Dear Colleagues,

We invite researchers, practitioners, and scholars from the field of psychology and related disciplines to contribute original research articles, systematic reviews, theoretical perspectives, and empirical studies to deepen our understanding of the psychological aspects associated with promiscuous sexual behaviors in early adolescence.

This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted nature of promiscuous sexual behaviors in early adolescence and the potential psychological implications. We seek contributions that address a wide range of topics related to this theme, including but not limited to: factors influencing early engagement in promiscuity, such as individual characteristics, peer dynamics, family environment, media exposure, and societal influences; associations between promiscuous sexual behaviors and psychopathological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, low self-esteem, identity confusion, and attachment difficulties; gender differences and variations in the psychological consequences of promiscuity; the exploration of protective factors and resilience among adolescents engaging in promiscuous sexual behaviors; and the examination of interventions, prevention strategies, and educational approaches aimed at promoting healthy sexual development and reducing the psychological risks associated with promiscuity.

Dr. Luca Cerniglia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sexual behaviors
• early adolescence
• psychopathology