The Protective Role of Mature Defense Mechanisms on Satisfaction with Life in the COVID-19 Era: A Moderated Mediation Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced people's lives, with non-negligible consequences for the perception of well-being. This study sought to examine the effect of anxiety, post-traumatic impairment, and mature defenses on life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. One thousand three hundred thirty-nine Italian individuals (30% male; 70% female; Mage = 34.70; SD = 11.83) completed an online survey enclosing the Satisfaction with Life Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form X3, Impact of event scale-revised, and the Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire. To test the hypothesized relationship, data were analyzed by applying a moderated-mediation analysis, a regression-based approach. Results showed that the negative effect of anxiety on life satisfaction was partially mediated by post-traumatic impairment, with a significant moderation effect of mature defenses on the relationship between post-traumatic impairment and life satisfaction. Specifically, with higher levels of mature defenses, the effects of post-traumatic impairment on consequences of the COVID-19 emergency on well-being. Furthermore, the protective role of mature defenses in facing post-traumatic impairment was shown. Such data may have applicative implications in different contexts in a management perspective of the different pandemic phases, contributing to more effective positive strength-based preventive actions to also support positive healthy organizations.

Studyholism and Study Engagement in Adolescence: The Role of Social Anxiety and Interpretation Bias as Antecedents

Studyholism (or obsession toward study) is a new potential clinical condition that, in contrast with Study Engagement, is associated with negative outcomes. However, previous studies showed that both Studyholism and Study Engagement predict social impairment due to study. Therefore, we analyzed the role of social anxiety and interpretation bias as predictors of Studyholism and Study Engagement in 541 adolescents (Mage = 16.30 ± 1.59;66% girls). We performed a path analysis model, MANOVAs, and Mann–Whitney tests. Among the main findings, social anxiety is a positive predictor of both Studyholism and Study Engagement. Hence, this provides further support to the conceptualization of Studyholism as an OCD-related disorder (or as an internalizing disorder) and suggests the need of screening socially anxious adolescents for the presence of Studyholism and engaged students for the presence of high social anxiety. Moreover, Studyholism is predicted by a negative interpretation style in non-social situations, while a positive interpretation style predicts Study Engagement in social and non-social situations. Hence, Studyholism and social anxiety are two different diagnoses, even if social anxiety might fuel Studyholism. Moreover, interventions to reduce Studyholism should decrease the tendency to interpret non-social situations negatively or neutrally.

Studyholism and Study Engagement in relation to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on studying: A quali-quantitative pilot study on university students

The Covid-19 pandemic required the adoption of government measures to contain the spread of the virus, including the closure of universities. This quali-quantitative pilot study aims to analyse, in a sample of 202 Italian university students (Mage = 24.60+/-5.50), whether the health emergency provoked positive and negative (as well as neutral) effects on studying, and if the level of Studyholism (study obsession) and Study Engagement (pleasure/motivation towards studying) differs based on the presence/absence of these effects. The results showed that almost all the students experienced negative effects (83.70%) on studying, while 47.59% of the participants also had positive effects. Furthermore, a minority reported neutral effects (10.40%). Finally, those who reported negative effects have higher levels of Studyholism than those who did not report them;furthermore, those who reported positive effects have lower levels of Studyholism. No differences emerged in the levels of Study Engagement. In conclusion, this study suggests the importance of implementing counseling interventions, also in group and online formats, aimed at enhancing students' resources when faced with stressful situations and at reducing Studyholism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Italian) La pandemia da Covid-19 ha richiesto l'adozione di misure governative volte a contenere la diffusione del virus, tra cui la chiusura delle universita. Questo studio pilota quali-quantitativo ha l'obiettivo di analizzare, in un campione di 202 studenti universitari italiani (Meta = 24.60+/-5.50), se sono stati vissuti effetti positivi e negativi (oltre che neutrali) sullo studio a causa dell'emergenza sanitaria e se il livello di Studyholism (ossessione da studio) e Study Engagement (piacere/motivazione nei confronti dello studio) differisce in base alla presenza/assenza di questi effetti. I risultati hanno evidenziato che quasi la totalita degli studenti ha esperito Effetti Negativi (83.70%) sullo studio, ma che il 47.50% dei partecipanti ha avuto anche Effetti Positivi. Una minoranza, inoltre, ha riportato Effetti Neutrali (10.40%). Infine, chi ha riportato Effetti Negativi ha livelli maggiori di Studyholism rispetto a chi non li ha riportati;inoltre, chi ha riportato Effetti Positivi ha livelli minori di Studyholism. Non sono emerse differenze nei livelli di Study Engagement. In conclusione, questo studio suggerisce l'importanza di implementare interventi di counseling, anche di gruppo e online, volti a potenziare le risorse degli studenti di fronte a situazioni stressanti e a ridurre lo Studyholism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

College students' compliance with government measures for social isolation and quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak: A focus on psychological predictors.

BACKGROUND: To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, government adopted several measures to restrict social contacts including isolation, quarantine, and limitations on movement from location to location around the country. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the degree to which Italian college students agreed and complied with these measures and to determine if psychological variables have influenced compliance. METHODS: We evaluated 6075 students concerning their agreement with the government's restrictions, as well as their health anxiety, trait positive and negative affect, and current symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. We performed MANOVAs, ANOVAs, path analysis, and binary logistic regressions. RESULTS: We found some differences in compliance with government restrictions concerning gender, geographic location, and major of study. Psychological variables did not play a significant role in predicting compliance with restriction measures and making a call for medical help. However, health anxiety predicted higher levels of worries about having contracted the virus. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, university-based interventions should primarily focus on males to foster compliance with government restriction during a pandemic, or health crisis. College students -Social Sciences students in particular -could benefit from counseling interventions to avoid the development of psychological disorders fueled by pandemic worries.

Assessment of Burnout Levels Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey by the (Italian) Association of Medical Endocrinologists (AME).

BACKGROUND: Some endocrinologists were involved in the management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to analyze burnout levels among the Association of Medical Endocrinologists (AME) members before and during the pandemic. METHODS: We recruited two AME members samples at two different times: before COVID-19 (n = 811) and during the first wave of the ongoing pandemic (n = 579). Both the samples filled the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We performed MANOVAs to evaluate demographic and COVID-19 related differences in burnout levels and Pearson's Chi-square test to compare burnout severity before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Women reported higher Emotional Exhaustion and reduced Professional Accomplishment than men. The oldest physicians had lower levels of Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization and higher Professional Accomplishment than younger workers. Independent contractors displayed lower levels of burnout compared to established contractors. Finally, the pandemic, per se, did not lead to changes in burnout levels. DISCUSSION: Women and young physicians are at higher risk of burnout. It is also possible that front- line professionals are at higher risk during a health care crisis. Moreover, it is likely that the length of exposure to the pandemic has not been sufficient to impact burnout levels. CONCLUSION: Short-term exposure to pandemic-related activities seemed to have a low impact on burnout severity, except for physicians directly involved in managing COVID-19 cases. It is strongly recommended the availability of psychological support in public hospitals.