Kirsi Peltonen

Background: Mental health symptoms may be linked to cognitive and social functioning in school-aged children, but less is known about whether these associations differ across migration-background groups. Methods: We examined cognitive, social, and mental health measures among 227 pupils in grades 4–6 in Finland (mean age 10.9 years (SD = 1.0), 51% girls) using cross-sectional design. Native-born children represented 47% of the total sample, first-generation immigrant children without refugee background 40%, and first-generation refugee-background children 13%. Group differences were examined using ANOVA models, and associations between trauma-related and depressive symptoms and cognitive/social outcomes were examined using moderated regression models. Results: Groups did not differ significantly in trauma exposure, trauma symptoms, depressive symptoms, or measured social functioning. Across the sample, trauma-related and depressive symptoms were associated with several social-functioning outcomes, while associations with cognitive outcomes were more mixed and, in some cases, differed by migration-background group. Refugee-background children showed lower visuospatial short-term memory than native-born and immigrant-background children. Conclusions: Findings suggest that mental health symptoms are linked to school-relevant cognitive and social functioning across diverse pupil groups, and that some cognitive associations may vary by migration background. Results should be interpreted as tentative given the cross-sectional design, small refugee-background subgroup, and measurement constraints. Trial Registration: The study was preregistered at OSF (https//doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T6SXM). Registration date Sep 2, 2024.

The full invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in relentless stressors upon the Ukrainian population. Numerous studies of people in Ukraine indicates the elevated rates of anx...

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate and synthesise qualitative research on adult clients' experiences of psychotherapeutic interventions addressing trauma across multiple modalities. Methods: Six databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL) were systematically searched. Google Scholar and reference lists of included and other relevant reviews were also searched, and in total 37 studies met the inclusion criteria. Relevant data were extracted, quality assessed following the Critical Appraisal Skill Programme checklist, and data synthesised using thematic synthesis. Results: The specific helpful factors and perceived impact of the interventions aligned with their theoretical bases. Certain factors were perceived to be helpful or challenging regardless of the modality used, such as relational factors between the client and the therapist, and within group settings. Towards the end of the interventions, feelings of ambivalence and emotional struggles which pervaded the process gradually resolved, as a majority of the clients expressed a sense of benefit from the whole experience. Most of the studies included in this review were published post‐2020, underscoring research interest towards clients' psychotherapeutic experiences. Conclusions: The review provides a comprehensive understanding of helpful and challenging factors of interventions addressing trauma, as perceived by clients. The analysis serves as a foundation for future intervention development. Also, it highlights the importance of therapist responsiveness and discussions with clients at various intervention stages to foster a sense of safety, prevent early drop‐outs, and emphasise clients as agents of change in their therapeutic process.

Research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have life-long consequences on emotional functioning. However, it is unclear how ACEs shape the dynamic features of everyday emotions. In the current preregistered study with two adult ecological momentary assessment samples (Ns = 122 and 121), we examined the linear and curvilinear associations of ACEs with daily emotion dynamic features. We expected ACEs to show linear associations with a higher baseline level, variability, and inertia of negative emotions, as well as a lower baseline level of positive emotions. Moreover, we expected ACEs to show U-shaped curvilinear associations with the variability of negative and positive emotions. The results did not support our hypotheses. Instead, ACEs showed an inverted U-shaped association with the baseline level and variability of negative emotions. Furthermore, ACEs also showed a U-shaped association with the baseline level of positive emotions and a linear association with higher variability of positive emotions. However, all associations were present in only one of the two samples. Our study underscores the critical need to incorporate a broad spectrum of ACEs in research samples to adequately capture their developmental consequences and the role of ACEs in contributing to the baseline level and variability of daily emotions.

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to warfare and military violence. In this study, we aim to shed light on adolescents’ experiences during times of war in a natural help-seeking environment. We use survey data obtained from two real-time online chat services designed for Ukrainian-speaking children and adolescents and explore young people’s ( n = 1,471) personal experiences during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It was found that the most common topic that the adolescents wanted to talk about was mental well-being (30%), followed by the topic of personal relationships (29%) and home and family (22%). It is alarming that over 130 adolescents in our sample talked about self-harming or suicidality, and over a hundred expressed an unwillingness to live. As the war continues effective ways to support the mental well-being of young people and to treat mental health problems should be sought.

Objective: Attachment research has traditionally focused on traits, enhancing our understanding of attachment‐related individual differences. However, to chart the dynamic properties of the attachment system, more research is needed on the within‐person fluctuation of attachment states. In this ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study, we examined (a) the associations between the baseline, variability, and inertia of each state attachment dimension (security, avoidance, and anxiety) and (b) how trait attachment (anxiety and avoidance) predicts these dynamic features.Method: In two adult samples (Ns = 122 and 127), trait attachment dimensions were first assessed using Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised. Then, attachment states were assessed seven or ten times a day over 1 week (4629 and 5322 successful EMA observations).Results: For state security, individuals with high baseline exhibited lower variability. In contrast, for state avoidance, those with high baseline showed higher variability. Both trait attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted lower baseline and higher variability of state security. Moreover, both trait dimensions predicted higher baselines of the corresponding states.Conclusions: Our findings provide insights into the real‐time regulatory dynamics of the attachment system and their interconnection with trait attachment, underscoring the importance of baseline and variability in understanding how attachment manifests in everyday life.

Despite the wide use of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess adolescent mental health, its psychometric functionality is still under debate. This study investigated the structural validity and reliability of the SDQ scores, and the resemblance of the SDQ sum scores and factor scores. Factor one-dimensionality and competing multifactor structures were tested against data. With the best acceptable models, measurement invariance was tested between genders and over time. Subscale reliability and correspondence between subscale sum scores and factor scores were estimated. The nationally representative self-report data from 23,980 Finnish early (12-13 years) and mid- (15-16 years) adolescents (50.4% girls) were collected from two cohorts in 2008 and 2013. The results showed that among early adolescents, the revised SDQ with a controlled method effect had an excellent fit. In contrast, none of the tested models had an acceptable fit among the mid-adolescents. Among early adolescents, strong measurement invariance was achieved between genders and over time. Three of the five subscales were one-dimensional, and all subscales had low reliability. The resemblance between the subscale sum scores and factor scores was alarmingly low. Researchers should be cautious when using the SDQ Total Difficulties sum score or the subscale scores as they may be substantially biased, and practitioners should desist from using the SDQ as a screening tool in its current form. This study strongly supports the revision of the SDQ. In line with the previous findings, we suggest rewording the worst functioning items and revising the reverse-worded difficulties items. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).