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Berge JM, Hazzard VM, Trofholz A, Hochgraf A, Zak-Hunter L, Miller L. Reported Intergenerational Transmission of Parent Weight Talk and Links with Child Health and Wellbeing. J Pediatr 2024; 270:114012. [PMID: 38494088 PMCID: PMC11176000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine if intergenerational transmission of parent weight talk occurs, the contextual factors prompting weight talk, and whether parent weight talk is associated with child weight, dietary intake, psychosocial outcomes, and food parenting practices. STUDY DESIGN Children aged 5-9 years and their families (n = 1307) from 6 racial and ethnic groups (African-American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali/Ethiopian, White) were recruited for a longitudinal cohort study through primary care clinics in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota from 2016 through 2019. Parents filled out surveys at 2 time points, 18 months apart. Adjusted regression models examined associations of interest. RESULTS Intergenerational transmission of parent weight talk was observed. In addition, significant associations were found between parent engagement in weight talk and higher weight status and poorer psychosocial outcomes in children 18 months later. Parent engagement in weight talk was also associated with more restrictive food parenting practices 18 months later. CONCLUSIONS Parents' exposure to weight talk as children increased the likelihood of engaging in weight talk with their own children and had harmful associations over time with parent restrictive feeding practices, child weight, and psychosocial wellbeing in children. Health care providers may want to consider both modeling positive health-focused conversations and educating parents about the potential harmful and long-lasting consequences of engaging in weight talk with their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerica M Berge
- Department of Family Medicine and Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
| | - Vivienne M Hazzard
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Amanda Trofholz
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Anna Hochgraf
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lisa Zak-Hunter
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Laura Miller
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
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Wang Y, Zhou K, Wang Y, Zhang J, Xie Y, Wang X, Yang W, Zhang X, Yang J, Wang F. Examining the association of family environment and children emotional/behavioral difficulties in the relationship between parental anxiety and internet addiction in youth. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1341556. [PMID: 38895031 PMCID: PMC11184946 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1341556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Associations between parental anxiety and adolescent internet addiction have been documented in the literature; however, few studies have analyzed the role of the family environment in this relationship. This study aims to explore the relationship between parental anxiety and adolescent internet addiction while also investigating the indirect relationships involving multiple dimensions of the family environment and child emotional behavior issues. Methods Surveys were conducted among 6,296 parent-child pairs. We administered SDQ, CIAS-R, and FES-CV to assess adolescents' issues and internet addiction, and evaluate family environment. Additionally, parents completed GAD-7 to assess parental anxiety levels.Results: Correlation analysis revealed that the family environment and adolescent emotional behavior issues played an indirect relationship in the link between parental anxiety and internet addiction. Discussion The findings emphasize the importance of addressing parental anxiety and fostering a positive family environment as effective measures to alleviate adolescent emotional behavior problems and reduce the risk of internet addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical Universtiy, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Keyin Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanchen Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical Universtiy, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenyi Yang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiyan Zhang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Liaoning, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Mental Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Peleg O, Boniel-Nissim M. Exploring the personality and relationship factors that mediate the connection between differentiation of self and phubbing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6572. [PMID: 38504119 PMCID: PMC10951228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55560-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the family patterns crucial for mental and physical well-being is differentiation of self. In this study, our aim was to investigate its impact on the phenomenon of phubbing-where individuals prioritize smartphones over in-person interactions. The prevalence of phubbing behavior has risen substantially in tandem with the increased adoption of smartphones. The study investigated familial, interpersonal, and personal factors that could potentially contribute to the escalation of phubbing behaviors. It was hypothesized that differentiation of self would be associated with phubbing through the mediation of fear of missing out, romantic relationship satisfaction, and loneliness in intimate relationships. We also expected gender differences in the study variables. A sample of 431 young adults, with an average age of 29 (M = 29.05, SD = 9.14), completed the DSI-R, Phubbing, FoMO, ENRICH, and LIRS questionnaires online. Results indicated that fear of missing out mediated the relationship between three dimensions of differentiation of self-emotional reactivity, emotional cutoff, and fusion with others-and phubbing behavior. However, the expected mediation by romantic relationship satisfaction and loneliness in intimate relationships did not reach significance, although these variables were found to be associated with differentiation of self. Women reported higher levels of phubbing behavior, emotional reactivity, and fusion with others, whereas men reported higher levels of I-position. We conclude that fear of missing out may serve as a catalyst, triggering anxiety in individuals, which in turn drives them to adopt phubbing as a coping mechanism. Moreover, individuals with lower levels of differentiation of self appear to be at increased risk of engaging in phubbing behaviors through the mediation of fear of missing out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ora Peleg
- Departments of Educational Counseling and Education, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley, Israel.
| | - Meyran Boniel-Nissim
- Departments of Educational Counseling and Education, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley, Israel
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Zhou T, Luo Y, Xiong W, Meng Z, Zhang H, Zhang J. Problem-Solving Skills Training for Parents of Children With Chronic Health Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Pediatr 2024; 178:226-236. [PMID: 38165710 PMCID: PMC10762633 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Importance Problem-solving skills training (PSST) has a demonstrated potential to improve psychosocial well-being for parents of children with chronic health conditions (CHCs), but such evidence has not been fully systematically synthesized. Objective To evaluate the associations of PSST with parental, pediatric, and family psychosocial outcomes. Data Sources Six English-language databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library), 3 Chinese-language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang), gray literature, and references were searched from inception to April 30, 2023. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that performed PSST for parents of children with CHCs and reported at least 1 parental, pediatric, or family psychosocial outcome were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Data were pooled for meta-analysis using the standardized mean difference (SMD) by the inverse variance method or a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses of children- and intervention-level characteristics were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures The psychosocial outcomes of the parents, their children, and their families, such as problem-solving skills, negative affectivity, quality of life (QOL), and family adaptation. Results The systematic review included 23 RCTs involving 3141 parents, and 21 of these trials were eligible for meta-analysis. There was a significant association between PSST and improvements in parental outcomes, including problem-solving skills (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27-0.58), depression (SMD, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.23), distress (SMD, -0.61; 95% CI, -0.81 to -0.40), posttraumatic stress (SMD -0.39; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.31), parenting stress (SMD, -0.62; 95% CI, -1.05 to -0.19), and QOL (SMD, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.15-0.74). For children, PSST was associated with better QOL (SMD, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.04-1.47) and fewer mental problems (SMD, -0.51; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.34), as well as with less parent-child conflict (SMD, -0.38; 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.16). Subgroup analysis showed that PSST was more efficient for parents of children aged 10 years or younger or who were newly diagnosed with a CHC. Significant improvements in most outcomes were associated with PSST delivered online. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that PSST for parents of children with CHCs may improve the psychosocial well-being of the parents, their children, and their families. Further high-quality RCTs with longer follow-up times and that explore physical and clinical outcomes are encouraged to generate adequate evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianji Zhou
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuanhui Luo
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenjin Xiong
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhenyu Meng
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hanyi Zhang
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingping Zhang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Suo X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Liu Y, Wang K, Li H, Zhai J, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Effects of parenting style on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their comorbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown among 3117 Chinese junior high school students. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:549-556. [PMID: 38072163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and comorbidity increased in junior high school students due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The objective of this study was to measure the impacts of parenting style on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their comorbidity in Chinese junior high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. METHODS An online survey was conducted in June 2020 among 3117 junior high school students from Shandong Province, China. The Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran scale was used to measure parenting styles. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire scale and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were used to measure depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted with SPSS 25.0 Version. RESULTS 3117 junior school students enrolled in this study. The prevalence of depressive symptoms only, anxiety symptoms only, and comorbidity among junior high school students was 11.55 %, 5.29 %, and 22.97 %. Paternal over-protection was a risk factor not only for depressive symptoms only (OR = 1.075, 95 % CI = 1.020-1.134) but for anxiety symptoms only (OR = 1.090, 95 % CI = 1.016-1.170) and comorbidity (OR = 1.098, 95 % CI = 1.050-1.148). Paternal over-interference was a protective factor for depressive symptoms only (OR = 0.947, 95 % CI = 0.908-0.987) and comorbidity (OR = 0.953, 95 % CI = 0.921-0.986). However, maternal over-interference and over-protection were risk factors for depressive symptoms only (OR = 1.039, 95 % CI = 1.011-1.068). LIMITATIONS This was a cross-sectional study and the causal inferences could not be conducted. CONCLUSIONS Junior high school students with poorer family environmental factors were more likely to suffer from the comorbidity of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Decision-makers from the government, educational, and healthcare institutions should pay more attention to junior high school students at higher risk of mental disorders due to poor parenting styles. We should discuss family interventions in the future to prevent mental disorders in junior high school students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingbo Suo
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China; The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yujia Liu
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yanzhi Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Kejin Wang
- The First Senior Middle School of Jining City, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Hanyun Li
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinguo Zhai
- School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Public Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Lenferink LIM, O'Connor M. Grief is a family affair: examining longitudinal associations between prolonged grief in parents and their adult children using four-wave cross-lagged panel models. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7428-7434. [PMID: 37154206 PMCID: PMC10719676 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Losing a parent or spouse in adulthood may result in prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms. PGD levels in parents may affect PGD levels in their adult offspring and the other way around. However, research on transmission of PGD in parent-child dyads is lacking. Consequently, we aimed to examine temporal associations between PGD levels in parent and adult children. METHODS In doing so, we analyzed longitudinal self-report data on PGD levels (using the PG-13) assessed at 2, 11, 18, and 26 months after loss in 257 adult parent-child dyads from Denmark. Cross-lagged panel modeling was used for data-analyses. RESULTS Changes in PGD levels in parents significantly predicted PGD levels in adult children, but not vice versa. Small through moderate cross-lagged effects (β = 0.05 through 0.07) were found for PGD levels in parents predicting PGD levels in adult children at a subsequent time-point. These cross-lagged effects were found while taking into account the association between PGD levels in parents and adult children at the same time-point as well as the associations between the same construct over time and relevant covariates. CONCLUSIONS Pending replication of these findings in clinical samples and younger families, our findings offer tentative support for expanding our focus in research and treatment of PGD from the individual to the family level.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. I. M. Lenferink
- Department of Psychology, Health, & Technology, Faculty of Behavioural, Management, and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - M. O'Connor
- Department of Psychology, Unit for Bereavement Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Center for Grief, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Levkovich I, Labes M. Growing up with a sibling with depression: A qualitative study in Israel. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290999. [PMID: 37651387 PMCID: PMC10470950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression has major consequences for the entire family, among them emotional distress, disrupted daily routine and social damage caused by negative stigmas. The aim of this study was to explore the retrospective experiences of young adults who lived with a sibling with depression while they were adolescents. The present study adopted a qualitative-phenomenological approach. The research participants were recruited via purposive sampling on social networks across Israel from May to September 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants aged 18-29 who lived with a sibling with depression during their adolescence. Data collection continued until saturation of concepts was reached. The results underwent thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the qualitative analyses: 1) "I felt like I was living in a minefield": Adolescence while living with a sibling with depression; 2) "One step forward and two steps back": Siblings' coping strategies; 3) "My parents were not there for me when I needed them": Participants' experiences with their parents during their adolescence. The research findings indicate that adolescents who grew up with a sibling affected by depression had to cope with an acute family crisis, whose serious ramifications required emotional and social support. Mental health professionals and counselors working within educational institutions and the broader community should provide support and intervention for adolescents who have siblings struggling with depression. This intervention may take the form of individual or group therapy that aims to foster a sense of belonging and help affected individuals. Creating a supportive environment that meets the needs of the affected siblings is also crucial in addressing this issue effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbar Levkovich
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Oranim Academic College, Kiryat Tiv’on, Israel
| | - Michal Labes
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Oranim Academic College, Kiryat Tiv’on, Israel
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Gao P, Wu H, Fan Z, Tao M. Exploring the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Trust in Physicians from Spousal and Parent-Child Perspectives. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:2173-2186. [PMID: 37334403 PMCID: PMC10276597 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s413821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The present study aimed to probe the intergenerational transmission of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and trust in physicians. Besides, through the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), the predictive effect of parents' IU on their own and their spouses' trust in physicians was examined. A mediation model was further constructed to probe the mechanisms by which parents' IU affects children's trust in physicians. Methods The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12) and the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (WFPTS) were employed to conduct the questionnaire survey among 384 families (each family with a father, mother, and one child). Results IU and trust in physicians were found to be intergenerationally transmitted. The results of the APIM analyses showed that fathers' total IUS-12 scores negatively predicted their own (β = -0.419, p < 0.01) and mothers' (β = -0.235, p < 0.01) total WFPTS scores. Mothers' total IUS-12 scores negatively predicted their own (β = -0.353, p < 0.01) and fathers' (β = -0.138, p = 0.017) total WFPTS scores. The results of mediation analyses indicated that parents' total WFPTS scores and children's total IUS-12 scores mediated the effect of parents' total IUS-12 scores on children's total WFPTS scores. Conclusion The public's IU is a crucial influencing factor of their trust in physicians. Besides, the IU between couples and between parents and children could be mutually affected. On the one hand, husbands' IU could affect their own and their wives' trust in physicians, and vice versa. On the other hand, parents' IU and trust in physicians could affect their children's IU and trust in physicians, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Gao
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanwei Wu
- Department of Foreign Studies, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiguang Fan
- Department of Psychology, School of Teacher Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Tao
- Department of Education, Jilin International Studies University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
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Busonera A, Lampis J, Cataudella S. Starting University at the Time of COVID-19: Psychoemotional Adjustment of a Group of Italian Students. JOURNAL OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37361378 PMCID: PMC9975844 DOI: 10.1007/s10804-023-09444-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The transition from school to university typically occurs during emerging adulthood; this coming together of multiple challenging development tasks at the same time may be stressful for some students. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and above all the health measures implemented to deal with it, may have been an additional factor contributing to the difficult adaptation of first-year students to academic life. This study evaluated the role played by emotional processing and differentiation of self for psychological well-being in a sample of 218 Italian students (78.4% women) who began their 1st year of college during the pandemic. The results showed that higher levels of differentiation of self, combined with fewer signs of unprocessed emotions, predicted lower psychological distress. The data support the importance of these variables as protective factors in promoting psychological well-being along with the transition to adulthood and adaptation to new life challenges. These findings draw attention to the relevance of support services aimed at university students and of emerging adults in general in considering and promoting the role of self-differentiation and the style of emotional processing for addressing well-being and mental health during the transition to adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Busonera
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Jessica Lampis
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefania Cataudella
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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