Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS; formerly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial female disorder characterised by metabolic and reproductive dysfunction, often manifesting as changes in physical appearance and menstrual irregularities. These features are associated with psychological distress, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, as well as disruptions in social and relational functioning, diminishing women’s quality of life. Despite this, PMOS research remains predominantly biomedical, leaving its psychosocial impact, particularly within South African and other lower-income contexts, largely underexplored. This study explored the lived experiences of South African women with PCOS and how it affected their mental health within sociocultural and healthcare contexts. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Nineteen women diagnosed with PCOS were purposively recruited from public and private healthcare facilities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Tesch’s eight-step method. Findings were interpreted and presented within a biopsychosocial framework, integrated with influences from the healthcare system. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) mental health impact of PCOS, (2) sociocultural and relational influences, (3) healthcare system challenges, and (4) coping and adaptation. The psychological burden of PMOS was experienced in relation to biological symptoms, sociocultural norms, relational dynamics, and healthcare experiences. Depression and anxiety symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, and relationship strain were prominent, with infertility and stigma acting as important sources of distress. Sociocultural interpretations of symptoms often shape psychological impact, underscoring the need for integrated, context-sensitive care.
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among children and early adolescents is a global public health concern. However, few studies have used network analysis to investigate the complex interplay among factors associated with early adolescent IGD. To address this gap, this study used network analysis to identify individual-level factors and family, school, and peer contextual factors associated with early adolescent IGD. A total of 1,162 students aged 9–13 years (54.1
This study aimed to evaluate the factorial structure of a questionnaire assessing moral motivation within pictorial moral conflict stories in adolescents, based on theoretical moral motivation models. The questionnaire was assessed with N = 461 adolescents (n = 253 female, 54.88
The present study translated the Gaming Engagement Screener Test (GAMES Test) into Chinese and examined its psychometric properties among college students, and further identified distinct subgroups of gamers with heterogeneous symptom profiles for gaming disorder using latent class analysis (LCA). The original GAMES Test was translated and culturally adapted following standardized forward-backward translation and expert review procedures. A sample of 888 Chinese college students completed an online survey comprising the Chinese GAMES Test, the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-20 (IGD-20), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale−21 (DASS-21). Reliability and validity (content, construct, criterion-related, and measurement invariance across gender) of the Chinese version were systematically evaluated, and LCA was performed using the three ICD-11 core dimensions as indicators to identify heterogeneous gamer subgroups. The Chinese GAMES Test demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach”s α = 0.802) and split-half reliability is 0.734. Content validity was satisfactory, with an S-CVI/Ave of 0.968. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the hypothesized three-factor structure (functional impairment, loss of control, salience), with excellent model fit (χ2/df = 1.650, RMSEA = 0.038, CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.976). The total score showed strong positive correlations with the IGD-20 (r = 0.830) and DASS-21 (r = 0.550). Multi-group CFA supported full scalar invariance across gender. LCA identified three distinct latent classes: the Recreational Casual Gamer Class (43.48
Previous research on parental phubbing has concentrated on adolescents, with preschool children receiving far less attention. Drawing on family ecosystem theory and expectancy violation theory, this paper explores how parental phubbing is associated with problem behaviors in young children. A survey was administered to 756 parents of preschoolers. The findings indicate that parental phubbing significantly and positively predicts preschoolers’ problem behaviors, with emotional instability and parent-child conflict serving as sequential mediators. By highlighting the harmful pathways linking phubbing to children’s conduct, the study offers both theoretical insight and practical guidance for family education and parenting today.
