Technology in psychology: a bibliometric analysis of technology-based interventions in clinical and health psychology.

This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and evaluate the current state of research on the use of technology-based interventions in clinical psychology through 2017 as a recent innovative area of study. It was intended to provide a critical overview of trends in different tools and populations and identify future areas of interest. This paper focuses on studies published in psychological interventions in childhood, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations using new technologies, including web-based intervention, virtual reality, augmented reality, mobile applications, and robotics, with particular attention to methodology. To achieve this aim, a systematic search was made in the ISI Web of Science for intervention, psychology, and the technological tools previously mentioned. The results of the study show that the use of information and communication technologies in psychology has been an innovative and growing field of study for the last 10 years. In total, 743 were included in this study. A growing trend has been observed in publications related to psychology and the use of technologies since 2007. Resea0rch topics were focused mainly on interventions on specific problems or disorders such as depression. The largest number of publications were found for the web-based intervention, in randomized clinical trials and applied to adults.

Psychological Flexibility Is Associated with Parental Stress in Relatives of People with Intellectual Disabilities.

The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between psychological flexibility, perceived stress, and psychological heath in relatives of people with a disability diagnosis. 151 relatives completed an online questionnaire that included 6-PAQ (parental psychological flexibility), PSS (perceived stress), GHQ-12 (psychological health) and WBSI (suppression of unwanted thoughts). The results showed significant relationships between the four measured variables. A bimodal distribution was observed in the variables related to psychological flexibility. The multiple regression showed that difficulties in self as context, committed actions and defusion explain a high percentage of the variance of parental stress and general psychological health. The study provides new evidence to consider psychological flexibility as a mediating variable in psychological well-being. The presented data served as the basis for the development of an ACT-based intervention protocol and the implementation of a clinical trial for relatives of children with disabilities.

Parenting Intervention for Psychological Flexibility and Emotion Regulation: Clinical Protocol and an Evidence-Based Case Study.

Psychological flexibility has been found as a protective factor for several psychological problems, including the field of parenting. The present study aims to illustrate a clinical protocol, session by session, for the promotion of parental psychological flexibility and emotion regulation in a case study. The clinical protocol is based on third-wave behavior therapy in a brief intervention of four sessions. The intervention is presented in a clinical case of a mother with a child diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Both mother and child experienced problems with emotional regulation and psychological flexibility. The results show clinically significant improvements in psychological flexibility, emotional regulation, and stress parenting in the mother both after the intervention and at follow-up. In the child, emotional perspective-taking skills, acceptance, and valued actions improved. The case illustrates in detail the application of different strategies of acceptance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and emotional defusion applicable to parenting. Clinical implications are discussed.

Protocolo de intervención en flexibilidad psicológica y regulación emocional con terapia contextual en familias: una serie de casos / Psychological flexibility and emotional regulation clinical protocol with contextual therapy in families: a case series

Las habilidades de regulación emocional y de flexibilidad psicológica pueden tener influencia en la forma en la que los padres interaccionan, manejano afrontan las dificultades de sus hijos. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo valorar los efectos de un programa de intervención para familias enla promoción de habilidades de regulación emocional y flexibilidad psicológica parental mediante un protocolo clínico de parentalidad basado en es-trategias de tercera generación. Participaron 9 padres con hijos, con edades entre 1 y 7 años (M = 3.8; DT = 2.03), diagnosticados de Trastorno delEspectro Autista, con una media de edad de 36.11 años (DT = 4.88). El 77% fueron madres. Se siguió un diseño pre-experimental con medidas pre-post y seguimiento a los tres meses, sin grupo control. La intervención para el fomento de la flexibilidad psicológica parental y la regulación emocionalde los padres tuvo una duración de 8 sesiones de una hora. Los resultados mostraron efectos positivos en la flexibilidad psicológica general y parental,concretamente en un estilo de respuesta abierto y centrado en el presente. Mejoró las puntuaciones de estrés parental y habilidades de regulaciónemocional en el post y se mantuvieron en el seguimiento. En los hijos se observó una reducción de los problemas de conducta y una mejor conductaprosocial. Los resultados del estudio muestran evidencias de la eficacia preliminar de la intervención familiar mediante terapias contextuales.(AU)

Emotional regulation and psy-chological flexibility skills may influence the way in which parents interact, manage or cope with their children’s difficulties. The aim of the presentstudy was to assess the effects of an intervention program for families in the promotion of emotional regulation skills and parental psychologicalflexibility through a clinical parenting protocol based on third-generation strategies. Nine parents with children aged 1 to 7 years old (M = 3.8; SD= 2.03), diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with a mean age of 36.11 years (SD = 4.88), participated in the study. Seventy-seven percentwere mothers. A pre-experimental design was followed with pre-post measures and follow-up at three months, with no control group. The interven-tion for promoting parental psychological flexibility and parental emotional regulation lasted 8 one-hour sessions. The results showed positive effectson general and parental psychological flexibility, specifically on an open and present-focused response style. The scores of parental stress andemotional regulation skills improved at post and were maintained at follow-up. A reduction in behavioral problems and improved prosocial behaviorwere observed in the children. The results of the study show evidence of the preliminary efficacy of family intervention through contextual therapies.(AU)

Analysis of Psychosocial Adjustment in the Family During Confinement: Problems and Habits of Children and Youth and Parental Stress and Resilience.

The COVID-19 health crisis has led to a dramatic change in dynamics and habits of families, which may be a factor involved in the development and maintenance of problems and difficulties in children. The present study is a cross-sectional study that aims to describe and analyze the relationship between the difficulties in psychological adjustment and the change of habits of the infant-juvenile population as perceived by their parents and their stress and resilience during the total confinement of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, as well as analyzing the course of the changes and the relationships between weeks 3 to 6, that is, the score of different participants in each week of the confinement. The sample is comprised of 883 parents of children and adolescents between 3 and 18 years of age. Children's psychological adjustment, children's habits, parental stress, and parental resilience were assessed by parents. The results show that parents perceive a change in the habits and psychological difficulties in their children. At the same time, our results describe parents with a high level of stress and resilience, with differences depending on the children's ages. The time of confinement accentuates the perception of parents about the psychological difficulties of their children and parental stress, as well as a decrease in resilience. These difficulties are reduced when the parent has resilience competencies. These results show that the resilience of parents mediate the relationship between parental stress and psychological problems of their children. These results shows that COVID-19 lockdown had a considerable effect on families, both on children and parents. Some practical implications based on results are provided.

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention on Parental Psychological Flexibility and Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Open Trial.

"Parenting Forest" is an informed contextual therapy parenting program for improving parental emotion regulation strategies and psychological flexibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a self-guided web-based intervention of the Parenting Forest program. The intervention program consists of six self-applied sequential modules that use strategies from contextual therapies for providing a parenting style open to experience, mindful and committed to its actions. A pilot controlled open trial was conducted. Eligible parents (n = 12) enrolled in the web-based intervention completed baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2) assessment instruments. Parental psychological flexibility, avoidance, emotional regulation, parental stress, satisfaction with life, children's psychological adjustment and client satisfaction were measured to assess the effects of the intervention. Mood, coping, and value-related actions were assessed as measures of progress. The results showed positive effects on the parents' psychological flexibility and emotion regulation. Parents' mood and coping skills improved throughout the intervention program. These results provide preliminary evidence of the web-based Parenting Forest's efficacy, although further research is needed to assess its effectiveness for prevention and in clinical populations.

Spanish validation of the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) / Spanish validation of the 6-PAQ

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Psychological flexibility is an ability with positive effects in health, also in the field parenting. The aim of this study is to validate the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) in Spanish sample. METHOD: A total of 426 parents (96.3% female), with an average age of 38.25 years (SD = 5.76) and with at least one child between 3 and 16 years old participated. Participants completed the 6PAQ and other instruments assessing experiential avoidance, thought suppression, satisfaction with life and symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: In comparison with the original model, the three-factor structural solution with 16 items obtained a better adjustment (CFI = .996; GFI = .998; TLI = .995; RMSE = .016) that refer to response styles related to psychological flexibility (open, aware and active). The 6-PAQ adaptation has shown good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .81 and a McDonald's omega of .86 for the scale, and evidence of convergent validity with significant correlations with measure of avoidance, thought suppression, satisfaction with life and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the 6-PAQ with the three-factor structure presents psychometric property to be considered a reliable measure and a valid instrument for the evaluation of parental psychological flexibility

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: La flexibilidad psicológica es una habilidad que tiene efectos positivos en la salud, y también en el ámbito de la parentalidad. El objetivo del estudio es validar el Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) en población española. MÉTODO: Participaron 426 padres (96,30% mujeres), con una media de edad de 38,25 años (DT = 5,76) y con al menos un hijo entre 3 y 16 años. Los participantes completaron el 6-PAQ y otros cuestionarios de evitación experiencial, supresión de pensamientos, satisfacción vital, y sintomatología de ansiedad y depresión. RESULTADOS: En comparación con el modelo original se obtiene un mejor ajuste para la estructura factorial de tres factores con 16 ítems (CFI = 0,996; GFI = 0,998; TLI = 0,995; RMSE = 0,016) que hacen referencia a estilos de respuesta relacionados con la flexibilidad psicológica (abierto, centrado y comprometido). Los resultados mostraron una buena consistencia interna, con una alfa de Cronbach de 0,81 y un omega de McDonald de 0,86, así como evidencias de validez convergente con correlaciones significativas con medidas de evitación, supresión de pensamientos, satisfacción vital y ansiedad. CONCLUSIONES: La versión española del 6-PAQ, con estructura de tres factores, presenta propiedades psicométricas para considerarse una medida fiable y un instrumento válido para la evaluación de la flexibilidad psicológica parental

Spanish validation of the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ).

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Psychological flexibility is an ability with positive effects in health, also in the field parenting. The aim of this study is to validate the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) in Spanish sample. METHOD: A total of 426 parents (96.3% female), with an average age of 38.25 years (SD = 5.76) and with at least one child between 3 and 16 years old participated. Participants completed the 6PAQ and other instruments assessing experiential avoidance, thought suppression, satisfaction with life and symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: In comparison with the original model, the three-factor structural solution with 16 items obtained a better adjustment (CFI = .996; GFI = .998; TLI = .995; RMSE = .016) that refer to response styles related to psychological flexibility (open, aware and active). The 6-PAQ adaptation has shown good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .81 and a McDonald's omega of .86 for the scale, and evidence of convergent validity with significant correlations with measure of avoidance, thought suppression, satisfaction with life and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the 6-PAQ with the three-factor structure presents psychometric property to be considered a reliable measure and a valid instrument for the evaluation of parental psychological flexibility.

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: La flexibilidad psicológica es una habilidad que tiene efectos positivos en la salud, y también en el ámbito de la parentalidad. El objetivo del estudio es validar el Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) en población española. MÉTODO: Participaron 426 padres (96,30% mujeres), con una media de edad de 38,25 años (DT = 5,76) y con al menos un hijo entre 3 y 16 años. Los participantes completaron el 6-PAQ y otros cuestionarios de evitación experiencial, supresión de pensamientos, satisfacción vital, y sintomatología de ansiedad y depresión. RESULTADOS: En comparación con el modelo original se obtiene un mejor ajuste para la estructura factorial de tres factores con 16 ítems (CFI = 0,996; GFI = 0,998; TLI = 0,995; RMSE = 0,016) que hacen referencia a estilos de respuesta relacionados con la flexibilidad psicológica (abierto, centrado y comprometido). Los resultados mostraron una buena consistencia interna, con una alfa de Cronbach de 0,81 y un omega de McDonald de 0,86, así como evidencias de validez convergente con correlaciones significativas con medidas de evitación, supresión de pensamientos, satisfacción vital y ansiedad. CONCLUSIONES: La versión española del 6-PAQ, con estructura de tres factores, presenta propiedades psicométricas para considerarse una medida fiable y un instrumento válido para la evaluación de la flexibilidad psicológica parental.

Promoting Emotional Well-being in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents With Virtual Reality: Usability and Acceptability of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to describe and compare small-sized preliminary data on the usability and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial. This study compares a one-to-one cognitive-behavioral treatment and a virtual reality treatment for children and adolescents hospitalized for long-term physical conditions. The final sample was composed of 19 children and adolescents with chronic illness who were hospitalized. The sample was randomly allocated to two intervention groups: cognitive-behavioral usual treatment and virtual reality-based treatment. Participants in the virtual reality group demonstrated higher perceived efficacy scores for every treatment component than for traditional treatment. Statistically significant differences were found for the total usability and acceptability scores. Participants in the virtual reality group show high acceptability of all the virtual environments. The components and environments of virtual reality were well accepted. The virtual reality program received high scores in immersion, feasibility of use, and sense of reality. Technology-based treatments, that is, virtual reality, can provide motivational benefits in relation to traditional treatments.

Intervención en flexibilidad parental a través de una intervención grupal en familias / Intervention in parental flexibility through a group family training

El objetivo del presente estudio fue valorar la eficacia de una intervención en familias a través de estrategias de las terapias de tercera generación para el fomento de la flexibilidad psicológica en las madres. Participaron siete madres de entre 31 y 50 años de edad. Para valorar los efectos de la intervención se emplearon instrumentos de flexibilidad psicológica parental, evitación, regulación emocional, estrés parental y satisfacción con la vida, al finalizar la intervención y a los tres meses. Se evaluó el estado de ánimo y afrontamiento como medida de proceso. Se valoraron los efectos en los hijos con la escala de fortalezas y dificultades. La intervención tuvo una duración de cuatro sesiones de dos horas cada una. Los resultados muestran efectos positivos en flexibilidad psicológica y regulación emocional de las madres y en los hijos se observa una reducción de síntomas emocionales y de hiperactividad. Así se aportan pruebas sobre la eficacia de la intervención en familias a través de terapias de tercera generación

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a family intervention with third-wave therapy strategies to promote parental psychological flexibility. Seven mothers aged 31-50 years participated. To assess the effects of the intervention, parental psychological flexibility, avoidance, emotional regulation, parental stress, and satisfaction with life instruments were used at the end of the intervention and at 3 months follow-up. Mood and coping were assessed as the process measure. The effects on their children were assessed with the scale of strengths and difficulties. Intervention comprised four two-hour sessions. Results showed positive effects in the psychological flexibility and emotion regulation of mothers. In children, there was a reduction in emotional symptoms and hyperactivity. This study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of third-wave based family interventions

Technology-based parenting interventions for children's physical and psychological health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Parenting interventions have important consequences for the wellbeing and emotional competences of parents and their children. Technology provides an opportunity with advantages for psychological intervention. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of technology-based interventions for parents to promote children's physical health or psychological issues. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis for articles about parenting skills for prevention or treatment of children's physical or psychological concerns using technology. We explore the aim of the intervention with parents, kind of problem with children, intervention model, instruments, methodological quality, and risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were included in the systematic review and a meta-analysis of 22 studies was performed to find out the effects of intervention depending on the kind of problem, intervention model, follow-up, type of intervention, type of control condition, and type of outcome data. Results show the usefulness of technology-based therapy for parenting interventions with moderate effect sizes for intervention groups with statistically significant differences from control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Technology-based parenting programs have positive effects on parenting and emotional wellbeing of parents and children. Attendance and participation level in technology-based treatment increase compared with traditional parenting intervention.

The role of Emotional Intelligence in Psychological Adjustment among Adolescents / Inteligencia emocional y su papel en el ajuste psicológico en la adolescencia

This research aims to analyse the role of emotional ingelligence and various psychological factors in school environment. This paper compare psychosocial factors from a school in social risk area with a school in normative area, where in 211 Spanish adolescents with an average age of 13 years participated. The Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Inventory: Young Version (EQi:YV) and the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) were used. Differences in behavior problems were found according to school environment and emotional intelligence level. Furthermore, positive correlations between psychological adjustment and all scales from EQi:YV were found. Multiple regression models obtained emphasized the influence of general mood and parents relationship as factors to psychological adjustment and emotional intelligence

El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar el papel de la inteligencia emocional y diferentes aspectos psicológicos en el contexto escolar. Se comparan factores psico-sociales en un centro en zona de riesgo social frente a un centro en zona normativa, en los que 211 adolescentes españoles con una edad media de 13 años. Se empleó el Emotional Intelligence Inventory: Young Version de Bar-On (EQi:YV) y el Autoinforme de Personalidad para adolescentes del sistema de evaluación (BASC). Se encontraron diferencias en la prevalencia de los problemas conductuales según el contexto escolar y según los niveles de inteligencia emocional. Además, se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre el ajuste psicológico y todas las escalas del EQi:YV. Los modelos de regresión múltiple obtenidos destacan la influencia del estado de ánimo y la relación de con los padres como factores para el ajuste psicológico y la inteligencia emocional