Aims & Scope
Core Research Domains
Developmental Psychopathology
- Trajectories of behavioral and emotional development across childhood and adolescence
- Risk and protective factors for psychopathology emergence
- Developmental models of anxiety, depression, and externalizing behaviors
- Longitudinal studies of symptom progression and remission patterns
- Neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying behavioral disorders (ADHD, autism spectrum)
- Gene-environment interactions in developmental outcomes
A 5-year longitudinal study examining how early temperament profiles predict adolescent anxiety trajectories, using validated behavioral assessments and structural equation modeling.
Behavioral Assessment & Measurement
- Psychometric validation of assessment instruments for youth populations
- Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of behavioral measures
- Novel measurement approaches (ecological momentary assessment, digital phenotyping)
- Diagnostic classification accuracy and sensitivity studies
- Observer-report versus self-report concordance in youth assessment
- Measurement invariance across developmental stages and demographic groups
Psychometric evaluation of a new parent-report measure of executive function in children aged 6-12, including factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity with performance-based tasks.
Cognitive & Social Development
- Cognitive processes in attention, memory, and executive function development
- Social cognition and theory of mind in typical and atypical development
- Peer relationships and social competence measurement
- Emotional regulation strategies and their developmental trajectories
- Family dynamics and parent-child interaction patterns
- School environment effects on behavioral and cognitive outcomes
Experimental study examining how peer feedback influences emotion regulation strategy selection in early adolescents, using behavioral tasks and physiological measures.
Neurobiological Foundations
- Neuroimaging studies of brain development and behavioral correlates
- Genetic and epigenetic contributions to behavioral phenotypes
- Neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functions
- Biological markers (cortisol, inflammatory markers) and behavioral outcomes
- Brain-behavior relationships in neurodevelopmental conditions
- Neurochemical mechanisms underlying behavioral regulation
fMRI study investigating prefrontal cortex activation patterns during inhibitory control tasks in adolescents with varying levels of impulsivity, correlating neural activity with behavioral performance.
Secondary Focus Areas
Cross-Disciplinary & Methodological Innovations
Emerging Research Frontiers
Computational Approaches
- Machine learning models for behavioral prediction and classification
- Natural language processing of youth communication patterns
- Network analysis of symptom relationships and comorbidity structures
- Computational modeling of cognitive and decision-making processes
Note: Manuscripts in this area undergo additional editorial review to ensure methodological rigor and interpretability.
Precision Behavioral Science
- Individual differences in treatment response mechanisms (behavioral focus, not clinical trials)
- Personalized risk prediction models using multi-level data
- Biomarker discovery for behavioral phenotype stratification
- Genotype-phenotype mapping in behavioral outcomes
Note: Must emphasize understanding mechanisms, not clinical application.
Early Detection & Screening
- Development and validation of early identification tools
- Predictive models for psychopathology onset
- Screening instrument performance in diverse populations
- Behavioral markers of emerging mental health concerns
Note: Focus on measurement and prediction, not intervention implementation.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track
Original Research Articles
Empirical studies with novel findings, rigorous methodology, and theoretical contribution. Typical length: 4,000-7,000 words. Average time to first decision: 21 days.
Fast-Track
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Comprehensive syntheses following PRISMA guidelines, with quantitative or qualitative integration. Must address clear research question with theoretical implications. Typical length: 6,000-10,000 words.
Fast-Track
Methods & Measurement
Psychometric studies, methodological innovations, statistical technique applications. Must demonstrate practical utility for field. Typical length: 3,000-6,000 words.
Standard
Brief Reports & Short Communications
Preliminary findings, replication studies, methodological notes. Typical length: 2,000-3,500 words. Average time to first decision: 28 days.
Standard
Data Notes & Registered Reports
Dataset descriptions, null results, registered report protocols and results. Supports open science practices. Typical length: 2,500-4,000 words.
Considered
Commentaries & Perspectives
Invited only. Theoretical perspectives, methodological debates, field directions. Must be data-informed and avoid pure opinion. Typical length: 2,000-3,000 words.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must follow appropriate reporting standards: CONSORT (trials), STROBE (observational), PRISMA (reviews), ARRIVE (animal studies), JARS (psychological research).
Data Transparency
Authors must state data availability. We encourage (and may require) sharing of de-identified data, analysis code, and materials via public repositories.
Ethics Approval
All human subjects research requires IRB/ethics committee approval. Animal research must follow institutional and international guidelines (e.g., ARRIVE).
Preprint Policy
We welcome submissions previously posted on preprint servers (PsyArXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv). Authors must disclose preprint posting and update with publication details.
Conflict of Interest
All authors must disclose financial and non-financial competing interests. Funding sources must be explicitly stated.
Statistical Rigor
Manuscripts must report effect sizes, confidence intervals, and full statistical details. We encourage pre-registration and discourage p-hacking or HARKing.
