Nadia Barberis

The Mediational Role of Psychological Basic Needs in the Relation Between Conception of God and Psychological Outcomes

Abstract Relatively few studies have examined the relationship between conception of God and psychological outcomes in a self-determination theory (SDT) framework. The aim of this study was to examine the role of basic psychological needs as a mediator of the association between conception of God and psychological outcomes. In a sample of 210 religious young adults, we found that the concept of a controlling God was positively associated with feelings of need frustration and depression, whilst the concept of an autonomy-supporting God was positively associated with feelings of need satisfaction and vitality. In turn, need satisfaction promoted feelings of vitality, whereas need frustration led to feelings of depression. The satisfaction of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between autonomy-supporting God and vitality, whilst the frustration of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between controlling God and depression. These findings are discussed in terms of SDT. We also discuss how future research may further increase our understanding of the dynamics involved in concepts of God and psychological outcomes.

Antecedents and consequences of parental psychological control and autonomy support: The role of psychological basic needs

Research suggests that psychologically controlling and autonomy-supportive parenting can be described within the Self-Determination Theory’s (SDT) framework. Two studies were conducted to examine (a) the role of parental need frustration as a predictor of parental psychological control, (b) the role of parental need satisfaction as a predictor of parental autonomy support, and (c) the role of parents’ psychological control and autonomy support in the intergenerational transmission of satisfaction and frustration of the psychological basic needs. Study 1 provided evidence, in a sample of 203 Italian coupled parents, that needs frustration and needs satisfaction represent distinct antecedents of psychological control and autonomy support. Study 2, showed that in 135 families, the intergenerational association between parents’ and adolescents’ need frustration was partially mediated by psychological control and autonomy support. Results clearly showed that parents who experienced high level of psychological needs frustration are more likely to use psychological control and in turn to promote a feeling of need frustration in their adolescents; differently, parents who experienced high levels of psychological needs satisfaction tend to exert more autonomy support in their relationship with their children and in turn adolescents tend to perceive higher level of needs satisfaction. These findings are discussed in light of SDT and underline the importance of needs in the parenting context and have implications for interventions.

Role of Emotional Intelligence as a Mediating Factor Between Uncertainty and Anxiety Hospital in Chronic Renal Patients

Renal diseases are distressing and it is, especially, the aspect of uncertainty that exerts an influence on patients’ emotional adjustment to illness. The present study investigates the relationship between uncertainty and trait emotional intelligence (EI), and the role of EI as mediator in the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and depression in nephropathy patients. Fifty patients were asked to complete a worksheet including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire—Short Form, and Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale. Structural equation modeling has been used to examine whether trait EI mediates the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. Through structural equation modeling, it has been demonstrated that trait EI mediated the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. These findings suggest to develop coaching programs aimed at strengthening nephropathy patients’ emotional responses to uncertainty; in this way, it could be possible to observe an improvement in patients’ quality of life.

Relationship between Alexithymia, Parenting Style, and Parental Control:

Research on the relationship between parental alexithymia and parenting is relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between parental alexithymia and three styles of parenting (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) and the relationships between parental alexithymia and two domains of psychological control (dependency and achievement). The participants were 946 parents ages 29–60 years (mothers: n = 473, M age = 44.6 yr., SD = 4.7; fathers: n = 473, M age = 48.1 yr., SD = 5.1) of children ages 11–18 years. All participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Parental Authority Questionnaire–Revised (PAQ–R), and the Dependency-Oriented and Achievement-Oriented Psychological Control Scale (DAPCS). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine whether alexithymia could predict the three parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) and the two domains of psychological control (dependency and achievement). The first model showed that alexithymia was a positive predictor of authoritative and permissive parenting and a negative predictor of authoritarian parenting in both paternal and maternal data. The second model showed that, in both paternal and maternal data, alexithymia was a positive predictor of both dependency-oriented psychological control (DPC) and achievement-oriented psychological control (APC).

The incremental role of trait emotional intelligence on perceived cervical screening barriers

Abstract Researchers have become increasingly interested in investigating the role of the psychological aspects related to the perception of cervical screening barriers. This study investigates the influence of trait EI on perceived cervical screening barriers. Furthermore, this study investigates the incremental validity of trait EI beyond the Big Five, as well as emotion regulation in the perceived barrier towards the Pap test as revealed in a sample of 206 Italian women that were undergoing cervical screening. Results have shown that trait EI is negatively related to cervical screening barriers. Furthermore, trait EI can be considered as a strong incremental predictor of a woman’s perception of screening over and above the Big Five, emotion regulation, age, sexual intercourse experience and past Pap test. Detailed information on the study findings and future research directions are discussed.

The relationship between coping, emotion regulation, and quality of life of patients on dialysis:

Previous studies have investigated constructs that facilitate adaptation to chronic disease and improve quality of life and constructs that lead to psychopathological complications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of coping and emotional regulation on the quality of life of patients on dialysis. Three questionnaires were administered to 78 patients on dialysis: Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced, Short Form (36), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Regressions analyses indicated that age, Rumination, Positive Refocusing, Avoidance Strategies, Approach to the Problem, and Transcendent Orientation predicted Physical Health. With regard to Mental Health, the predictors were gender, Self-Blame, Acceptance, Rumination, Positive Reappraisal, Catastrophizing, Avoidance Strategies, and Transcendent Orientation. This study confirms the relationship between emotional regulation, coping, and quality of life. The results highlight the need for total care of the patients, including an assessment of both physical state and psychological functioning in order to promote total well-being.

Parent–child interaction: A comparative analysis of the parents of children with diabetes and asthma and of nonchronically ill children.

Objectives : This study investigated parent–child interactions and analysed the differences between parenting interactions with children affected by asthma and diabetes by comparison with interactions with a child without special needs. Moreover, a comparison between fathers and mothers was made. Methods : In total, 16 couples with a child affected by asthma, 16 couples with a child with diabetes mellitus, and 16 couples with children without any specific ills, completed the Parent Preference Test. Results : The data analysis highlighted different interactions adopted by parents in relation to the characteristics of their children. Conclusions : The results of this study reveal the importance of verifying the different parenting styles adopted in the presence of a child with asthma or diabetes to guarantee the best compliance with the medical intervention.

The existential suspension of the young-adult in times of liquid modernity. A differential analysis of identity uneasiness in precarious times

The present paper gives a contribution to the Italian psychology literature dealing with identity uneasiness of the young adult, which represents a clinically significant life-span phase especially if considered within the critical working situation that compels them to postpone life-markers which are the first signs of entering adultness. Those belonging to young adulthood seem uncompleted identities, hanging in between waiting to fulfil one’s life projects and the lack of satisfactory responses from modern society. The present research aims to investigate the relationship between personal and social identity, identifying possible similarities and differences between a group of Italian employed adults and a group of unemployed adults. A group of 173 Italian young adults, aged between 27 and 34, were recruited to complete an Identifying Information Form constructed ad hoc, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Multi-Measure Agnostic Personality Scale, and the Identity Stage Resolution Index. Data showed that unemployed young adults have a lower adult and social identity sense than employed ones, who also present an elevated level of ego-strength. Furthermore, results underline that having a permanent employment, an elevated self-esteem, and good ego-strength, and internal locus of control are predictive of the adult identity among employed subjects. These young people’s difficulties to securely enter a profession is a risk factor for establishing a social identity, as well as, for the mental health; they may even impact one’s awareness, especially because the principle on which post-modern society is based is the demonstration of the value of one’s own resources.