Drunkorexia Among a Sample of Lebanese Adults: The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas

Background: Drunkorexia is a food and alcohol disturbance described as being a range of disordered and compensatory eating behaviors that co-occur with excessive alcohol consumption. The remarkable correlation, highlighted in the literature, between dysfunctional cognitions and both eating disorders and substance use disorders is able to emphasize that cognitive phenomena can be an intrapersonal factor linked to drunkorexia disorder. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and drunkorexia among a sample of Lebanese adults.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study across all the Lebanese governorates (September-December 2020; N = 258). The Drunkorexia Motives and Behaviors Scales, Drunkorexia Fails Scale, Drunkorexia during an Alcohol Consumption Event Scale, and Post-Drinking Compensation Scale were used to assess drunkorexia, whereas the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form three was used to measure EMSs.Results: Emotional deprivation and subjugation were significantly associated with more drunkorexia motives, whereas emotional inhibition was significantly associated with less drunkorexia motives. Failure was significantly associated with more drunkorexia behaviors. Abandonment and mistrust were significantly associated with more drunkorexia fails, whereas unrelenting standards was significantly associated with less drunkorexia fails. Subjugation was significantly associated with more drunkorexia during alcohol consumption on events. Social isolation was significantly associated with more post-drinking compensation, whereas unrelenting standards was significantly associated with less post-drinking compensation.Conclusion: Our findings showed that drunkorexia is positively associated with EMSs, delineating as well the specific relationships between dysfunctional cognitive schemas and drunkorexia's maladaptive behavioral aspects. They support the hypothesis that EMSs might play an important role in drunkorexia's development and perpetuation. This study could therefore serve healthcare professionals for the cognitive approach of patients with concomitant alcohol misuse and eating disorders while emphasizing the value of cognitive-behavioral interventions-namely schema therapy.

Enhancing social outcomes in autistic youth: Assessing the impact of PEERS® booster sessions

BACKGROUND

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is a social skills training program for autistic adolescents and those facing social challenges. Its efficacy has been established worldwide, including in Italy. Although booster interventions are a potentially valuable strategy to maintain improvements over time, there is currently no research on the efficacy of providing booster sessions of PEERS® following the traditional treatment.

AIMS

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of PEERS® Booster sessions in a sample who had previously participated in a traditional PEERS® Adolescent program.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A longitudinal non-randomized study was conducted involving 21 autistic adolescents, divided into the treatment group undergoing PEERS® Booster sessions and the control group without it.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

The study evaluated the primary outcomes (social abilities) and secondary outcomes (co-occurrences, executive functions) at two-time points (pre- and post-treatment). No significant differences were found between groups on baseline measures and primary outcomes. However, there were significant group differences between pre- and post-treatment on primary outcomes (social awareness and social communication) and secondary outcomes (externalizing problems).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The efficacy of the PEERS® Booster Sessions shows promise and clinical implications were also discussed.

Peer victimization and social anxiety in adolescence: a comparison between migrant and native students in Italy

The first aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between bullying victimization and social anxiety in native and migrant adolescents in Italy. Specifically, it was hypothesized that migrant adolescents (in comparison with natives) experience more frequent episodes of bullying victimization, which in turn, may be a risk factor for the development of social anxiety symptoms. The second aim of the study is to explore the relationships from reflected minority categorization to perceived ethnic discrimination at school and social anxiety symptoms, in the subgroup of migrant students. Results showed that the migrant (vs. native) status was predictive of higher scores in social anxiety dimensions (Fear of Negative Evaluation, Social Avoidance and Distress in New Situations, and General Social Avoidance Distress), via the mediating effect of increased peer victimization. Moreover, in the subgroup of migrant participants, an indirect effect of reflected minority categorization on social anxiety was observed, mediated by perceived ethnic discrimination at school. These findings may contribute to the understanding of health inequalities among migrant and native people in the Italian context. Limitations and practical implications of the study were discussed.

Social Anxiety and Drunkorexia Behaviors among Adolescents and Young Adults: The Moderating Role of Resilience

Background: Existing evidence showed that social anxiety represents a significant factor in eating disorders. However, to our knowledge, no prior study has examined the association between social anxiety and drunkorexia behaviors. Objectives: The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between social anxiety and drunkorexia behaviors, and investigating resilience as a moderator of this relationship. Participants were 333 adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years (Mage=18.26, SDage= 1.55; 66% females) who completed an online survey. Results: The results indicated that drunkorexia behaviors were positively correlated to three dimensions of social anxiety; however, only fear of negative evaluation had a significant predictive effect. In addition, resilience only moderated the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and drunkorexia behaviors, such that youths reporting high fear of negative evaluation and low resilience showed greater drunkorexia behaviors, whereas youths reporting high resilience showed no correlation between fear of negative evaluation and drunkorexia behaviors. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of drunkorexia interventions and preventive measures aimed at strengthening youths' resilience and ability to effectively manage stress and social anxiety (i.e., fear of negative evaluation).

Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Italy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Skills Intervention for Autistic Adolescents

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is an intervention targeting social skills for autistic adolescents and those with other social challenges. The efficacy of the PEERS® on adolescents has been extensively explored but the program has not been validated in Italy. In the present study, we adapted PEERS® to Italian culture and evaluated its efficacy in an Italian sample. A Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted, analyzing the results of 37 autistic adolescents who were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group (TG) and waitlist group (WL). The primary outcomes (social abilities) and secondary outcomes (co-occurring conditions, executive functions) were assessed at four time points. No differences were found at pre-treatment between groups on baseline measures and primary outcomes. At post-treatment, significant group differences emerged in primary outcomes (social knowledge and social performance) and secondary outcomes (emotion regulation). The groups' results pooled together (TG + WL) confirmed the findings at post-treatment and showed further changes in primary outcomes (global social competence and social cognition) and secondary outcomes (externalizing problems, emotive and behavioral total problems, functional problems related to depressive symptoms). The improvements were maintained at a 3-month follow-up, except for global social competence and social cognition. Additionally, new results emerged regarding internalizing problems and global executive functioning. The efficacy of the Italian version of PEERS® was ascertained on primary and secondary outcomes. Innovative findings on emotion regulation, behavioral problems, and depression symptoms also emerged.Clinical trial registration information Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Italy. An RCT's Study on Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov . TRN: NCT05473104. Release Date: July 21, 2022.

The Impact of Delayed School Start Times During COVID-19 on Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Naturalistic Study in Italian High Schools

Background

Delaying school start times has been proposed as a potential solution to address chronic sleep curtailment among adolescents and its negative consequences on their physical and mental well-being. This study investigates the impact of delayed school start times due to the COVID-19 pandemic on academic achievement.

Subjects and Methods

Two separate observational studies were conducted involving high school students from the first/second year (n=232) (Study 1) and from the final year (n=39) (Study 2). Multivariate Analyses of Covariance were performed to assess for statistical differences in academic performance (ie, global, humanistic, and scientific performance) and absenteeism (ie, number of school absences). Two main factors were considered: "school start time" (ie, standard-8:00 AM vs late-9:40 AM) and "time interval" (ie, first academic semester vs second academic semester), controlling for the school year (Study 1) and circadian preference (Study 2).

Results

Delaying school start times was positively associated with better academic performance in scientific subjects among first/second-year students (F1,229=6.083, p=0.026) and global academic performance among last-year students (F1,35=4.522, p=0.041). Furthermore, first/second-year students significantly increased their school achievement (F1,229>29.423, p<0.001) and school absences (F1,229=66.160, p<0.001) during the second semester of the academic year. No significant effect of "school start time" on school attendance was observed. Additionally, circadian preference was found to be a significant covariate among last-year students, with early chronotypes exhibiting better academic performance (r>0.369, p<0.025).

Conclusion

These findings confirm past evidence about the beneficial effects of delayed school start times on academic outcomes, with the additional advantage of observing them within a natural context that emerged during the pandemic. Further research is needed to explore the phenomenon more systematically and take into account the broader implications of implementing this change.

Motivations for Social Withdrawal, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood: A Person-Oriented Approach

Emerging adults seek solitude because of different underlying motivational and emotional processes. The current short-term longitudinal study aimed to: (1) identify subgroups of socially withdrawn emerging adults characterized by different motivations for solitude (shyness, unsociability, social avoidance) and affect (positive, negative); and (2) compare these subgroups in terms of indices of internalizing difficulties and life-satisfaction. Participants were N = 348 university students (Mage = 21.85 years, SD = 3.84) from Italy, who completed online questionnaires at two-time points separated by three months. Results from a latent profile analysis (LPA) suggested three distinct subgroups characterized by different social withdrawal motivations (i.e., shy, unsociable, and socially avoidant), as well as a non-withdrawn subgroup (characterized by low social withdrawal motivations, low negative affect, and high positive affect). Among the results, the socially avoidant subgroup reported the highest levels of social anxiety, whereas the avoidant and shy subgroups reported the highest loneliness and lowest life satisfaction. The unsociable subgroup appeared to be the most well-adjusted subgroup of socially withdrawn emerging adults and reported similar levels of life satisfaction as the non-withdrawn subgroup. Our findings confirmed the heterogeneity of emerging adults' experiences of solitude, with different motivations for social withdrawal appearing to confer a differential risk for maladjustment.

Exploring the relationship between dysfunctional metacognitive processes and orthorexia nervosa: the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND

Dysfunctional metacognitive processes and emotional dysregulation have been widely documented in the eating disorder literature. Despite numerous research and recent consensus suggesting the categorization of orthorexia nervosa as a form of eating disorder, no previous study has examined whether aberrant metacognitive processes also correlate with orthorexia nervosa tendencies. This paper investigates potential associations between symptoms of orthorexia nervosa and dysfunctional metacognitive processes while also exploring whether such relationships may be influenced by adaptive/maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in all Lebanese governorates. In total, 423 Lebanese adults completed an online questionnaire including the Teruel Orthorexia Scale, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - 16 Item Version, and the Metacognitions Questionnaire - Short Form.

RESULTS

Higher physical activity, expressive suppression, emotion regulation difficulties, positive metacognitive beliefs about worry, and need to control thoughts were significantly associated with higher orthorexia nervosa. Additionally, the emotion regulation strategies moderated the relationships between two dysfunctional metacognitive processes and orthorexia nervosa. Specifically, cognitive self-consciousness was negatively related to orthorexia nervosa only in individuals with low (versus higher) emotion suppression (maladaptive emotion regulation strategy). In contrast, negative beliefs about worry uncontrollability and danger positively predicted orthorexia nervosa only in individuals with lower (versus high) cognitive reappraisal (adaptive emotion regulation strategy). Lower socio-economic status and having a university level of education compared to secondary level were significantly associated with lower orthorexia nervosa.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides the first empirical evidence for the existence of significant associations between dysfunctional metacognitive processes and orthorexia nervosa. It also highlights that these pathways are considerably modulated by individuals' ability to regulate their emotions adaptively versus maladaptively. Our findings thus suggest that therapies aimed at improving thought monitoring and emotional regulation may be beneficial for individuals with symptoms of orthorexia nervosa.

Body image impact on quality of life and adolescents' binge eating: the indirect role of body image coping strategies

PURPOSE

The role of body image in adolescent binge eating is widely confirmed, albeit the various facets of this relationship are still mostly unexplored. Within the multidimensional body image framework, this study hypothesized the indirect effects of three body image coping strategies (positive rational acceptance, appearance fixing, avoidance) in the expected relationship between the perceived impact of body image on individuals' quality of life and binge eating symptoms.

METHODS

Participants were 715 adolescents aged 15-21 years (49.1% girls) recruited in Italian schools. An anonymous self-report online survey was administered. A multiple mediation model was tested.

RESULTS

A more positive perceived impact of body image on quality of life was a negative predictor of adolescents' binge eating, controlling for individual levels of body satisfaction. Three indirect effects were found in this relationship: on one hand, the positive body image impact reduced binge eating via increasing positive rational acceptance (M1), and via reducing avoidance (M2); on the contrary, the positive body image impact also enhanced binge eating via increasing appearance fixing (M3).

CONCLUSIONS

The body image impact on quality of life can be alternatively protective-when adaptive coping is solicited, and maladaptive strategies are reduced-or a risk factor, which may increase binge eating by soliciting appearance fixing.

LEVEL III

Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Individualism-Collectivism and COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors in Young Adults: The Indirect Effects of Psychological Distress and Pandemic Fears

Stemming on the theoretical framework of individualism-collectivism, this study aims to interpret COVID-19 prevention behaviors in young adults in the light of cultural orientations, hypothesizing the mediating role of two pandemic affects (i.e., fear for COVID-19 consequences and psychological distress during pandemic). Participants were 296 young adults living in Italy (Mage = 23.96, SDage = 3.04; 79.7% women), who completed an online anonymous survey. Data were gathered from December 2020 to May 2021. A path analysis model explored direct and indirect relationships among study variables. Psychological distress significantly reduced the compliance with prevention measures, whereas pandemic fears increased it. The collectivistic orientations (Vertical Collectivism and Horizontal Collectivism) positively predicted prevention behaviors via increasing pandemic fears. The egalitarian dimensions (Horizontal Individualism and Horizontal Collectivism) were positive predictors of compliance via reducing psychological distress during pandemic. Finally, Vertical Individualism was a risk factor that negatively predicted prevention behaviors both directly and indirectly, via increasing psychological distress. The results provide new insights into the emotional mechanisms that link individualism and collectivism orientations to COVID-19 prevention behaviors, with interesting implications for public health policies, prevention, and future research.

Psychological Difficulties in Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Effects of Spending Free Time with Parents or Using Digital Devices

The present study investigated protective and risk factors for psychological difficulties in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specifically, the role of increased use of digital devices (DDs) for recreational purposes and the role of free time spent with parents were explored. Furthermore, the possible mediating effect of increased use of DDs in the relationship between free time spent with parents and psychological difficulties was tested. Participants were 4412 Italian children and adolescents, divided into two groups: children aged 6-10 years (n = 2248) and adolescents aged 11-18 years (n = 2164). Data were collected in Italy during the national lockdown and questionnaires were completed online by parents, who reported on their children's habits. The daily use of DDs increased significantly during the lockdown compared to the previous period, in both children and adolescents. Additionally, psychological difficulties increased in both children and adolescents during the lockdown, with a more severe impairment for children. Increased use of DDs during the lockdown positively predicted psychological difficulties (children: beta = 0.18, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = 0.13, p < 0.001), while free time spent with parents was protective (children: beta = -13, p < 0.001; adolescents: beta = -0.12, p < 0.001). For children (but not adolescents), increased use of DDs mediated the effects of free time spent with parents on psychological difficulties (children: beta = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.018, -0.002]; adolescents: beta = -0.003, 95% CI [-0.009, 0.003]). The findings provide new insights for education and research.

Sexting Behaviors Before and During COVID-19 in Italian and Colombian Young Adults

Introduction

Recent research highlight increasing at-risk online sexual activities and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults. Specifically, sexting refers to exchanging sexually suggestive messages, photos, and videos through technological devices, and it can be placed on a continuum from safer to riskier behavior. This study aims to improve our knowledge about sexting behaviors in Italian and Colombian young adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A survey online was filled in by all recruited participants through a snowball sampling procedure (from December 2019 to June 2021) both in Italy and Colombia, resulting in a total of 2931 participants (2051 from Italy and 880 from Colombia) aged 18 to 35 years old (Mage = 23.85; SDage = 3.63; 67.6% girls).

Results

Italian youth were more engaged in risky sexting than Colombian participants, while Colombians indicated being more engaged in non-consensual sexting than Italians. Sexual minority people reported more sharing their own sexts, higher levels of sexting under pressure, and 3.2 times more risky sexting than exclusively heterosexual counterparts. During the pandemic period, participants sent their own sexts 1.5 times more and were less involved in non-consensual sexting than in the pre-pandemic era.

Conclusions

The present research could help understand better the cultural dynamics underlying the differences in sexting behaviors, suggesting the relevance of investigating how sexting behaviors and online at-risk activities have changed since the pandemic started.

Policy Implications

Results provide implications for educational and prevention programs to improve young people's awareness of sexting behaviors.

The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alcohol Abuse and Drunkorexia Behaviors in Young Adults

The COVID-19 outbreak negatively affected young adults' psychological well-being, increasing their stress levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and potentially triggering health-risk behaviors. The present study was aimed at investigating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol abuse and drunkorexia behaviors among young adults living in Italy. Participants were 370 emerging adults (63% women, 37% men; Mage = 21.00, SDage = 2.96, range: 18-30) who were recruited through an online survey between November 2021 and March 2022. Participants completed measures of alcohol abuse, drunkorexia behaviors, negative life experiences, and post-traumatic symptoms related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The results showed that the emotional impact and negative life experiences associated with the pandemic predicted both alcohol abuse and drunkorexia behaviors, albeit in different ways. Specifically, the number of negative life experiences during the pandemic and the tendency to avoid COVID-19-related negative thoughts positively predicted alcohol abuse; and the presence of intrusive thoughts associated with the pandemic significantly predicted the frequency of drunkorexia behaviors. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Relationship between Executive Functions, Social Cognition, and Attachment State of Mind in Adolescence: An Explorative Study

BACKGROUND

The passage from pre-adolescence to adolescence is presented as a turning point for the achievement of those abilities in social understanding as they commonly appear in adulthood. Developmental perspectives point to the possible role of neuro-cognitive maturation and social experiences to facilitate this growth. This paper has the goal to goalsto propose a valid and reliable measure of the new quantitative and qualitative advancements in social understanding occurring in the adolescent passage; relying on this, the research has two main objectives (a) to establish the associations between the advancements in social understanding and the executive functions held responsible for the neuro-cognitive rearrangements of adolescence; (c) to evidence the significant associations between attachment models and the development of social understanding in this phase of life.

METHODS

100 subjects (50 boys and 50 girls, aged 11-15) were administered with AICA, SCORS, CNT, Stroop Color-Word Test, and WISC-III.

RESULTS

Advancements in the complexity of self-other representations and mentalization of interpersonal exchanges significantly occurs in the passage from pre-adolescence to adolescence and seem to be promoted by increased performances in executive control and cognitive shifting. Dismissing state of mind with respect to attachment is associated with lower development of social understanding in adolescence. The neurocognitive reorganization that underlies the passage from pre-adolescence to adolescence seems to provide the scaffolding for more sophisticated interpretations of the social world. Past and current affective experience can boost or hinder the full deployment of such human maturational potential. Given the importance of social cognition for adjustment and psychopathology, clinical intervention should target the amelioration of individual and family abilities in social reasoning and mentalization.

The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders

Social prediction is a key feature of social cognition (SC), a function in which the modulating role of the cerebellum is recognized. Accordingly, cerebellar alterations are reported in cerebellar pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions that show SC deficits. Nevertheless, to date, no study has directly compared populations representative of these three conditions with respect to SC and cerebellar alterations. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to compare the SC profiles of individuals with cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CB), autism (ASD), bipolar disorder type 2 (BD2), or healthy subjects (HS) using a battery of social tests requiring different degrees of prediction processing. The patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared among the groups using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to HS, the clinical groups showed common SC deficits in tasks involving a moderate to high level of prediction. The behavioral results of the clinical groups are consistent with the presence of overlapping GM reduction in cerebellar right Crus II, an area notably involved in complex social processing and prediction. Although exploratory and preliminary, these results deepen the cerebellar role in social prediction and highlight the transdiagnostic value of the cerebellum in social functioning and prediction in pathologies of different aetiologies, forecasting novel possibilities for shared interventions.

A model to understand COVID-19 preventive behaviors in young adults: Health locus of control and pandemic-related fear

This study investigated COVID-19 preventive behaviors in young adults, exploring the predictive roles of health locus of control and pandemic fear. A sample of 188 Italian young adults (M_age = 22.76, SD_age = 1.95; 85% girls) completed an anonymous online survey assessing preventive behaviors, health locus of control styles (i.e. internal, chance, powerful others), and two dimensions of pandemic fear. Fear for COVID-19 consequences-but not general fear for contagion-significantly predicted prevention behaviors, and it also moderated the relationships between each health locus of control style and preventive behaviors. Our findings have relevant implications for research and social policies.

Emotion regulation and drunkorexia behaviors among Lebanese adults: the indirect effects of positive and negative metacognition

BACKGROUND

Although metacognition processes are a core feature of restrictive eating and alcohol cravings and entail an individual to control both of his/her emotions and thoughts, yet, to our knowledge, a scarcity of research has examined their potential role in drunkorexia as cognitive and emotional predictors. The following study investigates the different associations between two emotion regulation strategies (i.e. emotional suppression and cognitive reappraisal) and drunkorexia behaviors in a sample of Lebanese adults, exploring the possible indirect effects of positive and negative alcohol-related metacognitions.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 335 participants (March-July 2021).

RESULTS

Higher problematic alcohol use (beta = 5.56), higher physical activity index (beta = 0.08), higher expressive suppression (beta = 0.23), higher negative metacognitive beliefs about cognitive harm due to drinking (beta = 0.75) and higher cognitive reappraisal (beta = 0.20) were significantly associated with more drunkorexic behaviors. The positive metacognitive beliefs about cognitive self-regulation significantly mediated the association between cognitive reappraisal and drunkorexia behaviors. Both the positive metacognitive beliefs about cognitive self-regulation and the negative metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability of drinking significantly mediated the association between expressive suppression and drunkorexia behaviors.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that emotional and metacognitive processes are associated with drunkorexia, addressing as well the mediating effect between deficient emotional regulation and risky behavioral patterns. Overall, our results would speculate that the lack of emotional and cognitive assets might enhance internal distress perceived out of control, leading individuals to indulge in maladaptive behavioral patterns for managing the underlying impairment.

Indirect Relations between Language and Behavior Problems in Preschoolers: The Role of Executive Difficulties

The present study investigated the concurrent relations between language ability, executive difficulties, and behavior problems in a sample of 142 preschoolers ranging in age between 3 and 6 years of age. Language skills were assessed with a direct task, whereas ratings of executive difficulties and behavior problems were obtained from teachers. Regression analyses indicated that difficulties in flexibility and inhibitory self-control were positively associated with internalizing problems, and difficulties in inhibitory self-control were positively associated with externalizing problems. The associations between emergent metacognition and internalizing problems and between inhibitory self-control and externalizing problems were both moderated by sex, being stronger in boys than in girls. Lastly, language had indirect effects on internalizing problems by decreasing children's difficulties in flexibility, as well as on externalizing problems by decreasing children' difficulties in inhibitory self-control. Overall, these findings support the idea that low language skills may interfere with preschoolers' ability to exploit the executive functions of inner language to self-regulate their own behaviors, especially in boys.

The interplay between expressive suppression, emotional self-efficacy and internalizing behavior in middle adolescence

Background

Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies are predictive of negative outcomes in adolescence which, in turn, may impact on later well-being.

Objective

The current study aimed at testing the moderating role of emotional self-efficacy on the relation between expressive suppression and the engagement in internalizing behavior, controlling for gender effect.

Method

A total of 526 adolescents (Mage = 14.7 years, age range = 14–17 years) filled out self-report questionnaires evaluating expressive suppression, emotional regulatory self-efficacy, and internalizing behavior, respectively.

Results

Suppressors with lower positive emotion self-efficacy were more likely to engage in internalizing behavior than suppressors with higher positive emotion self-efficacy.

Conclusions

Despite several limitations, the study provided preliminary insights on the role played by emotional self-efficacy in the relation between expressive suppression and internalizing behavior in middle adolescence.

Psychophysical Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Same-Sex Couples' Conflict: The Mediating Effect of Internalized Sexual Stigma

Research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on same-sex relationships is limited. The present study aimed at analyzing the association between the psychophysical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and same-sex couples' conflict, also considering the potential mediating effect of internalized sexual stigma (ISS). For this purpose, psychophysical challenges and couples' conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic, ISS, age, biological sex, sexual orientation, relationship duration, religiosity, involvement in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) associations, sexual satisfaction, and interpersonal partner violence were assessed in an Italian sample of 232 LGB people engaged in a same-sex relationship (aged 18-45 years; M age = 28.68, SD = 6.91). The results indicated that the psychophysical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly associated with couples' conflict, and ISS mediated this relationship. Among the covariates considered, only sexual satisfaction was associated with couples' conflict. The findings suggest that ISS, over and above the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychophysical health, triggered conflict within same-sex relationships. Studying the role of ISS in various relational and social contexts is important, as ISS may have an adverse effect on the mental health of sexual minority people. We recommend that more efforts be made to improve research on the LGB population during the public health response to the COVID-19 emergency, because the paucity of studies underlines the invisibility of this population in many domains, including the domain of romantic relationships. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Food and alcohol disturbance among young adults during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: risk and protective factors

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 lockdown measures have had a significant impact on risk behaviors as alcohol use and disordered eating. However, little is known about a serious health-risk-behavior named "food and alcohol disturbance" (FAD), characterized by engaging in dysfunctional eating on days of planned alcohol consumption. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential factors that may have put young adults at risk or protected against FAD during the COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

A sample of 447 young adults (280 females, 167 males; range 18-26) completed an online survey during the country's nationwide lockdown composed of self-reported measures assessing FAD behaviors, alcohol consumption, compensatory behaviors, eating and weight concerns, social support, emotion regulation strategies, and living arrangement.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that FAD was significantly and positively correlated to alcohol consumption, use of laxatives, self-induced vomiting, eating and weight concerns, and expressive suppression, and negatively correlated to social support and living with family. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that alcohol consumption, eating concern, and expression suppression positively predicted FAD, while social support and living with family were negative predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that during the COVID-19 lockdown, preoccupation with eating and the use of expressive suppression may have increased vulnerability to FAD; conversely, perceived social support and living with family may have been a source of protection against this dysfunctional behavior.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, descriptive study.

The Impact of Health and Social Services on the Quality of Life in Families of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Focus Group Study

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that affects the whole family. The gap between childrens’ needs and their satisfaction, especially regarding what concerns the presence of social and healthcare services, is still a source of burden, particularly after the transition to adulthood. Our study aimed to gather a comprehensive view on how parents of adults with ASD perceive (and interact with) health and social services, and how the provision of care impacts family quality of life with the aim to advise ASD intervention programs. The goal is to identify specific areas of change useful to influence autism intervention strategies so that they more effectively meet the needs of young people with autism and their families. Methods: We conducted two focus groups with parents of young adults with ASD. A semi-structured focus group methodology was adopted. The QoL conceptual framework guided data collection and analysis as part of a directed theory-driven content analysis approach. Results: The lack of structured care pathways and the low level of integration of different services were the main limits reported by parents during the focus group, while a shared positive perception of the experience conducted together as caring families emerged. Conclusions: The experience here reported claims for a greater role of the institutions in order to facilitate the building of networks that are really inclusive for persons with autism in society and to support the implementation of innovative solutions for the welfare system. Furthermore, parents stressed the need for the provision of support to the family.

Experiences of Life and Intersectionality of Transgender Refugees Living in Italy: A Qualitative Approach

Transgender refugees are at risk of experiencing increased minority stress due to experiences of trauma in their country of origin, and the intersection of multiple marginalized identities in their host country. Adopting a transfeminist and decolonial approach, the present study aimed at exploring transgender refugees' experiences of life and migration. A semi-structured interview protocol was developed, grounded in the perspectives of minority stress and intersectionality. Participants were five transgender refugees (four women and one non-binary) from different cultural/geographic contexts, professing different religions. Using thematic analysis, the researchers identified three themes: pre- and post-migration minority stress and transphobia; religion as a protective factor for gender affirmation; and individuation and the synthesis of social identities. Participants reported traumatic experiences and the inability to openly live out their gender identity in their country of origin as the main push factors to migration. They also reported feelings of isolation and experiences of victimization during interactions with the Italian asylum services, due to a lack of adequate training, racial prejudice, and transphobia. Participants demonstrated positive individuation, linked to gender affirmation treatments and religious protective factors. The interview protocol may be used by social operators to support the claims of transgender asylum seekers, and to clinically assess transgender people with an immigrant background.

The Floor Effect on the ABAS-II in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The present study aimed at enhancing the assessment of adaptive behavior in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder trough the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Second Edition. To overcome the limits underpinning floor effect, which are commonly observed with the traditional methods, the statistical Hessl method and its revision by Orsini, Pezzuti and Hulbert was adopted. The results showed a more variation using the former method compared to the latter: a greater impairment in Social versus Leisure skills emerged. Regarding the Conceptual domain, a greater deficit in Functional Academics was observed. In the Practical domain, we found a greater impairment in Self-Care skills. Conversely, Home Living skills appeared as a strength compared to other skills. The results are discussed in reference to literature.

Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Introduction

This study investigated the relationships of pandemic-related stress and coping strategies with different kinds of sexting (i.e., experimental, risky, and emotional) during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Italian context.

Methods

A sample of 1929 emerging adults (Mage = 24.17, SDage = 2.75; 71.6% girls) completed an online survey about their sexting behaviors during the national lockdown in Italy. Data were gathered in April/May 2020, from 6th to 11th week of home confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were performed.

Results

Pandemic-related stress directly predicted only risky and emotional sexting. Experimental and emotional sexting were positively predicted by social support, and negatively predicted by turning to religion. Risky and emotional sexting were positively predicted by avoidance, and negatively predicted by problem solving. Adaptive coping (i.e., social support) mediated the relationships from pandemic-related stress to both experimental and emotional sexting. Maladaptive coping (i.e., avoidance and problem solving) mediated the relationships from pandemic related-stress to risky and emotional sexting.

Conclusions

Sexting was a coping tool during COVID-19 lockdown, showing both adaptive and maladaptive facets.

Policy Implications

Findings suggest new directions for implementing programs of sexual education and safer Internet use targeted to young people.

Problematic alcohol use in young adults during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy

This study investigated the individual and contextual correlates of problematic alcohol use among young adults during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Participants were 1533 young adults aged 18 to 26 (M_age = 23.12, SD_age = 2.11; 73.2% women), who completed an online survey during national lockdown. Inclusion criteria for this study were the age-range (18-26 y. o.), and living in Italy during COVID-19 lockdown. Participants with low or very low socioeconomic levels (vs. higher levels) were more at risk for problematic alcohol use, as well as participants who lived alone or with roommates/friends during lockdown. Conversely, participants who spent the lockdown with their family or partner were less at risk for problematic alcohol use. Finally, participants who had their job suspended due to pandemic (vs. other job conditions) were more at risk for problematic alcohol use during lockdown. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

The cerebellum is linked to theory of mind alterations in autism. A direct clinical and MRI comparison between individuals with autism and cerebellar neurodegenerative pathologies

In recent years, structural and functional alterations in the cerebellum have been reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Intriguingly, recent studies demonstrated that the social behavioral profile of individuals with cerebellar pathologies is characterized by a theory of mind (ToM) impairment, one of the main behavioral hallmarks of ASD. The aim of the present study was to compare ToM abilities and underlying cerebello-cortical structural patterns between ASD individuals and individuals with cerebellar atrophy to further specify the cerebellar role in mentalizing alterations in ASD. Twenty-one adults with ASD without language and intellectual impairments (based on DSM-5), 36 individuals affected by degenerative cerebellar damage (CB), and 67 healthy participants were enrolled in the study. ToM abilities were assessed using the reading the mind in the eyes test and the faux pas test. One-way ANCOVA was conducted to compare the performances between the two cohorts. Three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance scans were collected, and a voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to characterize the brain structural alterations in the two cohorts. ASD and CB participants had comparable ToM performance with similar difficulties in both the tests. CB and ASD participants showed an overlapping pattern of gray matter (GM) reduction in a specific cerebellar portion (Crus-II). Our study provides the first direct comparison of ToM abilities between ASD and CB individuals, boosting the idea that specific cerebellar structural alterations impact the mentalizing process. The present findings open a new perspective for considering the cerebellum as a potential target for treatment implementation. The present work will critically advance current knowledge about the cerebellar role in ToM alterations of ASD, in particular, elucidating the presence of common cerebellar structural abnormalities in ASD and cerebellar individuals that may underlie specific mentalizing alterations. These findings may pave the way for alternative therapeutic indications, such as cerebellar neuromodulation, with a strong clinical impact. LAY SUMMARY: The present work will critically advance current knowledge about the cerebellar role in theory of mind alterations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular, elucidating the presence of common cerebellar structural abnormalities in ASD and cerebellar individuals that may underlie specific mentalizing alterations. These findings may pave the way for alternative therapeutic indications, such as cerebellar neuromodulation, with a strong clinical impact.

The Assessment of Early Pragmatic Development: A Study of the Reliability and Validity of the Language Use Inventory-Italian

Purpose Pragmatics is receiving much attention in both the fields of developmental and clinical psychology; however, there is a dearth of instruments to assess pragmatic abilities specifically among young toddler-age children. The aim of the current study was to test the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Language Use Inventory (LUI), named the LUI-Italian, a parent report measure assessing pragmatic language development in children 18-47 months of age. Method Parents of Italian-speaking children who ranged in age between 18 and 47 months completed the LUI-Italian at T1 (N = 389) and 1 week later (N = 53). At T1, children were also administered the First Language Test (Test del Primo Linguaggio [TPL]), a direct measure of pragmatics, vocabulary, and syntax. Results Cronbach's alpha values were at or above acceptable levels. Factor analysis and test-retest confirmed the strong structure and reliability of the LUI-Italian. Some evidence for concurrent validity was found, as shown by associations between the LUI-Italian and the TPL. Conclusions The LUI-Italian demonstrated good psychometric properties relating to reliability, thus providing a sound basis for proceeding to a standardization study, and supporting cross-cultural comparison of pragmatic development and further exploration of profiles of pragmatic competence for children displaying language impairments or delay. Future studies need to further test concurrent, divergent, and predictive validity of the LUI-Italian.

The Heart in the Mind: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Theory of Mind and Cardiac Vagal Tone

Theory of mind (ToM) is the human ability to infer the mental states of others in order to understand their behaviors and plan own actions. In the past decades, accumulating evidence has shown that heart rate variability (HRV), an index of parasympathetic control of the heart, is linked to behavioral regulation, social competence, and social cognition abilities, all implicated-to some extent-in ToM. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the available studies, investigating the relation between ToM and HRV in typically developing people. Six studies were eligible for the meta-analysis, yielding a significant association between HRV and ToM of a small-to-medium effect size (g = 0.44). This result was not influenced by publication bias. Due to the small number of studies eligible for the meta-analysis, it was not possible to test for the effect of categorical moderators. The moderating role of sex and quality of the studies was examined by meta-regression analysis. Moderation analysis did not yield any significant effect; however, at a descriptive level, studies yielding the largest effect size were characterized by the use of high frequency-HRV assessment at rest and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test to evaluate ToM abilities. The results preliminarily suggest that tonic HRV might be used as an indicator of the ability to understand the content of mind of others.

Fetal body MRI for fetal and perinatal management

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a valuable adjunct to ultrasound (US) in diagnosing fetal abnormalities. This review is intended to highlight the contribution of MRI in parental counselling and perinatal treatment. A state-of-the-art fetal MRI protocol with experts of maternal-fetal medicine present in the MRI suite allows emphasis on patient-centred care and maximises therapeutic options.

The Relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and Sexting Behaviors among Adolescents and Young Adults across 11 Countries

Background: Sexting is an increasingly common phenomenon among adolescents and young adults. Some studies have investigated the role of personality traits in different sexting behaviors within mainstream personality taxonomies like Big Five and HEXACO. However, very few studies have investigated the role of maladaptive personality factors in sexting. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and experimental (i.e., sharing own sexts), risky (i.e., sexting under substance use and with strangers), and aggravated sexting (i.e., non-consensual sexting and sexting under pressure) across 11 countries. Methods: An online survey was completed by 6093 participants (Mage = 20.35; SDage = 3.63) from 11 different countries which covered four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America). Participants completed the Sexting Behaviors Questionnaire and the 12-item Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed that sharing own sexts was positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Narcissism. Both risky and aggravated sexting were positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Psychopathy. Conclusions: The present study provided empirical evidence that different sexting behaviors were predicted by Dark Triad Personality Traits, showing a relevant role of Machiavellianism in all kinds of investigated sexting behaviors. Research, clinical, and education implications for prevention programs are discussed.

Drunkorexia: An Examination of the Role of Theory of Mind and Emotional Awareness among Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate Theory of Mind (ToM) and emotional awareness in drunkorexia, an emerging behavior characterized by calorie restriction when drinking alcohol is planned. A sample of 246 adolescents (148 females, 98 males; range 17-20) completed self-reported measures assessing drunkorexia, ToM and lack of emotional awareness. Drunkorexia was negatively correlated with ToM abilities, with reading neutral emotions, and positively with lack of emotional awareness. ToM and lack of emotional awareness were also found to predict drunkorexia. Findings highlighted that adolescents who engage in drunkorexia may have difficulties in reading others' mental states and being aware of their emotions.

Autonomic response to the Adult Attachment Projective in anorexia nervosa

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular complications associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) are well recognized. Whether a wide array of studies has investigated autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning at rest in people with AN, few is yet known on their reactivity ability during stress conditions. The aim of the current study is testing ANS reactivity to a stressful task activating attachment system among adolescents with AN.

METHODS

Heart rate (HR) and its variability, as derived by high-frequency-heart rate variability (HF-HRV), were continuously assessed while 13 AN patients and 12 healthy controls (HCs) responded to a set of attachment-related drawings (Adult Attachment Projective, AAP).

RESULTS

Findings showed that patients with AN displayed a stronger parasympathetic activity, as indicated by generally a lower heart rate (HR) during the entire task and a higher HF-HRV for drawings eliciting dyadic interactions compared to HCs.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest a novel understanding of cardiovascular functioning in AN.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, descriptive study.

Attachment-Related Representations and Suicidal Ideations in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Adolescents with and without Suicide Attempts: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Consistent with the debate surrounding the association between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal intent, and suicidal behavior, and between NSSI and dysregulation processes, we attempted to analyze suicide intent and emotion dysregulation in NSSI adolescents, in the framework of the attachment representations and exploring these clues of emotion dysregulation characteristics of insecure attachment. Furthermore, we intended to focus on these attachment-related segregated systems regarding death and suicidal ideations, to explore how differently they would characterize self-injuring adolescents with and without suicide attempts.

METHODS

Thirty-four NSSI inpatient adolescents, 17 with suicide attempts, 17 without suicide attempts, and 17 healthy controls (age 11-17) were assessed using Adult Attachment Projective, which allows for the classification of attachment status and related emotion dysregulation and segregated systems.

RESULTS

The majority of the NSSI group with and without suicide attempts showed unresolved (disorganized) attachment-related representations and clues of damaged reflective functions, whereas only the NSSI with suicide attempts showed clues of impaired interpersonal relationships. The two clinical groups used words expressing suicidal intent, whereas the healthy group did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapists are encouraged not to underestimate suicidal ideation in NSSI regardless of whether or not they have already attempted suicide.

0734 Does Noise Masking Improve Sleep Consolidation In Patients Weaning From Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation?

Introduction

Sound masking is a noise reduction strategy that adds a mixed-frequency blend of ambient sound to the environment and may improve sleep. Critically ill patients often cite noise as one of the main factors preventing sleep while they are cared for in an intensive care unit (ICU). The effect of sound masking on sleep in patients weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation is unknown.

Methods

12-hour overnight polysomnography was obtained in eight patients undergoing weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation. None had hearing impairment, delirium, sedation or agitation. In random order, patients were exposed to sound masking half of the recording time. Noise events were defined a 10dB increase from baseline or any sound peak over 75dB. Arousals or awakenings were attributed to noise if they occurred within 5 seconds of the noise event.

Results

Environmental sound was 61.7± 0.9 dB (mean±SE) during sound masking and 55.9±1.4 dB during no sound masking. During sound masking, there were fewer sound events per hour of sleep when compared to no sound masking (4.1/hr vs 9.3/hr p=0.03). The percentage of sound events leading to a subsequent arousal or awakening with sound masking was less than during no sound masking:11% vs 22% (p=0.04). Arousal index and fragmentation index (arousal and awakenings/hr of sleep) were similar between the two conditions. In a post-study survey, five patients reported improved sleep quality with sound masking while the remaining three reported no difference.

Conclusion

Sound masking decreases sound-induced arousal from sleep in patients being weaned from prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Support

Veterans Administration Research Service

0529 Behavioral Therapy Components for Insomnia and Fatigue in COPD

Introduction

Insomnia contributes to fatigue, a common symptom in COPD. Our study aims were: (1) to determine the efficacy of a) cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and b) COPD education (COPD-ED) on insomnia and fatigue, and (2) to define potential mechanistic contributors to pre/post intervention change in insomnia and fatigue in patients with COPD and insomnia.

Methods

A randomized 2x2 factorial design was used with factors representing CBT-I (yes/no) and COPD-ED (yes/no). Attention control (health videos) were used in the absence of CBT-I or COPD-ED. All patients received 6, 75-minute weekly sessions. Dependent variables included insomnia severity (Sleep Impairment Index (SII), range 0-28) and fatigue (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) range 1-7) measured at baseline, just post-intervention, and at 3-months post-intervention.

Results

One hundred nine patients (FEV1% predicted 67 ± 24% (mean ± SD), age 65 ± 8 years, SII 15.9 ± 8, CRQ 3.7 ± 1.1) participated in the study. After 6 sessions, insomnia decreased more in patients who received CBT-I (-5.8) than those who did not (-2.2; p=0.0002). This effect was sustained at the 3-month follow-up (p=0.0003). Fatigue showed no significant differences for CBT-I at 6-weeks (p=.27) but at 3-months patients receiving CBT-I showed marginally better improvement (.75, a clinically important difference) compared to those who did not receive CBT-I (.43; p=.09). COPD-ED showed no effect on insomnia or fatigue. Two main effects suggest mechanisms for the pre-post efficacy of CBT-I: improved sleep beliefs (p=0.0257) and self-efficacy for sleep (p=0.0619) after 6 sessions which were sustained at 3 months (p=0.0184 and p=0.0431 respectively).

Conclusion

CBT-I produced sustained decreases in insomnia in patients with COPD. Results suggest that changes in beliefs about sleep and improved self-efficacy for managing sleep may mediate CBT-I associated decreases in insomnia.

Support

This research was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health R01NR013937.

Fetal MRI of CNS abnormalities

Ultrasound (US) is currently the standard approach for the initial evaluation of fetal anatomy and maternal conditions during pregnancy; however, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has now become a valuable adjunct to US in confirming/excluding suspected abnormalities and in the detection of additional abnormalities, thus changing the outcome of pregnancy and optimising perinatal management. MRI is a non-invasive diagnostic examination that does not involve ionising radiation and has no known associated negative side effects or reported delayed sequela according to the Safety Committee of the Society for MRI. The main drawback of MRI is fetal motion. The development of fast MRI sequences has significantly decreased fetal motion artefacts allowing the evaluation of the highly mobile fetus. Single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) T2-weighted imaging is a standard sequence. T1-weighted sequences are primarily used to demonstrate haemorrhage, fat, and calcification. Balanced steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequences are beneficial in demonstrating fetal structures as well as the heart and vessels. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have important applications in fetal brain imaging. In this review, we illustrate a spectrum of structural abnormalities affecting the central nervous system and the spine. The aim of this article is to provide a practical approach for radiologists and clinicians to fetal MRI performance and interpretation.

Suicidal ideation and time perspective in high school students

Objective

Many studies have enlightened the relevance of deepening our knowledge of suicidal ideation among adolescents. However, research has given insufficient attention to the impact of time perspective on suicidal ideation: the present study confirms this relationship in a large sample of adolescents.

Method

A survey was conducted on a sample of 3700 Italian adolescents. We obtained data using a structured questionnaire addressing suicidal ideation, mental health status, self-esteem, individual and family characteristics, and time perspective (ZTPI) in three temporal frames: the past, present and future, and the attitude related to each one of them. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Overall, 9.2% of the sample reported severe suicidal ideation during the past two weeks; 7.6% reported moderate suicidal ideation. Female adolescents were more likely to report severe suicidal ideation when compared to males (χ(2)2 = 13.38, P = .001). There were no differences regarding age (χ(1)2 = 2.81, P = .245) and SES (χ(2)2 = 8.67, P = .08).

The first discriminant function was mostly explained by psychopathological symptoms (General Global Index), self-esteem and two dimensions of the ZTPI (Negative Past and Fatalistic Present).

Conclusions

Differences in time perspective dimensions between moderate and severe ideators suggest that these groups should be considered and analyzed as two discrete groups in further research.

Verbal, physical, and relational peer victimization: The role of immigrant status and gender

BACKGROUND

Most studies suggest that immigrant youth are more likely to be victimized than their non-immigrant counterparts. In Italy, a country in which the number of foreign migrants has grown exponentially over recent decades, this line of research is particularly interesting. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between peer victimization, gender, and immigrant status in a large sample of students.

METHOD

The research used data from a cross-sectional Italian survey on the "Integration of Second Generations", which was administered to 68,127 students in grades 6 through 13 (49% female; 47% immigrant). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between immigrant status and gender with verbal, physical, and relational victimization, after adjusting for socio-demographic variables.

RESULTS

Immigrant and male participants were more likely to be classified as frequently victimized. The significant interaction effect between immigrant status and gender revealed that male immigrant students were more likely to belong to the frequently relationally victimized category compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the importance of including immigrant status disparities in peer victimization research. Prevention efforts and intervention strategies should be implemented to create safe environments in Italy.

Binge eating and binge drinking behaviors: the role of family functioning

Binge eating and binge drinking are two of the most common health-risk behaviors among young people showing to frequently co-occur in nonclinical samples of adolescent boys and girls. The present study examined the role of different dimensions of family functioning in binge behaviors among adolescents. One thousand and twenty young to late adolescents (507 girls and 517 boys) with ages ranging from 16 to 22 years participated in the study and completed a survey of self-report measures. Our findings showed that adolescents who binge eat and drink and adolescents who only binge eat perceived a lower quality of family functioning with lower levels of cohesion, flexibility, communication, satisfaction and higher degree of disengagement compared to adolescents who do not binge and adolescents who only binge drink. Only adolescents who engage in both binge behaviors reported higher levels of chaotic style compared to other binge groups. Furthermore, living in families poorly flexible, highly disengaged and with communication problems among members resulted as risk factors for binge eating behavior. Results suggest the importance for prevention programs to be based on an integrated approach focused on improving family environment such as the ability in changing family structure to deal effectively with developmental problems and defining clear home rules adolescents may stand on.

Individual planning starts at school. Tools and practices promoting autonomy and supporting transition to work for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

There is an increasing need for effective services and strategies to favor the transition from school to post-school/working experience for individuals with disabilities and specifically with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Post-school options are still limited, and most adults with ASD struggle in finding adequate and stable job opportunities. This work analyzes the increasing number of laws issued in Italy in the last decades in order to improve social and working inclusion. The central role of the individual educational planning (IEP) as part of the broader individual project is discussed. Also the potential of pathways for transversal skills and orientation for future employment outcomes is taken into consideration. Good practices promoting autonomy and supporting transition to work starting from school years are reviewed. The international literature shows different models and tools, which could be applied to the Italian school. The COMPASS consultancy model could favor the achievement of individualized transition IEP goals. Peer mediated intervention could improve social skills, a core weakness in ASD, though a central element for success in the workplace. Another key element is the parental involvement in the construction of the future of their children with ASD.

Time Perspective Constructs in Albanian and Italian Adolescents: Exploratory Analyses

Time perspective is an important correlate of developmental outcomes in adolescence, and research has highlighted the importance of assessing the past, the present, and the future. However, there are few instruments that assess all three time periods. In the current study, we examined the responses of Italian and Albanian adolescents on the time frequency, time orientation, time relation, and time attitude subscales of the Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory. Participants consisted of two samples of adolescents-246 Italians and 312 Albanians-who completed translated versions of the Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory. Italian and Albanian adolescents had similar responses to time frequency and time attitudes but differed in time orientation and time relation. Additionally, psychometric evidence supported the internal consistency and structural validity of scores on five of the six time attitude subscales-Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Positive, Present Negative, and Future Positive-but provided less support for Future Negative subscale scores. Time attitude scores showed strong invariance across countries. Comparisons of time attitude mean scores in this study with time attitude means in samples from Germany, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United States revealed similarities and differences. Finally, time constructs did not have substantial associations with risky behaviors or seatbelt use. The findings suggest that the Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory can be used in cross-cultural research on time perspective and may help us understand adolescents in these contexts.

Attachment and attention problems: A meta-analysis

Attachment theorists have argued that securely attached children tend to exhibit flexible attention; the attention of children with resistant attachments is centered on attachment-related worries; children with avoidant attachments defensively focus attention away from attachment-related emotions/thoughts; and children with disorganized attachments exhibit the collapse of attention and disorientation. In this meta-analysis, a relation between attachment security status and attention problems (APs) in children (18 years and younger) was found. In total, 62 studies (67 samples) met the inclusion criteria. Children with insecure attachments were higher in APs than those with a secure attachment (r = 0.21); those with avoidant or resistant attachments were higher than securely attached children (rs = 0.10 and 0.21, respectively); children with disorganized attachments were higher than those with organized attachments (r = 0.27). Effects were larger when attachment and APs were measured concurrently/closer in time (for secure versus all; disorganized versus organized attachment); for representational versus observational measures of attachment, non-parental reports of APs, and attachment assessed at an older age (for disorganized versus organized attachment); for samples with proportionally fewer boys (secure versus resistant attachment); in recent studies (secure versus avoidant attachment); and when disorganized children were in a high-risk sample or resistant children were in a low-risk condition.