SODDISFAZIONE DI COPPIA TRA MINDFULNESS, AZIONE IMPEGNATA ED EMPATIA

In letteratura solo recentemente si è sviluppato uno specifico filone di ricerca finalizzato ad indagare la relazione tra mindfulness e soddisfazione di coppia, definibile come la soggettiva e globale valutazione della propria relazione intima. In particolare, tale relazione è stata approfondita testando diversi costrutti che potessero giocare un ruolo di mediazione tra le due variabili: tra questi, l’empatia ha mostrato risultati contrastanti in diversi studi. Anche l’Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), un approccio cognitivo-comportamentale di terza generazione che integra la mindfulness all’interno del proprio modello, solo negli ultimi anni si è interessato alle relazioni di coppia sviluppando un protocollo clinico adattato ad esse. Tuttavia, sebbene alcuni studi abbiano indagato l’efficacia di tale approccio nell’ambito delle relazioni intime, le conoscenze sul contributo specifico dei singoli processi ACT circa la soddisfazione di coppia sono molto limitate. Il presente studio si propone quindi sia di verificare la relazione tra i processi mindfulness e la soddisfazione di coppia che testare l’empatia, scomposta in cognitiva ed affettiva, in un modello mediazionale. Inoltre, lo studio analizza il contributo delle abilità di mindfulness in confronto al contributo dello stile impegnato per predire la qualità della relazione di coppia. Hanno partecipato allo studio 229 soggetti impegnati in una relazione sentimentale da almeno tre settimane. I partecipanti hanno compilato una batteria di questionari finalizzati a misurare le abilità di mindfulness, valori ed azione impegnata, empatia e qualità della relazione di coppia. Le Analisi di Regressione, effettuate per testare il modello mediazionale, mostrano che solo la componente cognitiva dell’empatia, e non quella affettiva, media l’effetto di alcune abilità di mindfulness sulla soddisfazione di coppia. Tali risultati suggeriscono quindi che adottare un atteggiamento mindful ha un effetto indiretto sulla qualità della relazione di coppia, che si esplica tramite il potenziamento delle capacità di riconoscimento delle esperienze emotive e dei sentimenti del partner e non attraverso un aumento della risposta emotiva a tali attivazioni. Inoltre, le Analisi di Regressione Gerarchica Multipla mostrano che lo stile impegnato contribuisce a spiegare il costrutto della soddisfazione di coppia in modo maggiore rispetto alle abilità di mindfulness, dimostrandosi quindi un predittore più efficace. Tale risultato si mostra coerente con alcune ipotesi delineate in letteratura e con l’impostazione dell’intervento clinico ACT adattato alle coppie, il quale dà priorità ad un intervento terapeutico focalizzato sui valori e sull’impegno nell’azione, e solo successivamente propone ad entrambi i partner un training mirato all’aumento delle abilità di mindfulness

Aspetti critici della disforia di genere come categoria diagnostica

This paper provides a general critical overview of “gender dysphoria” as a DSM-5 diagnostic category. Gender dysphoria refers to persistent psychological distress associated with the incongruence between the assigned gender at birth and gender identity in transgender people. Previous research suggests that people with gender dysphoria have a higher risk of psychiatric comorbidity than general population samples. There is evidence that stressful events related to discrimination, stigma and social exclusion against transgender people contribute to explain, at least in part, gender dysphoria and comorbidity in this population. Furthermore, pathologizing gender dysphoria, thorough the disease connotations of this diagnostic label, may increase stigma and discrimination towards transgender people

The contribution of Valued Living and Committed Action to explain Couple Satisfaction in Emerging Adults

Introduction: Psychological Flexibility (PF) has been defined as the ability to contact the present moment more fully as a conscious human being, and to persist or change behavior in the service of chosen life values. A large body of research has consistently showed that PF is associated with improved physical, social and emotional functioning. PF is suggested to comprise several processes including mindfulness, values, and committed action. In recent years there has been growing interest in the PF model to explain couple satisfaction. In this context, research to date has predominantly focussed on mindfulness, with findings consistently linking mindfulness to higher relationship satisfaction. By contrast, the contribution of other PF processes to relationship outcomes has been largely neglected. This study explored the contribution of valued living and committed action to explain couple satisfaction in a sample of emerging adults. Methods: Participants were 229 young adults between 18 and 31 years old (M = 22.26, DS = 2.97) involved in a dating relationship of at least three weeks duration. Subjects completed self-report measures of mindfulness (the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills that assesses four mindfulness facets: “Observing”, “Describing”, “Acceptance” and “Acting with Awareness”), valued living (Valued Living Questionnaire), committed action (Committed Action Questionnaire) and couple satisfaction (Romantic Relationship Quality Scale). Results: Higher scores in the “Observing” and the “Acting with Awareness” facets of mindfulness were associated with higher relationship satisfaction. As expected, both valued living and committed action did positively correlate with relationship satisfaction. The results from Hierarchical Regression Analyses showed that valued living and committed action added a significant increment of explained variance to predict couple satisfaction, above and beyond background characteristics and measures of mindfulness. Discussion: Findings from this study support the incremental validity of an engaged response style, as conceptualized in the PF model, to explain couple satisfaction independently of mindfulness skills. These results suggest that when young adults are in contact with their chosen values through valued actions in everyday life they may experience a deeper sense of connection and intimacy with their partners and higher couple satisfaction. Conclusions: The engaged response style seems to play a unique role in the relationship satisfaction beyond similar and related theoretical processes such as mindfulness

Process of Psychological Flexibility and Anger

Introduction: Psychological flexibility (PF) has emerged as an important process in understanding adaptive functioning and adjustment. PF refers to the ability to persist or change behavior in the service of long-term life values. Previous research has consistently related PF to diminished psychological distress and enhanced psychological well-being and life satisfaction. Recent research indicates that PF is also associated with lower anger dysregulation and aggressive behavior. PF is composed of six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, flexible present-focused attention, self-as-context, values-based action, and committed action. This study focusses on how PF affects anger by investigating the contribution of some of these specific PF processes to dysfunctional anger. Methods: Participants were 391 undergraduate students (64.4% females; mean age = 21.99; SD = 2.13) recruited at the University of Pisa (Italy). They completed measures of valued living (Valued Living Questionnaire), committed action (Committed Action Questionnaire), cognitive defusion (Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire), acceptance and contact with the present moment (Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills). The STAXI-II was used to assess four different dimensions of anger: a) aggressive behaviour directed toward other persons or objects (Anger Expression-Out, AE-O); b) inward expression of anger (Anger Expression-In; AE-I); c) attempts to prevent the expression of anger (Anger Control-Out, AC-O); and, d) controlling angry feelings by calming down or cooling off (Anger Control-In, AC-I). Four Hierarchical Regression Analyses were conducted to explore the contribution of the PI processes to each anger dimension. Results: All PF processes were significantly associated with lower anger expression and higher control of anger, with the exception of valued living that did not significantly correlate with two anger domains (i.e., AC-O and AE-O). After controlling for background variables, PF processes explained a statistically significant portion of variance in each dimension of anger (from 5% for AC-O to 27% for AE-I). Four out of five PF processes proved to significantly predict anger dimensions. Acceptance was a significant predictor of lower anger expression, while committed action was a significant predictor of higher anger control. Lower valued living and higher cognitive fusion scores did significantly predict higher AE-I. Discussion: Acceptance seems to play a central role in determining lower levels of anger expression. This finding is in line with hypotheses from the PF model suggesting that aggressive behaviour may function as a way to avoid contact with inner unpleasant experiences. Committed action proved to be important for the control dimensions of anger, suggesting that when people act in accordance with their values they are more inclined to inhibit their aggressive behaviour and angry thoughts, perhaps because value-based actions are in contrast with aggressive behaviour. These results also support hypotheses from the PF model suggesting that rigid cognitive fusion with angry thoughts leads to enhanced feelings of anger. Conclusion: PF processes seem to contribute in different ways to anger expression and control

Tumminaro, G., Pasciuto, A., Compare, L. & Berrocal Montiel, C. (2021). "Aspetti critici della disforia di genere come categoria diagnostica". Open Journal of Humanities, 7: 177-209

This paper provides a general critical overview of “gender dysphoria” as a DSM-5 diagnostic category. Gender dysphoria refers to persistent psychological distress associated with the incongruence between the assigned gender at birth and gender identity in transgender people. Previous research suggests that people with gender dysphoria have a higher risk of psychiatric comorbidity than general population samples. There is evidence that stressful events related to discrimination, stigma and social exclusion against transgender people contribute to explain, at least in part, gender dysphoria and comorbidity in this population. Furthermore, pathologizing gender dysphoria, through the disease connotations of this diagnostic label, may increase stigma and discrimination towards transgender people

Proprietà psicometriche dell’Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y) in soggetti di 6-11 anni

The Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth is a child-report measure designed to assess Psychological Inflexibility (PI). Previous research explored the psychometric properties of the short version of the questionnaire (AFQ-Y8) in Italian students aged between 11-18. This study expanded previous research on the AFQ-Y8 by exploring its psychometric properties in younger students. Participants were 102 students (51% males; mean age = 9.2; SD = 1.3) and their parents. Parents included 74 mothers (Mean age = 43.7; SD = 4.0) and 67 fathers (Mean age = 47; SD = 4.6). Students completed the AFQ-Y8 and self-report measures of anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and mindfulness. Parents completed measures of PI and psychological distress. The results suggested a reduced version of the scale with 7 items (AFQ-Y7). The AFQ-Y7 showed a unidimensional structure and adequate internal consistency. AFQ-Y7 scores positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, and negatively with mindfulness. Higher levels of father’s PI were associated with higher children’s PI. The contribution of the AFQ-Y7 to predict children depression and anxiety was statistically significant above and beyond measures of parental distress. Findings suggest that the AFQ-Y7 is a reliable, valid, and useful measure of PI in children aged between 6-11

Bernini, O., Compare, L., Paolini, C., Cincidda, C. & Berrocal Montiel, C. 2020. "Distress psicologico e soddisfazione di vita in popolazione universitaria: il ruolo dell’Inflessibilità Psicologica [Psychological distress and life satisfaction in university populations: the role of psychological inflexibility]". Open Journal of Humanities, 5: 219-252

Psychological Inflexibility (PI) has emerged as a compelling construct to explain psychological distress (PD). Different processes have been hypothesized to underlie PI, including high experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, and low committed action. This study explored whether these PI processes significantly contributed to explain PD and life satisfaction in Italian undergraduate students. Participants were 105 undergraduate students with high PD (clinical group) and a control group of 182 students. They completed self-report measures of the PI processes, PD and life satisfaction. The clinical group reported higher levels of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, and lower levels of committed action than the control group. Inflexibility processes explained 29% to 49% of the variation across all outcome measures in both groups. Findings support PI processes as general risk factors for a poorer emotional adjustment and life satisfaction in college students

Distress psicologico e soddisfazione di vita in popolazione universitaria: il ruolo dell’Inflessibilità Psicologica [Psychological distress and life satisfaction in university populations: the role of psychological inflexibility]

Psychological Inflexibility (PI) has emerged as a compelling construct to explain psychological distress (PD). Different processes have been hypothesized to underlie PI, including high experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, and low committed action. This study explored whether these PI processes significantly contributed to explain PD and life satisfaction in Italian undergraduate students. Participants were 105 undergraduate students with high PD (clinical group) and a control group of 182 students. They completed self-report measures of the PI processes, PD and life satisfaction. The clinical group reported higher levels of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, and lower levels of committed action than the control group. Inflexibility processes explained 29% to 49% of the variation across all outcome measures in both groups. Findings support PI processes as general risk factors for a poorer emotional adjustment and life satisfaction in college students

The Italian version of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (I-IPSM): psychometric properties in non-clinical young adults

The Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) is a self-report questionnaire developed to assess five dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity. Previous research suggests that the factorial structure of the IPSM is not clear enough. Moreover, the factor structure of the Italian version of the questionnaire (I-IPSM) has not yet been studied. This study explored the factorial structure, internal consistency and construct validity of the I-IPSM in a non-clinical sample of young adults. Participants were 374 adults (64,4% females) aged between 18 and 31 years (M = 21.96; DS = 2.91). They completed the I-IPSM and self-report measures of depression, anxiety, anger, and life satisfaction. The results from Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) did not support the original five-factor solution for the I-IPSM items. The EFA yielded three interpretable factors (Interpersonal Worry and Dependency, Low Self-Esteem, and Unassertive Interpersonal Behavior), and a total of 27 items were retained. Internal consistency was good. I-IPSM-27 scores positively correlated with depression, anxiety and externalized anger, and negatively with life satisfaction. The I-IPSM-27 seems a reliable and valid tool for studying interpersonal sensitivity in Italian young adults

Anger expression and control in emerging adults: the relationship with psychological inflexibility

Psychological Inflexibility (PI) refers to the rigid dominance of internal reactions (e.g., thoughts, feelings, memories) over personal values and contingencies in guiding action. Previous research suggests that PI impacts negatively on emotion regulation. This study examined the effect of PI and gender on anger and aggressive behaviour in emerging adulthood, a developmental phase characterized by increased emotionality. Participants were 382 emerging adults (64.4% females; mean age: 22, SD = 2.9) recruited at the University of Pisa, Italy. Males and females were divided into two groups - high and low-PI - based on the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II scores. The STAXI-II was used to assess anger dimensions: expressing anger outwardly (AE-O), inward expression of anger (AE-I), attempts to control the expression of anger (AC-O), and inward control of anger (AC-I). ANCOVA analyses were conducted to explore the effects of PI and gender on anger. The interaction effect (gender x PI) was not statistically significant. Females showed lower AC-O and AE-I than males, and this effect was statistically significant. Participants with high PI showed higher scores on the expression dimensions and lower scores on the control facets than participants with low PI. Inflexible individuals are less capable of controlling anger and more prone to express it both internally and externally. Findings support the relevance of addressing PI in emerging adulthood to better understand and prevent anger dysregulation and violence