Psychosocial Intervention

Peer Support in Chronic Conditions from the Peer Supporters' Perspective: A Systematic Review
Braun A, Löwe B and Uhlenbusch N
Peer support can be a valuable addition to routine care for patients with chronic conditions. While the benefits of peer support are well documented, most research has focused on the recipients' perspective. Given the central role of peer supporters, their experiences should be considered equally important. This systematic review synthesizes the existing literature on the experiences of peer supporters with chronic conditions. We conducted a systematic search across PubMed, PsycInfo (OVID), Psyndex (OVID), Web of Science and screened grey literature, citation and reference lists. Quantitative and qualitative studies reporting on the experiences of peer supporters with a somatic chronic condition were included. The qualitative synthesis followed a metaethnographic approach. Quantitative findings were summarized descriptively and risk of bias of all studies assessed. Out of 9,144 papers identified, 72 were included, mostly qualitative and varying in quality. The synthesis revealed diverse experiences grouped into three categories. Benefits included meaningfulness of the role, skill development, personal growth, social inclusion, reciprocal support, employment advantages, and better disease management. Challenges involved organisational demands, emotional strain, difficult peer interactions, and unclear roles. Facilitators and suggested improvements concerned support, role clarity, setting, and counselling. Overall, the evidence indicates a slightly positive experience for peer supporters. Being a peer supporter is a multifaceted experience that offers various benefits while also presenting challenges. Incorporating peer supporters' perspectives is essential to ensuring that peer-based programs benefit all parties involved, thereby maximizing overall impact. Practical implications for design and execution of future peer-based interventions are provided.
Mom Supporting Mom: Effective Peer Support Intervention for Women with Postpartum Psychological Distress
Sebela A, Horakova A, Nemcova H, Kuklova M, Noskova E, Svancer P, Byatt N, Janovska A and Hrdlickova K
Untreated perinatal mental health disorders can have serious consequences for the whole family system. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of peer support intervention in improving postpartum psychological distress. We evaluated a remote peer support intervention, Mom Supports Mom, in a randomized controlled trial. The primary study outcome was the level of depressive symptoms at week six after delivery. Secondary outcomes included levels of anxiety symptoms, quality of life and the presence of psychiatric disorders at week six after delivery. Trial protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04639752). The study sample consisted of 315 participants in the control group, and 173 participants in the intervention group. The Mom Supports Mom intervention was associated with decreased depressive (Cohen's = 0.30, = .003) and anxiety symptomatology ( = 0.29, =.003) at week six after birth compared to the control group. Mom Supports Mom intervention was also associated with an increase in health-related quality of life at week six after birth ( = 0.27, =.008). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the presence of psychiatric diagnoses at six weeks postpartum. Peer intervention Mom Supports Mom is effective in reducing depressive and anxiety symptomatology in postpartum women and improving their health-related quality of life. Mom Supports Mom can serve as a low-intensity approach that is effective for mild illness and has the potential to be scalable.
Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Attempt in Spanish Adolescents: Risk Profiles Identified Through Decision Tree Analysis
Jiménez TI, Estévez-García JF, Musitu G and Estévez E
Adolescent suicide has become a serious public health problem in Spain, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims were twofold: (1) to explore the key risk factors for suicidality in adolescents in a pool of family, peer, and school relational factors and (2) to analyze specific interactions between them. These objectives involved differentiating suicidal ideation from suicidal attempt and participants' gender. Participants were 3,252 adolescents enrolled in Compulsory Secondary Education schools in Spain, aged between 11 and 17 years (49.3% boys). ANOVAs and chi-square tests were used for group comparisons, and conditional inference tree analysis was applied for multivariate analysis. Negative mother's and father's parental styles, gender, having a partner, child-to-mother violence, cybervictimization, and social media usage frequency were relevant predictors for, in that order. The tree model generated a series of useful decisions rules to identify subgroups of adolescents at elevated risk. The key predictors of suicidal attempt in girls were maternal negative parenting style along with an experience of cybervictimization. For suicidal ideation, key predictors in girls were having a partner, being violent toward their mothers, or having mothers with a negative parenting style, along with intensive social media use. For suicidal ideation in boys, cybervictimization in the absence of other relationship problems was the key predictor. These exploratory findings suggest different gender-based risk profiles to consider for targeted prevention strategies.
Associations between Demographic Factors and Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization: A Meta-analysis
Zehr PA, Spencer CM, Moore M and Siegmann A
Sexual intimate partner violence (SIPV) is a significant public health concern of global importance. This meta-analysis sought to examine the relationship between demographic factors and SIPV perpetration and victimization. The database searches identified a total of 143 articles to be included in the meta-analysis. Comprehensive meta-analysis 3.0 was used to calculate aggregate effect sizes (Pearson's ) for the relationship between demographic variables and SIPV exposure. Variables were examined for SIPV perpetration and victimization and were separated between male and female samples. There was a significant relationship between SIPV victimization and being bisexual ( = .25, < .001), LGBTQ ( = .21, < .001), female ( = .19, p < .001), and disabled ( = .19, < .001). Lower income ( = .07, = .001), lower education ( = .06, < .001), and younger age ( = .04, < .001) also correlated with SIPV victimization. Being married ( = -.08, = .027) was identified as a protective marker against SIPV victimization. Identifying as female ( = -.17, = .003) had a negative association with SIPV perpetration. The current study found that several demographic factors are significantly related to increased risk of SIPV perpetration and/or victimization, while few have a protective effect.
The Bidirectional Relationships between Social Pressure in Digital Contexts, Depression, and Social Support over Time
Erdem HD, Herrero J and Urueña A
As societies become increasingly digitalized, users engage in digital communication flows and participate actively and responsively while managing the demands of constant connectivity. This overwhelming volume of communication can lead to social pressure, which has been associated with compulsive digital behavior and may negatively affect psychological and social adjustment. This study aimed at investigating the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between social pressure in digital contexts, depressive symptoms, and social support, focusing on how social pressure may affect psychological and social adjustment over time. Previous research on social pressure has mostly relied on cross-sectional or, at best, two-panel cross-lagged designs. In this study, random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) were used and a three-wave longitudinal design to examine bidirectional relationships between social pressure, depressive symptoms, and social support in a sample of 1,878 participants that were representative of the Spanish internet population. Our results indicated that increases in social pressure were associated with elevated depressive symptoms and diminished social support over time. Conversely, increases in depressive symptoms and decreases in social support were not associated with changes in social pressure over time. While social pressure in digital contexts had adverse effects on the psychological and social adjustment of users over time (i.e., high depressive symptoms and low social support), it remained unresponsive to variations in users' adjustment over time. These findings underscore the importance of considering the contextual nature of social pressure in digital environments to better inform policy interventions aimed at improving users' digital well-being.
Effectiveness Evaluation of a Violence Prevention Parenting Program Implemented at Large Scale: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Altafim ERP and Linhares MBM
Parenting programs can enhance positive parenting, reduce harsh parenting, and positively impact children's development. This two-arm randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of the parenting program, the ACT Action Program - Raising Safe Kids, on parenting practices (primary outcomes), parental sense of competence, stimulation activities, and children's behaviors (secondary outcomes) in low-income families. The sample consisted of 1,310 caregivers and their 0-to-6-year-old children from 17 municipalities in a Brazilian state, with the majority receiving cash transfers (governmental monetary support for families facing vulnerabilities). The caregivers were randomly allocated into the intervention (IG, = 639) or waitlist control (CG, = 671) groups. The IG participated in the ACT Program during an 8-week-in-person group session to strengthen positive parenting, and the CG in the usual care. The caregivers answered the questionnaires administered by the facilitators in the pre-intervention (after the randomization) and the post-intervention (at the end of the program), using the following tools: ACT Scale, Parenting and Family Adjustment, Parental Sense of Competence, UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, home stimulation activities, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The analysis used the MANOVA followed by the two-way mixed ANOVA for repeated measures. Results showed that compared to GC, the IG significantly increased emotional and behavioral regulation practices, parental sense of competence, and caregivers' home stimulation and decreased parental inconsistency, coercive practices, and children's behavior problems in the post-intervention. The program was effective in improving positive parenting and decreasing child behavior problems when implemented at a large scale in a policy system.
Interpersonal Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescents' Psychosocial Wellbeing in Secondary Education: A Latent Profile Analysis
Herrero Romero R, van der Meulen K, Granizo L, Del Barrio C, Puyol P, Lara L and Olmos R
The concept of adolescent wellbeing has emerged as an essential component of adolescent health, occupying a pivotal position within public and policy agendas. While researchers agree that psychosocial wellbeing is a multidimensional construct comprising objective and subjective elements, many studies focus on a single domain or context of wellbeing. This study (1) identifies different profiles of adolescent psychosocial wellbeing (including psychological and educational domains) and (2) examines how interpersonal risk and protective factors across different ecological contexts relate to these profiles. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and posterior multinomial logistic regressions were conducted on a community sample of 1,627 adolescents aged 11 to 23 in secondary education in the Madrid region. Three distinct profiles emerged. Adolescents in the Behaviourally Challenging Profile (8%), with a particularly high prevalence of conduct problems, showed poor psychological and educational adjustment; adolescents in the Emotionally Struggling Profile (35.5%) had relatively high levels of psycho-emotional problems and poor educational wellbeing; and adolescents in the Psychoeducationally Adjusting Profile (56.4%) showed good educational and psychological adjustment. Results showed that migrant background, lower SES, family conflict, and perceived discrimination in school predicted adolescents to be in the Behaviourally Challenging Profile, whereas positive school climate and perceived social support from peers, teachers and parents predicted adolescents to be in the Psychoeducationally Adjusting Profile. Our results suggest that healthy relationships with parents, teachers, and peers facilitate the psychosocial development and wellbeing of adolescents. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on the role of schools in supporting the psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents in Secondary Education.
Raising Generation Z Children in China: Parenting Styles and Psychosocial Adjustment
Alcaide M, Garcia OF, Chen F and Garcia F
This study aims to analyze the relationship between parenting styles, i.e., authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian, and neglectful, and psychosocial adjustment, i.e., aggression, self-concept, and emotional-social competence, among Generation Z (Gen Z) individuals. The participants were 1,417 Chinese individuals, 736 young adults (born between 2003-2005) and 681 adolescents (born between 2006-2008). A multivariate multifactorial design 4 × 2 × 2 × 2 was applied. Dependent variables were various components of child psychosocial adjustment (aggression, five dimensions of self-concept and emotional-social competence). Independent variables were parenting styles, children antisocial tendency during adolescence, sex, and age (adolescent vs. young adult cohorts). Children from authoritarian homes reported higher levels of aggression, and the worst scores in self-concept and emotional-social competence. By contrast, the optimal results were consistently associated with warm parenting (i.e., authoritative and indulgent). Parental warmth was beneficial for Gen Z, including both adolescent and young adult cohorts. The present findings seriously questioned that the Chinese authoritarian parenting, which has often been related to positive outcomes-particularly for educational success-is beneficial for child psychosocial adjustment.
Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing with Justice-involved People: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Pinto E Silva T, Gouveia C, Santirso FA, Cunha O and Caridade S
Motivational interviewing (MI) is increasingly recognized as an effective approach in forensic settings, particularly for overcoming resistance by avoiding confrontation and fostering intrinsic motivation. Research shows that interventions incorporating MI are more effective than other approaches in preventing and reducing offending behavior, highlighting its importance in improving intervention outcomes. Given this evidence, advocating for the integration of MI is crucial to enhance the effectiveness of interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematize knowledge and assess the effectiveness of interventions incorporating MI for justice-involved people who have been sentenced to custodial or non-custodial measures. Twenty-two studies were included. The total sample size of the studies ranged from 25 to 528 individuals convicted of various offences, including intimate partner violence, violent crimes, sexual offences, property crimes, driving offences, and drug offences. Results indicated that MI is more effective in increasing session attendance and reducing dropout than interventions without MI. For official recidivism, evidence favored MI with a statistically significant reduction in recidivism rates. These findings highlight the importance of integrating MI into forensic settings, establishing its positive impact on numerous outcomes.
Validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in a Representative Sample of Adolescents: Links with Well-being, Mental Health, and Suicidal Behavior
Pina D, Pérez-Albéniz A, Díez-Gómez A, Pérez-Esteban A and Fonseca-Pedrero E
Social support is understood as a protective factor for mental health and emotional well-being, especially at school. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely used tools worldwide to assess this construct. The main purpose of the present study was to validate the scores of the MSPSS in a large sample of non-clinical adolescents. The sample consisted of 2,235 compulsory secondary education students in Spain ( = 14.49, = 1.76, age range 12-18 years, 52% female) obtained by stratified random sampling. The model, consisting of three interrelated factors, showed the most adequate goodness-of-fit indices. The results support the measurement invariance of the MSPSS across sex, age, and sexual orientation. McDonald's omega reliability indices between .862-.934 were obtained. MSPSS scores were significantly and negatively associated with emotional and behavioral problems, depression, and suicidal behavior, and positively associated with life satisfaction. The MSPSS is a reliable instrument to assess social support through self-report in school settings. In this regard, assessing social support using this tool is particularly useful in programs promoting well-being or preventing mental health disorders.
Are Parental Stress and Rewards Influenced by Child Temperament? Analysis of the Moderating Role of Social Support and Gender in Spanish Parents
Gómez-Ortiz O, Ortiz-Alba M, Falla D and Romera EM
The aims of this research work were twofold: (1) to validate the factor structure of the Spanish version of the Emotionality, Activity and Sociability Temperament Survey (EAS) and (2) to analyse the relationship between child temperament, and parental stress and rewards, testing the possible moderating roles of gender and social support. The reference population was a group of mothers and fathers with children in early childhood education (aged 0-5). For the first study, we used a sample of 701 subjects (70.20% mothers, = 36.83), while for the second study, 422 individuals were selected (58.9% mothers, = 37.08). We conducted exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and moderation analyses. The EFA showed a three-factor structure composed of 12 items, and the CFA verified that the three-factor model (sociability, emotionality, and activity) was the most parsimonious and provided the best fit. The results reveal the moderating effect of social support and gender in the relationship between childhood emotionality and parental rewards. One the one hand, with mothers in particular, the parental rewards are especially affected by childhood emotionality when levels of social support are low to moderate. On the other hand, paternal rewards seem to depend to a greater extent on childhood emotionality when there is a high level of support from a significant other. Finally, we discuss the protective role played by social support and the possible risk factor of childhood emotionality in parents' appraisal of the parenting task, depending on the gender of the parents.
Cognitive Distortions and Decision-Making in Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review
Badenes-Sastre M, Medinilla-Tena P, Spencer CM and Expósito F
Exposing women to intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a risk to their physical and mental health, necessitating that they leave the relationship. However, women face various obstacles in doing so, such as cognitive distortions that affect their interpretation of the reality of violence, trapping them and significantly influencing their decision to leave. This scoping review explores, synthesizes, and analyzes the available evidence on the relationship between cognitive distortions and decision-making among women involved in IPV. A systematic search was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, utilizing the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases. A total of 12 studies (five qualitative, four quantitative, and three mixed methodology) were included according to the inclusion criteria. Self-blame, low attribution of responsibility to the aggressor, minimization of violence or damage, normalization of IPV, denial/loss of self, denial injury, control perceived, hope of change, savior beliefs, "should" belief in the relationship, focus on positive aspects of the relationship or aggressor, and denial other emotional options besides the partner were the main cognitive distortions found in women victims of IPV and related to maintaining IPV. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing cognitive distortions in women, which is crucial in preventing them from becoming trapped in violent relationships. Future research should continue to investigate the role of cognitive distortions in women's decision-making regarding IPV, as well as the consequences of leaving the aggressor for them.
VR Cognitive-based Intervention for Enhancing Cognitive Functions and Well-being in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Behavioral and EEG Evidence
Makmee P and Wongupparaj P
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been recognized as a window of opportunity for therapeutic and preventive measures to slow cognitive decline. The current study investigated the efficacy of the virtual reality (VR) cognitive-based intervention on verbal and visuospatial short-term memory (STM), executive functions (EFs), and wellbeing among older adults with and without MCI. The immersive VR cognitive-based intervention comprised eight 60-minute sessions, held twice a week over a span of 30 days. The participants consisted of 31 non-MCI older adults in the experimental group (mean age ± = 66.31 ± 3.12 years), 29 older adults with MCI in the experimental group (mean age ± = 68.19 ± 5.03 years), and 30 non-MCI older adults in the control group (mean age ± = 64.97 ± 3.35 years). The dependent variables were assessed by using a battery of computerized test, the well-being of older people questionnaire and resting-state EEG. A repeated-measures ANCOVA was employed to examine the effects of the developed VR intervention. Significant improvements were observed in both STMs and EFs following the intervention, as indicated by behavioral and EEG findings, ranging from small to large effect sizes (i.e., = .05-.17). However, enhanced wellbeing was specifically observed among older adults with MCI in the experimental group, (2, 87) = 6.78, .01, = .11. The present findings lend support to the efficacy of VR cognitive-based interventions across clinical and non-clinical populations. These results underscore the immediate impact of the intervention across multimodal assessments, including neurophysiological changes, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes.
Optimizing Engagement: Factors Influencing Family Participation in a Positive Parenting Program among Vulnerable Households with Young Children
Cebolla H, Martín JC and Rodrigo MJ
This paper addresses a critical gap in family research by examining the risk of families with young children receiving the Minimum Living Income (MLI) in rejecting targeted social interventions, also known as non-take-up (NTU). We analyze recruting process data from the first invitation to participate in a social benefit including the "Growing Happily in the Family-2" program developed in Madrid, Spain, to their written consent prior to its implementation. Measurements of subjective factors reported as reasons for NTU and objective factors of sociodemographic characteristics and detailed household patterns of prior engagement with social services to study NTU response were based on official records and project data. Descriptive findings reveal that jobless parents with high economic hardship, poorer physical and mental health, heavy demanding childbearing, and poor family-job conciliation aggravated by adverse life events profile the NTU response. Linear probability models predicting the rejection/acceptance decision showed that lack of previous contact with the social services, younger parental age, male, and nonimmigrant status significantly elevate NTU risk. Notably, although a longer stay in social services increases the probability of NTU, this does not occur among the most vulnerable families that have received more intensive support, challenging the idea of intervention fatigue. These findings have implications for the design of policies and practices to support children and family as subjects of rights, underlining the need for preventive and capacity-building strategies that address specific barriers to program uptake. Overall, the study highlights innovation areas that lie in the interception of social and employment benefits to improve the reach of the intended population and the positive impact of parenting interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable families.
The Mindful Compassion Program Integrated with Body-Mind-Spirit Empowerment for Reducing Depression in Lung Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads
Hsiao FH, Ho CC, Yu CJ, Shih JY, Lin ZZ, Huang FY, Chen YT and Hsieh CC
This study compared the long-term effects of a mindful compassion program on improving depression in lung cancer patients, both in patient-caregiver dyads and in patient-only groups, and examined the moderating roles of anxiety and quality of life (QOL). Participants consisted of 56 dyads, who were randomly assigned to either the dyadic or patient-only groups. Data collection included various assessments at different time points: baseline (T0), end of intervention (T1), and follow-up at the 5th month (T2), 8th month (T3), and 14th month (T4). Patients in the dyadic group experienced a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. The dyadic intervention was particularly beneficial for younger patients and those with higher baseline QOL symptom distress. Improvements in patients' mindfulness and self-compassion contributed to reduced depression by enhancing general health and lowering anxiety. Additionally, caregivers' self-compassion played a role in reducing patients' depression by improving patients' QOL functioning and decreasing anxiety. Mindfulness and compassion interventions, whether provided dyadically or individually, can be tailored to each patient's specific condition.
Which Psychosocial Strengths Could Combat the Adolescent Suicide Spectrum? Dissecting the Covitality Model
Falcó R, Falcon S, Moreno-Amador B, Piqueras JA and Marzo JC
Covitality is a meta-construct of positive intra/interpersonal self-schemas that organize and process life experiences. Its synergy favors psychosocial adjustment and prevents mental health problems during adolescence. At these ages, suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine which psychosocial strengths of the covitality model could combat adolescent suicide spectrum. Participants were 5,528 Spanish adolescents aged 12-18 years, 50.74% females. The assessment protocol was completed in schools, under the supervision of the research staff. Statistical analyses were conducted using hurdle models, i.e., modeling zero-inflated count data. This process provided two sets of outcomes: the association - in probabilistic terms - between psychosocial strengths and the absence of suicide indicators (i.e., non-occurrence) and the association of these assets - via regression coefficients - with increased experimentation (i.e., duration/quantity). All psychosocial strengths of the covitality model were related to the non-ocurrence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but not all to a shorter duration/quantity of their phenotypic manifestations. Covitality obtained greater association values on suicidal tendencies than its components analyzed independently. Belief in self and engaged living were the second-order factors with the higher estimating capacity. Specifically, emotional self-awareness, enthusiasm, gratitude, family support, and behavioral self-control were key first-order assets. These findings suggest that training adolescents in covitality assets could be an effective strategy for universal prevention against premature suicide. Moreover, this study provide evidence on which psychosocial strengths could counteract each phenotypic manifestation of suicide in order to customize selective and indicated preventive actions.
Care Competencies Training Enhances Adolescents' Well-being: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Nguyen CP, Beyers W, Valcke M and Dinh HT
This intervention study seeks to assess the impact of a care competencies training program on students' well-being. This randomized controlled trial involved 191 Vietnamese adolescents (65.4% female, age = 16 years and 8 months) in a 7-week intervention study that used video vignettes to build their care competencies. Validated scales were used to determine their care competencies (Care Competencies Questionnaire for Adolescents) and well-being (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale) at three points in time: before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. The full-information maximum likelihood approach was applied to latent growth curve modeling (LGM) in Mplus 8.5 to estimate the initial level (i.e., intercept) and the change (i.e., slope) in care competencies and well-being among adolescents over time. Factor scores of LGMs were saved for correlation and multiple linear regression analysis by using SPSS (version 26.0) to explore the relationships between the changes in care competencies/failures and the changes in well-being. Results showed that, next to a significant increase in care competencies and a significant decrease in care failures, other well-being variables also significantly changed in the intervention group. In the intervention group, but not in the control group, changes in care competencies and failures consistently and significantly predicted changes in well-being. The results support the potential of the video vignette-based intervention to promote the development of adolescents' care competencies.
Integrated Motivational Strategies for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators with Substance Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Expósito-Álvarez C, Roldán-Pardo M, Gilchrist G and Lila M
Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators with alcohol and/or other drug use problems (ADUPs) have been identified as one of the main high-risk and highly resistant groups of perpetrators requiring special attention in intervention programs for IPV perpetrators. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate whether an individualized motivational plan adjusted to ADUPs (IMP-ADUPs) was superior to standard motivational strategies (IMP) in reducing ADUPs, and IPV and increasing treatment adherence in IPV perpetrators. Data from a full sample of IPV perpetrators ( = 140) and a subsample of participants with ADUPs ( = 55) were collected at pre- and post-intervention and 12-month follow-up. Final outcomes included alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis use, self-reported IPV, risk of recidivism assessed by facilitators, and official IPV recidivism. Proximal outcomes included treatment adherence (stage of change, intervention dose, active participation, and dropout). Both intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted. The IMP-ADUPs condition was superior to the IMP in reducing alcohol use at post-intervention in both the full sample and ADUPs subsample. The full sample of participants in the IMP-ADUPs condition were in a more advanced stage of change post-intervention and showed increased active participation during the intervention process than IMP participants. All participants were in a more advanced stage of change at post-intervention and reduced their alcohol use and their risk of recidivism at post-intervention and 12-month follow-up. These results underscore the need to develop individualized treatment approaches to address participants' risks and needs and promote their motivation to change.
Understanding the Effect of Loneliness on Quality of Life in Older Adults from Longitudinal Approaches
Torres Z, Oliver A and Tomás JM
To study the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and quality of life (QoL) in adults to identify key mechanisms to better design future psychosocial interventions. 13,222 participants from three consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), aged 65 or older, 56.3% women. They were analyzed using cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), and multi-group models disaggregated by gender. The RI-CLPM provided a better fit than the CLPM. Both models showed the stability of QoL and loneliness. All autoregressive paths were significant, and a negative association between concurrent QoL and loneliness was observed across all waves. The CLPM supported a reciprocal relationship, while the RI-CLPM only confirmed the effects of loneliness on QoL. Women reported higher levels of loneliness and poorer QoL, but no gender differences were identified in the longitudinal association. Addressing loneliness in early stages could be a better preventive measure to promote quality of life in both genders.
A Controlled Evaluation of a Psychosocial Outreach Support Program for Adults with Severe Mental Illness
Savaglio M, Vincent A, Bentley M, Gaul J, Poke S, Watson N and Skouteris H
Serious mental illness (SMI) remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. However, there is limited Australian evidence of community-based programs to enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of adults experiencing SMI. Foundations is a long-term community-based psychosocial outreach support program delivered in Tasmania, Australia. A longitudinal non-randomised controlled trial was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the Foundations program on adults' psychosocial functioning, clinical symptomology, and hospital readmissions, in comparison to standard care only. Participants were adults aged 18-64 years experiencing SMI. Control participants received standard clinical care only. Intervention participants were engaged in the Foundations program in addition to standard care. Data were collected at program commencement, midpoint, closure, and six-months post-closure. Linear mixed modelling was used to examine differences between groups. Intervention participants achieved better psychosocial functioning in comparison to the control group by program closure and at six-month follow-up. No significant differences were observed for clinical mental health symptomology or hospital readmission rates. Length of readmission stay was significantly shorter for intervention participants. The findings highlight the additional value of community-based, recovery-oriented, psychosocial outreach support alongside clinical mental health care to enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of adults experiencing SMI.
Dual-factor Models of Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence
Magalhães E
Dual-factor models of mental health propose that mental health includes two interrelated yet distinct dimensions - psychopathology and well-being. However, there is no systematization of the evidence following these models. This review aims to address the following research question: what evidence exists using dual-factor models? The current systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines on the following databases: Web-of-science, Scopus, Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ERIC, and MEDLINE. The screening process resulted in 85 manuscripts that tested the assumptions of dual-factor models. Evidence revealed psychometric substantiation on the two-dimensionality of the dual-factor model, and 85% of the manuscripts provided evidence related to classifying participants into different mental health groups. Most studies showed that the Complete Mental Health or Positive Mental Health group is the most prevalent status group, and longitudinal evidence suggests that most participants (around 50%-64%) remain in the same group across time. Regarding the factors associated with mental health status groups, studies reviewed in this manuscript focus mainly on school-related outcomes, followed by supportive relationships, sociodemographic characteristics, psychological assets, individual attributes, physical health, and stressful events. This review highlights the importance of considering the two dimensions of mental health when conceptualizing, operationalizing, and measuring mental health. Fostering mental health must go beyond reducing symptoms, and practitioners would be able to include well-being-related interventions in their regular practice to improve individuals' mental health outcomes.
The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Suicide-related Emergency Calls in a European City: Age and Gender Patterns, and Neighborhood Influences
Marco M, López-Quílez A, Sánchez-Sáez F, Escobar-Hernández P, Montagud-Andrés M, Lila M and Gracia E
The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis of suicide-related emergency calls in the city of Valencia (Spain) over a six-year period. To this end we first examined age and gender patterns and, second, the influence of neighborhood characteristics on general and gender-specific spatio-temporal patterns of suicide-related emergency calls. Geocoded data on suicide-related emergency calls between 2017 and 2022 ( = 10,030) were collected from the 112 emergency service in Valencia. Data were aggregated at the census block group level, used as a proxy for neighborhoods, and trimesters were considered as the temporal unit. Two set of analyses were performed: (1) demographic (age and gender) and temporal descriptive analyses and (2) general and gender-specific Bayesian spatio-temporal autoregressive models. Descriptive analyses revealed a higher incidence of suicide-related emergency calls among females and an increase in calls among the 18-23 age group from 2020 onwards. The general spatio-temporal model showed higher levels of suicide-related emergency calls in neighborhoods characterized by lower education levels and population density, and higher residential mobility, aging population, and immigrant concentration. Relevant gender differences were also observed. A seasonal effect was noted, with a peak in calls during spring for females and summer for males. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive mental health targeted interventions and preventive strategies that account for gender-specific disparities, age-related vulnerabilities, and the specific characteristics of neighborhoods.
Home-visiting Parenting Programs to Improve Mother-Infant Interactions at Early Ages: A Systematic Review
Alves CRL, Seibel BL, Gaspardo CM, Altafim ERP and Linhares MBM
To systematically review studies examining the effects of home-visiting preventive parenting programs (HV-PPs) on improving the quality of mother-child interactions in early childhood. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, we identified 3,586 studies published between 2018 and 2022 by searching the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, BVS/LILACS, SciELO, and PsycNET/PsycINFO. After applying the eligibility criteria, 17 articles were selected for review. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries (53%) and the remainder were conducted in upper-middle-income countries, predominantly using a randomized controlled trial design and with strong methodological quality. The 17 studies applied 13 different HV-PPs, predominantly using video feedback, based on various dosages and schedules. Most studies (77%) showed significant positive effects on mother-child interactions by improving mainly positive maternal behaviors (e.g., sensitivity and responsiveness). Positive effects occurred independent of the study design, sample characteristics, measures, and constructs assessed. However, the findings suggest that the combination of fewer than six sessions, durations shorter than three months, and a very early start did not impact mother-child interactions, as expected. Few studies have explored negative maternal behaviors, children's behaviors, and dyadic interactions such as mutuality and synchrony. HV-PPs positively impacted mother-child interactions in early childhood despite the large heterogeneity across program designs, outcome measures, and overlapping constructs. Based on the results, we discuss the practical and economic implications of using parenting programs as a preventive approach.
Parent Peer Advocacy, Mentoring, and Support in Child Protection: A Scoping Review of Programs and Services
Saar-Heiman Y, Damma J, Lalayants M and Gupta A
Parent peer advocacy, mentoring, and support programs, delivered by parents with lived child protection (CP) experience to parents receiving CP intervention, are increasingly recognized internationally as inclusive practices that promote positive outcomes, but little is known about what shared characteristics exist across these types of programs and what variations may exist in service delivery or impact. This scoping review examines 25 years (1996-2021) of empirical literature on these programs to develop a systematic mapping of existing models and practices as context for program benefits and outcome achievement. Studies were selected using a systematic search process. The final sample comprised 45 publications that addressed research on 24 CP-related parent peer advocacy and support programs. Data analysis explored how programs were studied and conceptualized and examined their impact on parents, professionals, and the CP system. Substantial variation in program settings, target populations, aims, advocate roles, and underlying theoretical frameworks were identified. Across program settings, existing empirical evidence on impact and outcomes also varied, though positive impacts and outcomes were evident across most settings. Findings from this review highlight the need to account better for parent peer advocacy and support program variations in future practice development to ensure alignment with inclusive and participatory principles and goals. Future research is also needed to address current knowledge gaps and shed light on the impact of these differences on individual, case, and system outcomes.
Beyond the Initial Assault: Characterizing Revictimization in Intimate Partner Violence and Its Implications for Women's Health
Muñoz-Rivas MJ, Ronzón-Tirado R, López-Ossorio JJ and Redondo N
Recent research has emphasized the importance of addressing specific victim-related factors to reduce victims' vulnerability and prevent future revictimization experiences. This study aimed to analyze the vulnerability profiles of women who were victims of intimate partner violence, including those who had experienced a single incident of violence and those who had endured revictimization. Participants were 338 women with active judicial protection measures registered in the system of support for victims of gender violence (VioGén) in Madrid, Spain. The analysis considered sociodemographic characteristics, victimization history, perceived triggers of violence, women's responses and feelings, as well as clinical outcomes linked to revictimization history. The study revealed that many victims faced socioeconomic vulnerability. Furthermore, the findings underscored the intricate link between the likelihood of enduring chronic violence and women's awareness of early indicators of violence risk, their initial responses to aggression, communication skills, and recurrent behaviors in the context of an established violent dynamic. This study offers valuable insights for law enforcement to identify the risk of revictimization. Furthermore, findings raise awareness about the particularly vulnerable situation of some women to repeated victimization experiences and provide relevant information for clinical intervention.
Can Virtual Reality be Used for the Prevention of Peer Sexual Harassment in Adolescence? First Evaluation of the Virtual-PRO Program
Sánchez-Jiménez V, Rodríguez-de Arriba ML, Ortega-Rivera J and Muñoz-Fernández N
The present study analyzed the Virtual-PRO program's efficacy in preventing peer sexual harassment by promoting the bystanders' active intervention and incorporating a virtual reality (VR) component. The impact of the program on sexist attitudes, moral disengagement, the intention to intervene as bystanders, and the involvement in sexual aggression and victimization was tested. Virtual-PRO is a VR-enhanced sexual harassment curricular prevention program of six one-hour sessions. The evaluation comprised a pre-test, a post-test after the intervention, and a follow-up measure at three months. In the study, 579 Spanish adolescent students aged between 12 and 17 years ( = 14.76, = 0.88; 47.1% boys) were randomly grouped into experimental ( = 286) and control ( = 293) conditions. The Virtual-PRO program effectively controlled participants' levels of sexism and reduced moral disengagement in the experimental group compared to the control group three months after the intervention. The program also showed positive results in changing bystander behavior, increasing the intention to intervene when the victim was not a friend. Finally, visual/verbal and online victimization decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. No differences were found for physical sexual victimization and sexual aggression. The first trial of the Virtual-PRO program is promising and highlights the use of VR as a sexual harassment prevention tool. Follow-up measures are essential to determine the impact of interventions accurately.
Differential Treatment Response of Proactive and Reactive Partner Abusive Men: Results from a Laboratory Proximal Change Experiment
Babcock JC, Kini S, Godfrey DA and Rodriguez L
The current study reexamines data from Babcock et al. (2011) proximal change experiment to discern the differential utility of two communication skills-based interventions for proactive and reactive partner violence offenders. Partner violent men were randomly assigned to the Editing Out the Negative skill, the Accepting Influence skill, or to a placebo/timeout and reengaged in a conflict discussion with their partners. Proactivity was tested as a moderator of immediate intervention outcomes. The ability to learn the communication skills, changes in self-reported affect, observed aggression, and psychophysiological responding were examined as a function of proactivity of violence. Highly proactive men had some difficulty learning the Accepting Influence skill and they responded poorly to this intervention. They responded positively to the Editing Out the Negative technique, with less aggression, more positive affect, and lower heart rates. Low proactive (i.e., reactive) men tended to feel less aggressive, more positive, and less physiologically aroused after completing the Accepting Influence technique. This study lends support for tailoring batterer interventions specific to perpetrator characteristics.
Early Family Experiences, Drug Use, and Psychosocial Adjustment across the Life Span: Is Parental Strictness Always a Protective Factor?
Villarejo S, Garcia OF, Alcaide M, Villarreal ME and Garcia F
This study analyzes whether parental strictness, which is shared by authoritative parenting (strictness and warmth) and authoritarian parenting (strictness without warmth) styles, always acts as a main protective factor against drug use and psychosocial maladjustment in children. This conclusion has already been stated in numerous classic studies, though emergent research suggests that there are benefits to parental warmth regardless of whether strictness is present or not. Sample were 2,095 Spanish participants (1,227 females, 58.6%), 581 adolescent children (aged 12-18 years, 27.7%) and 1,514 adult children (72.3%). The measures were the main parenting style dimensions (warmth and strictness), drug use, and a set of indicators of psychosocial adjustment. A 4 × 2 × 4 MANOVA was applied for all outcomes with parenting style, sex, and age as independent variables. Indulgent parenting (warmth without strictness) was related to less drug use than parenting without warmth (authoritarian and neglectful). Additionally, indulgent and authoritative parenting styles were related to better scores on psychosocial adjustment than authoritarian and neglectful styles, although the indulgent parenting was the only style related to the optimal scores being equal or even more effective than the authoritative style. Contrary to classical studies, present findings suggest that it is the parental warmth instead of the parental strictness that seems to be effective in protecting against drug use and psychosocial maladjustment.
Perceived Reportability of Intimate Partner Violence against Women to the Police and Help-seeking: A National Survey
Juarros-Basterretxea J, Fernández-Álvarez N, Torres-Vallejos J and Herrero J
The literature has consistently found that victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women are reluctant to make their situation visible and report it to the police. Whether victims perceive and define IPV behaviors as reportable is key to understanding in which cases the police are seen as potential providers of help or whether other potential sources of help (family, friends, professionals, etc.) are preferred. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the influence of perceived reportability of IPV on women's selection of the police as a source of help compared to not seeking help or selecting other sources of help. Structural equation modeling was applied to data from 479 female participants drawn from a nationally representative sample of 1,112 male and female Chilean adolescents and young adults conducted by the National Youth Institute of Chile. The results showed that perceived reportability was a significant predictor of choosing the police as a source of help compared to other informal sources of help, such as family and friends. However, perceived reportability did not affect help-seeking choices between the police and other formal help sources (psychologists, public services). Participants' IPV victimization and attitudes toward IPV also played a specific role in selecting the police as a source of help. These findings highlight the complexity of the visibility of women's IPV victimization to the police and the need to examine its explanatory mechanisms.
Systematic Review of the Evaluation of Foster Care Programs
Vallejo-Slocker L, Idoiaga-Mondragon N, Axpe I, Willi R, Guerra-Rodríguez M, Montserrat C and Del Valle JF
The aim of this study was to conduct an exhaustive synthesis to determine which instruments and variables are most appropriate to evaluate foster care programs (foster, kinship, and professional families). This evaluation includes the children, their foster families, their families of origin, professionals, and foster care technicians.