Sample Of Italian Adults Research Articles

Development and validation of the Attribution of Mental States Questionnaire (AMS-Q): A reference tool for assessing anthropomorphism.

Attributing mental states to others, such as feelings, beliefs, goals, desires, and attitudes, is an important interpersonal ability, necessary for adaptive relationships, which underlies the ability to mentalize. To evaluate the attribution of mental and sensory states, a new 23-item measure, the Attribution of Mental States Questionnaire (AMS-Q), has been developed. The present study aimed to investigate the dimensionality of the AMS-Q and its psychometric proprieties in two studies. Study 1 focused on the development of the questionnaire and its factorial structure in a sample of Italian adults (N = 378). Study 2 aimed to confirm the findings in a new sample (N = 271). Besides the AMS-Q, Study 2 included assessments of Theory of Mind (ToM), mentalization, and alexithymia. A Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and a Parallel Analysis (PA) of the data from Study 1 yielded three factors assessing mental states with positive or neutral valence (AMS-NP), mental states with negative valence (AMS-N), and sensory states (AMS-S). These showed satisfactory reliability indexes. AMS-Q's whole-scale internal consistency was excellent. Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) further confirmed the three-factor structure. The AMS-Q subscales also showed a consistent pattern of correlation with associated constructs in the theoretically predicted ways, relating positively to ToM and mentalization and negatively to alexithymia. Thus, the questionnaire is considered suitable to be easily administered and sensitive for assessing the attribution of mental and sensory states to humans. The AMS-Q can also be administered with stimuli of nonhuman agents (e.g., animals, inanimate things, and even God); this allows the level of mental anthropomorphization of other agents to be assessed using the human as a term of comparison, providing important hints in the perception of nonhuman entities as more or less mentalistic compared to human beings, and identifying what factors are required for the attribution of human mental traits to nonhuman agents, further helping to delineate the perception of others' minds.

Pathological narcissism and sadistic personality: The role of rivalry and malicious envy

Despite a tight link has been hypothesized between sadistic and grandiose narcissism, to date, little is known about the variables accounting for such relationship. The aim of this contribution is to bridge such gap by investigating the topic among a very large sample of Italian adults. In addition, we aimed to contribute to advancing the field through the validation of the Italian version of the benign and malignant envy scale (I-BeMaS). We administrated self-report questionnaires evaluating sadistic personality (Assessment of Sadistic Personality; ASP), pathological narcissism (Pathological Narcissism Inventory), envy (I-BeMaS), as well as admiration and rivalry (Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire). Structural equation models were used to test the hypotheses. The I-BeMas showed the expected factorial structure, configural invariance across sex as well as scalar- and metric but not strict invariance. In addition, grandiose narcissism, narcissistic rivalry, and malicious envy positively and significantly predicted the ASP scores. Furthermore, rivalry and malicious envy both mediated the relationship between grandiose narcissism and sadism. Results are discussed in light of theoretical, empirical and clinical implications. The role of envy is stressed, underlying the need for further investigation of this variables, too overlooked in previous contributions.

Expanded version of the Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory: Scale validation and refinement among Italian adults.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the newly-developed Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory (PTGDI-X) in a heterogeneous sample of Italian adults who had experienced a traumatic event. The instrument was translated following the forward-backward method and completed by 601 participants who met the inclusion criteria. The factorial structure of the PTGDI-X was assessed by means of multiple confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity and reliability were also evaluated. The results of the CFA revealed that the original 5-factor model was the best fit for the growth (PTG) dimension of the PTGDI-X, whereas it poorly fit the data with respect to the depreciation (PTD) component. With regard to convergent and divergent validity, positive correlations were found between the PTG scores and the core belief disruption and rumination scores, whereas the PTG factors correlated negatively with depressive and posttraumatic symptom measures. Conversely, positive correlations were identified between the PTD total score and all the other investigated constructs. Finally, the total scales and subscales of the PTG/PTD dimensions revealed good to excellent internal consistency. The current findings indicate that the Italian version of the PTGDI-X appears to be a valid assessment tool for the multidimensional structure of the PTG component. Future research is needed, on the other hand, to confirm the validity of the PTD dimension in the Italian population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Italian Validation of AAS-R: Assessing Psychometric Properties of Adult Attachment Scale-Revised in the Italian Context.

The Adult Attachment Scale-Revised (Collins and Read in J Person Soc Psychol 58(4):644, 1990. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.58.4.644) measures the dimensions of the attachment style of adults through the degree to which the individual feels comfortable in intimacy and closeness with the partner (Close), with dependence on the partner (Depend) and worrying about being rejected or unloved (Anxiety). Dimensions measured by theAAS can capture the core of the structure that determines adults' differences in attachment styles. This study aimed to evaluate the factorial structure of the AAS-R among a sample of Italian adults. The Italian translation of AAS-R was administered to the sample of 1546 Italian adults (M = 27.4; SD 9.35). Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the validity of the Italian version of the AAS-R measure. The present study showed that the Italian version of the AAS-R has a clear factorial structure and good psychometric properties. Clinical and research implications were discussed.

Emotional Temperament and Character Dimensions and State Anger as Predictors of Preference for Rap Music in Italian Population.

The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between affective temperaments dimensions, trait anger, and the preference for rap music in a sample of Italian adults. An online survey was administered to 662 subjects. We assessed preference for rap music using a Likert scale. Ina addition, we investigated the sample’ affective temperament traits using the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) short scale and the trait anger by using the Trait Anger component of the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 (STAXI-2). Multiple linear regression indicated that cyclothymic temperament score, hyperthymic temperament score, and trait anger scores were positive predictors while older age, and depressive temperament and higher education score were negative predictors of preference for rap music. The results expand previous literature on personality and music preference indicating the association of high energy/high activity temperaments and trait anger to preference for rap music.

COVID-19 impact on familial relationships and mental health in a representative sample of adults

Abstract Background Benefits of the stay-at-home order imposed in Italy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission need to be weighed against its impact on citizens’ health. In a country with a solid familial culture and where welfare relies on households, confinement drastically decreased support provided by elder relatives, which may have worsened mental health. Methods A web-based cross-sectional study (LOST in Italy) was conducted on a representative sample of Italian adults during lockdown (27th of April-3rd of May 2020). We asked 3156 subjects to report on reduced help in housework and childcare from retired parents to assess confinement impact on mental health through validated scales before and during the lockdown. Results Overall, 1484 (47.0%) subjects reported reduced housework help from parents, and 769 (64.0%, of the 1202 subjects with children) diminished babysitting support. Subjects reporting reduced housework help had worsened sleep quality (multivariate odds ratio, OR 1.74, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.49-2.03) and quantity (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.28-1.76), depressive (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.14-1.53) and anxiety symptoms (OR 1.53, 95%CI 1.32-1.78), compared to those reporting unreduced help. Worsening in sleep quality (OR 2.32, 95%CI 1.76-3.05) and quantity (OR 1.80, 95%CI 1.36-2.37), depressive (OR 1.79, 95%CI 1.39-2.31) and anxiety symptoms (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.48-2.46) was also associated with reduced babysitting help. In subjects with poorer housing and teleworking, mental health outcomes were worse. Conclusions Confinement came along with reduced familial support from parents, negatively impacting mental health. Social networks and support within families provided by older relatives act as a resilience factor and a potential vulnerability that affects mental health outcomes. Health and social services response should be designed to address mental health needs and mitigate long-term health costs caused by the pandemic's unprecedented stressfulness and unknown duration. Key messages

The validity and reliability of the Test of Memory Strategies among Italian healthy adults.

BackgroundPrevious literature has shown that executive functions (EF) are related to performance in memory (M) tasks. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of psychometric tests that examine these two constructs simultaneously. The Test of Memory Strategies (TMS; previously validated in Spain and Portugal) could be a useful verbal learning task that evaluates these two constructs at once. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the TMS in an Italian adult sample.MethodOne hundred twenty-one healthy volunteers (74 F, Mean age = 45.9 years old, SD = 20.4) who underwent a neuropsychological examination participated in this study. We conducted a Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the structural validity of the TMS. We conducted a latent variable analysis to examine convergent and discriminant validity of the TMS sub-scale scores reflecting executive functions and memory. We also examined the TMS reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald’s omega.ResultsThe CFA confirmed the expectation that the TMS-1 and TMS-2 subtests reflect a factor and that the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests reflect a different factor. This result is in line with the prediction that TMS-1 and TMS-2 require the use of executive functions and memory simultaneously, and therefore we called this factor executive functions (EF); whereas the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests require less involvement of executive functions, thus reflecting a construct that we named memory (M). The TMS subtests for EF and M showed convergent validity with the test scores using a traditional neuropsychological battery, assessing memory and executive functions separately. Finally, the reliability of the subtests was good.ConclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest that TMS is a valid and reliable scale to simultaneously assess M and EF while among Italian healthy adults.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological health in a sample of Italian adults: A three-wave longitudinal study

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting societal restrictions have had negative implications for mental health in the general population. The aims of the present longitudinal study were (i) to investigate changes in psychopathological symptoms and psychological well-being in a sample of Italian individuals surveyed at different points of the pandemic and (ii) to evaluate the potential risk and protective factors associated with the psychopathological outcomes. Self-reported data on psychiatric symptoms, and psychological well-being were collected in March 2020 (T0, the lockdown phase), in May 2020 (T1, the end of the lockdown phase), and in November 2020 (T2, the second wave of COVID-19 infection). 1258 participants (Mage=23.43, SDage=6.45; 75.4% female) were recruited at T0. Of these, 712 also completed the T1 survey, and 369 also completed the T2 survey. A significant decrease in anxiety, depressive, posttraumatic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and a significant increase in psychological well-being were observed from T0 to T1. All psychopathological symptoms increased, and psychological well-being decreased significantly from T1 to T2. Several demographic, psychological and COVID-19-related factors emerged as predictors over the course of the pandemic. The current findings indicated that psychological health covaried with the intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated societal restrictions.

Morning chronotype is associated with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a sample of Italian adults

Background and aimsA growing body of evidence has associated subjects with an evening chronotype with worse eating behaviours and poorer diet quality. However, only few studies have investigated the relationship between chronotype and Mediterranean diet (MD). The aim of this study was to better understand the chronotype influence on dietary habits and MD adherence in a large sample of Italian adults. Methods and resultsA total of 1247 participants (66.7% women) with a mean age of 36.1 ± 14.6 years were included in the analysis. Chronotype was classified as morning in 35.6% of subjects, intermediate in 56.7%, and evening in 7.1%. Regarding meal frequency, evening subjects showed a significantly (p < 0.05) greater tendency to skip breakfast (20.5%) than morning (6.9%) and intermediate (12%) subjects. Similarly, evening subjects were found to skip mid-morning snack more often than morning subjects (59.1% vs. 47.1%; p = 0.04), and lunch more often than intermediate subjects (8% vs. 2.8%; p = 0.01). In addition, all meals were eaten by evening subjects at a significantly delayed time, except for lunch. As to MD adherence a significant (p < 0.001) higher adherence in morning subjects (10.1 ± 2.2) compared to intermediate (9.5 ± 2.1) and evening (9.5 ± 2.2) subjects was observed. At a logistic regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding factors, morning subjects showed an increased probability (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.19–1.99; p < 0.001) of being in the highest MD adherence tertile. ConclusionChronotype was associated with MD adherence. In particular, morning subjects showed higher MD adherence than intermediate and evening subjects.

Italian validation of the Guilt And Shame Proneness Scale: preliminary results

IntroductionBackground: Recently, a new instrument, the Guilt And Shame Proneness Scale has been developed and showed promising psychometric properties. However, the Italian version of the Instrument has not still been validated. In addition, despite the growing number of studies on the topic, the knowledge regarding the role played by guilt, shame and rivalry in the relationship between pathological narcissism facets and suicidal ideation.ObjectivesTo validate the Italian version of the Guilt And Shame Proneness Scale and to extend the knowledge regarding the relationships between guilt, shame, pathological narcissism and suicidality.MethodsWe administrated, to a sample of Italian adults, the Italian versions of the GASP, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, the Beck Suicide Inventory and the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire.ResultsThe structural equation model testing the factorial structure of the Italian version of the GASP obtained a good fit. In addition, invariance among gender as well as other invariance tests were tested successfully. Finally, regression and mediation analyses showed that the subscale Shame Social withdraw mediate the relationship between Narcissism grandiosity and suicidal ideation. In contrast, rivalry and social withdraw in response to shame were no more predictive of suicidal ideation controlling for pathological narcissism levels.ConclusionsThe Italian version of the GASP appears promising to deepen the investigation of the pathological personality topic.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Considering Envy and Rivalry within the nomological network of pathological narcissism: an empirical study

IntroductionFew is known regarding the intervening variables between pathological narcissism and sadism personality. Specifically, envy is a psychoanalytical construct that appears especially promising in illuminating such relationships.ObjectivesTo extend the knowledge regarding the nomological network of pathological narcissism.MethodsWe administered to a sample of Italian adults a battery of self-report questionnaires including the Italian version of the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale, the Assessment of Narcissistic Personality, The Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory.ResultsFirst, the Italian version of the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale showed good fit indexes confirming the original factorial structure as well as configural invariance. We found that only the grandiosity facet of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, the Rivalry subscale of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire and the Malicious subscale of the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale positively and significantly predicted Assessment of Narcissistic Personality scores. Moreover, throughout a structural equation modeling approach, the hypothesis that rivalry and malicious envy both mediate the relationship between grandiosity and sadism was empirically supported.ConclusionsThe use of the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale resulted to be promising in the investigation of the nomological network of pathological narcissism. Limitations and future directions are discussed.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Prevalence and determinants of diabetes mellitus in a representative sample of Italian adults

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a dramatic epidemic worldwide. This study providea an updated estimate of itsprevalence and determinants among Italian adults.&#x0D; Methods: Data were derived from a face-to-face survey conducted in 2013 on 2901 individuals (1391 men, 1510 women) aged ≥18 years, representative of the general adult Italian population. Odds ratios (OR) for diabetes versus non diabetes in relation to selected risk factors were derived using multiple logistic regression models.&#x0D; Results: Overall, 135 out of 2901 adults (4.7%) reported a diagnosis of diabetes, with similar prevalence in men (4.8%) and in women (4.5%). Diabetes increased with age (0.6% at age 18-44, 5.1% at age 45-64, and 11.3% at age ≥65 years; p-trend &lt;0.001) and decreased with increasing level of education (12.8% for low, 7.8% for middle, and 1.4% for high education; p-trend &lt;0.001). Prevalence was higher among obese subjects (10.8%) compared to normal weight subjects (3.1%; OR=2.46; p-trend=0.001), among individuals reporting a physical activity &lt;30 minutes of walk/day (5.6%) compared to those reporting &gt;60 minutes of walk/day (3.8%; OR=1.43), and among ex-smokers (11.6%) compared to never smokers (4.2%; OR=2.51); moreover, it was lower among moderate drinkers (3.1%) than among abstainers (6.1%; OR=0.57; p-trend=0.016). Prevalence of diabetes was 16.1% in individuals with a diagnosis of hypertension (OR=4.66), 15.2% in those with high cholesterol (OR=3.84), and 21.6% among aspirin users (OR=4.46).&#x0D; Conclusion: Although diabetes prevalence in Italy is still comparatively low, effective clinical and preventive intervention strategies – focused on major risk behaviors – should be implemented to control the diffusion of this condition.

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among a Sample of Italian Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Follow-Up Study.

The strict lockdowns imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic brought an increase in levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population. However, in a previous study, our group found that individuals with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HF-ASD) reported an increase in their psychological wellbeing and a decrease in their daily tiredness, in relation to the social distancing measures imposed during the first Italian lockdown (between March and May 2020). In this follow-up study, conducted during the “second wave” of COVID-19, we included the same group of individuals with HF-ASD and evaluated their levels of stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD-related symptoms, tiredness, and perceived wellbeing; moreover, we compared our results to the ones we obtained during the first lockdown on the same population. We found that individuals with HF-ASD experienced higher levels of the aforementioned psychiatric symptoms during the second lockdown, with respect to the first one. These levels positively correlated with their scores at the Autism Quotient subscale Attention Switching: hence, we speculated that these symptoms might be due not only to the prolonging of the social distancing measures, but also to the uncertainty that HF-ASD participants started experiencing at the end of the first lockdown.

COVID-19 lockdown impact on familial relationships and mental health in a large representative sample of Italian adults

PurposeBenefits of national-level stay-at-home order imposed in Italy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission need to be carefully weighed against its impact on citizens’ health. In a country with a strong familial culture and where welfare relies on households, confinement drastically decreased support provided by elder relatives, which may have resulted in mental health worsening.MethodsA web-based cross-sectional study (LOST in Italy) was conducted on a representative sample of Italian adults during lockdown (27th of April–3rd of May 2020). We asked 3156 subjects to report on reduced help in housework and childcare from retired parents to assess the impact of confinement on mental health, through validated scales before and during lockdown.ResultsOverall, 1484 (47.0%) subjects reported reduced housework help from parents, and 769 (64.0%, of the 1202 subjects with children) diminished babysitting support. Subjects reporting reduced housework help had worsened sleep quality (multivariate odds ratio, OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.49–2.03) and quantity (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.28–1.76), depressive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.14–1.53) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.32–1.78), compared to those reporting unreduced help. Worsening in sleep quality (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.76–3.05), and quantity (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.36–2.37), depressive (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.39–2.31) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.48–2.46) was also associated with reduced babysitting help. Mental health outcomes were worse in subjects with poorer housing and teleworking during lockdown.ConclusionConfinement came along with reduced familial support from parents, negatively impacting household members’ mental health. Our findings might inform evidence-based family and welfare policies to promote population health within and beyond pandemic times.

COVID-19 lockdown: The relationship between trait impulsivity and addictive behaviors in a large representative sample of Italian adults

BackgroundThe importance of trait impulsivity in development, continuation and escalation of addictive behaviors has long been recognized. MethodsA cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown on 6003 Italian adults aged 18–74 years, representative of the Italian general population, to investigate the relationship between impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – BIS) and selected addictive behaviors (gambling habits, smoking status, cannabis use, average alcohol daily use). ResultsA statistically significant relationship was found between motor impulsivity and starting/increasing drinking and increasing gambling (high vs. low motor impulsivity: multivariate odds ratio, OR=3.12; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.45–6.74; p for trend=0.004 for start and OR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.26–1.86; p for trend<0.001 for increase drinking, respectively; OR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.41–3.12; p for trend<0.001 for increasing gambling). LimitationsPotential information and recall bias. The necessity to limit the length of the questionnaire not to reduce the quality of the answers of study participants. ConclusionsThe multifaceted nature of impulsivity, potentially either cause or effect, hampers the understanding of its proper role in addictive behaviors. If confirmed by future longitudinal studies, our findings might support the planning, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based preventive interventions, to reduce addictive behaviors during public health emergencies.

Acceptance of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Co-Administration: Insights from a Representative Italian Survey.

Co-administration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza vaccines has several advantages, has been advocated by various public health authorities and should be seen as an opportunity to increase the uptake of both vaccines. The objective of this survey was to quantify the acceptance of concomitant COVID-19/influenza vaccination and to identify its correlates in a representative sample of Italian adults. Of 2463 participants, a total of 22.9% were favorable to vaccine co-administration, while 16.6% declared their firm unwillingness to receive both vaccines simultaneously. The remaining 60.5% of subjects could be dubbed hesitant to some degree. Compliance with the primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule (adjusted proportional odds ratio (aOR) = 7.78), previous influenza vaccination (aOR = 1.89) and trust in public health institutions (aOR = 1.22) were the main determinants of positive attitudes toward vaccine co-administration. Other significant correlates included age, sex, perceived disease severity and vaccination risk–benefit, being offered a more personalized influenza vaccine and recent seeking for influenza-related information. In Italy, hesitancy toward COVID-19/influenza vaccine co-administration is common and appears to be higher than hesitancy toward either vaccine administered alone. This pattern is multifaceted and requires specific and tailored strategies, with public health institutions playing the central role.

Italians Do It … Less. COVID-19 Lockdown Impact on Sexual Activity: Evidence From a Large Representative Sample of Italian Adults

BackgroundTo explore how sexual activity was impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures in the general adult population.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6,003 Italian adults aged 18–74 years who were representative of the Italian general population. Study subjects were recruited at the time of the nationwide stay-at-home order (from April 27 to May 3, 2020). We identified characteristics associated with decreased frequency of sex during lockdown, differentiating between cohabiting and non-cohabiting subjects.ResultsOver one-third (35.3%) of Italians reported to have changed their sexual activity during lockdown (8.4% increased and 26.9% decreased). When focusing on cohabitants (N = 3,949, 65.8%), decreased sexual activity (20.7%) was more frequently reported by men (22.3%; compared to women, multivariable odds ratio 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.44), younger subjects (P for trend <0.001), more educated subjects (P for trend = 0.004), subjects living in smaller houses (P for trend = 0.003), and those reporting longer time spent outdoors before the lockdown (P for trend <0.001).ConclusionsCOVID-19 lockdown drastically altered people’s day-to-day life and is likely to have impacted lifestyle habits and behavioral risk factors, including sexual attitudes and practice. This is the first national population-level study exploring changes in sexual life in this COVID-19 era. As we report sexual practice to have been affected by lockdown restrictions, we suggest that the mental health, social, and other determinants of these changes are to be explored beyond imposed social distancing.

A paradoxical psychological impact of COVID-19 among a sample of Italian adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

BackgroundSince February 2020, many governments of the world ordered strict social distancing rules to try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, with a reported consequent increase in levels of stress, anxiety and depression in the general population. Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the aforementioned psychiatric symptoms across a sample of individuals with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HF-ASDs) with respect to a group of neurotypical adults (NA), during the first two months of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Method45 adults with HF-ASDs and 45NA completed a structured online questionnaire, including; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 items (DASS-21); the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). We also explored some specific aspects of participants’ psychological well-being through an ad-hoc questionnaire. ResultsSubjects with HF-ASDs scored significantly higher than NA at the DASS-21, the IES-R Total Score and the PSS; NA reported a higher perceived change of their lifestyle during the lockdown than individuals with HF-ASDs, and subjects with HF-ASDs reported to feel more comfortable and less tired during the lockdown period, in relation to the social distancing measures adopted by Italian authorities. ConclusionsAdults with HF-ASDs presented higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD-related symptoms than NA during the first two months of COVID-19 pandemic. However, they also reported to feel subjectively more comfortable and less tired during the lockdown than before, in relation to the social distancing measures.

Prosocial behaviours under collective quarantine conditions. A latent class analysis study during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.

We aimed to identify the patterns of prosocial behaviours under collective quarantine conditions. Survey data were collected from a sample of Italian adults during the March May 2020 COVID‐19 lockdown in Italy. Participants reported on offline and online prosocial behaviours, sense of community responsibility (SoC‐R) and perceptions of community resilience. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used for data analysis. A total of 4,045 participants completed the survey, and 2,562 were eligible (72% female; mean age 38.7 years). LCA revealed four classes of prosocial behaviours: Money donors (7%), Online and offline helpers (59%), Online health information sharers (21%) and Neighbour helpers (13%). The classes were partially invariant across age groups (18‐35 and 35‐65 years). Being a man, having achieved a higher educational level and higher SoC‐R scores were associated with belonging to the Online and offline helper class. The members of this class also reported the greatest perceptions of community resilience. The results provide insight on the multidimensionality of prosociality under collective quarantine conditions. Online and offline helpers could be targeted for promoting sustained altruism and involvement in community organisations. For the other groups, programmes should aim at eliminating barriers to help others in multiple ways. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake: An Assessment Among a Sample of Italian Adults.

Background: Assessing nutrition knowledge provides useful information especially if coupled with the self-perception of nutrition knowledge that could lead to bias and personal conviction. The objective of this study was to assess nutrition knowledge (NK) and its relationship with eating habits in a group of adults.Methods: A cross-sectional study with the administration of self-reported questionnaires was conducted on a sample of 591 parents (43 ± 5.82 years old) of primary school pupils recruited from the municipality of Rome (urban) and province (rural). The fieldwork was carried out in May 2017. An indicator to evaluate adherence to Italian dietary guidelines was developed. ANOVA (Welch's ANOVA in case of unequal variances) test and chi-squared test were used fixing the significance level at 5% (p < 0.05).Results: The percentage of correct answers to nutrition knowledge was 46%, with the expert recommendation section having the highest percentage (59%). The majority of the respondents (66%) were confident that they had a high level of nutrition knowledge. In 37% of the sample, nutrition knowledge and self-perception nutrition knowledge levels were found to be associated. A total of 40% of the sample showed eating habits congruent with nutrition knowledge level. In the investigated sample, living in rural areas, being young, and having low school education level were factors associated with low nutrition literacy or/and unhealthy eating habits.Conclusions: This study provided a demonstration that an assessment based on a multidimensional and multilevel approach is helpful to identify knowledge gaps and to profile critical segments to put in place targeted policy interventions.