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How medical students cope with stress predicts their mental health and academic/clinical performances, making the promotion of functional copy strategies a relevant outcome for medical educators. Empathy has been reported to be connected with coping. This study wanted to explore the most used coping strategies and whether gender differences existed, and to investigate whether and to what extent empathy affected coping in a sample of pre-clinical medical students. In a cross-sectional study design, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced - New Italian Version (COPE-NIV) were administered to 398 (53% females) Italian second-year medical students. T-tests and multiple regression analyses were used to explore gender differences and the association between IRI and COPE-NIV scores, respectively. Problem Orientation obtained the highest mean score, whereas Avoidance the lowest one. Females outscored males on Social Support (t = 4.95, p

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches use case formulation procedures based on the diathesis–stress conceptualization model, arranged in two dimensions: emotional vulnerability (present in a patient’s consciousness in terms of core beliefs) and coping strategies. Nevertheless, despite its pivotal role, there are a limited number of validation studies for this model. Life themes and semi-adaptive plans: Implications of biased beliefs, elicitation and treatment (LIBET) is a CBT case formulation method grounded on the CBT diathesis–stress model that aims to help validate the CBT case formulation model, and, in particular, its bidimensional arrangement. In LIBET, the two classic CBT dimensions are called “life themes,” which are mental states of focused attention to emotional sensitivities represented as core beliefs in consciousness, and “semi-adaptive plans,” which are the rigid management strategies of “life themes” implemented by adopting coping strategies such as anxious safety behaviors, compulsive controls and aggressive or rewarding strategies. The study uses quantitative textual analysis to validate the LIBET procedure in a clinical sample. The investigation discusses the extent to which the results can be considered a validation of the arrangement of the general CBT diathesis–stress model in the two dimensions of core beliefs and coping strategies.

The literature reported higher depression rates in psoriasis patients compared to the general population. Our study aimed to verify whether variability in depression prevalence was due to using different diagnostic tools. We also aimed to determine whether dysfunctional coping strategies might increase the depression burden. We assessed psoriasis severity by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and PSOdisk. We analyzed mental alterations of 120 outpatients by Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales (HAM-D and HAM-A), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), plus coping strategies and quality of life by Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Inventory and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). We divided our cohort into five subgroups from minimal to severe psoriasis using the PSOdisk total score. Depression prevalence varied according to the assessment criteria for specificity, frequency, and severity. Different mood disorders other than major depression emerged when we used DSM-IV-TR criteria. Correlation analysis of the criteria we used to diagnose depression or depressed mood indicated that a dysfunctional coping strategy was highly and positively correlated only in patients of the severe subgroup. Differently, a negative correlation emerged between the SF-36 Mental Summary Component (MSC) and behavioral disengagement, thus suggesting that psychopathological distress might induce patients with a marked/severe psoriasis to adopt dysfunctional coping strategies. Dermatologists are fundamental in detecting comorbid depression, referring psoriasis patients to mental health specialists to achieve adequate treatments, and preventing suicide risk.

The coronavirus pandemic has been sweeping the world for more than a year. As physical health begins to stabilize in the western world, an increasing concern is related to the impact of the virus and its containment measures on people’s mental health. This work aimed to explore the effect of demographic factors (age, gender, level of education, and socioeconomic status) and variables such as fear of COVID-19 and social support in predicting the quality of life and mental health of adults during the first wave of the pandemic in Italy. Through an online survey with 1087 Italian adults (M = 39.7, SD = 16.39; 74.4% women), gender and socioeconomic status emerged as crucial factors in determining differences regarding people’s responses and reactions to the pandemic. In addition, the results highlighted the importance of perceived social support and a moderate fear of COVID-19 in predicting people’s quality of life and mental health. The study suggests important guidelines for the development of interventions to support the population’s well-being and mental health.

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 7–11years 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.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the psychopathological burden related to COVID-19 together with coping strategies in healthcare workers, focusing on differences between frontline and second-line workers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study part of the COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET). Participants' socio-demographic and COVID-19-related information was collected through an online survey. Psychiatric symptoms and coping strategies were also investigated. Multivariate analyses, corrected for demographic characteristics, were adopted to assess differences between frontline and second-line workers. Results: The sample consisted of 20,720 individuals. Healthcare workers (n=2907) presented with significantly higher risk for mental health disturbances as compared to the rest of the sample (p&nbsp

Background During the COVID-19 outbreak, patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) faced several changes in their daily life. However, the effects of these changes on the patients’ lived experiences are not still investigated. Aims The current study explored the lived experience of people with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 outbreak, people with LVADs faced several changes in their daily life. However, the effects of these changes on the patients’ lived experiences are not still investigated. Methods and results Qualitative data analysis was conducted employing the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. We followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Eight male participants with LVAD aged from 65 to 82 were interviewed. Overall, two main themes (‘Worsening of psychological distress’ and ‘Moving forward’) and eight sub-themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. Conclusions People with LVADs experienced feelings of worry and solitude related to the risk of being infected or not receiving adequate treatment due to changes in the healthcare system during the pandemic; however, they managed to move forward with their lives using different strategies for dealing with the difficult situation.

To investigate the coping strategies of a group of adolescents with somatic symptom disorder compared to non-somatic symptom disorder peers during the COVID-19 related lockdown.This cross-sectional study is the second part of a previously published study showing an improved trend in depression and anxiety in a group of patients with somatic symptom disorder compared to non-somatic symptom disorder peers. An anonymous semi-structured survey was distributed to two groups of Italian adolescents to measure the impact of quarantine on their daily life and coping strategies.We recruited 115 adolescents, 58 (50.4%) mean age 15.3, with a recent diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder and 57 (49.6%) mean age 15.8, control peers.The aim of this study was to detect differences in coping strategies and relationships with parents and peers, during the lockdown period in a group of adolescents with somatic symptom disorder and low disease burden when compared with a non-somatic symptom disorder group.The relationship with parents significantly worsened in 4 (6.9%) of adolescents with somatic symptom disorder compared to 12 (21.1%) adolescents in the non-somatic symptom disorder group (p = 0.048). The relationship with peers significantly improved in 13 (22.4%) of adolescents with symptom disorder versus 3 (5.3%) of peers of the non- somatic symptom disorder group (p = 0.013).Adolescents with somatic symptom disorder with a low burden of physical symptoms experienced less deterioration in their relationships with parents and peers than the non-somatic symptom disorder group.

Few studies evaluated coping strategies in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in relation to annualized relapse rate (ARR) and lesion load (LL). Overall, results might have been influenced by the inclusion of depressed patients. To investigate the coping strategies and their association to disease activity, we studied relapsing-remitting pwMS accurately selected to avoid the confounding effect of depression. Sixty-seven relapsing-remitting pwMS and 67 healthy subjects (HS) underwent to Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (I-COPE) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Cognitive performances, ARR, physical disability and magnetic resonance imaging T2-LL were assessed for correlation with coping and depression scores. pwMS showed lower scores than HSs on social support and turning to religion subscales of I-COPE and on emotion dimension of CISS. In pwMS, higher ARR was related to higher positive attitude and lower score on the turning to religion subscale of I-COPE. The present study revealed a less employment of emotion-based coping strategies in pwMS. A scarce use of faith for support and a frequent adoption of a positive attitude were associated with an increase of MS activity in terms of ARR.

Submitted by Daniella Santos (daniella.santos@ufma.br) on 2023-01-23T19:56:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SAMILY_AQUINO.pdf: 1132258 bytes, checksum: 57b1b2fa5176ab8fe057879edf9ec9ba (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2023-01-23T19:56:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SAMILY_AQUINO.pdf: 1132258 bytes, checksum: 57b1b2fa5176ab8fe057879edf9ec9ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021-02-26 Obesity is a complex condition that affects all ages and social classes and is one of the main public health problems today. Bariatric surgery is the most recommended treatment for grade III obesity because it is more effective in weight loss and reduces the number of comorbidities associated with obesity. The post-surgical period involves strategies to deal with the demands, limitations, and changes in habits and lifestyle inherent to the weight loss process, strategies that are related to the potential success of the treatment and the maintenance of the benefits obtained with the surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the eating behavior and coping strategies in women undergoing bariatric surgery. To achieve this objective, 25 women answered four instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Semi-structured Interview Script, Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) and the Problem Coping Modes Scale (EMEP). For the quantitative analysis, the Statistical Package for Social Science program (version 24.0) was used, in which descriptive and correlational statistical analyses were performed. For the qualitative analysis, the content analysis proposed by Minayo (2013) was employed. The results indicated that the average age of the participants is 43 years, in which 36% were single, 84% reported having children, 56% had some professional activity, 40% have an income of one minimum wage and 44% reported having completed high school. Regarding the clinical and treatment history, 32% of the sample had undergone bariatric surgery in the period of six months to one year, 76% had undergone gastric sleeve technique, 64% had psychological counseling before surgery and 56% continued in the psychological follow-up after surgery. About the relationship with food, significant changes with the surgery and predominance of food restriction, presence of feelings such as fear and guilt related to the act of eating were noted. Regarding the dimensions of eating behavior assessed by the TFEQ-R21, the results also pointed to higher levels of cognitive restriction eating behavior corresponding to 56.77% of the sample, and the coping strategy focused on the problem was the most expressive in the sample, comprising 75.24% of the interviewees. Regarding the correlational data, the indicator “problem-focused coping” correlated negatively with “emotional eating” (ρ = -.525; p = .007) and “eating discontrol” (ρ = -.582; p = .002), and the indicator “emotion focused coping” correlated positively with “emotional eating” (ρ = .420; p = .037) and “eating discontrol” (ρ = .549; p = .004). The importance of multiprofessional support and the contributions of psychology in assisting the development of adaptive coping strategies and support for these women in the post-surgical period is highlighted, contributing to the promotion of health and quality of life after surgery. A obesidade é uma condição complexa que atinge todas as idades e classes sociais, configurando-se como um dos principais problemas de saúde pública da atualidade. A cirurgia bariátrica é o tratamento mais recomendado para a obesidade Grau III, por apresentar maior eficácia na perda de peso e pela diminuição de comorbidades associadas à obesidade. O período pós-cirúrgico envolve estratégias para lidar com as exigências, limitações e mudanças de hábitos e de estilo de vida inerentes ao processo de perda de peso, estratégias estas que estão relacionadas ao potencial sucesso do tratamento e a manutenção dos benefícios obtidos com a cirurgia. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar o comportamento alimentar e as estratégias de enfrentamento em mulheres submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica. Para o alcance deste objetivo, 25 mulheres responderam a quatro instrumentos: Questionário Sociodemográfico, Roteiro de Entrevista Semiestruturado, Questionário de Três Fatores Alimentares (TFEQ-R21) e a Escala de Modos de Enfrentamento de Problemas (EMEP). Para a análise quantitativa, foi utilizado o programa Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, versão 24.0), no qual foram realizadas as análises estatísticas descritivas e correlacionais. Para a análise qualitativa foi empregada a análise de conteúdo proposta por Minayo (2013). Os resultados indicaram que a média de idade das participantes é 43 anos, em que 36% eram solteiras, 84% informaram ter filhos, 56% desempenhavam alguma atividade profissional, 40% têm renda de um salário mínimo e 44% informaram ter o ensino médio completo. A respeito do histórico clínico e de tratamento, 32% da amostra foram submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica no período de seis meses a um ano, 76% foram submetidas à técnica de Sleeve Gástrico, 64% tiveram acompanhamento psicológico antes da cirurgia e 56% continuaram no acompanhamento psicológico após a cirurgia. Acerca da relação com o alimento, notam-se alterações significativas com a cirurgia e predominância de restrição alimentar, presença de sentimentos como medo e culpa relacionados ao ato de comer. Em relação às dimensões de comportamento alimentar avaliadas pelo TFEQ-R21, os resultados ainda apontaram para níveis mais elevados do comportamento alimentar de restrição cognitiva correspondendo a 56,77% da amostra, e a estratégia de enfrentamento focalizada no problema a mais expressiva da amostra, abrangendo 75,24% das entrevistadas. Em relação aos dados correlacionais, o indicador “enfrentamento focalizado no problema” correlacionou-se negativamente com “alimentação emocional” (ρ = -.525; p = .007) e “descontrole alimentar” (ρ = -.582; p = .002), e o indicador “enfrentamento focalizado na emoção” correlacionou-se positivamente com “alimentação emocional” (ρ = .420; p = .037) e “descontrole alimentar” (ρ = .549; p = .004). Destaca-se a importância do suporte multiprofissional e as contribuições da psicologia no auxílio ao desenvolvimento de estratégias de enfrentamento adaptativas e de suporte a estas mulheres no período pós-cirúrgico, contribuindo para a promoção de saúde e qualidade de vida após a cirurgia.

Objective To examine the magnitude and the predictors of emotional reactions to an infertility diagnosis, comparing women and men who were clinically diagnosed with an anatomical cause of infertility or non-anatomical cause of infertility. Study design Cross-sectional study involving a total of 133 adults waiting for infertility treatment at the IVF and Infertility Unit of the S. Orsola University Hospital in Bologna (Italy). Of these, 107 patients (55 with anatomical causes of infertility and 52 with non-anatomical causes of infertility; response rate: 80%) took part to the study. After providing informed written consent, each participant was asked to complete the Infertility Self-efficacy Scale, the Fertility Quality of Life, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced, which they returned at their second access to the Unit. Differences between the groups were analyzed through a series of univariate ANOVA, whereas a multiple regression analysis was used to jointly examine the predictors of fertility quality of life. Results Results showed both gender related and diagnosis related differences. Women had statistically significant lower scores than men on the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale and on the global, emotional, and mind–body subscales of the Fertility Quality of Life, while they scored significantly higher on the emotion focused and socially supported subscales of the Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced. Independently of gender, patients with non-anatomical causes of infertility scored poorly than patients with anatomical causes of infertility on the relational subscale of the Fertility Quality of Life and on the Avoidant scale of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that higher levels of self-efficacy and a lower use of avoidant coping strategies predicted a more positive quality of life over and above gender and cause of infertility. Conclusion This study partly confirms data on gender differences in experiencing the psychological burden of infertility and adds some new information, particularly with respect to the prediction of quality of life indicators over and above infertility cause.

BACKGROUND The subsequent waves of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have represented a dramatic health emergency characterized by significant consequences on mental health. Diachronic variations in the incidence rates of acute relapse of psychiatric disorders may represent significant "sentinel events" for assessing the mental health response to an unprecedented stressful event. AIM To investigate the variation in psychiatric hospitalization rates and differences in sociodemographic and clinical-psychopathological peculiarities at Bologna "Maggiore" General Hospital Psychiatric Ward (GHPW) between the first two waves SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the same periods of the previous 3 years. The secondary purpose of the study was to suggest a diachronic response pathway to stress by reporting additional literature data on coping strategies. METHODS This observational and retrospective study collected information on admission to the GHPW at the "Maggiore" Hospital in Bologna in the index periods defined as follows: the first period between February 24, 2020 and April 30, 2020 (first epidemic wave) and the second period between October 8, 2020, and January 7, 2021 (second pandemic wave). Absolute numbers and proportion of admitted patients, their sociodemographic and clinical-psychopathological characteristics were compared with the same parameters recorded in the two same periods of the previous 3 years. No strict inclusion or exclusion criteria were provided in the data collection to collect information on all patients requiring acute psychiatric hospitalization. RESULTS During the first wave, there was a significant reduction in hospitalization rates, although there was a simultaneous increase in compulsory hospitalizations and the acute relapse of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. During the second wave, hospitalization rates reached those recorded during the same period of the previous 3 years, mainly due to the rise of bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders and suicidal behaviors. CONCLUSION The coping strategies adopted during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic protected the vulnerable population from the general risk of clinical-psychopathological acute relapse, even if they increased the susceptibility to run into schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder relapses. In the medium-long term (as in the second pandemic wave), the same strategies do not play protective roles against the stress associated with the pandemic and social restriction measures. Indeed, during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an increase in total hospitalization rate, suicidal behaviors and the incidence rate of bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders was observed.

Purpose We aimed to verify if 1 year-testosterone-replacement therapy could produce a psychopathological recovery and a satisfactory quality of life in Klinefelter syndrome (KS) patients compared to matched healthy controls. Further, we analyzed personality traits and coping strategies, an issue not yet examined in androgen-treated KS patients. We also enquired whether any of the sociodemographic and psychological variables might predict a patient’s general and sexual life satisfaction. Methods The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised were administered to both 23 KS patients and matched healthy subjects. Psychopathology was investigated by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Mini-mental State Examination. The COPE Inventory was used to identify cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage disease-related distress. Results In testosterone-treated KS patients, when compared with controls, SCL-90-R subscales analysis evidenced high psychological distress, mainly presented as obsessive thoughts, hanger-hostility, phobias, and psychoticism. Self-directedness and self-transcendence, along with the prevalent use of emotion-focused coping strategies, outlined the personality of our KS patients. Depression and somatization proved to be predictors of general life dissatisfaction. Depression, anger-hostility, and paranoid ideation, instead, emerged as predictors of sexual life dissatisfaction. Conclusion Endocrinologists should cooperate with mental health providers to foster a better outcome of the disease in KS patients.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health are now well documented, however, few studies have been focused on the role of coping strategies and resilience in counterbalancing these detrimental effects. Data are derived from the COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET), a national multicentric trial carried out in the Italian general population. The final sample consisted of 20,720 participants, 53.1% (n = 11,000) of the sample reported low levels of resilience. Adaptive coping strategies and resilience levels did not have any significant protective impact on the levels of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Only self-distraction was a risk factor for poor mental health (Beta Coefficient, B = 0.1, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 0.003 to 0.267 for stress symptoms, B = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.077 to 0.324 for anxiety symptoms and B = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.105 to 0.382 for depressive symptoms). High levels of resilience were predicted by adaptive coping strategies, such as acceptance (B = 1.8, CI 95% = 1.4–2.7). Exposure to the different weeks of lockdown, being infected by COVID-19, and being a healthcare professional did not influence the levels of resilience. Our findings should be carefully considered, since the low levels of resilience may represent the missing link between the pandemic and the current increase in mental health problems.

Cel badań: Obecność zaburzeń psychicznych w adolescencji zwiększa ryzyko wystąpienia ich także w dorosłości. Celem badań była analiza zależności między symptomami lęku i depresji u nastolatków a rodzajem doświadczanych sytuacji kryzysowych dotyczących środowiska rodzinnego lub rówieśniczego, a także ich związków z wzorcami radzenia sobie. Metoda: Do badania włączono 41 nastolatków w wieku od 11 do 18 lat zgłaszających się po pomoc psychologiczną do Poradni Psychologiczno-Pedagogicznej oraz Poradni Zdrowia Psychicznego z powodu zaburzeń depresyjnych i lękowych. Badani wypełniali zestaw kwestionariuszy: Kwestionariusz Wydarzeń Kryzysowych, Kwestionariusz do Diagnozy Depresji u Dzieci i Młodzieży - skrócona wersja do samoopisu (CDI2), Inwentarz Stanu i Cechy Lęku (STAIC/STAI - odpowiednio do wieku), Jak sobie radzisz? Wyniki: Wśród nastolatków istotne znaczenie ma subiektywne postrzeganie doświadczanych trudności, nie ich liczba. Wysokie nasilenie lęku i depresji koreluje z wyższą oceną subiektywnego wpływu doświadczeń kryzysowych. W ocenie nastolatków sytuacje kryzysowe w grupie rówieśniczej mają większe znaczenie niż te w środowisku rodzinnym. Trudności w relacjach z rówieśnikami wiążą się z wyższym nasileniem lęku-stanu oraz lęku–cechy. Z kolei subiektywny wpływ doświadczeń konfliktowych w rodzinie nie jest istotnie skorelowany z nasileniem lęku i depresji. Występuje związek pomiędzy rodzajem doświadczonych kryzysów (rodzinnych i rówieśniczych) a strategiami radzenia sobie ze stresem. Wnioski: Wyniki pogłębiają stan wiedzy dotyczący prawidłowości występujących w okresie adolescencji. Pokazują zależności pomiędzy zaburzeniami lękowymi i depresyjnymi a doświadczanymi trudnościami oraz sposobami radzenia sobie ze stresem. Podkreślają szczególne znaczenie kryzysów w grupie rówieśniczej w okresie adolescencji. Wnioski mogą być pomocne w planowaniu oddziaływań terapeutycznych, w których należy uwzględnić relacje rówieśnicze i oddziaływania grupowe. Objectives: The occurrence of the mental disorders in adolescence increases the risk of their presence in adulthood. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents, the type of crisis situations in the family or peer environment, and their relationship with coping patterns. Method: The study included 41 adolescents (11-18 years old) who came for psychological help because of depressive and anxiety disorders. Respondents completed: Crisis Events Questionnaire, Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Depression in Children and Adolescents-shortened version (CDI2), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIC/STAI - age appropriate), How do you cope? Results: The subjective perception of experienced difficulties is of greater importance than the number of difficulties in itself. The perception of crises correlates with higher anxiety and depression. According to the teenagers, crisis situations within their peer groups are more relevant than crisis situations within families. Strained relationships with peers are related to higher state and trait anxiety. The perceived impact of crises within families does not correlate with anxiety and depression. There is a relationship between the types of crises (within peer groups or families) and the coping strategies. Conclusions: The results advance the current state of knowledge regarding development norms occurring in the adolescence. A link between experiencing crises, types of coping strategies, and anxiety and depressive disorders have been observed. The importance of crises within adolescent peer groups is emphasized. The concluding remarks can be used in planning therapeutic interventions, which should address peer relationships and group interactions.

Background When facing a traumatic event, some people may experience positive changes, defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Methods Understanding the possible positive consequences of the pandemic on the individual level is crucial for the development of supportive psychosocial interventions. The present paper aims to: 1) evaluate the levels of PTG in the general population; 2) to identify predictors of each dimension of post-traumatic growth. Results The majority of the sample (67%, N = 13,889) did not report any significant improvement in any domain of PTG. Participants reported the highest levels of growth in the dimension of “appreciation of life” (2.3 ± 1.4), while the lowest level was found in the “spiritual change” (1.2 ± 1.2). Female participants reported a slightly higher level of PTG in areas of personal strength (p p B = −.107, 95% CI = −.181 to −.032, p Conclusions The assessment of the levels of PTG is of great importance for the development of ad hoc supportive psychosocial interventions. From a public health perspective, the identification of protective factors is crucial for developing ad-hoc tailored interventions and for preventing the development of full-blown mental disorders in large scale.

Introduction Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a chronic and rare sleep disorder typically arising during adolescence and young adulthood. The main symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, a prototypical fall down elicited by huge emotions. Social relationships, school, work, and general health perception are frequently impaired in patients, who often show lower quality-of-life scores. We report which management strategies a young patient (DMG) adopted to cope with NT1 during his growth, avoiding exhibiting serious impairments to his global functioning. Methods A clinical psychologist explores the history of the patient's disease and the self-acquired strategies used to cope with the symptoms. The patient's global adaptation to the disease, stress-related managing skills, and overall well-being are assessed by standardized scales [Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ); Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE); and Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI)]. We conducted a qualitative analysis of the patient's narration of his illness according to the procedure of the Grounded Theory. The MAXQDA software program was used to code the verbatim transcript. Results From the qualitative analysis of the interview, three thematic cores emerged: 1) the disease history; 2) the patient's friendship with AD, a friend of his age diagnosed with NT1 since childhood; 3) the strategies used to deal with his symptoms before the diagnosis of NT1 and the related treatment. From the psychometric tests, the patient presents good coping strategies in dealing with stressful problems and events based mainly on acceptance and positive reinterpretation of the stressful situation. Conclusion This case shows that comparing peers of the same age and suffering from the same illness improve the patient's self-management ability to cope and live well with NT1.

Objective: Despite of the large prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in pediatric age, numerous aspects of its impact on day life and on parental quality are still poor studied and considered in the clinical management. The study evaluated the stress levels and copying styles in a large sample of mother of children with OSAS. Method: 374 mothers of children affected by OSAS (mOSAS) were compared with a group of mothers of 421 neurotypical healthy children (mTDC) for stress perceived stress levels and for coping strategies. Subjects were recruited from Italian Regions in Sicily, Campania, Calabria and Umbria. Results: Among both groups mOSAS and mTDC no differences were reported for children age (p=0.340), children gender (p=0.956), similarly for age of mothers (p=0.188). Discussion: The perceived stress assessment in mOSAS showed higher rate of all parental stress scores of PSI-SF: Parental Distress domain (p

Research has shown a direct relationship between infertility-related stress and anxiety in infertile patients. The present study goes into this relationship in depth, testing the moderating role of coping strategies (Seeking Social Support, Avoidant, Positive Attitude, Problem-Solving, Turning to Religion) in the associations between specific infertility-related stress dimensions (Social Concern, Need for Parenthood, Rejection of Childfree Lifestyle, Couple’s Relationship Concern) and State-Anxiety among male and female partners of infertile couples. Gender differences were also explored. Both members of 254 infertile couples completed a questionnaire consisting of Socio-demographics, Fertility Problem Inventory–Short Form (FPI-SF), Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced–New Italian Version (COPE-NIV), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y). The results revealed that Social Concern and Couple’s Relationship Concern, in both partners, and Need for Parenthood, in female partners, had positive correlations with State-Anxiety. Seeking Social Support and Avoidant coping were related to increasing levels of State-Anxiety in both partners, whereas Positive Attitude coping strategies were related to lower levels of State-Anxiety in female partners. Problem-Solving and Avoidant coping played moderating roles between specific infertility-related stress dimensions and State-Anxiety in unexpected directions. Problem-Solving exacerbated the negative effects of Social Concern, whereas Avoidant coping buffered the negative effects of several infertility-related stress dimensions in both partners. Interventions to improve stress management and psychological health in infertile couples should consider that the adequacy of coping strategies is inherently situation specific. It therefore follows that patient-centered clinical interventions should consider the potential inadequacy of promoting Problem-Solving strategies, and that even Avoidance can be an efficient strategy for dealing with specific infertility-related stress dimensions.

espanolIntroduccion. Esta investigacion tiene por objeto explorar el efecto de la adopcion de metas de aproximacion de los estudiantes, tanto de enfoque de maestria, enfoque de rendimiento y de evitacion del rendimiento, en sus creencias motivacionales y uso de la estrategia de afrontamiento en las clases de ciencias desde una perspectiva de objetivos multiples. Las creencias motivacionales de los estudiantes fueron examinadas en terminos de autoeficacia y creencias de valor de tarea mientras que su uso de la estrategia de afrontamiento fue examinado en terminos de afrontamiento positivo, proyectivo y de negacion y no afrontamiento. Metodo. La muestra de este estudio consiste en 317 estudiantes de septimo grado. Se uso para evaluar la autoeficacia y el valor de la tarea de los estudiantes un Cuestionario de Estrategias Motivadas para el Aprendizaje. Ademas, un Cuestionario de objetivos de logro e inventario de afrontamiento academico fueron utilizados en el presente estudio para evaluar las creencias motivacionales de los estudiantes y las estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados. El analisis de conglomerados sugirio cuatro grupos de metas de logro: objetivos orientados a la maestria (enfoque de alto dominio, enfoque de bajo rendimiento y objetivos de evitacion), objetivos orientados al rendimiento (enfoque y evitacion de alto rendimiento, objetivos de aproximacion de dominio moderado), objetivos orientados al enfoque (enfoque de alto dominio y alto rendimiento y menos objetivos para evitar el rendimiento) y altos objetivos orientados multiples (alto dominio, enfoque de alto rendimiento y objetivos de evitacion de alto rendimiento). Discusion y conclusion. De acuerdo con los resultados, estudiantes con objetivos orientados al enfoque y altos objetivos orientados multiples tienen mas probabilidades de poseer creencias motivacionales adaptativos y usan estrategias de afrontamiento positivas. EnglishIntroduction. This study aims to explore the effect of students’ adoption of approach goals; both mastery and performance approach goals and performance avoidance goals on their motivational beliefs and coping strategy use in science classes from multiple goals perspective.Students’ motivational beliefs were examined in terms of self-efficacy and task-value beliefs while their coping strategy use was examined in terms of positive, projective, and denial coping and non-coping. Method. The sample of this study consist 317 seventh grade students. Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire was used to assess students’ self-efficacy and task value. Besides,Achievement Goal Questionnaire and Academic Coping Inventory were used in the present study to assess students’ motivational beliefs and coping strategies. Results. The cluster analysis suggested four clusters of achievement goals: mastery-oriented goals (high mastery approach, low performance approach and avoidance goals), performanceoriented goals (high performance approach and avoidance, moderate mastery approach goals), approach oriented goals (high mastery and high performance approach, and less performance avoidance goals) and high multiple oriented goals (high mastery, high performance approach and high performance avoidance goals) Discussion and Conclusion. According to the results, students with approach oriented goals and high multiple oriented goals are more likely to possess adaptive motivational beliefs and use positive coping strategies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about disruptive changes in individuals’ lives, breaking the established systems of meaning worldwide. Indeed, in the first months of the pandemic, with individuals being forced to stay at home for a prolonged time to contain the spread of the virus, the need to build new meanings to understand and face this crisis emerged. Building on this, the present study contributes to the understanding of how sensemaking processes were shaped in the face of COVID-19 collective trauma during the very first months of the pandemic. Hence, 36 Italian young adults aged between 21 and 25 submitted daily diary entries for two weeks (T1 was the third week of Italian National lockdown; T2 was the penultimate week before the ease of such stay-at-home orders), resulting in 504 texts. The stimulus was always “Could you describe your daily experience and feelings?”. The Grounded Theory was used. Thus, 15 categories emerged, grouped into three macro-categories. The core category was sensemaking as adaptation. Indeed, the sensemaking process seemed to be a strategy to adapt to the new circumstances related to the lockdown, facing the emotional, cognitive, and activation reactions such conditions by relying on coping strategies and the redefinition of primary as well as broader social relationships.

Background Research highlighted that Stressful Life Events have high incidence among infertile patients and significant impact on physical and medical parameters related to reproductive functions, but their potential role among factors influencing the infertile patients’ perception of fertility-related Quality of Life (QoL) has not been explored. The present study aims to investigate the associations of Stressful Life Events (Stressful events in the family of origin, In family pre-existing pregnancy difficulties, Health problems in childhood) with perceived fertility-related QoL in women attending infertility treatments, examining the potential moderating role of adopted coping strategies and perceived couple’s dyadic adjustment. Methods A questionnaire consisting of Socio-demographics and Infertility-related characteristics, Stress-inducing events in the couples’ lives Questionnaire (FLS), Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced (COPE), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and Core and Treatment subscales of Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) was administered to 266 women attending infertility treatments. A descriptive correlational design with cross-sectional comparison was used. Results Logistic Regression Analyses after adjusting for socio-demographic and infertility-related characteristics revealed that women who reported Stressful events in the family of origin and In family pre-existing pregnancy difficulties were more likely to report lower levels of perceived Core QoL, while women who reported Health problems in childhood were more likely to report lower levels of perceived Treatment QoL. Couple’s dyadic adjustment and specific coping strategies were significantly associated with perceived Core and Treatment QoL and they also significantly moderated the associations between stressful life events and perceived QoL. Conclusions Data provided original evidence on the strong association between stressful life events and perceived fertility-related QoL also highlighting individual and couples’ resources to define counselling interventions with women attending infertility treatments.

The study aims to propose and test a multi-dimensional infertility-related stress model including socio-demographic and fertility-related characteristics, infertility-related stress dimensions, coping strategies and couple’s dyadic adjustment dimensions as predictors of anxiety and depression among partners of couples undergoing infertility treatments. Both members of 250 infertile couples filled out a questionnaire consisting of Socio-demographics (Age; Educational level; Employment status), Fertility-related characteristics (Type of diagnosis; Duration of infertility), Fertility Problem Inventory-Short Form, Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced-New Italian Version, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y and Edinburgh Depression Scale. Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regressions indicated that the proposed predictive models for anxiety and depression were significant and had good levels of fit with the data. Gender differences emerged in predictor variables. Findings provide valid predictive models that could be adopted to assess psychological health in infertile patients and to develop evidence-based and tailored counselling interventions at centres for assisted reproduction.

Perinatal depression (PD) is a severe and disabling condition impacting negatively on children in terms of adverse neonatal outcomes and on the well-being of women and their families. All pregnant women attending the unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of the University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli" will be screened for PD using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Women with a score ≥10 at the EPDS will be invited to receive a full psychiatric assessment. The required sample size is of 126 women with PD which will be randomly allocated to either an experimental group, receiving a uni-familiar psychoeducational intervention, or to a control group, receiving the Best Treatment Option (BTO). Patients will be evaluated through several assessment instruments: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA), Family Assessment Device (FAD), Family Coping Questionnaire (FCQ), and Pattern of Care Schedule (PCS). Patients will be evaluated at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-randomization. The severity of depressive symptoms at the HAM-D scale has been selected as primary outcome. Other outcome measures include improvement in the severity of anxiety symptoms, of global and personal functioning, an improvement in family members' coping strategies and in the level of quality of life. It has been highlighted the importance of developing screening and treating programs for PD, and our study will use rigorous study design to evaluate the efficacy of the adaption of a well-known family psychoeducational model to the treatment of PD. The aims of present trial are to: (1) develop an informative package for pregnant women with PD; (2) promote a screening programme for PD; (3) identify those (socio-demographic and pregnancy-related environmental) factors associated with a higher risk to develop a perinatal or postnatal depression; (4) evaluate the efficacy of a new experimental psychoeducational intervention in reducing the depressive symptoms during pregnancy compared to the BTO.

Objective The impact of pain on quality of life and mental health of women with endometriosis is well known. However, the role that personality traits and coping strategies might have in influencing pain experience is still poorly understood and was the chief purpose of this study. Materials and methods We conducted a mixed-method sequential explanatory study, composed of a quantitative survey followed by qualitative interviews. The first quantitative phase included 162 women with endometriosis who completed a battery of validated questionnaires. After statistical analysis, a semistructured qualitative interview has been developed and conducted with 6 of them, in order to help explain findings obtained in the first phase. Thereafter, both analyses were combined in a metamatrix. Results From the metamatrix, it emerged that acute pain experience, fear of its occurrence, its unpredictability, and control difficulties are the main concerns of women with endometriosis. Worry trait characteristics (ie, the need for control, anticipatory anxiety, intrusive worry thoughts) and maladaptive thoughts such as coping strategies (ie, self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing) were common in this sample and seem to indirectly affect pain experience. Indeed, the unsuccessful struggle in controlling pain reinforces negative thoughts/beliefs and feelings of powerlessness, leading, in turn, to psychological distress and higher pain experience. Discussion From the study emerged a model of onset and maintenance of acute pain in women with endometriosis. Findings have clinical implications for the medical team and psychologists.

Background. Recent studies have consistently identified the negative consequences of cyberbullying on adolescent mental health. Nevertheless, not all cybervictims are alike, and in the last few years some evidence has appeared indicating that faced with cyberbullying, victims may manifest different emotional outcomes. In this study, we explored whether cybervictim resilience fully or partially mediates the effects of cybervictimization and whether a confrontational coping strategy impacts emotional symptoms. Methods. The study was carried out with a sample of 474 high school students equally distributed between males and females. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising four measures assessing cybervictimization, direct confrontation coping strategy, resilience and emotional symptoms. Results. Structural equation modelling indicated that the effects of cybervictimization and confrontational coping strategy on emotional symptoms were mediated by resilience, with cybervictimization showing a positive effect while direct confrontation a negative effect. Cybervictimization also showed a positive direct effect on emotional symptoms. Conclusions. These results are presented in light of their implications for designing effective interventions able to protect and promote adolescents&rsquo, psychological wellbeing.

The study proposed an application of the transactional model of stress in teaching elaborated by Travers and Cooper in 1996, and aimed to investigate the influence of personality characteristics (coping strategies, type A behaviors), situational characteristics (sources of pressure), and perceived job satisfaction in the prediction of teachers’ psychophysical health conditions. The Italian version of the Teacher Stress Questionnaire was administered to 621 teachers. Logistic regression was used to evaluate significant main and interaction effects of personality characteristics, situational characteristics, and perceived job satisfaction on teachers’ self-reported psychophysical health conditions. The findings highlighted specific coping strategies (focused on the problem, on innovation, and on hobbies and pastimes) and dimensions of job satisfaction (related to intrinsic aspects of job and to employee relations) buffering the negative effects of several job stressors. Type A behaviors and coping strategies focused on mobilized social support, suppression of stress, and not confronting the situation had main and interactions with negative effects on psychophysical health. Findings confirmed the necessity to run multi-factor research to analyze the different combinations of individual and situational variables implicated in negative health outcomes and to highlight the most significant buffering or increasing associations.

Gaia Sampogna,1 Mario Luciano,1 Valeria Del Vecchio,1 Claudio Malangone,1,2 Corrado De Rosa,1 Vincenzo Giallonardo,1 Giuseppina Borriello,1 Benedetta Pocai,1 Micaela Savorani,1 Luca Steardo Jr,1 Debora Lampis,3 Franco Veltro,4 Francesco Bartoli,5 Francesco Bardicchia,6 Anna Maria Moroni,7 Giusy Ciampini,8 Emanuele Orlandi,9 Silvia Ferrari,10 Silvia Biondi,11 Sonia Iapichino,11,12 Enrico Pompili,13 Massimiliano Piselli,14 Alfonso Tortorella,15 Giuseppe Carrà,5,16 Andrea Fiorillo1 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, 2Mental Health Centre of Ravello, Mental Health Unit, Ravello, 3Mental Health Centre of Lanusei, Mental Health Unit, Lanusei, 4Mental Health Department of Campobasso, Campobasso, 5Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, 6Mental Health Centre of Grosseto, Mental Health Unit, Grosseto, 7Niguarda Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Milan, 8Mental Health Centre of Lanciano, Mental Health Unit, Lanciano, 9Mental Health Centre of Sassuolo, Mental Health Unit, Sassuolo, 10University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Psychiatry, Reggio Emilia, 11Mental Health Centre of Montecatini, Mental Health Unit, Montecatini, 12Auditor Psychiatrist, for the activities of Clinical Risk Management and safety of treatments, Tuscany Region, 13Mental Health Centre of Rome, Mental Health Unit, Rome, 14Mental Health Centre of Foligno, Mental Health Unit, Foligno, 15Department of Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; 16Division of Psychiatry, University College of London, London, UK Background: Psychoeducational family intervention (PFI) has been proven to be effective in improving the levels of family burden and patients’ personal functioning in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (BDs). Less is known about the impact of PFI on relatives’ coping strategies in BD. Methods: A multicenter, controlled, outpatient trial funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” has been conducted in patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and their key relatives consecutively recruited in 11 randomly selected Italian community mental health centers. We aim to test the hypothesis that PFI improves problem-oriented coping strategies in relatives of BD-I patients compared to the Treatment As Usual (TAU) group. Results: The final sample was constituted of 123 patients and 139 relatives. At baseline assessment (T0), the vast majority of relatives already adopted problem-oriented coping strategies more frequently than the emotion-focused ones. At the end of the intervention, relatives receiving PFI reported a higher endorsement of adaptive coping strategies, such as “maintenance of social interests” (odds ratio [OR]=0.309, CI=0.04–0.57;p=0.023), “positive communication with the patient” (OR=0.295, CI=0.13–0.46;p=0.001), and “searching for information” (OR=0.443, CI=0.12–0.76;p=0.007), compared to TAU relatives, after controlling for several confounders. As regards the emotion-focused coping strategies, relatives receiving the experimental intervention less frequently reported to adopt “resignation” (OR=-0.380, CI=-0.68 to -0.08; p=0.014) and “coercion” (OR=-0.268, CI=-0.46 to -0.08;p=0.006) strategies, compared to TAU relatives. Conclusion: PFI is effective in improving the adaptive coping strategies of relatives of BD-I patients, but further studies are needed for evaluating the long-term benefits of this intervention. Keywords: coping strategies, family burden, psychoeducation family intervention, bipolar disorder, social functioning

Andrea Greco,1 Erika Rosa Cappelletti,2 Koen Luyckx,3,4 Marco D’Addario,5 Cristina Giannattasio,6,7 Patrizia Steca5 1Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy; 2Social healthcare Academy, Polis Lombardia, Regional Institute for Policy Support, Milan, Italy; 3Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 4UNIBS, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; 5Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; 6Department of Cardiology, ASST GOM Niguarda Ca’ Granda, Milan, Italy; 7Medicine and Surgery Department, Bicocca University, Milan, Italy Purpose: It is well recognized that effective health communication is associated with better adherence to medical prescriptions, behavioral changes, and enhanced perception of control over the disease. However, there is limited knowledge about the variables on which to tailor health messages. This study examined whether coping strategies were related to information needs over time in a sample of patients with hypertension.Patients and methods: A three-wave longitudinal design was used to examine the potential reciprocal relationships among variables. The sample included 271 patients (43.5% women) affected by essential arterial hypertension with a mean age of 54.66 years (SD =10.74 years; range 30–78 years). Data on patients’ demographic characteristics, coping strategies, and information needs were collected three times over 12 months. To test the directionality of the relationships linking coping to information needs, cross-lagged path analyses were applied in a structural equation modeling approach.Results: Active coping was related to a greater need for information regarding behavioral habits; avoidance coping was negatively associated with the need for information regarding daily life activities, while passive coping showed a positive relationship with this need. Moreover, results sustained the hypothesis that the relationship between coping and information needs was bi-directional. In fact, greater need for information about the disease and its pharmacological treatment was related to greater adoption of active coping strategies. The need for information about risk and complications was associated with the coping strategy related to alcohol use.Conclusion: These results provide important suggestions for implementing more effective intervention programs aimed at fostering patients’ self-care abilities. As it was possible to modify coping strategies, health care providers may consider measuring patients’ strategies before the medical examination so they have time to refine the information they give to patients. Keywords: coping strategies, health communications, chronic diseases, hypertension, intervention programs

The Demand Resources and Individual Effects Model (DRIVE Model) is a transactional model that integrates Demands- Control-Support and Effort-Reward Imbalance models emphasising the role of individual (Coping Strategies; Overcommitment) and job characteristics (Job Demands, Social Support, Decision Latitude, Skill Discretion, Effort, Rewards) in the work-related stress process. The present study aimed to test the DRIVE Model in a sample of 450 Italian nurses and to compare findings with those of a study conducted in a sample of UK nurses. A questionnaire composed of Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised (WCCL-R); Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ); ERI Test; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. Data supported the application of the DRIVE Model to the Italian context, showing significant associations of the individual characteristics of Problem-focused, Seek Advice and Wishful Thinking coping strategies and the job characteristics of Job Demands, Skill Discretion, Decision Latitude, and Effort with perceived levels of Anxiety and Depression. Effort represented the best predictor for psychological health conditions among Italian nurses, and Social Support significantly moderated the effects of Job Demands on perceived levels of Anxiety. The comparison study showed significant differences in the risk profiles of Italian and UK nurses. Findings were discussed in order to define focused interventions to promote nurses’ wellbeing.

This study examines the relationship between Theory of Mind (ToM) and internalizing symptoms in middle childhood and early adolescence. This developmental period has been largely neglected by ToM researchers, even though internalizing symptoms typically emerge and become stable at this age. In a sample of 318 (157 girls) school-aged children, we found that a high ToM performance is significantly associated with low depressive symptoms and low symptoms of panic disorder and separation anxiety. Further analyses revealed that problem-solving abilities mediate the relationship between ToM and depressive symptoms. Moreover, problem-solving abilities also mediate the relationship between ToM and separation anxiety symptoms, in boys only. The present findings suggest that depressive and separation anxiety symptoms in middle childhood and early adolescence might derive from a complex interaction between ToM abilities and coping strategies.