In this review, we analyzed the possible relationship between the excessive use of screens and sleep patterns, and how this may affect certain behavioral and cognitive factors in preschool children. The selection, extraction and synthesis of the data were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the electronic databases Medline (PubMed), PsycINFO (American Psychological Association), Scopus and Web of Science (WOS). Of the 597 articles initially identified, 13 met the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias of the articles selected was evaluated using a specific scale created for this purpose. The results found indicate that excessive use of screens is associated with a negative impact on the duration and quality of sleep-in preschoolers, and this worsening of sleep in infancy is related with a greater probability of the appearance of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems and certain cognitive problems. The results also suggest that sleep could play a mediating or moderating role as a bioregulatory system that attenuates or increases the onset of behavioral and cognitive difficulties in those children most exposed to digital devices.

Sleep is essential for cognitive development and brain maturation during early childhood. Studies focused on preschool populations using objective measures of sleep are still scarce. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between objective measures of sleep duration and quality with executive functioning in a 133 non-clinical sample of Spanish participants (M_age = 60.33 months, SD = 9.04; ages 41–77 months; 51.1% girls). Sleep was assessed for five weeknights using actigraphy; Shape School task was applied to assess inhibition and cognitive flexibility; and Word Span task was used to assess working memory. The results revealed that relation between sleep and executive functioning was significant for inhibition and working memory. Preschoolers with higher sleep efficiency showed better results in executive functioning tasks after controlling for the effect of age. Additionally, age and sleep duration and quality variables were predictive of inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. These results suggest that the different dimensions of sleep could play an important role in the development of executive functions during preschool age. Therefore, improving sleep could lead to an improvement in children’s executive functioning in both clinical and educational contexts.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: El uso de las Tecnologías de la Relación, la Información y la Comunicación (TRIC) ha aumentado significativamente entre los jóvenes, generando nuevos hábitos de vida. Aunque las tecnologías aportan beneficios, su uso excesivo puede afectar la salud física y psicológica. Este estudio analiza el impacto del uso de pantallas en estudiantes de Educación Primaria, centrándose en conductas externalizantes e internalizantes. Método: Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo con una muestra de 153 estudiantes (edad media = 9.46 años; rango = 6.4-12.2 años; 50.3% niños y 49.7% niñas). Se utilizó un cuestionario diseñado para evaluar la frecuencia y los tipos de dispositivos utilizados, basado en investigaciones previas. Las conductas internalizantes y externalizantes se midieron mediante el Cuestionario de Cualidades y Dificultades (SDQ) en su versión para docentes. Resultados: Se encontró una mayor correlación entre el uso excesivo de pantallas y las conductas externalizantes. Además, el uso global de pantallas predijo problemas externalizantes, mientras que el uso antes de dormir se asoció con síntomas emocionales. Conclusión: Los hallazgos evidencian el impacto diferencial del uso de pantallas en la conducta infantil. Es clave promover intervenciones que regulen su uso para reducir efectos negativos.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global problem with serious psychological, physiological, and social consequences. Seeking professional help is often delayed due to a lack of self-recognition of addiction, frequently sustained by self-deception. Although self-deception is a core feature of SUD, the mechanisms underlying it remain insufficiently studied. This research examines the role of impulsivity and self-efficacy in predicting self-deceptive behaviors—manipulation and mystification—in individuals undergoing addiction rehabilitation. The sample consisted of 122 Spanish participants from therapeutic communities (Mage = 44.99, SD = 10.58; 82.8% male) who completed the Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ-12), the Impulsive Control Scale Ramón y Cajal (ECIRyC), and the Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ). Results showed that impulsivity significantly predicted both manipulation and mystification. Manipulation was also associated with self-efficacy in managing temptation and duration of addiction, highlighting its multifaceted nature. In contrast, mystification was predicted solely by impulsivity, suggesting a stronger dependence on internal psychological processes rather than contextual factors. These findings underscore the importance of targeting impulsivity and enhancing self-efficacy in addiction treatment. Interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based approaches may be particularly effective in reducing self-deceptive behaviors and supporting long-term recovery.

Population aging poses mental health challenges, particularly regarding depression. This study explores the relationship between transdiagnostic variables (self-esteem, intolerance of uncertainty), self-defining memory characteristics, and depressive symptoms in 225 young (M = 22.8) and 225 older adults (M = 68.4). Older adults reported higher depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and intolerance of uncertainty, as well as more specific, positive, and identity-relevant memories. Young adults' memories showed more guilt/shame and anger. In older adults, lower self-esteem, higher intolerance of anxiety, more memory detail, and external guilt/shame predicted greater depressive symptoms. These results highlight the role of memory and emotional processing in understanding depression in later life.