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In Spain young people have their first sexual intercourse at an earlier age than in other countries; however, little is known about the relationship between age of sexual debut and sexual behavior in this population. Sexual practices and methods of protection are analyzed depending on the age of sexual debut among Spanish adolescents who are sexually experienced (N = 351). The mean age was 15.9 years (SD = .75, range: 14-18). Three groups were formed according to the age of sexual debut reported: early sexual debut (earlier than 15 years), average (15 years) and late (later than 15 years). The early sexual debut group reported further mutual masturbation, vaginal intercourse and oral sex with a higher number of sexual partners than the rest. Condom use at first intercourse, percentage of use and consistent condom use was significantly lower in the early sexual debut group compared to the others. Sexual debut before 15 years old was associated with increased risk of sexual infections, deficit in condom use and increased sexual exposure. The findings of this study suggest that the age of sexual debut has implications for the sexual health in young people.

Anxiety disorders have a negative emotional, social, family, and academic impact on children's lives. Evaluation of childhood anxiety has focused mainly on symptomatology, and measures of anxiety life interference in children are scarce. Furthermore, collecting information about the interference of anxiety in children's and their family's daily functioning through multiple informants is recommended for better diagnosis and intervention. The Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale - parent version (CALIS-P) analyses life interference and impairment related to children's anxiety both in their own daily functioning and in their parents' lives. The current study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of CALIS-P in a sample of children aged 6-8 years. Participants were 181 primary school children (45.9% girls), and data was collected through their parents, who completed assessment instruments about their children's emotional status. Factorial structure, reliability, convergent and divergent validity of the Spanish CALIS-P were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the good fit of the original three-factor model. High internal consistency was found for the total score (.91) and subscales (.75-.87), and temporal stability after 4 weeks was also satisfactory (ICC > .65). Convergent validity was examined through positive correlations between the CALIS-P and measures of anxiety symptoms (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale [SCAS-P] and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ-P]), and divergent validity was supported by negative correlations with the Prosocial Behavior Scale of the SDQ-P. This research provides evidence of the instrument's utility both in research and in clinical practice., Author(s): Mireia Orgilés [sup.1] , Silvia Melero [sup.1] , Iván Fernández-Martínez [sup.1] , José Pedro Espada [sup.1] , Alexandra Morales [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.26811.3c, 0000 0001 0586 4893, Department [...]

Separation anxiety symptoms are very common in children. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties and the factorial structure of the Portuguese version of the Separation Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC). The participants included 874 children, 52% male, aged between 8 and 11 years (M = 9.50; SD = 1.15). Factor analysis supported the three-factor model found in the original scale. The instrument demonstrated to have good reliability for the total score ([alpha] = 0.81) and for its three factors (Discomfort from separation, [alpha] = 0.80; Worry about separation, [alpha] = 0.72; Calm at separation, [alpha] = 0.59). The validity, examined via the correlation of the SASC with the separation anxiety subscale of the SCARED, was satisfactory (r = 0.49); the test-retest reliability for the total scale was good (r = 0.81). The SASC was shown to have good psychometric properties for its use with Portuguese children for clinical and research purposes.

Background: Nighttime fears are highly prevalent in children, ranging from normative fears to triggering fear‐related anxiety disorders. The lack of available assessment instruments recently prompted the development of the Nighttime Fears Scale (NFS) for children aged 8–12 years. The present study aimed to adapt and psychometrically evaluate the parent‐reported version for children aged 3–8 years (NFS‐P) as a complement for younger children. Methods: Two hundred eighty‐four Spanish‐speaking parents (47% girls) completed the NFS‐P and anxiety measures. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses supported a four‐factor structure of the NFS‐P. Strong internal consistency and validity evidence were obtained. No significant differences were found in NFS‐P scores between sexes and age groups. Conclusions: The findings offer support for the use of the NFS‐P as a valuable instrument in clinical and research settings, supplementing the NFS for older children. Both scales provide an efficient means to comprehensively assess the presence and intensity of typical nighttime fears across preschool and school years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nighttime fears are common among school-aged children and may be linked to psychological difficulties, while coping strategies may vary and affect their emotional well-being. This study aimed to identify patterns of nighttime fears and coping styles in school-aged children using Latent Profile Analysis. Subsequently, possible predictors of the latent profiles were tested through multinomial logistic regression analysis. Method: A sample of 786 Spanish-speaking children (aged 8 to 12; Mage = 9.66, SD = 1.20; 51.3% girls) participated and completed self-report measures of nighttime fears and coping responses. Results: The results revealed four latent profiles: (1)"low fears, low self-control" (24.2%), (2)"high fears (except for imaginary fears), maladaptive coping" (22.8%), (3)"moderate fears, adaptive coping" (44.9%), and (4)"high fears, maladaptive coping" (8.1%). The regression analysis revealed that sociodemographic characteristics and children's perceived helpfulness of coping strategies were predictors of the latent profiles. Conclusions: These findings suggest the presence of distinct patterns and heterogeneous subgroups, which may emerge as higher or lower risk profiles. It highlights the need to consider the existing patterns to provide tailored interventions targeting nighttime fears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain, 44% of 14-18-year-olds have smoked, and 12.5% have smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, and can lead to serious addiction in adulthood with adverse consequences to one's health. School plays a relevant role in health promotion and preventing risk behaviors such as tobacco consumption. Despite the fact that some school-based tobacco cessation and prevention interventions prove to be effective for their purposes, there is a lack of understanding as to why these programs succeed or fail. This longitudinal study aims to test the nicotine dependence (ND) as a mediator of Project EX's effect - a tobacco-use cessation program developed for high school youth to reduce tobacco consumption in scholars. Six high schools located in the Mediterranean coast were randomized for the participation of the program (Spanish version of Project EX) or a waiting-list group with baseline, immediate-posttest, and 12-month follow-up assessments. At baseline, 1,546 adolescents aged 14-21 years old (mean age: 15.28; SD = 1.20; 46% were women) were evaluated by self-administered tests on tobacco consumption and ND. A biomarker of smoke inhalation - a measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (ECM) - was used. Participants who were smokers (N = 501; 32%) were selected for this study. Mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS v2.12 macro for Windows. The significant criterion was p ≤ 0.05, and 5,000 samples were used for bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. Results indicated that Project EX indirectly decreased the number of cigarettes smoked in the last month, the number of cigarettes smoked within the last 7 days, the number of daily cigarettes, and ECM level at 12-month follow up through decreasing the level of ND in the short-term. This is the first Spanish study that explores ND as a mediator of the long-term efficacy of Project EX to reduce tobacco consumption in adolescents. Results suggest that interventions that reduce ND at short-term are more likely to be successful to decrease tobacco use at long-term.

BackgroundTobacco use prevalence rates are high among Spanish adolescents. Programming to counteract tobacco use is needed.Methods and findingsThe current study provides a one-year follow-up outcome evaluation of Project EX, an eight-session classroom-based curriculum. The intervention was tested using a randomized controlled trial with 1,546 Spanish students, involving three program and three control schools. Compared to the control condition, the program condition revealed a greater reduction in nicotine dependence (p < .05) and CO ppm levels (p < .001), and lower consumption of cigarettes at last month (p = .03).ConclusionsLong-term outcomes of the Project EX classroom-based program are promising for adolescent prevention and possibly cessation in Spain.

Aiming to mitigate the COVID-19 spread, the government of Spain applied restrictive measures, like schools' closure. Although the effects of the pandemic on children's emotional well-being have been studied, there is a lack of studies examining school adjustment following the pandemic and the role that the infection has played in the adjustment process. The objective is to analyze the relationship between stressful events related to school experienced by children and their adjustment to school after the home confinement, including anxiety as a mediator variable. Participants were the parents of 219 Spanish children and adolescents aged 3 and 18 years who completed a survey about their children's anxiety (Spanish Brief Child Version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale), the stressful events experienced related to school (Stressful Events related to Pandemic Inventory), and the adjustment to school (Adjustment of Children after Pandemic School Closure Scale). Results showed that social distance was the most reported stressful event (87%). Having COVID-19 and experiencing bullying were directly related to a high level of anxiety. Children´s who decreased social contact and experienced bullying showed a worse adjustment to school. Anxiety was an indirect mediator of this relationship. Findings highlight the importance of supervising school adaptation and promoting strategies to prevent emotional problems when the youths are exposed to stressful situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Night fears are highly frequent in children, influencing negatively their development and their quality of life. It may be conditioned by personality traits such as perfectionism, which has been linked to childhood psychological discomfort. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between three dimensions of perfectionism and night fears in children. Participants were 319 children aged 8 to 11 selected from three primary schools in Spain, who completed the Nighttime Fears Scale and the Child and Adolescents Perfectionism Scale. Results report an indirect and significant correlation between the subscale Fear of loss or separation from the family and the total score of perfectionism, as well as an indirect and significant relationship between the perception of performance expectations (Socially Prescribed Perfectionism) and the fear of loss or separation from the family and the fear of real stimuli, so that the most perfectionist children report fewer night fears. Besides, girls compared to the boys and younger participants scored higher in nighttime fears. Findings contribute to expanding knowledge about night fears and the factors that may predict their appearance or maintenance, thus being very useful in early detection and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]