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Parents play an important role in children's language development. To our knowledge, no studies have compared fathers' and mothers' use of gestural and verbal communication in dyadic versus triadic contexts. This study aimed at analyzing similarities and differences in the bimodal communication of parents when they play alone with their infant and when all three play together. Twelve Italian-speaking families with infants aged 16 months took part in the study. Dyadic and triadic free-play interactions of mothers and fathers with their infants were videotaped. Mothers' and fathers' communicative acts (i.e., 'only speech', 'only gesture', 'speech + gesture'), and types of gestures (i.e., deictic, representational, and emphatic) were coded. Results showed that infants experience mothers' and fathers' bimodal communication when interacting with both parents. In the dyadic context, mothers produced more communicative acts and more verbal communication than fathers who in turn used more gestures and 'speech + gesture' communicative acts than mothers. Both parents used gestures to clarify and reinforce their verbal communication in dyadic and triadic contexts. With respect to the triadic context, no differences between mothers' and fathers' verbal and non-verbal communication emerged. Comparing each parent across the two contexts, findings showed that in the triadic context, mothers increased their use of gestural communicative acts and decreased their use of mixed acts, whereas fathers increased their verbal component while decreasing their 'speech + gesture' communicative acts. It seems that in the triadic context there is a coordination between parents that leads them to align with the kind of communication provided to the infant. Thus, the input experienced by infants in the triadic context is still equally composed of both verbal and non-verbal communication. Results are discussed considering the role of parents' bimodal communication within several daily interactional contexts.

This study examines how family functioning, the parent-child relationship and personal factors are related to happiness in 1549 children aged 7 to 14 years old (53% females) in Italy. Children and pre-adolescents completed a set of questionnaires on self-rated happiness, self-concept and loneliness. At least one of their parents filled in questionnaires on family functioning, attachment and their child's happiness level. No gender differences were found in the direct measure of happiness, but younger participants were happier than older participants, according to both the children's and parents' evaluations. Happiness is influenced by positive self-concept, self-esteem and low levels of satisfaction but family functioning does not seem to play a major role. The clinical and social implications of the study are discussed.

University dropout represents a serious problem across the world. Past research has suggested the merits of studying both additive and multiplicative effects among the variables that affect the intention to drop out. In the present study, we tested the potential moderating effect of friendships at university, on both the association between self-regulated learning self-efficacy and intention to drop out and the associations between different motivations for attending university and intention to drop out. A sample of 404 Italian university students (M.sup.age = 21.83; SD = 2.37) completed an online questionnaire. The outcomes showed that having friends at university was a protective factor in the relationship between self-regulated learning self-efficacy and intention to drop out. Students with a high number of university friends and low self-efficacy were less likely to intend to drop out than students with few university friends and low self-efficacy. Thus, having friends at university appears to protect students from developing the intention to drop out., Author(s): Mara Morelli [sup.1] , Antonio Chirumbolo [sup.2] , Roberto Baiocco [sup.3] , Elena Cattelino [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7841.a, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza [...]

This study aimed to explore the events which are sources of sadness for children, and their coping strategies for overcoming their sadness according to their attachment security. We expected that distinct clusters would emerge, with securely attached children more likely showing constructive and successful coping strategies than insecurely attached children. Middle-class children (N = 191) aged 7-11 years old from four private elementary schools were asked to talk about a sad event they experienced using open-ended questions from the Sadness Interview. The answers were coded into different categories of sad events and associated coping strategies. Finally, children were assessed on their security attachment using the Security Scale. Cluster analyses identified a four-cluster solution. Children in the Clusters 1 and 2 were characterized by a perceived successful constructive coping strategy while describing minor events (in the first Cluster), and very painful events (in the second). Furthermore, in the third Cluster children overcame sad events using a perceived successful disengagement coping strategy, whereas children in the fourth Cluster are characterized by perceived unresolved sadness. ANCOVA testing showed that children in the first cluster had significantly higher attachment security compared to Clusters 3 and 4, which did not significantly differ from each other. The study of sadness in children may be particularly informative for clinicians and educators for understanding and supporting children's strategies of sadness management while considering the influence of their attachment relationships on their ability to cope with sadness., Author(s): Edoardo Saija [sup.1] , Salvatore Ioverno [sup.2] , Roberto Baiocco [sup.3] , Susanna Pallini [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8509.4, 0000000121622106, Department of Education, Roma Tre University, , Via di [...]

In Botswana, Special Needs Education has been implemented for 25 years with some success but there is still a need for evidence-based methods like Frequency Building, behavioural fluency, and Precision Teaching to be used to measure and improve school performance and learning. We explored the impact of these behavioural technologies on reading performances of four children with learning disorders (ADHD, speech impairment and acquired brain disorder) in a special school in Gaborone. At the assessment, two children were unable to read letter sounds and two could not read sight words. Reading performances were measured with frequency and displayed on a standard celeration chart. During the intervention, the length of the tasks was reduced and then augmented. Findings revealed that after 3 months of intervention children significantly increased their score stimulating self-confidence and enthusiasm during activities. This work demonstrates that behavioural technologies can be applied in Africa without using expensive or time-consuming resources.

The present study, using a moderated mediational model, explored levels of distal/proximal stressors, rumination, resilience, and health in a group of Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ people. The study also examined the role of internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and rumination as mediators between discrimination and health, and resilience as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and ISS, rumination, and health, respectively. An online survey was administered to 508 LGB+ participants (270 Italian and 238 Taiwanese) whose age ranged from 18 to 70 years (M = 37.93, SD = 13.53). The moderated mediation model was tested through a series of path analyses stratified by group nationality. Italian participants reported higher discrimination and resilience, but lower ISS, rumination, and health problems compared to their Taiwanese counterparts. The only common path between groups was the direct effect of discrimination on health problems. The mediating role of ISS and rumination in the relationship between discrimination and health, as well as the moderating role of resilience, were partly significant only for the Italian group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that mediators and moderators used to evaluate the effects of minority stress on health may differ between groups; further culturally sensitive research in the field of LGB+ health is needed., Author(s): Roberto Baiocco [sup.1] , Cristiano Scandurra [sup.2] , Fausta Rosati [sup.1] , Jessica Pistella [sup.1] , Salvatore Ioverno [sup.3] , Vincenzo Bochicchio [sup.4] , Hung-Che Wang [sup.5] , Te-Sheng [...]

Background: A paradoxical profile of greater elevated sympathetic vasoconstriction (increased total peripheral resistance, TPR) and increased vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) -the so-called Cardiovascular Conundrum- has been reported in African Americans (AAs) both at rest and in response to orthostasis. Whereas some authors have attributed this pattern to genetic factors, others have pointed to the potential role of coping with repeated racial discrimination. Objective: To disentangle between these alternative explanations, we have examined the hemodynamic profile of another population that is likely to be exposed to episodes of discrimination, i.e., sexual minorities. Methods: The first study was conducted on a sample of AAs and European Americans (EAs) with the aim of replicating previous results on the Cardiovascular Conundrum. In the second study, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, matched by age and sex with heterosexual participants, underwent a hemodynamic and autonomic assessment at rest and during an emotional (in the experimental group, both LGB-related and non LGB related), and a cognitive stressor. Results: The first study confirmed a pattern of higher resting HRV, paired with higher TPR, in AAs compared to EAs. In the second study, compared to heterosexuals, the LGB group showed the Cardiovascular Conundrum pattern, characterized by greater HRV and higher TPR at baseline and a more vascular hemodynamic profile and prominent compensation deficit in response to both tasks, and particularly during the LGB-related emotional task. However, in LGB only, the vascular response was negatively correlated with perceived discrimination. Conclusion: Present preliminary results are discussed in terms of maladaptive physiological consequences of exposure to chronic stress and the chronic use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies such as suppression.

According to the triangular love theory, this study investigated the roles of three components of love (i.e., passion, intimacy, commitment) and the moderating role of conflicts in predicting different forms of sexting (i.e., experimental, nonconsensual, under pressure) in teen dating relationships. Participants were 409 adolescents (M[subscript age] = 17.20, SD[subscript age] = 1.61; 62.6% girls) who completed an online questionnaire. Three moderated regressions were performed. Conflicts positively predicted all forms of sexting. Passion positively predicted experimental sexting. Intimacy negatively predicted experimental and nonconsensual sexting, and positively predicted sexting under pressure. Three interaction effects emerged, pointing out the moderating role of conflicts. Passion positively predicted nonconsensual sexting in the presence of high conflicts, while this relationship became negative when conflicts were low. Commitment negatively predicted nonconsensual sexting and sexting under pressure in the presence of high conflicts, but these relationships were not significant when conflicts were low. Research and applicative implications are discussed.

Thirty-one children of gay single fathers and 28 children of heterosexual single fathers, all born through surrogacy, were compared with 31 children of gay partnered fathers through surrogacy and 30 children of heterosexual partnered fathers through in-vitro fertilization on their perceptions of self-worth and their father- and caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors. For children of single fathers, the study also examined associations between aspects related to their surrogacy conception, feelings about their family arrangement, and behavioral adjustment. All children (47.5% girls) were aged 6-12 years (M[subscript months] = 97.84, SD = 20.50) and living in Italy; all fathers (M[subscript years] = 43.79; SD = 6.42) identified as cisgender, reported a medium-to-high socioeconomic status, and were White (with the exception of one gay partnered father). No differences were found across the four family groups in any behavioral outcome, with children demonstrating, on average, high levels of self-worth and low levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. In single-father families, regardless of the father's sexual orientation, children with a weaker understanding of surrogacy, lower satisfaction with their contact with the gestational carrier, and lower comfort with their family arrangement were associated with more externalizing problems. Furthermore, children's female gender and lower satisfaction with their contact with the gestational carrier were associated with more internalizing problems, whereas children's male gender and greater understanding of surrogacy were associated with higher self-worth. Taken together, these findings do not support the commonly held assumption that the combination of surrogacy conception and single fatherhood is detrimental for children's behavioral adjustment.

Revenge is one of the possible responses to a transgression, a way to take control over the offender and making them suffer. Nevertheless, research has shown that avengers delude themselves into thinking that they will feel better when they have acted. Actually, taking vengeance protracts the negative emotional states, contributing to negative feelings and ruminations. So far, no study has investigated the mediational role of Negative Affect in the association between revenge and depression, and revenge and anxiety. 274 adult participants were tested with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-Y), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory-18 (TRIM-18). Mediational regression analyses showed that participants who were more vengeful were also more likely to be anxious and depressed. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing vengeful feelings and ruminations, could be an effective resource for well-being in clinical settings., Author(s): Barbara Barcaccia [sup.1] [sup.2] , Marco Salvati [sup.3] , Susanna Pallini [sup.1] , Angelo Maria Saliani [sup.2] , Roberto Baiocco [sup.3] , Giovanni Maria Vecchio [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) [...]

Background: Social anxiety is negatively related to peer communication quality during adolescence, with detrimental consequences for social functioning. However, the research about the factors that may moderate this relationship is still limited, and no studies have yet explored the possible interaction role of empathy systems. Objective: The study investigated the effects of social anxiety and empathy dimensions on peer communication quality in adolescent boys and girls. A three-way interaction between social avoidance, empathic concern and perspective taking was hypothesized. Method: Participants were 372 Italian adolescents (M[subscript age]=16.4; SD[subscript age]=1.56; age range 15-20; 189 boys and 183 girls). Self-report questionnaires administered at school assessed: fear of negative evaluations, general social avoidance, avoidance of new social situations, empathic concern, perspective taking and peer communication quality. Results: For girls, empathic concern and general social avoidance were significantly related to peer communication quality. Conversely for boys, we found significant associations for perspective taking, general social avoidance and avoidance of new situations, and a three-way interaction involving general social avoidance, empathic concern and perspective taking. In presence of low perspective taking and high empathic concern, social avoidance was negatively related to peer communication quality in boys. Conversely, for high levels of perspective taking and high versus low empathic concern, the same relationship was not significant. Conclusions: A specific dysfunctional pattern of empathy--low perspective taking and high empathic concern--significantly enhanced the negative relationship between social avoidance and peer communication quality in boys, suggesting that these adolescents are at risk in social functioning.

Intimate partner violence is an important public health problem. Cyber dating violence (CDV) is a form of intimate partner violence perpetrated within a dating relationship via new communication technologies. This study investigated the moderating roles of hostile and benevolent sexism in the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration. The Cyber Pornography Use Inventory, the Cyber Dating Violence Inventory, and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory were completed by 421 Italian adolescents (M = 16.53; females = 63.7%). Results indicated that problematic pornography use was positively related to CDV perpetration. In addition, the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration was found to be moderated by hostile sexism. In participants with low levels of hostile sexism, the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration was not significant. Conversely, in those with high levels of hostile sexism, this relationship was stronger and significant. Benevolent sexism was not found to be a moderator in the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration. Thus, hostile sexism could be a risk factor for the relationship between adolescents' problematic pornography use and their engagement in CDV. Conversely, low levels of hostile sexism could be a protective factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe present study explored how identity authenticity and LGBT+ community connectedness may mediate the effects of interpersonal discrimination on life satisfaction in a sample of LGBT+ participants across three counties. We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data and paper questionnaires. Participants were 723 LGBT+ people (56.6% females): 308 (42%) of participants were from the UK, 245 (34%) from Italy, and 170 (24%) from Turkey. Participants’ age ranged from 18–60 years (M = 33.83, SD = 11.55). Analysis of variance and multigroup mediation models implemented through path analysis were performed. The associations of interpersonal discrimination with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community showed cross-country variations. The association between interpersonal discrimination and identity authenticity was stronger in Italy than in the UK but non-significant in Turkey. Interpersonal discrimination showed a negative association with connectedness to the LGBT+ community in Italy and the UK, with Italy exhibiting the strongest effect. Conversely, this association was positive in Turkey. Irrespective of the country, life satisfaction showed a negative association with interpersonal discrimination and positive associations with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community. This study provides valuable insights into the differences and similarities between the experiences of LGBT+ people in the UK, Italy, and Turkey. The social and policy implications that emerge from the study highlight the relevance of addressing structural stigma in different cultures and emphasize the need for targeted interventions and supportive policies at the supranational level to improve the quality of life of LGBT+ individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research suggests that positivity and self-efficacy beliefs may impact adaptive behavior and developmental outcomes, such as social adjustment and subjective wellbeing. The present study explored the effect of positive dimensions (positivity and self-efficacy beliefs) and individual characteristics (gender, type of country, age, and sexual orientation) on family cohesion and flexibility in a group of Colombian and Italian young adults. An online survey was administered to 949 Colombian and 2,073 Italian people aged between 18 and 40 years (Mage = 24.3; SDage = 4.5; 67% women). A mediational model was performed to test the influence of positivity on family functioning via the mediational role of self-efficacy beliefs, analyzing the moderated effects of gender, type of country, sexual orientation, and age. Results: Filial self-efficacy mediated the effect of positivity on family functioning, showing stronger paths in men and Colombian participants than in women and Italian counterparts. Regulatory self-efficacy mediated the associations between positivity and family functioning for both genders and types of countries. Conclusion: The results suggest that positivity and self-efficacy beliefs may allow families to engage in more adaptive family functioning across countries and genders. Further research should focus on implications from a crossnational perspective to examine other culture-specific factors that may impact family adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating whether gay fathers' coherence of mind within the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) moderated the influence of parental disclosure on children's exploration of their surrogacy origins during middle childhood and early adolescence. Background: Once children of gay fathers are disclosed to about their surrogacy conception, they may start exploring the meanings and implications of their conception. Very little is known about the factors that may enhance such exploration in gay father families. Method: A home-visit study was conducted with 60 White, cisgender, gay fathers and their 30 children born through gestational surrogacy, all residing in Italy and with medium to high socioeconomic status. At time 1, when children were aged 6–12 years (M = 8.31, SD = 1.68), fathers were rated for AAI coherence of mind and interviewed about their disclosure of the surrogacy origins to their child. At time 2, approximately 18 months later (M = 9.87, SD = 1.69), children were interviewed about their exploration of their surrogacy origins. Results: In the context of more information disclosed about the child conception, only children whose fathers showed greater AAI coherence of mind explored their surrogacy origins in more depth. Conclusion: Gay fathers' ability to show an internally consistent, but not emotionally overwrought, state of mind regarding their own attachment experiences impacted the extent to which their children felt safe and legitimated in sharing their curiosity about their conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of monkeypox (Mpox) cases in the 2022 outbreak have been traced back to mass gathering events in May, primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM). While some quantitative studies exist in the literature, focusing mainly on the link between Mpox knowledge, conspiracy theories, and vaccination hesitancy, there is a dearth of qualitative or mixed-method research that examines the beliefs surrounding this phenomenon, particularly including LGBTQIA+ groups. This study's primary objective is to delve into the beliefs associated with the media's portrayal of a connection between Mpox and MSM during the initial outbreak period. A total of 333 participants, including 212 cisgender women, 110 cisgender men, and 11 individuals identifying with other genders, took part in an online quali-quantitative survey conducted in June 2022 in Italy. This survey aimed to explore participants' perceptions of Mpox, their knowledge about it, and their attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ individuals and sexuality. The final thematic structure revealed a hierarchical arrangement of themes, encompassing: (1) The linkage between Mpox and MSM, elucidated through risky sexual behaviours or contextual factors; (2)The absence of any connection, explained through causal effects and a general mistrust of society. Individuals identified as male at birth and cisgender men tended to attribute the primary reason behind Mpox contagion to sexual promiscuity. Conversely, non-heterosexual participants were more inclined to consider both sexual promiscuity and the presence of stigma. The results demonstrated a diverse range of opinions concerning Mpox, spanning from objective behavioural risks to the stigmatising notion that MSM constitute a socially hazardous group. It is incumbent upon researchers and scientific organisations to disseminate lucid, non-alarmist, and destigmatizing information aimed at curbing risky behaviours. The opinions of both LGBTQIA+ and non-LGBTQIA+ people regarding Mpox during the 2022 outbreak were diverse, often expressing scientific misconceptions and stigmatising beliefs. To address misconceptions and fake news surrounding Mpox infection, it is the responsibility of researchers and scientific organisations to promote clear, non-alarmist information aimed at preventing risky behaviours and protecting against stigma. Health messages related to Mpox prevention should employ sensitive and affirmative language, providing useful information about prevention and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because sexual orientation is a crucial factor in social discrimination, this study assessed how the working memory capacity of gay-men and heterosexual-men is affected by a social exclusion event (N = 88). To manipulate the experience of social exclusion participants were included or excluded from a game of Cyberball. To assess working memory capacity, participants had to recall a series of letters while performing math problems in an automated version of the operation span task. The results of this small study, showed the sexual orientation of participants interacted with variations in belonging such that being ostracized (but not being included) lowered the working memory capacity of gay-men relative to heterosexual-men. Implications for research on belonging, social exclusion, and stereotype threat are discussed.

Sexting is the exchange of sexually suggestive contents via Internet, Smartphone, and Social Networking Websites. Recently, the research on sexting motivations increased in order to distinguish between experimental and aggravated sexting. This study investigated individual correlates of three sexting motivations: sexual purposes, instrumental/aggravated reasons, and body image reinforcement. The study involved 488 adolescents and young adults aged from 14 to 30 years. Sexual purposes and body image reinforcement were the most commonly reported motivations for sexting. Boys reported more instrumental/aggravated reasons, and sexual minorities reported more sexual purposes and body image reinforcement. Sexual purposes increased with age, while body image reinforcement showed a quadratic trend, increasing from adolescence to early young adulthood, and decreasing from early to late young adulthood. Finally, participants who have already had first sex reported more sexual purposes. Research, clinical and educational implications are discussed., Author(s): Dora Bianchi [sup.1] , Mara Morelli [sup.2] , Roberto Baiocco [sup.1] , Antonio Chirumbolo [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7841.a, Department of Developmental & Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, [...]

Online exchange of sexual content ("sexting") is associated with potentially negative consequences, especially for girls. We investigated possible associations between family functioning and girls' sexting. Italian teenage girls (N = 250; M[subscript age] = 16.36 years; SD[subscript age] = 1.88) completed online surveys that evaluated family functioning (communication, flexibility, cohesion, disengagement, chaos, enmeshment, and rigidity) and five sexting behaviors: (a) engaging in sexting, (b) sexting with a partner, (c) number of people with whom girls share sexts, (d) nonconsensual forwarding of sexts, and (e) sexting for emotion regulation. We found that engaging in sexting, sexting for emotion regulation, and the number of people with whom girls share sexts were predicted by age and low family communication. Sexting with a partner was predicted by age and high flexibility, and nonconsensual forwarding of sexts was positively predicted by enmeshment.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the quality of student--teacher relationship and attention problems, taking into account two different attention problems (Attention Dysregulation and Attentive Detachment), and the mediating role of Emotion Regulation. Through a multi-informant methodology, teachers rated 161 school-aged children (87 boys and 74 girls) using the "Emotion Regulation Checklist," Teacher's Report Form, and "Student-Teacher Relationship Scale," and observers rated the same children on attentive behavior in class using the "Child' s Attention Scale." Results demonstrated the influence of the student--teacher relationship on attentional behavior, via the mediating role of Emotion Regulation. On dealing with children's attention problems, it will be useful to strive for improving student--teacher relationships that in turn could foster their emotion and attention regulation.