Elisa Guidi

Teens’ self-efficacy to deal with dating violence as victim, perpetrator or bystander

Multiple studies have demonstrated that adolescent dating violence is highly prevalent and is associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. A number of prevention initiatives are being implemented in North American high schools. Such initiatives aim to raise awareness among potential victims and offenders, and also among peer bystanders. As teenagers mainly reach out to their peers when experiencing adversity, it is important to address adolescents’ efficacy in dealing with witnessing dating violence or with friends disclosing dating abuse, in addition to increasing their ability to deal with experienced dating violence victimization or perpetration. The aim of this study is to explore adolescents’ self-efficacy to deal with dating violence victimization and perpetration in their relationships and those of their peers. A paper-and-pencil questionnaire was completed by 259 14−18-year-olds in Quebec, Canada. The data allow building insight into adolescents’ confidence to reach out for help or to help others in a situation of dating violence victimization and perpetration. We also considered the impact of gender and dating victimization history. Results suggest that dating violence prevention can build on teens’ self-efficacy to deal with dating violence and offer them tools to do so efficiently.

Sleep problems over a year in sexually abused preschoolers

Objectives The aim of the present study was to explore sleep problems in sexually abused preschoolers over a year. Methods The sample consisted of 224 abused children and 83 nonabused children aged 3 to 6 years old at enrolment into the study (T1), and 85 abused children and 73 nonabused children at the second evaluation, approximately 1 year later (T2). Sleep problems were assessed using parental reports on the Child Behavior Checklist - Preschool Version. Results Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that sexually abused preschoolers presented higher scores of sleep problems than nonabused children on all items related to sleep problems at T1. Results from a regression analysis revealed that sexual abuse remained associated with higher levels of sleep problems after controlling for sociodemographical variables. At T2, abused preschoolers still presented more sleep problems than nonabused children on all but one of the sleep items. Results from a repeated measure one-way analysis of covariance revealed that abused preschoolers presented higher total sleep scores at both measurement times. Time was not associated with levels of sleep problems and sleep problems did not evolve differently for abused and nonabused children. Conclusions Sexually abused preschoolers are at risk of presenting with sleep problems. These results are worrisome given the negative impacts of sleep problems on child development. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

Small Group Processes on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning

Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are often applied to assist learning processes. Peculiar objectives of ICT use in this topic are to facilitate collaboration and to increase learning through sharing and distributing knowledge. This study aimed to investigate the effects that a small group has on the individual and collaborative learning. A virtual environment was used to study the dynamics of social behaviors in collaborative and non-collaborative experimental conditions. Our results seem to support the hypothesis that social scripts are started, even when people are in non-interactive situations, and this is shown in virtual environments, too. Such outcomes, and the virtual interactions content analysis may suggest useful advices about collective reasoning and e-learning dynamics, which are very relevant topics in the study of web communities and educational communities.

Intimate Partner Violence: A Stochastic Model

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been a well-studied problem in the past psychological literature, especially through its classical methodology such as qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. This article introduces two basic stochastic models as an alternative approach to simulate the short and long-term dynamics of a couple at risk of IPV. In both models, the members of the couple may assume a finite number of states, updating them in a probabilistic way at discrete time steps. After defining the transition probabilities, we first analyze the evolution of the couple in isolation and then we consider the case in which the individuals modify their behavior depending on the perceived violence from other couples in their environment or based on the perceived informal social support. While high perceived violence in other couples may converge toward the own presence of IPV by means a gender-specific transmission, the gender differences fade-out in the case of received informal social support. Despite the simplicity of the two stochastic models, they generate results which compare well with past experimental studies about IPV and they give important practical implications for prevention intervention in this field.

Sleep problems and dissociation in preschool victims of sexual abuse

ABSTRACT Objective: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with a host of deleterious impacts, yet little is known about the short-term correlates in children. This study aimed to investigate the association between dissociation and sleep problems in a sample of preschool-age sexual abuse victims while controlling for potentially confounding variables, including gender, age, polytrauma, CSA characteristics, and parental distress. Method: The sample consisted of 179 children (ages 3–6 years) and their non-offending parents. Parents completed questionnaires assessing their child’s dissociative symptoms and sleep problems as well as their own level of psychological distress. Results: Regression analyses revealed that sleep problems were significantly associated with dissociative symptoms over and above all other control variables (children’s gender and age, polytrauma, and parental distress). A longer duration of sexual abuse also predicted greater dissociative symptoms in preschool children. Conclusion: Findings highlight the association between sleep problems and dissociation in preschool-age victims of CSA. Further research is needed to understand their impact on children’s development to design appropriate treatment and prevention initiatives aimed at fostering resilience in young vulnerable children.