Psychosocial Adjustment Difficulties Research Articles

Epidemiological Study on Developmental Coordination Disorder in School Going Children

Introduction: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) has garnered significant attention in recent years, with rapid advancements in our understanding of this condition. Despite this progress, DCD often goes undiagnosed, making it challenging for children, parents, and educators to access essential resources. The motor difficulties associated with DCD can lead to social exclusion, as peers may be reluctant to invite these children to participate in play activities. Consequently, children with DCD may withdraw from leisure pursuits, perceiving themselves as lacking the necessary skills to engage fully. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to identify DCD in non-referred school-aged children. Early identification enables these individuals to access crucial resources, such as physiotherapy interventions, which can maximize their functional, academic, and psychosocial performance, and overall quality of life. Materials and Methods: The study involved 200 non-referred school-going children aged 4-12 years from Bangalore, selected through random sampling. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC), consisting of 32 organized tasks across four sets covering manual dexterity, ball skills, and dynamic balance, was administered. Additionally, the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD), comprising 12 tasks that assess a child’s ability to accomplish various motor skills, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a 113-item inventory describing children’s psychosocial behavior, were utilized to evaluate overall development. Results: Multivariate analysis identified a significant prevalence of DCD among the study participants. The findings underscore the imperative nature of early identification using comprehensive assessment tools for the well-being and psychosocial adaptation of school-aged children. Conclusions: These findings indicate that children with movement problems are at risk for difficulties in attention, learning, and psychosocial adjustment. Regardless of the kind or intensity, a child’s assessment for movement issues should cover a broad variety of functions in addition to motor skills. This comprehensive approach will enable access to essential resources, such as physiotherapeutic interventions, crucial for their overall development.

Predictors of psychosocial adjustment and its subdomains in young adults with hematologic malignancy: A cross-sectional study

PurposeThis study aims to identify the factors influencing psychosocial adjustment and its subdomains. MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 176 young adults (men 55.7%, 30.5 ± 5.9 years) diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy in South Korea. Psychological adjustment, symptom experience, and type D personality were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Clinical characteristics were extracted from the medical record. Stepwise multiple regression was conducted to identify the factors influencing psychosocial adjustment. ResultsThe predictors of difficulties in psychosocial adjustment were high symptom experience, type D personality, being unemployed, low functional status, and short time since the last chemotherapy. By subdomain of psychosocial adjustment, predictors of low healthcare orientation were high symptom experience, woman, and type D personality, and predictors of low vocational environment were high symptom experience, being unemployed, short duration of disease, low functional status, and diagnosis. The factors influencing low domestic environment were high symptom experience, being unemployed, and low functional status, and the factor influencing low sexual relationships was high symptom experience. The predictor of low extended family relationships was high symptom experience; predictors of low social environment were high symptom experience and short duration of disease; and predictors of low psychological distress were high symptom experience, type D personality, and being unemployed. ConclusionAs young adults with higher symptom experiences, type D personality, low functional status, and shorter time since the last chemotherapy, and who are unemployed experience difficulties in psychosocial adjustment, healthcare professionals should evaluate their psychosocial adjustment and develop strategies to improve the same.

Perceptions and Experiences of Parents of Burn-Injured Children during Hospital Stay: A Need for Integrated Care.

Pediatric burn injuries are a critical medical condition that triggers a series of ongoing multifactorial stressors that affect both children and their families. To inform healthcare research and clinical practice, this study aimed to understand and describe the perceptions and experiences of the parents of burn-injured children during hospital stay. Forty-six parents (thirty-eight mothers) of forty-six children (eighteen girls) with a mean age of 2.28 years (SD = 1.52) answered ten open-ended questions. This qualitative study was conducted in a referral hospital in the northern region of Portugal. Qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive content analysis. Five key themes emerged from the data analysis: diving into the crisis of the child burn injury, being together and in good hands, becoming aware of an uncertain future, enhancing supportive care and environment, and finding ways to guide parents. Qualitative findings underlined the pressing need for integrated care within this context. Parents were significantly burdened and distressed during the inpatient phase. These parents should be included in the integrated care plan starting from admission. Understanding and addressing parents' healthcare needs and psychosocial adjustment difficulties is paramount to the development of future intervention programs and the delivery of suitable integrated healthcare.

P74: Psychological interventions for young carers: A systematic review

Objective:In the last decades, the issue of caring for a sick parent at young age has received increased attention due to recent changes in society. The term “carer” (also known as caregiver) refers to anyone who carries out, on a regular and unpaid basis, significant caring tasks for a friend or family member who cannot cope alone because of an illness or other condition. Existing evidence suggests that young carers tend to have more mental health problems and more difficulties in behavioral, psychosocial, and academic adjustment than their peers without an ill parent. Since caring can be viewed as a natural extension of family relationships, young people often do not receive support from social policy, health and social services. Therefore, the aim of this review was to systematically ascertain the literature on psychological interventions for young carers (aged 11-30 years), aimed to promote their mental health and well-being, thus mitigating the psychosocial impact of caring on their development.Methods:A systematic literature search was performed in CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus; in addition, reference lists from reviewed papers were used to identify additional relevant studies. A rigorous screening process was followed, and a checklist for qualitative and observational studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Narrative synthesis of the selected articles was carried out.Results:Only 9 studies were included. Interventions had a different nature and mixed evidence on their efficacy emerged. Moreover, several methodological concerns limited study replicability.Conclusions:Given the clinical relevance of this topic, it is important that these interventions and the new ones will undergo rigorous evaluation. Effective interventions for young carers may also lead to considerable savings in healthcare and societal costs.

Treatment of migraine in children and adolescents. The state of the art

IntroductionHeadaches and migraine are common in the pediatric population, being one of the most frequent symptoms reported in practice. Additionally, it is a considerably disabling condition, which brings significant burden and impairs several aspects of a child or adolescent's life, such as mental and physical health, executive functioning, school performance. Children and adolescents with migraine have higher risk of psychiatric comorbidities and psychosocial adjustment difficulties, which, in turn, compromise even more patient's well-functioning.ObjectiveThe present article provides the clinician with a straightforward and evidence-based approach to migraine treatment in this age group.CommentTreatment of migraine in children and adolescents requires a systematic and thorough approach. Clinicians should keep in mind the important burden migraine brings to a child's life, thus investigate, and properly manage comorbidities presented. Patient and parents' education is a meaningful part of the treatment. Moreover, non-pharmacological treatments, such as healthy lifestyle habits, behavioral interventions may also play beneficial roles. When preventive treatment is indicated, it should be tailored considering drug's profile of effectiveness and safety, as well as patient's comorbidities. Lack of evidence in this context must not translate in lack of action by the clinician, since there may be a relevant burden associated. Therefore, reasoning for the perspicacious clinician is of fundamental importance and may influence positively the outcomes.

Neuropsychological functioning predicts psychosocial adjustment after postacute rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury.

To examine neuropsychological functioning as a predictor of psychosocial adjustment difficulties at discharge from a postacute residential rehabilitation facility for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression as a potential mediator. A retrospective record review was conducted of 172 adults who received rehabilitation services for TBI. Individuals completed a full battery of neuropsychological tests, depression assessment, and functional assessments at admission. Functional assessments were also obtained at discharge. A two-phase structural equation model analysis was performed. The first phase specified a good fitting model of a cognitive functioning (CF) latent construct with four indicators of cognitive domains measuring verbal fluency, cognitive flexibility, verbal learning, and working memory. Worse CF was associated with greater psychosocial adjustment impairment at discharge, but not related to depression. Psychosocial adjustment impairment at admission was positively associated with depression when controlling for CF, however depression did not predict psychosocial adjustment at discharge. Thus, depression was not found to be a significant mediator of psychosocial adjustment impairment at discharge. Results provide support for neuropsychological functioning at the start of postacute rehabilitation for TBI as an important predictor of psychosocial functioning difficulties that remain upon discharge and highlights the need to examine mechanisms beyond depression.

Treatment of Breast Cancer in Young Adults.

Although breast cancer is rare and understudied in adults age 40 and younger, recent epidemiologic data show an increasing incidence of breast cancer among young women in the United States and ongoing inferior long-term outcomes. Given breast cancers arising at a young age are more likely to present at advanced stages and to have aggressive biology, multimodal treatments are often indicated. Elevated local recurrence risks and greater propensity for germline cancer predisposition mutations can impact local therapy choices. Recently, escalated systemic therapy regimens for triple-negative breast cancer incorporating immunotherapy, de-escalated anti-HER2 therapy, and emerging targeted agents, including CDK4/6 inhibitors and PARP inhibitors, for early-stage disease may be employed in younger and older patients alike, with some special considerations. Prognostic genomic signatures can spare low-risk young women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy, but management of intermediate-risk patients remains controversial. Ovarian function suppression and extended endocrine therapy are improving outcomes in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but treatment adherence is a particular problem for young patients. Young women may also face greater challenges in long-term survivorship, including impaired fertility, difficulties in psychosocial adjustment, and other treatment-related comorbidities. Consideration of these age-specific issues through dedicated multidisciplinary strategies is necessary for optimal care of young women with breast cancer.

Verification of the Integrative Model of Adjustment to Chronic Conditions by Mapping it Onto the World Health Organization's International Classification of Function, Disability and Health.

Purpose:Literature regarding the WHO’s International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) has called for research into psychosocial adjustment processes. This project aims to establish the relevance of the Integrative Model of Adjustment to Chronic Conditions (IMACC) as a framework for research and a clinical tool in rehabilitation by linking it with the ICF.Methods:The study employed secondary analysis of data from the original IMACC grounded theory study, where 8 women and 2 men with type 2 diabetes mellitus participated. IMACC consists of 3 interconnected parts comprising a total of 13 components. Datasets used for the study consisted of the qualitative data underpinning each IMACC component. Meaningful concepts from each dataset were linked to ICF categories using the updated ICF linking rules.Results:Results showed that all 13 IMACC components accommodate ICF category codes from all health and health related ICF components in patterns consistent with the theoretical conceptualisation of each separate IMACC component.Conclusion:IMACC maps comprehensively to the ICF framework and provides a framework that may be useful for future ICF related research into biopsychosocial processes in psychosocial adjustment. IMACC provides a clinically applicable intervention for people with psychosocial adjustment difficulties consistent with the ICF framework.

Διερεύνηση εξελικτικών χαρακτηριστικών σχολικής και ψυχοκοινωνικής προσαρμογής παιδιών προσχολικής και σχολικής ηλικίας με βάση το σταθμισμένο τεστ Ψυχοκοινωνικής Προσαρμογής

Empirical evidence shows that specific psychosocial factors are linked to the learning process, school achievement and, in general, with students’ adjustment in the school and the family. The aim of the present study is to examine school, social and emotional adjustment of children attending Kindergarten and Elementary School and to identifygroups who are at risk of psychosocial adjustment difficulties. In order to achieve this aim, the teacher rating scales for preschool and school children were used from the standardized Test of Psychosocial Adjustment (Hatzichristou, Polychroni, Besevegis, & Mylonas, 2008). The sample consisted of teacher ratings for 432 Kindergarten children and 800 Elementary School children collected from different parts of Greece. Results showed more positive psychosocial adjustment for the younger age group in Elementary School, especially for the subscales “academic skills” and “problem behavior” and their relative dimensions. Moreover, gender differences were found especially in terms of the dimensions of school and emotional adjustment, with girls scoring higher while the reverse was found for problem behavior. Finally, similar profiles were found for the preschool and school age groups who were at risk for school and psychosocial adjustment difficulties. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the risk and resilience factors of school and psychosocial adjustment of preschool and school aged children and have implications for the design and implementation of prevention and intervention programs in the school setting.

A Latent Class Analysis of Adolescents in First-Year University: Associations with Psychosocial Adjustment Throughout the Emerging Adult Period and Post-University Outcomes.

The long-term outcomes for adolescents who struggle in first-year university remain unexplored. This 7-year longitudinal study aimed to identify distinct groups of adolescents based on their characteristics/behaviors in first-year university, and then assess whether these groups differ in psychosocial adjustment trajectories (i.e., mental health, positive relationships) throughout the emerging adult period, as well as in graduation rates, employment characteristics, and reflections on time spent at university. Participants (N = 1017; 71% female; Year 1 Mage = 19 years) enrolled in a Canadian university completed a survey annually for 7 years. Four groups in Year 1 were identified: Good Students who exhibited no difficulties; Sensation-Seeking who prioritized social engagement and substance use over academic engagement but reported no psychological adjustment difficulties; Struggling Students who had the most difficulties; and Club Involved who exhibited high club involvement. The Struggling Students Group continued to have more psychosocial adjustment difficulties than the other groups during and after university, were more likely to drop out of university, and to later have less job satisfaction. This group requires the most support. Consideration also should be given to the Sensation-Seeking Group, as they reported a lack of academic motivation (and regret about that later) and also were more likely to drop out of university. At the same time, they may be more difficult to target given that they did not report psychosocial difficulties. Overall, the findings highlight the need for early support and discourage a 'one-size fits all' method for promoting psychosocial adjustment.

Identification of Korean cancer survivors' unmet needs and desired psychosocial assistance: A focus group study.

PurposeThis qualitative study identifies difficulties and unmet needs in psychosocial aspect that Korean cancer survivors reported.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled 18 cancer survivors who agreed to participate in the focus groups. Each focus group consisted of four to six cancer survivors, considering homogeneity of sex and age. Participants were asked to freely describe the practical difficulties they faced and their unmet needs when living as cancer survivors. A cross-case interview analysis was used to identify major themes. Consensual qualitative research analysis was applied to complement the objectivity of results obtained from participants’ interviews.ResultsWe identified three major themes: 1) shifts what cancer connotes, 2) development of government policies regarding integrative management for cancer survivors, and 3) preparing for cancer survivors’ future through vocational rehabilitation or career development.ConclusionKorean cancer survivors had difficulties in psychosocial adjustment even after the completion of anti-cancer treatments. We identified several unmet needs among participants who were living as cancer survivors. This qualitative study may expand the view of cancer survivorship in Korea by incorporating their voices and experiences to facilitate the development of a more holistic cancer survivorship program.

Using Common Determinants of Out-of-Home Care to Profile Parents of Children and Adolescents with a Disability: an Exploratory Study

This study examined whether interrelationships between common psychosocial determinants of parental decisions to seek out-of-home care can identify parent profiles within a sample of parents of children and adolescents with a disability. Two hundred and sixteen parents completed a questionnaire containing measures of nine commonly reported psychosocial determinants of out-of-home care (e.g. child behaviour and support needs; parent hassles, mental health and coping). K-means cluster analysis revealed four parent profiles. The ‘parents with significant parenting stressors and demands’ resemble parents who have sought out-of-home care in the past (e.g. children/adolescents with high support needs and poor psychosocial adjustment). In contrast, the ‘parents with low parenting stressors and demands’ display positive psychosocial adjustment to the parenting role. The ‘parents with parenting resilience’ exhibit positive psychosocial adjustment to the difficult parenting circumstances they are experiencing. In contrast, the ‘parents with psychosocial adjustment difficulties’ show negative psychosocial adjustment despite the absence of difficult parenting circumstances. Psychosocial factors related to out-of-home care can meaningfully distinguish parents raising children and adolescents with a disability from one another. With further validation, the profiles uncovered within this study could inform service responses to build parenting capacity, and mitigate risk of seeking out-of-home care.

Longitudinal relations between beliefs supporting aggression and externalizing outcomes: Indirect effects of anger dysregulation and callous-unemotional traits.

Aggression is prevalent in early- to mid-adolescence and is associated with physical health and psychosocial adjustment difficulties. This underscores the need to identify risk processes that lead to externalizing outcomes. This study examined the extent to which the effects of three dimensions of beliefs supporting aggression on physical aggression and externalizing behavior are mediated by anger dysregulation and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Three waves of data were collected from a primarily African American (77%) sample of 265 middle school students between the ages of 11 and 15 (52% were female). We found evidence supporting mediation such that the effects of beliefs supporting instrumental aggression and beliefs that fighting is sometimes necessary at Wave 1 on student-reported physical aggression at Wave 3 were mediated by CU traits at Wave 2, and relations between beliefs supporting reactive aggression at Wave 1 and teacher-report of student frequencies of physical aggression and externalizing behavior at Wave 3 were mediated by anger dysregulation at Wave 2. Our findings demonstrated the importance of distinguishing between dimensions of beliefs supporting aggression, as differential paths emerged between specific beliefs, CU traits and anger dysregulation, and externalizing outcomes. These findings have important clinical implications, as they suggest that specific dimensions of beliefs supporting aggression could be targeted based on whether an individual is at risk for behavior patterns characterizing CU traits or anger dysregulation.

A new look to the coping strategy preferences of TB patients: Qualitative Explorations among TB patients in Northwestern Ethiopia

Background: TB patients around the globe had been found to experience a host of psychosocial adjustment difficulties. It is therefore expected that they will employ strategies to cope with such difficulties. The studies conducted so far, had geared towards strategies employed by TB patients to cope with financial burdens. Hence, the objective of the present study was to explore the cognitive and behavioral strategies TB patients employed to cope with their psychosocial burdens. Methods & Materials: The study employed qualitative design. Data were collected using semi-structured interview protocol. Purposive sampling was used and data were collected from a health center in Northwestern Ethiopia till saturation is reached. Interviews were tape-recorded; transcribed and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: In this study it was revealed that self- and others- discrimination, fear of transmitting their illness to others, anxiety, depression and shame were the main psychosocial burdens experienced by TB patients. In addition, TB patients employed a host of cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. Specifically information collection, accepting, mental readiness, religious coping were cognitive strategies; and distancing oneself, hiding information, instrumental actions, planning and struggling were the behavioral strategies TB patients used to cope with the psychosocial burdens. Receiving instrumental support from others had helped the patients to cope not only with the psychosocial challenges but also with economic burdens. Conclusion: TB patients had found to employ strategies that might hamper TB control campaigns and strategies that were instrumental to their early diagnosis and treatment adherence. Studies on TB patients coping strategies need to be conducted at a wider scale so that tailored TB control campaigns could be designed. The study has unique contribution in that it had examined the cognitive and behavioral strategies TB patients had used to cope with their psychosocial burdens.

Psychosocial Outcomes in Long-Term Cochlear Implant Users.

The objectives of this study were to investigate psychosocial outcomes in a sample of prelingually deaf, early-implanted children, adolescents, and young adults who are long-term cochlear implant (CI) users and to examine the extent to which language and executive functioning predict psychosocial outcomes. Psychosocial outcomes were measured using two well-validated, parent-completed checklists: the Behavior Assessment System for Children and the Conduct Hyperactive Attention Problem Oppositional Symptom. Neurocognitive skills were measured using gold standard, performance-based assessments of language and executive functioning. CI users were at greater risk for clinically significant deficits in areas related to attention, oppositional behavior, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and social-adaptive skills compared with their normal-hearing peers, although the majority of CI users scored within average ranges relative to Behavior Assessment System for Children norms. Regression analyses revealed that language, visual-spatial working memory, and inhibition-concentration skills predicted psychosocial outcomes. Findings suggest that underlying delays and deficits in language and executive functioning may place some CI users at a risk for difficulties in psychosocial adjustment.

War-exposed newcomer adolescent immigrants facing daily life stressors in the United States

For adolescents new to the United States, the experience of war and acculturative stressors may play complex roles during early stages of adjustment to a new culture and country. The overall purpose of this study was to deepen understanding of the experiences of adolescents who are new to the United States, also called “newcomers”, through the examination of pre-migration war exposure and post-migration acculturative stressors as predictors of psychosocial adjustment and academic achievement. The study sample included newcomer immigrant and refugee youth (N=184) with an average of 3.5 years in the United States. Triangulated data were collected from youth, teachers, and official school records. Results indicated that the participants who were exposed to war (N=57) experienced more self-reported and teacher-reported anxiety, more self-reported conduct problems, and had lower academic achievement than participants who had not been exposed to war. Acculturative stressors also predicted more self-reported anxiety, conduct problems, and lower academic achievement, but only for those adolescents without war exposure, suggesting that exposure to traumatic events like war may change newcomer adolescents’ response to acculturative stressors. This may be related to the development of coping or growth that follows after trauma, which enable youth to navigate other life challenges. Understanding potential risk and resilience associated with war exposure among newly arrived students can assist clinicians, educators, and researchers in creating solutions to difficulties in psychosocial adjustment and academic performance.

Long-term adjustment to unmet parenthood goals following ART: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fertility treatment is not guaranteed to succeed and around 30% of patients do not achieve parenthood. Failed treatment represents the loss of parenthood and often triggers intense and prolonged grief reactions. There is an increasing awareness of the need to support patients in the aftermath of failed treatment; however, there are no effective interventions for the effect. This need for support is expected to increase as the number of people delaying parenthood increases and therefore so does the number for whom assisted reproduction will not offer a solution. This mixed-methods review aims at investigating if patients with failed fertility treatment experience significant psychosocial adjustment difficulties that warrant the provision of psychosocial support, and at developing a comprehensive model of adjustment to unmet parenthood goals that can be used to assist the design of theory led psychosocial interventions. Five databases were systematically searched between 1978 and December 2015. Search terms were variations of fertility treatment AND psychosocial adjustment AND post-treatment. Quantitative studies had to include group mean comparisons on psychosocial adjustment (mental-health and well-being) between patients who had failed treatment and a control group. Qualitative studies had to focus on experiences of psychosocial adjustment after failed treatment. Screening, data extraction and critical appraisal were carried out independently by the authors using predefined protocols. Two meta-analyses were performed on mental-health and well-being with a random effect model. The primary outcome was Hedge's g. Publication bias was checked with visual inspection of funnel plots, Egger's test and the trim-and-fill method. A three-stage thematic analysis of results reported in primary qualitative papers was implemented. First-order descriptive and second-order interpretative themes were extracted. Nine quantitative (9052 individuals, 8 countries) and 9 qualitative (267 individuals, 6 countries) studies were included. Six (67%) of the quantitative studies reported on mental-health and six on well-being. The meta-analyses showed that the failed group had worse mental-health (g = -0.496, P = 0.001, 95% CI [-0.791 to 0.200]; I2 = 88%, P < 0.001) and well-being (g = -0.324, P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.454 to 0.193], I2 = 0%, P = 0.552) than controls. The qualitative review resulted in 28 first-order themes that were grouped into 6 second-order themes: individual and relational adjustment, social adjustment, acceptance, pursuit of new life goals, meaning making, and fertility care perceptions and needs. The data showed that individual, relational and social adjustment tended to increase with time since treatment, and that individuals' care perceptions and needs also changed. The data also suggested that individuals who engage in the psychological tasks of accepting and making meaning of their situation and pursuing new life goals adjust better and have fewer support needs. These predictions were articulated in the Three Tasks Model of Adjustment to Unmet Parenthood Goals. Results provide compelling evidence for the provision of psychosocial care directed at helping individuals who are relinquishing their parenthood goals. The Three Tasks Model of Adjustment to Unmet Parenthood Goals offers comprehensive guidance on the therapeutic mechanisms that psychosocial care should target to promote adjustment. Future research should test the model with prospective cohort studies or by developing and testing interventions based on its predictions.

Les adolescents abstinents : un groupe à risque ?

ObjectiveIf abstinence from substance in adolescents may nowadays be regarded statistically as a deviant behavior, what is its significance from a developmental point of view? The aim of this article is to examine the mental health characteristics and the social integration of adolescent abstainers. MethodsA comprehensive literature review of epidemiological studies including data on adolescent abstainers was conducted. ResultsCompared to the abundant literature devoted to adolescent substance abusers, few studies report data on adolescent abstainers. In addition, many methodological problems limit their interpretability and their comparison. However that may be, this body of work suggests that if abstinence may be due to something intrinsic about the individual (such as psychosocial adjustment difficulties, personality traits or gender), many other environmental factors (such as family background of temperance, cultural practices, upbringing or religion) may determine abstaining behavior. By this way, from a psychopathological angle, adolescent abstainers certainly constitute a more heterogeneous group than the adolescent substance abusers. Some of them are quite psychologically healthy, whereas others are more socially withdrawn and may suffer from emotional disorders. ConclusionIn terms of prevention, these data highlight the need for longitudinal prospective studies examining the psychosocial status of adolescent abstainers, their antecedents, their outcome and their motivations.

The Buffering Effect of Parental Mediation in the Relationship between Adolescents' Cyberbullying Victimisation and Adjustment Difficulties

As cyberbullying research advances, many researchers have focused on identifying factors that might reduce the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimisation. One prominent factor receiving attention is the role of parental mediation in digital technology use, and how such mediation reduces the risk of cybervictimisation. Parents utilise different mediation strategies (i.e. restrictive, co‐viewing, instructive), which could potentially contribute to differential patterns in the relationships between cyberbullying victimisation and the associated psychosocial adjustment difficulties (i.e. depression, loneliness, anxiety). The present study investigated this proposal among 568 US (53% female) adolescents in the eighth grade (age ranging from 13–15 years), utilising a longitudinal design. Cyberbullying victimisation was related positively to restrictive mediation and Time 2 depression, anxiety and loneliness, while such associations were negative for co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation. High levels of co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation made the relationship of cyberbullying victimisation to Time 2 (1 year later) depression more negative. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the supportive role of parents in adolescents' digital technology use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.‘Identifying factors that might reduce the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimisation’Key Practitioner Messages Cyberbullying victimisation is linked positively to depression, anxiety and loneliness as well as restrictive mediation. Cyberbullying victimisation is related negatively to co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation. Co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation buffer against adolescents' depression and anxiety resulting from cyberbullying victimisation. ‘Co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation buffer against adolescents' depression and anxiety resulting from cyberbullying victimisation’

Cyber victimization and psychological adjustment difficulties among adolescents

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the buffering effect of the mediation of technology use and social support from school resource officers on the associations between cyber victimization and psychosocial adjustment difficulties (i.e. depression, anxiety, loneliness) over three years (wave-one=sixth grade; wave-two=seventh grade; wave-three=eighth grade).Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 867 eighth graders from the Midwestern USA (ages range from 13 to 15 years old; 51 percent female).FindingsThe findings revealed that high levels of wave-two perceived social support from school resource officers and the mediation of technology use made the relationship between wave-one cyber victimization and wave-three depression more negative, while lower levels of this support and less mediation of technology use made the association more positive. These patterns were not found for anxiety and loneliness.Originality/valueImplications for prevention and intervention programs and the role of school resource officers in such programs are also discussed.