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AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed at assessing the prevalence of eating disorders and symptoms of dieting, food preoccupation, and oral control and internalizing/externalizing problems in a group of adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA sample of N = 813 adolescents (age range = 14-15 years) was recruited in the general population and administered the SCOFF, EAT-26 and YSR questionnaires at two assessment points: before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and during it.ResultsIn males and females, the YSR scores at T1 were significantly lower than T2, especially for the subscales of Withdrawn, Somatic complaints, Anxious/depressed, Social problems. As for the EAT-26 scores, adolescents scored significantly lower at T1 for all four subscales of dieting, food preoccupation and oral control. The prevalence of eating disorders among males and females increased respectively from 13.2% to 18.4% and from 17.5 to 25.3 from T1 to T2.ConclusionThis study confirms previous research showing an increase in eating disorders prevalence and higher psychopathological symptoms both in males and females adolescents during the pandemic.

Purpose: Eating disturbances are complex heritable conditions that can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors but are poorly studied in early development. The aim of this research was to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms within dopaminergic pathways with early feeding problems. Methods: We analyzed the presence of VNTR polymorphisms of DRD4 (rs1805186) and DAT1 (rs28363170) in overeating (N= 45), undereating (N= 48) and control (N= 44) young children. We also assessed presence of externalizing, internalizing and dysregulation symptoms by the Child Behavior Checklist and quality of mother–child interactions during feeding by the Italian adaptation of the Scale for the Assessment of Feeding Interaction, respectively. Results: Both polymorphisms were associated with children’s eating behavior, psychological symptoms and quality of interaction with their mothers, suggesting that: (a) the DRD4 4-repeat allele behaves as a protective factor, the 2-repeats and 7-repeats alleles as risk factors, for undereating behavior, the general quality of mother–child interaction and internalizing, externalizing and dysregulated symptoms; and (b) the DAT1 9-repeats allele behaves as a protective factor, the 10-repeats allele as a risk factor, for overeating behavior, the general quality of mother–child interaction, internalizing, externalizing and dysregulated symptoms. Finally, a gene x gene interaction is suggested between the DAT1 9-repeat or 10-repeat allele and the DRD4 4-repeat allele. Conclusions: Our results suggest a role for DRD4 and DAT1 in an early susceptibility to eating disturbances. Level of evidence III: Evidence obtained from well-designed case–control analytic study.

The use of digital devices among very young children is quickly spreading, although the effects of screen time on emotional and cognitive functioning are still debated. In a sample of N= 422 children and their mothers, this 4-year longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that the use of digital devices as smartphones and tablets at 4 years of age is related to later dysregulation symptoms and to lower academic achievements both at 6 and 8 years of age. Children’s mothers were asked whether or not their offspring had access to digital devices and what was their average screen time on a typical day. Mothers were also requested to specify whether they used to participate in their children’s activities during screen time and to report their offspring emotional/behavioral functioning. Children’s teachers were administered the Teachers Report Form including the competence part to evaluate academic achievements and possible dysregulation symptoms of their students. The Structural Equation Modeling showed that screen time at 4 years of age, the child was directly, positively and significantly associated with dysregulation and negatively associated with mathematics and literacy grades at 8 years of age of the child. These results could help orientate the guidelines for the use of digital devices by very young children.

Early childhood is crucial for the development of social and emotional competencies, significantly influenced by parental interactions. While the impact of maternal psychopathology has been extensively studied, less is known about the effect of paternal trauma on parenting behaviors and subsequent child development. This study examines the effects of fathers' traumatic experiences on their psychopathology, quality of feeding interactions, and children's emotional and behavioral functioning.