The Interplay Between Child and Parental Emotional Symptoms: Insights From Super Skills for Life Programme Teresa Galán‐Luque, Mireia Orgilés Child and Family Social Work, 2026 Research has extensively examined the influence of parental well‐being on children's emotional health, yet fewer studies have explored the reciprocal impact of children's emotional health on parents. This study aimed to identify factors associated with parental emotional symptoms and assess the effectiveness of the Super Skills for Life (SSL) programme—delivered in traditional and computerized formats—in improving parental emotional outcomes and satisfaction. A total of 102 Spanish‐speaking children aged 8–12 years exhibiting subclinical levels of anxiety and/or depression participated in this randomized effectiveness clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05574491). Participants were randomly assigned to either the traditional (n = 53) or computerized (n = 49) SSL format. Both interventions were delivered individually in a clinical setting under therapist supervision. Parental emotional symptoms and satisfaction, along with children's emotional symptoms, were assessed through self‐reported measures. Higher parental emotional symptoms were associated with greater child emotional symptoms and lower parental satisfaction, particularly satisfaction with oneself as a parent. Gender differences were observed, with women reporting higher levels of anxiety. Both SSL formats significantly improved parental satisfaction and mental health outcomes, with no significant differences between the two intervention groups. Findings suggest that SSL not only benefits children's emotional health but also enhances parental well‐being through direct support (therapist guidance and written resources) and indirect mechanisms (child symptom improvement). The programme's flexibility and effectiveness make it a valuable intervention for supporting both children and parents in clinical settings.
Pre-adoption and post-adoption factors associated with internalizing problems in adopted children and adolescents: A systematic review Teresa Galán-Luque, Lucía Quiñonero-Fernández, Mireia Orgilés Children and Youth Services Review, 2026 • Review of 40 studies on adoption and internalizing problems. • Pre-adoption risks include older age, maltreatment, and institutional care. • Parental warmth, cohesion, and open communication are associated with lower levels of internalizing symptoms. • Parenting stress and parental depression are associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms. • Findings highlight modifiable family factors for post-adoption support. This systematic review examined pre- and post-adoption factors associated with internalizing problems in adopted children and adolescents. Forty observational studies published between 1998 and 2024 were included, identified through searches across seven databases and screened according to PRISMA 2020 and JBI guidelines. Eligible studies assessed anxiety and depression with validated instruments in samples of adoptees under 18 years. Findings showed that pre-adoption risks, such as older age at placement, maltreatment, and institutional care, were associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms. However, results were heterogeneous, with several studies reporting null or inconsistent effects. Post-adoption factors showed more consistent patterns: parental warmth, sensitivity, family cohesion, and open adoption communication emerged as protective, whereas parental depressive symptoms, parenting stress, rejection behaviors, and family conflict were linked to greater risk. Differences across reporters (parents, teachers, children) highlighted the importance of multi-informant assessment. Overall, the findings suggest that while pre-adoptive adversity contributes to vulnerability, modifiable family and contextual processes play a central role in shaping adoptees’ emotional adjustment. These results underscore the developmental potential of adoption and emphasize the value of family-centered post-adoption supports. Future research should adopt longitudinal, multi-informant, and culturally diverse designs to clarify causal pathways and inform targeted interventions.
Evaluating implementation fidelity in traditional vs. computerized formats of Super Skills for Life program Teresa Galán-Luque, Mireia Orgilés Studies in Educational Evaluation, 2025 This study evaluated the implementation fidelity (IF) of Super Skills for Life (SSL) program delivered in individual traditional and computerized formats for Spanish children aged 8–12 years with anxiety or depressive symptoms. Participants ( N = 97) were randomly assigned using simple randomization to either the traditional format ( n = 51) or the computerized format ( n = 46). Outcomes were assessed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire at pretest and posttest. Results demonstrated high IF levels across both formats, with significantly higher satisfaction in the traditional format compared to the computerized format ( p = .043, r b = 0.236). Strong correlations were found between session satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and willingness to recommend the program, with therapist kindness significantly predicting reductions in anxiety ( β = –0.17, p = .039) and depression ( β = –0.24, p = .005) at posttest. These findings suggest that while the computerized format offers a structured and cost-effective delivery option, the traditional format provides enhanced satisfaction due to the personalized involvement of a therapist. This study underscores the importance of therapist training and fidelity monitoring in implementing SSL program, contributing to the optimization of socio-emotional interventions for children. • Implementation fidelity is key for child psychological interventions effectiveness. • Individual traditional and computerized SSL formats show high implementation fidelity. • Therapist kindness has a significant role in achieving positive emotional outcomes. • Traditional SSL may enhance satisfaction over computerized SSL.
Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale: A 25-Year Systematic Review Teresa Galán-Luque, Marina Serrano-Ortiz, Mireia Orgilés Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 2025 The Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is one of the most used instruments to assess anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. Extensive research has been conducted to examine its psychometric properties and to develop other versions of the scale. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the SCAS across different versions and populations. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered. APA PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection) and MEDLINE (PubMed) were searched. Fifty-two studies were included in this systematic review. They examined the factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and internal consistency of the scale. The most supported model was the original six-factor model, followed by the higher order six-factor model for the long version of the SCAS. Studies provided evidence of convergent validity and internal consistency. It is concluded that the SCAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents, with a six-factor model structure well supported in most populations. Further research on the psychometric properties and factor structure of other versions of the scale and its application to clinical populations is warranted.
Comparative randomized trial addressing childhood emotional problems: Computerized vs. traditional transdiagnostic Super Skills program Teresa Galán-Luque, Esteban Cabello, Mireia Orgilés Journal of Affective Disorders, 2024 BACKGROUND: Super Skills for Life is a structured intervention rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy and a transdiagnostic approach, aimed at preventing childhood emotional problems. Over the past decade, it has demonstrated positive outcomes in various formats and countries. This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of two individual modalities: the computerized and the traditional version enriched with multimedia content, through a comparative randomized effectiveness trial. METHOD: 109 children (55.24 % female) aged 8-12 years participated, randomly assigned to either the traditional (n = 54) or computerized (n = 51) groups. Pre- and post-intervention assessments involved emotional problem measures completed by children and parents. RESULTS: Both groups exhibited significant reductions in all outcomes according to parent reports, including depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related life interference. Children's self-reports indicated improvements across all general measures. Generalized Estimating Equations indicated marginally better improvements in the traditional group. LIMITATIONS: Limitations included the absence of follow-up assessment, variability in participant regions across Spain, and input from other informants like teachers. CONCLUSIONS: This study pioneers the examination of short-term effects of the program in both a fully computerized format supervised by a specialized therapist and an enriched traditional individual format, and the promising results suggest their potential for indicated prevention of childhood emotional problems.
Validation of the Parent Version of the Nighttime Fears Scale (NFS-P) for Children Aged 3–8 Years Mireia Orgilés, Teresa Galán‐Luque, José Pedro Espada, Alexandra Morales Child Care Health and Development, 2024 BackgroundNighttime fears are highly prevalent in children, ranging from normative fears to triggering fear‐related anxiety disorders. The lack of available assessment instruments recently prompted the development of the Nighttime Fears Scale (NFS) for children aged 8–12 years. The present study aimed to adapt and psychometrically evaluate the parent‐reported version for children aged 3–8 years (NFS‐P) as a complement for younger children.MethodsTwo hundred eighty‐four Spanish‐speaking parents (47% girls) completed the NFS‐P and anxiety measures.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses supported a four‐factor structure of the NFS‐P. Strong internal consistency and validity evidence were obtained. No significant differences were found in NFS‐P scores between sexes and age groups.ConclusionsThe findings offer support for the use of the NFS‐P as a valuable instrument in clinical and research settings, supplementing the NFS for older children. Both scales provide an efficient means to comprehensively assess the presence and intensity of typical nighttime fears across preschool and school years.
Factors Associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Emma Motrico, Teresa Galán-Luque, Carmen Rodríguez-Domínguez, Irene Gómez-Gómez, Sara Domínguez-Salas Journal of Women S Health, 2023 Background: Evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the perinatal period and the associated risk factors are still limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the PTSD symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of both pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3319 pregnant and up to 6-month postpartum women from Spain. An online survey was completed between June 2020 and January 2021. The assessment included measures of PTSD symptoms associated with COVID-19 (evaluated with 10 questions from the PTSD checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), pandemic-related concerns and health background (assessed by the Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences—Impact Survey), and demographic characteristics. Results: We found that >40% of women suffered from symptoms of PTSD associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Difficulty concentrating and irritability were the most common symptoms, showing marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event. Being younger, suffering from pandemic concerns and distress, changes due to the pandemic and previous mental health problems were risk factors associated with PTSD symptoms in perinatal women. In addition, whereas being an immigrant (non-Spanish) was a risk factor for pregnant women, having other children and financial problems were risk factors for postpartum women. COVID-19 infection did not appear to be a risk factor for symptoms of PTSD in perinatal women. Conclusions: The increased risk of PTSD in pregnant and postpartum women highlights the importance of early detection and treatment of PTSD for pregnant and postnatal women, both during and beyond the pandemic. Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT04595123).
Effectiveness of psychological interventions for child and adolescent specific anxiety disorders: A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses Teresa Galán‐Luque Revista De Psicologia Clinica Con Ninos Y Adolescentes, 2023 Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in children and adolescents. The associated functional limitations and the negative psychological consequences have led to increased research into effective psychological interventions. What is missing, however, is a comprehensive review of the literature \naddressing the effectiveness of these treatments for specific disorders. A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating the \neffectiveness of psychological treatments for specific anxiety disorders in children and adolescents was performed. The study followed PRISMA \nguidelines. Four bibliographic databases were searched: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection), and The Cochrane \nLibrary. Two authors independently screened the articles by title, abstract, and full-text, according to established inclusion and exclusion criteria. \nTwo independent authors evaluated the methodological quality of the included reviews using AMSTAR-2. Five records were included in this systematic review. Four studies included children and adolescents with specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder \nand one focused solely on nocturnal fears. Cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment of \nthese diagnoses in both short and long term. The methodological quality of the included studies was classified as critically low. Cognitive behavioral \ninterventions are effective in treating specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder and nighttime fears in children \nand adolescents. The improvement of the methodological quality and the need for further studies focusing on the effectiveness of treatments for \nspecific disorders are discussed.
A brief parent version of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P-8): Factor structure, reliability, and invariance in Ecuadorian children , Mireia Orgilés, Teresa Galán-Luque, , Damián Hervás, , Angelica Idrobo, , Alexandra Morales, and Revista Latinoamericana De Psicologia, 2023 Objective: The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties and factor structure of the parent-reported brief version of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P-8) in a sample of Ecuadorian children. Method: The community sample consisted of 281 children from 8 to 12 years of age and their parents. Factor structure of the scale was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis. The psychometric properties and sex and age invariance were calculated. Results: The results showed that the one-factor structure of the SCAS-P-8 provided a good fit for the data, and that the structure was invariant across gender and age, indicating that it is suitable for assessing anxiety symptoms in both boys and girls of different ages with comparable accuracy. Psychometric analysis revealed a total ordinal alpha of .85, and corrected item-total correlations varied from .41 to .61, indicating an acceptable level of homogeneity. Conclusion: The study found that the SCAS-P-8 is a psychometrically reliable tool for measuring anxiety in Ecuadorian children from 8 to 12 years of age, as reported by their parents, and can be used in both research and clinical settings to evaluate anxiety symptoms in community populations in Ecuador. Given its brief and accurate nature, the SCAS-P-8 is considered to be a useful tool for use in both research and clinical settings for evaluating anxiety symptoms in children in this country.
