Consapevolezza, accettazione e comprensione di sé: associazioni con il benessere individuale e l'apertura prosociale

The positive psychology approach involves the study of characteristics that may contribute to an optimal functioning of individual and society (e.g. Gable & Haidt, 2005), by improving for instance well-being and prosocial orientation. In this scenario, mindfulness, i.e. a non-judgmental awareness that emerges through paying attention to the present moment (e.g. Kabat-Zinn, 1994), is particularly relevant. Similarly, a growing interest has been recently devoted to self-compassion, i.e. a non-judgmental attitude towards own weaknesses (Neff, 2003). Mindfulness and self-compassion showed to be related to improved well-being (e.g. Bernard & Curry, 2011; Keng, Smoski, & Robins, 2011). Their relation to prosocial tendencies (e.g. Block-Lerner, Orsillo, & Plumb, 2004, Neff & Germer, 2013) is less clear though. Aiming to better understand the relationship of mindfulness and self-compassion with indicators of well-being and prosocial orientation, two new constructs have been developed in this thesis. The first construct is "emotional awareness", a non-judgmental awareness toward own emotions, positive and negative, which are therefore fully experienced, without alterations or suppressions. The second one, "self-caring", covers (i) the awareness to be in a time of trouble and to need help; and (ii) the openness to accept the offered support. Mindfulness is hypothesized to be a precondition of self-compassion (e.g. Birnie, Speca, & Carlson, 2010), emotional awareness and self-caring. We aimed to investigate the relationship of mindfulness, self-compassion, emotional awareness and self-caring with different indicators of well-being and prosocial tendencies, considering the simultaneous effects of social desirability. More specifically, we tested a mediation model in which the relationship of mindfulness with well-being and prosocial inclinations was mediated by self-compassion, emotional awareness and self-caring. In order to test this hypothesis, we developed an Italian adaptation of the instruments used to asses mindfulness and self-compassion, i.e., the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003; Study 1), and the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes, Pommier, Neff & Van Gucht, 2011; Study 2). Furthermore, we developed the two instruments for the assessment of emotional awareness and self-caring dispositions and we investigated their main psychometric characteristics (Study 3). Then, through a confirmatory factor analysis, we showed that the analyzed constructs were different from each other, although partially overlapping, controlling also for their susceptibility to social desirability (Study 4). The subsequent study has preliminarily investigated the relationship of mindfulness, self-compassion, emotional awareness and self-caring with indicators of well-being and prosocial orientation (Study 5). The mediation model has been therefore tested for the first time. Finally, the last two studies examined more in depth the mediation model. Specifically, we employed indicators of general, subjective and psychological well-being (Study 6), unconditional respect and prosocial personality (Study 7). In these studies we also tested a two-level mediation model, where the relationship of mindfulness with well-being and prosocial tendencies was mediated by self-compassion, emotional awareness and self-caring, at the first level, and by gratitude and inter-being, at the second level. Gratitude has already showed to be related to an increase in well-being and prosocial inclinations, while inter-being is a new construct of Eastern origin. In all these studies, the mediation model has been examined adopting a structural equation model approach. Overall, the results suggest that mindfulness is associated with improved well-being and increased prosocial orientation, especially through higher emotional awareness, gratitude and inter-being. Strengths, limitations, implications of the studies and future perspectives are discussed

Differences in the way to conceive happiness relate to different reactions to negative events

This paper aimed to assess whether differences in the way to conceive happiness, measured by the Orientations to Happiness measure, were associated with specific reactions to negative events. We hypothesized that among orientations to pleasure (portraying hedonism), to meaning (representing a eudaimonic approach to life), and to engagement (derived from the experience of flow), orientation to meaning would have displayed a stronger protective role against recent negative and potentially stressful events. After providing a validation of the Italian version of the Orientations to Happiness measure (Study 1), we performed regression analyses of the three orientations on positive and negative emotions linked to a self-relevant negative event (Study 2), and moderation analyses assessing the interactive effects of orientations to happiness and stressful events on well-being indicators (Study 3). Our findings supported the hypotheses. In Study 2, meaning was associated with positive emotions characterized by a lower activation (contentment and interest) compared to the positive emotions associated with pleasure (amusement, eagerness, and happiness). In Study 3, only meaning buffered the effect of recent potentially stressful events on satisfaction with life and positive affect. Results suggest that orientation to meaning might help individuals to better react to negative events

Exploring the social side of self-compassion: Relations with empathy and outgroup attitudes

Self\u2010compassion is a disposition involving compassionate attitudes toward the self when facing difficulties. We argued that specific self\u2010compassion components might influence indicators of openness to others, such as empathy and outgroup attitudes. We hypothesized that the component called common humanity vs. isolation, involving the acknowledgement that one's sufferings are shared with all the other humans, would be positively related to the other\u2010oriented aspects of empathy, perspective taking and empathic concern, and to improved outgroup attitudes. We also hypothesized that the mindfulness vs. over\u2010identification component, i.e. having a balanced view of one's situation avoiding exaggerations, would be associated with lowered personal distress. In three studies, with three independent samples, we regressed empathy and outgroup attitudes on self\u2010compassion components, while controlling for concurrent predictors such as self\u2010construal and attachment styles. Results supported our hypotheses, suggesting that improvements in empathy and outgroup attitudes may be fostered by positive individual dispositions

Self-compassion as a healthy attitude toward the self: Factorial and construct validity in an Italian sample

This paper aims to propose the Italian version of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS, Neff, 2003b) and to provide new evidence concerning its relationships with various forms of self-view and well-being. In the first study, we analysed whether the scale preserved its original psychometric features. Among the tested models, both a six factor and a bifactor model showed adequate fit indexes, sustaining the employment of both the six subscales and a total self-compassion score. In the second study, through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and partial correlations, we explored convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the scale. As expected, self-compassion was associated with, yet distinguishable from, self-esteem and low labile self-esteem scores, and it was unrelated to narcissism and self-enhancement -Moreover, self-compassion maintained its link with well-being variables also controlling for self-esteem, labile self-esteem, narcissism, and self-enhancement. Findings suggest that self-compassion may be conceived as a healthy self-attitude, alternative to self-esteem, as it is related to self-esteem benefits (low labile self-esteem and well-being), but not with its potential downsides (narcissism and self enhancement). Therefore, self-compassion appears as a self-caring disposition that does not lead to overly positive self-evaluations and self-image enhancement

Relating Mindfulness, Heartfulness, and Psychological Well-Being: the Role of Self-Compassion and Gratitude

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the heartfulness-related aspects of mindfulness, explaining their relationship with optimal human functioning. In particular, we investigated the role of self-compassion and gratitude, two variables linked to mindfulness that we considered as indicators of heartfulness towards the self, and towards others, respectively. We tested the mediation of self-compassion and gratitude in the relationship between mindfulness and the six psychological well-being dimensions of autonomy, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, and purpose in life. Based on the literature, we hypothesized that self-compassion would mediate the association between mindfulness and self-acceptance, autonomy, environmental mastery, and positive relations, and that gratitude would mediate the association between mindfulness and all the above dimensions, except for autonomy. Across two studies, involving both meditators and non-meditators, and two different assessment tools for dispositional mindfulness, our hypotheses were supported, even after controlling for two concurrent variables (social support and resilience). These findings suggest that heartfulness is an important underlying mechanism of mindfulness: it seems to foster higher levels of psychological well-being, or optimal human functioning, through a warm and aware attitude towards the self and others

Measuring religion as end, means, and quest: The religious life and orientation scale

We propose a short and reliable instrument, based on pre-existing items, for measuring the three dimensions of religion as end, means, and quest. Starting from the 47 items originally included in the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS; Allport & Ross, 1967) and in the Religious Life Inventory (RLI; Batson, Schoenrade, & Ventis, 1993), we performed four steps of analyses involving three independent samples of Italian Catholic respondents (total N = 1194). Through a process of progressive refinement, using exploratory factor analyses, an investigation of the meaning of the items, and confirmatory factor analyses, we eventually selected 18 items from the pre-existing scales, recombined in the Religious Life and Orientation Scale. We report initial evidence of the psychometric qualities of the proposed instrument and analyze its correspondence with the parent scales. Future research should investigate the properties of the scale with respondents from other countries and belonging to other religions

Effect of a snack with high fibre content on defecation frequency in a stipsi-affected cohort of volunteers

Chronic constipation is a widespread pathology resulting in a very low frequency of evacuation, and defecation can be also very difficult. In addition to colo-rectal cancer or pelvic floor disfunction, stipsi can be determined by low fibre intake. In our experiment, we tested the efficacy of a linseed-based snack on the defecation frequency in a cohort affected by stipsi. Enrolled people received for 21 days a high fibre and linseed-based snack (30 g)-the severity of constipation was evaluated with the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) determined at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. The consumption of this biscuit significantly increased defecation frequency and reduced difficult or incomplete evacuation. As a consequence of this improvement, the CSS was significantly reduced: 9.19 vs. 4.52. No adverse effects, due to the consumption of the tested snack, were observed. © Springer-Verlag Italia 2013

Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SphK1) overespression contributes to cetuximab resistance in human colrectal cancer.

Purpose. Although the anti-Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (mAb) cetuximab is an effective strategy in colorectal cancer therapy, its clinical use is limited by intrinsic or acquired resistance. Alterations in the 'sphingolipid rheostat' - the balance between the proapoptotic molecule ceramide and the mitogenic factor sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) - due to sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) overactivation have been involved in resistance to anticancer targeted agents. Moreover, cross-talks between SphK1 and EGFR-dependent signalling pathways have been described. Experimental design. We investigated SphK1 contribution to cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer, in preclinical in vitro/in vivo models and in tumor specimens from patients. Results. SphK1 was found overexpressed and overactivated in colorectal cancer cells with intrinsic or acquired resistance to cetuximab. SphK1 contribution to resistance was supported by the demonstration that SphK1 inhibition by N,N-dimethyl-sphingosine (DMS) or silencing via siRNA in resistant cells restores sensitivity to cetuximab, whereas exogenous SphK1 overexpression in sensitive cells confers resistance to these agents. Moreover, treatment of resistant cells with fingolimod (FTY720), a S1P receptor (S1PR) antagonist, resulted in re-sensitization to cetuximab both in vitro and in vivo, with significant inhibition of tumor growth, interference with signal transduction, induction of cancer cells apoptosis and prolongation of mice survival. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis on colorectal cancer tissues revealed a correlation between SphK1 expression and cetuximab response. Conclusion. Our data could contribute to clarify SphK1 role in cetuximab resistance and may suggest SphK1 inhibition as a part of novel targeting strategies potentially effective also in resistant colorectal cancer patients