Although developmental science has always been evolving, these times of fast‐paced and profound social and scientific changes easily lead to disorienting fragmentation rather than coherent scientific advances. What directions should developmental science pursue to meaningfully address real‐world problems that impact human development throughout the lifespan? What conceptual or policy shifts are needed to steer the field in these directions? The present manifesto is proposed by a group of scholars from various disciplines and perspectives within developmental science to spark conversations and action plans in response to these questions. After highlighting four critical content domains that merit concentrated and often urgent research efforts, two issues regarding “how” we do developmental science and “what for” are outlined. This manifesto concludes with five proposals, calling for integrative, inclusive, transdisciplinary, transparent, and actionable developmental science. Specific recommendations, prospects, pitfalls, and challenges to reach this goal are discussed.

Background: Complex constellations of socio-emotional and behavioural problems (i.e., mental health problems) in childhood and adolescence are common and heighten the risk for subsequent personality, anxiety and mood disorders in adulthood. Aims of this study included the examination of patterns of mental health problems (e.g., externalizing-internalizing co-occurrence) and their transitions to reported mental disorders by using a longitudinal person-centered approach (latent class and latent transition analysis). Methods: The sample consisted of 1255 children and adolescents (51.7% female, mean age = 12.3 years, age range 8–26 years) from three time points of the comprehensive mental health and wellbeing BELLA study. Children and their parents completed the German SDQ (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, Goodman, 1997) and reported on diagnoses of ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Results: Latent class analysis identified a normative class, an emotional problem class, and a multiple problem class. According to latent transition analysis, the majority of the sample (91.6%) did not change latent class membership over time; 14.7% of individuals showed a persistent pattern of mental health problems. Diagnoses of mental disorders were more likely to be reported by individuals in the emotional problem or multiple problem class. Conclusions: Results highlight the need for early prevention of mental health problems to avoid accumulation and manifestation in the transition to adolescence and young adulthood.

Zusammenfassung. Bullying stellt eine Form von Gewalt dar, die zum Schulalltag vieler Schülerinnen und Schüler gehört und sowohl körperliche und verbale Gewalt, aber auch Hänseleien oder Viktimisierung durch systematische Ausgrenzung einzelner Schülerinnen bzw. Schüler umfasst. Bullying tritt zumeist im sozialen Kontext “Schule” stabil auf und geht mit einer Vielzahl negativer Folgen einher. “Neue Medien” können dabei andauernde Viktimisierungen in Form von Cyberbullying unterstützen. In der Bullyingforschung wird zumeist lediglich die Täter- und/oder Opferperspektive betrachtet. Bullying tritt jedoch häufig in Anwesenheit von weiteren Beteiligten auf und kann als gruppendynamisches Phänomen betrachtet werden (Participant Role Approach). Zur kontroversen Diskussion führte die These der sozial intelligenten Täterin bzw. des Täters, der sein viktimisierendes Verhalten zielorientiert und im “machiavellistischen Sinne” sozial manipulativ zur Erreichung seiner Ziele einsetzt. Aus den dargestellten Befunden werden Implikationen für wirksame Präventionsansätze und Interventionen im schulischen Kontext abgeleitet.

With implemented school closures, the global crisis of COVID-19 has caused drastic changes in the dynamics and routines of children and their families. The rapid transition to homeschooling and social distancing measures have been particularly challenging for schoolchildren and their parents. In the adverse situation of COVID-19, children are more vulnerable to contextual factors such as familial risks, leading to unfavorable outcomes in children’s mental health, their emotional and psychosocial development. The present study aimed to synthesize available literature on psychosocial outcomes in schoolchildren (ages 6–13 years) who were exposed to family-related stressors during mandatory school closures. A systematic review was carried out, following the PRISMA guideline. A total of 419 records were retrieved from electronic databases, journals, and reference lists of primary studies and reviews. Studies were analyzed by the interrelation of negative child outcomes and parent-related variables during the period of school closure. Ten studies were included in this review. Studies varied in quality, in the combination of psychosocial factors, and child outcomes. Identified psychosocial variables impacting children included parental mental health, parental stress, parent-child interaction, and parenting stress. Identified negative outcomes in children encompassed emotional problems, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, anxiety and depression. Overall, results highlighted the link between children’s psychological response and parent-related variables during school closures. Results show that pandemic-related school closures had a considerable effect on children. However, findings cannot be interpreted conclusive as studies measured other factors, that contributed to a child’s psychological status quo.