48 results on '"Cassibba R."'
Search Results
2. Temporal Relationships Between Gaze and Vocal Behavior in Prelinguistic and Linguistic Communication
- Author
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D'Odorico, L., Cassibba, R., and Salerni, N.
- Published
- 1997
- Full Text
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Catalog
3. Temporal Relationships Between Gaze and Vocal Behavior in Prelinguistic and Linguistic Communication
- Author
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Dʼodorico, L., Cassibba, R., and Salerni, N.
- Published
- 1997
4. MODELLI E METODI DI VALUTAZIONE DEGLI INTERVENTI PER I MINORI E LE FAMIGLIE VULNERABILI.
- Author
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BALENZANO, C., MORO, G., and CASSIBBA, R.
- Published
- 2013
5. L'ATTACCAMENTO AL PARTNER E A DIO COME RISORSA PSICOLOGICA NEL PROCESSO DI ADATTAMENTO ALLA MALATTIA CANCRO.
- Author
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Cassibba, R., Costantino, E., Papagna, S., Montanaro, R., and Mattioli, V.
- Published
- 2008
6. Cross-Sectional Study of Coordination Between Infants' Gaze and Vocalizations Towards Their Mothers.
- Author
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D'Odorico, L. and Cassibba, R.
- Subjects
MOTHER-infant relationship ,GAZE ,INFANT development ,VERBAL behavior ,COMMUNICATION ,VISUAL perception in infants ,HUMAN behavior ,SPEECH perception in infants ,INFANT psychology ,NONVERBAL communication in infants ,INTERPERSONAL communication in infants ,SOCIAL interaction in infants - Abstract
The study aimed at providing more precise information about infants' capacity to coordinate their vocalizations with gaze towards their mothers. A total of 32 infants were observed, four boys and four girls in each of four age groups (4, 6, 8 and 10 months), in an observational setting aimed at minimizing infants' casual looks to their mothers. Videotapes of mother-infant-toy interactions were coded separately for infants' vocalizations and gaze towards their mothers, and the difference between observed and expected co-occurrence of these two communicative behaviours was evaluated by transformation into z-scores. Results indicate that only at 10 months of age do infants develop the ability to coordinate vocalizations and gazes towards mother. Moreover, more competent subjects show temporal relationships between gaze and vocalizations different from those observed in less competent subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...
- Published
- 1995
- Full Text
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7. Lead/carbon steel galvanic corrosion evaluation
- Author
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Semino, C.J., Burkart, A.L., García, M.E., and Cassibba, R.
- Published
- 1996
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8. The role of late adolescents' emotion regulation in the experience of COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal study.
- Author
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Musso P, Inguglia C, Wiium N, Coco AL, Liga F, Albiero P, Bartolo MG, Cassibba R, Barrett M, Tenenbaum H, Burns MB, and Ingoglia S
- Subjects
- Humans, Adolescent, Male, Female, Longitudinal Studies, Italy, Young Adult, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, COVID-19 psychology, Emotional Regulation, Anxiety psychology
- Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic may be considered a unique mass-trauma experience. This study examined the relations between Italian late adolescents' emotion regulation strategies, their anxiety states, and their experience of the lockdown (in terms of discomfort related to restrictions, capacities to create new functional daily routines, and to find positive changes in one's own life) during the first wave of this pandemic. We analysed how participants' reports of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression were associated with anxiety states during the 2020 Italian COVID-19 lockdown (large scale physical distancing and movement restrictions) and one month after the lockdown restrictions had been removed. We also examined how cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and anxiety states were linked to late adolescents' experience of lockdown. The participants were 497 Italian adolescents, aged from 17 to 24 years (M
age = 21.11, SD = 1.83). A longitudinal structural equation modelling showed that emotion regulation strategies and anxiety states were not associated across time. Cognitive reappraisal was positively associated with routine reorganization and positive changes. In contrast, participants' expressive suppression was negatively related to their discomfort related to restrictions, ability to functionally reorganise their daily routine, and ability to find positive changes related to the COVID-19 emergency. Anxiety was positively linked to discomfort related to restrictions. The findings are discussed in light of the current literature related to emotion regulation and anxiety. Limitations and implications for practice are presented., (© 2024 The Authors. Stress and Health published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.) more...- Published
- 2024
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9. The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: Cross-national measurement invariance and convergent validity evidence.
- Author
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Jovanović V, Rudnev M, Abdelrahman M, Abdul Kadir NB, Adebayo DF, Akaliyski P, Alaseel R, Alkamali YA, Alonso Palacio LM, Amin A, Andres A, Ansari-Moghaddam A, Aruta JJB, Avanesyan HM, Ayub N, Bacikova-Sleskova M, Baikanova R, Bakkar B, Bartoluci S, Benitez D, Bodnar I, Bolatov A, Borchet J, Bosnar K, Broche-Pérez Y, Buzea C, Cassibba R, Del Pilar Grazioso M, Dhakal S, Dimitrova R, Dominguez A, Duong CD, Dutra Thome L, Estavela AJ, Fayankinnu EA, Ferenczi N, Fernández-Morales R, Friehs MT, Gaete J, Gharz Edine W, Gindi S, Giordani RCF, Gjoneska B, Godoy JC, Hancheva CD, Hapunda G, Hihara S, Islam MS, Janovská A, Javakhishvili N, Kabir RS, Kabunga A, Karakulak A, Karl JA, Katović D, Kauyzbay Z, Kaźmierczak M, Khanna R, Khosla M, Kisaakye P, Klicperova-Baker M, Kokera R, Kozina A, Krauss SE, Landabur R, Lefringhausen K, Lewandowska-Walter A, Liang YH, Lizarzaburu-Aguinaga D, López Steinmetz LC, Makashvili A, Malik S, Manrique-Millones D, Martín-Carbonell M, Mattar Yunes MA, McGrath B, Mechili EA, Mejía Alvarez M, Mhizha S, Michałek-Kwiecień J, Mishra SK, Mohammadi M, Mohsen F, Moreta-Herrera R, Muradyan MD, Musso P, Naterer A, Nemat A, Neto F, Neto J, Okati-Aliabad H, Orellana CI, Orellana L, Park J, Pavlova I, Peralta EA, Petrytsa P, Pilkauskaite Valickiene R, and Et Al more...
- Subjects
- Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Psychometrics methods, Fear, Anxiety diagnosis, COVID-19 diagnosis
- Abstract
Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a widely used measure that captures somatic symptoms of coronavirus-related anxiety. In a large-scale collaboration spanning 60 countries ( N
total = 21,513), we examined the CAS's measurement invariance and assessed the convergent validity of CAS scores in relation to the fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) and the satisfaction with life (SWLS-3) scales. We utilized both conventional exact invariance tests and alignment procedures, with results revealing that the single-factor model fit the data well in almost all countries. Partial scalar invariance was supported in a subset of 56 countries. To ensure the robustness of results, given the unbalanced samples, we employed resampling techniques both with and without replacement and found the results were more stable in larger samples. The alignment procedure demonstrated a high degree of measurement invariance with 9% of the parameters exhibiting noninvariance. We also conducted simulations of alignment using the parameters estimated in the current model. Findings demonstrated reliability of the means but indicated challenges in estimating the latent variances. Strong positive correlations between CAS and FCV-19S estimated with all three different approaches were found in most countries. Correlations of CAS and SWLS-3 were weak and negative but significantly differed from zero in several countries. Overall, the study provided support for the measurement invariance of the CAS and offered evidence of its convergent validity while also highlighting issues with variance estimation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved). more...- Published
- 2024
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10. Trust in government moderates the association between fear of COVID-19 as well as empathic concern and preventive behaviour.
- Author
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Karakulak A, Tepe B, Dimitrova R, Abdelrahman M, Akaliyski P, Alaseel R, Alkamali YA, Amin A, Lizarzaburu Aguinaga DA, Andres A, Aruta JJBR, Assiotis M, Avanesyan H, Ayub N, Bacikova-Sleskova M, Baikanova R, Bakkar B, Bartoluci S, Benitez D, Bodnar I, Bolatov A, Borchet J, Bosnar K, Broche-Pérez Y, Buzea C, Cassibba R, Carbonell MM, Chen BB, Dimitrovska GR, Công Doanh D, Dominguez Espinosa ADC, Edine WG, Ferenczi N, Fernández-Morales R, Gaete J, Gan Y, Giolo S, Giordani RCF, Friehs MT, Gindi S, Gjoneska B, Godoy JC, Del Pilar Grazioso M, Hancheva C, Hapunda G, Hihara S, Husain MS, Islam MS, Janovská A, Javakhishvili N, Jovanović V, Kabir RS, Abdul Kadir NB, Karl J, Katović D, Kauyzbay Z, Kawashima TD, Kazmierczak M, Khanna R, Khosla M, Klicperová-Baker M, Kozina A, Krauss SE, Landabur R, Lefringhausen K, Lewandowska-Walter A, Liang YH, Makashvili A, Malik S, Manrique-Millones D, Mastrotheodoros S, McGrath B, Mechili EA, Mejía M, Mhizha S, Michalek-Kwiecien J, Miconi D, Mohsen F, Moreta-Herrera R, Muhl C, Muradyan M, Musso P, Naterer A, Nemat A, Neto F, Neto J, Palacio LMA, Okati-Aliabad H, Orellana CI, Orellana LM, Mishra SK, Park J, Pavlova I, Peralta E, Petrytsa P, Pišot S, Prot F, Rasia J, Rivera R, Riyanti BPD, Samekin A, Seisembekov T, Serapinas D, Silletti F, Sharma P, Shukla S, Skrzypińska K, Šolcová IP, Solomontos-Kountouri O, Stanciu A, Stefenel D, Steinmetz LCL, Stogianni M, Stuart J, Sudarnoto LF, Sugimura K, Sultana S, Suryani AO, Tair E, Tavitian-Elmadjan L, Thome LD, Uka F, Valickienė RP, Walter B, Wendt GW, Yang PJ, Yıldırım E, Yu Y, Yunes MAM, Zanoni da Silva M, and Rudnev M more...
- Abstract
With the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioural scientists aimed to illuminate reasons why people comply with (or not) large-scale cooperative activities. Here we investigated the motives that underlie support for COVID-19 preventive behaviours in a sample of 12,758 individuals from 34 countries. We hypothesized that the associations of empathic prosocial concern and fear of disease with support towards preventive COVID-19 behaviours would be moderated by trust in the government. Results suggest that the association between fear of disease and support for COVID-19 preventive behaviours was strongest when trust in the government was weak (both at individual- and country-level). Conversely, the association with empathic prosocial concern was strongest when trust in the government was high, but this moderation was only found at individual-level scores of governmental trust. We discuss how motivations may be shaped by socio-cultural context, and outline how findings may contribute to a better understanding of collective action during global crises., (© 2023. The Author(s).) more...
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- 2023
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11. The Placement of Children in Need of Out-of-Home Care: Forms of Care and Differences in Attachment Security and Behavioral Problems in the Italian Context.
- Author
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Cassibba R, Balenzano C, Silletti F, Coppola G, Costantini A, Giorgio S, Taurino A, Cheah CSL, and Musso P
- Subjects
- Child, Adolescent, Humans, Foster Home Care, Multivariate Analysis, Object Attachment, Adoption, Problem Behavior, Home Care Services
- Abstract
The current paper investigated differences in secure attachment levels and behavioral problems among four groups of children in out-of-home care in Italy: closed adoption (child and birth parents not in contact following adoption), open adoption (child and birth parents still in contact after placement), foster care (child living temporarily with relatives or unrelated foster parents) and institutional care (child in residential care for large groups of children). One hundred and thirty children aged 10-19 were included in this study. The Attachment Interview for Childhood and Adolescence and the Achenbach Youth Self-Report were employed to measure participants' secure attachment levels and behavioral problems. Both a multivariate analysis of covariance and measured variable path analysis were performed. Age, gender and time elapsed between the request for child protection and placement on out-of-home care were used as covariates. The results showed that adolescents in closed adoption had higher secure attachment scores than those in foster care and institutional care, while adolescents in open adoption scored significantly higher on problem behaviors than those in the other out-of-home care groups. Findings were discussed in terms of limitations and implications for future research. more...
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- 2023
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12. The role of maladaptive personality traits on psychological stress the mediating effects of COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation.
- Author
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Semeraro C, Giofrè D, Coppola G, Verri V, Bottalico M, Cassibba R, and Taurino A
- Abstract
There is increasing evidence that dysfunctional personality traits, related to psychological maladjustment and psychopathology, can play an important role in a person's ability to cope with major stressful events. Relatively little is known about the specific effect of the emotional component on the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and psychological stress. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the maladaptive personality traits of psychoticism, detachment, and negative affect, and psychological stress, considering the effects of COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation. An online survey was administered to 1172 adult participants. A series of path analysis models showed that maladaptive personality traits (psychoticism, detachment, and negative affect) are related to psychological stress. COVID-19-related worries and emotional dysregulation partially explained this association. The results suggest that in the early months of 2022, during the reduction of government restrictions, although the world population was no longer in nationwide lockdown, the COVID-19-related emotional component could still explain, at least in part, the association between maladaptive personality traits and psychological stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) more...
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- 2023
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13. Relation between fluid intelligence and mathematics and reading comprehension achievements: The moderating role of student teacher relationships and school bonding.
- Author
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Semeraro C, Musso P, Cassibba R, Annese S, Scurani A, Lucangeli D, Taurino A, and Coppola G
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Humans, Students psychology, Schools, Intelligence, Mathematics, Reading, Comprehension
- Abstract
Several studies have shown the relevance among students of the quality of their interpersonal relationships for their academic achievement. Nevertheless, most studies available have explored the relation between the cognitive functioning and academic achievement without taking into account the quality of the relationships experienced in the school environment. Furthermore, the studies that have begun to consider the joint role of these factors in the prediction of academic achievement are scant. Therefore, it appears of relevance to deepen the relation between cognitive functioning and quality of school relationships in order to support students' academic achievement and the potential of youth. In this paper, we examined the moderating role of the quality of student-teacher relationships and school bonding (STR-SB) in the associations of fluid intelligence (Gf) with academic achievement among adolescents (N = 219). A multiple-group structural equation modelling analysis revealed that STR-SB quality moderated unexpectedly only the link between Gf and mathematics. The findings support the idea that the quality of student-teacher relationships may be a relevant dimension to be considered to clarify the association between cognitive functioning and academic achievement., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Semeraro et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.) more...
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- 2023
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14. Learning to play a musical instrument in the middle school is associated with superior audiovisual working memory and fluid intelligence: A cross-sectional behavioral study.
- Author
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Lippolis M, Müllensiefen D, Frieler K, Matarrelli B, Vuust P, Cassibba R, and Brattico E
- Abstract
Music training, in all its forms, is known to have an impact on behavior both in childhood and even in aging. In the delicate life period of transition from childhood to adulthood, music training might have a special role for behavioral and cognitive maturation. Among the several kinds of music training programs implemented in the educational communities, we focused on instrumental training incorporated in the public middle school curriculum in Italy that includes both individual, group and collective (orchestral) lessons several times a week. At three middle schools, we tested 285 preadolescent children (aged 10-14 years) with a test and questionnaire battery including adaptive tests for visuo-spatial working memory skills (with the Jack and Jill test), fluid intelligence (with a matrix reasoning test) and music-related perceptual and memory abilities (with listening tests). Of these children, 163 belonged to a music curriculum within the school and 122 to a standard curriculum. Significant differences between students of the music and standard curricula were found in both perceptual and cognitive domains, even when controlling for pre-existing individual differences in musical sophistication. The music children attending the third and last grade of middle school had better performance and showed the largest advantage compared to the control group on both audiovisual working memory and fluid intelligence. Furthermore, some gender differences were found for several tests and across groups in favor of females. The present results indicate that learning to play a musical instrument as part of the middle school curriculum represents a resource for preadolescent education. Even though the current evidence is not sufficient to establish the causality of the found effects, it can still guide future research evaluation with longitudinal data., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lippolis, Müllensiefen, Frieler, Matarrelli, Vuust, Cassibba and Brattico.) more...
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- 2022
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15. How Do Religiosity and Spirituality Associate with Health-Related Outcomes of Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses? A Scoping Review.
- Author
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Iannello NM, Inguglia C, Silletti F, Albiero P, Cassibba R, Lo Coco A, and Musso P
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- Adolescent, Humans, Adaptation, Psychological, Chronic Disease, Spirituality, Religion
- Abstract
The aim of the current scoping review was to explore the associations between religious and spiritual factors and the health-related outcomes of adolescents with chronic illnesses, as well as to investigate possible mechanisms accounting for these relationships. In total, 20 studies meeting the eligibility criteria were reviewed after performing a search of the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. The results suggested that religious and spiritual beliefs, thoughts, and practices (e.g., spiritual coping activities) might have both beneficial and deleterious effects on the way adolescents deal with their medical condition, on their psychosocial adjustment, on their mental and physical health, and on their adherence to treatments. Mediating and moderating mechanisms explaining these relations were also evidenced. Suggestions for future research and practical implications for healthcare professionals are provided in the concluding section of this work. more...
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- 2022
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16. The Role of Parenting, Dysregulation and Self-Esteem in Adolescents' Problematic Social Network Site Use: A Test of Parallel and Serial Mediation Models in a Healthy Community Sample.
- Author
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Costantini A, Semeraro C, Musso P, Cassibba R, and Coppola G
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Male, Humans, Female, Health Status, Social Networking, Parenting, Self Concept
- Abstract
The study addresses some gaps in the current understanding of adolescents' Problematic Social Network Site Use (PSNSU) by exploring the role of parenting as a precursor, and dysregulation and self-esteem as possible mediators. The sample includes 148 parents (15% fathers) and their adolescent offspring (23% male, age ranging from 14 to 18 years old, M = 15.96, SD = 1.36). Parent-reported dysregulation and positive/negative parenting style and adolescent-reported PSNSU and self-esteem were collected. As to positive parenting, simple parallel mediations were fully supported: positive parenting was associated with less dysregulation and higher self-esteem and both conditions independently predicted adolescents' PSNSU. Additionally, a serial mediation model was confirmed, suggesting that positive parenting is associated with less PSNSU by means of the sequential effect of dysregulation on self-esteem. As to negative parenting, results only support one simple mediation: negative parenting predicted PSNSU through dysregulation. Self-esteem was not impacted by negative parenting, interrupting the indirect pathways. The direct effect of negative parenting on PSNSU was significant, suggesting a partial mediation. Findings deepen the current understanding of teens' PSNSU and highlight the importance of targeting parenting when implementing interventions to prevent and treat PSNSU. more...
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- 2022
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17. The Relation Between Empathy and Aggression: The Role of Attachment Style.
- Author
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Lo Cricchio MG, Musso P, Lo Coco A, Cassibba R, and Liga F
- Abstract
This study aimed to examine the explaining and moderating role of attachment style profiles on the association between empathy and aggression. Participants were 548 Italian adults (M = 47.62 years, SD = 6.14) who completed a survey measuring attachment, empathy, and aggression. Using cluster analytic methods, initial results indicated two attachment style profiles to be considered (secure vs. insecure). However, we also extracted a more theoretically guided four-cluster solution including preoccupied, secure, fearful, and dismissing profiles. Moreover, structural equation modelling showed that higher levels of empathy linked to lower levels of aggression. Nonetheless, when introducing in the model the dichotomous or the multi-categorical attachment style profile variable as predictive of both empathy and aggression, their association became not significant, while secure attachment profile significantly presented higher levels of empathy and lower levels of aggression compared to the other profiles. Furthermore, attachment style profile moderated the link between empathy and aggression. Specifically, in the secure group empathy and aggression were negatively related, but no significant association was evidenced in the other groups. Findings are discussed in the light of the literature., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. more...
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- 2022
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18. STEM-Gender Stereotypes: Associations With School Empowerment and School Engagement Among Italian and Nigerian Adolescents.
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Musso P, Ligorio MB, Ibe E, Annese S, Semeraro C, and Cassibba R
- Abstract
While many sociocultural, contextual, biological, behavioral, and psychological variables may contribute to the widespread under-representation of girls and women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, this study focused on STEM-gender stereotypes, school experiences, and adolescence as critical factors in driving students' interest and motivation in STEM. Based on this, the study (a) investigated differences by gender and national context (Italy vs. Nigeria) in adolescents' STEM-gender stereotypes, school empowerment, and school engagement in a preliminary step, and (b) simultaneously examined how adolescents' STEM-gender stereotypes were related to school empowerment and school engagement as well as to socioeconomic status (SES). These latter relations were considered within the context of the potential moderating role of gender and national context. Participants included 213 Italian adolescents (M
age = 13.91; 52.1% girls) and 214 Nigerian adolescents (Mage = 13.92; 60.3% girls), who completed measures of school empowerment and engagement, STEM-gender stereotypes, and SES. A multivariate analysis of covariance showed that Nigerian girls and boys reported significantly higher levels of school empowerment, school engagement, and STEM-gender stereotypes than their Italian peers. Moreover, regardless of the national context, boys scored significantly higher on school empowerment and STEM-gender stereotypes than girls. Furthermore, a multiple-group path analysis revealed how higher school empowerment was related to lower STEM-gender stereotypes in both Italian and Nigerian girls' groups, while higher school engagement was associated with lower STEM-gender stereotypes only in the Nigerian groups. Regardless of gender and nationality, higher SES was linked to lower STEM-gender stereotypes. These findings particularly suggest that school empowerment and school engagement can be relevant dimensions to be studied and to develop strategies to counteract STEM-gender stereotypes in adolescence. Nonetheless, gender and national context are key factors to be considered. Limitations, strengths, future research, and educational implications are discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Musso, Ligorio, Ibe, Annese, Semeraro and Cassibba.) more...- Published
- 2022
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19. Aligning personal and collective interests in emerging adults during the COVID-19 emergency in Italy.
- Author
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Ingoglia S, Musso P, Inguglia C, Barrett M, Tenenbaum H, Cassibba R, Albiero P, Bartolo MG, Burns B, Canale R, Costabile A, Elia G, Liga F, Palermiti A, Pichardo MC, Servidio RC, Verrastro V, Wiium N, and Lo Coco A more...
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, COVID-19
- Abstract
This study investigated the relations of emerging adults' personal (civic competence and interdependent self-construal) and community-based (sense of community and civic engagement) resources as predictors of appraisal of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) and attitudes toward preventing contagion in Italy. Participants were 2873 Italian emerging adults (71% females) aged 19-30 years (M = 22.67, SD = 2.82). Structural equation modeling revealed both direct and indirect positive associations among study variables. Civic competence and interdependent self-construal were related to sense of community and civic engagement behavior which, in turn, predicted appraisal of PHEM. Appraisal of PHEM in turn predicted attitudes toward preventing contagion. Overall, findings highlight the importance of examining the alignment between personal and collective interests to understand emerging adults' evaluative and attitudinal experiences during a period of crisis, such as that created by COVID-19., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.) more...
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- 2022
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20. Psychological counseling in the Italian academic context: Expected needs, activities, and target population in a large sample of students.
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Musso P, Coppola G, Pantaleo E, Amoroso N, Balenzano C, Bellotti R, Cassibba R, Diacono D, and Monaco A
- Subjects
- Counseling, Humans, Mental Health, Universities, Young Adult, Academic Success, Students psychology
- Abstract
University psychological counseling (UPC) is receiving growing attention as a means to promote mental health and academic success among young adults and prevent irregular attendance and dropout. However, thus far, little effort has been directed towards the implementation of services attuned to students' expectations and needs. This work intends to contribute to the existing literature on this topic, by exploring the perceptions of UPC among a population of 39,277 students attending one of the largest universities in the South of Italy. Almost half of the total population correctly identified the UPC target population as university students, and about one third correctly expected personal distress to be the main need that UPC should target. However, a large percentage did not have a clear idea about UPC target needs, activities, and population. When two specific student subsamples were analyzed using a person-centered analysis, namely (i) those who expressed their intention to use the counseling service but had not yet done so and (ii) those who had already used it, the first subsample clustered into two groups, characterized by an "emotional" and a "psychopathological" focus, respectively, while the second subsample clustered into three groups with a "clinical", "socioemotional", and "learning" focus, respectively. This result shows a somewhat more "superficial" and "common" representation of UPC in the first subsample and a more "articulated" and "flexible" vision in the second subsample. Taken together, these findings suggest that UPC services could adopt "student-centered" strategies to both identify and reach wider audiences and specific student subgroups. Recommended strategies include robust communication campaigns to help students develop a differentiated perception of the available and diverse academic services, and the involvement of active students to remove the barriers of embarrassment and shame often linked to the stigma of using mental health services., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. more...
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- 2022
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21. Parenting practices and dysregulation profile in a sample of Italian children.
- Author
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Muratori P, Levantini V, Maggi S, Pisano S, Cassibba R, Iacobellis B, Semeraro C, and Coppola G
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- Adolescent, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Parents psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Parenting psychology, Psychopathology
- Abstract
Background: emotional dysregulation is a transdiagnostic factor linked to a heightened risk for psychopathology. A dysregulation profile (DP) derived from the Strenght and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is often used to indirectly assess emotional dysregulation in children and adolescents. Theoretical models account for parenting as a causal and maintaining factor for emotional dysregulation. Notwithstanding, empirical data are scant., Methods: 547 students (47.5% males) aged between 9 and 11 years of age (mean age = 9.66, SD = 0.64) were assessed with the SDQ-DP (teacher and parent-reported) and their parents self-reported on their own parenting practices with the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire., Results: as expected, SDQ-DP teacher-rated was positively associated with maternal and paternal negative parenting practices; SDQ-DP mother and father-rated were both negatively associated with maternal and paternal positive parenting and positively associated with maternal and paternal negative parenting practices., Limitation: the age range is limited to pre-adolescents. The cross-sectional nature of the study precludes inferences on causality., Conclusions: youth's emotional dysregulation is linked to parenting practices. These findings support the need to include families in the intervention for emotionally dysregulated youths., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) more...
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- 2022
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22. Attachment goes to court: child protection and custody issues.
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Forslund T, Granqvist P, van IJzendoorn MH, Sagi-Schwartz A, Glaser D, Steele M, Hammarlund M, Schuengel C, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Steele H, Shaver PR, Lux U, Simmonds J, Jacobvitz D, Groh AM, Bernard K, Cyr C, Hazen NL, Foster S, Psouni E, Cowan PA, Pape Cowan C, Rifkin-Graboi A, Wilkins D, Pierrehumbert B, Tarabulsy GM, Carcamo RA, Wang Z, Liang X, Kázmierczak M, Pawlicka P, Ayiro L, Chansa T, Sichimba F, Mooya H, McLean L, Verissimo M, Gojman-de-Millán S, Moretti MM, Bacro F, Peltola MJ, Galbally M, Kondo-Ikemura K, Behrens KY, Scott S, Rodriguez AF, Spencer R, Posada G, Cassibba R, Barrantes-Vidal N, Palacios J, Barone L, Madigan S, Jones-Mason K, Reijman S, Juffer F, Pasco Fearon R, Bernier A, Cicchetti D, Roisman GI, Cassidy J, Kindler H, Zimmermann P, Feldman R, Spangler G, Zeanah CH, Dozier M, Belsky J, Lamb ME, and Duschinsky R more...
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Child Custody, Object Attachment
- Abstract
Attachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. The article is divided into two parts. In the first, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child's need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments of attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration. more...
- Published
- 2022
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23. Maternal Psychological Factors and Onset of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Offspring: A Prospective Study.
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Baldassarre ME, Antonucci LA, Castoro G, Di Mauro A, Fanelli M, Grosso FM, Cassibba R, and Laforgia N
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- Adult, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Mothers, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Depression, Postpartum diagnosis, Depression, Postpartum epidemiology, Depression, Postpartum etiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases diagnosis, Gastrointestinal Diseases epidemiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases etiology
- Abstract
Background/objectives: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions of unclear etiology. The biopsychosocial model approach to FGIDs posits that early-life stressors may trigger a cascade of complex interactions between genetic predisposition and risk factors eventually leading to the occurrence of FGIDs. The relationship between the psychological disposition of the mother and FGIDs occurrence is poorly understood. We conducted a study to investigate if parental psychological factors may contribute to the onset of FGIDs in offspring., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of parent-infant pairs who completed a battery of self-reported psychological questionnaires and a validated Rome III questionnaire for the diagnosis of infant and toddler FGIDs. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to examine postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms; the Maternity Blues Questionnaire (MBQ) was applied to measure maternity blues severity; the Symptoms Checklist-Revised (SCL90-R) was used to assess the presence of relevant psychiatric symptoms; adult attachment style in mothers was assessed in a continuous way through the five dimensions of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ)., Results: Out of the 360 eligible mothers, 200 were enrolled, 113 completed the 3-month follow-up and were included in the final analysis. PPD symptoms prevalence was 20.4%, 20%, 13.2%, and 13.1% respectively at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after delivery. 40.4% of mothers suffered from severe blues according to the MBQ. Relevant psychiatric symptoms (SCL90-R) were present in 7.8% and 10.9% of mothers, respectively at 1 week and 3 months after delivery. 48.7% of mothers showed a secure attachment pattern measured through the RQ. At 1-month follow-up, infant regurgitation was diagnosed in 26 (23%) of infants, infantile colic in 31 (27.4%), dyschezia in 17 (15%), and functional constipation in 9 (8%). At 3-month follow-up, FGIDs prevalence was respectively 16 (19.3%), 11 (13.3%), 4 (4.8%), and 11 (13.3%). A significant positive association between PPD symptoms starting 3 days after delivery and the presence of infantile colic on setting 1 month after birth was found (P = 0.028), as well as between PPD symptoms occurrence 7 days after delivery and infantile regurgitation beginning 1 month after birth (P = 0.042). A higher prevalence of infantile colic was found in the offspring of mothers suffering from PPD symptoms from 3 days after delivery (54.5 vs 19.8; P = 0.001). No significant association was found between FGIDs and psychiatric symptoms and maternity blues at any timepoint. On the other hand, mothers of infants with regurgitation with an onset 1 month after birth have higher insecurity score in avoidant and fearful ASQ-related attachment dimensions (respectively, P = 0.03, P = 0.042, P = 0.03)., Conclusions: Maternal psychological factors might contribute to the onset of infant FGIDs in offspring. Early screening of postpartum depression symptoms and early implementation of psychological interventions within the postpartum period might promote the health of the mother-infant dyad., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest, or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2021 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.) more...
- Published
- 2021
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24. Association between indoor-outdoor green features and psychological health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: A cross-sectional nationwide study.
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Spano G, D'Este M, Giannico V, Elia M, Cassibba R, Lafortezza R, and Sanesi G
- Abstract
Exposure to public green spaces was shown to be associated with psychological health. Nonetheless, evidence is lacking on the role of different green features within and/or surrounding the home environment when public green spaces are inaccessible or not usable. The overarching goal of this study is to shed light on the associations between the presence of greenness within the home and in the surrounding environment and the detrimental effects of quarantine on psychological health during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy. A cross-sectional nationwide study involving an online survey was conducted of an Italian population-based sample of 3886 respondents on the association of indoor and outdoor green features (i.e., presence of plant pots, sunlight, green view and accessibility of private green space and natural outdoor environment) with self-reported increases in anxiety, anger, fear, confusion, moodiness, boredom, irritability, recurrent thoughts and/or dreams, poor concentration and sleep disturbance during the COVID-19 lockdown. Single-exposure regression models were performed to estimate associations between single green features and each psychological health outcome adjusted for relevant covariates. In the adjusted models, the presence of plant pots at home was associated with a lower self-reported increase in anxiety, anger, fear, irritability, and sleep disturbance. A greater amount of sunlight in the home was associated with a lower increase in anger, fear, confusion, moodiness, boredom, irritability, poor concentration, and sleep disturbance. A greater amount of green view and access to private green spaces were both associated with a lower increase in each of the psychological health outcomes except for green view and recurrent thought and/or dreams. Natural outdoor environment was associated with anxiety, fear, boredom, irritability, and sleep disturbance. Significant associations remained robust when adjusted for number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Insights on future investigations are provided., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2021
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25. The interaction between OXTR rs2268493 and perceived maternal care is associated with amygdala-dorsolateral prefrontal effective connectivity during explicit emotion processing.
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Antonucci LA, Pergola G, Passiatore R, Taurisano P, Quarto T, Dispoto E, Rampino A, Bertolino A, Cassibba R, and Blasi G
- Subjects
- Adult, Amygdala diagnostic imaging, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Phenotype, Prefrontal Cortex diagnostic imaging, Young Adult, Amygdala physiology, Connectome, Emotions physiology, Facial Recognition physiology, Gene-Environment Interaction, Maternal Behavior physiology, Prefrontal Cortex physiology, Receptors, Oxytocin genetics
- Abstract
Previous studies have indicated a link between socio-emotional processing and the oxytocin receptor. In this regard, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor coding gene (OXTR rs2268493) has been linked with lower social functioning, increased risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and with post-mortem OXTR mRNA expression levels. Indeed, the levels of expression of OXTR in brain regions involved in emotion processing are also associated with maternal care. Furthermore, maternal care has been associated with emotional correlates. Taken together, these previous findings suggest a possible combined effect of rs2268493 and maternal care on emotion-related brain phenotypes. A crucial biological mechanism subtending emotional processing is the amygdala-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) functional connection. On this basis, our aim was to investigate the interaction between rs2268493 and maternal care on amygdala-DLPFC effective connectivity during emotional evaluation. We characterized through dynamic causal modeling (DCM) patterns of amygdala-DLPFC effective connectivity during explicit emotion processing in healthy controls (HC), profiled based on maternal care and rs2268493 genotype. In the whole sample, right top-down DLPFC-to-amygdala pattern was the most likely directional model of effective connectivity. This pattern of connectivity was the most likely for all rs2268493/maternal care subgroups, except for thymine homozygous (TT)/low maternal care individuals. Here, a right bottom-up amygdala-to-DLPFC was the most likely directional model. These results suggest a gene by environment interaction mediated by the oxytocin receptor on biological phenotypes relevant to emotion processing. more...
- Published
- 2020
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26. The Apple of Daddy's Eye: Parental Overvaluation Links the Narcissistic Traits of Father and Child.
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Coppola G, Musso P, Buonanno C, Semeraro C, Iacobellis B, Cassibba R, Levantini V, Masi G, Thomaes S, and Muratori P
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Mothers, Parenting, Father-Child Relations, Fathers, Narcissism
- Abstract
This study contributes to the literature on the parental correlates of children's narcissism. It addresses whether parental overvaluation may drive the putative link between parents' narcissism and children's narcissism and self-esteem. The cross-sectional design involved a community sample of 519 school-age children (age ranging from 9 to 11 years old) and their parents from an Italian urban context. Child-reported measures included narcissistic traits and self-esteem, while parent-reported measures included narcissistic traits and overvaluation, as well as parenting styles. A series of structural equation models, run separately for mothers and fathers, showed that both parents' narcissism was directly and positively related to overvaluation and the children's narcissistic traits; overvaluation partially mediated the indirect link between the fathers' and children's narcissistic traits. None of the parenting-style dimensions were related to the children's outcomes, with the exception of the mothers' positive parenting being directly and positively related to children's self-esteem. These findings shed new light upon the parental correlates of child narcissism by suggesting that mothers and fathers convey their narcissism to their offspring through differential pathways. Our findings may be understood from universal as well as cultural specifics regarding the parenting roles of mothers and fathers. Clinical implications for the treatment of youth narcissism suggest the potential of targeting not only children but also their parents. more...
- Published
- 2020
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27. The role of cognitive and non-cognitive factors in mathematics achievement: The importance of the quality of the student-teacher relationship in middle school.
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Semeraro C, Giofrè D, Coppola G, Lucangeli D, and Cassibba R
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Male, School Teachers psychology, Schools, Self Concept, Achievement, Cognition, Mathematics, Students psychology
- Abstract
There is increasing evidence that several factors, including both cognitive and non-cognitive ones, play an important role in mathematics achievement. Relatively little is known about how socio-emotional features and the quality of the student-teacher relationship correlate with mathematics achievement among adolescents in transition to middle school. The aim of the present study is to examine the role of cognitive factors (general cognitive abilities), non-cognitive factors (math anxiety and self-esteem), and the quality of the student-teacher relationship on mathematics achievement. A large sample of Italian sixth graders was evaluated upon entering middle school. The results showed that general cognitive ability was the best predictor of mathematics achievement. As regards non-cognitive factors, the level of math anxiety was effective in predicting mathematics achievement, after controlling for other measures including self-esteem and the quality of the student-teacher relationship. In particular, we found that the quality of the student-teacher relationship had an indirect influence on mathematics achievement through the mediation of math anxiety. Our findings seem to indicate that the quality of the student-teacher relationship may be related to mathematics achievement, through its effects on math anxiety. This may have important implications for practitioners and educators, as we can suggest that interventions devoted to improving the quality of the student-teacher relationship may play a positive role in both preventing math anxiety and promoting mathematics learning., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. more...
- Published
- 2020
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28. Short-Term Orchestral Music Training Modulates Hyperactivity and Inhibitory Control in School-Age Children: A Longitudinal Behavioural Study.
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Fasano MC, Semeraro C, Cassibba R, Kringelbach ML, Monacis L, de Palo V, Vuust P, and Brattico E
- Abstract
Survey studies have shown that participating in music groups produces several benefits, such as discipline, cooperation and responsibility. Accordingly, recent longitudinal studies showed that orchestral music training has a positive impact on inhibitory control in school-age children. However, most of these studies examined long periods of training not always feasible for all families and institutions and focused on children's measures ignoring the viewpoint of the teachers. Considering the crucial role of inhibitory control on hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, we wanted to explore if short orchestral music training would promote a reduction of these impulsive behaviors in children. This study involved 113 Italian children from 8 to 10 years of age. 55 of them attended 3 months of orchestral music training. The training included a 2-hour lesson per week at school and a final concert. The 58 children in the control group did not have any orchestral music training. All children were administered tests and questionnaires measuring inhibitory control and hyperactivity near the beginning and end of the 3-month training period. We also collected information regarding the levels of hyperactivity of the children as perceived by the teachers at both time points. Children in the music group showed a significant improvement in inhibitory control. Moreover, in the second measurement the control group showed an increase in self-reported hyperactivity that was not found in the group undergoing the music training program. This change was not noticed by the teachers, implying a discrepancy between self-reported and observed behavior at school. Our results suggest that even an intense and brief period of orchestral music training is sufficient to facilitate the development of inhibitory control by modulating the levels of self-reported hyperactivity. This research has implications for music pedagogy and education especially in children with high hyperactivity. Future investigations will test whether the findings can be extended to children diagnosed with ADHD. more...
- Published
- 2019
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29. Teaching of cursive writing in the first year of primary school: Effect on reading and writing skills.
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Semeraro C, Coppola G, Cassibba R, and Lucangeli D
- Subjects
- Child, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Movement, Reading, Schools, Writing, Academic Success, Handwriting
- Abstract
There is increasing evidence that mastering handwriting skills play an important role on academic achievement. This is a slow process that begins in kindergarten: at this age, writing is very similar to drawing (i.e. scribbles); from there, it takes several years before children are able to write competently. Many studies support the idea that motor training plays a crucial role to increase mental representations of the letters, but relatively little is known about the specific relation between handwriting skills and teaching practices. This study investigated the efficacy of cursive writing teaching. The sample comprised 141 students attending eight classes of the first grade of primary school, all with typical development, not exhibiting any cognitive or sensory disabilities, nor displaying motor disorders that could significantly hinder the execution of the writing task. We tested whether the development of academic writing skills could be effectively supported by training strategies focusing on cursive writing. All rules and characteristics of the letters were explained by demonstrating the correct writing movements, based on the idea that movement learning becomes more valuable when children begin to connect the letters in order to write individual words. Growth models on pre-, post- and follow-up measures showed that performance on prerequisites and writing and reading skills were better overall among the children in the intervention group as compared to control group., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. more...
- Published
- 2019
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30. Attachment style: The neurobiological substrate, interaction with genetics and role in neurodevelopmental disorders risk pathways.
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Antonucci LA, Taurisano P, Coppola G, and Cassibba R
- Subjects
- Animals, Brain diagnostic imaging, Brain growth & development, Brain physiopathology, Humans, Neurodevelopmental Disorders etiology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders physiopathology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders genetics, Neurodevelopmental Disorders psychology, Object Attachment
- Abstract
Literature has suggested that attachment insecurity has been previously associated with subsequent onset of several psychiatric conditions characterized by emotion dysregulation. Nevertheless, only few studies have investigated the neurobiological basis of attachment style and whether attachment insecurity may share a common neurobiological substrate with neurodevelopmental disorders. In this narrative contribution, we aimed to review existing literature on functional neurobiological correlates of attachment style to further understand (1) specific neurobiological patterns associated with attachment security variation, and (2) whether it is possible to identify a neurobiological overlap between attachment insecurity-related and neurodevelopmental disorders-related anomalies. Given the complex etiology of these diseases, we will also review gene by environment studies to investigate how attachment insecurity interacts with genetic factors in determining this common neurobiological substrate. We believe that a better understanding of how early attachment experiences may play a role in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders is critical to plan effective clinical interventions to reduce both the likelihood for poor parenting and the risk for the onset of psychiatric conditions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2018
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31. Confidence in Attachment Relationships and Marital Status as Protective Factors for Self-Perceived Parental Role and In-Person Visitation with Children Among Incarcerated Fathers.
- Author
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Laquale MG, Coppola G, Cassibba R, Pasceri M, Pietralunga S, Taurino A, Semeraro C, and Grattagliano I
- Subjects
- Adult, Case-Control Studies, Child, Cluster Analysis, Humans, Italy, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Father-Child Relations, Fathers, Marital Status, Object Attachment, Prisoners
- Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the role of confidence in attachment relationships and marital status as protective factors for incarcerated fathers' self-perceived parental role and in-person contacts with their children. Participants included 150 inmate fathers and 145 nonincarcerated control fathers who provided background sociodemographic information and completed two self-reports, the Attachment Style Questionnaire and the Self-Perception of Parental Role. A two-phased cluster analytic plan allowed us to highlight two profiles of self-perceived parental roles, with incarceration and low confidence in attachment relationships increasing the risk of the less optimal of the two profiles. Higher confidence in attachment relationships and having a stable romantic relationship increased the likelihood of incarcerated fathers engaging in frequent contacts with their children, while the profile of self-perceived parental role had no effect. Implications for practice are discussed, and suggestions for further research are provided., (© 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.) more...
- Published
- 2018
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32. Preterm birth enhances the contribution of mothers' mind-mindedness to infants' expressive language development: A longitudinal investigation.
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Costantini A, Coppola G, Fasolo M, and Cassibba R
- Subjects
- Child Development, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Linguistics, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mothers psychology, Pregnancy, Child Language, Infant, Premature physiology, Language Development, Mother-Child Relations psychology, Object Attachment, Premature Birth psychology
- Abstract
Maternal mind-mindedness has been shown to be a powerful predictor of many developmental outcomes and to buffer the impact of psychosocial risk conditions, but no study has investigated whether this parental feature might support child development in the presence of biological risk, such as preterm birth. The present study addresses this gap, by investigating whether early maternal mind-mindedness contributes to the growth of a child's linguistic abilities in the following two years of life, and if the contribution of this maternal feature might be stronger in the presence of preterm birth. Forty mother-child dyads (twenty with a preterm infant) were followed longitudinally, with maternal mind-mindedness assessed at 14 months of age and child's expressive linguistic abilities at 24 and 36 months through observational measures. Multilevel models showed that linguistic abilities increased from 24 to 36 months of age, but that this increase was stronger in full-term infants. Maternal mind-mindedness also contributed to this growth, playing a stronger role in preterm infants than in full-term infants. Altogether, these findings contribute more deeply to the understanding of language development in preterm infants and of the joint contribution made by biological risk and environmental factors; from a practical standpoint, they suggest the importance of addressing mother's mind-mindedness in order to support child's language development., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2017
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33. The transmission of attachment across three generations: A study in adulthood.
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Cassibba R, Coppola G, Sette G, Curci A, and Costantini A
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Learning, Likelihood Functions, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult, Family psychology, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations
- Abstract
One of the most striking pieces of evidence in attachment research is that attachment security is transmitted from 1 generation to the next. Although there has been an enormous advance in the understanding of this process, this area of research suffers from some significant gaps, as for example the transmission across 3 generations when considering the 2 parents as well as the 2 couples of grandparents. The current study was designed to fill this gap in existing literature by investigating AAI attachment representations in the members of 3 generations, belonging to a total of 32 families, each including an adult offspring, both parents and the 4 grandparents (N = 224). Main findings show that the transmission across 2 generations was stronger in the presence of a female caregiver (either mother or maternal/paternal grandmother), and that across 3 generations was confirmed only in the presence of 2 female caregivers (grandmother to mother to offspring). Conversely, the transmissions across 3 generations with only 1 or no female caregiver were not confirmed. Last, experiencing 2 secure parents increased the likelihood of developing a secure state of mind with respect to attachment among offspring, mothers and fathers, 95% confidence intervals [3.52, 1,238.72], [1.67, 31.17], and [1.67, 19.98], respectively. These findings may have important theoretical implications related to the understanding of the factors involved in the continuity and discontinuity of attachment patterns across generations. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).) more...
- Published
- 2017
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34. Failing the duck test: Reply to Barbaro, Boutwell, Barnes, and Shackelford (2017).
- Author
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Verhage ML, Schuengel C, Fearon RM, Madigan S, Oosterman M, Cassibba R, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, and van IJzendoorn MH
- Subjects
- Environment, Humans, Object Attachment, Twins
- Abstract
In this reply, we respond to the critique by Barbaro, Boutwell, Barnes, and Shackelford (2017) in regard to our recent meta-analysis of intergenerational transmission of attachment (Verhage et al., 2016). Barbaro et al. (2017) claim that the influence of shared environment on attachment decreases with age, whereas unique environmental and genetic influences increase, which they felt was disregarded in our meta-analysis. Their criticisms, we argue, are based on a misunderstanding of the core tenets of attachment theory. Barbaro et al. (2017) unify parent-offspring attachment, attachment representations, and romantic-pair attachment under the same conceptual and empirical umbrella, even though these constructs serve different behavioral systems. We show that excluding the incompatible twin data on pair bonding from their analysis undercuts their argument. Statements about the role of the shared environment in attachment beyond early childhood are highly uncertain at this point. Importantly, even if the role of the shared environment were to wane with age, its effects may still be causally important in later childhood or adult outcomes, as either an indirect factor or as a factor influencing earlier developmental outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).) more...
- Published
- 2017
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35. Narrowing the transmission gap: A synthesis of three decades of research on intergenerational transmission of attachment.
- Author
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Verhage ML, Schuengel C, Madigan S, Fearon RMP, Oosterman M, Cassibba R, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, and van IJzendoorn MH
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Child Rearing psychology, Intergenerational Relations, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations, Parenting psychology
- Abstract
Twenty years ago, meta-analytic results (k = 19) confirmed the association between caregiver attachment representations and child-caregiver attachment (Van IJzendoorn, 1995). A test of caregiver sensitivity as the mechanism behind this intergenerational transmission showed an intriguing "transmission gap." Since then, the intergenerational transmission of attachment and the transmission gap have been studied extensively, and now extend to diverse populations from all over the globe. Two decades later, the current review revisited the effect sizes of intergenerational transmission, the heterogeneity of the transmission effects, and the size of the transmission gap. Analyses were carried out with a total of 95 samples (total N = 4,819). All analyses confirmed intergenerational transmission of attachment, with larger effect sizes for secure-autonomous transmission (r = .31) than for unresolved transmission (r = .21), albeit with significantly smaller effect sizes than 2 decades earlier (r = .47 and r = .31, respectively). Effect sizes were moderated by risk status of the sample, biological relatedness of child-caregiver dyads, and age of the children. Multivariate moderator analyses showed that unpublished and more recent studies had smaller effect sizes than published and older studies. Path analyses showed that the transmission could not be fully explained by caregiver sensitivity, with more recent studies narrowing but not bridging the "transmission gap." Implications for attachment theory as well as future directions for research are discussed., ((c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).) more...
- Published
- 2016
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36. The transmission of attachment across generations: The state of art and new theoretical perspectives.
- Author
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Sette G, Coppola G, and Cassibba R
- Subjects
- Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Models, Psychological, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Parenting psychology
- Abstract
The paper reviews the body of research testing the intergenerational transmission of attachment and the theoretical shift from the linear or mediation model (van IJzendoorn, 1995), according to which parental sensitivity is the main factor responsible for the correspondence between maternal and infant's attachment, to the ecological model of the transmission of attachment (van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 1997). This latter model has prompted researchers, over time, to identify potential mediators, other than caregiver's sensitivity, of the established association between parental representations regarding attachment and infant's attachment, as well as the potential moderators of the transmission process. Each of these two research domains will be carefully explored; lastly new perspectives on the intergenerational transmission of attachment and relevant areas of research needing more investigation are highlighted., (© 2015 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.) more...
- Published
- 2015
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37. [Parricide, abuse and emotional processes: a review starting from some paradigmatic cases].
- Author
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Grattagliano I, Greco R, Di Vella G, Campobasso CP, Corbi G, Romanelli MC, Petruzzelli N, Ostuni A, Brunetti V, and Cassibba R
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Emotions, Humans, Italy, Risk Factors, Homicide psychology
- Abstract
The authors of this study tackle the complex subject of parricide, which is a rare and often brutal form of homicide. Parricide has a high emotional impact on public opinion and on our collective imagination, especially in light of the fact that the perpetrators are often minors.. Three striking cases of parricide, taken from various documented sources and judicial files from the "N. Fornelli" Juvenile Penal Institute (Bari, Italy), are presented here. A review of the literature on the topic has revealed differences between parricides committed by adults and those committed by minors. In the end, the complex issues underlying such an unusual crime are connected to abuses and maltreatment that minor perpetrators of parricide have suffered, especially the emotional processes that are activated. more...
- Published
- 2015
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38. Enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security with video feedback: an exploratory study in Italy.
- Author
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Cassibba R, Castoro G, Costantino E, Sette G, and Van Ijzendoorn MH
- Subjects
- Adult, Feedback, Psychological, Female, Humans, Infant, Italy, Male, Mothers psychology, Education, Nonprofessional methods, Maternal Behavior, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Parenting, Video Recording methods
- Abstract
This study aims to explore whether a short-term and attachment-based video-feedback intervention, the Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting With Discussions on the Representational Level (VIPP-R; F. Juffer, M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, & M.H. van IJzendoorn, 2008), might be effective in enhancing maternal sensitivity and in promoting infants' attachment security in an Italian sample of dyads with primiparous mothers. Moreover, we explore whether the effectiveness of VIPP-R might be different for parents with insecure attachment representations who might be most in need of preventive intervention, as compared to parents who already have a more balanced and secure state of mind. Thirty-two infants (40% female) and their mothers participated in the study. The sample was divided into an intervention group (n = 16) and a comparison group (n = 16). At 6 and 13 months of age, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; M. Main, N. Kaplan, & J. Cassidy, 1985) was administered. Moreover, a 30-min mother-infant play situation was videotaped and coded for maternal sensitivity with the Emotional Availability Scales (Z. Biringen, J. Robinson, & R.N. Emde, 2000). At 13 months of age, the Strange Situation Procedure (M.D.S. Ainsworth, M.D. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978) was used to assess the security of mother-infant attachment. Results revealed a significant interaction effect between intervention and AAI security for infant attachment security; moreover, main effects of AAI security and intervention for maternal sensitivity were found. The VIPP-R appears effective in enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security, although only mothers with an insecure attachment representation may benefit from the intervention., (© 2014 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.) more...
- Published
- 2015
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39. Attachment models in incarcerated sex offenders: a preliminary Italian study using the adult attachment interview.
- Author
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Grattagliano I, Cassibba R, Costantini A, Laquale GM, Latrofa A, Papagna S, Sette G, Taurino A, and Terlizzi M
- Subjects
- Adult, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Aged, Case-Control Studies, Female, Forensic Psychiatry, Humans, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Parent-Child Relations, Rejection, Psychology, Sex Offenses legislation & jurisprudence, Young Adult, Interview, Psychological, Object Attachment, Prisoners psychology, Sex Offenses psychology
- Abstract
A group of sex offenders (clinical group: n = 19) was compared to a nonclinical sample matched by age, years of education, and gender (control group A: n = 19) to verify a higher incidence of insecure attachment models among sex offenders. In addition, we tested whether sex offenders were characterized by specific childhood experiences, compared to control adults (control group B: n = 19) with the same secure/insecure attachment classification. Results showed significant differences between offenders and control adults on both the AAI continuous score and the distribution of the two-way attachment classifications. Furthermore, sex offenders reported more intense experiences of rejection by the father figure and abuse in the family context during early childhood compared to not offenders subjects with the same attachment classification., (© 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.) more...
- Published
- 2015
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40. In search of social support in the NICU: features, benefits and antecedents of parents' tendency to share with others the premature birth of their baby.
- Author
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Coppola G, Cassibba R, Bosco A, and Papagna S
- Subjects
- Adult, Emotions, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight psychology, Life Change Events, Male, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Infant, Premature psychology, Information Dissemination, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Parents psychology, Social Support
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate social sharing among 40 parents (20 couples) of hospitalized premature newborns, the social network of addressees with whom they shared their experience, the perceived benefits of this activity and the sources of individual differences., Method: Emotional reaction and attachment status were assessed within 7 days and between 30 and 45 days from birth, respectively. At 3 months of infant's corrected age, parents completed a self-report assessing retrospectively their social sharing., Results: Over 80% of the parents felt the need to share the event and actually did within a week; one's own partner was the most preferred addressee. The extent of father's social sharing was mainly related to the newborn's medical risk, while mother's to her own emotional reaction. Guilt and anger were found to lengthen the latency of sharing in mothers and fathers, respectively. Secure attachment status, compared to insecure ones, was found to be the most effective in promoting social sharing., Conclusions: These findings help to understand why parents differ from each other in their use of social support in the NICU; from a practical standpoint, they highlight important factors which require attention when implementing intervention program in the NICU directed to parents of premature newborns. more...
- Published
- 2013
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41. Is the secure base phenomenon evident here, there, and anywhere? A cross-cultural study of child behavior and experts' definitions.
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Posada G, Lu T, Trumbell J, Kaloustian G, Trudel M, Plata SJ, Peña PP, Perez J, Tereno S, Dugravier R, Coppola G, Constantini A, Cassibba R, Kondo-Ikemura K, Nóblega M, Haya IM, Pedraglio C, Verissimo M, Santos AJ, Monteiro L, and Lay KL more...
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Observer Variation, Pediatrics, Young Adult, Child Behavior physiology, Child Development physiology, Mother-Child Relations psychology, Object Attachment
- Abstract
The evolutionary rationale offered by Bowlby implies that secure base relationships are common in child-caregiver dyads and thus, child secure behavior observable across diverse social contexts and cultures. This study offers a test of the universality hypothesis. Trained observers in nine countries used the Attachment Q-set to describe the organization of children's behavior in naturalistic settings. Children (N = 547) were 10-72 months old. Child development experts (N = 81) from all countries provided definitions of optimal child secure base use. Findings indicate that children from all countries use their mother as a secure base. Children's organization of secure base behavior was modestly related to each other both within and across countries. Experts' descriptions of the optimally attached child were highly similar across cultures., (© 2013 The Authors. Child Development © 2013 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.) more...
- Published
- 2013
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42. Mothers' attachment security predicts their children's sense of God's closeness.
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Cassibba R, Granqvist P, and Costantini A
- Subjects
- Child, Child Rearing psychology, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Psychometrics, Qualitative Research, Surveys and Questionnaires, Internal-External Control, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers psychology, Object Attachment, Spirituality
- Abstract
The current research reports that mothers' security of attachment predicts their children's sense of God's closeness. A total of 71 mother-child dyads participated (children's M age = 7.5). Mothers' attachment organization was studied with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; Main, Goldwyn, & Hesse, 2003 ) and their religiosity and attachment to God were measured with questionnaires. Children were told stories about visually represented children in attachment-activating and attachment-neutral situations, and placed a God symbol on a felt board to represent God's closeness to the fictional children. Children of secure mothers placed the God symbol closer (d = .78) than children of insecure mothers across both types of situations, suggesting that children's experiences with secure-insecure mothers generalize to their sense of God's closeness. Also, girls (but not boys) placed the God symbol closer in attachment-activating than in attachment-neutral situations, giving partial support for an attachment normative God-as-safe-haven model. Finally, mothers' religiosity and attachment to God were unrelated to child outcomes. more...
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- 2013
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43. [Stalking: old behaviour new crime. Reflections on 11 cases assessed in the judicial district of Bari].
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Grattagliano I, Cassibba R, Greco R, Laudisa A, Torres A, and Mastromarino A
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- Adult, Crime legislation & jurisprudence, Humans, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Stalking psychology
- Abstract
Specific definitions aside, the behaviours that are generally associated with stalking may be classified into three categories of acts: 1) following (including showing up at the victim's home and workplace, maintaining surveillance, and setting up coincidences); 2) communicating (by telephone, mail, leaving notes, graffiti, gifts, e-mail, and internet); including the ordering of goods and services in the victim's name; 3) attacking or committing acts of violence (threats, direct harassment of the victim or of people close to the victim, damaging of personal goods, false accusations, physical or sexual violence). The work here presented proposes to find empirical confirmation of the data cited in the scientific literature with particular attention paid to the studies carried out by Mullen, Pathé, Purcell and Meloy who proposed a criminological diagnostic category for stalkers, delineating their behaviors . We go on to highlight patterns of behavior, as well as physical and social characteristics as postulated by these authors, and found in the molesters investigated in this study. more...
- Published
- 2012
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44. The influence of biological, social, and developmental factors on language acquisition in pre-term born children.
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Fasolo M, D'Odorico L, Costantini A, and Cassibba R
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- Age Factors, Case-Control Studies, Child Language, Cognition, Communication, Educational Status, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight, Italy, Language Development Disorders psychology, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motor Skills, Neuropsychological Tests, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Vocabulary, Infant, Premature, Language Development, Language Development Disorders etiology
- Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate language outcome in pre-term children, considering multiple factors. The hypothesis is that early communicative capacity (pre-verbal communicative utterances) is affected mainly by biological (prematurity, birth weight, and gender) and social factors (maternal education), while more advanced linguistic abilities (i.e., combinatorial and syntactic abilities) are mostly influenced by previously acquired communicative abilities. Eighteen monolingual Italian pre-term children (birth weight between 750 and 1600 grams, gestational age <37 weeks; 13 males and five females) were compared with a control group of 18 age-matched full-term children (8 males, 10 females). The longitudinal design comprised motor and cognitive assessment at 14 and 36 months, and communicative evaluation by direct observation at 14, 24, 30, and 36 months, and by indirect observation at 24 and 30 months. The main results evidenced were delayed development in pre-term compared to full-term children, particularly after 24 months of age; intra-individual differences in the pre-term group; and a strong effect of prematurity on communicative ability at 14 and 24 months; however, more advanced communicative developmental stages were influenced both by prematurity and by previously acquired linguistic skills. more...
- Published
- 2010
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45. Attachment and God representations among lay Catholics, priests, and religious: a matched comparison study based on the Adult Attachment Interview.
- Author
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Cassibba R, Granqvist P, Costantini A, and Gatto S
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- Adult, Female, Humans, Internal-External Control, Italy, Male, Parenting psychology, Personality Assessment, Personality Development, Young Adult, Catholicism psychology, Culture, Interview, Psychological, Object Attachment, Pastoral Care, Religion and Psychology
- Abstract
Based on the idea that believers' perceived relationships with God develop from their attachment-related experiences with primary caregivers, the authors explored the quality of such experiences and their representations among individuals who differed in likelihood of experiencing a principal attachment to God. Using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), they compared attachment-related experiences and representations in a group of 30 Catholic priests and religious with a matched group of lay Catholics and with the worldwide normal distribution of AAI classifications. They found an overrepresentation of secure-autonomous states regarding attachment among those more likely to experience a principal attachment to God (i.e., the priests and religious) compared with the other groups and an underrepresentation of unresolved-disorganized states in the two groups of Catholics compared with the worldwide normal distribution. Key findings also included links between secure-autonomous states regarding attachment and estimated experiences with loving or nonrejecting parents on the one hand and loving God imagery on the other. These results extend the literature on religion from an attachment perspective and support the idea that generalized working models derived from attachment experiences with parents are reflected in believers' perceptions of God. more...
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- 2008
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46. What can make the difference? Premature birth and maternal sensitivity at 3 months of age: the role of attachment organization, traumatic reaction and baby's medical risk.
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Coppola G, Cassibba R, and Costantini A
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- Adult, Affect, Child Development physiology, Cognition, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Maternal Behavior psychology, Risk Factors, Anxiety, Separation psychology, Health Status, Infant, Premature, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment
- Abstract
The influence of prematurity and maternal attachment organization on sensitivity was investigated in 40 mother-infant dyads. Results show a main effect of attachment and an interaction between attachment and prematurity. Sensitivity was differently associated with medical risk and mothers' traumatic reaction, depending on the quality of attachment. more...
- Published
- 2007
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47. The attachment script representation procedure in an Italian sample: associations with adult attachment interview scales and with maternal sensitivity.
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Coppola G, Vaughn BE, Cassibba R, and Costantini A
- Subjects
- Educational Status, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Interview, Psychological, Italy, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Personality Assessment
- Abstract
This study provides data supporting the reliability and validity of an Italian version of the adult attachment script representation task, designed by Waters & Rodrigues-Doolabh (2004). Specifically, we tested hypotheses concerning positive relations between attachment scriptedness scores and two other representational measures, derived from the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). In addition, we tested the hypothesis that secure base script scores should predict maternal sensitivity in the context of mother - infant interaction. Thirty-one mothers completed narrative protocols and received scriptedness scores using the Waters & Rodrigues-Doolabh (2004) criteria. Prior to the attachment script assessment, mothers had been assessed using the AAI and had been observed in the context of infant - mother interactions to assess maternal sensitivity. Assessment of instrument reliability was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha >.70) and both hypotheses were supported; the attachment scriptedness score (based on 4 attachment narratives) was positively and significantly associated with the AAI coherence score, the continuous security score derived from the AAI State of Mind scales, and with maternal sensitivity. These data extend to another socio-cultural milieu, previous findings supporting reliability, convergent, and predictive validity of the attachment script representation task as a measure of adult attachment. more...
- Published
- 2006
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48. Attachment of mothers and children with recurrent asthmatic bronchitis.
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Cassibba R, van IJzendoorn MH, Bruno S, and Coppola G
- Subjects
- Adult, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Recurrence, Asthma psychology, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment
- Abstract
Objective: This study on attachment in children with recurrent asthmatic bronchitis and their mothers addresses three issues. The first aim was to test whether children affected by recurrent asthmatic bronchitis more often display an insecure pattern of attachment in comparison with healthy children. The second aim was to verify whether the distribution of adult attachment representations in the mothers of children affected by recurrent asthmatic bronchitis is different from the one shown by the mothers of the healthy comparison group. The third aim was to investigate intergenerational transmission of attachment., Methods: Sixty Italian children, aged between 2 and 5 years, and their mothers participated in the study. The Adult Attachment Interview and the Attachment Q-Sort were used to assess, respectively, the security of mothers' attachment representations and of mother-child attachment., Results: Children affected by recurrent asthmatic bronchitis appeared to be less secure in comparison with healthy children. Their mothers showed a higher percentage of insecure attachment representations. Finally, the intergenerational transmission of attachment was not influenced by the preclinical condition of the children., Conclusions: We propose a model of genetic and social transmission of insecure attachments in families struggling with asthma. more...
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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