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Research on female same-sex relationships has predominantly considered a single partner's perspective on couple satisfaction, and has compared same-sex couples with heterosexual couples. Drawing upon Personal Construct Theory, this study explores how identification, acceptance, commonality and sociality (mutual understanding) between two female same-sex partners are associated with the couple's satisfaction. Forty Italian women involved in same-sex relationships completed the Partnership Questionnaire and 160 repertory grids involving the exchange grid method. A mixed-method analysis was conducted. Higher couple's satisfaction was associated with higher identification with the partner but not with higher commonality and sociality, partner acceptance was associated with higher scores in tenderness. Perceived similarity was higher than commonality and sociality, and partner's acceptance was higher than identification with her. Qualitative analysis heightened the centrality of the participants' experience when compared with the dominant prejudice with regard to homosexuality and the tension between autonomy and fusion. This study revealed the importance of identification and acceptance in terms of couple's satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a data report titled "Testing and assessment in psychology. A survey on Italian psychologists at the time of COVID-19 pandemic." It presents the results of a survey conducted among Italian psychologists registered with the Italian Board of Psychologists. The survey aimed to provide insights into the current state of psychological testing and assessment in professional practice, attitudes towards testing, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the transition to online assessment. The report emphasizes the importance of norm-referenced tests (NRT) and the need for psychologists to have a good understanding of test validity and reliability. The survey was part of a larger project by the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA) on assessment and testing. The dataset, which contains responses from 1,490 psychologists, is available for further research on psychological testing. [Extracted from the article]

The present study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of an Attentional Computerized Cognitive Training and a commercial Exergame Training. Eighty-four healthy older adults took part in the study. They were randomly assigned to one of the following conditions: Attentional Computerized Cognitive Training (ATT-CCT), Exergame Training (EXERG-T), or passive Control Group (CG). Participants assigned to the experimental groups underwent 8 laboratory-based sessions—lasting approximately 45 min each—of the respective training activity. A battery of cognitive tests was assessed before, after, and 3 months following the intervention phase. The results showed that just the ATT-CCT improved participants' performance, specifically within attention, processing speed, verbal learning and memory. While both intervention groups revealed improved memory self-perception and decreased self-reported absent-mindedness, only the benefits following the ATT-CCT proved to be stable over time. The results suggested that our ATT-CCT may be an effective tool for enhancing cognitive abilities in older healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Aging of the population encourages research on how to preserve cognition and quality of life. Many studies have shown that Physical Activity (PA) positively affects cognition in older adults. However, PA carried out throughout the individual's lifespan may also have an impact on cognition in old age. We hypothesize the existence of Motor Reserve (MR), a flexible and dynamic construct that increases over time and compensates for age-related motor and cognitive loss. Methods: Two questionnaires were developed and validated to estimate MR (Physical Activity carried out throughout the individual's lifespan) and Current Physical Activity (CPA, PA carried out in the previous 12 months). They were administered to 75 healthy individuals over 50 to verify the relation with cognition. MR and CPA include physical exercise (i.e., structured activities to improve or maintain physical fitness) and incidental PA, which we consider as any movement that leads to a metabolic cost above baseline (e.g., housekeeping, walking). In addition, the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRI), a reliable predictor of cognitive performance, was used to measure each participant's Cognitive Reserve. Results: The factors that most influenced performance are Age and Cognitive Reserve, but also MR and CPA together and MR when it is the only factor. Conclusions: Cognitive variability in adult and elderly populations is explained by both MR and CPA. PA training could profitably be included in new preventive and existing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening for postpartum mental health has a crucial role in identifying women needing psychological support. The present study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Postpartum Distress Measure (PDM) in Italian women in the first six months postpartum (n = 818). The PDM is a 10-item self-report questionnaire composed of two subscales assessing general distress and obsessivecompulsive symptoms. CFA supported the two-dimensional structure of the PDM, showing good fit indices as well as high internal consistency. Furthermore, ROC analysis revealed high sensitivity and specificity of the PDM in detecting possible cases of postnatal distress with an optimal cutoff of 9. Given its good psychometric properties and its sensitivity, the PDM may be confidently used as a screening tool for maternal distress in the first six months postpartum, covering a wide range of typical perinatal psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]