Dependência de Redes Sociais, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) e Vulnerabilidade Online em estudantes universitários

Despite the growing research on social networks sites (SNS), the associations between the abuse of these platforms, the phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and Online Vulnerability has been understudied. The aim of this research was to provide a framework of attitudes and behaviors related to the use of the social network in young university students. In this study, the sample was composed to 306 Italian university students aged 18 to 30 (152 women; mean of age = 21.8; standard deviation = 3.19) who responded to an online survey regarding their SNS behaviors, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Basic Psychological Needs, Self-Esteem and Online Vulnerability. Correlations analysis showed a positive relationship between FOMO, Online Vulnerability, and Social Media Addiction. The results showed that women have a higher level of Social Media Addiction and the Need for Relatedness. The regression analysis showed that FOMO is the best predictor of Social Media Addiction. Implications of the findings in the educational field are discussed.Si bien existe un crecimiento en investigación sobre las redes sociales, es necesario señalar que las asociaciones entre el abuso de estas plataformas, el fenómeno del Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) o Miedo a perderse experiencias y de la Vulnerabilidad en línea han sido poco estudiadas. En ese sentido, esta investigación tiene como objetivo proporcionar un marco de las actitudes y comportamientos relacionados con el uso de las redes sociales en jóvenes universitarios. Para ello, se realizó una muestra que contó con la participación de 306 estudiantes universitarios de 18 a 30 años (152 mujeres y 154 hombres; edad promedio = 21.8; desviación estándar = 3.19) y respondió a un cuestionario en línea, respecto al uso de las redes ociales, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Necesidades psicológicas básicas, Auto-estima y Vulnerabilidad en línea. El análisis de correlaciones mostró una relación positiva entre el FOMO, la Vulnerabilidad en línea y la Adicción a redes sociales. Los resultados evidenciaron que las mujeres tienen mayores niveles de adicción a redes sociales y de necesidad de apoyo. El análisis de regresión mostró que el FOMO es el mejor predictor de la Adicción a redes sociales. Finalmente, se discuten las repercusiones en el ámbito educativo de los resultados.Apesar da crescente pesquisa sobre as redes sociais, as associações entre o abuso destas plataformas, o fenômeno do Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) e da Vulnerabilidade Online foram pouco estudadas. Esta investigação destina-se a proporcionar um quadro de atitudes e comportamentos relacionados com a utilização das redes sociais em jovens universitários. Neste estudo, a amostra foi composta por 306 universitários de 18 a 30 anos (152 mulheres; idade média = 21,8; desvio padrão = 3.19) e respondeu a um questionário on-line sobre o uso das redes sociais, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Necessidades psicológicas básicas, Auto-estima e Vulnerabilidade online. A análise de correlação mostrou uma relação positiva entre o FOMO, a Vulnerabilidade online e a dependencia de redes sociais. Os resultados mostraram que as mulheres têm um nível mais alto de dependência de redes sociais e de necessidade de apoio. A análise de regressão mostrou que o FOMO é o melhor preditor da Dependencia de redes sociais. Finalmente, discutem-se as implicações em âmbito educativo dos resultados

Forced cohabitation during coronavirus lockdown in Italy: a study on coping, stress and emotions among different family patterns

Background: At the beginning of 2020, a pandemic caused by a new strain of coronavirus occurred. On March 9th, the Italian population was forced to lockdown to prevent the spread of this new virus. This event forced families and cohabitants to spend their entire days and weeks in the same physical space, interacting with partners and children with a very different degree of intimacy than in the earlier situation. The present study investigated the effects of being forced to live together on different family patterns, on various dimensions such as stress, coping strategies, time perception and quality evaluation of cohabitation. Method: A total sample consisting of 1750 individuals was recruited through a random sample of probability across the Italian country. Due to the lockdown condition, an online questionnaire was set up; several validated scales were chosen, and some open-ended items were included for the thoughts of the participants. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between the three family patterns examined. Conclusion: During the forced period of living together, a positive effect could be inferred as given by the presence of children and the collaborative coping strategies that have been adopted; the results have been discussed according to the literature on the topic

Rhodolith Beds Heterogeneity along the Apulian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea)

Rhodolith beds represent a key habitat worldwide, from tropical to polar ecosystems. Despite this habitat is considered a hotspot of biodiversity, providing a suite of ecosystem goods and services, still scarce quantitative information is available thus far about rhodolith beds occurrence and ecological role, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. This study reports the composition and patterns of distribution of rhodolith assemblages found in four study areas along ca. 860 km of coast in the Central Mediterranean Sea. These rhodolith beds were studied for the first time and significant differences at all spatial scales have been highlighted, documenting the high variability of this habitat. Rhodolith species composition, morphology and distribution have been discussed considering the potential role of environmental factors in driving these patterns. The need for improving their protection is discussed to complement present conservation and management initiatives, particularly in the frame of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Teaching during the pandemic: a comparison in psychological wellbeing among smart working professions

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, the Italian population was forced into lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The restrictive measures imposed forced many organizations and workers to work through online platforms and no longer in-person. Smart working, enjoyed by some workers for its flexibility, affected several professional categories. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the psychological variables related to four groups of professional categories (practitioners, managers, executive employees, teachers), particularly the teachers group. Methods: A total sample of 628 individuals was recruited through a random probability sample across Italy. Due to the lockdown, an online questionnaire was developed; several validated scales were chosen, and some ad hoc constructed items related to the smart working experience were included. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between the four groups of examined smart workers. Conclusions: All workers have had to readjust to this new way of working, but our results show that teachers were the most affected, both in the perception of their psychological well-being and in the management of the smart working mode

COVID-19 lockdown and poor sleep quality: not the whole story

A growing body of evidence consistently describes the side-effects of coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown on mental health and sleep quality. We conducted a longitudinal web-based survey of 217 Italian participants at two time points: lockdown and subsequent follow-up. To thoroughly investigate lockdown-related changes in sleep quality, we first evaluated variations in overall sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We then examined sleep changes in specific components of sleep quality. Results revealed a clear dissociation of sleep effects, as a function of the specific domain considered, with longer sleep latency, worse sleep efficiency, and massive sleep medication use during forced confinement. On the other hand, we simultaneously observed an increased sleep duration and better daytime functioning. Our present findings highlight the importance of an accurate examination of sleep quality during lockdown, as the effects were not uniform across populations and different sleep domains

From emotional (dys)regulation to internet addiction: a mediation model of problematic social media use among italian young adults

Internet addiction (IA) has mostly been investigated with the fear of missing out and difficulties in emotional regulation. The present study examined the link between IA and variables related to problematic social media use (i.e., fear of missing out, social media addiction), together with emotional (dys)regulation and personality traits, providing new insights and an integrated assessment of IA. In total, 397 participants, aged 18-35 years (M = 22.00; SD = 3.83), were administered a set of questionnaires pertaining to IA, problematic social media use, emotional (dys)regulation, and personality traits. Pearson's correlations showed significant associations between IA and the investigated variables, and the tested mediation model highlighted the crucial role played by emotional (dys)regulation in the fear of missing out and problematic use of social networks. Overall, the findings provide support for a new integrated model for understanding the features, predictors, and risk factors of IA

Adicción a redes sociales, Miedo a perderse experiencias (FOMO) y Vulnerabilidad en línea en estudiantes universitarios

Despite the growing research on social networks sites (SNS), the associations between the abuse of these platforms, the phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and Online Vulnerability has been understudied. The aim of this research was to provide a framework of attitudes and behaviors related to the use of the social network in young university students. In this study, the sample was composed to 306 Italian university students aged 18 to 30 (152 women; mean of age = 21.8; standard deviation = 3.19) who responded to an online survey regarding their SNS behaviors, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Basic Psychological Needs, Self-Esteem and Online Vulnerability. Correlations analysis showed a positive relationship between FOMO, Online Vulnerability, and Social Media Addiction. The results showed that women have a higher level of Social Media Addiction and the Need for Relatedness. The regression analysis showed that FOMO is the best predictor of Social Media Addiction. Implications of the findings in the educational field are discussed.Apesar da crescente pesquisa sobre as redes sociais, as associações entre o abuso destas plataformas, o fenômeno do Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) e da Vulnerabilidade Online foram pouco estudadas. Esta investigação destina-se a proporcionar um quadro de atitudes e comportamentos relacionados com a utilização das redes sociais em jovens universitários. Neste estudo, a amostra foi composta por 306 universitários de 18 a 30 anos (152 mulheres; idade média = 21,8; desvio padrão = 3.19) e respondeu a um questionário on-line sobre o uso das redes sociais, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Necessidades psicológicas básicas, Auto-estima e Vulnerabilidade online. A análise de correlação mostrou uma relação positiva entre o FOMO, a Vulnerabilidade online e a dependencia de redes sociais. Os resultados mostraram que as mulheres têm um nível mais alto de dependência de redes sociais e de necessidade de apoio. A análise de regressão mostrou que o FOMO é o melhor preditor da Dependencia de redes sociais. Finalmente, discutem-se as implicações em âmbito educativo dos resultados.Si bien existe un crecimiento en investigación sobre las redes sociales, es necesario señalar que las asociaciones entre el abuso de estas plataformas, el fenómeno del Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) o Miedo a perderse experiencias y de la Vulnerabilidad en línea han sido poco estudiadas. En ese sentido, esta investigación tiene como objetivo proporcionar un marco de las actitudes y comportamientos relacionados con el uso de las redes sociales en jóvenes universitarios. Para ello, se realizó una muestra que contó con la participación de 306 estudiantes universitarios de 18 a 30 años (152 mujeres y 154 hombres; edad promedio = 21.8; desviación estándar = 3.19) y respondió a un cuestionario en línea, respecto al uso de las redes ociales, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Necesidades psicológicas básicas, Auto-estima y Vulnerabilidad en línea. El análisis de correlaciones mostró una relación positiva entre el FOMO, la Vulnerabilidad en línea y la Adicción a redes sociales. Los resultados evidenciaron que las mujeres tienen mayores niveles de adicción a redes sociales y de necesidad de apoyo. El análisis de regresión mostró que el FOMO es el mejor predictor de la Adicción a redes sociales. Finalmente, se discuten las repercusiones en el ámbito educativo de los resultados

An explorative assessment of the importance of mediterranean coralligenous habitat to local economy: The case of recreational diving

There is an increasing recognition of the importance of cultural ecosystem services of marine habitats for supporting the management of the marine environment. However, these services are still largely unknown compared to other ecosystem services (e.g. provisioning services) owing to the challenge of quantifying and valuing them. Linking human welfare to marine ecosystem services can contribute to the sustainable development of marine areas and use of marine resources. Coralligenous bioconstructions represent a key habitat of the Mediterranean continental shelf because of their structural and functional importance, as well as for their high aesthetic value. In this study, we considered SCUBA diving frequentation in the Apulia region (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) and the generated revenue related to the existence of coralligenous habitat. A market impact of â\u82¬4.7 M in 2014 was estimated through a survey questionnaire distributed to diving centers across the area (about 1000 km of coastline). Despite the assessment underestimates the impact of coralligenous habitat, it highlights the magnitude of importance of this habitat and the opportunities it provides to local economy. The results emphasise also the potential of including economic analysis to increasing awareness among stakeholders, including the general public and decision makers, in setting priorities for conservation and coastal management decisions

Gender pay gap perception: a five-country European study

Over the past several decades, public administrations have attempted to identify how gender differences affect employment opportunities and social inequalities, which has led to a growing body of literature. However, sufficient and valid conclusions are not yet available to identify the reasons for the gender pay gap (GPG). Building on key theoretical models to explain the wage gap, our research, based on a short survey, aimed to identify which factors could be related to the perception of GPG among employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises in five European countries. Moreover, we investigated the possible relationships between personal characteristics such as gender, age, job satisfaction, gender orientation (which is categorized as ''Negative Gender Orientation'', i.e., sexist beliefs, and ''Positive Gender Orientation'', i.e., perceived gender equality in society), and the GPG and tried to estimate a possible functional relationship between the perceived GPG and the decision-making style. The results revealed differences between personal characteristics and perceptions of the GPG; the findings were discussed in accordance with the present literature on the topic

Psychological and Emotional Impact of Patients Living in Psychiatric Treatment Communities during Covid-19 Lockdown in Italy

Most studies on wellbeing during the COVID19 pandemic have focused on the mental health of the general population; far less attention has been given to more specific populations, such as patients with mental illness. Indeed, it is important to examine the psychiatric population, given its vulnerability. The present study aimed at assessing the psychological and emotional impact of isolation on patients in Residential Rehabilitation Communities, compared to healthy controls. A questionnaire was administered crosssectionally on an online survey platform and both psychiatric patients and healthy controls accessed via a designed link. The results showed significant differences between psychiatric patients and controls on Anxiety, Stress, Worry, and Risk Perception variables. Psychiatric patients scored lower on Stress compared to healthy controls and higher on Anxiety, Perceived Risk of getting infected with COVID19 and Worry about the emergency situation. The results showed that, during the Italian lockdown, psychiatric patients living in residential communities received unbroken support from peers and mental health professionals, maintained their usual medication treatment, and were informed of COVID19 consequences. This finding provides insight into the differences between residential and healthy populations and highlights the importance of continuous support for psychiatric patients, especially during stressful situations such as a pandemic