanska, 2017). We also used The Children Dyadic Almost Perfect Scale (C-DAPS) by Shea, Slaney, Rice (2006) and The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost, 1990) to measure child-oriented and self-oriented perfectionism respectively.

The results of our study show that self-care competence completely explains the relationship between retrospectively perceived mother’s acceptance and disappointment for one’s own child. The higher the acceptance of the parent's mother, the higher the parent's self-care competence, and thus the lower the disappointment for one's own child. Furthermore, self-care competence completely explains the relationships between retrospectively perceived father’s acceptance, expectations towards one’s own child and being disappointed with him/her. The higher the father's acceptance of the parent, the higher the parent's capacity for self-care, and thus the lower disappointment and the lower perfectionist expectations towards one’s own child.