Giulia Colombini

1. 1.1. Virtual reality (VR) can be defined as a computer-generated, three-dimensional environmental simulation that enables a highly immersive experience (Emmelkamp & Meyerbröker, 2021; Kardong-Ed...

1. Digital devices such as smartphones, personal computers, tablets, and other connected tools have become almost universal, with the majority of people around the world using at least one such dev...

Every day, people are exposed to social stressors and environmental stimuli, both online and offline, that may contribute to psychological distress (PD), a phenomenon that may be further affected by the pervasive diffusion of the Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In keeping with this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mattering and anti-mattering in both offline and online environments, as well as Social Media Capital on Distress Tolerance (DT). Data were collected through the administration of an online and anonymous survey among 252 participants (32.1% cisgender males; 63.1% cisgender females; 4.8% people belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community) aged 18 to 85 years (mean age: 40.5, SD = 17.0253). In line with the objective of the present study, correlation, multiple linear regression, and network analyses (NA) were performed. Overall, the results pointed out that offline mattering and anti-mattering and social media capital were associated with DT. Moreover, the NA suggested that offline relational experiences, particularly offline mattering and anti-mattering, were more consistently connected with DT within the overall network structure than online relational indicators. In conclusion, the study deepened the investigation of DT in relation to potential social antecedents (both offline and online), laying the groundwork for the development of further studies in this area.

Background: The widespread use of new technologies and social media has profoundly changed the way people seek and access health‐related information. This has contributed to the emergence of cyberchondria, a compulsive behavior involving excessive online health information searches driven by disproportionate health concerns, often resulting in elevated health anxiety and other negative outcomes. This systematic review aimed to update the existing literature on cyberchondria, particularly in the post‐pandemic context. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched Google Scholar, PsycInfo, PubMed, Science Direct, PsycArticles, Sociological Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete. Of 1360 initial results (after removing duplicates), 47 studies were included, 19 of which were from a previous review. Inclusion criteria were: publication date from 2020 onwards, English or Italian language, and use of univariate analyses to examine the relationship between cyberchondria and psychological or sociodemographic variables. Ninety‐five full texts were excluded for not meeting these criteria. Quality assessment was conducted for all quantitative studies. Data were narratively synthesized. Results: Risk factors most consistently associated with cyberchondria included obsessive–compulsive symptoms, depressive symptoms, general anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty. Main outcomes were lower perceived quality of life, problematic internet use, and COVID‐19‐related fear and anxiety. Cyberchondria appears to be a multifactorial behavior sustained by various psychopathological mechanisms. Conclusions: This review updates prior findings and refines the definition of cyberchondria as a compulsive behavior marked by excessive, repetitive online searches for medical information, driven by health‐related worry and leading to increased anxiety and adverse consequences. Further research is needed to clarify its antecedents and outcomes, as many included studies presented methodological limitations and investigated different variables in isolation.

The growing negative consequences of climate change support the need to deepen and investigate factors that may sustain the engagement of pro-environmental behaviors. In this scenario, eco-emotions represent a key factor that can potentially shape sustainable behaviors. In keeping with this, the present study aimed at observing the potential relationships between eco-emotions and readiness to change (RTC), namely a psychological construct closely related to pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically the RTC dimensions were the following: perceived importance of the problem, motivation, self-efficacy, effectiveness of the proposed solution, social support, action, and perceived readiness. In detail, Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were performed in order to detect both linear and non-linear associations between eco-emotions and the dimensions of RTC by assuming a complex perspective. The final sample was composed of 252 participants (mean age = 32.99, SD = 14.640). The results pointed out several significant associations (both linear and non-linear) between eco-emotions and the RTC dimensions. In detail, the perceived importance of the problem was linearly associated with anger and anxiety, while sorrow and enthusiasm showed non-linear effects. Furthermore, motivation was linearly linked to anger and guilt and non-linearly to contempt, enthusiasm, and sorrow. In terms of self-efficacy, anger, enthusiasm, and sorrow showed linear relationships, whereas isolation showed a non-linear association. Perceived effectiveness of the proposed solution was linearly related to enthusiasm and sorrow and non-linearly to anger, powerlessness, isolation, and anxiety. Similarly, social support was linearly connected with enthusiasm, isolation, and sorrow, and non-linearly with powerlessness and anxiety. Moreover, action was primarily driven by anger in a linear relationship, while enthusiasm, powerlessness, guilt, and anxiety showed non-linear associations. Finally, perceived readiness was linearly related to anxiety and non-linearly to anger, contempt, enthusiasm, powerlessness, guilt, and sorrow. These findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s limitations, including its cross-sectional nature, reliance on self-reported measures, use of snowball sampling, and sample demographic characteristics, all of which may affect the generalizability of the results. Nevertheless, the results pointed out the presence of several significant linear (e.g., anxiety and the perceived importance of the problem) and non-linear (e.g., contempt and motivation) associations between various eco-emotions and RTC factors. The findings underscore the need for a complex approach to this field of research, suggesting that further studies, policies, and environmental awareness programs should consider the multifaceted nature of these phenomena in order to develop effective and valuable interventions.

Research on food-related behaviors has increasingly focused on orthorexia nervosa, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, especially with the rise of new types of healthy foods. This study examines the associations between orthorexic tendencies, as measured by the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory and ORTO-R, and scores on the Food Neophobias Scale, attitudes toward novel foods, body shape concerns, as assessed by the Body Shape Questionnaire, and drive for muscularity, training adherence, and anabolic steroid use, as measured by the Drive for Muscularity Scale. A total of 306 participants (68.3% female; Mage = 35.4 years, SD = 13.7), who were at least 18 old and fluent in Italian, took part in an online, anonymous data collection. The results revealed mixed associations between ON and the perceived attractiveness or intention to consume novel foods. In contrast, no relationship was found between orthorexia and food neophobia. Additionally, orthorexic dimensions were correlated with greater body shape dissatisfaction (r-scores ranging from 0.44 to 0.52, p < 0.001) and a drive for muscularity (r-scores ranging from 0.43 to 0.57, p < 0.001). Notably, orthorexic scores showed significant positive correlations with thoughts about anabolic steroid use (r-scores ranging from 0.26 to 0.60, p < 0.001) and training adherence (r-scores ranging from 0.39 to 0.53, p < 0.001) in a subsample of people who regularly exercise. Of examined the predictors, body shape concerns and thoughts about anabolic steroid use (ß ranging from 0.21 to 0.55, and R² ranging from 0.43 to 0.57, p < 0.001) were the most robust predictors of orthorexic tendencies. Overall, the findings highlight the complex relationships between orthorexic tendencies, perceptions, and attitudes, as well as body-related concerns, while also providing new insights into their connection to novel foods.

Current technological development has made the Internet and new technologies increasingly present in people’s lives, expanding their opportunities but also potentially posing risks for dysfunctional use. This study aims to identify psychopathological factors associated with dysfunctional ICT use, extending the evidence beyond the well-established relationships with mood disorders to include personality disorders (i.e., cluster C in particular). A total of 711 participants (75.70% female; Mage = 28.33 years, SD = 12.30) took part in the data collection. Firstly, the results showed positive correlations between higher levels of addictive patterns for the Internet, social networks, smartphones and applications, and video games and higher levels of borderline symptoms as assessed by the Borderline Symptom List 23—Short Version. Moreover, scores reflecting high addictive patterns also positively correlated with general narcissistic traits as indicated by the total score of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory 13—Short Version and those specifically described by its Entitlement/Exploitativeness dimension, as well as with higher levels of almost all the personality traits assessed by the Personality Inventory for DSM 5—Brief Form (i.e., negative affectivity, detachment, disinhibition, and psychoticism). These findings broaden the still scarce body of evidence on the relationship between personality disorders and dysfunctional ICT use, which, however, needs to be further explored.

Background: This study aims to explore the relationship between Health literacy (HL), vaccination behaviors and Vaccination unawareness (VU) by trying to understand how HL influences vaccination attitudes and the potential mediation of VU. Methods: Data were collected using HLS-EU-Q16, Vaccination Attitude Scale and Vaccine Unawareness Scale. Results: The results show that 17.3% of the variance in total VAX-I is explained by predictors. Among the significant predictors, low VU and age positively predicts VAX-I, while adequate HL negatively predicts the VAX-I. Analyses for specific dimensions of VAX-I reveal that low VU and age positively predict distrust of benefits, concerns about future effects, concerns about profit, and preference for natural immunity, while adequate HL negatively predicts these dimensions. Mediation analysis showed that low VU significantly mediates the relationship between adequate HL and VAX-I, contributing 44% of total effect in VAX-I and percentages between 35% and 54% in specific dimensions. Conclusions: Results show that lower levels of VU, combined with higher HL, are associated with more positive attitudes toward vaccines. The results suggest that increasing HL levels alone may be necessary but not sufficient to improve vaccination attitudes; therefore, interventions should focus not only on increasing HL levels but also on decreasing VU.