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In recent years, a growing number of attachment-based studies have contributed to the understanding of both substance and behavioral addictions. Although gambling is a form of addictive behavior widespread all over the world, both among young people and adults, the evidence on the association between attachment-related phenomena and gambling has not yet been systematized in literature. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to provide a systematic literature review aimed at summarizing the empirical evidence on this topic. Following the updated 2020 PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in four electronic scientific databases (Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo and Web of Science) was conducted. After removing duplicates, 146 records were double-screened, with 12 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Additionally, by means of a backward search a further article was selected. Altogether, 13 articles were selected for the present systematic review. With few exceptions, the results underline the significant role played by attachment-related phenomena in gambling behaviors, highlighting that specific attachment contexts have a different influence on gambling, also depending on whether gamblers are youths or adults. In particular, while secure attachment has proven to be a protective factor for the onset of gambling behavior, insecure attachment has emerged to be a vulnerability factor in two ways. On the one hand, it directly favors gambling behaviors; on the other, it affects coping strategies and the individual’s ability to identify and regulate emotions, which in turn predict gambling. Limitations, strengths, and implications of the present systematic review are discussed.

A woman's first childbirth represents a moment of elevated maternal emotional vulnerability. Indeed, there is a prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in primiparas during the postpartum period that negatively influences the well-being of the woman, of her newborn, and of the quality of their attachment bond. Much attention has been paid to the possible risk factors involved in the onset of mood disturbance in the postpartum. However, knowledge is still limited regarding the role played by the specific clinical aspects linked to labor. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore whether spontaneous or elective induction labor is linked to the level of postnatal depression and anxiety three months after birth. One hundred and sixty-one women (Mage = 31.63; SD = 4.88) were recruited, using the following inclusion criteria: native Italian women; age > 18 years; physically and psychologically healthy nulliparous with singleton no-risk pregnancy; no previous abortion or interruption of pregnancy; no previous psychopathological diagnoses. Exclusion criteria: twin pregnancy, fetal pathologies, and planned elective cesarean. Data was collected at two different times: T1 (day of childbirth) clinical data of labor (spontaneous or induced) from hospital records; T2 (three months after birth) level of mother's depression and anxiety. In order to explore if the level of depression and anxiety three months after childbirth differ in women according to the type of labor, spontaneous or induced, two univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted. Results showed that women who had a spontaneous labor reported lower levels of anxiety and depression than women who had an induced labor. Our results highlight the significant implications that the mode of labor has on the emotional well-being of mothers, underlining the need to support women throughout all their transition to motherhood, including the childbirth experience.

Background: The birth of the first child represents a challenging event in the new-parents' life. Although literature highlighted that this period is experienced in a different way by the new mothers and new fathers, little is known about the broader evolutionary challenge that the transition to parenthood entails, also due to the difficulty of starting to think for three. Objective: The present study aims to explore the new-parents' autobiographical narratives after childbirth, to examine the meaning they construct of this event, and investigate the differences between the experience of new mothers and new fathers. Methods: Thirteen couples were recruited for the study. After childbirth, an individual open interview was conducted in order to collect information of the personal experience of becoming a parent. All interviews, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, were analyzed by T-Lab software in order to explore similarities and differences between them, using thematic analysis to perform unsupervised clustering of narrations to highlight the emerging themes, and we evaluated the elementary contexts of the narratives. A subsequent in-depth analysis regarding the process of delivery was conducted through the LIWC Results: Similar but not overlapping themes emerged from narratives. Overall, parents have to face three crucial issues: giving a meaning to the childbirth experience, reorganizing family life, and managing the newborn. However, new-mothers and new-fathers live this period not only with different roles, but also referring to different contexts and seem to house two different spaces: one mental and one physical. Fathers more than mothers highlighted the social aspects of childbirth. Conclusion: Results highlight that childbirth represents an important turning point, which implies the transition from thinking for two to thinking for three. In this process, the two parents play, narratively, two different roles. Limitations, strengths, and implications are discussed.

La presente rassegna si propone di esaminare lo stato attuale della ricerca re-lativa al sentimento di gelosia all'interno della relazione di coppia. In particolare, a partire dalla definizione del costrutto, prende in esame i principali modelli teorici avanzati nel corso del tempo ed esamina le specifiche manifestazioni e caratteristiche che distinguono la cosiddetta gelosia normale da quella patologica, gli esiti che forme diverse di gelosia possono avere sul benessere del singolo e sulla qualità della relazione di coppia, nonché i molteplici fattori di rischio e di prote-zione che concorrono al sorgere e al mantenimento di tale complessa esperienza emotiva.

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the experience of childbirth as a traumatic event and the quality of postnatal attachment to child, analyzing the role of depressive symptomatology on this relationship. A sample of 103 women, aged from 26 to 46 years (M = 35.05, SD = 4.51) filled in questionnaires to assess postpartum stress symptoms related to the childbirth experience, postnatal attachment toward their newborns, and level of depressive symptomatology. A mediation analysis was carried out. The level of postpartum stress symptoms positively affects maternal depressive symptomatology and negatively affects the quality of postnatal attachment. Moreover, the relationship between a traumatic childbirth experience and postnatal attachment is both direct and indirect. In fact, a traumatic childbirth experience also affects the level of postnatal depression that, in turn, negatively affects the quality of postnatal attachment bond. The presence of postpartum distress symptoms affects the well-being of mothers, and these conditions interfere with the ability of women to develop good attachment bonds with their children. These results showed the relevance of paying attention to pregnant women, to help them to live childbirth in a positive and non-stressful way.

Abstract. Background: Depression during pregnancy is a severe risk factor for negative outcomes in women and children. In particular, prenatal symptoms of depression are linked to a more complicated labor experience, characterized by more painful labor and more frequent recourse to epidural analgesia and/or oxytocin. Although this link is evident, less is known about possible mediators of this relationship. Aims: This study investigated the mediating role of perceived maternal social support on the relationship between prenatal maternal depression and labor experience. Methods: Participants were 152 Italian nulliparous women ( Mage = 31.68 years, SD = 4.94). Data were collected at two different times: T1 (at week 30–33 of gestation) women completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Maternal Social Support Scale; T2 (at childbirth) clinical data regarding labor was registered from hospital records (duration of labor in hours and administration of oxytocin and epidural analgesia in hours). Results: The Structural Equation Modeling showed that prenatal symptoms of depression are linked to a more complicated labor experience (β = .31, p

Given the high prevalence of gambling among adolescents, the main purpose of the present study was to develop a gambling primary intervention program for students through the training of teachers a...

The aim of this study was to analyze the direct and indirect relationships between the two phenotypes of narcissism, vulnerable and grandiose, and the tendency to perpetrate psychological abuse, exploring the mediating role of romantic jealousy. Our sample included 473 participants (213 males), aged 18-30 years (

Gambling is a widespread phenomenon during adolescence. Among different risk factors involved in the onset of adolescent gambling behaviors, one factor that is studied is the sensation seeking personality trait. However, the literature is heterogeneous and a direct relationship between sensation seeking and gaming behaviors has not always been highlighted. This suggests that the relationship can be influenced by other factors. In particular, we explored the moderating role of externalizing problems in this relationship. A total of 363 adolescents (232 males and 131 females) aged 14 to 20 (M = 16.35, SD = 1.36) completed a battery of questionnaires aimed to assess their gambling behaviors, as well as the levels of externalizing problems and sensation seeking. The results showed that sensation seeking was associated with gambling severity, but this relationship was significant when externalizing problems were high and medium. On the contrary, when externalizing problems were low, the relationship between sensation seeking and gambling severity was not significant. Overall, sensation seeking in adolescence can favor the implementation of risk behaviors, such as gambling, but only in association with the presence of externalizing problems. Limitations, strengths, and social and clinical implications of the present study are discussed.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between three types of maternal attachment bonds: anxious romantic, avoidant romantic and prenatal. The moderating role of perceived social support is also analysed. Ninety-one pregnant women in or near their thirtieth week of gestation (M = 29.59; SD = 4.57) were recruited, all of whom completed a series of questionnaires to assess the quality of their romantic and prenatal attachment bonds and their levels of perceived social support. The results reveal that both anxious and avoidant romantic attachments were significantly associated with low levels of maternal prenatal attachment. Moreover, the level of social support perceived during pregnancy moderated the relationship between anxious and prenatal attachments but had no effect on avoidant romantic and prenatal attachments. Our discussion of these findings considers the emotional and behavioural characteristics of various forms of insecure romantic attachments. Overall, the data highlight the relevance of the quality of intimate close relationships on maternity experiences and women's caregiving abilities.

The quality of the mother-child attachment bond is a relevant factor for the psychosocial well-being of a child. However, some variables could affect this relationship, such as a perceived traumatic childbirth experience. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of the childbirth experience on the relationship between prenatal and postnatal attachment. A predictive study was conducted on 105 pregnant women aged 26 to 44 years. The data was collected at two different times: at week 31–32 of gestation (T1) and three months after childbirth (T2). The quality of maternal prenatal attachment has a significant and direct effect on postnatal mother-child attachment. Moreover, the quality of prenatal attachment represents a protective factor for the quality of childbirth experience, promoting a higher quality of postnatal attachment bond. Our results highlight the importance of supporting women throughout the perinatal period, starting from pregnancy to after childbirth.