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Callousness has been identified as a key driver of aggressive and violent behavior from childhood into early adulthood. Although previous research has underscored the importance of the parenting environment in contributing to the development of youth callousness, findings have generally been confined to the between-individual level and have not examined bidirectionality. In the current study, we test whether aspects of parenting are associated with callousness from childhood to adolescence both between and within individuals, examine the temporal ordering of associations, and test whether these relations are moderated by gender or developmental stage. Data came from a longitudinal study in which parents of 1,421 youth (52% girls; 62% White and 22% Black) from the second, fourth, and ninth grades were interviewed three times, with one year between consecutive interviews. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model indicated that elevated youth callousness predicts subsequent increases in parental rejection and decreases in consistency of discipline. Findings were largely similar for boys and girls, but within-individual associations were generally stronger for 4th graders compared to the 2nd and 9th graders. Callousness and parenting practices and attitudes were related both at the between-individual and within-individual level. These results have implications for the etiology and treatment of children and adolescents who exhibit callousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the current state of children's learning in the context of digital games. It highlights the increasing use of digital games in education and the potential benefits they offer. The article emphasizes the importance of designing efficacious games for learning and promoting durable, transferable learning from gameplay to activities beyond the game screen. It also explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) in enhancing learning experiences. The article addresses the ethical concerns associated with digital games, such as privacy and exposure to negative content, and calls for greater investment in media literacy research. Overall, the article suggests the need for further research and evidence-based guidelines to support the selection of age-appropriate, high-quality games for children. [Extracted from the article]

Across two studies we investigated the relationship among mindfulness, rumination, depression, stress, anxiety, communication apprehension, and willingness to communicate among veterinary medicine students. Study 1 tested a hypothesized path model of the relationship with 148 third-year students. Study 2 confirmed the path model with second sample of 160 third-year students. Mindfulness had a direct negative relationship with communication apprehension and a direct positive relationship with willingness to communicate, whereas depression, anxiety, and stress each had a direct negative relationship with communication apprehension and willingness to communicate. Rumination was also directly associated with communication apprehension and willingness to communicate, and it was mediated through depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings suggest mindfulness training may mitigate depression, anxiety, and stress and their attendant effects on communication apprehension and willingness to communicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across two experimental studies, we investigated the short-term effect of video games with sexist content (i.e,. representing women as sexual objects and men as hyper-masculine) on women's objectification. We examine whether identifying with a masculine character who objectified women can increase implicit association of self with masculinity, which in turn would increase objectification of women. Participants (n study 1 = 69 (32 men, mean age = 20.83), n study 2 = 119 (61 men, mean age = 20.09)) played either a sexist or non-sexist video game. We measured subsequently implicit association of self with masculinity, women's objectification (measured with two different measurements in Study1 and 2) and identification with video game character. Results showed that greater identification with video game character predicted stronger association between self-concept and masculinity but not with women's objectification. Thus, it seems that identification with video game character may play an important role in video games' influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: As the gaming industry experiences exponential growth, concerns about gaming disorder (GD) also grow. It is crucial to understand the structural features of games that can interact with individual characteristics of gamers to promote GD. This research consolidates the views of an international body of panelists to create an assessment tool for gauging the addictive potential of distinct games., Methods: Utilizing the iterative and structured Delphi method, an international panel of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience were recruited to offer a multifaceted viewpoint on the addictive risk associated with specific structural elements in games. Two rounds of surveys facilitated consensus., Results: The panel initially included 40 members-ten from research, eight from clinical settings, and 22 with lived experiences. The second round included 27 panelists-seven from research, eight from clinical settings, and 11 with lived experiences. The study identified 25 structural features that contribute to potentially addictive gaming patterns., Discussion and Conclusions: Consensus was found for 25 features, which were distilled into a 23-item evaluation tool. The Saini-Hodgins Addiction Risk Potential of Games Scale (SHARP-G) consists of five overarching categories: 'Social,' 'Gambling-Like Features,' 'Personal Investment,' 'Accessibility,' and 'World Design.' SHARP-G yields a total score indicating level of addiction risk. A case study applying the scale to three games of differing perceived risk levels demonstrated that that score corresponded to game risk as expected. While the SHARP-G scale requires further validation, it provides significant promise for evaluating gaming experiences and products.