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Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a societal problem, which impacts adolescents' well-being. Fear of missing out (FoMO) has been suggested as a core risk factor predicting both PSMU and adolescents' well-being. However, longitudinal research on the directionality of these relationships is scarce. The present study aims to fill this knowledge gap by testing the bidirectional relationships between FoMO, PSMU and adolescents’ life satisfaction in the total sample, as well as for girls and boys separately. This study used four-waves annual longitudinal data collected from 2015 to 2019 among Dutch adolescents aged 11–15 years (n = 1419, Mage = 12.5 ± 0.60, 45.9% girls). We applied random intercept cross-lagged panel model(s) to separate within-person level effects from between-person level effects. On the within-person level, findings suggested a unidirectional relationship whereby FoMO increased PSMU during mid-adolescence, but not vice versa. Moreover, low life satisfaction predicted an increase in FoMO during early adolescents. These findings underline that FoMO can be considered a risk factor of PSMU, and that low life satisfaction may be a risk factor for developing FoMO. These insights should be considered in intervention programs developed to effectively prevent unhealthy internet use in adolescents.

To better understand the disparity in children’s reactions and experiences related to parental divorce, we explored differences in children’s forgiveness following parental divorce. Using different samples of divorced children (children, adolescents, young adults), the current research tested in four studies the basic prediction that children’s forgiveness is positively associated with their psychological well-being. We found that self-reported forgiveness was positively associated with indicators of psychological well-being, for adolescents and young adults, but not for children in late childhood. Furthermore, there was some indication that forgiveness toward the mother, compared to the father, was more important for well-being. The findings are discussed considering broader theoretical questions how forgiveness in the context of divorce may help to restore parent-child relationships after divorce.

The social gradient in adolescent mental health is well established: adolescents' socioeconomic status is negatively associated with their mental health. However, despite changes in social cognition during adolescence, little is known about whether social cognitions mediate this gradient. Therefore, this study tested this proposed mediational path using three data waves, each 6 months apart, from a socioeconomically diverse sample of 1,429 adolescents ( M age = 17.9) in the Netherlands. Longitudinal modeling examined whether three social cognitions (self-esteem, sense of control, and optimism) mediated associations between perceived family wealth and four indicators of adolescent mental health problems (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems). There was evidence of a social gradient: adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported more concurrent emotional symptoms and peer problems and an increase in peer problems 6 months later. Results also showed evidence of mediation through social cognitions, specifically sense of control: adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported a decrease in sense of control (though not self-esteem nor optimism) 6 months later, and lower sense of control predicted increases in emotional symptoms and hyperactivity 6 months later. We found concurrent positive associations between perceived family wealth and all three social cognitions, and concurrent negative associations between social cognitions and mental health problems. The findings indicate that social cognitions, especially sense of control, may be an overlooked mediator of the social gradient in adolescent mental health.

While there is evidence that child maltreatment is positively associated with loneliness, the strength of this association is not yet clear. It is also unclear whether the magnitude and statistical significance of this association varies across groups of individuals. Therefore, this meta-analysis examines whether there are differences in loneliness between individuals with and without maltreatment histories, and which factors may influence the association between child maltreatment and loneliness. A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on 52 studies reporting 116 effect sizes ( N = 1,705,493; M age = 30.93; 49.6% females). Results showed a medium overall effect ( g = 0.45, p < .001, 95% CI [0.36, 0.53]), indicating that individuals with maltreatment histories, on average, feel lonelier than individuals without maltreatment histories. Moderator analyses showed that effect sizes were larger for emotional abuse and emotional neglect as compared to other types of child maltreatment and decreased when participants were older at the time of loneliness assessment. These findings suggest that individuals with maltreatment histories, especially those who have been emotionally abused and/or emotionally neglected, are vulnerable to experiencing loneliness across the lifespan. The results also suggest that feelings of loneliness warrant attention in prevention and intervention programs for individuals with maltreatment histories.

Parents who have lost a child to drug-related death are at risk of poorer personal outcomes, such as decreased psychological and physical well-being. However, the loss of a child is rarely experienced alone. In most cases, parents are involved in the bereavement process together, which can affect relational outcomes and potentially impact their relationship quality, including satisfaction, trust, and closeness. In this chapter, we apply Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model to shed light on bereaved parents’ relationship quality following the drug-related death of their child. Specifically, we discuss the potential roles of both partners’ enduring qualities (individual differences), stress (stressors faced by each partner), and (mal)adaptive processes (dyadic interactions between partners) in relationship quality and the possible mechanisms through which these predictors affect the bereaved parents’ relationship. We seek to provide input for intervention and prevention programs targeting the personal and relationship well-being of bereaved parents who face social stigma before and after their child’s drug-related death.

The social gradient in adolescent mental health is well established: adolescents' socioeconomic status is negatively associated with their mental health. However, despite changes in social cognition during adolescence, little is known about whether social cognitions mediate this gradient. Therefore, this study tested this proposed mediational path using three data waves, each 6 months apart, from a socioeconomically diverse sample of 1,429 adolescents (M-age = 17.9) in the Netherlands. Longitudinal modeling examined whether three social cognitions (self-esteem, sense of control, and optimism) mediated associations between perceived family wealth and four indicators of adolescent mental health problems (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems). There was evidence of a social gradient: adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported more concurrent emotional symptoms and peer problems and an increase in peer problems 6 months later. Results also showed evidence of mediation through social cognitions, specifically sense of control: adolescents with lower perceived family wealth reported a decrease in sense of control (though not self-esteem nor optimism) 6 months later, and lower sense of control predicted increases in emotional symptoms and hyperactivity 6 months later. We found concurrent positive associations between perceived family wealth and all three social cognitions, and concurrent negative associations between social cognitions and mental health problems. The findings indicate that social cognitions, especially sense of control, may be an overlooked mediator of the social gradient in adolescent mental health.