The role of emotional flexibility in relationship between behavioral problems and coping strategies among late adolescence

Early childhood is a critical period for emotional development and behavioral regulation. Increasing digital device use among young children has raised concerns about its association with tantrum behavior, although research examining addiction-related use rather than screen duration alone remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between gadget addiction levels and tantrum behavior among children aged 4–6 years at Widya Santhi Buana Kindergarten, West Denpasar District. A quantitative correlational approach with a cross-sectional design was employed, involving 45 parents or guardians recruited through total sampling. Data were collected on April 15, 2026, through online questionnaires administered using Google Forms. The instruments comprised an adapted Digital Addiction Scale for Children with 25 items, which demonstrated high internal consistency during pilot testing (Cronbach’s α = .977), and the 31-item Rating Scale of Angry Emotional Behavior and Temper Tantrum. Univariate analysis summarized the distributions of gadget addiction levels and tantrum behavior, while Spearman’s rank correlation assessed their relationship. The results showed that 48.9% of children were classified as having moderate gadget addiction levels. Regarding tantrum behavior, 53.3% were classified as exhibiting no tantrum behavior, whereas 22.2% were classified as exhibiting severe tantrum behavior. A strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation was identified between gadget addiction levels and tantrum behavior (ρ = .641, p < .001). Higher parent-reported gadget addiction levels were therefore associated with greater tantrum severity within the participating group. The cross-sectional design and reliance on parent-reported measures limit causal interpretation. These findings may inform parent education concerning supervised device use and consistent family rules. Further research should include larger samples, examine parenting styles and other relevant factors, and use longitudinal designs to clarify the direction of the relationship.

Yayasan Cahaya Ilmu is a social and religious institution in Lawang Kuta Hamlet, Lembar Village, West Lombok Regency, that fosters 11 adolescent and young adult beneficiaries aged 13–18 years with orphan, double-orphan, and underprivileged family backgrounds. Prior to this program, the beneficiaries had not received structured mentoring in Al-Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan (AIK), consistent with national data indicating high school dropout rates in West Nusa Tenggara. This community service program aimed to improve participants' understanding of Islamic values, cultivate knowledge of Muhammadiyah's ideology, and build noble character and independence. The method adapted a Participatory Action Research approach, implemented over one month through eight scheduled visits (twice weekly), combined with independent daily worship habituation supervised by the foundation's mentor. Results showed improvement across all indicators: the average AIK comprehension score increased from 50.5 to 80.6 (scale of 100); 91% of participants were able to perform prayer according to fiqh standards; 91% showed improvement in Qur'anic recitation quality using the tahsin method and 100% of participants successfully memorized five short surahs. Outputs produced include a two-volume AIK module, Qur'anic storyboards, daily worship monitoring tables, and the establishment of an independent study circle (halaqah mandiri) as a form of program sustainability.

Abstract Child and adolescent externalizing problems have often been conceptualized broadly with imprecise language (e.g., “disruptive behavior”) or inconsistently across varying taxonomies (e.g., oppositional defiant and conduct disorder symptoms, aggressive and rule-breaking behaviors). Establishing clarity around dimensions of externalizing problems is an essential step toward more accurate measurement and construct validity across the externalizing domain. To that end, the current study investigated fine-grained dimensions in the structure of youth externalizing psychopathology. Caregiver-report survey data were collected for a national community sample of 576 youth (ages 6–14; 45% female, 25% Hispanic), including measures of irritability, oppositionality, reactive and proactive aggression, conduct problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and inattention. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine relations among externalizing dimensions at the item-level followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine relations at the construct-level. EFA results suggested that a 3-factor model best fit the data, including factors characterized by externalizing affect (e.g., “felt mad”), externalizing behavior (e.g., “bullies, threatens, or intimidates others”), and ADHD symptoms (e.g., “talks excessively”), with a few cross-loadings. Similarly, confirmatory models indicated that a 3-factor, non-hierarchical structure fit the data best when compared to three other models. Results provide support for distinct facets of the externalizing spectrum in child psychopathology, suggesting a preliminary direction for a unifying framework. These findings highlight the potential for future measurement research to further disentangle the distinct and overlapping facets of externalizing constructs, particularly using multiple methods and informants and with replication across samples.

This study aimed to examine the role of self-efficacy and pressure of coach expectations in predicting the performance of adolescent athletes. This study used a cross-sectional survey design involving 142 athletes aged 16–19 years from regional and national sports clubs. Data analysis included Pearson correlation test, independent-samples t-test, and multiple linear regression. The results showed that self-efficacy was positively and significantly associated with athlete performance, while coach expectation pressure was negatively and significantly related to athlete performance. In addition, there were differences in performance by gender, with male athletes reporting higher performance scores than female athletes. When gender was included as a control variable in the regression model, self-efficacy and coach expectations pressure remained significant predictors of athlete performance. Overall, these findings suggest that internal psychological factors and pressures from the sports environment play a role in explaining variations in adolescent athlete performance. This study emphasizes the importance of strengthening self-efficacy and the application of realistic and supportive expectations of coaches in the process of coaching athletes. Further longitudinal research is needed to examine this relationship in more depth.