Lifespan Development and Mental Health

Guide for Authors Submit to LDMH

Issue 3, Volume 1 – 6 articles

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This article integrates forensic psychology and a developmental approach to understand gender-based violence across the lifespan. It analyzes the trajectories of both victims and perpetrators, considering individual, family, and social factors that influence vulnerability and the persistence of violence. The article reviews explanatory models of criminal behavior and the psychopathological consequences of chronic trauma, such as complex post-traumatic stress disorder and learned helplessness. The analysis shows that childhood and adolescence are critical stages where multiple risk factors converge, and it highlights the importance of interventions tailored to each life stage. The proposed approach offers a more complex and contextualized perspective, useful for clinical intervention, forensic assessment, and public policy design.
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Open Access

Perspective

27 May 2025

Intergenerational Differences in the Effect of Life Satisfaction on Happiness

As perceptions of happiness and well-being shift throughout life, expectations for the future may influence subjective well-being (SWB) differently depending on age. Younger individuals, particularly in uncertain social and economic contexts, may place greater emphasis on anticipated life satisfaction than on their present circumstances. Generational differences are important in exploring how people form and are affected by future expectations, as well as the psychological and contextual factors involved. Such research may deepen our understanding of age-specific pathways to well-being and inform more effective strategies for supporting mental health across different life stages. This paper emphasizes that expectations of future life satisfaction represent a valid and distinct construct that plays an important role in shaping SWB, particularly among younger individuals. Unlike present satisfaction, which reflects current circumstances, anticipated satisfaction functions as a forward-looking cognitive resource, offering accountability in developmental contexts where the current quality of life may not align with optimism or happiness.

Kyung-Hyun Suh*
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10010; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10010
Open Access

Article

17 July 2025

Energy Drink Consumption among Adolescents between 13 and 18 Years in Lebanon: Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Energy Drink Use and Dependence

Energy drinks (ED) use and addiction among adolescents is a growing concern, as they contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that can be addictive. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ED consumption among adolescents and assess the use and dependence predictors. A cross-sectional study was conducted over eight months, targeting 1855 adolescents from 12 schools during the 2022/2023 academic year. 55.5% of participants consumed EDs at least once last year. Around 15% reported being dependent on EDs, 34.7% reported mixing them with alcohol, and 25.3% said that they mixed them with caffeinated beverages. The odds of ED use were 3.63 among alcohol consumers, 2.67 times higher among waterpipe smokers, and 1.97 among those consuming them as sports drinks. These odds were 53% and 34% lower among females who knew their side effects, respectively. Among others, these. As regards dependence on EDs, those using them daily or weekly had 2.62 times higher odds of dependence than those using them less frequently. Students using EDs before physical activity had 2.33 times higher odds of dependence, in addition to those using them for self-confidence or to enhance their moral state. Spending more than 7 USD on EDs increased 1.72 times the odds of dependence. A high prevalence of ED use was found in this study, in addition to a high risk of dependence. Findings call for parents, educators, and healthcare providers to educate adolescents about the risks.

Sandra Mouchref
Georges Hatem*
Mohammad Chaheen
Ali Mroueh
Sanaa Awada
Maya El-Hajj
Fatima Barakat
Samar Rachidi
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10011; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10011
Open Access

Article

30 July 2025

Effects of Virtual Reality (VR) Rehabilitation on Mental Health in SCI Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation on mental health in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Seventy-four participants were randomized to 12 weeks of VR-based or traditional rehabilitation, with mental health assessed via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The VR group showed significantly greater reductions in HADS scores at 6 weeks (mean change: −4.2 vs. −2.4, p < 0.001) and 12 weeks (mean change: −6.4 vs. −3.9, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.21). VR also improved WHOQOL-BREF psychological health scores (+13.5 vs. +6.4, p < 0.001), self-esteem (+7.2 vs. +3.2, p < 0.001), and sleep quality (−5.1 vs. −2.8, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated greater benefits for younger patients and those with incomplete SCI. VR rehabilitation outperforms traditional methods in enhancing mental health, supporting its integration into comprehensive SCI care.

Zahra Sedghazar
Maria Karaminasian
Somayeh Sadeghi
Jamal Alshorman
Ruba Altahla*
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10012; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10012
Open Access

Article

16 September 2025

Forensic Psychology and Gender Violence from a Developmental Perspective: Developmental Trajectories in Victims and Aggressors

This article proposes a theoretical and empirical integration between forensic psychology and developmental theory to understand gender violence from a developmental perspective. From an interdisciplinary approach, the life trajectories of both victims and perpetrators are analyzed, taking into account individual, family, and social factors that shape their vulnerability and persistence in contexts of violence. Key explanatory models of criminal behavior—such as social learning theory, moral development, and distorted cognitive schemas—are reviewed, as well as the psychopathological consequences of chronic trauma, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder and learned helplessness. Trajectory analysis shows that childhood and adolescence represent critical stages where multiple risk factors converge: neglect, exposure to violence, dysfunctional attachment patterns, and coercive socialization. These elements are associated with an increased risk of victimization or aggression, and may become persistent if interventions are not implemented during critical developmental periods. Empirical data from longitudinal studies that corroborate the relationship between early adversity and later involvement in violent dynamics are presented, and paradigmatic cases are discussed from a forensic perspective. Finally, the implications of the developmental approach for intervention, expert assessment, and public policy formulation are highlighted. It advocates the implementation of programs differentiated by life stage, the strengthening of primary prevention, and the inclusion of biographical antecedents in forensic psychological reports. This model offers a more complex, contextualized, and transformative understanding of gender violence, with high practical value for clinical, legal, and social settings.

Pedro V. Mateo-Fernández*
Iria Osa-Subtil
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10013; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10013
Open Access

Article

16 September 2025

The Relationship between Quarter-Life Crisis and Psychological Well-Being among Undergraduates in Nigeria: Gender as a Moderator and Perceived Stress as a Mediator

The transition to adulthood is often marked by identity struggles, commonly conceptualised as a quarter-life crisis (QLC), leading to poorer psychological well-being. This study examined the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between QLC and psychological well-being, and whether this indirect effect is moderated by gender. A cross-sectional survey of 301 Nigerian university students (158 males, 141 females) completed the self-report Developmental Crisis Questionnaire, Psychological well-being Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. Data was analysed using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 7). Results showed that QLC negatively predicted Psychological wellbeing (β = –0.34, p < 0.01) and positively predicted perceived stress (β = 0.21, p < 0.01). While there was no significant direct effect of QLC on PWB, there was a significant indirect effect through perceived stress (β = −0.07, 95% CI [−0.308, −0.051]), supporting evidence for mediation. Gender moderated the QLC–stress path (β = 0.10, p = 0.03). QLC predicted higher stress in females (β = 0.16, p < 0.001) but not in males (β = 0.06, p = 0.11). These findings highlight the gendered dynamics of QLC and underscore the importance of stress management, particularly among female students, in promoting psychological well-being during early adulthood.

Joshua O. Ogunsemi*
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10014; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10014
Open Access

Article

19 September 2025

The Relationship between Resilience and Disruptive Behaviour among In-School Adolescents in Lagos State

This study investigated the relationship between resilience and disruptive behaviour among in-school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine: the association between six resilience dimensions (family support, confidant-friend support, school support, adjustment, sense of struggle, and empathy) and disruptive behaviour; the differences between sex and family type on disruptive behaviour. A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 897 adolescents (M = 14.8 years; 50.8% male) from selected secondary schools using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using validated psychological resilience and disruptive behaviour scales. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between disruptive behaviour and four resilience dimensions: family support, school support, sense of struggle, and empathy. Regression analysis showed that these resilience dimensions jointly accounted for 6.6% of the variance in disruptive behaviour, with only family and school support emerging as significant predictors. Male adolescents exhibited significantly higher disruptive behaviour than females, while no significant differences were found based on family type. The findings highlight the crucial role of familial and school support in behavioural regulation and suggest the need for gender-sensitive and context-specific interventions.

Ojo Taiye Emmanuel*
Aderonke A. Akintola
Lawal Quadri Ayomide
Animashaun Paul Oluwaseyi
Bankole Kehinde Munirat
Lifespan Dev. Ment. Health
2025,
1
(3), 10015; 
DOI: 10.70322/ldmh.2025.10015
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