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The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a media literacy intervention targeting, for the first time, the specific topic of Performance and Appearance Enhancing Substances (PAESs) use in high-school students. Overall, 389 students (52% male) aged between 13 and 19 years (mean = 16.56 year; SD = 1.26) participated to a media literacy intervention (i.e., "intervention group") while 103 students aged between 14 and 19 year (mean = 16.10 year; SD = 1.38) were considered as the control group (i.e., "control group"). In two separate occasions over the course of six consecutive months, students in both groups filled out a set of questionnaires which included measures of social-cognitive beliefs (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, intentions) and a self-reported measure of retrospective use of doping (Yes/No) and supplements (Yes/No). Compared to students in the control group (Mean((time1)) = 1.96; SD(time1) = 0.85; and Mean((time2)) = 2.09; SD(time2) = 0.94), intervention students on average expressed relatively stronger attitudes against doping use over time (Mean((time1)) = 2.2; SD(time1) = 0.85; and Mean((time2)) = 2.05; SD(time2) = 0.82). Students in the latter group also showed a statistically significant decrease in self-reported supplement use (Use((time1)) = 6.7%; Use((time2)) = 3.8%; p = 0.05, McNemar Test). Interestingly, albeit marginally significant, students in the control group showed a relative increment in the self-reported use of supplements over time (Use((time1)) = 4.9%; Use((time2)) = 8.7%; p = 0.22, McNemar Test). Overall, the media literacy intervention investigated in the present study was effective in decreasing adolescent student's positive attitudes toward doping use and in reducing the use of legal PAES. These findings supported the generalizability and the usefulness of a media literacy approach in the specific field of PAES.

Objectives: In the present study sleep habits, sleep related problems and circadian preference (morningness/eveningness dimension) were investigated in a representative sample of Italian eighth grade students. We further evaluate the influence of these sleep related variables on scholastic achievement. Methods: We analyzed data of 3391 students that participated to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. All participants completed a modified version of School Sleep Habits Survey to measure schooldays and weekends sleep habits, daytime sleepiness, sleep problems, and circadian preference. Results: Results indicated a very high frequency of sleep complaints. Eight grade students reported frequent difficulties in awakenings, as well as frequent episodes of daytime sleepiness, particularly during studying. The Circadian Preference was correlated with self-reported sleep problems and daytime sleepiness, indicating that an evening orientation is associated to poor sleep quality and higher daytime sleepiness in this age group. With respect to scholastic achievement, the grades in Maths and Italian subjects were significantly associated with sleep problems, daytime sleepiness and, to a lesser extent, with circadian preference. Conclusions: This results not only corroborates the role of sleep on cognitive performance, but they underline a significant presence of sleep problems even at this age.

A prospective field study conducted with runners training for an upcoming marathon (Marathon of Rome 2013) examined the relation between regulatory modes, locomotion and assessment, and stress. Integrating regulatory mode theory and the dualistic model of passion, we hypothesized that the relation between regulatory modes (evaluated 3 months before the race) and the experience of stress approaching the marathon, is mediated by the type of passion (harmonious vs obsessive) athletes experience with regard to marathoning. Results revealed that (a) locomotion positively predicted harmonious passion, which in turn reduced athletes' experience of stress; and (b) assessment positively predicted obsessive passion, which in turn enhanced athletes' experience of stress. Overall, the present results suggest that proximal psychological mechanisms such as basic regulatory mode orientations can predict distal outcomes such as stress indirectly through their relation with motivational phenomena such as passion.

The construct of Self Efficacy is very influential in health and clinical psychology (e.g. 1) and is gaining relevance in the understanding of insomnia (2). Some studies emphasized the importance of self efficacy in predicting the treatment response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (3). The present study is aimed to introduce a bidimensional self-efficacy scale evaluating: (a) the perceived ability to initiate and to maintain sleep; (b) the perceived ability to stand the diurnal consequences of a poor sleep. The Insomnia Self Efficacy Scale (ISES) is composed of 10 items requesting to assess different abilities in a 5 point scale. 731 patients of GP (mean age 42.9 SD 16.4; female 73.3%) completed the ISES and a screening questionnaire for sleep disorders (QDS, 4). The bifactorial structure of the ISES were tested through a confirmative factor analysis and its factorial invariance was evaluated through a multigroup analysis considering 140 (19.2%) patients without sleep complaints, 177 (24.2%) with DSM-IV insomnia, and 414 (56.6%) with subcriterial DIMS or other sleep problems. The data show adequate fit to the bidimensional model (CHI square= 311.85, P < 0.001; NNFI = 0.94; CFI = 0.95;RMSEA = 0.11). The ISES bifactorial structure is stable in the patients with insomnia and in those without sleep problems(CHI square= 204.58; NNFI = 0.94; CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.10) however in the latter they are highly correlated while in the former they are independent. ANOVAs show that for both subscales in the insomnia group the self efficacy scores are lower compared to both other groups(F(2,271) = 94.5; F(2,270) = 12). Further studies will evaluate the validity of the ISES in predicting compliance to treatments for insomnia and in assessing their results. References: 1. Schwarzer, R. (2001). Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10, 47–51. 2. Morin C.M. (1983) Insomnia: Psychological assessment and management. 3. Bouchard S. (2003). Behavioural sleep medicine, 1(4), p. 187. 4. Violani C. et al. (2004). Brain Research Bulletin, 63, 415–421.

II costrutto dell'auto-efficacia percepita si è dimostrato essere decisamente influente nell'ambito della psicologia della salute e della psicologia clinica acquisendo una grande rilevanza nella comprensione dell'insonnia. Alcuni studi, infatti, enfatizzano la centralità dell'autoeffìcacia percepita nel predire la risposta al trattamento alle Terapia Cognitivo- Comportamentale per l'insonnia. Il presente studio ha lo scopo di introdurre una scala bidimensionale di autoefficacia che misura: a) l'abilità percepita di iniziare e mantenere il sonno, b) l'abilità percepita di sopportare le conseguenze di un sonno insufficiente o di scarsa qualità. Sembra utile mantenere separate queste due dimensioni da un punto di vista sia teorico che pratico. L'ISES (Insomnia Self Effìcacy Scale) è composta da 10 item che misurano differenti abilità su una scala a 5 passi. 731 pazienti sono stati contattati presso studi di medicina di base (età media= 42.9, ds= 16.4 ; femmine 73,3%) ed hanno compilato 1' ISES e un questionario per lo screening dei disturbi del sonno (QDS). La struttura bidimensionale dell'ISES è stata testata attraverso un'analisi fattoriale confermativa. Inoltre è stata valutata l'invarianza fattoriale del modello attraverso un'analisi multigruppo considerando 140 (19,2%) pazienti che non lamentavano disturbi di sonno, 177 (24,2%) che lamentavano disturbi d'insonnia soddisfacendo i criteri del DSM-IV, e 414 (56,6%) che riportavano disturbi subcriteriali o altri disturbi. I risultati mostrano un fit adeguato del modello bidimensionale (Chi quadro (34)=259,76 ;p

Introduction: It is well known that young drivers are a population at risk for nocturnal car accidents related to sleepiness. Several authors suggested that young novice drivers are characterized by perceiving relatively low levels of risk in specific driving situations compared to other groups of drivers. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies directly aimed at evaluating how young drivers perceive the risk of sleepy driving, and to examine factors associated to this perception. The present study is aimed to evaluate: (1) the factors that affect the risk perception related to nocturnal driving in young people; (2) whether, according to the Prospect Theory, the way of presenting information influences evaluations and choices regarding night time driving. Method: Six hundred and ninety five young drivers (57.6% females and 42.4% males; mean age 20.85 years) answered to questions regarding different aspects of night time driving. All subjects answered to questions on risk perception of sleep related accidents, on nocturnal driving experience and on strategies adopted to counterattack sleepiness. Furthermore, subjects analysed three different decision making problems regarding nocturnal driving. They would request (a) to evaluate the risk to drive in a particular condition of sleepiness; (b) to rate how much they would comply themselves with preventive behaviors; (c) to choose between two alternative preventive strategies (one described in terms of sure but little effects, the other in terms of uncertain but great effects) to reduce the likelihood of having a nocturnal car accident due to somnolence. Half of the subjects answered to the three problems that were presented in a positive frame (e.g. emphasizing the positive consequences of the adoption of a behavior) while other half answered to the three problems that were formulated in a negative frame (e.g. emphasizing the negative consequences of not adopting the same behavior). Results: Results show that experiences of sleep attacks during driving and nocturnal driving frequency are factors that affect both the risk perception [F(1,680) = 16.8; P = 0.001] and the commitment in adopting preventive strategies (Wald(1) = 21.4; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the manipulation of informative framing significantly affects subjective evaluations [F(1,673) = 3.29; P < 0.001] and risk choices (Chi2 (1) = 9.1; P < 0.01). Discussion: Results confirm that small changes in wording a decision problem affect evaluation and choices of responders regarding nighttime driving. Results provide suggestions about the way to present information in educational programs against sleep related vehicle accidents among young drivers.

An online survey (N = 210) is presented on how the perceived utility of correct and exaggerated countermeasures against Covid-19 is affected by different pronominalization strategies (impersonal form, you, we). In evaluating the pronominalization effect, we have statistically controlled for the roles of several personal characteristics: Moral Disengagement, Moral Foundations, Health Anxiety, and Embracing of Fake News. Results indicate that, net of personal proclivities, the you form decreases the perceived utility of exaggerated countermeasures, possibly due to simulation processes. As a second point, through a Structural Equation Model, we show that binding moral values (Authority, Ingroup, and Purity) positively predict both fake news embracing and perceived utility of exaggerated countermeasures, while individualizing moral values (Harm and Fairness) negatively predict fake news embracing and positively predict the perceived utility of correct countermeasures. Lastly, fake news embracing showed a doubly bad effect: not only does it lead people to judge exaggerated countermeasures as more useful; but, more dangerously, it brings them to consider correct countermeasures as less useful in the struggle against the pandemic.

// Federica Galli 1 , Andrea Chirico 1, 5 , Luca Mallia 2 , Laura Girelli 3 , Michelino De Laurentiis 4 , Fabio Lucidi 1 , Antonio Giordano 5, 6 and Gerardo Botti 7 1 Department of Psychology of Development and Socialization Processes, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy 2 Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome, “Foro Italico”, Rome, Italy 3 Department of Human, Philosophical, Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy 4 Breast Department, National Cancer Institute of Naples IRCCS “G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy 5 Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A 6 Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy 7 Division of Pathology, Department of Experimental Oncology, G. Pascale Foundation, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, Naples, Italy Correspondence to: Antonio Giordano, email: president@shro.org Keywords: older adults; physical activity; exercise; well-being; health; Gerotarget Received: February 16, 2018 Accepted: April 25, 2018 Published: May 22, 2018 ABSTRACT Physical activity and exercise have been identified as behaviors to preserve physical and mental health in older adults. The aim of the present study was to test the Integrated Behavior Change model in exercise and physical activity behaviors. The study evaluated two different samples of older adults: the first engaged in exercise class, the second doing spontaneous physical activity. The key analyses relied on Variance-Based Structural Modeling, which were performed by means of WARP PLS 6.0 statistical software. The analyses estimated the Integrated Behavior Change model in predicting exercise and physical activity, in a longitudinal design across two months of assessment. The tested models exhibited a good fit with the observed data derived from the model focusing on exercise, as well as with those derived from the model focusing on physical activity. Results showed, also, some effects and relations specific to each behavioral context. Results may form a starting point for future experimental and intervention research.

One of the most tangible effects of music is its ability to alter our perception of time. Research on waiting times and time estimation of musical excerpts has attested its veritable effects. Nevertheless, there exist contrasting results regarding several musical features’ influence on time perception. When considering emotional valence and arousal, there is some evidence that positive affect music fosters time underestimation, whereas negative affect music leads to overestimation. Instead, contrasting results exist with regard to arousal. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, a systematic investigation has not yet been conducted within the audiovisual domain, wherein music might improve the interaction between the user and the audiovisual media by shaping the recipients’ time perception. Through the current between-subjects online experiment (n = 565), we sought to analyze the influence that four soundtracks (happy, relaxing, sad, scary), differing in valence and arousal, exerted on the time estimation of a short movie, as compared to a no-music condition. The results reveal that (1) the mere presence of music led to time overestimation as opposed to the absence of music, (2) the soundtracks that were perceived as more arousing (i.e., happy and scary) led to time overestimation. The findings are discussed in terms of psychological and phenomenological models of time perception.

The literature shows that homesickness can have a negative impact on different areas of psychological functioning such as cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physical and social ones. The study, conducted on a sample of first-year university students, aimed to test a model hypothesizing that two distinct dimensions of homesickness, attachment to home and disliking university, could have both direct and indirect effects on their psychological distress and sleep difficulties. Two hundred and seventy-seven first-year students (70.4% Female) living away from home (mean age= 21.3, SD= 2.7) were included in the study and filled out questionnaires assessing homesickness, psychological distress and sleep difficulties. Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis confirmed that the two homesickness dimensions worked differently since only the one relating to new place adjustment difficulties (i.e. disliking the university) resulted having both direct and indirect effects on students’ sleep difficulties. Although female students reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to males, the multi-group SEM analysis showed that the pattern of multivariate relationships linking the two dimensions of homesickness, psychological distress and sleep difficulties, was invariant across gender. The results of the present study suggest that university counselling and guidance services should quickly screen students experiencing homesickness and offer effective counselling programs focusing on enhancing their capacities to deal with the new academic environment.

In this study, we assessed the longitudinal effects of social-cognitive mechanisms on the self-reported use of doping substances and supplements among Italian high school students. In total, 1232 students completed questionnaires measuring various psychological factors hypothesized to influence students' intention to use substances. Three months later, 762 of the students completed the same questionnaires a second time and also reported their use of substances during the time between assessments. Overall, the percentages of students using doping substances (2.1%) or supplements (14.4%) were consistent with values reported in the literature. Analysis of the data showed that adolescents' intention to use doping substances increased with stronger attitudes about doping, stronger beliefs that significant others would approve of their use, a stronger conviction that doping use can be justified, and a lowered capacity to resist situational pressure or personal desires. In turn, stronger intentions and moral disengagement contributed to a greater use of doping substances during the previous 3 months. Doping use was also correlated significantly to supplementation. In conclusion, our results provide novel information about some of the psychological processes possibly regulating adolescents' use of doping substances and supplements. The results also highlight possible areas for future study and intervention, focusing on the prevention of adolescents' substance use.

The aim of the present study is to analyse factors affecting worries, coping strategies and decisions of young drivers regarding the risk of sleep-related car crashes. Furthermore, the study also analyses whether framing the same information about sleepiness in two different linguistic forms influences: (1) the evaluation of the level of risk associated to a specific level of drowsiness (Attribute Framing problem); (2) the willingness to enact strategies to "prevent" sleepiness before night-time driving (Goal Framing problem); (3) the choice between two different ways, both of equal expected efficacy, of lowering drowsiness (Risky decision-making Framing problem). Six hundred and ninety-five young drivers [(57.6% females, 42.4% males); mean age 20.85 years (S.D. = 1.2)] answered questions on drive risk perception and sleepiness, on nocturnal driving experience and on the strategies to deal with driver sleepiness, responding to one of the two different versions of the framed problems. A sub-sample of 130 participants completed the framed problems in both versions. The results show that experiences of sleep attacks and nocturnal driving frequency in the past 6 months affect both risk perception and the preventive strategies adopted. Furthermore, the manipulation on two out of the three problems (attribute and risky decision-making frames) significantly affected the respondents' evaluation.