Verónica Marcos

Experiencing worry or perceiving risks in online environments can be linked to undesirable psychological and social outcomes, potentially incrementing the unique challenges that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths may face in online environments. The purpose of this study is to examine differential perceptions of the frequency of worry about and perceived risk of online victimization and psychological symptoms between sexual and gender minority youths and their non-sexual and gender minority counterparts. This is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2023. The sample of 824 Spanish youths was composed by 48.3% females, 49.5% males and 1.8% gender non-binary, aged between 12 and 18 years old (M = 14.53, SD = 1.48). Participants responded to questionnaires based on validated tools to capture the perceived risk and the frequency of worry about three forms of online victimization (cyberbullying, dating violence, and sexual harassment), as well as psychological symptoms (Symptom Checklist-90-R). The data were analysed using one-way and two-way multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that sexual and gender minority youth reported higher perceptions of risk and worry in relation to online victimization. On the other hand, gender minority participants were found to have significantly elevated levels in all the psychological symptom domains under study. Our results underscore the relevance of understanding psychological correlates in order to develop inclusive interventions and prevention programs addressing SGM-specific online safety concerns.

Introduction: Literature has consistently found that forgiveness has a therapeutic effect on victims. However, the effects on adolescents, specifically in cases of bullying, are unknown. A field study was designed with the aim of determining the prevalence of levels of forgiveness in the adolescent population and the moderating effect of forgiveness on mental health in cases of bullying. Method: A total of 400 adolescents, 56.8% girls and 43.3% boys, aged between 14 and 16 years (M = 15.15, SD = .68) completed measures of forgiveness, psychological adjustment and bullying victimization. Results: The results classified 37.7% of adolescents as having a low level of forgiveness, a significant association between gender and level of forgiveness (boys were classified more often as having a high level of forgiveness) and scored significantly higher on forgiveness than girls. Furthermore, the results showed that forgiveness acts as a protective factor, mitigating the adverse effects on psychological adjustment associated with bullying victimization. Conclusions: The findings reinforced the forgiveness role as a protective factor in mental health against victimization by bullying during adolescence. Therefore, incorporation of forgiveness into prevention and intervention programmes in the educational field is advocated. Future research should further explore the relationship between these variables, as well as evaluate the psychoeducational effectiveness programmes focused on promoting forgiveness at an early age.

Background: Adolescence is a critical stage for the development of behaviours related to problematic Internet and social media use, as well as for the experience of cybervictimisation. The literature highlights the need to examine these types of adolescent behaviours. Method: A field study was designed to analyse the prevalence of problematic Internet and social media use, as well as cybervictimisation, sexting, and grooming. In total, 666 Spanish adolescents participated, 55.4% females and 44.6% males, with an age range between 14 and 18 years (M = 15.27, SD = 1.01). Results: The results showed that 15.8% of the participants were diagnosed as at risk for Internet and social media addiction; 27.2% of the participants were diagnosed as cyberbullying victims; 14.7% of the sample engaged in sexting behaviours, and 34.7% engaged in grooming behaviours. Additionally, significant gender differences were found in cybervictimisation behaviours, with females scoring higher. Conclusions: The findings are discussed in relation to the need to develop preventive and educational strategies that promote the safe and responsible use of the digital context.

Background: Adolescence is a critical stage for development of behaviours related to problematic Internet and social media use, as well as for the experience of cybervictimization. The literature highlights the need of examine these types of adolescent behaviours. Method: A field study was designed to analyze the prevalence of problematic Internet and social media use, as well as cybervictimization, sexting, and grooming. A full of 666 Spanish adolescents participated, 55.4% females and 44.6% males, with an age range between 14 and 18 years (M = 15.27, SD = 1.01). Results: The results showed that 15.8% of the participants were diagnosed as at risk for Internet and social media addiction; 27.2% of the participants were diagnosed as cyberbullying victims; 14.7% of the sample engaged in sexting behaviours, and 34.7% engaged in grooming behaviours. Additionally, significant gender differences were found in cybervictimization behaviours, with female scoring higher. Conclusions: The findings are discussed in relation to the need of develop preventive and educational strategies that promote safe and responsible use of the digital context.

Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología y Salud

Background/aim: Sexual harassment has become a serious social and public health problem in adolescents, causing adverse effects on mental health. Nevertheless, some behaviours arise that, due to their characteristics, might be misinterpreted as sexual harassment. A field study using a survey with non-probabilistic accidental sampling was designed in order to estimate the prevalence of sexual harassment victimization in the Spanish adolescent population as well as to quantify the harms. Method: A total of 1028 Spanish adolescents, 54.3% females and 45.7% males aged 13–17 years (M = 15.21, SD = 1.03), responded to a diagnostic measure of sexual harassment victimization and an inventory measure of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems (MHPs). Results: The results showed a significant prevalence of diagnosed sexual harassment victimization of school-aged adolescents, 24.1%, 95% CI [0.215, 0.267], with adverse effects on internalizing and externalizing MHPs. As for the internalizing MHPs, the results exhibited moderate adverse effects on depression, anxiety, somatic burns, posttraumatic symptoms, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, as well as mild adverse effects on social anxiety. Regarding externalizing MHPs, the results revealed moderate adverse effects on hyperactivity–impulsivity, anger control, and antisocial behaviour, as well as mild adverse effects on attention problems, aggression, and defiant behaviour. In addition, it was confirmed that sexual harassment victimization affects adolescent females to a greater extent, with the effect being significantly greater in internalizing than in externalizing MHPs. Conclusions: The results obtained are discussed and future lines of research and intervention are proposed to promote the implementation of prevention and intervention programs that address this phenomenon and, in turn, improve the physical, psychological, and social well-being of adolescents.

Background/aim: Sexual harassment has become a serious social and public health problem in adolescence, causing adverse effects on mental health. Nevertheless, some behaviours arise that, due to their characteristics, might be misinterpreted as sexual harassment. A field study, a survey with a non-probabilistic accidental sampling, was designed in order to estimate the prevalence of sexual harassment victimization in the Spanish adolescent population, as well as to quantify the harms. Method: 1028 Spanish adolescents, 54.3% females and 45.7% males, aged 13-17 years (M = 15.21, SD = 1.03), responded to a diagnostic measure of sexual harassment victimization and an inventory measure of internalizing and externalizing Mental Health Problems (MHPs). Results: The results showed a significant prevalence of diagnosed sexual harassment victimization of school-aged adolescents, 24.1%, 95% [.215, 267], with adverse effects on internalizing and externalizing MHPs. As for the internalizing MHPs, the results showed moderate adverse effects on depression, anxiety, somatic burns, posttraumatic symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms; and mild adverse effects on social anxiety. With regard to externalizing MHPs, the results revealed moderate adverse effects on hyperactivity-impulsivity, anger control and antisocial behaviour; and mild adverse effects on attention problems, aggression and defiant behaviour. In addition, it was corroborated that sexual harassment victimization affects adolescent females to a greater extent, with the effect being significantly greater in internalizing than in externalizing MHPs. Conclusions: The results obtained are discussed and future lines of research and intervention are proposed to promote the implementation of prevention and intervention programs that address this phenomenon and, in turn, improve the physical, psychological, and social well-being of adolescents.

Antecedentes/objetivo: La ruptura de pareja implica efectos adversos para los progenitores e hijos. La actitud de los progenitores hacia la resolución del conflicto es un predictor robusto de la litigiosidad de la ruptura. No obstante, en la actitud informada en este contexto ha de sospecharse distorsión en las respuestas. Por ello, diseñamos un estudio de campo con el objetivo de conocer la prevalencia y magnitud de las distorsiones en las respuestas y establecer empíricamente criterios válidos de clasificación de sospecha de sesgo de respuesta. Método: Un total de 2,797 adultos, 50.9 % hombres, con hijos menores de edad, con edades comprendidas entre los 21 y los 68 años (M = 40.41), 2,488 vivían en pareja (sin rupturas previas), 204 se habían separado de mutuo acuerdo y 105 con separación contenciosa, respondieron a una medida de la actitud auto-informada y referenciada de la actitud hacia la resolución del conflicto en las relaciones de pareja. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que los progenitores del grupo de separaciones contenciosas y de mutuo acuerdo sesgaban las respuestas. Asimismo, los resultados permitieron establecer empíricamente los criterios de clasificación de sesgos en las respuestas Epidemiológicamente, la probabilidad observada de sesgo en las repuestas fue del .629[.537, .721] en los progenitores de separaciones contenciosas y del .377[.310, .444] en los progenitores que resolvieron el conflicto de mutuo acuerdo. Conclusiones: Se discuten las implicaciones de los resultados para el diseño e implementación de programas de mediación e intervención.

La declaración de la situación de pandemia mundial por COVID en 2020, conllevó la implantación de medidas de confinamiento de la población y de limitación del contacto social, trayendo aparejada inseguridad económica y laboral, lo que la convierte en un evento altamente estresante. Estos producen malestar psicológico e impelen a los individuos a desplegar estrategias de afrontamiento para superar los efectos. Se diseñó un estudio de campo para conocer el malestar psicológico provocado por el confinamiento estricto y qué respuestas de afrontamiento activaron las personas para encarar este evento y, a través de ellas, evaluar la eficacia del afrontamiento ejercitado. Para ello se evaluó a una muestra comunitaria con 338 participantes que respondieron a una medida de malestar psicológico y a otra de afrontamiento del confinamiento. Los resultados mostraron una tasa de casos de deterioro moderado y clínico (.834) significativamente mayor a la esperada, siendo el incremento en la tasa de casos debida a la pandemia del 88%. En relación a las respuestas de afrontamiento, los resultados revelaron un incremento en el uso de estrategias evitativas, disminuyendo la confianza (-64.5%) en las estrategias aproximativas para el afrontamiento del confinamiento por la pandemia. Además, el afrontamiento del confinamiento por pandemia incrementó el uso de las estrategias cognitivas y comportamentales. Sobre la tasa de uso de las estrategias, se observó en todas una frecuencia de empleo significativa, siendo la estrategia de descarga emocional significativamente la más activada. Se discute la eficacia de las estrategias desplegadas por la población para el afrontamiento del confinamiento por pandemia, caracterizadas como desadaptativas, pasivas, evitativas y centradas en las emociones, y las implicaciones para el diseño de programas de potenciación.

Analysing the path from bullying to bully was published in Psychology and Law: Research for practice on page 75.