Psychological Counseling during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Thoughts and Implications Arisen from an Experience in Italian Schools.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a psychologist in two schools: a comprehensive school (an institution including three school levels: kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school of first grade) and a Provincial Center for the Education of Adults (CPIA). This paper provides some clinical considerations that arose from this personal experience, focusing on practical implications for school psychological counseling. Among the main points, I noticed that students were eager to disclose information about themselves in a professional space, were not afraid of being ridiculed by classmates for attending the service, and spontaneously used artistic media. Using English (a non-native language for both the Italian psychologist and the CPIA student) emerged as an added value for immigrant students who were not fluent in Italian. This allowed them to attend the psychology service and share their thoughts and feelings despite their difficulties with Italian. In conclusion, psychological counseling services should be implemented in all schools and across all school levels worldwide to favor psychological well-being and spread a culture prone to asking for psychological help. Moreover, using a non-native language might be helpful when working with international students. Finally, sandplay therapy (and art) might be an additional option to verbal counseling in school settings.

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.