Objective: The psychosocial functioning of overweight youth is a growing concern. Research has shown that overweight children report lower quality of life (QOL) than their non-overweight peers. This study sought to extend the literature by examining the association between peer victimization, child depressive symptoms, parent distress, and health-related QOL in overweight youth. Mediator models are used to assess the effect of child depressive symptoms on the relationship between psychosocial variables and QOL. Research Methods and Procedures:The sample consisted of 96 overweight and at-risk-for-overweight children (mean age ϭ 12.8 years) and their parents who were recruited from a Pediatric Endocrinology Obesity Clinic. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-parent-proxy version, and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Children completed the Children's Depression Inventory-Short Form, the Schwartz Peer Victimization Scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Results: Increased parent distress, child depressive symptoms, and peer victimization were associated with lower QOL by both parent-proxy and self-report. Child depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between psychosocial variables (parent distress and peer victimization) for selfreported QOL but not for parent-proxy-reported QOL. Discussion: This study documented the important impact of peer victimization and parental distress on the QOL of overweight children. Expanding our understanding of how overweight children experience and interact with their environment is critical. Further research is needed to examine the mechanisms by which parent distress and peer victimization impact the development of depressive symptoms in overweight children, including coping and support strategies that may buffer these children against the development of depressive symptoms and ultimately lower QOL.

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Depression is a significant risk factor for the effective management of CF. Screening and treatment of depression in CF centers is recommended and holds promise for improving social, emotional, and physical health outcomes.

SummaryBackground-Treatment regimens for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are time-consuming and complex, resulting in consistently low adherence rates. To date, few studies have evaluated innovative technologies to improve adherence in this population. Current infection control guidelines for patients with CF seek to minimize patient-to-patient transmission of potential pathogens. Thus, interventions must avoid face-to-face contact and be delivered individually, limiting opportunities for peer support. This study aimed to develop and assess a web-enabled cell phone, CFFONE™, designed to provide CF information and social support to improve adherence in adolescents with CF.

This study evaluated the post-treatment outcome effects of a classroom-based social skills program for pre-kindergarten children, using a teacher-consultation model. The pre-K RECAP (Reaching Educators, Children, and Parents) program is a semi-structured, cognitive-behavioral skills training program that provides teachers with in-classroom consultation on program implementation and classroom-wide behavior management. Data on children's social skills and behavior problems were collected from parents and teachers at pre- and post-treatment, for 149 children aged 4-5 years (of whom 56% were girls). Significant treatment effects were found for teacher but not parent reports, with treatment group children improving significantly more than comparison group children in their teacher-rated social skills and internalizing and externalizing problems. These results provide some preliminary support for the efficacy of the program on children's social skills and behavior problems, and for a teacher-consultation model for training teachers to implement school-based mental health programs.