The COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing, and emotion recognition during late-childhood.

Face masks are an effective and important tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including among children. However, occluding parts of the face can impact emotion recognition, which is fundamental to effective social interactions. Social distancing, stress, and changes to routines because of the pandemic have also altered the social landscape of children, with implications for social development. To better understand how social input and context impact emotion recognition, the current study investigated emotion recognition in children (7-12 years old, N = 131) using images of both masked and unmasked emotional faces. We also assessed a subsample of participants ("pre-pandemic subsample," n = 35) who had completed the same emotion recognition task with unmasked faces before and during the pandemic. Masking of faces was related to worse emotion recognition, with more pronounced effects for happy, sad, and fearful faces than angry and neutral faces. Masking was more strongly related to emotion recognition among children whose families reported greater social disruption in response to the pandemic. Finally, in the pre-pandemic subsample, emotion recognition of sad faces was lower during versus before the pandemic relative to other emotions. Together, findings show that occluding face parts and the broader social context (i.e., global pandemic) both impact emotion-relevant judgments in school-aged children.

Relational Competence, School Adjustment and Emotional Skills: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Group of Junior and High School Students of the Sicilian Hinterland.

Research has demonstrated the influence of emotional adjustment on the manifestation of problematic behaviors in adolescence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present research is to investigate the role of self-esteem and relational skills on school performance in a group of middle and high school students during the COVID-19 period. The research involved 392 students, aged between 11 and 20 (M = 13.78; S.D. = 2.56). Participants completed the following instruments: an anamnestic constructed ad hoc questionnaire; the Interpersonal Relationships Test, in order to evaluate the perception of adolescents concerning the quality of their relationships in social, family and school contexts; and the Multidimensional Test of Self-Esteem, structured in six scales, which coincide with the dimensions considered constitutive of self-esteem. The preliminary data have shown how the older girls, attending the high school, tend to manifest a higher level of social competence with peer group and teachers. Furthermore, the perception of a reduced emotional self-efficacy but an elevated environmental control and good interpersonal skills seem to predict the school adjustment. Understanding adolescents' perceptions of difficulties and their social support networks can offer some insight into how major social changes can be associated with individual well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EATING BEHAVIORS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY CONTEXT

A healthy and balanced diet has been identified as a primary factor for good health across the entire lifespan. Early in 2020, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread very quickly worldwide and was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. Preliminary reports indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased unhealthy eating patterns, especially in at-risk populations and in children and adolescents (e.g., increased snack intake). The evolution of the pandemic and, consequently, the tightening of social restrictions (e.g., social distancing, isolation, mandatory lockdowns) led families to spend more time together in close quarters. Accordingly, the routine of families eating meals together increased, allowing for more opportunities to instill parental food practices. Furthermore, as a consequence of this health crisis, food insecurity may have increased, impacting parental feeding practices and family food consumption. Overall, current findings within the family context indicate potential impacts on child and adult obesity risk, indicating several modifiable points of intervention in this context. For this reason, exploring the recent data and the impact of COVID- 19 on children and adolescents' eating behaviors is crucial to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon. Analysis of current literature findings is expected to prompt reflection on the role of the family and generate discussion and suggestions for best practices to follow in future crises. Additionally, this analysis is expected to elicit thinking on future policy guidelines. Hopefully, the discussion on prior findings will provide: i) a deepened foresight into the impact of the current pandemic on eating behaviors in children and adolescents, and ii) support to practitioners, researchers, and policymakers efforts in mitigating long-term negative consequences through educational tools aimed to promote healthy eating in the younger population, with particular emphasis on the family context. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Activities between grandfathers and grandchildren before and during Covid-19. Analysis of the level of satisfaction and perception of the intergenerational role

Due to the important family role that grandmothers play in raising their grandchildren, this work studies the lesser-known role of grandfathers. For this, a group of 110 male participants (mean 73.6 years) was interviewed, for analysis of: a) their level of satisfaction in five types of active roles with their grandchildren, alone, and with their spouses, before and during the Covid-19 lockdown;and b) their general perception of the role of being a grandparent. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and non-parametric inferential methods (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi square, and correlations). Data showed that participants, who were mostly married and retired, showed three satisfaction levels with their grandchildren: high for family celebrations, average for activities involving play and sociocultural transmission, and low for housework and academic/intellectual activities. Participants' age, marital status, health status, and education, as well as the age and number of grandchildren, were associated with these satisfaction levels. Most participants favored the formal grandparenting role, and marital status, health status, education, and grandchildren's age and sex were associated with their views of grandparenting roles. Physical contact during the Covid-19 lockdown dropped by 72.7%. We concluded that activities shared between grandfathers and grandchildren and views on the grand-parenting role are influenced by the sociodemographic variables of both. More research is needed to expand this knowledge.

Activities between grandfathers and grandchildren before and during Covid-19. Analysis of the level of satisfaction and perception on the intergenerational role

Given the lack of knowledge around the family role of grandfatherhood, a study was conducted about the activities shared between a group of grandparents with their grandchildren, before and during the Covid-19 lockdown. This study of 110 grandfathers (mean age 73.6) included participants’ sociodemographic profile;their satisfaction with five different types of activities shared with their grandchildren, both on their own and with their spouses;and their general views of the grandparenting role. Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric inferential methods (Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, chi square, and correlations). Data showed that participants, who were mostly married and retired, showed three satisfaction levels with their grandchildren: high for family celebrations, average for activities involving play and sociocultural transmission, and low for housework and academic/intellectual activities. Participants’ age, marital status, health status, and education, as well as the age and number of grandchildren, were associated with these satisfaction levels. Most participants favored the formal grandparenting role, and marital status, health status, education, and grandchildren’s age and sex were associated with their views of grandparenting roles. Physical contact during the Covid-19 lockdown dropped by 72.7%. We concluded that activities shared between grandfathers and grandchildren and views on the grandparenting role are influenced by the sociodemographic variables of both. These results need to be expanded with more research.Alternate : Dado el escaso conocimiento del rol familiar de abuelidad masculina se estudia las actividades compartidas entre un grupo de abuelos y sus nietos, antes y durante el confinamiento por la Covid-19. Participaron 110 voluntarios (media 73.6 años), para analizar su perfil sociodemográfico;la satisfacción en cinco tipos de actividades con sus nietos, solos y con cónyuge;y su opinión general del rol de abuelidad. Se analizaron los datos con pruebas descriptivas e inferenciales no paramétricas (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, chi cuadrado, y correlaciones). Los datos mostraron un perfil de grandfathers casados y jubilados, con tres niveles de satisfacción con sus nietos: alta en actividades sobre celebraciones en familia, media en lúdicas y de transmisión sociocultural, y baja en las de tipo doméstico instrumental y académico-intelectual. Su edad, estado civil, salud, nivel educativo y el número y edad de sus grandchildren aparecieron relacionadas con esa satisfacción. Se mostraron mayoritariamente a favor del rol formal de abuelidad y su estado civil, salud, nivel educativo, la edad y el sexo de sus nietos aparecieron relacionadas con esos roles de abuelidad. El contacto físico durante la Covid-19 disminuyó un 72,7%. Se concluye que las actividades compartidas por los abuelos varones con sus nietos y la opinión sobre este rol están influidas por las variables sociodemográficas de ambos. Se necesita ampliar con más investigación estos resultados.

Rules, role models or overall climate at home? Relative associations of different family aspects with adolescents' problematic social media use

AimThis study aimed to enhance knowledge on which aspects of the family context are most relevant in identifying at-risk/problematic social media users among adolescents. Therefore, we examined the relative contribution to adolescents' at-risk/problematic social media use (SMU) of general and Internet-specific family factors related to three different family (sub)systems: parent-child (Internet-specific rule-setting, reactive restrictions towards Internet use, co-use, adolescents' involvement in rule-setting and positive parenting), parent (parental screen time, phubbing, stress, anxiety and depression) and family (family functioning, family intactness and SES) (sub)system.MethodsQuestionnaire data came from 403 adolescents (M = 13.51, SD = 2.15) and 396 parents (M = 46.59, SD = 5.29) who participated in wave 1 of the Dutch ‘Digital Family project’.ResultsLogistic regression analyses showed that only factors related to the parent-child subsystem remained significant in predicting being an at-risk/problematic social media user when examining predictors related to the parent-child, parent and family (sub)system simultaneously. Specifically, general and Internet-specific parenting practices contributed to the prediction above and beyond each other. Positive parenting and Internet-specific rule-setting seem protective, while parental reactive restrictions towards Internet use could be a risk factor. Positive parenting showed the largest effect size.ConclusionThe results suggest that parental behaviors directed towards the child should be a focus of attention in prevention of adolescents' problematic SMU. In addition, our findings highlight the importance of untangling restrictive mediation (impulsive, in the moment, attempts to limit SMU versus communicating clear rules in advance) when examining its effects.

How Healthy Aging and Contact With Children Are Associated With Satisfaction in Middle-Aged and Older Parents in China: A Mediation Analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the mediation role of satisfaction with children on the association between contact with children (CCT) and healthy aging among middle-aged and older parents in China. Methods: Data from 9,575 parents over 45 years old were obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. A multinomial logistic regression model was applied to measure the association between contact, satisfaction, and healthy aging with potential confounders controlled. We used the Sobel-Goodman Mediation test to analyze the mediation role of satisfaction on the association between types of CCT and healthy aging. Results: Parents with contact with adult children had higher satisfaction with children [for contact weekly (satisfied/unsatisfied): relative risk ratio (RRR) = 2.44, CI = 1.92-3.10] and higher healthy aging [for contact weekly (Q5/Q1): RRR = 1.41, CI = 1.13-1.77]. Satisfaction was strongly related to healthy aging [for satisfied (Q5/Q1): RRR = 3.44, CI = 2.14-5.51], and mediated 19.05% of healthy aging for weekly contact (Sobel test z = 4.338; indirect role = 0.014, CI = 0.011-0.018; direct role = 0.061, CI = 0.029-0.094). Subgroup analysis further revealed that satisfaction with contact played a partial mediating role between monthly contact and healthy aging in female and rural groups. Conclusions: Monthly CCT is more appropriate for older parents. Satisfaction with children in older parents seems to act as a significant and partial mediator of the relationship between contact and healthy aging. The contribution of satisfaction to healthy aging could be important to be considered and promoted in women and rural older parents, independent of CCT.

Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Family Context of Foster and Non-Foster Families.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown have had a far-reaching impact across all levels of society. In Spain, severe restrictions were placed on people's mobility, and leaving the home was only possible under special circumstances. This study analyzes the impact of lockdown on the family context of foster and non-foster families, focusing particularly on their levels of cohesion, adaptability, and perceived stress. It also examines a series of variables that may have influenced foster families' perceptions of their family context during lockdown. Data were gathered through an online survey that was completed by 347 individuals corresponding to 100 foster families and 247 non-foster families from different regions of Spain. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory in nature. The results appear to suggest that lockdown has had a greater impact on the family context of non-foster families. With respect to foster families' experiences of lockdown, variables such as loss of employment and having a child with special educational needs would seem to be important. For both types of families, lockdown has provided an opportunity to improve certain aspects of their family context. Given that further lockdowns of some degree may be necessary in the future, it is important to ensure that families have access to the psychoeducational resources they need to maintain, as far as possible, a positive family context.