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Positive developmental outcomes among youth living in poverty have rarely been studied. Despite numerous risk factors, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to positive developmental outcomes among youth in poverty. Using the Self-Determination Theory framework, this two-wave longitudinal study investigated the contribution of basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to positive developmental outcomes of prosocial behavior and positive affect among 225 youth living in poverty in Italy. Results suggest that overall, prosocial behavior was positively predicted by autonomy, while positive affect was positively predicted by competence. Moderator analyses showed that the satisfaction of the need of relatedness predicted prosociality for girls and immigrants. For girls, the fulfilling of this need also predicted positive affect. The importance of each psychological need to different positive outcomes was shaped by adolescents' economic condition, immigrant background, and gender. The implications for further research and practices are discussed.

The present study, based on data concerning 2328 immigrant children attending a representative sample of 561 schools, investigates the impact of various group, family and individual characteristics as well as proficiency in the national language on acceptance and friendship among classmates, while controlling for measurement errors by means of a structural equation modelling approach. As regards group characteristics, the results indicate that only immigrant density in the classroom has a positive impact on social inclusion, which seems to be limited to peer acceptance. As regards family and individual characteristics, low-SES and female immigrants appear to be doubly vulnerable in class, which specifically affects their friendships. One of our main findings is that proficiency in the national language predicts the social inclusion of immigrant children, while controlling for all the other variables considered. A moderation analysis reveals that this factor also applies to second-generation immigrants. In conclusion, we suggest that interventions aiming to facilitate the social inclusion of immigrant children should take into account the fact that proficiency in the national language appears to be much more important than group, family and individual characteristics, and that low-SES and female immigrants require particular attention, since they are doubly vulnerable.

Background: Very-low-income students are a population at a high risk of perpetrating and suffering bullying at school, and at the same time the peer group at school is often one of the few sources of support for these minors. Objective: This two-wave study is aimed to disambiguate the two different roles of peer acceptance and friendship on bullying and victimization in very-low-income adolescents, exploring the possible differential role of immigrant background. Method: An online survey was administered to 249 early to late adolescents living below the poverty threshold (M[subscript age] = 12.76; SD[subscript age] = 2.34; 41.8% girls; 19.3% immigrants). A multivariate regression model with multi-group analyses was applied. Results: Our results indicated that peer friendship was a protective factor against bullying as well as victimization, whilst peer acceptance was not protective. Only for natives (but not for immigrants), a high level of peer acceptance was a risk factor for bullying, and low school achievement was a risk factor for victimization. The persistence of victimization over time was significantly stronger for immigrants than for natives. Conclusions: The study provides new insights for the unique protective role of classmates' friendship in natives and immigrants, while acceptance appeared to be less relevant. Research and applied implications are discussed.

Background: Recent advances in psychophysiology have underscored the importance of autonomic nervous system modulation in managing short-term stress. While several interventions have demonstrated efficacy in reducing short-term stress and anxiety symptoms, there remains a gap in understanding how different short-term techniques compare in terms of both psychological and physiological outcomes. This study investigated the effects of a single session of the Brain Wave Modulation Technique (BWM-T) compared with a psychoeducational session on short-term stress management. Methods: A total of 72 university students participated in this study (mean age = 27.5 years, 79% female). They were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 36) receiving BWM-T or a control group (n = 36) receiving a standard psychoeducational short-term stress management session. Pre- and post-intervention measures included HRV parameters, perceived stress (using the Distress Thermometer, DT), and anxiety (using the STAI-Y State Anxiety Scale, S-ANX). Results: Both groups experienced significant reductions in perceived stress (DT: MD = 1.42, p < 0.001) and anxiety (S-ANX: MD = 6.93, p < 0.001). However, only the experimental group demonstrated physiological changes indicative of improved autonomic function: decreased low-frequency (LF) power (MD = −0.369, p < 0.05) and a lower LF/HF ratio (MD = −1.09, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the unique physiological benefits of BWM-T, beyond the general psychological improvements seen in both interventions. Conclusions: BWM-T appears to be a promising, effective short-term intervention for reducing short-term stress and enhancing autonomic regulation. Further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term effects and potential for broader implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of endometriosis on various outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF), including live birth rates, clinical pregnancy rates, fertilization rates, and implantation rates, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Systematic searches were carried out using PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science from January 2010 to November 2023. Studies comparing IVF outcomes in women with and without endometriosis were included. The primary outcome was live birth rate; secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy, fertilization, and implantation rates. Data were extracted and analyzed using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with fixed or random-effects models, depending on heterogeneity. Results: From 1340 studies initially identified, 40 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 8970 women with endometriosis and 42,946 control participants. There were no significant differences between the endometriosis and control groups in terms of live birth rate (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.75–1.41, p = 0.84), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72–1.02, p = 0.1), or fertilization rate (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.79–1.15, p = 0.64). However, endometriosis was associated with a significantly lower implantation rate (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.97, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Endometriosis significantly negatively affects implantation rates in women undergoing IVF, despite the absence of significant differences in live birth, clinical pregnancy, and fertilization rates. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of different stages of endometriosis on IVF outcomes and to develop optimized management protocols for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide and emphasizes the multifactorial nature of these conditions, linking them to biological, cognitive, affective, behavioral, and environmental factors. The research topic explores new frameworks for prevention and intervention in chronic diseases, focusing on a multidimensional approach to address the complexity of these conditions. The editorial includes four articles that examine personalized approaches for prostate cancer, motivational strategies for stroke survivors, the relationship between systemic inflammation and osteoarthritis, and the consistency between self-reported disease diagnosis and clinical assessment. The studies offer insights into improving patient care, enhancing treatment adherence, and identifying high-risk populations for preventive interventions. [Extracted from the article]

Author(s): Maddalena Massari [sup.1], Salvatore Andrea Mastrolia [sup.2], Cristiana Berti [sup.1], Mauro Cozzolino [sup.3], Martina Aldinucci [sup.3], Mariarosaria Di Tommaso [sup.3], Giovanni Nazzaro [sup.4], Mariavittoria Locci [sup.4], Irene Cetin [sup.1] [...], A 1-year pilot cross-sectional study was performed to assess eating behaviours and lifestyle among Chinese and Arab pregnant immigrants to Italy. A number of 95 Chinese and 83 Arab women were interviewed. Two ethnic-specific food frequency questionnaires were designed to reflect the habitual diet of women belonging to these ethnic groups. Food items frequency of consumption was discussed using healthy eating guidelines. In both populations, women met healthy eating guidelines, except for salt intake, which was double than recommended; meat, sweet products and sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed more frequently than recommended, while olive oil and yogurt were eaten less frequently. Chinese women did not reach the recommendations for dairy products and fatty fish and exceeded those for red and processed meat, whereas Arab women exceeded the recommendations for cheese. Our findings suggest that the Italian food environment did not significantly affect Chinese and Arab pregnant immigrants' diet.