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Alkoholizm jako zagrożenie rodziny w świetle poradników oraz publicystyki społecznej i naukowej w Królestwie Polskim u schyłku XIX i na początku XX wieku

Author(s): Aneta Bołdyrew / Language(s): Polish Issue: 47/2019

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to discuss in a synthetic way knowledge, opinions and attitude toward alcoholism as a problem of family and society in guides and social journalism in the Kingdom of Poland during the period of “entering modernity.” THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The main research problem can be formulated as follows: in what way alcoholism as a danger to family has been problematised in analysed literature? In connection with that more detailed problems can be taken into account: what kind of factors influenced on shift of opinions of alcoholism as a problem of family and society? Which environments were said to be in danger of this pathology? In what way the alcoholism problem was formulated in the context of current debates over general social issues? The methods of historical and pedagogues researches have been used, including philological method which is employed to analyse texts of historical sources. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: After introduction to the problems three isolated questions were presented. One of them is the picture of drinking as a social and moral problem in religious literature. The other are question of medicalisation of alcoholism, existing also in the context of considerations about family and, finally, the presence of alcoholism shown as the reason of family and society’s degeneration in sources. RESEARCH RESULTS: The way of presenting the alcoholism underwent crucial transfigurations. Discussion about alcoholism as a factor which threatened the family and the education of the young generation was a part of the polemics about many general questions like relationships between family and society, the role of religion and science in solving social problems, the role of the family in the conceptions of the polish statehood’s reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The analysis of statements concerning alcoholism as a danger to family can be helpful in further researches of the creating the picture of family and changes of its ethos on the threshold of independency.

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IZRAŽENOST KOGNITIVNIH STILOVA UVJETOVANIH KOCKANJEM KOD SREDNJOŠKOLACA NA PODRUČJU GRADA ŽIVINICE

Author(s): Adela Jahić,Meliha Bijedić,Lejla Kuralić-Čišić,Almedina Hrnjić,Emina Suljkanović-Djedović / Language(s): Bosnian,Croatian,Serbian Issue: 3/2021

The aim of this study was to determine whether high school students in the town of Živinice differ in the expression of cognitive styles conditioned by gambling with regard to gender, age and type of school. The research was conducted on a sample of 340 students of both sexes (170 boys and 170 girls) in high schools in the city of Živinice. Students from grades 1-4 are represented, and the age of the respondents ranges from 16 to 18 years. For the purposes of the research, two measuring instruments were used: Zambard’s time perspective questionnaire eng. Zimbardo TimePerspective Inventory (ZTPI), (Zimbardo and Boyd, 1999), International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) (Goldberg, 1999). Data were collected through self-reports. The results of the research show that the average age of male respondents who did not play any of the games of chance is 16.74 years, while those who played any of the games of chance are on average 17.01 years old. Out of a total of 112 students who stated that they played one of the games of chance, 85 or 68.00% of them are students of a four-year vocational school, while 27 or 60.00% are high school students. . A statistically significant difference in extraversion, one of the five-factor dimensions of personality (P<0.05), was obtained between female students prone and those who are not prone to gambling.

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Treatment Issues While Addressing Child Sexual Abuse: A Review

Author(s): Hatice Odacı,Tuğba Türkkan / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Child sexual abuse is a traumatic life event that has social, psychological, political and cultural dimensions which is observed in many societies. Sexual abused children are at risk of developing behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical health problems throughout their lives, and are especially vulnerable when their current condition is combined with other risk factors, such as poverty. In the relevant literature, it is reported that these children have a greater risk of having psychological problems and require treatment. There is evidence that psychotherapeutic treatments have beneficial effects, including ensuring the physical and emotional safety of victims, helping to relieve trauma symptoms, improving quality and functioning of life, and preventing recurrence of abuse. In this review, some of the most common treatment issues for sexual abused children are presented. The appropriateness of the treatment issues and proposed interventions addressed may vary for each victim. These treatment issues and interventions are designed not only to remedy any harm that may have occurred, but also to minimize the negative consequences of experiences of child abuse and prevent future recurrence of maltreatment.

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The Effects of Substance Usage on Teenagers’ Sexual Debut

Author(s): Noemi Ivette Vicsai,Cristina Faludi / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2022

For adolescents who begin their sexual life early, substance abuse might be a factor of influence. Other factors to be taken into consideration are family relationships, friends and religion.Methods: A group of 46 highschool students aged 14 to 19 years living in Cluj-Napoca completed a questionnaire covering six topics: demographic data, family relationships, social network, religiosity, substance usage, and sexual life. The questionnaire was self-administered on an online platform. Data were gathered between May and June 2022.Results: Alcohol and drugs consumption were found to influence sexual debuts, while cigarette smoking was not. Family and peers were not associated with the sexual debut and substance consumption. Somewhat odd, religion exerted a significant effect on sexual debut and alcohol consumption, but had no role in regard to drug usage.Conclusion: More studies are needed for a better comprehension of sexual debuts under the influence of substance usage and suitable educational programs addressing this problem should be developed.

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Social Support Services Regarding the Harmful use of Alcohol. Empirical Research in Romania

Author(s): Gheorghița Nistor / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2022

Alcohol consumption among teenagers and young people has increased, a phenomenon evident in the specific statistics at the national and international level. In this direction, the authorities have concerns regarding monitoring and combating the harmful consumption of alcohol, by proposing social control and prevention policies. In recent years, different strategies have been implemented in Romania at the level of social policies in the field of health and education regarding the reduction of abusive alcohol consumption. Purpose: The purpose of the sociological research was to analyze social policies in the field and the opinion of specialists who work in social support services for people addicted to alcohol and their families. Methodology: The sociological research focused on a qualitative analysis of social policy strategies in the field and a quantitative analysis based on the sociological questionnaire survey. The population included in the research targeted professionals (n. 101) working in support services in the field of social work and health. Results and conclusions: The results of the sociological research showed that there is no unitary social policy, and the social support services in the social and medical fields are not sufficiently developed by public institutions and do not cover the needs of these categories. Most therapeutic and recovery services have been developed mainly by private psycho-medical institutions and non-governmental organizations.

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ROMANIANS, ROMA (GYPSIES) AND ALCOHOL IN HUNEDOARA DISTRICT, BETWEEN 1918-1989

Author(s): Dan-Victor Trufaș / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 19/2019

Throught the period studied alcohol was a major problem of the society of Hunedoara, but also at the national and world level. The Romanian state failed to keep alcohol consumption under control, but it has not made a special effort concerning this problem. The gypsies were not regarded as excessive consumers of alcohol so that their specific emblem appeared. The „naturally” integrated into the society of Hunedoara during the period studied, from this point of view.

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Surveillance and Social Distancing: Challenges and Opportunities of the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Context of COVID-19 in Carrying Out Activities by Probation Counselors in the Western Part of Romania

Author(s): Claudia Feher,Mihaela Tomiță / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

This article explores the way in which probation counselors in western Romania have responded to the problems generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden changes caused by it in their working procedures. We analyzed the work, experiences, and adaptation of probation counselors during the critical pandemic period and beyond to identify the resources and skills they held or acquired to cope, adapt, and develop professionally. Our objective was not only to obtain information about the changes that occurred during the pandemic but also to explore the attitudes generated by them. We have interviewed 31 probation counselors in two distinct temporal stages, the first taking place in the full context of the pandemic, and the second stage taking place after the medical and social restrictions imposed by COVID-19 ended. The pandemic crisis, perceived as a stressful event, exposed probation counselors to individual, but especially professional and societal risk factors, making it difficult to fulfill their role through digital means. However, certain work skills acquired during the pandemic period have proven to be useful discoveries that facilitate their work in the post-pandemic landscape. The results obtained reveal the need for intervention for the valuing of human, material, and time resources that have proven beneficial in professional functionality during the pandemic, as well as for the promotion of an institutional climate and a work environment to satisfy the professional needs of probation counselors and to improve the insufficient logistics structure in the context of modernization and digitization of their activity.

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The question of freedom in doping: A moral approach

Author(s): Sofianna Alifieri,Kostas Theologou,Spyridon Stelios / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

In this paper, two questions are been put forward: whether doping falls within the athlete's freedom to do what they can to enhance their performance and whether or not is necessary an establishment of limits on the scientific research concerning these substances. Following this line of thought, two aspects of freedom are raised: the freedom of the athlete, and the freedom of the scientist. These two aspects are discussed within a moral framework, in particular that of moral relativism. For the first question, based on the theory, the athlete may consider that there is no absolute truth about doping, such as e.g. that it is wrong and not beneficial for sports, athletes, etc. The morally rightness of doping depends on the moral character of each athlete and/or the association, the country she/he represents. For the second question, one might consider that research in the field in question is not morally wrong. By investigating the properties of various substances we could be led to cures for several diseases and even to the augmentation of human capabilities. Both aspects are also discussed through selected interview answers of professional athletes.

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INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION: IMPLICATIONS ON FAMILIES

Author(s): Luiza-Maria Dragomir / Language(s): English Issue: 27/2021

“The impact of social networks on families has been researched to see what negative and positive effects they have, and researchers are increasingly concerned that technology is diminishing family communication, leading to a decrease in unity and cohesion. Within the family, it can generate feelings of inattention, lack of communication and a feeling of insecurity and instability in relationships. Sherry Turkle, in her book Alone Together, talks about a study in which parents and children were asked about various aspects of technology. The results were amazing, the children reported that they felt that their parents were addicted to their phone or computer and expressed their desire for their parents to spend quality time and interact with them. This study shows the increasing dependence on social media in families and the need for more social interactions in the family. As human beings, we are social by nature and long to make connections in relationships. It can be said that we feel connected through social networks, but we lack the ability to hear and see verbal and nonverbal messages. Studies have shown that as parents increase their screen time, so do their children. Screen time in these studies included smartphones, televisions, computers, and video games. Children imitate what they are taught, and when parents use electronics while playing with their children, it has been found that children are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. This study is mainly theoretical, descriptive, we analyzed the impact of social media and the Internet on families based on studies, having as starting points several aspects of family life. Family relationships have been identified as a major theme in the analysis of the literature. There it has been suggested differently that the Internet is leading to a new level of "fragmentation" or that it is simply the latest in a series of changes that have reduced immediate contact within families. In this case, some authors have argued that the Internet replaces other distractions, such as watching TV. On the other hand, most of the literature predates access to portable devices with internet access (mostly mobile phones) and has considered only a small measure of the impact on family norms in societies that did not share the norms of more technologically advanced.

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ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AS RISK FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTANCE ADDICTION

Author(s): Dragica R. Bogetić,Aleksandar L. Jugović,Boro Merdović / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

Research indicates that the likelihood of developing addiction increases with the number of adverse childhood experiences [ACE]. ACE are common precursors to early initiation of psychoactive substance use [PAS], significantly increasing the risk of substance abuse and faster progression to substance addiction [SA]. ACE are associated with a more severe course of addiction, poorer treatment outcomes, and higher rates of relapse after treatment completion. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the link between ACE and the development of psychoactive substance dependence during adulthood, through the method of analysis and synthesis of empirical and theoretical research. The theoretical framework of the paper is based on the theories of cumulative inequality and trauma, which provide overarching postulates for interpreting the link between childhood adversity and SA, and offer conceptual insights into understanding the detrimental effects of ACE on the biopsychosocial development of individuals. This approach challenges the traditional notions of addiction as a “personal choice”, “moral irresponsibility”, “circumstantial coincidence”, or “genetic predisposition”. The paper provides guidelines that emphasise the need for an integrative approach in addressing trauma and addiction, as well as a holistic approach to individuals undergoing addiction treatment.

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Model uzależnienia w rozumieniu filozofii grup samopomocowych aterapia poznawczo-behawioralna w leczeniu napadowego objadania się

Author(s): Robert Opora / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Addictions may appear in many normal and even everyday human behaviors. Mechanisms typical of addiction can also be seen in other disorders identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): binge eating, for example. The article points out the similarities between the symptoms of binge eating and addiction to psychoactive substances. The traditional understanding of addiction is adopted, referring to the philosophy of self-help groups and the strategic and structural concept. Next, the differences between these disorders are discussed. The article then presents the differences between the adopted model of addiction and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of binge eating. Reference is also made to research on the mechanisms underlying the disorder. Subsequently, based on the described differences, the implications for therapy in people with binge eating disorder are presented. These differences primarily concern cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects. For the purposes of the article, the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder and for alcohol use disorders presented in the DSM-5 are used. In addition, an analysis of the literature on the subject was carried out and the collected information was supplemented with observations from the author’s clinical practice.

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Zjawisko zażywania muchomora czerwonego (amanita muscaria) wśróduczestników internetowych grupdyskusyjnych

Author(s): Marta Pięta-Chrystofiak,Damian Brohs / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Red fly agaric is one of the most recognizable species of mushrooms. Although the knowledge of its toxicity is common in Polish society, a rise in its recreational use has been observed in recent years. The aim of the study is to describe the phenomenon of fly agaric consumption and to characterize its enthusiasts in the context of individual and social conditions. The study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire with questions about red fly agaric usage, issues related to mental health, and sociodemographic data. A total of 95 respondents were qualified for the research sample: 32 women, 60 men, and three people who declared a gender other than binary. They were divided into two groups: experimenters (OE) and regular red fly agaric users (OU). The frequency, form, dosage, and place of fly agaric consumption among the respondents was determined, as well as the circumstances of and sources for acquiring the substance. The subjects noted the effects—direct and long-term—of taking fly agaric. The results show that the use of psychoactive substances is constantly developing and that the changing trends make it necessary to reflect on the support system for people with addiction problems.

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Impact of Anti-Doping Checks and Training on the Violations and Penalties Imposed on Bulgarian Athletes

Author(s): Silvia Ilieva-Sinigerova / Language(s): English Issue: 5s/2023

The competition and the desire to win a medal nowadays leads to more and more disregard for the principle of “fair play”. The activity of the Anti-doping Center is aimed not only at inspections and punishments but also at prevention.The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of anti-doping controls and education on the number of violations and sanctions imposed on Bulgarian athletes.Methods. The study was carried out in the period 2014 – 2022 and includes official data from the Bulgarian Anti-Doping Center. In-competition and out-of-competition samples (urine and blood) conducted training for athletes and sports technicians, violations, and imposed sanctions for the research period will be analyzed.Mathematical-statistical methods: descriptive statistics and dynamic series analysis.Results. During the considered period, 1130±92 samples were taken, of which 66.5±12.7 were blood samples. Whereabouts failure by athletes and sports technicians are 5.6±2.8. The number of educated athletes, coaches, officials, and employees of the Anti-Doping Center in 2014 was 273 and will grow to 1,816 people in 2022.Conclusion: There is an increase in the number of tests performed in competitive and non-competitive situations. The prevention program has convincingly expanded the scope and number of trained athletes, officials, and staff over the years.

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The Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction, Executive Functions and Impulsivity in Early Adolescents

Author(s): Tuğba Bozyiğit,Selin Yılmaz / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2023

The current study was largely concerned with the association between digital game addiction, specific cognitive functions especially, three components of executive function (inhibition, set shifting and working memory) and impulsivity in early adolescents. Sampling consisted of 6th (55.1%) and 7th (44.9%) grade middle school students (36 females and 62 males). The mean age of the students was determined as 12.35 years (SD =0.75; age range, 10–14 years). Digital game addiction, inhibition, set shifting, working memory, and impulsivity were evaluated via Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS), Stroop Test TBAG Form, Trail Making Test (TMT), Wechsler Memory Scale-III Letter-Number Sequencing Subtest (WMS–III/LNS) and Short Form of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS- 11-SF), respectively. According to the correlation analysis results, selective and complex attention, inhibition, set shifting, and impulse control were diminished with increasing digital game addiction. There is no significant relationship between digital game addiction and working memory. Consistent with the correlation analysis, structural equation model results revealed that digital game addiction significantly predicts inhibition, set shifting and impulsivity [x2 (15, N = 98) = 7.476, p > 0.5; x2/df = 1.246; RMSEA = .05; CFI = .95; GFI = .97]. As a results, it can be concluded that digital game addiction should be controlled in order to manage impulses and develop high-capacity cognitive skills in children.

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Longitudinal associations between psychiatric comorbidity and the severity of gambling disorder: Results from a 36-month follow-up study of clients in Bavarian outpatient addiction care

Author(s): Pia M. Wullinger,Andreas M. Bickl,Johanna K Loy,Ludwig Kraus,Larissa Schwarzkopf / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

Background and aims: Individuals with gambling disorder (GD) often suffer from psychiatric comorbidities. Previous studies demonstrated greater severity of GD among gamblers with psychiatric comorbidities. However, evidence on the association between psychiatric comorbidity and course of GD severity during and after outpatient treatment is sparse. This study analyses data from a longitudinal one-armed cohort study on outpatient addiction care clients over three years. Methods: We investigated the course of GD severity using data from 123 clients in 28 outpatient addiction care facilities in Bavaria using generalized estimation equations (GEE). We applied timep interaction analyses to examine different development profiles in participants with and without (1) affective disorders, or (2) anxiety disorders, and (3) to account for the co-occurrence of both. Results: All participants benefitted from outpatient gambling treatment. Improvement in GD severity was poorer in participants with anxiety disorders compared to participants without anxiety disorders. The co-occurrence of affective and anxiety disorders was linked to a less favourable course of GD than the presence of affective disorders alone. However, the combined occurrence of both disorders was more favourable than the presence of anxiety disorders alone. Discussion and conclusions: Our study suggests that clients with GD, with and without psychiatric comorbidities, benefit from outpatient gambling care. Psychiatric comorbidity, especially comorbid anxiety disorders, seems to be negatively associated with the course of GD within outpatient gambling care. Addressing psychiatric comorbidity within the treatment of GD and offering individualised help are required to meet the needs of this clientele.

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Behavioral addictions in the ICD-11: An important debate that is anticipated to continue for some time Commentary to the debate: “Behavioral addictions in the ICD-11”

Author(s): Matthias Brand,Marc N. Potenza / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

The Journal of Behavioral Addictions featured a debate on the topic of “behavioral addictions in ICD-11” in 2022. Three main debate papers were published and a total of eleven commentaries. One main topic of considerations in the three debate papers and in the majority of commentaries was compulsive sexual behavior disorder. The debate was balanced, collegial and conducted at a high scientific level. Although there are some disagreements regarding specific details, all authors consider more research on behavioral addictions as important. This scientific debate has been and continues to be enormously important to behavioral addiction research and clinical practice.

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How expected and experienced reward and relief contribute to gaming-related mental imagery and gaming frequency in daily life: Testing a dual pathway hypothesis

Author(s): Annika Brandtner,Silke M. Müller,Matthias Brand / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Research on the development of gaming disorder assumes that the quality of reinforcement learning as well as the content of use expectancies are initially rewarding in the early stages of the addictive behavior and becomes steadily more compensatory in the later stages. This assumed transition could be reflected in gaming-related mental imagery as well as the decision to play videogames in daily life. Methods: We recruited 127 individuals who play videogames. Following a strict diagnostic procedure, individuals were either classified as showing casual or at-risk gaming patterns. The experience and expectancy of reward and relief were assessed in the laboratory, followed by a 14-day ambulatory assessment asking for gaming-related mental imagery intensity and playing frequency. Besides group differences, we tested a gratification and a compensation pathway in a structural equation model among groups separately. Results: Results indicate that mental imagery and playing frequency as well as reinforcement processes and use expectancies are heightened among individuals showing at-risk gaming patterns as compared to casual gaming patterns. Gaming-related mental imagery was only predicted by compensation among individuals showing casual gaming patterns, and we found no significant predictions for daily gaming frequency in any of the models. Discussion and conclusions: The results implicate that individuals with at-risk gaming patterns might hold stronger learned reinforcement contingencies. Daily usage seems unaffected by these contingencies, possibly indicative of habitualized behaviors. Additionally, the results provide some support for the consideration of imaginal desire thoughts as a specific coping mechanism in the context of gaming behaviors.

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Nonconforming gender expression and associated problematic smartphone and internet use among Chinese adolescents

Author(s): Xinyu Zheng,Yuwei Yang,Weiqing Jiang,Yitong He,Cuihong Huang,Yilin Hua,Ci-Yong Lu,Lan Guo / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Gender nonconformity (GNC), which refers to an individual’s expression of gender that does not align with the socially prescribed norms for their biological sex, may be associated with adverse behavioral problems, such as problematic smartphone use (PSU) and problematic internet use (PIU). This study examined the associations between GNC and PSU and GNC and PIU among Chinese adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2021 School-based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey, recruiting 23,054 eligible adolescents aged 11 to 21, with an average age of 14.9 (SD: 1.7) years from 504 classes in 84 public high schools across 7 cities in China. Gender nonconformity, PSU/PIU, and demographics were measured. Mixed-effect linear regression models were performed. Results: Among the participants (51.0% male), 5.3% reported high GNC and 26.9% reported moderate GNC. After adjusting for covariates, high GNC was significantly and positively associated with PSU (B 5 1.11, 95% CI 5 0.49–1.72) and PIU severity (B 5 2.16, 95% CI 5 1.40–2.93). Stratified analyses indicated that the associations between GNC and PSU differed between males and females, with a significant association observed only among male students (B 5 1.91, 95% CI 5 0.97–2.86). Discussion and conclusions: GNC is positively associated with the severity of PSU and PIU among Chinese adolescents, with male gender-nonconforming adolescents being more vulnerable to PSU. These results highlight the importance of implementing education on gender expression diversity in schools to create an inclusive school environment, which may potentially help prevent PSU and PIU among gender-nonconforming adolescents.

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How does parents' psychological distress relate to adolescents' problematic gaming? The roles of parent-adolescent relationship and adolescents' emotion regulation

Author(s): Li Lin,Ruyi Ding,Shiguang Ni / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2023

Background and Aims: Emerging research has identified parents’ psychological distress as a potential risk factor that increases adolescents’ vulnerability to problematic gaming. This study attempted to address “why” from a relational perspective. We hypothesized that parents’ psychological distress may link to adolescents’ problematic gaming through the mediation of parent-child relationship quality, while the mediating effects of parent-child relationship quality may vary depending on adolescents’ emotion regulation. Methods: We collected data from 4,835 parent-child dyads in China (parental age 5 41.45 ± 4.53 years; adolescent age 5 13.50 ± 1.00 years). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the relationships among the variables under study. Results: Parent-reported parental depression/anxiety was related to worse adolescent-reported parent-child relationship, which in turn related to more severe adolescent-reported problematic gaming. Moreover, the mediating effects of parent-child relationship quality were weaker when adolescents used more expressive suppression (but not cognitive reappraisal). Discussion and Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the need to consider both parent-child relationships and adolescents’ active role in their own emotion regulation in order to understand parental influence on adolescent problematic gaming.

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KRIVIČNO DELO PRINUDNOG ZAKLJUČENJA BRAKA U MEĐUNARODNOM KRIVIČNOM PRAVU

Author(s): Višnja Ranđelović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1/2024

During armed conflicts in some countries, it became a common practice for fighters to force women to serve as wives. Although there is usually no official conclusion of marriage, in this way a relationship is created that is in many ways similar to a conjugal relationship. In a forced marriage, “wives” were expected to maintain regular sexual relations with their “husbands”, but also to perform housework, get pregnant, take care of born children and their “husbands”. Having this practice in mind, the Prosecutor before the Special Court for Sierra Leone determined this behavior as forced marriage and qualified it as other inhuman acts within the framework of crimes against humanity. This opened the door for a lot of legal problems related to the “new” crime. Namely, the question arose as to what the criminal act of forced marriage entails, i.e. what is the actus reus of this criminal act. Then, what is the difference between forced marriage and some other acts of crimes against humanity that are similar to it, such as, for example, sexual slavery. And finally, is forced marriage an act that is similar in its character to other acts of crime against humanity, so that it could be classified as other inhumane acts. The paper analyzes the etiological-phenomenological dimension of forced marriages in Cambodia, Sierra Leone and Uganda. After that, decisions of Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Special Court for Sierra Leone and permanent International Criminal Court are analyzed regarding all disputed issues related to forced marriage: the status of this act in international criminal law, the relationship with other similar international criminal offenses and the concept of forced marriage. Finally, proposals de lege ferenda are presented regarding the definition of forced marriage and its explicit prescription in international criminal law.

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