Francesca Vescovelli

Post-traumatic Growth in Breast Cancer Survivors: New Insights into its Relationships with Well-Being and Distress

Research investigating possible relations between Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and clinical indexes—such as psychosocial distress, physical and psychological well-being—is lacking in medical settings. The aim of this study was to look into such relationships in breast cancer survivors (Bcs) and in healthy control subjects who experienced other stressful events. Sixty Bcs and 60 healthy women reporting other stressful events were compared according to the following scales: Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, Psychological Well-being Scales (PWB), Symptom Questionnaire and Psychosocial Index. Bcs reported significantly higher levels of PTG and distress, and lower levels of PWB compared to healthy women. Bcs with high levels of PTG showed increased levels of physical well-being and decreased distress. Healthy women under stressful circumstances reporting high levels of PTG showed increased levels of PWB. PTG levels were higher in Bcs and associated with decreased psychological distress and somatisation. These results carry important implications for clinical assessment, as well as for planning interventions to improve well-being and resilience in oncology.

Well-Being Therapy: State of the Art and Clinical Exemplifications

A specific psychotherapeutic strategy for increasing psychological well-being, well-being therapy (WBT), has been developed almost two decades ago, and tested in a number of randomized controlled trials over these years. WBT is described in its current clinical features, with two clinical case presentations (one involving a depressed woman and one involving a child with ADHD) that illustrate its additive value in combination with cognitive behavioral treatment or pharmacotherapy. Recent developments with children and adolescents, both in school and clinical settings, are also reported. These contributions underline the peculiarities of this approach: it is aimed at promoting well-being, but differentiates form other positive interventions since it adopts a wider eudaimonic perspective. Thus, WBT takes into consideration both psychological well-being and distress in determining patient’s clinical outcomes. Limitations of current research on WBT and future developments as a preventive strategy for vulnerable individuals are discussed.

The Promotion of Well-Being in Aging Individuals Living in Nursing Homes: A Controlled Pilot Intervention with Narrative Strategies

ABSTRACT Objectives: The study aimed: (1) to compare levels of well-being and distress in older adults living in nursing homes with those living in community; and (2) to test the feasibility of a positive narrative intervention for improving well-being versus a control art-and-craft intervention in a nursing home setting. Methods: Sixty older adults participated in the study (M = 77.37; SD = 5.00), Male = 20 (33.3%). In Study 1, 30 adults living in nursing homes were compared with 30 community-dwellers using the following measures: Satisfaction with Life Scale, Psychological Well-being Scale, Social Well-being Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and sleep quality. In Study 2, the same 30 adults living in nursing homes were allocated to a positive narrative intervention group (N = 20) or to a control group (N = 10) and assessed at post-intervention. Results: In Study 1, older adults in nursing homes presented more depression and impairments in well-being, compared to community-dwellers. In Study 2, at post-treatment, individuals assigned to the narrative intervention reported significantly increased well-being and sleep quality. Conclusions: Although preliminary, results showed that older adults living in nursing homes are more vulnerable than community-dwellers. These patients experienced improvement when given a short group positive narrative intervention applicable in nursing homes. Clinical Implications: A brief group intervention based on fairy tales yielded improvements in well-being and sleep quality in nursing home residents, who enjoyed and appreciated its content. These promising results need to be confirmed by future randomized controlled trials.

Self-rated and observer-rated measures of well-being and distress in adolescence: an exploratory study

The evaluation of eudaimonic well-being in adolescence is hampered by the lack of specific assessment tools. Moreover, with younger populations, the assessment of positive functioning may be biased by self-report data only, and may be more accurate by adding significant adults’ evaluations. The objective of this research was to measure adolescents’ well-being and prosocial behaviours using self-rated and observer-rated instruments, and their pattern of associations. The sample included 150 Italian high school adolescents. Observed-evaluation was performed by their school teachers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adolescents completed Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scales and Symptom Questionnaire. Pearson’ r correlations and Linear regression were performed. Self-rated dimensions of psychological well-being significantly correlated with all observer-rated dimensions, but Strengths and Difficulties Emotional symptom scale. Multiple linear regression showed that the self-rated dimensions Environmental Mastery and Personal Growth, and surprisingly not Positive Relations, are related to the observer-rated dimension Prosocial Behaviour. Adolescents with higher levels of well-being in specific dimensions tend to be perceived as less problematic by their teachers. However, some dimensions of positive functioning present discrepancies between self and observer-rated instruments. Thus, the conjunct use of self-reports and observer-rated tools for a more comprehensive assessment of students’ eudaimonic well-being is recommended.

Exploring Psychological Well-Being and Positive Emotions in School Children Using a Narrative Approach

Abstract While a large body of research has provided quantitative data on children’s levels of happiness, positive emotions and life satisfaction, the literature reflects a dearth of studies that analyze these dimensions from a narrative and qualitative point of view. Folk and fairy tales may serve as ideal tools for this purpose, since they are concerned with several concepts scientifically investigated by research in the field of positive psychology, such as resilience, self-realization, personal growth and meaning in life. The aim of the present study was to explore children’s well-being and positive emotions using an innovative narrative approach, which involved interviews and group discussions, as well as the analysis of fairy tales written and discussed in a group context. The sample included 95 school children who were asked to report and discuss in a group setting situations or experiences which triggered positive emotions and happiness in them. Guided by their teachers and a school psychologist, they were then asked to write their own original fairy tale drawing on the positive emotions that had previously emerged. Positive emotions were found to be triggered mainly by interpersonal relationships with peers as well as with family members. Hobbies and leisure time were also strongly associated with happiness and hedonic well-being, while personal fulfilment, self-esteem and goal achievement emerged as highly significant for children. In sum, the findings suggest that this school psycho-educative intervention based on narrative strategies provided useful information on children’s well-being and yielded positive feedback, the implications and possible further applications of which are discussed.

[The use of Well-Being Therapy in childhood: clinical cases].

Anxiety, mood and somatoform disorders are among the most prevalent forms of psychological suffering during childhood and adolescence. If untreated, these problems can be predictors of more severe disorders in adulthood. New trends in clinical psychology suggest the relevance of focusing on childs competencies and developing optimal functioning in youth. A specific psychotherapeutic strategy for enhancing well-being (Well-Being Therapy; WBT) has been developed for adult patients and it was found to be effective in determining remission from affective symptoms, in improving psychological well-being and in preventing relapses. In this article we describe a modified form of WBT which has been applied for the first time to children suffering from emotional and behavioral disorders in order to test its feasibility and potential effects in reducing symptoms and in improving new skills. Four cases particularly interesting by a clinical point of view are reported. This new therapeutic approach, based on the promotion of psychological well-being seems to be a very promising intervention: children improved at post treatment and during 1 year follow-up, both in symptomatology and in social skills. The promotion of psychological well-being and optimal functioning is an innovative and relevant ingredient and could play an important role in the treatment of somatic and psychosocial symptoms in paediatric settings.

Psychological well-being and depression from pregnancy to postpartum among primiparous and multiparous women

Abstract Background: The bulk of research on motherhood has focused on perinatal depression, largely overlooking indicators of women’s positive mental health which can likewise have pervasive consequences on family functioning. Objective: The aim of the present study was to address this issue by exploring the impact of parity and childbirth on both women’s perinatal depression and psychological well-being. Methods: A convenience sample of 81 women was followed during pregnancy (Time 1) and postpartum (Time 2). At both times, participants completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Psychological Well-being Scales, measuring perceived autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Results: Significant negative correlations were observed between depression and psychological well-being dimensions. ANCOVA and mixed ANOVA analyses showed that depression levels did not differ between primiparous and multiparous women, or between pre- and postpartum assessments. By contrast, after childbirth, primiparous women reported higher values of environmental mastery and self-acceptance than multiparous women. In addition, levels of self-acceptance and personal growth increased from pregnancy to postpartum among primiparous women, while no differences were detected over time in the scores of all the psychological well-being dimensions among multiparous women. Conclusions: This study highlighted some dimensions of positive psychological functioning that specifically contribute to women’s well-being in the transition to motherhood, and their different relevance for primiparous and multiparous mothers. Future trials are needed to integrate this information in tailored intervention for the promotion of mothers’ complete mental health.

Life Stressors, Allostatic Overload, and Their Impact on Posttraumatic Growth

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) has rarely been explored in terms of a comparison between stressful events and chronic stress. The definition of allostatic overload (AO) refers to the chronic, cumulative effect of stressful situations in daily life experienced by the individual as taxing or exceeding his or her coping skills. Sixty breast cancer survivors and 60 healthy stressed women were divided into four groups according to various psychosocial variables: survivors with and without allostatic overload and healthy stressed women with and without allostatic overload. Women with breast cancer had higher scores on PTG scales reflecting new possibilities, personal strengths, and spiritual changes than healthy women with AO. Chronic stress may hamper growth following adversities. Evaluation of chronic stress may help in targeting interventions for promoting posttraumatic growth.

Subjective and psychological well-being in Parkinson's Disease: A systematic review

The aim of this review is to summarize studies investigating subjective and psychological well‐being in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD).

University counseling service for improving students’ mental health.

The main aims of this study were to provide an initial sociodemographic and clinical characterization of university students’ academic and psychological functioning and to investigate and compare the feasibility and clinical utility of psychotherapies (cognitive behavior vs. psychodynamic) delivered at a large University in Northern Italy for improving university students’ mental health, using self and observer-report measures. One hundred forty-9 students (102 women; MAge = 24.55, SD = 3.35) were consecutively interviewed and extensively assessed by independent clinicians of the Service before and after the intervention, using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation and the Global Assessment Scale. Patients were enrolled in an individual psychotherapy and allocated to cognitive behavior or psychodynamic approach according to specific criteria. Psychotherapists who were not involved in the assessment phase administered the treatment. The majority of students was female and the most severe conditions emerged among students enrolled in philosophy, arts, and communication and medical schools. At posttreatment, all students improved both in terms of well-being and distress, regardless of the type of psychotherapy received. This improvement emerged both by students’ self-report and clinicians’ evaluations. These findings point to the feasibility and clinical utility of psychotherapy in promoting well-being and reducing young adults’ distress. The importance of university counseling services for promoting students’ mental health, and a positive transition to adulthood is discussed.