European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education最新文献

Since the enactment of Belgium's euthanasia law in 2002, clinical psychologists have played an increasingly significant role in the multidisciplinary approach to euthanasia, particularly regarding cases involving unbearable mental suffering (UMS euthanasia). This cross-sectional study examined the attitudes, roles, and competencies of clinical psychologists in Flanders concerning UMS euthanasia using an online questionnaire (n = 242). The survey explored attitudes towards UMS euthanasia, as well as self-perceived competencies and involvement. Results indicate that most psychologists hold a generally positive stance towards UMS euthanasia and believe in supporting patient requests under appropriate conditions. Their roles are seen as essential in decision-making, exploring alternatives, and providing aftercare for families, though opinions vary about their involvement during the actual procedure. Demographic factors such as age, gender, work setting, and prior involvement in euthanasia showed no significant influence on attitudes; however, greater knowledge and skills were reported among those in specialized settings, palliative care, or with prior euthanasia involvement. A pronounced lack of training and education in this area was reported, highlighting the need for targeted measures. The findings underscore the necessity of clarifying psychologists' roles, expanding legal guidelines, and improving training to enhance care quality in the context of UMS euthanasia.

Background/Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate stage between normal ageing and dementia, with a high annual progression rate. Despite its clinical relevance, no pharmacological treatment has been definitively approved for this condition; however, multiple pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have been investigated for their potential benefits. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of both types of interventions in adults with MCI, aiming to identify effective strategies to preserve cognitive function. Methods: A systematic search (2017-2025) was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and WOS, following PRISMA guidelines. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies involving adults aged ≥ 50 years with a diagnosis of MCI were included. Outcomes were evaluated in terms of cognitive, functional, behavioural, and quality-of-life improvements. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. Results: Of 108,700 records screened, 40 studies were included. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as cognitive training (conventional, computerised, or virtual reality-based), consistently improved memory, attention, and executive functions (e.g., MoCA: +3.84 points; p < 0.001). Transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with physical exercise also demonstrated significant benefits (p = 0.025). Among pharmacological treatments, only vortioxetine and choline alfoscerate showed modest improvements; cholinesterase inhibitors had limited effects and frequent adverse events. Complementary therapies (yoga, probiotics, and acupuncture) yielded promising outcomes but require further validation. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological strategies, particularly cognitive training and physical exercise, emerge as the most effective and safe approaches for managing MCI. The inclusion of pharmacological interventions with preliminary evidence of benefit should be considered within a personalised, multimodal approach, while recognising the current absence of approved drug treatments for MCI. Further research is needed in underrepresented populations, such as those in Latin America.

Following natural disasters, children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the onset and persistence of post-traumatic stress symptoms, which can significantly affect developmental trajectories and mental health. Although PTSD networks have been extensively studied in adults, less is known about youth, and no previous studies have examined how PTSD clusters relate to social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties (SEBD). This study applied network analysis to examine how PTSD clusters relate to psychosocial problems in a large sample of trauma-exposed youth. A total of 635 Italian children and adolescents (M_age = 11.19 years, SD = 1.43; 51.5% male), exposed to the 2012 Emilia-Romagna earthquake, completed the UCLA PTSD-RI and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Network estimation and centrality indices were computed for the overall sample. Network Comparison Tests assessed differences by gender, age group, and proximity to the epicenter. Emotional problems and Increased Arousal emerged as the most central nodes, whereas Peer Problems were consistently peripheral. Gender differences were significant, whereas no differences were detected by age; moreover, youth living closer to the epicenter exhibited a more densely connected network. Despite its limitations, the study identifies co-occurrence patterns between PTSD clusters and specific SEBD, outlining clinical implications that warrant further investigation.

Background: Corporal punishment (CP) remains a common disciplinary practice in many countries, despite evidence of its negative consequences for children's development.

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of a culturally adapted intervention aimed at reducing parents' use of CP.

Method: Using a 12-month quasi-experimental longitudinal design, the study included an intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 17). We administered standardized instruments at pretest and posttest to assess changes in parenting behavior, emotional regulation, and perceptions of child behavior. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to model nonlinear relationships and classify group membership.

Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in parenting practices and emotion regulation. The ANN model classified participants with 74.6% accuracy. Key predictive variables included emotional suppression, physical punishment, and parental support and acceptance.

Conclusions: These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of the SERES program in reducing harmful parenting behaviors and promoting positive practices. Additionally, the use of AI models proved to be valuable for understanding complex behavioral changes, offering a promising approach for optimizing future interventions aimed at strengthening parenting and preventing family violence.

Background: Public transportation is one of the primary modes of mobility in urban environments, but it has also become a setting where sexual harassment frequently occurs. This situation not only compromises users' safety but also has a significant impact on mental health. The objective of the study is to analyze the relationship between public transportation use, sexual harassment, and mental health through directed and undirected network analyses. Methods: This was an associative, basic, quantitative, and cross-sectional study. A total of 507 Peruvian adults (66.7% women) participated by completing a sociodemographic questionnaire and using psychological instruments. A Gaussian graphical model and a directed acyclic graph were used to estimate the networks, including assessments of precision and stability. Results: Results indicated that in the undirected network, public transportation use was associated with sexual harassment and anger. The central symptoms were generalized anxiety and depression. In the directed network, public transportation use influenced both sexual harassment and generalized anxiety. Furthermore, distress and sexual harassment emerged as conditionally dependent on multiple psychological factors. Conclusions: The findings suggest that implementing preventive and psychosocial intervention strategies in the context of public transportation may reduce experiences of sexual harassment and the manifestation of other mental health problems among adults in the general population, thereby promoting safer and healthier public environments.

Background: Nightmares are a type of sleep disorder characterised by vivid and distressing dreams that cause abrupt awakenings, leading to significant discomfort. In adults, recurrent nightmares can negatively impact quality of life, daytime functioning, and overall mental health. In this context, it is essential to have valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate psychological instruments that allow for an accurate assessment of this phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to translate and validate the Nightmare Disorder Index (NDI) into Spanish for use with Peruvian adults.

Methods: A total of 507 adults (66.7% women) participated by completing a sociodemographic questionnaire and psychological instruments. Statistical analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling and item response theory.

Results: The NDI demonstrated adequate content validity (V > 0.70), a unidimensional structure (CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.06 [90% CI: 0.030, 0.102], SRMR = 0.03), and reliability (ω = 0.84, H = 0.94, r_xx = 0.79). In addition, invariance was observed across sex, and significant associations were found with depressive symptoms, generalised anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Item 3 showed the highest discrimination and information, and the scale proved to be accurate at higher levels of nightmare severity.

Conclusions: The NDI presents adequate psychometric properties for the inference and interpretation of scores in the assessment of nightmares. Its use is recommended in both professional practice and research with the adult general population.

This study investigates how smartphone app usage diversity (SAUD)-defined as the breadth of applications individuals actively engage with-relates to quality of life, and how these effects are conditioned by age and digital literacy. Drawing on Uses and Gratifications Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, we conceptualize SAUD as having both beneficial and detrimental potential, depending on users' cognitive and demographic characteristics. Using cross-sectional, self-reported data from the annual nationwide surveys on smartphone overdependence in South Korea, we analyzed a final sample of 20,967 adults (48.4% male, 51.6% female; M_age = 46.0, SD = 13.7; age range 20-69). Results demonstrate that SAUD is positively associated with quality of life among younger and digitally literate users, but negatively associated among older adults and those with lower digital literacy, suggesting the presence of conditional effects. The hypothesized three-way interaction between SAUD, age, and digital literacy was not supported. These findings extend the literature by moving beyond simplistic time-based metrics of smartphone use, offering a more differentiated understanding of mobile technology's impact on well-being. Practically, the study highlights the need for tailored digital literacy programs and policy interventions that recognize demographic and cognitive diversity in technology engagement. Future research should incorporate longitudinal designs and objective behavioral data to further validate these insights.

The association between social media use and depression found in correlational research has prompted widespread concern regarding the consequences of social media use. In response to this evidence, experimental interventions have been used to evaluate whether lowering social media use affects depression. This meta-analysis synthesised results of 10 randomized controlled trials (N = 1491) to assess the effect of limiting or refraining from social media use on severity of depressive symptoms. Studies were included if they were randomized control trials involving reducing or eliminating use of social media for a period of time. The results indicate that reducing social media use significantly decreases depressive symptoms, with an effect size of g = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10, 0.41], p < 0.001, after adjusting for publication bias. Significant heterogeneity was found between studies, with I² indicating that 47% of the variability in effect sizes across studies was due to heterogeneity of true effect size rather than random error. Although interventions aimed at reducing use of social media had twice the depression effect size of interventions aimed at abstinence from social media, the difference was not significant. Two other potential moderators of effect size, intervention length and number of social networks included, were also nonsignificant. Overall, this meta-analysis suggests that limiting social media use is an effective way to reduce symptoms of depression. However, more studies with good research methods are needed to evaluate this conclusion. Also, further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of limiting or refraining from social media use.

This study examines the effects of an intervention program aimed at enhancing personal competencies in secondary education students, focusing on resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem and assertiveness. A descriptive, quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments was employed. A total of 36 first-year secondary education students participated and completed the Resilience Scale, Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Rathus Assertiveness Scale. Positive associations were observed among resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and assertiveness at both time points, with the exception of a post-intervention negative correlation between self-esteem and the appraisal of others' emotions. While emotion use increased significantly following the intervention, no significant changes were observed in the other variables, indicating a limited impact on these specific aspects of mental and emotional health. These findings highlight the relevance of training and promoting personal competencies in secondary school students, since they serve as protective factors against social exclusion, mood disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression), and behavioral problems. Although the program improved the use of emotions, its lack of significant effects in other domains highlights the need for more programs to support adolescents' holistic development in the academic context.

Background: The growing prevalence of cyber interpersonal violence (CIV) among adolescents necessitates tools to assess its dimensions: victimization, perpetration, and bystander roles. This study develops and validates the "Cyber Interpersonal Violence Instrument for Adolescents" (CyIVIA).

Method: CyIVIA's development involved 253 adolescents, comprising 146 boys and 107 girls, aged between 11 and 16 years, from northern Portugal. The 40-item Likert-scale tool assesses direct (victimization and perpetration) and indirect (bystander roles) CIV. Analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor testing for reliability and validity.

Results: CyIVIA demonstrated internal consistency (α = 0.743-0.851) and a robust multidimensional structure. 56.5% reported CIV involvement, with gender differences: girls showed higher victimization, and boys, higher perpetration. The 8th grade emerged as a key intervention period.

Conclusions: CyIVIA is a reliable tool for assessing CIV among adolescents. Interventions should focus on prevention, empower active bystanders, and promote safer digital environments.