Background: This study aims to verify the main psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) in a sample of flood victims. Methods: The sample was composed of 262 subjects involved in the natural disaster of 2009 in the city of Messina (Italy). All participants completed the IES-R and the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) in order to verify some aspects of convergent validity. Results: The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, used to verify the construct validity of the measure, showed a clear factor structure with three independent dimensions: intrusion, avoidance, and hyper-arousal. The goodness-of-fit indices (non-normed fit index [NNFI] = 0.99; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.99; standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.04; and root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.02) indicated a good adaptation of the model to the data. The IES-R scales showed satisfactory values of internal consistency (intrusion, α = 0.78; avoidance, α = 0.72; hyper-arousal, α = 0.83) and acceptable values of correlation with the DES-II. Conclusion: These results suggest that this self-reported and easily administered instrument for assessing the dimensions of trauma has good psychometric properties and can be adopted usefully, both for research and for practice in Italy.

This study examined the factor structure and the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in a sample of 1,515 Italian (females = 60.26%, males = 39.74%) adolescents and young adults ( M_age = 17.6 years, SD = 1.21). Results confirmed the unidimensionality, good reliability, and concurrent validity of the Italian version of the SWLS supporting its use in the Italian context.

The present study investigated the factors that may be associated with a dysfunctional use of social media use, by exploring the association between adult attachment patterns and problematic social media use and analyzing the sequential mediation of self-esteem, fear of missing out (FoMO), and time spent on social media. A sample of 470 social media users (M_age = 33.76 years; SD = 14.267; 70 % women) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Fear of Missing Out Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Relationship Questionnaire. Results showed a path analysis model providing an excellent fit to the data (χ² = 2.939, p = 0.230; GFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.987, CFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.032, SRMR = 0.016). A significant and positive total effect in the associations between preoccupied and fearful attachment patterns and problematic social media use emerged. Both preoccupied and fearful attachment patterns were also related to self-esteem, FoMO, and time spent on social media, which were sequentially associated and were, in turn, significantly related to problematic social media use. Finally, when self-esteem, FoMO, and time spent on social media were added into the model, they totally mediated the relationships between preoccupied and fearful attachment patterns and problematic social media use, suggesting a full multiple mediation model (R² = 0.33). Such data may provide useful information for clinical practice to develop tailored interventions and prevention programs to address the compensatory and problematic use of social media.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a worldwide emergency, which may have harmful consequences on people’s mental health. Parallel to research focused on risk factors, it could be useful to investigate the factors that help to cope with such crises at an emotional level. Therefore, this study aimed to strengthen the role of variables that protect from subjective distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, explore the pathways between satisfaction with life and perceived stress, and consider the role of coping strategies and defense mechanisms in this relationship. A sample of 1102 Italian participants who were experiencing the COVID-19 lockdown measures (Mage = 34.91, SD = 11.91) completed an online survey in which the Ten Item Perceived Stress Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and Forty-Item Defense Style Questionnaire were included. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s r correlations and moderation analysis. A chained-mediation model showed that the relationship between life satisfaction and perceived stress is partially mediated by approach coping, positive attitude and mature defenses. This study contributes toward gaining a better understanding of a protective pathway for mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings could be useful from both a preventive and an intervention perspective.

This article focuses on the usefulness of going beyond the concept of resistance to change and capitalizing on the use of a model that includes positivity and acceptance of change. We first discuss the theoretical background of this new construct in the work and organizational fields and then evaluate the psychometric properties of a new measure for assessing acceptance of change. The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated a factor structure with five principal dimensions; besides confirmatory factor analysis goodness of fit indices indicated a good fit of the model to the data. All the dimensions showed good values of internal consistency. The results of the present study indicate that the Acceptance of Change Scale is a brief and easily administered instrument with good psychometric properties that can promote the development of clients’ strengths and the growth of a sense of Self, thereby helping them choose their own way without losing any opportunities in their lives and their work.