1
|
De Vincenzo C, Biancalani G, Sani L, Bacqué MF, Novelletto L, Scussolin D, Testoni I. The Impact of COVID-19 on Grief: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis in Italy. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2024:302228241248534. [PMID: 38632232 DOI: 10.1177/00302228241248534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This mixed-method research study delves into the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on loss and mental health in Italy. The analysis uncovers a significant correlation between COVID-19 fear and heightened anxiety, depression, and stress, exacerbated by social isolation and misinformation. The loss of loved ones during the pandemic intensifies distress, with 28% showing signs of prolonged disorder and 22.8% displaying maladaptive grief symptoms. Distress persists across pandemic phases (59.3% critical, 54.9% intermediate, 48.4% less critical), attributed to grief, fear, uncertainty, and isolation. Qualitative analysis identifies two core themes: 'Death without Dying' and 'Online Grieving Practices and Coping Strategies,' elucidating disruptions to traditional grieving and the role of online coping strategies. Our findings underscore the pandemic's multifaceted impact on grief and mental health in Italy, highlighting the importance of addressing social and emotional needs during crises.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ciro De Vincenzo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Livia Sani
- Laboratoire Subjectivité, Lien Social et Modernité, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie-Frédérique Bacqué
- Laboratoire Subjectivité, Lien Social et Modernité, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Livia Novelletto
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Debora Scussolin
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wieser MA, Leitner A. Impact of Teaching Palliative Psychology with Psychodrama and Arts Therapies on Psychology Students in Klagenfurt. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:931. [PMID: 37998678 PMCID: PMC10669408 DOI: 10.3390/bs13110931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Erasmus+ project "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP) under the coordination of the University of Padua investigated the effects of teaching palliative psychology with psychodrama and arts therapies, as positive effects on students' attitudes towards life and death were suspected through the use of these forms of treatment. Five countries participated in this project funded by the European Commission (Austria, Israel, Italy, Poland, and Romania). In Klagenfurt (Austria), 34 students from the University of Klagenfurt completed the pilot course entitled "Palliative Psychology" generated by the project partners. Course participants filled out psychological and satisfaction questionnaires at the beginning and end of the course, to measure the impact of teaching palliative psychology with psychodrama and arts therapies. The research involved a control group. In addition, six participants in the course participated in a focus group interview at the end, which included questions about their experience of the course; the impact of arts therapies and psychodrama techniques; experiences of verbal and artistic processing of death anxiety; and the meaning of life and death, representation of death, and associated feelings. The results, in summary, showed that processing of life and death had occurred in the participants due to the course they had completed. As part of the course, creative arts and psychodrama were bridges to death. Filling out satisfaction questionnaires, photovoice assignments, role reversal, and visualizing a personal social atom were seen by students in Klagenfurt as particularly effective methods for self-reflection.
Collapse
|
3
|
Testoni I, Ronconi L, Orkibi H, Biancalani G, Raccichini M, Franchini L, Keisari S, Bucuta M, Cieplinski K, Wieser M, Varani S. Death education for Palliative care: a european project for University students. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:47. [PMID: 37085886 PMCID: PMC10120108 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01169-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The need to spread the culture of palliative care and to train health care professionals from undergraduate courses is recognised internationally. The article presents the outcomes of a project devoted to palliative care training in university courses in four countries. AIMS This article considered the outcomes of a course designed for university students who had the potential to work in a palliative care team. The main aim was to check the efficacy of the course and the motivation to work in palliative care settings, considering the impact of fear and representations of death. METHODS The project presented the essential contents related to palliative care, using psychodramatic and photo-voice techniques. Longitudinal measurements were taken using a quantitative method design to detect changes among the students involved. The project involved 341 students at the first administration of the survey consisted of a protocol composed of standardized questionnaires in five countries (Austria, Israel, Italy, Poland and Romania), of whom 276 completed the pre- and post-surveys-165 of them in the experimental group and 111, in the control group. RESULTS The experience showed that it is possible to address death-related issues seriously and competently without necessarily causing discomfort and despondency in students. The results of the changes over time in the experimental and control groups highlight how the view of death as annihilation is correlated with the fear of death and the need for avoidance of thoughts concerning dying. The main result is that competence in palliative care facilitates familiarisation with issues of death and dying, as well as the ability to work in this area, thereby enhancing interpersonal skills. CONCLUSION The project showed that it is possible to implement death education on palliative care topics in undergraduate courses to increase motivation to work in this field.
Collapse
Grants
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
- 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243 This research was funded by the Erasmus+Program of the European Union. Specifically, the funding for this study comes from the Erasmus plus project: "Death Education for Palliative Psychology" (DE4PP), project code: 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063243.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, Padua, 35131, Italy.
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- IT and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Hod Orkibi
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, Padua, 35131, Italy
| | | | | | - Shoshi Keisari
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mihaela Bucuta
- Department of Journalism, Public Relations, Sociology and Psychology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Krzysztof Cieplinski
- Department of Psychotherapy and Health Psychology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Michael Wieser
- Department of Psychology, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sielaff A, Horner DE, Greenberg J. Differences in Existential Perspectives as a Function of Having a Mystical-Type Experience. JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1177/00221678231158679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Prior research suggests that unique phenomenological experiences called “mystical-type experiences” (MTEs) have the potential to induce significant and persisting worldview changes. In this article, two studies add to this literature by using cross-sectional data from 837 and 1,086 participants, respectively, to investigate whether people who have had one of these experiences differ in predictable ways from those who have not on relevant existential variables. Specifically, we tested two novel hypotheses rooted in terror management theory, along with two predictions based on past research. In specific, the yes-MTE group was hypothesized to have (a) less fear of death and greater belief in death as a passage, (b) a more intrinsic and growth-oriented worldview, (c) fewer mental health symptoms, and (d) higher trait absorption. The data largely supported hypotheses 1, 2, and 4 while the results for hypothesis 3 were opposite of expectations, suggesting that clinical research with psychedelic-induced MTEs may not be generalizable to MTEs experienced outside the supportive therapeutic context.
Collapse
|
5
|
Interest and Confidence in Death Education and Palliative Psychology in Italian and Indian University Students of Psychology: Similarities and Differences. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13020183. [PMID: 36829412 PMCID: PMC9952567 DOI: 10.3390/bs13020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Teaching death education and palliative psychology in universities has proven to be of great importance, especially in the health professions. The present study aims to evaluate the similarities and differences in interest and confidence in death education and palliative psychology between university psychology students from two culturally different countries: Italy and India. For this study, 63 Italian and 35 Indian psychology students were recruited to take part in a course on death education and palliative psychology. The results showed the positive impact of a death education and palliative psychology course on the training of professionals. In particular, this course was useful in helping students become familiar with and learn how to manage future professional situations related to death and dying. Specific differences between the two countries also emerged, particularly with regard to their approach to the end-of-life field, due to different cultural contexts. There is still much to be done by institutions to improve the dissemination and academic teaching of this area, which in turn can promote job opportunities for young people and encourage them to work in this field.
Collapse
|
6
|
Ronconi L, Biancalani G, Medesi GA, Orkibi H, Testoni I. Death Education for Palliative Psychology: The Impact of a Death Education Course for Italian University Students. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13020182. [PMID: 36829411 PMCID: PMC9952646 DOI: 10.3390/bs13020182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of a hybrid online course on a group of Italian Master's degree students involved in a European Erasmus+ project. The course was composed of nine modules about death education, palliative psychology and the use of creative arts therapies-such as psychodrama, intermodal psychodrama and photovoice-in the end-of-life-field. The project involved 64 students in the experimental group (who attended the course) and 56 students as the control group. Both groups completed an online questionnaire before and after the delivery of the course and 10 students from the experimental group participated in a focus group at the end of the course. The quantitative analysis revealed that the experimental group students showed lesser levels of perception of death as annihilation, fear of the death and death avoidance, while they increased their levels of death acceptance, creative self-efficacy and attitude toward the care of the dying. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: the positive impact of the course on death education and end-of-life care; the role of art therapies on death and end-of-life care; and the unhelpful facets of the course. Overall, this intervention changed the perception and the feelings of the students regarding the themes of death and palliative psychology and increased their creative self-efficacy and their interest in working in an end-of-life field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Ronconi
- IT and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8276585
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Georgiana Alexandra Medesi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Hod Orkibi
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Drama & Health Science Lab, and the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Strengths and Weaknesses of Children Witnessing Relatives with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10010140. [PMID: 36670690 PMCID: PMC9856986 DOI: 10.3390/children10010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Research on minors who have a close family member with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is scarce. This study aims to analyze the relationships between reflective function and wellbeing among such children, considering their reflective function, representations of death, and behavioral problems with the following instruments: Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Testoni Death Representation Scale for Children, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Participants were 248 minors divided into the target group (38 children-16 females, 22 males-7-18 years old (M = 11.61, SD = 2.97)) and the control group (210 students-120 females, 90 males 9-14 years old (M = 11.17, SD = 1.33)). Results showed that the target group exhibited more negative affect and hyperactivity. However, they also showed less uncertainty in their mental states. The opportunity to support these minors is discussed.
Collapse
|
8
|
Tressoldi P, Álvarez AA, Facchin N, Frullanti M, Liberale L, Saad M, Shiah YJ, Testoni I. Shared Death Experiences: A Multicultural Survey. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2023; 40:79-86. [PMID: 35469430 DOI: 10.1177/10499091221093270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shared-death-experiences (SDEs) and after-death-communication-experiences (ADCEs) are non-ordinary mental experiences related to the death of a known or unknown person. METHODS These experiences were investigated by surveying four samples with different cultural backgrounds: Italian, Mexican, Brazilian and Taiwanese people. One-hundred-twenty-one participants reported 146 experiences of this type. RESULTS Among the main characteristics of these experiences, visual, visual-auditory and feeling experiences, which comprised 74% of all experiences, were experienced both in the dream state and a normal state of consciousness. Furthermore, most of these experiences were lived before (47.3%) or after (39%) the death of the person in relationship with the participants. More importantly, these experiences influenced the participants' death interpretation favoring the belief that death affects only the body, but the consciousness of the deceased persons survives in another reality and sometimes can communicate with relatives and friends still alive in this reality. No substantial differences were observed among the different subsamples. CONCLUSION As to the origin of SDEs/ADCEs, we discuss that whereas for most of them, in particular those lived after the death of a relative or a friend, we can assume hallucinatory characteristics triggered by emotional needs, for others, for example those related to unknown individuals and/or those experienced before the death of the person still in good health, it is not possible to exclude their anomalous connections and a real encounter with a deceased person.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Tressoldi
- Science of Consciousness Research Group, Studium Patavinum, 9308Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - Alex A Álvarez
- Unidad Parapsicológica de Investigación, Difusión y Enseñanza, City of Mexico, Mexico
| | - Nadir Facchin
- End of Life, FISSPA, 9308Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Laura Liberale
- End of Life, FISSPA, 9308Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - Marcelo Saad
- Spiritist Medical Association of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yung-Jong Shiah
- Graduate Institute of Counseling Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Ines Testoni
- End of Life, FISSPA, 9308Padova University, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Keisari S, Piol S, Orkibi H, Elkarif T, Mola G, Testoni I. Spirituality During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Creative Arts Intervention With Photocollages for Older Adults in Italy and Israel. Front Psychol 2022; 13:897158. [PMID: 35783728 PMCID: PMC9245519 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.897158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine how expressions of spirituality were stimulated and reflected in an online creative arts intervention for older adults during COVID-19 lockdowns. The online process focused on the creation of digital photocollages together with narrative elements of dignity therapy. Twenty-four Israeli and Italian community-dwelling older adults aged 78–92 participated in a three-session online intervention involving the production of three photocollages. The visual and verbal data (participants’ chosen photos and photocollages, and transcripts of the sessions) were qualitatively analyzed within an abductive framework. Four themes were generated, representing the four domains of spirituality that were stimulated by and expressed in the process: (1) Connectedness with the self, (2) connectedness with others, (3) connectedness with the environment, and (4) connectedness with the transcendent. The findings show how photographs can serve as projective visual stimuli which elicit personal content through spontaneous thinking, and they reveal the multifaceted nature of spirituality, wherein each domain nourishes the others. Overall, the findings illustrate how creative arts intervention guided by the tenets of dignity therapy can contribute to the spiritual care of older adults during periods of social isolation, or to the spiritual support provided in palliative care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shoshi Keisari
- School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Centre for Research and Study of Aging, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Emily Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Shoshi Keisari,
| | - Silvia Piol
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Hod Orkibi
- School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Emily Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Talia Elkarif
- School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Giada Mola
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- The Emily Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Raccichini M, Biancalani G, Franchini L, Varani S, Ronconi L, Testoni I. Death education and photovoice at school: A workshop with Italian high school students. DEATH STUDIES 2022; 47:279-286. [PMID: 35300581 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2052206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The study shows the effects of a death education workshop with Italian high school students. Students (N = 416) from 10 high schools throughout Italy participated: 212 in the experimental group and 204 in the control group. Four weekly, two-hour workshops about the themes of death, with theoretical lessons and an experiential artistic activity of photovoice. Results show that the students in the experimental group showed significantly increased self-efficacy levels and existential anxiety levels did not increase after death education intervention. Educating youth about death could give them the skills to improve the management of death-related events and cope with negative emotions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Franchini
- Fondazione ANT, National Tumor Assistance (ANT), Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Varani
- Fondazione ANT, National Tumor Assistance (ANT), Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- IT and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Emil Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Biancalani G, Azzola C, Sassu R, Marogna C, Testoni I. Spirituality for Coping with the Trauma of a Loved One's Death During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian Qualitative Study. PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 71:173-185. [PMID: 35194250 PMCID: PMC8853234 DOI: 10.1007/s11089-021-00989-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Spirituality may be a key factor in reducing the negative psychological effects of traumatic events and a means by which the experience of grief can be processed. The objective of the present research is to assess whether and how spirituality provided concrete support in those who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants are 8 people from the most affected cities in northern Italy. They were interviewed in depth, the interviews were transcribed and the texts were analyzed through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The results show that spirituality has been found to be a protective factor with regard to the processing of grief in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular with regard to the belief that the deceased loved one is now in an otherworldly dimension. In addition, the celebration of a funeral rite offers support to the grieving person in the early stages of mourning thus laying the foundation for a healthy grieving process. It is therefore important to support individual spirituality, which can be a useful tool for processing the traumatic experience, especially in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Claudia Azzola
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Raluca Sassu
- Department of Journalism, Public Relations, Sociology and Psychology, Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Cristina Marogna
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zatti A, Riva N. Anguish and fears about attitude towards Covid-19 vaccines: contrasts between yes and no vax. DISCOVER PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 2:26. [PMCID: PMC9098149 DOI: 10.1007/s44202-022-00038-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
The present research investigates the possible causes of resistance to vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. A significant percentage of different countries' populations is refractory to being vaccinated (i.e., in October 2021, in Italy, 20% aged 40–50 years old). A 92-item questionnaire was filled in by a sample of 613 subjects, of which 50.4% said they were against COVID-19 vaccines (63.1% female). Guided by the hypothesis that emotionality constitutes a basis of pre-reflective judgment, items relating to fear, anger and anguish were introduced in the survey. The subjects compiled the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale. The differences between the means of the two samples evaluated with the Student test show that it is, above all, the underlying anguish that constitutes the primary discriminant between the two samples. No Vax mainly considers external the sources of anguish, while Yes Vax sources of anguish appear more internal. From this result an interpretation is advanced: it seems more difficult for No Vax to trust authority recommendations/obligations to get vaccinated because anguish is located just outside the one's body, where Authority dominates.
Collapse
|
13
|
Keisari S, Piol S, Elkarif T, Mola G, Testoni I. Crafting Life Stories in Photocollage: An Online Creative Art-Based Intervention for Older Adults. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 12:1. [PMID: 35049612 PMCID: PMC8773113 DOI: 10.3390/bs12010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Creative arts therapies (CAT) provide a safe and creative environment for older adults to process life experiences and maintain personal growth while aging. There is a growing need to make creative arts therapies more accessible to the aging population, as many have limited access to these services. This need has been catalyzed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-CAT offers a possible solution. This study explored the experiences of older adults who participated in an online creative process of digital photocollage based on CAT. Twenty-four Italian and Israeli community-dwelling older adults aged 78 to 92 participated in this research through Zoom teleconferencing software. Transcriptions of the sessions and the art produced through the photocollage were qualitatively analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The findings show that the projective stimuli of digital photographs supported older adults' narratives and engaged them in a more embodied emotional experience. Participant experiences involved artistic enjoyment within a positive and safe interaction with therapists. The creation of digital photocollages allowed the participants to process their life experiences and create an integrative view of their life, a vital developmental task in late life. These results point to the advantages and challenges of tele-CAT for older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shoshi Keisari
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.P.); (G.M.); (I.T.)
- School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Silvia Piol
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.P.); (G.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Talia Elkarif
- School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| | - Giada Mola
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.P.); (G.M.); (I.T.)
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.P.); (G.M.); (I.T.)
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Neimeyer RA, Testoni I, Ronconi L, Biancalani G, Antonellini M, Dal Corso L. The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale and the Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief: The Italian Validation of Two Instruments for Meaning-Focused Assessments of Bereavement. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11110149. [PMID: 34821610 PMCID: PMC8614745 DOI: 10.3390/bs11110149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bereavement is an inevitable event that can cause pain, discomfort, and negative consequences in daily life. Spirituality and religiosity can help people cope with loss and bereavement. Sometimes, however, the death of a loved one can challenge core religious beliefs and faith, which has been found to be a risk factor for prolonged mourning. Objectives: (1) Determine whether the Italian versions of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) and Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief (ICSG) are valid in translation; (2) Evaluate the impact of socio-demographic variables on ISLES and ICSG dimensions; (3) Test whether Complicated Spiritual Grief mediates the relation between meaning reconstruction after loss and integration of the loss experience; (4) Test whether the representation of death as a form of passage or annihilation further moderated the relation between Complicated Spiritual Grief and integration of the loss. Methods: The sample is composed of 348 participants who had lost a loved person in the prior two years. Results: The ISLES and ICSG were validated in Italian and are more appropriately interpreted as having a unifactorial structure. A greater spiritual crisis was manifested in participants with less education, who did not actively participate in religious life, and who had lost a friend rather than a close relative. As hypothesised, spiritual struggle in grief mediated the role of continuing bonds, Emptiness and Meaninglessness, and Sense of Peace in predicting integration of the loss. Furthermore, death representation moderated the impact of spiritual grief on loss, such that those participants who viewed death as a form of annihilation rather than passage reported greater integration of the loss. Conclusion: The role of meaning making in integrating significant loss is partly accounted for by spiritual struggle in a way that can be analysed in Italian contexts through the use of these newly validated instruments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Neimeyer
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111, USA;
- Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, OR 97209, USA
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (G.B.); (M.A.); (L.D.C.)
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
- Correspondence:
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- IT and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Centre of Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (G.B.); (M.A.); (L.D.C.)
| | - Marco Antonellini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (G.B.); (M.A.); (L.D.C.)
| | - Laura Dal Corso
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (G.B.); (M.A.); (L.D.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Testoni I, Sicari G, Ronconi L, Biancalani G, Franco C, Cottone P, Crupi R. Dehumanization and burden of care among caregivers of terminally ill patients. Health Psychol Res 2021; 9:29052. [DOI: 10.52965/001c.29052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova; Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Testoni I, Palazzo L, Ronconi L, Rossi G, Ferizoviku J, Morales JRP. The experience of children with a parent suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16046. [PMID: 34362966 PMCID: PMC8346605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95338-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Children that have a parent with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) suffer from the progressive loss of their beloved ones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the difficulties faced by these children have increased. The study aimed to detect whether there were differences between the minors experiencing a relative's ALS and the minors with no experience of ALS and it aimed also to detect the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on these minors. The study involved Italian participants, in particular: the target group consisted of 38 children (7-18 years) (T0/T1); the control group consisted of 38 children (9-14 years) (T0 only). The following variables were measured: attachment with the Security Scale (SS), affects with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C), behavioural problems with Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), death representation with Testoni Death Representation Scale for Children (TDRS-C), self-concept with the Multidimensional Self Concept Scale (MSCS), resilience and socio-emotional skills with the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA). The results showed higher negative affectivity (p < .001), externalising behaviours (p < .05), uncertainty in reflective function (p < .05) in the target group compared to the control one; after the COVID-19 pandemic minors in the target group showed reduced certainty of mental states (p < .05) and interpersonal and scholastic self-esteem (p < .05). The impact of ALS on these minors is significant and produces negative affect, externalizing behaviours and uncertainty of mental states. The lockdown situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated minors in their school and interpersonal self-esteem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35139, Padova, Italy.
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Lorenza Palazzo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35139, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35139, Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Rossi
- A.I.S.L.A., Italian Association Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, BAOBAB Project Coordinator, 20124, Milano, Italy
- Fondazione Mediolanum, 20080, Basiglio (MI), Italy
| | - Jenny Ferizoviku
- A.I.S.L.A., Italian Association Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, BAOBAB Project Coordinator, 20124, Milano, Italy
| | - Jose Ramon Pernia Morales
- A.I.S.L.A., Italian Association Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, BAOBAB Project Coordinator, 20124, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
|
18
|
Tressoldi P, Liberale L, Sinesio F, Bubba V, Pederzoli L, Testoni I. Mediumship accuracy: A quantitative and qualitative study with a triple-blind protocol. Explore (NY) 2021; 18:411-415. [PMID: 34147342 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AIMS assess if mediums could give accurate information about the deceased in a triple-blind protocol and to investigate the source of information using a quantitative and qualitative analysis. METHODS nine mediums produced thirty-eight readings related to thirty-eight deceased individuals chosen by thirty-six sitters using a triple-blind protocol with no direct interaction with the sitters themselves. In this protocol, the medium was provided with only the deceased's name by the interviewer, the latter having no further knowledge about the deceased. In every session, the medium was asked to provide information about two deceased persons of the same gender. This information, excluding generic details, was entered into two anonymous lists. The information of these two readings was sent to the research assistant charged with maintaining contact with the sitters. Each sitter was asked to assign a value to every piece of information listed using a four- point Likert scale from 'totally wrong' to 'totally correct', and to provide a global score for each reading. RESULTS 65.8% of the intended readings were correctly identified with respect to the chance of 50%. Furthermore, intended readings had on average 29.5% more correct information than the control ones. Qualitative data indicate that mediums attain information both passively and actively, that is as if they retrieved information without or directly interacting with the deceased. CONCLUSIONS this study provides further evidence that some mediums are able to obtain accurate information about deceased people knowing only the deceased's name and with no interaction with sitters; it also supports the hypothesis that, in some cases, the sources of the information are the deceased themselves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Tressoldi
- GRIM: Gruppo di Ricerca Italiano sulla Medianità, Italy; Studium Patavinum, Science of Consciousness Research Group, Università di Padova, Italy.
| | - Laura Liberale
- GRIM: Gruppo di Ricerca Italiano sulla Medianità, Italy; End of Life, FISSPA, Università di Padova, Italy
| | | | - Valdimiro Bubba
- GRIM: Gruppo di Ricerca Italiano sulla Medianità, Italy; EvanLab, Firenze, Italy
| | - Luciano Pederzoli
- GRIM: Gruppo di Ricerca Italiano sulla Medianità, Italy; EvanLab, Firenze, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- GRIM: Gruppo di Ricerca Italiano sulla Medianità, Italy; End of Life, FISSPA, Università di Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Testoni I, Palazzo L, Ronconi L, Donna S, Cottone PF, Wieser MA. The hospice as a learning space: a death education intervention with a group of adolescents. BMC Palliat Care 2021; 20:54. [PMID: 33827535 PMCID: PMC8028247 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-021-00747-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The denial of death in Western society deprives young people of the tools to derive meaning from experiences of death and dying. Literature shows that death education may allow them to become familiar with this topic without causing negative effects. This article describes the effects of a death education course with adolescents, wherein participants were given the opportunity to meet palliative doctors and palliative psychologists at school and in a hospice, where they were able to converse with the families of the dying. Methods This study used mixed methods and included an evaluation of a death education intervention with longitudinal follow-up of outcomes. The course involved 87 secondary school students (experimental group) aged between 16 and 20 years. We also recruited a control group of 76 similarly-aged students to observe differences. The variables we examined were: alexithymia, representation of death, value attributed to life and spirituality. These were measured with the following instruments: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, the Testoni Death Representation Scale, the Personal Meaning Profile and the Spiritual Orientation Inventory, respectively. To better understand how the students perceived the experience, we asked the experimental group to answer some open-ended questions. Their answers were analysed through thematic analysis. Results The study showed that death education and the hospice experience did not produce negative effects, but rather allowed students to decrease alexithymia, improving their ability to recognise and express emotions. Thematic analysis revealed that all participants perceived the experience as very positive. Conclusions Our findings affirm that death education programs can be successfully implemented in high schools, and that they can usefully involve local hospices and palliative care professionals, especially physicians and psychologists. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-021-00747-w.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131, Padova (PD), Italy. .,Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Lorenza Palazzo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131, Padova (PD), Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131, Padova (PD), Italy
| | - Stefania Donna
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131, Padova (PD), Italy
| | - Paolo Francesco Cottone
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131, Padova (PD), Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Testoni I, Ronconi L, Biancalani G, Zottino A, Wieser MA. My Future: Psychodrama and Meditation to Improve Well-Being Through the Elaboration of Traumatic Loss Among Italian High School Students. Front Psychol 2021; 11:544661. [PMID: 33536956 PMCID: PMC7849317 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.544661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was designed as an action research aimed to help students to elaborate their feelings of traumatic grief, due to a car accident and a suicide of two of their classmates, in an Italian high school. A death education project was realized in order to prevent the Werther effect. The intervention was based on psychodramatic techniques and meditation with Tibetan bells to encourage reflection on the suffering of traumatic loss, the sense of life, and their future. A total of 89 students from four classes (46 in the experimental group: two classes, 43 in the control groups: two classes) participated in the study, among which 82 (45 in the experimental group, 37 in the control group) completed the pre- and post-test survey. The intervention consisted of eight 2-h meetings, during which the themes of death and loss were dealt with through theoretical discussions, dramatization, and meditation. Two other classes which participated in the assessment as a control group did not attend the activities. The following instruments were used: Death Attitude Profile-Revised, which measures individual attitudes toward death; Psychological Well-being Scale, which measures a person’s psychological well-being; Resilience Scale for Adolescents, which measures the construct of resilience in adolescents; Self-Transcendence Scale, which measures self-transcendence; and Testoni Death Representation Scale, which measures the ontological representations of death. The results demonstrated that in the experimental group, there was a reduction in the fear of death and its avoidance, and that the students normalized the representation of death as something natural, thus improving their well-being. It is consequently possible to say that well-being is not simply the absence of suffering and worries, but rather, is rooted in the possibility of thinking of creative solutions to the trauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- IT and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Zottino
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Traversa R. Thanatos Revised: What Psychology May Look Like with Positive, Enduring Attitudes Towards Death and Dying. HUMAN ARENAS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42087-020-00182-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
22
|
Testoni I, Palazzo L, Calamarà N, Rossi G, Wieser MA. "Imagine You Have ALS": Death Education to Prepare for Advance Treatment Directives. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:6. [PMID: 33419214 PMCID: PMC7825599 DOI: 10.3390/bs11010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The study presents the results of qualitative research carried out within a death education project dedicated to advance treatment directives (ATDs) in which it was proposed to participants to empathize with people who had received a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The study involved 104 people who discussed and reflected on issues related to the knowledge of having to die, palliative care and ATDs, investigating what choices they would have made if they had received such a diagnosis. Finally, they were asked to write a paper describing their impressions and hypothetical choices. Qualitative analysis has elucidated among fundamental themes. Four thematic areas emerged from the data analysis: (1) ATDs and the family; (2) the importance of reducing pain and suffering; (3) emotions and considerations regarding death, illness and spirituality; and (4) opinions on the DeEd course. It has emerged that some people are unfamiliar with palliative care or the right to self-determination and that addressing these issues helps manage the thought of the future with less terror. The experience of death education has therefore proven to be very positive in dealing with complex and often censored issues, allowing thinking about death in a less distressing way.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (N.C.)
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Lorenza Palazzo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (N.C.)
| | - Nicoletta Calamarà
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (N.C.)
| | - Gabriella Rossi
- Unione Italiana Lotta alla Distrofia Muscolare (UILDM)—Milano Section, 20124 Milan, Italy;
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cantisano N, Ferraud V, Muñoz Sastre MT, Mullet E. Lay people’s conceptualizations regarding what determines fear of death. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-018-9916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
24
|
Testoni I, Bortolotti C, Pompele S, Ronconi L, Baracco G, Orkibi H. A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:bs10100160. [PMID: 33096819 PMCID: PMC7588903 DOI: 10.3390/bs10100160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This article considers a particular aspect of palliative psychology that is inherent to the needs in the area of attitudes concerning Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs) among Italian physicians and nurses after the promulgation of Law No. 219/2017 on AHDs and informed consent in 2018. The study utilized a mixed-method approach. The group of participants was composed of 102 healthcare professionals (63 females and 39 males). The quantitative part utilized the following scales: Attitudes toward Euthanasia, the Religious Orientation Scale, the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, and the Testoni Death Representation Scale. The results were mostly in line with the current literature, especially concerning a positive correlation between religiosity and the participants’ rejection of the idea of euthanasia. However, the qualitative results showed both positive and negative attitudes towards AHDs, with four main thematic areas: “Positive aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Negative aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Changes that occurred in the professional context and critical incidents”, and “Attitudes towards euthanasia requests.” It emerged that there is not any polarization between Catholics or religious people and secularists: Their positions are substantially similar with respect to all aspects, including with regard to euthanasia. The general result is that the law is not sufficiently understood, and so a quarter of the participants associate AHDs with euthanasia. Discussions on the opportunity for palliative psychologists to help health professionals to better manage these issues through death education courses are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (S.P.)
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-04-9827-6646
| | - Camilla Bortolotti
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Sara Pompele
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (S.P.)
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Statistical Services, Psychology Multifunctional Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Gloria Baracco
- Home and Palliative Care Department, ULSS n. 2 Marca Trevigiana, Asolo, 31011 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Hod Orkibi
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Horner DE, Sielaff A, Greenberg J. Loss and lastingness? Further exploring the relationship between the death of a close other, belief in an everlasting soul, and terror management processes. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 46:1508-1517. [PMID: 32886035 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1815103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This research explored the relationship between the death of a close other (DOCO) and terror management processes. In Study 1 (n = 810), university students who experienced DOCO (vs. not) reported higher university and American identification; greater self-esteem and meaning in life; lower death-thought accessibility; greater "death-as-passage" representations; and higher belief in an everlasting soul. We pre-registered Study 2 (n = 497) as an attempt to replicate these findings; although the patterns of means were consistent with Study 1, the tests did not reach statistical significance. However, analyses on the merged data (N = 1,307) supported the present theoretical analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dylan E Horner
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alex Sielaff
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jeff Greenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Testoni I, Nencioni I, Ronconi L, Alemanno F, Zamperini A. Burnout, Reasons for Living and Dehumanisation among Italian Penitentiary Police Officers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17093117. [PMID: 32365763 PMCID: PMC7246835 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17093117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The literature on burnout syndrome among Penitentiary Police Officers (PPOs) is still rather scarce, and there are no analyses on the protective factors that can prevent these workers from the dangerous effect of burnout, with respect to the weakening of the reasons for living and de-humanization. This study aimed to examine the relationships between burnout, protective factors against weakening of the reasons for living and not desiring to die and the role of de-humanisation, utilising the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI); the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL); the Testoni Death Representation Scale (TDRS); and the Human Traits Attribution Scale (HTAS), involving 86 PPOs in a North Italy prison. Results showed the presence of a high level of burnout in the group of participants. In addition, dehumanization of prisoners, which is considered a factor that could help in managing other health professional stress situations, does not reduce the level of burnout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy; (I.N.); (L.R.); (A.Z.)
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 349883, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0498276646
| | - Irene Nencioni
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy; (I.N.); (L.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy; (I.N.); (L.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Francesca Alemanno
- European and Mediterranean Cultures (DiCEM) Department, University of Basilicata, 75100 Matera, Italy;
| | - Adriano Zamperini
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy; (I.N.); (L.R.); (A.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
This paper discusses death education from an Hegelian perspective, with the aim to generate insights to complement existing literature on death education. Three Hegelian elements are identified. The first is the natural view, that is, death is a natural phenomenon. The second is the moral view, that is, death is significant in contributing to the ethical life and no individuals have the right to end their own life. The third is the ontological view, that is, the life-and-death struggles for recognition raises individuals' consciousness, and death transforms the divine into universal and enables the ultimate realization of the spirit to Absolute Knowing.
Collapse
|
28
|
Testoni I, Ronconi L, Cupit IN, Nodari E, Bormolini G, Ghinassi A, Messeri D, Cordioli C, Zamperini A. The effect of death education on fear of death amongst Italian adolescents: A nonrandomized controlled study. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 44:179-188. [PMID: 30654717 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1528056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the psychological effects of death education in reducing the fear of death in a large cohort of Italian adolescents. Following the constructs of "distal defenses" and "mortality salience" of Terror Management Theory, this research intervention also evaluated the proposition that spirituality and belief in an afterlife could provide an effective buffer against fear of death. Five hundred thirty-four Italian high school students participated in a school-based death education program with an experimental group and a nonrandomized control condition. Using a pre/post-course design, we assessed fear of death, alexithymia, and representations of death and spirituality for both groups. Results confirmed that the course reduced death fears and the representation of death as annihilation while also enhancing spirituality. In particular, the older participants in the death education course increased their spirituality and decreased their fear of death, whereas females reduced their conviction that death was an absolute annihilation. Finally, the structural model suggested that alexithymia mediates the relationships among fear of death and spirituality; in particular, fear of death predicted more alexithymia and more alexithymia predicted lower spirituality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- FISPPA Department, Master in Death Studies & The End of Life, University of Padova, Italy
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Elisa Nodari
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bianco S, Testoni I, Palmieri A, Solomon S, Hart J. The Psychological Correlates of Decreased Death Anxiety After a Near-Death Experience: The Role of Self-Esteem, Mindfulness, and Death Representations. JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0022167819892107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDE) are intense events that can have profound psychological consequences. Although decreased fear of death after an NDE is a well-documented phenomenon, it is unclear what psychological factors are associated with reduced death anxiety. In this study, grounded in terror management theory, we compared 102 people who had an NDE with 104 individuals who did not. Participants completed measures of death anxiety, self-esteem, mindfulness, and death representation. Results indicated that people who had an NDE had lower fear of death, higher self-esteem, greater mindfulness, and viewed death more as a transition rather than as absolute annihilation. Subsequent analyses found that NDE had a direct effect on death anxiety, and that the effect of NDE on death anxiety was also mediated by indirect effects on self-esteem and death representation. Implications of these findings are considered, limitations of the present study are acknowledged, and suggestions for future theory and research are proffered.
Collapse
|
30
|
Uccheddu S, De Cataldo L, Albertini M, Coren S, Da Graça Pereira G, Haverbeke A, Mills DS, Pierantoni L, Riemer S, Ronconi L, Testoni I, Pirrone F. Pet Humanisation and Related Grief: Development and Validation of a Structured Questionnaire Instrument to Evaluate Grief in People Who Have Lost a Companion Dog. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9110933. [PMID: 31703410 PMCID: PMC6912713 DOI: 10.3390/ani9110933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The aim of this study was the scientific validation of a novel instrument (the Mourning Dog Questionnaire) designed to allow a comprehensive quantitative analysis of grief responses in dog owners after the death of a pet dog, which is a still underestimated issue. This instrument was based on a grid of quantitative measurable outcomes that combines five different questionnaires concerning levels of attachment to pets, responses to the loss of a pet, outlook on life events and grief, perceptions of animals in terms of emotions, needs and legal right. We found that pet owners have the tendency to humanise their pet and perceive animals no differently from humans in terms of emotions, needs and legal rights. In addition, after the death of the pet, a negative view of life was described according to the findings. The Mourning Dog Questionnaire could be a useful tool considering the high numbers of people who are at risk of experiencing the loss of a companion dog, which makes this type of grief as potential major concern for public health and human welfare. Abstract People often develop strong emotional connections with their dogs and consider them to be members of the family. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel validated tool, the Mourning Dog Questionnaire, to recognise and evaluate the mourning process in people who have lost a dog. The research model was based on a grid of five different questionnaires: the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, the Animal-Human Continuity Scale, the Positivity Scale, and the Testoni Death Representation Scale. The Italian version of the survey was posted on social networks. A sample of 369 Italian dog owners filled in the questionnaire (mean age ± SD 42.00 ± 10.70 years). Reliability indices were good for all instruments. The total scores of the five questionnaires correlated with each other. The results from the Mourning Dog Questionnaire support the negative view of life after the death of a pet and people’s tendency to humanise their pet, since dog owners perceived animals no differently from humans in terms of emotions, needs and legal rights. Findings arising from the use of the Mourning Dog Questionnaire will help the implementation of rationality-based strategies to improve the wellbeing, resilience and quality of life of people in the world experiencing the loss of a pet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Loriana De Cataldo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (L.D.C.); (L.R.); (I.T.)
| | - Mariangela Albertini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan (UNIMI), 20133 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-347-8533239
| | - Stanley Coren
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5V 3K3, Canada;
| | - Goncalo Da Graça Pereira
- Center for Animal Knowledge, 1495-020 Lisbon, Portugal;
- Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas (ESAE), Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre (IPP), 7350-092 Elvas, Portugal
| | - Anouck Haverbeke
- Vet Ethology, 3090 Overijse, Belgium; (S.U.); (A.H.)
- Odisee University College, Salto Research Group, Hospitaalstraat 23, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
| | - Daniel Simon Mills
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 7DL, UK;
| | - Ludovica Pierantoni
- Veterinary Behaviour & Consulting Services at CAN Training Centre, 80128 Naples, Italy;
| | - Stefanie Riemer
- Companion Animal Behaviour Group, Division of Animal Welfare DCR-VPHI Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (L.D.C.); (L.R.); (I.T.)
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy; (L.D.C.); (L.R.); (I.T.)
| | - Federica Pirrone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan (UNIMI), 20133 Milan, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Testoni I, Biancalani G, Ronconi L, Varani S. Let's Start With the End: Bibliodrama in an Italian Death Education Course on Managing Fear of Death, Fantasy-Proneness, and Alexithymia With a Mixed-Method Analysis. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2019; 83:729-759. [PMID: 31366309 DOI: 10.1177/0030222819863613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This article presents the results of an experience of death education (DE) course with bibliodrama in Italian high schools, which focused on emotions and existential themes. The research analyzed the inability to recognize or describe one's own emotions (alexithymia), fantasy-proneness, and attitudes toward death in two different groups of students: one who took a course on DE (with 113 students) and another who did not participate in it (with 114 students). The use of a mixed method allowed this study to explore the quantitative results that the students indicated in the questionnaire and the qualitative open answers to the final question about how they had profited from this DE course. The results showed that the course had a positive effect, as the DE group significantly decreased alexithymia and negative attitudes toward death, particularly in fear and avoidance of death, making their representation of death less traumatic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy.,Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Israel
| | - Gianmarco Biancalani
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Castro A, Testoni I, Zamperini A, Ronconi L, Galantin LP, Caraceni A. The implicit soul: Factors between the representation of death and dehumanization of patients. Health Psychol Open 2019; 6:2055102919854666. [PMID: 31245019 PMCID: PMC6580724 DOI: 10.1177/2055102919854666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiritual approaches in healthcare settings proved effective in reducing the
negative outcomes of dehumanization processes impacting health professionals and
patients. Although previous literature focused on explicit measures of
spirituality, the present research explored the role of implicit components of
spirituality and their effects on the humanization of patients in two healthcare
contexts. Professionals from hospices and nursing homes completed an implicit
task to assess whether the diverse representation of death as physical or
spiritual led to perceive patients with more uniquely human traits. Results
showed that only for hospice participants, implicit and explicit spirituality
predicts more humanness attribution to patients. This article discusses
palliative care models and death education as a resource for reducing
dehumanization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurelio Castro
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Adriano Zamperini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Padmah Galantin
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Fondazione IRCCS-Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Testoni I, Piscitello M, Ronconi L, Zsák É, Iacona E, Zamperini A. Death Education and the Management of Fear of Death Via Photo-Voice: An Experience Among Undergraduate Students. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2018.1507469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Marco Piscitello
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| | - Éva Zsák
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Erika Iacona
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| | - Adriano Zamperini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Testoni I, Iacona E, Fusina S, Floriani M, Crippa M, Maccarini A, Zamperini A. "Before I die I want to …": An experience of death education among university students of social service and psychology. Health Psychol Open 2018; 5:2055102918809759. [PMID: 30479826 PMCID: PMC6247490 DOI: 10.1177/2055102918809759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The censorship of death and dying has removed the "memento mori" practices, and in order to reintroduce this practice, some "Before I die" projects have been increasingly implemented. Running in parallel, in the syllabi of social service and psychology students, some experiences of death education has commenced. This study illustrates the results of a qualitative research conducted on the "Before I die I want to …" Polaroid® Project (BIDIWT), which is divided into two phases. The first phase entails an analysis of the wishes collected from the United States, Japan, India, and Italy. The second phase refers to the analysis of the captions of the BIDIWT realized from two groups of undergraduates, with regard to the effect of such experience on their religiosity, representation of death, and fear of death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- University of Padova, Italy.,University of Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Testoni I, Russotto S, Zamperini A, Leo DD. Addiction and religiosity in facing suicide: a qualitative study on meaning of life and death among homeless people. Ment Illn 2018; 10:7420. [PMID: 30046402 PMCID: PMC6037094 DOI: 10.4081/mi.2018.7420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This qualitative research explores the relationship between religiosity, suicide thoughts and drug abuse among 55 homeless people, interviewed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analyzing the thematic structure of the participants’ narrations, important main themes appeared in order to avoid suicide, among which family, the certainty of finding a solution and the will to live. However, the suicide ideation inheres in about 30% of participants, almost all believers, addicted and/or alcoholics. Results suggest that religiosity and meaning of death neither prevent from substances abuse and alcoholism, nor is a protective factor against suicide ideation. Meanings of life are the most important reasons for living, and when they are definitively considered unworkable, alcohol and drug help to endure life in the street. A specific model is discussed.
Collapse
|
36
|
Testoni I, Ronconi L, Palazzo L, Galgani M, Stizzi A, Kirk K. Psychodrama and Moviemaking in a Death Education Course to Work Through a Case of Suicide Among High School Students in Italy. Front Psychol 2018; 9:441. [PMID: 29692745 PMCID: PMC5902682 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes the psychological effects of an experience of death education (DE) used to explore a case of suicide in an Italian high school. DE activities included philosophical and religious perspectives of the relationships between death and the meaning of life, a visit to a local hospice, and psychodrama activities, which culminated in the production of short movies. The intervention involved 268 high school students (138 in the experimental group). Pre-test and post-test measures assessed ontological representations of death, death anxiety, alexithymia, and meaning in life. Results confirmed that, in the experimental group, death anxiety was significantly reduced as much as the representation of death as annihilation and alexithymia, while a sense of spirituality and the meaning of life were more enhanced, compared to the No DE group. These improvements in the positive meaning of life and the reduction of anxiety confirmed that it is possible to manage trauma and grief at school with death education interventions that include religious discussion, psychodrama and movie making activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenza Palazzo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Kate Kirk
- Cork Counselling Services, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Testoni I, Bisceglie D, Ronconi L, Pergher V, Facco E. Ambivalent trust and ontological representations of death as latent factors of religiosity. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2018.1429349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Davide Bisceglie
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Facco
- Institute F. Granone—CIICS (Italian Center of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis), Turin, Italy
- Studium Patavinum—University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Testoni I, Ghellar T, Rodelli M, De Cataldo L, Zamperini A. Representations of Death Among Italian Vegetarians: An Ethnographic Research on Environment, Disgust and Transcendence. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 13:378-395. [PMID: 28904591 PMCID: PMC5590526 DOI: 10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This paper focuses on the motives for vegetarian choices in contemporary Italian food culture, with specific reference to the role of the representations of death. The study adopts a qualitative research design aimed at an in-depth exploration of the reasons for avoiding meat, following an ethnographic method. Twenty-two participants (55% women, 45% men) aged 19-74, all vegetarians or vegans, mainly from Northern and Central Italy, were involved. Data from the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were examined according to the qualitative thematic analysis: the results show the role of death in the construction of disgust towards meat, running parallel with an emphasis on spirituality, ethical treatment of animals and the environment as reasons for avoiding meat, in particular, the concern-generating disgust and its relationship with the representation of death as a contaminating essence. The basis of disgust lies in this connection, from which the idea that oral consumption of contaminants characterized by corruptive properties, passing through the flesh of dead animals to humans, derives. The role of anti-speciesism is considered as a latent perspective, which may influence the vegetarian and vegan choices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Meaning of life, representation of death, and their association with psychological distress. Palliat Support Care 2017; 16:511-519. [PMID: 28789719 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951517000669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper presents a two-phase cross-sectional study aimed at examining the possible mitigating role of perceived meaning of life and representation of death on psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. METHOD The first phase involved 219 healthy participants, while the second encompassed 30 cancer patients. Each participant completed the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP), the Testoni Death Representation Scale (TDRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Distress Thermometer (DT). The primary analyses comprised (1) correlation analyses between the overall scores of each of the instruments and (2) path analysis to assess the indirect effect of the PMP on DT score through anxiety and depression as determined by the HADS. RESULTS The path analysis showed that the PMP was inversely correlated with depression and anxiety, which, in turn, mediated the effect on distress. Inverse correlations were found between several dimensions of the PMP, the DT, and the HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression subscales, in both healthy participants and cancer patients. Religious orientation (faith in God) was related to a stronger sense of meaning in life and the ontological representation of death as a passage, rather than annihilation. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Our findings support the hypothesis that participants who represent death as a passage and have a strong perception of the meaning of life tend to report lower levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. We recommend that perceived meaning of life and representation of death be more specifically examined in the cancer and palliative care settings.
Collapse
|
40
|
Testoni I, De Cataldo L. Un lutto speciale. Delegittimazioni culturali e rappresentazioni della morte nella perdita di un animale domestico. PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE 2017. [DOI: 10.3280/pu2017-003004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
41
|
Testoni I, Milo V, Ronconi L, Feltrin A, Zamperini A, Rodelli M, Germani G, Cillo U. Courage and representations of death in patients who are waiting for a liver transplantation. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2017.1294333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Testoni
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Milo
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Ronconi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Feltrin
- Psychological Unit, Padova University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Adriano Zamperini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Maddalena Rodelli
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giacomo Germani
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Padova University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Padova University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Facco E, Testoni I, Ronconi L, Casiglia E, Zanette G, Spiegel D. Psychological Features of Hypnotizability: A First Step Towards Its Empirical Definition. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 2017; 65:98-119. [PMID: 27935462 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2017.1246881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP) and several psychological tests: Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), Spontaneity Assessment Inventory-Revised (SAI-R), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Short-Form Boundary Questionnaire (SFBQ), Mini Locus of Control (MLOC), Testoni Death Representation Scale (TDRS), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Two hundred and forty volunteers were administered the above tests; 78 of them were also administered the HIP, and its scores were compared to those on the other tests. A significant correlation was found among the TAS, DES, SFBQ, and IRI. The HIP was significantly correlated to the DES (r = .19 p1tail = .045), and the IRI-ec subscale (r = .19 p1tail = .044); 14 test items from DES, IRI, TAS, SAIR, and SFBQ were also significantly related to the HIP. The findings suggest that hypnotizability may relate to stronger perception of the inner world, decreased aptitude for managing memory processing, and increased sensitivity and empathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Facco
- a University of Padua and the Italian Center of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (CIICS) , Turin , Italy
| | | | | | - Edoardo Casiglia
- a University of Padua and the Italian Center of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (CIICS) , Turin , Italy
| | - Gastone Zanette
- a University of Padua and the Italian Center of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (CIICS) , Turin , Italy
| | - David Spiegel
- c Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford , California , USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Testoni I. Psicologia del lutto e del morire: dal lavoro clinico alla death education. PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE 2016. [DOI: 10.3280/pu2016-002004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|