How self-regulated learning strategies interfere between metacognitions and decisional procrastination

Generally conceptualized as a failure of performance, procrastination has been a central focus of psycho-educational research. Among the various facets of the construct, decisional procrastination has been scarcely analyzed in relation with self-regulated learning strategies. Assuming a cognitive standpoint we investigated the linkage between decisional procrastination and metacognitive beliefs about procrastination, taking into account self-regulated learning strategies as potential mediators. A sample of 296 undergraduate students filled out a questionnaire measuring metacognitive beliefs about procrastination, concentration on academic tasks and interests in academic success, and decisional procrastination. The hypothesized model was partially confirmed: Results from structural equation model indicated that: (1) positive metacognitive beliefs about procrastination had an adverse impact on both concentration and interests; (2) concentration mediated the relationship between positive metacognitions and decisional procrastination. Although the results were preliminary in nature, they provided a basis for examining procrastination as a barrier to academic success. Some professional indications for education were suggested

The Revised Identity Style Inventory: Factor Structure and Validity in Italian Speaking Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent and discriminant validity of scores on an Italian translation of the Revised Identity Style Inventory (ISI-5) with samples of 237 adolescents (50 males, Mage = 18.04, SD = .86) and 268 university students (42 males, Mage = 22.71, SD = 3.70). Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated that a three-factor solution provided a good fit, which was invariant across age and sex groups. The theoretically relationships between scores on the ISI and scores on measures of reasoning and identity processes, identity commitment, and social desirability were partially consistent, thus further studies are needed to give more evidence to the convergent and discriminant validity

Factores motivacionales relacionados con la agresividad en las artes marciales

Hasta hoy, muchas investigaciones sobre las diferencias individuales en las artes marciales han mostrado efectos tanto positivos como negativos de este deporte sobre los comportamientos antisociales. La finalidad del presente trabajo cross-seccional fue analizar un modelo de mediación en donde la orientación motivacional, la motvación autodeterminada y la deportividad son factores predictivos de la agresividad. Artistas marciales italianos (N = 366) completaron un cuestionario para medir la orientación motivacional (TEOSQ), la motivación autodeterminada (SMS), la deportividad (MSOS) y la agresividad (AQ). La path analysis confirma el modelo hipotetizado: la motivación autodeterminada y la deportividad median la relación entre la orientación motivacional y la agresividad. Los resultados sugieren que estos factores pueden ayudar a comprender las consecuencias psicosociales de las artes marciales.This study was aimed at testing a meditational model in which goal orientation, self-determined motivation, and sportspersonship werepredictive factors of aggressiveness. Italian martial artists (N = 366; Mage = 29.53, SD = 9.107; Men = 325, Female = 41) were asked to fill in a questionnaire assessing sport orientation, sport motivation, sportspersonship, and aggressiveness. The path analysis supported the hypothesized model: self-determined motivation mediates the relationship between motivational orientations and sportspersonhip, which in turn mediates the relationship between motivation and aggressiveness. The results suggest considering these motivational factors in order to plan interventions to prevent aggressiveness among athletes.A finalidade do trabalho foi analisar um modelo de mediação no qual a orientação motivacional, a motivação auto-determinada e o desportivismo eram factores preditores da agressividade. Praticantes de artes marciais italianos (N = 366; Midade = 29.53 anos, DP = 9.107; Homens = 325, Mulheres = 41) completaram um questionário para medir a orientação motivacional, a motivação auto-determinada, o desportivismo e a agressividade. A path analysis confirmou o modelo testado: a motivação auto-determinada medeia a relação entre a orientação motivacional e o desportivismo que por seu turno medeia a relação entre a motivação e a agressividade. Os resultados sugerem que se deveria intervir sobre os factores motivacionais para prevenir a agressividade entre os atletas

Do personality traits and self-regulatory processes affect decision-making tendencies?

Objective: This research attempted to clarify the role played by personality traits and self-regulated motivation in affecting decision-making tendencies. Method: Study 1 (n = 209) examined whether the Big Five personality traits predict minimising, maximising, and satisficing tendencies; Study 2 (n = 460) tested the mediating role of self-regulatory orientations in the relationship between personality traits and decision-making tendencies by performing structural equation modelling with latent variables. Results: Conscientiousness emerged as the strongest positive predictor of maximising, whereas openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness emerged as negative predictors of satisficing. As for the mediational model, both locomotion and assessment played a role in mediating the relationships between the personality traits and decision-making tendencies. Conclusions: This research provided interesting insights into the underlying motivations and strategies that lead individuals to maximise, satisfice, or minimise

Assessment of the Italian version of the Internet Disorder Scale (IDS-15)

Much research has focused on the validation of psychometric tools assessing Internet addiction. One of the newest measures is the Internet Disorder Scale (IDS-15) based on the modified IGD criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This study aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the IDS-15 by examining the construct and the concurrent and the criterion-related validity and by identifying the taxonomy and the patterns of Internet users. A sample of 471 participants (Mage = 24.72 years, SD = 8.66; 256 males) was recruited from secondary schools, universities, and gaming halls. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the four-dimensional second-order structure and the three levels of the measurement invariance across gender. The reliability and the validity of the scale were confirmed, and the LPAs provided four classes of Internet users on the basis of the scores obtained in all four dimensions of the scale. The psychometric robustness of the Italian version of the IDS-15 was clearly demonstrated. Cross-cultural research should expand and generalize the present findings

Short-Term Orchestral Music Training Modulates Hyperactivity and Inhibitory Control in School-Age Children: A Longitudinal Behavioural Study

Survey studies have shown that participating in music groups produces several benefits, such as discipline, cooperation and responsibility. Accordingly, recent longitudinal studies showed that orchestral music training has a positive impact on inhibitory control in school-age children. However, most of these studies examined long periods of training not always feasible for all families and institutions and focused on children’s measures ignoring the viewpoint of the teachers. Considering the crucial role of inhibitory control on hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, we wanted to explore if short orchestral music training would promote a reduction of these impulsive behaviors in children. This study involved 113 Italian children from 8 to 10 years of age. 55 of them attended 3 months of orchestral music training. The training included a 2-hour lesson per week at school and a final concert. The 58 children in the control group did not have any orchestral music training. All children were administered tests and questionnaires measuring inhibitory control and hyperactivity near the beginning and end of the 3-month training period. We also collected information regarding the levels of hyperactivity of the children as perceived by the teachers at both time points. Children in the music group showed a significant improvement in inhibitory control. Moreover, in the second measurement the control group showed an increase in self-reported hyperactivity that was not found in the group undergoing the music training program. This change was not noticed by the teachers, implying a discrepancy between self-reported and observed behavior at school. Our results suggest that even an intense and brief period of orchestral music training is sufficient to facilitate the development of inhibitory control by modulating the levels of self-reported hyperactivity. This research has implications for music pedagogy and education especially in children with high hyperactivity. Future investigations will test whether the findings can be extended to children diagnosed with ADHD

Decisional procrastination in academic settings: The role of metacognitions and learning strategies

Nowadays, university students suffer from a broad range of problems, such as educational underachievement or the inability to control themselves, that lead to procrastination as a consequence. The present research aimed at analyzing the determinants of decisional procrastination among undergraduate students and at assessing a path model in which self regulated learning strategies mediated the relationship between metacognitive beliefs about procrastination and decisional procrastination. 273 students from Southern Italy filled out a questionnaire composed by: the socio-demographic section, the Metacognitive Beliefs About Procrastination Questionnaire, the procrastination subscale of the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire, and the Anxiety, the Time Management, and the Information Processing subscales of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory. Results showed that the relationship between negative and positive metacognitive beliefs about procrastination and decisional procrastination was mediated only by time management and anxiety. Such findings underlined the crucial role played by learning strategies in predicting the tendency to delay decisional situations and in mediating the relationship between metacognitive beliefs about procrastination and decisional procrastination

Measurement invariance of the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF) across Albania, USA, UK, and Italy

The IGDS9-SF, which assesses Internet Gaming Disorder behaviors, has been validated in a number of countries (Portugal, Italy, Iran, Slovenia), although the psychometric equivalence of the instrument has been assessed only across Australia, the USA, the UK, and India. This research aimed at providing further cross-cultural insights into IGD by assessing the factorial structure of the IGDS9-SF in Albania and investigating its measurement invariance across Albanian, Italian, American, and British gamers. Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed on a sample of 1411 participants from Albania (n=228), USA (n=237), the UK (n=275), and Italy (n=671). The CFAs confirmed the single-factor structure in the four countries. Measurement invariance supported the configural invariance and partially supported the metric and scalar invariance. Overall, the findings provided evidence for the underlying factor assessing IGD across the countries, although the specific meaning of the construct was non-identical

Psychometric assessment of the Internet Gaming Disorder diagnostic criteria: an item response theory study

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a tentative disorder in the latest fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In order to advance research on IGD, the APA has suggested that further research on the nine IGD criteria to investigate its clinical and empirical feasibility is necessary. The aim of the present study was to develop the Polish the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) and scrutinize the nine IGD criteria empirically. To achieve this, the newly developed IGDS9-SF was examined using a wide range of psychometric methods, including a polytomous Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis to evaluate the measurement performance of the nine IGD criteria. A sample of 3377 gamers (82.7% male, mean age 20 years, SD = 4.3 years) was recruited online for the present study. Overall, the findings obtained confirmed that suitability of the Polish IGDS9-SF to assess IGD amongst Polish gamers given the adequate levels of validity and reliability found. The IRT analysis revealed that the IGDS9-SF is a suitable tool to measure IGD levels above the average; however, criteria "continuation" (item 6), "deception" (item 7), and "escape" (item 8) presented with poor fit. Taken together, these results suggest that some of the diagnostic criteria may present with a different clinical weighting towards final diagnosis of IGD. The implications of these findings are further discussed

Exploring individual differences in online addictions: the role of identity and attachment

Research examining the development of online addictions has grown greatly over the last decade with many studies suggesting both risk factors and protective factors. In an attempt to integrate the theories of attachment and identity formation, the present study investigated the extent to which identity styles and attachment orientations account for three types of online addiction (i.e., internet addiction, online gaming addiction, and social media addiction). The sample comprised 712 Italian students (381 males and 331 females) recruited from schools and universities who completed an offline self-report questionnaire. The findings showed that addictions to the internet, online gaming, and social media were interrelated and were predicted by common underlying risk and protective factors. Among identity styles, 'informational' and 'diffuse-avoidant' styles were risk factors, whereas 'normative' style was a protective factor. Among attachment dimensions, the 'secure' attachment orientation negatively predicted the three online addictions, and a different pattern of causal relationships were observed between the styles underlying 'anxious’ and 'avoidant' attachment orientations. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that identity styles explained between 21.2 and 30% of the variance in online addictions, whereas attachment styles incrementally explained between 9.2 and 14% of the variance in the scores on the three addiction scales. These findings highlight the important role played by identity formation in the development of online addictions