L’università è comunità: psicologia per la didattica: apprendimento a distanza, interazione e riflessività

[Italiano]: Il volume l’Università è comunità racconta con immagini l’esperienza degli studenti di psicologia di comunità del corso triennale in Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche dell’Università Federico II di Napoli offrendo uno spaccato di emozioni, interrogativi e scelte. Le Università italiane affrontano la pandemia Covid 19 accogliendo i propri studenti in classi virtuali. Questo libretto fotografico illustra metodi e strategie della psicologia di comunità che danno voce ai problemi e alle risorse messe in campo dagli studenti. Il confinamento forzato ha messo in luce il ruolo della dimensione riflessiva e interattiva nella costruzione del sapere e nella acquisizione scientifica. Infatti, l’impossibilità del contatto e della interazione face to face ha evidenziato le potenzialità della didattica a distanza e l’importanza di spazi di condivisione e relazione. L’introduzione è di Matteo Lorito, Rettore, e la premessa di Gaetano Manfredi, Ministro dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica ./[English]: The volume "The University is community" tells through images the experience of the community psychology students of the Psychological Sciences and Techniques course of the Federico II University of Naples, offering a cross-section of emotions, questions and choices. Italian universities are facing the Covid 19 pandemic by scaffolding their students in virtual classrooms. This photo-booklet highlights the community psychology methods and strategies which witness the students’ strains and strengths. Forced confinement has highlighted the role of the reflective and interactive dimension in the construction of knowledge and scientific acquisition. In fact, the impossibility of contact and face-to-face interaction has highlighted the potential of distance didactic and importance of spaces for sharing and relating. The introduction is by Matteo Lorito, Rector of the University, and the premise is by Gaetano Manfredi, Minister of University and Scientific Research

Well-Being and the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Community Psychology Systematic Review

The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects through the lens of community psychology. Our study applied PRISMA methodology, and it was carried out using the PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, and EBSCO databases utilizing the keywords “connectedness,” “resilience,” “shared action,” “social action,” “trust,” “individual well-being,” and “social well-being.” We selected 12 of 216 eligible publications based on the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that the role of trust in institutions and others is a protective factor for communities that experience crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, developing social actions promoted connections and social support and that, in the absence of in-person communication, online communication promoted connections and reduced psychological distress and isolation. Finally, the study revealed that some psychosocial factors stem from declines in people’s well-being due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Furthermore, our findings highlighted the role of technology as a positive communication tool for promoting connectedness and social support, as well as the social function of trust in institutions. Our results suggested that community interactions at the local and virtual levels should be viewed as positive actions to support institutions in detecting the most effective social intervention measures to stimulate individual and community well-being during the pandemic. These findings may serve as a guide for health policymakers in their efforts to face the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic supporting beneficial strategies for social planning and effective public policies. Finally, both the strengths and limitations of the research will be discussed in depth

Psychological Lockdown Experiences: Downtime or an Unexpected Time For Being?

The spread of COVID-19 in Italy resulted in the implementation of a lockdown that obligated the first time the general populace to remain at home for approximately two months. This lockdown interrupted citizens’ professional and educational activities, in addition to closing shops, offices and educational institutions. The resulting changes in people’s daily routines and activities induced unexpected changes in their thoughts, feelings and attitudes, in addition to altering their life perceptions. Consequently, the present study explores how young adults perceived their lives under lockdown during the final week of March 2020, when the reported number of daily coronavirus infections reached its peak in Italy. The research was carried out among 293 university students (234 women and 59 men) with an average age of 20.85 years old (SD = 3.23). The researchers asked participants to describe the emotions, thoughts and experiences that characterized their time under lockdown. The study analyzed specific narratives related to time and space using grounded theory methodology, which was applied using Atlas 8 software, leading to the creation of 68 codes. The study organized these codes into three specific categories: confined in the present, confined in the past, and striving toward one’s goals. Finally, the researchers also created a core-category labeled “continuity of being.” The results showed that the closure of open spaces caused a division in participants’ perceptions of time continuity, with many viewing themselves as feeling fragmented and as living the present in a static and fixed way. Additionally, participants also saw the present as being discontinuous from the past, while, simultaneously, projecting toward the future and the changes it might bring. Finally, this study examined further implications surrounding individual projecting among young people in greater depth

Contextual influences on Italian university students during the COVID-19 lockdown: Emotional responses, coping strategies and resilience

Based on an ecological perspective on the COVID-19 lockdown experience, this study describes psychological responses among Italian university students. Our study considers three zones of the country that have differed in the intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this research explores whether differences in pandemic conditions can account for their divergent psychological outcomes. The participants were 792 university students from seven different Italian universities. Students were asked to express their emotions and describe meaningful events during the lockdown in writing. Based on the grounded theory approach, this study conducted qualitative data analysis using ATLAS.ti 8.0. The core emerged categories are emotions, emotional moods and state of mind, coping strategies, and resilience. The results describing these emergent factors in relation to environmental variables highlight differences in the feeling of anxiety among individuals: anxiety was more self-focused in zones that were more affected by the lockdown, while such anxiety was more related to family and friends in less-affected zones. In addition to identifying the negative repercussions that this emergency has had, this study describes some positive outcomes, such as the elaboration of new personal perspectives that help foster individual growth and allow individuals to gain new awareness of themselves and others. The confinement due to the COVID-19 emergency measures has been a very unique experience for people, and further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the different coping responses activated by participants during and after the lockdown

Remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study on the emotional and relational experience and on the well-being of Italian university scholars and clerks

Introduction: This study investigated the emotions, relational experience and well-being of university scholars and clerks who continued their activities working remotely during the Italian lockdown period (March and April 2020). Methods: Eighty-seven workers (55% scholars and 45% university clerks) filled out an online quali-quantitative questionnaire about their work remotely during the lockdown. Qualitative data were analyzed through Grounded Theory Methodology. Then cross-tabs were created to intertwine the code groups that emerged with work role and gender of participants and frequencies were analyzed by Chi square test. Data were also analyzed through Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: The results showed that scholars consider remote working mainly as a critical issue, while clerks see it more as a resource. Clerks more frequently reported negative affectivity such as anxiety, fear and anger, while scholars more frequently reported loneliness. Regarding interpersonal relationships, no significant differences between scholars and clerks were observed. Moreover, clerks reported lower physical, psychological, economic and overall well-being compared to scholars. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of the mattering role of human relations in work activities. Without taking into account the emotional and relational needs of the workers, remote working can have negative effects on well-being