Emotion recognition in individuals wearing facemasks: a preliminary analysis of age-related differences.

COVID-19 is severely affecting individuals' lives worldwide. Previous research warned that facial occlusion may impair facial emotion recognition, whilst other findings suggested that age-related differences may be relevant in emotion recognition in others' faces. However, studies observing individuals' ability to interpret others' facial mimicry are heterogenous, thus precluding the generalizability of the findings. This preliminary study examined age-related differences and the influence of different covering types (with and without face masks) in determining different levels of facial emotion recognition. 131 participants were split into 3 age-groups (10-14; 15-17; 20-25) and were asked to complete an emotion recognition task. Participants were better able to recognize facial emotions without any occlusion, and happiness was the most recognizable emotion. Moreover, adolescent group performed better in recognizing anger and fear in stimuli depicting masked and unmasked faces. Current results suggest the importance of monitoring emotion recognition abilities in developing individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthy and binge eating behaviours: the motivational processes underlying peer pressure.

The WHOunderlined the importance of a healthy diet for the psychophysical well-being of the person. Self Determination Theory highlighted how the interaction between contextual, such as peer pressure, and motivational factors play a fundamental role in promoting healthy eating habits. The present study aims to assess if peer pressure affects eating habits and binge eating through the mediation of motivation. Questionnaires were administered to 588 young-adults aged between 18 and 24 years (M = 20.56, DS = 1.78) in the Italian context. Results suggest that Peer Pressure predicted Controlled Motivation and Autonomous Motivation, and that motivation predicted Eating Behaviors and Binge Eating. In addition, Peer Pressure also has a direct effect on Binge Eating. The results confirm the importance of investigating contextual and motivational factors in the area of prevention and intervention in eating habits.

Examination of the Psychometric Characteristics of the Italian Version of the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents.

In the last years, the interest in Internet Gaming Disorder has grown considerably, which has necessitated the development of valid and reliable tools in different cultural contexts. Although, in the scientific literature, there are several measures that evaluate the Internet Gaming Disorder, the Game Addiction Scale has shown to be a valid questionnaire specifically designed for adolescents and based on the Griffiths' theory of components model of behavioral addiction. For this reason, the aim of this study is to verify the psychometric characteristics of the Italian translation of the full and short form of the Game Addiction Scale in a sample of 452 Italian adolescents (190 males and 262 females), aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.75; SD = 1.21). A series of confirmatory factor analyses was used to assess the Game Addiction Scale factorial structure, and the comparison of the models showed that the best fitting model was the Bifactor Model for the full form, while the unidimensional structure showed good fit for the short form of the Game Addiction Scale. Furthermore, both versions showed good reliability and correlations with Internet Addiction and hours of gaming. In sum, the Game Addiction Scale can be considered a relevant instrument for investigating Internet Gaming Disorder in Italian adolescents.

The socialization of coping strategies in adolescence: the modeling role of parents.

Background and Objectives: The main aim of this study is to test the intergenerational transmission of the relations between coping strategies to well-being from parents to adolescents through the modeling of the coping strategies of the parents to those of the child.Methods: 154 cohabitating families composed by father, mother, and adolescent in age range between 14 and 18 (M = 16.40; SD = 1.53) took part to the research. To test the proposed model, SEM with observed variables and the integration of the APIM approach and the Bootstrapping approach was used.Results: Findings showed in both parents and adolescents significant positively relations between coping task strategy and well-being, and significant negatively relations between coping emotion strategy and well-being. Furthermore, direct positively relations between the use of specific coping strategies of father and mother and the use of the same strategies in adolescents was found. Finally, results showed the mediation of adolescents coping strategies in the relations between parental coping strategies and adolescents well-being.Conclusion: Taken as whole, our results demonstrated that coping strategies in parents were directly related to coping strategies in children and that both mothers and fathers contribute in unique ways to shape children's coping.

Relationships among Trait EI, Need Fulfilment, and Performance Strategies.

Performance strategies used in sport have been the focus of many sport enhancement interventions, and are considered important factors for describing behavior in sport. Several studies have shown that both trait emotion intelligence (trait EI) and satisfaction of basic needs in sport are relevant aspects of performance strategies used by athletes; however, it seems these two aspects were never tested concurrently, in an integrated framework. The aim of this study was to test a mediational model of psychological basic needs in the relationship between trait EI and performance strategies in sports. In a sample of 187 participants, aged between 16 and 25 years old (Mage = 20.55; SD = 3.39), instruments were administered to measure trait EI, satisfaction of basic needs, and performance strategies in sport. Results of this study showed that trait EI was related to performance strategies in sport and to satisfaction of basic needs, as well as that satisfaction of basic needs was related to performance strategies in sport. Furthermore, satisfaction of basic needs has shown a mediational role in the relation between trait EI and performance strategies in sport.

The intergenerational transmission of trait emotional intelligence: The mediating role of parental autonomy support and psychological control.

INTRODUCTION: Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) is a relevant construct that could promote positive development in adolescents and may predict a number of affect-related outcomes. However, studies focused on its antecedents are still scarce. The main aim of this study is to examine the intergenerational transmission of trait EI from parents to adolescents and the mediating role of parental autonomy support and psychological control. METHODS: Our sample was comprised of 152 cohabiting families, with adolescents (75 males and 77 females) between 16 and 17 years old (M = 16.45; SD = 0.50). RESULTS: Results suggested that paternal and maternal trait EI positively predicted paternal and maternal autonomy support and psychological control, and adolescent trait EI was predicted by maternal trait EI, adolescent perception of parental autonomy support and adolescent perception of parental psychological control. Adolescent perception of parental autonomy support and adolescent perception of parental psychological control were shown to act as mediators between adolescents' trait EI and paternal and maternal trait EI. CONCLUSIONS: The results extend the literature on the role of parents in the development of trait EI and confirm the relevance of trait EI for affect-related outcomes.

Premedication with melatonin vs midazolam: efficacy on anxiety and compliance in paediatric surgical patients.

Preoperative anxiety is a major problem in paediatric surgical patients. Melatonin has been used as a premedicant agent and data regarding effectiveness are controversial. The primary outcome of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral melatonin premedication, in comparison to midazolam, in reducing preoperative anxiety in children undergoing elective surgery. As secondary outcome, compliance to intravenous induction anaesthesia was assessed. There were 80 children undergoing surgery randomly assigned, 40 per group, to receive oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, max 20 mg) or oral melatonin (0.5 mg/kg, max 20 mg). Trait anxiety of children and their mothers (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) at admission, preoperative anxiety and during anaesthesia induction (Modified Yale Pre-operative Anxiety Scale), and children's compliance with anaesthesia induction (Induction Compliance Checklist) were all assessed. Children premedicated with melatonin and midazolam did not show significant differences in preoperative anxiety levels, either in the preoperative room or during anaesthesia induction. Moreover, compliance during anaesthesia induction was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds new encouraging data, further supporting the potential use of melatonin premedication in reducing anxiety and improving compliance to induction of anaesthesia in children undergoing surgery. Nevertheless, further larger controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the real effectiveness of melatonin as a premedicant agent in paediatric population. What is Known: • Although midazolam represents the preferred treatment as a premedication for children before induction of anaesthesia, it has several side effects. • Melatonin has been successfully used as a premedicant agent in adults, while data regarding effectiveness in children are controversial. What is New: • In this study, melatonin was as effective as midazolam in reducing children's anxiety in both preoperative room and at induction of anaesthesia.

Psychologists in preoperative programmes for children undergoing surgery.

This study aimed to verify whether psychologists and game activities could reduce preoperative anxiety and promote compliance in paediatric patients. More specifically, we sought to evaluate whether it would be better to propose contextualized games or just distracting activities. A total of 104 children undergoing surgery were assigned to the following 4 conditions of treatment: (1) contextual games and psychological accompaniment, (2) only contextual games, (3) distracting activities, and (4) only psychological accompaniment. Observed children's anxiety was assessed using modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale and compliant behaviours with modified form of Induction Compliance Checklist. Children in the first condition (complete intervention - contextual games and psychological accompaniment) were less anxious and more cooperative in the preoperative period and during the induction of anaesthesia than in the other three conditions. In particular, contextual activities (second condition) were found to be more efficient than psychological accompaniment (fourth condition), whereas the worst condition was proposing only distracting activities (third condition). In order to help young hospitalized patients in paediatric surgery structures, it is necessary to propose games that can prepare them for what will happen as well as the support of a psychologist.