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Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disability (ID) have difficulties in planning, organising and coping with change, which impedes the learning of daily living skills (DLSs), social participation and self-management across different environmental settings. Assistive technologies (ATs) is a broad term encompassing devices and services designed to support individuals with disabilities, and if used in a self-controlled manner, they may contribute inclusion in all domains of participation. This comprehensive literature review aims to critically assess and unify existing research that investigates the use of assistive technology within the practical domain for individuals with ASD and/or ID. The 18 relevant studies included in this review highlighted the benefits of AT for social participation and independence in daily activities of individuals with ASD and/or ID. Professionals working with this target group should be knowledgeable of the speedy progress of AT products and the potential of persons with ASD and/or ID to use mainstream devices to meet their individual needs. This awareness provides an opportunity to advocate for the universal benefits of AT for everyone. Technologies such as virtual reality, mobile applications and interactive software have been shown to improve DLSs, communication and social interaction. These tools offer engaging, user-friendly platforms that address the specific needs of these individuals, enhancing their learning and independence.

Objectives. This study aims to examine the influence of corporal punishment (CP) on the occurrence of anxiety during adolescence. Specifically, it investigates the prevalence of resilient survivors who do not exhibit clinical levels of anxiety symptoms after severe maltreatment. Materials and methods. A total of 191 adolescents (94 females and 97 males) with an average age of 14.37 (standard deviation = 0.68) from the Tirana region were included in the study. Participants completed the "Brief Physical Punishment Scale" and the "Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA)." Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, the T-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression using SPSS 25, were conducted to examine the relationship between corporal punishment and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Results. The findings indicate that adolescents who experienced persistent CP had higher levels of anxiety. The severity of CP was positively correlated with increased anxiety symptoms in both the somatic and psychological dimensions. Gender differences were observed, with females (M = 12.87, SD = 10.42) demonstrating higher overall anxiety levels compared to males (M = 5.73, SD = 8.97), suggesting that females may be more susceptible to experiencing elevated anxiety resulting from CP. Conclusions The study reveals that CP has a detrimental impact on a child's well-being, with a significant association between CP and increased anxiety symptoms during adolescence. The consequences of childhood CP extend into adolescence, indicating that it is a persistent risk factor for anxiety. Furthermore, females appear to be more vulnerable to anxiety resulting from childhood CP, although males also experience some level of anxiety.

This study examined the relationship between Positive Youth Development (PYD) Internal and External assets and life satisfaction among Albanian adolescents. Data were collected from a sample of 409 Albanian students aged 14-19 years using the Developmental Assets Profile and the Life Satisfaction Scale. The sample included the majority group (51%) and various minority groups in Albania. Statistical analyses were conducted to explore the association between PYD assets, demographic variables, and perceived life satisfaction. The results revealed significant differences in Internal and External assets across all groups, with life satisfaction reported at a moderate positive level. Gender and minority group differences were observed in the relationship between assets and life satisfaction. The findings of this study reveal that the ten Positive Youth Development (PYD) assets serve as predictors for life satisfaction. Additionally, it was observed that the same set of ten PYD assets acts as a predictor for life satisfaction. These results provide valuable insights into the implementation of PYD strategies and the impact they have on life satisfaction within an under-researched community.

The theoretical approach of Positive Youth Development Assets focuses on developmental assets that play a crucial role in the understanding of the whole person. According to the ecological approach of PYD, factors such as family support school climate, neighborhoods, communities, and the dispositions of adolescents to be more responsible, develop a sense of purpose, altruism, and commitment to education, are considered critical factors that help create a positive climate for adolescents to grow and flourish. This study aims to understand the role of the PYD framework in external and internal assets. This framework holistically saw adolescents, focusing on external and internal assets. External assets like Support, Empowerment, Boundaries, Expectations and Constructive Use of Time help adolescents create a climate that helps them feel supported and have a positive experience with people and other institutions. Internal assets are related to Commitment to learning, Positive values, Positive identity, and Social competencies. According to the current theoretical perspectives, the PYD model seems to be a valid method to explore factors that affect the positive development of adolescents and an excellent approach to building intervention programs for them.

IntroductionEgyptian and Roma communities represent two of the most deprived and stigmatized ethnic minorities in Albania. However, research investigating vulnerability and well-being in youth from these communities is scant. Even less is known among Egyptian and Roma adolescents who dropped-out of school. Within a Positive Youth Development framework, we investigated among Egyptian and Roma adolescents: (1) risk behaviors, well-being, and developmental assets (personal and contextual); (2) associations of developmental assets with risk behaviors and well-being; (3) specificities by ethnicity, gender, and education.MethodsA total of 201 Egyptian and Roma adolescents (Mage = 16.63, SDage = 1.80; 47% girls; 53% school dropouts) completed a series of questionnaires in a community setting in August 2020 (first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic).ResultsBinomial, Poisson and linear regression models indicated that Egyptian and Roma adolescents reported similar and high levels of risk behaviors, with boys reporting overall more risk behaviors than girls. Low level of well-being and of personal and contextual assets were reported. Girls reported higher family assets, positive values and social competencies than boys. The situation of adolescents attending school was overall not better than that of youth who had dropped out. Higher positive identity was associated with higher well-being.DiscussionIntervention and prevention efforts are urgently needed to support minority adolescents’ development during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. They should address the structural factors which limit the availability of personal and contextual resources in minority youth’s lives. Interventions aimed at building safer neighborhoods and providing safe access to schools for minority youth should be a priority and are essential to prevent the widening of inequalities during and after this health emergency.