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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/Objectives: In our society, as well as in many other parts of the world, sexuality is shaped through gender-differentiated socialization. This process compels individuals to align their desires, behaviors, emotions, and thoughts with the expectations of normative sexuality, especially hegemonic heterosexuality. The primary objective of this current research was to examine the influence of hegemonic masculinity on the sexuality of men struggling with addiction. Method: This study employed a qualitative approach, specifically using conventional content analysis. To ensure research quality and transparency, the study adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ). Fourteen participants from a therapeutic community for addiction treatment in Spain were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, supplemented by participant observation. The sample size was determined based on the principle of data saturation. Results: The findings reveal that factors such as gender-differentiated socialization, particularly the values associated with hegemonic masculinity (e.g., the pressure to maintain constant sexual availability and sexual initiative), alongside excessive engagement with prostitution and pornography, are closely linked to substance abuse, the development of addictions, and the emergence of sexual dysfunctions in men. The study also highlights the role of challenges related to oppression rooted in heteronormativity—understood as the imposition of rigid norms governing sexual orientation and behavior—in shaping sexual problems and in the origin and maintenance of addictions in men. Conclusions: It is essential to implement an intervention strategy that promotes egalitarian masculinities within the treatment of men with addiction issues, emphasizing a biopsychosocial approach to sexuality that integrates a gender perspective. Additionally, it is crucial to incorporate gender-sensitive interventions into rehabilitation programs for both men and women, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each group's specific needs and fostering the development of healthy, equitable relationships in the context of addiction treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial correlation and individual effects are two key sources of heterogeneity that should be handled in empirical applications investigating the productive performance of firms, especially when dealing with start-up activity. Therefore, in this work, we propose a fixed-effects spatial autoregressive stochastic frontier model for unbalanced panel data, we test the finite sample properties of our spatial estimator and we provide an empirical application on Italian innovative start-ups. The results of our analysis indicate that Italian start-ups are characterised by a significant level of global spatial dependence, especially overall and among firms belonging to the information and communication sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifaceted neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems. This pilot study aimed to examine the effects of repeated whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) sessions on the sympathovagal balance in PD patients and correlate heart rate variability (HRV) indexes with peripheral biomarkers of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods: Seventeen PD patients with mild to moderate motor severity underwent a 10-session WBC cycle over 5 consecutive days. Thirteen patients (6 males, 7 females; mean age 64.5 ± 9.01 years; mean disease duration 5.4 ± 2.3 years) completed the protocol. Cardiac autonomic activity was assessed through HRV measures including RR interval variability (RR mean, RR min, RR max), power density of high and low frequencies (HF, LF), RMSSD, and the LF/HF ratio. Systemic sympathetic activity was evaluated via circulating blood catecholamine levels. Results: Significant increases were observed in RR mean, RR min, RR max, RMSSD, and HF spectrum, indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity. Blood pressure remained stable, suggesting safety. Conclusions: These findings provide initial support to WBC as a potential "rehabilitation booster" in PD, enhancing sympathovagal balance. Further research is needed to explore the long-term benefits of WBC in PD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Addictive and substance-related disorders represent a substantial public health challenge, marked by rising incidence and prevalence rates. Men and women exhibit different patterns of help-seeking for health and social issues including addictions. This research aimed to analyze the help-seeking process among men with addiction to improve understanding and develop more effective, person-centered treatments. Methods: This systematic review was performed based on the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of the revision was registered in advance in PROSPERO. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases. Results: Based on the literature search, 16 studies were included in the current systematic review. The analyzed studies included seven on substance-use disorders, three on gambling disorder, two on tobacco-use disorder, two addressing substance-related disorders in general, one on opioid-use disorder, and one focused on marijuana use. Gender differences influenced help-seeking behavior, with women generally exhibiting a higher propensity to seek assistance for addiction-related issues than men. Seeking help for addiction—whether substance use or gambling—can be hindered by several barriers, particularly public stigma and discrimination, which tend to be more pronounced for alcohol and gambling compared to tobacco. Additional barriers in the help-seeking process include negative beliefs and attitudes toward seeking help, often associated with traditional male gender roles. Each substance-use disorder was analyzed in depth to gain a better understanding of the barriers faced by this population. Conclusions: Integrating a gender perspective into the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of addiction is essential. As addiction patterns vary between men and women, approaches must be tailored accordingly. Recognizing men as a distinct group in research and clinical practice is also crucial for developing more effective and personalized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a comprehensive umbrella review including all published meta-analyses and systematic reviews on suicide-related outcomes among adults in custody. Eligible studies were searched for in major scientific databases following the PRISMA method up to February 2023. The quality of each study was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 protocol. Twenty studies were included, consisting of 11 meta-analyses and nine systematic reviews. Factors associated with suicide outcomes among individuals in custody were categorized into five domains: clinical status, historical, custodial, criminological, and prevention. However, all systematic studies reported considerable heterogeneity (I2 > 50%–85%). Most systematic literature reviews and/or meta-analyses showed moderate quality based on AMSTAR-2. This umbrella review highlights individual factors (in the clinical status and historical domain), contextual factors (in the custodial and criminological domains), and protective factors (in the prevention domain) to provide a clearer understanding of the prison-related domains involved in the development and maintenance of suicide-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the strong declining trends in incidence and mortality over the last decades, gastric cancer (GC) is still burdened with high mortality, even in high-income countries. To improve GC prognosis, several guidelines have been increasingly published with indications about the most appropriate GC management. The Italian Society of Digestive System Pathology (SIPAD) and Gastric Cancer Italian Research Group (GIRCG) designed a survey for both surgeons and patients with the purpose of evaluating the degree of application and adherence to guidelines in GC management in Italy. Materials and Methods: Between January and May 2022, a questionnaire has been administered to a sample of Italian surgeons and, in a simplified version, to members of the Patient Association "Vivere Senza Stomaco" (patients surgically treated for GC between 2008 and 2021) to investigate the diagnosis, staging, and treatment issues. Results: The survey has been completed by 125 surgeons and 125 patients. Abdominal CT with gastric hydro-distension before treatment was not widespread in both groups (47% and 42%, respectively). The rate of surgeons stating that they do not usually perform minimally invasive gastrectomy was 15%, but the rate of patients who underwent a minimally invasive approach was 22% (between 2011 and 2022). The percentage of surgeons declaring to perform extended lymphadenectomy (>D2) was 97%, although a limited lymph node dissection rate was observed in about 35% of patients. Conclusions: This survey shows several important discrepancies from surgical attitudes declared by surgeons and real data derived from the reports available to the patients, suggesting heterogeneous management in clinical practice and, thus, a not rigorous adherence to the guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]