Healthy and binge eating behaviours: the motivational processes underlying peer pressure.

The WHOunderlined the importance of a healthy diet for the psychophysical well-being of the person. Self Determination Theory highlighted how the interaction between contextual, such as peer pressure, and motivational factors play a fundamental role in promoting healthy eating habits. The present study aims to assess if peer pressure affects eating habits and binge eating through the mediation of motivation. Questionnaires were administered to 588 young-adults aged between 18 and 24 years (M = 20.56, DS = 1.78) in the Italian context. Results suggest that Peer Pressure predicted Controlled Motivation and Autonomous Motivation, and that motivation predicted Eating Behaviors and Binge Eating. In addition, Peer Pressure also has a direct effect on Binge Eating. The results confirm the importance of investigating contextual and motivational factors in the area of prevention and intervention in eating habits.

Maintaining social support while social distancing: The longitudinal benefit of basic psychological needs for symptoms of anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Although social distancing measures could be potentially perceived as thwarting conditions for basic psychological needs and thus causing psychological distress, off(on)line social support could compensate for this frustration by providing psychological proximity. Using self-determination theory, in this study, we aimed (a) to evaluate the change of perception in need satisfaction over time (before and during home-confinement and after a month of lockdown) and (b) to test the short-term longitudinal association between off(on)line social support, basic needs, and anxiety during social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the lockdown period decreed by Italy in March 2019 to confront the COVID-19 emergency, 1344 participants completed an online questionnaire and 131 participants completed a follow-up after 1 month. Results showed a decrease in need satisfaction during home confinement and a further reduction after a month of lockdown. Cross-sectional path analysis showed that both online and offline social support were associated with higher need satisfaction, which, in turn, was related to a lower level of anxiety. Longitudinal paths also confirmed the association between need satisfaction and anxiety. Collectively, these results suggest that maintaining psychological proximity despite social distancing measures may provide important avenues for reducing negative outcomes during forced home confinement.

Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.

Italy is one of the major COVID-19 hotspots. To reduce the spread of the infections and the pressure on Italian healthcare systems, since March 10, 2020, Italy has been under a total lockdown, forcing people into home confinement. Here we present data from 1,310 people living in the Italian territory (Mage  = 23.91 ± 3.60 years, 880 females, 501 workers, 809 university students), who completed an online survey from March 24 to March 28, 2020. In the survey, we asked participants to think about their use of digital media before going to bed, their sleep pattern and their subjective experience of time in the previous week (March 17-23, which was the second week of the lockdown) and up to the first week of February (February 3-10, before any restriction in any Italian area). During the lockdown, people increased the usage of digital media near bedtime, but this change did not affect sleep habits. Nevertheless, during home confinement, sleep timing markedly changed, with people going to bed and waking up later, and spending more time in bed, but, paradoxically, also reporting a lower sleep quality. The increase in sleep difficulties was stronger for people with a higher level of depression, anxiety and stress symptomatology, and associated with the feeling of elongation of time. Considering that the lockdown is likely to continue for weeks, research data are urgently needed to support decision making, to build public awareness and to provide timely and supportive psychosocial interventions.

The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale: Construct and Predictive Validity in the Italian Context.

The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) is a self-report instrument assessing the satisfaction and frustration of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness defined by self-determination theory. The aim of this study was to examine the dimensionality, the predictive validity, and the measurement invariance across different age groups of the Italian version of the BPNSFS. The participants were 2,204 Italian adolescents and young adults (41% males) from 14 to 28 years old (M age = 20.23, SD = 4.25). The invariance across age demonstrated adequate equivalence of the 6-factor model of scales across adolescents (14-18 years) and young adults (20-24 years), showing general homogeneity with respect to the constructs measured in the Italian context. Results of this study suggest that the satisfaction and frustration subscales for each need might be treated separately, because they might have unique effects that should be explored. For this reason, the BPNSFS could be a useful instrument in the counseling context because it can be easily used by operators both for assessment and for evaluation of the effects and results of counseling intervention.

The six dimensions of parenting and adolescent psychological adjustment: The mediating role of psychological needs.

In accordance with the Self-determination Theory (SDT), six dimensions of parenting (autonomy support vs. psychological control, structure vs. chaos, warmth vs. rejection) could be defined in their relation to adolescents' adjustment. However, the mechanisms of these relations need to be further deepened. In accordance with SDT, the aims of this study were: (1) to examine the relationships between the six dimensions of parenting and the three psychological basic needs; (2) to examine the mediation role of basic psychological needs in the relation between parental practices, and positive and negative outcomes in a sample of Italian adolescents. In a sample of 342 adolescents, results suggest that supportive parenting practice (autonomy support, structure, and warmth) promotes need fulfillment and adjustment, while thwarting parenting practice (psychological control, chaos, and rejection) reduces need fulfillment and adjustment. Furthermore, the three psychological basic needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness) mediate the relations between parenting and adolescents' adjustment. These findings highlight the role of parenting in adolescents' adjustment and in line with SDT provide evidence of the dynamic between parenting, psychological needs and adjustment.

The intergenerational transmission of trait emotional intelligence: The mediating role of parental autonomy support and psychological control.

INTRODUCTION: Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) is a relevant construct that could promote positive development in adolescents and may predict a number of affect-related outcomes. However, studies focused on its antecedents are still scarce. The main aim of this study is to examine the intergenerational transmission of trait EI from parents to adolescents and the mediating role of parental autonomy support and psychological control. METHODS: Our sample was comprised of 152 cohabiting families, with adolescents (75 males and 77 females) between 16 and 17 years old (M = 16.45; SD = 0.50). RESULTS: Results suggested that paternal and maternal trait EI positively predicted paternal and maternal autonomy support and psychological control, and adolescent trait EI was predicted by maternal trait EI, adolescent perception of parental autonomy support and adolescent perception of parental psychological control. Adolescent perception of parental autonomy support and adolescent perception of parental psychological control were shown to act as mediators between adolescents' trait EI and paternal and maternal trait EI. CONCLUSIONS: The results extend the literature on the role of parents in the development of trait EI and confirm the relevance of trait EI for affect-related outcomes.

The incremental role of trait emotional intelligence on perceived cervical screening barriers.

Researchers have become increasingly interested in investigating the role of the psychological aspects related to the perception of cervical screening barriers. This study investigates the influence of trait EI on perceived cervical screening barriers. Furthermore, this study investigates the incremental validity of trait EI beyond the Big Five, as well as emotion regulation in the perceived barrier towards the Pap test as revealed in a sample of 206 Italian women that were undergoing cervical screening. Results have shown that trait EI is negatively related to cervical screening barriers. Furthermore, trait EI can be considered as a strong incremental predictor of a woman's perception of screening over and above the Big Five, emotion regulation, age, sexual intercourse experience and past Pap test. Detailed information on the study findings and future research directions are discussed.

The relationship between coping, emotion regulation, and quality of life of patients on dialysis.

Previous studies have investigated constructs that facilitate adaptation to chronic disease and improve quality of life and constructs that lead to psychopathological complications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of coping and emotional regulation on the quality of life of patients on dialysis. Three questionnaires were administered to 78 patients on dialysis: Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced, Short Form (36), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Regressions analyses indicated that age, Rumination, Positive Refocusing, Avoidance Strategies, Approach to the Problem, and Transcendent Orientation predicted Physical Health. With regard to Mental Health, the predictors were gender, Self-Blame, Acceptance, Rumination, Positive Reappraisal, Catastrophizing, Avoidance Strategies, and Transcendent Orientation. This study confirms the relationship between emotional regulation, coping, and quality of life. The results highlight the need for total care of the patients, including an assessment of both physical state and psychological functioning in order to promote total well-being.

The Mediational Role of Psychological Basic Needs in the Relation Between Conception of God and Psychological Outcomes.

Relatively few studies have examined the relationship between conception of God and psychological outcomes in a self-determination theory (SDT) framework. The aim of this study was to examine the role of basic psychological needs as a mediator of the association between conception of God and psychological outcomes. In a sample of 210 religious young adults, we found that the concept of a controlling God was positively associated with feelings of need frustration and depression, whilst the concept of an autonomy-supporting God was positively associated with feelings of need satisfaction and vitality. In turn, need satisfaction promoted feelings of vitality, whereas need frustration led to feelings of depression. The satisfaction of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between autonomy-supporting God and vitality, whilst the frustration of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between controlling God and depression. These findings are discussed in terms of SDT. We also discuss how future research may further increase our understanding of the dynamics involved in concepts of God and psychological outcomes.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALEXITHYMIA, PARENTING STYLE, AND PARENTAL CONTROL.

Research on the relationship between parental alexithymia and parenting is relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between parental alexithymia and three styles of parenting (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) and the relationships between parental alexithymia and two domains of psychological control (dependency and achievement). The participants were 946 parents ages 29-60 years (mothers: n = 473, M age = 44.6 yr., SD = 4.7; fathers: n = 473, M age = 48.1 yr., SD = 5.1) of children ages 11-18 years. All participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Parental Authority Questionnaire-Revised (PAQ-R), and the Dependency-Oriented and Achievement-Oriented Psychological Control Scale (DAPCS). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine whether alexithymia could predict the three parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) and the two domains of psychological control (dependency and achievement). The first model showed that alexithymia was a positive predictor of authoritative and permissive parenting and a negative predictor of authoritarian parenting in both paternal and maternal data. The second model showed that, in both paternal and maternal data, alexithymia was a positive predictor of both dependency-oriented psychological control (DPC) and achievement-oriented psychological control (APC).

Trait emotional intelligence and inflammatory diseases.

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the psychological aspects of inflammatory disorders. Within this line of research, the present study compares the trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) profiles of 827 individuals with various inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, and RA plus one comorbidity) against 496 healthy controls. Global trait EI scores did not show significant differences between these groups, although some differences were observed when comparisons were carried out against alternative control groups. Significant differences were found on the trait EI factors of Well-being (where the healthy group scored higher than the RA group) and Sociability (where the healthy group scored higher than both the RA group and the RA plus one comorbidity group). The discussion centers on the multifarious links and interplay between emotions and inflammatory conditions.

Xenophobia and Xenophilia, the Bright and Dark Sides of Attitude Towards Foreigners: A Self-Determination Theory Approach.

Introduction: The intensification of the migration phenomenon led to a growing interest in the public domain about the attitudes towards foreigners. Xenophobia and xenophilia are two opposite orientations towards foreigners, that could be considered the consequences of the interaction between several factors. Based on the self-determination theory, this study aims to verify that a bright pathway composed by intrinsic goal, needs satisfaction and altruism could explain xenophilia, whereas a dark pathway composed by extrinsic goal, needs frustration, and egoism could explain xenophobia in a group of Italian emerging adult. Methods: A group of 306 Italian emerging adults (aged 18-24), completed questionnaires and structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesized model. Results: The results showed a relation between intrinsic goals and needs satisfaction, conversely needs satisfaction was related to altruism, moreover altruism was related to xenophilia. On the other hand, extrinsic goals were related to need frustration; moreover, need frustration was related to egoism and egoism was related to xenophobia. Discussion: These results were discussed within the Italian context for a better general comprehension of both xenophobia and xenophilia in a SDT framework.

Adolescent problematic gaming and its association with maternal behaviors: A dyadic study focusing on the relational-emotional correlates.

INTRODUCTION: Associations between Problematic Gaming (PG) and the relational-emotional correlates of parenting have been reported in the literature. Previous research mostly collected information from adolescents, however, and suggested that little is known about the perceptions of parents and whether these are shared among parent-adolescent dyads. Therefore, this study aimed to (a) examine multiple informants' reports of adolescent PG and maternal behaviors (i.e., warmth and indifference) and (b) disentangle the associations between the behaviors shared by mothers and adolescents from those unique to each member. METHOD: Data were collected by using self-administered online questionnaires from 137 Italian mother-adolescent dyads in Italy. The mean age of adolescents (n = 92 males, n = 42 females, n = 3 nonbinary) was 14.68 (±1.25) years and that of mothers 47.48 (±4.69) years. Descriptive statistics and common fate model (CFM) analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Mothers reported higher scores of their offspring's PG. Within-reporter interclass correlations revealed positive associations between maternal indifference and adolescent PG for both informants. CFM indicated that correlations between maternal behaviors and adolescent PG based on shared perceptions did not reach statistical significance, whereas correlations based on unique mothers' perceptions were statistically significant for all the observed relationships. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of adolescent PG, mothers may have a heightened motivation to perceive their parenting as crucial. The multi-informant approach allows a more accurate examination of the associations between adolescent PG and maternal behaviors and underscores the need to consider discordant assessment of the same phenomenon between mothers and adolescents.

Paternal rejection, psychological maladjustment, and child emotional eating: Path analysis in 8- to 11-year-old boys and girls.

We examined the impact of paternal rejection (based on father's and children's reports) on the children's emotional eating behavior and if child psychological maladjustment mediated this relationship. Three hundred sixty-nine dyads of fathers and children were screened using self-report measures of demographic data, parental rejection, child psychological maladjustment, and disordered eating behavior. Children's subjective perceptions of relationship with father have more impact on their psychological outcomes and unhealthy dietary patterns than father reported parenting quality. Children's unhealthy psychological adjustment may be an essential underlying mechanism linking perceived paternal rejection of children's emotional eating behaviors.

Adolescents' well-being: The role of basic needs fulfilment in family context.

Although there is an increasing interest in studying the relations between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and well-being, this association for both parents and adolescents has been to some extent disregarded within the self-determination theory. The present study was aimed at testing a model of relations between father, mother, and adolescent's perception of basic needs fulfilment and well-being. Participants were 98 co-living family units of mother, father, and adolescents (54% males) aged from 12 to 18 years (M = 15.11, SD = 1.44). Results confirm that basic needs fulfilment was predictive of well-being in all participants. Moreover, the needs fulfilment of both parents seemed to play a relevant role directly on the perceived needs satisfaction of their adolescents, and indirectly on their well-being, through the adolescent's needs satisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of practical implications for the promotion of positive youth development.

Collectively coping with coronavirus: Local community identification predicts giving support and lockdown adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of shared identity in predicting both ingroup helping behaviour and adherence to protective norms during COVID-19 has been extensively theorized, but remains largely under-investigated. We build upon previous Social Identity research into community resilience by testing the role of pre-existing local community (or 'neighbourhood') identity as a predictor of these outcomes, via the mediator of perceived social support. Community residents in the UK completed a longitudinal online survey four months before lockdown (T1; N = 253), one month before lockdown (T2; N = 217), and two months into lockdown (T3; N = 149). The cross-lagged panel analysis shows that T1 community identification predicts T3 giving and receiving of pandemic-related support, and that these effects occur via the perception of community support at the second time point (while the alternative pathway from T1 support via T2 identification is non-significant). Moreover, we show that T1 community identification also directly predicts lockdown adherence at T3. Our findings point to the pivotal role played by community identity in effective behavioural responses to the pandemic, and the need to support and foster community development to facilitate local community resilience as the crisis continues to unfold.

Community identification, social support, and loneliness: The benefits of social identification for personal well-being.

Levels of loneliness across the world have reached epidemic proportions, and their impact upon population health is increasingly apparent. In response, policies and initiatives have attempted to reduce loneliness by targeting social isolation among residents of local communities. Yet, little is known about the social psychological processes underpinning the relationships between community belonging, loneliness, and well-being. We report three studies which apply the Social Identity Approach to Health to examine the mechanisms underpinning the relationships between community identity, health, and loneliness. Hypotheses were tested through secondary analyses of the 2014-2015 UK Community Life Survey (N = 4,314) as well as bespoke household surveys in a more (N = 408) and less (N = 143) affluent community at high risk of loneliness. Studies 1 and 2a demonstrated that the relationship between community identification and well-being was mediated by increased social support and reduced loneliness. In Study 2b, community identification predicted well-being through reduced loneliness, but not through social support. Our results are the first to evidence these relationships and suggest that community-level interventions that enhance community identification and peer support can promote a potential Social Cure for loneliness.

Effects of the Enriched Sports Activities-Program on Executive Functions in Italian Children.

Physical activity (PA) during childhood plays an important role in brain development. This role is played in both the structural domain, prefrontal cortex area, and in the functional domain, involving the higher cognitive functions, including the executive functions (EF). Working memory (WM), inhibition, and switching as fundamental EF were investigated in an Italian children sample before and after four months of an Enriched Sports Activities-Program (ESA-Program). EFs were assessed at pre-test and post-test using, respectively, the digit span test, the color word Stroop test, and the trail making test derived from Millisecond Software. The Italian sample was composed of 141 children aged 8.54 years. The intervention group (IG) was composed of 61 children and the control group (CG) of 80 children. Significant differences in WM (p < 0.05) were found in the IG following the ESA-Program intervention. Children's performance improved both in forward digit span (FDS1 mean difference = 0.26; p = 0.04; FDS2 mean difference = 0.21; p = 0.01) and backward digit span (BDS2 mean difference = 0.14; p = 0.02). No significant improvements were observed for inhibition and switching processes (p > 0.05). Since this finding suggests that brain functioning is sensitive to lifestyle factors, such as PA, an essential goal for ESA-Program is to emphasize the importance of PA to enhance cognitive skills in childhood and prevent sedentary life.

Examination of the Psychometric Characteristics of the Italian Version of the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents.

In the last years, the interest in Internet Gaming Disorder has grown considerably, which has necessitated the development of valid and reliable tools in different cultural contexts. Although, in the scientific literature, there are several measures that evaluate the Internet Gaming Disorder, the Game Addiction Scale has shown to be a valid questionnaire specifically designed for adolescents and based on the Griffiths' theory of components model of behavioral addiction. For this reason, the aim of this study is to verify the psychometric characteristics of the Italian translation of the full and short form of the Game Addiction Scale in a sample of 452 Italian adolescents (190 males and 262 females), aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.75; SD = 1.21). A series of confirmatory factor analyses was used to assess the Game Addiction Scale factorial structure, and the comparison of the models showed that the best fitting model was the Bifactor Model for the full form, while the unidimensional structure showed good fit for the short form of the Game Addiction Scale. Furthermore, both versions showed good reliability and correlations with Internet Addiction and hours of gaming. In sum, the Game Addiction Scale can be considered a relevant instrument for investigating Internet Gaming Disorder in Italian adolescents.

The socialization of coping strategies in adolescence: the modeling role of parents.

Background and Objectives: The main aim of this study is to test the intergenerational transmission of the relations between coping strategies to well-being from parents to adolescents through the modeling of the coping strategies of the parents to those of the child.Methods: 154 cohabitating families composed by father, mother, and adolescent in age range between 14 and 18 (M = 16.40; SD = 1.53) took part to the research. To test the proposed model, SEM with observed variables and the integration of the APIM approach and the Bootstrapping approach was used.Results: Findings showed in both parents and adolescents significant positively relations between coping task strategy and well-being, and significant negatively relations between coping emotion strategy and well-being. Furthermore, direct positively relations between the use of specific coping strategies of father and mother and the use of the same strategies in adolescents was found. Finally, results showed the mediation of adolescents coping strategies in the relations between parental coping strategies and adolescents well-being.Conclusion: Taken as whole, our results demonstrated that coping strategies in parents were directly related to coping strategies in children and that both mothers and fathers contribute in unique ways to shape children's coping.