Emotion Regulation Research Articles

Empowering the Vulnerable: The Impact of SEL on Traumatized Children's Academic and Social Outcomes in Crises.

This article critically reviews the impact of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) on traumatized children's academic and social outcomes, focusing on studies from the past three years across diverse contexts. It emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed programs that cater to various settings, while also exploring the critical roles of parents and educators in SEL implementation. Additionally, the paper highlights challenges in deploying SEL in crisis-affected regions and offers strategies to address systemic barriers. Recent studies show that SEL interventions significantly foster emotional regulation, resilience, empathy, and social integration, vital for personal well-being and successful social adaptation. However, the effect of SEL on academic performance, particularly in literacy and numeracy, remains inconsistent. Cultural adaptation of SEL programs is critical to their success, especially in non-Western settings, with a growing focus on trauma-informed approaches to address the needs of children affected by crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these benefits, challenges such as resource limitations, lack of policy support, and the need for educator training continue to impede effective SEL implementation. SEL offers a vital framework for supporting traumatized children, particularly in crisis-affected regions. This review explores five key themes: the enhancement of emotional regulation and social integration, the necessity of cultural adaptation, the involvement of parents and educators, the challenges of implementing SEL in crisis contexts, and the importance of developing trauma-informed policies. The article also identifies future research directions, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms and culturally adapted SEL models.

The Effect of Emotional Coworker Support on Work Engagement Among Pediatric Health Care Providers: The Mediator Role of Emotional Regulation.

Previous findings demonstrated that healthcare workers with a high level of social support are likely to engage in their work. Healthcare workers are not only engaged in the physical problems of their patients but also in their emotional difficulties. Pediatric professionals must express and regulate their own emotions during their interactions with young patients and their families. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of coworkers' emotional support on healthcare workers' work engagement in pediatric healthcare settings and the emotional regulation mechanisms by which emotional coworker support leads to work engagement. A cross-sectional study was distributed in a Belgian pediatric hospital between October 2021 and December 2021. The sample consisted of 274 healthcare workers who were in direct contact with patients. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of measures of coworker emotional support, work engagement, emotional suppression, and cognitive reevaluation. Emotional suppression partially mediated the effects of perceived emotional coworker support on work engagement. Coworkers' emotional support fosters work engagement by reducing the negative effects of emotional suppression. Moreover, cognitive evaluation was positively associated with work engagement. These results provide insight into the influence of perceived emotional coworkers, emotional suppression, and cognitive reevaluation on work engagement.

It takes two to empathize: Interbrain coupling contributes to distress regulation.

While extant research on empathy has made significant progress in uncovering the mechanisms underlying the responses of an observer (empathizer) to the distress of another (target), it remains unclear how the interaction between the empathizer and the target contributes to distress regulation in the target. Here, we propose that behavioral and neural coupling during empathic interactions contribute to diminished distress. From November 2020 to November 2022, we recruited 37 pairs of previously unacquainted participants (N = 74) from multicultural backgrounds. They engaged in a 5 min face-to-face emotional sharing task, where one participant shared a distressing biographical experience with the other participant. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure interbrain coupling in the emotion regulation system, specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and the observation execution system, specifically the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Results indicate that during emotional sharing the target and the empathizer emotionally converge, such that the empathizer becomes sadder. Moreover, the levels of empathizers' empathy predicted both emotional convergence and target distress relief. The neuroimaging findings indicate that interbrain coupling in the dlPFC, IFG, and premotor cortex, predicted distress relief in the target, and more critically that interbrain coupling in the dlPFC played a mediating role in the relationship between distress relief and the levels of empathy of the empathizer. Considering the role of the dlPFC in emotion regulation, we conclude that interbrain coupling in this region during emotional sharing plays a key role in dyadic coregulation of distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

RESUMO Introdução: Os transtornos mentais são definidos como sendo síndromes caracterizadas por uma perturbação clinicamente expressiva na cognição, na regulação emocional ou no comportamento de um indivíduo, que refletem uma disfunção nos processos psicológicos, biológicos ou de desenvolvimento subjacentes ao funcionamento mental. Estes estão frequentemente associados ao sofrimento ou às incapacidades. Sabe-se que uma das características marcantes de determinados transtornos

Introduction: Mental disorders are defined as syndromes characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation or behavior, which reflect a dysfunction in the psychological, biological or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. These are often associated with suffering or disabilities. It is known that one of the striking characteristics of certain disorders is related to their chronicity, which reduces the possibility of a cure and raises the discussion about controlling their symptoms to maintain the quality of life of individuals who suffer from them. A little associated but relevant intervention, if the state of chronic users in mental health is analyzed, is palliative care and its palliative actions that do not seek a cure, but to offer the maximum possible comfort to the user from diagnosis until their last day of life. Objective: Gather and analyze information regarding palliative psychiatry and its benefits for patients with mental disorders. Methodology: Articles published in indexed journals in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), National Library of Medicine/NLM (MEDLINE), and National Library of Medicine/NLM (PUBMED) databases were evaluated, in addition to official sites such as the Ministry of Health of Brazil and the World Health Organization, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. Results and Discussion: After completing the data collection phase, 33 relevant articles were identified for analysis of the proposed theme. It has been noted that palliative psychiatry encompasses a wide range of issues, including widely known mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, severe mental illnesses refractory to treatment, neuropalliative care, and symptom burden at various levels. Furthermore, it addresses ethical and psychosocial problems, psychological suffering, personality, desire and desire to die, dignity, loneliness, social isolation, as well as psychopharmacology. And that this care would be advantageous and of fundamental importance to patients with serious mental illnesses. Conclusion: Given the new perspectives for mental health care in an increasingly humanized way, the articles highlighted the benefits of palliative psychiatry and its importance in improving the quality of life of patients with serious mental disorders. However, it was also observed that many barriers need to be overcome to guarantee quality care for the group in question.

How Metacognitions Contribute to Compulsive Online Shopping: An Exploratory Study.

Compulsive Online Shopping (COS) is considered a technological addiction, characterized by excessive engagement in online shopping behaviors that can cause economic, social, and emotional impairments in an individual's life. Among the theoretical models aimed at conceptualizing addictive behaviors, the metacognitive model has gained increased attention. However, no previous study has investigated the role of metacognitions in COS. The current study was aimed at clarifying the contribution of metacognitions about online shopping as potential mediating variables in the relationship between some well-established psychological correlates (i.e., boredom proneness, impulsivity, materialism, negative affect) and COS. A sample of 254 participants (mean age = 34.79 ± 11.45; Females = 84.3%) was recruited using convenience sampling. The hypothesized model produced a good fit to the data and accounted for 48% of COS variance. All the correlates (i.e., boredom proneness, impulsivity, materialism, and negative affect) were significantly and positively associated with Positive Metacognitions About Emotional And Cognitive Regulation, which in turn predicted COS. Boredom proneness and impulsivity were also positively associated with Negative Metacognitions About Uncontrollability And Cognitive Harm of online shopping, which in turn predicted COS. All the indirect effects were significant. The present findings add to the argument that the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors may applied to the understanding of COS and open the possibility of applying metacognitive techniques to the treatment of COS.

Empathic accuracy and interpersonal emotion regulation in close relationships.

Interpersonal emotion regulation commonly occurs in the context of close relationships. The present study examined whether accurately knowing the emotions that one's romantic partner would feel in a given situation was associated with the effectiveness of interpersonal emotion regulation attempts. One partner from 92 romantic dyads (N = 184) was randomly assigned to the role of the target, and the other was assigned to the role of the regulator. Each participant read four vignettes depicting emotion-inducing scenarios. Targets rated the emotions they would feel in each situation, whereas regulators reported how they thought their partner would feel in each situation. Targets were then asked to describe what their partner could say to help them feel good or better in each situation, using an open-ended response format. The regulators were asked to describe what they would say to their partners to help them feel good or better in each situation. Accuracy was defined as the mean difference in ratings between the regulator's estimates of their partner's emotions and their actual emotion ratings across the scenarios. Effectiveness of regulation was defined as the mean score of similarity between regulator's open-ended responses and target's open-ended responses as rated by independent coders. The results showed that empathic accuracy significantly predicted regulation effectiveness. We also found that individual differences in regulators' emotional clarity scores predicted empathic accuracy. This study sheds light on the importance of accurately perceiving a partner's emotions for effective regulation in close relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Empathic Accuracy and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Close Relationships

Supplemental Material for Empathic Accuracy and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Close Relationships

Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention in vulnerable families in Sierra Leone: a pilot feasibility study.

The prevalence of household violence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is high, and exposure to violence has significant adverse effects on both mental health and child development across generations. Evidence-based services to improve parenting practices and reduce household violence in LMICs are scarce, particularly across rural regions of West Africa. This study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits of an evidence-based home-visiting intervention to promote early childhood development and reduce household violence-the Family Strengthening Intervention for Early Childhood Development and Violence-Prevention (FSI-ECD + VP)-among vulnerable families in rural regions of Sierra Leone. Eighty dual-caregiver households in the Makeni region of Sierra Leone were included in the study (N = 160 caregivers; 73% female). Eligibility criteria included having at least one child aged 6-36 months and elevated scores (> 62.5) on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Community Health Workers (CHWs) employed in the Makeni region completed a 3-week FSI-ECD + VP training. Families were randomized to receive either the FSI-ECD + VP or treatment as usual (TAU). Research assistants blinded to treatment assignment assessed caregiver mental health, caregiver-child interactions, and household violence at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up time points. Triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data showed that caregivers, CHWs, and supervisors generally perceived the intervention as beneficial, feasible, and acceptable. Mixed effects models showed that caregivers who received the FSI-ECD + VP had significantly improved caregiver-child relationship outcomes compared to TAU as assessed by the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment and the Observation of Caregiver-Child Interactions at post-intervention. Preliminary data also suggests that caregivers receiving the FSI-ECD + VP were less likely to have experienced intimate partner physical violence during the post-intervention period, and had lower symptoms of anxiety and depression at 3-month follow-up. FSI-ECD + VP delivery by CHWs in Sierra Leone may be feasible and acceptable; it may also help improve caregiver-child interactions and reduce the likelihood of household violence among vulnerable families with young children. Task-sharing approaches may help increase acceptability and access to evidence-based behavioral interventions that promote early childhood development and violence prevention among families in rural regions of Sierra Leone and other similar settings. The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03045640; 07/22/2020). This study follows the Consort 2010 guidelines for reporting of clinical trials.

The cerebral and cognitive changes after intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) treatment for depression: study protocol for a randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial.

The therapeutic use of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) is a relatively new but promising treatment option for depression. There is a need for more knowledge on the mechanisms involved in its antidepressant effects. This is a single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with two arms, iTBS and sham iTBS. Adult outpatients with unipolar major depressive disorder of at least moderate severity will undergo cognitive assessment with an N-back task (0-back and 2-back), functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging and assessment of depression severity before and after brain stimulation. Neuronavigated iTBS or sham stimulation will be targeted at the LDPFC once a day for 10 consecutive workdays. ITBS will be delivered with the parameters 120% of resting motor threshold, triplet 50Hz bursts repeated at 5Hz; 2s on and 8s off, 600 pulses per session with a total duration of 3min 9s. The severity of depression will be measured with the Montogomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory - second edition. In the iTBS group relative to sham, we expect significant antidepressant effects and improved N-back performance, associated with increased integrity in white matter tracts functionally connected with the LDLPFC and emotion regulation areas within the rostral anterior cingulate cortices, alongside potential increases in cortical thickness in these regions. On functional imaging, we expect to observe increased brain activity in the LDPFC during the performance of the N-back condition with higher cognitive load (2-back) in the iTBS group relative to sham. iTBS is a promising, time-efficient, and considered a safe treatment option for depression according to existing evidence. This trial aims to assess the neurocognitive impact of a 2-week, once-daily iTBS compared to sham iTBS, targeting the LDLPFC in depressed adult outpatients. The study investigates the relationships between changes in cerebral measures and cognitive performance on an N-back task in relation to the antidepressant effect following iTBS. This trial delves into the neurocognitive mechanisms of iTBS in depression, potentially offering novel scientific insights into its treatment effects and mechanisms of action. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06534684. Retrospectively registered on August 1st 2024.

Examining how brief mindfulness training influences communication within the brain of musicians with music performance anxiety: A resting state fMRI study

Many musicians live with music performance anxiety (MPA), which may affect their psychological and physiological functioning. Mindfulness, being aware in the present moment without judgment, has been found to help ease anxiety. Mindfulness may also help alleviate the negative effects of MPA, but what is the neurophysiological basis for this effect? Core components of mindfulness, including emotional processing and acceptance, are related to specific patterns of brain activity. In the current study, 20 musicians with MPA underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (Time 1), a method to examine the communication between brain regions at rest. Notably, 10 musicians then underwent 2 weeks of mindfulness training, while 10 did not. The same scan sequence was repeated in all participants 2 weeks later (Time 2). Compared with Time 1, participants in the mindfulness group exhibited decreased resting-state functional connectivity between areas of the prefrontal cortex and the vermis-6 and crus-II at Time 2. These two areas of the cerebellum are related to emotional processing and acceptance. Changes in communication between these brain regions and the prefrontal cortex suggest the neurophysiological influences of mindfulness and how mindfulness can be used to strengthen emotion regulation networks in musicians with MPA.

Technology-Based Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Its prevalence has steadily increased, with the CDC reporting a rise from 1 in 100 children in 2006 to 1 in 44 in the United States by 2021. ASD manifests in a spectrum of symptoms, requiring tailored interventions to address each child's unique needs. Recent advancements in technology have shown promise in aiding children with ASD, particularly through robotics and socially assistive robots (SARs). This systematic review explores the impact of technology-based interventions on children with ASD, assessing their efficacy in enhancing social skills, communication, and behavior regulation. Methodology: This review followed PRISMA guidelines, screening 46,580 articles across databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PsychInfo. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 254 studies were selected for in-depth review. The review focused on technology-based interventions, including robotics and socially assistive robots, with MeSH terms such as "Technology," "Artificial Intelligence," "Autism Spectrum Disorder," and "ASD." Results: Technology-based interventions, particularly SARs, demonstrated significant improvements in social interaction, emotional regulation, and communication for children with ASD. Robots such as LEGO Mindstorms and "Kaspar" were effective in enhancing eye contact, cooperation, and emotional recognition. However, results varied depending on the type of technology used, study design, and participant characteristics. Conclusion: While technology-based interventions hold promise for children with ASD, further research is needed to standardize intervention protocols, dosage, and long-term outcomes. These tools offer a non-invasive, scalable solution for enhancing social and cognitive skills, but variability in study designs limits definitive conclusions. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Technology, Robotics, Socially Assistive Robots, Communication, Cognitive Skills, Applied Behavioral Analysis

Family Psychological Distress among OFW Parents and their Children in the Middle East: A Mixed Method Study

Aims: This study aims to examine the psychological impact of family separation on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their children, with a focus on emotional distress, coping strategies, and the long-term effects of prolonged separation on family dynamics. Sample: The study involved 50 OFW parents residing in Dubai and 50 of their children aged 8-18 living in the Philippines, providing a dual perspective on the experiences of both parents and children. Study Design: A mixed-methods research design was utilized, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to offer a comprehensive understanding of the psychological impacts of family separation. Place and Duration of Study: Data were collected between January and August 2024, with participants recruited through community organizations supporting OFWs in Dubai. Methodology: Quantitative data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Semi-structured interviews provided qualitative insights into emotional experiences, coping mechanisms, and the challenges of reintegration. Statistical analyses explored correlations between separation duration, communication frequency, and psychological distress. Results: Quantitative findings from the ANOVA revealed that OFW parents had a significantly higher mean depression score (16.3, SD = 5.4) compared to their children (14.4, SD = 4.2), F (1, 98) = 4.21, p < 0.05. Anxiety levels were similarly elevated in both parents (18.1, SD = 6.2) and children (18.6, SD = 5.7), with no significant difference, F (1, 98) = 0.12, p > 0.05. A positive correlation (p < 0.01) was found between the length of separation (average 3.5 years) and psychological distress. Frequent communication was associated with lower anxiety levels (p < 0.01). Qualitative analysis identified seven key themes: emotional burden of separation, coping strategies, impact on family dynamics, reintegration challenges, mental health and well-being, support systems, and emotional regulation. Parents expressed regret over missing family milestones, while children reported feelings of abandonment. Some families, however, demonstrated resilience through strong communication practices and emotional regulation skills. Conclusion: The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive mental health interventions that address the psychological challenges experienced by OFW families. Emotional support systems, in addition to financial assistance, are essential to mitigating the emotional toll of prolonged separation and fostering healthier family dynamics.

Adaptation of the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale in Indonesian

Resilience is the ability of individuals to be able to adapt and rise from difficult conditions or situations. The Five-by-Five Resilience Scale is a measurement tool developed by DeSimone et al (2016) to measure individual resilience. There are five protective factors of resilience, namely adaptation, emotional regulation, optimism, self-efficacy and social support. This research aims to adapt the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale into Indonesian. This research was conducted because there has been no testing of the Indonesian version of the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale. The subjects involved in the study were 267 subjects with an age range of 18 - 25 years who were domiciled in Indonesia. Based on the results of psychometric testing through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), 4 factors were obtained that build the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale. The results also show that the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale has a correlation with other measuring tools in convergence validity testing. The reliability test results show that the dimensions on the Five-by-Five Resilience Scale as a whole have a reliability > 0.7.

Associations Between Sleep Health and Child Behavior at Age 6 Years in the INSIGHT Study.

Suboptimal sleep is associated with disruptive behaviors in childhood. We evaluate associations of mean and variability (SD) of sleep duration, quality, and timing with emotion regulation, impulsivity, and prosocial and antisocial behavior in children. Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories, a randomized controlled trial designed for obesity prevention, compared a responsive parenting intervention delivered in the first 2.5 years after birth with a home safety control group. At age 6 years, children wore an actigraphy device for 7 days and participated in behavioral tasks evaluating behavioral control, emotion regulation, and prosocial and antisocial behaviors. Separate linear regression models examined associations between sleep and behavioral variables, adjusting for study group, child sex, and household income. Moderation analysis investigated whether the study group moderated relationships between sleep and positive age-appropriate behavior. Children (N = 143, age 6.7 ± 0.3 years) were predominantly non-Hispanic White (95%). Mean actigraphic sleep duration, quality, and timing were not associated with behavioral variables. By contrast, greater variability in sleep onset timing was associated with greater impulsivity (B = 0.85, p = 0.004) and poorer emotion regulation (B = -0.65, p = 0.01). Greater variability in sleep midpoint timing was associated with greater impulsivity (B = 0.80, p = 0.03). The study group moderated the effect of sleep onset variability on behavior; only the home safety control group exhibited a significant negative relationship between variability in sleep onset timing and emotion regulation (B = -1.28, p = 0.0002). Findings support the importance of consistency in sleep timing and how this may play a greater role in children's behavioral and emotional outcomes than mean actigraphic sleep duration and quality.

Empirical study of Neo-Chinese fashion consumer behaviour from the perspectives of cultural identity and emotional self-regulation mechanism

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the influential mechanism of consumer behaviour and identity towards Neo-Chinese fashion from the perspectives of cultural identity and emotional self-regulation mechanism.Design/methodology/approachThrough empirical methods such as questionnaire surveys and regression analysis, nine hypotheses were proposed and tested based on 253 valid samples.FindingsThe results indicate that perceived value has a significant positive impact on pride emotion, anxiety emotion and cultural identity, respectively. Cultural pride (anxiety) emotion also has a significant positive (negative) impact on identity. The study also finds that anxiety emotion plays a significant mediating effect in the relationship between perceived value and cultural identity, which of country-of-origin plays a significant negative moderating role.Originality/valueThis paper reveals the psychological mechanisms and implementation paths through which fashion consumption and Neo-Chinese design drive cultural identity. It provides a theoretical basis for optimizing and innovating strategies to guide the evolution of Neo-Chinese cultural identity in the new context.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Correlation Between Mindfulness and Psychological Resilience in Patients Diagnosed with Depression.

This study aimed to determine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the correlation between mindfulness and psychological resilience. This study was conducted with a total of 119 patients diagnosed with major depression. Data were collected with Personal Information Form, Mindfulness Scale, Emotion Regulation Difficulties Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale. The study participants reported moderate levels of mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties, and above-average levels of psychological resilience. It was found that there was a moderately negative correlation between mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties (r = -0.553, p < 0.001), as well as between psychological resilience and emotion regulation difficulties (r = -0.429, p < 0.001). A moderately positive correlation was determined between mindfulness and psychological resilience (r = 0.344, p < 0.001). Emotion regulation difficulties fully mediated the correlation between mindfulness and psychological resilience. These findings will guide the development of interventions aimed at enhancing mindfulness, emotion regulation skills, and psychological resilience in depression treatment.

Associations of sibling relationship quality and emotion regulation with child functioning in families with parental cancer

In families facing parental cancer, children have an increased risk for impaired psychosocial functioning, such as lower quality of life and satisfaction with life, and increased posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). These outcomes are likely affected by both dyadic and individual factors. The aims of the current study were to examine (1) the associations of sibling relationship quality (i.e., warmth and conflict) and emotion regulation problems with child functioning (i.e., quality of life, satisfaction with life, and PTSS) in families facing parental cancer; and (2) whether emotion regulation problems partially or fully mediate these associations. Our sample consisted of 161 children from 82 Dutch families facing parental cancer (84.6% maternal cancer). During home visits, children (mean age 12.1 years; 53.1% girls; 54.4% same-sex sibling pairs) filled out questionnaires about their sibling relationships and their own functioning. Mediation analyses showed no significant direct nor indirect effects of sibling warmth on quality of life, satisfaction with life or PTSS. Significant indirect (but not direct) effects were found for sibling conflict on quality of life and satisfaction with life and on PTSS, through emotion regulation problems. Children experiencing more sibling conflict reported more emotion regulation problems, which were linked to lower quality of life and satisfaction with life and more PTSS. Our study suggests that sibling conflict could be considered a risk factor for child psychosocial functioning in families facing parental cancer. The potentially beneficial effects of sibling warmth were not confirmed by our findings. Limitations and implications of the study and future directions are discussed.

Evaluating Individual Differences in Emotion Regulation in Response to Sadness Using Digital Phenotyping

Evaluating Individual Differences in Emotion Regulation in Response to Sadness Using Digital Phenotyping

The role of mindfulness in treating gaming addiction in high school students: A case study in Vietnam

The objective of this study is to understand how mindfulness heals gaming addiction among high schoolers in Vietnam by sampling 200 individuals. The analyses thus performed are robust enough to reveal that multiples of psychological constructs related to mindfulness can influence the reduction of self-control, alleviation, related stress, and further emotional control, social and emotional skills, enhancement of focus and attention, motivation for a healthier diet, and reduction of dopamine dependence. The present results also show that this holds the functioning of mindfulness as a significant mediator in healing from gaming addiction, with additional correlations found among constructs. In this study, the increased break was found to contribute more to self-control, emotional regulation, and attention enhancement. This analysis shows that the model is valid and reliable, such that mindfulness interventions tend to mainstreamably nudge adolescents toward engaging in better behaviors. This study points out the necessity of incorporating mindfulness training in the treatment of gaming addiction and promises insights relevant to educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals that will be beneficial in aiding youth in their digital-age challenges with gaming.

A Review of Sturge–Weber Syndrome Brain Involvement, Cannabidiol Treatment and Molecular Pathways

Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital neurocutaneous disorder typically caused by a somatic mosaic mutation in R183Q GNAQ. At-risk children present at birth with a capillary malformation port-wine birthmark. The primary diagnostic characteristic of the disorder includes leptomeningeal enhancement of the brain, which demonstrates abnormal blood vessels and results in impaired venous drainage and impaired local cerebral perfusion. Impaired cerebral blood flow is complicated by seizures resulting in strokes, hemiparesis and visual field deficits, hormonal deficiencies, behavioral impairments, and intellectual disability. Therefore, anti-seizure medication in combination with low-dose aspirin is a common therapeutic treatment strategy. Recently published data indicate that the underlying mutation in endothelial cells results in the hyperactivation of downstream pathways and impairment of the blood–brain barrier. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been used to treat medically refractory seizures in SWS due to its anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Pilot research suggests that CBD improves cognitive impairment, emotional regulation, and quality of life in patients with SWS. Recent preclinical studies also suggest overlapping molecular pathways in SWS and in CBD, suggesting that CBD may be uniquely effective for SWS brain involvement. This review aims to summarize early data on CBD’s efficacy for preventing and treating epilepsy and neuro-cognitive impairments in patients with SWS, likely molecular pathways impacted, and provide insights for future translational research to improve clinical treatment for patients with SWS.