JOURNAL OF GENETIC PSYCHOLOGY

The Run Against Social Inequality: Developmental Studies from the Global South
Bruno V, de França Sá AL and Koller S
Personality Traits and Quality of Life Among Older Adults: The Chain Mediating Effects of Perceived Social Support and Positive Coping Styles
Gu M, Zhao Y, Tong F, Zhang H and Zhong Y
The pathways between personality traits and older adults' quality of life (QOL) have been well studied. However, perceived social support and positive coping styles should not be ignored by older adults' QOL. Hence, this study examines the chain mediating role of perceived social support and positive coping styles between personality traits and older adults' QOL. In total, 230 older individuals ( = 69.43, = 7.23, age range from 60 to 93) participated in this study. All older people provided a rating of QOL and perceived social support, the Chinese Big Five personality, and positive coping styles. (1a) the five personality traits of older adults were significantly associated with QOL; (2b) perceived social support mediated the relationship between three personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL; (3c) positive coping styles played a mediator role in the personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL; (4d) perceived social support and positive coping styles had a significant chain mediating effect on the three dimensions of personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness) and QOL. As mediating influences, social support and positive coping styles can be applied to efforts to promote QOL for older adults who share the personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness.
Insights from a Developmental Psychologist: Going Against the Grain
Fong S, Ögel-Balaban H and Bakeman R
Family Socioeconomic Status and Adolescents' Academic Shame: The Chain Mediator Effect of Self-Control and Gratitude
Luo Y, Wu A, Zhang X and Zhang H
Academic shame has been found to interfere with motivation and, in turn, affect students' academic goals and achievements. This study explored the factors that influence academic shame and the underlying mechanisms among high school students by investigating the influence of family socioeconomic status on academic shame and the mediating roles of self-control and gratitude. A total of 957 high school students participated in this study and completed the Family Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire, Self-Control Scale, Adolescents' Gratitude Scale, and Academic Shame Scale. Descriptive statistics consisted of means and standard deviations. Pearson's correlations were used to test the strength of relationships among the research variables. A structural equation model was constructed, and the significance of the mediating effects was tested by percentile bootstrap analysis with deviation correction. The results showed that family socioeconomic status was positively correlated with self-control and negatively correlated with academic shame; self-control was positively correlated with gratitude and negatively correlated with academic shame; and gratitude was positively correlated with academic shame. Self-control played a mediating role between family socioeconomic status and academic shame, and self-control and gratitude played a chain mediating role between family socioeconomic status and academic shame. The mediating effect was a masking effect. Therefore, family socioeconomic status directly and negatively affected academic shame among senior high school students, and indirectly affected their academic shame through self-control and gratitude.
Positive LGBT+ Identity, Interpersonal Discrimination, and Satisfaction with Life: A Cross-National Comparison Between LGBT+ People in the UK, Italy, and Turkey
Baiocco R, Kaya O, Scandurra C, Pistella J, Ioverno S, Bochicchio V, Pezzella A and Laghi F
The present study explored how identity authenticity and LGBT+ community connectedness may mediate the effects of interpersonal discrimination on life satisfaction in a sample of LGBT+ participants across three counties. We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data and paper questionnaires. Participants were 723 LGBT+ people (56.6% females): 308 (42%) of participants were from the UK, 245 (34%) from Italy, and 170 (24%) from Turkey. Participants' age ranged from 18-60 years ( = 33.83, SD = 11.55). Analysis of variance and multigroup mediation models implemented through path analysis were performed. The associations of interpersonal discrimination with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community showed cross-country variations. The association between interpersonal discrimination and identity authenticity was stronger in Italy than in the UK but non-significant in Turkey. Interpersonal discrimination showed a negative association with connectedness to the LGBT+ community in Italy and the UK, with Italy exhibiting the strongest effect. Conversely, this association was positive in Turkey. Irrespective of the country, life satisfaction showed a negative association with interpersonal discrimination and positive associations with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community. This study provides valuable insights into the differences and similarities between the experiences of LGBT+ people in the UK, Italy, and Turkey. The social and policy implications that emerge from the study highlight the relevance of addressing structural stigma in different cultures and emphasize the need for targeted interventions and supportive policies at the supranational level to improve the quality of life of LGBT+ individuals.
Ostracism and Sense of Coherence: The Mediating Role of Social Media Addiction in Adolescents
Kaya B and Cenkseven Önder F
Social belonging is of vital importance for adolescents. However, ostracism in the digital age may negatively affect adolescents' sense of coherence through social media addiction. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the associations between ostracism and sense of coherence and to conduct mediation analysis including social media addiction. The sample consisted of 425 Turkish adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years (age= 15.53,  = 1.26). Data were collected through the Ostracism Experience Scale for Adolescents, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and the Sense of Coherence Scale-Revised. The results showed that ostracism increased social media addiction, which in turn negatively affected adolescent's sense of coherence. Besides, an indirect role of social media addiction was found between ostracism and sense of coherence. Overall, these results suggest that ostracism is a risk factor for sense of coherence and that social media addiction increases this risk. Elucidating the indirect role of social media addiction between ostracism and sense of coherence is believed to shed light on the requirement for policies and intervention programmes to address ostracism and social media addiction to maintain adolescents'mental health.
Relationship between Parenting Style and Peer Relationships during Early Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Parental Mentalizing
Zhou H, Tian C, Hong L, Fan Z and Chen W
Although previous research has suggested that parenting style affects children's peer relationships, the influential mechanism remains a subject of debate. We propose that parental mentalizing plays a crucial role in parenting style and peer relationships. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationships between family parenting styles, parental mentalizing, and peer relationships during early adolescence. In this study, 379 primary school students (Mean age = 12.17 years, SD = 0.92) and their parents were assessed using the Family Parenting Style Scale, Peer Relationship Satisfaction Scale, and a distorted mentalizing task. The results showed a mediating effect of parental mentalizing between parenting style and peer relationships. For fathers, a favorable parenting style affects children's peer relationships through mentalizing. Among mothers, interference, protection, and punishment affect their children's peer relationships through mentalizing. In conclusion, parenting style affects peer relationships through parental mentalizing. Fathers'/mothers' parenting style and parental mentalizing affect their children's peer relationships differently.
The Effect of Mother's Mediation on Sibling Conflict Among Chinese Children
Cao X, Cao R, Qu G, Ding Z, Liu Y and Huang F
Thirty-four Chinese families (each consisting of a mother and two children) were recruited to participate in this study. The firstborn children had an average age of 12.00 ± 2.07 years, while the second-born children averaged 7.57 ± 2.51 years old. The families were randomly divided into mediation and control groups. The mothers in the mediation group underwent mediation training, whereas those in the control group received no treatment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests were utilized to analyze data on sibling conflict. Results indicated that the mothers in the mediation group reported significantly less negative behavior in helping their children resolve sibling disputes compared to those in the control group. Mediation group mothers reported significantly fewer sibling conflicts compared to control group mothers. No significant differences were observed between children in the mediation group and the control group regarding positive and negative behaviors recorded by mothers. These results indicate that mediation training may better equip Chinese mothers with the ability to resolve sibling conflicts in their families.
Psychological Balances in the Digital World: Dynamic Relationships Among Social Media Addiction, Depression, Anxiety, Academic Self-Efficacy, General Belongingness, and Life Satisfaction
Kalınkara Y and Talan T
In the present era, the rapidly growing social media trends of the digital age have the potential to affect the psychological well-being of individuals. In this context, understanding how Social Media Addiction (SMA) interacts with various factors is important to understanding its potential impact on individuals' psychosocial health. In particular, the prevalence of SMA and its strong relationship with important variables such as anxiety, depression, stress, academic self-efficacy, general belongingness, and life satisfaction have received considerable attention from researchers and the society. This research aims to address the relationship between SMA and these variables in a holistic manner. The research further explored the relationship between life satisfaction and depression, anxiety, academic self-efficacy, and general belongingness. The research is based on a study conducted with 616 students (388 female and 228 male; 17-32 age range) at a state university in the Southeast of Turkey. Personal information form, Smartphone Addiction Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, General Belongingness Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale were used as data collection tools. Using a structural equation modeling approach, the research not only examined the significant relationships but also examined the mediating and moderating effects in more detail. According to the research results, SMA significantly affects academic self-efficacy, general belongingness, depression, stress and anxiety. Academic self-efficacy and general belongingness both impact life satisfaction. However, SMA does not have a significant effect on life satisfaction. Moreover, it is revealed general belongingness play effective roles in the relationship between SMA and life satisfaction. As a result of the research, it was revealed that gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between SMA and life satisfaction. It has been observed that gender has a moderating role in the relationships between academic self-efficacy, general belongingness, depression, anxiety and stress and life satisfaction. Conversely, there is no moderating influence of gender on the impact of SMA on academic self-efficacy, general belongingness, depression, anxiety, or stress. Consequently, the relationships between SMA and other variables play an important role in understanding their effects on individuals' mental health.
Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Children's Behavioral Problems: The Moderating Roles of Emotion Regulation and Teacher-Student Relationship Quality
Wang S, Liu X, Liu Y, Li X, Chen X and Gao Y
The detection rate of children's behavioral problems is on the rise throughout the world, reaching 18.8% in China. Maternal depressive symptoms is one of the main causes of children's behavioral problems. Our study explored the moderating roles and the specific moderating mechanism of children's emotion regulation and teacher-student relationship quality in the association between maternal depressive symptoms and children's behavioral problems based on the resilience framework and the multiple moderating model. A cross-sectional survey on mothers and teachers of Chinese primary school students in grades 1 to 3 in suburban Beijing was conducted to investigate children's behavioral problems, emotion regulation, teacher-student relationship quality, maternal depressive symptoms, and demographic characteristics ( = 300) in this study. Pathway analysis and the Johnson-Neyman method were used to determine the moderating roles and the specific moderating mechanism of emotion regulation and teacher-student relationship quality. Results showed that emotion regulation and teacher-student relationship quality played moderating roles in the association between maternal depressive symptoms and children's behavioral problems and the moderating mechanism was the additive moderating model. To be specific, emotion regulation and teacher-student relationship quality played moderating roles parallelly. Emotion regulation could moderate the negative effect of maternal depressive symptoms on both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in children. Meanwhile, teacher-student relationship quality could moderate the negative effect of maternal depressive symptoms on children's externalizing behavioral problems. The study highlighted the value of children's emotion regulation and teacher-student relationship quality against adverse family environments and gave an orientation for intervention.
The Evolution of Developmental Psychology: An Ethologist's Insight
Carollo A, Lim M and Vallortigara G
The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation on Shyness and Internalizing Behavior of Turkish Preschool Children
Ülker P and Metin Aslan Ö
The present study examined the moderating effect of children's emotion regulation on the relations between shyness and internalizing behavior in Turkish preschool children. Participants were  = 222 children ( = 58.20 months, SD = 11.24, 116 girls, 106 boys) attending five public kindergartens in Turkey. Mothers provided ratings of children's shyness and emotion regulation; teachers assessed children's internalizing behavior. Results indicated that shyness was positively associated with internalizing behavior and negatively associated with emotion regulation among Turkish preschool children. Moreover, children's emotion regulation significantly moderated the relationship between shyness and internalizing behavior. Specifically, among children with lower levels of emotion regulation, shyness was significantly and positively associated with internalizing behaviors while among children with higher levels of emotion regulation, shyness was not associated with internalizing behaviors. The current findings inform that the importance of improving children's emotional regulation to buffer the internalizing behaviors among Turkish shyness young children. The findings also highlight the importance of considering the meaning and implication of shyness for preschool children.
How Dangerous? Substance Use Risk Perceptions in Chilean Preadolescents
Sable L, Vidal J, Estrada-Goic C and Cárcamo RA
Early substance use initiation among children represents a significant risk to public health. Research suggests that early positive perceptions and cognitions of elementary students toward substance use may predict later use during adolescence. Studies among adolescent populations have shown an inverse relationship between substance use and risk perceptions. To gain insight into alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana risk perceptions prior to adolescence, we analyzed data from the Chilean Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey (ELPI). In a sample of 5,278 families (mean age of preadolescents 10.63 years,  = .64; 50.5% males), our findings showed that an important proportion of Chilean 10 years old did not perceive occasional tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana use to be high-risk activities. However, the majority of respondents did consider daily substance use to be a high-risk activity, with some variation across substances. Overall, older preadolescents were more likely to consider substance use to be less risky compared to their slightly younger counterparts. Our analysis also demonstrated that past month substances use by caregivers were all found to be predictive of low-medium risk perceptions among preadolescents surveyed, while conversely, caregivers' negative reactions to finding out their child had used a substance decreased the likelihood of holding low-medium risk perceptions. Individuals from single-parent households were less likely to consider substance use as being high-risk compared to their peers. Preadolescents with caregivers reporting higher average incomes were also more likely to hold lower risk perceptions of occasional substance use. Implications for public policies to prevent substance use in the pre-adolescent population are discussed.
Interrelations Among Adolescents' Family Connections, Solitude Preferences, Theory of Mind and Perceptions of Academic and Work Competence
Jones M, Bosacki S and Talwar V
This study explored the links among family connections, solitude preferences, perceptions of work (academic and job) competence, and Theory of Mind (ToM) in 73 Canadian adolescents aged 11-18 (M age = 13.1). Previous studies show significant connections among these factors, although little is known about how such associations may relate to one another, especially the role of young people's perceptions. To address these gaps in the literature, this study focused on adolescents' experiences and perceptions of their family relationships, solitude preferences, and competence in the school context and workplace. Participants completed a series of self-report measures, advanced ToM tasks and written explanation for perceived family emotional connections. Results revealed that adolescents with more positive family connections reported higher levels of self-perceived academic and job competence, embraced solitude positively, yet felt less desire to be alone. Girls showed a higher affinity for solitude than boys, and the presence of more siblings reduced the desire for solitude. Those youth who were proficient in ToM skills reported positive family connections and high levels of academic competence. Findings hold implications for future research and education in adolescent's social cognition and social and academic outcomes.
Remembered Parental Rejection and Psychological Maladjustment in Turkish Adults: The Mediating Role of Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity
Kuyumcu BE and Muğlu AS
This study examined interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory's (IPARTheory's) prediction that adults' (both men's and women's) remembrances of parental (maternal and paternal) rejection in childhood are likely to be associated with adults' psychological maladjustment, as mediated by adults' interpersonal rejection sensitivity. To test these predictions a sample of 372 adults (178 women, 193 men; age range 18-59 and Sd: 11) in Turkiye participated in the study. Respondents completed the short forms of the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire for both mother and father, the Adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (short form), the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale, and the Personal Information Form. In line with this aim, this study examined the direct effect and indirect effect of adults' memories of parental acceptance-rejection in childhood on adults' psychological maladjustment through the mediator variable (rejection sensitivity) depending on age. The findings indicated that adults' remembrances of paternal rejection during childhood independently predicted their interpersonal rejection sensitivity and psychological maladjustment. Mediation analyses revealed that rejection sensitivity partially mediated the relationship between parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) and psychological maladjustment in men. However, in women, while it partially mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and psychological maladjustment, it fully mediated the relationship between maternal rejection and psychological maladjustment. These findings offer evidence supporting the connections between childhood remembrances of parental rejection psychological maladjustment, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity in adults.
Adolescent Peer Relationship Difficulties, Prosociality, and Parental Emotion Socialization: Moderating Roles of Adolescent Gender
Zhu D, Miller-Slough RL, Garner PW and Dunsmore JC
The present study examined longitudinal, transactional associations between youth social adjustment (prosociality, peer relationship difficulties) and parental emotion socialization in early adolescence. Adolescent gender was considered as a potential moderator. Eighty-seven adolescent-parent dyads (50 girls, 37 boys) participated in 8 grade, with follow-up waves in 9 and 10 grade. Adolescents reported their experiences of peer victimization and their parents' emotion socialization responses, and parents reported youth prosocial behavior and peer relation problems. Hierarchical linear modeling results indicated transactional associations between parent supportive/unsupportive responses and adolescent peer relations and prosociality over time, some of which were moderated by adolescent gender. Increases in parental supportive emotion socialization corresponded to decreased experiences of peer victimization over time for girls, but not boys. When peer victimization increased over time, girls reported less parental supportive responses and all adolescents reported receiving more unsupportive responses from parents. For all adolescents, parents' increased supportive responses also corresponded to decreased peer problems and increased prosocial behavior. As prosocial behavior increased, so did parental supportive responses. Increases in parents' unsupportive responses related to decreased prosocial behavior, and increases in adolescent prosocial behavior related to decreases in parents' unsupportive responses. Results suggest that there is mutual influence between parent emotion socialization and adolescent social adjustment. Adolescent girls appear to uniquely benefit from parents' supportive emotional socialization in relation to their experiences of peer victimization. Potential mechanisms and implications are discussed.
Comparison of Adulthood Criteria Endorsed by Emerging Adults and Their Parents in Greece: A Mixed-Method Study
Vleioras G and Galanaki EP
Although there is extensive research on the adulthood criteria endorsed by emerging adults, there is very limited evidence on the comparison between emerging adults and their parents regarding this issue. Moreover, in these comparison studies, only quantitative methodology was used. Therefore, the present study uses a mixed-method design to investigate similarities and differences in the prevalence of the endorsed adulthood criteria between emerging adults and their parents, between male and female emerging adults, and between fathers and mothers. Participants were 251 emerging adult students, aged 18.0 to 25.9 ( = 19.9; 50.2% females), and 341 parents of these emerging adults, aged 33.6 to 61.9 ( = 50.4; 58.4% mothers). They completed the Markers of Adulthood Scale and named the three criteria that they considered most important for a person to be considered an adult. An inductive-deductive coding scheme was used. The analyses exhibited a high consensus between emerging adults and their parents in the endorsement of adulthood criteria. Only criteria related to Independence and to the Self were reported more frequently by emerging adults than their parents. A strong agreement between genders in both age groups was also found. The contribution of this study is twofold. First, it supports the idea that in Greece adulthood is a construct that is largely shared by emerging adults and their parents. Second, it illustrates how a mixed-method design can complement quantitative studies and extend their findings.
Importance of Friendship and Minimal Group Membership in 4-6-Year-olds' and 9-12-Year-olds' Sharing Behavior in China
Song Y, Shi Y, Huang Y and Zang F
Strategies for favoring close others, such as friends and in-group members, benefit individuals and society. Although younger and older children apply these sharing strategies, how they integrate these relationships remain understudied. Friendship and group membership sometimes conflict (e.g. a friend from another, even a rival group), driving the question of how children behave in such situations. To address this question, this preregistered study recruited 121 4-6-year-olds and 94 9-12-year-olds from a middle-class community in China. A 2 (friend vs. stranger) by 2 (in vs. out-group) between-subjects design was applied per age group. Participants were asked to share seven objects with a recipient, who was either a stranger, or a previously nominated friend and from an in- or out-group (manipulated in the Minimal Group Paradigm). The results showed that children in both age groups shared more with friends than with strangers. However, only 4-6-year-olds shared more resources with in-group members than with out-group ones. Moreover, 4-6-year-olds did not distinguish between an out-group friend and an in-group stranger, while 9-12-year-olds shared more with an out-group friend relative to an ingroup stranger, indicating that friendship outweighs minimal group membership only among 9-12-year-olds. Furthermore, there was an interaction between age and minimal group membership, implying a decrease in the minimal group effect between 4-6-year-olds and 9-12-year-olds. Accordingly, the implications of friendship and minimal group effects, and their relative influence on sharing during childhood are discussed.
Adolescents and Young Adults' Participation in Pro-Environmental Movements: A Systematic Review
Romano L, Russo C, Gladwin TE and Panno A
Climate change is a reality that can no longer be ignored, so much so that combating climate change and its impact is one of the main goals of the UN Agenda 2030. Youths, albeit the main victims of climate change, are often excluded from decision-making processes on sustainable actions. More and more young people are joining collective pro-environmental movements, raising their voices against the current inadequate sustainable policies and claiming to be the main actors of change. However, pro-environmental collective actions are often judged negatively by public opinion, diminishing their effectiveness and potentially impacting youth participation. In light of this, it is critical to understand the individual, contextual and relational aspects that lead young people to engage with these movements. The present study aimed to systematically review the existing literature on factors that might promote youth participation in pro-environmental movements. According to the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search of three databases (PsycINFO, ProQuest, and SCOPUS). Moreover, we deepened our research by focusing on two relevant theoretical models on collective actions, the Social Identity Model of Collective Action and the Social Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action. After the screening and the eligibility phases, 11 articles (12 studies) were included. Most of the selected studies adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design. The results revealed individual and relational factors involved in promoting youths' involvement in pro-environmental movements. To the aim of deepening young people's pro-environmental activism, findings highlighted the need to consider personal and social drivers together. Limitations of the study, future directions, and practical implications are discussed.
The Influence of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Anxiety among Chinese Adolescents: A Twin Study
Wang F, Ma X, Zhao L, Li T, Fu Y and Zhu W
This study explored the influence of genetic and environmental factors on adolescent anxiety. Ninety-eight monozygotic and dizygotic twins from Chongqing, China (aged 15-18 years) were assessed for anxiety with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were applied to assess environmental factors. Venous blood was drawn from the twins for zygosity determination. Structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate the effects of additive genetic factors (A), common environmental factors (C), and individual-specific environmental factors (E) on adolescent anxiety. The estimates of A and E on adolescent anxiety were 0.34 (95% CI = 0.12-0.53) and 0.66 (95% CI:0.47-0.89), respectively. The environment played an important role in adolescent anxiety. Adolescent anxiety was significantly positively correlated with peer relations ( = 0.606,  < 0.05) and negatively correlated with prosocial behavior ( = 0.207,  < 0. 05). No sex differences were observed. Adolescent anxiety was influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The individual-specific environmental factors played an important role. Consideration of these variables will facilitate the targeted and individualized implementation of specific interventions for adolescent anxiety.
The Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Bodily Distress Syndrome: The Mediating Role of Somatoform Dissociation
Doustmohammadi F, Tavoli A, Tanhaye Reshvanloo F and Abaszad A
This research aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, and the mediating role of somatoform dissociation. A total of 241 individuals living in Iran aged 20-40 years ( = 26.41 years,  = 6.30; 74.7% females) were selected by convenience sampling to participate online in the research in March 2023. They answered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Bodily Distress Syndrome Checklist (BDS-25), and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that the model had a good fit, and significant relationships were observed between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, between childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation, and also between somatoform dissociation and bodily distress syndrome. The results indicated that somatoform dissociation partially mediates the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome. Furthermore, the prevalence of bodily distress syndrome was higher in the female than the male participants. The results thus highlight the role of childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation in creating bodily distress syndrome.
Beyond Parental Acceptance and Rejection: A Commentary on the Findings From Empirical Studies on Forgiveness and Vengeance in the Muslim World
Senese VP and Esposito G
Drawing on the framework of interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory), this special issue edited by Ronald P. Rohner, Sumbleen Ali, and Jennifer E. Lansford explores forgiveness and vengeance within the context of the Muslim world. Examination of the precursors of forgiveness and vengeance holds significance because vengeance typically correlates with adverse physical and psychological health outcomes. We suggest ways to advance research outlined in the special issue, such as assessing cross-cultural invariance and using diverse research designs. Moreover, increasing the diversity of socioeconomic status in studies conducted in the Muslim world and exploring hypotheses in high-income countries are necessary for contextually nuanced research. Overall, this special issue offers valuable insights into the dynamics of forgiveness and vengeance and highlights the role of culture and gender on psychological well-being across diverse contexts.
Understanding Children's Accuracy in Recognizing Facial Expressions of Pain
Roy-Charland A, Michaud M, Rowe S and Perron M
Facial expressions of pain have an adaptive function in informing others of the need of attention and care. The detection of these nonverbal cues is particularly important in children since they are not always capable of expressing their needs verbally. Nevertheless, research recurrently shows that distinguishing between genuine, suppressed, and simulated pain expressions produced by children is a difficult task for adults; even when their professions require such a skill (e.g. doctors or nurses). Only a few studies have explored the development of this specific ability amongst children's peers. The current study aims to fill this literature gap by exploring children's ability to recognize and judge genuine, simulated, and suppressed expressions of pain produced by other children their age. Seventy-nine children from kindergarten to fourth grade viewed videos in which children encoders expressed the three aforementioned types of pain while plunging their hand in cold or warm water. Participants were asked to select the type of pain that was expressed. They were also asked their level of confidence in their answer and the level of pain they thought the children were experiencing. Despite having a high level of confidence in their answers, kindergarteners had a significantly lower proportion of correct answers compared to children in third and fourth grade. Furthermore, regardless of their grade level, children were better at recognizing suppressed pain expressions and had lower performance rates for genuine pain recognition. Our overall findings revealed an improvement in children's performance with aging.
Celebrity Worship Among Adolescents is Driven by Neuroticism, Avoidant Identity Style, and Need to Belong
Pirzade M, Peyvastegar M and Griffiths MD
Media celebrities can exert significant influence on societal change, and adolescents are the most vulnerable population to such influence given that this is a period when personal identity-seeking starts to become increasingly important. However, there is a lack of research examining the factors that contribute to adolescents' vulnerability to celebrity worship. The present study investigated the relationship between neuroticism, avoidant identity style, and celebrity worship among adolescents with a particular focus on mediating the role of the need to belong among a convenience sample of Iranian adolescents ( = 396; girls = 68%; age = 15.76 ± 1.99). Structural equation modeling showed that the association between avoidant identity style and celebrity worship was partially mediated by the need to belong, while the latter fully mediated the relationship between neuroticism and celebrity worship. The findings draw attention to the need to belong as an important factor underlying celebrity worship. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
One-Hundred and Thirty-One Years of Developmental Science Published in the
Carollo A, Gagne JR, Mounts NS and Esposito G
Parental Warmth, Friendship Quality, Empathy and Bystander Defending Behavior in Cyberbullying Among Adolescents in China
Li F, Gou C, Tang X, Qiu Y, Deng M and Ji X
Adolescents' bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying contributes to reducing the harm done to cyberbullying victims. This study examined the relationships and underlying mechanisms of parental warmth, friendship quality, empathy and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among 848 Chinese adolescents (43.986% girls, mean age = 14.960 years old [SD = 1.398]). The results showed that parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy were all positively correlated with bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. Both friendship quality and empathy played a mediating role between parental warmth and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying, indicating that parental warmth was associated with increased bystander defending behavior through higher levels of friendship quality and empathy, respectively. Friendship quality and empathy also played a chain mediating role between these two, indicating that parental warmth was linked to increased bystander defending behavior by first associating with higher level of friendship quality and subsequently with greater empathy. These results suggest that high degrees of parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy may all increase the likelihood of bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. This study provides practical implications for improving adolescent bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying.
Factors Affecting Problematic Internet Use: Rejectful Parental Attitudes During Childhood
Arifoglu AT and Artan T
Studies examining the effects of perceived parental rejectful attitudes during childhood and emotional deprivation on problematic Internet use based on inter-factorial analysis are limited. The aim of this research is to examine the effects of the above-mentioned factors on problematic Internet use in people aged 18 years and over. This study used quantitative methods and convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 341 individuals aged 18 years and older. Data collection tools included a personal information form, perceived parental attitudes scale-child form, Young Internet addiction test short form, and Young schema scale short form-3. According to the results obtained in this study, there is a positive correlation between perceived rejectful parental attitudes in childhood, emotional deprivation, and problematic Internet use. Additionally, it was observed that perceived rejectful parental attitudes during childhood had a positive direct effect on problematic Internet use, and emotional deprivation played a positive and partial mediating role in this relationship. Finally, it has been observed that various sociodemographic and social skill factors have a preventive effect on emotional deprivation and problematic Internet use. Various recommendations were made regarding the results obtained at the end of this study.
Relations of Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Psychological (Mal)Adjustment with Forgiveness and Vengeance among Bangladeshi Young Adults
Mullick TT and Uddin MK
The study investigated whether adults' memories of parental acceptance-rejection in childhood predict their current levels of forgiveness and vengeance as mediated by psychological (mal)adjustment. The data were collected from 252 young adults (Women = 137, Men = 115, Age range = 18 - 22 years; age = 19.42;  = 0.99). Measures used were the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) short form for fathers and mothers, the Adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) short form for adults, the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), the Vengeance Scale (VS-10), and the Personal Information Form. Mediation analysis indicated that memories of maternal and paternal rejection predicted vengeance as mediated by psychological maladjustment among both men and women. Further, women's and men's memories of parental (both maternal and paternal) acceptance predicted forgiveness as mediated by psychological adjustment.
A Short-Term Longitudinal Examination of the Relation of Forms of Antipathy Relationships to Children's Loneliness, Peer Optimism, and Peer Sociability Behaviors
Yarbrough ER, Cohen R, Deptula DP, Ray GE and Ankney RL
Researchers have focused on children's friendship relationships more than antipathy (disliking) relationships. The present one-year longitudinal research examined the relation of different forms of antipathy nominations (Mutual, Unilateral Given, Unilateral Received) to children's social competence (self-reports of loneliness and peer optimism, classroom peer nominations for sociability behaviors) for 121 third and fourth graders (fourth and fifth graders in Year 2). From path analyses, the pattern between forms of antipathy relationships to the measures of social competence was identical for concurrent findings at Time 1 and between forms of antipathy relationships and the measures of social competence one year later. Higher numbers of Mutual Antipathies and higher numbers of Unilateral Received Antipathies were related to greater loneliness and fewer peer nominations for sociability behaviors. In addition, higher numbers of Unilateral Received Antipathies were related to less peer optimism. Interestingly, numbers of Unilateral Given Antipathies were not significantly related to any of the social competence measures at Time 1 or one year later. These findings suggest that dislike relationships, whether mutual or unilateral received, may have important negative associations for children's concurrent and later social competence.
Emotion-related Processes Between Parents and Adolescents: Evidence for Bidirectional Effects over Time
Miller-Slough R, Parungao D, West C and Dunsmore JC
Parent emotion socialization has long been studied in relation to children's socioemotional adjustment. Little attention has been paid to how parents' socialization responses are shaped by youth characteristics over time, such as emotional lability. The present study explored the mutual influence between parent emotion socialization and adolescent emotional lability. Participants were 87 adolescents ( = 14.23  years old, = .50; 50 girls) and their parents, who completed questionnaires at three time points from 8 grade through 10 grade. Hierarchical linear modeling demonstrated mutual influences between parent emotion socialization and adolescent emotional lability, with relations moderated by adolescent gender. Increases in parents' reward of negative emotion predicted decreased emotional lability in girls. Parents' increased magnification of negative emotions corresponded to decreased emotional lability in boys. Boys' increases in emotional lability predicted decreased parental magnification of negative emotions over time. Increases in parents' magnification of negative emotions predicted increased emotional lability in girls. Girls' increases in emotional lability corresponded to increased parental magnification over time. There were no longitudinal effects of adolescent emotional lability on parents' reward, override, and punishment of negative emotions. Future directions and clinical applications are discussed.