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Due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, individuals felt uncertain and insecure. As a consequence, conspiracy theories flourished and quickly spread. In the current study, we examine the relationship between general and COVID-19-related conspiracy theories, cognitive reflection, psychopathological symptoms, and defense styles in a sample of Italian adults. A total of 450 participants (50.2% male; mean age = 40.89 years, SD = 12.15) took part in an online survey. Two linear regression models on the general (explained variance 22.6%) and COVID-19-related (explained variance 33.0%) conspiracy theories have been tested. Among the predictive factors, older age, mania symptoms, and immature defenses facilitate adherence to conspiracy theories; on the opposite side, higher education, cognitive reflection, and mature defenses protected from adherence to conspiracy theories. The study provides some novel findings about factors that are significantly associated with general and COVID-19-related conspiracy theories, and highlights the pivotal role of individuals’ psychological defenses in conspiracy theories.

This study examines the relationship between depressive symptoms (DS) and mental time travel (MTT), focusing on individuals’ ability to orient and project themselves into past or future scenarios. Drawing on literature suggesting that depression disrupts prospection, we hypothesized that DS are primarily associated with alterations in future-related MTT. Forty-eight university students were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of mild-to-severe DS. Participants were asked to judge whether various events were located in the past or future while mentally projecting themselves ten years into the past, in the present, or ten years into the future. Results showed that participants with DS were less accurate in judging the temporal location of past events when projecting themselves into the future, as compared with those without DS. This suggests that DS may reduce prospection by interfering with the ability to orient to the past when individuals need to represent themselves in possible futures. Clinical implications will be discussed on how focusing on future-related MTT may help counteract DS.

Suicide represents a significant problem for healthcare professionals such as veterinarians. Previous studies showed that contextual and individual risk factors can contribute to suicidality among veterinarians. In the present study, self-report measures on exposure to animal euthanasia, substance abuse, reflective functioning, and suicidal ideation were administered to 1556 Italian veterinarians aged 24–74 years old. Structural equation modelling revealed that failures in reflective functioning and substance abuse were associated with suicidal ideation. Prevention programs focusing on improving reflective functioning and decreasing substance abuse might reduce suicide risk among veterinarians.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep episodes, disrupted nocturnal sleep, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations, which significantly impact the overall well-being and quality of life of individuals. While psychological factors have gained attention, there is limited research on the coping strategies employed by patients with NT1 and their association with quality of life. This study aimed to compare coping strategies in patients with NT1 and controls, as well as assess the relationship between coping strategies and quality of life in patients with NT1. A total of 122 individuals diagnosed with NT1 and 138 controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed questionnaires assessing coping strategies and health-related quality of life. A Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to compare the use of different coping strategies by patients with NT1 and controls. Spearman's rho correlation was performed to examine the association between coping strategies and quality of life in the NT1 group. Results showed that patients with NT1 exhibited differences in the use of coping strategies compared to controls. They reported lower use of active coping, planning, instrumental, and emotional social support, and higher use of behavioral and mental disengagement. Denial and behavioral disengagement were significantly and negatively associated with quality of life. Identifying coping strategies and their association with quality of life may aid in the development of tailored interventions aimed at improving the adoption of effective coping strategies and reducing the use of maladaptive coping strategies.

Individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity experience significant impairment in physical functioning. Pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance have all been identified as important factors associated with the level of disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance as mediators of the association between perceived pain severity and physical functioning in individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity. In this cross-sectional study, 165 women with fibromyalgia and obesity completed self-report questionnaires of perceived pain severity (ie, Numeric Pain Rating Scale), pain catastrophizing (ie, Pain Catastrophizing Scale), kinesiophobia (ie Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), pain acceptance (ie, Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire), and perceived physical functioning (ie, Physical Functioning subscale of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). In addition, a performance-based test (ie, 6-minute walking test) was conducted to assess objective physical functioning. Two multiple mediation analyses were performed. Pain acceptance and kinesiophobia mediated the relationship between pain severity and self-reported physical functioning. Pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia mediated the relationship between pain severity and performance-based functioning. Pain acceptance, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing should be addressed in rehabilitative intervention to improve physical functioning. Interestingly, the subjective and objective aspects of physical functioning are influenced by different factors. Therefore, interventions for women with fibromyalgia and obesity should focus on factors related to both subjective and performance-based physical functioning.

Cyberchondria refers to excessive engagement in searching for health information on the Internet, leading to increased levels of anxiety. Previous research has shown that COVID‐19‐related fears were associated with increased cyberchondria during the COVID‐19 pandemic. From a psychodynamic perspective, defense mechanisms have a critical role in emotional responses to adverse experiences. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships among defensive functioning, COVID‐19‐related fears, and cyberchondria in young adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A total of 369 young adults (81.6% female), aged 18–30 years ( M = 24.1; SD = 2.83), completed self‐report instruments assessing the degree of maturity of defensive functioning, COVID‐19‐related fears, and cyberchondria. A mediation model was computed to examine the mediating role of COVID‐19‐related fears in the relationship between overall defensive functioning (ODF) and cyberchondria. Results showed that the maturity of defensive functioning was negatively associated with cyberchondria and that COVID‐19‐related fears mediated this association. Our findings suggest that individuals with less mature defensive functioning may experience higher levels of COVID‐19‐related fears, and that cyberchondria may constitute a maladaptive strategy for coping with COVID‐19‐related fears. Clinical interventions aimed at improving the capacity to modulate one’s reactions to health‐related threatening events might reduce dysfunctional engagement in online health searches among young adults with less mature defensive functioning.

Although a link between problematic online pornographic use (POPU) and insomnia symptoms has been established, psychological and psychopathological mechanisms underlying this relationship are still not clear. Psychological stress and emotion dysregulation have been pointed out as relevant in the development and maintenance of insomnia. This study aims to explore the associations between POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation and insomnia symptoms and to understand the mediating role of psychological stress and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between POPU and insomnia symptoms. A sample of 776 Italian adults aged 19-48 years (51.4% female; age = 28.49; = 7.33) completed questionnaires regarding demographics, COVID-19-related variables, POPU, psychological stress, emotion dysregulation, and insomnia symptoms. After controlling for demographic covariates and COVID-19-related variables, multiple mediation model showed that higher psychological stress and emotion dysregulation fully mediated the link between POPU and insomnia. The findings underscore the significance of the negative consequences of POPU and underline the importance of working on this and its effects on psychological stress and emotion dysregulation to limit insomnia.

Previous studies showed poor sleep quality during the first Italian lockdown consequent to the quick spread of the virus. Poor sleep quality remained stable during the so-called \"second wave\", which started in Autumn 2020. This study aimed to compare sleep quality between the two waves of contagions and to examine the effect of resilience, together with sociodemographic and COVID-related variables, on sleep quality during the second wave. A total of 648 participated in this longitudinal study through an online survey during the first lockdown consequent to the COVID-19 and during the second wave. The Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) and the Resilience Scale (RS) were administered. Sociodemographic and COVID-related information were also collected. The results showed sleep quality slightly increased in the second wave, even though with a small effect size. Correlational analysis showed that resilience is inversely correlated with sleep quality measured in the two waves. Sleep quality during the second wave was positively correlated with sleep quality in the first lockdown. Likewise, the results of multiple regression revealed that the sleep quality in the first lockdown and resilience were significant predictors of sleep quality during the second wave. These findings highlighted that the prevalence of poor sleepers remained high during the second wave. Together with the sleep quality in the first lockdown, resilience represents an important factor related to sleep quality during the second wave. Interventions to improve sleep quality among the general population should take into account these findings.

Background This study aimed to analyze the moderating role of emotional exhaustion in the relationships between longitudinal associations of depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers assisting end-of-life cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A longitudinal study involving a final sample of 122 healthcare workers (61.5% females, mean age = 39.09 ± 11.04 years) was conducted. These participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Results: Results of correlation analysis showed that emotional exhaustion was correlated with both T1 and T2 measures of depression, anxiety, and stress. Results of the moderation analysis indicated that emotional exhaustion moderated the relationships between consecutive measures of depression and anxiety. Each of the moderation models explained about half of the variance for depression and anxiety. When considering stress, results did not show a moderating role for emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Overall, the results of this study highlight that emotional exhaustion moderated depression and anxiety over time. Psychological interventions to promote psychological mental health among healthcare workers assisting patients with end-stage cancer should carefully consider these findings.