Representations and narratives of F to M Gender Dysphoric subjects: Self, Body and psycho-traumatology in comparison with M to F transsexualism

The present study was aimed at extending the method previously used with M to F gender dysphoric patients, to F to M individuals. In particular, the aim of the study was to highlight global and particular representations of the subjects. The study involved 10 gender dysphoric subjects in F to M transition, aged between 18 to 26 years old. Rorschach and the Thematic Apperception Test were administered with particular attention to the detection of psycho-traumatic indexes. The data reached through the extension of the method to F to M subjects revealed a continuity between the two groups. Referring to Self-representation, the subjects produced mainly objectual responses, indicative of a global representation affected by the current physical condition. In terms of Body representation, the subjects provided answers demonstrating the presence of partiality and fragmentation, indicative of a body representation supporting the term dysphoria. Approximately 30% of the subjects\u27 responses indicated the presence of consistent psycho-traumatology. In comparative terms, F to M subjects provided quantitatively and quantitatively similar answers to M to F subjects, with a greater number of fragmentary responses and a lower presence of psycho-traumatic indexes

Adolescent phobia as a “mask object”

As suggested by the title, this dissertation is based on the term "object" as a bridge between the experience of phobia and the use of the mask. The choice of the phobia as a theme, is part of our project with adolescents, which highlighted the massive presence of this experience. This evidence did not fully satisfy the study for the following reasons. The knowledge about the presence of such phenomenon, can give an account of the presence of phobic experience and can also provide an opportunity to place the subject within a clinical reference group. It allows us to observe the subject’s proximity or distance from the beloved "normativity". In our case, our purpose is represented by the comprehension of the attribution of meaning. The clinical observation allows us to evoke the psychological and phenomenological dynamics and also the modalities of the subject to reach knowledge, without which the objects would remain threatening in themselves and without a certain specification

Teachers’ Views on Preparation for Employment of Young Autistic People

Background. Contemporary literature indicates that there is significant support and assistance provided by schools for young autistic people, which has had a positive impact on the accessibility of jobs. Nevertheless, the employment rate of autistic people is unacceptably low in the UK. The current study investigated teachers’ views on the preparation for employment of young autistic people in the UK. Methods. Interviews were conducted with individuals from the educational field and thematic analysis was used to explore the teachers’ views regarding the factors that have an impact on the preparation for employment of young autistic people. Results. Four main themes emerged from the analysis. These themes included awareness, funding and government support, action plans and motivation. Conclusion. These results have critical implications for the educational field and future research, which are discussed in the paper

Erratum to: Teachers’ Views on Preparation for Employment of Young Autistic People

Background. Contemporary literature indicates that there is significant support and assistance provided by schools for young autistic people, with a positive impact on the accessibility of jobs. Nevertheless, the employment rate of autistic people is unacceptably low in the UK. The current study investigated teachers’ views on the preparation for employment of young autistic people in the UK. Methods. Interviews were conducted with individuals from the educational field and thematic analysis was used to explore the teachers’ views regarding the factors that could have an impact on the preparation for employment of young autistic people. Results. Four main themes emerged from the analysis of this study. These themes included awareness, funding and government support, action plans and motivation. Conclusion. The results obtained appear to have critical implications for the educational field and future research, being presented in this paper

MJCP and Clinical Psychology

The seat of our Journal is representative of a legend, the myth of Scylla and Charybdis that as it is known were Sirens. We take this cue to indicate the difficulty of men in oscillating between two tendencies, both fascinating and dangerous. The first reference is to privilege articles widely citable in the statistical sense of trend: the utility is obvious, the highest classifications, those that will make the difference

Alexithymia and physical outcomes in psychosomatic subjects: a cross-sectional study

Backgrounds. Alexithymia is a relevant phenomenon, occurring transversally to healthy subjects and individuals affected by several conditions. Its role is considerable, according to current state of the art several conditions emerged as influenced, maintained and worsened by alexithymic structures and figures. The present study was aimed at highlighting the existing relations, the differences and the directions assumed by alexithymic factors and health status in patients affected by psychosomatic conditions. Methods. The sample consisted of 150 participants, 42 males (28.0%) and 108 females (72.0%), aged 26 to 78 years old with a mean of 42.24 years old (SD = 12.39). Subjects were previously assessed through DCPR-SI, in order to identify psychosomatic issues. The study evaluated measures related to alexithymia (Tas-20) and health status (SF-36), and considered demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and education. Results and Conclusions. The analyses demonstrated a number of significant relationships between alexithymia, psychological outcomes, and physical outcomes, including psychosomatic disorders. In addition, sex differences were found in gastrointestinal outcomes, as well as outcomes related to energy/fatigue and physical functioning. The study of alexithymia may provide a fruitful approach in understanding various issues related to pathology and general health. Further studies are needed to expand the understanding of alexithymia to other groups and health-related outcomes

Italian adaptation of the Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory-2

The ability to understand Learning Styles, provided by Kolb’s studies, suggests that the instrument can be used on the Italian population in a translated and adapted form. In this study, correlational and factorial re-analysis, in line with the psychometric evidence in the literature, shows how the four scales, Abstract Conceptualization (AC), Concrete Experience (CE), Reflective Observation (RO), Active Experimentation (AE), come together as in the original Kolb’s hypothesis, in a bipolar dimension. The assessment of the Learning styles applied to the students of Medicine and Surgery, is interesting for the many different approaches into medical science and different professional choices

Vulnerability and physical well-being of caregivers: what relationship?

Objectives. To assess relationships among burden, compassion, and well-being and health among an active group of caregivers. Methods. 301 caregivers with female prevalence (F = 61.1%, M = 38.9%) and ages between 18 and 84 years old (average = 38.72; SD 13.36) participated. Evaluation was carried using standardized instruments to assess: Burdens (CBI), dimensions related to Compassion and Burnout (ProQOL-5), State of Well-being (Who-5) and particular health-related domains (Emotional state, Physical health, Depressive Polarity, Dysphoric Polarity-SF-36). Correlational analyses and multivariate linear regressions were performed. Results. Positive correlations emerged between Burdens and Compassion Fatigue, Well-being and Satisfaction; inverse correlations emerged among Well-being and Burnout, Compassion Satisfaction and Emotional State, with the exception of Time Dependence. Multivariate linear regression indicated relations among Compassion Fatigue with Depression and Social Burden, Compassion Satisfaction with Depressive Polarity and Dysphoria and Burnout with Social Burden. Conclusions. Caregivers’ work presents various risks, with negative outcomes that need to be addressed for this group of professionals. These risks present a professional and human development opportunity

Ontogenesis of the kiss: an exploratory analysis

The study presents an exploratory investigation of the function of the kiss and is aimed at validating a quantitative psychological instrument useful to highlight its ontogenesis. The construction of the questionnaire identified possible 25 items with the aim of analysing the origin of the meaning processes related to kiss, starting from the relationships with the main caregivers. In this sense, the items were constituted starting from the subject’s representations regarding parental desires, to move to secondary relationships and to the introduction of the term "third" in their dynamics of affectivity projection. The study involved 227 subjects with a male prevalence (M=53,3%) and aged between 18 and 42 years old (Mean= 23,84; SD= 3,47).  The weight of such items demonstrated to be representative of the kissing signification experiences along the psycho-affective development stages were reported. Through the factorial exploratory analysis, three factors were identified, called respectively "kiss desire origin", "Objectual kiss" and "Thirdness"

Desire for Control Moderates the Relationship between Perceived Control and Depressive Symptomology

Background. The prevalence of psychological difficulties is rising at an alarming rate, with an increasing number of individuals reporting symptoms of depression. A decline in both perceived control and desire for control has previously been associated with the onset of depression. However, previous research has failed to examine whether perceived control and desire for control interact in their relationship with depressive symptomology. Methods. A sample of 350 participants completed the Spheres of Control Scale, the Desirability of Control Scale and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Process Macro was used to examine whether desire for control moderated the relationship between perceived control and depressive symptomology. Results. Desire for control significantly moderated the relationship between perceived control and depressive symptomology. The results indicated that variations in perceived control had a greater effect on the manifestation of depressive symptomology in individuals with lower desire for control than those with higher desire for control. Discussion. This study provides novel evidence that desire for control moderates the relationship between perceived control and depressive symptomology. The clinical implications of the results are discussed, with reference to future research. Conclusions. The results indicate that individuals with lower desire for control are more sensitive to variations in perceived control, such that decrements in perceived control contribute to a greater increase in depressive symptomology, and vice versa