Preface

The first issue of “Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology” is traditionally dedicated to the theme of the annual conference of the Faculty of Psychology at Saint Petersburg University “Ananyev Readings”. The conference which was held in October 2025 focused on issues of early intervention for children and their families, a topic the Department of Mental Health and Early Support for Children and Parents has been fruitfully and comprehensively researching for 25 years. The conference’s topics covered current issues in studying the early stages of child development in interaction and the formation of relationships with parents, their correlation with individual psychological and biological characteristics, and practical aspects of early assistance to children and their parents in the context of family, society, and culture.

The thematic part of the issue includes articles by faculty members of the Department of Mental Health and Early Support for Children and Parents, its graduates, postgraduate students, and undergraduates, providing an opportunity to overview of the department’s research. The relevance of their research is evident in the fact that this topic is included as a significant issue in the Federal Law of the Russian Federation.