Search

Aim: The present study examined the role played by forgivingness (or the disposition to forgive) in contrasting depressive tendencies and in improving positive affect, and the mediational role of anger, using cross-sectional data. Methods: Participants were 773 middle and high school students (69% females and 31% males), with a mean age of 15.6 years (SD = 2.00). The measures included were: Trait Forgivingness Scale (Berry, Worthington, O’Connor, Parrot & Wade, 2005), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 Child and Adolescent (Brunner, & Spielberger, 2009), PANAS (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) and Children Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1992). A structural equation modelling and mediational analysis (M-PLUS) were used to test the hypothesised model. Results: As showed in fig.1, forgivingness significantly and negatively predicted the Trait-Anger and Expression Anger-Out, while significantly and positively predicted the Expression Anger-In and Anger Control. In addition, two different mechanisms emerged leading to depression and hedonic balance through anger. Particularly, Trait-Anger predicted negatively Hedonic Balance (HD) and positively Depression; while Anger Control predicted positively HD and negatively Depression. Moreover, Expression Anger-Out seems to be helpful in decreasing Depression, but it has no effect on HD; Expression Anger-In negatively influences HD but not Depression. This model fits well with the data: χ2(2) = 5.18, p =.00, CFI = .997, TLI = .969, RMSEA = .045 (90% CI = .000 ─ .095), AIC = 29859.797 Conclusions: this study highlights the role of forgivingness as a partly unexplored mechanism contrasting depressive tendencies and improving positive affects in adolescents, through the mediating role of anger regulation.

Background: Many studies have shown that victimisation by bullies is linked with psychopathology. Research has also demonstrated that forgiveness is associated with the mental health of victims of bullying. Method: Our objective was to explore the multiple components of forgiveness (i.e., benevolence, decreased avoidance of the perpetrator and diminished desire for revenge) as mediators of the negative mental health effects of bullying in Italian adolescents. Our hypothesis was that those who forgive their bullies would show lower levels of depression, state anger, and behaviour problems than those who did not forgive. Participants were 319 students ages 14 to 22 from two schools in Southern Italy who completed five self-report questionnaires measuring levels of victimisation, forgiveness, depression, anger, and total behaviour problems. Results: The results varied according to the components of forgiveness: although benevolence toward the victim was not a significant correlate of outcome, harbouring a desire for revenge and avoiding the perpetrator emerged as very maladaptive. Conclusions: Our study indicates that is it important for those working with adolescents to help victims of bullying overcome the negative mental health effects of the victimisation by letting go of un-forgiveness.

According to the literature, inflated responsibility/sensitivity to guilt play a pivotal role in both the genesis and maintenance of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They may be learned in childhood and adolescence, through particular experiences and parental rearing styles, involving criticism, excessively high standards, and social moralization. Preliminary data on the role of dysfunctional beliefs in the development/maintenance of OCD also show that non-affected family members of OC individuals score higher than controls in domains concerning responsibility, suggesting it might represent a candidate endophenotype for the disorder. Compulsive conducts, that far from being mechanical reactions are instead clearly goal-oriented, may be triggered by the need of preventing responsibility/guilt. Therefore, useful psychological interventions aimed at not only reappraising meanings associated with the specific early experiences connected to hyper-sensitivity to guilt, but also at developing a more general compassionate and forgiving stance towards oneself, may prove particularly effective.

Expressive writing (EW) can be an effective way to alter maladaptive emotional reactions to stressful life events, although little is known about how pre-adolescents may benefit from it. In this quasi-experimental study, we compared measures of depression, anger, forgiveness, positive and negative affect in pre-adolescents before and after EW in both an experimental group undergoing the EW paradigm and a control group (N=138). No significant effects between control and experimental groups were found for the considered variables, except for positive and negative affect. We suggest potential reasons accounting for these results. Given that the theorised mechanisms involved in the EW paradigm include executive functioning abilities, it is possible that preadolescents may not be able to benefit from it, due to not fully developed executive functioning skills. Our results provide useful information in order to better design future studies and prevention/intervention programmes to be implemented with preadolescents. Resumen La Escritura Expresiva (EE) puede ser una forma efectiva de alterar reacciones emocionales maladaptativas a eventos estresantes de la vida, aunque se sabe poco sobre cómo los pre-adolescentes pueden beneficiarse de ella. En este estudio cuasi-experimental, comparamos medidas de depresión, ira, perdón, afecto positivo y negativo en pre-adolescentes antes y después de EE en un grupo experimental sometido al paradigma de EE y en un grupo de control (N=138). No se encontraron efectos significativos entre los grupos control y experimental para las variables consideradas, excepto para los afectos positivos y negativos. Sugerimos posibles razones para explicar estos resultados. Dado que los mecanismos teóricos implicados en el paradigma de la EE incluyen las capacidades de funcionamiento ejecutivo, es posible que los preadolescentes no puedan beneficiarse de ella, debido a las habilidades de funcionamiento ejecutivo no totalmente desarrolladas. Nuestros resultados proporcionan información útil para un mejor diseño de futuros estudios y programas de prevención / intervención a implementar con preadolescentes.

Introduction: Mindful disposition may be present in individuals to greater or lesser extent regardless of formal meditation practice, and it may have significant correlations with wellbeing variables. In the present study, we investigated the relations among mindful disposition, depression, rumination, and positive/negative emotions. Method: 283 participants filled out the following questionnaires: FFMQ Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (Baer et al., 2006). BDI Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1967). PANAS Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scales (Watson & Clark, 1988). RRS Ruminative Response Scale (Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991). Results: Data analyses show that mindful disposition is positively correlated to positive emotions. The Observe subscale of the FFMQ is positively correlated to rumination (RRS), suggesting that the mere capacity of observing a phenomenon (be it emotion, thought, sensation, etc.) is not sufficient in order to better cope with it. Mindful disposition is also negatively correlated with negative emotions, except for the subscale Observe, showing once again that the sole act of observing does not correspond to distancing, on the contrary, the mere process of observation is correlated to an increase of negative emotions. Interestingly, Non-judge is the mindful facet more negatively correlated to depression. Discussion: Research results confirm literature data on the correlation between mindful disposition and some variables of psychological wellbeing. Particularly evident is the relationship between depression and judgment. This relation might have interesting clinical implications, suggesting that, in order to intervene on depressed mood and depressive cognitions in psychotherapy, the variable “judgment” could be particularly relevant.

Lo sviluppo nel paziente di attitudini mindful tramite la pratica di mindfulness può costituire un valido strumento per aiutare le persone con DOC a gestire le proprie esperienze interne, vale a dire pensieri, sensazioni, immagini mentali, e a imparare a rispondere in modo funzionale alla comparsa di questi elementi, anziché reagire automaticamente. La pratica della mindfulness può, infatti, intervenire nel passaggio da pensiero intrusivo (o immagine mentale) a ruminazione ossessiva/compulsione/rituale. Le compulsioni, di qualsiasi natura, rappresentano reazioni a un'intrusione e possono essere considerate un meccanismo per diminuire la discrepanza tra lo stato reale del mondo e quello desiderato, il quale è tuttavia destinato ad auto-perpetuarsi e a non trovare mai una soluzione o via d'uscita. In questo senso, la mindfulness può essere la via d'uscita da circoli viziosi auto-perpetuantisi, poiché addestra le persone alla non-reattività alle intrusioni ossessive, consentendo di passare dalla modalità del fare alla modalità dell'essere, in cui ci si rapporta con le esperienze interne in modo diretto, non spinti da uno scopo particolare, ma accettando ciò che si presenta momento dopo momento (Segal, Williams, Teasdale, 2014). In questo capitolo viene dapprima, brevemente, presentata la mindfulness, in secondo luogo si illustra come la mente ossessiva presenti una caratteristica modalità di "fusione" con le ossessioni, successivamente si presenta l'adattamento delle pratiche di mindfulness al trattamento del DOC. Infine, si riportano gli studi disponibili sull’applicazione della mindfulness alla terapia del disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo

Introduzione Le competenze di regolazione emotiva sono quei processi utilizzati per gestire e modificare modalità e intensità nello sperimentare le emozioni, e gli stati motivazionali e fisiologici ad esse collegate, così come la loro espressione comportamentale (Eisenberg, et al. 2014). In ambito scolastico, l’approccio Social Emotional Learning (CASEL, 2003) ha individuato obiettivi e metodologie per l’implementazione di programmi finalizzati alla promozione delle competenze emotive e sociali. Un cospicuo corpus di ricerche ha documentato l’efficacia dei programmi SEL nel migliorare l’atteggiamento verso la scuola, nel promuovere comportamenti prosociali, nel favorire il successo scolastico e nel ridurre i comportamenti aggressivi, il disagio psicologico e l’uso di sostanze in adolescenza (Durlak et al., 2011; Greenberg et al., 2003; January et al., 2011; Zins, Weissberg, Wang, & Walberg, 2004). Nel contesto italiano diversi contributi di ricerca e intervento hanno avvalorato l’efficacia di programmi di intervento attuati nei contesti educativi sia in età scolare che pre-scolare (Grazzani, Ornaghi, & Antoniotti, 2011; Ornaghi, Brockmeier, Grazzani, 2014). Il presente studio esamina l’efficacia di un programma per la scuola elementare per lo sviluppo delle abilità di regolazione emotiva, basato sul principio ispiratore del PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies: Greenberg & Kusché, 1993). L’intervento è stato articolato in 15 unità laboratoriali manualizzate, per una durata complessiva di sei mesi, allo svolgimento delle quali gli insegnanti erano stati opportunamente formati. Durante l’intervento erano previste sessioni di supervisione e di confronto fra pari. Metodo Hanno partecipato alla ricerca-intervento 9 classi seconde della scuola primaria, per un totale di 200 alunni. Il disegno di ricerca ha previsto un gruppo di intervento, composto da 6 classi (118 alunni) e un gruppo di controllo, composto da 4 classi (82 alunni). I genitori hanno fornito il loro consenso scritto alla partecipazione dei figli all’intervento e sono stati coinvolti mediante un incontro introduttivo in cui sono stati presentati gli obiettivi principali del programma di intervento. D’accordo con la scuola, alle classi del gruppo di controllo è stata offerta l’opportunità di partecipare a programmi analoghi nei successivi anni scolastici. Per la valutazione pre/post è stata adottata una metodologia multi-informant: insegnante, osservatori (tirocinanti del Corso di Laurea in Scienze dell’educazione), genitori, gli stessi alunni - Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1997; validazione italiana di Molina, Sala, Zappulla, et al, 2014), che comprende 24 item abilità di regolazione emotiva (1= quasi mai a 4= quasi sempre). - Indicatori della Capacità di Adattamento Sociale in Età Evolutiva (Caprara, Pastorelli, Barbaranelli, Vallone, 1992). Nello studio è stata utilizzata la Scala del Comportamento Prosociale, composta da 13 item per valutare la propensione a manifestare comportamenti di aiuto, a promuovere iniziative rivolte ad altri e a condividere oggetti ed esperienze (1= mai a 3= tante volte). Risultati I risultati preliminari delle ANOVA a misure ripetute hanno evidenziato interazioni significative gruppo x tempo: in particolare, gli alunni del gruppo di intervento mostrano un decremento nella labilità/negatività emotiva (F = 5,92; p ,016) e un incremento nella regolazione emotiva (F 6,19; p ,014] e nella frequenza dei comportamenti prosociali (F = 5,58; p ,019) rilevati dagli osservatori. Conclusioni Tali risultati confermano l’efficacia di interventi strutturati per promuovere già dalla scuola primaria abilità di riconoscimento, comprensione e discussione sulle emozioni, anche ai fini della realizzazione di un clima di classe prosociale.

Introduction. Forgiveness as a strategy to cope with interpersonal offenses (Egan & Todorow, 2009; Worthington, & Scherer, 2004) has been investigated in several cultural contexts (Fehr, Gelfand, & Nag, 2010). Forgiveness research in the past two decades shows that trait-forgiveness, i.e. the disposition to forgive interpersonal transgressions over time and across situations, seems to be linked both to physical and psychological wellbeing. The present study examined the factor structure and internal validity of the Trait Forgivingness Scale (TFS, Berry, Worthington, O'Connor, Parrott, & Wade, 2005) in an Italian context. The TFS evaluates the disposition to forgive interpersonal transgressions over time and across situations. Method. For purposes of cross-validation, we extracted two random samples of, respectively, 270 and 311 participants, balanced by sex and age, to form a “calibration” and a “validation” sample. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was implemented on the “calibration sample” to examine the factorial structure of the TFS. Then Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFAs) was performed on data from the validation sample. Results. The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported two distinct factors: Forgiving Disposition and Resentment. The mineigen criterion, and the plot of eigenvalues both suggested the extraction of two factors, which accounted for about 63% of variance. In the CFA the model with two orthogonal factors fits well with the data: χ2 (18) = 63.330, p < .01, CFI = .95, TLI = .92, RMSEA = .06 (.05, .08), SRMR = .05. Cronbach’s Alphas were .76 for the first factor and .55 for the second factor. Discussion. These findings extend previous research designed to provide measures to assess and investigate forgivingness, i.e. trait-forgiveness. However, the second factor (resentment) presents a not adequate internal consistency that could represent an important limitation of the study.

Forgiveness implies abandoning of negative feelings (Holter, Magnuson, Knutson, Knutsson-Enright, & Enright, 2008), while unforgiveness implies a range of negative emotions such as anger resentment, anxiety and depression (Berry, Worthington, O’Connor, Parrot & Wade 2005). Recent reviews have highlighted potential benefits of forgiveness and potential disadvantages of un-forgiveness for physical health Goals. Examining the mediating role of anger and depression in the associations between two dimensions of the Trait Forgivingness Scale (TFS) (forgiving disposition and resentment), identified in the Italian validation of the questionnaire, and negative affect, in adolescence. Results. Both forgiving disposition and resentment predict indirectly the negative affects, through the mediating effect of depression, while only resentment predicts the negative affects through the mediating role of anger. Resentment has also a direct effect on negative affect. Discussion. The disposition to forgive might be an important factor in decreasing the negative affects, and thus depression and anger. Similarly, resentment might be an important factor in increasing the negative affects. Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists might consider including techniques to enhance the disposition to forgive in the psychotherapeutic process, in those cases in which hostility and anger negatively affect patients’ quality of life.

Malgrado alcuni limiti, la diagnosi categoriale ha una sua utilità, e viene normalmente utilizzata dal clinico d’impostazione cognitivo-comportamentale, rappresentando però il primo passo di un più complesso ed articolato cammino verso la comprensione del paziente. Il processo diagnostico allora può prendere le mosse da una diagnosi categoriale, ma deve sostanzialmente estendersi molto più in là fino a giungere ad una diagnosi esplicativa. Del resto non si può richiedere alla diagnosi categoriale ciò che essa non può fornire, vale a dire indicazioni sull’eziologia del disturbo e i meccanismi di mantenimento per quello specifico paziente (Dell’Erba, 2008). Il terapeuta cognitivo-comportamentale utilizza di solito la formulazione idiografica del caso clinico, un approccio che tiene conto non di un unico disturbo o sintomo, ma di tutti i problemi presentati, e mira ad una comprensione sulle relazioni che legano un problema all’altro (Persons, 2005), in modo da adattare moduli di trattamento basati su prove di efficacia alle necessità del singolo paziente. La formulazione del caso è considerata fondamentale in terapia cognitivo-comportamentale (Beck, 1995), di particolare importanza per la comprensione e l’impostazione del trattamento di casi complessi (Chadwick et al., 2003). Del resto, la maggior parte dei pazienti che vediamo nei setting clinici presenta molteplici problemi e sintomi e la comorbilità è più la regola che l’eccezione. Come evidenziato da Persons (2005), grazie alla prospettiva della concettualizzazione del caso, il terapeuta può formulare ipotesi sui meccanismi di scompenso e mantenimento, e può promuovere il cambiamento; inoltre adotta una prospettiva empirica, nella quale rientrano la continua raccolta dei dati (non solo all’inizio, per la comprensione dei problemi presentati, ma in corso di trattamento, per valutarne l’andamento) e la verifica delle ipotesi formulate. È all’interno di questa cornice che vengono poi scelti i trattamenti, tra quelli di provata efficacia. I clinici di orientamento cognitivo-comportamentale, infatti, nella pratica della professione, generalmente non utilizzano rigidamente i protocolli basati su prove di efficacia, ma li adattano alle necessità del singolo paziente, utilizzando come cornice quella della formulazione del caso e della verifica delle ipotesi; questo approccio consente la messa in atto di trattamenti che sono al tempo stesso sperimentalmente validati e clinicamente flessibili. Si tratta di un metodo sistematico per adattare i protocolli evidence-based al particolare individuo che ci troviamo di fronte (Persons, 2005).

Background Specific dysfunctional beliefs have been identified as candidate endophenotypes for Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Rector, Cassin, Richter, and Burroughs (2009) investigated cognitive vulnerability for OCD and their results support both the notion of familial-based origin of obsessive beliefs, and the hypothesis that inflated responsibility/overestimation of threat, could represent candidate endophenotypes for OCD. Aims The primary aim of this study was to replicate previous findings of a familial cognitive vulnerability for OCD. The secondary purpose was to test the hypothesis that obsessive beliefs of patients with OCD and those of their first-degree relatives (FDRs) are correlated, supporting dysfunctional beliefs as candidate endophenotypes for OCD. Method 65 patients with DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I) OCD were included together with one healthy FDR. 77 non-affected FDRs of patients with Bipolar Disorder were enrolled as a control group. Obsessive beliefs were measured with the OBQ-44. Results First-degree relatives of subjects with OCD scored significantly higher than controls on the total score and on the domain tapping inflated responsibility and overestimation of threat. There was no significant correlation between each obsessive belief in patients with OCD and their non-affected FDRs. Conclusions Our study provides evidence of a specific cognitive vulnerability for OCD in FDRs of probands with OCD.

The 18-item Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18) is a three-dimensional measure of contextual forgiveness widely used in contexts of psychopathology. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the TRIM-18 in Italian adolescents. In study 1 and 2 we examined the internal validity of the scale using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in a sample of 724 students (females = 67.8%; Mage = 16.26, SD = 5.21), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), in an independent sample of 802 students (females = 51.1%; mean age = 15.95, SD = 1.49). In study 3 we examined the convergent, discriminant, criterion and construct validity in a sample of 274 students (females = 59.1%; Mage = 14.32, SD = 2.73) with measures of forgiveness, positive and negative affect and psychopathology symptoms. EFA confirmed the three original factors, Avoidance, Revenge, and Benevolence and CFA supported the three-factorial structure of the scale. The average variance extracted values of the three TRIM-18 factors in study three provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. The correlations between the TRIM-18 scales and the forgiveness measures ranged from strong to moderate, supporting its convergent validity. Similarly, the correlations with affect, and psychopathology measures in expected directions supported the construct validity of the TRIM-18 scales. Results showed strong composite reliability estimates in each sample for all three factors (>.84). The Italian adaptation of the TRIM-18 demonstrated good psychometric properties supporting its reliability and validity as a measure of three forgiveness facets including Avoidance, Revenge, and Benevolence, that are associated with psychopathology in adolescents.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous condition with well-established symptom dimensions across the lifespan. The objective of the present study was to use network analysis to investigate the internal structure of these dimensions in unselected schoolchildren and in children with OCD. Method: We estimated the network structure of OCD symptom dimensions in 6,991 schoolchildren and 704 children diagnosed with OCD from 18 sites across 6 countries. All participants completed the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory−Child Version. Results: In both the school-based and clinic-based samples, the OCD dimensions formed an interconnected network with doubting/checking emerging as a highly central node, that is, having strong connections to other symptom dimensions in the network. The centrality of the doubting/checking dimension was consistent across countries, sexes, age groups, clinical status, and tic disorder comorbidity. Network differences were observed for age and sex in the school-based but not the clinic-based samples. Conclusion: The centrality of doubting/checking in the network structure of childhood OCD adds to classic and recent conceptualizations of the disorder in which the important role of doubt in disorder severity and maintenance is highlighted. The present results suggest that doubting/checking is a potentially important target for further research into the etiology and treatment of childhood OCD. Mr. Cervin has received funding from L.J. Boëthius Foundation, Lindhaga Foundation, Jerring Foundation, and Region Skåne that made possible the preparation of the present manuscript. Original data was collected in part by support from grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to Drs. Storch (1R01MH093381) and Geller (5R01MH093402).

Objectives Investigating protective and risk factors associated with depressive and anxious symptoms in youth is important. The current cross-sectional study aimed to explore the unique contributions of modifiable protective and risk factors associated with depressive and anxious tendencies and to identify the most important variables of this symptomatology in youth. Methods We applied a stepwise multiple linear regression to the data of 424 youth aged 13 to 22, who completed depression, anxiety, social safeness, mindfulness, forgiveness, self-reassurance, anger control, positive and negative affect, self-inadequacy, self-hate and revenge measures. The strongest protective factors were extracted first, followed by the next strongest factor, while controlling for the combined effect of previously extracted factors, until no significant factors were identified. Results Mindfulness, social safeness and self-reassurance were the strongest and the most relevant protective factors against depressive and anxious tendencies together explaining over 40% of variance in anxiety and over 30% in depression scores. After controlling for protective factors, risk factors explained 23% of variance in anxiety and 9% in depression with selfinadequacy, revenge and negative affect being the major risks. Conclusions Our findings highlight the protective role of mindfulness, social safeness and self-reassurance against both depressive and anxious tendencies in youth, and the detrimental role of self-inadequacy and revenge. Future longitudinal studies could evaluate whether initially higher levels of mindfulness, self-reassurance and social safeness predict a decrease of depressive and anxious symptomatology over time and whether self-inadequacy and revenge predict depressive and anxious symptomatology over time. Such longitudinal investigations may inform the design and focus of experimental studies aiming at targeting depressive and anxious symptomatology in youth.

Mindfulness and forgiveness can contribute to decreased rumination, which in turn has been found to play an important role in sleep problems, such as insomnia and poor sleep quality. The authors explored rumination as a potential explanatory variable underlying the association of mindfulness with insomnia and sleep quality, with a model encompassing different mindfulness facets and controlling for interpersonal dispositional forgiveness. One hundred adults (74% females, Mage = 27.62, SD = 8.11) completed measures of Mindfulness, Forgivingness, Rumination, Sleep Quality, and Insomnia. Nonjudging was the main mindfulness facet contributing to better sleep quality. Rumination completely mediated the associations of nonjudgmental attitude with insomnia and sleep quality, and partially mediated the associations of dispositional forgiveness with the outcomes. These findings suggest that a mindful nonjudgmental attitude toward the self and a forgiving interpersonal disposition may reduce rumination by helping individuals let go of thoughts, mental images, and emotions, thus promoting better sleep.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in adolescents is understudied in Italy. This study evaluated the Italian Obsessive Compulsive Inventory–Child Version (OCI–CV) and its predictive validity on OCD symptoms at 1-year-follow-up, an aspect that was not investigated by previous international research. Use of OCI–CV in schools might enhance early identification of OCD symptoms.

Literature data did not show univocal evidence in discriminating which form of attachment insecurity is involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): both anxiety and avoidance was related to OCD symptomatology. No study used the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) that allows for investigation of differentiated facets of attachment anxiety and of avoidance. We investigated: (1) whether individuals with OCD differed from controls in the facets of attachment security (anxiety and avoidance), (2) which attachment facets predicted a diagnosis of OCD, controlling for socio-demographics and obsessive beliefs, (3) which attachment facets predicted specific OCD symptoms, controlling for socio-demographics and obsessive beliefs. Two hundred seventy participants (135 OCD patients and 135 matched controls) completed the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-46 and ASQ. OCD patients reported respectively lower and higher levels on confidence and attachment anxiety than controls. Higher need of approval was the most important predictor of OCD diagnosis beyond the other attachment facets, and even of the obsessive beliefs. Using multivariate generalised linear models, the two facets of attachment anxiety, the need for approval (that predicted higher levels of obsessing and ordering symptoms), and preoccupation with relationships (that predicted higher hoarding symptoms) seemed to explain variance over and above OCD-related beliefs and socio-demographics. Discomfort with closeness contributed to the predictions of ordering symptoms. In conclusion, the interpersonal dynamics related to attachment in OCD patients should be carefully considered during assessment and treatment of OCD patients in clinical practice.

Objectives Mindfulness, positive self-related attitudes and secure attachment have been shown to protect against psychopathology during adolescence, but it is unknown how these factors are related to each other and which are most strongly linked to psychopathology symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional research design was used with a large sample of adolescents (aged 14 to 18 years; n = 1660) that completed validated measures of mindfulness, self-related attitudes, attachment, depression, anxiety and anger. We employed network analytic methods in order to better understand associations among these variables. Results Mindfulness was linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety while self-reassurance was linked to lower levels of anxiety and higher levels of anger. Self-hate was linked to depression. In turn, self-reassurance and self-hate were differentially linked to facets of attachment, particularly trust in parents. Conclusions Interventions combining mindfulness practice and clinical techniques based on attachment theory, which operate on different psychological levels, may improve self-related attitudes, which in turn can help ameliorate depression and anxiety in adolescents. Alternatively, interventions directly targeting self-related attitudes, particularly self-reassurance and self-inadequacy, hold promise to achieve positive effects on mental health among adolescents.

La funzione della vendetta L’evitamento può essere una forma mascherata di vendetta? Le conseguenze sull’equilibrio psico-fisico per colui che si vendica Le piccole-grandi “ripicche” quotidiane come forma di vendetta

Objectives Literature indicates that positive feelings towards oneself and others are important assets for well-being. In thisstudy we intended to test the mediational role of self-reassurance, self-hate and self-inadequateness on the relationshipsbetween depression and interpers onal forgiveness, avoidance and revenge, respectively.Methods Participants were 2105 adolescents (N = 979 boys; 1126 girls) ranging from 13 to 20 years. Participants completedself-repor t questionnaires measuring their perceived depressive symptoms (Children’s Depression Inventory), perceivedstate forgivene ss (Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory-18) and perceived Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance.Results The results showed that the feelings towards oneself mediated the associations of feelings and motivations towardsothers with depression. Specifically, the more participants were benevo lent and forgiving, the more they were self-reassuredand, as a consequence, the less they reported depressive symptomatology. On the contrary, the more they were avoidant orvengeful, the more they criticised and attacked themselves, and, as a consequence, the more they reported depressivesymptomatology.Conclusions Overall, our findings highlight the importance of promoting a self-reassuring attitude towards oneself, both toreduce the negative effects of avoidance and revenge on depression, and to increase the beneficial effects of interpersonalforgiveness. Self-criticism only exacerbates the suffering, whereas a warm and reassuring attitude both towards others andoneself reduces depressive symptomatology.