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Background and aimsMaladaptive Daydreaming (MD) is a suggested syndrome where individuals become addicted to fantasizing vividly for hours on end at the expense of engaging in real-world relationships and functioning. MD can be seen as a behavioral addiction. However, a paucity of longitudinal research means that there is no empirical evidence confirming the stability of this alleged addiction. Moreover, the direction of its association with psychopathology is unclear.MethodsWe examine, for the first time, long-term stability and longitudinal associations between MD, psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms) and COVID-19 related exposure.ResultsParticipants (N = 814) completed an online survey twice, with a lag of 13 months. A two-wave structural equation model demonstrated high MD stability and positive cross-lagged pathways from MD to psychological distress. COVID-19 related exposure was not a longitudinal predictor.Discussion and conclusionsMD is a stable condition and a risk factor for an increase in psychological distress.

This study aimed to examine the profiles of reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic based on the combination of fear and future orientation, as well as their sociodemographic, situational, and relational predictors. We also compared posttraumatic growth between the profiles.A sample of 640 Italian participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of COVID-19-Related Fears (MAC-RF), the Future Orientation Scale (FOS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Version 3, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).Latent profile analysis indicated a 4-class solution as the best-fitting model. The first profile ("Detached") comprised 9.9% of the sample and was characterized by both low fear and future orientation. The second profile ("Hopeful") concerned 49.9% of the sample and it featured low fear and high future orientation. The third profile ("Constructively Preoccupied") involved 35.5% of the sample and was distinguished by high fear and high future orientation. The fourth profile ("Fearful") included 4.6% of the sample and was marked by high fear and low future orientation. Multinomial logistic regressions indicated that the female gender was more likely to be associated with the Constructively Preoccupied profile, while older age was more likely to be associated with the Hopeful one. Higher perceived loneliness was associated with all profiles except the Hopeful. Results of comparisons showed substantial differences in posttraumatic growth between the profiles. The Constructively Preoccupied profile showed the greatest posttraumatic growth.Overall, these results point out the various profile of reaction to the pandemic and that adopting a person-oriented approach could enhance their grasp. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

To investigate adolescents' and parents' preferences concerning information on narcolepsy.During a one-year cross-sectional study, adolescents (12-20 years old) with narcolepsy and parents attending the Narcolepsy Center of Bologna (Italy) were invited to fill in a questionnaire including 28 pieces of information regarding narcolepsy, 14 concerning medical issues (i.e., diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, management) and 14 concerning psychosocial issues (i.e., impact on everyday life, relationships, possible support). Participants were asked to indicate: the importance of each item on a 5-point Likert scale; when each piece of information should be provided (diagnostic suspicion, confirmed diagnosis, follow-up visits, upon patient's request); and who should provide it (doctor, nurse, psychologist, parents and/or others).Sixty-two adolescents (37% female, mean age 16.4 years) and 96 parents (58% female, mean age 48.2 years) agreed to participate (100% response rate). Parents rated all items as important (score≥4), while, according to adolescents, 11/14 medical and psychosocial issues were important. The moment of diagnosis was considered the right time to give almost all medical information. Regarding psychosocial issues, mothers mainly indicated the time of diagnosis, while fathers also indicated follow-up visits, and some children opted for follow-up visits or information upon request. The doctor was the preferred provider but when information concerned psychosocial issues, adolescents also indicated the parents, and parents also indicated the psychologist.This study suggests that information on narcolepsy should be comprehensive and tailored, and that parents and psychologists may support the doctor in providing information when narcolepsy is diagnosed during adolescence.

Over time, a complex crossroad between disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and borderline personality features (BPFs) and their association with childhood emotional and physical maltreatment have been established. The present study aimed at evaluating the direct and indirect effect of physical and emotional abuse and neglect on DEB via BPF in a nonclinical adolescent sample. A total of 786 adolescents (48.3% male; mean age, 16.25 years; SD, 1.76) participated in the study. The mediation model suggested the pivotal predictive role of emotional maltreatment compared with the physical one. Indeed, both emotional abuse and neglect directly and indirectly predicted disordered eating via BPF (β = 0.097; p < 0.001 and β = 0.042; p < 0.01, respectively). Likely, the emotional maltreatment represents the beginning of a developmental cascade that culminates in DEB as a maladaptive coping strategy in response to negative emotions, through BPF. On the contrary, physical maltreatment seems to be less involved in the developmental cascade.

Vittorio Lenzo,1 Alberto Sardella,2 Alessandro Musetti,3 Maria Francesca Freda,4 Daniela Lemmo,4 Elena Vegni,5 Lidia Borghi,5 Giuseppe Plazzi,6,7 Laura Palagini,8,9 Gianluca Castelnuovo,10,11 Roberto Cattivelli,12 Rachele Mariani,13 Giovanni Michelini,14 Tommaso Manari,3 Emanuela Saita,10 Maria C Quattropani,15 Christian Franceschini16 1Department of Social and Educational Sciences of the Mediterranean Area, University for Foreigners “Dante Alighieri” of Reggio Calabria, Reggio, Calabria, Italy; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 3Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 4Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; 5Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 6Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; 7IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 8Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Section, University of Pisa, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana (AUOP), Pisa, Italy; 9Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; 10Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 11Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Verbania, Italy; 12Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 13Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy; 14Sigmund Freud University, Milano, Italy; 15Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; 16Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, ItalyCorrespondence: Vittorio LenzoDepartment of Social and Educational Sciences of the Mediterranean Area, University for Foreigners “Dante Alighieri” of Reggio Calabria, Via del Torrione 95, Reggio Calabria, 89125, ItalyEmail v.lenzo@unidarc.itPurpose: Previous studies showed poor sleep quality during the first Italian lockdown consequent to the quick spread of the virus. Poor sleep quality remained stable during the so-called “second wave”, which started in Autumn 2020. This study aimed to compare sleep quality between the two waves of contagions and to examine the effect of resilience, together with sociodemographic and COVID-related variables, on sleep quality during the second wave.Patients and Methods: A total of 648 participated in this longitudinal study through an online survey during the first lockdown consequent to the COVID-19 and during the second wave. The Medical Outcomes Study—Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) and the Resilience Scale (RS) were administered. Sociodemographic and COVID-related information were also collected.Results: The results showed sleep quality slightly increased in the second wave, even though with a small effect size. Correlational analysis showed that resilience is inversely correlated with sleep quality measured in the two waves. Sleep quality during the second wave was positively correlated with sleep quality in the first lockdown. Likewise, the results of multiple regression revealed that the sleep quality in the first lockdown and resilience were significant predictors of sleep quality during the second wave.Conclusion: These findings highlighted that the prevalence of poor sleepers remained high during the second wave. Together with the sleep quality in the first lockdown, resilience represents an important factor related to sleep quality during the second wave. Interventions to improve sleep quality among the general population should take into account these findings.Keywords: clinical psychology, health, sleep quality, resilience, longitudinal

(1) Background: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a concept that describes a significant imaginary activity that replaces human engagement and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning. We explored the interaction between attachment style, reflective functioning (RF), and the narrative dimension of MD. (2) Methods: 414 adults completed an online survey, including socio-demographic variables, the 16-item Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Relationship Questionnaire, and Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. Participants were asked to write a short description of the most representative episodes of their daydreams. Eighty-four participants were identified as maladaptive daydreamers (MDers). (3) Results: A set of t-tests between MDers and non-MDers group showed differences in attachment dimensions, RF, and linguistic measures. A linear regression model with Global Severity Index (GSI) of the revised Symptom Checklist-90 as the dependent variable, and psychological scales as independent variables showed that the MD score was the strongest predictor of GSI. Regarding differences between the two groups in linguistic measures, the MDers showed more use of reflection and sensory-somatic words, and a smaller number of affective words. (4) Conclusions: These results support the idea that the MD is a process connected to psychopathological mechanisms, probably to a sub-symbolic activation, and to dysfunctional self–other relational patterns that are difficult to integrate.

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a new proposed mental disorder in which an excessive absorption in vivid, narrative fantasies generates impairments in various life domains. This study aimed to examine the role of traumatic life experiences and immature, neurotic, and mature defense styles in MD. Three hundred and fifty-six Italian adults, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years completed an online survey, including measures of MD, traumatic life events, and defense styles. A multiple mediation model showed that immature, neurotic, and mature defense styles fully mediated the relationship between traumatic life experiences and MD. These findings suggest that clinical interventions for people with a history of traumatic experience who developed MD should aim to help them acquire more adaptive coping strategies to deal with traumatic memories.

Giorgia Varallo,1 Carlos Suso-Ribera,2 Ada Ghiggia,3 Marco Veneruso,4 Roberto Cattivelli,5 Anna Guerrini Usubini,6,7 Christian Franceschini,1 Alessandro Musetti,8 Giuseppe Plazzi,9,10 Jacopo Maria Fontana,11 Paolo Capodaglio,11,12 Gianluca Castelnuovo6,7 1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, 43121, Italy; 2Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Castellon de la Plana, 12071, Spain; 3Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy; 4Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; 5Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, Italy; 6Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, 20123, Italy; 7Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, San Giuseppe Hospital, Verbania, 28824, Italy; 8Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, 43125, Italy; 9Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy; 10IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (ISNB), Bologna, 40139, Italy; 11Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Research Laboratory in Biomechanics and Rehabilitation, San Giuseppe Hospital, Verbania, 28824, Italy; 12Department of Surgical Sciences, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, 10121, ItalyCorrespondence: Jacopo Maria Fontana, San Giuseppe Hospital, Strada Cadorna 90, Verbania, 28824, Italy, Tel +39 0323 514 331, Email j.fontana@auxologico.itPurpose: Individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity experience significant impairment in physical functioning. Pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance have all been identified as important factors associated with the level of disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance as mediators of the association between perceived pain severity and physical functioning in individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity.Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 165 women with fibromyalgia and obesity completed self-report questionnaires of perceived pain severity (ie, Numeric Pain Rating Scale), pain catastrophizing (ie, Pain Catastrophizing Scale), kinesiophobia (ie Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), pain acceptance (ie, Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire), and perceived physical functioning (ie, Physical Functioning subscale of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). In addition, a performance-based test (ie, 6-minute walking test) was conducted to assess objective physical functioning. Two multiple mediation analyses were performed.Results: Pain acceptance and kinesiophobia mediated the relationship between pain severity and self-reported physical functioning. Pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia mediated the relationship between pain severity and performance-based functioning.Conclusion: Pain acceptance, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing should be addressed in rehabilitative intervention to improve physical functioning. Interestingly, the subjective and objective aspects of physical functioning are influenced by different factors. Therefore, interventions for women with fibromyalgia and obesity should focus on factors related to both subjective and performance-based physical functioning.Keywords: chronic pain, fear-avoidance model, fibromyalgia, functioning, obesity, psychological flexibility model

Background: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurological sleep disorder caused by the loss of neurons that produce hypocretin—a peptide that plays a crucial role in addictive behaviors. We aimed to compare, for the first time, levels of problematic online gaming, problematic social media use, and compulsive Internet use between NT1 patients and healthy controls (HC), and to evaluate the association between anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation with addictive online behaviors in NT1 patients. Methods: A total of 43 patients with NT1 and 86 sex- and age-matched HC participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Results: NT1 patients did not differ from HC in terms of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use but displayed higher levels of problematic online gaming compared to HC. Higher levels of emotion dysregulation were significantly associated with higher levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, while none of the tested factors were associated with problematic online gaming. Conclusion: NT1 patients and HC had similar levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, but NT1 patients showed higher levels of problematic online gaming. Emotion dysregulation might be an intervention target for reducing compulsive Internet use and problematic social media use.

Research highlighted that Problematic Social Networking Sites Use (PSNSU) and vulnerable narcissism are associated. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unclear. The present study aimed to test the mediating role of motives for social networking sites (SNSs) use between vulnerable narcissism and five symptoms of PSNSU (i.e., preference for online social interactions, mood regulation, cognitive preoccupation, compulsive use, and negative outcomes) in a sole model. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 344 SNSs users in the age range of 18–30 years (76.5% females; mean age = 23.80 years, standard deviation = 2.30 years). Vulnerable narcissism, three motives to use SNSs (coping, conformity, enhancement), and symptoms of PSNSU were assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to test for mediation. The results indicate that both motives with positive (i.e., enhancement) and negative (i.e., coping and conformity) valence partially mediated the association between vulnerable narcissism and different symptoms of PSNSU. We conclude that individuals with vulnerable narcissism may develop PSNSU not only as a compensatory strategy to cope with psychosocial difficulties but also as a result of a gratification-seeking process.

Pain severity, depression, and sleep disturbances are key targets for FM rehabilitation. Recent evidence suggests that whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) might be an effective add-on treatment in the management of FM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an add-on WBC intervention to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program on pain intensity, depressive symptoms, disease impact, sleep quality, and performance-based physical functioning in a sample of FM patients with obesity. We performed a randomized controlled trial with 43 patients with FM and obesity undergoing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program with and without the addition of ten 2-min WBC sessions at −110 °C over two weeks. According to our results, the implementation of ten sessions of WBC over two weeks produced additional benefits. Indeed, both groups reported positive changes after the rehabilitation; however, the group that underwent WBC intervention had greater improvements in the severity of pain, depressive symptoms, disease impact, and quality of sleep. On the contrary, with respect to performance-based physical functioning, we found no significant between-group differences. Our findings suggest that WBC could be a promising add-on treatment to improve key aspects of FM, such as pain, depressive symptoms, disease impact and poor sleep quality.

Starting from the idea that dreaming could be considered an index of the psychological health of individuals regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, a major risk of psychological maladjustment has been registered for maladaptive daydreamers (MDers; i.e., people with a compulsive fantasy activity associated with distress and psychological impairment). Nevertheless, there is a gap in literature about dreaming in MDers in general and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in dreaming and dream content between probable MDers and non-MDers during the COVID19 lockdown in Italy. A total of 3,857 Italian adults (664 probable MDers), completed the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) and the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE). Among them, 1,095 participants (222 probable MDers) decided to recount their dreams, subsequently analysed through a cluster analysis performed by T-LAB software. Significantly higher levels of dream recall, emotional intensity of dreams, nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, recurring nightmares about daytime, lucid dreams, interest toward dreams, problem solving and creative dreams, and dreams affecting daytime mood emerged in probable MDers compared to non-MDers. No differences were observed in the emotional tone of dreams. From the quali–quantitative analysis of dream narratives, similar themes emerged in probable MDers and non-MDers, except for a cluster named Dreaming the loss of others, where the non-MDers variable is highly represented. Our results highlight some significant differences between probable MDers and non-MDers with respect to dreaming activity. The massive use of dream activity as an affective regulator emerges for both probable MDers and non-MDers during lockdown.

The study aimed at exploring gender and additional sociodemographic differences in psychological resilience, as well as the association between resilience and psychological distress in older adults, during the first lockdown in Italy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants attended an online survey during the first lockdown in May 2020. Psychological distress was assessed through the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, the Resilience Scale (RS) was administered to evaluate psychological resilience, and sociodemographic variables were also collected. The study involved 108 community older adults (mean age 70.02 ± 3.5 years). Comparisons revealed that women reported significantly lower total scores of RS (p = 0.027), as well as lower levels of resilience-related domains, namely Meaningfulness (p = 0.049), Self-Reliance (p = 0.011), Perseverance (p = 0.035), and Existential Aloneness (p = 0.014), compared to men. Significantly higher RS scores were found in older adults being involved in a relationship, compared to those not involved in relationships (p = 0.026), and in older adults with children (p = 0.015), compared to those without offspring, suggesting the importance for older adults of not dealing alone with such a dramatic and stressful event, such as the pandemic. Negative correlations were found between psychological resilience and stress, depression, and anxiety. Linear regressions revealed that lower RS total scores, as well as lower scores in the majority of the RS scales, were associated with greater levels of stress, greater levels of anxiety, and greater levels of depressive symptoms. This study suggested that older women might appear more vulnerable in facing the pandemic, compared to men; having not lived alone through the lockdown period might also be considered as a factor of resilience for older adults.

The aim of the current cross-sectional study is to assess the relations between emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, emotional eating, and BMI in a sample of Italian young adults (20-35).A total sample of 600 participants frm the general population, were asked to fill in demographical and physical data, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire via an online anonymous survey. Relations between variables have been inspected using a path model.Results showed that emotion dysregulation was a contributor to higher levels of psychological distress [b= 0.348; SE: 0.020; p=0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.306-0.387)] and emotional eating [b= 0.010; SE: 0.002; p=0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.006-0.014)] which in turn, was related to higher Body Mass Index [b= 0.0574; SE: 0.145; p=0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.286-0.863)].By providing additional evidence concerning the role of emotion dysregulation for physical and psychological outcomes, the current study could inform for improving psychological interventions aimed to promote emotion regulation strategies aimed at fostering physical and psychological well-being.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an update on sleep quality in different world areas and better characterize subjective sleep alterations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering gender distribution and specific pandemic-related parameters, we also intend to identify significant predictors of sleep problems.Six electronic databases were searched from December 2019 to November 2021 for studies investigating sleep during COVID-19 employing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep, the Insomnia Severity Index or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Random-effects models were implemented to estimate the pooled raw means of subjective sleep alterations. Also, we considered the role of several pandemic-related parameters (i.e., days from the first COVID-19 case, government stringency index, new cases for a million people, new deaths for a million people) by means of meta-regression analyses.A total of 139 studies were selected. The pooled mean of the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (PSQIWe found an overall impaired sleep and widespread subthreshold insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The female percentage seems to be the best predictor of impaired sleep quality, consistently to the available literature. Noteworthy, sleep alterations were inversely associated with governmental restrictions and decreased during the pandemic. Our results give a contribution to critically orienting further studies on sleep since COVID-19 pandemic.

Problematic Social Networking Sites Use (PSNSU) has been indicated as potentially detrimental for users' mental and sleep health. The present study tested whether PSNSU is directly associated with poor sleep quality and indirectly via psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression) in a healthy adult sample of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) users.Cross-sectional study among Italian adults who completed online questionnaires between December 2020 and January 2021.Italy.A convenient sample of N = 726 SNSs users (51.8% females; mean age = 28.59 years, SD = 8.19 years).Self-report data were collected on problematic social networking sites use, sleep quality, psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression), and socio-demographics.PSNSU was not directly associated with poor sleep quality. Depression and stress mediated such association.Healthcare providers should consider psychological distress and PSNSU when encountering sleep problems, with consideration of the potentially important role of users' age and mental health status.

Stigmatizing attitudes have been found among psychology students in many studies, and they are becoming more common with time.This study examines whether participation in clinical psychology lessons reduces levels of stigmatization in a population of psychology students and whether it leads to any change in stigmatization.The study is a pre/post evaluation of the effectiveness of clinical psychology lessons (63 hours of lectures) as a tool to fight stigma. The presence of stigmatizing attitudes was detected using the Italian version of the Attribution Questionnaire-27 (AQ-27-I). Stigmatization was described before and after the lessons with structured equation modeling (SEM).Of a total of 387 students contacted, 302 (78.04%) agreed to be involved in the study, but only 266 (68.73%) completed the questionnaires at both t0 and t1. A statistically significant reduction was seen in all six scales and the total score on the AQ-27-I. The models defined by the SEM (pre- and post-intervention) showed excellent model fit indices and described different dynamics of the phenomenon of stigma.A cycle of clinical psychology lessons can be a useful tool for reducing stigmatizing attitudes in a population of students seeking a psychology degree.

Alessandro Musetti,1,* Alessio Gori,2,* Alessia Alessandra,3 Eleonora Topino,4 Grazia Terrone,5 Giuseppe Plazzi,6,7 Marco Cacioppo,4 Christian Franceschini3 1Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 2Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 3Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 4Department of Human Sciences, Lumsa University of Rome, Rome, Italy; 5Department of History, Cultural Heritage, Education and Society, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 6Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; 7IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna (ISNB), Bologna, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Alessandro Musetti,Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi 10, Parma, 43121, Italy, Tel +39 0521 034820, Email alessandro.musetti@unipr.itPurpose: Although a link between problematic online pornographic use (POPU) and insomnia symptoms has been established, psychological and psychopathological mechanisms underlying this relationship are still not clear. Psychological stress and emotion dysregulation have been pointed out as relevant in the development and maintenance of insomnia. This study aims to explore the associations between POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation and insomnia symptoms and to understand the mediating role of psychological stress and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between POPU and insomnia symptoms.Participants and Methods: A sample of 776 Italian adults aged 19– 48 years (51.4% female; M age = 28.49; SD = 7.33) completed questionnaires regarding demographics, COVID-19-related variables, POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation, and insomnia symptoms.Results: After controlling for demographic covariates and COVID-19-related variables, multiple mediation model showed that higher psychological stress and emotion dysregulation fully mediated the link between POPU and insomnia.Conclusion: The findings underscore the significance of the negative consequences of POPU and underline the importance of working on this and its effects on psychological stress and emotion dysregulation to limit insomnia.Keywords: addictive behaviors, online pornography, problematic online pornographic use, stress, emotion dysregulation, clinical psychology, insomnia

The psychological consequences of COVID-19 pandemic may include the activation of stress systems, that involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which influences many physiological functions, including sleep. Despite epidemiological studies evidenced greater prevalence of stress symptoms and sleep disturbances during COVID-19, longitudinal evidence investigating the effects of stress on sleep disturbances during the pandemic is lacking. We collected measures of perceived stress and sleep disturbances during the first wave of COVID-19 (March 2020) and at 8–10 months follow up in a sample of 648 adults (M = 33.52, SD = 12.98 years). Results showed that 39.4% of participants reported moderate to extremely severe stress in March 2020. Prevalence of sleep disturbances was 54.8% in March 2020 and 57.4% at follow-up. Structural equation modelling highlighted that perceived stress in March 2020 significantly predicted sleep disturbances at follow up (β = 0.203; p

The present study investigated the integrated role of emotional neglect, bodily threat, and defense mechanisms in understanding sleep quality and psychosis experiences in a sample of emerging adults. A sample of 898 emerging adults (295 males) with an age range between 19 and 30 years participated in this study. The emotional neglect and bodily threat factors of the Traumatic Experiences Checklist, the Defense Style Questionnaire-40, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the psychosis factor of the Inventory of Personality Organization were administered. Results of path analyses showed that the emotional neglect and bodily threat factors predicted lower sleep quality. A path from emotional neglect and bodily threat to sleep quality via defense styles was also found. The defense styles mediated the relationships between emotional neglect and bodily threat factor with psychosis experiences. These findings provide new insight into the psychological mechanisms underlying the onset of poor sleep quality and psychotic experiences during emerging adulthood.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the role of sleep disturbances and sleep disorders in influencing presence and intensity of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). We included cohort studies which enrolled adults, assessed sleep disturbances or disorders before surgery, measured pain intensity, presence of pain, or opioid use at least three months after surgery. Eighteen studies were included in a narrative synthesis and 12 in a meta-analysis. Sleep disturbances and disorders were significantly related to CPSP, with a small effect size, r = 0.13 (95% CI 0.06-0.20). The certainty of evidence was rated low due to risk of bias and heterogeneity. In subgroup analyses the above association was significant in studies that used pain intensity as the outcome, but not in those that used presence of pain; in studies on patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty or other surgeries, but not in those on patients who had breast cancer surgery or total hip arthroplasty; in the single study that assessed insomnia and in studies that assessed sleep disturbances as predictors. A meta-regression showed that the follow-up length was positively associated with the overall estimate. Our findings suggest that presurgical sleep disturbances and disorders should be evaluated to detect patients at risk for CPSP. Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=272654.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The media are the primary sources of information about health for the public. The media portrayal of narcolepsy might contribute to the stigmatization of people affected by this condition. This study aimed to describe how narcolepsy is portrayed in newspapers. METHODS: We collected 257 newspaper articles from the digital archive of La Stampa published between 1980 and 2020 that mentioned key search terms. The content was assessed using an ad hoc coding schema developed to evaluate the presence of sensationalistic title, negative language, stigmatizing content, stereotypical description, disclosure of a person diagnosed with narcolepsy, person with narcolepsy described as dangerous, presence of an accurate diagnosis, identifiable symptoms, indications about diagnostic and treatment services. Chi-square analysis was performed to identify changes over time in the type of content. RESULTS: In 10.9% of the articles, there was a sensationalistic title; inappropriate, negative, and outdated language appeared in 10.5% of the articles. Stigmatizing and stereotypical content was reported in 19.5% and 14.8% of the articles, respectively. In 62.3% of the articles, it was disclosed that a person had narcolepsy, and in 5.1% of the articles patients with narcolepsy were described as dangerous. The presence of an accurate diagnosis was referred to in 30.4% of the articles, while 16.7% described identifiable symptoms. Services for diagnosis and treatment were mentioned in 24.1% of the articles. Changes over time in the content of articles are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight areas for improvement in the media portrayal of narcolepsy and could help guide the development of new targeted anti-stigma campaigns. CITATION: Varallo G, Pingani L, Musetti A, et al. Portrayals of narcolepsy from 1980 to 2020: a descriptive analysis of stigmatizing content in newspaper articles. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(7):1769–1778.

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are critical periods for young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is a lack of appropriate and affordable services available.The Il Tortellante® is an Italian project aimed at promoting adaptive behavior and social skills, and at reducing the severity of symptomatology through a culinary group intervention in which young people with ASD learn to make fresh pasta by hand.A longitudinal study was conducted.Before and after the intervention, 20 participants were assessed based on the severity of symptoms, social skills, and adaptive behaviors.According to our findings, severity of symptoms and daily living skills improved significantly.A culinary intervention may be useful for adolescents and young adults with ASD to improve daily living skills and reduce ASD-related symptomatology.Services and associations may consider developing a culinary laboratory for people with ASD to improve group intervention proposals for adolescents and emerging adults. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS?: This paper offers one of the first investigations of the impact of a culinary laboratory on ASD symptoms, social skills, and adaptive behavior in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ASD. This group intervention could contribute to expand the range of interventions targeted at adolescents and young adults with ASD, to reduce the severity of symptoms, and to promote adaptive behaviors.

Anna Guerrini Usubini,1,2 Grazia Terrone,3 Giorgia Varallo,1,2 Roberto Cattivelli,4 Giuseppe Plazzi,5,6 Gianluca Castelnuovo,1,2 Adriano Schimmenti,7 Alessandro Musetti,8 Christian Franceschini9 1Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, Milan, Italy; 2Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 3Department of History, Cultural Heritage, Education and Society, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 4Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, Italy; 5Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy; 6IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna (ISNB), Bologna, 40139, Italy; 7Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, Enna, Italy; 8Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; 9Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, ItalyCorrespondence: Alessandro Musetti, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi 10, Parma, 43121, Italy, Tel +39 0521 034820, Email alessandro.musetti@unipr.itPurpose: The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of emotion dysregulation and problematic Internet use in the relationship between negative affect and excessive daytime sleepiness.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 664 Italian adults aged between 18 and 70 years (M = 32.13; SD = 11.71). Participants were asked to complete the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Compulsive Internet Use Scale-7, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess negative affect, emotion dysregulation, problematic internet use, and excessive daytime sleepiness, respectively.Results: According to our results there are significant associations between negative affect, emotion dysregulation, problematic Internet use, and daytime sleepiness. Moreover, the structural equation model showed good fit indices. Emotion dysregulation and problematic Internet use partially mediated the relationship between negative mood and excessive daytime sleepiness.Conclusion: By exploring the role of emotion dysregulation on the association between excessive daytime sleepiness and its possible predictors, our study might represent an important step toward the implementation of psychological intervention for reducing excessive daytime sleepiness. Emotion dysregulation appears to play a significant role in explaining the relationship between negative affect, problematic Internet use, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Thus, it should be considered a treatment target for reducing excessive daytime sleepiness.Keywords: negative affect, psychological distress, excessive daytime sleepiness, emotion dysregulation, problematic Internet use