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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.

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.

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.