In this study, we sought to determine if the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance -- Third Edition" ("SAED-3"; Epstein et al., 2020) demonstrated adequate validity using criterion validation techniques. The associations between the "SAED-3" subscales and composite scores were examined in relation to similar…

People with high skills have a different behavioural repertoire and generally, such characteristics define their type of gifted. However, we do not have conclusive data regarding the characteristics of this population, since it is an area of study that generates many controversies, and when it comes to socio-emotional characteristics,…

Parenting style plays an important role in children's externalizing behaviors. Differences in physiological regulation among children may lead to variations in whether or to what extent parenting style influences them. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of parenting styles on young children's development of externalizing behaviors…

Direct observation of classroom behavior in young children enriches our understanding of their behavior in its natural context, informing both assessment and intervention strategies to foster supportive learning environments. However, a notable gap in the literature concerning effective direct observation tools specifically designed for this…

This study investigates the similarities and differences between Hong Kong kindergarteners' shyness and social anxiety and their possible relations with social emotional adjustment and the development of receptive language abilities. Data were collected from three kindergartens, with 71 children (mean age = 52.6 months, SD = 7.28; 48% boys) and…

Psychosocial competencies; such as prosocial behaviors, compliance with authority, attention regulation, independence, and emotional regulation; play a crucial role in child development. Higher levels of these competencies in childhood are linked to fewer behavior problems, while deficits in these competencies can predict future problem behaviors.…

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief instrument developed primarily for screening children and adolescents for social-emotional learning. The SDQ contains four factors related to socio-emotional difficulties and one factor related to prosocial behaviour. However, studies of its factor structure have produced mixed results.…

Background: Studies suggest that prosocial behavior, having high empathy and engaging in behaviors intended to benefit others, may predict mental health or vice versa; however, these findings have been mixed. The purpose of the current study was to examine the bidirectional relationships between prosocial behavior and dimensions of psychopathology…

The prevalence of externalizing behaviors imposes a far-reaching negative impact on students' social, behavioral, and academic outcomes, which constitute a public health issue in low-resource and populous developing countries (e.g., China). Compared to the "one-size-fits-all" approach (OSFA; forcing a single evidence-based intervention…

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on children and families worldwide. Children's mental health has been at the forefront of pandemic research, with several observational studies documenting its decline. Limited person-centred research exists, however, investigating the diverse mental health responses of vulnerable…

Prior research points to the promotion of parenting self-efficacy (PSE) as an important component of parenting interventions; however, few studies have tested PSE as a mediator or moderator of the effects of parenting programs on child behavior. In the current study, we examined the efficacy of the Family Check-Up (FCU), a brief, strengths-based…

Research Findings: Empathy plays an important role in children's early social-emotional development. However, there are not many instruments available for measuring the different aspects/levels of empathy in preschool children. Moreover, few studies examined the validity of the existing measures for empathy in Chinese children. The present study…

Background: The reciprocal relationships between literacy skills and various subscales of mental health have been examined in few studies. The objective is to re-examine this question in a longitudinal study with the possibility of a gender effect. Methods: A 4-year longitudinal study was conducted as part of the French national cohort ELFE (N =…

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated social opportunities in children at risk for ADHD in regular primary education classrooms. First, we aimed to compare social preference of children at risk for ADHD and of their unilateral friends, with their classmates. Second, we hypothesized that for the at risk-group higher levels of problem…

Background: ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. While much is known about the functional and academic impacts of ADHD, impacts on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are less well-documented. Aims: To explore, in children aged 4 to 17 years, associations between clinical ADHD symptoms and (1) children's HRQoL; (2)…