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Introduction: Parenthood is a composite experience in which personal, couple, relational, environmental, historical and cultural variables interact. In recent years, western societies have experienced a steady downward trend in the birth rate. On the other hand, scientific contributions, in which a qualitative methodology prevails, highlight the tendency of this experience to be positive. There is therefore an interest in exploring this topic in greater depth, also with quantitative studies, but above all in highlighting what changes, or maturing, happens in adults, sometimes after the birth of their children. Objectives: Our study aims to investigate parenthood through the administration of an ad hoc questionnaire. In particular, we investigate the psycho-relational changes that the experience of parenthood (after at least 3 years) may have promoted in women and men, specifically with respect to self-perception and relationships, both with their own parents, within the couple, and in object relations in general, and we compare the evaluations of mothers and fathers. Method: With prior permission and written informed consent, the self-report was distributed in various kindergartens. The sample consisted of 326 subjects, of whom187 mothers and 139 fathers, residing in northern Italy. Results: Three main components emerged from the factor analysis of the questionnaire: Openness Factor, Castling or Closure Factor, and Depth Factor. The reliability statistic indicates a Cronbach's alpha of 0.74. According to our sample parenthood promotes positive changes; among these, the most widespread are an increase in tenderness (92,7%), sense of responsibility (89,1%), perception of feeling older and more capable (88,4%), gratitude towards their partner (81.5%), and perception of a strengthening of the couple bond (86,5%). Increased tenderness and gratitude are particularly significant indicators of mental functioning. Other changes present more articulated distributions, and it is interesting to note that the direction of change fostered by parenthood is not unique and does not follow a fixed rule. Conclusions: Parenthood can open a time window in which greater plasticity and readiness to change are possible. Parenthood is therefore a precious opportunity (but not a certainty) to promote a growth in maturity for adults., Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol 10, No 3 (2022)

Background: urinary incontinence (UI) is a disease that inevitably affects the quality of women's lives in many ways. In accordance with the analysis of the literature and the specific nature of the disorder, it is believed that two of the relevant factors for assessing the quality of life of these women are sexuality and psychological well-being. Methods: it proposes a pilot study on a sample of 97 Italian women attending an outpatient urology department to investigate sexuality in women with urinary incontinence. To better understand the way in which these women live their sexuality, this dimension was placed into relation with couple satisfaction, with depression and, for the first time, with alexithymia, trying to determine if there is any correlation between these different variables. Results: Sexuality plays an important role in women's lives, but in our study, it is a factor that seems a bit inconsistent. About the role of alexithymia, the sample does not differ from the population values, except for the third factor. Moreover, a high percentage seems to be aware of psychological problems, although more related to the past. Normally, couple happiness is expected to include a healthy sex life, but not so in this sample and regardless of age. Conclusions: The results of the study may suggest that beyond the common symptom, urinary incontinence, women present different characteristics and various psychological functioning, even in the presence of a widespread sexual difficulty. In order to better understand the complex nature of the interplay between these different variables it would be appropriate both to carry out a careful inquiry on the couple's sexuality before the onset of incontinence symptoms and to consider the subjectivity of the experiences of each individual patient during clinical assessment., Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol 9, No 2 (2021)

Introduction: Aggressiveness is an essential component of every living thing and the experience of anger is common to all historical periods, all ages and all mental structures. Different forms and narrative ways of anger can be found in each society and can, therefore, become indicators of some aspects of society itself.Method: Starting from the emphasis that our society attributes to forms of anger and violence and their narration as incomprehensible, the scientific contributions on the subject and some characteristics of our culture are highlighted. Our society, on one hand, increases the triggers suitable to trigger anger, on the other silences and disapproves all forms of anger and even aggressiveness.Conclusions: There is a discrepancy between scientific contributions and the representation of anger in the media. The cultural operation for which we focus only on extreme episodes and repress the presence of other universal forms of anger seems to respond not only to the need to make the news but seems to indicate difficulties and defense mechanisms against aggressiveness and anger (potentially healthy and universal). It is also a way of not seeing our social responsibility and is also a missed opportunity to think about effective prevention., Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol 8, No 1 (2020)