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Background: Although insect-based foods (IBFs) have been recently proposed as a way to face climate crisis and starvation, they encounter aversion from Western countries, which express fear, disgust, and high risk. The contribution of psychology research to food choices highlights how decisions are made, not only through reasoned attitudes and goal-directed behavior, but also through more automatic associations (dual-system models). Methods: In this paper, we investigated people’s dispositions towards IBFs by combining (a) explicit attitudes (as assessed via self-report scales), (b) automatic associations (as measured via indirect measures), and (c) intention to taste, and comparing different profiles based on (d) psychological factors, including decision-making style, food neophobia, and trust in science and scientist. A pilot sample of 175 Italian university students participated in the study. Results: The analyses of the general sample highlighted rather negative attitudes. The cluster analysis identified 4 decision-making profiles: ‘the gut feeling’, ‘the suspicious’, ‘the vicarious’, and ‘the mind’. It revealed more favorable opinions in ‘the mind’ profile, characterized by a rational decision-making style and high trust in science, and very aversive reactions from ‘the suspicious’ profile, characterized by high food neophobia and low trust in science. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of psychological factors in interpreting people’s reactions to IBF and changes in dietary habits based on the decision-making process. They suggest possible strategies to promote eco-friendly diets.

The transition to higher education at University is a critical moment for young adults to acquire unhealthy habits regarding physical activity (PA) and adherence to a healthy diet. Negative behaviors might be maintained in the years to come with a major risk of suffering from a Non-Communicable Disease. This study aims to determine the relationship between diet and PA in the student community of University of Milano-Bicocca. Students between 18 and 30 years old completed an online survey (6949 students). Two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), chi-square tests of independence, and a binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship between adequacy of food consumption and PA, in association also with sociodemographic characteristics. Data show a strong correlation between behaviors analyzed, with a proportional positive association between PA and healthy diet. Nevertheless, a third of the sample students incur in incorrect habits for both diet and PA. Further, students performing intensive PA have the healthiest food consumption in general but the worst red meat and pork intake. Accordingly, men practice more PA but have a less adequate diet, exactly contrary to women. In conclusion, policies promoting consciousness of well-being would transform Universities into healthy hubs for virtuous habits.

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and an unhealthy lifestyle notoriously accounts for a large percentage of their risk. Identifying resources to stimulate lifestyle changes is an essential goal of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Self-efficacy beliefs are among the major psychological factors proven to impact health status and lifestyle. This study aimed to confirm the role of self-efficacy beliefs by investigating their associations over 5 years of adherence to healthy lifestyles in terms of diet and physical activity in a sample of 275 newly diagnosed patients with acute coronary syndrome. Longitudinal profiles of lifestyles and self-efficacy beliefs in their improvement were identified through latent class growth analysis. Correlations were then performed to explore the associations between lifestyles and self-efficacy trajectories. Results showed a positive association between virtuous lifestyle profiles and high self-efficacy in implementing behavioural change. Finally, two logistic regressions were performed to test the hypothesis that a high self-efficacy profile would predict better lifestyles 5 years after the coronary event. This hypothesis was confirmed for diet. Overall, current findings confirm the importance of implementing repeated psychological interventions that promote patients' efficacy beliefs in self-regulating their behaviour changes over time.

Background: According to the FAO, greenhouse gas emissions from agri-livestock activities represent 31% of human-related emissions, among the main culprits of the climate crisis. To overcome these problems, alternative foods, such as insect-based foods, are becoming widespread. However, the possibility of introducing them into eating habits often arouses adverse psychological reactions and mistrust. This study aimed to map attitudes towards insect-based foods and consumption intentions as a function of individual characteristics to capture the psychological predictors of a wary attitude towards them. Methods: A sample of 122 students completed an online questionnaire in the pilot study. The questionnaire collected information about sociodemographics, decision-making style, trust in science, food neophobia, the intention to consume insect-based foods, and explicit and automatic attitudes (Implicit Association Test) toward them. Linear regression models were performed to explore which sociodemographic and psychological variables represented the most effective predictors of attitudes and intention to consume insect-based foods. Findings: Preliminary findings suggested that food neophobia was the strongest predictor of explicit attitudes toward insect-based foods. The most significant predictors of intention to eat insect-based foods were food neophobia, trust in science, and gender (men showed a greater propensity to consume insect-based foods than women). Discussion: Consumers are forming their beliefs regarding novel foods in this historical phase in which they must pay particular attention to choosing sustainable foods. This study contributes to understanding people's attitudes towards these products and any resistance to scientific-based communication actions that can reassure consumers and counteract negative beliefs.

Background: Technology-enhanced neurorehabilitation programs have so far shown promising evidence in targeting motor disability. However, still less is known on the widespread benefits of technology, specifically regarding the functional status, cognition, psychological well-being, and broader health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: A pilot longitudinal investigation on the biopsychosocial impact of technology-enhanced neurorehabilitation programs compared to conventional treatment was conducted in a convenience sample of patients with stroke, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or osteoarthritis (n=68). A two-arm non-randomized study design was adopted to estimate pre- post-intervention changes and long-term effects (6-month follow-up) on multiple outcomes, including the functional status (ADLs autonomy, risk of falls), cognitive functioning (attention, executive functions), anxiety and depression symptoms, and HRQoL. Within- and between-group statistical analyses and general linear models were performed within each clinical population involved. Findings: At post-intervention, widespread improvements were observed, with significant multi-domain changes estimated within each sub-sample. Significant between-group comparisons were found in psychological well-being, depression symptoms and HRQoL variables among patients with stroke, PD, and osteoarthritis respectively, evidencing a wider short-term impact of technology-enhanced programs. At 6-month follow-up, significant main effects of time were estimated on HRQoL scores within all sub-samples and, additionally, on anxiety and depression symptoms levels within patients with stroke and osteoarthritis. No longitudinal interaction effects were estimated, although significant between-group differences in anxiety and depression symptoms were found in patients with PD at final follow-up. Discussion: Further research is needed to deepen the longitudinal trajectories of the biopsychosocial benefits of technology-enhanced neuror

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Arterial hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Despite this, individuals with hypertension often fail to follow medical advice to counteract cardiovascular risks. A physically active lifestyle is one of the most challenging behaviors to adopt. This study aimed to preliminarily investigate the effectiveness of a tailored print message intervention to increase physical activity in patients with arterial hypertension. Methods: A sample of 188 patients with hypertension (mean age = 63 years; SD = 10.9; 50% men) participated in a theory-based tailored health communication intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to three parallel groups: (1) the tailored group, which received tailored health brochures; (2) the non-tailored group, which received non-tailored health brochures; or (3) the usual care group, which received no informative print materials. The longitudinal physical activity trajectories (baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-ups) were examined using repeated measures ANOVA and growth curve models. Results: At the baseline, 38.8% of patients achieved the target physical activity. This percentage rose to 43.0% at 6-month follow-up and 46.0% at 12-month follow-up. The descriptive statistics divided in function of the experimental group suggested differences in the longitudinal trend of the mean physical activity depending on the experimental group. However, statistical significance using repeated measures ANOVA did not support this observation. The analysis of the growth curves suggested that the tailored group showed a progressive increase in physical activity over twelve months (the model that best described the longitudinal trajectory was a linear growth model). The non-tailored group showed an increase in physical activity six months after the beginning of the intervention, followed by a decrease (free time score model). The usual care

The aim of this study was to examine workers’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic as a function of their individual coping, dyadic coping, and work-family conflict. We also tested the moderating role of gender and culture in these associations. To achieve this aim, we run HLM analyses on data from 1521 workers cohabiting with a partner, coming from six countries (Italy, Spain, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, and Russia) characterized by various degrees of country-level individualism/collectivism. Across all six countries, findings highlighted that work-family conflict as well as the individual coping strategy social support seeking were associated with higher psychological distress for workers, while the individual coping strategy positive attitude and common dyadic coping were found to be protective against workers’ psychological distress. This latter association, moreover, was stronger in more individualistic countries.

The aim of this study was to examine workers’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic as a function of their individual coping, dyadic coping, and work-family conflict. We also tested the moderating role of gender and culture in these associations. To achieve this aim, we run HLM analyses on data from 1521 workers cohabiting with a partner, coming from six countries (Italy, Spain, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, and Russia) characterized by various degrees of country-level individualism/collectivism. Across all six countries, findings highlighted that work-family conflict as well as the individual coping strategy social support seeking were associated with higher psychological distress for workers, while the individual coping strategy positive attitude and common dyadic coping were found to be protective against workers’ psychological distress. This latter association, moreover, was stronger in more individualistic countries.

COVID-19 has changed people’s routines and imposed new ways of living. This study investigated variations in lifestyles (namely, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking) between the prepandemic and the pandemic period in a sample of older adults with hypertension. Moreover, it investigated predictors of adherence to government restrictions during the first lockdown period, evidencing the role of relevant sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle changes. A sample of 105 older Italian adults (M_age = 70 years; SD = 5.83) with hypertension was enrolled from a previous longitudinal study and interviewed on the phone between May and August 2020. Updated information about sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle changes was collected. Adherence to restrictions was explored through several questions regarding compliance with home confinement, facemask use, and the observance of social distancing. Results evidenced that only 33% of the respondents abided by all the national restrictions. During the first pandemic peak, considerable changes in lifestyles occurred, particularly regarding physical activity, which diminished in 70% of the sample. Women, unemployed/retired people, and individuals who decreased their amount of physical activity reported higher adherence to rules. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle over time is essential for disease prevention. Therefore, it is essential to continue to inform the population about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and it is necessary to provide guidelines to maintain and promote it even during housebound periods.

A considerable amount of research has illustrated that negative attitudes toward one’s own aging can directly hinder mental and physical well-being or lead to maladjustment in later stages of life (Swift et al. in Social Issues Policy Rev 11(1):195–231, https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12031, 2017). Research so far has focused on the analysis of individual factors related to attitudes toward aging, often related to personality traits. Our study proposes and tests a model of positive contact with aging (PCA). It analyses both individual and social antecedents of attitudes towards one’s own aging, hypothesizing that individual health self-efcacy directly afects attitudes towards one’s own aging and that the quality and quantity of contact with older adults indirectly impacts on attitudes towards one’s own aging through attitudes towards older adults. The model was tested in a wide sample of the Italian population (N=753) with a varied age range. The PCA model tested showed excellent ft to the data, explaining a moderate amount of variance in attitudes toward one’s own aging (12%). This model promises to ofer implications for active policies that can improve attitudes towards one’s own aging, promoting educational strategies to increase intergenerational exchanges and foster health-related self-efcacy.

Introduction: The number of Italian citizens unaware of their risk of cardiovascular disease it is still very high. Aim: This study aimed to translate and preliminarily validate a brief Italian version of the Perception of Risk of Heart Disease Scale (PRHDS). Methods: PRHDS was culturally adapted to the Italian context. Then, the scale was administered to 772 healthy adults. By randomly dividing the sample into two subsamples, we tested the scale dimensionality through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Finally, we evaluated internal consistency. Results: Psychometric properties of the scale were appropriate. EFA and CFA evidenced a unidimensional structure of a brief version of the scale, composed of six items. Internal consistency was adequate. Conclusions: Italian version of the brief PRHDS is a promising self-report questionnaire to measure cardiovascular risk perception among Italian adults.

To date, at least 2.41 billion people with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are in need of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation care through innovative technologies is the ideal candidate to reach all people with NCDs in need. To obtain these innovative solutions available in the public health system calls for a rigorous multidimensional evaluation that, with an articulated approach, is carried out through the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology. In this context, the aim of the present paper is to illustrate how the Smart&TouchID (STID) model addresses the need to incorporate patients’ evaluations into a multidimensional technology assessment framework by presenting a feasibility study of model application with regard to the rehabilitation experiences of people living with NCDs. After sketching out the STID model’s vision and operational process, preliminary evidence on the experiences and attitudes of patients and citizens on rehabilitation care will be described and discussed, showing how they operate, enabling the co-design of technological solutions with a multi-stakeholder approach. Implications for public health are discussed including the view on the STID model as a tool to be integrated into public health governance strategies aimed at tuning the agenda-setting of innovation in rehabilitation care through a participatory methodology.

La promozione di comportamenti e di stili di vita salutari è ampiamente riconosciuta come una delle principali strategie in materia di prevenzione. Contrastare fattori di rischio come la sedentarietà rimane una sfida ad oggi ancora aperta. Con l’ingresso nell’era digitale, l’interesse nell’utilizzo di strumenti tecnologici come supporto ad affrontare tale sfida è sempre più in aumento. Il presente contributo ha l’obiettivo di descrivere un progetto di ricerca finalizzato a valutare l’efficacia preliminare di un intervento randomizzato basato sull’utilizzo di un’App (MyPocketHealth) per la promozione dell’attività fisica, in termini di aumento del numero di passi giornaliero. Ad un campione tratto dalla popolazione generale sedentaria, sono stati inviati su base quotidiana, per un periodo di 30 giorni, messaggi volti al raggiungimento dell’obiettivo di 7.000 passi giornalieri, nonché notifiche finalizzate al monitoraggio del numero di passi fatti giornalmente. In particolare, un primo gruppo di partecipanti ha ricevuto messaggi personalizzati sulla base delle caratteristiche psicologiche rilevate in fase pre-intervento, valutate tramite l’applicazione di due modelli di cambiamento comportamentale (l’Health Action Process Approach e la Teoria del Comportamento Pianificato), mentre un secondo gruppo ha ricevuto messaggi non personalizzati centrati sul benessere emotivo connesso all’attività fisica. Infine, un terzo gruppo ha esclusivamente ricevuto notifiche di monitoraggio. Nel corso dell’intervento verranno presentati i risultati preliminari dello studio, la cui raccolta dati è tuttora in corso, con l’obiettivo di mettere a confronto l’efficacia dei tipi diversi di messaggi inviati ai partecipanti, nonché di discutere più in generale il valore aggiunto della tecnologia nella promozione della salute.

This study aimed to examine the role of resilience resources in patients' lifestyle changes after the first Acute Coronary event. 275 Italian patients (84.0% men; mean age = 57.5, SD = 7.9) participated in a longitudinal study. Resilience resources (Self-esteem, Dispositional Optimism, Sense of Coherence – SOC, General and Disease-specific Self-efficacy), and lifestyles (diet, physical activity, and smoking) were assessed twice (at baseline and after 6 months). Path analysis using latent change models was performed to model the combined effect of levels and changes of the resilience resources over lifestyle changes. Patients with strong SOC at baseline were less prone to smoke and more prone to decrease smoking; enhancement in SOC was associated with a smoking decrease. High Disease-specific Self-efficacy at baseline was associated with an improvement in all lifestyles; enhancement in Disease-specific Self-efficacy predicted an increase in physical activity. Findings underline the need to design psychological interventions that promote patients' Disease-specific Self-efficacy and SOC.

Promoting healthy behaviors throughout life is an essential prevention tool. Prior research showed that unhealthy behaviors tend to co-occur and interplay. However, which behaviors co-occur most frequently and which sociodemographic variables are associated with specific clusters of unhealthy behavior are still being determined. This study aimed to identify different lifestyle profiles and analyze their associations with sociodemographic factors in an Italian academic community to plan targeted initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles. A sample of 8715 adults from an Italian university (mean age = 26 years; range = 18–76; 30% male) participated in an online survey in 2019. Four health-related behaviors were evaluated: diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Lifestyle profiles were identified through cluster analysis. Then, a multinomial logistic regression was performed to explore the association among lifestyle profiles, sociodemographic variables (age, gender, and academic role), and body mass index (BMI). Results showed that older age was associated with the probability of belonging to the profile characterized by smoke addiction and regular alcohol consumption but also with the healthiest diet. The younger the age, the greater the probability of belonging to the most physically active profile. Men were more likely than women to belong to the lifestyle profile with the most regular alcohol consumption and the highest physical activity. Lower BMI was associated with the most physically active profile. This study shed light on factors associated with different co-occurring health-related behaviors that should be considered in planning effective communication strategies and preventive health interventions within the academic community.

BACKGROUND: In the field of neurorehabilitation, robot-assisted therapy (RAT) and virtual reality (VR) have so far shown promising evidence on multiple motor and functional outcomes. The related effectiveness on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been investigated across neurological populations but still remains unclear. The present study aimed to systematically review the studies investigating the effects of RAT alone and with VR on HRQoL in patients with different neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the impact of RAT alone and combined with VR on HRQoL in patients affected by neurological diseases (i.e., stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's Disease) was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Electronic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, and PsychINFO (2000-2022) were performed. Risk of bias was evaluated through the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool. Descriptive data regarding the study design, participants, intervention, rehabilitation outcomes, robotic device typology, HRQoL measures, non-motor factors concurrently investigated, and main results were extracted and meta-synthetized. RESULTS: The searches identified 3025 studies, of which 70 met the inclusion criteria. An overall heterogeneous configuration was found regarding the study design adopted, intervention procedures and technological devices implemented, rehabilitation outcomes (i.e., related to both upper and lower limb impairment), HRQoL measures administered, and main evidence. Most of the studies reported significant effects of both RAT and RAT plus VR on patients HRQoL, whether they adopted generic or disease-specific HRQoL measures. Significant post-intervention within-group changes were mainly found across neurological populations, while fewer studies reported significant between-group comparisons, and then, mostly in patients with stroke. Longitudinal invest

A considerable amount of research has illustrated that negative attitudes toward one’s own aging can directly hinder mental and physical well-being or lead to maladjustment in later stages of life (Swift et al. in Social Issues Policy Rev 11(1):195–231, https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12031, 2017). Research so far has focused on the analysis of individual factors related to attitudes toward aging, often related to personality traits. Our study proposes and tests a model of positive contact with aging (PCA). It analyses both individual and social antecedents of attitudes towards one’s own aging, hypothesizing that individual health self-efficacy directly affects attitudes towards one’s own aging and that the quality and quantity of contact with older adults indirectly impacts on attitudes towards one’s own aging through attitudes towards older adults. The model was tested in a wide sample of the Italian population (N = 753) with a varied age range. The PCA model tested showed excellent fit to the data, explaining a moderate amount of variance in attitudes toward one’s own aging (12%). This model promises to offer implications for active policies that can improve attitudes towards one’s own aging, promoting educational strategies to increase intergenerational exchanges and foster health-related self-efficacy.

COVID-19 has changed people’s routines and imposed new ways of living. This study investigated variations in lifestyles (namely, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking) between the prepandemic and the pandemic period in a sample of older adults with hypertension. Moreover, it investigated predictors of adherence to government restrictions during the first lockdown period, evidencing the role of relevant sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle changes. A sample of 105 older Italian adults (M_age = 70 years; SD = 5.83) with hypertension was enrolled from a previous longitudinal study and interviewed on the phone between May and August 2020. Updated information about sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle changes was collected. Adherence to restrictions was explored through several questions regarding compliance with home confinement, facemask use, and the observance of social distancing. Results evidenced that only 33% of the respondents abided by all the national restrictions. During the first pandemic peak, considerable changes in lifestyles occurred, particularly regarding physical activity, which diminished in 70% of the sample. Women, unemployed/retired people, and individuals who decreased their amount of physical activity reported higher adherence to rules. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle over time is essential for disease prevention. Therefore, it is essential to continue to inform the population about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and it is necessary to provide guidelines to maintain and promote it even during housebound periods.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent precautions and dispositions adopted have triggered substantial changes in daily health-related behaviors, including food consumption habits. The psychological impact of the pandemic has been considered one of the factors affecting this transition and requiring consideration when targeting healthy-sustainable behavior preservation. The present study describes the results of a survey conducted on a convenience sample of Italian residents (n = 2272) during the first phases of pandemic. The aim was to explore the daily nutritional choices and behaviors and their transformations that occurred along with the associations with psychological factors (i.e., subjective well-being, and depression, anxiety and stress symptoms). An indicator for healthy-sustainable transition (HST index) was constructed and revealed diffused transformation in dietary habits, with a large segment of the sample adopting healthier and more sustainable dietary behaviors and others showing reduced healthy-sustainable food choices. Informative relationships with the psychological variables were then found from the correlational and regression analyses. Lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress symptomatology and higher perceived subjective well-being were significantly associated with healthier-sustainable food consumption behaviors. These findings shed light on the crucial areas to be considered in future institutional interventions, ultimately ensuring favorable conditions for both healthy diet behaviors and sustainable food consumption choices.

Background and objectives: Promoting healthy behaviors throughout life is an essential prevention tool against chronic disease onset and progression in adulthood. This study aims to explore the lifestyles of an Italian academic community to plan targeted initiatives to promote and improve healthy lifestyles in students and employees with consequent impact on their entourage. Methods: A sample of 8715 adults (mean age = 26 years; range = 18-76; 30% male) participated in an online survey designed to evaluate the associations among lifestyle profiles (including diet, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption), sociodemographic factors (age, gender, and academic role), and Body Mass Index (BMI). Lifestyle profiles were identified through cluster analysis, and a multinomial logistic regression was then performed to relate clusters obtained to sociodemographic variables and BMI. Results: Data show that older age was associated with the probability of belonging to the clusters with the worst behavior in smoking and alcohol consumption, but with the healthiest diet. The younger the age, the greater the probability of belonging to the more physically active cluster. Men were more likely than women to belong to the lifestyle profile with the highest alcohol consumption and the highest physical activity. Lower BMI was associated with the highest amount of physical activity profile. Conclusion: This study shed light on factors associated with different co-occurring health-related behaviors that should be considered in planning effective communication strategies promoting adherence to health claims.

Over the past two decades, promising evidence on the efficacy of robot-assisted therapy (RAT) and virtual reality (VR)-based neuromotor rehabilitation on neurological disease patients' recovery has been reported. Depending on the study population, diverse functional (e.g., balance, gait, autonomy in activities of daily living, occupational performance) and motor (e.g., mobility, muscle strength, spasticity, dexterity) outcomes have been investigated to better understand the clinical impact of technology on the patient’s recovery pathway. However, the effects of this innovative rehabilitation procedure on patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological aspects remain still unclear. This research intends to systematically describe and review the literature regarding the impact of RAT and VR-based rehabilitation on the HRQoL and the psychological status in patients suffering from various neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review of studies published between 2000 and 2021 in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, and PsychINFO electronic databases was carried out. The search identified a total of N = 3,025 records of which 130 were included and analysed trough the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) quality assessment tools. Descriptive data regarding the study design, participants, technological devices, interventions, and main results were extracted and meta-synthetized. Finally, according to the technological device implemented and the clinical population, metaanalyses on the effects estimated from each study specifically concerning patients’ HRQoL prepost intervention changes were conducted. The analyses of the present work are ongoing and will be discussed. This contribution will not only shed light on the effects of robotics and VR beyond motor impr

Objective: Although several studies suggest an association between psychological distress and increased morbidity and mortality in various cardiac populations, little is known about positive psychological resources, like Sense of Coherence (SOC), that may reduce distress. This longitudinal observational study aimed to test the hypothesis that a strong SOC predicted a longitudinal decrease in anxiety and depression in a sample of patients after their first acute coronary event. Methods: A sample of 275 patients completed the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the SOC Scale at five time-points (at the baseline and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months). Longitudinal trajectories of anxiety, depression, and SOC were examined through hierarchical (generalized) linear models, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical indicators. Results: 38.6% of patients experienced clinically relevant anxiety symptoms soon after the cardiovascular event, whereas only 20.8% experienced clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Anxiety symptoms decreased over time, plateaued, and then slightly increased, whereas depressive symptoms tended to be stable; these variables were positively associated during all time points. The SOC did not change over time; a strong SOC at baseline predicted decreased anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Findings showed a strong relationship between SOC and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and they suggested the importance of a salutogenic approach in clinical practice and the relevance of interventions aimed at increasing resilience resources like the SOC in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had clear and dramatic repercussions on health, the economy, and psychosocial well-being. Behavioral measures, such as wearing facemasks and maintaining distance from others, have proven crucial in fighting the contagion’s spread. This study aimed to investigate Type A personality traits and sociodemographic predictors of adherence to governmental measures in a sample of frail individuals. Methods: A sample of 105 Italians over age 60 (Mean age = 70 years; 60.6% male) affected by hypertension who participated in a previous longitudinal study were assessed through a telephone structured interview. Sociodemographic information and Type A personality traits were retrieved from the original longitudinal study. Adherence behaviors were investigated through several questions regarding the compliance with home confinement, the use of facemasks and the observance of social distancing. Repeated measures Analyses of Variance (RMANOVA), Reliable Change Index, and binomial logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Only 33.3% of the participants reported adherence to all the governmental COVID-19 measures. Being a woman (OR = 4.84; 95% CI = 1.58, 14.90; p < 0.01), being retired (OR = 4.89; 95% CI = 1.09, 21.86; p < 0.05), and suffering from hypertension for a relatively short time (OR = 4.20; 95% CI = 1.22, 14.44; p < 0.05) positively predicted adherence to the governmental measures. Impulsivity resulted in a stable personality characteristic over the last ten years (p = 0.30). Having high levels of impulsivity (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.13, 4.59; p < 0.05) negatively predicted adherence. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that impulsivity is a stable personality facet that can have a robust negative impact on adherence behaviors to health claims. Overall, results show the importance to tailor communication strategies that consider the role of sociodemographic indicators and impulsivity to achieve a high level of adhere

Despite widespread hearing problems among older adults, only a minority of them use hearing aids. The decision to rely on hearing aids is influenced by several psychosocial factors, which may include attitudes influenced by significant others, particularly caregivers and health professionals. The language used by professionals when approaching this topic is particularly important. The purpose of this study was to deepen the role played by different communication styles in the area of hearing impairment by analyzing the impact of language – medical vs. everyday – used in the doctor-patient interaction on attitudes and behavioral intentions in a sample of potential caregivers of older adults. 209 Italian volunteers aged between 19 and 60 completed an online experimental study. The results suggested that, when interacting with doctors, exposure to a language that includes medical words promotes negative attitudes towards hearing loss. Nevertheless, medical language induces positive attitudes towards hearing aids and encourages people to adopt them when needed as well as recommending them to relatives and friends. Overall, the use of formal, medical language in doctor-patient communication, despite sounding less reassuring, is more effective in persuading people with hearing loss to rely on hearing aids.

Despite widespread hearing problems among older adults, only a minority uses hearing aids. The stigma associated with such aids represents a key factor modulated by language. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of different forms of media communication on both implicit and explicit attitudes toward hearing aids. A preliminary analysis highlighted an over-representation of “technical” and “medical” terms in the corpus linguistic commonly used by the press. These results were used to design an online experimental study. The results suggested that the exposure to a language that includes informal words—as opposed to the technical terms commonly used by the press—favors positive implicit and explicit attitudes toward hearing aids, particularly among people who have direct contact with older adults. Overall, the use of an informal language in the press could generate a style of communication that positively influences people’s attitudes toward hearing aids.

How is auditory emotional information processed? The study's aim was to compare cerebral responses to emotionally positive or negative spoken phrases matched for structure and content. Twenty participants listened to 198 vocal stimuli while detecting filler phrases containing first names. EEG was recorded from 128 sites. Three event-related potential (ERP) components were quantified and found to be sensitive to emotional valence since 350 ms of latency. P450 and late positivity were enhanced by positive content, whereas anterior negativity was larger to negative content. A similar set of markers (P300, N400, LP) was found previously for the processing of positive versus negative affective vocalizations, prosody, and music, which suggests a common neural mechanism for extracting the emotional content of auditory information. SwLORETA applied to potentials recorded between 350 and 550 ms showed that negative speech activated the right temporo/parietal areas (BA40, BA20/21), whereas positive speech activated the left homologous and inferior frontal areas.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common causes of hospitalization and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Among the most important modifiable and well-known risk factors are an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. Nevertheless, adherence to healthy lifestyle regimes is poor. The present study examined longitudinal trajectories (pre-event, 6-, 12-, 24-, 36-, and 60-month follow-ups) of protein intake (fish, legumes, red/processed meat) and physical activity in 275 newly-diagnosed patients with acute coronary syndrome. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Models were performed, controlling for demographic and clinical variables, the season in which each assessment was made, and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Significant changes in protein intake and physical activity were found from pre-event to the six-month follow-up, suggesting the adoption of healthier behaviors. However, soon after the six-month follow-up, patients experienced significant declines in their healthy behaviors. Both physical activity and red/processed meat intake were modulated by the season in which the assessments took place and by anxiety symptoms over time. The negative long-term trajectory of healthy behaviors suggests that tailored interventions are needed that sustain patients' capabilities to self-regulate their behaviors over time and consider patient preference in function of season.

Despite widespread hearing problems among older adults, only a minority of them use hearing aids. The decision to rely on hearing aids is influenced by several psychosocial factors, which may include attitudes influenced by significant others, particularly caregivers and health professionals. The language used by professionals when approaching this topic is particularly important. The purpose of this study was to deepen the role played by different communication styles in the area of hearing impairment by analysing the impact of language—medical versus everyday—used in the doctor–patient interaction on attitudes and behavioural intentions in a sample of potential caregivers of older adults. 209 Italian volunteers aged between 19 and 60 completed an online experimental study. The results suggested that, when interacting with doctors, exposure to a language that includes medical words promotes negative attitudes towards hearing loss. Nevertheless, medical language induces positive attitudes towards hearing aids and encourages people to adopt them when needed as well as recommending them to relatives and friends. Overall, the use of formal, medical language in doctor–patient communication, despite sounding less reassuring, is more effective in persuading people with hearing loss to rely on hearing aids.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Promoting healthy behaviors throughout life is an essential prevention tool. This study investigated the associations among lifestyle profiles (including diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and cardiovascular screening), sociodemographic factors (gender, age, education, and family history of CVDs), and psychological factors (sense of coherence and dispositional optimism). In total, 676 healthy adults (mean age = 35 years; range = 19–57; 46% male) participated in an online survey. Lifestyle profiles were identified through cluster analysis, and a multinomial logistic regression was then performed to explore their association with sociodemographic and psychological variables. Results show that men were more likely than women to belong to the lifestyle profile with the highest amount of physical activity (OR = 2.40; p < 0.001) and the greatest attention to cardiovascular screening (OR = 2.09; p < 0.01). Lower dispositional optimism was associated with the profile paying the greatest attention to cardiovascular screening (OR = 0.67; p < 0.05). Sense of coherence, in terms of lower comprehensibility (OR = 0.67; p < 0.05) and higher manageability (OR = 1.43; p < 0.05), was associated with the lifestyle profile characterized by an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and nonsmoking. This study shed light on factors associated with different co-occurring health-related behaviors that should be considered in planning effective communication strategies promoting adherence to health claims.

The aim of the study was to explore the effects of situational stress and anxiety in a group of healthy elderly, both in terms of psychophysiological correlates and cognitive performance. Eighteen participants (Mage = 70 ± 6.3; range 60–85) were assessed for anxiety and were instructed to perform a computerized math task, under both a stressful and a control condition, while near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signal and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded. NIRS results evidenced an increased activation of right PFC during the entire procedure, even if effect sizes between left and right channels were larger during the experimental condition. The amount of right activation during the stressful condition was positively correlated with anxiety. Response times (RTs) were slower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, both during the control and stressful conditions. Accuracy was lower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, only during the stressful condition. Moreover, heart rate (HR) was not modulated by situational stress, nor by anxiety. Overall, the present study suggests that in healthy elderly, anxiety level has a significant impact on cerebral responses, and both on the amount of cognitive resources and the quality of performance in stressful situations.

Laboratory stress tasks induce strong changes in linear and non-linear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) among healthy adults, due to a task-induced parasympathetic withdrawal. Previous findings suggested that negative affectivity and its correlates (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, hostility, type D personality, and situational stress) could profoundly affect autonomic activity. However, to date no studies considered these psychological dimensions simultaneously while trying to disentangle their acute effects on HRV during a laboratory stress task. A total of 65 healthy participants completed a battery of questionnaires and later underwent a psychosocial stress protocol, which involves a stressful and a non-stressful mental arithmetic task, with the latter serving as a control condition for the former. During the entire procedure, autonomic activity was recorded through a portable ECG device. We analysed longitudinal changes in HRV indices using Mixed Models, taking into account respiration rates and the associations between psychophysiological variables through bivariate Pearson's r (partial) correlation indices. We found significant changes in linear (e.g., HF power, RMSSD) and non-linear (e.g., Poincaré Plot and Correlation Dimension D2) HRV indices during the procedure, with the lowest point reached during the stressful mental arithmetic task. Interestingly, only depressive symptomatology was significantly and positively related to a higher resting-state HRV and to a blunted reactivity to the stress task, even after controlling for baseline values. Results suggest that healthy individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms could experience atypical cardiovascular responses to stressful events: several speculative interpretations, considering autonomic, behavioral, and motivational dysregulations, are discussed.

Emotions characterized by opposite valences (positive vs. negative) seem to lead to specific patterns of autonomic and cortical activity. For example, according to valence or approach-withdrawal hypotheses, specific emotions lead to an asymmetrical activation of left or right prefrontal cortex (PFC). The aim of the present study was to explore the psychophysiological underpinnings of emotion experiencing using a paradigm with higher ecological validity than is typically accomplished in neuroimaging research. A total of 28 healthy participants were instructed to recall personally-relevant situations from the past that caused positive (happiness) or negative (anger) emotions, during a 2 min silent preparatory phase and a subsequent 3 min verbal phase. A wearable electrocardiographic (ECG) recording system and a portable 2-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device were used to collect heart rate (HR), high frequencies of heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and the hemodynamic responses of prefrontal cortex during the entire procedure. Results showed that during both anger and happiness recall tasks, HR increased and high frequencies of HRV decreased with respect to the baseline. HR and HF-HRV reached, respectively, their highest and lowest points during the verbal phase of anger recall task. NIRS data evidenced a bilateral increase of oxyhemoglobin concentration changes during both anger and happiness recall tasks, which was highest during the verbal phases. However, no lateralization patterns were found. Overall, present results suggest that the experience of negative emotions, if compared with positive ones, is characterized by a combination of reduced parasympathetic activation and/or increased sympathetic activation. Thus, cardiological data provided partial support to autonomic specificity of emotions. However, the recall paradigm did not evidence an asymmetry of PFC activity during the experience of emotions with opposite valences, probably due to the high nu

Acute psychosocial stress is typically investigated in laboratory settings using protocols with distinctive characteristics. For example, some tasks involve the action of speaking, which seems to alter Heart Rate Variability (HRV) through acute changes in respiration patterns. However, it is still unknown which task induces the strongest subjective and autonomic stress response. The present cross-over randomized trial sought to investigate the differences in perceived stress and in linear and non-linear analyses of HRV between three different verbal (Speech and Stroop) and non-verbal (Montreal Imaging Stress Task; MIST) stress tasks, in a sample of 60 healthy adults (51.7% females; mean age = 25.6 ± 3.83 years). Analyses were run controlling for respiration rates. Participants reported similar levels of perceived stress across the three tasks. However, MIST induced a stronger cardiovascular response than Speech and Stroop tasks, even after controlling for respiration rates. Finally, women reported higher levels of perceived stress and lower HRV both at rest and in response to acute psychosocial stressors, compared to men. Taken together, our results suggest the presence of gender-related differences during psychophysiological experiments on stress. They also suggest that verbal activity masked the vagal withdrawal through altered respiration patterns imposed by speaking. Therefore, our findings support the use of highly-standardized math task, such as MIST, as a valid and reliable alternative to verbal protocols during laboratory studies on stress.

Background: The Italian older adult population is increasing and psychiatric problems, such as anxiety among older adults, represent major challenges for public welfare. A strong need exists for instruments specifically developed to assess anxiety among Italian older adults. The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a 30-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates anxiety among older adults and has demonstrated strong psychometric properties in several languages. Objective: The present study aimed to validate an Italian version of the GAS (GAS-I) and to preliminarily investigate its psychometric properties. Method: The translation was performed using a five-stage procedure, following a forward–back process and paying attention to cultural issues. The GAS-I was administered to 231 community-dwelling older adults with other commonly-used questionnaires of anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Results: Results confirmed good psychometric qualities of the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses evidenced a unidimensional structure of the GAS-I, in accordance with other validated versions. Convergent and discriminant validity were highly satisfactory. The three-factor model also provided an acceptable fit to the data. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed good discriminatory power of the GAS-I. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the GAS-I is a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire to measure anxiety among Italian older adults.

Lying, as a deplorable behavior, induces changes in the vegetative system because of the sense of guilt and the anxiety of being uncovered, and the current lie-detectors, as the polygraph, register these changes as cues of a deceptive behavior. Such modulations, however, aren't direct measures of deception per se, but products of emotions in general, that could also affect an innocent suspect, wrongly accused. But what happens in the brain? Is it possible to define the relationship between lies and emotions? The purpose of this study was thus to investigate the neural correlates of deceptive behavior in response to neutral and affective questions, created ad-hoc, through the analysis of the electrocortical indexes registered in healthy volunteers. ERPs were recorded from 128 sites. From ERP responses it was possible to notice, at anterior brain areas, a late modulation of the electrocortical activity during the lying versus the telling the truth condition, according to the affective valence of the stimuli. This finding is particularly relevant in that it confirms the ambiguity of data coming from studies related to peripheral indexes measures. An earlier peak was found over the prefrontal regions that distinguished between truthful and mendacious responses, irrespective of the affective context. This component would thus represent the neural marker of deception. A swLORETA linear inverse solution was computed on its amplitude. The results showed that a deceptive behavior is related to the activation of anterior brain areas reflecting an increasing need in higher-level cognitive functions, namely working memory, conflict monitoring, controlled- and task switching-processes, also suggested by behavioral responses.

Stress responses are mediated by complex patterns of cortical and autonomic activity. Earlier studies showed increased recruitment of the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) and parasympathetic withdrawal during a stress task; however, it remains unclear whether these responses change in relation to different levels of psychopathological symptoms, such as trait anxiety. The present study examines the effect of a mathematical task (with a control condition and a stressful/experimental condition) on the PFC and autonomic activity, using a two-channel near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and an ECG monitoring system. After a preliminary screening of 65 subjects, a sample of 12 individuals (6 with the highest and 6 with the lowest scores on an anxiety questionnaire, i.e. the STAI trait) was selected. The two groups were similar regarding demographic variables (age, sex, body mass index) and baseline STAI-state scores. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare changes from baseline in oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb), heart rate (HR) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the two groups. Individuals affected by high levels of trait anxiety showed a reduced bilateral PFC activity during the entire experimental procedure compared to those with low anxiety. No differences in NIRS channels were found between the two groups. During both conditions, RMSSD was lower among individuals affected by high levels of anxious symptoms. Finally, throughout the procedure, changes in HR were higher in the anxious group. Overall, these findings suggest a reduced PFC activity and a larger parasympathetic withdrawal during a stress task in individuals with high levels of trait anxiety compared to those with low anxiety. These results could represent a starting point for future NIRS and ECG studies on the relationship between mental disorders and acute stress responses.

Aging is associated with changes in biological functions, such as reduced cardiovascular responses to stressful tasks. However, less is known about the influence of age on the reactivity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to acute stressors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a computerized-controlled stress task on the PFC and autonomic system activity in a sample of older and younger adults. We recruited a total of 55 healthy, right-handed persons (26 older adults with mean age 69.5, SD 5.8 years; and 29 younger adults with mean age 23.8, SD 3.3 years); groups were balanced for sex. Tasks included a control and an experimental condition: during both tasks individuals had to solve simple mental arithmetic problems. For the experimental condition, all participants were faced with a time limit that induced significant stress. Physiological indexes were collected continuously during the entire procedure using a 2-channel near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and an ECG monitoring system. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to assess changes in hemoglobin concentrations, and changes in both heart rate and performance outcomes. NIRS, ECG and performance data showed a significant interaction between the group and condition. Post-hoc analyses evidenced a significant increase in heart rate and Oxy-Hb concentration in the bilateral PFC between the control and experimental condition only in the younger group. Post-hoc analyses of behavioral data showed lower percentages of correct responses and higher response times in the older group. In summary, these results suggested that cardiovascular and cortical reactivity to stress tasks are a function of age. Older individuals seem to be characterized by blunted physiological reactivity, suggestive of impaired adaptive responses to acute stressors. Therefore, future studies should investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms of prefrontal and cardiovascular changes related to aging.

The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelation between cortical, cardiovascular, behavioural, and psychological responses to acute stressors in a large sample of healthy individuals. To date, there are only preliminary evidences for a significant association among these psychophysiological indexes during a stress task. 65 participants completed psychological questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and underwent a psychosocial math stress task, consisting of a control and an experimental (i.e. stressful) condition. Prefrontal and autonomic activities were recorded using respectively a 2-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device and a portable ECG monitoring system. Results evidenced an increased activation of both frontal areas assessed by NIRS, and a positive association between the right NIRS channel and heart rate changes from baseline, during both control and experimental conditions. Subjective stress increased during the procedure, reaching its maximum during the experimental condition. Behavioural performances during the task (e.g. response time) did not correlate with anxiety or depression. Autonomic data evidenced, as expected, an overall reduction of vagal tone during the experimental condition. Finally, severity of depressive and anxious symptoms predicted an increase in parasympathetic activity both at rest and during the task, even when controlling for respiration rate. Results support the hypothesis of an integration between right sectors of frontopolar or dorsolateral PFC and cardiac regulation. Trait anxiety and depression predicted an increase in vagal tone during the entire procedure. The implication of these findings is discussed.