Background: Adolescence, acknowledged as a transformative developmental phase marked by socio-emotional challenges, introduces an elevated susceptibility to loneliness. As adolescents are exposed to loneliness, they concurrently navigate the dynamic landscape of problematic videogame use, characterised by deleterious gaming patterns with consequential impacts across various life domains. Empirical evidence indicates a significant correlation between experiences of cyberbullying victimisation and heightened feelings of loneliness, particularly within the context of peer relationships during this developmental epoch.Objectives: This study examined the critical relationships among loneliness, cyberbullying victimisation, and problematic videogame use, considering loneliness as a potential precursor to adverse developmental outcomes. Further, it assesses sex differences in these associations, seeking to elucidate the pathways through which these variables exert influence on the psychological well-being of adolescents.Methods: This study included 438 adolescents from Central Italy (50% boys), aged 11 to 16 (mean = 12.7 years, SD = 1.4 years). Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire during school hours.Results: Overall, 10.5% of participants reported experiencing cyberbullying victimisation, with no significant sex differences. Structural Equation Modelling revealed a significant association between loneliness with peers and well-being, mediated by cyberbullying victimisation and problematic videogame use. A significant interaction effect was found between sex and nervousness during gameplay, showing that nervousness was more strongly associated with problematic videogame use in boys compared to girls.Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to reduce peer-related loneliness in adolescence. Future research should explore the longitudinal, bidirectional effects of loneliness in adolescence on both problematic behaviours and well-being.

In the last decade, the escalation of armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions has profoundly affected the way the future is cognitively and emotionally represented by younger generations (Lass-He...

Developing socioemotional competence in preschool children is essential to their growth. Numerous studies have emphasized the importance of socioemotional skills in early childhood, documenting distinct patterns in socioemotional growth and identifying distinct developmental patterns that suggest gender and self-awareness can influence developmental trajectories in this domain. This study investigates the role of gender in the relationship between children’s self-representation and socioemotional performance-based outcomes, measured through objective and quantifiable assessments of their abilities and behaviors. A sample of 145 preschool children was assessed using the Test of Emotion Comprehension and the Berkeley Puppet Interview. Results indicate no significant gender or age differences in Test of Emotion Comprehension scores, while the Berkeley Puppet Interview revealed notable gender differences across all the latent socioemotional dimensions. These findings underscore the importance of considering gender and integrating self-representation into educational programs to support adaptive development and promote psychological well-being.