Predisposition to change is linked to job satisfaction: Assessing the mediation roles of workplace relation civility and insight

The globalization processes typical of liquid modern society require organizations to have high levels of flexibility, dynamism, and rapidity of change, testing the adaptability of workers with possible repercussions on well-being and productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of several psychological factors in favoring job satisfaction in a group of organizational workers (mean age = 46.24; SD = 9.99; 40.9% males and 59.1% females). Firstly, the impact of predisposition to change on job satisfaction through workplace relational civility (others with me) or insight orientation as independent mediating variables was analyzed. After that, this relationship was also studied by testing the effect that the simultaneous interaction of both mediators could have. Results show that workplace relational civility (others with me) significantly mediated the relationship between predisposition to change and job satisfaction, while no significance was found in the effect of insight when considered individually. However, the latter acquires greater relevance if placed in interaction with the other mediator, that is found to be the most proximal factor linking job satisfaction to the other more distal variables. Such findings might have a relevant role in strengthening preventive intervening, favoring positive results for greater well-being of both subjects and organizations

Attachment and gambling severity behaviors among regular gamblers: a path modeling analysis exploring the role of alexithymia, dissociation, and impulsivity

Gambling disorder is viewed by many as a behavioral addiction involving significant functional impairment and a deterioration in the quality of life. The aim of the present study was to explore the factors that can influence problematic gambling by specifically focusing on the role of attachment, alexithymia, dissociation, and impulsivity. The sample comprised 368 regular gamblers (59% males, 41% females; M age =33.5 years). They completed an online survey consisting of the South Oaks Gambling Screen, Relationship Questionnaire, Twenty-Items Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Dissociative Experiences Scale-II, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Path modeling was performed to analyze the collected data. Results showed a significant multiple mediation model: CMIN/DF = 4.447, GFI = 0.984, NFI = 0.964, CFI = 0.971, SRMR = 0.046. Fearful and preoccupied attachment patterns showed significant and positive associations with problematic gambling, and which were mediated by alexithymia, dissociation, and impulsivity. These results provide useful information to orient clinical practice and preventive intervention

Family functioning styles and exercise addiction: disengaged, enmeshed, and rigid family patterns are associated with exercise addiction

Physical exercise is a widely recommended practice for promoting health, but for some individuals, this activity can result in pathological and morbid behaviour. Therefore, the study of the factors contributing to the onset, development, and progression of exercise addiction is particularly relevant. Within this framework, the present study assessed the effect of family functioning, body image concerns, age, and gender on exercise addiction. A sample of 300 regular exercisers (M age = 30.3 years, SD = 11.6; 69.7% females, 30.3% males) participated in the study and completed the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-IV, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Exercise Addiction Inventory. Data were analysed by implementing a series of moderated moderated-mediations. Results showed that three significant models were relevant. First, positive associations of disengaged (p < 0.05), enmeshed (p < 0.05), and rigid (p < 0.01) family functioning with exercise addiction were found. Furthermore, body image concerns mediated all these relationships, and the interaction between gender and age significantly moderated the effects of body image concerns on exercise addiction (p < 0.05). Such data may be useful for a deeper understanding of the variables associated with the development of exercise addiction, suggesting key elements on which it might be useful to focus in clinical and/or preventive activity

Protective and risk factors in exercise addiction: a series of moderated mediation analyses

For a minority of individuals, exercise may become excessive and lead to an addictive behaviour. To better understand the processes by which exercise could become an addiction, the present study examined the risk and protective factors of exercise addiction among regular exercisers, by investigating the role of drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, body image concerns, and self-esteem. A sample of 319 Italian regular exercisers (Mage = 30.78 years, SD = 11.98) completed the Italian versions of the Exercise Addiction Inventory, Eating Disorder Inventory-3 Referral Form, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Data were analyzed by implementing a series of moderated mediations. Drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction were positively associated with exercise addiction. An indirect path was found in each of these relationships, which included the mediation of body image concerns, as well as a significant moderation of self-esteem in the associations between drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, and the mediator. High self-esteem appeared to be a protective factor. The higher the level of self-esteem, the less indirect the effects of thinness drive, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, and body image concerns were on exercise addiction. Such findings contribute to a better understanding concerning the risk and protective factors of excessive exercise, and may have important practical implications in structuring interventions to reduce risk of developing exercise addiction, as well as orienting future researc

The Problematic Online Dating Apps Use Scale (PODAUS): development and evaluation of its psychometric properties

The internet has facilitated significant transformations in interpersonal interactions, and offers new possibilities for finding romantic partners through the use of online dating apps. However, as with other technology-based tools, some individuals can develop problematic patterns of dating apps use, exhibiting symptoms resembling addiction. Consequently, the aim of the present study was the development of a new psychometric instrument to assess problematic dating apps use, the Problematic Online Dating Apps Use Scale (PODAUS), and the examination of its psychometric properties. The sample comprised 384 participants (254 females and 130 males; Mage=25.90 years; SD=5.21) who used dating apps daily. They completed an online survey including the PODAUS, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Cyber Pornography Addiction Test, Love Addiction Inventory-Short-Form, and Ten‐Item Personality Inventory. The PODAUS showed a one-factor structure with good indications of validity, reliability, and gender measurement invariance. Problematic online dating apps use was significantly associated with problematic social media use, problematic cyberpornography use, love addiction, and three personality traits (i.e., agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness). The PODAUS is a new and succinct self‐report measure that assesses problematic dating apps use, and can be easily used in both research and clinical practice

The relationship between alexithymia, dysmorphic concern, and exercise addiction: the moderating effect of self-esteem

As with other addictions, exercise addiction can severely impact individuals’ lives and have significant psychophysical consequences. Consequently, the study of the mechanisms involved in this psychopathological condition has great clinical and practical relevance. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to explore the risk factors and protective factors for exercise addiction, with a particular focus on the roles of alexithymia, body image concerns, and self-esteem. A sample of 288 regular exercisers (mean age = 28.35 years, SD = 8.26; 72% females, 18% males) completed the Exercise Addiction Inventory, 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Data were analyzed by implementing a moderated mediation model. Results showed a significant and positive association between alexithymia and exercise addiction, totally mediated by body image concerns. Furthermore, self-esteem showed a relevant moderating effect, such that at high levels of self-esteem the effect of alexithymia on body image concerns became insignificant. Such data have important implications, highlighting some core variables on which it might be useful to keep a focus in order to elaborate tailored interventions, from both preventive and treatment perspectives

A pilot study on childhood trauma and love addiction: exploring the mediation of unbalanced family functioning

Objective: The general aim of the present study was the exploration of the relationships between childhood trauma subdimensions (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect), unbalanced family functioning patterns (disengaged, enmeshed, rigid, and chaotic), and love addiction. Method: A sample of 910 individuals (76.6% female; Mage = 30 years, SD = 10.55) engaged in a romantic relationship participated in the research and completed the Love Addiction Inventory-Short Form, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-IV, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Results: Among the childhood trauma subdimensions, emotional and physical abuse showed significant and positive associations with love addiction levels. Furthermore, the path analysis showed that unbalanced family functioning patterns parallelly mediated the relationship between emotional (enmeshed, rigid, and chaotic patterns) and physical abuse (chaotic patterns) and love addiction. Gender as a covariate was controlled for. Conclusions: The present study offers insight into the mechanisms by which specific forms of childhood trauma could lead to love addiction in adulthood. The findings offer valuable insights for developing customized interventions when working with individuals struggling with love addiction, as well as for implementing effective preventive activities for the condition

A screening tool for exercise addiction: the psychometric properties of the Italian exercise addiction inventory

Exercise addiction is characterized by morbid pattern of behavior which may have negative psychological consequences, seriously compromising the lives of those affected. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) is one of the most used psychometric instruments for assessing the risk of exercise addiction and has been translated into a number of languages. However, it has never been psychometrically validated in Italian. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the EAI among Italian-speaking exercisers. The back-translation process was utilized to develop an Italian version of the EAI. A cross-sectional online survey was used to recruit a sample of 331 Italian regular exercisers (Mage = 30.64 years, SD = 12.10). The participants completed the Italian EAI, alongside a battery of other self-report psychometric scales used to assess some aspects of the concurrent validity of the EAI. The one-factor structure of the EAI was confirmed, which also showed good internal consistency and a satisfactory construct validity in the Italian version. No gender differences were found for the risk of exercise addiction. The data obtained in this study provide some evidence suggesting that Italian Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) is a valid and reliable self-report scale that can be used to assess the risk of exercise addiction among Italian-speaking individuals. The scale showed some psychometrically robust features, and is a quick and easy-to-use scale that can be used in different cultures and countries, including Italy

Mind and Body: Italian Validation of the Postural Awareness Scale

© Copyright © 2020 Topino, Gori and Cramer. Postural awareness (PA) refers to a subjective conscious awareness of body posture and falls within the framework of mind–body integration. The aim of this research was to validate and evaluate psychometric properties of the Postural Awareness Scale (PAS) in an Italian population sample (n = 928; 45.04% men and 54.96% women; mean age = 29.96 years, standard deviation = 11.44). The results obtained with Velicer’s Minimum Average Partial Test, Horn’s Parallel Analysis, and exploratory factor analysis showed a two-factor solution, as supported by the confirmatory factor analysis: ease/familiarity with postural awareness and need for attention regulation with postural awareness. Furthermore, the findings highlighted both a good internal consistency (α = 0.76 for the total scale and α = 0.80, α = 0.79 for the two subscales) and a satisfactory construct validity. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance was carried out to assess differences in PA between specific subgroup. In particular, the positive effects of physical activity and healthy body weight were confirmed, whereas no significant differences related to gender or age were found. All these findings suggest that the Italian version of the PAS is a rapid instrument with good psychometric properties, which can be useful both for research and clinical practice