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High variability of influenza vaccine efficacy requires the identification of modulators of immunisation that may be targeted as adjuvants in health psychology interventions. Psychosocial and behavioural variables such as psychological stress, greater negative and lower positive affectivity, poor sleep, loneliness, and lack of social support, have been associated with abnormal immune and inflammatory responses and negative health outcomes, yet their effects in modulating vaccine efficacy are yet to be fully understood. We conducted an updated systematic review of longitudinal and experimental studies examining the effects of such variables in predicting immune response to influenza vaccine. PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus were searched up to November 2022. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis and 16 provided data for meta-analysis. Low positive and high negative affect were associated with low antibodies and weak cell-mediated immunity following vaccination in qualitative synthesis. Literature on sleep disturbance, loneliness and social support was limited and yielded inconsistent results. Psychological stress was associated with poorer antibody response in meta-analysis. In conclusion, findings from this review suggest a need for further longitudinal and experimental studies on these factors to support their inclusion as target variables in vaccine adjuvant interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using retrospective self-reporting, rates of illegal and legal performance-enhancing substance (PES) use in the past three months among more than 3,400 Italian high school adolescents were obtained and estimated. The study focused on the extent to which these sociodemographic characteristics and illegal PES use were associated with adolescents' positive attitudes toward illegal PES use. Results showed that it is relatively rare for youths to report use of illegal performance-enhancing substances in the past three months, and that male, relatively older, and athlete students were significantly more likely to use illegal PES than their respective counterparts. The results also showed that illegal PES users and male, older, and athlete students held stronger attitudes favoring illegal PES use. Finally, results showed that those student athletes who reported having used legal PES in the past three months were 10 times more likely to also have used illegal PES than those student athletes who did not report having used legal PES. (Contains 4 tables and 1 note.)

This study aimed to identify clusters of participants with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at risk for developing psychological and somatic distress symptoms. Moreover, we investigated whether the different clusters were associated with glycemic control, sleep, and physical activity levels. Design and main outcome measures. In a cross-sectional design, participants with T2DM (n = 269) completed questionnaires on psychological and somatic distress, sleep disorders and physical activity. Cluster analyses yielded three groups: a) "high self-confident and low demoralised"; b) "low support and low involvement"; c) "high consequences, high demoralisation and nagging". The groups were distinguished by the social, cognitive, and vital exhaustion variables and significant differences in diabetes-related psychological distress and physical activity. The measure of glycemic control did not differ between clusters. The "high self-confident and low demoralised" group displayed the lowest scores on psychological distress compared to the other clusters. Results suggest that social cognitive dimensions and affective states play a key role in defining clusters in participants with T2DM. Thus, we need to consider the psychological profiles of participants with T2DM when designing interventions to improve self-management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on changes in volunteering over time among Italian adults and examined a model in which motives from self-determination theory (SDT) were hypothesized to influence a series of social-cognitive processes including self-efficacy judgments and constructs from the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The study was conducted with 312 male (mean age = 66.10; SD = 5.28) and 253 female adults (mean age = 66.67; SD = 5.79) who worked as volunteers in several associations and organizations in Italy. In two occasions over the course of several months, participants respectively completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires and responded to telephone interviews which assessed the study's constructs of interest. Structural equation model analyses provided support for the guiding hypothesis and findings suggested that the more general approach of SDT can be successfully integrated with a social-cognitive framework such as the TPB to provide a better insight onto the origins of the cognitive predictors of intentions in older volunteers. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

This study aimed at evaluating how transition of care is currently being organized in the European Reference Networks (ERNs) health care providers (HCPs) in pediatric areas and in the Anorectal Malformation Network (ARM-Net) Consortium hospitals. An online questionnaire was sent to a total of 80 surgeons, members of or affiliated members of three networks: ARM-Net Consortium, ERN eUROGEN, and ERN ERNICA. Complete information were obtained for 45 HCPs, most of which deal with transition and still see a few adult patients (ca. 10%). Gynecological, gastroenterological, urological, colorectal, and continence issues were the major problems described by adult patients to their physicians, and in line with these prevalent complaints, they are referred to the appropriate adult specialists. Forty percent of patients complain about sexual and fertility problems, but the percentage of andrologists and sexologists involved in the caring of adult patients with ARM/Hirschsprung's disease is low, just above 10.9%. Most hospitals deal with transition, but three basic criteria (i.e., presence of: [1] an official written transitional program, [2] a transitional coordinator, and [3] written information on transition to be handled to patients) are jointly met only by six HCPs. According to the responders, the most important issue requiring improvement is the lack of interest and of specific preparation by adult specialists. The overall results of this exploratory survey confirm the need for the development of comprehensive programs for transition in these rare and complex diseases, and identify the hospitals that, in collaboration with the networks, could share best practices in organizing structured transitional pathways and well follow-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]