This study aims to make a preliminary evaluation of the psychometric features of the Italian version of the Love Attitudes Scale: Short Form (LAS; Hendrick, Hendrick & Dicke, 1998), which is one of the most commonly used measurements of love in literature. Our results confirmed the six-factor structure and its convergent validity with several affective dimensions (e.g., intimacy, fear of intimacy, sexuality, relational talk) in couple relationships and marital satisfaction (dyadic and familial). For discriminant validity, there were gender differences in several love styles. Our findings indicated that this tool might be useful in both scientific and clinical contexts when used in the Italian framework.

Different studies do not provide clear evidence with respect to the variables that are able to influence pre-operative anxiety level in women undergoing breast biopsy. The purpose of this review was to systematically identify variables related with pre-operative anxiety level in breast biopsy context. A PRISMA-guided systematic review was run from July 2015 to September 2016, with a final sample of 9 empirical studies published between 1996 and 2015. Results highlighted that pre-operative anxiety is connected with specific psychosocial variables. The factors that were found to influence breast biopsy related anxiety levels seems to be the levels of Trait-Anxiety in the patients, the presence of Chronic Life Stress, the Worry and Uncertainty about the Result, the Waiting Time, the quality of the communication with the staff members, and the quality of the Support provided by the operators. Many of these variables could be taken as target dimensions for psychological interventions aiming to limit anxiety in women undergoing breast biopsy..

The present study focuses on a new specific form of addiction related to social network sites (SNSs). SNSs addicted people spent a considerable part of their day-life to SNSs, with a serious impact on their health. The present study deepens the association between Big-Five personality traits and behavioral inhibitions and activation systems with SNSs addiction. Furthermore, it was studied the role of SNSs addiction in mediating the association between perceived loneliness and internet addiction. The study sample consisted of 580 Italian SNSs users who filled an on-line self-report questionnaire. Regression analysis revealed that conscientiousness was negatively associated with SNSs addiction, while the behavioral inhibition system and the sensitivity to fun-seeking rewards were positively associated with SNSs addiction. Mediational analysis revealed that loneliness was indirectly associated with internet addiction via SNSs addiction. High consciousness people are organized and proactive tending to avoid the abuse of SNSs that could interfere with their goals.

Cultural intelligence (CQ) is a multidimensional construct that refers to the capability to function effectively in culturally diverse settings. The Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS; Ang et al., 2007) distinguishes between metacognitive, cognitive, motivational and behavioural dimensions. This study presents the adaptation of the Italian 20-item version of the scale. A sample of 526 Italian students who had participated to an exchange programme during high school completed a self-report on-line questionnaire. CFA was performed to test the factorial validity of the scale. The criterion validity has been tested exploring correlations between CQ and some constructs expected to be related. CFA confirmed the four-factor structure. The dimensions presented a good internal consistency and they significantly correlated with constructs related to CQ in literature (self-efficacy, resilience, openness to experience). The study contributes to the literature about international mobility experiences and cultural competence providing the Italian version of the CQS.

This article reports on an initial validation study of the Italian translation of the Session Impacts Scale (SIS), which is a brief measure of the perceived impacts of therapy sessions. Data were collected from a heterogeneous group of clients seen through the Dynamic Psychotherapy Service for university students. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) clearly showed the emergence of a three-factor structure, overlapping with the original dimensions called Tasks Impacts, Relationship Impacts, and Hindering Impacts. A second-order EFA confirmed a division between the Helpful Impacts factor and the Hindering Impacts factor. Reliability as internal consistency was very good for Tasks Impacts, Relationship Impacts, and Helpful Impacts scales and discrete for the Hindering Impacts one. Correlations with both the Session Evaluation Questionnaire scales and with a measure of the patients’ satisfaction about the consultation process highlighted a discrete convergent validity of the Italian SIS. Also in its Italian version, SIS presents the important feature to detect pathogenic interpersonal dynamics between patient and therapist and should help to avoid the risk of antitherapeutic relational and technical movements. Further validation studies are needed to replicate the factor structure with a more homogenous sample.