Abstract The association between traumatic experiences, alexithymia, and substance abuse is well established. Less is known about the role of traumatic experiences and alexithymia in the onset and ...maintenance of Internet-related disorders. In the present study, self-report measures on traumatic experiences, alexithymia, and problematic Internet use were administered to 358 high school students (57% females) aged 18–19 years old, to test whether alexithymic traits mediated the relationship between traumatic experiences and Internet addiction symptoms, and whether gender moderated the proposed mediation in the sample. While partial mediation occurred in the entire sample, gender directly affected the relationship between the investigated constructs: Internet addiction symptoms were independently related to traumatic experiences among males, and to alexithymic traits among females. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that trauma memories among males, and problems with affect regulation among females, may increase the risk of problematic Internet use during late adolescence. Such findings might have relevant implications to inform any treatment plan for late adolescent students who are overinvolved with online activities, pointing out that tailored approaches to their problems and difficulties are particularly needed in clinical practice.
Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and interferes with work and interpersonal functioning. In this study, we investigated the nomological ...network of the MD construct and examined the psychometric properties of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) in an Italian sample. The MDS-16 is a self-report measure composed of 16 items designed to assess MD. Participants in this study were 468 individuals (333 volunteers, 56.8% female; 135 self-diagnosed maladaptive daydreamers, 78.5% female) between 18 and 56 years of age. MDS-16 scores showed good internal reliability. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a 2-factor solution (interference with life and sensory-motor retreat); this solution was consistent with theory, and all items loaded in the expected direction. MDS-16 scores were associated with global psychopathology, traumatic experiences, maladaptive personality features, alexithymia, dissociation, shame feelings, and anxious attachment styles. Furthermore, MDS-16 scores showed satisfactory incremental validity, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a cutoff value of 51 best discriminates between cases and noncases of self-diagnosed MD. Results suggest that the scale is a suitable measure for assessing MD in Italian samples.
Purpose
The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to examine the efficacy of Pennebaker’s expressive writing intervention (EWI) in improving the perceived quality of life (QoL) and in reducing ...psychiatric symptoms among patients who received a cancer diagnosis.
Methods
Seventy-one consecutively recruited patients who received a cancer diagnosis for the first time in their life were randomized into two groups: an EWI group (EWG:
n
= 35) and a control group (CG
n
= 36). At the baseline, anamnestic information was collected for all patients, and the patients completed a series of self-reported measures assessing psychiatric symptoms, alexithymia, and health-related QoL. A modified Pennebaker’s EWI adapted to cancer diagnosis was also administered to the EWG. Six months later, 32 patients (EWG:
n
= 17, CG:
n
= 15) participated in the follow-up and filled out the same questionnaires.
Results
The Pennebaker’s EWI was effective in decreasing global psychopathology (
d
= -.55). Small but significant effects were also observed for alexithymia levels and health-related QoL, with the EWG showing a reduction in alexithymia levels (
d
= -.31) and an increase in the mental component of QoL (
d
= .31) compared to the CG.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate that the Pennebaker’s EWI is effective in reducing the negative impact of cancer diagnosis on patients’ mental health.
It is critical to investigate the role of psychological and psychosocial factors involved in cancer diagnosis, in order to improve prevention and treatment strategies. Two hundred and six Italian ...participants (healthy group, 118 adult volunteers, 53.4% female; target group, 88 patients with first-time cancer diagnosis, 55.77c female) completed questionnaires measuring maladaptive personality traits, alexithymia, and traumatic events. Controlling for gender, age, and education, results showed that higher age and lower education, together with higher exposure to traumatic events and increased levels of negative affectivity, were significant predictors of belonging to the target group. Our findings suggest the need of an early assessment of psychological functioning and traumatic history in cancer patients, in order to promote more effective prevention strategies and tailored treatment approaches.
Research has extensively examined the relationship between defense mechanisms (DM) and personality traits. However, no study to date has explored if specific defenses (alone or in combination) are ...able to predict dysfunctional variants of personality domains, as conceived in the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DMs and DSM-5 maladaptive personality domains among adults.
Three hundred and twenty-eight adults aged between 18 and 64 years old completed measures on DMs and maladapive personality domains. Regression analyses were performed to determine which DMs predicted the maladaptive personality domains of negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism.
According to psychoanalytic literature, results showed that immature defenses positively predicted maladaptive personality domain scores, whereas mature defenses were generally related with better personality functioning. Moreover, different defense patterns emerged as significant predictors of the maladaptive personality domains comprised in the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorder.
Our findings support the view that defense patterns represent core components of personality and its disorders, and suggest that an increased use of immature defenses and a reduced use of mature defenses have a negative impact on the development of personality.
The Dark Triad represents a collection of three socially aversive traits, namely Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Italian ...translation of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen (DTDD) in a sample of 799 adults, and we explored the associations among Dark Triad traits, theory of mind, empathy, and alexithymia. The DTDD showed a good internal consistency and a bifactor structure including a three-factor non-hierarchical model and a global, second-order factor with all of the DTDD items loading on it. The DTDD traits were positively associated with alexithymia and negatively associated with theory of mind and empathy. Also, results of regression analyses showed that difficulty identifying feelings and a reduced emotional reactivity were significant predictors of the Dark Triad traits. Our findings support the validity and reliability of the Italian translation of the DTDD, and suggest that individuals with high levels of Dark Triad traits may have difficulties in understanding and processing their own rather than other people’s emotional states.
Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic disorder. It affects women's physical well-being and leads to great psychological distress. Indeed, women with PCOS show a ...compromised quality of life as well as impaired emotional well-being. The aim of this study is to assess personality characteristics, body image and alexithymia in women with PCOS.
Materials and methods: A total of 59 women with PCOS and 38 healthy controls were administered the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2).
Results: The PCOS group showed higher values of alexithymia and a higher body uneasiness. They also showed higher values on many clinical, content and supplementary scales of the MMPI-2.
Discussion: It seems that physical appearance and bodily function have a central place in the minds of women with PCOS, as well as in their relationships. However, it is a body they find it hard to feel and with which they mostly feel uncomfortable. Their approach to the outside world seems to be characterized by a certain degree of immaturity, anger, hostility and distrust. Low self-esteem also seems to be connected to a certain tendency toward introversion and withdrawal. This leads to problems in social, professional and intimate relationships.
While all women from refugee backgrounds confront significant risk and adversity, those women who are in danger of gender-related abuse and who lack adequate protection by male family members ...(referred to here as women-at-risk) are at heightened risk. This study, informed by a meaning-making stance privileging wellbeing and transformation, explores the lived experience of women-at-risk by explicating narratives of 15 women from Africa and Afghanistan, who arrived in Australia in the preceding 5 years. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: experience of loss, transformative renewal, and experience of connection. Findings have implications regarding the importance of intervention models, which take into account the psychological, social, and religious needs of women-at-risk. Specifically, successful resettlement may be facilitated by acknowledging and responding to women's multiple losses and need for connection. Such processes have capacity to contribute to self-directed recovery and transformative renewal.
Purpose of Review
In this study, we present a systematic review of empirical studies that have addressed the relationship between Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and personality in the last 10 years ...(2007–2016). A systematic search of scientific literature identified 27 peer-reviewed empirical studies that examined the relationship between IGD and personality dimensions.
Recent Findings
The findings of recent empirical studies suggest that IGD is linked to a wide range of personality traits, domains, and disorders.
Summary
Although some personality factors such as high neuroticism, high impulsivity, and high aggressiveness emerged quite consistently as significant predictors of IGD across the studies, the overall result of this systematic review showed that different personality traits (more frequently, in combination) may play a pivotal role in the acquisition, development, and maintenance of IGD. Therefore, further research is needed to understand whether specific patterns of personality traits may predispose people to IGD.
The study investigates inclusivity practices and bullying management in a group of teachers. The study involved 18 volunteer teachers from upper secondary school in Italy (12 of them were women). ...They ranged in age from 33 to 66 years of age (
M
= 44.53). A semi-structured interview was adopted to explore their knowledge on inclusivity within teaching interventions or programmes, and experiences about bullying management. Data were collected using online interviews through specific platform such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet. The interviews were carried out between April 2020 and October 2020 in the participant’s native language. Using thematic analysis, we identified themes within individuals’ brief narratives. Analysis was inductive and involved line-by-line coding with codes deriving from brief narratives. Four major themes emerged: (1) Contact with the phenomenon of bullying (i.e., direct experience versus lack of experience); (2) Educational-didactic practices (i.e., lack of specific knowledge regarding educational-didactic practices versus attempted solutions); (3) Awareness of the bullying phenomenon and its effects on students; (4) Avoidance solutions of topics concerning bullying incidents (i.e., disengagement and disconfirmation responses). Theoretical and psycho-educational implications are discussed.
Highlights
The study suggests some critical issues in teacher training.
This study suggests how sometimes bullying is not considered by teachers in a proper way.
These findings highlight how teachers should apply critical awareness to their inclusivity practices, starting with a revision of educational curricula, and appropriate training.
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