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Favini A, Culcasi F, Cirimele F, Remondi C, Plata MG, Caldaroni S, Virzì AT, Luengo Kanacri BP. Smartphone and social network addiction in early adolescents: The role of self-regulatory self-efficacy in a pilot school-based intervention. J Adolesc 2024; 96:551-565. [PMID: 37853581 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Youths' online problematic behaviors, such as smartphone or social network sites (SNS) addiction, gained increasing attention nowadays, due to their impact on concurrent and later adjustment, such as emotional and/or behavioral problems, academic impairments, or relational issues. AIMS This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot school-based intervention to contrast online addictive behaviors while fostering adolescents' self-regulative abilities. MATERIALS & METHODS The intervention started in January 2022 in an Italian junior high school located in Rome, and consisted of four meetings with students. A total sample of 462 15-year-old adolescents (Mage = 15.2; SD = 0.50; 41% females; Ncontrol = 214; Nintervention = 248) was considered. Within the latent difference score framework, we examined short-term changes from the pre-to-the-postintervention levels of SNS and smartphone addiction, and self-regulatory self-efficacy (SRSE) beliefs as a possible booster of the intervention's effectiveness. RESULTS Results showed a significant decrease in both online addictions (SNS and smartphone addiction), controlling for age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, because of the short-term efficacy of the project. The buffering effect of SRSE beliefs was further supported. CONCLUSION These findings emphasized the usefulness of promoting youths' self-regulative beliefs to contrast problematic tendencies, according to a Positive Youth Development perspective which focused on resources rather than only on the prevention of negative outcomes for youths' adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainzara Favini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Culcasi
- Clinic for Substance and Behavioral Addiction, Academic Foundation Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Cirimele
- Department of Cultures and Societies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Caldaroni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Brugnera A, Remondi C, La Tona A, Nembrini G, Lo Coco G, Compare A, Cardinali A, Scollato A, Marchetti F, Bonetti M, Pigozzi MG. Quality of Life and Its Psychosocial Predictors among Patients with Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: A Comparison with Age- and Sex-Matched Controls. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:757. [PMID: 38610179 PMCID: PMC11011672 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) are a heterogeneous group of chronic conditions that greatly reduce patients' quality of life (QoL). To date, biopsychosocial factors (such as gastrointestinal symptoms, alexithymia, and interpersonal problems) are believed to contribute to the development and maintenance of DGBIs, but their role in affecting patients' QoL is still under investigation. Out of 141 patients seeking treatment for their gastrointestinal symptoms, 71 were diagnosed with a DGBI (47 females, 66.2%; Mage: 41.49 ± 17.23 years) and were age- and sex-matched to 71 healthy controls (47 females, 66.2%; Mage: 40.45 ± 16.38 years) without any current gastrointestinal symptom or diagnosis. Participants completed a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and a survey investigating several psychosocial risk factors. We found greater symptom severity and difficulties in identifying feelings among patients compared to controls. Further, multiple linear regression analyses evidenced that, among patients, higher expressive suppression of emotions, difficulties in identifying feelings and interpersonal problems, and a lower cognitive reappraisal of emotions predicted lower QoL. Data suggest that the QoL of patients with DGBIs is affected not only by common risk factors (e.g., interpersonal problems) but also by specific difficulties in processing and regulating emotions. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonino La Tona
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Greta Nembrini
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lo Coco
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Angelo Compare
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
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Remondi C, Gerbino M, Zuffianò A, Pastorelli C, Thartori E, Bacchini D, Di Giunta L, Lunetti C, Favini A, Lansford JE, Dodge KA. The developmental trends of parental self-efficacy and adolescents' rule-breaking behaviors in the Italian context: A 7-wave latent growth curve study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293911. [PMID: 37967059 PMCID: PMC10651020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Parental self-efficacy (PSE) captures parents' beliefs in their ability to perform the parenting role successfully and to handle pivotal issues of specific developmental periods. Although previous studies have shown that, across the transition to adolescence, parents show decreasing levels of PSE while adolescents exhibit increasing engagement in rule-breaking (RB) behaviors, there is a paucity of studies investigating whether and how changes in PSE are related to late adolescents' RB behaviors across development. The present study examined the developmental trends of PSE among Italian mothers and fathers over seven waves (representing children's transition from late childhood to late adolescence; approximately from 9 to 18 years old) as well as the longitudinal associations between PSE and RB behaviors during late adolescence. Data were drawn from seven waves of the Parenting Across Cultures (PAC) project, a large-scale longitudinal, cross-cultural study, and included 200 Italian children (MAgeAtTime1 = 9.80, SD = 0.65; 50.5% girls) and their parents (200 mothers; 190 fathers). PSE was measured across all seven time-points (from T1 to T7), while adolescents' RB behaviors were measured at the first and last assessment (T1 and T7). Results of univariate latent growth models showed a cubic trend of mothers' PSE, which revealed a decreasing pattern characterized initially by a slight decline, followed by a rebound before continuously decreasing. By contrast, fathers' PSE followed a linear decrease over time. Finally, our findings evidenced that only the slope of mothers' PSE negatively predicted adolescents' RB behaviors at T7, implying that mothers who maintained higher levels of PSE over time had children who later engaged in lower RB behaviors. The study implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Gerbino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Zuffianò
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Eriona Thartori
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Bacchini
- Department of Human Studies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Di Giunta
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Lunetti
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Ainzara Favini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jennifer E. Lansford
- Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kenneth A. Dodge
- Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Di Giunta L, Lunetti C, Lansford JE, Eisenberg N, Pastorelli C, Bacchini D, Uribe Tirado LM, Iselin AMR, Basili E, Gliozzo G, Favini A, Cirimele F, Remondi C. Predictors and outcomes associated with the growth curves of self-efficacy beliefs in regard to anger and sadness regulation during adolescence: a longitudinal cross-cultural study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1010358. [PMID: 37139011 PMCID: PMC10149876 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1010358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This longitudinal study examined unique and joint effects of parenting and negative emotionality in predicting the growth curves of adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs about regulating two discrete negative emotions (anger and sadness) and the association of these growth curves with later maladjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems). Methods Participants were 285 children (T1: M age = 10.57, SD = 0.68; 53.3% girls) and their parents (mothers N = 286; fathers N = 276) from Colombia and Italy. Parental warmth, harsh parenting, and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured in late childhood at T1, whereas early adolescents' anger and sadness were measured at T2 (T2: M age = 12.10, SD = 1.09). Adolescent self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation were measured at five time-points from T2 to T6 (T6: M age = 18.45, SD = 0.71), and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured again at T6. Results Multi-group latent growth curve models (with country as the grouping variable) demonstrated that in both countries there was on average a linear increase in self-efficacy about anger regulation and no change or variation in self-efficacy about sadness regulation. In both countries, for self-efficacy about anger regulation (a) T1 harsh parenting and T1 externalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept, (b) T2 anger was negatively associated with the slope, and (c) the intercept and the slope were associated with lower T6 internalizing and externalizing problems, controlling for T1 problems. For self-efficacy about sadness regulation, (a) T1 internalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept only in Italy, (b) T2 sadness was negatively associated with the intercept only in Colombia, and (c) the intercept negatively predicted T6 internalizing problems. Discussion This study advances knowledge of the normative development of self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation during adolescence across two countries, highlighting the predictive value of pre-existing family and individual characteristics on this development and prediction by the development of self-efficacy beliefs on later adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Di Giunta
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Lunetti
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nancy Eisenberg
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | | | - Dario Bacchini
- Department of Human Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giulia Gliozzo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ainzara Favini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Cirimele
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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5
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Remondi C, Casu G, Pozzi C, Greco F, Gremigni P, Brugnera A. A Serial Mediation Model of Insecure Attachment and Psychological Distress: The Role of Dispositional Shame and Shame-Coping Styles. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:3193. [PMID: 36833888 PMCID: PMC9966328 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Shame is an intense, difficult to regulate, self-conscious emotion that predicts aspects of poor psychological functioning and is also strongly related to early relationships. Attachment insecurities, which constitute non-specific risk factors for psychological maladjustment, have been associated with an individual's tendency to experience shame. In this study, we sought to examine the serial mediating roles of dispositional shame and shame-coping styles (i.e., attack other, attack self, withdrawal and avoidance) in the association between anxious and avoidant attachment, and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional design, self-reported data were collected. The study sample included 978 respondents (57% female) with a mean age of 32.17 ± 13.48 years. The results of the path analysis indicated that both attachment dimensions were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the attack self shame-coping style, which was, in turn, positively related to psychological distress. Further, attachment insecurities were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the avoidance shame-coping style, which was, in turn, negatively related to psychological distress. The model was gender invariant, suggesting that the serial mediation worked in a similar way for men and women. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Casu
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Pozzi
- Independent Researcher, Via Stefano Gobatti 5, 40137 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Greco
- Independent Researcher, Via Stefano Gobatti 5, 40137 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Gremigni
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, P.le S. Agostino 2, 29129 Bergamo, Italy
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Remondi C, Cirimele F, Pastorelli C, Gerbino M, Gregori F, Plata MG, Zuffianò A. Conspiracy beliefs, regulatory self-efficacy and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors: The mediating role of moral disengagement. Curr Res Ecol Soc Psychol 2022; 3:100069. [PMID: 36341468 PMCID: PMC9617670 DOI: 10.1016/j.cresp.2022.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although recent studies on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have highlighted the negative effects of moral disengagement on intentions to comply with COVID-19 containment measures, little is known about the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationship between regulatory self-efficacy in complying with the containment measures, beliefs in conspiracy theories and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Data were collected from 1164 young adults (women, N = 796; 68.4%; mean age 25.60 ± 4.40 years) who completed an online survey from 15th May to 22nd June 2021. Results of the multi-group path analyses indicated that higher beliefs in conspiracy theories were associated with lower compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors, whereas higher self-efficacy beliefs in complying with the containment measures were associated with higher compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Moral disengagement significantly mediated the associations between beliefs in conspiracy theories, regulatory self-efficacy, and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Finally, the tested model was gender-invariant. Findings suggest that public health authorities and social care professionals should promote interventions aimed at improving regulatory self-efficacy, emphasizing the moral significance of respecting or ignoring the recommended COVID-19 measures (e.g., physical distance in public), and enhancing people's concern for the potential harms of their immoral actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Cirimele
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Gerbino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Gregori
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maryluz Gomez Plata
- Grupo de investigación Cognición y Educación, Programa de Psicología, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Antonio Zuffianò
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Iselin AMR, DiGiunta L, Lunetti C, Lansford JE, Eisenberg N, Dodge KA, Pastorelli C, Tirado LMU, Bacchini D, Thartori E, Fiasconaro I, Gliozzo G, Favini A, Basili E, Cirimele F, Remondi C, Skinner AT. Pathways from Maternal Harsh Discipline Through Rumination to Anxiety and Depression Symptoms: Gender and Normativeness of Harsh Discipline as Moderators. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:1313-1326. [PMID: 35870036 PMCID: PMC9979779 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
This study examined gender-specific longitudinal pathways from harsh parenting through rumination to anxiety and depression symptoms among early adolescents from three countries and six subgroups. Participants were 567 mothers, 428 fathers, and 566 children (T1: Mage = 10.89; 50% girls) from Medellín, Colombia (n = 100); Naples, Italy (n = 95); Rome, Italy (n = 99); Durham, North Carolina, United States (Black n = 92, Latinx n = 80, and White n = 100). Parent reported maternal and paternal harsh parenting were measured at T1. Adolescent reported rumination was measured at T2 (Mage = 12.58) and anxiety and depression symptoms were measured at T1 and T3 (Mage = 13.71). Rumination mediated the pathway from maternal harsh discipline to girls' anxiety and depression symptoms, controlling for baseline anxiety and depression symptoms. The more harsh discipline mothers used, the more their daughters ruminated, which in turn was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms. Exploratory moderated mediation analyses indicated that the strength of the mediational pathway from maternal harsh discipline through girls' rumination to anxiety and depression symptoms decreased as the normativeness of harsh parenting increased. Mediational pathways for boys and for paternal harsh discipline were not significant. Our findings expand knowledge on specific contexts in which rumination is a mechanism for understanding pathways to anxiety and depression symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura DiGiunta
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolina Lunetti
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Kenneth A Dodge
- Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | | | | | - Dario Bacchini
- Psychology Department, Federico II Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Eriona Thartori
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Fiasconaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Gliozzo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ainzara Favini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Basili
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Cirimele
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann T Skinner
- Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, USA
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8
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Remondi C, Compare A, Tasca GA, Lo Coco G, Chiozza V, Favini A, Carrara S, Greco A, Poletti B, Zarbo C, Brugnera A. The Effects of Attachment, Temperament, and Self-Esteem on Technology Addiction: A Mediation Model Among Young Adults. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 2022; 25:258-263. [PMID: 35213256 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2021.0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Excessive use of technology has become a worldwide problem due to its high prevalence, fast growth rate, and undesirable consequences. However, little is known about underlying psychological mechanisms that maintain excessive use of technology. We investigated the mediating role of self-esteem, novelty seeking, and persistence on the relationship between attachment dimensions and technology addiction among young adults. Data were collected from 727 young adults (females, N = 478; 66.3 percent), aged 23.44 ± 3.02 years. Participants completed self-report measures of secure and insecure attachment dimensions, personality, and temperament characteristics (i.e., self-esteem, novelty seeking, and persistence), technology addiction and frequency of technology use (i.e., own technology use, perceived use by peers and parents). The mediation model was tested through a path analysis. The effects of attachment insecurity on technology addiction were partially mediated by the levels of persistence and self-esteem, whereas the effects of attachment security on technology addiction were fully mediated. The effects remained robust even after controlling for the frequency of technology use. The model was gender and age invariant, suggesting that the mediation worked in a similar way for both men and women and across ages. Findings suggest that attachment dimensions exert not only a direct but also an indirect effect on technology addiction through self-esteem and persistence. Such findings may help to develop psychosocial interventions that are sensitive to young adults' attachment, personality, and temperament characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Compare
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Lo Coco
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Chiozza
- Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialisation Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ainzara Favini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carrara
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Andrea Greco
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Zarbo
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
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9
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Cirimele F, Pastorelli C, Favini A, Remondi C, Zuffiano A, Basili E, Thartori E, Gerbino M, Gregori F. Facing the Pandemic in Italy: Personality Profiles and Their Associations With Adaptive and Maladaptive Outcomes. Front Psychol 2022; 13:805740. [PMID: 35282221 PMCID: PMC8908009 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.805740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' psychosocial functioning was widely attested during the last year. However, the extent to which individual differences are associated with adaptive and maladaptive outcomes during quarantine in Italy remains largely unexplored. Using a person-oriented approach, the present study explored the association of personality profiles, based on three broad individual dispositions (i.e., positivity, irritability, and hostile rumination) and two self-efficacy beliefs in the emotional area (i.e., expressing positive emotions and regulating anger emotion), with adaptive and maladaptive outcomes during the first Italian lockdown (March-June 2020). In doing so, we focused also on how different age groups (i.e., young adults and adults) differently faced the pandemic. The study was conducted through an online survey from May to June 2020 and included 1341 participants living in Italy, divided into two groups: 737 young adults aged 18-35 and 604 adults aged 36-60 years old. Latent Profile Analysis identified three personality profiles: resilient, vulnerable, and moderate. A subsequent path analysis model showed that the resilient profile was positively associated with prosocial behavior as an indicator of adaptive outcome, and negatively associated with three maladaptive outcomes: interpersonal aggression, depressive symptoms, and anxiety problems. Contrarily, the vulnerable profile resulted negatively associated with prosocial behavior and positively associated with the three maladaptive outcomes. Finally, regarding age group differences, young adults belonging to the vulnerable profile showed a greater association especially with interpersonal aggression, depression, and anxiety problems, as compared to adults belonging to the same profile. Overall, the results of the present study highlighted the importance to analyze individual functioning during an isolation period by using a person-oriented approach. Findings evidenced the existence of three different profiles (i.e., Resilient, Vulnerable, and Moderate) and subsequent path analysis revealed, especially for the vulnerable profile and young adults, a greater maladaptive consequence of the quarantine. The practical implications will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Cirimele
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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10
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Thartori E, Pastorelli C, Cirimele F, Remondi C, Gerbino M, Basili E, Favini A, Lunetti C, Fiasconaro I, Caprara GV. Exploring the Protective Function of Positivity and Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy in Time of Pandemic COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:13171. [PMID: 34948780 PMCID: PMC8702160 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite several empirical studies on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that have highlighted its detrimental effect on individuals' mental health, the identification of psychological factors that may moderate its impact on individuals' behavior and well-being remains partly unexplored. The present study was conceived to examine the mediation role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy in the relationship between positivity and anxiety, depression, and perceived self-efficacy in complying with the containment measures to contrast the COVID-19 spread. Furthermore, the moderation role of age was tested. A sample of 1258 participants (64.2% women; Mage = 42.09, SD = 13.62) enrolled from the Italian general population answered an online survey aimed at investigating the role of individual differences in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. We opted for a snowball recruiting procedure to find participants. The online survey was disseminated through email invitation and using social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram). A multi-group path analysis model was performed using Mplus 8.4 to explore the hypothesized relations among variables. The following criteria were employed to evaluate the goodness of fit: χ2 likelihood ratio statistic, CFI and TLI > 0.95, RMSEA < 0.06 and SRMR < 0.08. The findings corroborated the protective role of both positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy in reducing individuals' anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as in fostering individuals' capabilities in complying with the containment measures imposed by the government to reduce the risk of illness and to contain the spread of the virus COVID-19. Specifically, regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs partially mediated the relations between positivity and anxiety and depressive symptoms and fully mediated the effect of positivity on perceived self-efficacy beliefs in complying with the containment measures. These paths were equal across ages. The results of the present study appear relevant to implementing psychological interventions aimed to reduce the deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health through the promotion of individuals' optimistic orientation and emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriona Thartori
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (M.G.); (E.B.); (A.F.); (C.L.); (I.F.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gian Vittorio Caprara
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (F.C.); (C.R.); (M.G.); (E.B.); (A.F.); (C.L.); (I.F.)
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Remondi C, Compare A, Tasca GA, Greco A, Pievani L, Poletti B, Brugnera A. Insecure Attachment and Technology Addiction Among Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Impulsivity, Alexithymia, and General Psychological Distress. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 2020; 23:761-767. [PMID: 32757974 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2019.0747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have emphasized the effect of insecurity attachment on youth's Internet and smartphone addiction. In this study, we examine the mediating role of alexithymia, impulsivity, and general psychological distress in the relationship between insecure attachment dimensions and technology addiction. Data were collected from 539 adolescents and young adults, mostly women (N = 378; 70.1 percent), aged 19.76 ± 1.99 years. Participants completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, psychological risk factors (i.e., impulsivity, psychological distress, and alexithymia), and technology addiction (i.e., problematic Internet use, smartphone, and Internet addiction). The gender-related (i.e., multi-group) mediation model was tested through a path analysis with both observed and latent variables. Attachment anxiety had no direct effect on technology addiction, whereas attachment avoidance had a small negative direct effect, but only among women. Insecure attachment dimensions were significantly associated with psychological risk factors, whereas the latter had a significant, direct association with technology addiction. Psychological risk factors significantly mediated the association between insecure attachment dimensions and technology addiction. Finally, the tested model was gender-invariant. Findings suggest that insecure attachment dimensions have an indirect effect on the development of technology addiction mediated almost entirely by higher levels of psychological risk factors. Such findings might have relevant implications to inform any treatment plan for young adults who are overinvolved with technology activities and so to deliver patient-tailored interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Remondi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Compare
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Greco
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Luca Pievani
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Integrata, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Agostino Brugnera
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
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Remondi C, Sesti F, Bonanno E, Pietropolli A, Piccione E. Diagnostic accuracy of liquid-based endometrial cytology in the evaluation of endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women. Cytopathology 2012; 24:365-71. [PMID: 22994380 DOI: 10.1111/cyt.12013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare liquid-based endometrial cytology with hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy regarding its diagnostic accuracy in a series of postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or asymptomatic women with thickened endometrium assessed by transvaginal ultrasound as a screening procedure. METHODS Inclusion criteria were: menopausal status; the presence of AUB and/or thickened endometrium assessed by ultrasound (cut-off 4 mm); a normal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear; and no adnexal pathology at ultrasound. Exclusion criteria were: previous endometrial pathology; and previous operative hysteroscopy. Of 768 postmenopausal women referred to our general gynaecology clinics, 121 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were recruited to the trial. Twenty-one refused to participate. Cytological sampling was carried out by brushing the uterine cavity using the Endoflower device with no cervical dilation and the vial was processed using a ThinPrep® 2000 automated slide processor. The slides were stained using a Pap method. RESULTS In 98 cases with histological biopsies, endometrial cytology detected five cases of endometrial carcinoma, 10 of atypical hyperplasia and 47 of non-atypical hyperplasia; 36 cases were negative. In two cases cytology was inadequate because of uterine cervical stenosis. Taking atypical hyperplasia or worse as a positive test and outcome, the diagnostic accuracy of the endometrial cytology was 93.5%, with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 95%, a positive predictive value of 73% and a negative predictive value of 99%. All the carcinomas were detected by cytology. Only 42% of women with a positive diagnosis were symptomatic. The cytological sampling was well tolerated by all patients. No complication was registered. CONCLUSIONS Liquid-based endometrial cytology can be considered an useful diagnostic method in the detection of endometrial pathology as a first-line approach, particularly if associated with transvaginal ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Remondi
- Section of Gynecology, Academic Department of Biomedicine & Prevention and Clinical Department of Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, ItalyAnatomic Pathology Institute, Department of Biomedicine & Prevention, School of Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
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